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!
It was the perfect day to paint. The sun was shining, but not too bright, there were just enough shadows that he would have no problem seeing the depth and beauty of the lake. The air was chilly with the beginning of Heims, but it was not yet cold enough to make it too cold for Alaric to keep from doing his first and truest love while outdoors: Art.
He'd set up his easel and canvas, tilting it this way and that, then lightly scribbled on the canvas with some graphite until he was satisfied with the general composition of the piece. He straightened his lucky hat, feeling the familiar weight of the very large feather move with the breeze, and got out his oils and the pigments he wanted to use. He mixed them together, still looking at the scenery critically. Something was missing, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Knowing that he'd find what was missing while he was working on the piece, he began his work with such focus that he would not immediately hear anyone approach him. He'd been told he ought to get a dog so that no one would accost him while he was doing his job...pigments were very expensive and very valuable if sold to the right people.
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 5, 2023 18:12:27 GMT -5
It was a lovely day for a walk down by the lake, she would come down often but for reason haven't but it was like the water was calling her to it. She some time feel like walking alongside the lake clears her head. To be fair her head needs a lot of clearing because over the past couple of months a lot of things have been happening in Sina's life.
Sina was wearing this stunning sky magenta dress that looks beautiful next to her skin tone and the blues of the lakes her hair was done in a way that was framing her face. there wasn't many people around by the lake which makes the walk more peaceful and she for a while feels happy, as she walked she noticed a guy with a feather in his hat, it was intriguing for Sina.
Walking closer to him she noticed that he was painting. "Excuse me sure, you are really good." Smiling to him as she came into his view, trying not to scar him.
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 6, 2023 13:37:04 GMT -5
Alaric startled when the woman spoke to him, but this didn't stop him from his work, however. He gave the painting another flick of his brush, only glancing at the woman, before looking at her with interest. With the way her dress reminded him of a hue of pink seen during sunset--the most beautiful time of day in many people's opinion--he thought he may have found what was missing from the scenery.
"Thank you, my dear, although I've barely started," indeed, to his eyes, his canvas was just mere blobs of color for placement than it was actual work. Artists are their own worst critics. However, he was the last person to deny any flattery...especially from the lovely creature that stood before him now, "I hope you don't find what I'm about to say offensive, dear lady, but you are quite lovely. Has anyone ever had the pleasure of painting your portrait?"
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 6, 2023 14:01:45 GMT -5
"Just started? I am sure when you are done sir it will be a masterpiece." She was always fascinated by how the artist use their brush to make what would be just simple colours to work of art. They do have a way to use their talent to capture emotion in a stroke of a brush, passion behind the work they create. She often find herself looking at the art work that were in the library.
When he said that she was lovely and asked if anybody had the pleasure of painting her portrait. She was a bit confused. "My portrait?" She oftern wondered what it was like to have her portrait painted, somebody focus on you, eyes scanning your feature. Shaking her head softly. "I never had the honor of having my portrait being painted." Tucking a bit of stray hair behind her ear. Her chocolate brown eyes drifted from the painting to him.
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 6, 2023 20:12:42 GMT -5
"Yes, it shall be quite the masterpiece," if there was something Alaric was not deficient in, it was confidence, "My paintings always are," which was a lie. He was good, but it was impossible for every piece to be a masterpiece. Of course, a little puffery of one's skills never hurt anyone.
"I am shocked, simply flabbergasted that no one has thought to immortalize your beauty on the canvas, to freeze in time the brilliance of your smile, and the sparkle in your eyes," he stuck his hands out, both hands forming a frame as if he were seeing how he'd frame her portrait, "I can see just how it could be done...my dear, I believe I have found a muse in you. I believe that you would be the perfect subject for my next masterpiece," he put his hand to his heart, "Will you allow me the privilege of painting you? I promise, it will be a love letter to your beauty, and a celebration of your radiance. I simply cannot resist, and I hope that you cannot either."
Indeed, Alaric had found what he was missing from his painting. He'd come out to capture the lake, but now the lake would be a background to his new subject. If she consents to being painted, he will search for something for her to sit on, finding a decent sized log nearby and he'll take the time to pose her so that she would be at her most flattering angle.
