< 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 Nicole Vanros on Dec 26, 2016 9:24:22 GMT -7
It was nice to have someone she could vent to about how the less glamorous aspects of staying in Liesdro. Granted, glamor had nothing to do with why anyone from Dirys was here, so it would be rather ungrateful to expect anything more. But Lord Woodrow was offering the possibility that she could have something more. Not just a decent meal, a good one, accompanied by a noble, finding a place only a minister could recommend.
Or maybe he just hitting on her. He did seem a little old, so Nicole wasn't sure if she should be flattered or creeped out. His invitation did seem sincere, but she had something more important to do. How does one turn down a noble? It'd be a shame if he turned out to be the kind of man who would throw a tantrum after being rejected by a woman. "I'm sorry, but I really should report back after we reach the minister. Will you need me as a guide after your meeting, or should I take my leave?" It was none of her business, but she did have a nagging curiosity about him trying to work with Liesdro's police force. "You know, if you want to work with Liesdro, have you thought about working with the Diryn army? We're working with Liesdro, too, and… I'm sorry, I don't really know what I'm talking about. I'm just wondering, what if Submiere, Liesdro, and Dirys could all work together?"
In a way, Nicole was jealous of Lord Woodrow. He did seem like he had something important to do. Monitoring the visas of people trying to come in an out of Liesdro was important, but it seemed like she was biding her time between the rotations. A few soldiers had already been sent off to Muerte, but she hadn't heard anything about whether or not any important meetings were happening. Romulus Dimitar was still in Atton, passing messages to everyone here in Liesdro. If there was anyone from Dirys with any real authority to negotiate anything with Woodrow, they certainly hadn't come to Liesdro.
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 27, 2016 13:12:15 GMT -7
Did she realize what she was rejecting? Did she realize who she was rejecting? Woodrow frowned. He was not rejected often. In fact, women often fell over themselves for a chance at him. The effect his mere presence could have on their station was impressive. It was as if this Nicole had no care for her own rank. He could simply send a letter to her superior informing him of how horrid she had been, and then where would she be? Foolish girl, he thought, hardly listening to her speak.
Perhaps, though... She didn't realize what he had been asking. Perhaps she merely thought he was being kind, or generous. Perhaps she was not being foolish, perhaps she was simply being blind. He stopped walking, his inaction forcing her to do the same. "Yes, yes," He waved off her commentary, having chosen her not at all for the purposes of discussing his alliances, "The goal is for us all to come together in peace. That's why I'm here. But that's not why I'm walking with you, Private Nicole Vanros. I could have simply continued along in my carriage and arrived at Maytal's door within minutes. But a soldier caught my eye. Tell me, do you like your rank, Private Vanros? Would you like to improve it? Or... Would you prefer to not have one at all? And think carefully before answering, dear."
Post by Nicole Vanros on Dec 29, 2016 10:51:05 GMT -7
So the "lord" was that kind of man. Nicole was probably scowling at him, and she could feel the tension in her face. He was blackmailing her now, and he could no doubt see her anger. She closed her eyes and cleared her throat, hoping to "reset" her response in a way. He was right about one thing, she had to think carefully. "I prefer doing whatever I can to help people."
He would hardly be satisfied with that, and he might have even preferred if she had started to beg. While it might convince him to withdraw his threat, it was not worth the humiliation. Then again, she was going to be humiliated either way. She would have to put aside some pride, for the moment. "I apologize for speaking out of turn… my lord." She bowed, hoping that she hadn't added too much sarcasm to that last remark.
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 29, 2016 11:35:04 GMT -7
He smirked as he watched her face shift before his eyes. The stubbornness faded much like Tehodis' would, making way for a demure weakness he enjoyed watching women accept. She spoke her truth, and then descended to a bow, and Woodrow couldn't help but find the image arousing. She was so easily broken. Tamed. Her fire had calmed, and the rough edges had left behind something far more beautiful.
"Pathetic," He told her, his hand grabbing her chin and holding it to have her meet his eyes. He held her face in a way that made her lips pucker together slightly, and he had to enjoy the way her eyes flared.
"I hope that you use this opportunity for learning, Private," He continued, bending slightly to meet her gaze more directly, to have her feel his breath on her face, "You have a place in this world, and it is not only beneath me, but it is beneath the men that surround you. There's a reason your leader attempted to offer me a man as a guide, because he would have been superior. And there is a reason I refused him. Because I did not want a guide, I wanted an ornament. Now..." He let go of Nicole's face, but held her gaze tightly, "Tell me. Are you a person, or are you an object?" It wasn't really a question. There was obviously only one answer that he would accept.
