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!
Yana had become quite close and attached to the few remaining Kane's over the last three year's, despite just duty and sworn oath it was deeper than that. She loved the Zak family and even when Felicity had denied her joining the ranks of the Zak Army she loved her cousin understanding even her concerns, Yana wasn't joining for glory though and it wasn't for fame but family and country duty. Plus she felt as quiet as she was how would anyone hear her if she was a politician?
Some of the Kane Troops older generations had given her the nickname of 'Mouse' often saying she was 'as quiet as a field mouse' and Yana like that, she belonged. She liked the order of serving as a protector of people. Not being a Zak didn't mean she couldn't be a Kane.
Yana had arrived at the residence of her favorite Kane, Lady Marshal Helena Kane , the bravest and toughest woman that existed someone she'd place high on the pedestal like she did Felicity and Trinidad Zak. Mouse had brought her scroll of orders and had prepared a fresh pot of tea herself. She moved through the estate silently, which for her was normal she was just walking, but some of the staff had shared they'd seen the elder Marchioness in her office. Yana approached the closed door and knocked waiting for permission to enter.
Helena liked being back home. It was only three day's ride to Loren, but the distance - as much of a nuisance as it could be at times - was generally very welcome. Time seemed to move more sedately in the southern lands. There wasn't the same hectic sense of urgency that seemed to be so prevalent in the rest of the nation. Oh yes, the Kanesmen were always ready to climb onto their mounts and ride off to go and kill something, somewhere, but there wasn't quite the same sense that they might need to do so by the end of the day. It was a breathing room which Helena welcomed.
It gave the elder time to tend to some of her other duties, and responsibilities. Notably minding, and managing some of the estate with Tiberius, and of course her students whom had been moved away from the capital, and back down south for their own safety since the false proclamation from the queen had been circulated through Loren. As such, she spent her time somewhere between her study within Kane castle, and the training yard where she still indulged in the out bit of riding, or supervising the next generation of soldiers.
That didn't mean that she had time for family, even if it was distantly removed, and by marriage no less. Yana whose presence as a willing fighter was naturally appreciated, and lauded by the Kane forces, would be a very welcome guest. The elder's door might have been shut, but it was never locked. As such, when she heard the knock, she would call out without any hesitation: "Come in."
Yana pushed the door open and entered with the tray and tea. Mouse was no fool to ever underestimate nor deny going out of her way to follow the woman in this room, Helena Kane was one of a few very important respected people Yana believed in. Following Helena Kane was an honor that would echo with Yana Zak for a lifetime.
"Lady Kane, I brought tea and I've just received my orders," Yana brought the tray in and sat it down before standing at attention before her Lady Marshal, "I was hoping to gain insight on my reassignment to Loren. What are the state of affairs closer home?"
Last Edit: Jul 6, 2024 12:29:01 GMT -5 by Yana Zak
Yana Zak was one of the few people to have earned Helena's entire respect. She'd had the courage to stand up to her older cousin, the Marshall of the Zak forces no-less, and pursue a career in the military despite objections from her family. Honestly, how could any self-respecting Kane not find that admirable? As such, she would be treated to a rare smile as she entered. "Oh yes. Do come in, and make yourself comfortable".
Of course, it was time for her to be moving on. "Loren? Oh the same shambolic, and shameful mess as always." Helena's statement was as unapologetic, as it was condemning. She had little patience where the political intrigues, and machinations of the capital were concerned. It wasn't that she expected people to get along, so much as she would have thought that they had better things to worry about. "There's a lot of tension over this gifted nonsense, and that false letter from the queen." It was why Helena had taken her pupils, and the other orphans in her care down south. "So I'd suggest that you be very careful whilst there."
Yana eased up from her stance and began to prepare the both of them tea, so it was Loren where she was going and of course it was over the Gifted. The epicenter of Lorendale tragedy if asked her opinion but she was not. Sliding Helena her cup of tea Yana took a seat with hers but didn't drink, "I will be careful my lady," she responded taking a sip of her tea before sitting it on a small table beside her, "If it counts for anything Lady Kane Ladale the false letters didn't make circulation so far south, I can't guarantee rumors and gossip didn't carry but the physical copies didn't," she tilted her head curiously, "Do you think maybe this is an action carried out by the Sons? Fischers reach was quite high and people listened unfortunately," Yana had heard very little about the flyers but what she had heard didn't sound all that bad. If the Gifteds were controlled a little more it would insure public safety and ease the anti-gifted perhaps from being so brash, people were scared and it only made sense for scared people to fight back.
Post by Helena Kane on Jul 14, 2024 2:56:56 GMT -5
Helena would take a sip of her tea. "Of course not. We Kanes are far too sensible for such nonsense." There was a hint of unmistakable pride in the woman's statement. That somehow the southern Kane lands were exempt from the madness which was sweeping through the rest of the kingdom, and that they alone could see clearly. The truth was that they all had better things to be worrying about. Leave politics, and hysteria to the rest of the kingdom.
