< atton revisited > The information page for Atton has been fully revised and updated with the new map!
< updated calendar > The Fortuna calendar has been updated in the "Other" lore section! This includes a document which displays the calendar for you to see, making it much easier to understand.
< moving map > The first functional map has been released in the News section! This map is also interactive, allowing you to drag and drop between points in order to determine distances. This is the first iteration, and there's more and better to come!
< first annual awards > The results for the First Annual Fortuna Year-End Awards have been posted! Go and take a look at who the finalists were, and who took home the big prizes!
< new default skin > Our new skin has passed the beta test, and is now the new Default for the forums! If you have any issues with this skin, send a PM or Discord to Mellie.
< human lore update > Humans have been updated with TWENTY-FIVE subraces/subcultures which add numerous options, and a little extra lore and flavour.
< magic lore update > Magical Lore has been enhanced with the addition of a post on Magical Education. From Beginner to Expert, this is how you learn the spells.
< a change to member groups > Member groups are now based on storyline! You can change your displayed storyline by editing the settings in your profile.
Welcome to the world of Fortuna, a land of fantastic proportions. This is an original fantasy roleplay that takes place in a world developed over nearly a decade of work and collaboration. We aim to encourage all participants to have a hand in the stories of the characters here, and the world around them. Your choices are key - so make them with pride. You decide who wins the wars, you decide who becomes King, the world is ours, and together we will bring it to life!
Post by Ichabod Afof on Jan 24, 2017 22:55:26 GMT -7
Ah, that was it then? She wasn't satisfied with her aspirations being filled and achieved. No. She wasn't so simple. There were many branches to the prideful willow before him. The length of it was certainly focused on power... But the rest - information. Thoughts she could use to feed her power as she continued to grow. Perhaps she is more like your dear relation after all? He silently teased the Voice, who offered him no scoff in return. She had learned, perhaps, that he took too much pleasure in her annoyance.
"Have you heard the tale of the Thirteen Sorcerers, Pelagia?" He would ignore the way she cradled his name with her tongue, pretend as if she didn't know it at all. Instead, he would hone back in on their deal. With her power - and her well travelled past and future - she seemed the perfect instrument for this task, evidenced by how quickly she smiled at his question. Oh yes, she knew, she knew many things.
"Whilst many believe that their staffs were destroyed along with their lives... I find myself certain that neither of us are quite so foolish. They exist... I'm sure many in the hands of private collections, perhaps even royal collections. I'd like to know precisely where each has found itself... I assume this would be something your skills, and connections would quite handily succeed in, hm? You'll surely have many hands at your disposal, if nothing else," He completed his offer with a chuckle, the sound seeming almost foreign to him as it came from the metallic beast his Mother had granted his soul. It echoed against himself, a light ringing running through his body.
Post by Pelagia Xista on Jan 29, 2017 9:37:36 GMT -7
When the demon asked if Pelagia had heard of the thirteen sorcerers and their staves, she smiled. She had indeed heard of that old tale. A tale regarded as merely a myth by many, cautionary as many religious texts tended to be. An old legend promising a horrible fate to those who would betray a god. Pelagia, of course, knew better than to doubt the authenticity of such a tale. She knew the gods to exist. She knew her god to exist. And if a demon was seeking the staves of those thirteen betrayers of Fayana, then surely, they must also exist. Most versions of the story itself never even mentioned their staves as a detail. Pelagia hadn't really paid much consideration to the idea of those staves being in the world somewhere before.
But now Ichabod had more or less brought that upon her. How... interesting. She wondered what she might be able to accomplish with such items. She wondered what he hoped to accomplish with them. Perhaps this was more to do with those seals of his. She would need to research those more... But now she had a choice. He'd presented to her what it was he wanted her to do. Now she could tell him here and now if she would accept or refuse his deal. She could refuse, and simply search for the staves herself. She knew they existed now, and she could become Queen without his help. It'd be quite the biting thing to do, and she loved the idea merely on spite alone. But... accepting held the promise that her ascent to the throne would be significantly easier, and even came with the promise of secret information for that task.
He can have his petty staves. What use could they have to me once I've ascended? They could not triumph over a god.
"I do believe this task will be well within my power, Ichabod," she replied, nodding. "There are a great many informational resources hidden away in the castle. Privileged texts for only her majesty's eyes. And the zealous devotion of the Gold Leafs is second to none. Were I to wear the crown, information and search parties would be within my grasp. These staves, I am sure I could offer you. I accept this deal, and in exchange, you shall inform me of the secrets you know. What must be done to finalize this?"
