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!
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
After the debrief with Tybalt and Augustus, Scout had left the office to look for the queen. She had asked around and a servant had told her she could find the queen in the living quarters. The blonde's stomach was in knots as she made her way over to the quarters. Something was up with the queen, but she didn't know what. She had been ill lately, but she also seemed to be more absent-minded and confused, as well as easily annoyed and withdrawn. She was still surprised at how non-verbal Iliana had become after a majority of the people in the room had suggested Arynn Frey was a better place to have a trial than Lorendale.
But most of all, Scout felt as if there was some tension between her and the queen on a personal level. She was aware that she had been sliding with Augustus more recently than with the queen's ideas, and maybe she ought to be careful. Still, she was absolutely tired of the Gifted problem. Iliana wanted to be a kind and good queen, but people were dying in the street, and the issue wasn't being resolved.
The lady steward knocked on the door and waited for a response.
Iliana sat in her room, freshly cleaned up and with instructions to her ladies that her hair was to be bound back today. A braided updo kept her hair firmly in place as she sat before the mirror where they were playing the last few pins and smearing dabs of hair product to keep the wild curls in check. She knew it’d be no use by the end of the day, small curls always bounced free.
Her door was knocked upon and Scout was announced. Her stomach sank a little further. She could deny her. A small, bitter part of her wanted to. Every time Iliana had thought she possibly was gaining grounds to make a friend… they turned from her. After a long moment, she looked into the mirror and nodded her head to her royal guard who let Scout in.
“Lady Kane,” she turned as she received a small pat on her shoulder, signaling they were done just in time and gave a curtsy before exiting the rooms and shutting the door. Iliana had regained her color, and while no more episodes, she had a tea waiting for her at the small sitting space in front of the fire. “Tea?” She asked, rising and moving towards the hearth.
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
She found herself waiting in front of the door, wondering what she would say to the queen. An apology was in order, but how would she go about it?
She curtsied at the queen when Iliana appeared. Scout approached the queen in the sitting area. "Yes, please, some tea would be nice", she responded.
She waited a few moments before she would speak again. "Your majesty, I would like to apologise if I offended you during the meeting just now. I've had some personal issues that seem to still effect me." So much had happened. The Gifted attack, her husband's death, the miscarriage, ... She had taken a few days off, but the situation in the kingdom was getting to her. Scout had always wanted to change the world, and it appeared that she kept failing.
Iliana gestured to one of the cups, both filled with water and a small bag of tea inside. Allowing Scout to make her own cup how she saw fit as Iliana took her seat and her cup. Not bothering to add anything to it in fear it would cause her stomach to stir again.
Her green eyes flicked up as Scout apologized, and she paused a long moment, a sadness filtering through her and causing her to glance down into her cup. “There is nothing to apologize for if you aren’t sure what would have offended me,” she said softly before she took a sip of her tea. “You all asked to have the trial in Arynn Frey. If the King approves, this means a small attendance from our people here. I’d like to select those who go.”
She rested the tea cup in her lap. “I am sorry to hear that you have had a lot happen personally. And if you need time away… or a helping hand, I can arrange that.” Iliana fell silent as if offering an opening for Scout to talk about whatever it was.
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
What the queen said got her thinking. Iliana was correct. Scout realised that she wasn't apologising for something she said, but things she did, and just the general feeling she had had about the queen as of late. "I want to make it clear that I do not doubt you, your majesty." She picked up her cup of tea, leaving it as it was and taking a small sip. "We sometimes fear you take the advice of the council to heart. We all act out of best interest for the kingdom, and never say or do anything to cross you personally. Tensions have been high, recently, and Elena Eldouir isn't helping that."
She thought being honest and open with the queen was best. There was no point in pretending everything was fine when maybe a conversation could resolve some issues.
"Thank you", Scout then said. "I will be fine. You know me." She smiled softly. "As you may have heard, I lost my husband and my baby recently, so I've had to deal with a lot of loss. Thankfully everyone is very understanding."
Last Edit: Jan 22, 2024 7:03:22 GMT -5 by Scout Kane
Iliana leveled a gaze across to Scout. “You do doubt me,” she corrected again. “You doubt me, as does my uncle, and it’s why these meetings seem to have everyone speaking as they do. It’s why you sought out my uncle, or at least part of it. I’m not quite sure.” Yet. She wasn’t sure yet why. Her fingers flexed on the tea, then relaxed. “I don’t want you or anyone else to doubt me in such ways. And the way I was trying before isn’t working.”
Green eyes closed as she took another drink then settled the cup onto the table between the seats. “The people… will be upset with not having the trial here. Safety or not. They will feel as if an injustice has been served by allowing another kingdom the right to handle this. If we have it here, then everyone will be upset about our safety. So I will agree, Arynn Frey is the… easier route. I want the head of the most looked up to commoners and nobles to attend. From the outer villages all the way to the gates of Loren. We can’t bring everyone. But I want those trusted to be brought to be able to give their honest word of the trials and ultimate ruling of Elena Eldouir.”
