< 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 Feb 2, 2017 20:35:16 GMT -7
Disappointed was good. Tom took notes and 'hmmed' thoughtfully, pretending that had given him more concern than it possibly could have. Eventually, he broke the silence once more, "We will need to return to Dirys within the week to ensure the Vanros family hold no suspicions regarding your decision. For that to happen properly I require all of the knowledge you have retained. We shall start with Zota Vanros. Tell me everything you have learned... Down to the way he washes his hands. No detail is too small."
Post by Acacia-Black on Feb 3, 2017 9:59:07 GMT -7
Black nodded. The master would be able to formulate a plan on how to avoid suspicion. Edgar would be concerned, but would do exactly as Zota said. "Zota Vanros is a man who craves absolute loyalty. He claims to be descended from a member of the former royal family of Dirys, but he has spared little details beyond that. He likes to keep his secrets. He has never told how he found him, or why he adopted him. I suspect he had some ulterior motive rather than acting out of any sense of generosity or kindness. He is planning to conduct an expedition during the Coin of Fortune. The expedition will take place beneath Jewel Shore in the city of Gemarton, located in Sector B. He has offered Zechariah to join the expedition, but Zechariah would often politely decline. He may attempt to make this offer once again as a way to ensure that I return to Dirys once more."
Every possibility had to be accounted for. Not just who Zota Vanros was, but what he could do. What he would do. "Zota works as a supervisor at the Kross Mining Company, and used his position to ease Edgar's position into the Kross Rail Company. Ah, forgive me, I forgot to mention that Zota married his wife, Anastasia, and their wedding was held at the Jewel Shore. He has a… fascination with the place. Anastasia, however, passed away long before Zota adopted Zechariah." There had to be some signs that Zota would display. Anything for the master to pick up on in case Zota was getting too close to suspecting anything. "He tends to be… distant in conversation. Not exactly meeting your eyes, but you can still tell that his attention is focused on you. It is not a casual, though, not like anyone simply pretending to listen. He is listening, yet telling you something at the same time. That you are beneath him. He would see you as a waste of his time, waiting for you to tell him something truly interesting. Even if 'Zechariah' were to tell Zota that you made an enticing offer, Zota would ask what you could possibly offer that cannot be found in Dirys. Zota Vanros is a proud and selfish man. The only way he will let me go would be to convince him to turn that pride against him. You are a stranger to him, and he values first impressions. If he believes that he cannot control you, then he will do nothing that would make you his enemy. Otherwise, he risks making himself look so cruel that he cannot let his son follow his heart. He will need to save face just as much we will."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Feb 3, 2017 10:14:13 GMT -7
Yes. This was the Black he had needed. Black, who was so astute. Black, who knew exactly what Tom needed to know. With the information Black could offer, not only could Tom convince the Vanros family to let 'Zechariah' go - but he could form yet another strong ally. In a worse case, he could use this information to gain allies against Zota Vanros. Either way - he would win.
Tom would appear strong, and powerful. If he needed to get more money from Woodrow to do it, so be it. He could get important people into his pocket. He was... Charming. Perhaps if Zota was so obsessed with the jewel shore, he could pay off some of Laguenoa's people. Or make an offer to Senator Kross that he couldn't refuse.
He would be prepared, if nothing else.
"Observant," Tom commented blandly, not offering a compliment so much as his own observation. While Black was doing well, he had yet to earn Tom's appreciation. He finished his note and then stood up, going to the sink and filling a small paper cup with some water, which he drank in silence. Slowly.
Eventually he took his seat once more, and his clipboard found comfort in his lap. He paused to get back to his page, cleared his throat, and finally spoke, offering the simplest of prompts: "Edgar Vanros."
Post by Acacia-Black on Feb 3, 2017 14:53:09 GMT -7
Black smiled for a moment when the master called him observant, but his tone was too casual. It didn't carry any sense of admiration or gratitude. It was a sound that merely existed to remind him that this was a dialogue. "Edgar is far simpler. Even if he has some suspicions, he will do nothing without Zota's permission. If Zota says to leave us alone, then Edgar will not be a problem. Despite working at the Rail Company, it's not his passion. He seems more interested in hosting his masquerades. Really, it is nothing more than pretense for him to… indulge his carnal desires. He wants to be a noble, and is very good at pretending that he isn't sulking all day long."
