< 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 Nikolai Swiftwind on Dec 22, 2016 12:49:49 GMT -7
7th of The Scales of Judgement. Aissic.
Nikolai hated boats. If there was one thing he had learned from his experience while travelling to this godsforsaken country it was that he absolutely, completely hated boats. But, they had finally arrived in Aissic and it had been a much faster and technically safer option than taking the long, walking route would have been so while he hated the experience, he didn't hate that they were now safely in the country where their last clue had indicated the younglings might be. Where his sister may be. He would ride in a hundred boats if it meant getting her back.
Violet had told him that Aissic was much colder than Niseca, and when he had informed her that he had furs for cold weather she had laughed and said that it was even colder than Niseca cold, and he would need something better than just furs. It was difficult to find clothing for a centaur, but at least a shirt had been easy enough. He got one with thick material and long sleeves, which he personally didn't like wearing because it felt very constricting after spending a majority of his life wearing nothing but the occasional fur, but Violet insisted. She had perhaps also seemed disappointed he would have to wear a shirt though. In addition to the shirt he had a pair of warm gloves and a thick cloak with a hood. The cloak was long enough it could rest across his back to help keep it warm as well. He had the option of leg warmers, but the idea of buying something that was made for bipeds to use on the horses they rode was unsettling to him, and he figured he would be fine as he was.
Now that they were here, he felt maybe next time leg warmers might not be such a bad idea, but otherwise he was glad that Violet had insisted on better winter wear. Besides, he didn't anticipate being outside the whole time, as they would need to talk to people and figure out where the younglings were. Or then again maybe he would be outside most of the time, as most buildings weren't exactly centaur friendly. It was hard enough getting through most doors, let alone fitting in a small room that was also crowded with people. He might have to rely on Violet for this.
The crew on the ship hadn't heard of any kidnapped centaur children, but then again there were hundreds of boats that went in and out of Aissic every day. It was the people in Aissic that would have the answers they needed. Violet had mentioned that every place had its underground, where the seediest members of society gathered, and it was likely there that they would find more information.
"Boats were not made for hooves," Nikolai lamented as they finally reached port and could get off the blasted thing. "But at least we're here, and in one piece. So far so good."
Anja had followed the ship, choosing to fly a majority of the time but occasionally perching on the crow's nest to rest her wings. Nikolai wondered if she would be ok in the cold, but she hadn't seemed to complain about it yet.
Post by Violet Macar on Dec 22, 2016 13:00:21 GMT -7
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The air of Aissic was crisp, and it made Violet's lungs cry in protest. This was not a place for the verbose, she knew. To take a deep breath was the chill your voice and weaken your words. In other words: It was way too damn cold, and her teeth would spend too much time chattering to say as much as she liked. But... It would be worth it, if the clue was accurate. A country-crossing kidnapping. She liked the sound of it as a headline.
"I think the boat's pretty pleased it survived, too," Violet smirked, patting the ship like a dog as she followed Nikolai (who was slow and careful on the gangway) off the ship. They were in Tarifa, where hundreds of suppliers were coming to transport equipment for the winter festival starting in only a week. She'd been to the festival before - it was like any other, and yet... People would travel across the globe for it. For her taste, she preferred the beach parties in Submiere. Or even better, the extravagantly magical galas in Rielcia.
"Now the question is, where do we go from here?" She passed him on the docks, making her way to the road to look around suspiciously. When he caught up, she immediately turned to him and conspiratorially whispered at him: "I'm not sure how underground you can get like that. Most of the entrances are more of the ladder-based variety. Not hoof-dee-capped accessible... But," She turned back to the town, "There is another possibility. All of this junk needs to go inland to Asmin for the festival. Which means it needs to be transported. Sleigh dogs are common for small packages but..." She paused as an unwieldy caravan lead by four tired horses passed by them, "Horses are useful for larger - no offense. Perhaps the kidnap-ees have found work."
