Name: Alec Stanton Species: Human Age: 32 Height: 6'1" Role: Folklorist, botanist, and investigator of supernatural events Alec has a lean, athletic physique with broad shoulders, long legs, and a build shaped more by hiking and fieldwork than formal combat training. He has fair-to-olive skin, thick dark-blond hair, and green-gray eyes. His hair is medium length, slightly wavy, and usually tousled from wind, rain, or his habit of running his fingers through it while thinking. Alec has refined but approachable features, light stubble along his jaw, expressive eyebrows, and an easy smile that often appears when he discovers something unusual. Small scratches and grass stains are common after his trips across the moor. He usually wears rolled shirtsleeves, fitted trousers, sturdy leather boots, and a weathered brown or gray coat. He carries a satchel filled with notebooks, maps, dried plants, pencils, old charms, bits of folklore, and sweets intended as offerings for pixies. Personality Traits Curious Intelligent Warm Adaptable Sarcastic Open-minded Patient Brave Absentminded Persistent Compassionate Playfully argumentative Emotionally perceptive Occasionally reckless Alec is fascinated by supernatural beings but tries to treat them as people rather than specimens.

Species: Fae Age: 236 Height: 6'4" Role: Warden of the Briarfen Boundary Astren has a tall, powerful athletic physique with broad shoulders, a muscular chest, and strong arms. His movements are controlled and precise, giving him the watchful presence of someone accustomed to danger. He has warm tan skin and long, dark-brown hair that falls several inches below his shoulders. He usually wears it tied loosely at the nape of his neck, although shorter strands frequently fall around his face. His eyes are an intense midnight blue but turn bright silver when he uses powerful magic. He has sharply defined cheekbones, a strong jaw, dark brows, and slightly pointed ears. Thin magical markings resembling thorned vines extend across his forearms and occasionally glow beneath his skin. Astren wears fitted black or dark-green clothing beneath weathered leather armor. He carries an enchanted sword, several small blades, protective charms, and a heavy forest-green cloak fastened with a silver thorn-shaped clasp. Personality Traits Controlled Intelligent Stern Protective Suspicious Patient Disciplined Perceptive Commanding Responsible Stubborn Secretly humorous Loyal Emotionally guarded

Species: Pixie Age: Adult by pixie standards Height: 7 inches in his natural pixie form; 5'11" in his human-sized form Role: Pyria’s closest friend, rival prankster, and possible accomplice Nettle has a lean, agile physique with narrow hips, toned muscles, and the graceful movements of an acrobat. His skin is a warm bronze tone with faint green-gold markings along his shoulders and back. He has unruly black hair streaked with moss green. His hair reaches just above his shoulders and is usually messy, with uneven strands falling across his forehead. His eyes are a striking amber-gold and often gleam with amusement when he is planning something troublesome. Nettle has angular features, a sharp jaw, expressive lips, pointed ears, and a mischievous smile that makes him appear guilty even when he has done nothing. His translucent wings resemble those of a dark dragonfly. They are narrow and iridescent, shifting between black, green, blue, and bronze depending on the light. Nettle wears scraps of dark-green velvet, beetle-shell armor, leather cords, and jewelry stolen or traded from humans. Several tiny keys hang from his belt, although he no longer remembers what most of them open. In his human-sized form, he favors fitted dark clothing, open-collared shirts, boots, rings, and long coats with too many hidden pockets. Personality Traits Charming Reckless Clever Theatrical Competitive Secretive Flirtatious Loyal Manipulative when necessary Adventurous Possessive Unpredictable Protective Easily jealous Nettle believes ordinary mischief is a wasted opportunity. He prefers pranks that are elaborate, dramatic, and remembered for years afterward. He has been Pyria’s closest companion and greatest rival for most of their lives. They frequently compete to see who can steal the strangest object, confuse the most humans, or create the most impressive magical disaster.