< 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 Tehodis Kitai on Dec 21, 2016 10:52:04 GMT -7
If she could blush like a normal mortal, she would have been beet red. He refused the key, which was embarrassing enough (in a bad way), but then he continued the game and everything inside of her fluttered as he touched her nose (in a good way). It wasn't a touch that ought to have her blushing, and yet it felt like more than a playful bop.
She followed his instructions, curious as to how he was going to accomplish the task; worried he would fail; hopeful he would succeed, and counted to five as slowly as she could. She wanted to give him a good enough head start, after all. She waited an extra second after she finished counting, and then opened her eyes to find the luggage compartment empty. "Amazing," She commented, surprised that she hadn't heard him at all. She certainly wouldn't be that quiet, and definitely not so graceful. She approached the ladder out of the luggage compartment with unease, sighed, and began to figure out the best way to climb it with one arm. Going down, she realized, had been much easier. "At least there's no one to watch me struggle," She laughed to herself as she got halfway and had an arm wrapped around the thing to keep from falling.
She managed it on her own - which she was a little proud of, she had to say - and began to head to her cabin. As she reached the door however, and before the key made it to the lock, she realized that she had no food in her room. Even as she had locked herself away, no one had bothered to bring her any - she certainly didn't need it. Kiku, on the other hand, was most decidedly not a Kina, and she had promised him a meal. She jiggled the knob a bit - just to see if he had yet to get inside - looked around to see if she could find him, and then continued down the hall to the kitchens.
She passed a few others along the way, those who attempted to either offer her sympathy for her arm, or those who looked just plain uncomfortable. She pleasantly waved them off, too polite to simply ask them to leave her alone. When she reached the kitchen, they were well on their way to preparing dinner for the ship's passengers. It took a few asks, and a few strange looks, and one question of 'I thought you didn't need food?' which was answered more kindly than some might have done. "People keep on telling me how wonderful your food is. Good food makes the soul feel better, right? I thought maybe..." She let it drift off, and the sympathy she received was well worth it. The chef nodded and packed her together an extravagant meal. The kind he served to Woodrow. The king that the normal crew and passengers would never get. "Need help with it, hon?" The man asked, but Tehodis shook her head. The less people in the hallway to attempt to discover Kiku, the better. "Well, let me know how it is. And if you want more, just talk to me, alright?" Tehodis gave her thanks with a smile. She didn't like the pity, didn't like the special treatment -- not usually, anyways. For this purpose, she supposed, it was useful.
Now she just had one more stop. It hadn't really been a part of the plans she'd made with Kiku, but it was important. If she had known Kiku was accompanying her in her shadow, she'd have likely asked for him to simply carry the food over to her room so that she'd have spare hands. But, she didn't know. And so instead, she carefully sneaked her way into one of the file rooms, which was filled to the brim with pile upon pile of boxes with various papers. "Let's see..." She whispered to herself, biting her lip thoughtfully as she checked over the boxes, "If I was a missing woman, and I may have been seen in Aissic, I would be in... Ah!" She spotted a box labeled MISSING PERSONS - NORTH AEBRYNIS - COLD CASE FILES, and another missing the 'cold case' designation. She set the food down, and carefully extracted one box, which she set by the food. Then the other, which she added on top of the first.
She stood there for a moment, considering how to carry all that she had. Two decent sized boxes of heavy files, and a covered platter of food. With two hands, it would be easy. She had been well known as master-of-carrying-far-too-many-things back at the office. One hand - one arm even - was far more difficult. She grabbed the platter first, placing it on a stack of boxes that was about as high as her shoulders. Then, she picked up the two boxes, using the wall and her knee to lodge it on her forearm, her head trying to keep it balanced. Then, she nudged the platter forward with her chin - slow and cautious - eventually having it sit on her left shoulder, with her chin holding it in place.
Good. She could do this.
She made her way to the door, moving to kick it open with her foot, but a noise outside stopped her. Voices. Her breath caught in her throat and she froze in place. It was Woodrow's voice. He was in the hall. He was outside the door. He had his hand on the door. He was going to open it. She couldn't imagine anyone she wanted to see less than Woodrow, and couldn't imagine anyone she wanted to see more than Kikuriku. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, focusing on something she rarely used. Enchantment.
She had learned a spell or two in Rielcia, and one of them was the power of suggestion. She would will Woodrow to go elsewhere. Will him to suddenly desire a breath of fresh, sea air. Will him to walk away from the door. With her eyes closed and her mind focused, she didn't notice as a white light formed from her arm stub like it had before. The light seemed to pause and almost look at Kikuriku, and if it had a face or a voice, it might have chuckled. Then, it moved towards the door and formed a hand, holding it closed. Between the hand, and Tehodis' suggestion, the shadow of Woodrow beyond the door and the way his voice joked mindlessly with someone else (Tom, Woodrow said, Tehodis didn't know him) slowly disappeared... And Tehodis felt calm wash over her.
