< 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 Ellis Danton on Feb 9, 2017 10:01:57 GMT -7
Scout Danton was a title he had gotten so used to. It fit how he saw himself. Lonely, quiet, determined, clever enough, but not too clever. Personal aid? To someone so important as Pelagia Xista? He'd never have given himself so much credit... But now, he almost relished in it. His ears were pink, and words wouldn't come to him, but it was difficult to imagine a better feeling than the acceptance and validation Pelagia gave him.
He merely nodded at her order and stood (using the table with his unscarred hand once more), moving swiftly to take his seat (when he felt he had permission), and then he waited for her to start in on the food. His mind couldn't but rush with concerns over the food now not being good enough. Sure, it had been fine before - but now that he was her personal aid, now that he bore the emblem of the Gold Leafs, it couldn't be good enough. Everything needed to be perfect.
OOC. I decided he would probably just end up sitting there, looking at her nervously, so no dialogue! Let me know if you'd prefer he stammer something. ; )
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 11, 2017 21:20:12 GMT -7
Pelagia busied herself with opening up the wine Ellis had brought her while he went about collecting himself and taking the seat across the table from her. By the time she'd poured herself a glass and was giving it an inhale, he was sitting there like a fool, completely unsure of what he should be doing.
She chuckled. "Well don't just sit there, Ellis. Serve yourself up some food. Eat." Her tone was warm and inviting, humorous even, as though simply amused at his lack of action. She uncovered one of the plates near her and immediately set about serving herself up onto a fresh dish, leading by example. She passed her hand over some of the bits that were meant to be hotter, applying some weak fire evocation to bring warmth back to the dishes. Part of her wondered if she should also make a show of being offended that Xanthe had been permitted to dine on this before Pelagia, but she decided against it. She'd already accomplished what she wanted with Ellis, and Xanthe was a fine enough woman. Perhaps the food would grant her an appreciation for the finer points of Aurcaeli living. It would be useful to have someone who remained an ally even in the wake of what was coming.
"This," she said to Ellis as she took her first bite of the jaegerschnitzel, smiling in a very pleased fashion. "Is the nicest thing I've had to eat in ages. It has been dearly missed, let me say." And that wasn't even a lie. It was absolutely delicious. A true taste of home. Pelagia was quite legitimately pleased with it. "And the wine," she said, nodding appreciatively after a sip. "What an excellent year. Thirty, you said? Quite well-aged."
Post by Ellis Danton on Feb 14, 2017 13:02:34 GMT -7
She insisted he eat, and so he would. Or at least, look busy enough to perhaps not feel so overbearing upon her - staring, waiting for approval. He filled his plate with only the salad and the entrees, fighting his desire for dessert. That didn't seem appropriate in Pelagia's company... Particularly not when he was intended to be her personal aid - he had to appear the picture of health.
He picked at the food with his fork, mostly pretending to eat (his nerves and the fact that he'd eaten enough with Xanthe contributing to his lack of appetite). He avoided her eyes - hoping she wouldn't hate everything. Oh... Danton. This is horrible. It's essentially poison! You have failed me for the last time. No longer shall you be my personal aid. You're an embarrassment to Ayniea, you--
She liked it. His eyes raised sheepishly to her's, glittering with a puppy's excitement at pleasing it's master. Then she sipped the wine, and she seemed pleased with that as well, and his shoulders relaxed and he took a full bite of his own food. Chewing almost seemed impossible with the smile he couldn't wipe off of his face, the pride beaming off of his face like a beacon in the night. "D-danke!" He managed after swallowing, "Th-thank you. I c-could not b-be happier th-that you l-like it, m-my Lord. I... I would b-be honoured, j-just honoured to c-cook f-for you any... Er... Anytime. D-do you have a f-favourite m-meal, m-my Lord?"
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 17, 2017 14:46:55 GMT -7
Clearly, complimenting the food had been just what the doctor ordered for Ellis, who finally relaxed upon hearing her words of approval. This was good, though. For him to be on edge, full of anxiety, as he waited for her verdicts. How he would only allow himself to feel at ease once as she had given him approval. He was practically conditioning himself, taking all of the work out of it for her.
