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 corner of Ber’s lip twitched in faint amusement at the lieutenant’s tentative consumption of her food and the accompanying admission. Well, he couldn’t blame her for avoiding the mess hall whenever possible. Meals had a reputation of varying in quality but tending most often toward the barely edible side of the spectrum, and all of the hustle and bustle of soldiers could be tough after a long day surrounded by the activity of other soldiers. Or tough in general. But that was neither here nor there.
He had just spooned some soup into his mouth when @faylin addressed him, so he resorted to nodding quickly as he swallowed the mouthful. “Yes, ma’am, I am,” Ber confirmed. “And, yeah, I’m getting better. I take it you were there, too?” He didn’t recall seeing her, but it wasn’t as if he’d kept an eye out for her. Or, quite frankly, had that much time to even enjoy the festivities before it all went wrong.
Post by Zarha Sliva on Apr 4, 2023 11:35:49 GMT -5
Zarha came in from training and see a lot of people was talking away one person she noticed was Regan Lassiter. A soft smile on her face she walked over to her. As she got closer she noticed the scars unfazed by it she near regan, "Mind if I join you Huntsman?" A soft smile on her face still. She wasn't one to back away from anything.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Apr 5, 2023 13:41:42 GMT -5
Regan had entirely zoned out, staring at @katerina, still imagining what it would feel like to take her arm in her teeth and wrench it from her frail human body. Zarha Sliva broke her trance. Blinking, she looked up at her and nodded before she could think about it too much.
Regan didn’t make conversation. She continued eating her food, leaving it to Zarha.
"If I hear the word hangry thrown at me again, this sludge is getting thrown at whoever says it." Kat was on edge when it came to anything with Regan Lassiter . That woman had long ago worked under her skin, and she was stuck there. If only she was sucking up to the King more rather than slumming it with the rest of them.
Luckily Raff was easy to get along with, and she tried to shake off her annoyance with a woman that wasn't worth her time. "To be clear, if I laugh when getting an order from one of y'all during this, it's not insubordination." Laughing already, it was a slight bit forced, but Kat was already starting to feel better.
"I was bein nice Kat--I actually wanted to say that I think most of the chicks around here are skinny as a dog with worms. Now see that comment I think would make you more pissed off though." He smirked and leaned back in his chair comfortably, fully expecting a smack in the arm or a sass back. He'd always liked how real the Van Zants were. They simply kept being their genuine selves and Raff admired that in them. Yes Kasper and Kat were very different, but they were genuine, which was a rarer find once you made any rank at all.
Raff busted out laughing at Kat's comments and replied with a big grin, "When do I EVER pull rank at someone? You gotta mean Sergeant Van Zant here. And he's yer brother so he's still gonna tease ya like family should!"
He'd never liked the idea of people who used their higher rank as an ego stroke or an excuse to bully strangers because they had no self-esteem. If someone wanted teaching or he needed to check on a soldier's state of mind, then giving orders and maintaining rank was good and should be used. If someone wanted to say sir, that should be a mark of respect, not forced ass-kissing. But then with new cadets, they just needed to grow the hell up and learn all of it.
Raff shrugged at Kat and said to her and Kasper, "Some get new rank-usually nobles, that like to constantly shout how important they are out of low self-esteem or ego, but most rankings are deserved Van Zant. Look at yer brother and Captain Woodwick--they're solidly respected men by cadets, soldiers, nco's and co's across the board. They don't pull rank at all. They just naturally use the authority and respect they've earned."
Grunting in answer to @berengar's question, Faylin forced another spoonful of food down her throat. "Unfortunately, yes," she grumbled. "Those events are not something I enjoy and that one in particular certainly did not improve my opinion of them."
Her eyes once again trailed to Kasper, her other half that was always the life of the party. She supposed the old saying 'opposites attract' had some truth to it. He was the only reason she would continue going to these social events.
Grappling for anything to keep the conversation flowing between them, Faylin asked, "Have they told you how long it would be until your back to full health?"
Post by Zarha Sliva on Apr 6, 2023 11:36:24 GMT -5
When Regan Lassiter nodded for her to sit down she guess she doesn't want to talk much. However she seems like she need company more then anything she not great at making conversations but she was willing to try for Regan. "Sometime I wish that they change up the meals up a bit. They do cook amazing meals but same food a bit boring."
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 Apr 6, 2023 15:59:50 GMT -5
"p..eo..ple re..spec..t me?" Kasper said with a mouthful chewing, a Van Zant smile on his face before swallowing, "didn't know that Raf, that's good to know," he couldn't help but look around for Faylin, he spotted her sitting with @berengar he couldn't help but smirk before returning to the conversation at hand, "I won't give y'all to much shit, but you sister, salmon ladders sounds good."
Squinting at Raff she thought about tossing her spoonful of food at him. But she was in fact, supposed to be an officer now, and while she would never be Faylin, she had to try and emulate her a little to keep herself in the ranger program. Didn't mean you couldn't throw an insult right back. "It's called keeping in shape Raff, maybe you should try it." Smiling she shoved some of the gruel in her mouth.
