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!
Hadrian learned of the supposed memo through the military grapevine—which was becoming troublingly efficient and distributing information. But the means of delivery was not nearly as troubling as its content. Hadrian hauled the assistant who had the poor fortune of mentioning their most recent briefing into his office and grilled him endlessly with questions. With every answer, Hadrian’s face turned redder and redder until he was nearly speechless with rage.
Hadrian sent two of his most trusted staff officers to ascertain the extent of the damage. He’d also sent for Vesper Delvaux , who he informed of the situation. Several hours later they returned and delivered a brief verbal report of what they’d gathered. With a poisonous gaze and a furrowed brow, Hadrian requested the presence of Aldrich Abbott and @warren .
Perhaps under other circumstances, he would have felt the pressure to maintain idle chit-chat with the person sharing his office, but he felt no such requirement where Vesper was concerned. Besides, Hadrian was spending the time to do his best to compose himself before his two seniormost officers arrived.
When they were allowed inside, the fact the meeting would not be a pleasant one was immediately plain. Waves of rage rolled off of Hadrian like water off the bow of a ship. He would not invite either Warren or Aldrich to sit, and neither would he stand for them.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 7, 2023 15:03:54 GMT -5
The information about the meeting that Hadrian had ordered came completely unexpected. Aldrich had no idea why the Captain Commander wanted to see him, but he knew better than to ask questions or make the man wait, so as soon as he was supposed to be at Hadrian's office, he was there.
The moment he set foot into the room, a knot formed in his stomach. The atmosphere was hostile, and he started thinking about all the things he had ever done wrong in his life. We're any of these things that concerned the Commander? No seats were offered, and the look on the gray-haired man was serious, if not agitated or just plain angry. "Captain Commander Usher", Aldrich said as a greeting accompanied with a nod, after gathering the courage to do so.
Like Abbott, Warren was also unaware of what exactly the meeting was about but he also made his way to the office as soon as his presence was requested. When he arrived and entered the office, he also felt the tension. He stood just inside, his hands behind his back, as he dipped his head. "Captain Commander Usher," he repeated the words as Aldrich had, though he felt no apprehension. He could think of nothing he had done to garner punishment, and stood with a clear conscious, despite curiosity.
Post by Vesper Delvaux on May 7, 2023 16:20:52 GMT -5
Vesper stood out of the way, soaking in the rage that was emanating from Hadrian as if they were warm rays of sunlight. There was an energy in that rage that made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t in quite a while. She offered no casual words while they waited for Warren and Aldrich and soon enough the men were there.
Vesper stood as darkly and silently as the shadows in the corner is the room, her face a mask that hid any emotion she might be feeling, including the ever constant pain of her leg.
Post by Hadrian Usher on May 8, 2023 7:37:48 GMT -5
Hadrian thought that he had properly gathered himself, but on seeing Aldrich and Warren he found his temper springing up anew. The minute of silence would stretch on, but for all their recent failings, Hadrian hoped that the two men before him would be wise enough to maintain silence until their commander spoke. When Hadrian did, his words were slow, taught and creaking like a dam of rage ready to break.
“I want you to explain to me how sensitive military intelligence regarding Dresmond is now, seemingly, common knowledge to any soldier who’s ever wielded a sword.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 8, 2023 7:45:08 GMT -5
Aldrich blinked in surprise when the Commander spoke. He was glad that it was 'just' this, but it still caught him off guard. He looked to the side, to Warren, before returning his gaze to Hadrian. He was in a difficult situation now. He didn't want to throw the Captain under the bus, but it appeared that Aldrich had done something wrong in the eyes of Hadrian by following the Captain's orders. So he remained silent, with his hands behind his back. It seemed best if he let Warren explain it. He was still his superior, after all. And he knew better than to disrespect a superior by putting the blame on them.
Warren's eyes narrowed somewhat, almost entirely in confusion. They bounced from Hadrian, to the woman posted up behind him like a creeping bodyguard, and then back to the Commander. He didn't bother to look to Aldrich - he had immediately understood what the two had been called to the office for, and the Lieutenant had done nothing but carry out Warren's orders. What was so confusing was the reason this information was bringing them to the office in the first place, or the apparent anger with which Hadrian felt toward it.
Warren respected Hadrian more than anyone else in the military, and he even respected the formally retired woman haunting his office. But he felt no fear toward Hadrian's apparent rage. The stretching silence produced nothing like anxiety or nerves in the pit of his stomach. They were two grown men, much too old to be frightened by expression, much too experienced to worry over things like punishment when they had looked into the eyes of death. He looked toward his Commander knowing he had done nothing wrong, regardless of whatever punishment may come from this stilted anger.
