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!
He'd gotten out some of the blood but it was still caked in his hair and coagulated into crust on his clothes. Raff had changed to a werewolf for the first time today. Been interrogated for seven hours, and finally made it home to his drunk step dad about to beat his little sister. He'd kept his cool for as long as he could, and took it as long as he kept his hands off the kids. Greglin Rasher had crossed the fuckin line when he raised a hand to Cady and Raff had used the last of his strength to knock him out.
The heavy burlap sack over his shoulder got heavier with each step and his mouth was grim with hatred and exhaustion. Greglin started to squirm within the bag as Raff turned down the alley so he punched Greg in the junk to shut him up. It wasn't that much farther, but he needed this guy outta his fuckin life already. He'd taken years of beatings and there was no way he was gonna let that happen on repeat. It was time to break the cycle.
The docks were in sight and Raff lengthened his stride toward the one man that was rumored to get rid of any problem no matter how big. At this point Raff was ready to sell his soul to protect Alan, Brent, Cady, Denzul and Ewan. And from what he'd heard, that's probably what Keelan Morrigan would ask in exchange for a kill n dump.
Darkness was complete as clouds covered the moon and Raff made it to the edge of the boat when two muscled men suddenly loomed large. "FUCK!" Raff muttered, skittering back and nearly dropping the now actively squirming man in the burlap bag. Wearing more blood than clothes, Raff looked desperately at the men before him,
"I'm here ta see Mr. Morrigan!'
Last Edit: Apr 16, 2023 16:25:35 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 16, 2023 17:10:17 GMT -5
The men had been finished for the night were heading home when this blood covered young man came bounding towards the plank. To be honest they were looking between the blood and the moving lump over his shoulder very unsure of what to do but the oldest looking man stepped forward, "you boys scram, you," he pointed at the man covered in blood, "Bring your shit and come on."
If the young man followed the man who had spoken to him then he'd be lead below deck of Keelan's man ship 'The Seahawk'. It was a modest sized ship but it was Keelan Morrigan's first ship purchased fresh out of the Navy, his base of operations for both...legal and illegal things.
Keelan was in his office when, Bulger, knocked three times paused and knocked once, "Mister Morrigan, got a fella out here who wants to talk with ya?" Bulger looked at the moving person slung over the young man's back, "he's covered in blood and gotta notha fella on his shoulder," Keelan who was sitting at his desk cleared his throat and out popped a young commoner woman from under his desk, "Come back later and I'll have your payment okay?" she gave a very uneducated and untrained curtsey to Lord Morrigan before leaving, she left the door open so Keelan could wave them in. He stood and fixed his black fancy trousers as his guest and worker entered, electric blue eyes locked onto the bloody gruff looking man who entered with Bulger but he didn't say anything initially.
He stepped around his desk and circled around the back the man looking at the squirming sack, "what's this?" Keelan finally grunted stepping from them to the wet bar in his cabin, "better be a good reason too, because you're either brave or stupid for parading a body through the streets like this understand? You brought them on my ship and now we got witnesses, which means you have two problems, causes me problems and that is already a third problem for you..."
Raff nodded quickly, and an infinitesimal amount of worry was gone that he'd at least get a chance to talk to him. He asked no questions and remained silent. Too much talkin would get a guy killed. He lengthened his stride across the deck, his footfalls nearly silent under the heavy weight he was carrying over his shoulder. Keeping a firm hold on the wriggling burlap sack, Raff held his eyes rigidly on the older man's back and followed swiftly behind him. Although he'd never been there, he knew better than to take a closer look at any thing in particular. At all. If ya didn't' see, ya didn't know. The one thing Raff knew for sure was that no one fucked with Lord Morrigan and lived to tell about it.
A smokin hot little brunette passed in front of him, literally under his nose and he moved his gaze to the room instead. The less he saw, the better. And then Lord Morrigan looked at him and Raff's dark blue eyes dilated to almost all pupils, but he stood tall and gave Greglin another punch toward the head this time to keep him still. The young Paired Soldier's expression remained grim with only his pupils belying his terror. Raff answered in a quiet but respectful voice,
"This here is a guy that likes to chew on my baby sister fer a play toy, so he needs puttin down like a rabid dog, Sir. I'd whack him personally if he weren't my half sister's dad." The now still burlap sack was hefted again on his shoulder more comfortably, now that it was stiller and more heavy.
