< 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!
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< 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 Cherry Milerand on Nov 7, 2017 17:10:24 GMT -7
[googlefont="Englebert"]
On the Spot!
The process had gone just about as smoothly as Cherry had thought it would! Although, perhaps because of the distance or the special way in which Vanya had had to get them in, Cherry was definitely able to feel a little more displacement this time around than when she had previously been blinked into the tower. Still, there wasn't even the mildest trace of dizziness that Cherry had gotten used to with other long-distance travel, so Vanya was still the best damned Conjurer in the world as far as Cherry was concerned (and most people, probably).
However, happening upon the Supreme when he was right smack in the middle of war talks was not something Cherry had intended to do. And it was preeeetty obvious that that's exactly what had just happened; you didn't mistake things like 'Aurcaeli soldier', or 'Atton Chief', and honestly thank the Goddesses that The Supreme had noticed them because it sounded like his adviser (or whoever that was) was about to divulge some rather sensitive intelligence... yikes...
And also thank the Goddesses for The Supreme's apparent lightning reflexes because Cherry would have liked to not catch a face-full of Spell.
It was fine, though! Cherry could just pretend like she hadn't heard anything, right? Definitely nothing suggesting war plans or potentially offering a clue as to why Rielcia didn't seem to be getting in on that whole Peace Treaty dealio that had broken news a couple days ago, nope! She paid sharp attention, though, to the familiar way The Supreme spoke to Vanya, confirming her (fairly obvious) suspicions that the two were personally acquainted on some level, and it was nice to see the adviser dude lowering his guard.
When Vanya pressed a hand to Cherry's back, she finally caught up with the situation and stepped forward, bowing as deeply as she could manage.
"Hello! I'm so so so sorry for being so late, your Supremeness!" She stood back up, offering the most winning smile she had in her arsenal. "I'm veeeeery unfamiliar with this country and, well, one short little detour..."
"Did not wind up being so short," Kuizhinier finished for her. He did not at all seem impressed, but also did not seem surprised. Cherry was glad to see that neither he nor The Supreme looked particularly offended at all, at least, so she guessed this must have been fairly commonplace among foreign visitors.
"Your tardiness was anticipated, actually," The Supreme himself replied, his voice somewhat velvety; a strange mixture between welcoming and bored. "We send guides to greet our visitors in order to avoid such things. But I had an inkling you'd be possessed of a certain wanderlust. Exploring the bright and unknown doesn't seem beyond your predilections, hm?"
Well that was a cool way of saying that things were okay. Wait... things were okay, right?
"Soooo... I'm not super late then? I still have the job?"
Mordecai smirked lightly and nodded.
"Yes!!" Cherry cheered, hopping up with raised arms. She then spun on Vanya and heedlessly gave the woman a brief embrace. "Thank you thank you thank you for getting me here, this is such a relief!"
Post by Sialarvanya on Nov 10, 2017 11:55:18 GMT -7
V
anya accepted Cherry's embrace as if that was the only reason she had come, quirking her brows in the direction she heard Mordecai in somewhat questioningly. Of course Mordecai had expected Cherry's tardiness, Vanya should have known. Whether he had divined it himself, or Siridean had told him was a different question entirely. A part of her hoped Siridean had, and that he also remained somewhere in the castle, as he was the only one of the council she liked. She figured that she could probably ask, as she worried little over possibly offending the Supreme's abilities... But she supposed Cherry might, and Vanya respected her well enough for the both of them.
"And what event might this be for, Mordecai darling?" She shrugged off her furs as one of Mordecai's servants finally caught up to the situation. They tended to Cherry first, but Vanya hadn't noticed. "You're not finally getting married, are you?"
Kuizhinier balked at this, offended on Mordecai's behalf. It was well known that the Supreme had numerous lovers, and that each of his children was from a different woman - or man, in the case of his Kina partners. Some believed this unbecoming of a Supreme, and so Vanya's jab could be seen as a high insult. Thankfully, the Supreme knew Vanya Konstantin better than that, and the Supreme also held little shame over his habits in the way the Master of Transmutation evidently did.
