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!
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Birds. Rats. Birds. Rats. Birds. Rats. Birds. Hundreds of them since the day he was last at the tavern had surveyed the sky above, they perched on broken wagons, littered the ground, and even roosted upon the tavern itself. The rats however filled, darted, and dined in the streets surrounding the tavern always watching and always reporting to Ishmael. Mostly he had wanted to remind them they were being watched.
However today Ish wanted some personal one on one with the tavern, he wouldn't be alone either as his usual court followed only it had a few new guests four wolves that flanked the rear of Ishmaels two bears. Pulling his long black coat tight as he entered the quaint establishment followed by his ten rats and four wolves.
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
Post by Ona & Obri on Nov 29, 2023 10:02:39 GMT -5
It was hard not to notice the change around the tavern ever since the Eldouir had been around. She was certain that it was his doing, and that he was a sore loser. He couldn't deal with the fact that Demelza & Oberon had outplayed his sad little piano tone.
And it appeared that she was right. The few Dresmondi present in the building got up in fear and went upstairs or left through the back. Ona's eyes found Ishmael's and if they could strike him down, they would. If he wanted a chat, he could have came without all those animals. Rats were not too uncommon, but wolves were never a nice sight.
"Lord Eldouir, here for an encore?" she asked, putting up a pretty but fake smile.
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Nov 29, 2023 19:32:06 GMT -5
He looked down at the little barkeeper, "No," he said it with little to no thought, "I came for a drink," stepping further in Ishmael scanned the space once again, "Why wagons? Why did your people travel in wagons?"
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
The question was so utterly stupid and ignorant that it took Ona everything to not scoff. Instead she returned to the bar where she poured a mug of ale. Obri came out of his hiding spot behind the bar and crawled on top of it.
Be polite, Ona.
"Of course, Obri", she responded telepathically, and the tiger quoll would hear the amused tone in her thoughts.
The dark-haired woman offered Ishmael the mug and sat down at a table next to him.
"Why wagons?" she repeated, and shrugged with a soft smile. "We value our freedom, and above all, the connection between the members of the caravan. Why settle down when you can travel the kingdom? There's so much beauty out there that you will probably never see if you settle down in a city. It is- it was, our tradition." She leaned back a bit and looked at Ishmael and his animals. "To each their own, right?"
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Nov 30, 2023 8:37:08 GMT -5
A simple hmm, he approached the bar and sat his weight alone made the stool creak. The wolves padded around the bar sniffing with curiosity, "Ishmael," he finally spoke, "I want to reserve your establishment one night a week, for myself and any invited guests of my choosing, I like having a place to enjoy my music without bitching and moaning."
He hoped to have a soon Ish began to twist his beard at the corner of his mouth, "Ermir, he ran an establishment like this, I will supply you with his reserves of drink," while Ish was in charge he was going tighten some things up, they could still rule with fear but Ish didn't believe they could see the survival of these people much longer under these conditions..a few relationships with key figures would go a long way and perhaps giving them structure would be worthwhile for everyone. Everything he was doing had a point.
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
Shit. She really didn't feel like giving up her tavern like that. "That's possible, but just the tavern, not my girls", she said, a serious expression on her face. She wouldn't make her girls go through a night of red-head fucking each week, probably without even getting pay.
She poured an ale for herself as well and took a sip. "Do your wolves want some water?" she asked, tossing a look in the animals' direction.
"That's... Kind of you", she said, a bit surprised that he would just give her Ermir's reserve. "But I do have to ask, lord Eldouir, are you taking my place once a week, or am I getting something in return?" So far this Eldouir seemed like the most reasonable of them all. "Because if not, I have a proposition." Ona looked at him and Obri watched her with doubts. He didn't like that Ona was always so outgoing.
"That me giving you the tavern once a week for free counts as my tribute."
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Nov 30, 2023 11:13:22 GMT -5
Ishmaels nose wrinkled and his brow dropped into a scowl, "A self respecting man has no need for your girls, lords weeping," no Ish would never sink low enough to fuck a Dresmondi much less a sex working one, "I just need the space for us, my court," he meant his animals when he said his court, "and I. I don't want them around me...but," he shrugged, "Is trading flesh a feasible trade?" another idea to ponder and in due time he'd sort that out with her answer.
