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!
The silence that fell over them wasn’t awkward, instead it seemed to fall like a warm blanket over the two. Steady feet, with a set of paws, padding through the night. At one point, she saw the summoning peer around a tree at them, as if checking in before it swooped back away and into its rounds. She had been bragging about her kingdom, and all Zevran had wanted was help from hers.
A ping of guilt twisted her gut, causing her to look over at him with soft eyes. “I’m sorry, that they came to your land and took over. The Eldouir’s… are complicated in many ways.” She said it softly, her time as Commander in Lorendale helped shaped her thoughts. “I was in Lorendale, overseeing their military when they left. Leaving part of the city completely devastated. Lots of lives were lost that day.” She spoke softly and watched her feet as they continued on. “The Eldouir’s had been utilized as nothing but a weapon for a long time. Them and other gifteds. Forced to wear a collar and be controlled. In a way, they adapted to what had been forced upon them, but ever since the collars had been removed for the gifteds in Loren… they’ve terrorized the people.” Both gifted and non.
“I’m not saying this to excuse what they’ve done. They know what it’s liked to be forced upon and controlled. I’m surprised, that they would push it onto others.”
A look of confused frustration came over him as she tried to explain the Eldouirs. He slowly shook his head back and forth, "They forced them to wear collars like animals and then were surprised when they fought back against it? And of course, Lorendale created the problem and then just let them leave and terrorize us instead. Who cares if me and my people are dying? Who cares if our land is dying in front of our eyes because we can't maintain it?"
His frustration had turned into anger by the time he finished speaking, his tone sharpening with each word. "Just like Arynn Frey. Kezia tried to get them to help us as well, but they found that it didn't benefit them so they wouldn't." Rune growled softly at his fight, agreeing with his anger and frustration, but she also reminded him, 'Alys is not at fault here. Do not take your anger out on her.'
Taking a sharp breath in through his nose, Zevran closed his eyes as he released the breath, willing his temper back under control. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, "I know none of this has anything to do with you."
Then his eyes snapped open and he skipped ahead, turning to face her, his eyes shining with an intensity, "Alys, we really need Nevermere's help. You have to understand... Dresmond doesn't have a happy ending. Not really. With our medallion gone, eventually all of us with dyrs will die and there will be no more magic here. Our way of life will eventually fade away. But we should be allowed to come to that in peace. We should be allowed to have our freedom and enjoy what time we have left."
Last Edit: Sept 25, 2022 23:09:05 GMT -5 by Zevran
The anger that came forth made her take a step back. Her brows knitting together. She understood why he was upset, and his intensity made a tightness form inside of her. The wolf pushing at her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long while. Fueled by his anger and frustration, and the soft growl that came from Rune at his side. A low rumble bounced around her chest but she swallowed it quickly. Only for him to move ahead of her and stop her in her tracks, her body almost brushing his as she had been caught off guard.
Tilting her face up, she could see everything he was feeling. The anger, hurt, sorrow, the need to help his people. Sadness sank in her gut like a stone as he told her that this was the end of the road for their people. No more medallion meant no more Dresmondi. “But surely it can be found,” she whispered. “It couldn’t have just… gone away from Terra Nova.” Her hand reached out, unable to stop herself that time and she would squeeze his hand if he’d allow her. Electric shooting up her arm from where they touched.
“I want to help,” she did. Her words were so very true, and she wanted to make him believe them. “I am sure that Cassian-“ she didn’t blink at saying his name without a title, “-will listen and offer what he can.” Her other hand moved and brushed against his hand. And it was clear then she had been touching him the whole time. Slowly, with a big of a struggle, she’d bring her hands back to her sides. “I’m sorry,” she made a quick move to shove them into her pockets.
He shook his head back and forth, "It was stolen from The One a long time ago when our people were fighting each other. No one has known its location for a long time now. Finding it would be impossible."
She reached out for his hand and as she did, he also reached for hers, clasping it, squeezing lightly to try to convey how serious this was for him. He felt like she understood. He hoped she understood. Then she was withdrawing her hands and he let his own fall to his sides and he nodded once, slowly.
He cleared his throat, suddenly very tried, and a bit sheepish, from his emotional outbursts. "I hope he will. I don't know what we will do if he also refuses us..." He sighed, "Anyway, perhaps we should head back and check on the other two."
