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 Aldrich Abbott on Apr 5, 2023 9:28:52 GMT -5
[For @meiying ]
Aldrich was on his way back from passing along a message to one of the guards that stood guard at the private rooms of the royal family when he happened to catch a glimpse inside of an office. The door wasn't closed all the way, and for a moment he thought that he saw a familiar face sitting behind the desk. Actually, he knew that he saw a familiar face, but he had simply kind of forgotten about the face existence up until that point. The lieutenant took a few steps back and politely knocked on the door, waiting for a response.
If the voice called him inside, he would enter, hoping he was indeed right and that it was Meiying Meng behind the desk. He had known the woman back when she served in the military. They had been recruits around the same time and of course he knew she had been a paired soldier. He just hadn't exactly seen her since she came back from Cambria.
If she allowed him to enter, he would dip his head to greet her. "Lady Meng, it's been a while since I've seen you. Lieutenant Aldrich Abbott, in case you don't remember who I am."
The upcoming war and the events of the ball had not only affected those within the military. Those who worked directly for the King, or with the King, as she and Kennet Caern did, had been equally as affected. Their workload had doubled in time. While those directly involved had only to worry about catching the culprit and reassessing their means of military organization, Meiying and others like her had to put out all of the fires outside of the castle walls. Skia was a place of peace and prosperity not simply because well trained soldiers walked the streets, but because others helped to remind the citizens of how truly good they had it.
So the day had been full of paperwork. As a child she'd never seen herself sitting behind a desk, writing letters or scouring over ledgers for days at a time. Her muscles ached to stretch and her magic twitched at the tip of her fingers. When a knock finally drew her attention away from a pile of parchments, she was immediately thankful for the interruption. "Please come in," she said of whoever had knocked, and looked up with a growing smile as the man entered.
"Of course I remember, please, sit," she said, holding her hand out to offer him the chair that rested on the other side of her desk. "Congratulations on your recent promotion. You've been a devoted member of the military for some time, I'm sure it was well deserved. What brings you here today?"
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 5, 2023 14:54:33 GMT -5
It was a relief to see a smile on her face. So she did remember him. Good. It would've been real awkward otherwise. He didn't know what he would have done then. Just apologise and turn around? It would've dented his ego pretty badly. But that wasn't the case. Aldrich walked in a little further and sat down when she asked him to.
"Thank you, lady Meng." Back in the day, he might have simply called her Meng, but she wasn't a soldier anymore, and she was noble after all. He wasn't so sure about the promotion being well deserved. It was deserved, but he would have preferred being promoted under different circumstances. "I must be honest with you, my lady, I simply caught a glimpse of you and couldn't resist stopping by to ask you how you're doing. I haven't gotten the chance to congratulate you either. Counselor is truly a honourable position."
Once he was sat, she pushed her chair back somewhat from her desk and crossed her legs, then rested her hands neatly in her lap. "Ah, I see. I do like to keep my door open a bit. It's meant to allow for airflow, not spies." Her eyes met his, a more serious expression crossing her face, a brow lifted in challenge. Only for a moment or two, though, then her smile returned. "I jest, of course. I've been sorting through this paperwork all day and find the interruption refreshing. I'm glad you chose to stop instead of carrying on."
His congratulations were very late, but she hadn't seen many of the members of the military since she'd taken the position, him included. That he thought to congratulate her at all was kind, so she nodded. "Thank you, Lieutenant. It was hard earned and I find it very satisfying." That wasn't to say that her work in the military hadn't been equally as satisfying, but losing her paired soldier had been a kind of heartbreaking she simply hadn't been prepared for. Though a letter from him rested on her desk even now, and she knew he was happy where he was, her military drive had unfortunately dwindled.
"You look very well. Have you and your officers been adapting well to the changes instituted by Captain Commander Usher? I know it's only been a short time, but I recall you being a pliant soldier."
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 9, 2023 10:28:14 GMT -5
He chuckled at her joke, holding up his hands as if he had been found guilty of a horrible crime. "Well, I'll happily take on the duty of distracting you from your paperwork", Aldrich responded. He wasn't much of a paperwork man himself. He always found himself struggling with it because he didn't like doing it.