She lifted a palm, examining it casually. Would she need to cut it open and bleed? Or simply use it to shake the monster's metal hand? Or would she simply need to do something as simple as a humdrum signing? She was interested to know exactly how this process worked.
Post by Ichabod Afof on Jan 30, 2017 10:06:20 GMT -7
He smiled as she questioned the methods of demons, though a smile was difficult to place on the strange amalgam that made his face now. Smooth chrome, no sharp angles, no place for features... But he was smiling. Oh yes, he was smiling.
She looked at her palm - not quite offering it to shake - and Ichabod nearly laughed. She was examining it almost as if it held a secret power. "Nothing quite so complex," He finally told her, watching her drop the hand, looking bored as she seemed always to look, "All you must do, is pledge your acceptance... From that, our bond will be forged, and you shall receive all I have offered." He gestured with his arms as he spoke, the berth of her future, the extent of what he could give her. He then met her eyes, emeralds still glistening, and added: "Whenever you are ready, dear Queen Xista."
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 4, 2017 19:30:10 GMT -7
She could tell it was flattery, but she had to admit, she did rather like the sound of Queen Xista. Of course, she would probably like My Goddess even more, when that day came. Still, it was almost - but not quite - disappointing that there was no special procedure to this arrangement. Simply a vocal pledge? How humdrum. Demons were looking more and more boring by the moment.
"Very well. Then let it be known between us; I hereby pledge to adhere to the terms we have settled here. I will become queen, and I will find you your staves. You will supply me with Her Majesty's secrets, and popularize me among any naysayers in my people. We have an accord." When she had finished reciting the words, she smiled. "Will that suffice, then?"
Post by Ichabod Afof on Feb 4, 2017 20:11:11 GMT -7
For Pelagia, this would feel like nothing. He supposed that was the purpose. Mortals were not supposed to understand that gravity of these deals. For Ichabod, however, it was a full body experience. Like an unraveling and a tightening that reached out from his core to the rest of him. He smiled at the shivers and nodded an assent to her question. "Quite perfect - and with such style at that."
With the bond struck, Diassei released him. The metal soaked into his skin, and he looked like a strange mortal man once more, his smile suddenly visible, clear and white. He would give her what she desired... In fact, he was nearly excited to give it: "Your Queen is carrying dark secrets with her... Not upon her shoulders, but within her womb. She made a deal dark as this one, and perhaps darker still. Her place as Queen before her sisters, and in exchange? The spawn of a demon in the form of her own child. A child on her own path to become Queen. How sweet, hm? The land of life ruled by one born of Ephilroan loins. A woman such as you would be far more suited, I think."
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 5, 2017 10:13:08 GMT -7
Pelagia was quite sure she had never heard anything more perfect in her life. So that was it then, hm? The great secret that Gwenyth carried with her. Pelagia's lips curled into a wicked smirk, an expression she had no problem allowing Ichabod to see; in fact, it was almost welcome, now that he'd finally dropped the appearance of that disgusting form he'd been in. He seemed just about as excited to share the news as Pelagia was to receive it.
That explained so much.
Pelagia had grown up hearing the stories, wondering on the "miracle". Gwenyth was not initially fit for the throne. She could not produce the proper heirs. She was intended to be passed over. And then one day, as though blessed by Ayniea, she began to produce children like no queen before had managed, birthing a veritable horde of girl children. The people called it a miracle, a blessing. Pelagia had never heard Ayniea speak of such a blessing. Ayniea's desire was in accord with Pelagia's own - she would take the throne.
So if not by the grace of God, how did Gwenyth accomplish such a miracle? Well, now Pelagia knew it was by the grace of a demon. And she had a feeling she knew exactly the child who was the spawn. She'd heard enough of the stories.
It wasn't even just Gwenyth who would be invalidated by this news should it break... it would be every one of her children as well. Even those that were not demonspawn would be seen as tainted by the people, once they knew where they had come from. How they had come. Not a single one of them would be seen as acceptable. Pelagia had anticipated a hard road ahead of her in the task of making each of those girls appear as unfit for succession as their mother, but now... now it would be so easy.