Black laughed. Edgar was almost too easy, he couldn't possibly be worth even the slightest bit of preparation. "He lives in a fantasy world, believing that young noblewoman will be won over by his charms. I am surprised he did not choose to be a knight. He would certainly love the romantic tale of a knight in a shining armor saving a fair maiden. But I digress. Whenever some women would visit Pagemasters, Zechariah would recommend them to the masquerades. Edgar even gave him some invitations on his behalf to give other women. I'm not even sure Zechariah ever realized - or cared - that those women were hitting on him when he gave the invitations. In any case, Edgar believes himself to be friends with the nobility, but he just has them in his pocket. Unlike Zechariah, Edgar is going to be joining Zota in the Jewel Shore expedition. If Zota were to be successful in becoming the king of Dirys, then Edgar would be the first in line to the throne. Even if he does not obtain a title as a reward, he would enjoy the luxury of being a prince even more. Nicole would be next in line after him, and after her… Zota may have allowed Zechariah to be third. Whatever ulterior motives there were for adopting Zechariah, Zota treated him no differently than Edgar and Nicole. They are all his children."
If Zota believed that Zechariah was still alive, then he would have no reason to believe that Black was any different from the one he promised to be a part of the line of succession. "Master, should I consider myself a candidate to become a prince for Dirys? Anything I could achieve with such influence would, of course, be done solely for your benefit."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Feb 3, 2017 15:04:17 GMT -7
It was quite the tale, wasn't it? So very banal, so very... Dirys. Obsession with wealth and title was something Tom never could relate to. After all, he had happily sacrificed his only title in order to pursue his research. He had sacrificed many things. For the good of the world, He would remind himself. The Vanros clan merely desired power. What a waste of their lives. Tom felt no guilt in tearing Zechariah away from that. Black served a far greater purpose.
The question gave him a brief pause. His instinct told him 'no': he did not wish to extend his experiences with the Vanros clan beyond what they could offer him. Involving his subject in some pathetic royalist plot seemed like a complete waste. And yet, by the same token... If Black's observations were correct it could make the disconnection that much easier. That was, if Black could prove himself capable of performing as Zechariah.
"Perhaps," He decided flippantly, his shoulders shrugging vaguely, "You've done well enough to show me that your capabilities as Black have returned. Do not permit yourself the overconfidence to assume you can fool them all so easily. Perhaps they are witless nobles, but witless nobles excel at one thing and one thing alone. Do you know what that is, Black?"
Post by Acacia-Black on Feb 3, 2017 16:40:48 GMT -7
"Perhaps" was not entirely promising, but it was also not a complete rejection of the idea. However, following through on the idea required maintaining the ruse that was Zechariah Vanros. Such ruses required a delicate balance. Zechariah was a weakling, but Edgar and Zota would not expect him to be completely meek and pitiful. "Zechariah" would need to show enthusiasm for whatever the master would claim to have offered.
The question was rather difficult. There were many things a noble could claim to excel it, but few things where the reality matched their boasts. He would have to guess, but speak with the utmost confidence. Even if his answer was wrong, the authority with which he gave it would have to impress the master. "Legacy! A man like Zota would want to secure his legacy, and Zechariah would be a part of that. If Zota were to suspect that I am not Zechariah, Zota would see it not only as the death of his son, but also an affront to his legacy. Though to speak frankly, with how much Edgar sleeps around, I wouldn't be surprised if Edgar has a bastard or two running around somewhere."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Feb 3, 2017 18:34:29 GMT -7
It was an interesting answer. A thoughtful answer, even... But it was not the answer he was looking for. Tom was conditioning Black. He couldn't permit him thoughts that didn't already belong to Tom. "Incorrect," He told Black, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "They have social acuity. In your current state, Zota Vanros would be an embarrassment if he could not deduce that Zechariah was somehow... Absent. However, I assume the man would guess Enchantment, or a shapeshifter before what we have accomplished."
