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!
Norah stood firm and still beside @warren and Odina Ellis. She had prepared for a mixture of reactions, which is what they were getting. There were those who were hopeful, it was seen as they looked upon Odina with wide eyes and soft faces. She had a feeling that most of those were women who had been effected the harsh brandings. Whether themselves, their sisters, or they feared for their children.
She had heard it first hand before, that a worry was whoever the women in the dark giving the brandings would come for the children next. Would start marking them as a symbol of shame instead of the pride of their blood. It was something that had truly soured Norah’s stomach at the time… for children didn’t pick their parents and certainly shouldn’t be punished because someone thought the pairing was wrong.
While there was the hopeful, she also knew there were some who shifted away. Whether to hide their reactions or felt the sudden tension in the air from those who were angered, she couldn’t be sure. But even Deimos shifted at her side, something deep in him rumbling but Norah only hushed him. Her eyes met @revna’s, and with as much anger was held within hazel eyes of a Cambrian, the dark gaze of Norah’s held a warning. Stand down.
But Odina Ellis was handling it well, something she had been prepared to step in and handle if she got even the slightest hesitation or look for help from the woman. Yet she seemed to declare her first ruling, and with it, Norah’s chin ticked just a centimeter higher. Banishment for those who would refused to work together. Interesting choice, but one she would have to delicately work with just as much as the others. “I am sure that as Isolde’s arrest moves forward, we will share any relevant information at the time.” Would there be more arrests? Possibly. But she wouldn’t breathe that.
To any of the people watching, it looked like Raff was obviously bored and just swung his arm by his side back and forth a few times. However half the soldiers closest took the cue and subtly moved forward from their positions to head even closer to the stage maintaining their circle formation. Terach must've had a headache because he placed his hand on his forehead near his eyebrow and then moved it down to his temple near his ear. Clearly it was just too hot out there and Raff was merely bored with a growing headache. Which was definitely what his expression matched exactly.
Last Edit: Jul 13, 2023 20:43:31 GMT -5 by Deleted
Warren remained still, standing with his hands behind his back as the two women at his side handled the back and forth with the Cambrian women. His role was not to get involved, not to have nor to voice an opinion. It was merely to see to it that the gathering didn't get out of hand. Though he did take note of all those who spoke out, and what specifically they said. It would be most likely that those would be the ones who rebelled in the future, if anyone rebelled at all.
@grissa, the elder he'd met on the day they'd arrived, spoke out and he didn't find her to be unreasonable. Although she likely held a significant amount of power within the village, she was respectful toward Odina with her line of questioning. Accepting Nevermeran rule wouldn't be easy, especially for a kingdom of women who had specifically parted from the rule of man. It had been years, yes, but it wasn't until now that they were really making their command over the smaller kingdom known.
He couldn't deny that allowing the Cambrian's to bring Isolde to justice in their own way would help improve the relationship between the two kingdoms, but Nevermere didn't owe them that and he wasn't sure that the King or the Commander would see it that way. Still, if they could work it just right...well, he'd have to speak to Norah and Odina about it later. Perhaps they would be able to convince the King to bring Isolde back once he was done with her.
Another stood up, clearly angry. Warren recognized her as the girl who had led the dinner prayers on the first day. Isolde's second in command, though he hadn't learned her name. Of course she would speak up, but given what he'd come to know about Isolde, the young woman could hardly claim that Nevermere was interfering in 'religious affairs.' She'd been branding her own kind, a form of torture, and furthermore, she may have poisoned the previous Chieftess - Grissa's daughter. Isolde had become a tyrant, and this girl would have clearly followed in her footsteps.
Odina Ellis, now Chieftess, had every right to give the girl an ultimatum. Accept Isolde's arrest and move on, or be banished. But banishment didn't sit well with him. The Cambrian's were strong. They knew how to survive. If left unattended, the girl would only become stronger and more angry. She would come back some day, that felt inevitable. Warren didn't care to wait around for inevitable deaths.
But the back and forth had caused some tension, and he watched closely as Lieutenant @raff subtly signaled for the soldiers to move in a bit closer and keep an eye on the women. The last thing Warren wanted was for anyone to get a wild hair and jump when there was nothing to jump toward. Screaming, shouting, perhaps even a single one-on-one attack couldn't be over-handled without Nevermere looking terribly. The only reason his soldiers should jump in would be if absolutely necessary, but he trusted Terach to know that.
