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!
Early afternoon had been Warren's first chance to take a breath. The morning had been filled with meetings, and at it's peak the Commander had made his announcement. Like Warren, many people hadn't gotten much sleep and the soldiers walking around the military wing of the castle really seemed to drag because of it. On any other day, Warren might have scolded them, punished them even, for dragging their feet, exclaiming their exhaustion, not greeting their superiors as they passed, or any number of other small things. On this day, though, Warren was much too weary and much too distracted to even notice.
He did have one thing in mind, though, something he'd hoped to address sooner but simply hadn't gotten the chance. He wore a ring on his pinky finger, one that gave him an uncomfortable but necessary amount of power over one other person who, Warren hoped, was still on castle grounds. Othello wouldn't be able to use his gift as long as the ring remained in it's current position, so that was good. But the man himself was plenty capable of destruction without the use of his gift, and with Regan still MIA...well, Warren just wanted to check on him.
"Have you seen Mr. Allemeade?" He asked a passing officer, and the guy looked at him strangely. Warren sighed. "The gifted man, the Champion of Nevermere."
"Oh! Yeah, I think he's still in the courtyard." Warren lifted a brow and the guy nearly choked on his breath. "Uh, Captain, sir!"
Warren nodded and made his way there, spotting Othello fairly quickly thanks to the man's height and pushing his way through the soldiers who had already begun to take Hadrian's warning seriously. "Mr. Allemeade," Warren said as he approached. "May I speak with you?"
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 Mar 29, 2023 10:10:58 GMT -5
Othello was just standing there arms crossed staring blank faced at a wall, it was odd of course but the man behind the oddness was an enigma himself. Unlike everyone else Othe was well rested and running on anger a source he seemingly had in reserves that he could tap into, he just wanted to stare at the wall in the courtyard. He chewed the words of the Commander over in his head and he really had no doubt that he would run circles around these people! Sure he was just as capable of chaos as these Witches but lasts nights fuck around was not his fault, these folks had better pull it together he thought personally or else he would be the only one to go into this war....
"Mr. Allemeade. May I speak with you?"
The familiar voice caused Othello to hold up a hand, not out of rudeness but containment, "two men are trapped inside four brick walls. All there is in the room includes a door that is locked from the outside, a unbreakable window that is also locked from the outside. the thing that locks the window is a stick that is movable if you apply a great force. lastly in the room is a fallen brick. After 15 minutes the two men got out. How is this possible?"
Warren stood, waiting for the man to finish the riddle. When he was done, Warren glanced around and inhaled slowly. He knew Othello was a little strange, but he had to admit he wasn't quite in the mood for answering riddles. He wouldn't have thought Othello would have been, either. "You said they were inside of four brick walls?" Warren asked for confirmation, thinking out loud more or less. "But you never said the room had a ceiling. One man boosts the other over, and unlocks the door from the outside?"
If it were him, Warren would have just broken the door down. But he had a feeling that wasn't the answer to the riddle.
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 Mar 29, 2023 21:21:37 GMT -5
Othello sucked air through his teeth and titled his head just like a curious dog, "That's right. Team work makes a dream work," then he snapped his fingers and turned his attention to the Captain, "how can I help you Captain?"
By now it was probably wise to let the Gifted mans "moments" pass, as long as he wasn't about to strangle someone to death or use a bunch of swords to hack a part a boy turned beast...just let it pass. All in all Othello was touched.
The inhale Warren had been holding in his chest slipped through barely opened lips as Othello confirmed that his answer to the riddle was correct, and turned to address him. As strange as he might have been, there really was something appealing about him. The quickness with which he would have been able to spear Octavius at the ball, if he'd been give the slightest chance, was impressed. But more impressive was his willingness to listen, even when he didn't really have to. It wasn't his loyalty to Nevermere that had improved the mans manners, or his discipline. It was his loyalty to Regan, and Warren knew that.
"I wanted to see how you were doing," he said simply, exhaling another deep breath. "A lot has happened in the last half day. I wanted to speak with you sooner, but everyone has been...well, in the midst of chaos. I don't believe you were hurt or injured. Correct?"
