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!
Post by Augustus Rainecourt on Feb 4, 2024 12:17:07 GMT -5
Augustus’s resolve did not falter. When Iliana chastised him his jaw clenched and his expression grew dark as clouds before the storm. It was not befitting of a ruler to cast blame. To assume no responsibility for what had been done and instead point the finger at others. He would not accept the premise that it was they who were at fault.
“A plan without provision for its execution is no plan at all,” Augustus said, refusing to back down, “Were we to imagine how you sought for these plans to be executed? To take matters into our own hands and ask forgiveness before permission? One could argue Duke Mikaels was a member of your cabinet acting with initiative, and see what havoc that has brought. But—“ Augustus glanced at Scout before returning his eyes to Iliana.
“Lady Kane is right in acknowledging the landscape has changed. Thanks to Elena, the people of Lorendale have witnessed the full horror of what gifted magic can do. Shouldn’t your actions reflect it? Is it really so unreasonable for your citizens to expect more than you putting judgment for their safety in the hands of an Allemeade?”
Augustus ignored the mention of Honora. She was last on his list at the moment.
Arynnite armor: The armor have two states: active and inactive. When inactive, they look like little more than ornate metal bracers, easily ignored. When triggered, the armor covers Tybalt and serves as an exoskeleton. It will protect its wearer from physical damage and is practically indestructible.
The armor has a certain "preprogrammed" purpose which is to protect its host. To do so, it reacts to heightened emotional states such as fear and anger, at which point the armor will trigger regardless of whether or not Tybalt wants it to or even if he's immediately aware of the threat. It has some degree of awareness and sentience although very basic and one which struggles to differentiate between enemies and friends. Whilst not actually in possession of a will, the armor can guide or direct its host in a specific action, much like a reflex.
The armor needs to be "fed" as Tybalt has discovered meaning that he must hold and absorb through touch certain metals such as steel, copper, iron and tin, a process which takes a few minutes. Without which, the armor will begin to weaken and become less effective until no longer able to manifest.
Perhaps its greatest weakness is that if being consistently bashed or beaten, it would begin to repair itself by using parts of the armor from elsewhere. For instance, if the wearer is being consistently hit in the chest, the armor will begin to pool away from other parts of their body such as the feet and hands, leaving them vulnerable.
Post by Tybalt Zane on Feb 4, 2024 14:51:15 GMT -5
Tybalt felt the change of the atmosphere in the room. He managed to keep his lips tightly sealed. Iliana had managed to do something he would have thought impossible and remind him of her mother. The commander allowed her to speak, acutely aware of her rank.
Besides, it sounded as if Augustus had summed up much of the feelings of those around the room. There was no sense in ganging up on her. Perhaps the man might have been a little bit more tempted to make something of a remark, about how things couldn't be done overnight or by pointing out the extremely large pile of bodies that had been amassed during the last Eldouir trial but he was willing to disregard some of the queen's comments as still being a result of her illness. Tybalt's eyes would widen as Iliana seemed to show some signs of weakness, but seeing that husband and uncle were already there for her, he didn't want to crowd her.
He risked a brief glance to his niece. Thankful that she was keeping her head. If she cared to look towards her uncle, he would see a hint of pride there which he didn't attempt to conceal.
So Tybalt would push his personal feelings asides and concentrate on his job. "We haven't heard from Sir Ghayth in quite some time your majesty. In the meantime, some of my other men have taken over the investigation. If Honora is still in Lorendale, she is keeping an extremely low profile. I feel there is a very real chance, given her history, that she might have gone to the Eldouir." A heavy accusation, but a very real threat.
"Five-hundred Kanesmen were sent some weeks ago to protect the Allemeade farm your majesty." Tybalt reminded her. They were the veterans from the Kane lands, proud horsemen whose loyalty couldn't be called into question. "In addition to the gifted, it should be more than enough of a deterrent for any potential troublemakers." To take on such a force, one would either need gifted of their own, or an army. Even if Simon Mikaels summoned all of his forces and marched on them, he wouldn't be guaranteed a victory.