He stood up again, this time bringing his clipboard with him. He made his way to a shelf near one corner. It contained mostly medical journals, but there was something else there, something he had retrieved while Black was unconscious. A folder with a violet lip imprint on it. He had tried to smudge the thing off, but to no avail.
Tom returned to Black and did not offer it, but placed it on the small table next to the operating chair. "This file contains everything I knew about the Vanros family - about Zechariah Vanros - before I found you. You will study this. And I will have one of your siblings pay a visit to the Vanros clan before you, to fill in the remaining gaps. If - not when - I am confident in your ability to portray Zechariah Vanros, we shall go to them. Should you fail in this, the punishment will be severe. Do you understand, Black?"
Post by Acacia-Black on Feb 7, 2017 11:57:49 GMT -7
His answer had been wrong. The master was no doubt disappointed in him. Even if Zota Vanros could not perfectly figure out what had happened to Zechariah, he would think that the master brainwashed Zechariah. As if he would have any place to judge. He brainwashed Black by making him believe he was anyone named "Zechariah". The truth is not that Black was under anyone's "control", but rather, he had been freed from Zota Vanros. It would just be easier to play the victim and accuse the master, as if granting Black freedom was wrong.
Black nodded to his master. "Yes, I understand. I'll study it as quickly as I can." He had five days. Even less than that, depending how much time was necessary to travel, and to prove that he was capable of replicating Zechariah's behavior. Edgar and Zota did not deserve the kindness of punctuality, but it would keep them complacent. "But I will be thorough. It would be reckless to rush through this. However, I must admit that I am curious. I am surprised that you knew that the Vanros family adopted me." He had already been denied permission to call his master "father", but his arrival in Dirys was rather sudden. "I do not doubt your capabilities, master, but I must know. If I am… successful in performing as Zechariah, and Edgar and Zota suspect nothing, might I ask how you found any information about me? Or rather, about Zechariah."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Feb 7, 2017 12:08:59 GMT -7
Tom knew that Black would be capable of learning the ins-and-outs of Zechariah. After all, he had been living in the shadows this whole time... But he also knew that Black would work far more quickly with the threat of disappoint (and punishment) hanging over his shoulders. A reward? Tom could have scoffed. Rewards were a distraction as much as a carrot on the end of a stick. Tom would not permit such distractions.
"No," He was firm as he stood up, as he motioned for Black to follow. It was time for Black to go to his room, and Tom lead him there slowly, "Your sole purpose is to emulate Zechariah in order to further the strength of this family. That is a reward in-and-of itself. Should you show yourself to be exemplary beyond your simple assignment, perhaps I shall deem you worthy of reward. Now... Do you have further queries for me, Black? Or shall I leave you to your rest, and your studies?"
Post by Acacia-Black on Feb 7, 2017 12:31:34 GMT -7
Even that request had been too much. Was Black being selfish, asking more than the master could give? Black would have to excel, then. Zota could not simply be complacent. Black would join Zota's expedition, and the master would have Zota as an ally. Black have to play the role of Zechariah Vanros for much longer, but it would be for the master's sake, and perhaps Zota would even feel a sense of pride rather than suspicion. The only question was what Zota Vanros even wanted in the Jewel Shore. It would have to be the proof of noble birth that Zota Vanros desired.
Noble… birth. Zechariah was not Zota's son. Not in the sense of blood, at least. That should have made little difference, but the chance of him taking the throne was more than just a matter of the line of succession placing him behind Edgar and Nicole. He was beneath them. The people of Dirys would have a hard time accepting any one of the Vanros family declaring themselves the ruler of Dirys, much less a kina claiming kinship with such a family. He would seem like an opportunist at best rather than a legitimate heir.
"I have nothing more to ask, master, so I shall begin studying immediately. Thank you again for saving me." He wanted to apologize for hurting the master and Green, but there was no time to waste on apologies. Actions, not words, would earn their forgiveness. "I shall not let your efforts be for nothing."
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