"Thank you," She whispered to no one, letting the silence sit for a few moments before nudging the door with her foot and managing it open. Everything was balanced precariously - but it appeared her balance was impeccable. She managed her way down the hall, receiving strange looks and offers of help as she made her way down. She refused them all, though. The less people interrupting Kiku's infiltration attempt, the better. Eventually, she made it to her room and sighed with relief as she pressed her right side against the wall. The boxes hit the wall as well, and she squatted down to lower them safely to the ground. The platter was placed on the boxes next, and then she jiggled the knob once more.
Still locked.
She wondered if Kikuriku would have locked it behind him. She hoped he had. She would have been disappointed to find that he'd simply taken his opportunity to leave the one-armed freak alone. She unlocked her door and stepped inside, sliding the boxes in behind her. When the door was closed - and locked - she relaxed.
She looked around the room as she set up the food at the small table with the bolted-down chairs; she looked in every corner as she lit the candles to give the room some light; and she even checked the closet as she grabbed the bottle of wine Woodrow had given her as part of his apology, wondering if Kiku even liked wine. Wondering if he didn't come if she would drink it all and enjoy her sorrows in a drunken stupor. As far as she could tell, Kikuriku wasn't in the room. Her disappointment was clear on her face, but she would follow the instructions anyways. She took a seat at the end of the bed, her legs crossed below her. Her eyes closed, and she slowly - painfully slowly - began counting to five.
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 21, 2016 16:56:44 GMT -7
He didn't dislike the way the two fought. In fact, it made him feel quite pleased. They both desperately wished to impress him. Normally he would have been happy to sit back and watch... But Tom had actually touched on something he did wish to talk about. And not with Vincent. Vincent had made it clear who's side he was on - as if there was supposed to be a choice. Vincent was intended to take Markus' side. Perhaps, however, Tom would see things more clearly. He was older - well versed in the world, and with women. Perhaps he had useful advice he could apply to the Tehodis situation.
"Now, now," He chided, "Tom's quite right. I'm more trepedatious about my choices as of late due to some... Unfortunate circumstances that have been nagging at me lately. Vincent's heard all of this already, and I'm certain he's got more important things to do than hear it again, hm Vincent?" Woodrow looked pointedly to the man who was once his only friend. It was an obvious dismissal.
Post by Vincent Laeretti on Dec 21, 2016 17:11:37 GMT -7
Under any normal circumstances, Woodrow's dismissal might have struck Vincent as offensive, something for him to be displeased over.
In this situation, it was a godsend.
Vincent already hadn't wanted to be here to begin with, and had no wish to entertain Thomas in conversation. If Lord Woodrow hadn't spotted him and called him over, he'd have continued avoiding Dunn altogether. And now he'd already been thinking up a potential excuse to get out of this situation and do something more useful with his time than waste it with Thomas. Lord Woodrow had just provided him that out. Besides, Thomas's deflections and shallow attempts at riling Vincent were growing tiresome, and Vincent had indeed already heard of what had happened with Tehodis Kitai.
In truth, there were a number of questions there he still wanted answered, but in all the chaos of the situation followed by Woodrow's sullen refusal to discuss it much, there were a few key components to the story Vincent was missing. He was also somewhat vexed at his Lord's stubborn inability to acknowledge his own heavy fault in what had happened. Vincent had been hoping to talk with Miss Kitai herself over the matter, so perhaps now he could excuse himself and have that opportunity.
"You couldn't be more right, My Lord," he replied, making sure Tom understood that spending any amount of time with him was as big a waste of it that Vincent could fathom. "There are various other matters on this ship which require my attention."
He offered Woodrow a brief bow of his head. "Then," he said, and turned to excused himself. He bothered not to send Tom even a parting glance.
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 21, 2016 18:20:52 GMT -7
That was easier than he expected. Woodrow had in fact taken no offense to his comments - he seemed more like he had been just waiting for Tom to ask. Like he desperately wanted to talk about his problems with a man, and not a Vincent. Vincent seemed just as eager to not have such a conversation, as he took his dismissal with great pleasure.
"My lord," Tom said it was a facetious tone, knowing that Woodrow enjoyed his playful honesty. He finished his drink, and a servant came by quickly to collect it. He could read people, and he had noticed the way that Woodrow had been acting on this trip. "The things we do, the pain we feel - and all for the love of women... Isn't that right?"
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 21, 2016 18:49:29 GMT -7
He knew there was a reason he liked Tom. The man had a keen sense of those around him, and was relatable. Vincent was smart like Dunn, yes. But liked the personality Tom possessed. Around Tom, Markus felt liked. It was incredible how quickly that had become important for him.
He finished his own drink and handed it off to the servant who rushed back, and then he stood from his seat and motioned for Tom to follow him. "Correct as always, Thomas. Women are a curse from the deities. They are far too beautiful to resist, but far too difficult to understand. The one I have my own sights set on seems to despise me. It's left me feeling... A kind of emptiness." Guilt was likely a better word, but Markus would never admit to feeling guilt. Not now, not ever.
