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!
Yesterday's fight had been rather disappointing. People weren't placing nearly enough bets yet, and Elliot once again realised he really needed more men than just @dresden and some other guys to run an entertaining business. The nobles that came to Mordha for the fights liked seeing Dresden, some of them recognising him as a royal guard, but all of them kept their mouths shut. They knew that it would be bad for them as well if people found out about the fight club, and Elliot had made sure to let everyone that set foot into the cellar know that he had his ways of ending their career if they ended his. Most of this was bluff, but the old man was a reckless one. He had managed to escape the hands of Amien Lysander back when he ran an illegitimate business and he would continue to do so.
Elliot was in the big room, talking to some customers when Homer, the bouncer, tapped him on the shoulder. The graying man smiled at his employee but the smile would become less genuine the more the man talked. There was a woman at the door, asking to be let in to talk to him. Women weren't allowed at the club, so he would have to head over to the front door to find out who this woman was and what she wanted. As war as he was aware, she hadn't told Homer what her business was, or Homer had simply failed to mention it to him. Whatever it was, Elliot would soon find out.
The baronet opened the doors with his usual polite business-smile on his face. "Elliot Moore, what can I do for you?" he asked once he saw the woman.
Post by Tallis Scorza on Apr 16, 2023 14:13:48 GMT -5
Leave no stone unturned: such had been Tallis’s Scorza Morand’s governing principle since arriving in Loren. Really the attitude had served her well her entire life—in business and elsewhere. So, when the delightful @oriana mentioned the existence of a secret gentleman’s fight club in the city, Tallis took it upon herself to investigate. After all, she imagined if she were a young gifted man trying to make some extra coin, leveraging one’s abilities in the boxing ring would be the place to do it.
A longshot, but in any case, checking out this ‘Mordha’ was a way to kill an afternoon.
The bouncer had been caught off guard by Tallis’s presence. Initially, he’d resisted her entry but Tallis’s silver tongue had loosened the knot enough for him to agree to fetch the master of the establishment. Tallis was dressed in trousers and a jacket—apparel of business rather than pleasure.
She idled in the doorway, scanning the establishment from the outside. It was unassuming—certianly not the kind of place you’d expect to find a fight club or anything of the like. But Tallis supposed that was rather the point. When the door reopened, Tallis turned to the man on the other side with a smile. “Elliot Moore, what can I do for you?”
The name had Tallis’s eyebrows raise slightly in interest. The name was known to her; a merchant of some success, or at least it once was. Apparently, Mister Moore was in a much different line of business nowadays.
“You can indulge my curiosity,” Tallis smiled prettily at him, “I’ve been led to believe that you’re running quite the scandalous business, Mister Moore. And I myself have a penchant for scandal.”
Last Edit: Apr 16, 2023 14:16:15 GMT -5 by Tallis Scorza
Post by Elliot Moore on Apr 22, 2023 14:01:19 GMT -5
It was quite unusual to see a more dark-skinned woman in Lorendale these days, so her looks had him slightly raise his eyebrows for a moment. She sure was stunning. She looked wilder than the regular Lorendale women. Adventurous. And she confirmed this by the way she responded to his question. She certainly didn't mince her words. But how did she know about this?
Although he was surprised, he didn't show this, and instead smiled wildly and rubbed his hands together. "Ahh, I see!", he said delighted. "Let us take this conversation to my office. If you'd be kind enough to follow me?" The older man would turn to lead the way through the front door, through the hallway, up the stairs to his spacious yet comfortable office. If Tallis followed, he'd keep the door open for her and close it behind her once she was inside.
Last Edit: Apr 22, 2023 14:01:49 GMT -5 by Elliot Moore
Post by Tallis Scorza on Apr 23, 2023 12:28:46 GMT -5
Tallis inclined her head ever so slightly in polite thanks as she followed Elliot to his office. Perhaps another woman would be hesitant to follow a strange man into a concealed establishment—particularly one that existed on Lorendale’s underbelly. But Tallis’s gift made her cocky. Anyone that stood in her way or displeased her would crumble, and this man was no exception.
She entered the office and did not speak until the door was firmly closed behind them. If invited to sit, she would do so. “I understood you to be a book-peddler, Mister Moore,” Tallis teased, trying to establish an air of familiar ease between them, “So tell me now if this ‘fight club’ is as fictional as the novels you sell, and I’ll be on my way. If not..." She smirked, "I believe we have much to discuss."
Post by Elliot Moore on Apr 27, 2023 7:39:26 GMT -5
The men that were just crossing the hallway lifted an eyebrow when they saw a woman walk in. Elliot offered them some reassuring looks as he led Tallis to his office. She was the first woman to set foot inside Mordha, so it was quite a special moment for everyone here. Not too many people saw her, luckily. Mordha was supposed to be a place for men. He didn't want to make a habit out of having women enter the establishment.
Once inside of the office, he invited her to sit. "Do you want anything to drink?" he asked, gesturing at the bottles of whiskey, bourbon and wine that were kept on a cart nearby his office.