He indeed hadn't gotten the chance to congratulate her yet, even though she had changed occupations quite a while ago. But better late than never, he thought. He nodded in agreement. "It's indeed well earned", he said in assent. "We could have used someone as skilled as you in the military now, though." He laughed a little because he had been joking, but there was truth to the joke.
She even mentioned the changes made my Hadrian herself. "I can't complain. I'm thankful for the promotion and the officers have been doing their jobs like they're supposed to. There is quite some work left though, new strategies need to be made." He rubbed his chin. "Perhaps we have been lacking when it comes to educating the witches about their magic. It is a major asset if we know how to put it to good use."
"I do recall that you were always willing to do the dirty work," she replied, lips pursing in an amused grin. "I hope that helping to distract me is well worth your time."
Even though she had recently begun speaking with Commander Usher more on the Hand's behalf, it wasn't quite like speaking with those who actually did the military work. Aldrich was in the field, with the soldiers. While Hadrian knew anything and everything there was to know about the ins and outs of the military, he spoke about it in sweeping generalizations. Hearing specific issues instead gave her a clearer view of where they all stood, and apparently, they were currently lacking. "Yes, I know that you're low on witches in leadership positions. After the acquisitions of Cambria and Coheed, our forces have thinned out. It is necessary to keep soldiers in those territories. Their people are wild, and their loyalty is fickle. But it's rather bothersome to have to concern ourselves with them when war is on the horizon."
She looked down at the stacks of papers on her desk, head tilting somewhat to the side, hair falling out from behind her ears. "If I had the time, I would give you my aid. My heart will always lie within the military. Unfortunately this is an equally busy time for us." Glancing back up at him, she shrugged the thought off. "What do you plan to do in the meantime? Witches are our greatest strength. Their magic must be drawn upon as naturally as an archer draws a string, and with the same amount of discipline."
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 12, 2023 10:36:02 GMT -5
He grinned as well. It was nice to be able to joke around a bit, even if it was just about forgetting about paperwork for just a moment. And distracting Meiying would certainly be worth his time. It had been a while since they had talked, but he had always enjoyed talking to her. She looked serious and was a classy woman, but there was also something adventurous, and she had a good sense of humour. Apart from that, she was also an incredibly beautiful woman. She was captivating, to say the least.
No matter what you threw at her, Mei seemed to always find just the right words to respond to it. He assumed it was something that one learnt the second they became a counselor, and that her conversations with Kennet Caern had played a role in it as well. Aldrich never had a chance to meet Kennet, but he knew that she, just like Meiying, always had an answer ready. It was admirable, and he respected the women greatly for this ability. So he wasn't surprised when Meiying instantly replied to his joke in a more serious tone than his had been. And he wholeheartedly agreed with her.
The movement of her hair caught his attention, and he noticed that he quite liked short hair on a woman. He hid the upc up curling movement of the corners of his mouth behind a hand while he scratched his stubble. "Completely understandable, lady Meng", he said, removing the hand and smiling at her. "You're just as needed here as in the military wing." She was an important woman, and her knowledge would serve the kingdom well. "For now Captain Woodwick and I will try to find a capable witch to train the other witches, and perhaps Miss Lasiter or Lady Alys Delaney can help us." He crossed his legs, resting one of his ankles on his other knee. "It will be some trial and error, but hopefully not too much of the latter."
When he smiled, her dark eyes ran over him, taking in the way he looked for the first time since he'd stepped through her door. He didn't look much different from what she remembered. A bit older, maybe, but that was how the passage of time worked for everyone not born of Arynnite blood. For his age he still looked very good. Was that fair to say, though? He wasn't much older than her, after all. Sometimes she had to remind herself that she, too, was rather old for an unmarried, childless individual in Nevermere - but especially for a woman.
"I've begun corresponding directly with Commander Usher, so I do hope that my work here will benefit you directly in some way. As you've seen, my door is always open. If there is ever anything I can help you with, you are always welcome here." Her lips tilted slightly more upward as she offered her services, but quickly returned to her tempered smile when another knock came to her door and an older woman peaked her head in.
"Pardon the intrusion, my lady, my lord," an older woman, obviously a servant, said as she stepped halfway into the room. "You called for someone?"
"Yes, thank you. Would you bring me a fresh pot of tea?" Mei said, gesturing to the small table to her left which held a near-empty teapot and cup. "And a second teacup, for Lieutenant Abbott, please."
