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 Willa Wren on Jul 19, 2022 14:29:26 GMT -5
[ Made for @viveka ]
Wren stood at Viveka's side, watching as the last of the Valkyrie dispersed into the night. Her arms were folded and her hands grasped the opposite biceps, as if to ward out the cold yet it wasn't cold. She was nervous. Willa Wren, Champion of Coheed and Cambria, was nervous. With good reason. She had done something she was not allowed to do and would continue to do it this night all in search of an answer to oppose that which she had already received, that which she rejected.
Watching quietly as her sisters in arms filed away to their tents for the night, Viveka couldn't help the pang of sadness that bounced through her chest. They all believed whole heartedly in their Priestess and in the All Mother, and trusted her and Wren to lead them by their word. And yet, both of them were questioning their faith in one way or another.
Glancing over at Wren, she noted her friend's stance and her eyes softened as she reached out and lightly placed a hand on Wren's shoulder. "It will be fine. We will figure it all out," she murmured quietly. She knew that regardless of the outcome, she would stand by Wren's side and they would have each other. That gave her the courage to face whatever was thrown their way.
Post by Willa Wren on Jul 28, 2022 14:16:24 GMT -5
Wren startled slightly at Viveka's touch, green eyes cutting to her friend. It would be fine, she was guaranteed, but her heart doubted. It hadn't been fine before and Wren had determined to never make the same mistakes. This day, however, she had transgressed against a command of their Priestess. She had gone to the cave that was kept secret and plucked some of the mushrooms used for communion with the All Mother. Should her actions become known, she feared what this would mean. For her. For them, those loyal women she watched walk back to their town. Wren didn't want to rebel. She wanted to rest certain in the truth. If the All Mother truly wished for the women of Cambria to be marked, then she trusted that the All Mother would reveal this to her. To them.
Her response was simply to smile, though it did not reach her eyes. No, her eyes were filled with an anxious energy that might have been fear had she been any other woman. Wren, however, did not fear. What had she to fear? Nothing could harm her. But then again, there were more ways to be hurt than the physical.
She turned to retrieve her bag and the supplies needed for the ceremony.
The way Wren's smile refused to reach her eyes was not missed by Viveka and it pained her more than her waning faith did. They were both strong but this had the chance to completely tilt the ground under their feet.
But it had to be done. They needed answers. Viveka nodded in agreeance about being quick and followed along behind Wren quietly.
Post by Willa Wren on Sept 13, 2022 12:17:52 GMT -5
Wren, with bag in hand, began trotting up the mountain. There was a pass that would allow them a higher perch, but one that didn't look over Cambria. One somewhat secluded that would allow them privacy. Allow them to commune with the All Mother in a way that was forbidden to them. But she has to ask. She had to know.
With a quiver in her chin that she thanked the darkness for keeping unseen Wren reached the place they would do this, sure that Viveka was close behind. She immediately got started on making a small fire.
Viveka followed Wren silently, her own nerves stirring more and more the farther they walked up the mountain. She continued to remind herself of how important what they were doing was, not only for them but for their kingdom.
While Wren worked on making a fire, Viveka would see to the items within Wren's pack, laying them out for both of them. Then she would take a seat and wait for Wren to be satisfied with her fire.
Last Edit: Sept 15, 2022 19:25:26 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Willa Wren on Sept 13, 2022 12:23:28 GMT -5
The items Viveka found were simple. A slip of leathered cloth folded around mushrooms. A small hand drum. A handheld shaker. A lock of hair (Wren’s). A clay bowl and water.
When the fire was finished and the items laid out Wren, sitting back on her heels, hesitated. She swallowed deeply and looked to Viveka. She wanted to say something, but words were evading her. Their time together in Coheed was brought back, their time as Cambrian outlaws and how isolating that felt. They’d had each other, yes, but they hadn’t had their sisterhood. It was then that she found her words.
“If…” her throat felt dry, so she tried again, “if this goes the way I fear it might…” She wanted to say more but she could hardly get it out.
Viveka stood and crossed the space to Wren, kneeling down in front of her and placing her hands on her shoulders. "We must remain strong, Orka. We have been through much together and we shall not let this be our breaking point."
Her voice was soft but stern, "Whatever comes of this, we will get through it together, as we always have. We must protect our sisters from needless suffering."
Last Edit: Sept 15, 2022 19:26:01 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Willa Wren on Sept 13, 2022 12:26:36 GMT -5
Wren listened. She listened, and when Viveka finished she shut her mouth and nodded. She was correct, of course. They would get through this, of course. Where before Wren had allowed the Chieftess to drive her out, she wouldn’t do that again. No, this time she would remain with her people.
