Creation

Hadrian was created by Kelly Thompson and Meredith McClaren in Black Cloak 1.

Major Story Arcs

Hadrian II of Essex is the son of the elf Vasha Essex and half-brother of Phaedra. His father's full name is unknown, but he is a highborn Elf of the House of Essex; he died at some point during Phaedra and Hadrian's childhood. Phaedra was assumed by the rest of elf society to share the same father. They all lived in the palace and were very well situated in high society--for instance, Phaedra was engaged to Freyal III, the crown prince.

Eventually Phaedra found out that her biological father was actually the powerful Phinneas II of Thane, making her half-elf, half-Dracona. Knowing that her mixed-race identity would ruin Freyal if the truth came out, she broke off the engagement and accepted banishment from the queen.

Hadrian and Phaedra seemingly did not have a good relationship in the first place, given Hadrian’s arrogant, conservative personality and Phaedra’s more free-thinking nature. He apparently did not learn of Phaedra’s mixed race background but was shamed and angered by her exile, which would have reflected on him as well.

Phaedra left the palace for many years and worked as a Black Cloak, or cop. She eventually returned to question the queen after Freyal was killed. As she entered the palace, Hadrian hit her from behind, trying to kill or seriously injure her. She survived and was healed by the palace magicians. They saw each other later as she was leaving, and Hadrian told his mother to ignore “that traitorous trash.”

A while later, after Phaedra discovered the plot behind Freyal’s death—the queen was draining the beloved and presumed-extinct cat-like Taka of their magic in order to support the city’s enervated magical infrastructure. Freyal found out and she killed him to cover it up.

Phaedra and her partner Pax break into the castle to get proof. Somehow, Hadrian either knows they’re coming or is part of the scheme, and confronts them in the bowels of the castle. However, Pax manages to pull a gun on him. They tie him up and knock him out, leaving him in a closet that they accidentally discover is also the entrance down to the secret Taka machine.

A fight ensues between the queen’s allies and Phaedra’s allies. Hadrian’s mother, Vasha, is killed after joining in on Phaedra’s side. Phaedra eventually destroys the machine, which causes fires and floods around the city but brings a measure of truth and justice to the society. The elves fall out of power, with the queen and her main magician ally, Master Lysanthir, being jailed. Phinneas becomes Prime Minister. Hadrian’s exact fate is unknown.