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!
A few days had passed since she the announcement and the conversation in Odina's tent. Revna had silently left in the night and was gone. It seemed like she didn't take the change of power well. Rina had turned down the position that Odina had offered her after all, and she had disappeared a bit as well. Sigyn didn't mind the latter, but she was sad that Revna was gone.
The blonde made her way over to the new chieftess' tent and looked at the witches guarding it. She spread her arms and legs so she could be patted down. "I'm unarmed. I just with to speak with Odina", she said.
She had thought over Odina's offer, to become the witch doctor, but still didn't know what she was going to say. She wanted to talk with Odina some more, just the two of them, in a peaceful manner. She wished to understand where Odina was coming from and what Nevermere wanted.
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Post by Odina Ellis on Oct 3, 2023 13:49:19 GMT -5
The Witch Guards did not search Sigyn instead they lead her around the back of the tent where Odina was, the Princess was in a training session with a few fellow witches and male soldiers. She didn't see the need to ever quit training even when she had been away in Nevermere. She was going one against two blocking the blows of her advancing attackers with a blind fury that only Cambrian women had but Odina had been incorporating a balance of combat with magic as one swung their blade high Odina blocked with her long sword and spun out to her left ducking under the other all while chanting an incantation. She had left a gap between her and the pair so when she aimed her hand out a gust of unseen force knocked them backwards a good four feet further and they clashed over one another...
The instructor whispered to Odina which made the Princess turn toward Sigyn, after a few words Odina would turn away and meet the Cambrian. The guards with Sigyn would leave the pair standing off to the side not far away.
"Sigyn good to see you, please join me," Odina would lead Sigyn to a wooden table where her gear was kept grabbing a piece of flint and a sharpening tool Odina would set into sharpening her blade. She was covered in sweat and her black hair was wild from the hours she had just spent training, "What can I do for you?"
Sigyn felt very conflicted. All the people closest to her had disappeared. She now also had Revna's pair of wings, and she kept it hidden somewhere only she would be able to find it. She didn't like the Nevermere soldiers, and she never would, but now she felt so alone here.
She needed to talk to Odina again. The witches brought her to where Odina was training.
"I had hoped to talk a little more privately", she replied, throwing a look at the guards and the people Odina had been training with. "I'd like for it to stay between our ears." She didn't know if there were people with enhanced hearing around.
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Post by Odina Ellis on Oct 5, 2023 13:16:49 GMT -5
"Come," Odina slide her sword into the sheath on her back and collected her smithing things before leading Sigyn away from the tent and training grounds all together. She as was silen the whole way to the collections of blacksmiths the same place Wren had brought her to when they had spoke last it was the best place to not be met with enhanced ears, the noise only died here at night.
The Princess was going to work at least while Sigyn talked so she removed her blade and sat out her gear before beginning to heat the furnace. She didn't look like a Nevermeren with her very revealing light armor, the way her hair was pulled back in a mess, and her arms and some down her legs were adorned with old and new burn scars. The palms and a few places on her forearms revealed self inflicted curs from summons. One coul truly believe she was Cambrian by sight.
"this is the best privacy I can afford us at the moment."
"This will do", she responded, before she sat down and watched as Odina work on her blade.
"I've been thinking over your offer, but I do have to admit that I still don't know what I want. Please realise that just talking to you about this already asks a lot of me. I'm not afraid to admit that I do not like Nevermere, and its influence on our land. However, you're not fully Nevermerean. You were raised amongst us, and you know Cambria's ways. I need you to convince me that being the Witch Doctor is a good idea, for me, for us. Why should I trust you, and Nevermere? How can I know the Sanctum will remain our sacred space? And when will I see my mother again?"
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Odina sighed, "I will say it again trust is a two way street Sigyn, you attacked your own women...your sisters..not Nevermeren men or their women BUT your own," she turned to Sigyn blue eyes looking the woman over, "We need healers and I nor Nevermere in the many years that they've been here has carted any women or children off to brand them like cattle in the middle of the night like scared bugs. I also haven't seen Nevermeren influence, improvements? Yes. There are houses and access to medicines we've never had here not once have we told you nor others to stop your practices...the Sanctum will remain untouched BUT thats me trusting you not to brutilize our own."
Odina squatted low rubbing her hands over the ground, "You want my truth? The same truth I told Willa Wren in this exact spot? My true name is Tara Ellis, Princess Tara Ellis. I am the banished princess of Nevermere, my Father once ruled Nevermere until the Rainecourt's came and betrayed my Father...I watched him be murdered and then my oldest sister before the rest of my siblings were banished...in time I wish to take my kingdom back. It isn't a overnight process but if you and our sisters work together we can take my throne and I will end the occupation of Nevermeren rule here...."
Sigyn started feeling more hostile again, but she forced herself to stay calm and take a breath. They didn't brand women at random. They branded the women that had accepted Nevermere's ways, and that had forgotten about Cambria. The women that would sleep with Nevermere men, and not with Coheedmen. And she would say that: "Those women weren't Cambrians anymore. They had embraced Nevemere a little too intimately. They didn't accept Isolde anymore. It's what the All-Mother told my mother to do." She still believed in what the All-Mother said they had to do, and she had been a part of it, but the All-Mother had never told her herself to brand women, so she could understand what Odina felt.