His right hand slipped to his side while the women watched Odina, fingers tightening into a fist just long enough for him to meet Raff's eyes. The movement had been necessary, yes, to remind the crowd that they were surrounded should more than one try to attack, but until Warren gave them the command, they were not to push forward any further. Doing so would only make the women more tense. The fist would signal raff, and any other soldiers with their eyes on Warren, to remain in place until further direction was given. Once he knew the message was received, he would return his hand behind his back.
Revna had never and would never accept that Nevermere had Cambria. During a time of weakness their King had preyed upon the sickly leader. Kore had only brought bad things for Cambria, and Isolde had only brought good, so of course the bastards had decided she was a threat. A threat to their empire, and now they would put another weakling in place. Apparently Odina had lost all the strength she used to have and now bent the knee to men. It was heinous at best, and the raven haired woman would make sure others saw the treachery that she did.
As she locked eyes with @norah , her anger only grew. This woman had known, she had known of these plans and smiled at Revna all the same. Then she had the utter gaul to make it seem like she was in the wrong. Maybe it would be better to do this another time, with a smaller audience. Maybe someone would listen to how ridiculous this all was. But Revna couldn’t see that happening or it ever mattering. These two women standing up there were nothing but the kings puppets, and it filled her with anger that Lady Norah could live such a life and then bring Odina into it too. She was just as bad as her colonizing king. Breaking her gaze she looked at Odina, a woman but certainly not a Cambrian woman.
”What are the old ways Pretia, to value women above men? To live free and wild like the wind and horses? How much do you plan to change us to make this place like your other structured half? If you plan to strip away the old ways of religion and replace our values with theirs I certainly do not want to see that Cambria.” If Odina Ellis wanted to bring stones to a glass house, Revna would gladly throw them.
Last Edit: Jul 14, 2023 22:46:51 GMT -5 by Deleted
There it was. The hatred, the loathing… Norah didn’t flinch at @revna, but rather stepped forward again. “Tell me, when have we told you all to not say prayers?” She asked, her head tilting ever so as her brows scrunched just slightly. Dark eyes dancing over the faces once again. “When have we told you to abandon all of your ways and only accept the ones of Nevermere? Forgive me, Revna, but I have been here in Cambria for quite some time and never once have I heard that you all should be leaving behind your religion for ours.”
Utterly ridiculous if they did, their All-Mother couldn’t hold a flame to the Goddess. The magic within the witches alone proved that. But she was not going to toss that out there right then, not when she could feel the heat of anger rolling over them. “We have asked to co-exist, we have offered options to even make it easier. We have offered many things to enhance your livelihoods… still do,” Why did she constantly have to remind them of such a thing?
“But Isolde branding your own women because they had deemed better sires in Nevermeran men over those of Coheed? Where they could be sure their sons are raised to respect and work alongside women? Unacceptable.” She gave a small smile, as she shared just a touch more that many of the Cambrian’s might not know. “Coheed has even embraced uplifting their women now, embodying better coexistence at the influence of Nevermere. At seeing how truly capable their women are,” her eyes returned to Revna. Did Coheed really have more intelligence than the women here? Or perhaps just less thick headed.
Norah’s shoulders squared a bit, “We know Odina Ellis will lead in a cohesive way that will lead all of us toward a better future.”
Post by Odina Ellis on Jul 17, 2023 9:10:10 GMT -5
Odina buck or recoil at Revna, her eyes didn't leave the Valkyrie, as Norah spoke the Governor stood quietly aware that today was going to see to a significant change regardless and so far Revna was the only one to speak out against Nevermere authority. She was going to be a risk and so were the rest who had idolized Isolde's madness and Revna was speaking herself into a corner where she truly had three options: bend, bust, or leave.
Her ultimatum was going to stand and she made it clear once more as Norah finished, "My order still stands to any who wish to leave in banishment, you have the hour to decide."
Hearing all this she takes @grissa hands softly in hers to know she standing by her as she listened to the woman in front of her. When Woiola heard Odina Ellis talked about Banishment and how they have an hour to decide. She looked towards Grissa, "I don't want to go back to Coheed. her eyes were soft, she looked around at her fellow sisters. She know a few of them was Isolde's full blood daughter or worked under her. So this would be hard for them.
