< 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 Thomas Dunn on Dec 22, 2017 8:21:57 GMT -7
He hadn't expected to find the 'blip' as easily as he did, but there it was. She met someone. Who? He imagined the different people who would be stalking around his subjects, and the possibilities were numerous. He needed to shave down the possibilities. But... She had already lied. Which now meant he would need to approach the issue differently, to catch her off-guard. For the moment, he could play soft-ball: "And that was when she gave you that pretty bag?" He supplied her, anticipating her to jump on the answer to assuage her dis-ease.
Post by Acacia-Green on Dec 22, 2017 11:23:25 GMT -7
He knew about the bag. Oh no oh no he had seen the bag and now he knew about the bag which meant that if he asked where the bag was she would have to admit she had hidden it and then he would ask why she had hidden it and she would have to say it was because she didn't want him to take it away and then he would say but why would you be afraid of that because if you were a good daughter I would never have to take anything away from you but it was because she hadn't been a good daughter she had been a bad daughter and she had been late and how could she admit to him that she was afraid of what the punishment would be? She had been punished before when she had misbehaved or disappointed Father and she knew that she deserved it, and she knew also that she deserved punishment for today. But she didn't want to be punished. She hadn't done anything she did today because she wanted to disappoint him she just wanted to help a stranger who then became her friend and who now that she thought about it she may never see again.
She thought back to earlier in the day and how much had changed in such a comparatively short time. She had dropped the groceries and Kiku had helped her pick them up. It was very nice of him. Then he gave her the bag, just to use for the groceries, but then had said he would let her keep it if she showed him where the Tablet was. She hadn't intended for everything to go so... sideways. It was only earlier this morning that she had reminded herself that she always had to answer questions honestly, and she knew that even her earlier morning self would be mortified to find out she had just lied to Father. Her earlier morning self might even be mortified to find out that she considered Violet a friend now. Violet and Green were very different, and Green didn't like the way that Violet wanted to spend time with Father when she wanted to spend time with Father, and the way she talked to much and so loudly and always asked so many questions so quickly that it was hard to keep up.
But something about that had grown on her today. It was because she was so different from Green that she now appreciated Violet more. Maybe even wanted to be a bit more like Violet? Not in the talking way too much way but in the being so confident and sure of herself that she didn't even seem to notice what anyone else thought of her kind of way. And in the 'going on amazing adventures to Aebrynis' kind of way. And she really, really appreciated that Violet had not told Father about Kiku.
"It was just supposed to be for holding the groceries, but when I tried to give it to her before we came back she said I should keep it."
Was it still lying if she technically didn't say anything untrue, but was still not telling the truth? She knew in her heart it was, but she couldn't bring herself to admit to Father about Kiku. Why was she so afraid of telling Father about Kiku? Now that she had lied once though she couldn't ever tell him about Kiku or else he would know that she had lied and that she was really, truly, a bad daughter. He would never trust her again.
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 22, 2017 22:41:27 GMT -7
"That was very kind of her," Tom gave her his words gently, his tone perfectly measured, no inflection present. His disappointment was clear, but it seemed still redeemable... Even if it wasn't. She was lying.
He could see it, her untruthfulness. How could he not? She had been trained to always tell him the truth, and so she always had. It was standard, it was predictable, and for her to break that habit... Well, it was as if she had painted her face another colour, with how clear it was to him. Was his knowledge as clear to her? She had to realize that her pulse had quickened, that her breath had shortened, that her thoughts were racing. Signs of anxiety. Signs of someone easy to break. But he had already broken Green. He had broken her again, and again... And now? Was she truly mending once more?
He briefly considered the cost-benefit of her presence. She was well-trained on her duties, he had become accustomed to her presence, she was as close to him as anyone had ever been. Her implant was failing, Black could replace her, Scarlett could replace her, everyone was replaceable. Yet... He was attached.
Perhaps he could try to break her one last time before simply crumpling her up as another failed equation.
"And why did you hide it, Green?"
