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 Regan Lassiter on May 1, 2023 8:18:42 GMT -5
While Alys’s eyes remained on the witch opposite her, Regan’s eyes snapped to Cassian when he entered the room. The eager puppy spark that normally lit the darkness in them was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was something darker and frighteningly possessive. Without a word or another glance at Alys, Regan followed Cassian through to the cabin.
Once the door shut behind them, Regan would move to the side and start to strip, shucking off her boots then the rest of her clothes until they were tucked in a little heap on the floor.
She’d watch Alys then, waiting, eyes flickering with fire in the dark.
In possession of a magical necklace that wards off offensive magic attacks against him, a ring that allows him to suppress magic, and can turn into werewolf at will.
Post by Cassian Rainecourt on May 1, 2023 8:40:22 GMT -5
This atmosphere wasn’t entirely new. Regan and Alys had always had an edge with one another. Cassian trusted that time and circumstance would level things out. He had no intention of getting involved. He had a lot on his plate running a kingdom, much less playing mediator between these women.
Once in the cabin he began to undress as well, letting his eyes wander to them for the first time. He wasn’t watching them get naked, but simply looking towards them. Just glances. Otherwise, he kept to himself, working quickly to get out of the clothing so that he could get into his skin.
When he was naked he went to the door and opened it, stepping out into the cold air. His shift came quickly.
Alys waited only for the two of them to enter and she was on their heels. Moving opposite from Regan as she stripped as well, doing quick folds of her shirt, pants, and stacking them on her boots before they’d head out of the cabin. Her bare feet practically sang when they felt the cold ground under them, taking a deep breath and release it in a cloud of fog.
She’d only wait for half a heartbeat before she was also shifting, throwing herself headfirst into the familiar, beastly form that prowled within. All while keeping the two within her range of sight, it was going to be a long night.
Post by Regan Lassiter on May 1, 2023 10:05:55 GMT -5
Regan made sure to exit the cabin before Alys—petty though it may be. The moment her feet hit the forest floor she launched into her wolf form with a growl. Her sleek black fur made her blend in with the night, her amber eyes seeming to hover in the dark. Liberated from her human form, Regan whipped about the clearing like a flickering shadow before slithering up alongside Cassian with a nudge of her snout.
In possession of a magical necklace that wards off offensive magic attacks against him, a ring that allows him to suppress magic, and can turn into werewolf at will.
Post by Cassian Rainecourt on May 1, 2023 12:20:12 GMT -5
The hulking brown werewolf stood on its hand legs, his snout pointed towards the moon, that celestial thing which they were both loyal to and slaves of. He raised a howl, perhaps of praise, perhaps of declaration, expecting the other two to join in.
Once their song had been sung he would end the chorus by falling onto all fours and beginning to trot form the clearing, nose low to the ground to find a scent to hunt.
There was something almost amusing about Regan in this form… almost. Had the tension interaction before Cassian arrived hadn’t happened, she might have nipped at Regan’s heels just for the fun of it. Instead, she sidled up to his side and joined him in a howl, her head tossing back and speckled snout to the sky as they all sang to the moon.
Alys was at his side, not taking the lead but putting some space between them as her nose hit the ground, taking deep breaths for anything as well as they broke through the tree line and away from the open clearing and cabin. A yip would sound from her a few moments later as she caught a scent, signaling she had something to the others.
Post by Regan Lassiter on May 1, 2023 16:05:25 GMT -5
Regan, still tucked alongside Cassian, raised a howl that was accompanied by flames flickering from her jaws as if her mouth were a blacksmith’s forge. Standing on her hind legs, her dark form was etched against the moon, looming above her packmates.
Dropping back down, she followed Cassian closely, long snout snaking along the ground. When Alys yipped, Regan scampered toward her and filled her lungs with the scent. Her mouth opened as she breathed, flames still churning in her throat before she snapped her jaws shut and the night was dark once more.
Regan wouldn’t wait. She’d charge ahead of Alys after the scent, weaving with her superior speed through the trees like a shadowy serpent, big ears tucked against her head and hair rising along her back like a fin. It was only when their prey was in view that she would freeze and pause for the others. Regan would wait for Cassian would hunt first as the pack's order dictated.