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 Mar 31, 2023 7:45:16 GMT -5
Othello shrugged, "I'm pretty upset Captain Woodwick, pretty upset," and made the 'tsk' sound, "My friend is missing ... Injured by some freakish cursed man and another kid doesn't have his head, I was forced to stay in my room with no updates and I am to be just a tool apparently to the Nevermere military," he crossed his arms across his chest pushing out a mist of air from his nose that floated around his head, "then I got everyone upset at me because I was going to lob that other man's head off, I could have so easily skewered him too.... physically I'm great better than most but in my heart my trust is pretty beat sir."
Warren sighed at his reply, rubbing his face. The man before him had come leaps and bounds from the place he'd been when he first came to Nevermere. Even from the camping trip, where occasionally his corrected speech would slip up. But his trust had been broken, that much was clear, and it's hard to worry about silly things like that when you're angry.
Warren could sympathize. Warren was angry, too.
"I understand how you feel, Mr. Allemeade, but I hope you know that whatever she kept from you, she did so only because she had to. Our Kingdom has it's secrets like any other and you would have found out eventually...preferably in a better way, of course." Warren rubbed his hands together, a sign of his own frustrations breaking through. "I assume that the friend you're worried about is Ms. Lassiter. I wish I could tell you where she is, or how she's doing, but I don't know myself. The King will have made sure she was well taken care of, though. Until she returns, all we can do is be patient."
Warren had no idea if Othello had spoken with the Commander yet, but their conversation earlier hadn't given Warren the impression that Hadrian cared for Regan all that much. He probably had no idea how she was doing, either. Only the king would know, and everyone else would just have to wait to find out.
"All that said, I think you did well. Your immediate reaction was to defend yourself and those around you, and when given new information, you adjusted your attacks quickly. Had you killed him...I'm not sure any of us could have blamed you given the information you were operating under. You showed restraint, without use of the ring halting your abilities. I know that Regan will be proud of that, and I'm impressed as well."
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 Apr 1, 2023 21:25:16 GMT -5
"You feeling it to?" Othello was watching the man as he spoke and noted some frustrated mannerisms, "Angst. Angry. I believe you," Othello unfolded his arms letting them fall by his side, "that you understand how I am feeling, it's all a bit to truly digest but in the grand scheme of things," Othello poked his chest out and rocked from heel to toe smirking to himself, "she would be proud, makes you feel better when you make someone you see as," your kid he thought proudly, "your best friend and only friend proud...whatever. Thank you, I guess I'm not half the bastard I try to be," he joked lightly.
Something else that Woodwick mentioned stuck out in his mind, "is it common for the King to be...so personal...." statement or question the Captain could figure it out how he heard it.
He'd expected it to go unacknowledged. A nod to say they both understood. But instead the man spoke his feelings, and while it wasn't something Warren was used to doing with someone he barely knew, he liked the guy enough. "The woman who betrayed us fought in the same battles I did. The soldier the wolf killed, the boy, was mine." Wilson Barr might have been a brand new recruit, but he was still under Warren's supervision, and Warren had been the one to break the news to his parents. So yes, he did understand.
Not half the bastard I try to be. The statement had Warren chuckling. A brief break from the tension that had not yet flooded out of the castle since the night before. "No, I don't think you are." He confirmed, even if the man hadn't needed confirmation.
The next question made Warren shift his weight. He turned and looked around the courtyard. There were still plenty of people, soldiers speaking amongst each other about the recent announcement. "His majesty promoted her himself. Normally a commoner from our kingdom would not be able to reach such a rank. She's a valuable asset. I cannot speak to his personal feelings, of course." Every word dripped the obvious care concerning those who might overhear, but if Othello could read between the lines, it would be clear: Warren had no idea what their relationship was, and he had been surprised by it, too.
That reminded him, though: "She passed the ring to your collar along to me, before he took her away. If you would like to do any training in the mean time, before she returns, I'm happy to oversee it. I cannot pretend to know what it's like to have your magic stifled, but I can only assume it's uncomfortable."
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 Apr 3, 2023 8:40:01 GMT -5
Othello stashed that little bit of information away, because in Lorendale the King's actions would have possibly been seen as personal to simply just scoop a commoner up and whisk them away to save them? Scandalous. Still the Captain was choosing his words carefully and given the crowds of people still around Othello would pin this whole conversation for later.
