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!
Jana had returned from Keelan Morrigan and Kat had immediately started arming herself. Sure they probably wouldn't get lucky enough to catch the thing or bastard that had done all of this but she wasn't going to get caught with her pants down. Her naginata in her hand, throwing knives on her belt, it probably seemed a little excessive but she didn't care. Looking at @thom she tilted her head, the grin on her face that was not fitting for their current journey. Something he would have to either get used to or ignore. "You ready then? Last bit of coin when you leave us close enough, unless you change your mind along the way."
Mounting one of the Winters horses she looked at the information man, waiting for him to be ready. As they rode she tried to make it seem less dismal than it was. "Blood isn't that bad even a few days old, it's the shit you really have to worry about." Really she was just trying not to think about her sister. About Mina's mangled body, and how that might be how Rosamere looked wherever she was. Because the girl was just a little too precious for that kind of fate, certainly not because of any friendship. An argument she had even in her own thoughts without anyone to judge her for being soft besides herself.
Thom, as ever, lived up to his reputation of a talker, rather than a fighter, though he had changed out of his more impressive finery and into a simple linen tunic and doe-skin breeches under a thick leather coat. After all, they were leaving the city, and it was always important to look the part, especially when one's traveling companions had come so heavily armed. Well, at the very least he could probably rely on them in case of trouble. Few people carried quite so many weapons unless they had the confidence to use them, and there was more than one glance shot in the direction of Lady Winters... armory.
He swung himself easily into the saddle, relying on lessons hammered home long ago in the army. Some things, you never really forgot, though he had left Skia only rarely since then. "Ah yes, I do always forget to worry about the shit." It was a bit too sarcastic, yes, but he got a little edge around armed individuals. "I can handle blood and death, Lady Winters. I've seen my fair share."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Aug 13, 2022 12:37:06 GMT -5
Keelan had broke out his old sword from his training days, it felt heavy around his waist but he wasn't going to get caught without it while they were out there searching. After the Van Zant kid had brought the message Keelan left his ship, took a horse, and made one stop at Lord and Lady Saramth. Ellison had made the suggestion to Conall to use their hounds to help search, so Keelan bought two personal hounds from the family.
He left with his purchase to meet Katerina, and her information cow a man Keelan didn't particularly know well. Just rumors and whispers. Approaching the pair Keelan dropped off his horse to the ground between them, he left the dogs tied to the horse and they sat obedient beside the Morrigan as he adjusted his cap. Electric blue eyes bouncing between the pair, "Folks. I brought some hounds, they aren't human but tracking? None better, unless you use a summoning of course," his eyes landed on the man, "This the man with all that information? Keelan," he offered a gloved hand to the man.
Kat laughed at his sarcasm, a bitting one that had little joy to it. This would at least be interesting, but she wasn't going to pretend she was excited. Their little adventure could either go well or end with more questions to their answers. She was hoping for the former but since there were factors at hand she didn't quite understand it was doubtful. Blood magic was heard of, but not with how it seemed from the alchemists report. "Well good, having you faint from the smell of it would be quite an annoyance."
As they reached the meeting spot it was clear that her new partner in crime was itching to go. Hounds, a good idea, their noses could possibly detect things their eyes couldn't. "Hounds first, summoning if we seem to get somewhere." They were one of her favorite types of magic after all. But she wasn't about to go summoning for no reason, that was sloppy and she was anything but.
"Skerris." Was his quick response without fully thinking about it, taking the proffered hand and giving it a firm shake before turning his attention back to his horse, nudging its flank with his heels to stop it from skittering sideways and away from the hounds, who seemed to be making it slightly nervous. "The hounds are a good idea. Easier for them to find what we're looking for once we're in the area." He sat back in the saddle, hands resting on the crest at the front, with the reins held loosely.
"But, if we're all ready, then? I don't mean to say that we need to move quickly, but the day's going to start dragging on if we linger around having a chat."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Aug 16, 2022 10:36:03 GMT -5
The man, 'Skerris', received two proper grunts and a head nod as he climbed back onto his horse. The dogs stood and took their places on either side of Keelan's horse, "Let me know when we should let them loose."
Kat raised an eyebrow at Thom as he introduced himself with a slightly different name. It was interesting, but she decided not to comment on it. There were more pressing things to deal with then a name, maybe something to use later though. After all she wasn't above a little bit of odd leverage.
