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.
Our dearest and lovely admin welcomed her new baby boy, Jet, on Sept 7th! We're so happy for her and her family! Congratulations Mama!! Your boys are all so lucky to have such an incredible mom to love them! God bless!
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.
Odina had had her speech and now it was time for Cassian’s reaction. He hadn’t given her the satisfaction of a public intervention, as it seemed she wanted. He had met privately with her on the matter and she had feigned agreement…and then she had gone and accounted something entirely different. Well, Cassian would not be manipulated.
The governor was summoned to his tent even as the camp around them was being taken down. Cam, too, was brought in, and he wouldn’t have the fuzziest idea why. Or maybe he would.
Regan Lassiter was present, as was Alys, both somewhere in the tent. Alys had taken up her post at the door, observing Odina and Cam as they entered and took the seats that had clearly been set for them.
When they were ready—assuming they were—Cassian would begin by saying,
“Thank you for coming at such short notice.” It seemed more directed at Cam. He looked at the man longer as he said it, then turned his gaze to Odina. “I have gathered in my time here that bringing Cambria to heel is a thing I have underestimated for many years. I had considered their willful entering into Nevermerean care an indication of the convictions of the people. I find with every visit and every report just how wrong I have been.” A humble admission, said with little humility.
“Lord Petyr,” Cassian fixed on the noble for this, “you will temporarily abandon your post at Beldam and take up a position here, in Cambria, as Governor Odina’s Adviser.” He looked to his aunt as he delivered the news, only the slightest bit of tension in his gaze. “Governor, you will consult your Adviser on every matter concerning your task here in Cambria: to bring the Cambrians into the Nevermere fold. The elders and the witch doctor of Cambria may have their opinions, and you and your Adviser may choose to hear them, but in the end your every decision here will be in the interest of uniting our people as I and your new Adviser see fit.
“Are there any questions?” With body and head unmoving, only his eyes flickered between them, dangerously dark, daring either one to object.
Post by Odina Ellis on Jun 21, 2024 21:27:07 GMT -5
Odina had arrived promptly of course and still as dignified as her bold actions, she had been defiant and for her personally it felt good. She knew what she had done had avoided certain furthering of her nephews goals, unity. Certainly everyone saw that telling Mother's as fierce and as protective as Cambrian women were, that Nevermere was taking their children was a shortsighted task?
As her nephew spoke Odina was surprised expecting truthfully to be stripped of her position and further punishment beyond that. Cassian could have been his Father. Cassian could have, for all they knew, ended the Ellis line once and for all.
"Understood your Majesty," Odina replied earnestly, she turned and dipped her head in respect to Cam Pyetr, "I look forward to your advisement Lord Petyr and I truly believe we can bring Cambria fully to the flock," and she needn't explain what she supported but for family sake Odina looked back to her nephew, "My actions were bold nephew and I sincerely apologize for it, and I agreed to your word to your face despite having given my concerns to Lady Prowze, Captain Woodwick and Lord Commander Hadrian Usher hoping they had council with you," she folded her hands together, "But I did not promise so I wish to make that promise now, Lord Petyr and I will see to bringing Cambria to heel for good."
She fell silent and with the casual glance at Cam, "If it will please you, what we had also discussed in private," her eyes cut to her nephew taking her sincerity further, "Why not for the sake solidity and honoring your request for me to marry a man of Nevermere? Why not Lord Petyr?"
Cam was sweating. Every moment in this horrible country had been stressful, one way or another, and the joy he had dared to start to feel as the camp began teardown had been squelched by the king’s unexpected summons. He didn’t recognize the woman now seated beside him, though she smelled like a Cambrian.
When the king began to speak, Cam was wearing his schooled expression of intense listening. It was only the years of etiquette training and his mother’s endless criticism of his social manners that saved him from reacting like a fishwife at market. At first, his heart warmed with appreciation for the king’s keen sense. A country of women was impossible to tame, the women here unredeemable in their haughty ways. Then the king addressed him directly.
Fired him.
Assigned him a post.
Damned him to living in this hell of a country . . . indefinitely.
Cam’s face didn’t move. Governor Odina. Of course; who else would the king have in his tent from among the barbarians. The barbarians the king wanted him to live amongst—
Then the woman spoke, the same accent as Isolde, her voice sincere. She even looked at him as she spoke, as if he were already a trusted advisor, already in charge—as the king had not-so-subtly implied—of her every decision.
He barely heard the woman’s words, blood pulsing so thickly in his skull that he let himself blink twice in a row, quickly, to try to quell the pounding. Leave the Beldam. Stay in Cambria. Advisor to a governor was a higher position than his mother would ever have hoped for him, but the goal hadn’t changed. Uniting our people, fully to the flock. Bile rose in his throat.
It rose further when her words sunk in. Marry a man of Nevermere? Him? The absurdity helped him maintain his icy countenance. It was a ridiculous proposal—even a spinster in her position had better options. But he’d bene shocked enough already in this meeting that he started sweating harder as his eyes flicked from the governor to the king.
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 Jun 25, 2024 4:49:46 GMT -5
Cassian’s gaze moved between the two with its usual unreadability, though the slightest twitch of his lips into a Mona Lisa smile could have arguably betrayed that the stony king was humored at present.
Odina was an enigma, not one the king would stick around to solve. That would be Cam’s task from this point onward. His aunt’s suggestion came as a surprise Cassian didn’t show.
“There will be time to decide such matters.” He said dismissively, not subjecting the two of them to one another on that level of intimacy just yet. Let them govern here first.
“You,” Cassian said to Cam, “will officially hold the title of Minister of Foreign Affairs from this day forward. Lady Prowze will be returning to Nevermere for personal matters.” Whether the title would be glossy enough to make the position sweet or not hardly mattered. Cassian’s decision was made.
“If there are no further questions or requests, they will be breaking down my tent soon.”
Post by Odina Ellis on Jun 25, 2024 7:38:51 GMT -5
Odina nodded in understanding before bowing first to Cam, "If you wish to talk and get to know one another Lord Petyr, I offer an invitation to dinner," then she turned to her nephew giving a deeper bow, "Your Grace, I do hope your tour goes well and I wish you safe travels nephew."
Cam's brain was having a hard time processing more than one word at a time. Deeply embedded social skills made him act automatically, nodding deferentially when the king spoke, rising at the dismissal. He bowed woodenly back at Lady Odina, murmuring assent to her invitation even as he stared blankly at the floor. He bowed again when she left, forcing himself to stay still even though his social senses were demanding he obey the king's implied order and leave.
"My lord," he said, trying not to stumble over his words. A Minister of Foreign Affairs did not stutter like an idiot. "Thank you. For this honor. These people will become true subjects of Nevermere and the throne."
A thousand questions swam through his mind. Who would teach him the intricacies of the international political systems around this region? Who would protect him from the multitude of overpowered women, aside from Edith? What did the king really want from him--to keep his aunt in line or to actually conquer this rebellious nation through, what, political influence? Did the women even have a true government, aside from this governor? Were there enough collars in the country to keep the women under control?
And there, the least of his worries but the previously largest bane of his existence--what would happen to Isolde?
He hesitated, opened his mouth. What possible question could he ask that was not too mundane for the king?
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 Jun 27, 2024 8:07:00 GMT -5
Had Cam asked a question, Cassian would have been obliged to answer. As it was, though he identified the desire at the bobbing of the man’s lips, he gave him the credit his silence was due.
A head nod later and Lord Petyr was gone and Cassian was standing, preparing to leave as well.