He sat down himself after giving her whatever drink she wanted, and after he had poured himself a glass of bourbon. He had absolutely no idea who this woman was. "Why don't you start by introducing yourself, my lady, before I entertain you with my... Novels." He smiled at her, a cautious smile. It was obvious that she already knew what he was up to in the basement, but he didn't want to confirm her suspicions.
Post by Tallis Scorza on Apr 27, 2023 13:02:36 GMT -5
“Whatever you’re having is fine,” Tallis smiled pleasantly as if this place were as familiar to her as her own living room. She sat and crossed her legs—an unladylike position, but after all, she was raised as a rancher and not a debutante. She’d take the glass of bourbon when offered but wait for Elliot to sip first. Once could never be too careful.
“Tallis Morand,” She said, extending a hand for him to shake, “Rancher by trade, but my husband Cezar and I work primarily in shipping nowadays. Though one’s entrepreneurial spirit never confines itself to just one venture; I’m sure you can empathize with that.”
Last Edit: Apr 27, 2023 13:02:49 GMT -5 by Tallis Scorza
Post by Elliot Moore on Apr 28, 2023 6:03:13 GMT -5
He shook her hand with his distinctive business smile on his face. "Nice to meet you, lady Morrand." The woman seemed to know a lot about him, which both impressed and concerned him. "I sure can", he replied. "I used to be a marketman myself, but now I own a club, as you know." He took another sip of his drink before placing it down on the desk and tapping his fingers against the glass. "You mention a fight club, but you must know that that's against the law, my lady. What makes you think I run one?"
Post by Tallis Scorza on May 2, 2023 11:21:04 GMT -5
Tallis made a playful tutting noise with her tongue. “You can hardly expect me to reveal my sources,” She teased, “But be assured, your secret is safe with me. In fact, I think it rather serendipitous that this information found itself into the right hands.”
Tallis tilted her head to the side, smirking before taking a sip of her drink.
Post by Elliot Moore on May 5, 2023 7:51:34 GMT -5
He didn't like being in this position. This woman knew things that she shouldn't know, and Elliot had little to convince her that what she knew wasn't true. His smile didn't fade when she made the tutting sound, but his hopes of knowing who had ratted him out did. He would have to be even more careful. He decided that he wasn't going to confirm nor deny that he ran a fight club, but instead he would just go along with the conversation. "Is that so?" he said, still smiling, but raising an eyebrow. "Please enlighten me, Mrs. Morand."
Post by Tallis Scorza on May 12, 2023 18:48:04 GMT -5
“I have an interest in Lorendale’s underground and—more specifically—those who inhabit it,” Tallis began, slowly swirling the liquid in her glass, “No doubt you come across uniquely talented individuals who might be useful to an entrepreneurial type. Gifted, you might even say. Ones whose abilities might be a valuable commodity to one willing to pay.”
Tallis sipped her beverage now, smiling back at Elliot just as he smiled at her.
Post by Elliot Moore on May 13, 2023 13:58:24 GMT -5
Elliot leaned back in his chair again. "Gifted, you say. If you mean actually Gifted people, I'm afraid I must disappoint you. The ones I know aren't really into that kind of business." He knew Ikisina, and Remiel. Only Remiel could fit into the category, but he wasn't going to name people. "But if you mean shady characters with expertise, name what you need and I know someone."
Post by Tallis Scorza on May 15, 2023 20:11:48 GMT -5
A pity. Tallis didn’t feel it benefited her to elaborate just what she meant by ‘gifted’, for such a thing would ultimately lead to a ‘why?’ she didn’t want to answer. So instead, she smiled blithely, tilting her head again as she looked at Elliot like she could peel the skin off his bones.
“I’m more interested in natural talent myself,” Tallis sighed, shaking her head, “Expertise often puts one in such a box, I find. But to be shapable? Well…” Tallis shrugged and sipped her drink before continuing.
“What sorts of gifteds do you know then, Mister Moore?"
Post by Elliot Moore on May 27, 2023 6:04:24 GMT -5
"I do not feel comfortable outing any of my Gifted friends", Elliot responded with a polite smile. If she was looking for something specific, she would have to ask for it. He only knew about Ikisina's Gift, and he wouldn't just name her out of the blue. She had been in more than enough tricky situations.
Post by Tallis Scorza on Jun 2, 2023 18:34:18 GMT -5
"I do not feel comfortable outing any of my Gifted friends.”
Tallis raised an eyebrow. So he did have gifted friends. She grinned, sipping her drink. “My apologies, Mister Moore, I meant no offense,” though Tallis’s tone made it clear she could care less, “I’m simply trying to ascertain what it is you have to offer me. If you’re unwilling to make a deal, I’ll take what I know about you and your business and do with it exactly what I will.”
Post by Elliot Moore on Jun 3, 2023 7:08:29 GMT -5
He leaned back, intertwining his fingers and putting his hands on his belly. He wasn't easily threatened and Tallis didn't scare him. "It would be a whole lot easier if you told me what exactly you're looking for. I said I didn't feel comfortable outing my Gifted friends, because I don't know what you're looking for, Lady Morand. I'm sure I know just the right person for the task, once I know what the task entails."