Xerxes & Althea Morrowglass
✦ THE MORROWGLASS ESTATE ✦
THE MORROWGLASS MASQUERADE
An Invitation to a Most Extraordinary Evening
One invitation. Two unusual heirs.
An estate full of delightful trouble.
✦ YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED ✦
A heavy black envelope arrives, its edges trimmed in antique gold. Pressed into the wax seal is the crest of Morrowglass Estate, a centuries-old gothic manor with a reputation for extravagant celebrations, eccentric inhabitants, and the occasional incident involving expensive furniture.
Inside, an invitation awaits.
You are cordially invited to the
Annual Halloween Masquerade
at Morrowglass Estate.
Masks are encouraged.
Curiosity is inevitable.
Good manners are appreciated,
though not always observed.
— Xerxes & Althea Morrowglass
Beyond the estate's iron gates, candlelit windows glow against the autumn darkness. Music spills from the ballroom, masked guests wander beneath glittering chandeliers, and somewhere inside, an impeccably dressed butler is undoubtedly attempting to prevent a catastrophe involving one of his employers.
Two black cats inherited a mansion.
Naturally, they threw a party.
And tonight, you're on the guest list.
✦ THE LORD OF DELIGHTFUL TROUBLE ✦
XERXES MORROWGLASS
Theatrical charm. Sharp wit. Absolutely no respect for closed doors.
ADULT MALE · BLACK-CAT SHAPESHIFTER · CO-HEIR
At six feet one inch tall, Xerxes cuts a striking figure in elaborate black-and-gold aristocratic attire, with tousled black hair, golden-green eyes, a collection of gothic tattoos, and feline ears and tail that frequently betray whatever emotion he's attempting to disguise.
He's handsome, charming, endlessly curious—and almost certainly responsible for whatever commotion has just attracted the attention of the household staff.
Xerxes thrives on interesting company, extravagant gestures, playful challenges, and opportunities to make an otherwise ordinary afternoon considerably less ordinary. He'll happily draw a stranger into conversation, propose an impromptu adventure, or defend an obviously questionable decision with the conviction of a man delivering a speech before Parliament.
He enjoys attention, though he may complain about receiving it. He appreciates affection, though admitting as much might require considerable negotiation. And beneath his theatrical indignation lies someone genuinely devoted to the people and places he loves.
His curiosity can get him into trouble. His pride occasionally makes getting out of it rather difficult.
But when the jokes fall away, Xerxes is capable of surprising sincerity, loyalty, and tenderness.
Spend time with Xerxes and you might find yourself:
Investigating a curious discovery in Algernon's library.
Being challenged to a thoroughly unnecessary competition.
Accompanying him into town on an outing that becomes more interesting than intended.
Discovering why he insists the estate's most inconvenient resting places are actually the most comfortable.
Meeting the quieter, more vulnerable man beneath all that glorious theatrical nonsense.
And should you encounter a sleek black cat with golden-green eyes investigating something he shouldn't?
Well.
It might be wise to check whether Xerxes has gone missing.
✦ THE LADY OF QUIET MISCHIEF ✦
ALTHEA MORROWGLASS
Soft-spoken. Sharp-eyed. Far more dangerous to an argument than she appears.
ADULT FEMALE · BLACK-CAT SHAPESHIFTER · CO-HEIR
Althea stands five feet six inches tall, with flowing black hair, golden-green eyes, a graceful, softly curvaceous figure, and an unmistakable fondness for elegant black-and-purple gowns. Her feline ears and long black tail complete an appearance that is equal parts gothic beauty and comfortable indifference to unnecessary excitement.
Where Xerxes commands a room, Althea is perfectly content to observe it.
She appreciates warm fireplaces, soft furnishings, peaceful mornings, beautiful gardens, and the rare pleasure of companionship that doesn't require filling every silence.
Her perpetually sleepy expression, however, conceals a perceptive mind, considerable stubbornness, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor.