The subject change had Othello listening even harder then about the King's dashing savior of the commoner, a long time ago when someone had his collar ring Othello had beat that person to a pulp and got his ring, now? He didn't even flinch to think about it instead answering the Captain's unasked question that was more of a statement, "It's like being allowed to breathe while you are being strangled, but you can't get the satisfaction or what you need from the air...a fish drowning underwater...yes I'd very much like to train soon Captain."
The expression on Warren's face turned from neutrality to a tempered frown. The way Othello described it was something that Warren...in a way, very much understood. Likely not to the same degree as Othello, not at all times, but sometimes. For people who thrived in certain atmosphere's, in wide, sweeping freedoms, being controlled always felt like a cage.
"I have some time now," he said, instead of verbally acknowledging the sentiment and forcing the man to linger on it, Warren had already begun moving, and had gestured for Othello to follow. "Not long, but the outside training grounds should not be too full and there should be plenty of items on which you can exercise your gift."
As they walked, he turned to glance at Othello. "Do you have a family, Mr. Allemeade? I seem to recall someone mentioning that you have a son, but I was unsure of the validity of the information."
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 Apr 8, 2023 12:51:01 GMT -5
Othello was very pleased to get to have a few moments with his Gift, it probably would sound weird but put a Witch in one of these and Othello could promise them it would always feel like a void was always there. It was uncomfortable as well and Othello had spent a previous long amount of time in a collar in Lorendale, his neck was red and often irritated, hell he even began to scratch more because of it.
So anytime he could get that connection back to his Gift it made the collar bearable.
"Aye, I got a boy, Benjamin, or Benji as I like to call him. He'll be two come next season," he scratched some more, "Was married to a Coheedain woman but this," Othello motioned to well all of the stone and people and order (ignoring the ball incident), "wasn't for her, she wouldn't make it here so she went back...I'm not ever going back. I like it here, Regan is here, and that's where we shall be."
"Benjamin," Warren said with a nod. "So he's of gifted and Coheedsman blood, then? No doubt he'll be strong when he's old enough. At what age do the gifted usually come into their gifts?" Warren had a basic knowledge of gifteds, but he'd spent more time studying Dresmondi culture and magic than he had any other kingdom's magic in just the last season. He wondered what kind of challenges a half gifted, half Coheedsman child would present, and what advantages. Surely if he learned to control his abilities early, he could protect himself.
"So you intend to raise him here, in Nevermere?" Warren followed up as they stepped outside, and made their way across the field toward the practice weapons.
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 Apr 12, 2023 12:23:52 GMT -5
Othello grinned, "Benji already has some degree of superhuman strength and he hears exceptionally well, he'll be a force to reckon with when he gets older...but Yes I plan on raising him right here, and if I should die in this war...well I'll see to it that he's taken care of here regardless."
As they walked Othello wasn't shy to talk about Gifted folks, "I was a late bloomer, my Uncle Marek after writing off my Mother who wasn't Gifted he did the same with me...I was thirteen when my Gifted developed, a tornado of metal and steel, but it varies honestly," Othello blabbered before looking at Warren, "I have another Uncle, Bayard Allemeade, he came with Prince Julius to Nevermere, ever heard of him?"
"Ah, from his mother, then? The Cambrian women are incredibly strong. I was unsure if the trait would be passed down in such a manner." Gifted families often bred with one another to ensure their children were also gifted. But those who bred with non-gifted people often produced non-gifted children. Warren knew that much, but hadn't been sure if it was the same with Coheedsmen and Cambrians. "I'm sure your son would be well taken care of here, but the goal is to get you back to him alive."
As he thought, the mixture of non-gifted people had even affected him. Thirteen did seem late compared to others Warren had heard of, but perhaps the non-gifted blood had delayed it. Or perhaps there were other factors. Warren doubted he could ever be sure of any of that, but in the end it didn't matter. People were born one way or another, and whatever they were, they were. "I have heard of him in passing, yes, though I do not recall any specifics. Was he gifted as well?"
As they approached the rack of chipped and beat up swords and shields, Warren reached for the ring on his finger and twisted it, deactivating the collar so that his gift could be used. Then he picked up a sword and shield.