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 Hiram Eldouir on Apr 12, 2023 15:00:38 GMT -5
[ Made for @xanthe | This takes place before the attack on AF ]
Hiram had just torn apart the watch tower he’d been using to practice his magic all these months. It had felt good. There might have been a minor panic within the family as the sound of falling stones hit the roof of the estate, but they were okay.
The head of the family was smiling. He felt an odd sense of relief. A sense of accomplishment, as if he’d been liberated. Liberated to stop stalling and to act.
He moved through the halls like the boss that he was, a swagger in his step. In his going he came across a familiar face that he hadn’t been diligent to pay attention to.
Since arriving at the Eldouir estate, Xanthe had only met a few of the other Eldouir. One had, for some reason, taken a liking to her. Or maybe it wasn't Xanthe that she liked, necessarily. Maybe she just wanted one person to follow her around, do everything she asked. That was what Xanthe had done since arriving shortly after Tribute. Play personal maid to Queen Adeline. It wasn't that great, but Xanthe knew very well that it also could have been a lot worse.
"It's not for me," she told the Dresmondi who worked in the kitchen, who swore at her for picking up one of the bottles of wine from the shelf. "It's for the Queen. I feel like - haven't we been over this a hundred times? You sound like a broken wagon wheel," rolling her eyes, she pushed through the door and headed back toward the dining room at a fairly quick pace. Savi trailed close behind, his nails tapping against the cobblestone. It was strange how quickly one could get used to something, even something horrible, under the right conditions.
When less distracted, Savi might have smelled him coming and ushered Xanthe down a different hall to avoid walking into his path. But they had walked this same path multiple times now. The usual, lesser Eldouir and other Dresmondi servants or soldiers passed by without consequence, without much notice at all. Over the last season the two had become focused on their task of serving Adeline, and so when she stepped into the hall right in front of the man who had brought her to the estate in the first place, she was startled. She nearly dropped the bottle of wine, but caught it with her other hand and steadied herself, quickly moving out of his way, pressing her back to the wall. Savi moved aside as well.
"Sorry, Sir," she told him. While she did bow her head somewhat, her voice was no longer shaky as it might have been once, when speaking to him. It wasn't confidence in herself, or some idea that she was safe. In fact, it was the opposite. Acceptance. What would happen, would happen, and there was no stopping it or changing it. Ermir's death had taught her that.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Apr 17, 2023 15:04:14 GMT -5
Xanthe moved out of his way, but he moved to pursue her attempt to shrink to the side, pivoting so now he stood before her, her back against the wall.
“You’re doing well.” He observed, dragging his eyes over her, something appreciative smoldering in the golden-brown gaze. He ignored the animal—he didn’t care much for them.
Whatever personal space she might have had was eliminated as he took a step in closer. Of course, she could maneuver to evade him if she chose. If she didn’t, he’d reach a hand slowly towards her, as if he might touch her hip or her stomach or her—
He’s seek to snatch the wine bottle from her grasp and raise it for a glance.
Was she doing well? All things she considered, she couldn't deny it. She hadn't been turned into a puddle of blood, flesh, and bone like Ermir had. Or left to take care of multiple children out in Elderkeep, like Embric had. She'd finally put back on the weight she'd lost during tribute, though she would have done that eventually regardless. Adeline had even insisted she do some training, though she hadn't done much yet. All in all, from his perspective, she could see why he would say that.
Then he was pressing himself closer. She stood still, knowing it was better not to move or pull away from him until he allowed it. Both she and Savi held their breath until he yanked the wine bottle away from her, and she let it go as soon as his fingers had gripped it. Her eyes lifted to the bottle, and then to him. "With?" She asked, a little confused. Who would she dare share a bottle of alcohol with in this place? Nothing good could come out of something like that, that much she knew. "No one. It's for Queen Adeline. I've been serving her, as her handmaiden. I was just taking it to her."
Last Edit: Apr 17, 2023 21:41:08 GMT -5 by Deleted
Post by Hiram Eldouir on May 4, 2023 14:00:18 GMT -5
Hiram made a face at Xanthe’s response, one that showed his distaste.
“You were,” he confirmed, tossing the bottle up with a twist before catching it, “but now you aren’t. Let’s find some cups and have a drink.” He grinned and bounced his brows.
Her heart thumped wildly against her chest. She had hoped he had just forgotten her. Serving Adeline hadn't been all that bad, and she was working with Eirwen to get stronger. If only she hadn't wasted time arguing with the man in the storeroom, maybe she would have missed Hiram altogether. But she couldn't hesitate now. There was no use in it.
"Okay," she nodded, back straightening somewhat. There was only two places she knew to go to find cups. The kitchen, where she'd just come from, or the dining room. Avoiding Adeline now seemed like the best option, or else she'd have to explain everything, so back to the kitchens it would be. "I'll get some from the kitchen."
She didn't know if he'd follow her or wait where he stood, but scooting away from him, she'd make way to find a couple of cups.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on May 14, 2023 3:14:56 GMT -5
Oh, Hiram followed. Of course he did. His eyes traveled the length of her form as he moved, assessing its strength. Assessing her potential. He couldn't quite place his finger on it, but he felt it. He had ever since tribute. The darkness in her, perhaps, or something like it. He need only draw it out, one exchange at a time. Cutting that Dresmondi's throat had been the first step. There would be many more to take before she was where he wanted her...
"How old are you?" He asked to her back as they walked.