"Ah, not yet Vanya, unless it is you who is making the proposal," Mordecai was most certainly not flirting with Vanya, knowing full well that she would never be interested in a man, but it was clear the two had a casual repoire that made some of the others in the room uncomfortable. "Come," He gestured for the two to follow him to a more private area of the castle, and Kuizhinier happily used the opportunity to excuse himself.
"Less gladly the event is not for myself, but for our soldiers and their morale. We will be traveling to the Stormland before the end of the year to host a traditional Eleusian holiday..." Mordecai explained as they walked the magically warmed halls of the castle, "Perhaps it is not quite the to-do a tailor of your calibre should anticipate, but I admit to have been awaiting an opportunity to enlist your services, Mar Milerand. My ben Jadon has spoken ceaselessly of you since he spent his summer in Liesdro."
Post by Cherry Milerand on Nov 11, 2017 21:58:36 GMT -7
[googlefont="Englebert"]
A job to do~
"Oh nonsense, nonsense!" Cherry replied quickly with a wave of her hand, keeping step next to the Supreme as he guided them. Perhaps most people would have stuck to etiquette and remained a step behind, as was supposedly the respectful thing to do when a monarch was walking with you, but Cherry didn't much see the sense in that when they were also talking to you. She crossed one arm across her middle and rested the crook of her other elbow on it, one fingertip tapping at her chin thoughtfully. "As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as an event that's above or beneath me! Fashion is fashion, is my motto, and wherever it's needed I am more than happy to provide. Besides, my style's pretty adaptable, and I haven't yet encountered an occasion that I couldn't make some fitting clothing for!"
It could be seen as a bit of a brag, but Cherry was just being straightforward; she knew her abilities, and knew what she was damn good at. If you needed a glorious gown for the biggest gala of the year, she could do it gorgeously. If you needed a humble smock to wear to a soup kitchen, she could do it with such subtle aplomb that you'd be the most approachable person there.
"I'll just need to know how many outfits I'm making, what kind of style we're going for, and when they need to be ready! And I'll need the intended wearers to gather up so I can take some measurements, of course. Is your... ben, was it? Will he be attending as well? Because I'd love to meet him! Anyone who was a big enough fan to recommend me to you of all people is definitely worth a warm thank you."
Cherry had to admit she didn't know what a 'ben' was, nor was she particularly familiar with whether or not this Jadon was someone of particular import; she was unfortunately a bit under informed when it came to Rielcian culture and the monarchy. Vanya definitely seemed to know more, though; a glance at the tiefling woman, who was also walking beside herself and Mordecai, had Cherry smiling wider. Vanya clearly knew The Supreme on more familiar a basis than Cherry initially suspected considering he'd even gone so far as to make a bland, joking flirtation towards her. Cherry wondered how long Vanya would be sticking around...
"He is my son, Mar Milerand," The Supreme said, clearly realizing she didn't grasp the Rielcian word. "So naturally he will be in attendance. Though I can assure you he'd likely fight tooth and nail against the notion were it not for the promise of your outfits adorning him. He's rather put off by the notion of responsibility, and that certainly extends to even making a token appearance for our soldiers."
Mordecai spoke as though the matter was a minor nuisance to him, nothing he was exceptionally concerned over, and Cherry just found herself surprised that he'd said it at all. She often found that people in important positions usually liked to try and hide troubling matters within their personal lives, or family, from the public gaze. But then, Mordecai seemed like the kind of guy who just wasn't troubled by most things.
"Well that is a shame," Cherry replied, not bothering to treat the matter with delicacy if Mordecai himself wasn't going to. "But hey, if my clothes can get him to do his job, then that's just another positive for me. Oh, and by the way, I wanted to ask..."
