CUPID
Human | They/Them | 24y.o | 5'5 | Wizard (Necromancer)
Native to the Kingdom of Insevtiva, Cupid is a young and skilled witch. In the beginning, they used their magic to make healing remedies and aid sick people under the mentorship and teachings of an old healer, becoming their village’s main “physician” when this man passed. Due to the restrictions on AFAB people practicing or studying any form of medicine, Cupid was forced to perform their profession illegally. They got away with it for four years until a man alerted authorities when they refused to provide him with poison. Cupid was forced to flee to the Kingdom of Cinela to avoid going to court, where they would likely be judged for witchcraft and be sentenced to death by hanging.
In their travels, they met a wizard, Endris, who traveled from the Kingdom of Mentra to the same destination, and who would later on become their partner. Endris was a necromancer looking to start a new and peaceful life in Cinela after being exiled, and Cupid found in him an opportunity to keep learning and perfecting their medical knowledge. He taught them about the more surgical side of medicine, along with initiating them in necromancy, and they taught him about herbology. As peaceful as their life was, living near the village of Alba, the two were targeted by witch hunters who attacked their house at night and, in an attempt to protect Cupid, Endris sustained serious injuries. One of the witch hunters was killed by Endris, and the other ran away harmed. Endris passed from his injuries in Cupid’s arms, who attempted to use their limited knowledge of necromancy to bring him back, but didn’t succeed. The heartbreak and trauma of losing him moved Cupid to focus on becoming a powerful and prolific necromancer, and they retreated to the woods after burying Endris.
Two years after the incident, another witch hunt is sent after them for the use of black magic, and they find no choice but to ask for asylum in the local monastery. They’re lucky enough to find Mattheus, who had recently moved from a monastery in the capital, and does not know who they are. He lets them in, despite knowing the monastery has rules prohibiting AFAB people from being in the cloister, and hides them for three nights. During this time, the two bond a little, and Cupid reveals to Mattheus that they’re a witch.
From there on, he goes against his vows by attempting to court them. As much as Cupid finds this endearing and has their fun with him by leading him on occasionally, they reject his love confessions, thinking he’ll grow out of his crush. He did not. After a few months of playing around with him, Cupid finally accepts his courting and allows him the advance of giving them a kiss, which he would then give himself penance for. The relationship spiraled into a forbidden and secret romance.
Shortly after their relationship starts formally, Cupid is captured and condemned to the stake for crimes of the use of black magic, grave robbing, the reanimation of corpses, and heresy. Fortunately, Mattheus pulled them out of the burning stake and covered their body from the eyes of the townspeople watching the execution. He was kicked out of his order not only for saving a heretic and a witch, but also for laying eyes upon and touching a nude body of the opposite sex. After this, Cupid allowed him to live with them.
The sensation of having a soulmate is back in Cupid’s heart for the first time after Endris’ passing, and the two finally live peacefully in the woods. Aged twenty-nine, Cupid and Mattheus have their first child, and another two come along in the span of a few years.
MATTHEUS
Human | He/Him | 27y.o | 6'2 | Cleric
Born to a wealthy family in the coastal village of Alba, up north in the Kingdom of Cinela, Mattheus has been serving The Order Of The Sons of Our Lady since he was seven, as an altar boy in the local church, which belonged to the religious order. Later on, aged twelve, his family sent him to the monastery near the capital so he could receive purely ecclesiastical education; he was given extensive education in medicine, herbology, mathematics, astrology, ancient languages, and, of course, religious studies that would keep his faith alive; he excelled in many of the subjects, but he was chosen to become a scribe once he took vows and officially became a monk aged fourteen.
Mattheus resided in the capital’s monastery for another twelve years, where he remained a hardworking and pious member of the order, but the monastery soon got too busy with pilgrims and churchgoers. The city was not the calm and quiet environment he longed for, so once his order opened another monastery in his hometown, the Monastery of Saint Medina, Mattheus asked to be moved there. His request was granted, and he returned home after being away for more than a decade.
Not aware of the witch-related events that happened in Alba in his absence, Mattheus unknowingly sheltered the witch in the monastery, under the impression that they were just a very unfortunate pilgrim. His kindhearted nature pushed him to break the rules of the monastery, hiding Cupid within its walls for three nights. As shy and socially inept as he was, Mattheus attempted to be a good host and would strike up a conversation with his guest. He was drawn to them from the beginning, a sensation of butterflies in his stomach that he first thought to be anxiety, yet soon recognized as a crush, a romantic interest. This was a new thing for Mattheus, never having experienced such affections, and he felt compelled to pursue them despite knowing the kind of magic Cupid used.
After Cupid leaves the monastery, Mattheus found the way to their home in the woods and attempted to court them with a love song, which initiated a push and pull of his feelings being toyed with for nearly a year. As much as he knew he was disrespecting his vows, he was a man in love above all; he compensated by giving himself penance after each attempt to court Cupid, who would lead him on and reject him a few times. He was torn between love and faith for months. They only accepted when he, desperate to know if they were actually interested or just playing with him, got on his knees and begged them to give him answer; if they were actually interested, he would compromise to be with them and eventually give up monastic life, but if they weren’t, he’d stop coming by, take a vow of silence and dedicate his life to his religion. Cupid, deeming this proof that his affection wasn’t a fling of passion or cheeky rebellion against his order, accepted him and granted him a kiss that would formalize the relationship. Mattheus then went back home and punished himself for breaking his vow of celibacy.
About a month after the events, Cupid was captured by witch hunters under the command of the abbot of the Monastery of Saint Medina and sentenced to the stake. When Mattheus received the news from one of the other scribes, he rushed out of the scriptoria to the town square, only to find the fire had already been lit, although they hadn’t reached Cupid entirely yet. He made his way past the crowd and guards, and through the flames to reach his beloved. With a dagger, he cut the ropes and pulled them out of the pit, covering their body with his cloak to save them the humiliation. After a verbal fight with the abbot, Mattheus returned Cupid to their home and used a healing spell on them to cure the burns on their legs. He cured his wounds the conventional way, which left a few scars when healed. Unable to leave them alone while they were weak, Mattheus kept them company and cleaned their home.
Upon his return to the monastery two days later, the abbot requested to see him personally. He attempted to interrogate Mattheus on his relationship with the witch, but he just confessed everything, including having broken his vows of celibacy. He received a harsh penance and was removed from the order. Mattheus returned to Cupid with what little he owned and stripped from his habit. Now in commoner clothes, he asked to be allowed to stay. Cupid granted his wish and tended the wounds the penance left on his back.
Mattheus remained very religious throughout his life and indulged in prayer and study as he did in the monastery, but now worked as a scribe independently, translating or transcribing books on commision. With his formal medical training, he aided Cupid in the reconstruction of some corpses on occasion. He becomes a father of three and a devout husband, despite not being officially married.
