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!
Zevran's eyes widened slightly at the commander's question before narrowing suspiciously. He shook his head slowly, "No, I don't. What does that have to do with anything?"
It seemed like a very out of the blue question. They had just been speaking about training and now he was asking about reading? Zevran couldn't quite fit the two together in his mind, so he sat and waited quietly for Hadrian to explain himself.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jan 13, 2023 10:14:14 GMT -5
Hadrian smiled, delighting in the schemes formulating in his head. “We shall see that you learn,” He continued, back to military efficiency, “If the liberation of Dresmond is successful, we will have to be ready to tackle what comes next. And for that, we will need you and the others to be ready to lead.”
And read, it would seem. Nevermere would shape Dresmond in its image, just as it had Coheed and Cambria. No sense in waiting.
It took effort to not grimace or squirm in his chair. He had already known from a conversation with Lady Kennet that Nevermere would at the very least expect their allegiance in return, just as they had asked of Coheed. Except, they were going to war for Dresmond, and he feared how much more they would expect in return. It wasn't like they had a choice in the matter. The Eldouirs would surely be their extinction, and Nevermere would at least help them rebuild.
Still... He shifted in his chair, looking up to meet the Captain Commander's gaze and cleared his throat. "If we are successful, after all of this... Will we be allowed to rebuild our caravans and try to live as we had before? Or will we be expected to remain in Elderkeep?" He spoke quietly, but confidently enough to show that he expected the truth.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jan 17, 2023 12:36:04 GMT -5
Hadrian considered his question carefully. Tradition was a powerful gravity difficult to break free from. The Desmond had forgone civilization for the sake of freedom, an idea that, as a Nevermerean, made Hadrian recoil. But he understood the call Zevran must feel to return to the old ways. But the fragility in his question betrayed the fact the Dresmondi must already know the truth: things could not be as they were.
“Nevermere’s primary interest is in the safety and welfare of your people,” Hadrian said (for whether it was true or not, he believed it), “Respectfully, Zevran, your unstructured way of life left you vulnerable to the likes of the Eldouir. The best way you can protect your people—to ensure that nothing like the Eldouir invasion happens again—is to accept what we can offer. To embrace change.”
Hadrian’s voice was gentle; his appeal was sincere, and deeply felt.
Zevran's fingers tapped at the top of the table as he listened to Hadrian, his face falling slowly as he confirmed what Zevran had already suspected. Zevran was silent for a moment, staring across the room to nothing in particular. "Technically, our way of life worked just fine until Coheed ripped through our lands..." he mumbled quietly.
But he still knew Hadrian was right, in some aspect. His gaze pulled to the Captain Commander's, "Perhaps a compromise could be made. The actual land of Dresmond has to be tended, otherwise it turns into the barren desert that it is now. The plant dyrs need to be able to travel to help encourage plant growth again. And my old caravan, we were blacksmiths. We settled for short periods of time where ore was plentiful, then traveled to new spots when we had exhausted the supply."
He held Hadrian's gaze again as he continued speaking, "I understand the benefit of settling for protections sake. But there is also benefit in some of our people being able to travel."
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jan 19, 2023 18:54:13 GMT -5
Hadrian listened, gaze staying steadily fixed on Zevran’s. The man was a natural leader—there could be no doubt about that. Hadrian had spent an entire career learning how to pick them out; Zevran had the gravitas, the clarity, the strength of purpose needed to lead one's people. Hadrian idly wondered whether that would be a help or a hindrance to furthering Nevermere’s interests.
“A compromise…” Hadrian said, turning over the word before shrugging, “It’s a fine thought, one certainly worth considering. You know the land better than I do, I won’t deny it. But as of now, that land is in the hands of the Eldouir. First, we have to get it back.”
Hadrian wasn’t in any position to make promises or give an indication of Nevermere’s direction. It was the king who would decide Dresmond’s fate when the time came. There was only one power in Terra Nova great enough to stand a chance against the Eldouir. Zevran was at the king’s mercy, though Hadrian assumed the Dresmondi knew that already.
Zevran nodded in acquiesence. There was no point in discussing compromises or anything of the sort until the Eldouir themselves had been dealt with. After that, when his people were safe, then they could talk all they wanted.
Taking a breath, he pushed away from the table a bit. "Thank you for hearing me out, anyway. It's comforting to know that there's any plan at all, honestly. Was there anything else you needed from me?"
If he was dismissed, he would stand and give the Captain Commander a farewell nod before him and Rune would exit the war room. They had much to contemplate.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Jan 22, 2023 19:11:17 GMT -5
It almost hurt to watch him. Hadrian would serve his kingdom first and foremost, but he was still human. Empathy had served him well in his career, and he extended it to Zevran now. Loss was the only word that seemed to capture the emotion he saw in the man’s eyes. Loss of an unimaginable scale.
“No, you’re dismissed,” Hadrian said as if he were speaking to one of his soldiers. Yes, they did indeed have much to contemplate. War was coming, and Hadrian would see to it that everyone—including Zevran—was ready to face it.