An iconless independent, selective RP blog for THE LADY RUBY based on original lore. Portrayal inspired by high fantasy, old faerie folklore, beauty and the beast, and slight horror. Verses include modern, Dragon Age, Lord of the Rings, && more.      𝑨 𝑺𝑻𝑼𝑫𝒀 𝑰𝑵 . . . the cyclical nature of folklore, fairy tale villains, monstrosity as armor, the costs of true immortality, gilded cages lovingly tended, knowledge both kept and forgotten, the vanity of beasts, hearts buried deep, ancient wounds not yet healed, curiosity and coldness that burn, and the bloody things a mother would do for her child.Penned by Ree (they/them, 30+, PST).

blogwide guidelines

THE BASICS01. Basic roleplaying etiquette applies. No godmodding, meta-gaming, AI use, bigotry etc. Regarding meta-gaming, most muses can know about Ruby’s reputation ahead of time, if they are familiar with legends of the fair folk.02. I am selective but not mutuals-exclusive. I am also multi/poly-ship, multi-verse, and crossover-friendly. Please feel free to approach me for plots and ideas. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out my interaction guide and/or fill out my interest tracker and we’ll go from there.03. I’m an inbox fiend! If you reblog an inbox/ask meme, I’ll try to send something in. Don’t feel pressured at all to get to all of them, it’s all just for fun. If you want me to send something and I haven't yet, send it to me directly and I’ll gladly do so.04. Please come chat with me! I try to keep things lighthearted around here, so if you’re nervous about reaching out to plot, or for any other reason, message me what your favorite animal is first.05. While this is technically a dual-muse blog, Ruby is the default muse. Please let me know if you want to write with Jane.06. Please feel free to remind me about replies if you’re concerned I missed it. I am scattered and busy, and it’s very possible I did just that.07. I don't tend to follow first, solely because I can go overboard and overwhelm myself with too active of a dash otherwise.DNI if you write muses from Harry Potter or actively write in a Harry Potter verse. I will soft-block you if you follow me, and hard-block if you keep trying to write with me.

TRIGGERS PRESENT: Spiders, fantasy body horror, violence, past trauma (usually only hinted at) including grooming, abuse, family death, infant death, etc.Regarding Arachnophobia: I never want to trigger someone’s arachnophobia. I rarely reblog spider imagery, and will always tag it with spider cw or spider mention cw. I am also absolutely open to any number of verses and AU where Ruby takes a human form – even if it’s not a verse that currently exists on my page – so please let me know asap if that’s preferable. That being said, if you think you would be too uncomfortable regardless and don’t want to write with Ruby, I fully understand and hope you have a great day.PLOTTING AND MEMESI prefer to roughly plot ahead of time and have an idea of what we’re thinking of, but I am open to playing it by ear. I am also very open to pre-established relationships if we discuss them beforehand.I am more than happy to write some darker plots, including abuse, violence, murder, etc. Ruby will hurt people, and is immortal, so she will recover from any injury. To a far lesser extent, I am open to putting Jane in vague danger, but this requires at least some pre-plotting so that we’re on the same page.If you want to continue a thread from an ask, please create a new post and tag me in it, rather than reblogging the ask, or message me if you need me to do it.NSFW content will be present. I love writing and drawing smut. It will always be under a cut and tagged appropriately.Anything Goes AUs. If I reblog a spicy ask meme and we haven't plotted, or if we have a plot where it doesn't make sense, you can still send something in. Just specify that it's an anything goes au. This way, it'll be it's own little verse where we don't have to worry about forcing a ship that may not work in our usual verses.

❝ 𝕺𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖚𝖕𝖔𝖓 𝖆 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊 … ❞

CW - infant death, implications of grooming/abuse, mention of spiders and brief body horror.There was a girl with golden hair and the wicked smile of a wolf. Her father called her a princess, and so it will do for us. But one day, she found herself all alone, her kingdom burnt to the ground leaving nothing but ash. She was covered in dirt and scrounged for food, until she met a prince as handsome as his heart was black. He promised her the world. All the gold and all the jewels and all the pretty dresses she could dream of – if she only went into his cage.What choice did she have? She followed the dragon back to his horde, where he cleaned her and dressed her, and taught her to smile like a doll and not like a wolf. She learned to be soft in the dragon’s cage, and she learned to be tame, and she learned to let all the men in all the realms fall over themselves just for a chance to see her laugh.And laugh she did. She laughed and sang and danced with every man the dragon pointed his claws at, and her heart turned black. It was shriveled and old and locked away, burning cold with hate.And one day, the princess had a daughter, and the dragon locked that girl away, too. So long as the princess did as she was told, the little girl was safe. So she laughed and laughed, and sang and dance, and kissed all the handsome men – and all the rich ones too.And the dragon dragged his claws down her back and her face and her neck.            ❝ SHE BORE IT ALL WITH A SMILE...Until one day, she met a fairy. A handsome creature, with glittering wings and long fingers, that took her hands and asked for a kiss, a dance, and a song. In exchange, they offered three wishes -- anything in the world she'd like.So the princess asked to be free of the dragon. She wished for her little girl back, warm in her arms once more. And she wished for the power to be safe from anyone who would hurt them ever again.But fairies, after all, are fickle things, and this one granted the princess’s wishes as they liked.True, she was free of the dragon. True, she was given her little girl, safe and sound. And true, she became strong. But, like all fae - granted wishes, not one of them came the way she expected.            ❝ THE FAIRY GAVE HER A CASTLE.It was a beautiful thing, old stone covered in ivy, filled with books upon books. An astrological clock topped one tower, and an observatory the other. It was a world of knowledge, and her silvery eyes saw every word and illustration within. “You will keep this realm,” the fairy said, but they didn’t say that she could ever leave.            ❝ THE FAIRY MADE HER STRONG.She grew and grew, her two legs becoming eight, a spider of a woman with too many hands and eight moon-bright eyes that could see into the very threads of reality. And with all these hands, she came to the dragon in his den, and tore him all to pieces. It was so easy – like tearing paper – and she knew she would never be afraid again.            ❝ AND THE FAIRY GAVE HER A LITTLE GIRL.She was so small and afraid at first, a slip of a thing with curls as black as night. But she was safe – and she was little. And as the days and months and years passed, it became clear. Little, she would always be. The true girl had perished years ago, too long-gone to revive. This was a facsimile, a changeling child woven together out of magic and mud from the very stream encircling the castle grounds.But they were together once more, in the only way they could be. Together and safe, in the realm of stories and books and poetry.            ❝ AND IT IS NOW.The Archival Palace is a fae - made thing, fickle in when and where it appears, and in which dimension or world. But it appears all the same, to those who seek knowledge, and those who don’t. Her Ladyship the Archivist is a fearsome thing to behold at first, nine feet tall, with a veil over her shining eyes.But those who frequent her halls know well – she is imperious when it suits her, but far from cold when she cares to be, stern and stoic but ever eager for gossip. Close friends may be few for the archivist, but her halls are welcoming to those who look past the occasional bramble or cobwebs.There are those who would come for her head or cut out her heart with cold-iron swords. They seek glory or revenge, and sometimes they find it. But most often, they only find their death. Those who are lost may seek any answer they need in her halls. Any question may be asked – but payment must be delivered. No longer human, the Archivist must obey the fairy blood in her veins. No lies, no iron – and no gifts. Everything has a price, even the simplest of inquiries.But once payment is rendered, be it a quest, a gift, or a simple joke to make her daughter laugh, the Archivist removes her veil. She Sees into the fabric of the world and answers the question whether the answer is easy or not.And her little girl – her Jane – flutters about the halls on glittering wings. Eternally a child, but happy all the same as she reads and reads, and makes quick friends with those who let her.            ❝ AND THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER MORE.