Post by Nikolai Swiftwind on Dec 22, 2016 13:07:55 GMT -7
Ladders. Why did anyone use ladders. No he could definitely not go down ladders, and even if he went down he wouldn't be able to get back up again. There were benefits to being a centaur, but ladders were not one of them.
When Violet gave the second option he frowned. She said 'no offence' and he wasn't offended with her for the suggestion, but he was offended by the idea that people would kidnap centaur children and then bring them here to sell into slavery to pull heavy carts. "Does Aissic support slavery, here?" His question was incredulous, as the idea to him was incredibly barbaric, but it was also genuine, as he actually knew nothing about the world outside of Niseca. He had never thought he would need to, as he never thought he would leave his tribe, let alone the country.
Post by Violet Macar on Dec 22, 2016 13:13:22 GMT -7
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She placed a hand on her chin in thought, crossing the over other herself and drumming her fingers as she wondered. "Well, no. Not officially, anyways. So I suppose--" She snapped her finger as an idea came to mind. You didn't have to be blatant about slavery. There were nobles, certainly, who lived in areas where slavery was illegal... But those nobles had magicians in their employ. And those magicians could make certain that the slaves didn't think they were slaves. Happy workers wouldn't get a second look, especially not during the busy season.
"How much do centaurs know of magic?" Violet asked, her tone almost urgent, "Obviously you've seen me doing some fabulous transmutation, but there are other kinds. Are there people in the Stronghoof Tribe with any magical inclination?"
Post by Nikolai Swiftwind on Dec 22, 2016 13:49:59 GMT -7
Not 'officially' she said. He frowned at the implication. That meant that 'unofficially' who even knew which of the workers bustling around them were actually slaves, and it also meant that the younglings could have been sold off to the highest bidder. They were only children. The youngest was only six years old. He couldn't even bring himself to think about what someone might purchase a child for.
Violet seemed to have an idea, and asked how much centaurs know of magic, and whether anyone in his tribe had magical inclination. "I know enough about magic to know that an enchanter was one of the kidnappers," he responded, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "My mother can heal some small wounds, but there is not much magic in my tribe... Why do you ask?" The younglings were all so young. None of them had shown any magical inclination yet, but his mother had once told him she didn't find out she could heal wounds until Nikolai, as a child, had injured his leg to the point he couldn't walk on it an the tribe had been debating leaving him behind.
Post by Violet Macar on Dec 22, 2016 13:55:31 GMT -7
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Her eyes flashed when Nikolai said enchanter. Well, that was just the answer she needed, wasn't it? Enchanters could be wonderful folk who could calm an angry mob, get criminals to tell the truth, or simply make people feel happy... But they could also be downright evil - which seemed more the case here.
"Then that's just it, isn't it? There's a reason no one's reported any wrong-doing, the younglings likely haven't even made a pipsqueak peep. No, they're living in a dreamland, a fairy tale, in their heads they think that what's happening is perfectly right and normal. Until the enchantment fades, they could be perfectly pliable for just about any old thing. Which means that Asmin is where we ought to go. Thoughts, questions, concerns?"
Post by Nikolai Swiftwind on Dec 22, 2016 14:04:10 GMT -7
Perfectly pliable for just about anything. Just about anything. Nikolai felt sick as his mind brought up the worst possible situations the younglings could be in, could forced to be in because of someone's disgusting use of magic. Slavery was only the beginning of that rabbit hole, and he had to shake himself out of it or else he would give up hope right then and there. "Asmin?" He didn't know of the place, but Violet seemed to. "Asmin seems as good a place as any." When she asked if he had thoughts, questions, or concerns he gave her a look, the kind of look that said 'are you fucking kidding me', because he was absolutely nothing but questions and concerns right now. But there was one question he wanted to know the most. "Does an enchanter have to be constantly using their magic to keep someone enchanted? Or could they give a command and then that's it, they follow it even without further input from the enchanter?"
