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!
It was rare that Vesper had the time for much other than work these days. Or at least it was rare that she took any time that she did have available. However, she had a few potions that were running low and she needed to gather some ingredients for them. She could have maybe found all that she needed in one of the potion shops but she was picky and preferred to get exactly what she needed and the quality she wanted by searching for it herself.
Atop a black stallion, she rode outside of the city and towards the forest, her hooded black cloak flowing around her. In the cloudy, gloomy day she could have looked like one of the four horseman, Death probably. When the clouds had invaded the Nevermere sky upon Sarilla's curse, Vesper had never much missed the sun. She preferred the grey.
Finding a spot just off the road that she liked, she dismounted and harnessed her horse to a tree as she wound her way between the trees, looking for a particular kind of moss. She removed the hood from her head as she crouched down beside a large boulder.
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Jul 26, 2023 15:15:14 GMT -5
The thing about being a commoner was that one had to be frugal about things, and it was far cheaper to gather ingredients by hand when possible…plus fresher was just better in her opinion. Of course, her employer paid her rather generously, given her age and experience in what he’d hire her for, but old habits die hard…and she rather liked going out to gather ingredients. It was an excuse to get out of the city proper, and she could enjoy the comparative silence. Also, it was something she used to do with her mother when she was alive, and gathering gave her the illusion of feeling close to her.
Rhedara walked to the woods, basket in hand. Her clothes were simple, a dark green skirt with a lighter bodice that had a subtle, leafy embroidery near the laces on the front. She didn’t care much if she got it dirty, but she still wore an apron with large pockets over the skirt. Dressed as she was, if her cloak were red instead of dark brown, she surely would have resembled Little Red Riding Hood.
There were a number of things Rhedara needed to gather, from blue fungus, the bark of a weeping willow, and a specific moss. She couldn’t hope to pronounce the name, but it was very recognizable compared to other species. Checking every patch of moss she could find as she traversed through the woods, she had started to fear that it might have been too early in the year to find it when she saw a large boulder. Now that seemed hopeful.
She approached, but paused as she saw a figure dressed in dark clothing approach the very boulder Rhedara had been aiming for. There was something unsettling whoever that was, more unsettling than her employer. She’d just convinced herself to keep heading toward the boulder when the figure removed her hood, and Rhedara had to double take.
Was that a ghost? No, no…she’d not heard of ghosts being real, which was a wild thought given that most of the women in Skia could summon hellish creatures with even the smallest sacrifice.
Gathering her courage—which Rhedara had never been short on—she approached the woman, making sure to make noise as she moved. She did not know if this woman was currently a soldier or had done anything past the mandatory training and it was always wise to take precautions.
When she was close enough that the woman could hear her without the younger witch shouting, Rhedara would say almost awkwardly, “Hello,” but couldn’t think of anything intelligent to say after that, so she stayed silent.
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Jul 28, 2023 15:01:09 GMT -5
Ah-ha. There it was, right where she assumed it would be. She pulled a small dagger from her boot that she planned to use to scrape off the moss carefully when she heard movement behind her. Gripping the dagger more firmly she looked over her shoulder to see a woman moving towards her and then awkwardly greeting her.
Vesper's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the woman for a moment. She didn't know who she was just by looking at her, having been given her appointment after the girl had been discharged. She stood, looking the woman up and down to determine if she was a threat. You'd think she'd assume that it was unlikely but after what had been happening in Nevermere lately, Vesper didn't trust anyone. Not that she was overly trusting in the first place. "Hello..." she replied, a deep rumble in her voice. "Odd to find someone else out here," she commented but noted the girl's basket and apron and put two and two together. "Gathering ingredients?" she asked.
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Aug 2, 2023 21:41:47 GMT -5
Rhedara felt the woman study her and she had to resist the urge to fidget. Considering that her boss was the type to silently study people—including her—she was well used to keeping still in the face of noble scrutiny. More or less.
