< 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 14, 2016 16:36:50 GMT -7
Evening on the 14th of the Scales of Judgement The Airship Docks of Arett
Tom was surprised when he'd heard how quickly Woodrow had managed to capture a pirate. If they were so easy to come by, he wasn't sure how Woodrow had failed to defeat them... But then, he thought, perhaps it was just a matter of luck. Tom had hardly had enough time between chaperoning Zechariah to and from Dirys, working on BLACK and GREEN's devices, fixing the patients he had to return to Dirys, and tidying his hospital to consider that he would have a new subject coming for him... But he had made promises, and his immunity was on the line, and so here he was. Waiting for the SSPB's airship - much smaller than their sea vessels - to make port in Artavia. From there, he was hoping to simply take the subject and send the officer on his or her way.
That was the plan, anyways.
Tom didn't realize exactly who was being sent with the pirate, and he certainly didn't know what that person's rank was... Nor did he know that said officer was suspicious of him enough already. Insisting they turn back and leave, well, Tom might have new problems to deal with.
As he checked his watch for the umpteenth time, finally he caught sight of the plainly marked vessel entering the harbor, and made his way over to offer those inside a greeting, and perhaps to aid them in leaving as soon as possible.
Post by Vincent Laeretti on Dec 14, 2016 19:19:44 GMT -7
The starry skies of Artavia were a common sight for Vincent, who made a regular habit of coming to visit the place, to visit the old lab and his home. He usually considered such journeys to be pleasant ones. Today was not such an occasion.
Vincent stood on the ship's main deck, gazing out the forward-facing windows as the docking port came into view. Beside him stood the pirate known as "Plague"; some of the guards on-board had insisted that she remain below deck, but Vincent did not trust their competence to ensure she wouldn't escape. There had already been multiple reports of her nearly giving the slip to several SSPB personnel because they were careless with her unique set of physical capabilities.
No, she would remain standing right beside him, where he could keep a careful eye on her. Her head had been bowed nearly the entire trip, as though too intimidated by his presence to try anything. He rather preferred that. Every time she so much as moved, his gaze would flit over to her. He said nothing. He didn't need to. The bare movements of his head turning in her direction were all it took to still her.
When the ship finally pulled in to dock, he spoke to her for the first time. "Wait here. Don't attempt anything in my absence."
Two guards wordlessly stepped forward as Vincent made for the exit, taking up his post of monitoring the girl. She had no where to go at this point but for the door itself, at any rate, and she wouldn't get by him if she tried it. Vincent disembarked the vessel and stepped foot onto the Artavian docks in a matter of moments, and it didn't take long for him to spot Thomas Dunn.
The man was as Woodrow had described him, and he approached the ship with a sense of purpose in his step. Vincent's face remained impassive, but he extended a hand when Thomas was within reach. "Major Dunn. A pleasure."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 14, 2016 19:45:04 GMT -7
Tom smiled his usual charming smile, dimples in full effect, as he took Vincent's hand. It was stiff, telling Tom that this man certainly did not want to make his acquaintance. "Well met, but the Major is long since retired. Doctor is a little more accurate these days," He laughed a little and looked cheerily at the ship, then back to Vincent - who he realized he didn't have a name for. He looked important, shockingly. Tom would have assumed that one pirate could be transferred using a couple of guards... Not this man, who looked of high rank. His hands found his pockets as he continued: "Lord Woodrow didn't quite let me know who would be delivering the package, but it seems he values it more than the letters he sends. Does such a close friend of the good Lord have a name?"
Post by Vincent Laeretti on Dec 15, 2016 20:43:38 GMT -7
"Vincent," he replied with finality. He had no intention of offering this man his surname. "And you would be correct in your assumption; he does value her more than you may have thought." Right off the bat, Vincent didn't like the way this man had referred to Plague as an 'it'. Prisoner, pirate, or otherwise, she was still a person.
He also didn't like his smile - all teeth, too showy, too artificial - or the glint in his eyes. Hell, he didn't even like his handshake. Vincent was prepared to acknowledge that a portion of his impression of Thomas Dunn was going to be based in his own preconceptions of him, which of course were negative, but even accounting for that... something about this man was immediately unsettling to him.