"As far as Simon Mikaels is concerned. We could probably arrest him. However, as I've said, he almost certainly isn't working alone. If we move too quickly, his accomplices and sympathizers will go to ground. We might never know who they are, and it will be extremely difficult, not to say impossible to find any real proof of their involvement. If I haven't moved yet, majesty, it's because I had hoped to at least identify a nest of snakes, rather than just cut off one's head."
The man let out a weighty sigh. "We do need magic majesty, but it's my firm belief that just throwing gifted at the problem won't be enough. I was in Coheed when Hiram and his family launched their attacks. I saw what they did, not just to warriors, but women and children too, all slaughtered. Coheed's forces outnumbered our own, and they had the assistance of an Enchanter and yet they couldn't raise a finger against them. Dresmond folded in a few days. Arynn Frey's wall was brought down in the space of few hours, and that was with their enchantments and loyal Dresmondi with their dyr." He was maybe hammering the fact a bit, but the commander felt it was necessary. "Even if we summoned every single gifted in the nation, and rallied them to our cause, the fallout from such a conflict could easily be catastrophic. I don't think that it would be a sign of weakness, for any of the nations to work together in when faced with such a threat."
Last Edit: Feb 4, 2024 14:51:58 GMT -5 by Tybalt Zane
The gritted teeth from Scout Kane didn’t go unnoticed. Iliana didn’t understand why she was so upset, it simply was her duty. It was what she accepted to take on when Count Wyndham disappeared, and never once had the woman ever expressed wishing a different role in such a short time of securing this one. A year, was it? Meanwhile she had leaned more on Scout than she ever had Hugh. On big things that were not just pretty events and gatherings. Yet it seems things shifted. Especially as Augustus rose against her again in words.
“Acting on initiative?” Her tone implied bewilderment. “By forging my name on a document that never crossed my desk and distributing it to our kingdom?” The words soft, no shout to be found, though her green eyes remained hard and sharp on him, even as she shifted her weight to try and settle her stomach. “And I’ll remind you, it’s with the help of forced hands of gifteds who made our kingdom. Allemeade included.” She studied everyone in the room. Not gifted, not gifted, enhanced but not gifted, a King from another kingdom but also not gifted.
But as Tybalt spoke up, she couldn’t help but feel a bit defeated. For a flash of a moment, in the shadows in the room, she swore she heard her mother’s voice. ‘This is why you need to sit in a room and study. You always needed someone to hold your hand. You don’t make the right choices.’ Her jaw flexed, but returned to Tybalt. Hadn’t she just said she was seeking other kingdoms, that she had someone here from Arynn Frey, that they could ask Nevermere? But that still required them putting forth everything they had? What… were they even hearing? “Is it the pitch of my voice that makes my words unheard or twisted? If it came from your King, would you all jump when he said so?” It slipped from her lips, and it was obvious at the color that hit her cheeks that she hadn’t thought that would tumble from her lips.
Her eyes only landed on Tybalt, perhaps softest to him. As if he was the only one of the other three that she thought might still stand with her. “Watch him, where he goes, but if he makes a move, I want him taken into custody. I want a report daily. Even if it’s that nothing has changed on his location. I want to know where he has gone, who is seen with him. Everything.”
Iliana turned, swallowing down the sudden saliva that flooded her mouth and her throat tightened. No, she knew this feeling. She had made it almost a day without. “My King,” her voice wavered, “I must take my leave.” He might be the only one who actually cared who had a seat at that table in the moment. She moved to leave, hoping to have a bit of dignity by not throwing up in front of all of them. She barely turned her head and spoke to the others, if they cared to listen, if not she’d find someone who would. “Someone send a note for the King of Arynn Frey, I’d like to meet with him.” Her face pale as she turned just long enough on her walk out to catch Cassian’s eyes, “with you attending this meeting as well, as King of Nevermere, Coheed, and Cambria.” He might have governors in place, but Cassian was their King.
Post by October Montgomery on Feb 5, 2024 12:42:19 GMT -5
October looked around the room at each individual as the Queen spoke, taking in their expressions but trying to remember that emotions were high at the moment. It was unfortunate to see how, once again, the Eldouirs had put a wrench into things and he wondered if they knew how much they were harming the gifted movement instead of helping it.
