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 early in the morning, and Lovina was quickly walking back toward the Drunken Dyr, a wrapped bundle of rations in her arms. She looked up at the dark clouds that had quickly formed in the sky that morning and hoped that she’d make it back before it started to rain. She’d need to get the Drunken Dyr ready to open soon, and the last thing she needed was to get herself or the rations wet. Thorn flew ahead of her, frequently flying back to perch on her head before taking off again. The tiny Dyr wanted to take precautions for the both of them.
There weren’t many people out walking. They were likely working elsewhere or sleeping off whatever they had endured the night before. Still, it didn’t mean she could be careless. She kept her eyes toward the shadows and places where someone might decide to hide. Things were desperate, and desperate people did desperate things. It was much easier to deal with those sort of people at the Drunken Dyr. Booze and illicit promises went a long way as it turned out.
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 14, 2024 3:23:57 GMT -5
Seth moved quickly, and quietly through the city. The night had been fruitful, and had set him up with a handful of gold coins for his purse. It had also been a little more eventful than he would have liked. Hard earned, or so the young man would claim. He needed a place to rest for a little while. Therein was the problem. With a reputation like the one he carried with him, Seth generally avoided settling down in one place for too long. There were a good many people out there who were anything but fond of him. That was all good and well, but he still needed to get some sleep, and preferably to lie low.
"We're not being followed." Jezebel's voice whispered into his mind. "Good." It was all that he had to say about the matter.
The smuggler came to a sudden stop in front of a tavern. He'd heard of it but never before had he contemplated actually entering it. He could sense the eyes of his dyr resting upon the name. "You can't be serious..." A smirk made its way onto his face. "You wanted to hide." Before the asp could complain, or argue any further her human partner would move to open the door, and slip inside of the Drunken Dyr.
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 14, 2024 8:00:13 GMT -5
It wasn’t long before the tavern and brothel was in sight. Good. Rain was starting to sprinkle down from the dark clouds. She started to pick up her pace, but Thorn landed on her head and tugged some of her hair with his tiny beak.
”Wait!” he cautioned her, ”I saw someone go in! A man.”
The warning made Lovina pause for only a minute. It wasn’t unusual to see people go into the establishment before they were officially open. In truth, there were plenty of day drinkers these days, and some people liked to get their jollies in before the sun had hit its peak. Still, it didn’t mean she should be careless. There was a reason she kept a knife on her belt when she was out.
She opened the door, Thorn and his puffed up feathers was still perched on her head, and she’d glance around the room, looking for the stranger. If he wasn’t making a point to hide from her, she’d see him soon enough. There were few places to hide in the tavern area. She would visibly look him over, taking note of his features and any visible weapons, “Normally, I’d tell you that we’re not open,” her mouth formed into an inviting smile despite how hard her heart was beating, “But I think I can make an exception for you.”
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 15, 2024 3:09:07 GMT -5
The tavern was empty. A welcome surprise.
Given its reputation, Seth imagined that this wasn't going to be one of their most active times of the day. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat. The smuggler entered into the center of the main room, and allowed his eyes to run around the space. Quickly, and silently, he accessed the space, and worked out some potential escape routes should he need them. It was a habit that he'd gotten into a while ago, having learned its importance the hard way through a few close scrapes in the past.
The sound of another entering caused him to turn to look over his shoulder.
Seth's dyr raised her head, her yellow eyes fixed the small red bird which accompanied the newcomer. Jezebel didn't do so well with birds. Snakes were faster than most people assumed, given their lack of legs, and it would take a lot to dodge one of her strikes, but they most certainly couldn't fly. Caution was best. He hadn't come here for a fight after all.
Thankfully, it seemed that the woman wasn't in the mood for a punch up either. He offered the stranger a smile. "I'm very much obliged." His eyes flicked around, wondering if she was accompanied by anyone other than her little dyr, but found her apparently alone. "I take it a woman as beautiful as yourself works here." It seemed to be obvious, but he decided to check all the same.
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 17, 2024 9:23:41 GMT -5
The man didn’t try to attack her. Good. Maybe he was a day drinker. Maybe he just got a payout and wanted to spend it on himself. She’d know how to handle either of those. Lovina relaxed just a little, although Thorn’s feathers remained puffed up to make himself look bigger and scarier. Lovina thought it only made him look cuter, but she’d never tell him that.
She would appear pleased at his compliment. There was genuine pleasure, but with her profession, she’d heard all sorts of flattering things. Sometimes the compliments were genuine, sometimes not. As long as she got paid, she didn’t care how genuine the compliments were, “I do,” she set her bundle of supplies on the bar to keep her hands free, “You can call me Lovina,” she removed her cloak, revealing bare shoulders, and threw it over the bundle of supplies. She approached him, but didn’t touch him, “Are you here for a drink? Or maybe you’re here for something a little more,” she leaned forward just a little, “fun?”