"I waited till dark ta leave sir and took the alleys most of the way I could. Yer ship boards exactly five steps from the alleyway, I was very careful Sir. There was only one witness on the way here that I saw and I.."
This time his dark blue eyes faltered and dropped from Keelan's as he finished in a low growl.
... took care of it."
Last Edit: Apr 16, 2023 18:48:27 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 23, 2023 22:24:41 GMT -5
Keelan listened to the young man's explanation and as usual the wild blue eyed Morrigan gave his reply with a stiff grunt. He silently looked at Bulger and nodded his head toward the sack of shit on the young man's shoulder, "Mister Bulger help me," Keelan and Bulger moved to take the man off of the young man's shoulder, "I'm going to sit you down fella, take this rug off of you," Keelan was speaking to the other gentleman as he and Bulger sat him on his feet, "Come on man, get your feet," Bulger was holding the man who was coming back around by his pant waist, "Listen friend if you scream or get loud," the man's eyes were unfocused and head lolling from side to side before Keelan smacked him across the face, "hey!" he snapped his fingers a few times finally fully gaining the man's attention, "I need you to listen. Don't scream or yell stay calm or Bulger here will break a finger or all of them," the man went to try and speak but Keelan cut him off with another slap, "Shut up. You don't speak."
Keelan whispered something to Bulger who would drag the man to a chair and forcefully sat him down, then left the cabin without another word.
Pulling his attention from the asshole Keelan turned it to the young man, "What's your name? "
Raff could barely contain the huge sigh of relief to get that douche canoe away from him so he didn't end up killing him with his own bare hands. What Greg did was beyond wrong, but there was no way he could look his siblings in the eye if he personally killed their dad. He would take on the fatherhood mantle for them, but it would be done with a clean conscience that Raff hadn't murdered that asshat by his own hand. Then they'd be protected from Greg and Raff could raise 'em up without them worrying about any further harm from their dad. They deserved to just be kids and Raff was ready to bargain his soul for life long servitude if need be. If there was one thing Raff was good at, it was giving his total dedication.
The moment the burlap sack was removed, the overwhelming reek of alcohol filled the cabin with its stench and practically rolled off the creep in waves. Greglin's broken nose was a mess and there was still a belt curled in his right hand, the evidence literally just hanging there like a guilty noose.
"I'm Raff Terach Sir, a Paired Soldier and on track to becoming a Lieutenant soon. I ain't got much ta pay right now for what's needed. I still got a quarter o' my sign on bonus left but I need to feed the five of them. Maybe we could find a way for me ta work off the rest?" the young solder said and suggested, being completely honest with Keelan. He was dirt poor but he wasn't afraid of hard work and was a quick learner who took orders well.
"Greglin should be a straight out kill n dump but I'm respectin my brothers and sister coz he's their dad." his eyes met Keelan's straight on without any hesitation. "A man who raises a belt to his kids.. well.. ya get the idea." Raff's voice turned to a hostile low growl at the far too recent memory.
Last Edit: Apr 25, 2023 10:59:37 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 26, 2023 22:13:38 GMT -5
He never forgot a name, @raff was one he'd definitely not forget. Keelan turned his attention back to the drink child beater, "Greglin is it?"
"aye I am Lord Morrigan, Keelan Morrigan innit?" Greglin closed a nostril and cleared the other with a big wad of snot and blood, he spoke as if he had something now and in a way Greglin really believed it: he'd heard the conversation and he knew a scandal like this would be over the merchant's head. He cleared the other nostril before speaking, "don't listen to this little soft belly welp my Lord, his mum didn't show'im right. Been a tiddy boy all his life," Keelan interrupted the man, "Drink or smoke?"
Greglin smiled so big at Raff but nodded to Keelans offer, in his mind he had won. Keelan held a hand out, "belt?" the man didn't even hesitate to hand it over, it felt like it weighed a ton in the merchant's hand but still he stalked over to his wet bar.
"Do you like beating kids Greglin?"