"My, but I have forgotten my manners. If I am to paint you, it is only right that I at least introduce myself," he stepped back from her, removed his hat and gave her an exaggerated, courtly bow, "I am the Alaric Melbourne, painter extraordinaire. And might I have your name?"
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 7, 2023 12:01:08 GMT -5
These person seems to be really confidence, which is in a way admirable. Something she knows she need to work on more. She looked at the canvas and smile, the way he spoken she bite her inner cheek trying not to blush last his compliments.
"A muse in me? I never thought I would be anyones muse, but my don't you have a way with words Alaric. It is a honour just to be in your presence. Name is Sina Navarro. Keeper of books." Bowing her head. She was trying to keep herself compose that she forgot to say that she agrees. "Why would you like me to stand, or sit?" Doesn't really know what he wanted to do."
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 8, 2023 19:26:26 GMT -5
"Enchanted to make your acquaintance, Miss Navarro of the books..." he paused, eyes widening as if realizing that he may have made a faux pas, "Ah, apologies if my assumption that you are unmarried in incorrect, but I simply cannot imagine that any husband of yours would dare risk you being swept off by someone underserving." When she asked if she should be sitting or standing, he flashed her a brilliant smile, "Let us have you sit for your portrait. We will be here a while, and I would hate for you to tire," he held a hand out, motioning for her to stay where she was, "No don't move, I will fetch something for you to sit on."
He walked a short distance away in search of something to use as a seat. It didn't have to search long before he found a log that looked about the right size and he carried it back to where Miss Navarro waited for him. He placed the log on the ground and gestured for her to sit on it. If she does sit on the log, he will move around her to pose her, moving over to his canvas and back to her several times to make adjustments until the angle was just right.
"There! That's perfect, my dear," he gave her another smile, "Are you quite comfortable?" If she said she was comfortable, he will tell her to hold still and begin adding her to the painting.
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 9, 2023 5:02:20 GMT -5
Laughing softly when Alaric mentioned a husband, her heart thought back at her last conversation about he thinks she deserve somebody better, somebody who could love her, offer hr marriage and kids. Part of her then wanted to say that marriage and kids didn't matter. which kinda true, she could pass on kids, like she doesn't want to have to be worry about her children being gifted and the world they are growing up in. However, what if her feeling changes are she accidentally got pregnant.
"your assumption are correct Alaric, i am unwed not even seeing anyone. plus if somebody want to try and sweep me of my feet they are more then welcome to try, who ever they are, there no such thing as 'undeserving'" It was true that if somebody wanted to try and sweep her up, but she was trying to spend some time for herself, fully accepting that maybe she will possible die alone and single. but she was ready to be proven wrong.
As he brought the log over to her, her chocolate eyes looked into his blue eyes. "If we sitting here for a while please call me Sina, no need to call me Miss Navarro. I feel you be getting to know me in a way nobody gotten to know me before."
She felt a it strange being moved around but oddly she felt relax, calm. a strange influx of peace came upon her shoulders. this was relaxing. "i am comfortable."
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 10, 2023 23:02:33 GMT -5
"Well, I assure you that any man that would scorn you is a blind fool," he declared, perhaps a little more familiarly than he should have, but Alaric wasn't the type of man to go light on flattery. He considered the color of her dress, nodded as if deciding something and pulled out two bottles of pigment from his pack and began mixing them in linseed oil.
"If I am to call you by your given name, Sina, then you must call me by mine," he said almost absent mindedly as he swept his brush across the canvas, "I have accosted you to be my painting subject, after all, and I suspect that we shall be bosom friends when this painting is finished."
"Tell me more about yourself, dear Sina," he said, "What do you do when you're not in a library or strolling outdoors?"
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 11, 2023 6:06:56 GMT -5
That comment, she couldn't stop the blush from coming to her cheeks as a laugh escapes her lips. "Ain't you such a charmer Alaric, making me blush like this." She tries to keep herself calm and stop herself from blushing more with all these compliments. She trying to keep her mind clear, just because he was being nice to her doesn't mean that she has to full for him, but she can't close her heart.
"Well so far, I can say that we are at least going to be good friends. So being bosom friends seems very likely at this rate." She found it hard sometimes to make friends and she would love to make friends who she can talk to regular and just have a laugh with. Alaric seems to be the sort of guy who she hopefully can sit and laugh with.