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 21, 2016 19:26:44 GMT -7
Tom had to wonder exactly what Woodrow had done. Knowing the man, having spoken with him almost incessantly for several days, he knew that most certainly the man was in the wrong... Which would make Tom's comfort even stronger. Vincent would never lie for Woodrow's sake. Tom had no such dignity.
"Oh, I know. I had a wife," Tom laughed and followed after Woodrow, enjoying this moment that Vincent had so graciously given him, "Tell me about her."
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 21, 2016 19:35:52 GMT -7
Woodrow sighed, pausing in his walk below deck as he thought about her. "She's beautiful, for one thing," He could see her hair as he said that. Like a waterfall of brown silk falling across her back. He loved her back. He had only seen it once - when she wore a gown he'd purchased for her to wear at the SSPB's annual fundraising gala... And he was quite certain that was probably the moment he'd desired her physically. And her eyes. Mesmerising pools of blue that he would happily drown in.
"Clever, too. Picks up on things quite easily, and has a meekness that belies the stubborn woman hidden within. She's one of my best officers, and yet, she's only been with us for shy of a year." He could see her looking down, the way that she did when she got nervous. The way that she would bite her lip as she thought. It was when she had proven her instinct, and her sense of justice that he'd fallen in love with her. "Tehodis -- that's her name, Tehodis Kitai -- is the woman of a lifetime. And I'm not the only one who knows it. You know of Tristan Cowell, don't you? Evidently she was once engaged to him, and I admit I initially planned to use her solely as a pawn to receive his blessings... But now... I want her for my own. And I'm to have it, too. A diviner saw just that... I just don't know how to get there, from where I am now."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 21, 2016 19:53:14 GMT -7
When Woodrow said her name, Tom almost stumbled. He had suspicions, of course. He had seen someone who looked like Blue out of the corner of his eyes. He had wondered if the rumours he had heard were true. They were. Blue was here. Blue was on the ship... And Woodrow wanted her.
This would work out very well indeed.
"She sounds like a prize," Tom chose the word specifically, recognizing the way the man looked at women the way Tom looked at his subjects - as objects. It was detestable, but made his job that much easier. "And what happened to cause such heartache? What risk did you take to put her in a bad mood?"
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 21, 2016 20:01:42 GMT -7
Woodrow thought back to that stupid night. He had returned from Acheron mostly pleased, partially bothered. Vincent hadn't helped his mood, and Tehodis' less that appealing look hadn't either. She had come to him looking exhausted and sick, and she was moody. It was intolerable. It wasn't the woman he loved.
"She's a Kina," He had lead Tom down to the cabin hallways, and leaned upon the door that lead to their fileroom, "They don't eat food, you know. Well, they do... But it doesn't fill them. She had been starved for magic that night, and being the kind man I am, I of course wanted to help. But one thing I most certainly am not, Thomas, is an expert on magic."
Suddenly, he felt as though he could hear Tehodis' voice. He turned his head down the hall where the voice was coming from, but saw nothing. Still, he felt an urge to follow it... Little did he know, Tehodis was truly behind him, in the room he had almost decided to enter. He'd probably be thankful he hadn't gone in.
"I brought her a magical artifact that I had in the house, and she accepted it plainly. It was..." He saw the lines of black and heard her gasp, he remembered feeling something akin to guilt - but would never admit such an emotion, "Something was wrong with it. Or her. It made things worse, and she found herself infected with some magical malady. The doctor I called thought it best to amputate, I told him not to. When I left the room, of course, he'd done it anyway -- which somehow makes it my fault! And she won't even look at me the same anymore. She's destined to be the bearer of my children and she won't meet my eyes. She won't forgive me. It's ludicrous."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 21, 2016 20:10:48 GMT -7
He was more despicable than Tom imagined, and it took a great deal of effort for Tom not to grin. This was going to be easy. So easy. Woodrow was blind and desperate and stupid. Tom was clever, and he knew just what to do. He feigned empathy and offered Woodrow and friendly pat on the back. "Phew, that's rough, buddy," He spoke, and he offered a brief silence to make it seem as though Tom was thinking.
It was absolutely his Tehodis. His Blue. And so unless somehow her implant had stopped working in a way that Black's hadn't - she would be his... And he could use her to his ends. Which meant that right now, the end would be Woodrow. A Tehodis that wanted him would be a much more effective manipulation tool. Black would likely be disappointed that Blue would not be coming home... But she had a new purpose.
"Would you like it... If I spoke with her?" Tom mused aloud, pretending as though the thought had only just struck him, "I've dealt with my fair share of stubborn women... But you may need to admit some fault. I think if you do, I can make her want you. Not just the way she did before... I think it would help her see the man she needs... What do you think, Mark?"
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