The smile faded a bit, "Beating? I call it given lessons my diddy did it and his da' before him...yer Uncle never whooped you my Lord? When you got loud or smarted back?"
Keelan poured three drinks and packed a pipe, "Oh, yeah, I had my ears rang a time or two. A belt to tan my arse, oh aye Greglin I was whipped," he handed Raff the first drink, "but I asked if you like beating kids," then Greglin and the pipe, "is there a difference?"
"I...I suppose not," Keelan sipped his drink as he picked up the belt tapping it against his leg, "but this young man here thinks perhaps you take it overboard? So there has to be a difference in what I'm asking," Greglin puffed on the pipe, his face twisted into surprise at the smooth and ample taste of the tobacco, still he didn't miss a beat, "he's a twat. Plain and simple. A little sucker punching ninny, and I'll tell you the lesson in this Raff...those brats yer 'protecting' are gonna pay fer this boy! Thinkin' like you, that the paren-," Keelan had calmly sat his drink down before taking the belt in his hand and wrapping it around Greglins neck as he pulled up he kicked the chair out from under Greglin making the struggling man unbalanced.
His feet never found their balance either as Keelan, stoned face and staring at Raff without blinking, continued to strangle the man. Greglins feet hammered the wooden boards, Keelan was a surprisingly strong man for a man outside of military service. Spit flew from Greglins mouth as he clawed first at the belt then Keelans hands, he was making those death noises...things started to buckle under the strain of the belt as Keelan just kept strangling. Adding pressure. With one last jerk upward there was a hard snap and Greglin went slack.
Keelan let go of the belt and let the lifeless body fall to his office floor. The boat was also pulling away from the pier. Finally breaking eye contact with Raff Keelan grabbed his glass of liquor downing it and lightly slamming the glass on his desk, adrenaline was coursing through his body as he stepped around to sit in the chair behind his desk. His hair was slightly mussed but he smoothed it out as he turned his attention back to Raff, "You'll work off your debt, yes?"
As usual that drunk idiot shot off his big fat stupid mouth like he owned the world and Raff's eyes narrowed in irritation at Greglin's big smile to himself and then blatantly disrespecting a man like Lord Morrigan. The young man's eyebrows nearly met as he scowled down at Greglin however his mouth stayed in a thin firm line of control, and his eyes nearly sparked with repressed rage. Clean shaven, a single muscle ticced in his clenched jaw, showing the effort at the self-control it took not to respond as he sat perfectly still and upright in his chair. Raff's mind went back to his DI..
'People will say things to try and make you react. Try to force you to bend to their will. But no one can take your dignity with out your permission...' she'd said, and he held onto the lesson. As much as he wanted to rip apart the guy and wale on him til his hands broke, it weren't right for him to murder the guy for his own personal hate. If this was to remain truly for the sake of protecting Alan, Brent, Cady, Denzul and Ewan, then he'd keep it professional. He would NOT give Greg the satisfaction of losing his own self control.
The moron acted like he was something but the noble didn't even change expression as he calmly offered a drink and smoke, like it was a pleasant social visit among good friends. He didn't appear bothered in the least at the dirtbag's shameless admission of being a total asshat to kids. Raff saw the whiskey being offered and nodded politely to Keelan, taking a sip. Top notch stuff that was the good sippin whiskey!
Raff held the glass in his left hand and watched as the belt changed hands and the balls on Greglin to question Lord Morrigan's own childhood! He took the mouthing off against himself but the mention of the kids had his temper on the verge of snapping hard--then like the gentleman he was, Keelan set down his drink so casually and began strangling the fucker with the belt.
He had no idea that he was being watched as his dark blue eyes were strongly fastened on the struggling man before him, his right hand balled into a fist at his side. Raff forced himself to lean back instead of forward, stay calm, stay removed, keep it business. As the belt tightened further and that child beater strangled and struggled before him, Raff finally relaxed in his seat and unclenched his fist.
'JUSTICE! He'll never hurt those kids ever again!' Raff thought vehemently with every fiber of his being. It was then he felt Keelan's intense eyes that weren't just looking at him, but seemed to look right through him. Raff barely stopped himself from yelling thank you at his stare, but the eye contact was thankfully broken. That was how it was done right. Keelan never lost a moment of self control, regardless of what was said and done to or by him. That was respect, and now Raff had total respect for Lord Morrigan. He'd walked in with fear but now he was sitting here with a new found admiration at someone's ultimate self control and discipline.
