Dione

> I've slain countless legions in my father's name and you still think me some insolent, foolish little princess?
>
> - Dione, pre-monarch status

**The Dreadmother** is the main protagonist and matriarch of the titular kingdom of **Alcaeus**.

## Appearance

Dione Amarisse-Gianni Salvitore is a lammergeier demon appearing around 40 years old of well below average height and curvy, chubby physique. They have dull seafoam-green eyes with red scleras and pale gold pupils, and calf-length, curly black downy feathers like hair with a glowing red, orange, and yellow underlayer that flickers like firelight. They have relatively flat, long bangs and often wear their hair with two loosely-curled side pieces that fall in front of their shoulders, as it is difficult to style without help due to its mass.

As they are a bird demon in particular, Dio has two pairs of wings framing their spine, two pair of wings where their ears would otherwise be, and a long, draconic but feathered tail that ends in a tuft of fluff in similar colors to the hair on their head. They also have orange and white vulpine ears due to their muddled ancestry. Their feet are raptorial in nature, with digitigrade legs and oversized black talons that look like they could belong to a bird of prey. They are covered in scales which fade into their natural tan skintone around their knees.

In their younger days before they fully succumbed to chaos, Dio had a full mane of fiery fluff, about mid-thigh length, and they were a little bit more toned. Not many know this, and they prefer to keep it a secret.

Dione does not have one set outfit, but can usually be found wearing black, dark red, or other jewel tones. They don't really enjoy wearing white as it "*reflects light, which then shines into [their] eyes,"* but they will if the function requires it. The usual outfit they are drawn in is an elaborate black dress with no sides to the skirt, essentially extreme slits, and a belt with furred gloves and fishnet leg sleeves. Otherwise, their wardrobe is vast.

## Personality

Dio is often described as mysterious but kind, a closed book but a helping hand to those in need. This is true, for the most part; they are usually selfless and prefer peaceful contact in contrast to their warmongering friend Siegyth, but tends to be stricter and heavier-handed than Venewrynd to the south. They have ruled Alcaeus benevolently for millennia after the murder of their parents, and is clearly keen on creating safe refuge for demons, humans, and all others who may stumble upon their kingdom. Despite their outwardly gentle disposition, Dione has crushed dozens of coups d'états before they reached the public eye to keep up appearances.

In truth, Dio's time at the head of the throne had made them jaded and suspicious. From wannabe tyrants to unsightly marriage prospects, they've seen it all, especially after having survived for thousands and thousands of years, and especially in consideration of their own wartorn past. Dio would often pick fights with Ytterhul and Marrowcrest's armies (pre-Osmar and Siegyth, respectively) merely to test their strength in their father, **Rhull**'s name. Should another spark like them come along, their kingdom could come down at any moment, and so they are, at least privately, always on guard.

Dione's friendship with Osmar allowed them to slow down instead of pushing through their obstacles, and considers him to be the shield to their sword. He was an invaluable ally in their youth, and they feel as though they couldn't ever thank him enough for what he's done for them. Similarly, in spite of the fact that their initial alliance was based on a military truce, Dio and Siegyth became very fast friends, easily bonding over morbid topics and "girl talk" simultaneously.

## History

Dio is the product of two gods, Radiant Light Khaida and Primordial Void Rhull, the literal embodiment of light and dark, of ascension and death. As such, Dione’s own liminal godhood toeing the line between heaven and hell felt a lot more like the latter. They have four siblings, the names of which they don’t know as Dio showed the most godly potential and therefore was the golden child. They may as well have not had siblings at all, and this made their childhood very, very lonely. As Khaida was the queen of Alcaeus at the time, busy with her duties as matriarch of an entire kingdom, Rhull was the one who raised Dio most days. They quickly discovered that Dio's deific power ruled over both fertility and death, making them essentially the penultimate Mother Goddess. It was here in their childhood that Diantha snuck into their brain and made herself comfortable.

In their adolescence, Dio would often act out for attention as their father’s harsh parenting style didn’t nurture them emotionally. Instead of giving them the growth they yearned for, something else piqued Rhull’s attention: Dio’s rage. It matched their appearance, and with their quick wit and diligence, he knew they would make an excellent fighter as he once was.

