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!
The last two weeks, Nicholas had been in a manic state. He was elated, carefree, alive. Nothing and nobody could ruin his mood. He had it all figured out, everything. He knew how to not be like his father, he knew how to show Indira he was ready to take care of her and Jovi. When he is manic, he wants to be a father and go back to his wife. They weren't divorced, because that would be the end of their reputation. He still loved Indira, he just couldn't be a husband and a father when he was in a bad state. He would run away, disappear, and not tell anyone where he was, just to be back and go back to Indira and Jovi with promises about doing better.
Their families tried to keep this on the down low. Especially the Chaudhari didn't want to know Indira's husband was... Odd. The people of Nevemere didn't exactly know about it either. Most people that knew Nicholas knew that he was unpredictable and chaotic, but didn't know it made things between him and Indira difficult. They didn't see them together a lot, but at most people would attribute this to Nicholas running a big company, which kept him busy. Now that she worked in Arynn Frey from time to time, they had a good cover for it, too.
That day, however, he was manic and ecstatic. A scrivener had written a letter to Keelan to let him know Nicholas would be stopping by. He wanted to talk about their businesses, because he had ideas and opinions. Oh, how he was excited to talk with Keelan about it. The Beaumont Company and Keelan's operation working together... It would be wonderful.
The graying man arrived at the docks, and headed over to Keelan's headquarters. There he would greet whoever was at the door. "Good day! I am here to see Lord Morrigan. Tell him it's Nicholas Beaumont. He should have received a letter from me."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Mar 24, 2024 19:29:04 GMT -5
Keelan was preparing to depart on the King's Tour, so rounding off appointments and finalizing details on deals were among the Morrigans priorities. He was taking Rhedara Shannon too, she was proving herself well beyond a glorified assistant as everyone saw her but the more and more she worked beside him she was gaining that fierce confidence he felt inside of her. She was beautiful. She was fighting for the spot of Lady Rhedara Morrigan. Keelan slightly smirked at the idea as Bulger escorted Nicholas Beaumont from the deck of the ship which The Keelan Morrigan Company was ran, The Seahawk.
Keelan sat behind his desk when the two men entered his offices, he rose mostly out of old habit to greet Nicholas with a hearty handshake, "Lord Beaumont, sit," Bulger closed the door behind him taking a spot in the corner to read a paper, "Don't mind him, Bulger is just a fixture of the office and after what happened to my dear Uncle and cousins," words of sympathy but lacked any true feelings as Keelan conveyed them, "One can not be so sure of their safety these days. Drink?" Keelan stepped over to his bar, a selection of fine whiskey that few had access to.
Post by Nicholas Beaumont on Mar 27, 2024 7:16:34 GMT -5
Nicholas had also been invited on the Tour, but he wasn't sure yet whether he would actually go or not. The company needed him, and he wasn't too interested in visiting Coheed and Cambria, but there would also certainly be benefits to going... He was interested in working together with the King. His company would be perfect to supply Coheed, but also as a means to actually get there. If more people were going to be traveling to Coheed, normal ships would have to be used, because they couldn't just send military ships all the time. This eas one of the reasons of why he wanted to see Keelan. He was curious if the man had talked to the King about something like this yet.
Nicholas was greeted and brought to an office by a large fellow. He talked Bulger's ear off on the way over there, about little nothings such as the weather and the ship they were on. Eventually they reached the office, where Keelan greeted them. He eagerly shook Keelan's hand and would sit, as instructed/invited to. He held up his hands in a way that would show that he understood why the man kept Bulger close. "One can indeed never be sure enough. I ought to find me a good guard for my headquarters as well. And yes, a drink would be nice." He smiled professionally at Keelan and looked at the man standing near his bar. "Surprise me. You're known for your food taste in whiskey." And women, he thought, but didn't say. Keelan had been seen with a lot of good-looking and influential women over the years. Of course, Nicholas himself was married to one, but that was a difficult situation.