"So Skerris..." A raised eyebrow but nothing more. "Why don't you lead the way?"
If Lady Winters wasn't about to point out the slightly different title, then Thom was willing to let it slide. It had slipped out from habit alone, since he occasionally went by 'Skerris' when he wasn't willing to give his name, using it as more of a title in his work, a nom de guerre that separated him from excessive scrutiny to follow. (And also because his writer mistyped, but it's too late now)
"Of course." was his simple response to the both of them, reaching down to pat his mount on the neck before twitching the reins and taking the lead on the road out of the city, angling slightly northward. "It's an hour or so ride, so if you have further questions, I imagine we'll have the time."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Aug 16, 2022 21:55:09 GMT -5
Keelan didn't have any questions, he wouldn't ask them if he did and whatever they found today on their trek the Morrigan wouldn't discuss it with the extra ears aka Skerris. He preferred the seas that much was set in stone today, the bright blue eyed man hadn't ventured away from the port for years which made him hyper focused on the dogs. He watched to see any change in behavior, their noses when they picked up scents seemed to work frantically and the way they pointed with them was very fascinating.
Then he did have a question, for Kat, "What should these dogs be tracking?"
During the ride her mind wandered a bit, only half-paying attention. Her mind was focused ahead, on things she didn't even know if they would find. Maybe she shouldn't have asked Keelan along, what if there was parts of Rosamere left behind? Answers seemed like a fools errand in all this, and she didn't like all of the unknowns. Especially without her twin, her sanity, to keep this all together.
As Keelan spoke it took her a moment to realize it was directed at her. "Rosamere, I've got one of the cloths she would wipe her hands on. But maybe we can get the hounds to catch a scent of the unknown to figure out where they went or came from." Other than that she looked to the men, not sure what else the hounds could be used for in this case. Certainly not for finding the horse, that stench was obvious as they started to approach.
"I had thought to use them to find the site when we were in the area." Thom muttered, wrinkling his nose slightly as the first bitter, acrid whiff of death flooded his nostrils. They were fairly deep into the woods now, and his horse was already starting to balk slightly, as its nose caught the same scent, head swinging from side to side nervously. Sighing, he pulled it to a halt, swinging carefully out of the saddle and dropping down to the ground. "But it seems we hardly need their noses for that."
He could already hear the buzzing of flies through the trees, flipping his reins over a thick branch and tying them off so the horse couldn't wander. "Best to keep them close, though." he murmured, slipping his hands into his pockets and jerking his head towards the smell. "We still don't know what we're going to find over there."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Aug 22, 2022 16:42:40 GMT -5
The smell was ripe and the dogs barked, he followed behind Skerris dropping from his horse having to adjust his cap before he grabbed the leashes of the dogs. Removing them he clicked his tongue, "Heel," and the dogs sat but their noses were working. Keelan would hold out his hand for whatever Kat had of Rosa's, "Let them get a hit of what you got, that rot smell is strong they'll need to tell the difference."
Kat raised an eyebrow at Thom. Looking between the two men she knew that she was the strongest of the three of them, so sticking close was more for their sake than hers. But so be it, pulling her naginata from the holder on her back, she nodded her head. "To be clear I'm not risking my life for anyone else's." Despite their current predicament showing otherwise.
Passing Keelan the cloth she held onto it for a second before releasing it into his hand. "Here's a prayer it's enough." Hopefully the dogs knew Rosa as well to help in that matter. Not that there was much she could do at this point otherwise.
Thom swing the reins of his horse over a nearby branch, patting the horse's neck gently to calm it down a little before he glanced over at the other two. The smell was still apparent enough for their noses to catch, it was true, but it had been raining, as it often did in Nevermere, and enough time had passed that much of the physical markers might have been washed away by the water. The blood, at least. All he had left was the description of just how much there had been.
"Not even for the woman we're here to seek?" he murmured with a wry smile in her direction, shifting his jacket on his shoulders. "Careful not to protest too much, Mrs. Winters. As things stand, we're on the same side. Let the dogs have their run, and we'll see what there is to see."
Post by Keelan Morrigan on Sept 4, 2022 22:45:09 GMT -5
Keelan took the offered item carefully and held it between the dogs as they sniffed it wildly, "Alright pups," Keelan said satisfied with their intake of the smell before letting them loose. They sank their noses low to the ground going to work on tracking. He wasn't much for banter so he let Kat and Skerris blow out their hot air themselves.