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!
A bit of time had passed since the closing of an eventful Tribute. Adeline had been caught up in figuring out what to do with their new found Lorendale servants, the dog, Luka, and everything else. Hiram also seemed quite intent on remaining around and pushing the military up a few notches.
But today Adeline decided she wanted to walk the city, perhaps for the first time since she had been named Queen over Myla. It felt different now, in so much that it felt more like hers. This was her city, her people. All her's now. And she had a specific destination and Dresmondi in mind today.
She bounded through the tavern doors, her gaze darting around to take in the faces within. Ermir had reacted quickly in protecting them at Tribute, even if they had not really needed the protection. She had ordered him to get two brands and for his tavern to receive the best resources they could afford. She was coming to ensure that order had been followed, and to also pay her favorite Dresmondi a visit.
"Is Ermir here?" she asked, approaching the working Dresmondi at the bar.
The two brands still prickled on his skin. His shirt rubbing against them, as he moved through the kitchen. It was a good thing that the summer heat was starting to leave. The brands and salty sweat always made it worse. Made it redder, more obvious, and more painful to think about. Sure Nikita had already been dead in many ways, but it hurt all the same.
But he didn't have time to wallow. No, he had to keep cooking and providing for those that were stuck as much as he was. Unfortunately the stunt had also led to some animosity. That he was supposed to get the best, well, it didn't always sit well. But returning favors was helping him work his way back.
Ciel's head perked up through as Cyrus mentioned a redhead to his dyr. The red head. One of the queens. And the one that was trouble in all the worst ways. Ermir tensed up, his teeth clenched for a second. Things had been fine last time and they would be fine this time.
Popping his head out of the kitchen he bowed to the new queen. "Queen Adeline, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Adeline's face lit up in a smile when Ermir appeared behind the bar. "I have not had a chance to visit since Tribute. I wanted to see how everything was going and ensure my instructions had been followed. You did earn the best resources we could offer this year."
She leaned her elbows against the counter, resting her chin on top of her hands. "Hopefully it helps you feed more people, or perhaps make some better quality drinks." She was still smiling, her tone suggesting humor while her gaze studied him closely.
The smile was more than slightly unnerving, only because of who it was from of course. Adeline had a way about her, and Ermir was just going to smile his way through this check in. Because that's all this was, just a little check to make sure her orders were being followed. "Of course, thanks to you. I forgot how good cheese is." A small thing, but just about the only thing he could think of to say.
Pulling out a bottle of wine he nodded. "A step up all around. Although most still prefer the poor quality for the alcohol content of it." Offering out the bottle, it would take ages for a good bottle, but it tasted and smelled a lot better than the hard stuff.
Still smiling, she bobbed her head as if she understood that cheese could be a thing that was missed. In truth, she wasn't even sure she liked cheese at all. She reached out and took the bottle of wine from him, taking a sniff at it and only slightly wrinkling her nose.
"Well it is certainly better than whatever it was you had before. Why don't you grab two glasses and meet me in that little private room you have? I have something very important I wish to speak with you about." Taking the bottle with her, she walked off to the room without waiting. Ermir would find her already seated at the table, feet propped up on it when he entered.
There was quite a lot running through Ermir's mind, after all it seemed as though the queen had plenty to say. The wine was apparently a step up, only a good thing because if he wasn't using the resources well that wouldn't be good for him or the tavern. Private room? Not so good. But talking? That seemed like a good thing, maybe just wanted a report. He could handle that with ease.
"Absolutely my queen." Watching her go he grabbed two glasses and exchanged looks with Cyrus. I'd say let's come up with a signal for help but unless we plan to die that sounds like a bad idea. Shaking his head with a smile, Ermir took a deep breath and walked into what was supposed to be a safe space.
Placing the two glasses on the table in front of Adeline he raised an eyebrow. "So what is it we are going to be speaking about?"
Adeline watched Ermir as he walked in the room, like a predator sizing up its prey. She motioned for him to also take a seat and in a rare show of courtesy, she poured them both a glass of wine before settling back to look at him, glass in hand.
"I want to speak about the incident at Tribute, with the girl." She took a sip of the wine, staring at him over the rim of the glass before continuing. "While it was a very pathetic attempt on her part to harm us, it was still an attempt none the less. And where there is one, there will be more."
She placed her glass on the table, dropping her feet to the ground so she could lean forward on her elbows, clasping her hands in front of her. "You see many Dresmondi throughout the day, yes? They come here to eat and drink and all that. I want to know if you have observed any odd behavior from anyone else." Her gaze fell on him, intense and scrutinizing.
Ermir nodded at the offered seat, slipping into it and putting his hand on the offered glass. Not quite ready to start drinking yet though. Keeping his wits about him seemed like a good idea to say the least. So he listened to what she had to say, and very quickly wished they weren't.
So he nodded along, making sure not to think too far ahead. "I mostly am in the kitchen, but I do my fair share of talking. I'll keep my ear out, have Elaxi do the same." Looking at her with concern, Ermir didn't want anyone else to come after her. Of course it was because he wanted the honor himself, or maybe Eirwen. "Everyone is always quiet the month after the tribute, but they'll start talking again."
