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!
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on May 31, 2023 11:41:02 GMT -5
Florian watched Countess Straleen as she gave her answer about her husband’s love for opera. She was uncomfortable or nervous she thought, “A man that enjoyed the finer things,” she said slowly, “My husband liked to make people think he loved the arts, but he was much more fond of his wine and whiskey than he was in music,” she touched her own arm and traced a line with her finger where the bone had been broken all those months ago.
“Perhaps I shall play it for you one of these days,” replied Florina, “The lyre really is a charming instrument.”
Her question about the artist had been meant in the most casual of ways, but the other countess had such a reaction to her question. Florina’s eyebrows raised in question as Tianna worked her brain around how to answer. Then she looked at her very seriously and gave her answer regarding the artist’s conduct before looking into her lap, appearing guilty.
“My, Mr. Melbourne is quite the skirt chaser then. I thank you for the warning.”
Tianna watched the Countess, taking in her words and then watching her trace a finger down her sleeve. Her heart squeezed hard and she only barely stopped herself from reaching out to reassure her. She wasn't alone! She wasn't the only one beaten down heart body mind and soul by a cruel husband! Her green eyes filled with empathetic tears as she looked at Florina knowingly. She nodded in total understanding, at last finding someone else who knew! To be treated like a marionette doll, dressed and shown as a trained prize, but made to shut up and take the horror behind closed doors. "Yes Countess, I know exactly what you mean. Husbands tend to get meaner with every drop of alcohol that gets near them..." Her voice was strong, but quiet, just enough to carry to the Lady's ears before her. "My husband was also one person in public and a completely different man behind closed doors."
Tianna nodded at the offer and smiled at Florina's invitation for more music. "Yes, I would like that very much."
Considering what she knew now of Countess Bellerose, she was heartily glad she'd warned her off Alaric. The last thing the elegant Countess would want was some immature guy trying to hump her leg while pretending to ask about a portrait and spewing wild flattery like word vomit.
"I think that would be for the best My Lady. It's admirable that you seek integrity over gossip so honesty is the best a person can give."
Last Edit: May 31, 2023 21:48:29 GMT -5 by Deleted
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jun 2, 2023 12:55:23 GMT -5
Countess Straleen had gotten her hint…although Florina didn’t think she was that subtle about it. Ah well, the point was to set some common ground. The other countess was a bit rough around the edges, but Florina truly did like her.
Except, she seemed to think their husbands were the example of all. Interesting. Florina wondered if Countess Straleen grew up in a bad sort of environment, “Yes, well,” Florina adjusted her sleeve. Thinking of her husband was always so unpleasant, “I am not sure if we should be so unkind as to say that all husbands are that way—my father never struck my mother,” she offered a weak smile, “But we did appear to have the losing hand when it came to husbands, didn’t we? Vincent was so charming…I thought I was so lucky…” she pressed her lips together, “I was quickly disillusioned.”
Tianna seemed amiable toward the invitation and Florina smiled back, “Well, I shall have to send you an invitation very soon then. Spring will be coming soon and the flowers on my aunt’s estate will be lovely.”
Tianna peeked up at the Countess and blinked in sudden surprise at the unwarranted rebuke.
"I..I.. never said all husbands are that way Milady!"
Her protest squeaked out and she drew back meekly, not sure of what she'd said wrong to the woman. It had been difficult to defy her with a protest just now, but she'd done it and stood up for herself, however meekly she did so. She thought they were talking about their own late husbands and hadn't brought up or even thought of anyone else' husband. What had started as the beginning of a bond was smacked down with word correction like Archie or her Lady's Maid. Tianna licked her lips and looked down at her hands in her lap, listening to the Lady. She turned her gloves inside out and crumpled them up squeezing the life out of them, unsure of how to respond. One moment she thought they were understanding each other and then the Countess scolded her for something she hadn't even known she'd done. Tianna was still kind of confused about it.
With her shoulders made small and her head still bowed demurely Countess Straleen answered,
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jun 2, 2023 13:42:36 GMT -5
Florina blinked, thrown off by her sudden timidity. Had she snapped her reply without realizing? She’d meant it in the friendliest way possible.
