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!
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Sept 11, 2022 16:04:51 GMT -5
(this thread is for @faylin )
Kasper wanted to be home he couldn't think much about anything but his family back in Nevermere, how was everyone coping? Then again they had Katerina so they were probably fine. Tonight's dinner with the Cambrian women he felt was a tense disaster so when he and Faylin made it back to their tent and closed the door behind him he wheeled around plopping on his cot, "That went well...," he added sarcastically, "I wonder if they thought it was an insult to sit me with the children? Tell me you had luck finding shit out because other than @revna these women have barely acknowledged my existence."
He began to remove his boots, "If anything it's made me appreciate our bond more...I didn't eat much but I can make us something if you are hungry?" he'd secretly implement this as 'Operation Win Faylin Over' as a date, what was more romantic than just a guy who likes his partner than a guy who likes his partner in another kingdom.
The dinner had left Faylin both angry and frustrated, quite the dangerous mixture for her. Though she had held her tongue throughout the entire thing, now that they were away from the Cambrians she allowed her bad mood to show through on her face, a grimace planted on it.
With the door shut firmly behind them, the grimace turned into a deep frown and she shucked her Naginata off her back and onto her cot, followed quickly by her sword. "It was most certainly meant as an insult," she snapped, her anger not directed at Kasper of course but at the audacity of the Cambrians.
She perched on her bed and rubbed at her face, willing herself to calm down. There was no point in letting them get under her skin, in fact, it was probably what they had been trying to do. And Kasper did not deserve to deal with her temper. "I have found out some things. Not nearly enough though. I've spoken to a woman who received the brand so we know for a fact it is happening. Though she had no idea who actually did it to her... She said they took her at night and kept their faces covered."
They certainly needed more information than what she had gathered, but at least it had been a start. "And no, I'm not really hungry. But you should definitely eat something."
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Sept 18, 2022 10:32:37 GMT -5
His stomach sank at the thought that what they were here for was in fact true and though he was always up for grotesque violence, this wasn't a war or a fight but senseless and horrendous happenings. He paled.
He wasn't that hungry now, however something else within him was. The beast. The wolf. It had reared its head a few times as if willing somehow for Kasper to change but that wasn't how the curse worked. Kasper felt his partners frustrations and appreciated she was pissed about the blatant insult that had occurred at dinner. While he wanted to comfort her he kept his distance but he stopped taking his boots off, he figured when they were frustrated their best release was some sparring (he surely wasn't going to seek a fight club in Cambria though).
"You're stressed .. I'm stressed... And as much as I'd like to take a run," reading between the word 'run' Kasper was referring to a change that he knew was forbidden he settled on, "Let's go clash some steel, I don't care it's late but we need it."
It was odd having Kasper be the level headed one between them. She supposed the whole branding aspect was getting to her. To be outcast from the rest of their society by a physical mark... Faylin had not had such a thing, but she certainly knew what it was like to feel like you didn't belong.
Her eyes flicked to Kasper when he started speaking, the smallest of smiles tugging at the corners of her lips when he spoke about running. She would love to see the Cambrians reactions to a giant werewolf running through their village. She was quite certain most had no idea about the hidden power.
She nodded and stood up, "Yeah, you're right. Sitting around wallowing won't do any good." She reached for her sword, strapping it to her hip again before moving towards the door.
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Sept 23, 2022 13:40:29 GMT -5
To see her smile, even just a tiny smirk, was a moment Kasper painted a core memory into his mind. Her almond shaped eyes were a gateway to another realm that he could carelessly get lost in as he often did: she was twenty out of ten that boosted him from a hard five to a solid seven. He gloated in the jealousy of other soldiers who never understood how such a lowly person as himself got paired with her. Yet since his confession of how he felt about her he'd kept that gnawing notion of advancing at arms length.
He was pretty sure all of the Cambria shit was getting to her and she needed this release, it bothered him and it doubled somehow when he knew it affected her. Women period needed better he felt. So he grabbed up not only his usual axes but his flail and shield too following his partner. It was a mostly quiet night and the training grounds were empty save for a few soldiers, but their demoner and presence wasn't one of sparring in mind: no one he felt was as dedicated to getting better as they were.
He put his axes in the leather loops on his belt and attached his shield before stretching. Kasper grinned his usual trash panda smirk, "Don't go easy on, kay?"
Picking up his flail Kasper gave the thing a few twirls, the bang of the steel spiked balls was like music to his ears. It was a difficult weapon to master but years of dedication and practice made for less self damage.