"But I'm afraid I won't be handing her over to you just yet, Doctor. Lord Woodrow sent me that I might give you and your facilities a bit of an inspection. I would assume you've no objections to this?"
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 16, 2016 17:01:53 GMT -7
Tom had to purposefully keep himself from grinning at how every word the man said seemed to dribble with distaste. Hatred, even. How this Vincent could have hated him so quickly... Well, Tom could only guess that it was jealousy. Woodrow had seemed so pleased when he left his meeting. Like a schoolgirl. Or, perhaps it was a different kind of jealousy... Tom didn't know the man, but if he were a man of science he might be cursing that this was not his innovation. That he could not aid his Lord in such a way. Or perhaps... Perhaps this man just had a naive sense of right and wrong, and his distaste was over the evils he assumed Tom performed... Well, he would be pleasantly shocked, then.
"Not at all... I actually tidied up just for that reason," The lab was of course mostly unused, but he had assigned Green and Black to cleaning duties over the last several days. It was... Passable. And of course, the operating rooms were all pristine. There was the other issue of course... His lab could not be reached by road or rail. But... There was one way. One that was only a few years old, and that Tom enjoyed more than any other form of travel. He smirked at Vincent, "Have you ever been in an aeroplane before, Vincent?"
Post by Vincent Laeretti on Dec 19, 2016 14:54:52 GMT -7
"I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure," he replied, though his tone lacked the signs of interest he felt Thomas was likely looking for. It was true; the plane was a newer invention, and being seabound as we was in his recent years, Vincent had not had the chance to try one out yet. But what he didn't add to the conversation was that a prototype flying device of a similar nature - something smaller and faster than an airship - had been in the works in his parents' laboratory while they were still alive. Vincent had gotten to ride in that a good few times, on its private, short test flights.
It was collecting dust down there now, and with the advent of the aeroplane hitting the engineering scene some years later, Vincent felt he'd likely missed his opportunity to ever renovate and unveil his parents' prototype. It had slightly embittered him to the idea of them.
"But I assume you're about to offer me just that privilege. I suppose I'll accept." He then took a moment to speak into a communicator he wore at his collar, his thumb pressed against it - this one an item of his own invention - while his eyes continued to study Thomas carefully. "Both of you keep one hand on the girl at all times. Follow after me in the air."
He released the button, redirecting his words to Thomas. "Do lead the way then, Doctor."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 19, 2016 16:08:38 GMT -7
Vincent was such a dull person. Yes, he was smart, which was interesting - and threatening, which was exciting... But he had no enthusiasm for an aeroplane. An aeroplane! They had to be one of Tom's favourite things, and to have someone so dour about their mere mention was almost offensive. Still, Tom took it in stride. He would have to show Vincent some excitement. Perhaps pull off a few interesting maneuvers. Make him just scared enough that it was fun.
Tom had been waiting for Woodrow's envoy to bring forth the package to join them, and clicked his tongue at the orders he had sent instead. "No airships can access where we're going, Vincent, my apologies. If they could, I wouldn't have had to arrange for my own... More unique brand of transportation. I've room for three, and your guards can certainly aid in escorting her to the vehicle. I'm sure you understand, hm?"
Post by Vincent Laeretti on Dec 19, 2016 16:40:20 GMT -7
Vincent had a feeling that the doctor might try to play that angle. He narrowed his eyes only ever so slightly at the man, and then offered a... somewhat patronizing smile. "Well, then I suppose the airship will indeed need to stay here." He pressed his thumb against his communicator again. "Belay that order. You are to simply remain on the ship and not let the girl out of your sight. I'll return."
With that cleared up, and his small smile still in place, he gave Thomas a nod. "Now, once again, good Doctor. Do kindly lead the way."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 19, 2016 21:32:01 GMT -7
Tom withheld his frown, and instead settled for a joke, "If I'd realized how much fuel I'd be using for this project, I'd have asked for more money. Here, there, back here, back there... Boy oh boy." He chuckled, and then motioned for Vincent to follow him, "This way, Vincent."