It was odd to find someone else out this far in the woods. It was certainly easier to just purchase any ingredients if that was what one was looking for, “Yes, my lady,” Rhedara assumed the stranger was nobility if she were judging the quality of her clothes correctly. No commoner would wear such a nice fabric to the woods if they managed to get a hold of it, “I’m gathering some ingredients,” the younger witch looked at the moss that had grown near the rock, “Were you also looking for that moss?”
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Aug 6, 2023 17:16:31 GMT -5
The young woman was polite and respectful but that didn't mean that Vesper's guard was any lower. A kind word might just be hiding a snake. Vesper didn't follow her gaze to the stone behind her but gave a small nod in confirmation of her question.
"I am. Perhaps we're trying to make the same thing. What do you typically use this moss for?" she asked, attempting to keep her tone more curious than scrutinizing. She wasn't the easiest person to get along with but that didn't mean she didn't try. At least on occasion.
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Aug 8, 2023 15:04:35 GMT -5
It was difficult to not feel as though she were being tested by the older witch…but maybe Rhedara was looking too far into the question. She was probably simply making polite conversation, but the young witch was well aware of the dangers of strangers. Witches, after all, were naturally drawn to dark ideas. It was just in their nature.
“A sleeping potion this time,” she said, trying not to let her uncertainty show as she approached a little closer, “What do use this moss for?”
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Aug 15, 2023 12:29:23 GMT -5
A sleeping potion. She'd made many, they were useful for a weary soul who just needed some rest. That was not her goal today though. "A paralyzing potion," she answered as though it was the most mundane thing in the world. It made sense to use the moss for both of these potions. It would mostly be the amount used that would make the biggest difference.
"Don't let me stand in your way," Vesper said, moving to the side a bit to allow the other witch to come close enough to the log to collect some moss herself. Only when Rhedara was standing fully beside her did Vesper crouch back down to continue with her own collection of the ingredient.
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Aug 24, 2023 22:22:30 GMT -5
If Rhedara had been a floppy-eared dog, her ears would have perked with the intensity of her professional interest. As it was, she actively tried not to appear too interested in the other woman’s prospective potion, but probably failed. Rhedara had always loved the nuances and differences between each potion. The creation of each concoction was a bit of an art, especially with potions as close as the ones the two witches would be creating soon, “Oh!” Her interest slipped out in a girlish whoosh, damn it, “What are you making a paralyzing potion for if you don’t mind me asking? I’m Rhedara Shannon, by the way,” she quickly introduced herself, an afterthought brought forth more out of politeness than anything else.
She would crouch down next to the woman to scrape away the moss that she needed. The other woman was unnerving. Not in the way her employer was unnerving. Keelan Morrigan always seemed to have something secret running in his clever head and nothing appeared to phase him, but this woman was unnerving in a more…quietly dignified way. She seemed unflappable from their small interaction and Rhedara who was still a teenager even though she had been considered an adult for some years, instinctually wanted to emulate. She herself had proven herself to be impulsive and arguably hot headed. Would she be able to keep herself in check and behave with this sort of dignity one day?
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Aug 25, 2023 9:53:00 GMT -5
Rhedara Shannon. Though Vesper had not met the girl before she did actually recognize the name because of all that happened with Bex at the ball, all of which happened shortly before her appointment, she had heard that this witch had lost her position because she had cursed her superior. It was the first response to a tighter regime and discipline within the military. There was the smallest look of having recognized the name but it quickly passed and Vesper made no comment on it.
"Vesper Delvaux," she offered her name in return. "As for the potion, well, I like to keep my stocks fresh just in case the need arises." As inquisitor general she could think of far more instances to use the potion than she had before. It would be very helpful in keeping an enemy or unruly soldier or citizen from getting too far.
Only once Rhedara was finished with her collection did Vesper move to do the same, using a small dagger to carefully and tenderly scrape the moss from the log and wrapping it in a bit of cloth before tucking it safely away along with the little blade.