“You said ‘husbands’ not ‘our husbands,’” she offered a smile to show she wasn’t angry or upset, “A misunderstanding, my lady, forgive me. Thinking of my husband can be quite distracting.”
But the other woman had shrunk before her, and Florina wondered if she’d accidentally triggered something when she hadn’t meant to, “Are you quite alright, Countess Straleen? I hope I didn’t upset you.”
Tianna flushed crimson with shame at the correction.
"I'm sorry My Lady, I'm ill-educated and I often misspeak. I won't do it again. Thank you for the correction."
She tried and failed to swallow past the lump in her throat. She certainly didn't need Miss Cally stomping on her foot to let her know loud and clear that she'd just fucked up bad again. And in front of an important Countess too! The Lady was waiting on an answer and she fumbled, trying to speak perfectly so as not to need another admonishment from the noble woman again. And that happening after she'd mentioned her childhood friend so badly! Why had she spoken so awful of Alaric who'd never corrected her speech for a noble woman who found it acceptable to scold Tianna for a word she'd never mentioned or noticed? Al was her friend and she'd stay loyal to him.
"I apologize for my terrible manners and awkward speech Countess Bellerose."
She had no idea how to respond to the Lady's question and statement. What should she say? Was Tianna supposed to lie so as not to upset a titled Lady? She'd had to give up so much moral ground over her life, that telling the truth was the one thing she clung to despite it all.
Tianna shrugged and gave a very quick, polite little smile.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jun 5, 2023 12:37:15 GMT -5
[Trigger warning: hints of past domestic abuse]
Florina realized that she flubbed up through their misunderstanding, and feared that she would not be able to repair it—at least not during that sitting. She would at least try and pave the way back to where they had been.
“And I should have kept it to myself, Countess Straleen,” she turned her hands palms up on the table and looked into them, thinking of the things Vincent had threatened to do to her fingers during his drunken rages. She’d been so terrified during those times, she could barely hit the keys of her piano and it only made him angrier, “We all misspeak from time to time, and I of all—“ she sighed at herself and looked at the other woman with her eyes, “I know what it is like to have someone slap you down when you put any little tear in their perfect portrait of you that they’ve painted…my only excuse that I’ve nearly spoken to anybody this past year while secluded in the country, so my manner in conversing is not what it should be,” a pause, then she put her hands back in her lap and inclined her head in place of a curtsy since she was still sitting, “So I apologize. I did not mean to behave like my husband would have.”
Tianna watched warily through her eyelashes, waiting for the next insult from the noble woman. The Countess had assumed that Tianna was thinking something and hadn't clarified her own thoughts to match the other woman's thoughts? What? Shouldn't have mentioned it? Tianna's gloves remained rolled up and she clutched them in her right hand beneath the table. This was one of those times where she knew she'd done nothing wrong but was scolded for an imagined failing. But she bore it quietly, as was expected of her.
She glanced up once while the woman spoke, to be polite and turned a brown eyed gaze at the woman's hands. Working to keep back the hysterical laughter that wanted to bubble up, she only licked her lips again. Thought of as a perfect portrait? No, that was never something she had ever been accused of for a single breath of her twenty eight years of life. She was only ever deeply flawed and that was simply how people saw her, which she'd accepted long ago.
Perfect portrait. Again she thought a silent apology to Alaric for bad mouthing him!
Though it was easy to see why the Countess Bellerose would be seen as perfect and that would put pressure on her to act as perfect as she looked. Was that what she was trying to explain? While Tianna understood the concept now, she wasn't sure it was quite the same. From the start it was always that she was too skinny, too ugly, too loud, too crude. Archie had made it clear from the beginning that there was no such thing as a perfect portrait of Tianna. Ever. Had she a shred of self-esteem, Tianna would see that the situations were exactly the same. For a pretty woman to always act and say and do everything perfect pretty.
A headache began in her temples at all the conflicting thoughts and she realized they both treated each other as their own husbands had! Tianna unfolded her gloves and held them loose in her right hand, resting it on the table so Florina could see the meaning clearly.
"Countess Bellerose I think we're both guilty of trying to keep up those patterns for far too long now. Let's accept each other's apologies and not expect perfection of anyone--especially because of how they look."