The woman would become pensive when the subject of just whom the likely culprits were. "These days, it could be anyone..." The elder would reply eventually. "There are so many discontent, and so few willing to follow the crown. It's everyone for themselves. It could be someone who truly believes in what was in those letters, just as easily as it could be a gifted trying to stir up either sympathy, or a conflict." Helena's tone was exasperated, making it clear that she had no time for the whole fiasco. "You would do well to stay clear of the whole affair." Her words were a warning, as much as they were an instruction.
Yana sat once again quietly, astute to Helena's every word and made her think about her cousin, would they have had this much rapport? Trust to confide in each other, Yana would have liked to hope so she missed Felicity after all these years she had a chance to see her soon. She wanted to tell Felicity that she understood her reasonings for turning her away from the Zak Army, she wasn't mad but she truly felt she had a different purpose.
"I will stay vigilant," she responded finally, "I just...for a while Lady Kane have had this weird feeling: when one is sworn to defend their kingdom, it's people, and it's royals..rich and poor..human and Gifted a like..what do you do when they turn on themselves?"[/blockquote]
Post by Helena Kane on Jul 26, 2024 1:51:59 GMT -5
The elder of the Kane household leaned backwards in her chair as she considered the woman's words. "Lead by example, is where I would start." Helena declared as if it was the simplest, and easiest thing in the world. "People look to their leaders. They need order, and structure, but also firmness. Acts of violence, and insubordination need to be punished, regardless of the culprits, just as we would do in the military." Of course, the elder's words were heavily charged. Iliana's stance on the issue had been inconsistent.
She let out a sigh. "I trust that you will be sensible enough to avoid getting yourself wrapped up in too much of the politics. Keep focused on what matters most."
"Never Lady Kane, soldier through and through," Yana replied and she'd done just that most of her life, but from time to time even the Marshals and their armies were slapped into the middle of politics and that didn't make it easy.
"While I am away who will I be reporting to in Loren?"
Post by Helena Kane on Aug 4, 2024 15:01:26 GMT -5
Yana's statement regarding being a solider through, and through earned a nod of approval from the elder. She almost regretted that it was Felicity, rather than her cousin whom had been selected to try and tie the noble houses of Zak, and Kane together...
"I suppose you can pick between your cousin, or her husband." Helena was aware that things in the Zak household were complicated, and that Felicity was definitely not the simplest person to try and get along with. As incompetent as Tybalt was in his mother's eyes, she knew that would probably have rather gone to him given what she understood the situation to be.
"I will report to the Commander," Yana perhaps answered a little to earnestly, "Which is no offense to Felicity by any means, she just refused my service which is her right of course," Yana truthfully didn't feel any ill will towards her cousin for it, she had her reasons, "However in return the Kane's accept me as a soldier and that is where my loyalty lies in my service, but I do worry about returning to Birkhall and seeing my family, I believe in some ways I disappointed them...which is why I also must tend to certain family duties soon, but not with the current state of things of course: my duties for Lorendale and it's people are my focus so please don't worry."
Helena was torn between the Kane sense of duty which said that they didn't care much what banner someone served under, so long as they fought for the crown, and the family's sense of pride at having someone so brave, and willing to serve within their ranks. She was, of course, aware that Felicity might not appreciate it quite as much, but then the elder had known that when she'd accepted her into their ranks. "You tell your cousin that she's not to give you any trouble. We all have our duties to attend to. That must take priority."
The elder of the family frowned. "I don't think that you'll find yourself short of work in the coming weeks." She declared gravely. "There is much afoot at the moment. Work with my son, as difficult as that may be, and take care to try and find yourself some friends in Loren. You will most definitely need them."
"You know I will tell her just that," Yana admitted, though she had no intention of doing so as she had mutual respect for Felicity. Yana would just work with the Commander and be respectful to the two superior ranking officers, plus in the grand scheme of things Tybalt out ranked most.
"Then that is what I will do, thank Marshal Kane," and Yana sipped her tea, returning the cup she looked once again to her Marshal, "Graydust," her horse a gift from the Kane's when she had swore herself to their ranks, "Will soon be a Father I heard, I think he will make some fine horses, he's the best."
Post by Helena Kane on Aug 13, 2024 2:22:42 GMT -5
One of these days, Helena might just pay Felicity a visit so as to try, and iron out a few of the creases which existed within the Kane/Zak/Zane relations. Of course, it was an easy enough goal to set, actually doing something about it was a good deal more challenging. Both Helena, and her daughter-in-law were incredibly stubborn individuals.
If there was one subject which inevitably proved of interest to a Kane, it was horses. They had grown up around them, from the poorest of peasants, to the marquis of the southern lands. "He's a fine beast." Helena agreed with a nod of the head. "Take care to check the temperament of the mares you ride. You can have as magnificient, and fast a horse as you will, if its character is flawed you will never be able to ride it properly."
When Yana had been gifted Graydust there had been an instant connection between the two, they shared a respected nature toward each other and other people and he was never really rowdy. Yana always swore the Kane's had some gifted magic toward their caring of horses, how they always seemed to pair them with people within their ranks with matching personalities.
Yana let a little smile rise on her face, "Of course my Lady," the reason for the smile was remembering something her Mother had once said about finding Yana a husband, "I think my Mother once said the same thing about finding me a husband."