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!
Hiram and Honora were on the hunt for blood. Human blood.
Presently, they stepped out of the blood of mares, beautiful dead beasts that had likely been the beautiful engines of the family’s carriage.
Hiram was bored with this task and wasted little time. He stalked from the stable and straight to the house, expecting Honora to follow. He’d bring the blood with them, of course, and cut down anyone who got in his way.
Post by Honora Allemeade on Oct 17, 2023 20:11:47 GMT -5
When darkness fell, Honora hardly noticed time passing. The blood was stripped from her skin, she’d dressed in moth-eaten garments she’d found in what remained of the Eldouir estate. That’s where Hiram had stashed her for the night, where he’d gone off to…well, Honora didn’t ask. It hardly mattered. There was only one thing that mattered now—or at least, that’s what she told herself as she stared at the opposite wall she could hardly see in the night.
But Hiram returned. And Honora followed. If he cut anyone down, she would not see. She kept her eyes straight ahead—set on her task.
Post by Levi Wyndham on Oct 18, 2023 20:55:56 GMT -5
There wouldn't be much noise coming from the estate this day. Normally, the horses, one mare in particular, would be whinnying and voicing their discontent with being cooped up in the stables. But today, today it was silent. The ornery mare now lay in her own blood, or what was left of it. No staff bustled about either. In fact, it was as if the place was deserted.
But it wasn't. One lone Wyndham made his way through the halls, humming a cheery tune as he performed the dusting. He had fired his staff some time ago, when his cousin died, and had decided it was best not to take on more, not after what happened last time. So now he took on the daily chores for himself,and found he enjoyed it.
Of course, having no staff had its downsides. No one was there to alert him that his favorite horse was now dead. No one to try to protect him or the estate from a certain red headed intruder. And certainly no one to alert Levi on anything. And so, for the moment, he was blissfully unaware of the danger he was most likely in, as he made his way through the halls, feather duster in hand, singing to no one but himself.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Oct 20, 2023 23:57:22 GMT -5
The first thing Hiram noticed was the presence of only one body in the expansive estate. The second, as he stepped through the door: that the place was awfully dirty. Levi might have been trying, but houses of this breadth weren’t meant to be dusted by only one man.
The Eldouir let out a whistle, one that echoed through the house’s stairwell, high and holding a single note. He looked over his shoulder and pointed up and over, pinpointing exactly where Levi was for Honora. He’d head that way at a casual pace, expecting her to surge forward and steal the show.
Post by Elliot Moore on Oct 23, 2023 11:20:57 GMT -5
Hiram had announced where he and Honora would be going, and once they had teleported away and Elliot had finished his drink, he had left Mordha to fetch a horse and ride towards the Wyndham estate. He was prepared for some fighting, but in a much more real sense he had no idea what he would be up against.
He camped out and waited for Honira and Hiram to show up. Elliot had drifted off to sleep but the sound of his horse panicking woke him. The two Gifted had appeared and had made some casualties by doing so. So far, it seemed like only some horses were dead.
He wouldn't go inside for now. He would only walk up to the front door when Hiram and Honora had moved further into the house. He would remain by the door and keep silent, trying to hear what was happening inside of the house.
[Permission from El to join]
Last Edit: Oct 23, 2023 11:21:14 GMT -5 by Elliot Moore
Post by Honora Allemeade on Oct 24, 2023 6:49:50 GMT -5
Vengeance is a terrible temptation, one that can justify almost anything in its pursuit. Honora moved as if in a trace; as if that were the only thing that could protect her from what she was about to do. Vengeance was better than despair, and clawing life away from the one who’d taken her was better than giving up her own.
Honora followed, and when Hiram pointed, she’d glide quickly forward. When she saw Levi, her eyes started to fog. The man would feel pain, psychic pain emanating from the void in Honora’s mind. Surely enough to bring the man to his knees. If successful, Honora would walk forward until she was standing over Levi.
Post by Levi Wyndham on Oct 24, 2023 21:14:44 GMT -5
Levi had been content in what he was doing, whether or not he was doing a good job at it, and contin whistling his merry tune. That is, until he got a splitting headache. It hurt, oh it hurt a lot, but what did he do? Not fall to his knees, if that was the plan.
He bent over the end table he'd been dusting the vase on, holding onto it to remain upright as he hoped the pain would pass. He managed to glance to the side, noting the only other person in the building, and began laughing.