"Thank you for seeing me. I had some questions I wanted to ask, from one businessman to another."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 1, 2024 9:14:01 GMT -5
Keelan did know more about his whiskey and booze than even most brewers, so he picked up a bottle of vintage 100 year old whiskey. It had been aged inside two different barrels, the first fifty years of its life was spent in a fire charred barrel with a spice known for its heat; a heat that the drinker tasted first. For the second half of its life an oak barrel buried underground housed the liquid and gave it its soothing cool follow that lessened the heat as the drinker drank.
"Of course Nicholas, I can share some business talk," Keelan returned to his seat behind his large bolted down mahogany desk with two glasses and the vintage whiskey, "Would your questions pertain to the King's Tour?" he tipped the bottle giving both men just a splash a piece of the oddly darker than normal ember liquor, electric blue eyes landing on Nicholas as he pushed the glass closer to the man.
Post by Nicholas Beaumont on Apr 1, 2024 12:48:28 GMT -5
Apparently they were on a first name basis already. Nick didn't mind. It made conversation easier and less formal. He would still have to make sure he was professional, but it took away some of the more formal aspects of the interaction. The silver fox watched Keelan as he slid behind his desk again, pushing the glass in his direction.
"Amongst other things, yes", he responded with an easy smile on his lips. He lifted the glass and tipped it in Keelan's direction for a moment, an unspoken 'cheers' intended, before he took a small sip. "Hmm." A satisfied rumble left his vocal cords. "Good stuff." He placed the glass back on the table and intertwined his fingers, leaning them on the desk. "We both own big companies, and I respect your business. So much that I wouldn't want to thwart you." He leaned back again in the chair. "I want to work with the king to provide travel by ship to Coheed and Cambria. For people, and for wares. Now, my question is if you have met with the king about similar prospects."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 4, 2024 18:03:44 GMT -5
Keelan returned the small cheers, smiling internally because he had figured as much about the questions pertaining to the King's Tour Nicholas wouldn't be the first nor last until Keelan made his departure.
"Oh, I'm interested," Keelan declared taking another sip of his drink before turning to roll himself a cigarette, "I was quite adamant with the King that I could offer my services of trade ships to establish trade...hauling materials for the new city, I employee directly from the military and can offer my own escorting on the seas. I've absorbed several businesses the last few years as well; my fleets grown and my staff, well I offer top folks from those businesses jobs," firing the smoke up Keelan sat silent in his chair staring across his desk grunting.
"I've got...bigger ambitions of course..," Keelan didn't physically smile, but his eyes did. He asked his cig, "but don't let me bully you out of taking aim Nicholas, if I had I wouldn't be me, and being a Beaumont...you've got history. If you are a competitive man, what's a little healthy competition?"
Post by Nicholas Beaumont on Apr 6, 2024 10:19:30 GMT -5
Keelan responded somewhat mysteriously, or was secretive the correct word? He showed his cards, but not so long that Nicholas was able to get a good look at them. The Morrigan was ambitious and had talked to the king, but what the latter's response was, wasn't said. "Let's not beat around the bush. We're the biggest players in the game. You've absorbed companies, and are growing every day. I don't mind healthy competition at all, but I would hate for us to not see eye to eye. I feel like we're different enough to not bother each other much. You focus on materials and wares, and I'm more about fish and food. But if it would come to escorting people overseas... We might get in each other's way."
He looked at the man, trying to get another look as those cards. "I haven't talked to the king yet, but I plan on doing so. Now, I have a proposal, of sorts." He held up his hands. "I won't be offended if you don't like it, but hear me out. What if we combine forces on this? Half of the ships to Coheed are yours, half are mine. Split the labor. Split the income."