She once again tossed a look towards Vanya, giving the woman a smile that she had no idea couldn't be seen. "I'd hate to impose upon your hospitality, but seeing as how Vanya here was so kind as to bring me to you after I got lost... you wouldn't mind if I set aside some extra time on this job to make her something as well, would you?"
Given that they seemed to know each other, Cherry hoped it wouldn't be an outlandish request to make, and frankly speaking, Cherry became more and more eager at the prospect every time she looked at the Vanya. She was just so gorgeous, and there were so many things Cherry could imagine draping on her to improve upon the perfection.
Mordecai had led them to a circular room that, upon his opening the door, could be seen to hold a number of fabrics, mannequins, and other supplies which were clearly intended for Cherry to use. But he paused in the doorway to look at Vanya after Cherry's question, seeming more interested in her response than his own permission on the matter.
Post by Sialarvanya on Nov 17, 2017 10:42:34 GMT -7
W
alking and talking was not very favorable to Vanya. It was hard to concentrate on what was being said, and also on being certain that she did not crash into something. At first she merely ensured that she stayed slightly behind the sound of Mordecai's voice, and beside the sound of Cherry's voice, but then the young woman moved up, and Vanya was stuck behind the both of them. To remedy this in the best way possible, she covertly used her right hand to detect the wall, tables, or other crashables on one side, and just tried to stay somewhat closer to the right without appearing like she was using it as a crutch.
This focus, however, made it difficult to pay much attention to what was being talked about. She heard Jadon's name a few times, a reference to the new land (Solveig had told her much about it), and that was about all she had gotten until she heard her own name. She paused her walking to listen, and meant to recommence when the statement had finished... But the footsteps had stopped entirely. Mordecai was no longer walking, and neither was Cherry, which meant they were lost in the void to her. Vanya couldn't help but feel feeble as she imagined they had done so for her benefit. Still, she smiled, "Oh, well I suppose I could honour you both with my presence a tad longer."
Mordecai hmmed, and she could assume what he was thinking - Vanya was a distance away from them after all. In quick fashion, Vanya added: "I just love what you've done with the place Mordecai darling. Is it just me, or is it darker in here than I remember?"
Post by Cherry Milerand on Nov 27, 2017 18:54:12 GMT -7
[googlefont="Englebert"]
Little Oddities
Cherry most certainly did not like to make automatic assumptions of people, especially people whom she found to be extraordinarily cool. But, now that she was paying some attention again, she was starting to think there was something.... off, about Vanya. She couldn't place what it was, certainly! But she was beginning to notice how the Tiefling woman seemed... uncomfortable? Her steps seemed almost careful, rather than just gracefully measured like they had been earlier. She didn't seem a hundred percent tapped into the conversation, either, moving ahead of Cherry and Mordecai after the two of them had already stopped.
Her response also provoked a small internal 'hmmm' out of Cherry. Less a comment on the clothing Cherry had just offered to make, and instead simply commenting on offering more of her (clearly valuable) time to them. But it was her next remark that really had Cherry confused.
"I just love what you've done with the place Mordecai darling. Is it just me, or is it darker in here than I remember?"
Cherry was no expert on Rielcia, but the hallway they were standing in was actually rather bright. The floor seemed like it was practically illuminating itself underneath the luxurious carpet that ran along its span, and an assortment of colors seemed to be flowing through the walls in a way that was somehow both vibrant and subtle. Cherry wouldn't call it overpoweringly bright by any means, but it most certainly was not dark. Just how bright had it been the last time Vanya had been here?
She stuck her lip out in confusion, and decided to voice that thought. "Does it... get brighter than this?" she asked. "Because I gotta say, love the colors, Vanya is absolutely right that you've done a great job with this place. But I think if it was any brighter than this I might have to start squinting."
Post by Sialarvanya on Nov 30, 2017 14:41:58 GMT -7
F
or perhaps a moment, Mordecai didn't realize what Cherry was going on about. When the confusion became clear, his eyes fell to Vanya and a smirk traced his lips, as if many things had been explained to him all at once.