Looking at his wolves he shook his head, "Meat. They want meat....but about your inquiry...make the proposal at Tribute and I'll accept, and you'll get your mark. What does your critter do?"
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
Post by Ona & Obri on Nov 30, 2023 11:41:04 GMT -5
Forgive a woman for thinking ahead, she thought to herself when she saw his expression change to something between anger and disgust. Ona prided herself on keeping her girls safe, at all costs. She held up her hands, apologetically. "Alright, alright, I was just making sure."
Good, Ona. I admire you for thinking of the girls. They won't be happy about this arrangement, but they'll be grateful they aren't required to be here for it.
She looked at Obri for a second and smiled softly at him, grateful that he had her back.
"Is that a hypothetical question, or are you asking a brothel owner if she thinks trading flesh is a feasible trade?" she responded with an eyebrow slightly raised and a smile on her face. She was not a fan of the Eldouir at all, but if they conversed as respectfully as Ishmael did, she didn't mind having a little conversation.
She had no meat to offer, and water wouldn't suffice, so she moved on to the inquiry again. "You're leading the Tribute this year?" she asked, hiding her surprise at the fact that it wouldn't be Hiram. "Okay, I will. Can I trust that it will suffice? I would hate to go out there to only then hear it isn't enough." Maybe it was a little risky to ask that question, but she wanted to be sure.
Then he asked about Obri, whose ears turned backwards when the attention shifted to him. Ona took a sip of her ale, wiped the circle it had left behind in the bar away with a rag and placed it on her shoulder (barmaid like). "Obri is an electric dyr. Electrical charges, shocks and all that." She smiled at the animal, which made him relax a little bit.
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Dec 9, 2023 13:15:26 GMT -5
"You have my word, and you'll have your mark," Ishmael repeated back to her, "Drink? Pour two," Ishmael stood and began to walk the length of the bar a finger dragging behind him along the surface, "I had a reason for asking about your wagons," he paused at the end of the bar turning back to look at her quite clearly ignoring a good deal of her questions about him perhaps leading Tribute and her question to his question about flesh trading (he didn't really care; it had been a spoken thought), "Personal feelings about freedom and beauty aside, how did you suffice feeding your people? How did you aquire stones or metals much less wood if your peoples were always moving?"
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
She poured the two drinks like he asked her to, and was happy that he gave her his word. She hoped she could trust him, but she had learnt to try to trust people. She was prepared for disappointment, though.
He returned to the questions about the caravans. "Am I allowed to ask where this interest is coming from?" she asked politely. If he said no, so be it.
"You wouldn't know judging by the way the land looks now, but it used to be very fertile. The horse manure that dropped while traveling fed the earth, and there were plenty of plants and fruits around Dresmond. During certain times in the year, most of us would be at the same place, do trading was also a big part of it."
She was careful with what she said. For example, she didn't said it was mostly the earth dyr that were important for food, and instead she focussed on horse manure. Trade was simplified in her explanation, and she didn't say that the Rashai announced their routes at the beginning of each Conclave so that caravans could find them if they needed the goods they produce.
"We also weren't always traveling. We stuck to a route, but stayed out from time to time, to gather materials."
She took a sip of her ale, looking over the brim of the mug, curious what he'd say.
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Dec 9, 2023 19:27:22 GMT -5
Ishmael was genuinely intrigued and eating up every word, these were prudent details for the change he sought. He returned to his seat for his drink (to which a rat tasted first; normal precaution) when it seemed all was fine he drank from his offered drink, chewing the woman's words.