❝ 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖊 𝖎𝖓 𝖋𝖚𝖑𝖑 … ❞

 
CW - infant death, brief mention of spiders, minor body horror, and implications of grooming/abuse, pregnancy, and miscarriages            ❝ LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ...Sit still and listen well, because it is long and I won't have you interrupting. Somewhere in the woods, there lives a beautiful and wicked spider who lives in a palace with more books and scrolls than stars in the sky. You know this part already. If you go to her with pure intentions, you may ask her any question you wish, and, for the right price, she will answer with the truth. But if your heart is tainted by even a drop of mischief, she will eat you whole.Now I will tell you the part nobody learns: she was not always a spider, and she was not always wicked. Once, a thousand thousand years ago, she was a little girl just like any other. Her father called her a princess, and so it will do for us.
The princess was beloved by her family despite her sharp edges. There were six of them altogether -- a gentle mother and a kind father, and three siblings to play with. Her sister, the eldest, was graced with beauty and poise, and her brothers -- twins -- laid claim to bravery and strength.The princess chose cleverness for herself, and a will as strong as iron. They were everything a father could want.You know what they say: bitterness never lasts, but neither does joy, and her kingdom fell in a blaze. She was the only one to escape, covered in soot and ash, and took to the nearest city in search of her grandmother, whom she had never met but hoped was kind.Her grandmother was dead, and she was alone.The princess learned quickly how to survive in the gutter. By the time winter came and the cold sank into her lungs, her belly began to swell with child, but no babe can survive when the mother is starved. Frost set into her bones, and she was thin as watery broth. There was barely anything left of her but her hungry wolf's eyes.Do not ask me what she did. You know whence babies come and can fill the empty spaces yourself.            ❝ SHE WAS FOUND BY A DRAGON ...Or perhaps he was a prince, whose heart was as black as his face was fine. Did it matter? He promised her the world all the same. All the gold and all the jewels and all the pretty dresses she could dream of – if she only went into his cage.What else could she do? A choice between a caged life and a painful death is no choice at all.So the dragon washed her face and dressed her in fine silks. He taught her to smile like a doll instead of a wolf, and she became the prettiest jewel in his hoard. She learned to be soft in the dragon's den, and she learned to be tame, and she learned to let all the men in all the realms fall over themselves just for a chance to see her laugh. And when they were done with her, it was the dragon's turn to drag his claws down her back and her face and her neck.She bore it all with a smile. She was so good at smiling. She smiled and laughed and kissed every man the dragon pointed his bloody claw at, until her heart turned as black as his, locked away behind an icy cage, and her soul was dead, dead, dead.Twice more her belly swelled, but something always went wrong. So it goes sometimes. Not all women are built to be mothers, so be gentle to those who try. The third time, however, her stomach stayed round. The baby grew and was born on a snowy winter day, a beautiful girl, with lily-white skin and eyes as green as summer grass.            ❝ SHE NAMED THE BABY JANE ...The princess’ life had never been so bright, filled with so much love she wept. For a year and a day, she was allowed to cast aside the sticky love of men and think only of her daughter. When the baby’s first tooth came in, it was more precious than all the pearls in the world. When she laughed, it was an angel’s song, holier than all of heaven.And then her fairy tale ended. Three days, one week, one year and one day - you know these numbers are unlucky. That’s how these things go. Bitterness ends, but so does joy.The dragon said I love you. The dragon said I’ll protect her. The dragon said I’ll take her somewhere warm, where it never snows and she’ll never fall ill, so that she may grow strong and see you again once she’s able.And so the princess returned to the slavering men like dogs, thinking only of Jane. When she did well, she was given a letter, talking of how fat Jane was growing, how healthy and how smart! So long as the princess did as she was told, the little girl was safe. She laughed and sang and kissed all the men that the dragon wanted.            ❝ BUT TRUTH WILL ALWAYS COME OUT ...Jane had been born in the winter, you see. A year and a day brought the next winter ‘round and you know how poorly babies do at the best of times.A letter was easy to write, even one so heavy with lies.What do you know about mylings?Have I told you that tale yet?Another time, then. This is too much sadness for one evening already.Simply know this: There is a reason mothers never cast unwanted babies into the woods. They scream – oh how they scream, Mother, I am cold and afraid! Mother, come for me! If they’re lucky, the wolves get to them before the frost finds their lungs. That is all I shall say about it.When the princess learned of Jane's fate, she tore at her hair and dragged her nails down her face and howled like the wolf she still was.            ❝ AND THEN SHE MET A FAIRY ...The fairy said I love you, and fairies cannot lie. They were a handsome creature with glittering wings and long fingers that took her hands and cleaned away the blood beneath her nails. She had forgotten such gentleness could exist. When her hands were clean, the fairy asked for a kiss, a dance, and a song. In exchange, they offered three wishes, as grand or as small as she liked.So the princess wished to be free of the dragon. She wished for her little girl, safe in her arms once more, and she wished to be strong, so that no-one could hurt her ever again.But fairies are selfish and fickle creatures, and this one had been around a long, long time. They had grown tired of their life tending to maze-like halls and silent books, and they twisted her wishes to suit their needs.True, she was free of the dragon. True, she was given her daughter. And true, she became so strong it would take ten men to cut her down. But like all fae - granted wishes, not one of them was granted the way she hoped.            ❝ THE FAIRY GAVE HER A CASTLE ...The Palace of Pages sits amidst a fairy forest, ever-changing and always alive. It is made of old stone, decorated with climbing flowers and ivy, surrounded by tamed gardens filled with a riot of roses. It is grand from the outside, and grander within, filled with impossible corridors that twist in on themselves and change, spitting you back out into the room you'd just left or taking you to another wing entirely. And it held -- yes, very good, it held more books and scrolls than stars in the sky. Every book that ever was and ever will be lined her infinite halls. Her silver eyes saw every word, every rune, every picture and line.I grant you the Archival Realm, the fairy said, and you will be its queen.            ❝ THE FAIRY GAVE HER STRENGTH ...The princess grew and grew. She became a spider of a woman, with eight moon-bright eyes that could see into the very warp and weft of the world. Her two legs became eight with clawed hands at the end, and with those hands, she went one last time to the dragon in his den.She tore him to pieces in his bed. It was so easy, like ripping up paper, as she ran her claws down his back and his neck and his face like she’d so often longed to do. She knew she would never be afraid again.            ❝ AND THE FAIRY GAVE HER A LITTLE GIRL TO CALL HER OWN ...At first, she was clumsy and afraid, a waifish slip of a thing with curls as black as night. Yet as the princess's hold over her magic grew, so, too, did the confidence of the girl now named Jane, but it soon came clear that she would always be little, never growing, never changing. The princess had asked for her little girl, not the one long-dead child to be brought back to life, nor one who would ever age.This Jane was a facsimile, a changeling child woven together out of magic and mud from the very river that circled the castle grounds.But they were together at last. The princess became the archivist, Jane became her daughter, and they live safely in the realm of stories and history.            ❝ AND IT IS NOW ...This is the part you know, and you must never wander into the woods on a full moon or risk stumbling into Fairyside.The Archival Realm is a fae-made thing, fickle in when and where it appears. All worlds open a bridge to it for at least a short time, and anyone might wander in. There are ways to be sure you find it, if you are headstrong enough to seek her knowledge. Her Ladyship the Archivist is not one to be taken lightly, standing at nine feet tall with a glittering mask over her many eyes.Yes, you may tell me later about Nikolaj of Ironside and how she killed his wife. I know the story already, where he cuts off the spider’s head and brings it back as a trophy, but tell me this: if it is true, why do the legends go on? I have heard a hundred tales of men who cut off her head or tear out her heart, but I have heard one hundred more where they find only a gruesome death in her halls.Yet fairies, however monstrous, are never just one thing. The archivist is imperious and frightening, with a heart as dead as Nikolaj's wife. So, too, she is patient, and welcomes those who come with pure intent. She can even be kind, when she cares to be, and is always eager for gossip.Do you remember what to do if you meet her?Then I will tell you again: Watch your words carefully. Those who are lost may find their answers in her halls, but no fairy grants anything for free. Even the simplest how-do-you-do will require payment of a kind. The archivist is fae herself, and must obey the Fairyside blood in her veins.Say the rules of the fairies with me: Iron burns; they cannot lie. Give no gifts; Never ask why.And everything has a price. Above all else, remember that.Once the payment is rendered for a question, be it a quest or item or simple joke, the Archivist will remove her mask. She will Look into the fabric of the world, the truth beyond the truth, and tell you the answer whether you like it or not.And all the while, her little girl -- her Jane -- flutters about the halls on glittery, golden wings. Eternally a child, she is happy and clever as her mother, and, it is said, if you find her in the halls, you will have good luck for a year.I don't know if it's true. I've never been there myself. But I know they are together. I know they are happy.            ❝ AND I KNOW THEY WILL LIVE FOREVERMORE ...