"I presume you're referring to the information we passed onto the soldiers during training regarding the elemental magic that the Dresmondi dyrs possess. You can only be referring to this, because to my knowledge, that is the only information that has been divulged to them. So I will explain: immediately following the events of the ball, I had a meeting with Lieutenant Abbott in which I requested he review my notes on the Dresmondi and Eldouir as a second pair of eyes. Throughout Autumna of last year I had spent hours collecting that information by scouring records, reading books available in the library, and by speaking to one of the Dresmondi that was here - the man, Zevran. My intention in doing this was to look for a weakness, both in the Dresmondi dyrs' magic and the Eldouir's magic. I had hoped that together, Lieutenant Abbott and I could create a sound strategy for our men to combat that magic. This was all before you told me, sir, that the conflict with the Eldouir was to be put off."
He paused, but his eyes remained on Hadrian. "An elaboration of the Dresmondi magic is essential to our soldiers. How are they supposed to fight against something they know nothing about? Regarding sensitive military intelligence, I had no idea that speaking of their elemental magic was sensitive intelligence not meant for everyone. However, unless someone was controlling the Dresmondi during the entirety of his stay here, any of the information I passed on to Lieutenant Abbott could have very easily been obtained by anyone who held a conversation with Zevran. He was not my charge, so I cannot say what he has and hasn't told anyone else other than me but I do know I was not the first to hear his story, and it is unlikely that I was the last. Despite this, Commander, I will take responsibility for this apparent leak of intelligence, and I take whatever consequence you feel necessary."
Post by Hadrian Usher on May 10, 2023 14:54:58 GMT -5
Hadrian didn’t know whether to be impressed or infuriated by Warren’s continued calm. He listened, bristling at the name Zevran, his jaw visibly clenching. That irritation only continued, Hadrian raising to his feet by the time Warren mentioned that ‘anyone who held a conversation with Zevran’ would have been allowed to obtain such details. That he was not the first or last to hear the story. Hadrian disagreed with that assessment; after all, Zevran had guards following him everywhere. His interactions were—supposed to be—limited. He had been instructed by the king to keep them as such. But Hadrian would be looking into that and firing whoever it was that had been so negligent in their surveillance.
“So you tell me that to train your soldiers—” Hadrian’s words were careful, but biting, “You found it necessary to relay the details of what we know about the Dresmondis’ capabilities? And—worst of all—the extent of our knowledge of the Eldouir’s capabilities? Can you not see how that is tipping our hand? Imagine,” Hadrian seethed, “Imagine that the Eldouir discovered what it was you’ve reported; do you not imagine that they’d find what we know or do not know about their gifts to be useful? And furthermore—” Hadrian’s voice was starting to rise now.
“Did you—either of you—not think to include me on such of a report? So that educated decisions about its existence might be made before being brought before the masses?” Hadrian wanted him to understand the severity of the misstep, for evidently, Warren did not.
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 10, 2023 15:08:11 GMT -5
Aldrich would speak up now. "Sir, I see where you're coming from, but what was the alternative? Letting our soldiers leave for Dresmond with no knowledge whatsoever about who they were up against?" He paused a moment.
The risk of the enemy finding out what you know was always a possibility, but of Hadrian didn't trust his soldier enough to believe they would keep that information for themselves, that was something that he should have told them. "I did not know this hadn't been discussed with you, sir, but with all respect, I agree with Captain Woodwick that the soldiers need to know the enemy is, and what they're capable of." He would back Warren up on this.
We won't call it quits. We'll call it the start.
Last Edit: May 10, 2023 15:09:18 GMT -5 by Aldrich Abbott
Warren watched Hadrian stand, and listened without interruption to his justifications. And he understood, surely, that certain information was important to keep out of the hands of the enemy. Yet, as Aldrich had said, the only other option was to allow their soldiers to go into battle blindly, be taken entirely by surprise, and devastated. "You're correct, Commander, that I did not think to come to you about this information. As I stated before, I had no idea it would be considered classified and that was, indeed, an oversight on my part which I take full responsibility for. Had I come to you to check, we would not be here." And the soldiers would still be entirely ignorant.
Despite his calm demeanor, Warren wasn't unperturbed by all this. He genuinely felt like he had done nothing wrong, and that there was no justifiable reason that these specific pieces of information should be considered classified. His frustration came in realizing that the Commander seemed to feel the opposite way. An army of ignorant soldiers was only ever going to get so far. So little information trickled down to them as it was, already only being told - even to the officers - only when absolutely necessary. So yes, he was frustrated, but he was not the kind of man to show it.