In possession of a magical necklace that wards off offensive magic attacks against him, a ring that allows him to suppress magic, and can turn into werewolf at will.
Post by Cassian Rainecourt on May 2, 2023 11:39:01 GMT -5
Cassian pivoted when Alys indicated she’d found a scent. He turned, launching with excitement after the other wolves.
The prey Alys had detected was a large elk. He grazed peacefully—or at least he had been, but upon the arrival of his foe he was now standing tall, alert.
When Cassian’s hulking brown form broke from the darkness of the trees and into the light of the moon the creature bolted. Cassian pursued. His powerful form didn’t need long to overtake his prey.
Unless Regan or Alys intervened or caught him first, Cassian would take the elk down with a very humanoid tackle, opening his mouth onto the creature’s throat to rip at the flesh. They could join him in the kill, of course, and he would then waste no time in beginning to eat.
Alys was the smallest of the trio, but swift. Taking off hot on Cassian’s heels, nails and paws digging into the ground below them as they ate up the distance between them and the scent she had caught. Sliding to a smooth halt, she was on her hind legs and crouched behind them, teeth gleaming as she waiting for the first move from Cassian.
She’d snip and keep close, her teeth grazing a leg here of the elk as Cassian tore at its throat and moved there massive beast with almost ease. The moment she saw her chance, she jumped forward, teeth snapping and closing just below Cassian’s to help with the kill. Waiting until she no longer felt the harsh fighting before she’d follow Cassian in the meal. Wet muzzled, body brushing his as she tore and filled her stomach. Eating with him as she always had when they killed together.
Post by Regan Lassiter on May 2, 2023 20:08:55 GMT -5
Regan’s focus was not on the elk. It wasn’t even on Cassian. She’d known from the moment her paws had hit the forest floor how she planned for this to end. Though Alys sought to take Cassian’s side in the hunt, Regan had no intention of letting her get there first.
Regan crouched alongside Alys, muscles tensed, waiting. When Alys jumped forward, focused on the hunt, Regan sprang to intercept her with superior speed and calculated precision. Snatching Alys in her claws, she would thrust her to the ground with force—hopefully enough to knock the wind from her body.
While doing so, Regan would close her teeth around Alys’s throat. If successful, her jaws would be closed tight enough around the witch’s neck that Alys would feel them just barely cutting through her skin. Any sudden movements or efforts to blast Regan backward would have her fangs sliding the rest of the way into her windpipe. The rest of Regan’s weight pinned Alys, the heat in her body rising like a warning—for now, enough to singe Alys’s fur where it held her.
Regan would wait to see if Alys attempted to struggle. If she did, Regan’s body would slowly start to light with hellfire.
While her focus might have not been on Regan, Alys was a seasoned and weathered soldier. The moment her body was collided with, she was twisting and snapping her own jaws and slashing sharp claws towards her assailant. She expected a second elk, but the moment she caught sight of the familiar fur, rage and a snarl left her throat.
All of the olive branches… everything… and Alys snapped. If she did happen to be pinned with teeth in her throat, her hind paws and legs, just as sharp and more strong than her arms, would kick at Regan’s stomach and thighs. Her head turning sharply against whatever part of her face she could and trying to grab anything with her own sharp teeth. But if teeth hadn’t sunk into her throat, she cast the first blast of an incantation to throw Regan haphazardly away from her and scramble to her hind legs to stand tall.
In possession of a magical necklace that wards off offensive magic attacks against him, a ring that allows him to suppress magic, and can turn into werewolf at will.
Post by Cassian Rainecourt on May 4, 2023 14:26:29 GMT -5
[ For record: Levels/combat scores at time of this thread notated here. Alys = level 34, combat 139 Regan = level 30, combat 150 ]
Cassian was preoccupied with taking down the elk, so much so that he did not register the first few milliseconds of exchanges between the she-wolves.
Regan's great speed and calculated timing gave her an edge that not even being a seasoned soldier could maneuver out of. While Alys was focused on the kill, the betraying attack was successful, Regan's claws snatching Alys and thrusting her to the ground. Had she been in her human form the wind might have been taken from her lungs, but she was a large wolf. A strong wolf, too.