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 17, 2024 13:38:51 GMT -5
Seth would remain relatively relaxed as he stood there. At least outwardly. His muscles were loose, but he didn't allow himself to become complacent. Not just yet at least. It had been a long time since he'd relaxed in the company of others. Experience had sadly taught him that it only took a few seconds carelessness for things to turn ugly quickly.
Jezebel would slither up her human partner's body, so as to come to perch on his shoulder. There, coiled round Seth's shoulders, the asp's yellow eyes came to rest upon Thorn. They kept a weary watch on the dyr, just in case.
"Seth." He answered her name, with his own. The man would raise his eyebrows, as he very quickly grasped just what sort of an employee he was dealing with. He didn't back away as she leaned forwards, although he could sense Jezebel's disapproval radiating from the snake. "A very tempting offer." For a few seconds, he was actually tempted. He had a purse full of gold after all, and it had been quite a while since he'd actually enjoyed himself. A very discreet glance to his dyr, made him reconsider. "It was a hell of a night though. So I'll take that drink first."
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 18, 2024 14:49:44 GMT -5
Thorn eyed the snake in turn, giving him as much of a stink eye as a little canary could. He added in two threatening little hops and a flap of his wings for good measure, “Don’t try anything.” the little dyr warned.
Lovina saw Seth’s eyebrows raise. For a moment, she thought she was about to start some of her work duties a little earlier than usual. But then he asked for a drink. A good start. Lots of people had a drink first. She reckoned she could still squeeze some more coin out of him as he drank, “I can get you that. What’s your poison?” she sashayed around the bar and would pour him the drink he wanted.
She’d wait until her made himself comfortable—or as comfortable as he would allow himself to get—before saying anything more. She leaned her elbows on the bar. It accentuated her bosom when she did that, “So what brings you here this fine morning? Just get off a long night of work?”
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 19, 2024 14:21:21 GMT -5
As Seth found himself a seat. He was content enough to settle down, and relax. Not one for particularly caring about decorum, or manners, the Dresmondi let out a relieved groan as he took the weight off of his feet. He even went so far as to loosen his boots, and stretching out his legs. Jezebel adjusted her posture as he moved to avoid being unintentionally crushed, or squeezed. Her eyes would eventually dare to take themselves off of Thorn, but not before flicking her forked tongue in his direction. "Chick's got his feathers all ruffled." She told her human. "So would I if there was a cobra in my house. Don't make a big deal of it." The human told his serpentine partner.
"I'll take a beer if it's going." Beer at this time in the morning certainly wasn't good for one's health, but who cared? Definitely not a Dresmondi smuggler.
Seth was far from unaware of Lovina's... Attributes. Indeed, he wasn't ashamed to take note of them, especially when she was so obviously put them on show. "Something like that." Seth would respond to her question with a knowing smile. "I'd say hectic. What about you? Don't you people usually work nights? You must need your beauty sleep..." He would look around half-expecting another new arrival.
Last Edit: Jun 19, 2024 14:22:22 GMT -5 by Seth & Jezebel
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 20, 2024 13:22:10 GMT -5
Beer they had plenty of, “Good choice,” she said, although she would have said that about anything he wanted. All was fair when it came to getting some extra coin.
Unless he was being particularly subtle about noticing her goods, she would take note of it. An in. Maybe he’d be more than just a day drinker that morning. She heard some of the girls stir in their rooms, but none made an appearance just yet, “Hectic would make for a long night. So what do you do then? I haven’t seen you around here before,” not that she remembered every face that passed through. For all she knew, one of the other girls handled him in the past, “Oh beauty sleep,” she laughed playfully, “You know what they say…there’s no rest for the wicked.”
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 20, 2024 15:39:00 GMT -5
Seth would welcome to beer. He was parched. The events of the night before hadn't given him much time to drink, or eat. He'd been a bit too busy pocketing coin, and trading some medicine herbs from Coheed.
The sound of movement from above from presumably the other girls would cause Seth to stir. "Getting to face another busy day, huh?" He questioned, his brow arching as he did so. As she started to ask a few more personal questions about him, he would smile. The smuggler had no reason to hide anything about himself, not yet at any rate. "You wouldn't have. I've not been through that door before." He confessed. Usually, this was the sort of place that whilst he might not have actively avoided, he certainly wouldn't have gone out of his way to visit it. "I acquire things for people." He informed her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
The man would study her reaction. It occurred to him that this sort of thing might be the sort of talent that could be of use to the girls here.
