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!
The next morning came faster than Hadrian would have liked.
In less than twenty-four hours, all of Hadrian’s assumptions about the Nevermerean military had been upended. Bex had been one of his trusted witches. One that he had only recently elevated to a high position in his ranks. He had always considered himself a good judge of character—something he was being forced to reexamine in the aftermath of this…abominable attack. He’d also time and again put his trust in witch magic as their primary asset. Now, he was being forced to face the fact that it was a double-edged sword.
Hadrian needed people he could trust. He had called both his captain and his best drill instructor to him, for they both had exactly what he needed: experience and loyalty.
Last Edit: Mar 25, 2023 10:42:11 GMT -5 by Hadrian Usher
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 25, 2023 11:47:35 GMT -5
After an unfulfilling and short night, Aldrich was back to get down to business. Lots of rumours were doing the round, but after how chaotic the night before had been, the officer had decided to not believe anything until he had received word from a superior about it. He was too tired to get riled up about things that may or may not even be true.
Now he was heading towards Hadrian's office. The commander had asked to see him, and it doubled as Aldrich reporting back to the scene the next morning. Once he arrived at Hadrian's office, he knocked on the door and would soon afterwards enter if given permission to do so.
"Commander Usher", he said with a nod of the head, greeting him.
We won't call it quits. We'll call it the start.
Last Edit: Mar 25, 2023 11:48:31 GMT -5 by Aldrich Abbott
His duties from the night before had lasted long into the night. He'd gone to his office and pulled his military jacket on over his bloodied clothes. Hadrian had ordered him to arrange for Wilson Barr's body to be taken back to his family, but it didn't feel right to send just anyone to do it. Warren had been the boys Captain, so Warren had been the one to inform the parents. He could empathize with their reaction.
Then home, to change clothes and make certain that his niece and nephew had gotten back safely. Then back to Rainecourt Castle for his meeting.
Warren would arrive shortly after Aldrich, tapping his knuckles against the door and entering before the other man had the chance to sit down. "Commander," he greeted Hadrian first, then also nodded his head to Aldrich. "Officer."
Post by Hadrian Usher on Mar 25, 2023 15:25:50 GMT -5
Hadrian nodded to acknowledge them both. In his more cynical moments, walking among new recruits, Hadrian felt like a glorified babysitter, so it felt good to be among those that could handle themselves with more confidence (though Hadrian was blissfully unaware of the words Aldrich and Warren had only recently exchanged at the ball).
Unlike he had with his other meetings, he offered them both the opportunity to sit. Provided they did so, he assumed they would, Hadrian would sit as well with a small, exhausted sigh.
“I will shortly be announcing changes to the way our troops are trained and assessed. Call it a culling, call it whatever you like. We need to do away with those who may be more a liability than an asset. As part of that, we need to be more rigorous in our training methods and subsequent expectations.” He looked to Aldrich Abbott now.
“Officer Abbot, you are one of our best and most experienced drill instructors. Effective immediately you will be promoted to the role of Lieutenant, though it will be made clear you are to be the contact for others of your rank. I expect you to work closely with Captain @warren to see our troops are readied for the coming conflict.” He looked at them both, finally acknowledging what both of them already, probably, expected.
“War with Dresmond is on the horizon, and we are nowhere near as ready as any of us believed. I don’t care what methods you have to use. I want results. Our soldiers’ suffering will ultimately be thier salvation. For iIf we are unable to be ready for war, the amount of blood shed by Eldouir hands will be too vast for us to imagine.” He looked at both of them.
“I am entrusting you both with this information and with this task because I expect you to succeed. Failure is not an option. Do I make myself clear?”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 25, 2023 15:35:21 GMT -5
When offered a seat, Aldrich sat. It felt like he hadn't sat down in ages, and only now he realised how sore his muscles felt.
When Hadrian addressed him, Aldrich listened, giving the commander his undivided attention. He nodded when he received the information that he would be promoted to lieutenant. He didn't dare to talk before Hadrian was completely finished, but once the man asked if he had made himself clear, the former officer nodded again. "Yes sir." He would re-evaluate his training methods and would train the soldiers until the weak ones dropped, but for now he needed to address something else first. "Lord commander, you mentioned liabilities. In light of that, I would like to ask your permission to permanently dismiss cadet Rhedara Shannon. Last week she cursed me during a training session, for which she was put onder my direct orders. At the ball, she cursed me a second time. She wasn't even allowed to be at the ball in the first place. I share your opinion and am convinced that there is no place for a witch like her in the military." He would wait to hear what the captain would say.
Then it dawned on him that he would have to work together with Woodwick. They would probably have to talk soon about it.
We won't call it quits. We'll call it the start.