Post by Violet Macar on Dec 22, 2016 14:29:07 GMT -7
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While Violet did have magic, and she was likely one of the better transmuters in Celestia, she couldn't say she had an intimate knowledge of enchantment. She motioned for Nikolai to walk with her, following a train of caravans all heading from Tarifa to Asmin. At least they'd be in safe company. "I suppose it would be a bit like my magic, in a way," She decided, and pulled out her quill. She changed it from a quill to a snowball, and then to a ball of glass, "When I'm touching it... My powers are impressive. This quill will change its properties completely, ignoring any physical laws that should apply to it. Temperature, weight, texture, smell even. But if I weren't..." She turned the ball back into a quill and passed it to Nikolai. She turned it into a snowball once more, and while it looked like a snowball, and was cold like snowball, it had very little weight to it, "Suddenly something could be just a little off. Too light, too heavy, strange texture, strange taste." She turned it back into a quill. "The stronger the magician, the farther they could be, of course...
"But after a long enough time away from the magic, the magic would begin to show wear and tear. And then maybe even falter completely. So... Yeah, the subject would likely do all it could to follow instructions. But if the magic got too weak, they'd realize they'd been enchanted."
Post by Nikolai Swiftwind on Dec 22, 2016 16:06:07 GMT -7
Nikolai watched the magic show with fascination. He had seen her change her appearance, change her clothes, even change her quills into the riding crop and whip, but to watch her change a quill into first a snowball and then a ball of glass was actually incredible. He realized that there was a lot about magic that he didn't know, and he immediately wanted to learn more about it.
She spoke as she did it all and he listened to that as well, and then took the quill when she passed it over. He already knew she was going to do something to it but even so he was still a little surprised to suddenly see and feel the quill turn into a cold snowball right in his hand. She was right though, it didn't have the same weight as a real snowball but even so it was very impressive. He wondered how far away she could make something change, and how long it would stay that way without her thinking about it. Would the quill be a snowball forever if she didn't change it back? If he threw the snowball at someone and it broke apart into pieces, would it be harder to reform back into a quill?
When she mentioned taste, he wondered if she could turn objects into food, like her quill into an apple. If you ate it then, would it actually taste like an apple? Would it feed you the same as a real apple? Could she turn it back into a quill once it was eaten, sitting in someone's stomach? Or more maliciously, could she turn it into a knife while it was being swallowed, or something too large too fit in a stomach, and explode someone from the inside? What were the limits to this magic she had?
And if she could do these things, what could other magic-users do?
"I see, he responded, twirling the quill in his fingers thoughtfully. "I didn't realize there was so much magic could do. It's very impressive what you can do, Violet. Perhaps if my tribe had more experience with magic the younglings would not have been taken in the first place." He wondered if it would be possible for him to learn magic. He had certainly never tried casting magic before, so he didn't know if he had the skill for it or not, but perhaps if he could it would help him get the younglings back, and protect his tribe once he returned.
Post by Violet Macar on Dec 22, 2016 17:32:26 GMT -7
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She grinned at the compliment and took her snowball back, forming it into a rubber ball which she began to toss absently as they walked. "There's nothing magic can do that preparedness, wisdom, and strength can't fight off, I've realized. Alright, maybe not nothing... But most magic can be warded against, even without magic. I hear wrapping one's head with foil aids in keeping enchanters at bay..." She laughed a bit, not knowing that it was actually true, "But really, enchanters are weak to one thing - and it's not magical. Will power. That's probably why they went after the children, anyways. Can't imagine anyone convincing you to bow, dear Nikolai."
The two continued walking with the group, not having much trouble getting to Asmin. No bandits would dare attack the merchants on the road, not this time of year. There were guards posted at every mile, and besides... With the sheer number of travelers, bandits would have to be suicidal to strike.
Asmin, on the other hand, seemed like a much easier target. There were plenty of guards, yes, but not as many guards as there were curling streets... And even without them, the bustling activity was certain to be too much for them to handle. Booths were being constructed all around them, shops were changing their signs, heck, even a circus was being erected. Violet's eyes sparkled with excitement, the change something she could certainly get behind. She spotted a merchant selling cotton candy and she became even more excited, pulling Nikolai over and buying them both some. "Do centaurs have festivals, Nikolai?"
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