But he grunted, "Your critters, hmm," he stroked his wild red beard pondering, "This one electric...another darkness...that crazy girl and her ice cock...elemental in nature. I can probably assume other critters do other elemental things...some Gifted do these things: plant control, wind, fire," he grumbled on with another proper drink, "Don't mind me, I'm just looking for a way to make you and your people more beneficial, do you think the last few Tributes have been good? Trinkets and flesh and blood are all you have to really offer?" Ishmael tapped his cup against the bar top and his leg bounced, "I can offer this nugget of advice: my brother is going to get bored of these Tributes. A bored Eldouir is a chaotic pandemic. My brother isn’t about details or bigger pictures, but I am. My interests can offer your people a less fearful life. Productive Tributes. Freedom...a stationary freedom...and freedom being loosely based on what the Dresmondi can offer for the future."
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
She wouldn't respond to the question about the Tribute, because in her opinion, and most other Dresmondi's as well, the Eldouir didn't even deserve those trinkets. Ona wasn't sure how to fe about the things he said.
He's skimming past the fact that we used to do these things while enjoying our freedom. He just wants to make us even bigger slaves. Instead of taking, we have to give.
Ona didn't respond to Obri, but she agreed with what he said, but on the other hand, what he offered them was better than what Hiram offered them.
"Not all Dresmondi will be able to see what you offer as the gift that it is, I'm afraid, but I hear what you're saying, my lord", she said. "Would your family like that idea, though? Forgive my bluntness, what you offer would be nicer than the way we live now, but if we still live in fear of punishment all the time, that freedom turns into slavery quickly."
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Dec 10, 2023 20:15:57 GMT -5
"You see, I have the freedoms within my family to do what I want," Ishmael echoed the words of his very brother, Ishmael obviously was taking those words quite literal, "trust me or don't, this is going to happen...my change, and I would greatly appreciate it if you would get behind me on this. Inspire your people to want better, if my family had just remained collared dogs to the kingdom of Lorendale," he finished his drink and stood, all of his creatures seemed to begin heading toward the door, "Well we'd be down in the mud like you, just as fearful as you...but as long as people have legs they can stand in the mud."
It looked like Ishmael was going to leave on that but he paused and turned holding up a finger, "One last question, and Ona, I'll know if you lie," he clasped his hands behind his back, "I hope we can be level headed enough not to lie to each other, so, don't," which he hoped for the most part struck a little fear in her about everything they had spoke about before, had she told him the truth? With held information?
"The way your people aquire your critters...why is it not practiced?"
Obri — tiger quoll — element: ELECTRIC
The ability to manipulate electric charges. Uses include: controlling the lightning in a storm, electrocuting people or objects, manipulating static, and more.
It was odd to her how he could hear himself say that his family would have been in the same position as the Dresmondi were in now without feeling any remorse or compassion. The Dresmondi, a people that never had done anything to the Eldouir, had to suffer so they could shine. The Eldouir were cowards. Instead of taking control in Lorendale and turning the non-Gifteds into slaves like the Dresmondi now we're, they feasted in the chaos that ruled Desmondi after the invasion of Coheed. "I'll try", she said softly.
Will you?!
"He offers a better alternative, Obri. It's like choosing between losing a hand or a foot."
Hmm...
Her dyr wasn't pleased.
The tall man and his animals started to leave, but he had another question. One that she didn't want to answer, but she had to.
Ona stared at him for a few seconds before taking a deep breath. "As you know, before the Eldouir arrived here," it took a lot out of her to not say invaded, "Coheed invaded us two times. The Mother Caravans merged for safety, but Coheed and internal conflicts made it a very difficult time for Dresmond. The power that allowed us to get a dyr was lost. Since then, we haven't been able to do the ritual."
She wanted to find the Medaillon again to be the One, but nobody knew where it was. She hoped she told Ishmael enough to satisfy him.
Animal Lordship allows the user to communicate with and command animals through speech, which to the outsider gifted or non-gifted sounds like gibberish.
Post by Ishmael Eldouir on Dec 11, 2023 8:02:14 GMT -5
"Hmm," his hands shifted and he stuffed them in his pockets, "Thank you, I will be going now Ona but thank you. For a better tomorrow, keep that in mind."
He left probably making Ona feel uneasy, definitely without the clarification of how satisfied he was with her answer. Ish felt there was more at play with how a Dresmondi got their dyrs but he'd collect it piece by piece if need be.