---MAIN CHARACTER---
Cael Vire – The Hollow-Bonded / Beast Within
Age: 17
Burden: "No Soul Bond" (Public) — "Vaultseed" (True)
Personality: Quiet, watchful, bitterly sarcastic. Prone to violent thoughts he keeps leashed.
Background: Raised in the labor ghettos of Ashgrave; his mother disappeared when he was 10; father unknown.
True Nature: He doesn't have a Vault Beast—he is one. The first human to be born with a Vault core inside him.
Motivations: Survive, hide what he is, discover the truth about the Vaultseed project, and eventually control the creature within.
Flaws: Trust issues, bloodlust under stress, imposter syndrome, fear of himself
Arc: From pretending to be weak → to hiding his monstrous power → to choosing to become his own kind of monster
---SUPPORTING CHARACTERS---
Lira Thorn – The Strategist
Age: 18
Burden: "Glass Mind" – her emotions become literal illusions, so she must remain calm or risk exposing secrets
Personality: Cold, fiercely intelligent, speaks in clipped logic
Background: Born into a highborn Vault family; betrayed during her first Trial, now exiled
Role: Cael's ally and reluctant mentor; may know more about Vaultseeds than she lets on
Flaws: Emotionally stunted, self-serving, hard to trust
Arc: From manipulator → to willing ally → to someone who gambles her mind for Cael's trust
Jorrin Kade – The Hammer
Age: 19
Burden: "Burn Cycle" – gains immense strength but burns his body unless cooled
Personality: Loud, brash, loyal, big brother vibes
Background: Ex-miner turned Trial warrior, poor as dirt, fights to support his sick sister
Role: Tank and protector of the group, bonds early with Cael
Flaws: Too trusting, reckless, slow to sense betrayal
Arc: From brute muscle → to self-sacrificing guardian → to tragic hero or betrayer?
Renna Vale – The Mole / Wildcard
Age: 16
Burden: "Echo Pulse" – can relive the last 10 seconds around her once per day
Personality: Cheerful, sharp-tongued, acts naive but watches everything
Background: Orphan raised in Vault Orphanage 7; secretly working for unknown forces
Role: Initially friend → eventual betrayer → potential redemption arc
Flaws: Dual loyalty, fear of consequences, guilt
Arc: From spy → to loyal traitor → to someone who makes a painful choice
Warden Ryx – The Antagonist
Age: Unknown (looks 20s)
Burden: "Mind Leash" – can control anyone who speaks his name under fear
Personality: Charismatic tyrant, unnervingly calm, speaks like a preacher
Background: First known "Warden"—claimed he rose from nothing, truth unknown
Role: Antagonist leader of the Warden Cult; seeks Cael as either heir or sacrifice
Flaws: Obsessed with control, sees emotions as weakness
Arc: From distant legend → personal threat → final confrontation
--- Other Figures---
Mother Korin – Cult leader who believes Cael is the Vault's chosen
Marshal Vire – Cael's possible father, Vault researcher gone missing
The Voice in the Vault – Speaks only to Cael; is it real or a product of the beast?