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!
With Aestas in full swing, Ermir had a countdown going in his head. Time ticking off the clock, day by day, hour by hour, until eventually there would be no time left to plan. No time left to help others with a tribute, let alone what would happen after the whole thing. There was no time to think about that and it was probably for the best. So the focus stayed in preparation, as well as making sure everyone continued to stay fed. Not an easy task, but one the Dresmondi didn’t mind doing.
Currently that plan meant chopping wood for Cecilia and Brail so that they could work on some small wood-carvings. The two older Dresmondi must have been deemed not threatening enough, but also not entirely useless. And so they were doing everything to keep their dyrs and each other safe. Ermir was glad to pitch in to chop things down to a manageable size. Anything to help each other, that’s what he had decided a long time ago.
Pausing a second to catch his breath and wipe his hands, Ermir smiled at the pair, whittling away. ”What do you think maybe a couple more?”
Things always seemed to get a bit more chaotic within Elderkeep around the time of the tribute. Some Dresmondi went to great lengths to ensure they had a proper tribute to give to the Eldouirs, even if it meant attacking and stealing from other citizens.
The Eldouirs did nothing about it, of course. If soldiers did anything to maintain a semblance of peace, that was up to them. But it was certainly entertaining to walk through the city and feel and witness the chaos first hand, which was what had drawn Adeline out of the estate today.
She just wandered, eyes roaming lazily across the various citizens and buildings, searching for anything interesting. It was then that she heard the thunking sound and her head tilted as she followed it. As she approached the source of the sound she realized first that someone was chopping wood. The second thing she realized was that she recognized the Dresmondi chopping said wood. She stopped, a smirk coming to her face as she crossed her arms.
"Well, well, we meet again." She had no care that she had clearly interrupted a conversation.
He was surprised when the two didn't answer, so he looked up, expecting to see them laughing about something together about something. But instead he saw fear, and then she spoke and he knew why. Goosebumps ran along his arms as he recognized the red-heads voice. Not just any Eldouir either, Adeline.
Rolling his shoulders he turned, a smile on his face, making sure he was the only thing in her line of sight. Not the nice older Dresmondi who were just trying to protect their dyrs. And he was pretty sure the ice princess didn't have a single empathetic bone in her body.
"Adeline." Bowing his head and torso in a sign of respect, he straightened to look at her. "What brings you here today?" He didn't cross his arms despite wanting to, glad the ax was buried in the stump for now. And also wishing he was wearing his shirt despite the heat, even if the showing of brands was supposedly a good thing.
With Ermir now facing her, Adeline unabashedly drank in the sight of his muscled torso, her head tilting to the side lightly and the corners of her lips quirking up. After a moment of silence she answered, "Oh, you know. The Tribute is drawing near and your people always get a bit rowdy during this time." Her gaze fell on his apparent brands, a pleased look coming to her eyes when she noted the amount he had.
"I was just walking the streets to ensure the chaos was kept to a minimum when I heard the commotion. Turns out it was just you chopping some wood." She hadn't moved towards him at all, but she certainly didn't make any move to leave. "But I'm curious as to why you're chopping wood, seeing as it is the middle of Aestas and incredibly warm."
Ermir's skin prickled as her highness's eyes ran over his uncovered chest. It was her right or whatever to do what she wanted and when so he just smiled and nodded. "Apologies for causing trouble for you, I'm glad you are here to help control the chaos." A pinecone would do a better job, but she was probably more favorable than some of the giddy soldiers they trained. She had no one to impress, at least that's what he assumed. He made a lot of assumptions about them.
However he did need to answer any question if he wanted to play the part of a whipped Dresmondi. "For carvings to present as tributes. They make beautiful art with it, and I wanted one for the tavern so I'm chopping the wood as payment." There was always truth to his lies which made them flow like a river from his mouth.
Adeline gave a light shrug of her shoulders, "No apologies are needed when its you," she said, a hungry smile on her face. She listened to his explanation for the wood, her nose scrunching in a bit of distaste.
"Wood carvings for Tribute? Not the best gift I've seen offered, but I suppose they could look nice somewhere in the house." She sauntered forward, close enough that she brushed against his arm as she peered around him at the older pair of Dresmondis that had been quiet this entire time.
She offered them a sickly sweet smile, sizing them up, "I suppose when you get to be their age, there isn't much left for them to offer anyway."
Ermir continued to smile despite his stomach turning, continuing to lie to himself as he always did, that he wasn't playing with fire. Especially as Adeline made it clear with her expression and words that it wasn't a welcome thing.
As she brushed past his hand started to move to stop her. But his brain managed to kick in before his instincts got him killed, his arm falling to his side, almost as if disappointed she was more interested in the couple than him.
"I suppose we can't all be young forever. Certainly never as strong as you." His head dipping in an acknowledgement of her power, Ermir wanted to stand in front of them again but wondered if that would just make her more insistent.
Her attention wouldn't remain on the older couple for long. Dreadfully boring, old people were. Instead it turned back to Ermir, soaking in the praise and compliment of his words. A sound came from the back of her throat that was akin to purring as she turned towards him.