When he asked her about herself, she thought for a bit. "Well there isn't a lot to say about myself, I teach children who are from working class families how to read and write, and getting a school set up in a warehouse for the children. I also enjoy viewing painting, I do not know how to paint myself but I love viewing them and the emotion, the passion behind them, it truly a talent. What about yourself. what do you enjoy doing apart from painting and telling girls they are your muse?" She tried joking with Alaric as a little laugh escape her lips.
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 15, 2023 21:40:23 GMT -5
"Ah, a noble thing, indeed, helping the common children learn to read," commented Alaric over the canvas. He mixed a few colors to get just the right color for her hair, "I don't know how I would have gone on if my painting master hadn't done me that service."
He listened to her talk about her love of the arts, and paused his painting long enough to study her face, "Ah, but a love of the arts, and an understanding of what the artist wishes to express is half way to being a painter yourself. I daresay you'd be a natural if you took up the brush."
When she asked him what he did, he was silent as he thought on it. Painting was a time-consuming task, so as a professional artist, he usually spent his time painting and was thus unable to pursue any hobbies, "I don't have much time to do much else, my dear. However, when I was a boy, I enjoyed fishing," he'd caught the fish so he and his mother could eat, but that didn't mean sitting by a body of water with the sun gently touching your body was not an enjoyable experience.
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 16, 2023 14:45:52 GMT -5
When Alaric said it was a noble thing, a soft smile was there as she was in deep thought when he mentioned his painting master teaching him to read. She personally learnt how to read by herself. Years of hiding away from being treated different she learnt how to make out of the words. Either that or asking one of the staff who works there to help make out a word, but with other children they have to look after they can't always sit down and help her to fully read. "Your painting master sounds amazing to help you with not just teaching the art of a brush, but the art of the written word." It was true sometimes words can make a painting that captures the wonder of your mind.
Without moving her eyes drifted softly as Alaric eyes was on her. "Well maybe one day you might have to teach me some of your skills." She enjoy reading how to paint but that different from actually picking up a brush and using it. She doesn't know if she will be as good as Alaric says she will be plus if it meant spending time with Alaric more then that will be a plus in her eyes at least.
"Fishing? I heard that it can be both relaxing but frustrating at the same time?" She doesn't know if she can sit there hours on end to maybe only catch 1 or 2 if lucky.
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 18, 2023 16:12:04 GMT -5
"Oh yes, he was," he said in response to her comment on his painting master. In truth, his master hadn't taught him to read from the goodness of his heart. An illiterate apprentice was useless to him. He had found it necessary for Alaric to learn to read and quickly.
She indicated that she'd like him to teach her to paint. He wasn't completely against it, but... "Perhaps I shall," he said, peeking over the canvas to look at her, "But I would much rather paint you, fair lady."
"Fishing can be frustrating, yes," another stroke of the brush. He stepped back, looked at the canvas, then back at her, then stepped back to the canvas, "but I found it far more relaxing. For example, I often slept as I waited for the fish to bite. And when they bite, it makes all the waiting worth it because I would be able to eat that night."
Post by Ikisina Navarro on Feb 19, 2023 4:41:33 GMT -5
When he declared that he rather paint her and then called her a fair lady she couldn't hide the blush that rose to the cheeks this time. "Fair lady? Alaric... you are making me blush." It felt strange being complimented. Like she knows a few people have told her that she was beautiful but there is still different from people saying it and accepting.
When he mention that when ne caught a fish it meant he could eat at night, she looks in his direction her eyes was soft like she knows the pain, once she left the orphanage, she wondered how she would be able to eat, she was so thankful for her first wage, "It made the wait all worth it. Payment all in it self."
Post by Alaric Melbourne on Feb 26, 2023 13:11:38 GMT -5
His flattery had had the desired result and the woman flushed. He added the rosy hue to her likeness in the painting. He smiled at her over the canvas, "I'm surprised," he said, "That a woman with your looks isn't used to hearing such things."
"Indeed it did," he agreed with her, "Any wait is worth it when it means that you don't starve that day," there had been many nights that his mother and he had nearly starved. No one had wanted to hire a single woman with a young child until he and his mother had met his painting master.