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!
She felt the presence that was Zahra approaching and moving next to her. She knew Kasper had brought an invisibility potion, so who else had? It didn't matter who, really, as she quickly reached for the Naginata on her back and swung low to the ground, attempting to knock whoever or whatever it was to the ground. Blunt side first, of course. She didn't actually want to hurt anyone.
She paused briefly to peer around the corners at the various paths offered her before setting off to the left again, going further into the darkness. She still kept her jogging pace, her senses on full alert for whatever waited for her within.
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Jan 30, 2023 12:00:35 GMT -5
(Octavius takes Option 1.)
Octavius side eyed the people around him and Kat, not liking that they were following, but then again there were only two options. His eye fell on @elletta, who he didn't mind being present, and if she looked his way he would wink at her.
At the end of the first walkway Octavius paused, hesitating as some walked past him. He waited to make sure Kat was close, then said,
"There are no rules against it, so--" He used his height to his advantage to grab the lantern that had been lighting the end of the path, and then jutted his chin towards the dark direction to the left. With fire to guide their steps, surely the darkness wouldn't be so mysterious. He'd move slowly, waiting for Kat, hoping she trusted him and followed.
Ber takes option 2 Like the other soldiers who had taken this path, Ber found himself looking at two corridors. He paused, watching as others made their decisions and debating the merits of staying with a group as opposed to striking out on his own. On one hand, other people would be there to encounter whatever challenges lay ahead of them before he did. On the other, he would get nowhere by continuously following his companions; he would have to split off eventually, so why not now? Who knew which way was the right one anyway. Decision made, Ber took the winding corridor, walking now and still looking around corners and scanning for anything out of place before he moved ahead.
The primary application of his Gift, which is Metalkinesis, is the mental control over magnetism and the manipulation of both ferrous and nonferrous metal.
Level 10; Arynnite ship with the ability to both fly and submerge fully under water. THE DROWNED CANARY.*Temporarily deactivated*
Post by Othello Allemeade on Jan 30, 2023 16:57:23 GMT -5
(Othello is taking option 3)
Othello had picked up his pace now, still lumbering behind the group with watchful eyes. The soldier who grabbed the lantern was a smart cookie. It was him a woman he didn't know but he recognized the boy, from the camping trip. They had three options and the pair took the first and second, that left him with the third, using his gift he pulled his shield and axe into his hands before again cautiously entering the more open straight path.
Letting Octavius Wulfbrand take the lead still, she followed close behind, her eyes on a swivel and nodding her head at Othello Allemeade . "Oi figure it out on your own." Sure they had drank together on a boat in Coheed but he was also an outsider that she didn't trust. He was also a gifted, she wasn't about to let him have too many advantages.
Her eyes flickered over both paths, nose wrinkled before she mentally made her choice. She had a barebones of a plan so it was just a matter of things paying off if she managed to get this just right. She spared a quick glance at Octavius Wulfbrand and gave him a grin, only to flush at the wink and she looked away and slipped down the path to the right instead.
All across the maze, the initial clusters were starting to spread out. On one side of the maze, @faylin and Zarha Sliva were both twisting into the dark. Faylin made an unsuccessful swipe at the invisible woman flying past her before taking up a jog behind her. Perhaps at first, Faylin would consider herself unlucky to be set behind, but that would quickly change.
Zarha Sliva wouldn’t see the concealed trap. All she’d feel was the ground rising up around her like a fish caught in a net being hoisted aboard a vessel. The invisible woman was caught in a snare. Zarha was pulled upward, brought to the top of the wall, and escorted from the maze.
The trap sprung, @faylin would see nothing but a dead end and be forced to double back. She’d find herself bumping into @torsten , who was in a right pickle of his own.
Out of nowhere, Torsten would feel something reach out and grab his ankle, sending him to the ground. Twisting around, he’d see a tentacled monster dragging him back from where he came. Its tentacles would continue to work their way around him, restricting his movement.
@torsten loses a turn.
Torsten would be indisposed, but @faylin would have three options:
1) Slow her progress by helping Torsten free himself
2) Push past him and continue winding straight ahead
3) Take a right this time into a darker, more open corridor.
Othello Allemeade , having taken a different path, would be unaware of all that mayhem. In fact, wandering into the dark, he’d start to feel very sleepy. Warm, even. Content to lay down and take a long nap. Even the Coheedsman would realize this was witch magic at play, but it would take him a moment to do so.