And promptly almost choked on the mouthful of food at Kasper's great joke. "Not if you keep spraying what your saying that's for sure." Of course she did respect her brother, but he didn't need to know that, you never told your siblings how cool they were. They either knew or they didn't, and Raff could pick up the complimenting slack.
"Take your ladders and shove it up your butt." But Raff was right that some captains and lieutenants exuded things. Woodwick exuded boring though, and she wasn't interested.
The lieutenant’s grumbled answer had the corners of Ber’s lips twitching upward. He supposed it wasn’t too surprising that someone who didn’t enjoy social gatherings would be looking to sit along the outside of the mess hall. “This was the first time I ever went to something like that,” He offered casually. “Can’t say it made a good first impression.” Even before the werewolf. “Is that what they’re all like? Just stand around and… talk.”
As he shoveled another bite of food into his mouth, Ber could hardly deny the awkwardness that had slowly permeated this interaction. It was the kind that accompanied two strangers who were each perhaps more suited to silence but had decided to attempt to converse with each other regardless. Well, he’d had worse company for meals. At least @faylin wasn’t Woodwick.
“A couple more days, I think,” He answered her question with a shrug. “Mostly it’s just the shoulder, now. They’re being careful because it’s, uh, important that it heals correctly. For being a soldier.” Couldn’t swing a sword with a bum arm, though he thought that maybe he was just lucky to still have an arm. It had him glancing around the mess hall again, where he finally saw Regan Lassiter sitting with Zarha Sliva . Suddenly his conversation partner didn’t seem so bad - even if he couldn’t remember her name.
Another sigh, then, "Yeah, pretty much. Just a lot of nobles trying to one up each other the whole night." Of course, Faylin was a noble herself, but only because of her name. She was still surprised she hadn't been officially disowned by her parents, though she supposed their pride kept them from doing so. She wondered if they knew that their wayward daughter had accomplished what they'd raised her to do, rise through the ranks of the military.
She nodded along to @berengar's explanation. "Of course, that makes sense. We need everyone in top shape for what's to come." They still didn't know specifically what that was. Although her and Kasper were set to be shipped out to Coheed at the end of the season, so whatever had called everyone home apparently wouldn't apply to them.
Post by Regan Lassiter on Apr 10, 2023 14:01:21 GMT -5
Regan snorted with a single laugh, continuing to shove food in her face. She didn’t say anything for a long while before the witch finally realized just how rude she was being and tore her gaze away from @katerina to focus on Zarha Sliva instead.
“How you holdin’ up?” There wasn't a whole lot of sincerity in Regan's voice, but it was better than silence.
Post by Zarha Sliva on Apr 11, 2023 12:48:03 GMT -5
Zarha followed Regan's gaze for a bit and noticed that she was looking at @katarina a part of her wanted to know what was going on. However she felt like that was a conversation she shouldn't venture near. However, it was nice to hear Regan Lassiter laugh, so there was a soft smile on Zarha's face.
"Oh me. I've been okay. Understandable annoyed but using it to push myself forward." There was a look in her own eyes that want to ask 'how are you? Where was you? we was worried about you?' However she doesn't know how to ask. "I.. have... It really nice to see you Huntsman." her smile is weak but true.
"Why start now?" He smirked and kept an eye on her right hand, knowing the Van Zant's table manners sometimes involved throwing half the food at you at any given time. Except Kasper--the guy ate like Raff did. So as long as it filled his stomach, the food did what it was supposed to. "Besides Officer Van Zant....rank looks good on ya."Now Raff fully expected some flying food or a punch in the arm at least, for that. Worth it though.
"Sergeant Van Zan ya eat like an animal!" He laughed good naturedly at Kasper's answer and even more so at Kat's instant sisterly retort.
This was something Raff could stay used to. Three ranks at the same table and not one of 'em cared about status. They'd each put in the years of hard work and made it on their own merit. They didn't have connections in high places, born noble, they didn't trade their souls or bodies, and had no nepotism or schmoozed any one to get where they were. The three of them didn't have much, but they at least had their integrity.
“That sounds… exciting,” Ber said in a tone that suggested the exact opposite. Nobles lived in an entirely different world than he did, and how they could enjoy such affairs was beyond him. Though he wouldn’t quite pick fighting a werewolf over spending hours at that type of gathering, the prospect of attempting to compete with nobility for some sort of invisible prize in a game whose rules he didn’t understand was enough to at least make him pause. If he was going to lose regardless, at least the fight with the werewolf would end faster.
Glancing around again, he swirled his spoon and nodded at @faylin ’s words. Then he decided to risk a question. “Any idea when that’s happening?” There were many possible explanations for why a soldier such as himself would be interested in asking about the looming war in Dresmond, he reasoned. The first one might have been the Dresmondi he hadn’t seen since the ball, but no one needed to know that.