She had to take a moment to process what Odina old her. Or Tara. "You- you're the rightful queen?" Her head was spinning.
She remained silent for a few moments. "If I'm understanding correctly," she started, talking a little more silently, "You should rule Nevermere. Does that mean when you're on the throne, Cambria will regain some, or most, of our independence?" She waited a second and continued. "If yes, I'll work with you. I'll help you. But I need to hear you say it: that you're doing this for you, for us, for Cambria and for women."
And lastly she had one more thing to say. "In the meanwhile, Nevermere has its own beliefs, I've heard. Some fake goddess. How can I be sure they won't take the Sanctum and turn it into a shrine for her? I won't accept that. I'd fight them."
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Post by Odina Ellis on Oct 7, 2023 20:26:40 GMT -5
"You speak so ignorantly Sigyn, I say that with all due respect," she huffed a little that ended in a heavy sigh, "again you are denying the existence of their beliefs and accepting only your truths, I've never heard a Witch nor a Nevermeren deny your ways...and I fear you will never trust me so I can think of only one way to make us trust one another," she looked away staring out at the fire growing in her kiln, "A spell," really a curse on both of them but ultimately Odina couldn't phrase the word as a curse without a little fear, "A spell that would bind our word to our lives, should I betray you," she now looked back at Sigyn serious as one could be, "Then death will be the price..."
"Let me rephrase: let them have their beliefs, but not in our Sanctum. I will not be converted. If they bring their own faith, give them another establishment outside of the village, please. I'm not dumb, I'm not stupid, I know Nevermere helped us, but they're becoming more and more involved. Before you know it, children from Cambrian women and Nevemere men will follow their belief instead, and the All-Mother would not want the next generation to steal the Sanctum from us."
She had a pleading look in her eyes. She just wanted her spiritual grounds to stay sacred and safe.
Odina's offer was... tempting. "Lay out the conditions, then, please." What would count as betrayal, on her and Odina's part?
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Post by Odina Ellis on Oct 13, 2023 7:33:38 GMT -5
"I will need a few days to prepare for the ritual," Odina replied pushing hair back from her sweaty face, "I will keep soldiers and witches out of the Sanctum and if someone goes over my head say the King I will warn you so you can properly prepare for her protection as needed," now Odina gave one of her demands to add to what she was sure going to be a lengthy list, "No more brandings, inside or outside of the Sanctum, we are decent humans and I expect everyone to be treated justly so," drawing her sword Odina set back into sharpening the long blade, "I will need time to make my claim to Nevermere, I have no armies and fewer allies except a small family in Nevermere and Wren," she paused to see if that gained a reaction.
"Good", Sigyn responded. She was a bit wary if the witches' magic, but she was sure the All-Mother would protect her if Odina was planning something. "The Sanctum is yours to prepare the ritual in. Thank you." She appreciated that Odina would let her know if someone went over her head.
Then the demands. "No more brandings." If that was what was necessary to reclaim their independence, she would comply.
"Wren?" she repeated. If Wren was on Odina's side, then that was good, right? The All-Mither had given her mother a vision about Wren. "You will find allies, I'm sure of it. And if all you've said is true, which I am starting to believe, then I am an ally as well."
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Post by Odina Ellis on Oct 17, 2023 18:17:20 GMT -5
"Then you will be my Witch Doctor?" Odina gave Sigyn a soft smile and offered her hand to her, "The Sanctum will be perfect for our ritual and we will call for Wren..to witness our bonding," she would pull Sigyn closer to her, "Thank you..and I will get news about your Mother."
Sigyn took Odina's hand and offered the woman a smile, probably for the first time since Odina had became governess. "I'll be your Witch Doctor."
Odina then pulled her closer, and Sigyn embraced her sister. After all, they were sisters, because Odina had been raised in Cambria as well. It did seem like she truly wanted what was best for Cambria. "Just find me when you're ready for the ritual, sister."
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur
Post by Odina Ellis on Oct 22, 2023 8:33:48 GMT -5
Odina didnt let go, she studied Sigyn' face, she had such a rough beauty and she was strong two things Odina looked for in women she was attracted to and she was attracted to most if not all the women of Cambria..even Sigyn.
She would kiss Sigyn on the cheek softly, lingering a moment, before pulling back.
"You should smile more you know? It's quite beautiful," tucking hair behind the woman's ear she smiled, "can you aquire for us a small sacrifice for the ritual? A lamb or goat?"
Sigyn was still quite young and had sworn to never have children, which meant she was very inexperienced when it came to love, sex and feelings. Being so close to someone and especially getting kissed on the cheek by someone who wasn't her mother made her feel fuzzy inside. Sigyn was self-assured and had a tough exterior, but moments like these made her feel small and shy, even more so because Odina complimented her smile.
"T-thank you", she stuttered, blushing now Odina tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm not used to s-smiling."
The then blinked, suddenly aware of what they were discussing before. "Not a problem at all. I'll find a goat, or a sheep."
Sól tér sortna, sígr fold í mar, hverfa af himni heiðar stjörnur