He took another sip of the whiskey. "If not... It will indeed be healthy competition, to see who the king prefers." A risky comment, but not an unfair one.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 8, 2024 8:47:28 GMT -5
Keelan liked a like minded business man, respected them Beaumont company was highly respectable so in return Keelan would give the same. He chewed the man's words over in his head for a solid minute when Nicholas was done, "Fish and food market is yours Nicholas, and you can still escort passengers it all makes perfect sense to me," he sat his glass of liquor down electric blue eyes locked on Nicholas, "We could be partners, not absorbing either, but legitimate partners like let's say the Morrigan and Beaumont Shipping company...and before you say no let me let you in on my next phase, why this tour means so much to me," Keelan stood and took a few steps toward a locked cabinet where he kept everything pertaining to the Keelan Morrigan Company, "Our Majesty has acquired more territory, land, and while sea trade will forever be our greatest means of trade land trade is a fruit yet unpicked," Keelan pulled out a map of Terra Nova, all known sea routes mapped the Nevermere trade lines but what was vastly different was the land routes from Nevermere to Coheed, Cambria, and Lorendale, "General stores, hubs of trade in Cambria and Coheed; I hope to find contracts to begin mining in these lands as they offer new resources all of which double profits for everyone; especially us if we corner the market," Keelan sat clearly riddled with some new vigor of enjoyment despite the apparent gloomy look on his face, "If we partnered Nicholas I could offer control of my ships and all sea trading ventures to be ran by you while my partner and I control the land trading...but again not separate...together...," he leaned back in his chair, the idea of a combined company was satisfying and both men stood to make a fortune.
Post by Nicholas Beaumont on Apr 8, 2024 9:14:01 GMT -5
Oh, Nicholas was excited. This conversation was going exactly like he had hoped it would go. He knew that realistically, he could try to do this by himself, but branching out and joining forces with Keelan would be good for both their companies. They were about the two biggest players and together they would have a monopoly on the market. Keelan's ideas went even further than the general idea of providing ships to cross the ocean. Hubs, stores, it sounded like an amazing next step.
"So, let me get this straight", he started. "Because I am liking what I'm hearing. Are you suggesting combining forces overseas, or also in Nevermere?" He wasn't sure I'd he was willing to give up all autonomy, but he wanted to hear Keelan out. "Focussing only on the sea, and you only on land would be efficient. Sharing the profit, even more so. We would be untouchable."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 23, 2024 7:00:32 GMT -5
"Both," Keelan confirmed, "You would realistically control our sea trade from Nevermere and I would oversee our land trade, but in name we'd do this together as well and as you said we'd be untouchable Nicholas," Keelan sat back in his chair letting Nicholas consider the offer.
Post by Nicholas Beaumont on Apr 23, 2024 8:42:11 GMT -5
He was hesitant. "How about," he said, starting another idea. "How about we start by combining forces in Coheed?" He wasn't ready to give up the land trade in Nevermere yet. Keelan would need better arguments to make Nicholas willing to join forces in Nevermere, because he wasn't sold on only doing sea trade. He had this seal of approval thing going in Nevermere. The company mostly worked together with local merchants that want to sell their items themselves, and by becoming associates of the Beaumont Company, they get a stamp of approval and guaranteed quality. The company researches the merchant and the quality of their wares before agreeing to working together with them. For this association to the company, the merchants pay a certain percentage of their profit to the company. In return, they can demand higher prices for their products because the stamp of approval from the company puts people at ease and makes them more likely to trust the merchant. He didn't know whether Keelan had something like this.
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Apr 29, 2024 8:03:45 GMT -5
Keelan let the words digest from Nicholas before finally nodding, "Yes, let's see how things go with Coheed first," a trial run of sorts, either way Keelan would have what he wants and that was a merchant's empire that stretch from Nevermere to Arynn Frey.
Post by Nicholas Beaumont on Apr 29, 2024 8:18:29 GMT -5
A small smile broke through on his face as he extended his hand. "It's a deal then." He would wait for Keelan to shake his hand before he'd add: "Soon the tour will commence. I will try to arrange a meeting with the King."