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!
Donovan watched Yeva ripping into the first bodies she came came into, his hands twitching at his side as he yearned to pull his on sword and tear into them. But Hiram had other plans for him, and Donovan's gaze turned from the carnage to the scene of various fleeing bodies. Certainly a more complicated task than before, but he was up for it.
Taking a few steps forward, he once again quickly went to work. At the farthest reaches of his magic, a long line of tall, stone spikes appeared, arcing slightly at the ends towards the Dresmondi settlement. They were spaced closely together, enough so that no person could slip through them but they could still see the safety they could no longer reach.
His gaze narrowed on any Dresmondi who had yet to start fleeing. They'd find themselves ensconced in metal bar cages, keeping them exactly where they were.
The Peacekeepers had never faced down the Eldouir. They had no idea what they were walking into. Maybe they had enchantments, but they didn't have magic. Not the kind of adaptable, changing magic that Kaveri and Kester could wield. If the Eldouir were out by the wall, out by the ocean, then they had all the advantage they needed. They just needed to get there.
A man sent by @bowen had asked them what they needed, and Kaveri had told him without hesitation. "Horses. Horses and weapons. Daggers or swords or spears, something," Kaveri replied. "And some kind of sturdy wagon we can use to pull behind one of the horses, for my dyr." Normally, Kaveri wouldn't care for traveling that way, but horses were the fastest means to the fighting and they could deal with it for this.
The man would lead them to what they needed: weapons, first. Kaveri would settle for a pair of daggers strapped to his belt, and Kester would have her choice. Then two horses, one with a small wagon with four wheels to pull behind the horse. Once they were all strapped in, the man would lead Kaveri and Kester to the north west side of the city and point them in the direction. Peacekeepers were still in sight leaving the city toward the attack, so the two Dresmondi could follow the herd and ride as hard as they could toward the attack on the wall (toward @drystan and Azazel Eldouir).
At this point, Kester couldn’t say whether the appearance of one of @bowen ’s men by their side surprised her or not, but she had neither the time nor the inclination to question it. He asked them what they needed, and she only had time to say “Kaveri—” before the other man, like the warrior he’d been on Dresmond soil, started listing everything that had immediately jumped to mind. She couldn’t help it: she smiled. A grim, dangerous thing, but a smile all the same.
While Kaveri strapped a pair of daggers to his belt, she checked to make sure both her own dagger and her water skin were in place. Then she chose a bow and a quiver full of arrows for herself. Horses were hardly her favorite method of transportation, but they were fast. With Walnut settled securely on her shoulders, she rode hard and fast beside @kaveri toward the wall.
@myla and Elena Eldouir ’s wave of destruction was (literally) flying down the wall. They’d gain speed and mobility, which was the last big impediment to their unchecked destructive power. Without the activated enchantments to give the wall magic-repelling abilities, the stone crumbled beneath the sheer force of the attacks. The same was true on other areas of the wall that came down with the Eldouir’s might.
Both @myla and Elena Eldouir would come to a pause after the Eldouir’s shattering energy blast. It would seem that the Eldouir had something on her mind…
Along the wall, troops were deployed to where towers were standing and completed. @drystan and Azazel Eldouir would find themselves right up on two dozen soldiers and a dozen archers getting into position and starting to take fire. The soldiers started to descend the tower to aid those stranded at the docks being taken out by @drystan .
@adeline and @alistair would have some time before they encountered the soldiers sent for them. They would stay hidden, hoping to catch them by surprise. One would communicate their position with @calliope , who it would seem had taken charge of the military operations.
At the Dresmondi camp, Camus ’s open taunt would be easily noticed by the Eldouir, if they cared to pay attention. The man’s dyr was clearly suffering, though it was able to communicate the status of the buried Dresmondi beneath her feet (see purple puddle).
As Hiram Eldouir started to chat, @donovan would successfully stop the fleeing Dresmondi—some of whom shrieked at finding themselves trapped. The ten soldiers that pressed forward to @yeva would be visible; the Eldouir girl would be able to ready herself to fight or flee.
The archers would fire on @donovan and Hiram Eldouir but would be too far away to reach them with their volley. They'd be best served by trying to reemerge in the Dresmondi camp.
While @kester and @kaveri charged to the wall, the palace was in a state of confusion. It was unclear just who was in charge at present. Military eyes turned to @calliope , who was directing the troops to defend their kingdom. But as far as political players, many were inquiring after the queen, Kimora Llewellyn . Some said she had been barricaded inside her chambers for her own safety. Others said that they’d seen her making her way to the outer wall in a show of solidarity. They were nothing but rumors; rumors fueled by panic and uncertainty.
