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 only the day or so after the Eldouir had decided to occupy Loren that Hiram came for her. She would have already had personal time to react to what had taken place in the palace, have a conversation with her aunt about it, and even attend the secret royal court meeting that Augustus had assembled. It was after those things that this occurred.
Hiram had a way with blood, as we all know, but he especially had a way with familiar blood. It was as if drinking from someone made them like a little beacon of light on his blood sensor. Easy to ignore, but handy to pinpoint when he wanted to find them again.
Today, he wanted to find Florina. It was the middle of the afternoon and he teleported to Augustus’ estate, ripping right through a horse to get there. The stable boy fainted at the sight of the bloody man stepping out of the carcass, though Hiram didn’t notice, and up to the house the Eldouir headed.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jul 12, 2024 0:40:04 GMT -5
Florina had been left with many things to ponder. So many things had happened, so many things had been said…she was happy to have a day to herself. That is, a day to herself and her music. She sat in the music room at the piano playing some long and soft melody. She had chosen the piece for the tranquility it always brought her. There were no words to it, but it didn’t stop her from singing with the melody.
A big burst of magic flared, making her fingers pause over the keys. She turned her head toward where she thought she’d sensed it. What was that? Where had it come from? Even though she’d been staying at her aunt’s estate for quite some time, she was not yet familiar with where all the structures would be located in relation to her current position. Even as she wondered where the magic had come from, there was something familiar about it. A name popped in her head. No, no…it couldn’t be him. She let herself deny it even as she knew that there was no denying it. But deny it she did. No, she was convinced that he would stay in the castle. It was probably a similar feeling magic…
Oh stars…she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t at least alert the guards that something was afoot.
She rose from her seat and rang the bell. Her maid soon entered, and before the girl could so much as curtsy, Florina spoke, “Sophie, please let someone on the security team know that we may have an unexpected guest that may pose some danger to us. The maid, now wide eyed, quickly left to do as she was bid. In the meantime, Florina would stand by the edge of the window and peer out, trying to see if she could observe anything.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 13, 2024 23:43:40 GMT -5
From the window Florina would witness a muscular man covered in blood coming out of the stables, pausing to shake his boot free of the feces he has unintentionally plunged it into. After getting what he could off, he looking up towards the house, right at the window before which she stood. The blood covering him slowly pooled away from his person, creating a neat pile of red to the left of his feet, leaving his skin and clothes red-free.
He took two more steps towards the house before a swarm of private security came surging from inside, weapons raised, hearts hammering, intending to give their lives to protect those inside the prince’s home. Hiram pursed his lips at them, then looked up at Florina again and spread his arms.
Surely she knew he could kill them. Whose hands would their blood be on? He gestured for her to come down to him.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jul 14, 2024 7:27:25 GMT -5
She saw a man covered with blood walking out of the stables, cool as a cucumber. She gasped at he grotesque sight, even as the blood seemed to flow off of him in a swirl of magic. Oh stars, oh stars…it was him! And she’d sent guards after him like they could take someone who manipulated blood. It had been what she was supposed to do, but was doing what she was supposed to do the right thing to do?
He looked right at her as if he knew she was there the entire time. She put a hand to her mouth, wrapping the other one around her middle. Oh stars…was he there for her? The guards came and surrounded him—in vain, Florina realized even as Hiram threw his arms out, his message to her clear.
It only took her a split second to decide. No one would die because she wanted to attempt to stop him. She couldn’t live with herself if that happened. She tossed her shaking hands forward in a halting motion, frantically nodding her head, the words, “Wait!” Coming out of her mouth, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. Then she ran out of the room, somehow ended up with a cloak in her hands, and exited the house, running toward the group.
“Stop!” She shouted at a volume that she seldomely used, being the type of person who spoke at volumes just above a whisper as she had been taught, “Stand down!” She shouted again as she got closer to them.
One of the guards—the captain, she thought—turned toward her, the rest of the men keeping their eyes on Hiram, “My lady,” he said, “Go back inside, this man is dangerous.”
“I know,” she paused, trying to catch her breath. She’d forgotten to breath during her sprint. She eyed Hiram through the crowd of guards, “But you mustn’t engage with him,” she lowered her voice, “He’ll only kill you all, and then where will we all be? Let me talk to him, see what he wants. Only stay close enough so you can aid me if I call for help, but only then,” she looked at the guard intently, “And make sure none of the family inside comes out before he leaves.”
The guard captain pressed his lips together, clearly not liking the direction this was going in, “It is our duty to put our life on the line for this family. We cannot let him roam freely.”
