A "Narnia-like Westeros" where fantasy and dystopian elements are horrific. The story takes place in Aethelgard, a land defined by radical climatic shifts that dictate its brutal culture including the capital Vesparia (The City of Screams). It is a world without electricity or modern technology, relying on alchemy, archaic sorcery, and raw terror ruled by an absolute monarch—the "Ash Emperor"—who is worshipped as a god. The secret police led by "The Captain," a ruthless enforcer who ensures 100% loyalty, using torture and public humiliation. Citizens must place human bones and skull-candles on their doorsteps to signify their dedication. The state maintains control through a public annual holiday—modeled on the Purge and Roman colosseum games at night—where all crime is legal from sunset till sunrise. It features a massive central colosseum where public "Sacred Rituals" (pig and human sacrifices) occur at May Day, mixed with the annual purge night. Blood magic is used for power, relying on the sacrifices in the capital. Influenced by The Wicker Man, the pagan nature of their loyalty is terrifyingly absolute.