GUIDELINES
- POST TIMING:You will have 48 hours to reply, so please plan accordingly and take posting order into account. We will not wait for your character, and if they are a central part of an exchange then they will still be factored into what is taking place. Their actions (or inaction) will be narrated by the CN.
- SPECIFICITY OF ACTION: In the interest of fairness, the CN will actively avoid asking OOC clarifying questions about posts. This indirectly rewards vagueness, as it gives the opportunity for players to 'adjust' their actions knowing what others have done since. Please be as detailed with your character's actions as possible. Any vagueness of action will be left up to the principles of realism and the discretion of the CN. If you have any questions about this, please contact Rigby .
- IMPORTANT NOTES: @calliope has taken charge of Arynnite troops, and Kimora Llewellyn is at present unaccounted for. Camus will continue to narrate the responses of NPC Dresmondi refugees.
- POSTING ORDER: Hiram Eldouir , @donovan , and @yeva will go before @calliope . Otherwise, no posting order.
Post by Elena Eldouir on May 14, 2023 8:49:52 GMT -5
Their level of destruction was a sight to behold and it filled Elena with glee to finally be acting to their level of skill. No more stalling out in the waiting down in dresmond.
As they reached the border where it met Coheed the woman continued to move northward as an incredible speed but staying close enough to speak. At her question Elena looked first to @myla then in the direction of Lorendale, and back to Myla.
For years she had longed to return to their home. The suggestion couldn’t have fallen on more receptive ears. “Let’s do it!” She said enthusiastically, stopping their progression somewhere around halfway up the wall between the Coheed border and the coast.
Post by Azazel Eldouir on May 14, 2023 8:54:07 GMT -5
For the meantime, Azazel ignored the oncoming troops as he continued to focus on the task he’d been given. Attack the wall Hiram had said, and Azazel would take down as much of it as he could. He moved westward as quickly as his giant magma body would take him, busting down the wall with his fists and spewing lava towards any troops coming his way. If he couldn’t reach them yet he’d at least slow them down by creating a lava river that would be hard to pass over.
Drystan was over the water, on the land, in the boats, and most importantly, up on the wall. He had so much at his disposal, more mist that he'd been able to stretch into in years. Thin mist, more ghost-like in appearance than mist-like, swarmed the soldiers and archers immediately, stopping up their mouths and noses, blocking their airways as the mist pressed down their throats into their lungs. His one charge was protecting Azazel Eldouir.
With so much mist under his control, more than just his own body now, he could do more than just one objective.
Yeva was having an absolute ball and while the arrival of the soldiers was a buzzkill, it didn't kill her overall mood. Giggling, she skittered on her many legs in and out of reach. Carving through the Dresmondi still -oh, the wall was a nice touch- she would dart out of reach of the soldiers only to spring at them from with her knives, aiming for the weak points before darting away to another target.
"Thank you Donny!" was shouted at one point towards @donovan.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on May 14, 2023 12:24:36 GMT -5
Hiram was still working on his summoning. Damn witch magic and its pesky chanting. He’d been or acting, though, and this particular spell wasn’t so hard. He kept his eyes peeled, a hand at his waist ready to grab his hatchet and let it fly should someone get too close. He couldn’t talk to @donovan, so he just nudged the Eldouir, a wordless entreaty to do something. Surely the man wouldn’t just stand by unless directed.
Riding alongside Kaveri, Kester followed the many Arynnites on horseback - Clovis Belcourt’s cavalry, she remembered - toward the wall. Upon arrival, she paused for a moment to survey the chaos before her: Arynnites, trained but never tested, amassed along the shore, facing the wreckage of their best defense, upon which stood a redhead, burning bright against the early morning sky. Those with ranged weapons did their best to hit the aggressor, while lava spilled down the side of the wall. Additionally, she noted the strange haze that had settled around the wall; in the city, there had been no fog.
There’s one, Kester told Kaveri, necessarily using their dyrs for ease of communication. It’s mistier here, too. We can use that. The extra moisture that lingered in the air would likely be inconsequential compared to the power of the ocean, but in this, she would use every advantage she could get.
Kester and @kaveri had fought together many times before, and despite the years that had come between them, it took no effort to fall back into old habits. Quickly, they hashed out an initial plan of attack, then made their move. If they could get within range, Kester would have Walnut freeze the mist and water in the air around the giant lava monster into solid ice, ideally encasing it in an obstacle that would at least slow it down.