"Of course, my lady. Excuse me, my lord," she said as she walked behind him and around Mei's desk to pick up the tray with the tea on it. When she left, she closed the door behind her. Meiying would have to remind her to leave it open when she returned.
"I apologize for the interruption," she said, returning her gaze to Aldrich. "I believe both you and Captain Woodwick fought against the Coheedsmen in Cambria, is that right? Besides the Commander himself, you're both certainly the most experienced soldiers and capable soldiers in the military. I have no doubt you'll ensure the readiness of our military for the upcoming...conflict."
Speaking of Regan Lassiter and Alys Delaney didn't quite change her expression, but her eyes danced with questions. Questions she doubted he had the answers to. "Everything we've ever known has been built upon trial and error. Failure teaches us. Had the ball gone smoothly, we might not have known of Bex Brekker's disloyalty until it was far too late. Can you imagine her unleashing one of our own men against us in the midst of the chaos of the battlefield?" A deep inhale drew her chest upward, and she exhaled slowly through slightly parted lips.
"Of course, the loss and injury of some of our soldiers was a tragedy, but I believe we must look to the good when threatened with the bad. It could have been much worse and those injured, at least, have been able to fully recover, I believe?" She leaned up, pushing a couple of parchments across her desk and tapping a slender finger against one of them. "Besides Ms. Lassiter, a young soldier named Berengar Stormcrest, correct?"
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 22, 2023 10:56:07 GMT -5
He was glad to hear she maintained contact with Hadrian, because that would indeed mean that both they and her were up to date with everything. He smiled and placed a hand on his chest, on his heart, and nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate that."
Then were then interrupted by an older woman. A servant. Meiying asked her to bring some tea, and to also being a cup for Aldrich. He didn't enjoy drinking tea and preferred something stronger, but he would politely drink a cup when a lady offered him one.
He nodded when she asked whether it was right that both he and Usher fought against the Coheedsmen. And she was also right that they were the more experienced soldiers, although Warren definitely also fit that description.
Aldrich thought about what she said for a minute. What she said was all true, but still, you didn't want to hear the military get described as built upon trial and error, because to him it sounded like failure. He knew that she didn't mean it like that, though.
He then nodded again. "Yes, they have fully recovered, except for some muscle exercises and scars." Regan's scars had surprised him when he first saw them. She was still pretty as ever, but scars like that were quite a change. "Stormcrest has been put on staff duty for now. I'm not sure why, but I'm guessing it has to do with the start of the chaos at the ball. After all, Wulfbrandt, Miss Lassiter and Stormcrest formed a little group with a few other people." Aldrich leaned back a bit. "But he's a good kid. I'm glad we have him. We had to let go of another soldier, so it's good that we didn't also lose this one."
Hearing that the soldier she mentioned, and Regan, had fully recovered tugged her smile upward again. She nodded and leaned up, picking up her pen and writing something down on the paper that she had spotted Berengar's name on. "That is good to hear. There is nothing wrong with a few scars. They remind of us of what we have survived." Once she finished writing, she sat the pen back down. She'd wanted to note the information he gave about the soldier and the ball. Though it was likely that Kennet already had all of the information, direct from the King who had been there, it was best to be thorough.
"I heard about that, too," Meiying said, her smile faltering into more of a frown. "A witch who cursed you, correct? I do not know the details, but I'm glad she was dismissed. Regardless of the situation that took place at the ball, our military is meant to be elite. We can hardly afford to keep witches around who have so little discipline." There might have been a tone to those last few words, something to suggest that she thought of more than just the witch who was dismissed, but no other expression of it would be seen.
The same knock as before came to the door, cracking it open. "Yes, bring it in, thank you." Meiying said to the servant she knew to be on the other side. The older woman nodded and pushed on through, walking around to rest the tray of tea in the same spot it had been before.
"Anything else for you, my lady?" She asked. Meiying seemed to think for a moment, then shook her head.
"No, that will be all, thank you." The servant moved to exit, already beginning to pull the door closed again. "Ah, leave it cracked just a bit, please, thank you." The older woman mumbled a quiet 'oh, yes, of course' as she exited, leaving the door cracked open. Once she was gone, Meiying stood up from her desk and walked to the side table to pour two cups of tea. "How do you take yours, Lieutenant?" She asked, and would follow his direction to make his cup, before turning to hand it to him. Then she would make her own, with just a splash of milk, and return to her seat. Once sitting, she took a sip, and sighed, pleased with the flavor.