Tom lead Vincent through the airship docks, down a few moving walkways, and finally to the hangar entrance. He flashed a clip on badge to the guard and joked charismatically with the man as he introduced Vincent. The guard offered Vincent the same kind of clip-on badge that read "PASSENGER" and the two were ushered through. Many of the planes seemed military, or those used solely by diplomats. But there was one plane - far less exciting than the others, and looking far more heavily used. This is the one Tom lead Vincent to. The thing had a cockpit, and then a passenger seat that could fit two easily, and perhaps three small passengers. Tom opened a zipper bag on the side and tossed Vincent a hat with goggles built in. "You'll want that for the wind," Tom mentioned, putting one on himself. He wrapped a scarf around his neck quickly, and hopped into the cockpit, flipping a number of dials and starting the machine up. "There's a belt in there to keep you situated... Let me know if you need help with it." Tom was playing with jest, but with the distaste always present in Vincent's voice, he knew the other man would take it as a pure insult. "Think you're ready?"
Post by Vincent Laeretti on Dec 19, 2016 23:06:01 GMT -7
He had to admit to being a bit interested in the make of the aeroplane they would be flying; his experience with flying machines, including his parents' prototype, had always had a closed cockpit. This would certainly be an experience. Tom tossed him a helmet and goggles, which he understood the purpose of straight away. He was making quick work of removing his glasses and putting it on as Tom made his remark about the belt; he was sure the man was intending to joke with him, but Vincent had no intention of being chummy with this fellow, not until he could get a full read on him.
He and Tom climbed into the machine, Vincent taking his seat in the passenger's side and getting his seat belt buckled and tightened securely. He pulled his mantle up more tightly on his neck, very aware of how the weather was getting only colder.
"Quite ready," he replied. He was actually a bit intent on making mental comparisons. The aeroplane was no prototype, but a completed product, rather. It was seeing the beginnings of circulation. Clearly it would have a number of performance improvements, and Vincent was interested in witnessing these things for himself.
Tom got the plane started, the propeller on the front starting up with a mighty roar, and began guiding it towards a small runway intended for the various aircraft in the hangar to use. The aeroplane accelerated once they were clear, and as it approached the end of the hangar that dropped off into empty sky, the wheels picked up off of the runway with Tom's handling of the controls, and they ascended.
Vincent's stomach did a brief drop when they took off, likely a side-effect of feeling the take-off on his face directly as opposed to from behind a window. He noted that down as a con; closed cockpit seemed superior in terms of safety and orientation. But, the speed of this craft was a pro. It took to the air much more quickly than the prototype had. One point for the Aeroplane. Tom guided them through the Artavian air, his scarf billowing behind him, and he did a few leisurely turns in the sky. Vincent found that for all his complaints of fuel usage, he seemed awfully satisfied to just kill the time while flying.
He had to admit it did feel somewhat freeing, to feel the wind against him, even if cold. He'd offer another point to the Aeroplane. What it lacked in safety it certainly made up for in regards to an enjoyment factor. Vincent likely was not conscious of the way his fingers found his chin, the way his face focused on the controls, the wings, the propeller, in an expression that was clearly one of interest, even behind the screen of his goggles. Having to remove his glasses to wear them, though, which obscured his distance vision a bit, was another con to having to wear these things.
He noticed that, while faster, this machine was a bit less maneuverable from the seems of it. Its physically long design compared to the more rounded shape of his prototype reduced its turning radius. One point for the prototype. He spied the gauges at the console, where Tom had been handling the controls, and noted that the fuel and estimated remaining mileage on the gauges indicated quite a bit of life left in it. Unsurprisingly, this would mean that engine efficiency was certainly an advantage. Another point to the plane.
His thoughtful analysis of this machine was interrupted when Tom suddenly pulled an unnecessary maneuver. Vincent found his stomach dropping again when they suddenly pulled up, up, up, until all Vincent saw was sky and stars, and then he felt gravity tugging at his insides, the blood rushing to his head, and then the land below came into view, and the clouds and sea which could be seen beyond that land, and then finally the world righted itself again.
Vincent glared over at Tom. "Why did you feel the need for that?" he asked, his voice barely carrying over the roar of the propellers. Yet another con of the open cockpit. Noise.
He was thus far reaching the conclusion that aside from engine efficiency and speed, both of which were issues that would have been ironed out with time, he preferred his own craft over this one. Tom was not helping that opinion with his idiotic, dangerous stunt.
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