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 October Montgomery on Mar 9, 2024 11:59:58 GMT -5
October listened as Iliana gave orders to various guards who were quick to obey and run off to do as they were told. They were not far from the door to the throne room as Augustus Rainecourt spoke to @iliana. October didn't say anything where it wasn't his place, he'd already offered words of comfort to the Queen. Only she could make the decision of what she wanted to do. No matter what it was, October would be by her side to protect her as best he could.
Iliana was stilled the instant Augustus Rainecourt pressured her to with his grip. Her eyes wide and she stared up at him. A sharp inhale of breath as he told her to leave. “I can’t,” she whispered. “If I flee I would be nothing but a coward to our people. What if they decide to destroy Lorendale because I left instead of met them?” The doors opened just ahead at the throne room, panicked courtiers escaping who had managed to do so the moment that the family and Honora entered. But not many.
They were already there… waiting for her. “If they want Elena, they need me alive… we can make that clear if—,” she trailed off and looked to him. Her resolve wavering for a moment. A child to her parent. Wanting to take the strength he had but she squared her shoulders.
By the time they approached the throne room, a crowd of about twenty people—ranging from servants to low-level nobles—were in tow. They kept a touch of distance, still wary, but were driven by the curiosity that Honora Allemeade was smothering them with. Tybalt Zane too was captured by the pull of her magic. Tybalt may focus on his anger, but his emotions would be altered nonetheless. Perhaps it was his sense of duty that was pulled upon. Or perhaps a sense of decorum. In any case, Tybalt would feel as though the right and proper course was to see that the visitors were welcomed and allowed an audience with their queen. His blade would not rise, and instead, he would walk alongside them as an escort. Though calmed, Tybalt would have no affection for them and therefore would be entirely unlikely to accept Avalon Eldouir ’s advance (though who’s to say?).
The assembled group was at the throne room’s main doors and would enter, Hiram Eldouir leading the charge. Courtiers that were inside would be captured by Honora Allemeade ’s magic and made to stay.
@iliana and her coterie were not yet in the throne room, but were at the side door, the one through which the queen would usually enter to ascend to her throne. A few courtiers had escaped through it, which made it clear the Eldouir were inside. Iliana, still undetected, had a choice as to whether to enter the den where the beasts awaited her
OOC NOTES: Maybe the map will not be necessary moving forward, but I wanted to establish a common geography of the room. If you have a noble or someone else who is at the palace in Lorendale, you can technically join the thread! Just DM me and I’ll incorporate. Let’s keep ‘er moving!
[ POST ORDER: Augustus, Hiram, Honora, Tybalt, Myla, Avalon, Iliana, October ]
Post by Augustus Rainecourt on Apr 11, 2024 9:13:34 GMT -5
Augustus turned as a few courtiers fled past them. Only a few, before eerily things seemed still—or at least, that the panic on the other side had stopped. He turned back to his niece, practically desperate as he held her by the shoulders.
“Do not mistake pride for bravery,” Augustus said in a firm appeal, “Sometimes the right choice is the less honorable one. Let your people say what they may: you are of more use to them alive than dead.” He whispered. “Eloduirs are not creatures of reason. Please, Iliana…”
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Apr 11, 2024 23:19:40 GMT -5
“Your majesty!” Hiram bellowed loudly, voice echoing through the throne room. “I know the blood of a Teake when I smell it.” That was an exaggeration, of course, as he didn’t smell her blood. But he could feel it. He knew a party waited just beyond the door to enter, and could sense how quickly their hearts were circulating the blood through their bodies.
“Come out, then. Let’s have a chat.” He’d proceed into the throne room, approaching the door behind which Iliana hesitated. When it opened—if it opened—he would offer her hand, a pleasant sneer on his face, and seek to escort her to her throne. If she denied it, he would purse his lips and stand in her way.
Post by Honora Allemeade on Apr 21, 2024 18:05:17 GMT -5
Honora could also feel her, though it was her mind rather than her blood she sense. Her heart was in her throat as she reached for Iliana, shoving one thought in her own voice—the voice of her once teacher—into Iliana’s mind with force.
Run.
Honora had been hurt. Hurt that Iliana had taken her position, hurt that in her disappearance it was not the queen who had come to her aid, but Hiram. But even so, Iliana was the child who she’d cherished and cared for. And that protective instinct did not fade easily.
Her focus on Ilaina would have her hold on Tybalt slacken—though just a little. Enough for a moment of self awareness at what was about the predicament he was in.
Arynnite armor: The armor have two states: active and inactive. When inactive, they look like little more than ornate metal bracers, easily ignored. When triggered, the armor covers Tybalt and serves as an exoskeleton. It will protect its wearer from physical damage and is practically indestructible.
The armor has a certain "preprogrammed" purpose which is to protect its host. To do so, it reacts to heightened emotional states such as fear and anger, at which point the armor will trigger regardless of whether or not Tybalt wants it to or even if he's immediately aware of the threat. It has some degree of awareness and sentience although very basic and one which struggles to differentiate between enemies and friends. Whilst not actually in possession of a will, the armor can guide or direct its host in a specific action, much like a reflex.
The armor needs to be "fed" as Tybalt has discovered meaning that he must hold and absorb through touch certain metals such as steel, copper, iron and tin, a process which takes a few minutes. Without which, the armor will begin to weaken and become less effective until no longer able to manifest.
Perhaps its greatest weakness is that if being consistently bashed or beaten, it would begin to repair itself by using parts of the armor from elsewhere. For instance, if the wearer is being consistently hit in the chest, the armor will begin to pool away from other parts of their body such as the feet and hands, leaving them vulnerable.