Hiram followed. Of course he had. He was an animal, and how often did a predator let their prey out of their sight?
The feeling of his eyes on her made the air on the back of her neck stand up, prickling at her skin all the way down her spine and warning her about the danger as if she didn't already know it was there. It wasn't a pleasant sensation. "I'm twenty-five," she answered. It had been cold out for some time now, though. "Twenty-six in Ver. And you?"
She'd returned the question on reflex, though she wasn't sure it was even acceptable to ask him anything personal. Too late now. As they stepped into the kitchen, wooden doors swinging, she looked up to find all the Dresmondi staring in both surprise and fear. She took a quick breath and walked past them as they bowed their head to him. They already didn't like her much, they really wouldn't like her now. But she grabbed two cups, and turned to him with them in her hand. "Where to?"
Post by Hiram Eldouir on May 31, 2023 1:58:21 GMT -5
Hiram smirked at her back.
“Older than you.” He stated the obvious, apparently unwilling to answer the question. In truth, he didn’t keep up. He didn’t care. He’d stopped aging since killing his brother and taking his blood, so what did it matter anyway?
He didn’t look at the Dresmondi in the kitchen. Their existences were inconsequential to him. Many things in this world were.
”Depends.” He said, a suggestion in his voice, “On whether you want privacy or not.” He stepped out of the doorway, giving her room to pass and continue leading, though he’d follow close enough for the heat radiating from his body to be sensed if she was sensitive.
Older than her. That seemed pretty obvious. He just couldn't bring himself to give her one straight answer, could he? She had expected silence in return, though, so an answer of any kind was better than nothing.
When he spoke of privacy she couldn't stop the reddening of her face. She looked around the room, embarrassed despite the fact that everyone had bowed their heads to look at the floor. No one wanted to meet his eyes, and she couldn't blame them, but she had no choice. "R-right, okay," at least once they exited the kitchen she wouldn't have to feel the heat of their glares any longer.
At first she had begun to lead him to her room, the one given to her by Adeline. But it was right next to Adeline's room, and anyway, it was her space. One she could return to for comfort when all this was done, so she took a different path instead. One to his room, a path she hadn't been able to get out of her head since tribute.
He loomed over her so much that she could barely breathe as she walked, the toes of his shoes seemed close enough to scrape her heels. Savi was quiet, lingering to the side of her legs. When they arrived, she and Savi both stepped to the side. It was his room. He could go in first.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jun 15, 2023 3:26:04 GMT -5
Her location of choice interested him. She could have picked any balcony or courtyard, any sitting room or even the dining hall…but she picked his room. He searched her blood for tells.
“Hmm.” He didn’t hide his curiosity. His door wasn’t locked, it never was, so he pushed the handle and let it open, waiting for her to enter first. She had chosen the setting, and now he’d let her set the mood.
She watched him lean in to push the door open. She started to step through, but then paused, and turned to Savi. The motion of her head seemed to move her eyes from red to red. It was only in those few seconds that she first noticed that Savi's dark red coat was nearly the same color as the Eldouir's hair.
Xanthe cursed herself for thinking it.
A quick, silent exchange had Savi posting up outside the door as Xanthe went inside, his tail twitching with agitation and worry. Once she was in, she glanced around. It looked the same as she remembered it. She'd been so confused by him at first. She wasn't now. Worst of all, though, it made her think of Tazmin. Her hatred for the women flared and she gripped the cups, but she was reminded of the way Taz looked after spending the night with Hiram. It made her shiver.
Turning, she reached a hand out for the wine bottle that he'd taken from her. "I'll pour it. If you want."
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Aug 11, 2023 13:32:26 GMT -5
One of Hiram's brows climbed his forehead as she stepped in and then offered to pour the drinks. Far be it from him to stop her. He walked in and closed the door behind him, moving towards the red couch that rest in front of a dead fireplace. He'd sling his arm across the back of it and watch Xanthe pour, ignoring the warm blood he sensed moving quickly through the house in his direction.
"How have you found your time here?" There was a smirk on his lips that invited the truth.
Once handed the bottle, she carried it over to the dresser where Taz had grabbed that knife and sat the cups down. She pulled the cork from the bottle and poured them both half a mug of wine before returning the cork to the bottle and carrying the cups over to the couch. She offered him one, kept one for herself, and for a moment stood awkwardly.
Then she sat down on the opposite end of the couch, at the very edge, and looked down at the red liquid in her cup. "Productive," she answered quietly. "Eirwen is teaching me to fight, and Queen Adeline is very...fair." She didn't want to say kind. The woman wasn't necessarily kind, but she had become about as close to a friend as Xanthe might consider one of them.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Aug 14, 2023 11:44:05 GMT -5
Even as Xanthe was responding to Hiram an Eldouir entered into his room, as the door had been left ajar. Hiram didn't look away from Xanthe, loathe to give the intruder an ounce of attention, but the Eldouir was insistent.
"I've news." He declared, hesitantly but boldly approaching the head of the family, knowing that simply doing his job could get him punished. He leaned in close to Hiram's ear and whispered something. The scowl on Hiram's face softened a touch.
"Huh." He threw back the cup he'd been given before tossing it over his shoulder, the shatter punctuating his abrupt stand. The other Eldouir exited as Hiram grimaced at his Dresmondi guest, an expression that closely resembled regret. "Better luck for us next time."
Those words would have to serve as both his excuse and his farewell. Xanthe would hear nothing more from the Eldouir, not for some weeks.