Already feeling a bit better from the promise of letting off steam with a good fight, Faylin also saw fit to grab her Naginata when Kasper picked up his shield and flail. They walked out to the training grounds and Faylin couldn't help but grimace at how empty it was. Even the soldiers who were out on the field weren't really training so much as moping about.
"Perhaps we should run all of these soldiers through some training while we are here. They all seem to have become quite lazy being away from Nevermere." She spoke loudly enough that her voice would carry to those soldiers on the field, and they immediately began working more earnestly at whatever it was they were doing.
Then she turned back on Kasper, a feline smirk matching his own grin, "Since when have I ever gone easy on you?" And then she pulled her sword, twirling it through the air before moving into her sparring stance. She bounced on the balls of her feet a few times, waiting for Kasper to make the first move.
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Oct 1, 2022 10:51:50 GMT -5
God she was amazing and if the fools didn't listen to her Kasper was sure she'd run them until they dropped. The soldiers in Cambria had definitely become complacent stationed here and just like Faylin he wasn't happy about it, if everyone worked as hard as this pair did Nevermere armies would be the most badass military in all the kingdoms (which they kinda were right?).
Faylin's remark earned a smile from Kasper, 'When indeed,' Kasper thought because Faylin had pushed him hard than anyone in his life. She wanted him to be better and see that he wasn't just a street punk with a career as a soldier, he owed her the world for where he was and how instead of dirty tricks that Kasper had earned his pairing and current rank.
Seeing as she didn't want to waste time Kasper rushed with his flail in a rhythmic spin, but it was a misdirection as he lept in the air a few feet away from her slashing down with his shield which just wasn't a normal small shield but a simple squeeze of the handle a pair of blades sprung from it clashing against her blade.
Faylin's eyes darted between the flail and shield, waiting until just the right moment when she could tell what Kasper was actually going to do. She had no concern of him harming her with his flail, and perhaps it made her bolder than she might have been if she had been fighting someone else.
As the blades popped from his shield and connected with her sword, she put all of her weight into pushing the shield away, freeing her sword from the blades. Using the leverage of her weight against her shield, she pushed herself to the side and ducked under the flail, bringing her sword up in an arc towards his hand, looking to disarm him of his weapon.
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Oct 13, 2022 15:56:23 GMT -5
It was weird but this was how Kasper enjoyed spending time with Faylin to an outsider it looked like fruitless violence, but for this Van Zant it was true art! As they danced around each other in a ritual both had been in for going on for better of five years they looked and acted like trained dancers, a story in their art form was one of when one seemed to be getting the upper hand the other would gain it back.
Kasper didn't know how long it had lasted, he saw a few soldiers trickle by pausing to watch the pair but the moon was high over them now. They were alone except for the chatter of crickets. Both of them were panting and covered in sweat, Kaspers arms felt like rubber as he let his flail sink softly to the ground, "Feel better?" Kasper grabbed a canteen of water after removing his small shield, and unobservantly stepped closer to Fay, "Here," he offered her the water before he would take a drink. He was staring at her face slowly reaching across the short distance between them to push some hair that was stuck to her face, "I'm glad you are here with me...if we hadn't ever met and did this damn thing we'd be here probably still just not," as a pairing, a strong one if he was asked, "together..."
Sparring with Kasper was definitely one of her favorite things. It was almost as natural as breathing at this point. To think of how far they had come, from that fateful day she gave him a concussion in the barracks to helping him train the youngest Van Zants. They knew just how to push each other to their highest limit without ever leaving a scratch on the other.
She stood sucking in deep breaths now, stretching out her muscles to avoid any cramping, only pausing when Kasper offered her a drink of water. She took a small sip before handing it back to him, starting to stretch out her arms again when Kasper reached across and fixed a stray piece of her hair. She didn't move away, nor did she panic as she might have done before. Instead she stood still, studying him quietly.
She had promised him she would try. That seemed so long ago now, the day he had made spaghetti for them and had tried for something that she was entirely unaware of. They had been whisked off to Cambria soon after and there hadn't really been any time for trying.
She nodded slowly, glancing around the small training grounds. "This isn't really where I thought we'd be spending time together, if I am honest," she paused, a small smile tilting up the corners of her mouth. "But I am glad it is you who is here with me. It makes it easier to be in a foreign land."