Dio’s young adulthood was spent training and fighting and training and fighting and training some more. They progressed from criminal lowlives to Ytteral warlords to Marrowcrestian generals to eventually legions and whole armies. They were a blazing wildfire that could not be stopped, and Rhull could not be more proud. Vrakheil’s return cut his praise short when he’d slaughtered both Alcaeus’ current reigning king and queen leaving Dio orphaned and alone again.

Giving into the chaos within them that’d been sleeping since birth, the newly formed Dreadmother nearly mortally wounded the Subjugator to send him a message, exiling him from Alcaeus but keeping him in the New World so he couldn’t destroy any other lives. This release in power drained the fiery hue from their phoenix mane, leaving them ashen and smoldering. Perhaps it was better this way.

Currently, Dione is about 3000 years old. Having this many years under their belt has made them an incredibly competent leader, particularly in knowing when their ire is useful and when it isn’t. The same cannot be said for their emotional stability, but they’re working on it. They have ten canonical children.

## Abilities

**Highest Level Pyromancy:** Obviously.

**Pyrokinesis:** Not exactly the same. Being half-made of fire has its perks; Dio can control fire anywhere in a 500m radius, including snuffing it, conjuring it, and other types of manipulation.

**Unmaking:** Blessed with both their mother *and* father's gifts, Dio can fracture the soul of a person and send each splinter into a different reality, snapping them out of Alcaean existence and sending them to the parallel Old World universe. This doesn't actually traditionally "kill" a person, but quite literally banishes them from the universe. It's extremely painful and WILL kill them for real if it somehow happens to them twice.

**Soul Manipulation/Consciousness Manipulation:** Dio can show you exactly what the void feels like after death and then bring you right back to life. Many go into shock after this, so they don't often use it. Otherwise similar to the charm pyromancy, but the bearer is not physically conscious. Best used for war.

**Shapechange:** Dio can shapeshift at will. They can change their whole shape, or only change certain body parts or characteristics, like removing their demon features to look like a normal human, or changing their vocal cords to mimic someone’s voice. The catch is they can only shift into animals or people who have died.

**Fertility Manipulation:** Don't get any ideas.

**Enhanced Hearing:** Considering their blindness, Dio relies heavily on their other senses, including their hearing. They could hear a pin drop halfway across the cathedral.

**Enhanced Strength:** Unlike most other bird demons, Dio has solid bones. Combined with their godhood, they have insane strength for their size and can lift about half a ton. (1000 lbs/454 kg)

**Psionic Resistance:** Dio is possessed by an ancient goddess named Diantha. As there are two deity souls in one mind, it takes about quadruple the psychic power to affect them.

## Notable Pyromancies

**Black Flame:** Ability to control black flame, which is colder than dry ice. Dangerous in large areas, as it spreads faster than wildfire. Notably used by Primordial Void Rhull.

**Blue Flame:** Ability to control blue flame, which is hotter than normal fire. Only the most expert pyromancers can do this, as blue flame is known to be cleansing and sacred, but if used incorrectly, can kill both the user and the intended recipient. Sometimes turns white, if user has deific affiliation. Notably used by Radiant Light Khaida.

**Toxic Mist:** Corrosive mist that can affect components such as stone, wood, and cloth. Fatal if inhaled. *Affects the user.*

**Poison Mist:** Exactly what it says on the tin. Poison mist is only harmful to living beings and does not affect surrounding materials. *Does not affect the user.*

**Chaos Manipulation:** Essentially radiation manipulation. Causes disastrous effects on biological material, but if the pyromancer is strong enough, it can change other things as well.

**Chaos Storm:** Whirling storm of radiation and flame, whether blue, black, or normal. Not unlike putting one's enemies in the microwave.

**Charm/Rapport:** Dio can "charm" people into doing things. Bearer is entirely conscious. Charm is just the stronger version of the spell and can be cut short if needed, while Rapport is the short-term version that expires on its own.