Her heart was wrapped in emotion at the personal detail Scout chose to share. She hadn’t known about the baby… only heard recently about her husband. As a woman, a mother, Iliana felt herself break for Scout who smiled back at her sadly. “I am terribly sorry, Scout.” A personal statement, without titles. But from one woman to another. “I can’t imagine.” Though the thought alone had her feeling numb all over. Her fingers ran over the small section of her dress, feeling the material on her lap before she let something so Iliana slip through that she for a brief moment forgot her negative feelings from before. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
Post by Scout Kane on Jan 29, 2024 11:19:48 GMT -5
When the queen corrected her, Scout's instinct told her to avert her eyes, but she didn't. Instead she maintained eye contact with the queen without reacting to the accusation. She wouldn't interrupt until Iliana finished talking.
"You are correct. I sought out the prince a long time ago, though, before any of this happened. With your busy schedule, it's nice to be able to meet with someone who can give me a bit of direction, because ultimately I work for the crown and not for myself. As your lady steward, allow me to explain what I feel is happening. That people doubt you, is not something I, or anyone else in the cabinet, for that matter, can do anything about. There has been a lack of action and justice, and personally I do not blame you for it one bit. It can't be easy ruling a kingdom. Yet, more and more Gifted are getting out of control and the people, and the members of the cabinet, don't see anything being done about it. That's why people are starting to doubt. Lord Baldovino Paccoretti's murderers still haven't been found, and that's where the Gifted chaos started. It's been a year. Like I said during the meeting, collars aren't the answer, but not doing anything isn't either." She paused for a moment. "My only goal is to help you, your majesty. I'm always here for advice, and anything you need me to do. Rainecourt Keep is a good start, and I mean that, but there must be more and harsher consequences for Gifted that seek to harm regular citizens. They didn't choose to be Gifted, but they do choose what they do with said Gift. That's what I think might help people regain trust. As for me, I was wrong to doubt you. You're my queen, and I serve you. I should've come to you earlier with doubts, instead of bottling them up. I apologise."
It was time to focus on other things now, though. "I understand that, your majesty." What the people wanted was not something Scout cared about right now. Those people didn't realise the danger they would put themself in were they to have the trial here. "I will look into who is considered the head of the villages and the commoners and meet with them, as soon as you have a date and know what you want me to tell them."
The personal details were something Scout didn't like discussing that much. She smiled though. "Thank you, but I do not wish to bore you with the story. I have my family to fall back on. You know Captain Zane, he makes sure I'm okay."
Last Edit: Jan 29, 2024 11:24:16 GMT -5 by Scout Kane
Iliana remained silent as Scout spoke, and while she could point out the faults on Scout’s end of her duty, she decided all that would do is make her run away more. She could’ve come to Iliana… she could’ve gone to Cassian. She chose Augustus. Which wasn’t the wrong choice, as advisor he was the third best option. But what Iliana had laid out, had asked for, clearly she’d need to be more clear with the ‘how to’ part instead of just asking for them to deliver her asks.
Harsher punishments. Iliana’s head tilted slightly with her eyes narrowing slightly. Isn’t… isnt that what she just did with Elena? Where they asked to do it elsewhere? Death is the harshest isn’t it? And she made it known she wasn’t accepting anything less. There was a gifted who had just left her castle collared because of their actions and now were under guard. Remiel didn’t even walk around with a free pass. His home is about to be swarmed with guards, to protect both the save place from outside attacks but did they think they would just let them become dangerous to those outside?
But Scout apologized, and while Iliana was still mulling over the rest… she thought it genuine. That she did mean to fix it moving forward. “All I can ask is that we move forward, and we fix what is best for all of my people,” she nodded. She sipped her tea again before she’d speak. “Gifteds found using their gift to harm others or act against their own will,” she hated it, but it had to be done, “be collared until proven innocent. If found guilty, they will be given the same punishment as a non-gifted but with a collar as well. We will need someone to over see this, a new addition to aide the Commander,” her uncle. He couldn’t do everything alone. “There was a woman, after the address, Florina?” She couldn’t recall, so much had happened that day, but she believed that was her name. “I’d like to speak with her. What do you know of her?”
The dismissal only made her nod in a small movement, but she did tack on, “it wouldn’t bore me.” There was a touch of sadness but she didn’t press. She was an island at times, and she knew her role.
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
What Iliana was doing with Elena was definitely a harder punishment, and she would have confirmed that had the queen asked. Scout didn't know that death was what Iliana was planning on sentencing the redhead with.
Perhaps she had meant harsher precautions. She wasn't too sure herself. Wasn't preventing deaths better than catching the Gifted responsible for those deaths?
Scout did genuinely mean to do better. She wanted to serve her queen to the best of her abilities.
