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!
Miriel often felt like a failure, but no more so then around her fellow sisters who were enjoying the idea of being strong warriors. It was terrifying to her, but even more frightening was the idea of not being able to protect her growing family. And of course Izen was a strong warrior and would keep them safe, that didn't mean some skills wouldn't be helpful.
So she made her way towards the small training area that was for the Parabolti. Sword in hand she marched with a determination, Kell settled in for a nap with her sister-wife. Miriel needed to try, Catrin's words rebounding in her head from the last time they had spoken. We are meant to be warriors now. Not a word that she thought to describe herself with. Eowyn for sure, and certainly her sister-wife Ayla. So it was time to do it, not just try.
Taking a breath she put the sword down to stretch before picking it back up and going through the motions. Trying to picture herself fighting an unknown enemy who was trying to hurt her son. Who was trying to hurt Coheed. Those were things she'd fight for.
After her conversation with Kaalim, Catrin had decided she truly needed to prove she was meant to be the leader of the Parabolti. She had doubled her training time, ensuring she was practicing along side the other women as well as taking time on her own. If she was to lead them, she had to be the best and had to be able to prove it.
Little did she know that today, she would also stumble across her sister in the training grounds. Catrin slowed to a stop, resting a hand on the sword at her hip while she silently watched Miriel fight her invisible foe. She supposed she should give her sister credit for taking initiative, but she couldn't help but see all the ways that needed improvement.
Finally stepping forward, she called out across the space, "Your stance is weak. Widen it and bend your knees a bit more to help your balance."
It seemed that Miriel wasn't going to be alone today, and that was probably for the best seeing as it would have been a fruitless endeavor. She didn't flinch at her sister's voice, although any other and she probably would have. Still at the trying stage when it came to bravery.
Looking towards Catrin her head bent a little, her hair falling over her face before she swept it away, bringing her chin back up. She was supposed to be a warrior, even if she didn't feel like one yet. And one didn't bow their head on a battlefield. "Widen, got it." Apparently she was still learning, the Nevermere woman's advice still not totally sinking in.
"Anything else?" Surely there was more considering her half-sister seemed to not think she was capable of this at times.
Striding forward across the small training area, Catrin did a small turn around Miriel, eyeing her stance. After a moment she gave a small nod, "That'll do for now."
Pulling her own sword from it's place on her hip, she raised it against Miriel's, the metal making a ringing sound as it slid together. "I'm surprised you're actually out here on your own."
Miriel's eyes widened, first at the closest thing to praise she was sure Catrin was capable of, and then at the sword matching her own. She wasn't good at pretend fighting, let alone against an opponent. But she swallowed her fear and pushed forward. For Kell, for her husband.
"I'm trying Catrin. I can't practice everyday like Eowyn, but I am trying." Her mother always hated how much she cared about other's opinions, but it was just who she was. She loved her sisters despite being told they were competition, and it hurt when one of them seemed to think her an idiot at times. "I have a house and child to take care of, another on the way, I understand it's important but I have other things to do."
Last Edit: Sept 18, 2022 15:21:23 GMT -5 by Deleted
Catrin noted how Miriel seemed to grow nervous when she raised her blade to her sister's, and she scowled. If the idea of sparring with her sister made her nervous, how could she ever face a real enemy? And Catrin was by no means considered a good warrior yet. She had picked up a sword for the first time when all the others had. She had simply pushed herself harder than the rest.
Dragging her blade back across Miriel's, she took a step to the side and raised her sword, aiming for a swing at Miriel's shoulder. "You can't practice every day? Is that what you'll tell an enemy on the battle field before they kill you?" Catrin stepped into the swing, her irritation driving her a bit. "You can find other women who chose not to join us to help you care for your home and child."
Miriel followed the sword with her eyes, moving her sword like she had been taught. Defensive moves she was better at. It made sense, being told to be passive all her life the other side of things wasn't easy. Attacking her sister even though it was all simulation.
"I won't neglect my duties to Izen or my children. Have another woman cook his food or clean our home? That might work for you but not me." She was slightly bitter in the moment, bracing against Catrin's swing. She was making more of an effort, but her whole life she had been told her purpose was as a wife, not a warrior.
Catrin ground her teeth together, glad that Miriel was at least parrying her swings but annoyed with her answers. She swung her sword low, bringing it up in an undercut.
"There are plenty of women to take care of your children during the day so that you may train, and then you can run home and be a wife at night and cook your husband his dinner." She paused in her speaking, taking a step back if Miriel had blocked her and raising her sword defensively, waiting for Miriel to attack.
Miriel found herself feeling odd. There was something going on, making her heart race and it felt like her blood was boiling. The Coheed woman had never experienced anger, not that she knew that this was what she was feeling. All she knew was that as Catrin took a step back she stepped forward, swinging down. "It's not a part time job Catrin." Swinging down at her sister she grunted. "Don't look down on me because you chose to do something else."
Catrin was staring at her sister from under her eyelashes, seeing the emotional change take her over. Good. Anger would give her a reason to fight. And fight she did, as she finally became the aggressor and stepped after Catrin. She parried the swing Miriel sent at her and took another step back, still remaining on the defensive.
"I didn't choose anything different. We chose the same thing. I'm only pointing out that you're not putting effort into it. Perhaps you were hoping for some easy glory?"
Miriel felt like she was vibrating. Like she might pop out of her own skin because of this... this... anger. That was what this was. It finally dawned on her, but she was wrapped up in it now, like a protective blanket. So she stepped forward as Catrin stepped back, swinging again.
"I am putting in effort. Who the fuck would go against what they were taught all their life to fight and possibly die." She was shouting, anger in every part of her screaming out.
She continued to meet her sister's blows, wondering when Miriel would realize that she was being the warrior in this instance. Still, the expletive certainly caught her off guard. Perhaps she was pushing her too much.
Except her words also sparked Catrin's anger, "Us. The Parabolti. We decided to go against what we were taught our whole lives. We decided to do more. To be more than just a means to repopulate the kingdom. To be equals with the men, as women are in other kingdoms." Now she pushed back, meeting her sister equally instead of being on the defensive.
That had been Miriel's point. Why would she go against all of this for some fucking glory of looking good with a sword. No, she had not been under some delusion this was a knitting circle. "That's what I was saying Catrin, if you actually listened to me."
Stumbling back a little as Catrin pushed back she had no plans to give up right away. Swinging back again. "I'm pregnant, and I'm happy I am, I like bringing new life to Coheed. And that doesn't make me any less than you." Because the high and mighty attitude was grating, especially from someone she had loads of respect for.
Perhaps she had misunderstood her sister originally, but she was not about to apologize for that. Miriel was still fighting back with all her strength, and that was what Catrin wanted to see from her. She wanted to see her fight and show her aggressive side.
She danced back a bit from Miriel's advance, and was about to dip to the side for a feint when Miriel's words hit her like a slap to the face. A breath hissed between her teeth and instead she charged forward, clashing her blade against her sister's and pushing forward until their faces were fairly close together.
"You of all people should know that I do not think less of you for bringing new life to the tribe. You should know I do not think less of women who bare children," she hissed through her teeth, anger and perhaps even a bit of hurt flashing in her eyes. She shoved away from her sister, pausing only a few steps away from her.
Miriel was gaining in strength, but she was no were close to her sister. She hadn't spent as much time training, nor was she as naturally gifted it would seem. So as Catrin pushed she ended up off balance and sprawling towards the ground.
Laying on the ground she sighed. "Well you always seem to dump on me Catrin." Like last week, earlier today, really the list went on. And while she generally did the same with everyone it hurt a little. More than a little. "Why do you always treat me like that."