alternate universes

❝   CLAIR OBSCUR  Expeditioner. Ruby spent years trapped under the thumb of Lumiere's wealthiest citizen and working as one of the city's premier courtesans. After his death, she tried to start anew, living an honest life worthy of her daughter Jane, who was raised to believe her parents to have died in a Gommage some years ago. Unable to get past her reputation, Ruby joins the expeditioners, honing her skills as a support combatant, channeling buffs through use of her cane. She has kept nothing but a photograph of Jane in her pocket, the last relic of a life she knows she'll never live to see.Click here for full verse info.Nevron. The Chromatic Archivist has been around almost as long as Esquie, having been created to collect and store artifacts from young Clea and Verso's adventures. Now, however, she keeps to herself, occasionally providing aid to expeditioners who make it far enough inland.Click here for full verse info.❝   DRAGON AGEClick here for full verse info.Pre-Inquisition (By Request Only): Ruby is a famed Orlesian courtesan, known for her intelligence, skill, and everpresent smile. She will travel across Thedas as needed to meet her noble clientele, and provide expert service to those her cruel master deems a useful target. Ruby also acts as his agent, doing business in coin and blackmail as needed. She has a daughter, Jane, who is being raised in Orlais, and who she hasn’t seen in years. A number of bawdy songs and poems have spread across Thedas about her, so it's not entirely unheard of for someone to know her by reputation.Inquisition (Companion, Default): Continued from her Pre-Inquisition verse. Though she's spent many years as a famed courtesan servicing nobility in Orlais, Ruby grew tired of the blackmail and secrets. She killed her master, rescued Jane from the abusive home she had been raised in, and fled to Haven in search of sanctuary. Since then, she has found a place for herself as an aide to the inquisitor, and more or less taken charge of the archives, organizing historical documents and artifacts, expanding the library. She offers help when its needed, especially in exchange for gossip or a good book. She can be relied on to handle correspondence and bureaucracy for the Inquisitor, manage public appearance of the Inquisition, and more.Inquisition (Inquisitor, Secondary): Ruby knew the secrets and blackmail she'd pedaled over the years. Couple that with the target she'd painted on her back by murdering her master, and Ruby knows there's nowhere safe for her to go. She flees with Jane to the Conclave, thinking to beg for sanctuary from someone powerful in the Chantry to protect her. Instead, she finds herself caught in a rift and walks out with the anchor on her hand. Neither an honest nor a virtuous woman, Ruby knows she isn't suited for the title of Herald, and doubts that Andraste chose her at all. Still, she is determined to fulfill the demands of her position, closing rifts, building alliances, and learning to fight as best she can.Click here for more verse info.Veilguard: An expert in politics and history, Ruby is a secondary companion, accompanying her daughter, who has been recruited into the guard. Jane, now 20, is a skilled veiljumper and rogue, and makes fast friends with most of the guard. Ruby meanwhile makes herself useful, compiling notes, organizing plans, and working as a housekeeper for the lighthouse, ensuring it’s fully stocked with basic supplies and staff as needed.

❝   DUNGEIONS & DRAGONS / BG3Click here for full verse info.Following roughly the events of her main verse, Ruby was in Baldur's Gate in the guise of a mortal elf when she was captured by the nautiloid, and locked away her memories and true self as a means of protection. Now infected with a mindflayer parasite, she's eager to find a cure.❝   GAME OF THRONES / HOTDClick here for full verse info.The Orb Weavers are a small group of knowledge-keepers, whose goal is to compile and organize a copy of all written and oral works, while serving the many knowledge-seekers in the land, rub by a woman known as the Black Widow or Lady Spider. No-one knows quite how old the black widow is, only that some years ago she slew her husband, a politician known for his ruthless schemes, and took over the Orb Weavers' Archives.❝   LEGEND OF ZELDAClick here for full verse info.Far above Hylia, a mountain peak hides the shrine to a demigod with a thousand hands, or so the stories say. After an arduous journey through scree and snow, you would find the ancient library of Ruby, the goddess of memory. According to legend, this spider woman knows all that has ever come to pass. Every secret, every stolen moment, every battle and story. But legend often exaggerates, and she is always eager to learn more.❝   THE MAGNUS ARCHIVESClick here for full verse info.A sister location of the Magnus Institute is the L––– Archives and Research Center in France, a centuries old library that stores any number of unusual items in its massive underground storage rooms. The curator, Ruby, is a few centuries old, having been corrupted by a number of different fears that ultimately merged her with the building. Her hunger for souls and memories is unrelenting – but so is her love for her work, so she does what she can not to turn into a mindless killer for now.❝   MIDDLE EARTHClick here for full verse info.There are no shortage of un-elfish elves in Middle Earth, and among them is Lady Ruby, record keeper and historian. Currently residing in Rivendell, Ruby spends most of her time tirelessly copying over damaged scrolls into new manuscripts, and occasionally traveling to collect especially rare or fragile documents across Middle Earth to be preserved.❝   MODERN (Default)Click here for full verse info.Ruby runs the L—– Archives and Research Center, a centuries old library. The first and second floors are open to the public, with a wide range of books and old tomes. The third floor contains older documents and items that can be checked out, while the basement levels contain a myriad of cursed and supernatural objects. Ruby herself is psychically linked to the building and its contents, allowing her to See what is going on inside it at any point in time. (Time Period: 1700s-Present).