"Lady Florina Bellerose, yes. She's a dear friend of mine, actually, but I didn't know she was Gifted until she demonstrated it in front of us." She was glad to hear that there would perhaps be a new advisor. And she was also very happy about the sentencing, and everything Iliana mentioned. "I know she's lady Rainecourt-Marx niece, and that she only moved to Loren in the last year. She's a very kind, warm and calm person." She would connect it to the little remark Iliana made, because she wanted to explain it a little now she eas certain it wouldn't bore the queen. "Lady Bellerose helped me when I lost my baby as well. She's been a great support. I'm very glad I have her to fall back on."
She hesitated just a moment before adding to it: "Prince Augustus has offered her the position of Gifted advisor. I didn't know about this either until just now. Did you?"
Last Edit: Feb 5, 2024 4:16:33 GMT -5 by Scout Kane
Iliana listened to Scout, her gaze traveling between Scout’s as she took in what she offered about Florina. Kind and calm. Supportive of those who are close to her. The mention of her losing the baby had her jaw fleck for a moment and then settled. A sign that it made her sad, not pity, but sad for the loss for the woman across from her.
But the second part had her brows rise slightly in surprise. “I didn’t know.” She couldn’t even remember voicing any person for the role. Though she had been thinking of a few… “Do you think she is a good fit for the position? Speaking as a trusted advisor and not her friend.”
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
Post by Scout Kane on Feb 21, 2024 13:12:54 GMT -5
It didn't surprise her that the queen didn't know. Scout recently found herself in a very difficult situation between Augustus and Iliana, and it was time she started to make things right, hence why she mentioned the fact that Augustus had offered Iliana that position. It meant she didn't have to outright say Augustus was doing things without Iliana's approval, but the queen would be able to start to realise that, and do what she needed to do.
Speaking as an advisor, and not a friend. Scout nodded. "Then I would tell you that it does worry me that she wasn't registered, but that I do think that she would be a good fit for the position. She has shown that your safety was more important to her than her friend Oriana's intentions, and her Gift might be useful as well. I believe it has something to do with sensing magic? It might even be very useful for seeking out people that are Gifted and aren't registered. That aside, I know she is caring and smart, which I know because she's a friend, but even as an advisor I can see that those are good qualities for an advisor of Gifted."
Last Edit: Feb 21, 2024 13:13:27 GMT -5 by Scout Kane
Iliana would further think over the seed of information that Scout offered. Augustus was placing people officially into roles… what else was he doing without breathing a word of it to her?
But she pushed that aside to fully listen to Scout, to how she spoke on a woman and then spoke on that woman as a friend. At the end, she nodded. “Thank you. Your thoughts and opinions mean a lot to me.” She meant it, even as she felt that flicker of uncertainty with her uncle in the mix.
“You have been doing a great job, Lady Kane, with being the Steward after Lord Wyndham. And I want you to be confident that I grateful for what you have done. For being a voice. I know many times, often times,” she swallowed, her stomach twisting slightly but it was manageable. “Many still see me as a child. Perhaps I allowed that, but no more. I am the Queen… and I speak of wanting the change… but I know it’s not enough to speak my wants for Lorendale.” Those green eyes flickering between Scout’s. “I have another ask of you, if you’d be open to a potential change in your position.”
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
Post by Scout Kane on Feb 22, 2024 17:19:37 GMT -5
Although she was saddened that Iliana felt like and mentioned that she felt seen and treated as a child sometimes, Scout truly appreciated the queen's words. She lived for her job, and it was the thing she was most proud of. Hearing that her advice was appreciated was the greatest honour she could get, after she had to leave the military due to her injury. She also felt like the meeting prior to this had been a wake-up call for the queen, and that she meant that she wouldn't be treated like a child no more. That was good. She was indeed the queen.
Another ask? To say it piqued Scout's interest would be an understatement. She scooted forward on her seat a bit, without even realising it. Was this a promotion, or a demotion? It couldn't be the latter, right?
"Of course, your majesty. Whatever you need of me."
Iliana stood on a new ground, one that was truly new. For anyone else on her cabinet had either been given their position by someone else or had she had been advised about. Encouraged on. Now… this was utterly Iliana.
Green eyes lingered on the way Scout shifted and came closer. It almost seemed that both women were holding their breaths for the next. She was a Queen… she would be one. “I meant what I said, about your thoughts and advise. And, if you were open to it, I’d like you to take an official position as an Advisor.” She loosed a breath. “Specifically my Advisor of Law.” Her eyes danced, her heart fluttering wildly. It might not have seemed a big deal to others, but this was to her.
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
Post by Scout Kane on Feb 23, 2024 19:39:44 GMT -5
Scout managed to contain her excitement, but a small smile did break through on her face. She had loved and still did love her function as Lady Steward, but an Advisor was definitely a step up from where she currently was. Most of all, it was exciting to do something new, and something with new responsibilities. And she was proud of Iliana for making a decision such as this one, seemingly without discussing it with others first. The power from the Crown on her head had finally seeped through her skull, and the queen was now the Queen.
"Your majesty, I it would be an honour to be your Advisor of Law", she responded then, still smiling. "So, yes, with pleasure, I accept your offer."