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!
Oh to be the son in a family as ancient as Nevermere itself. There were some really great things that Alden loved of course, like the choice of career, money for whatever he liked, and the entertainment of participating in court politics. But the flipside of that was that he was going to need to continue the line with the right woman by his side. Her purpose would be to supply more Thornhills, and thus the wheel would continue to spin.
Of course that woman couldn't just be anyone, for the best because Alden had awful taste in woman. At least if his sister was to be believed, and @alinore was almost always right about everything. He wasn't allowed to base everything on looks, and experience in making him happy in bed was apparently a bad thing in a wife. So he left the proper set-ups to his family, and the vetting to his sister. One of the many ways she showed how much her little brother.
Today he was meeting with a Lady Atwood at the recommendation of @meiying . Of course he took the woman's advice in everything and anything, so he had mentioned it to his mother who was all to pleased that Alden was showing any interest in the slightest. So today they were having a supervised first meeting, a stroll around the Thornhill gardens with the supervising mothers.
Alden was dressed well, in a grey suit , really hoping that this woman wasn't a total bore and waste of a beautifully grey afternoon.
Post by Elodie Atwood on Jul 12, 2023 14:32:08 GMT -5
Elodie’s recent placement on staff duty had been noted by Lord and Lady Atwood. Already wary of Elodie’s choice to pursue military service, Lord Atwood had determined perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to deter Elodie for good. Both were loving parents, ones that had always handled their daughter with a light touch, but one night a frank conversation had turned into Lord Atwood chastising his daughter in no uncertain terms—leaving Elodie stunned speechless.
Once tempers had cooled, her father apologized for his behavior. Elodie accepted, hugging her Papa tightly, before going to bed. She lay up all night thinking. She was a woman who valued both service and family in equal measure. Never before had she doubted her priorities, but now? Her resolve was weakening.
So, when her mother inquired as she always did about the prospect of arranging meetings with some of Nevermere’s most eligible suitors, Elodie—much to her mother’s surprise—agreed.
It didn’t take long for Demelza to strike while the iron was hot. The subsequent morning, Elodie was informed she would be spending the afternoon with @alden . The name ‘Thornhill’ was recognizable, as the family had high status, but Elodie could not recall having ever met one of its sons.
Elodie dressed in an appropriately fine gown and set off in a carriage for the Thornhill estate. Approaching its gates, she found herself unexpectedly excited. Elodie was always so far out of her comfort zone with military matters. It was nice to finally be somewhere she knew she could thrive.
Elodie would be escorted to where Alden was waiting. She was able to take him in upon her approach. He was handsome she supposed, but not aggressively so. A little more boyish in face and stature than she typically preferred. But Elodie was resolved to approach with an open mind and a sense of adventure.
“Lady Elodie Atwood for you, sir.” The footman announced her presence. Elodie greeted Alden with an appropriate slight curtsy and a smile.
Alden was lost in thought about how he hoped this wouldn't be a total disaster and was interrupted by the footman. Taking a breath he looked towards the woman he would be spending the day with and almost lost the inspiration entirely. She was gorgeous and it took a lot of effort not to rake his gaze along her beautiful form. Even though some was hidden under skirts there was much that wasn't and it led the imagination places that were strictly not polite.
So he instead bowed, letting his eyes wander a second as his head dipped before straightening to meet her gaze. It was certainly a pleasure to meet Lady Atwood, and he was going to have to give his thanks to Meiying later. But he wasn't about to focus on how much he wanted to pull her into some bushes. This was a lady and she had to be treated as such.
"The pleasure is all mine Lady Atwood."
Nodding his head in the direction of the gardens he offered out his arm. "Shall we walk?" He wanted to talk with the woman beside him and while they would unfortunately never be out of site being out of earshot would be nice.
Post by Elodie Atwood on Jul 31, 2023 13:39:57 GMT -5
Elodie, lady that she was, remained entirely ignorant to the scandalous meanderings of Alden’s mind. Her own gaze did drift over him, though in assessment rather than desire. Clean, well-dressed—every bit the gentleman of Nevermere her mother had promised he’d be. Still…when Alden offered his arm, for a moment, she stalled. To take it felt like an admission of defeat. Elodie had been so headstrong in her pursuit of a military career. She’d thrown herself into it with such blind resolve, that it took the ball to open her eyes.
And now, that resolve had wavered.
“We shall,” Elodie said coquettishly as she slipped her arm in his. Alden towered over the tiny witch who was appropriately distanced from his side—close, but not too close. She’d drift alongside him to the outdoors, smile enduring as she fell into the familiar rhythm of polite banter.
“You must know, Lord Thornhill, that the reputation that precedes you is one of mystery,” Elodie’s tone was spritely, like the tinkling of a glockenspiel, “Much to my mother’s dismay I’ve made a rather skilled investigator of myself when it comes to judging one’s reputation, but you, Alden Thornhill, put those skills to the test.” She sighed playfully, “I suppose I'll have to judge your character for myself."
Alden noticed the pause, it was impossible not to when it was just the two of them. He wondered if she didn't even want to be there, and it was slightly annoying. Just because she was beautiful it didn't mean that he needed to be there. Honestly all of this wasn't his idea, and he really wished that she had just refused if she wasn't interested.
Still it seemed as though despite the pause she was going to go along with it. It was interesting, and he filed it away for later. For now he would act as though it hadn't happened and figure out if this was something he was remotely interested in. Her voice was pleasing, so that was something at least.
"I didn't realize I was such a problem." Smiling at Elodie he could only imagine what she might think of his sickly days. There was a reason no one knew about them, and seeing as the Thornhill name came down to him, he couldn't exactly share about that. All the same he was used to guiding a conversation how he wanted it to go so he wasn't worried. "What do you want to know Lady Atwood?"
Post by Elodie Atwood on Sept 9, 2023 9:36:37 GMT -5
“A problem? Oh not at all, I like a good challenge.” It was, admittedly, satisfying to be back on solid footing. Too often in her military pursuits, Elodie felt caught unawares, trying to catch up to what others already seemed to know. She could almost see her mother’s satisfied smile and raised eyebrow as if to say: “See? I told you.”
“Not who you are, Lord Thornhill, but who aspire to be. I find the latter question far more revealing if you’ll indulge me…” The little witch looked up at him with a pretty smile, dark eyes gazing through curled black lashes.