"I understand your frustration with me, Commander, but I fail to see how the information we distributed to the soldiers would give anyone an advantage over us that we have not then, too, gained over them. If the Eldouir have managed to find a way to infiltrate our military in order to find out what we know, we've already lost, have we not? They wouldn't stop at what we know about their gifts. They could know any amount of information about our magic, our werewolves, our strategies, and all of that pales in comparison to what little we know about them."
"But the information was passed down verbally, not via a physical report. The only written version was a copy of my personal notes, which was made only for Lieutenant Abbott to study. We did not recite the notes word for word to the soldiers. We told them what the abilities were, and what they should expect to see on the battlefield when fighting a Dresmondi soldier or one of the Eldouir. No more, no less. If that was wrong, so be it. As I've said, I will take full responsibility."
Post by Vesper Delvaux on May 17, 2023 15:15:09 GMT -5
Vesper was inwardly seething. From her point of view, the biggest problem here was one of disorder and acting above one’s station. She didn’t disagree that the information would be useful to share but it should have been a discussion with their commander first and thus shared in the safest and most organized way possible.
To think that a capitan would not even think that he ought not to share this kind of information without first discussing it with the captain commander was more than a mere accidental oversight, it was an early sign of the deterioration of order within the military, a deterioration that could soon become their downfall.
As she listened she began to scratch a couple of notes onto her pad of parchment.
Post by Hadrian Usher on May 20, 2023 17:18:47 GMT -5
Hadrian’s face was turning an unnatural color. It was now not the original transgression that had him lighting with rage, but the defiance. The insubordination, even when confronted with what had been such a clear wrong. Warren’s list of reasons continued—on and on until Hadrian was tempted to strike the man to silence him.
When Warren finished, Hadrian was silent for a moment. He breathed deeply, trying to rein in his temper before he spoke again. Both had acted above their station. Both had deviated from their roles to dabble in intelligence gathering and distribution. Hadrian felt the temptation to mount a defense, to try to make Warren understand, but this was not a courtroom where a fair trial would be offered. As far as Warren’s career was concerned, Hadrian’s word was law.
“I have put great trust in you, Woodwick, and that trust has granted you certain liberties,” Hadrian said, each word following another with clear restraint to keep from shouting, “But you and you, Lieutenant Abbott,” He glared at Abbott for a moment before turning back to Warren, “Have disregarded the chain of command. You’ve held intelligence you had no way of knowing I had seen, and instead passed it on to every soldier in our army.” He looked with bitterness at Warren, almost disgust.
“I want all physical notes on this matter handed over to me. Your performance in Cambria will determine whether or not you keep your rank, Captain. For now, consider yourself on probation. Vesper Delvaux will be conducting a thorough assessment of your conduct; consider her your shadow for the time being. And as for you—” Hadrian turned on Abbott, “Consider yourself warned, Lieutenant. Given your access to such intelligence, our forces best be prepared to my full satisfaction.”
Post by Aldrich Abbott on May 22, 2023 8:41:24 GMT -5
There was no use in going against the Commander. It would get him fired, and it wouldn't change the man's mind anyway, so Aldrich would shut up and nod.
"Understood, sir. I will bring you the notes after this meeting."
He still didn't feel like he had disrespected the chain of command. He had done what Warren had asked of him, and he hadn't known that this hadn't been cleared with Hadrian beforehand. Still, he would take the warning without talking back to the man. A warning was far better than being out on probation.
We won't call it quits. We'll call it the start.
Last Edit: May 22, 2023 8:46:04 GMT -5 by Aldrich Abbott
Warren stood and listened as Hadrian doled out his punishments. In all truth, the only part of this that Warren regretted was that his actions had gotten Abbott in trouble with the Commander as well. It was a mistake, an oversight as he'd said, and it wouldn't happen again. He was a man who could follow orders, regardless of his feelings on the matter, and once told not to do something, he would not do it. It was that simple, at least it was for him. "Yes, sir, I understand."
Post by Vesper Delvaux on May 22, 2023 17:28:58 GMT -5
The authority and anger coming from the Commander filled the room to the brim and Vesper soaked it all in silently. She stopped writing once he was speaking again to fully focus on his words and the reactions of the men in front of her. Neither looked particularly humbled given the orders and warnings given to them both and it only put her further on alert to catch any potential signs of going against the Commander or making further mistakes. Or was it possible they were not mistakes at all but rather intentional undermining? She intended to find out.
Dark eyes turned to @warren as he was informed of what her own task was. It was time to get to know more about this man who had been promoted to captain. Especially before he went to Cambria. Her gaze didn't leave the Captain as he spoke, acknowledging his understanding.