A less tactful man might have asked Cherry, Do you not know? And a more cruel man would have asked Vanya, What, have you not told her? Mordecai Izer was neither of these things, and so he instead interjected, "Ah Vanya, you just haven't been anywhere but your tower in ages, and the sun seems to favour your arm of our great land over it's head at my palace, cruel Mistress that she is." If Vanya wished to keep her weaknesses a secret, it would not be Mordecai who spilled them into unknowing ears.
Of course Vanya, who liked to defy expectations, responded, "No, I'd rather think it was due to the fact that I'm blind. Oh, dear Mordecai, always so forgetful."
And if that's how she would play it, Mordecai would smirk, and get her next time.
Post by Cherry Milerand on Jan 4, 2018 8:03:27 GMT -7
[googlefont="Englebert"]
Wait what
Cherry blinked several times at the brief back and forth between Mordecai and Vanya, which ended with Vanya stating quite bluntly that she was blind. Blind.
After an acceptable pause of processing that information, during which the Supreme simply smirked in a knowing fashion, Cherry finally reacted. And in typical her fashion, it was a response brimming with excitement and poppiness.
"Oh my goodness, you're blind?" she asked excitedly, a wide smile on her face and audible in her voice. "You're totally blind? Like actually, not partially? And you can still do all those incredible things you've done without even needing to look where you're going?? Holy..."
Cherry stepped back and breathed an awed sort of chuckle, her eyes meeting Vanya's but now knowing that the woman couldn't see her. "You are even more amazing than I thought, Oh Great Vanya! Ehee. Oh and would you look at me, going on about promising to make you clothes when you couldn't even tell if you'd like my sense at all. No wonder you evaded that topic so skillfully... guess I'll need to have someone give you a second opinion then! Because lemme tell you, someone as awesome as you absolutely deserves the finest, and I wanna be the one to put it on you!"
She'd been hopping in place and chattering excitedly, and it was only now that she stopped and remembered the presence of Mordecai, who was watching her with something approaching amusement. Cherry immediately halted and finally attempted to reign herself in, giggling to herself. "Not to disrespect you, of course, Your Supremeness! You're also pretty amazing. And I'd be honored to get started on those clothes for you."
Her comment to Mordecai sounded rather like someone who was merely awarding a pity compliment, but the man hardly seemed to mind much, chuckling to himself over her antics. She'd probably have found him legitimately impressive had she ever born firsthand witness to what he could do, but few were ever given that privilege. He was fine with that, at any rate.
"Worry not, Miss Milerand. No offense taken for being so enamored with our dear Vanya. She does tend to elicit that reaction in those she acquaints herself with. One might wonder if she is not in fact an enchanter rather than a conjurer."
Ah, and there was more of that amusing little not-flirting. Cherry found it incredibly entertaining how one could lob a compliment that, in the right voice, could be taken as the height of flattery, and deliver it with such unenthused deadpan. She wondered if Mordecai and Vanya always did this sort of thing with each other. Were they besties? Did they go way back? She felt she had to know.
But she also had to restrain that interest and focus on her actual job here.
"Well!" she announced with a clap of her hands. "Your Supremehood, would you mind stepping inside this lovely room you've shown me to that I might get started on taking your measurements? I'm sure I've made you wait long enough. And since Vanya here is amazing but also blind, would it trouble you to have her sit in?"
"I suspect you merely wish to cajole her into letting you design an outfit for her own adorning, Miss Milerand, but I'd be remiss to dismiss her now, when the prospect of her continued company is so much more appealing. Care to join us inside, Vanya?"