"You could not be more right," she replied to Ichabod, chuckling darkly. "To bond with Ephilroa for the sake of the land is one matter. But to seat one of their ilk on the throne is another entirely. I should think my people would be quite... incensed to learn of this. You have most certainly delivered on your promises."
Post by Ichabod Afof on Feb 5, 2017 18:08:33 GMT -7
She was so eager to make exceptions for herself, and Ichabod loved that in a mortal. A woman who made a deal with a demon for regency was a woman who made a deal to most - but for Pelagia, her's was righteous. He loved the hypocrisy. He reveled in it. This Pelagia Xista was more interesting than her initial violence had let on.
He accepted her compliments with a smile, and then offered a deeply exaggerated bow. As he raised from it, he offered her his hand to shake, curious if she'd accept it. Curious how it would feel to touch her skin without the burning sensation of radiance eating away at his body. "I do all I can... It's been quite the pleasure, my Queen. You shall be hearing of your exploits, and your Queen's incompetence soon enough, I can assure. And once you have succeeded in your goals... I shall meet with you once more."
He raised himself completely and turned to exit the grove, pleased to simply leave Mallory's corpse to rot and spring it's own growth. Perhaps her tainted fruit of a child would sprout weeds and kill the entire lot of them. Ichabod chuckled at the thought. "Until then, Queen Pelagia."
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 6, 2017 17:01:48 GMT -7
The demon offered her a rather theatrical bow, and extended his hand as he spoke his delighted pleasantries. Pelagia found the display both shameless and interesting; not several moments ago, when she had threatened him, hurt him, he had been cursing her name and threatening her life. He was vile and monstrous. And yet as soon as she decided to make a deal with him, he became the most velvet-voiced individual she had ever met, praise and compliments dripping from his tongue like honey. It was the most blatant show of two-faced boot-licking she had ever seen, and it was disgusting.
How incredibly amusing.
She allowed him the pleasure he would surely glean from her handshake, delicately resting her palm against his; it was interesting how they were both soft. Pelagia's, a palm which should have been hardened and calloused from years of battle, and yet maintained with regular healing magics to keep it fresh, new. The demon's skin, which earlier rang of grain and sand, now impeccably soft as though reborn. They were just one of many deceptions the two of them employed. She would let him believe she was grateful. Grateful enough for this handshake, at least. Keep him pleased and therefore less likely to be an annoyance later. He'd be dealt with when he needed to be.
"I look forward to it," she said sweetly to his "fond" farewell, watching as he departed and eventually vanished from sight amidst the grove of willows. Her own attention was turned to the dead woman now, simply left there at the base of the tree. Pelagia considered what to do about it. Well, ultimately, it wasn't her problem. No one else even knew she was here yet.
"Rest here," she said to the woman as she stooped down to her level once more. Like earlier, she rested a hand on her cheek, and smiled. This time the smile was perhaps less kind. "I'll be sure to call you back, soon enough. And you can have first pick of what to do with that demon when you do," she whispered, laughing internally at the thought. "Be a good girl and wait here until then."
With that she pressed her other palm to the ground, and the dirt opened to swallow the woman's body down, burying her deep until her head was submerged beneath the soil. A cropping of vines rose from the spot where the woman now rested, coiling near the roots of the willow tree. Her body would nourish the tree in its soul's absence, but the vines would mark her presence. Perhaps she would be discovered by someone else, well after Pelagia had already departed? She could see the headlines now. An unsolved murder in Aurcaele, under the watch of Queen Fabelle. A mother and babe. It was perfect.
"L-Lord Xista!" a voice called from behind, wheezy and rasped. Pelagia turned, her pleasant smile meeting the face of an old groundskeeper, who was clutching a bucket of gardening supplies to his chest and looking at her with confusion. "What has happened here? Was a new body laid to rest?"
Ah, so he had seen her dispensing of the corpse. Unfortunate, for him.
"Indeed," she replied, rising to her feet and approaching him. "An unfortunate soul has fallen here, I'm afraid. But do not fret. She will not be alone for long."
Pelagia's palm glowed with radiant energy as she closed the distance.
When Pelagia exited her stroll of the willow grove, there were no more witnesses to see her. The morning was still young, the sun only just peaking above the clouds, and few were out and about. One body was buried, and another was no longer present in this world.
All was necessary. All was temporary.
Pelagia resumed her course to the palace with a light step. There would no longer be a game to play, once she entered and spoke with her Queen. Not anymore. Pelagia had already won.
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