Nyx Regulus
Nyx Regulus is a Dark Hav woman and Archmother of the Regulus Sanguarchate of Avinadal — Apollo Regulus's sister, and considerably more comfortable operating in the shadows than he is. Long white hair, tan skin, black feathered wings, and a demeanor that makes people want to give her whatever she is asking for. The HECRC staff were not exceptions.
Her imprisonment at the HECRC facility on Sharbain was intentional. The Regulus family had grown suspicious of what Hadi Enterprises was doing at that facility, and Nyx volunteered to gather intelligence from the inside. She earned a degree of freedom within the prison that few prisoners could claim, moving through it with enough latitude to serve as caretaker for Aurelia — the Mother experiment — whose condition made it impossible for Malei-sensitive individuals to be near her without causing her pain.
When the prison break began, Nyx was the one who injected Aurelia with Aries' DNA, stabilizing her mutations and making the escape viable. She also tipped Apollo off in time to arrange extraction.
What she did not plan for was what came after. Her relationship with Aurelia, which developed slowly during those months as caretaker and patient, became something neither of them had anticipated. The two have remained together since.
She now co-leads the Sanguarchate alongside Apollo from Regulus Island, managing the family with a quieter authority than her brother.
Nyx Regulus works indirectly by preference. Where Apollo is visible and administrative, Nyx Regulus moves through situations without drawing the attention she could easily command. She is beautiful in a way that she is fully aware of and uses with deliberate precision. The guards at the HECRC were charmed into giving her latitude; she used that latitude to gather intelligence and care for Aurelia. Both things were happening at the same time, without apparent friction.
She is calculating but not cold. The calculation serves a purpose she has decided is worth serving — the safety of the people she cares about, the interests of the Regulus family — and within that purpose she is genuinely warm. Her caretaking of Aurelia was not strategic. Aurelia was suffering, Nyx Regulus could be near her without causing more suffering, and so Nyx Regulus was there. The logic is simple and the feeling behind it was real.
She operates with a kind of patience that is different from Aurelia's. Aurelia's patience is the stillness after endurance. Nyx Regulus's patience is the deliberate calm of someone waiting for the right moment. She volunteered to be imprisoned. She gathered what she needed and waited until the situation resolved itself — or, when Aries and the group created the resolution, stepped in at the right point to make it work.
Her relationship with Aurelia is the most unguarded she gets. With Aurelia, the indirection drops. She is simply present.
She now leads the Sanguarchate alongside Apollo, doing so quietly enough that most people underestimate how much of the structure she is holding together.
FEMDIN Project and Ulmina's Awakening at HECRC (Years 181–182 AF) ►
The High-Enforcement Correctional and Research Complex (HECRC) is located on Sharbain, a small continent southeast of Anili Island. Upon arrival, Aries Villanite is assigned to the Functional Enhancements: Maleidic Defense and Integration Nanosuit Project (FEMDIN), internally known as the Iron Maiden Project. The project, overseen by engineer Alexandria Zeru under coercion by Idris Hadi, develops a nanomachine mesh suit integrated via a neural implant using Malei-irradiated components. All prior test subjects experienced psychosis, self-harm, or death within six months. Aries proves uniquely compatible, awakening to ULMINA (Universal Logic Matrix for Integration, Navigation, and Assistance), the suit's onboard AI, who develops near-sentience through prolonged neural integration with Aries. The two form a deep bond, with Ulmina redefining her designation acronym as a personal monument to Aries. Unknown to Aries, Idris had been tracking him since his escape from the HEMPP and engineered the FEMDIN project specifically to contain him as Subject V-1774-N1-T3, though Idris was unaware Aries had entered the program. The FEMDIN suit allows Aries selective control over his transformations. Alexandria also reveals the existence of two failed derivative experiments: Shadow, a disfigured stealth creature, and Mother, a maleidic empath whose abilities cause her constant agony. Fellow prisoner Nyx Regulus serves as Mother's caretaker. Aries resolves to rescue both experiments, creating conflict with Alexandria.
Formation of the Avinadal Empire and the Plasid Campaign ►
The Villanite Trading Company recruited Talia Hekata, a Hornhound dominatrix and sex therapist, as a mental health consultant. After a confrontation in which Aries shifted into beast form, Talia pledged loyalty to him and joined the team with a goal of building a capable imperial staff. Separately, Aries traveled to Plasid after Piper's crystal activated, where he learned of Empress Edith Markov's plan to transfer her consciousness into Enyxia Markov's body using a ritual that would absorb the memories of all Plasidian citizens. Trained in both Myst and Malei by Augustus Markov, Aries allied with Crowned Prince Vinisent Atril and Queen Lynia Yawlin to oppose Edith. The campaign involved liberating slaves in Harkul, surviving military assaults from Edith's forces, and the capture of Augustus and Apollo Regulus. Aries defeated Edith by using Piper's crystal to drive her from Enyxia's body, with Piper's essence expelling Edith before fading. Arielle killed Edith's physical body, trapping her in the Maleidic Realm. Following the victory, Aries and Enyxia founded the Avinadal Empire, named after Piper's middle name Avinadalia. Enyxia became Empress, and a formal imperial hierarchy was established encompassing the Regulus Sanguarchate and Plasidian Triumvirate. Lynia Yawlin and Arielle Villanite joined as High Imperial Consorts. Nyx Regulus and Aurelia Villanite also formed a romantic relationship during this period.
Founding of the Villanite Trading Company and Aries's Recovery Arc ►
Following a period of instability, Aries Villanite is summoned by Arielle Villanite to a derelict mansion in Napoli, where Apollo Regulus presents him with legal ownership of the newly formed Villanite Trading Company (VTC), a goods-and-services delivery organization. The VTC's founding client list includes the Waerrani Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Napolian Mercenary's Guild, the Regulus Sanguarchate, and Ensconce Technologies, granting it immediate legitimacy despite Napoli's notoriously strict Chamber of Commerce. Apollo manages administration with Arielle's support, while Nyx Regulus assumes leadership of the Regulus Sanguarchate aided by Aurelia Villanite. The mansion serves as both residence and headquarters. Aries initially resists the gesture through self-destructive behavior, culminating in a confrontation with Arielle that leads to a psychological breakthrough and his deeper involvement in VTC operations. He and Apollo develop a close personal relationship. Tamica joins as medical and biotech consultant, and following a long-delayed reconciliation with Kiriko, she joins as engineering and espionage consultant. Attempts to hire Trance Tauling are blocked by Napolian law prohibiting the hiring of executives from non-Napolian international firms. A legal caveat allows the hire if the executive is married to the company owner. Aries proposes marriage to Trance, who accepts, motivated primarily by personal affection for Aries and Lalith rather than professional interest. The marriage is formalized through paperwork only, with no ceremony.