Post by Sialarvanya on Jan 13, 2018 13:48:43 GMT -7
A
ll individuals acted uniquely to discovering Vanya's 'secret', but Vanya had to admit that none had ever been so tickled by it as Cherry was. Not tickled in that she was entertained by Vanya's misery, no, even without seeing her or knowing her for very long Vanya knew Cherry was not a malevolent soul. Even her comment to Mordecai, which many would see as a nigh exile-able offense, seemed merely brought on by utter excitement. Charming might be the term Vanya would use, if she were a woman not spoken for... Adorable instead, perhaps. For Sia, a woman pleasantly (even somewhat surprisingly) in love, Cherry was entertaining. It was rare she found such a thing these days. From Mordecai's words it was clear he felt similarly, though certainly was less otherwise-attached.
She had anticipated her dismissal would come soon enough, whether for that reason, or merely because she needn't give ear to any talk of politics or trouble (she may have displayed an old habit of sharing them with customers when bored), but instead she was invited to remain. Mordecai was clearly not tired of her, yet (she had not been here in quite a time, had she?), and she would admit that Cherry had not yet grated on her nerves.
She hmmed a little at the offer, as if she might actually refuse it, and Mordecai picked up on the cue. "If I recall correctly we put to ice a special wine for the occasion," Mordecai massaged the issue, knowing it wasn't necessary, but also knowing it was an opportunity to return Vanya's own imperceptible barbs, "A century's vintage from a Liesdron sungrape winery. I prepared it for our illustrious tailor, and yet... I recall someone with an impeccable inability to resist just such a wine. Hmm," With that, Mordecai opened the door into the next chamber, before adding nonchalantly - "Perhaps that is precisely why I was reminded of that night... What was it? Eight, nine years ago?"
It was clear he had not forgotten the date or the time, and it was becoming clearer that he had perhaps been less surprised than he had let on by Vanya's appearance here today. That particular wine? It sounded suspicious. She should have suspected as much, but she enjoyed thinking that she was still full of surprises. Unfortunate then, that divination was so omnipresent in Rielcia.
"Nine years, dear, but I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about," She smirked as she teased, and stepped through the door which she knew was not a door. Conjuration. My, he was showing off all of his tricks, wasn't he? She accepted the cool glass of wine offered by some unknown servant graciously, and took the hand that was offered to her other that guided her to a cushy kind of loveseat in the middle of what may as well have been nothing to her. They wanted her to sit and drink? she could do that.
Meanwhile, Cherry could appreciate the miraculous room before them. It was perfectly round with a domed top whose roof was of a completely unknowable height, hanging full of crystal chandeliers and coloured baubles that offered a rich glitter to the room. The colours shifted as if different kinds of light were shifting through the crystals, but the easiest and most likely explanation was also the truth: It was magic.
Every inch of wall was a section of angled mirror, some tinted, some not, all seeming to have their own light sources within that covered any desired look from 'twilight ball' to 'mid-day speech'. Even the door they had entered from was not a door at all, but merely a piece of mirror wall that melted back into place when it was properly closed. The most interesting thing about the mirrors was actually how little like mirrors they were - only the ones being looked into reflected anything. The others all merely showed an empty scape of room as if it were the only thing there.
Post by Cherry Milerand on Jan 20, 2018 0:49:41 GMT -7
[googlefont="Englebert"]
OPULENCE!!
"You hope it will do?" Cherry asked, incredulously. The room that she had been guided into was the pinnacle of breathtaking. Absolutely nothing like any room Cherry had ever been in, every aspect of its details perfectly chosen to enchant and bedazzle. Cherry could guess well enough that this was the work of magic - at least partially - but Deities All it was some of the most impressive and visually beautiful she'd ever seen, no question.
"Your Supremitude," she said, one hand on her chest as she turned to fix her blown-out attention on him. "This is like, the most brilliant place I could have the privilege to work in. You're gonna make me feel like my personal office back home is the sticks after this. This is perfect, thank you."