“Nothing is impossible.” She whispered. Almost as if she didn’t want him to hear it, for it might have sounded childish. She was sure that some of the things she could do could be seen as impossible, just like his stories on how children were buried in a cave and came out with a dyr. “We could try,” she didn’t look away from him. But she meant it. Perhaps they could find a way to track it down.
It was hard to let go of him, especially when he seemed willing to touch her. What it was about the touch… “is this a Dresmondi thing?” She asked, brows drawn together in confusion. Maybe they didn’t pick one person to be with but instead it was quick, intense feeling between them… goddess she didn’t know how else to explain it.
Reality was slowly coming back, and Alys looked from the path they had walked down. Knowing Grant was there, made her nod in agreement. She didn’t want to get too far from him either. He was hers to protect. Just as she was sure that Grant felt the same way about her as well. “I will do what I can. To convince him that you-“ heat rose to her face again “- Dresmondi are worth it.”
He gave her a small, sad smile. He could see it in her eyes that she truly meant that she would help him track down the medallion. But he only had enough hope reserved for freedom from the Eldouirs. He couldn't imagine anything beyond that right now.
And then he titled his head slightly, studying her face, "Is what a Dresmondi thing?" They had spoken about a lot of Dresmondi things tonight and he wasn't quite sure what she was asking about.
He nodded at her reassurance, and he believed her. He just didn't know this Cassian, their king. And this time, he had been looking at her intently when she spoke, so he noticed the slight darkening of her cheeks at the slip of her words.
A corner of his mouth quirked up and his handed lifted, intending to be placed gently against her cheek, and then Rune's voice echoed in his mind. 'Remember her husband. She is promised to one person. Do not cause issues before we even get to the kingdom.'
He knew Rune was right, so he allowed his hand to drop to his side once again and simply nodded. "Thank you, Alys. I know you will."
The way he looked down at her had her questioning all of it. "You... don't feel it?" She asked, confusion clear on her face. How did he not... feel what she felt? That pull that she wasn't close enough to him, the way his voice could soothe all of her and yet sparked something that energized her to the core. The feeling that she had to be near him and the idea of leaving him behind in Dresmond had been one that drove her really for the decision they had made... would have been the reason she would've followed him into Elderskeep if needed...
"That pull?" It was all she could think to call it. "I figured maybe, it was a Dresmondi thing." Yet as she said it, she felt more dumb by the word. She had met Kezia before, had met Fintan. Neither of them had been like this. None of the others, in fact, in that clearing had felt like what she felt for him. "Forget it, I-" She shook her head as if she could easily dismiss the odd words she was saying.
And there it was. Once again it plowed through every logical sense of her brain as his hand raised to touch her. Her internal wolf was practically panting and leaning forward. No, she was leaning into him, encouraging the contact when he let his hand fall away. Disappointment made her stomach sink and she took a step back. Something was off with her, maybe she needed to go run again, not in this form, but her more instinctual one. Maybe it was just restless...
Alys stared for a few more moments, before forcing her way back towards their camp. Glad that he believed her, because it warmed her chest.
He shook his head again, but he was grinning. He felt like it was the most he had smiled in a long time. It was easier, being out here and away from Elderkeep, wandering around in the dark with a beautiful woman. It was almost like old times, and yet not quite.
"Alys, we were just discussing the sexual habits of Dresmondis and you wonder if I feel a pull towards a beautiful woman when we're alone in the dark?" He chuckled quietly again, "Though I'm not really sure that's what you're talking about, with your husband and everything."
Then he had lifted his hand and it seemed as if it had almost... unsettled her. He watched her walk back towards the camp for a moment before following her, a small crease between his brows as he tried to puzzle out what was going on.
Her lips parted in surprise, eyes growing slightly wider at what he said. Definitely nothing like the hidden behind twisted words sort of talk that would be found in Nevermere. A lot more straight forward, and her heart fluttered. He thought she was beautiful. Why that mattered… she was at a loss. It was his next part that brought everything crashing down.
“… with your husband and everything.”
“Yes… my-“ she let her eyes drop from his. “Husband.” Goddess her husband. The thought of Logan was enough to remind her of their bond, their love. Why was it that whatever this was with Zevran was making it easier for her to forget. She was glad he hadn’t stopped her, her feet steady, hands shoving back into her pockets as her fingers flexed. Aching to reach for the man she could hear was following behind her.