As the Queen took her leave, and assuming she was successful, October would follow behind her.
In possession of a magical necklace that wards off offensive magic attacks against him, a ring that allows him to suppress magic, and can turn into werewolf at will.
Post by Cassian Rainecourt on Feb 5, 2024 13:01:08 GMT -5
Cassian, who had been standing beside Iliana from the moment she stumbled, would offer her his arm as she sought to make her exit.
When they made it out of the room he informed her,
“I already have an appointment with King Akagi in just an hour. Nevermere business. Perhaps I can propose that he and I meet you in Lorendale this evening?” He had time to debrief with her, should she choose to following this royal court meeting.
Ring of enchanted combat: ring that, when twisted around the finger three times, enhances one's combat abilities (the equivalent of ten additional combat points).
She was confused that the queen was leaving. They had gotten nowhere with the Gifted conversation, they had only managed to agree on things Elena mattered, and agreeing was a big word.
Scout didn't respond to any of the words spoken by the queen, Augustus of anyone else really, but rose and frowned, looking at @iliana. Her annoyance had faded again and she realised the queen was young and needed all guidance she could get, even if she didn't see it. "My queen, should I come with you?" she asked. If she left without responding or if she didn't require Scout to come along, she would sit again.
Arynnite armor: The armor have two states: active and inactive. When inactive, they look like little more than ornate metal bracers, easily ignored. When triggered, the armor covers Tybalt and serves as an exoskeleton. It will protect its wearer from physical damage and is practically indestructible.
The armor has a certain "preprogrammed" purpose which is to protect its host. To do so, it reacts to heightened emotional states such as fear and anger, at which point the armor will trigger regardless of whether or not Tybalt wants it to or even if he's immediately aware of the threat. It has some degree of awareness and sentience although very basic and one which struggles to differentiate between enemies and friends. Whilst not actually in possession of a will, the armor can guide or direct its host in a specific action, much like a reflex.
The armor needs to be "fed" as Tybalt has discovered meaning that he must hold and absorb through touch certain metals such as steel, copper, iron and tin, a process which takes a few minutes. Without which, the armor will begin to weaken and become less effective until no longer able to manifest.
Perhaps its greatest weakness is that if being consistently bashed or beaten, it would begin to repair itself by using parts of the armor from elsewhere. For instance, if the wearer is being consistently hit in the chest, the armor will begin to pool away from other parts of their body such as the feet and hands, leaving them vulnerable.
He was given orders, and like the soldier that he was, the commander had every intention of following them. "It shall be done your majesty." He would send Silvana. The gifted would be able to follow and track Simon Mikaels without the man ever knowing - at least in theory.
Tybalt watched as the queen expressed the sudden desire, or maybe urge to leave but made no attempt to stop her. Perhaps it would indeed be best if everyone left right now, or at least the queen. Some heads needed to be cooled off. He was concerned however, but would mask that much for the time being, for fear of causing her to lose face. If all of her cabinet were openly fretting over her about her, then in his mind, it made the monarch seem almost unfit for the role.
As such, when Scout spoke out, Tybalt would give her a slightly cautious look. Just a warning not to push things right now. If Iliana answered that she wanted peace, then it was best that she have it.
Last Edit: Feb 6, 2024 2:11:06 GMT -5 by Tybalt Zane
Post by Augustus Rainecourt on Feb 6, 2024 18:22:01 GMT -5
Augustus said nothing. He remained standing, watching Iliana entirely unmoved by anything that came from her lips. He was ashamed to say he was afraid. As an uncle, as a prince, as a subject of Lorendale he was afraid. When Iliana looked ill, this time he did not move to comfort her or attempt to stabilize her. He just watched, allowing Cassian to escort her from the room.
No one stopped her, which was good. The only delay outside the room was her casting a look back at Scout Kane. “Later today, please,” her please was said on a breath, face gaining an almost pale green color, before she made it outside the room, Cassian Rainecourt and October Montgomery in tow. Where she effectively heard the offer from her husband, saw the nearest planter (thankfully in a corner of the hallway), and proceeded to throw up the entirety of what she had been fighting to keep down the whole meeting.