On the other side of the maze, things were looking better—for some. Octavius Wulfbrand was a clever boy to grab the lantern, and @katerina and Kasper Van Zant were equally smart to follow. Because of the added light and cautious movement, Octavius would see the pitfall trap right as they were upon it, saving himself, Kat, and Kasper from clustered removal from the maze.
Octavius, Kat, and Kasper would have three choices:
1) Go left and follow a more open, dark path
2) Successfully bypass the pitfall trap and continue straight
3) Take a right to follow a twisting, dimly lit path
@berengar and @elletta , meanwhile, had struck out on their own. Ber would go first, proceeding with caution. Elletta would be close behind, though not scanning the turf the same way that Berengar was. Coming around the bend, @berengar would notice the steep drop, though not in enough time to warn @elletta who would not. Elletta would tumble down into the pit, catching her fingers on the ledge at the last moment. Elletta would be at Ber’s mercy. Without his assistance in pulling her up, she would fall and be removed from the competition.
@elletta loses a turn.
@berengar would have two choices:
1) Slow his progress by trying to pull Elletta back to solid ground
2) Bypass the trap and follow the bend toward a distant light
Rhedara Shannon was in, and not as behind as she might think. The maze was a fickle place, it would seem.
1) Taking the left corridor, through which she would see a swinging lantern light
2) Taking the right corridor, which twisted like a snake into the darkness.
POSTING ORDER
- @torsten , Othello Allemeade , and @elletta will not post this round. I will narrate what befalls them and what their options are in the next narration. Other than that, there is no posting order.
- Zarha Sliva is out of the tournament and will not post any further. Thanks for playing!
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Jan 31, 2023 9:57:09 GMT -5
Rhedara takes Option 1
Rhedara looked left, then right and only allowed herself a moment to think before she went left. She made herself slow her pace down, more out of concern for her ankle than for the sake of caution. She nearly passed the lantern without taking it, but thinking of the dark tunnel in the opposite corridor, decided at the that it could be of use further in. She tries to get the lantern off of the rope or chain that it is hanging off of, and continues down the hall, treading carefully.
Eyeing the net that had sprung up in front of her, Faylin quickly did a bout-face at the dead end. Once again carrying her Naginata, she held it out in front of her, sweeping the ground before her feet in an attempt to trigger any other traps that might be waiting for her, still moving at a slow jog.
Her eyes fell on Torsten but she didn't stop, didn't even slow. This was a competition and he would have to figure out how to free himself if he wanted to win. Her attention turned back to the maze in front of her, she trudged onward.
Last Edit: Jan 31, 2023 10:05:14 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Octavius Wulfbrand on Jan 31, 2023 13:54:46 GMT -5
(Octavius will take whatever option Katerina chooses.)
Octavius was justifiably pleased with himself when they avoided the trap because of the light. He turned to shoot a toothy grin at Kat, bouncing his brows, hoping she’d praise him.
Regardless, he’d look at their options with hesitance.
“You pick next move and I’ll lead the way.” He said it to his pair, not her brother. He didn’t mind Kasper tagging along but if it came down to it he’s save Kat first if he could and then himself.
After Kat chose Octavius would proceed the same way, a light trot on his toes, prepared to jump, duck, or roll as needed. Depending on what the maze threw his way, he would seek to protect Katerina first and foremost, even if it mean sacrificing himself.
In case there had been any doubt as to the nature of this maze, it was wiped entirely clear by the pit that opened into the ground before him. Ber managed to stop in time, but @elletta did not.
“Aww shit.” He liked Haider - she was cool - and in any other circumstance, he would have immediately stopped to help her up. But this tournament was every man for himself, and well, if he just left her and hoped she would fall, then there would be one less person to compete against. No doubt had their positions been reversed, she would make the same decision he did. Skirting around the trap and her, he offered a quick, “Sorry, Haider, nothing personal,” and continued on his way.
Ber moved forward at a walk, looking around the bend and keeping even more of an eye out for anything out of place that could signify another trap, hidden or otherwise. Once he was away from the pit, he would - if he could - pause to look around for some loose stones or dig up some of the more easily accessible rocks from the mud beneath his feet. Armed with a small handful and a few more in his pocket, he would start lightly tossing the ones in his hand in front of him as he walked to see if they would reveal or spring any less obvious traps. He would collect the rocks he could as he passed them by.