Last Edit: Jun 20, 2024 15:41:47 GMT -5 by Seth & Jezebel
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 21, 2024 7:56:37 GMT -5
Her eyes darted toward the source of the noise, “Oh yes. The ladies of the Drunken Dyr are always working as hard as we can,” she touched a finger to her collarbone and traced along the edge, “This place offers refuge and revelry of all sorts…”
Her interest shifted to something other than gaining more coin from him at the revelation that he was into acquisitions…okay, she still wanted the coin in his purse, but he’d made the shift from potential client to potential business partner AND client. Depending what Seth said, Lovina thought that Ona & Obri might be interested. The Sirens needed services such as these, “Acquisitions? How intriguing,” she tried to keep from sounding too eager about his apparent job, keeping a little smoke in her tone. Nope, no other motives here. Just a prostitute trying to coax a man into her bed, “Sounds dangerous/. What sorts of things do you acquire?”
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 22, 2024 2:40:35 GMT -5
Seth's eyes drifted around the tavern that he found himself in. He knew of its reputation. It was hard to picture it as a hive of actively right now. Instead, it seemed to be something of a sleepy, and quiet place. He would have to come back when there was some more action. It might well be a very useful place for him to find some contacts. After all, a smuggler couldn't afford to be picky with those who he worked with.
Noticing that she was at the very least feigning interest - Seth was fully aware that her end goal would almost certainly be to get him in her bed (it was all about money, wasn't it?). "Whatever you want. You need medicine, alcohol, weapons, spices, some of those interesting herbs the witch doctors in Coheed use, information, and gossip. I'm your man." He took a sip of his beer. "I've also been known to slip over the borders from time to time. If you know what I mean." The man knew that such admissions could have possibly gotten himself into some sort of trouble. He wouldn't worry about it though. Outwardly, Seth would seem as if he didn't care in the slightest about potential fallout from his own confessions.
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 25, 2024 9:00:04 GMT -5
“Oh that does sound dangerous,” she traced an idle pattern on the table surface with her finger. A smuggler. If she were a dog, her ears would have been sticking straight up in interest. Luckily, she wasn’t a dog and was better at hiding what she felt than those fluffy creatures. Ona would love this, “And you do all of this on your own?” Surely there wasn’t a guild he was working for…or worse, he might work for the Eldouir, “You know, the madame of this tavern might be interested in some of those services. She’s been busy lately and has left me in charge, but I think she’d have a thing or two for you to do...maybe get some medicine for the girls if you catch my drift,” she leaned forward, “And maybe we can have some sort of an exchange in services, hm? When you need it, maybe you can come here and,” she smiled, “have a place to rest?”
Post by Seth & Jezebel on Jun 25, 2024 15:58:29 GMT -5
A sly smile traced itself on Seth's face as she spoke about danger. It was true, smuggling did sound like an exotic activity. He relied, and relished in such a perception. "Sometimes." He brushed it off, as if it was all easy, something that he could, and would handle easily. It was all in a day's week.
"I work with others sometimes." He shrugged his shoulders. "I got contacts outside of Dresmond, but first and foremost, I work for me." He had nobody to be held accountable for, and nobody to account to. It was a freedom which suited him just fine. It did leave him without much of a roof over his head though. He hadn't really had one of those since Dresmond had fallen. Seth would raise his eyebrows, surprised. He hummed thoughtfully at the offer laid out in front of him. "I hadn't realized I was speaking to one of the women in charge." His smile turned charming. "How's this? I need a place to put my head down from time to time. You leave me a room, and I'll get you whatever you want. No charge, and no questions asked. I'll watch your back, just in case any rowdy clients get out of line."
Last Edit: Jun 26, 2024 15:23:51 GMT -5 by Seth & Jezebel
Post by Lovina & Thorn on Jun 28, 2024 10:51:56 GMT -5
“An independant businessman then,” so he didn’t work for the Eldouir then, or if he did, he wasn’t mentioning it. Ona would definitely be interested in this, “You somehow became more attractive mister,” the flirt came easily to her lips.
”I don’t trust him,” came Thorne’s voice. But Lovina pretended that she didn’t hear him. Thorn rarely trusted anybody. That being said, it was always wise to be cautious. After all, she didn’t know if he was a man that was easily bought. She’s speak to Ona, and they’d come up with a test together.
“I’m just watching it for Ona. She’s been preoccupied with other matters,” She considered the terms he suggested. It seemed like a good deal, and it wasn’t seedy enough for her to need to talk it through with Ona before agreeing to anything, “You got a deal,” she held her hand out to shake his own, “And if you feel the need for company at all,” she winked, “Just let me know,” maybe it wasn’t right to continue to proposition a business partner, but Lovina didn’t particularly care. Making a deal didn’t change what she was or her mind for business.