So this wasn’t a Dresmondi thing… it was a her thing. Something was wrong with her. She shook her head before she could feel that itch to run. Which lead her to turn away from camp. “I can- catch up to you later at camp. I need to… run this off.” She didn’t move yet, but she wouldn’t turn to face him. Knowing she was strung out enough that she might do something untoward. So she waited for him to confirm he’d be okay with Rune. And ultimately, dismiss her.
This whole conversation seemed so odd. Zevran, being the scoundrel that he was, interpreted it as Alys wanting him in ways she shouldn't, because of her husband. But Rune's warning still lingered in his mind, so he continued to let her walk ahead of him without pressing the issue.
Until she stopped again, turning away and making some excuse about having to run "it" off. Whatever "it" was. He stood in silence for a bit, studying her face before nodding slowly and brushing past her, back towards the camp.
Then he stopped, looking over his shoulder at her. "Are you sure you're okay out here alone?" He knew she was very powerful, but you never knew what lurked in the dark these days.
He wouldn’t get the chance to ask her if she was okay. The moment he touched her, her hand reached out to snag his hand and hold it. He broke the no touching barrier that had been there, and she held to him. The buzzing feeling amplified in her chest and slowly her eyes found him. It was a battle of instinct and mind, a battle of wolf and woman. Though the woman found him attractive too.
The buzz only picked up more and she nodded quickly. “Yes,” she reached her free hand out to grab her arm holding him. As if she had to use the other to pull her hand away. “And besides,” she tried to put on a convincing smile, “not really alone out here.” There would be a dark shadow that whipped through the trees behind her, feeling the summoning pass them. Her hand releasing him as long as he didn’t hold on.
He looked down at where her hand held his own, then looked up at her from under his lashes as she insisted that she was fine, and not on her own. "You mean your shadow creature? Not much company, is it?" he mumbled quietly.
His gaze dropped again to follow her other hand where it now held her arm, and he blinked at it. Rune already sensed where his mind was going, and gave a resigned huff from somewhere in the darkness. "Alys," he murmured, looking at her again, "We've talked a lot about the differences between Nevermere and Dresmond. About the freedom we covet in Dresmond, versus the... structure, you have in Nevermere."
He squeezed her hand slowly, but made no other moves towards her. "There's no shame in being more interested in freedom than strict rules and joinings."
“Well, it’s better than nothing,” she smiled, doing her best to keep her eyes from locking onto his for too long. She knew that if she did, she’d be pulled into his gravitational pull and would never be able to actually walk away. Just like how she was ready to pull her hand back, only for him to say her name softly and still her whole being.
The temptation was there. He even seemed to acknowledge part of her struggle and if anything, give her the go ahead to do something she shouldn’t. Her breathing shifted as she thought about it, at what the offer could be that was hanging between them. Could she take it? Reach up and explore what he seemed to be offering? Yes. She could. She even took a step towards him, except she looked down at Rune, then towards camp. Where Grant and Kezia rested.
“You are more tempting than you know, Zevran,” she whispered, her other hand slipping to grasp his. Bring it to her lips and brushing the back of his hand against her kiss. And then, as if he was suddenly burning her, she released his hand. Stepping back quickly and she moved to slip into the tree line. She had already crossed a line she shouldn’t have… she needed to get away before she completely lost it.
He blinked at her words, his brow creasing ever slightly with confusion at her words, but he decided there was always later to figure out what exactly she meant.
She stepped towards him and his breath caught with the expectation of more, but then she simply brushed her lips across the back of his hand and then released it, slipping away into the darkness of the trees.
He stared after her, but made no attempts to pursue. If more were to happen between them, it would have had to happen on her accord, and clearly she had thought better of it in the end. Blinking away the remaining cloud of desire from his mind, he cast one final glance after her before turning and heading back to camp. Rune trotted up next to him, relief emanating from her.
'At least she has sense,' the fox quipped. Zevran only rolled his eyes, unwilling to admit that he knew it had been for the best.
[END THREAD]
Last Edit: Sept 25, 2022 23:06:58 GMT -5 by Zevran