Wren lifted a hand to set on Viv’s forearm. She was thankful to have her beside her. Wren would surely be a ship lost at sea without her anchor.
Without another word Wren would turn towards the things that she had. She had observed Isolde brew the mushrooms into a tea, so she would attempt to do just that. She placed an earthen pot onto her fire and filled it halfway with water. The mushrooms were dropped in next, though she had not quite prepared them the way Isolde did. What she would produce would be more like a stew, and Wren and Viveka would find themselves consuming far greater portions of the mystical substance than their Priestess ever did.
She handed the shaker to Viveka and kept the hand drum for herself. After waiting far too little for the mushroom to brew, she removed it from the fire—her invincible hands impervious to the pain Viveka would have felt had she lifted the bowl—and she downed half of it, chewing the mushrooms that floated to her lips. She then extended the bowl to Viveka’s lips for it to be finished.
Afterwards, she began to gently paw at the drum.
“All Mother. We can to you. Hear us.” She said, plucking up the lock of hair and tossing it into the fire. “We need you to come before us. We are in need of answers…”
Viveka took a breath before moving away again to give Wren the space she needed. Of the two of them, Wren had spent the most time with the chieftess and had more knowledge on the process of contacting the All-Mother, so Viveka would simply sit back and watch quietly.
She took the bowl and drank the contents, also chewing on the mushrooms that flowed into her mouth. She grimaced at the texture but forced herself to swallow them, setting the bowl aside when it was empty, and waited. Wren began to tap at the drum and speak while Viveka waited to feel or experience anything. She closed her eyes against the light of the fire, silently begging the All Mother to grace them with her presence. They needed answers.
Last Edit: Sept 15, 2022 19:26:28 GMT -5 by Deleted
Jumping a bit when Wren elbowed her, Viveka blinked at her before realizing her mistake and picking up the shaker. She thought she was starting to feel something, but perhaps it was just her nerves getting the better of her.
Last Edit: Sept 15, 2022 19:26:53 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Willa Wren on Sept 13, 2022 12:33:07 GMT -5
Wren quenched a smirk at Viveka’s late arrival to the rhythmic party. It was quickly forgotten as she rapped on that little drum, willing with all her might to see, to hear, to feel their beloved All Mother.
She waited. Her heart began to sink. What had she been thinking? She wasn’t the priestess. Why would the All Mother speak to—
Just then, everything began to change. It was slight at first but Wren was a warrior aware enough of her surroundings to notice. The slowing of time. The beat that was too deep, to consistent to be coming from her drums. A heartbeat, but not her own.
Her breath was loud in her ears. She narrowed her eyes to keep her head from spinning, the world from spinning, as her gaze followed the winding trail of the smoke.
“Something’s happening.” She whispered to Viveka. Or did she say it out loud? She hardly knew. The heartbeat was too loud, too over where for anything else. Wren, abandoning the drum, reached out a hand to grasp Viveka, attempting to anchor herself.
Her breath left her lungs entirely when the horse appeared. Stunning and brown, with dark eyes that pierced her souls. Wren gaped. She had seen this horse before. In battle. Had that been—was this—
For a moment Viveka was forgotten. Speech was forgotten, too. Wren just stared.
The change was slow for Viveka as well, and if her eyes weren't already closed she may have squinted at the nothingness in front of her, trying to better see something that she felt should have been there...
And then suddenly everything was clear and focused, and there *was* something there. She barely heard Wren's voice, nor felt her hand grasp at her arm. The sound of the rhythmic heart beat in her ears was all Viveka could seem to focus on as her eyes followed the trail of smoke that swirled through the air, her gaze finally settling on-
"Saelphira?" The question might have been whispered or it could have been shouted for all Viveka knew. She gaped at her horse, or at least what appeared to be her horse, as Sael stared right back at her.
Last Edit: Sept 15, 2022 19:27:20 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Willa Wren on Sept 14, 2022 19:21:56 GMT -5
Wren was cowed by the things she saw, a healthy fear of the goddess gripping her lungs and threatening to squeeze every last drop of air from them.
The question that came to her sounded to be both a question and a reprimand. She bend her upper body over her knees, placing her palms to the earth in reverent submission.
“We’ve come for answers, All Mother. To discern your will in the midst of a course that we question.” Her voice held a tremor that even the invincible Wren couldn’t shake. She looked up in time to see the faces. The male one struck her as particularly surprising. Why him? Did he have something to do with this? Her eyes were wide and her entire body was quivering. She waited.