The peace that formerly reigned in Terra Nova has eroded, now little more than a memory. War ravages the continent. Disputes divide kingdoms; ideals divide families. The quest for power consumes absolutely and indiscriminately. None are immune to its allure.
Who will rise and who will fall? Only time—and ambition—will tell.
UPDATES
05.26.2023
2 month character creation hold for all existing members begins 6/5/2023. Ended 8/5/2023.
10.29.2023
Change in how times flows. Was 4 IC seasons, now only 2 IC seasons per 1 OOC year.
5 whole years of Heir Apparent goodness! When I started the site, I knew I was hunkering down for the long haul, but I never could have predicted the numerous twists and turns this roleplay site has seen. Hundreds of plots, characters, and members have come and gone, all leaving marks on the site. I am so very thankful for those who have invested. Because you keep coming back, keep getting on, and keep writing, Heir Apparent has the legacy it does today. Three cheers to us!
Miriel was rather poorly trying to practice with a bow and arrow. She had hit a target once before during training, and had decided to try and replicate that. But today wasn't going all that well. The arrow kept falling off the bow, she'd smacked her own arm too many times to count (not that the pain bothered her), among many mistakes. There was a litter of arrows everywhere, but she wasn't giving up. This was a better weapon for her, it didn't requite fighting up close, it was better that way. Up close she hesitated, never sure in herself, although maybe that was why she was having such a hard time now...
Nocking her arrow she took a deep breath. Focusing down towards the target she had set up Miriel focused. Clearing her head like the Parabolti teachers instructed her. Pulling the tension she let it fly, and the arrow actually landed right below the target. Smiling, was excited it landed close. That was progress. Twirling around in an unexpected show of emotions, it was the most exuberant she would be. Picking up one of the arrows that had managed to make it less than a stride away, ready to keep trying despite her poor attempts and form.
Elletta hadn't interacted much with the women of Coheed. Not out of disdain or pity, but because she saw the type of future her father had wanted for her in the women here and she didn't quite know how to handle that. Even with the King's Hand improving things here for the women, she still wasn't sure how to talk to them either. And yet, she could handle being around the type of men that used to terrify her.
It was weird dynamic, and one she wasn't quite sure how to broach. She wasn't even sure if she should, at times. But that decision was now right at her feet. One of the women was practicing with a bow and Elletta could see all the errors in her form, though it wasn't exactly terrible. She could walk away, still a reasonable enough distance to turn around.
But she'd kick herself if she didn't help correct that form at the very least. "Tha' last one was pretty decent." Which it was and the woman would probably make a pretty decent archer in time.
Miriel had heard footsteps approaching, but jumped at the voice. Nevermere. The accent was unmistakable and she quickly closed in on herself, bright smile replaced by a polite one. At least it was a woman, certainly she would have already been running otherwise. Her mother had taught her to fear them and their different beliefs and practices.
Her hair falling over her face to hide it she peered through the curls with a mix of curiosity and fear, mostly interest though. "You think so? I haven't managed to hit the target yet." It was something knew though, so it wasn't too surprising how rubbish she was. And of course Miriel assumed she was bad at everything like her mother so often told her.
Elletta hadn't been sure of what to expect, as far as reactions went. But she figured that this was probably a decent one to get, instead of, say, silence or spooking the other woman. For all she knew, whoever was the woman's husband might have gotten upset and warned her to not talk, so this was some kind of willful disobedience. The witch wouldn't know without asking and honestly, that felt like it might be poking the wolf or something. So she didn't.
"Eh, progress is progress so don' get down on yerself for it." She looked at the bow and then the makeshift target before moving her gaze back to the coheedswoman. "How long ya had the bow?"
Miriel nodded her head, although she still wasn't sure what all of that really meant. Her sisters always talked about practice making perfect, but she was just a little slower to try all of it.
"This is the second time. I borrowed it from my sister, she said I need to practice. Parabolti are strong." The words tumbled out, but they always tended to when she talked about her sisters and half-sisters. They were what made her stronger, not some weapon in her hands.
Managing to sneak a glance at the woman she didn't know how to even start to trust. "You use a bow a lot?"
"I like it better than a sword." She eyed the distance, where the arrow had hit and measured it against her first attempts back when she was much younger. Before she went to be a soldier in training. The woman had a decent eye, maybe. Or there was more driving her.
"Doin' better than my first tries. Couldna hit the broad side o' anything and here ya are workin' with a target."
Nodding her head in agreement, Miriel was sure that a bow and arrow was slightly easier for her to wrap her head around at first. It wasn't directly slicing through someone else, the violence something she had cowered from all her life. And here she was trying to learn how to be a part of it.
"Thank you ma'am." Tilting her head she took a deep breath, trying to be brave. Brave like her half-sisters, like she needed to be for her son in a world were red-headed demons came and killed without a thought. "Would you, um, give me some direction?" She had to try like Catrin told them to.
Elletta blinked at the request, not expecting that to have come out of the younger woman's mouth at all. Well, who was she to not offer a helping hand. So she gave her a half-crooked grin, something a little unsure at the edges for all the confidence she wrapped around her shoulders.
"Course. Lemme see how ya stand first and how ya hold tha' bow."
Miriel chewed on the inside of her lip, nodding her head and setting herself into the position she had been taught. Her mother would have beat her senseless. But that didn't matter and that's what she had to remember. All that mattered now was the new family she was growing, and maybe impressing her husband along the way wouldn't hurt. Especially since nothing ever seemed to.
When she was in the position she nodded her head at the Nevermere woman. "Here?"
She watched the other woman get into position, took in her stance. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the best either.
"So, here. If ya move your back foot a little more this way, you'll be a little more solid." Elletta dropped into the stance to show her, gesturing between them to the placement of her feet compared to Miriel's. "And then lift your elbow jus' a lil more."
Miriel chewed on her bottom lip while the Nevermere woman critiqued her. Something she was rather used to, although not by someone she didn't know. And certainly not when it came to fighting. Although she had to say it wasn't something she entirely minded and was actually good to see.
"So spreading the feet enough to create a balance." Moving her feet she also moved her elbows up at the same time, trying to copy the stance and not doing half-bad. "The elbows up for?"
"Not bad. Yer gettin' it. So ya don' want your elbow super high on the arm pullin' back. Gonna want it to match your shoulder height but be level wit' the ground." Elletta showed her the stance for the other woman to match, holding her own arm in place as if she was pulling the string back on her own bow. Even though she didn't have it with her, the muscle memory was enough to demonstrate the arm position without her weapon.
Miriel nodded her head, making sure not to take her eyes off her target. That was at least one thing she understood. Make sure to pay attention where your bow was pointed. She did quickly flick her eyes over to see the demonstration but otherwise she stared down field.
Moving her arms and shoulders she took a breath and let the arrow fly. It managed to hit close to the edge of the target, and she looked over at the woman with a smile. "Thank you, truly."