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Oct 16, 2022 9:10:13 GMT -5
Kasper had fallen quiet standing there so close to Faylin, they had been close before of course but that had been in training and their duties this was peace. He was totally enraptured with her presence - not just him anymore but the wolf inside of him too. He was just as fiercely in love with Faylin Valana of course the wolfs senses were sharper and stronger, especially its sense of smell because in a room full of witches and male soldiers it could always find her. While Kasper didn't have those heightened senses he and the beast shared the same desires and wants: her. Faylin.
He couldn't explain it standing so close but the smell of her in the moment was powering: she smelled of combat, rich earthy hints, it was invigorating almost energizing to him. It made him less aware of them just being two partners because it was definitely much more, who wouldn't expect for two people who spend day in and day out together to feel certain ways? Did the expect Kasper to just learn how to protect his partner and that was it? Was he supposed to fight this kind of attachment, both as a man and as a beast?
"Everything is easier with you. Everywhere spending time with you is great," and he took his moment, he closed the distance between them grabbing her waist going about 90% in...he knew when to pull a punch in a metaphorically meant manner, especially if her 10% was a punch..
She wasn't sure what she was expecting when she chose to open up this conversation with Kasper tonight, but she was quite certain she hadn't expected him to pull her closer, holding her around her waist. Her eyes widened at the sudden closeness, her hands coming up and planting themselves on his chest, though she did not push away.
She had only been in this type of situation once before, and that seemed like a lifetime ago now. But still, this was different. This was like the world around them and time itself had paused as her heartbeat quickened and her gaze jumped between his eyes and his mouth. Was this what this was supposed to feel like? She couldn't know. But perhaps it was time she stopped trying to think on it and act on it instead.
She closed the distance, her lips finding his, her hands gripping his shirt tightly where they rested on his chest. She didn't know what to expect from this either, but she couldn't say she felt anything in particular except for the sudden understanding that this was how they were meant to be. Not just together as a team in the military sense, but truly together in the full sense of the word.
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Oct 31, 2022 21:10:04 GMT -5
Kasper hadn't known what to expect but it wasn't this, this being something he couldn't even explain yet he was pretty solid in the feeling that 'this' was right. The pressure from how she had grabbed up his shirt Kasper wondered if she could feel the chaotic quickening of his heartbeat? Could she hear that .. growling...? Could she feel the heat of his body against hers like he felt hers? The muscles in his fingers twitched as his hands tightened on her waist.
Finally Kasper broke the kiss but his head lingered close enough that he could still feel the warmth of her breath against his mouth, "I.. that was.... It felt right so I did it... I won't apologize," how long had he been waiting? Second or third time they had spent any time together? Years? ".... you are what I want."
Kasper pulled a bit away and looked at her, and all she could do was look back. It was rare that Faylin was at a loss for words, but her mind was absolutely, completely blank. She stared at him with slightly widened eyes until he spoke, snapping her out of the daze she had been.
She blinked a few times, a small furrow forming between her brows. "Why would you apologize? I... I think this is what I want too. There is nothing for you to apologize for." Her lips tilted up in a small, amused smile as she straightened fully, putting a bit more distance between them. "If anything, I am the one who needs to apologize for how long it took me to realize..."
With a bit of distance between them she was able to take in a deep breath, clearing her mind. "And I am sorry, Kasper. And I will continue to be sorry because I don't know what I'm doing." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, "But you already know that. And you already know what you're getting yourself into." She offered him another small smile.
Kasper is young enough to fall under the werewolf curse, yet it is dormant. Should the curse be activated his wolf form will be that of a white shaggy fur color keeping his smallness even though he is still rather large for a werewolf. His eyes also retain their green color.
Post by Kasper Van Zant on Nov 11, 2022 14:25:13 GMT -5
If she only knew how many times he'd almost put it all on the line since the day he confessed his feelings to do what he had just done, she'd know how often he pulled back. Retreated. Kasper wanted her to feel comfortable with how she felt to trot at her own pace of dealing with this, because he knew this was entirely foreign to Faylin. However if this didn't tell her that he knew exactly what it was he was getting into then he didn't know how else to show it.
However the stun bug of feelings and the high of that kiss wore across Kaspers outward appearance, he had a slap happy smile on his face and his eyes were stoned over with a glossy shine. He crossed his arms and kicked shyly at the ground with a bit of a new confidence, "yup..yup I sure do. you know what you're in for but I'm here for it, we're pretty well stuck together," he said his tone was floaty slightly bubbly, "no need for either of us to apologize anymore, you know more about me than most and you're my best friend Faylin... you're a head of the game, but don't think we can snog like that while on duty... I know it's a lot to resist."