❝   MODERN (Human)Ruby spent her late teens and early twenties under the thumb of an up-and-coming kingpin in the criminal underground. Tired of the life she was living, she murdered him, reunited with her daughter, and fled. A year or two later, she resurfaced, now the owner of a house, a service dog named Einstein, and a library open to the public that hosts a number of free youth groups for kids who need a safe place to go. Lighter and fluffier than any other verse by far. (Present Day.)❝   SOCIALITE (by request only)Click here for full verse info.After losing her family to tragedy, the girl made it to her estranged grandmother’s manor and never got a chance to become the woman later known as Ruby. She was given the best tutors to teach her how to act and behave like a proper woman of society, though she never quite fit in. Still, she is sure she everything she needs – horses to ride, quiet nights, and all the books she could possibly read. (Emphasis on 19th century.)❝   TALES OF ARCADIAClick here for full verse info.Ruby is a changeling who has been working loyally for the Janus Order for centuries, leaving Europe with the other changelings for Arcadia to serve Gunmar. Here, she went undercover as a librarian and unwillingly made herself the Janus Oder archivist, while she raises her adopted daughter Jane.❝   VAMPIRE - GOTHICClick here for full verse info.Living in an ancient castle hidden in the midst of a forested mountain range, Ruby has amassed a massive amount of wealth and urban legends surrounding herself. She frequently travels abroad to collect both antique books and familiars, taking them in for a period of time before draining their blood and moving on to the next.❝   WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWSClick here for full verse info.A towering, imperious woman known across the world mainly as The Countess. Originally, she served as the familiar to a vampire with a sprawling underground network of vampire criminals, but later killed him and took over his work. In the hundreds of years since then, Ruby has traveled around the world, checking up on her business partners, seeking out new ventures, acquiring antiques, and generally being a rich, genius disaster with dangerously low-cut wardrobe.❝   THE WITCHERClick here for verse info.On a snowy mountain peak stands the spider’s palace. Reaching it is a difficult and dangerous journey, and the destination itself is no more welcoming. One must bring a rare book and at least one candle simply to be allowed to stay the night, or, according to legend, risk being eaten whole. Beyond that, seekers of arcane and occult knowledge must come equipped with any number of gifts and treasures, as every question comes with a price, no matter how small.

stats & info

GENERAL .
•   name   :  The Lady Ruby
•   alias   :   Lady Archivist, Lady Spider, The Librarian
•   true name   :  lost to time.
•   gender   :   presents as female.
•   orientation   :   biromantic, demisexual.
•   species   :   Drider-Adjacent (Verse-dependent).
•   height   :   9'2 in her true form, 6'4 as a human.PHYSICAL .From her hips up, Ruby appears mostly human, with pale skin, blonde curls, and pointed ears. She has two pairs of upturned human-like eyes, which are silvery, unnaturally reflective, and usually hidden behind a veil or lensed masks, and two pairs of white ocelli that remain closed. Her lips and mouth are unnaturally dark, with fangs and a long tongue, while her pale skin glitters subtly with gold flecks.From her clavicles and jawline to her cheekbones and eyebrows, Ruby’s features are sharp and intimidatingly beautiful, though a single long scar crosses from her lips to just underneath her left eye, next to two small moles.Below her waist, however, she has the thorax of a massive, flesh-toned spider, with eight long, elegant limbs ending in hands instead of feet, allowing her to multitask and walk along the walls of her library. All of her fingers are clawed and blackened, and often bedecked in beautiful rings. Ruby loves jewelry and finery, and is rarely seen in anything but the finest of gowns and headpieces.PERSONALITY.
Strengths: Clever, observant, adaptable, intelligent, loves a clever joke or riddle, proud of her work, theatrical, patient.
Weaknesses: Incredibly stubborn, vainglorious, reticent to a fault, selfish, mistrustful, snobbish, sarcastic, judgmental, enjoys scaring others and playing the villain, gossip, refuses to face her history, really loves puns
Fears: Losing Jane, losing control, fire, being touched unexpectedly, falling asleep, intimacy, leaving the Archival Realm
Likes: Gossip, good stories, clever wordplay, especially well-told lies, material goods, astronomy, dancing, herself, sweets (especially chocolate and strawberries), cold and foggy mornings, long books, shopping
Dislikes: the ocean, arrogance in others, fire, too much noise, crowds
Hobbies: Reading, thinking up riddles, shopping at the goblin markets, making lopsided deals, admiring her reflection, taking long walks through the library, feeding the bookwyrms