"So, do you foresee the new guidelines being issue? It seems we'll be losing quite a few soldiers during the assessments."
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 30, 2023 4:12:17 GMT -5
She wrote the information about the soldiers down, and Aldrich was glad that his information was useful for her. Meiying's smile faded again once the Lieutenant mentioned Rhedara. He nodded in response to her question. There wasn't much to say anyway. Even though the woman stated that she didn't know the details, she already knew what was important. A soldier had cursed him and had been dismissed from the military. "We'll be working on that discipline. I've spoken with Captain Woodwick and we're going to appoint new witches to teach the younger witches." He didn't share his reservations about Kat Winters being one of those teachers. He had met with her to discuss the trial period, and it had left him some doubts. He was sure that she could whip the witches into shape, but he was worried about her methods. Worries for some other day.
Their conversation was interrupted by a servant entering the room with the tea lady Meng had requested. The man watched as his old acquaintance got up from her seat to pour two cups of tea. "Plain will do just fine", he said with a smile. He didn't have much experience drinking tea, but he wasn't a fan of milk. Aldrich's biggest weakness was the fact that he was lactose intolerant. He reached out to take the cup of tea from her when she offered it. After she was seated again, he took a sip of the tea. It was alright, he didn't really have an opinion about the flavour. It was just hot leafy water.
"I think it's important to focus on keeping the competent, good soldiers instead of focusing on losing others. I do have to admit that I was worried when Captain Commander Usher first issued the new guidelines, because in my mind the bigger an army, the more impressive and intimidating it looks, but it wouldn't be fair to sacrifice soldiers that aren't fit to fight for their kingdom."
As she took another sip or two of her tea, Mei reflected on his words regarding the new assessments, and the soldiers it would involve. For some reason she found herself delightfully surprised by his thoughts on the issue. Sitting the teacup down without a single noise, her eyes met his and her head tilted, as if studying him. "That's very well put, Lieutenant Abbott. After all, one good soldier is worth three bad ones. A large army is not promised a win simply because it is large. It's leadership also plays a big role. Without suitable leadership, any army can fail. Given you answer, I have every confidence in your leadership."
Lifting her teacup back to her lips, she smiled into it. Then another knock came at her office door, and once more she was sitting the cup down and looking up, past her visitor. "Yes?"
Someone else poked their head in this time, a younger man, a well-dressed noble. "Pardon the intrusion, Lady Meng, but Lady Caern has asked to see you."
"Okay, I'll be there right away, thank you." The boy nodded and disappeared, and Mei gave Aldrich an apologetic. "I'm terribly sorry to have to cut our conversation short, Lieutenant Abbott. Perhaps you can stop by again soon so we can continue?" Standing up, she sat her teacup on the side table with the teapot. One delicate finger brushed over the teapot as she sighed. "Such good tea, gone to waste again," she said, mostly to herself, before returning to her desk to collect some of her papers. Please, feel free to remain and enjoy the tea for as long as you like. Would you mind closing the door when you leave?"
As she walked around the desk, she looked him over once more and smiled at him. "It was nice to see you, Lieutenant. Good day." Though she wanted to be polite, but she was clearly in a hurry. She didn't think he would mind too much, so she exited the office without much more said.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 20, 2023 10:27:32 GMT -5
He smiled at her when she agreed with what he had said. He had never been a book-smart man, and even though he knew he was capable of making good decisions and thinking through difficult subjects, it was still always a gamble when he said something. Finding the right words to get a message across could be difficult. Luckily this time it had been successful.
A knock interrupted them, and Aldrich behind him for a moment to see the visitor before looking in front of him again. It seemed rude to stare at the guest.
Once the person had left and Mei had spoken, ge nodded. "Don't be sorry. If duty calls, we need to answer." He smiled a bit and looked at the teapot and the cup she put next to it. "I'm sure we'll see each other again. And yes, I will close the door."
He would smile again and watch her leave. He would stay in her office to finish his tea, and began writing a draft of the letter he would be sending her later that week in his head. He had forgotten how beautiful Meiying was. Once the tea was finished, he left the office, closed the door and went in his way.