"You are such a treat." She stood up on her tiptoes, pressing herself against him as she walked two fingers up his chest to his beard, where one finger wound a small circle through the hair. "It is quite rare to find a man who is both well mannered and easy on the eyes." She was gazing up at him, an unmistakable intensity in her eyes.
Then she smirked, drawing her eyes away to look back at the older couple. She remained pressed against Ermir, her hand moving from his beard to plant against his chest. "Wouldn't you agree?" she asked the other Dresmondi.
The hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end as the noise left her throat. Apparently he had laid on the praise a little thick. And while it meant the old couple weren't being stared at, Adeline's attention was now uncomfortably on him.
More than just her attention though, physically placing her hands in places they didn't belong. But the thing was, in Elderkeep, she could do anything she pleased and he needed to smile. And so despite wanting to vomit, he was still as her hands and fingers moved over his skin and beard. "Thank you, such high praise, you are too kind your highness."
He was completely still as the old couple nodded their head, eyes still wide with rightful fear. Neither able to formulate words in the moment.
Seemingly satisfied with the nods from the older couple, Adeline twisted back to face Ermir. Her eyes trailed lazily up his chest to his face once more. "You know, I still have not seen that tavern you own. Perhaps you could take me to it and show me around?" She tilted her head slightly, her smile turning sweet as she batted her eyelashes at him.
While Adeline did not have Hiram's ability to directly manipulate people's moods, she certainly had other means of attempting to do so. As an Eldouir, especially as one trained by Hiram, she had been taught that if she wanted something, she had to take it. And that she should take it. And though her moods were fleeting, at this moment Adeline wanted Ermir and so she would do what she must to have him. At least until she was bored again.
Ermir wasn't sure if Adeline knew that he couldn't say no to a single thing she asked of him, but his gut said that she did. Something that made his stomach turn. And it was really a shame, because she was beautiful, but the rotten inside didn't match. Despite that though his body was responding in certain ways with her plastered up against him.
All the same the Dresmondi nodded his head, still smiling. "Of course, anything you desire." Offering his arm out, glad to guide her away from the older couple while Ciel communicated with Cyrus' dyr to announce what was happening. And to make sure his children were safely tucked away in the store room.
"This batch of drinks are particularly strong, fair warning. And I cook so the foods good." Trying his best to give her other options besides the ones that her hands and eyes seemed to want.
Adeline wiggled her fingers over her shoulder in a farewell to the couple as she took Ermir's arm, allowing him to guide her toward the rickety shack they called their tavern. She was only momentarily distracted by his rambling of the food and drinks, her own curiosity winning out for the moment.
"Let me have some of this 'strong' drink." She had only ever had the best wine Eldouir money could buy, and she was curious about what commoners drank. She tilted her head, "And as the cook... what kind of food would you recommend?"
Last Edit: Sept 7, 2022 14:45:16 GMT -5 by Deleted
"I always recommend the stew, took me ages to get it just right." Today was venison, although not the same deer from before. He had managed to find an older one farther out last trip.
When they got to The Last Call his two fellow Dresmondi were hard at work. Elaxi was taking double duty behind the bar and bringing food, although it was sparse compared to usual. Cyrus keeping things warm in the back and generally trying to not have to deal with any Eldouir royalty if he could help it.
Ermir opened the door for Adeline, half-hoping Drystan was there on one of his mist checks for once in his life. Walking towards the bar he reached over to grab a bottle and a few glasses. There were plenty of open tables, although apparently Elaxi hadn't gotten around to closing the door to the private back room as he'd requested. "Should we sit?"
Adeline's nose twitched a bit at the mention of stew and she faintly remembered the first time she came across Ermir when he had just killed a baby deer. A peculiar way to meet someone, to be honest. "I think I'll skip the stew. I'm sure it's great but... I'm just not really hungry."
Once they were within the tavern she wandered to the middle of it, slowing to a stop and doing a slow turn. It really was a bit of a mess. But she noted the other two Dresmondi who seemed to be busy taking care of various things, and that was good. People who were busy were less likely to have time for other things, such as complaining about the state of their existence.
She was so busy studying the inside of the tavern that she missed Ermir grabbing drinks, and her eyes fell upon the open doorway. Tilting her head, she moved towards it, the only response to Ermir's question being a low hmm as she stepped inside, peering around to see what they could possibly have hidden away.
Not really hungry. That was unfortunate for many reasons but mostly because his cooking was amazing. No, probably more so that it meant his distractions weren't paying off like he hoped they would. She was just as flighty as Nikita, bouncing from idea to idea, and Ermir was not winning the battle.
Watching Adeline walk around he cleared his throat as she wandered towards the back room. Luka and Zev might have had a good time but he was really all set on the matter. "It's a little private meeting room. Some of your fighters wanted a place to themselves so we made one."
Well no, he had wanted a place for Claw meetings but he certainly wasn't about to tell her that. And it wasn't a total lie either, some of them had so much distaste for their fellow Dresmondi they didn't want to eat and drink with them. "Do you prefer a drink standing or?"