MAGICAL SKILLSET.
Shape-shifting into human form, monstrous strength and speed, capable of walking on walls, scrying, psychic attunement, limited prophecy, some ensorcellment using the power of true names, true immortality, Genus LociSCRYING: In essence, Ruby has access to any information possible, including telling the future or past, but only after the question is asked and payment is received. She does not necessarily remember the information, nor are her answers always direct. Think fantasy wikipedia.In order to use this power, Ruby must remove her veil and open her ocelli in order to and Look into the fabric of the universe. If she removes her veil with all eyes opened, but without a question asked, she instead Sees an over every single aspect about whatever she is looking at, including a person’s entire history and secrets. Without some sort of enchanted eye covering, Ruby would be overwhelmed by constant information and sensory overload. Even with just her four main eyes, it can be difficult to withstand extended periods of uncontrolled scrying.GLAMOUR: Ruby can assume the form of a human woman, though she is unused to walking about on two legs, and it leaves her with some joint pain. Like all fair folk, the disguise is imperfect. Her two gray eyes remain eerily reflective, her canines are just slightly too pointed, and her fingers are a little too long to be natural. She stands at 6'4, and requires a cane to help stay balanced while moving about and taking weight off her knees. She only uses this glamour when in the human world, and doesn’t bother with it in fairy realms.GENUS LOCI: The Archival Realm is somewhat sentient as many fae realms are, and its hallways are ever-shifting. Ruby has limited control over the layout, can sense what’s going on in any part of the realm as needed, and always knows her way around.TRUE IMMORTALITY: The Archival Realm must always have its archivist. No matter how badly beaten or destroyed, she will recover in time.WEAKNESSES Burned by iron, incapable of lying, weakness to weapons made from ash and holly woods, and most wards against fairies.Though the stories told about her suggest that Ruby is incapable of leaving the Archival Palace, she is fully capable of leaving at any transitional periods, including dawn, dusk, equinoxes, and nights with full or new moons. Whether this is a magical rule or simply her preference is unclear, and untested, as Ruby rarely leaves her domain.

Miss Jane

GENERAL .
•   name   :   Jane
•   alias   :   Baby Jane, the Brave Sir Jane
•   gender   :   She/Her
•   species   :   Homunculus
•   Height   :   3'6"PHYSICAL .Jane appears to be a petite child who suffered from malnutrition at the start of her human life, leading her to be smaller than a normal girl her age. Despite her sweet, round face and large green eyes, she has the hints of the same sharp features of her mother, and nearly black curls usually pulled back into pigtails that resemble horns. Her pointed ears twitch much like a cat’s, and she has a slightly prehensile tail with a tuft of dark fur on the end.Though she prefers more practical clothing than her mother, Jane occasionally dresses up in bespoke armor and a little, unsharpened sword so that she can play at being a knight. Jane is rarely without one of her many little pouches or bags, in which she carries a variety of snacks, stickers, toys, and the occasional woodland creature as well.Her wings are delicate and golden, giving off a faint warm light, and occasionally shedding scales here and there like fairy dust.

PERSONALITY.
Strengths: Courageous, selfless, friendly, wishes to be a hero, innocent, believes the best in people, very forgiving, food motivated, loves stories.
Weaknesses: Inexperienced, naïve, easily manipulated, easily frightened and spooked, often too forgiving, cries easily.
Fears: Being alone, large animals, sudden noises, quiet enclosed spaces, hearing doors shut behind her, complete darkness, overly serious or frightening strangers (though she tries to be friendly and polite all the time)
Likes: Frogs, adventures, stories, coloring, stickers, desserts, hide and seek, standing in shallow ponds and watching the fish swim by, music
Dislikes: Artichokes.
Hobbies: Coloring, playing pretend, practising her letters, reading, taking her stuffed toys out for tea parties and picnics.MAGICAL.
Flight, very simple illusions, seemingly trusted by all animals in the Archival Realm, very weak ability to Command Animals. It’s not magical, but she seems to be able to charm just about anyone who visits the library. Skilled at catching frogs.Weaknesses: Mistrusted by most mundane animals outside of the Realm, burned by iron, weak to ash and holly woods.Jane is incapable of leaving the archival realm. Being a homunculus, she was made out of matter from the realm itself, and will crumble to dust if she ever properly crosses the barrier. There are very few exceptions here and there where the veil is thin or faded, but hard limits on how far from the castle itself she can go. Ruby does know this, however, and has never let Jane get too close to the edge of the realm.

plotting guide

Eternally a work in progress, this is just meant to be a jumping-off point if you're not sure where to start plotting. I also have a wanted plot tag and an interest tracker if you're too nervous to approach me for plotting outright.