If he thought Grissa’s questions dumped oil on the pyre, then Revna’s practically lit the match. As she spoke up, clearly intending to provoke some sort of reaction - from those in front of the crowd or those within it or both, Ber wasn’t sure - his pulse skyrocketed and his gaze snapped to her. Practically bristling as she glared at the three people leading this announcement, @revna looked every bit the Valkyrie with whom he’d wanted to avoid a violent confrontation. After another moment watching the dark-haired woman, he cast another look around the crowd, still uncertain as to how many would find themselves equally inspired by her words. Despite Odina Ellis ’s ultimatum.
Ber didn’t have to be politically astute to recognize how the delicate the situation had become. Between the shifting of the crowd and the soldiers alike, the atmosphere had acquired a particular tension, had become charged like the air before a lightning strike.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ber was aware of more than one woman glancing his way, and just as wary of violence as they were, he stood carefully still. So far only Grissa and Revna had voiced their thoughts. How many others shared Revna’s opinions but were content to let her speak for them? There was no need for a myriad of voices asking the same questions when only a couple loud, determined ones would do - not when all of them could hear and judge the answers to her inquiries. But such circumstances made it hard to judge how much trouble they might have on their hands, now and in the future.
Raff had only moved a few closer, but no weapons were raised or even out, nor had there been anything aggressive about it. It was literally just to make sure things were heard and seen. He made immediate understood and compliance gestures to @warren , continuing to stand there passively.
While there really wasn't much of anything he could do, he did worry that someone would be foolish enough to incite a riot. Children were present and if a Cambrian woman started a fight in this crowd, the kids would end up getting hurt first. He knew that at least Neela understood something that important. Hopefully the others realized it too. If they were gonna fight, do it somewhere away from the kids here.
Last Edit: Jul 18, 2023 10:04:55 GMT -5 by Deleted
Revna watched, a smile spreading across her face as Nevermere spoke for Cambria again. @norah had fallen right into the trap she had lain, and now everyone would see that Nevermere was the one making the edicts and pulling the strings. Odina Ellis was just standing up there to be a face, and it was obvious in every way. Looking at her newly returned sister she shook her head. "It is good to know that now Nevermere speaks for you Odina."
Turning her gaze back to Norah her smile hardened. "Nevermere was to stay out of the Sanctum and yet under the cloak of darkness you came into our place of worship and took the priestess while she slept. I will not leave, who knows who you may take next. Cambria is my home and protecting my sisters is all I will ever do." She stared Norah down, clearly talking to who was in charge now, not the woman who was pretending.
She really didn't care if anyone else joined her in this, all that mattered was that they hear it. That seeds of doubt crept in about this new turn in leadership. Revna knew that she was on a short list to watch anyways, this didn't change that in the slightest. She thus far hadn't broken any new rules, just spoken her mind, and if speaking her mind meant banishment? Well that wouldn't look too good for the new Governess of Cambria. The bullshit position that shouldn't have existed.
Grissa was conflicted, worried to find @revna speaking sense for once. She knew the woman was a devout of Isolde, whom Grissa has finally so clearly expressed her hatred of. It truly would be a wonder if, by the time the week was up, the acolyte did not at least try to maim or kill the elder. While the elder wished deeply for a free Cambria, she was realizing this was not the time nor place. From a standpoint as a warrior, Revna had to see that. Nevermere had them in a clamp trap of soldiers, all circling what comparably few Cambrians there were. While the women did not need weapons to fight, those with spears and swords certainly had the advantage of reach and the sharpness of steel. If Cambria attacked now, it would be at the loss of many a woman and even children.
The elder was very aware of her responsibility to her lost people at @waiola's pitiful words. No, they would not be going back to Coheed. They would not leave their own home in banishment because some weak man with a crown said so. This king so weak he hid behind young child soldiers to do his bidding. Grissa had no intention of letting him win...but she also would not side with the awful @revna.
"I remember the young dark-haired girl who stumbled into our tents," Grissa called, sharp eyes targeting Revna before softening to look over the gathered people. "She grew among our children. She learned our ways, she honored the All-Mother with her words and her deeds. We should receive this fortunate return of Odina, daughter of Cambria, with joy and not hostility dear sisters."