He was in head splitting (literally) pain, and all he could do was laugh. The more the pain, the louder, harder, and more maniacal the laughter. "I knew it!" He shouted to the air. "I knew I had to be next! Certainly there is no one left but me!"
He didn't necessarily realize that a gifted was causing him pain. He just knew that eventually he, too, should meet his end, as he brought this miserable plight upon himself.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Oct 29, 2023 2:13:05 GMT -5
Hiram followers at a distance. He was minimally invested in this excursion. In fact, as he scaled the stairs, he was reminded of the staircases in the palace, and that the crown was holding Elena. That turned his temper up a knotch.
Post by Honora Allemeade on Nov 11, 2023 10:19:15 GMT -5
Levi’s laughter was as unsettling as it was infuriating. Did she know him? Honora wasn’t sure. There was something recognizable about his face, but instead of investigating it, Honora shoved it away. He was a Wyndham, wasn’t he? Of the same ilk that had taken her. Had torched the farm. Had killed Luna. So, Honora calmly reached out her hand and seized the side of his face.
“Be still.”
And with that Honora’s eyes glazed white and she plunged into his mind.
It was Quinton’s voice she searched for. It was like chasing faint phantoms, no sound coming clear above the others. Frustrated, she tore through more quickly, more recklessly, like she was turning Levi’s mind over and dumping its contents on the floor. She saw it all—memories of his childhood, of scholarship, of life, of love—
Love.
Memories of Luna encircled her like a waiting trap. Memories of love, and pain, of grief, a whole love story that Honora lived through Levi—one that ended in painful loss. The part of her that was still Honroa wanted to reject it, as it clashed with the villain she wanted to believe him to be. But no—the thread that tied them together was love for a woman that had been ripped from them by—
Gotcha.
Zahaela cackled, called forward by memories of Luna, her consciousness rushing forward as another player on the stage. Honora could feel herself shriek in anger as she gripped Levi more tightly and clung more closely to his mind. Zahaela’s consciousness wound itself with hers, wrestling for supremacy with Levi’s mind as the battlefield.
You never find him.
Watch me.
Instead of pushing Zahaela away, she dragged her closer. Levi would be caught in the middle, his being shredded to pieces in the scuffle. He’d see Zahaela’s memories too—his cousin, her murders, Luna’s death, relived as if he were the killer. This would be the last of his thoughts and experiences, for unless someone came to his rescue, Levi’s mind would begin to die.
Honora, instead, focused on Zahaela. She searched for any reference to Quinton—to his estate, to anything at all, but in the process was finding it harder and harder to keep the woman at bay. It had to be here. It had to be. But Levi’s mind was crumbling around them; dying with them inside.
Honora ripped herself free, taking Zahaela with her with a shriek. The woman’s features would not bear her own expression. They would bear Zahaela’s rage, her wildness as they looked at Levi—whatever condition he was in.
Post by Elliot Moore on Nov 12, 2023 14:11:58 GMT -5
He wasn't what was happening, but he could hear where everyone was, and Elliot would head that way as well.
He was very silent, and if everything went according to plan, he would find himself behind Hiram Eldouir, at quite some distance, and Honora Allemeade and Levi Wyndham were somewhat further.
He had no idea what he was doing, but one thing was for certain: he wanted to do at least something. He would lunge at Hiram Eldouir and attempt to strike him with a knife in the back.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Nov 16, 2023 6:57:31 GMT -5
Hiram watched Honora work on the Wyndham with a sick fascination, his nose wrinkled as he knew full well just what she was likely doing, how much it hurt, and even worse—how intrusive it was. Useful, but every time she touched his mind it made him want to kill her even more.
Speaking of killing…
The blood elementalist was fully aware of every living body in the house. He could sense every source of blood and the way the heart pushed the substance through its form. The estate was rather large for holding only one servant, he had observed in passing, but he had given it little thought since that one servant had stayed out of his way.
Had. Now, it seemed, they wanted to do something heroic. Hiram heard the heart beating rapidly before the individual lunged forward. Hiram turned just a moment before they made impact, looking down with vibrant eyes at the tavern owner as he plunged his blade into the Eldouir’s chest.
It hurt. Of course it hurt. But it wouldn’t kill, nor could it stop a gifted like Hiram. His hand reached out to clasp Elliot’s wrist with an iron fist.
“Hello.”
There is no glory in battle if no blood is lost.
