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!
Torsten stepped back politely, knowing that his height made it difficult for people to literally look up to talk to him. And again Elodie flashed that brilliant smile up at him, laughing effortlessly. What was her secret? How could anyone faced with chore punishments like this, just giggle and joke so easily? And with a stranger at that?
Her polished manners had to be the end result of a lifetime of tutoring and her easy appearing comfort, again, something nobles were taught since birth. How he envied her elegant deportment in even a dirty and common situation like this. Personally he thought it wasn't just something that was taught-that kind of poise was what some people were just born with. A true Lady could and would try to make anyone around them feel comfortable.
"Marriage!" He almost groaned out loud at just the mention of it and he nodded in understanding. Since his mother had told him to find another place to live after the Abbot incident, marriage was now the last thing he could consider at the moment.
He removed the last pile of dishes from the bucket and turned it over once it was emptied.
"Almost." Tor agreed.
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2023 14:22:59 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Elodie Atwood on Feb 14, 2023 13:04:44 GMT -5
“Marriage indeed,” Elodie said with a musical lilt as she snatched up one of the dishes, “Life’s greatest joy and most necessary evil.” For it could really go either way, couldn’t it? Elodie’s parents had been lucky in that their arranged marriage bloomed into a marriage of love. She could hope to be half as lucky.
“Everyone should aspire to a well suited match,” Elodie teased, “Are you telling me there are no eligible ladies that have caught your eye?”
Elodie's voice and laughter rang out unfettered at her marriage comment and he envied her, her carefree, blissful point of view about the topic. She was a noble so it was merely a matter of choice and a wave of her hand to arrange anything. Tor could only support himself on an unpaired, low rank soldier's wages so his marriage prospects were cut short hard. Doubly so with the lack of money and no place to live outside the barracks.
"Sounds like you're actually going to enjoy the prospect for yourself, so that's good."
The pretty noble woman's comment startled him and he looked down in embarrassment. How do you tell a rich girl that you were too poor to marry anyone? Or even have a place to live outside the barracks?
"I can see that there are plenty of 'eligible' Ladies Miss Elodie. I just don't think it's the .. uh.. right time for me." Tor's ears turned bright red as he tried to tactfully answer her good natured and light humored teasing.
"Besides, I'm positive that someone like you must have a parade of noblemen lining up outside your doors right now, just begging to marry you."
Last Edit: Feb 18, 2023 12:10:22 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Elodie Atwood on Feb 18, 2023 12:06:51 GMT -5
Elodie took his response at face value and decided not to pry. Why would she ruin a perfectly good conversation with unnecessary nosiness? So, she nodded sympathetically. The time would come for Torsten—of that, Elodie had no doubt. Noble or no (and she didn’t know which), many a lady would count themselves lucky to be on such a handsome man’s arm.
Torsten’s comment was actually enough to make Elodie blush—a rare feat. She chuckled with a tiny little huff and put the pan down. “Don’t let my mother hear you,” She teased in a mischievous whisper, “She’ll start taking names and see I never wash a pot again in life. And what a shame that would be! I believe I’m just getting good at it.”
Elodie checked the bottom of her current project to find it clean. Satisfied, she handed it off to Tor to put with the others.
Tor didn't think it was possible, but she was even prettier when she blushed! How did someone so refined, confident and witty end up scrubbing like a scullery maid? Either way, she was so poised about the situation, that it didn't really seem to faze her one bit. Although he did wonder at the strong and controlling role her mother must play in Elodie's life. Maybe everyone's mom was like that and he knew his mother sure was too.
"Really? You'd rather master dishwashing instead of marrying a rich guy?" Tor asked her bluntly, with his usual awkwardly poor and bumbling people skills.
Post by Elodie Atwood on Feb 19, 2023 13:20:03 GMT -5
Much to her mother’s chagrin, Elodie read like an open book. She had no skeletons in her closet. She’d made her mistakes, just like anyone did, but she stood by every choice she’d ever made as one that had led her to her current place in the world. And she was proud of it.
There was a clear shift in her. A vulnerability, one that wasn’t uncomfortable to wear but exposing all the same. She gazed into the distance, soft-eyed with a sad smile.
“My brother, Cedric, joined the military after mandatory training. Papa would have been just as happy to see him stay at court, but he saw it as his duty. He…” Elodie cleared her throat, “Died of fever in Cambria. He was my best friend; the most honorable man I’ve ever known.” She shrugged. “Given that, wasting my time away giggling in ballrooms seems silly. Finishing what he started is the least I can do.”
Tor stood there with his mouth opened in shock at Elodie's heartbreaking story and how it felt a bit like his own. After all his bumbling, he'd accidentally opened up a hurtful thing for her. If Torsten could sink his 6'3 frame down the floor drain at that moment, he would. He almost started searching for a rock to crawl under. Looking stricken he put out both hands and responded,
"I'm so sorry Miss Elodie. I never, ever meant to open up that kind of personal thing for you. I'm so sorry about your brother--I..I totally understand." Torsten passed her the dish towel so she could dry her hands. It was a little like the way his sister had washed out and he'd tried to take over the famliy name too. It struck a chord of empathy in his heart that he didn't think he'd ever forget. He missed Nora more than ever.
"I think it's very noble of you to want to carry on the family name in this way." he said very quietly.
Last Edit: Feb 19, 2023 17:00:00 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Elodie Atwood on Feb 21, 2023 18:24:49 GMT -5
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Elodie reassured him with a smile, “Cedric always reveled in being the center of attention. It would disappoint him greatly if I kept his name from my tongue.” It was a joke, one delivered with equal parts humor, sadness, and fathomless love for her late brother.
“You’re very sweet,” Elodie said, drying her hands before offering the towel back to Torsten. Her fingers would linger on it if he accepted it, a pretty smile on her lips.
"I think my sister Ennora was a bit like your brother Cedric in that way. She was very outgoing and had a great sense of humor." Tor offered. His ears turned red at the beautiful woman's kind words. Elodie was equal parts charming and sincere and poised-a true Lady. His dark eyes were drawn like a magnet to her smile and the way her eyes lit up as she spoke of her late brother. She was the genuine article of kind, strong and a truly intelligent and compasionate Lady in every sense of the word.
Suddenly something electric sparked between them as their fingers brushed lightly and stayed on the towel; Torsten was locked in the moment, staring down at her breathtaking smile.
Post by Elodie Atwood on Mar 6, 2023 18:00:19 GMT -5
Was. Past tense. People, like Elodie, who had lost someone dear to them knew to listen for such things. It was a terrible thing to lose a sibling so young. It wasn’t so much the loss of what was, but what might have been had their future not been cut short. Elodie smiled, though sadness shone in her eyes.
“If she’s anything like her brother, I’m sure she was quite the woman to behold.” Elodie’s eyes lingered on him for a moment before her cheeks turned pink and she looked away as if she’d been caught staring. “Well then,” She straightened her jacket, “I think that will about to do me for the day, Torsten Mosse. But—” She looked back up at him, a twinkle in her eye, “I dare say it’s been a pleasure.”