The Obsidian Shroud of Byzantium

Synopsis: In the meticulously ordered kingdom of Byzantium, where clockwork mechanisms govern every aspect of life and the Celestial Gears dictate divine law, Arthur exists in the shadows. A Shadow Broker by trade – an information gatherer who thrives in the city’s underbelly – he navigates a world built on secrets and sustained by fear. Haunted by the disappearance of his father, a brilliant Artificer silenced for questioning the kingdom's rigid doctrines, Arthur has honed his skills: observation, analysis, and the art of disappearing. When Lord Valerius, a high-ranking official within King Theron’s regime, drunkenly reveals whispers of the Whisperwood Weavers – practitioners of forbidden magic who draw power from an ancient forest bordering Byzantium – Arthur finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that threatens to shatter the kingdom's fragile order. The Weavers are branded heretics and hunted relentlessly by Theron’s Clockwork Guard, but their existence hints at a power far older and more dangerous than anything Byzantium has ever known. King Theron, a ruler obsessed with control and fueled by ambition, sees the rumors of the Whisperwood as a threat to his reign. He launches a ruthless campaign to eradicate any trace of their influence, silencing dissent and tightening his grip on the kingdom. But Arthur suspects that Theron’s fear runs deeper than mere political expediency – that he possesses knowledge of something far more sinister connected to the Weavers and his father's disappearance. As Arthur delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a web of deceit, betrayal, and forbidden power. He must navigate treacherous alliances, evade the relentless pursuit of the Clockwork Guard, and confront the dark secrets that lie at the heart of Byzantium’s meticulously crafted facade. But to survive, he'll need more than just his wits – he'll need to embrace a strength he never knew he possessed, even if it means confronting the very forces that shattered his family and threaten to consume him entirely. The question isn't whether Arthur can uncover the truth, but at what cost? And will Byzantium survive when the gears begin to grind against each other?