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!
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 5, 2023 13:04:16 GMT -5
for @warren
It was another wet day in the streets of Nevermere, raining and Zarha was informed that her brother Rajiv didn't show up to training. So know she currently standing outside the door to the place she suppose to call home, well what of it. It basically a two bedroom shabby flat shared between seven people. Well most of the time it is five people as her parents are hardly ever home.
"Rajiv you going to be in so much trouble." You can hear Zarha voice carry through on.
"I will only be if you get in." Rajiv have managed to put a sofa against the door frame it was impossible to get through.
Zarha was really annoyed. The door itself wasn't in the best of condition as it was and the last thing to do it destory it she take a deep breath, "What up? Why don't you want to go in? Maybe we can talk through it?"
here was quiet "You won't listen even if i told you." Zahra know something going on and something Raj not telling her/
Banging her head on the door and she managed to cut her forehead a bit. "fuck" was a voice winch "Please I might surprise you we need to work through this, we need to stick together."
Warren had been following up on a lead for some research he'd been doing for a while now. It was somewhat related to the murder that Berengar Stormcrest had joined him in solving, but this 'lead' had taken him nowhere. The man who had claimed to know something had then disappeared, when Warren went to meet with him, he was nowhere to be found. That in and of itself might have been some kind of lead, but for now, it was a dead end. Maybe literally.
That lead, however, had been on the poorer side of Skia and as he was leaving, the sound of a familiar voice caught his attention. With an umbrella in hand to keep him from the rain, he followed the sound and came onto a street where the owner of the voice could be seen, thumping her head against the front door of a small home. For a moment he watched, unsure if he should intervene. But as he'd been sponsoring the young woman in a way, he thought it might be polite to at least ask.
"Ms. Sliva," he said, approaching, holding the umbrella between them so that she wouldn't continue to be drenched by the rain. "What exactly is the problem, here?"
Clothes wet, blood dripping from forehead, Raj trapped himself in the flat. Today was meant to be one of her days off and she been trying to find more ways to not be all work and no play, but so far where ever she do it seem to be work work work. When she heard Woodwick's voice, without thinking about it, she stood to attention facing him. "Lieutenant." she looked up to the umbrella slightly. what the point of it now as she already wet.
Before she looked back at the door, "My brother Rajiv, he skipping mandatory training, I've been trying to get in to talk to him, but he put something against the door and this is the only door to get in." It wasn't the first time he did something like that, it became common after her twin died, Rajiv looked up to him as a older brother.
Zarha spotted Rajiv starring out the window looking at Woodwick. "He would make a good soldier but something going on." There was apart of her that really cares about her brother and want him to be safe and not worry about anything.
Warren listened to her plight with furrowed brows and otherwise neutral expression. It was no joke for someone to intentionally skip mandatory training. Sure, there were plenty of people in Nevermere who wouldn't fit the bill of soldier, wouldn't be able to take up the role once their mandatory years were over. But all in all, mandatory training really only taught you the most basic of things. It wasn't particularly difficult, though it did require discipline. This didn't fair well for the kid, but he wouldn't presume to know the whole story.
"That is a predicament. I assume your brother knows he will receive punishment for skipping his training. I hope he doesn't do this often?" He looked toward the little house, then at the door. "Do you want me to open it?" He was fairly sure he could push the door open without breaking it, but he'd need her permission first.
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 7, 2023 19:05:13 GMT -5
Looking at her brother, he find it hard and it challenges him more then he possible like. Rubbing the back of her next as she looked back at Woodwick. "This is the second time he has done it Lieutenant." She didn't want to snitch on her brother but standing in front of Woodwick she didn't want to lie to him. However, quickly looking at Raj with a look of sorry.
As Warren asked if he can open it for her, she looked at this tired looking door, five eleven guy and the door frame and nodded. "Please, he my brother I don't want him to get into trouble." This possible the first time Warren possible seen Zarha as somebody who not all about training and work, she was a person who love her family dearly and put in hard work for them.
"Well, if he has done it before, he should know well how he'll be punished," he said simply, following her line of sight to look into the window. He saw movement, and assumed that when the boy saw him turning, he dipped out of the way so he wouldn't be seen. Not that it mattered. The young woman had asked him to open the door for her, so he would. He handed her the handle of the umbrella and stepped out of it's cover, into the rain. "Back away, then."
He grabbed the handle of the door with his right hand and pressed both his right side shoulder and hips against the door. He pushed it somewhat first, to get a feel for how heavy whatever blocking it was, then nodded to himself. He rooted his left boot into the ground, pushed away from the door slightly, and then with the full weight of his body bumped against it and pushed. Whatever was behind the door resisted at first, but the bump got it moving and once it was moving, he was able to to keep it moving until the door was cracked enough to allow someone in. Warren couldn't squeeze through, but Zarha could.