Of all the times to have loyal staff on hand, this was not it! Florina straightened her spine, clasping her still shaking hands together, trying to appear all countess, “I am ordering you to stand down and protect the family within while I talk to this brute,” she said sternly, “If my aunt or my uncle takes issue with it, I will handle them. I am certain that Lord Eldouir does not intend any harm this day,” again she looked through the crowd of guards at the redhead, “If he did, I’m sure there would already be human blood spilled,” she pointedly ignored the puddle of blood that his magic had cleaned off of him, “Is that correct, my lord?” She address the last part to Hiram.
The guards at this point have not yet lowered their weapons, but they don't seem as forceful as they were a moment before, conflicted about what she was ordering the to do versus the thread before them.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 18, 2024 9:00:49 GMT -5
Hiram observed Florina’s exchange with her staff—he assumed they were her staff—with a bemused smirk resting contentedly on his lips. When she referred to him as a brute he lifted a hand to his heart as if offended, but the smile never wavered.
“I won’t harm a hair on her head.” He said when she turned the attention to him, hand now covering his heart but this time to symbolize the promise. Of course, Hiram was not above breaking promises, but what they didn’t know didn’t concern them.
He sighed, eyes bouncing, waiting for the motley crew of defense to wander inside so he could be alone with the person he came to see.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jul 18, 2024 9:32:58 GMT -5
The guard captain didn’t seem very convinced of Hiram’s promise--and Florina really couldn’t blame the man—but he ended up nodding his head. There was a disgruntled frown on his face as he said, “Very well, Countess Bellerose,” he made a gesture and the guards surrounding the Eldouir slowly retreated from him. They started to file away, but the guard captain had one more thing to say to her before he made himself scarce, “We will be close enough to help you. Just call for us if we are needed.” And like that, Florina was alone with Hiram Eldouir.
The chill made her shiver, reminding she was still clutching the cloak. She’d not taken the time to don it in her mad dash outdoors. Needing a moment to build up her courage, she took the time to swoop it over her shoulders before speaking, “Am I correct that you came here to see me?” A pointless question. He clearly was there for her, but she didn’t know what else to say, “May I inquire how it is you found me?”
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 18, 2024 13:22:01 GMT -5
When the leader of her motley guard stepped away, Hiram said quietly, for only Florina’s ears, “No, he won’t.” Because what the man said wasn’t true. If Hiram chose to do something to Florina then it would happen and no help would come in time. When it did arrive, it would be too late, and it would be incompetent against him. Hiram was a warrior and a gifted. What could they do against him?
He watched her don her cloak, his smirk ever present.
“Of course.” He responded to her inquiry. “I’ve tasted you. I can find you in any corner of Terra Nova now.” He offered her his arm, and if she took it he would begin to stroll, headed nowhere in particular, the blood pooling at his feet rolling over the earth as a dog seeks to stay close to its master.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jul 18, 2024 15:31:55 GMT -5
His words sent a shiver down her spine. The statement was so matter of fact…this man knew what he could get away with and wouldn’t think twice about doing it. As for the notion that he could find her wherever she went…she didn’t want to think about it too deeply. If she did, she was sure it would make her spiral right into a panic attack. Instead, she tried to keep her breathing slow and even in an attempt to slow down her racing heart.
“That is a frightening notion,” she admitted, speaking of him being able to find her, “Does this mean that you will make regular appearances on my doorstep?” She eyed the arm that he offered. Manners said that she should take it, but good sense told her that it was probably a bad idea. Good sense also told her that risking his offense was also a bad idea. He’d made no effort to hide his capabilities of doing whatever he pleased, and there was that pool of blood at his feet. She could have done without that. In the end, she took his arm and hoped—perhaps in vain—that he wouldn’t do something awful to her.
So he wanted to continue where they’d left off at the ball. She thought back to that dance, to the way he’d looked at her and how she’d felt as he looked at her. Her pulse spiked at the memory, leaving her wrists feeling as though butterflies were flying through them. He’d said something about picking sides, but surely that wasn’t what he was talking about, “I was not aware that there was more to speak of.”
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 20, 2024 13:06:34 GMT -5
Hiram only chuckled at her question, refusing to answer, choosing instead to let her wonder. Truth be told, he didn’t plan tomorrow. So it was possible.
“We spoke of our people.” He reminded her, as it was a conversation he himself actually remembered. That was uncommon. Then again, she was uncommon. Her gift wasn’t particularly powerful, but it was certainly useful; moreso, there was something about her. A tug, you might call it, that he felt. It very well could have been her voluptuous breasts or her womanly curves, but maybe it was something else; maybe it was something supernatural.