Last Edit: Dec 22, 2017 22:41:56 GMT -7 by Thomas Dunn
Post by Acacia-Green on Dec 23, 2017 12:34:58 GMT -7
Green was falling apart. On the one hand she knew she had disappointed Father and hat she hadn't been the perfect daughter that she knew she could and should be. He was being kind to her right now but she could tell he was upset with her and she was just waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and for her to receive her punishment that she knew she deserved. That part of her never wanted to disappoint Father again, wanted to grovel at his feet for a second chance and promise she was a goo daughter. A perfect daughter. A better daughter than Black was a son. But on the other hand, there was the part of her that had already lied to Father, had already knowingly disobeyed the spirit of his rules, the part of her that had no regret for what she'd done today because it had been amazing and wonderful and she'd felt so free and that part of her realized that right now she didn't feel free at all. She felt trapped, like an animal backed into a corner. Was that how a misbehaving child should feel?
When he asked why she had hidden the bag she wondered how he knew she had. Of course he knew though. He knew everything.
"Everything I have is also yours and now also Black's. I... I wanted the bag to be just mine."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 23, 2017 22:34:50 GMT -7
There it was. Tom had been right. Jealousy, sibling rivalry, covetousness. He did not consider for a moment that this was not entirely the truth, that there was something he was missing in this puzzle of Green's day, for the fact that he had been correct was far more alluring.
"That is quite selfish of you, Green," He admonished, sighing somewhat as his shoulders relaxed. This wasn't over yet, of course, she still needed to be corrected... But he could not deny the relief that it was something as petty as this that had caused all of the trouble. Had he been less self-absorbed, perhaps he might have realized that this wasn't an act of greed on Green's part, but instead the statement of desire for identity. Identity that did not require the description of others. 'Tom's daughter'. 'Black's sister'. Tom did not recognize that she could have an identity. She was subhuman to him. A tool. He would treat her as such.
"Such a feeling is understandable for a girl of your age," It was comforting, fatherly, a lie.
He raised his left hand out, the other remaining behind his back, and beckoned her forth, "Come here, Green."
Last Edit: Dec 23, 2017 22:35:28 GMT -7 by Thomas Dunn
Post by Acacia-Green on Dec 24, 2017 0:47:52 GMT -7
When Father said she was selfish she nodded slightly, but relaxed visibly when he did as well. It hadn’t been a lie that she wanted to keep the bag for herself. It also wasn’t a lie that she held an amount of jealousy towards Black. But of course it hadn’t been the full truth. But she supposed it was better to tell a half truth than a full lie, right?
The part of her that wanted to be a perfect daughter knew that it wasn’t really better, and she still felt just as guilty, but all of her was incredibly relieved that Father seemed not only to accept her answer but calm down a bit. Not that he was ever riled up, but he had been upset with her (for good reason, she reminded herself) and even just the minor change from that to this milder disappointment was felt almost physically by her.
He said that the feeling was not uncommon for a girl her age, and the part of her that would seek his every approval was overjoyed that if not forgiven she was at least ‘understandable’. When he raised one hand out and called her over she found herself moving toward him even as another part of her saw the hand he kept behind his back and warned of danger.
Danger, from Father? No, of course not.
The conflict inside of her was confusing, disorienting. Her heart sped up as though afraid, but the closer she got to him the more comforted she felt. She kept her expression schooled into passivity as usual, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 24, 2017 8:06:43 GMT -7
Green came to Tom, as she was meant to, but he could see the hesitation, the anxiety. She seemed stiff and unsure, and it was not because she did not know how to please him. Was she... Scared? Truly? When was the last time she had been afraid of him? To think of it as possible seemed wrong, and yet here she was. "Oh, Green," He sighed when she finally settled in front of him, her muscles still seeming tense.
He reached a hand out and gently caressed her hair, truly using the act to move it away from the base of her neck, but seeming to be gentle and loving.
"Every mortal has their flaws. I always considered you perfect, because you were, but it appears you are truly mortal after all..." His words seemed kind, coming from anyone else they would be a comfort: 'You're only human'. From Tom, it was still an admonishment: 'You are supposed to be better than human'.
"But don't worry--" His hand changed from comfort to control as he gripped her hair roughly, pulling her neck into position with his left hand, and his right revealed a massive steel syringe. With more struggle from Green than he expected, the point of the needle made purchase through the back of her neck and into the highest of the foraminae.