Letting out a breath she nodded at her partner, not all brawn, which of course she knew after the past few seasons. He acted like a puppy sometimes but that didn't mean he was an idiot.
Looking around she sent a fire incantation down the wide dark path nodding towards it for them to go that way. She loved having her brother along for the ride if he chose to do so, especially since they seemed to be doing well as a group.
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 Feb 1, 2023 6:32:28 GMT -5
(Kasper is taking option 1)
Kasper was totally glad to be following his sister and Octavius, he kept a slower pace with his invisibility potion running through him just as a precaution to not get a fire ball cast at him if they thought perhaps this was part of the maze. Very much like Octavius, Kasper had the same idea if he could get Kat over the finish line first then that's what he'll do even if he has to sacrifice Octavius to do so.
All across the maze, things were heating up. Sounds of distant chaos echoed distantly in the maze corridors, signaling that the number of contestants was starting to dwindle. Most would receive no help from their fellow competitors—including @torsten and @elletta . Without Ber’s help, Eletta would drop into the trap and be unable to continue in the race.
@elletta is out of the tournament.
Torsten, however, was down but was not yet out. The creature would drag him along as he struggled, headed back for the start of the maze. The soldier’s valiant efforts were enough to slow the creature’s progress, but not enough to free him.
@torsten has failed the saving throw and loses another turn.
Faylin, unmoved by Torsten’s predicament, soldiered on, continuing straight ahead at a slow, careful jog. As she neared a passage to her right, she’d start to hear a low growl. Faylin, not yet upon it, wouldn’t be able to see the source of the noise but would be able to see that there was light in the passage beyond.
@faylin has two choices:
1) Continue straight, past the corridor down a dark path
2) Turn right, toward the noise and the light
Meanwhile, Othello Allemeade was starting to feel more himself. Emerging from his temporary daze, he would find himself slightly disoriented by ready to proceed. Just as he reoriented himself, a tentacle flew out of a passage. A creature followed, dragging a struggling @torsten .
1) Assist Torsten in freeing himself from the creature
2) Turn right down the passage where the creature came from
On the other side of the maze, @berengar had set out on his own. His progress was slow but careful as he tossed stones ahead of him to mark his path. Berengar encountered no traps and would proceed unimpeded…until he started to feel a strange sensation on his sides. And in his feet. And then…everywhere. Ber would feel like he was being tickled, but not in a way that was at all pleasant. This tickle torture would have him falling to his knees in eye-watering, uncontrollable giggles.
@berengar loses a turn.
Down a different corridor, the Three Musketeers were marching carefully and quietly ahead…that is, until @katerina sent a powerful fire incantation blasting down the dark path ahead. The destructive witch magic tore forward with a mighty roar, blackening the walls of the maze on either side. With Katerina in front, they’d only make it a few steps forward before a set of red eyes appeared out of the darkness.
The damned creature was only faintly visible, crawling up along the wall. It paused for a moment, making clicking noises before shooting webs from its horrifying mouth toward @katerina and Octavius Wulfbrand . Kasper Van Zant was in the line of fire, but because of his invisibility had not yet been seen by the monster.
Katerina, Octavius, and Kasper must fight or flee:
With this beastie, we are entering good, old-fashioned combat initiative. @katerina will go first, followed by Octavius Wulfbrand , then Kasper Van Zant . Narrate what, if anything, your character does to try to combat the monster.
Rhedara Shannon would aim for the lantern, but quickly realize what she saw was the light being carried by Octavius Wulfbrand . She’d just be coming upon the group when the creature emerged. Still far enough away she’d be able to flee if she so chose.
1) Turn left toward the trio and fight the creature
2) Continue straight and hope to avoid detection
POSTING NOTES
- As mentioned above, @katerina , Octavius Wulfbrand , and Kasper Van Zant are now in combat narration (and will go in that order). There are no choices, just narrate whatever your character would do.
- @torsten and @berengar do not need to post this round. I will narrate what happens to them in my next DM post.
- @elletta is out of the tournament and will not post any further. Thanks for playing!
Faylin slowed to a walk, peering down the passage and towards the growling that could be heard. But now she knew there were traps hidden and she could really use the light that was at the end of the passage. So with a small sigh, she replaced the Naginata on her back and pulled her sword instead, creeping forward slowly, her eyes peeled for either the creature she would have to dispatch or for any hidden traps.