Whatever the case, here he was.
“As I recall it, you weren’t sure whose yours were.”
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jul 20, 2024 17:16:52 GMT -5
The chuckle was not reassuring. Visions of him showing up in the middle of the night flooded her head. It made her glad that the air was frigid. Her Heims nightgowns were thicker and more covering than her warm weather ones.
He wanted to know who her people were. She’d managed to more or less dodge the answer before, but he apparently wasn’t satisfied with her answer before, “Why do you wish to know who my people are?” She tried to say it in a friendly, curious way.
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Jul 24, 2024 12:39:55 GMT -5
It wouldn’t take much to fool Hiram. He didn’t observe people the way some others did. He wasn’t skeptical of everyone and everything. He took them at their word, or he didn’t, and either way he controlled what happened. This was how a man with power behaved.
“Because I think you think you don’t have any people, but you do.” He bounced his brows. “You don’t have to have red hair to be under my protection.”
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Jul 24, 2024 22:31:36 GMT -5
Even as she was avoiding directly answering him regarding "her people," she did wonder how wise it was. It wouldn't take much to find out her connection to the owner of the manor, and she did not want to be accused of lying. She'd have to consider how to proceed.
She would admit it...being under the protection someone as ruthless as Hiriam was tempting. However, his eyebrow waggle gave her the feeling that he wanted her to be under him in other ways, too...and wasn't that an oddly appealing thought. Why were the bad boys so appealing? Her aunt was right. She needed to get married and get herself busy with a whole gaggle of children. Maybe that would keep such wicked thoughts out of her mind.
"I do not understand why you are offering to protect me," she started, trying to keep her fingers from trembling with nervous energy against his arm, "We have only met twice, after all," of all the women in that ballroom, he'd somehow decided to focus on her. What was it about her, she wondered, that appealed to him so much, "And our short acquaintanceship causes me to wonder what is expected of me in return for your protection. My gift is not very powerful."
Post by Hiram Eldouir on Aug 14, 2024 12:14:49 GMT -5
Hiram's smile grew as she questioned is motives. It showed her good sense.
"Because," he started slowly, and she might have gotten the impression he was about to impart something deep and thoughtful upon her, "I want to." One of his eyebrows climbed his forehead, challenging her--and anyone else--to deprive him of doing what he wanted to do. "I am powerful. The powerful do what they want when they want. You are gifted, yes, but also..." he reached out the arm that wasn't escorting her to attempt to brush his fingertips at the hair by her face, "I want you." And if she had any sneaking suspicions or doubts before then surely they were all confirmed now.
Magic Detection: The ability to detect magic. The user can judge magical aptitude, pinpoint magic being used within a mile vicinity, and even detect when potent magic has formerly been used in a space. The magic may originate from a living thing or from an object, it does not matter. There is no restriction to the kind of magic that the user can detect. The weakness is the spatial awareness limitation, and while the user can detect the presence of magic, they cannot detect the specific kind of magic being used.
Post by Florina Bellerose on Aug 14, 2024 13:37:40 GMT -5
Indeed, she thought that he was going to impart some deeper intention than the one he gave. His reason was so simple and short, she didn’t speak for a moment, barely registering his challenging eyebrow, as she waited for him to expand on his statement. No expansion came. She supposed she should feel fortunate that he was being straight to the point and not weaving some long, confusing dribble of a reason. The bluntness, frankly, was refreshing. Oh stars.
She didn’t stop him from brushing her hair out of her face, but whether it was from fear of retaliation, or her own wicked desire was uncertain. Given his less than gentlemanly behavior with her at the ball, the fact that he did want her was not surprising at all. What did surprise her, was the warmth she felt low in her belly.
To be desired was quite the aphrodisiac it seemed.
What in the world could she say? If she rejected him…she didn’t know how badly he would react. But to accept him was unthinkable—no matter what certain parts of her wanted. If she were a less virtuous woman, or a more conniving one, perhaps she would have tried to find a way to use it against him. But she was no seductress, no tactician. Her talents lay in the gentler arts, and those skills would not help her that day.
“If…,” she swallowed, “…if I am understanding you correctly,” she tried to keep the shakiness out of her voice, “Are you offering your protection in exchange for,” she blushed, an image of what he was wanting flashing in her mind, “sex? Like a mistress?” a lover. It had been so long since she'd been in any romantic relationship. The romance vanished very quickly in her marriage, but she remembered the brief time that things had been good. Such a lovely, naïve time.