Last Edit: Mar 25, 2023 15:36:34 GMT -5 by Aldrich Abbott
As Abbott had, Warren also took a seat. With a clearer, though aching, head, Warren understood everything Hadrian said, and agreed whole-heartedly with it all. Including the promotion of the drill instructor beside him. Much like Aldrich, Warren's mind moved for the numbers game. He wasn't one to enjoy sacrificing weaker soldiers, sending them to their in inevitable deaths. But there was something to be said for overpowering an enemy by sheer numbers alone. Even a below average soldier could swing a sword hard enough to take at least one person down with them.
Still, that was only useful if they aimed their swords at the enemy. Bex hadn't. "Yes, sir," Warren agreed with a nod alongside the new lieutenant. He remained quiet as Abbott made his request.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 25, 2023 16:03:28 GMT -5
"Regan Lassiter did, sir. She was there when it happened." He had to force himself not to look at Warren when he mentioned the woman's name. He wanted to add more information, but hesitated for a moment. He hadn't wanted to go against Regan's orders, but hadn't really given it much thought. Why hadn't he dismissed her immediately? Perhaps he had wanted to give her another chance.
"I was made aware of the situation, Commander, but as Ms. Lassiter and Lieutenant Abbott had taken charge and seen to her punishment, I left it for them to decide. Ms. Shannon had been an upstanding soldier to that point and I believe we had all hoped she would learn her lesson. That said, I take full responsibility for her continued abuse of power."
Despite his lack of involvement in the whole ordeal, and the fact that Regan was technically the highest ranking military member between the three of them, Warren had been Rhedara's Lieutenant at the time, and therefore should have handled the situation. He was not willing to sit silently and let Aldrich be reprimanded for allowing a witch to disrespect them. Warren was equally complicit, if not moreso.
Post by Hadrian Usher on Mar 25, 2023 16:22:00 GMT -5
Regan Lassiter. The perpetual thorn in his side. Hadrian did not hide his grimace of displeasure when her name was spoken. Even now, the girl hadn’t learned her place. As someone that fell outside the normal ranks, she had no authority to give such orders. Perhaps Logan had been too soft on her and now he was forced to endure the consequences. Either way, the king had saved her, and there was nothing he could do about that.
But that was hardly Aldrich Abbott ’s fault. As for @warren , he felt on the sword, which he supposed there was something noble about that. But such miscommunications could not happen in the future.
“Neither of you is to take orders from Regan Lassiter—I’ll see she’s reminded of it. As for this girl, her behavior is intolerable. See that she is dismissed and that similar…missteps in discipline do not happen in the future. We can’t afford them.” He looked at Warren for that one.
Hadrian was on the warpath, and there was something cathartic about dolling out punishment when the one woman he wanted to punish had been hacked to pieces.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Mar 25, 2023 16:29:44 GMT -5
He appreciated Warren's words. The whole thing had happened fast and with Regan ordering them around, some miscommunication had happened on the men's behalf. The newly promoted lieutenant nodded at the commander. "Yes sir. Duly noted."
He then, for the first time, turned to Warren. "Captain Woodwick, if it's fine by you, I'll dismiss her. I still need to have a word with her." If he didn't object, he would wait to see if Hadrian was still planning on talking.
"Yes, sir. Understood. It will not happen again." Warren agreed. If they were truly going to be culling whoever proved they were unable to fall in line or to keep up, Warren had no problem dismissing those exact kinds of soldiers. In the end, it would only be better for them anyway.
Warren turned to meet Aldrich's eyes, nodding to his request. "I take no issue with that, Lieutenant."
Post by Hadrian Usher on Mar 25, 2023 17:36:40 GMT -5
Hadrian considered the matter settled. The misconduct of a private did not require his involvement, and they were welcome to deal with it however they best saw fit. He looked between the two.
He looked to Aldrich to see if the man had any more concerns, but when he confirmed he didn’t, Warren nodded. During the events of the previous night he had gone straight from the mess hall with the paired witches to the throne room. After Bex was…handled, Hadrian had ordered him to handle the arrangements for Wilson Bart’s body to be returned. Warren had left soon after to personally inform the boys parents, then gone straight home to change out of the clothes bloodied by Regan’s injuries, and as soon as he had returned to the castle he had come directly here, to Hadrians office. There was no time to follow up, until now.
"Commander, last night while we were waiting for the throne room to be cleared, Lieutenant Kasper Van Zant mentioned that he thought the wine for the night might have been tampered with. I sent him to investigate the matter before whatever remained of the beverage was discarded, but having just arrived back at the castle myself, I've not had the chance to follow up with him. Has he, or anyone else, spoken to you about this?"