The young soldier waited politely until the man finished his drink and Raff soon followed with a satisfied nod. The boat was underway and the gentle rocking motion added to the balm of release that made Raff finally exhale.
With firm conviction ringing in his quiet tones, Raff answered Lord Morrigan,
"Yes sir. Absolutely."
Last Edit: Apr 27, 2023 15:32:06 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 4, 2023 7:05:22 GMT -5
Keelan pointed the chair next to the dead body of Greglin, "Take a seat," Keelan instructed to Raff as he poured himself another glass and sat the bottle down between them. He took a light sip as he adjusted himself in his seat, "You did the right thing and I need you to know that, pieces of shit like that don't deserve to live a child beater is right under a thief and a snitch," Keelan took out a little black book from his desk and a quill, "Does Greglin have any trinkets on his person? A ring a necklace anything like that?" he was writing as he spoke, "Anyone that cares enough about him to ever Starr asking questions?"
Raff nodded, glad that someone understood that there was only one way to deal with that kind of scumbag. When Keelan took out a little black book and picked up the quill, he noted that Lord Morrigan was right handed.
"Greglin has two rings, one on each index finger. A ruby one on the left and a silver one on his right. He always said fat rings make more impact when ya punch. My baby sister is wearing that fuckin 'impact' on her face right now." Raff finished with his mouth in a tight angry line. And now Greg would never come near those kids again.
"No sir, he's survived by four sons and a daughter which are fully under my care now, thanks to you. He's gone missing for up to two months before and when he never shows up again, they'll be relieved." the young soldier answered, unable to keep the sound of relief from his tone.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 8, 2023 7:22:34 GMT -5
Keelan recorded this information in that little black book, "Collect them, the rings, and take them home bury them somewhere. Mortar them into a wall, I don't care how you do it but keep them," Keelan stared at Raff, "This is our mutual agreement that should guilt ever riddle you to speak about what happened here tonight, there will come a day when I will see our future partnership as fulfilled and I'll ask you to bring them to me or dump them...so if you ever do feel guilty just don't. You protect your siblings do you understand?"
Keelan filled his glass and drank from it slowly, "You'll receive compensation for working jobs I need you for, you seem capable of being muscle. Welcome to Keelan Morrigan Company mister Terach," Keelan extended his hand and stood.
Dark blue eyes met and held electric blue, but it was clearly a look of mutual understanding, not a challenge or difference of opinions. Lord Morrigan was wiser and more experienced at these kinds of things and at just twenty three, Raff was a mere amateur in this way of life. He had an interesting future ahead of him in choosing to hook up his wagon to Keelan.
It was solid advice and a damn good cure for a wayward conscience, although Raff wasn't cursed with one of those so in the end, it was simply practical. That was a guy who planned ten steps in advance and the young soldier knew he could learn a lot from him.
"Yes sir, I understand and agree." he affirmed quietly with conviction.
There was a brief expression of surprise when Keelan mentioned he'd get paid for the jobs along the way and it definitely cemented his loyalty to him. At first he automatically extended his left hand and then quickly switched to his right one to firmly shake on it and make it official.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 10, 2023 7:52:20 GMT -5
Keelan was dominant man and their handshake would reflect that, his grip was firm and he controlled the shake and where his hand was, which was twisted so his hand was on top a little trick he learned from his Father. People on top ruled their world. The grunts of confirmation sounded like they echoed 'good, good'. When Keelan let go he would point to the body, "Collect the rings. Grab him and let's go up on the deck," Keelan would let Raff do the lifting, not because he was physically weak but because he had a guy for that now. He grabbed a light jacket and would lead the way, when they got to the deck the docks were slowly fading away to their backs. They sailed for a few hours and Keelan made Raff wrap the body in a few chains attached to small anchors before helping Raff dump the body into the sea. It sunk with little problems.
Keelan stood with Raff at the side of the boat before patting the young man on the shoulder, "Let's go home, drink first?"