Post by Tybalt Zane on Apr 22, 2024 13:31:08 GMT -5
The anger was gone, and Tybalt was accompanying their guests. He was to the Eldouir, as docile as a lamb. He went along with their whims, and orders without objection.
Only when Avalon reached out to touch his cheek would he tense up. The image of Felicity passing through his mind suddenly. Ordinarily, he would have tried his best to reward Avalon with a broken nose. As it was, she would escape with a simple remark: "I'm married."
At this point, one had to wonder just what good doors were in Lorendale.
Tybalt, who had marched himself into the throne room could neither "smell their blood", nor reach the minds of those on the other side of the door. He could hear them. His sensitive ears would pick up on their conversations, their heartbeats. He knew the queen to be there.
If Honora's hold on the commander's mind loosened enough to allow the man enough clarity to at least process his surroundings, he still wouldn't budge. At most, if one was to study him, they might see that his eyes were flicking around. Registering things more accutely than they had been a few instants earlier. After all, he found himself in a room surrounded by enemies, and with potentially an awful lot of collateral damage in the form of civilians. There might have been a few guards who had roped in along the way, cast under the same spell, but they would last seconds, if that.
No, for the time being, the captain would bide his time. Wait and see how things played out. Every single second they spent waiting around, on ceremony, was one which would offer their reinforcements, gifted and Nevermerian a bit more time to come to their rescue.
Last Edit: Apr 22, 2024 13:32:16 GMT -5 by Tybalt Zane
MYLA: Myla was silent as they moved in, taking in the few who fled the room, then the nervous yet quiet whispers behind them. The faked curiosity that held them captive to the throne room with the others, even the dear Tybalt.
Hiram would move ahead, yet she took in the throne. Empty. They were wasting their time here. She should have tore through the dungeons rather than come up here to play nice with those who held onto Elena. Hiram’s voice as loud and her eyes flicked to Honora, swearing for a moment she felt the energy behind them turn more panicked. The steps of feet quick and nervous… like chickens in a pen that saw a fox lurking beyond. It was gone in a flash.
It would be all of thirty seconds of silence before Myla sent her magic snapping forward, breaking the door that separated them and the puppet. Sending splinters scattering across the floor, if it didn’t open before then…
Blast Generation - Avalon is able to generate blasts of powerful, pressurized air at whatever she targets.
A pressure-force generates in her core that creates a blast. She can direct this blast at people or objects. This means that if someone stands in the way of the blast force, it will not go through the person but hit them instead. If someone knows about her Gift and is feeling heroic, they would be able to throw themselves between her and her target to intercept her attack. This would result in them taking the blow.
The force of power behind Avalon’s blast is determined by how much she “charges” the attack. Charging looks like her focusing contained magical power into her core that she then releases at will. An attack with lesser pressure will be generated and released in a single post. An attack with moderate power will be charged for one post and released in the next post. Her most powerful blasts need to be charged for two posts and released in the third. For context, the most powerful blast from Avalon can tear apart stone, earth, and sometimes even metals.
Apart from power, Avalon can also manipulate the size and precision of her attacks. Sometimes they are large and all-encompassing, like a hurricane, and sometimes they are small and specific, like the loosing of an arrow. She can release any size in a single post, and the wreckage it causes is then determined by how much power she charged into it.
Post by Avalon Eldouir on Apr 23, 2024 8:44:14 GMT -5
I'm married. It made Avalon laugh, but she didn't respond to it. As if a ring on a finger would be able to stop her.
Her eyes flicked towards @myla when she broke the door. She had wanted to do that. She was mad at herself. Hiram had told her to take opportunities, and not wait for them. She should have broken the door before Myla had the chance. But! This wasn't the time for family quarrels. They had a mission, although she had no idea what it was.
Ava kept her magic ready. If any of those people behind them tried anything, she would be ready.
Post by October Montgomery on Apr 23, 2024 10:37:30 GMT -5
ILIANA:
Hiram’s voice was quick to follow Augustus’ urging. Her eyes wide and her mother’s name had her almost shrink back. She could leave, move right towards the door closest and flee into Nevermere. It was the only place her key opened, but she could be safe… “Okay,” she whispered, glancing between him and the few royal guards around her, moving—
Run.
The voice had goosebumps rushing her skin and her breath catching. She knew that voice anywhere… the voice that had comforted her in times, the one who had advised her, who had been stern and yet filled her with… love. The voice of the woman she had sent out people to look for her… her head whipped towards the room. Then she moved quickly for the door closest, her hand moving to the pocket but she didn’t get a chance to zip it down…
Wood exploded, and while she went to turn away to shield herself… there it was. Iridescent and spanning the width of the hall, the wood and metal pieces of the door hitting the almost invisible wall before it clattered along the stones. Instinct, and yet she knew exactly what this was. Even if it only lasted a few seconds. Her hands closing into fists as she turned back towards the door and stared at Hiram’s bulky frame with wide eyes. Her back snapping straight and her mind wondering… could she actually protect anyone? It was only then that the wall blinked out as her concentration was broken.
OCTOBER: October wasn’t sure what it was that stirred the Queen into action to actually leave, unable to hear the voice in her head. It was the sudden change that caught him off guard and had his heart leaping and an urgent feeling to help her do what she wanted.
But it was too late. The door burst open and there it was again, that faint but beautiful iridescent shimmer that he now knew came from Iliana. Unfortunately, the unpracticed gifted Queen lost it again right away.
Then the Eldouir man was offering his hand to the Queen and his automatic response was for his muscles to tighten as he took a step forward, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword should he need it. He knew he was nothing against their magic but if his actions would protect his Queen in some way then he’d do it anyway.
Should any of the Eldouir try to reach for Iliana, he’d make a more purposeful step to put himself between the Queen and the enemy.