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
05.12.2023
Established the "Tag Staff" discord channel for helping update the site.
05.26.2023
2 month character creation hold for all existing members begins 6/5/2023.
We wanted to give a huge shoutout to Bugstomper! We have always promoted the idea of going with the flow of a plot, not taking things personally OOC, and moving forward as we adapt to new IC happenings. When her character, Rhedara, was removed from the military and then lost an important romance plot, Bugstomper took it all in graceful strides and showed us how things are meant to unfold in such circumstances. Thank you Bugstomper for your example and general awesomeness!
Hiram and Rosa rose up, figures first of blood, then dripping with blood, from the pool that was in the corner of the back of Temple Eldouir, just beyond the black sand. Rosa would find the wetness on her mouth, keeping it covered even if she sought to open it, preventing her from speech.
Hiram surged forward, wading through the foul-smelling liquid. He'd leave her to stand there if she so chose.
There is no glory in battle if no blood is lost.
Last Edit: Jul 6, 2022 14:17:52 GMT -5 by Hiram Eldouir
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 6, 2022 15:47:13 GMT -5
Rosamere was absolutely terrified, as the blood fell away, leaving her sticky and disgusting feeling. The lack of anything familiar didn't help the rising panic in her chest, nor the blood that stayed covering her mouth. It was probably the only thing that kept her from hyperventilating, really. Though the feeling of air along the open wounds on her skin from the acidic ichor that had been in the blood kept her mind in the present as tears of pain started free flowing now that her tear ducts weren't blocked by blood.
It was the fact that she realized that she was standing in a pool of blood was the only reason she even moved. Panic plus now-shaking legs from pain and an adrenaline crash meant that it was all clumsy stumbling and near falling as Rosa tried to get out and away from the blood.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 7, 2022 14:56:50 GMT -5
Hiram had turned the cave into his home. It was telling of what a man like him needed. There were furs in one place for him to sleep on, much like the Coheedsmen did, and there were some weapons lined up close by with a few other odd pieces among them. No food. No water. Just lots of blood, lots of black sand, and then Hiram himself.
He paced the cave, checking to see if any of his belongings had been touched.
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 7, 2022 16:18:04 GMT -5
She'd been expecting solid ground, or sand packed so densely from use it might as well have been solid. It wasn't and her foot slid in the sand, twisting and sending her straight to the ground. She tried to bite back a whimper, but even muffled by the blood, it still sounded so very loud to her own ears.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 8, 2022 13:58:13 GMT -5
The sand was actually deep, and if she didn't scramble she would find herself sinking. It would likely come up to her chest before her footing found something more solid.
Hiram, having surveyed his stuff, reached for something before turning towards the witch to observe her pathetic display.
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 8, 2022 14:05:24 GMT -5
Rosamere struggled and scrambled to get to her feet in the sand but she managed, having made her way towards the wall as she did so. Which she was standing with her back to it now as she stared at the Eldouir man. Terror and fear were very clear in her eyes, but there was stubbornness and a little bit of defiance there too.
This was also the moment when she realized something had happened to her crossbow. Well crap. It didn't help the panic, unfortunately.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 8, 2022 14:13:48 GMT -5
If Rosamere had held on to her crossbow even while drowning in the blood prior to teleporting then it surely came through with her. If it wasn't still in her hand then it likely dropped in the blood pool or else into the black sand.
Hiram approached her. As he drew nearer, she would see that the object in his hands was a brass collar.
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 8, 2022 14:38:02 GMT -5
Rosamere wasn't sure if she'd left it in the forest or if it was somewhere in the sand or blood. All she knew was that she didn't have it and that she had nowhere to go.
Her back hit the wall and she had no way to cast any spell with the blood covering her mouth. When she realized it was a collar that he was holding, her eyes widened with terror.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 8, 2022 18:21:39 GMT -5
"Yes, you should be scared." Hiram murmured, smiling and nodding his head as he drew nearer and nearer. "But then again, you're from Nevermere, so you don't know what this is, do you?" He stopped directly in front of her and held it close for her to see.
"It's a collar. So hold still." He'd move in to put it on.
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 8, 2022 18:24:40 GMT -5
Maybe if it was one of her siblings, or Kat or Odina or Magda in her position they would have fought back. They probably would have gotten away too, instead of taken away to wherever this was. Anyone would have done better than her, was all she could think.
She was frozen to the spot, eyes glued to the collar as he spoke, and she bit down on the inside of her lip to keep herself from whimpering in fear when it touched her skin.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 8, 2022 18:34:49 GMT -5
Hiram pressed half the collar to her throat before swinging around the other half to clamp shut. The blood then fell away from her mouth. She would find that if she tried to chant no magic would stir. She would be cut off, incapable.
"There. That's better." The Eldouirs had been in charge of removing collars from gifteds in Lorendale, once upon a time. They had had many in their storage, though most were buried in the ruins of their estate. Of course, they had just enough to control their own should they need to, and two keys to remove them. Those keys weren't anywhere close, so Rosamere was stuck with her new neck decoration.
"You," he pointed a finger in her face, "are mine now. And you're going to do everything I say." His hand would aggressively seek to grab her cheeks, a grip hard enough that it would surely leave bruises where his fingers dug in, "Got it?"
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 8, 2022 19:54:16 GMT -5
There was a growing pit of horror in her gut when the collar snapped shut. One that wasn't eased when the blood fell away from her mouth. It felt like it was gnawing at her insides as she realized that he fully believed he had a way to deal with her magic if she used it. That horror, that terror, gripped her tongue so thoroughly that she didn't even try to test an incantation in his presence. She was too afraid to even touch the collar with her own hands in front of him.
Her head was tilted back as far as it could go and the motion combined plus his words made her flinch in his grip. If there weren't any bruises, she would honestly be surprised. But eventually, she nodded. Scared and terrified.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 15, 2022 13:31:23 GMT -5
Hiram let her go, though roughly, and his eyes flickered over her person for a silent moment before he growled,
“Strip naked.” He moved to a place along the edge of the wall where there was evidence of a fire pit. He crouched over it and got started on making one.
Post by Rosamere Osxiano on Jul 20, 2022 7:41:30 GMT -5
Rosamere trembled once he moved away. If she was braver, she would have tried to run probably, regardless of whatever consequences would be wating for her. But she wasn't brave and running was already proven to not work.
And.... she was probably more terrified of dying than anything else. So if that meant some form of compliance would guarantee a higher chance of living through this, then she would try. If only for the possibility to eventually get back home.
Hesitantly, she started to strip and didn't bother to hold back the silent tears that started rolling down her face.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 20, 2022 12:58:21 GMT -5
Starting a fire was no chump task. Hiram had had plenty of practice, however, and before she was totally naked he had a nice little one going. It brought more light into the dim cavern, and he fed it with nearby pieces of wood. When he was content with its health, knowing taking his eyes from it wouldn't cause it to die, he stood and looked towards the girl. His eyes raked shamelessly over her form.
"Put your clothes in it." He told her, pointing towards the hungry little flames.