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Sept 9, 2023 8:26:32 GMT -5
Vesper’s name did not ring a bell for Rhedara…but if the older witch had anything to do with the military while Rhedara had still been in it, she figured that she had been in a different area than her. Or maybe she wasn’t involved with the military at all, but Rhedara doubted that. This woman had an air of authority that could only come from being in command of something more rigid than a household of servants.
Rhedara nodded, “I like to keep mine fresh too,” she said, opening the pouch she had brought for the moss, “I can predict the outcome of the potion better, and there’s less of a chance of botching it,” was she babbling? Rhedara didn’t think she was the type to babble—especially about something that the older witch likely already knew, but it really was difficult to not “talk shop” with another witch that knew something about potions, “You make a lot of potions, I take it?
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Sept 13, 2023 11:42:53 GMT -5
It would have been so easy to just walk away, to leave this encounter and think nothing of it again, yet she stayed. Perhaps it was because it was kind of nice to talk about magic instead of just military stuff all the time. Don't get her wrong, she absolutely loved the position she was now in and the purpose it gave to her life. But this change of pace was unexpectedly...pleasant.
"I do. I find it to be rather relaxing and like to have a variety of things on hand just in case," she stated. She moved away from the log then, not to walk away from the girl but because there were other ingredients she needed to be gathered and moved towards a bush with small dark colored berries on it.
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Oct 7, 2023 19:46:04 GMT -5
“Me too!” Rhedara blurted out enthusiastically, “It’s the only way I can calm my thoughts some days. Creating something fantastical with seemingly mundane things is so satisfying,” It’d been the first of her magic that she’d become competent in, and also made her feel closer to her late mother who had taught her the skill, but she wasn’t about share that with a stranger.
The older witch didn’t seem keen on leaving, and Rhedara wasn’t in a hurry to leave either…and there were some mushrooms growing nearby that she could use for something…she moved to the mushrooms and squatted down to study them. They were odd looking…a deep indigo color with the ends of the cap curled toward her like a bowl. She’d never used them in a potion before…she’d have to consult the potion book she’d salvaged from her mother’s things.
“I’ve never used this before,” she said to the older witch, “Do you think this would make a good replacement for toadstool?”
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Oct 10, 2023 10:36:37 GMT -5
Vesper had just been reaching for the berries when Rhedara had exclaimed their similarities in a much more excited tone than Vesper had expected. Her hand paused in it's progression as she looked over towards the woman with slightly raised brows. It seemed almost too loud in the quiet of the forest. She agreed with what she said however and though she didn't reply she gave a little bob of her head in agreement as she began to pluck some of the berries and add them to her collection of items.
Upon the question from Rhedara she looked over to see her near a collection of mushrooms. She walked over to where the girl was studying them and recognized them immediately. "Not at all, actually. You might be surprised with even how small changes can alter a potion but these in particular are quite rare and do not have the same poisonous qualities as a toadstool. I would imagine that using these in place of a toadstool might change the entire potion. I'd be curious to see how they differ honestly."
Last Edit: Nov 28, 2023 12:38:31 GMT -5 by Vesper Delvaux
Post by Rhedara Shannon on Nov 10, 2023 22:16:35 GMT -5
Rhedara considered the mushrooms. It had been a while since she’d been able to experiment with the components of a potion. If not poisonous like toadstool…or at least, a different kind of poison. Would it make a decent sleeping potion? Or something more hallucinogenic? Medicinal was a possibility, but Rhedara couldn’t think of a mushroom that she’d used in many healing potions even though she was sure something could be used to that effect.
She reached out and carefully plucked one out of the ground, then turned it over in her hands, studying it, “Have you used one of these before?” She asked, “How awful do you think it would be if I replaced toadstool with this in a sleeping potion?”
Post by Vesper Delvaux on Nov 28, 2023 12:40:57 GMT -5
Vesper hummed thoughtfully and moved closer to Rhedara to examine the mushroom. "I don't believe I have," she admitted. "I'd say make sure you try it on something other than a human first," she said with a little chuckle. Rodents, birds, she'd have options. "Honestly, I'd be very curious to see how it differs. Perhaps I can be there when you test it?" she asked, true interest in her eyes.