He stood away from the door and looked it over, wobbling it a little bit. The hinge had come somewhat loose in the effort, but it was something easily fixed. "There you are, Ms. Sliva." He said, reaching out to take the umbrella back, though he continued to hold it over her as she walked in. He was more or less soaked now, but it didn't bother him too much.
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 9, 2023 19:34:36 GMT -5
Taking the Umbrella and hold it over her as she stood back as she watched Woodwick try and open the door, which thankfully he did. Knowing that Rajiv would be punished and because this was his second time they possible will be harder on him. Wishing that she knew what was going on. "Thank you." Her eyes scanned the door, that be fixed later she just thankful she can get in. She passed the lieutenant his umbrella.
Squeezing through the gap that Warren made seeing her Brother sitting in the corner on the floor. "Why did you tell him? I will already be in trouble as it is!" His voice was clear.
"Because you are my brother and I want the best for you, something clearly bothering you and despite.. his resting bitch face. Woodwick cares about his soldiers and want them to do well." explaining as she moved the sofa from behind the door and opened it more so Warren can if he want walk in.
"oh Zarha swore infront of supior." There was a small laugh from her brother.
"I know i will be punished for it later but can you please tell me why you are skipping?" Looking at Woodwick, "It might be something we can help with?"
Warren backed away from the door and allowed Zarha inside. He had a mind to leave her to it. Though the boy was skipping out on his training, it would be up to his immediate superior to handle the punishment and track the number of times. While Warren could potentially have hand in it, if he preferred, he saw no reason to. He had his own soldiers to worry about, Zarha just happened to be one of them. It wasn't as if it was uncommon for some younger soldiers to not feel like attending, for one reason or another. If they knew they would suffer the consequences and did it anyway, what did that have to do with him?
Still, he lingered. He had devoted time and resources to the girl and was curious how she intended to handle the situation. While it did seem a little personal, between brother and sister, she seemed to want him there. Which, was rare enough, given that most of the soldiers would have preferred to be as far away from him as possible.
Sighing, he stepped through the door as she moved the couch from against it. Flattening his umbrella, he glanced between them when the boy spoke of her swearing in front of him. He hadn't heard it, and narrowed his eyes between the two. But she was off-duty and in her own home, so he could hardly punish her for it, despite being in the presence of a superior officer, and noble.
He stood just inside the door, though, leaving it open. "Ms. Sliva, perhaps you should clean yourself up first." He said, motioning to his own forehead to indicate the cut she had on her own. "You're bleeding."
Resting his hands behind his back, he looked down at the young boy, eyes resting on him for a moment. He saw the resemblance. "The consequences of your actions are not for me to decide. I am not your direct superior," he told the boy, glancing briefly around the home. "But whatever the issue is, it is best to address it sooner rather than later."
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 10, 2023 12:24:13 GMT -5
Looking at Warren when he pointed out that she was bleeding, "Yes sir." walked over to the kitchen area, which was in the same room there was in and she looked through the cabinets for a clean rag. Thankfully she boiled and strained some water earlier that now cooled down she dapped the rag in the water and started washing her forehead it stung a bit. But not the worse pain ever.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Raj sitting thinking for a moment. Looking between Zarha and Woodwick,"I heard dad talking well his version of talking last night, he was planning to take me to the outskirts after training. He kept saying that maybe he will be better then the last. I don't want to go Zarha, it scars me."
Listening to this she was holding to the edge of the kitchen counters, tightly. her breathing is heavy shaking her head. He is too young, he can't do this.
made by the wonderful Lyla
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2023 12:25:33 GMT -5 by Zarha Sliva
He remained in the same spot as he watched Zarha walk into the kitchenette and begin to clean up the cut on her head. After a few moments, her little brother finally spoke up, though Warren wasn't entirely sure what he was speaking of. Eyes narrowing when the boy finished, Warren turned them back onto Zarha, who appeared to be very bothered by what she had heard. Whatever it was had shaken her, but he spoke to the boy first.
"To avoid your training because of ...whatever it is you're fearful of...is not a sound decision. Not only is the military wing of the castle the safest place you can possibly be, but training only makes you more capable of defending yourself against those you fear." He paused, crossing his arms. "That said, as an outsider to the goings on of your household, Ms. Sliva, I will need some clarification for what exactly it is your brother is referring to."
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 11, 2023 7:18:24 GMT -5
Rajiv nodded with a week "I know." He does enjoy training when he is there, he just didn't want it to end. When Warren addressed Zarha Rajiv looked at her. There was something going on. Why? did her father do this to them? why? She has been trying to get them to stop for years but clearly he hasn't tried.