Mordecai seemed pleased by her response, and possibly amused by her way of mixing up her titles of address for him. Vanya appeared unfazed and perfectly ethereal as usual, but Cherry imagined that this was a visual luxury, after all, so it made sense that Vanya wouldn't be nearly as astounded by it as Cherry was. The woman had found herself a cushy seat with the guidance of some servants, and was sipping at a fancy glass of wine now. Cherry couldn't help but feel as though she just looked like she belonged here. Her whole image and personality radiated class and poise, elegance and nobility. Even if she didn't actually have some of those traits, she was sure good at faking it.
Maybe it was all the elbow-bumping she did with The Supreme that had cultivated this adaptability to elite settings in her. The two had been continuing to make it abundantly clear that they had a very established rapport, and it was quite entertaining to see it unfold. Cherry could relate to Vanya, if that was the case though; visits to her family and various functions in Liesdro had taught her the ins and outs of acting hoity toity when the situation called for it, but Cherry suspected that she probably employed those talents far less often than Vanya did. She'd never really gotten used to acting any more or less like herself.
"Well then!" she announced, clapping her hands together brightly. "I see you've set me up a little podium over there - Mr. Supreme Beans, if you'd kindly step up there, I'll get started on the measurements! And you, Miss Vanya, you just keep sitting there looking perfect and I'll get to you in a bit!"
Post by Sialarvanya on Jan 29, 2018 22:06:37 GMT -7
C
herry truly had no cares in the world, didn't she? She called Mordecai 'Supreme Beans', or rather 'Mr. Supreme Beans', and Vanya could almost hear the pulses of the servants rise. Just as surely as he had before, however, Mordecai chuckled, and they all relaxed somewhat. The Supreme shook his head with the laugh, and stepped up onto the podium.
"I've never heard that one before," His tone was light, but not placating. With a shrug, his decorative coat fell off his shoulders, and a servant bolted to catch it before it touched the floor. Then, a team of them swarmed him, stripping him down to his smallclothes in quick fashion. Every little tie, each criss-cross of fabric, and all decorative ribbons - undone by the many hands in moments.
Mordecai looked at home on the podium, his stance completely relaxed yet his posture perfect. His comfort at those hands, and at standing there, made it clear that he had been used as a subject for dressing numerous times before, or perhaps that he was simply just proud of himself and his well-kept shape. "Begin your magic, Miss Milerand."
While Cherry and Mordecai worked and spoke, Vanya drank and thought. She could have had a life like this, once. Sitting cosy with the Supreme on days like this, sipping on wine that likely cost more than even she would make in a year. She had been offered a council position some years ago, before Garrus took the spot. Then, when she had refused that, Mordecai had attempted to convince her to become a certified Master of Conjuration so that she could take on apprentices, though mostly so she could enjoy all of the fantastic events held for such Rielcian Masters. She had refused that, too.
She had her reasons, of course. They were excellent reasons at that - a little desire for privacy, a little pride, a little selfishness, and a little fear. She had not Planesjumped in a long period of time. Not outside of her own pocket dimension, anyways. The scars of her last attempt - her Planescrawl - were too fresh. Her blindness was an ever-present reminder of where her power had ended her. She didn't particularly care if other fools stumbled into the same mess on their own, but she didn't like the idea of helping them down that many trapped path.
Besides, she enjoyed her private time. The idea of having an annoying little apprentice hounding behind her at all hours was absolutely dreadful, no matter the benefits offered by the titles.
As Vanya sipped, the Supreme posed naturally and told Cherry more about the event in question. "We have repeated this event numerous times over the years, but this year is something of it's own nature. A traditional Eleusan holiday, yes, but also the potential for something more. Still grand in the way only Eleusia can conduct grandiosity, though think: Accessible. If all goes well, there will be a number in attendance who cannot tell their dessert fork from their salad, or who have never learned a simple waltz. This shall be an experience for those whom have a much divorced sense of what a party is... Which brings to mind: What are your thoughts on 'waterproof' designs, Miss Milerand?"
The skin OTHERWORLD was made by JAWN of WICKED WONDERLAND.
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