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!
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 11, 2023 7:57:27 GMT -5
(this thread is for @raff ; set just at the end of Hiems before Keelan/Rhedara traveled to meet with the Vitlock Brothers; before Akagis arrivalin Nevermere warning about the Eldouir attack)
It was early dawn, the fog off the sea still clung to the docks in Shadows Landing. Keelan stood on the deck of 'The Seahawk' with a half bottle of whiskey and a glass which was half full, he sipped from it blue eyes scanned the horizen. He was waiting for the arrival of Bulger and @raff , he'd sent a deck hand to retrieve them telling the deck hand to inform the two men they had work and Keelan needed to brief them on it. The wouldn't refuse, neither man could technically with what Keelan had on them. Bulger had been working with Keelan for twenty odd years and Raff for a while himself, both men were extremely loyal and Keelan knew even without the dirt on them they'd have been just the same. So patiently he'd wait.
It was obscenely early and Raff yawned quietly as he donned his work suit and headed out to meet up with Keelan. His double life of loyalty was paying off well and he managed to balance the two like literally night and day. An upstanding and exacting Lieutenant in the Nevermere Army by day and a muscled, uncompromising brute in the dark hours. Both got his loyalty but with this work, he took pride in being a reliable and solid Red Left Hand to Lord Morrigan.
Bulger joined him in the heavy mist cloaked dawn to head straight to The Seahawk and walked to the bow in tandem, their strides matching well. It was a small intimidating sound of two tall heavy men walking, but to those who had heard it before, it was usually the last thing that met their ears in their lifetime.
Lord Morrigan looked as calm and unruffled as always, despite the time or place. He gave Raff confidence that anything could be easily handled no matter how bad things got. The man never panicked, which in turn spread that unshakable confidence to the tall soldier that now stood before him. Both clad in black, they appeared out of the heavy fog to stand and present themselves to Keelan. Time to get to work.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 12, 2023 7:15:27 GMT -5
When his associates arrived Keelan greeted them with a nod and grunt he filled his glass and offered them a bottle, taking a sip he dived right in, "As prompt as ever gentlemen, I have a client that needs a mess cleaned up," what was new? Nobles were sloppy indulgent chaotic narcissistic asshats Keelan always said or at least thought (he himself excluded from this thought because he wasn't sloppy; his mistakes were harmless 'don't fuck the commoners harlots you're better than that' mistakes two totally different things!), "We got a body coming up this way as we speak, tonight I need you both down at the docks as it will be stashed in my storage ship and I need it buried in the woods. Bury her deep," he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled a very plain envelop and handed it to Raff, "Hold on to this, I'll let you know when it needs to anonymously fall into the hands of the authorities," he downed his glass of liquor not making a single face as it burned, "Remember the Vitlock brother's? A year ago they were the ones with the sloppy whorehouse down south?"
Bulger nodded, "with the whore that was 'accidentally strangled'?"
Keelan grunted and looked at Raff, "You did the clean up and I told you to collect any and all evidence? Retrieve it and dump it with our new body."
Keelan offered up another expensive bottle of whiskey and Raff wasn't the kinda guy to turn it down, so he took it with a silent nod of thanks. Sure enough, a quick sip of that lava at his vile hour jolted him awake like nothing else did. He stood quietly, taking in tonight's plans to be carried out and let Bulger do the talking first. He believed that staying silent was the best way to listen and the method hadn't yet failed him.
Raff gave a brief smile and took the envelope to place in his inside jacket pocket, resting safely tucked away. His dark blue eyes watched as they talked about the old case.
"I remember. Will do Boss." He answered simply. Between the both of them, the Vitlock brothers had a monogrammed pair of cufflinks, custom made tie as well as a bloody shirt and a few strands of hair and each of their four rings. The richer they were, the more gaudy shit they felt they needed to wear to show off. Made for some great identifiers for even the most blind of investigators that just happened to be steered in a certain direction. Everyone had something identifying about them in death, but the rich ones usually had the most.
Bulger grabbed the whiskey from him and he gave it up easily. Morning drinking wasn't a habit he ever intended to make. Raff returned his attention to meet Lord Morrigan's eyes respectfully.
"Yep. Docks at dusk. Consider it done."
Last Edit: May 12, 2023 18:04:36 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 21, 2023 16:24:33 GMT -5
Keelan was satisfied with both men's quick responses and confirmation of the plan, loyal as ever. Having the bottle returned to him he looked at Bulger, "You can go, I need a moment with Raff Bulger," Bulger nodded and departed with a hard pat on Raff's shoulder and departed. Keelan would begin to walk across his ship assuming Raff would follow and if did Keelan had a question, "What's your relationship with Rhedara Shannon?"
He nodded to his partner at the friendly buffet on the shoulder and gave a quick,
"Later man."
