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!
Ber nodded when Abbott explained that he only needed help with the one dummy, anticipating the dismissal that was sure to come now that the task was over. The lieutenant, however, seemed to have other ideas, for he looked at Ber and said something that had the younger man’s hackles rising. Nope. They were not going to do this. Not here. Not now. Not ever.
Expression flat, the soldier looked down and rolled up his right sleeve. Treated by Nevermere’s health potions as opposed to Arynn Frey’s enchantments, the scars that wrapped along the outside of his arm where the werewolf’s claws had hooked and thrown him were likely cruder than the ones that stretched across Regan’s face and chest. Dark eyes barely glanced at them before they rose to meet Abbott’s gaze as he showed the lieutenant his arm.
“It did,” He deadpanned, intentionally misunderstanding what the officer was hinting at in an attempt to shut down the conversation before it even began. Similarly not inclined to encourage any further speculation into what he might or might not be feeling, Ber did not comment on the second half of Abbott’s statement. After a moment, he rolled the sleeve down again. “If you don’t need any more help, can I go now, sir. I still have training to do.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 28, 2023 10:19:07 GMT -5
Even though Berengar might think otherwise, Aldrich had let the kid off the hook easy other times they had talked and Ber had tried to shut the conversation down. But this time he wouldn't just let the young man go. So Aldrich shook his head. "I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to stay a little longer, Stormcrest", he said. He put his hands on his hips. "I need you to tell me how this fear of werewolves impacts you. I've said it before - and don't get too cocky - but you're a great soldier, and we can't have you getting in a freeze mode if the paired witches turn a soldier into a werewolf on the battlefield. Have you talked with Wulfbrand since the incident?"
Jaw clenched, Ber took a deep breath and reminded himself that the lieutenant was his superior officer and that simply walking away from this conversation would do him no favors. Tension ran across his shoulders while the adrenaline that suddenly rushed through him had street rat in him raised its head, ready for a fight. Crossing his arms over his chest in lieu of clenching his fingers into fists, the soldier fixed Abbott with a dark stare.
“It doesn’t,” He stated, tone flat and uncompromising. “I’m fine. In fact, I don’t remember ever actually saying I was afraid of werewolves, sir.” The last sentence was pointed but just on the right side of respectful. It was followed by: “And Wulfbrand hasn’t been around.” As he hadn’t been greatly injured, the other man had left the infirmary before Ber, and the soldier hadn’t seen him since.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 28, 2023 14:40:47 GMT -5
He wasn't dumb, and he did notice the change in Berengar's body language and overall attitude. He didn't let it effect him, though. He was the boy's superior, and a soldier not really wanting to talk about an issue was the least of his concerns. If Aldrich felt like they needed to discuss it, they would.
"A smart-mouth isn't going to get you far either in battle, Stormcrest", he responded dryly. He had crossed his arms as well. "You don't need to literally tell me the shift has caused a fear in you for me to notice it. So out with it. Is this going to be a problem when the war comes, soldier?"
Abbott kept pushing, and Ber bristled as he squared off with the lieutenant, refusing to give any literal or metaphorical ground. There was only one answer to the question Abbott asked. “No.” Though it contained a slight undercurrent of hostility as the temper that now lurked so closely beneath the surface began to flare, the word was just as resolute as the ones that came before. “It won’t.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 28, 2023 15:04:53 GMT -5
It was the shortness of his replies that stood out. Berengar never was one to talk much, or say more than absolutely necessary, but still, his replies had gotten even shorter. And that caused him to want to push even more. He felt like he needed to see Ber explode to be sure of what he said was true. "I don't believe you", he said with a straight face. "Convince me, Stormcrest."
For a moment, Ber simply stared at Abbott. Then, equal parts irritated and incredulous: “How the—” He bit off his words before the curse could escape, not so far gone that he had forgotten who he was talking to. He started again, in the same unwelcoming tone as before. “How do you expect me to convince you of something when you’ve already got your mind set on the opposite? I can’t start a war to prove to you that I’m fine.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 28, 2023 15:21:19 GMT -5
Aldrich smirked slightly. "My mind isn't set on anything, boy." Berengar was right about not being able to start a war to prove he's right. "I'd like you to speak with Wulfbrand about what happened. You'll still be training together in the future and that will help to trust him again, but I want you to actually talk to him as well. Clear the air." Another thing he wanted, but couldn't say right now, was for Ber to get paired to a witch. Somehow he felt like this confrontation with a werewolf would make him a good werewolf-soldier too. He seemed to be in touch with himself, although he obviously didn't like talking about his feelings. "Can you do that, Stormcrest?" He was using the soldier's name a lot, just to put the emphasize on his words.
By this point in his career, Ber already knew that every single officer in the military was some brand of infuriating. He had known that while entering this conversation with Abbott, and he was reminded of it now as he resisted the urge to punch the smirk off the lieutenant’s face. Then the man did as all officers did and issued orders, which Ber accepted with a single, short, “Fine.” Winters had approached him in the infirmary and encouraged him, in her own equally infuriating way, to talk to Wulfbrand, too, though he suspected it was more for her partner’s sake than Ber’s. “I’ll talk to Wulfbrand. Can I go now.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on Apr 28, 2023 15:38:34 GMT -5
He had to think about that for a bit. Could Berengar go? Or did Aldrich have another tedious little task for him as the cherry on top? How far did he want to push she soldier? He decided it could go just a little further. "You can leave", he said, leaving a little silence before adding: "but first I want you to put the old dummy away. Take the wood to the pile next to the fireplace in the sleeping hall. We can use it to stay warm." He would wait for a reaction, but if there wasn't one, he would watch Ber leave with the dummy before he'd return to his office to work on some paperwork and make notice of his request for Ber to talk to Octavius.
Finally, a dismissal. Without another word, Ber turned to leave— only to be stopped by Abbott continuing to issue orders. Bristling, he looked back at the lieutenant then over toward the pieces of wood that hadn’t even been Ber’s mess to start with. What an asshole. “Yes, sir.” The words were muttered just loud enough for the officer to hear, and with a final, vindictive glare at the man, he turned and stalked away to do just that.