Her gaze flicked around his face for a moment after he spoke, letting them hang in silence. "Well," she finally said, settling back again, apparently content with what she had seen, "I suppose that makes sense. What of before the Tribute? Anything at all that you can think to tell me?"
She picked up her wine to take another sip. Perhaps she was becoming accustomed to the terrible drinks of Dresmondi, because it didn't taste half bad. She was sure if this was a good or bad thing. "If you or any of your workers hear anything at all, no matter how small, I must be informed of it immediately."
Tapping her nails against the table a few times, she huffed, "Hiram was right, Myla and Elena had become far too comfortable and complacent on their thrones. I will not be like them. I plan to spend more time within Elderkeep, assisting with keeping order." Her eyes found his gaze again, "Any help you provide will be rewarded, of course."
Ermir nodded his head, rubbing his beard as if deep in thought. And he was in some senses, but more about how to give Adeline what she wanted without giving her anything. He was only so good with that, Zevran was the political one, but he could think on his toes at least a little. "Nothing worth any action. There were a few grumblers but they lined up for you all the same as they should."
And while it made his stomach turn, he nodded, sure that he would keep most of what he heard to himself. All the same they were going to have to come up with some things or even an idiot would catch on. He hated the woman that sat there drinking his wine, but she wasn't stupid.
Shifting in his seat he took a large sip of his wine as she spoke. "I look forward to your reign Queen Adeline. Anything in service of you." He took another sip instead of thinking about how much worse things were going to get. The one good thing about the other queens had been the laid back approach. And the lack of Hiram.
Adeline's eyes narrowed slightly at his mention of grumblers. They could have just been discontent with giving up some of their belongings, of course, or they could have also planned to do something at Tribute and had second guessed themselves. Perhaps the girl burning to death had set them straight.
But his next comments earned much more of her attention, and if she were a cat she might have started purring. A smile slowly spread across her face as she also took a bigger sip of her wine. "That means a lot to me, Ermir. It really does."
Then she stood from her chair and slipped around the table to where Ermir sat, sliding into his lap and adjusting herself until she straddled him. She looked up at him, that sly smile still on her face as she ran her hands up his chest to his shoulders. She had been unsuccessful in her attempts to capture him before, but today she would not be. "And you could be of great service to me, right now."
There were a lot of things that Ermir had been able to count himself lucky with recently. The last time Adeline had deigned to give him attention, the Neveremere crap, and then the tribute. But apparently luck ran out eventually, that along with words that apparently piqued her interest more than the ruling she was apparently focused on. No, she was focused on bringing their bodies close, shifting around on his lap with her legs wrapped around him.
Surprise mixed with a slight flush in his cheeks, Ermir had plenty of women on his lap before but none that he wanted to kill quite so much. Maybe pull the air right out of her lungs, now that would be a great service in his opinion. "Great service? You put a lot of faith in me my queen." One hand still gripped his glass, his other barely brushing her thigh. He'd weaseled out before and his brain was firing on all cylinders to figure out another escape.
Having space between them before had been Ermir's saving grace, but that space existed no longer. Adeline tilted her head at his words, her smile turning feline as she shifted forward, pressing her body against his and gently placing a kiss against the side of his neck.
"I do place faith in you. I don't think you'll disappoint me." She spoke quietly into his ear, then nipped at his earlobe before pulling away to study his face, a small pout coming to her face. "Do you refuse me, Ermir?"
She was what was wrong with this place, the entitlement was overwhelming. Biting the inside of his cheek as Adline kissed his cheek and continued to shift around his crotch, Ermir tried to think about things other than the weight of her on him. Not an easy task as she nipped at his ear, his hand firmly gripping her thigh instead of floating anymore.
But one thing came through, his children playing in the tavern. How many people so close that he loved. So in a hoarse whisper he answered with the only option he had. "I wouldn't dream of it." Putting his cup down Ermir moved his hand to her back, his stomach turning as his hand tangled in the red hair, shifting his hips and pulling her in closer.
Her hand had already traveled down his body to start undoing the buttons of his pants before he could even answer her. It didn't matter how Ermir was going to answer her question, whether he would try to refuse or not, Adeline wanted him. So she would have him, even if she had to force him. She didn't plan for any sort of slow intimacy between them. She was simply looking to claim something she liked.
She was still human though, and at the feel of Ermir's hands on her body she softened a bit, allowing him to gently pull her closer. Her gaze lost its predatory gleam in favor of a softer, caring look and her grip on the top of his pants relaxed. In that moment, one could have mistaken the two of them as actual lovers instead of a malevolent Queen claiming something she had no right to.
She chuckled softly, slipping her hand into his pants after finally undoing the buttons. "Good answer," she murmured, studying his face quietly. "And do mind yourself. I didn't enjoy pregnancy the first time, I'd like to avoid going through it ever again."