In response to the sudden attack, though from the floor, Alys was twisting and snapping her jaws. Her legs kicked Regan's stomach, the claws there opening flesh, but Regan's focus and precision on taking the other werewolf's neck was not disrupted. Her teeth successfully took purchase, though it was shallow. The heat around the women increased significantly in an instant.
It was at this point, at their relative standstill, that Cassian whipped his bloodied maw from the elk's slowly dying form and set his large brown gaze upon Regan and Alys. He had long known there was tension between them, but this was more than he had expected. A growl started in his throat. It wasn't one that instructed that they stop. This was necessary. There would be little peace in the pack until there was an establishment of roles. No, this growl was an encouragement, a compelling of both Regan and Alys to give themselves to the fight with everything that they had.
[ Since's Aly's next move was contingent upon Regan's teeth, Alys will go first followed by Regan. ]
The teeth were the first of Alys’ concern, the first thing her mind focused on, and it was only ignited when the heat of Regan turned up above her. Alys’ humanoid arms reached up to dig into the soft tissue of Regan’s face, claws breaking skin if possible and slipping fingers between her teeth to try and pry her from her throat.
Regan was larger than her, held fire at her will, and her teeth had taken purchase, while shallow, in her throat. Fueled by Cassian’s growl that wasn’t there to help her, she dug her nails in to whatever flesh of her face or mouth she was able to get ahold of and prepared to throw Regan the moment she finished the curse that ran through her mind. In moments of completing it, Regan would feel her body suddenly sagging, losing shape and form, becoming what seemed like nothing more than a hellhound-wolfskin rug (with some meat attached) as her bones started to become soft and bendable, like jelly.
Her mind chanting it over, and over, holding focus to the words while her claws moved to dig in and get Regan off of her and away with that rising heat.
Post by Regan Lassiter on May 4, 2023 15:32:16 GMT -5
At the moment Alys began to resist, Regan’s jaws clamped down hard on Alys’s throat, piercing the soft flesh to tighten into a vice-like grip. Regan would stop just short of cracking all the way through and breaking into Alys’s windpipe. If secure, Regan would pivot her body away from Alys’s thrashing back legs and double down on pinning her upper body and arms to the ground.
At the same moment that Regan clamped her teeth down into Alys’s throat, the rising heat in her body reached the point of ignition. Regan burst into an explosion of unrestrained hellfire. Alys would be consumed by the inferno while Regan used her strength to hold her still. She’d let the flames spread to create a pool around them.
The curse, if successful, would cause Regan’s body to sag and inevitably require her teeth to retract from Alys’s throat. But even though Regan was immobile, her conscious magical ability to control the fire would remain. She’d urge the flames around her to intensify, keeping her focus on making sure Alys continued to burn.
In possession of a magical necklace that wards off offensive magic attacks against him, a ring that allows him to suppress magic, and can turn into werewolf at will.
Post by Cassian Rainecourt on May 5, 2023 9:43:20 GMT -5
Alys reached for Regan’s face, and the hold on her throat immediately tightened, the currently dominating werewolf having been waiting for the slightest indication of sudden movements. The teeth would sink deeply into Alys’ throat, not ripping it away and killing her opponent, but putting enough pressure on Alys for breathing to be difficult. Still, Alys’ claws would find Regan’s face, struggling with a desperation to tear and dislodge the jaw that was threatening her life.
Whatever else they did mattered little after Regan’s fire erupted. It was fire—but hotter than regular fire. It roared mercilessly, consuming Alys just a breath after she finished her curse.
Regan’s long form slumped to the ground, and Alys burned. Her face, her arms, her stomach, her legs, her fur. It would not take long for the merciless fire to kill Alys.
Cassian, lurking, watching, sprang forward at this point. Fighting for pack dominance was nature for their wolves. Killing one another? That’s where the alpha drew the line. Though Regan’s fire spread around her slumped form and Alys’ burning form, Cassian rushed in, the flames parting for him as if he were their master. The necklace he had on him at all times was in affect, one that nullified magic around his person, both that which would help or hinder. Because this hellfire was of a magic source, it could not burn him.
The king would seek to leap to snatch up Alys’ form, drawing her close enough that his necklace would extinguish the flames on her person.
[ Writing it as future tense in case Alys had something else up her sleeve that she executed. Extent of damage for either gal will be determined in next reply. ]