The elderly woman pressed against her walking stick to stand a little taller. "It was not Odina who brought Nevermere to our shores. I am certain that, with proper council and wisdom of the elders," Grissa paused to look at the woman on stage. "She may become a proper Chieftess. The All-Mother works in ways that are indiscernible to us, as we all know. But this too shall work for her glory and the strength of Cambria." With a firm nod, Grissa let her eyes roam into those of every Nevermere soldier she could lay eyes on. "I have seen the heart and resolve in several soldiers who have passed through these mountains. Soldiers like @warren and @berengar, who respect and honor our ways. I hope to speak for more than myself when I say that I, Grissa, welcome you, sisters and brothers of Cambria. May our time together be fruitful that we may learn from one another."
As they approached the edge of the crowd, her daughters flocked to a familiar friend. Neela's eyes had been first on the children, reaching out for them before she looked up to see that @rina was the one they flocked to. She felt immediate relief. If any fighting happened, she knew she could rely on Rina to help her get the children to safety as quickly as possible. And Rina was strong, maybe the strongest Cambrian she knew. It helped with the twisting in her stomach.
As she was approaching, she saw Sigyn lean in to whisper something, a question, though she didn't quite catch what it was. As long as she had known of Sigyn, she'd known her to be close to her mother. And everyone knew, to some degree, with Isolde was hurting sisters of Cambria and using the All-Mother as an excuse to do so. Neela had kept away from such rumors and talk. She took care of the children, and heard mostly only what the girls parroted back to her. She'd heard whispers about branding, but she'd thought it all to be silly until today.
Yet as she took up a space on the side of Rina opposite where Sigyn stood, Neela couldn't help but notice that the girl seemed to be very...calm. A bit shocked, perhaps, but had Neela been in her place, she would have been confused, enraged, angry. Every variation of upset. She'd just found out that her mother, the Chieftess of all of Cambria, a woman devoted to the All-Mother, had been branding women and children. Now her mother was being arrested and taken away from Cambria entirely. The range of emotions she felt should be incomprehensible, but that wasn't what Neela felt when she glanced at Sigyn. What she did feel was...uncomfortable.
Rina's pat on the arm did help to distract her, and she offered up the slightest smile in return, though the continued conversation between Revna, Grissa, Odina, and Norah drew her attention back to the stage. Her eyes bounced from there to her children, ever aware of where they were.
She noted that no matter how @revna shot back at the others, she never acknowledged the accusation about what Isolde had done. Isolde's second was, again, not someone she knew entirely well. But she had put trust in her, just like she had put trust in Isolde, to do what was best for Cambria. Mutilating her own people would never be what was best, and her silence on the matter made it clear where she stood. Not only did she know about it, but she supported it. And all because they had chosen to mate with Nevermeran men, instead of Coheedsmen? Nevermeran men, who had saved them from the Coheedsmen so many years ago? Nevermeran men, who could only enhance the strength of Cambrian's by offering them magic in addition to their natural enhancements?
This whole fiasco had her stomach turning. She didn't want to be dominated by Nevermere, but what was the difference if her own people wouldn't allow her to be free, either? Man or woman, a tyrant was a tyrant.
Of everyone, @grissa seemed to be the one speaking out that truly had Cambria and her core values at heart and in mind. It was strange to hear the term brothers of Cambria, but in that moment Neela scanned the crowd and found @raff . He had been kind to Kina, had spoken of his devotion to his family. Had even asked her for advice on his little sister. The Coheedsmen would never have cared to do so. They would never have asked for a woman's opinion at all.
"Hear, hear!" She shouted in support of the elder. All-Mother or not, Neela knew she could put her trust in Grissa.
Post by Odina Ellis on Jul 18, 2023 6:11:18 GMT -5
If this foolish little girl just would take Odina's offer how many would be totally free of what may lay in the future? Still Odina wasn't phased she knew Revna was being driven purely on the basis of Isolde's poisoning.
"Thank you @grissa, it makes sense on why you've become a Elder with all that wisdom," she offered a sincere and kind smile toward the woman who half raised her. Odina then looked at @revna, "I truly do hope you want to stay Valkyrie, you are a valuable and honorable warrior regardless of your feelings, I need you our sisters need you. I wish to speak to you Revna, but I also want to see KelderSigyn and @rina in my tent following this announcement...@grissa you too, bring the other elders as well..."