It was a painful injection, it always was, but even moreso when you weren't prepared. The serum would travel up and down her spine, slowing her movements before finally ceasing their function. She would remain conscious, but unable to move. She would know she was being punished, but she would not be able to cry out. She would feel the pain of the procedure, but she would not remember in tomorrow. He would punish today's Green as horribly as he could, and tomorrow's Green he would love as dearly as he had loved yesterday's Green.
Post by Acacia-Green on Dec 27, 2017 3:32:02 GMT -7
His touch was toxic, but intoxicating. She hated it and loved it equally, two sides of the same coin spinning helplessly beyond her control. His touch brought her joy and comfort - he was her Father of course. But his touch brought her pain too. She remembered this on an almost primal level, deep under conscious thought, and when she tried to think on it further she found the same emptiness that she always felt on the fringes of her mind. Emptiness and a feeling of loss, but over what she did not know.
Father told her he always considered her perfect and that she had been, and her heart soared at the praise. He admitted that it seemed she had flaws after all though, and the feeling soured into shame. She had failed him, and that brought her sadness. But she had felt so free and had so much fun, and even if she never got to do it again she would remember today forever and it would bring her joy while she spent her days in the lab.
Suddenly, Father's hand tightened in her hair and pulled her head to the side and she cried out in pain, her hands instinctively going to her head to try to free herself as he pulled out the syringe. "No Father please," she begged, not knowing what he was going to do but knowing in her bones she didn't want him to do it. He didn't listen to her and she wasn't strong enough to pull free of him, and a moment later the needle found its target at the base of her neck and she let out another yelp of pain as it dug its way into her. She didn't even think to use her magic until it was too late - already her arms were losing strength and in a moment they dropped to her sides. It reminded her of when she woke up sometimes but couldn't make herself move yet, her limbs laying uselessly beside her on the bed.
She didn't like this feeling, not a single bit, and as the serum spread up and down her spine she felt as she lost more of herself. As her legs lost their strength beneath her she was lowered to the ground and Father looked upon her and said he would fix her. She knew she needed fixing. She didn't think she needed fixing. She wasn't perfect. Did she need to be perfect? She was supposed to be perfect. She needed to be the perfect daughter, for Father. Because of Father. To appease Father. She couldn't move, not even to speak, but she could still see and feel as Father lifted her up and began to carry her from the room. She knew where they were going.
((I kind of assumed he could carry her, but if that doesn't work lemme know))
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 29, 2017 10:28:19 GMT -7
There was a time in Tom's life that Green's plea would have affected him. He would have taken pity on her, dropped the syringe, and embraced her. He might have apologized, put her to bed, prayed everything to be better in the morning.
That was a long time ago.
Tom was beyond humanity now, and even as Green made a last plea and tried to free herself from his grip, he did have even a passing fancy that thought of her as a person. She was Green. She was his project. She was his experiment.
He was not her father.
"Good girl," He spoke in a hollow voice, gripping her tightly enough to bruise as the last bit of her struggling wore out. As her body finally went limp, he let out a sigh, and picked her up. It was going to be a long night for both of them.
The operating theatre was clean and unearthly bright as he entered, having been prepared for previous engagements. He had patients from Dirys whose brains and spines had recovered enough for him to begin toying with them, and tonight he was to start on them. Green, however, would need to take precedence, his other plans waylaid. He settled her onto the cold table with only mild care, chiding her along the way, "You know this is your fault, Green."
He let her simmer on that thought as he prepared a razor, and soon was clearing a section of hair so that he could cut into the segment of skull he needed access to. It was obvious where he was going. He had cut through the same scar so many times that it had become like a tattoo on her. Four striking white lines forming a square over sea green skin. Beneath that, a skull held together with small plates and screws that would be undone as easily as the last time.
He wetted her clear of any scraps of hair and pinned the rest down so that he would have clean access to the square before removing himself from her presence to scrub up. As much as he wished to cause her pain, he did not desire the idea of her getting an infection. When he returned, it was with more punishing words: "You need only follow the rules and be a good daughter. If you don't, you know you deserve to be punished."
And then he readied the scalpel, "And I only give you what you deserve."
Yes, it would be a long night for both of them.
To Be Continued
Last Edit: Dec 29, 2017 10:32:49 GMT -7 by Thomas Dunn
The skin OTHERWORLD was made by JAWN of WICKED WONDERLAND.
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