The moment Keelan moved, Raff was instantly in lockstep with him and ready for whatever was needed. Or at least he thought he was ready-that is until Lord Morrigan, well known for his taste in cute commoner brunettes brought up -his- girl directly by name. He remained walking steadily and he held Keelan's gaze while answering simply.
"We started courtin last week. Red's my girl."
He kept his tone neutral, careful not to put any extra stress on the possessive. And why was Keelan asking about his girl all of a sudden?
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 21, 2023 19:10:42 GMT -5
Keelan grunted and came to a stop at the side of the boat and sat his bottle down with his cup as he looked out at the sea shoving his hands into his pockets, "I gave her a job, so that makes her an employee understand? I don't usually condone it, for you Raff...for you I'll allow it but it comes with rules understand? Don't mix the two, you keep your Courting life separated from work. You don't ask her questions about our work, she'll do the same. She gets hesitant about working with me, you will be the one responsible for keeping her in line or you'll be the one letting her go."
When Keelan revealed he'd hired her to work for him, Raff had some concerns, but the man immediately laid his fears to rest. Red was taken into the family and he'd make double damn sure she knew which side her bread was buttered on. Lord Morrigan came first-in seniority, loyalty and life with no grey area. Raff had known Keelan since he was twenty three so his loyalty was to his boss first last and always. Anyone that worked for him knew it was a simple rule. Not an easy one to follow but it was a hundred percent obedience to Keelan first. Considering all he'd done for Raff, it was the least he could do to put the man before the new girl.
"Yes sir. If she gets any ideas, I'll show her what's what. Ya can always count on my loyalty Lord Morrigan. I worked fer ya five years now and I don't throw that out fer a new girl. Ya got my word."
He stood tall and square, a man of his word and complete conviction, Raff kept steady eye contact with Keelan. His word was his bond.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on May 25, 2023 6:35:12 GMT -5
A grunt of approval was what Raff got and Keelan handed him the bottle, "That's what I like to hear Mister Terach, congratulations she's a little looker that's for sure," a rare bold smirk formed on Keelan's face as he continued to look out at the fog rolling away from the docks, "Of course I also believe you should make an honest woman of her. Marry her. Soon," was there a question in there? No. Was it an opinion? Not really.
"If you both were married you could for go the rules, I can't deny a married couple the right to talk about their lives," plus it kept the man from temptation because Rhedara was truly a beautiful little creature, of course Keelan wouldn't (he was trying) do that to Raff. On the other end breakups can be nasty and hurt words damage reputations Morrigan Company couldn't risk that.
Raff struggled forcibly not to show his look of complete astonishment at such a bizarre statement. Hmm.. with shit like that at this hour in the morning, maybe he should take up day drinking... He barely kept the expression off his face as he coughed and cleared his throat, his first reply a complete failure at Keelan's verbal smack.
He swallowed it down and tried to reply in a calm tone, but it wasn't without a strong effort of willpower, so his voice was more of a low, raspy growl.
"With all due respect Lord Morrigan, I've only just known the chick barely two weeks. Courting in itself was already rushed."
Considering how little he knew of Red, the instantaneous demand of marriage had Raff wanting to run for the fuckin hills at that moment, and his blue eyes flicked off to the distant horizon, as if contemplating a sudden swim for his life on the spot. Had there been one less iota of respect for Keelan, Raff woulda punched the guy out on the spot for talkin that way to him! But this was Keelan.
There was no way in Terra Nova he'd suddenly get the palm sliced and head to an Elder after only knowing a chick for fourteen days! Maybe a noble could do that, but not him. It just wasn't practical in the least. Not emotionally, physically, financially or logistically. If his boss was looking for a yes sir at that moment, he'd be vastly disappointed on that one. If pressed any further on the marriage point right now, the answer would be a hard, definite and resounding HELL NO.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Jun 1, 2023 9:03:17 GMT -5
Keelan grunted, "Don't be daft Raff, I know marriages that happened after a day of courting, but I understand and respect you putting your foot down about it," Keelan had now turned away from the seas horizon and was staring directly at Raff, "Just follow my rules and all it well right? Now, go I got nothing left to say and you got work to do."
Raff purposely kept his face turned toward the ocean. If Keelan was gonna call him stupid, that's fine. He'd had much worse insults. But demanding he marry someone when he was already under this much pressure? Sure he could marry her on someone else' demand. And then he'd hate, resent and never forgive either Keelan or Red. So yea if it was necessary to marry against his will, he'd do it, but it would taint both relationships with hate for the rest of Raff's life. Everyone had their limits. Sure he could abruptly demand Red marry him--to follow the noble's orders. And it would guarantee a lifelong hatred that destroyed the loyalty and growing affection for both Red and Lord Morrigan.
"Yes sir." he answered, turning away with military precision and stalked off with long strides.