Last Edit: Dec 29, 2016 11:35:22 GMT -7 by Markus Woodrow
Post by Nicole Vanros on Dec 29, 2016 12:24:24 GMT -7
As Woodrow grabbed Nicole's face, she tried to pull his hand away, but he just squeezed. Her eyes burned, not with regret for stepping forward to help him, but with a desire to take this opportunity to hurt him. He may have been a "lord", and she was certainly of a lower station than him, but beneath him? No matter how much truth there was to that, or to Rowen recommending Theodore, Nicole would never be his "ornament".
As soon as he let go, Nicole stepped back. Her hand reached back for her rifle, she did not draw it. If anyone else were to stumble upon them, they could easily claim that Nicole Vanros, a renegade soldier from the army, pulled a rifle against a noble. It would be his word against hers. "I'm a person, Woodrow, just like you. I'm learning plenty, and I know that you're not worthy of whatever crown you wear. If you want a concubine, go look somewhere else. Or can your eyes not see any farther than your dick?"
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 29, 2016 12:41:00 GMT -7
He scowled. It seemed she would cut off her nose to spite her face. Which was a shame. He raised his hand - not to strike her, not even to imitate the motion, but straight in the air - and a voice called out: "She's going to shoot him!" It was one of his plain-clothes guards. Someone able to easily imitate a citizen, someone who would follow his signals. He feigned fear, and stepped back as the first of three guards moved in between Nicole and Woodrow, preventing him from being within range of her shot. Within the next second, there were two more guards - one of his own, and another a police officer from the city - who took up places at either of Nicole's arms, restraining her.
The one who had taken his place between Woodrow and Nicole moved to disarm her of her weapon, quickly unloading the thing in a few gestures as the police officer pushed her to the ground. "Her name is Nicole Vanros," The guard told him as the officer locked her hands into a set of cold manacles, "A private in the Diryn army." This stilled the officer, who stopped for a brief moment to shake his head, "Minister won't be happy about this..." Once the manacles were tight, he got off of her and pulled her to his feet.
"I think you know the answer to my question now," Woodrow offered as the officer and Vanros passed him, heading towards the station. He seemed quite pleased with himself, even as she glared daggers at him. After all, to threaten the life of a noble - particularly a diplomat such as himself - well... That was an act of terrorism. They didn't react well to such things in Liesdro, particularly not in Magei. He was certain she would dishonorably discharged from her position in the army at best, but more likely imprisoned. Perhaps he'd pay her a visit and offer to sponsor her release should she answer his question properly. He didn't have any interest in her any more, of course... But he did want to ensure that she knew her place in the world.
"Ensure that her commander hears of this," Woodrow told his guard, wanting to ensure that she was suitably ruined. Perhaps he'd have some reconnaissance done on her, find out who her family was, and ruin them, too. Petulant insect that she was, she deserved worse. "Now... I've a meeting to get to."
OOC Let me know if anything here steps on your toes, or Nicole would have different reactions, etc. I'm cool to edit! Otherwise, the thread is your's to complete!
Post by Nicole Vanros on Dec 29, 2016 14:27:51 GMT -7
She should have fought back. This was not fair, but she knew that the officers were only doing what they thought was right. Even if Woodrow was not a noble, Nicole was about to pull her rifle out on someone. As the officer pushed her to the ground, she kept watching Woodrow. He had to be enjoying this. There would be a court-martial, and he would know that. She did know the answer to his first question, and just as he promised, she would have no rank at all.
This was supposed to be a routine day, but Woodrow had singlehandedly ruined it. He was ruining her. What would her family think of her? This wasn't just an embarrassment for her, this would be an embarrassment for her father and her brothers. How many people from Dirys would have to deny any association with her? She did act on her own, but would any of Liesdro's even care? A rogue soldier acted on her own and threatened a visiting noble. How many people would even vouch for her? Would any of her fellow soldiers? Or would Woodrow just relish in the sympathy people would throw at him?
Nicole was scared of what could happen, but she knew it would be far worse than she could imagine. She let the officers take her away, probably to a jail cell that would be waiting just for her. She still did not fight back, because there was nothing to really blame them for. This was all because she had rejected a noble's invitation to dinner. If this is how vindictive he would be over the smallest slight, then Nicole could do no less than return the favor as soon as she was set free. She would be set free. It was his second question that was wrong. Nicole would be no less of a person. Besides, Lord Markus Woodrow did say he enjoyed those who stand up for themselves.
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