There are people (and elves, dwarves, goblins, and probably trolls) who would sell their own mother for a little more power. Usually, they sell their daughters, but that’s another story. And then there are people who run around screaming in circles the moment you give them the power to decide what’s for dinner.
And then there’s Miriana.
She falls into both categories.
As the King’s eldest daughter, she could have had the crown. And all the power that came with it. But she refused it and was cast out.
For a long time, everyone thought Miriana simply had no interest in power, responsibility, or the political game.
Quite the opposite.
Miriana is a master of all three.
As the Left Hand of the Golden Dawn, she holds an unfathomable amount of power. More than the King himself – even if he refuses to admit it.
Miriana knows exactly which nobles sell their daughters, which send their sons into pointless fights, and which mages risk innocent lives with their experiments.
And Miriana acts.
Quickly.
Efficiently.
From the shadows.
Nobles suddenly stop being nobles. Daughters marry for love, and sons become Templars or scholars.
And mages disappear without leaving a trace.
Miriana knows the responsibility she carries for her spies. She sees it as her duty to create an environment where they are allowed to learn, to grow, and to make mistakes.
She watches over them.
Catches the worst of the damage.
And pays the price for their actions.
Miriana puts particular emphasis on making sure her spies can see themselves as weapons.
Miriana kills.
The spy is guided.
That way, it is her conscience that carries the burden.
Not theirs.
The political game.
The King likes to believe he is the one pulling the strings.
And Miriana loves her father.
So she lets him believe it.
But everyone knows the truth.
The spies control the game.
They decide alliances, scandals, rise, downfall, and fortune. Whoever controls the spies controls the game.
And that is Miriana.
Even though she does remarkably little and usually lets things run their course.
She COULD intervene.
And that is why people fear her.
And Miriana makes it all look effortless.
Despite everything, she is always up for a game of cards. She drinks trolls under the table – I assume.
Normally, they don’t come into my tavern.
Thankfully.
My door would be too small.
And they stink.
And they’re ugly.
And… we’re talking about Miriana.
Despite everything, Miriana is happy.
Truly happy.
She lives her life. Anyone who spends two minutes talking to her can see that.
Still.
Sometimes I worry about her.
Other people would break under all of this. And while I don’t believe Miri will break, I’m afraid she might forget herself somewhere along the way.
Especially since this is only a small part of her story.
But honestly?
I’m glad we have Miriana.
There is no one I would rather entrust with this responsibility.
I just hope the price doesn’t become too high one day.
I’m Raven Morrigan Hawke, artist and worldbuilder creating Elyndor and the Eris System—two worlds shaped by stories, characters, mysteries, and countless little details.
Elyndor is a dark, living fantasy world of ancient secrets, strange creatures, magic, and stories that rarely go exactly as planned.
The Eris System takes those ideas somewhere else entirely: into the vastness of space, where technology, distant worlds, and new stories are waiting to be discovered.
Through art, stories, and worldbuilding, I invite you to step inside both worlds—and see what you find along the way.