Last Edit: Nov 16, 2023 6:58:18 GMT -5 by Hiram Eldouir
Post by Elliot Moore on Dec 9, 2023 9:07:06 GMT -5
The blade had hit Hiram Eldouir , but it didn't seem to bother him all too much. Elliot's wrist and hand weren't going anywhere. But he was prepared for this, and his free hand would reach into his pocket and move towards his mouth. He had brought a cyanide pill/potion in case he needed it, and he would use it now. Hiram wouldn't be able to use his blood to help himself in any way, or at least that's what Elliot hoped. He wasn't entirely sure what this Gifted could and couldn't do, he just knew what people said about him.
Seconds after taking the pill/potion, Elliot would try to twist his wrist so he could cut himself on the knife in Hiram's chest, attempting to get some cyanide blood into his wound.
Whatever happened, the cyanide/poison would spread through Elliot's veins and would slowly kill him.
Last Edit: Dec 9, 2023 9:08:41 GMT -5 by Elliot Moore
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Dec 10, 2023 12:57:41 GMT -5
Hiram grinned through his grimace, the corners of his eyes flickering as he fought to maintain the smile. For all his ability to manipulate blood and heal, he had mastered overcoming pain. He still felt it potently, though he certainly knew how to press on despite it.
The man reached into his pocket and just as he closed his hand around the contents within he would feel his body grow rigid. Hiram’s control of his blood was easy, and as every part of his innards were surrounded by veins, it rendered Elliot immobile.
“I said,” Hiram hissed the words, reaching for the man’s wrist, seeking to yank it from the pocket to reveal the contents in his hand. He’d smile again, “hello.” He’d pluck the pills, bring them to his nose for a sniff, and then drop them into his own pocket. Hiram would then take the dagger in his chest and pull it out, his body immediately jumping to heal itself.
The Eldouir would in turn sink the dagger into Elliot’s shoulder, like plummeting it into the top of a watermelon, narrowly missing contact with the collarbone.
Post by Elliot Moore on Dec 10, 2023 18:08:38 GMT -5
Suddenly he couldn't move anymore. His body wasn't cooperating, and he groaned between his teeth. Hiram yanked his hand out of his pocket and took the pills from him. He would most likely never see them again and now this monster before him possessed something that could kill someone else, if he chose to. Elliot wished he had thought this through better, but at least he was brave enough to try to fight an Eldouir. That couldn't be said about the Queen, or anyone, really.
The dagger cut through his clothes and flesh and Elliot screamed loudly. In contrary to Hiram, he wasn't used to pain like this. His little combat training with Dresden hadn't been able to prepare him for this. What use was an uppercut when you couldn't even move?
Elliot inhaled sharply and looked at Hiram, staring him in the eye. If possible with his lack of control over his body, he would attempt to spit in Hiram's face. "You're a disgusting little pig. You think you're such a big man, but you're nothing." They were all the same. All those Gifted. They shouldn't even be collared back in the day, they should have been killed.
"What are you even trying to achieve? To rule the kingdom? You're just as pathetic as that excuse of a Queen."
Post by Levi Wyndham on Dec 15, 2023 23:47:54 GMT -5
Levi had nothing to say, nothing to do. His mind, already been through hell and back in the last several years, had been through it once more. Yet this time, this time things were different.
He was forced to relive his pain, memories flooding forth as he recalled family deaths, tragedy, and...her..
Luna crossed his mind. His love for her, how torn apart he'd been when her life was cut short, how...he'd... killed her?
No. No, that wasn't right.
And yet it felt like it was. The memories he was seeing now, they weren't his. The death that had come to her, not by his hands, but by another. But he felt it. He felt it all at his hands. His memories seemed to mesh with these ones, combating his emotions with another's, until he could no longer tell whose was whose.
It was all overwhelming, it was killing him, and yet, all he could do, was watch.
Honora finally released him, and he fell to the ground like a ragdoll casually tossed aside. His body shook involuntarily, his eyes wide and wild, and his breath rapid and ragged. It hurt. Everything hurt. He'd lived Luna's death, but through someone else's eyes. Or had it been his own? Why had it felt...good?
He had little awareness of the other goings on around him. Hiram, Elliot, Honora, none of them seemed to exist as the images continued to replay in his mind.
Death was too good for him, apparently. Even in all his tormented life, death came for those around him, but never for him. Perhaps....just perhaps...he was meant to work with it...assist others to their deaths...or was that simply the thoughts of the other minds that seemed to have invaded his?
Levi remained on the floor, staring into nothing, aware, and yet...not.