The cavalry, in any other situation, would have been splendid to see. The Dresmondi did not utilize animals, horses, like other kingdoms did. They were strong, fast beasts, and thought it was strange to ride atop one without expecting it to speak to them, it was an advantage they could not deny.
When they finally arrived to the scene of the wall attack, Kaveri spotted only one Eldouir. He found it strange, but it was not as if that one was not capable - he was massive, turned into some kind of raging monster made of fire, and seemingly easily keeping away the soldiers who had beat them to the scene. Though lava was not necessarily an element they recognized, fire was. And Kaveri knew exactly how to put a fire out.
Climbing off their horses and helping Nephys out of the wagon, the two would get as close as they could alongside the other soldiers on the shore, who were avoiding the streams of molten lava thrown by the monster. They sent a monster of fire to destroy the wall at the ocean, Kaveri replied, shaking his head at the sheer arrogance. We'll use it all to our advantage. The water striking that hot rock must be creating the fog.
With their plan of attack sorted out with communication through their dyrs, Kaveri would get as close to the ocean as he could, Nephys at his side. As Kester and Walnut went about attempting to freeze the fog around the great monster, Kaveri and Nephys would begin by drawing water up from the ocean to douse the trails of lava that were preventing the soldiers from getting closer to attack. Once the trails were doused, they would attempt to create a wave from the water that would rush up the monsters body in hopes of dousing him, too.
In her boredom, Adeline had grown a bit complacent in the attention she was giving to the world around them, and therefore would not notice whatever military group was waiting to ambush them.
Alistair's destruction was picking up pace as more sources of heat became available from his previous detonations. Anyone nearby would be able to feel the ground shaking from the force of the blasts that sent giant chunks of stone flying through the air, the remaining wall becoming ever more unstable as the ground around it was also blasted away. His gift had never really been one of the more refined ones.
Donovan's attention was drawn by the volley of arrows that sunk into the ground near them, and spying the tower that they came from, a few quick strokes in the air and the windows they had shot out of were no longer there, now replaced by a wall instead. If there were any doors facing them he'd ensure those were taken care of as well.
Turning his attention back to the battlefield, he quirked a brow at whatever mumbling Hiram was onto, but paid no heed as he was elbowed forward. Taking the hint, Donovan took a few more steps forward, still surveying and trying to determine what he could accomplish. The man was not well versed in the language of battle, this being his first one in his long life, but he was going to do his best.
The giant beast that was Camus's dyr drew his attention first. This one seemed to be leading whatever Dresmondi were here, and therefore needed to be dealt with. If paying attention, Camus would note Donovan's attention and see his fingers moving through the air and would have only seconds before four large bear traps would appear, one under each of the elephant's feet. They'd immediately spring shut, hopefully holding the creature in place, and then a giant boulder would appear directly above them, summoned by Donovan in mid air, and be left to fall to the ground, aiming to crush the Dresmondi and his elephant.
Last Edit: May 14, 2023 13:31:12 GMT -5 by Deleted
She always liked Elena’s agreeable tone more than the others. How excited she got and how she lit up with excitement. Myla looked towards the coast ahead, and the earth started to rumble beneath them. Crumbling within itself as the earth started to part at her demand, swallowing the wall and all around it. Energy was such a funny thing.
“Let’s get Lorendale on our way back, see this distraction through until we see another pair. Leave them to destroy the rest and we can go play. Who am I to deny the Queen?” Her tongue ran over her lips before the two would continue on with new purpose on their destruction path.
The reports came in and based on where the soldiers could not portkey in, plus the visuals when they did get to the working towers, painted an unwelcome picture of the wall. Especially the fact that so much of it was destroyed by, according to the counts, 5 of the red-haired menaces. (She was not counting the three in the Dresmondi camp area in the wall destruction.
The order came through clearly. "Take them out take them all out. Heavy fire and concentrate it on your targets." For those who had a line of sight, back up artillery were sent to the next tower over. The targets would first be Alistair, Azazel Eldouir , and @myla .
For the soldiers who couldn't reach the Dresmondi camp, their reports were acknowledged and portkeys would be opened, one on each side of the camp for the archers to enter. They would take aim and fire at Hiram Eldouir and @donovan while the infantry dealt with @yeva .
The soldiers on the ground tasked with the demon girl would work to corral her to a point where they could strike, aiming for removing as many of her excess limbs as possible.
Soldiers continued to portkey to the wall along the capital city, to both map the damage to the rest of the wall and to hopefully pincer the red-haired menaces.
Last Edit: May 14, 2023 18:44:52 GMT -5 by Deleted