FACTS TO REMEMBER:Your muse can know Ruby by reputation (even if we haven't plotted yet) with details that are either accurate or inaccurate to her canon lore. Folklore about Ruby, just like folklore about fairies, exists in multiple universes, with the natural variation that exists between different cultures.The basic facts that should always be present are as follows: Ruby is a giant, masked woman with multiple arms. She has the ability to answer any question posed -- for the right price, of course -- and is not to be taken lightly. Beyond this, so long as it's clear you're pulling from a folktale and not Ruby's canon, your character can "know" any number of things about her.Ruby does not wear a mask in all verses. In verses where it doesn't make sense, such as her wwdits or human verse, for example, she goes bare-faced.Ruby does not allow people to meet Jane until they've earned her trust. That doesn't mean Jane might try to meet your muse herself, but it isn't Maman-approved.

FAVORITE TROPES: 
Arranged MarriageMonsters Learning to be Loved
The Slowest of Slow BurnsDark Fairy Tale Vibes
Fantasy MasqueradesDangerous Fair Folk
Beauty and the Beast 
MEDIA TO INSPIRE PLOTS: 
The Shape of WaterPan's Labyrinth
StardustHowl's Moving Castle
MaleficentPanna a Netvor (1978)

PLOT IDEAS / WHERE TO STARTVisit the Archival Realm: Like many fey locatons, the Archival Realm is fickle in where and when it appears. Your muse can seek it out intentionally, but they can also stumble upon it by accident, and have to figure out how to get home. Perhaps they're in search of arcane knowledge. Perhaps they're on a quest or looking to break a curse. Who knows!Collecting on a debt: Your muse, or your muses' predecessor, made a deal with Ruby, but passed before they could fulfill their end of the bargain. Now, Ruby's come to collect.Go shopping together: Ruby often visits the human world in search of fineries. Fairy markets also often crop up in various worlds. Let her take you shopping.A hero on a quest: Your muse is either traveling alone or in a group seeking out the archivist to kill her in the name of glory. Violence and shenanigans occur.Hot goss: Ruby is a notorious gossip. If your muse has drama to spill, she is going to be all over it.Camping/Travel: Ruby is an indoor cat only, and does not do well without her creature comforts. Let's put her out in nature!Blending in with humans: Due to a series of unfortunate events, Ruby is now stuck in the mortal realm and must rely on your muse to help her keep up the charade and get home.Is anyone going to adopt this child? If your muses is on the younger end and in need of a family, they won't find the warmest mother in Ruby, but they will be loved all the same. She has a fierce parental instinct, and a soft spot for children who just need the chance to recover from their pain.Arranged marriage: I mean. Yeah.

relationships

Note: All relationships are verse-dependent unless specified. Each relationship is treated as it's own verse, and does not interfere with the others.

BEAUTIFUL MISCHIEF
loki odinson.      best friend, family in all but name.
malus.      gardener and reluctant frind.BLCKMASK
lèon fargo vàsquez.      an equal in all but height, romantic.CHAINEDBYCHOICE
curumë.      servant for a year, pain in the neck.ERITVITA
roland eneara.      singularly in love, always in awe.GRCDIENTSHIFT
alan gaillard.      romantic partner, expedition superior.
clea dessendre.      creator, most beloved and hated at once.

INTOTHEWILDSEA
niamh dagbjørnsdóttir.      sister, partner in crime.LAPERLINA
adelaide diane triton.      cruel as the sea, and just as beautiful.LUNARSCORCHING
haleth xin-stristal.      contracted knight, loyalty and fondness.
hasvir.      target of fascination, something resembling romance.
krie.      one-sided mistrust and suspicion.TEMPESTTRAGEDY
revanelan ilensul.      undying loyalty, will follow to hell and backWAKESLEFT
emmerich volkarin.      brings a rare quiet to a racing mind, romantic partner, jane's mentor.