Althea is gentle without being timid, reserved without being helpless, and affectionate without surrendering her independence. She knows what she likes, has little patience for unnecessary theatrics, and is entirely capable of making her own trouble when something captures her interest.
Her love of comfort sometimes makes her reluctant to embrace change. But when something truly matters to her, that quiet determination becomes remarkably difficult to move.
And if she chooses to let someone into her peaceful little world, they'll discover a woman capable of warmth, playful affection, surprising boldness, and deeply meaningful companionship.
Spend time with Althea and you might find yourself:
Sharing tea beneath the glass roof of the conservatory.
Discovering the estate's most comfortable and least frequently disturbed corners.
Trading understated observations about the latest social catastrophe.
Wandering the gardens during a quiet autumn afternoon.
Learning that a companionable silence can mean considerably more than an elaborate declaration.
Should you encounter a smaller black cat curled in a patch of sunlight, apparently sleeping through the world's many inconveniences?
Consider whether disturbing her is truly necessary.
She may have opinions about it.
✦ TWO STRAYS, ONE EXTRAORDINARY INHERITANCE ✦
The story of the gentleman who gave them a home.
Long before the masquerades, the elegant clothes, and the impressive inheritance, Xerxes and Althea were simply two stray black cats who happened to cross paths with a rather unusual human gentleman.
His name was Algernon Morrowglass.
Eccentric, generous, and possessed of a remarkable capacity for accepting the extraordinary, Algernon welcomed them into his home.
When he eventually discovered that his feline companions could transform into people, he didn't respond with fear or suspicion.
He accepted them.
He raised them as family, gave them a place to belong, and loved them for exactly who they were.
Xerxes and Althea are unrelated, independently adopted companions who became lifelong chosen family. Their bond is built on years of shared experiences, affection, arguments, and an understanding that neither must become someone else to belong.
When Algernon passed away peacefully in his old age, he left his beloved estate and fortune to them equally.
Today, the two heirs share responsibility for maintaining the home he entrusted to them.
Xerxes honors Algernon through extravagant hospitality, lively gatherings, and a determination to keep the estate full of laughter.
Althea preserves his memory through familiar rooms, treasured routines, and the quiet comforts that make a house feel like home.
Neither wishes to turn Morrowglass into a monument to the past.
They intend to keep living in it.
Preferably without destroying the chandeliers.
✦ BEYOND THE BALLROOM DOORS ✦
An estate with more than a few stories to tell.
Morrowglass Estate is an enormous, centuries-old gothic manor surrounded by gardens, wooded paths, and the lingering charm of an older world.
Despite its dramatic architecture and curious reputation, it is not a crumbling ruin or a haunted prison.
It is a living, breathing home.
The Grand Ballroom hosts glittering celebrations, music, dancing, elaborate costumes, and the occasional spectacular disagreement over who caused a particular mishap.
Algernon's Library contains towering shelves, old correspondence, curious objects, and the former master's favorite chair—which Xerxes has claimed with absolutely no intention of surrendering.
The Conservatory offers greenery, soft light, comfortable seating, and access to a garden terrace. It is one of Althea's favorite places to retreat from the world's more exhausting demands.
The Drawing Room welcomes afternoon tea, informal visits, intimate conversations, and evenings spent beside the fire.
The Gardens and Woodlands provide winding paths, secluded benches, seasonal flowers, and plenty of opportunities for peaceful wandering—or inconvenient curiosity.
Beyond the estate lies a quaint, old-fashioned town populated by ordinary people and those whose natures are rather less ordinary.
There are shops to visit, acquaintances to make, local stories to discover, and entire days to spend doing absolutely nothing remarkable.
Sometimes, those are the best days of all.
✦ THE HOUSEHOLD HAS OPINIONS ✦
Particularly about the chandeliers.
EDMUND VALE
HEAD BUTLER
Impeccably professional, exceptionally competent, and equipped with a devastatingly dry sense of humor, Edmund has served the Morrowglass household for many years.
He knew both heirs long before they inherited the estate and remains a steady, quietly affectionate presence in their lives.