Last Edit: Jul 18, 2023 6:11:43 GMT -5 by Odina Ellis
@neela simply ignored Sigyn, who softly grunted in annoyance before walking away from the woman. She could have expected her to be uninteresting. It fueled the rage she already felt, and her bright blue eyes looked back at the stage when Odina mentioned women she wanted to see after the announcement. After what the woman had said to Revna, Sigyn wanted nothing more than to spit at Odina. Nevermere had just barged in here and taken Isolde prisoner. Revna had asked her to calm during, but the blonde couldn't help herself. She had to say something.
"How can we trust you and Nevermere? We've been under Nevermere influence for a while now, but so far we've always been allowed to have one of our own lead us. Now you've ripped our Mother away from us, without talking to her or those close to her. It is unorthodox. How do we know you won't make others who don't do as you wish disappear? You're giving us the choice to leave now, but what about in a week? In a month?" Now she had started, she didn't seem to be able to stop talking. "You're a mother as well, Odina Ellis. How would P'ol feel if you were suddenly gone without a trace." Her voice trembled. "She's my mother."
All because that stupid Kore @grissa kept talking about had signed their autonomy away to Nevermere. A war with Coheed was still better than prisoner to Nevermere.
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
The branding was no secret in Cambria. After all, concealing a mark meant to publicly shame the bearer for indiscretions with Nevermerean soldiers rather defeated the purpose. Despite the fear and private outrage they caused, neither Isolde nor her followers made any effort to discover who was behind them in order to prevent more of their sisters from suffering such permanent damage. Nor did they offer any sort of public condemnation of the act.
To that end, even without Nevermere’s explicit accusation, it did not take a genius to figure out who was - at a minimum - complicit in their occurrence, and everyone knew who spent the most time around their now-former Priestess.
Had Sigyn specified that her shock was at the revelation of the branding, it would not have fooled Rina. Neither would Revna’s, had she attempted something other than outrage at Isolde’s arrest and removal, nor any other woman’s who had spent so long worshipping the ground on which Isolde tread. But when the Cambrian looked at her sister, she saw a young woman who had just lost her blood mother overnight and without warning. She would have expected more anger like Revna’s, but people reacted in all sorts of ways to circumstances like these. Perhaps the news hadn’t fully registered yet. Or perhaps she had simply hidden her rage. Regardless, Rina turned from @neela and the children to address Sigyn when her sister’s whisper reached her. “I wouldn’t presume to know what our Elder means,” She returned evenly. “Do you consider branding to be Cambrian justice, sister?”
Distracted by her own conversation, she had missed the initial response to @revna ’s challenges, but the remainder of the back and forth drew her attention - and that of the Nevermereans stationed rather conspicuously around them. Rina turned to eye the nearest pair of soldiers when they stepped forward as if reminding them of who truly held the authority here. Indeed, that dynamic was reflected in who stood before them - an ambassador from Nevermere, a male military leader from Nevermere, and the Cambrian who apparently had the strongest Nevermerean ties of all of them - and when she listened to the exchange between the two women and Revna, Rina was reminded once more of how they stood on a slippery slope.
Though willing to give Odina Ellis a chance to lead before condemning her as a Nevermerean puppet, she could not ignore that Nevermere had not let them choose their new leader themselves. After revealing Isolde’s role in the branding, Nevermere had not given them the opportunity to enact justice on her themselves. And, if Revna was to be believed, Nevermere had broken into the only place forbidden to them to steal Isolde away. She did not trust Nevermere to not erode what Cambrian traditions and values they could.
Should they become accustomed to repeatedly allowing such transgressions, Cambria risked forfeiting everything that made them their own. That much was clear.
But the unspoken message behind @grissa ’s attempt at reconciliation - for there was no way they had so easily convinced a wise Elder when they hadn’t even managed to assuage Rina’s own doubts - was right: back down, at least for now. Challenging Nevermere with children in a crowd surrounded by soldiers would harm only themselves. From beside her, @neela spoke up in support of Grissa, and Rina offered her friend, who did not often voice her thoughts especially in circumstances like these, a supportive smile.
Then she heard her name. Somewhat surprised, Rina faced forward again and nodded - though who knew if it would be seen - to acknowledge the summons. With a pang, she realized that Odina had not heard of Kelder’s disappearance, but this did not seem the appropriate time or place to inform her when the news could be shared privately, without an audience. Still, Rina found her curiosity piqued by the request for a meeting. Revna, Sigyn, Grissa, the other Elders, and herself made for an interesting group. Quiet, spoken half to herself and half to the women beside her: “I wonder what that’s about.”