She didn't want to answer Woodwick but she knew she has to. "There a reason why I chose not to tell your mother about my parents, Lieutenant." She was trying so hard to remind calm, even though she was now facing Warren, there was still some anger in her eyes that she tries to get rid of. "Our father he is.. he smuggle children, from a young age to become well steal things if they are a male, female they go under our mother watchful eye to do well..." something that she feel uncomfortable to mentioned the word prostitution. "If our father takes him away, then he will train him in the art in charming children away, so called promising them a life of safety, no more parents telling them what to do, learn really magic, learn to tune to your inner beast."
She sorted herself out. "They both tried to take me away from military to do my part in the family business, When Lilac turns eighteen she will have her arms bend to join in. She still have a year and a half before i have to worry about that but i really want to try and send at least my sisters away to get better education, somewhere safe away from them. that why i work so hard I do it to protect them, yet it not enough. I try hard because they are the only family I have."
Warren listened, the set of his jar hardening as he clenched his teeth together. He would show no outward hostility, not even anger, though it was always there. When she was done explaining, his lips parted just slightly to inhale a slow, deep breath, before he began.
"Ms. Sliva, these are very serious offenses you're speaking of. If this is true, both of your parents could be beheaded or hung for their crimes. You must know that, having heard this, I must report their crimes and see that they're brought to justice. If your mother and father have been kidnapping children, this problem is no longer your families alone. It stretches across multiple families, yet you've kept it a secret?"
He shook his head, disbelief finally showing on his face. "I'm not sure I understand. You've made it very clear that you are the one who takes care of your siblings. You support them. If your parents are not needed, there is no reason that you shouldn't have turned them in long ago."
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 12, 2023 4:33:42 GMT -5
Seeing the belief on Warren's face. She was trying to held back any emotions from escaping but as soon as her brother came over and hugged her the walls of a soldier came down as a tear runs down Zarha's face. "I know I should of reported this, I also wanted to try and keep this family together.I was also trying to get evidence against them, I was also worried about not seeing my family again if we all become orphanage before I was eighteen. I am still worried about it about them taking my siblings away." Giving her brother a squeeze before letting go.
Walking up to Warren and facing him but not as a soldier but a lost, scared little eighteen year old. "I need you, I need your help, please." her voice was creaking this is possible the first tie she would of cried, shown her vulnerable side to anyone outside her siblings.
"It may be harsh of me to say, Ms. Sliva, but no parent who sells their child into crime is part of the family. Your refusal to acknowledge this is what is to blame. As soon as you enlisted in the military, you were more than capable of caring for your siblings. They would not have been forced into an orphanage. Had you gone to someone with this issue, it would have been resolved." He took a breath. Maybe commoners that weren't formally educated simply didn't know that. He knew she was still just a kid, and sometimes feelings got in the way of doing what was best or what was right, but he was irritated with the situation all the same.
Her request for help, however, tugged at him. This was not part of his duties, not part of his job. But he'd been seeing to her education, he'd been trying to advise her, to teach her how to be a leader among her peers. If her own leaders wouldn't help her when she asked, at least to some degree, why should she trust them, or want to become like them? It would seem like the classic case of the nobility not caring what happens to the commoners, and that was the last thing he wanted lingering over his thoughts.
"Fine. I will help you resolve this, Ms. Sliva, but I will do it according to the laws of our kingdom. Your parents must pay for their crimes. No evidence is needed if you and your siblings testify against them, but I will look into the matter myself." He took another calming breath. "You will supply me with all of the necessary information for me to track them down. In the mean time, you and your siblings will return to the castle and stay there. Non-noble, non-military civilians will not be permitted, so you will be safe if you remain on the grounds."
He looked down at her, meeting her eyes. "You will agree to testify against them, and they will be hung for their crimes. That is something you must accept. But as an adult, your siblings will be allowed to remain with you unless you prove you are unable to care for them. Is all of that understood?"
Post by Zarha Sliva on Feb 14, 2023 14:32:15 GMT -5
When he said he will help her she relaxed. It that moment without thinking she hugged him tight. "Thank you soo much." After a couple of seconds she realise who she was hugging and pulled away. "Sorry Lietanent. Yes I understand Sir, thank you very much. Me and my sibling will testify against them sir and I wll tell you the best way to find them." Zarha looked at Rajiv who seems relieve a small smile on his face.
"Lilac will probably will be at training already. Idris and Winona they will be with Miss Kollias upstairs. would the allow my baby brother and sister there as there onl ten and six years old?" There not even old enough to do mandatory training yey.