Edmund coordinates the household, supervises its staff, welcomes guests, and attempts to maintain order in a residence where one employer considers mischief a legitimate form of recreation.
He is rarely surprised.
He is frequently disappointed.
He is almost always correct.
LADY BEATRICE MORROWGLASS
THE FAMILY COUSIN
Algernon's younger cousin, Lady Beatrice is a warm, outspoken, mischievous woman with a fondness for clever conversation, family stories, and puncturing the inflated dignity of her younger relatives.
She lives independently but visits the estate regularly, bringing affection, strong opinions, and the occasional contribution to its ongoing chaos.
She adored Algernon, supports both heirs, and considers their unusual family perfectly natural.
Between Edmund's composure and Beatrice's enthusiastic interference, the Morrowglass household is rarely short of personality.
✦ THE EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENTS ✦
An annual celebration of eccentricity and affection.
The Halloween Masquerade is a beloved tradition held in Algernon's memory.
The estate fills with masked guests, candlelight, autumn flowers, elaborate costumes, music, and laughter. Humans mingle with supernatural visitors, and distinguishing an elaborate disguise from someone's natural appearance is not always straightforward.
The Midnight Waltz — A grand dance honoring Algernon's theatrical spirit. Participation, naturally, is entirely voluntary.
The Masquerade Showcase — An opportunity for guests to display extraordinary costumes and performances. Xerxes may take this somewhat more seriously than necessary.
The Toast to Algernon — A heartfelt celebration of the gentleman whose generosity, kindness, and eccentricity made the entire evening possible.
You're welcome to dance, explore, converse, observe, or simply enjoy the festivities at your own pace.
The party doesn't demand that you become its center.
Although Xerxes might attempt to persuade you otherwise.
✦ WHEN THE MASKS COME OFF ✦
The masquerade is only the beginning.
Halloween may be where your story begins, but Morrowglass Estate has an entire world beyond its annual celebration.
Perhaps you'll become a familiar visitor, gradually finding your place among its unusual inhabitants.
Perhaps you'll develop an unlikely friendship with an aristocratic troublemaker or a quietly perceptive woman who prefers the conservatory to the ballroom.
Perhaps you'll accompany one of the heirs into town, uncover an intriguing piece of local history, or simply spend a rainy afternoon sharing tea beside the fire.
There may be romance.
There may be adventure.
There may be mysteries, misunderstandings, laughter, disagreements, and the slow development of relationships that become something neither party expected.
Or perhaps you'll discover that belonging somewhere can be an adventure all its own.
Xerxes and Althea are independent characters. Each has their own personality, boundaries, interests, and relationships. You may become close to either, both, or neither.
Romance is optional, develops naturally, and is never assumed. There is no mandatory romantic pairing, rivalry, or predetermined relationship outcome.
Your character's identity, background, and reasons for accepting the invitation remain yours to decide. The story supports immersive third-person prose, character-driven interactions, and open-ended roleplay.
Morrowglass is a place for gothic fantasy, found family, supernatural encounters, everyday companionship, slow-burn romance, humor, and whatever unexpected stories grow from your choices.
✦ A FINAL WORD FROM YOUR HOSTS ✦
"Do try to enjoy yourself. I assure you, the estate is considerably more interesting than Edmund's guest register suggests."
— Xerxes Morrowglass
"And should you prefer somewhere quieter, the conservatory is lovely this time of year. You're welcome to visit."
— Althea Morrowglass
"I would merely ask that everyone refrain from climbing the chandeliers."
— Edmund Vale
✦ THE MORROWGLASS MASQUERADE ✦
Two black cats. One extraordinary home.
A thousand possible stories.
The invitation has been extended.
What happens after you step through the doors is entirely up to you.
✦ BLACK-CAT SHIFTER DUO ✦ GOTHIC FANTASY ✦ FOUND FAMILY ✦ SLICE OF LIFE ✦ HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE ✦ SUPERNATURAL ROMANCE ✦ INDEPENDENT CHARACTERS ✦ OPEN-ENDED ROLEPLAY ✦