She smiled at his offer to cook for her, pleased that her latest choice of lapdog was actually a rather capable chef (it would certainly be convenient for her creature comforts), and pondered on his question as she took another bite of her food. After humming for a moment, she leaned forward on the table, casually resting her chin on her palm and giving Ellis a serene smile. "I am rather fond of rote grutze. Nothing quite beats it on a calm day out, gazing at the clouds."
Post by Ellis Danton on Feb 18, 2017 9:01:02 GMT -7
This... This was so pleasant. She was speaking to him as if they were friends, and though he of course would assume anything so brazen, he returned her smile with his own, which was far less serene and far more exuberant. Rote grutze was a wonderful pick, and he should have suspected she's select something so delicious. Currants, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and so many ways to serve it. He remembered as a child hating the stuff, but as he grew up he had grown more and more fond of it.
In fact, he was mentally cursing himself that he hadn't thought to make it for tonight. Xanthe would have liked it too, probably.
"Y-you have a er, a w-wise palate," He half-joked, half-complimented, trying to decide if that was an okay thing to do by watching her expression. When he determined it wasn't going to make her angry at him, he allowed himself to relax and think on the last time he'd had rote grutze. It hadn't been a part of his last meal in Aurcaele, no... Ah. His ears reddened slightly as he recalled the date he had been set upon by his mother and another family in their community. It was a favour for his mother. The girl didn't like him - especially not when he couldn't string together a proper sentence. Perhaps that had been why he did not request rote grutze before he left home.
But there was something else from home. The clouds. They were here, too - the Attonian sky was always cloudy - but they were grey and roiling with storms... And they were above, not below. He liked them both ways. He considered them similar. Once again: similar. "D-do you r-remem-- er, r-recall the er... jaosi s'na? The g-g-g-god tree? I... I f-feel Ayniea's p-presence here. From... From th-the clouds, t-to the er, the g-god tree. M-maybe it's... it's du-du-- si-si-- stupid but er, c-could this be... Wh-where she w-went? N-not imp-p-prisoned in the w-willow, b-but stretching... Her r-roots here?"
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 20, 2017 20:17:09 GMT -7
Pelagia had, somewhere in the back of her mind, remembered Ellis's suggestion regarding the Attonians' sacred tree back at Fort Fabelle. She had more or less assumed he must have dropped it by now, recognizing the foolishness of it, but to have him bring it up again when they were in the midst of such pleasant conversation? Such a shame.
Pelagia could, of course, say with absolute certainty that Ellis could not be more wrong. Pelagia knew exactly where Ayniea was. Pelagia could feel her presence like no one else could. For Ellis, a lowly human to suggest that he could do the same, and here of all places was almost offensive to her. No, Ayniea was most certainly not here in Atton, not through any channel other than Pelagia herself. Ellis's suggestion was indeed quite stupid.
However... she debated on whether or not it was worth saying as much. Part of conditioning Ellis, of course, was to ensure that his thoughts aligned with her own, and that he would not allow himself to believe in stupid things she did not approve of. But to be so... direct about it was what amateur dictators and run of the mill mind control enthusiasts used enchantment for. No, proper conditioning was all about the subtle touch. Guiding the subject towards the desired pattern of thinking and instilling in them a subconscious fear towards disappointing their superior with even their most private thoughts, but doing so while externally showing them nothing but kindness and grace. They must never be made to think that their thoughts had been forced into them, even if that was exactly what was happening.
And so it was that Pelagia decided she would not shoot Ellis down so directly. She maintained her graceful smile, but shook her head softly. "While I won't say it is impossible, Ellis, I do not feel Ayniea's influence here, but through myself. There is certainly a divine hold here," she said, stirring her fork in her food thoughtfully. "One whom perhaps shares a kinship with Ayniea, one unknown to us all. But it is not for mortals to know the designs of the gods." At this, she met his eyes directly, her features unchanged but her gaze holding the slightly apparent warning she meant to convey. A warning that would ingrain itself into her loyal dog's subconscious. He was just a man. He should not get ahead of himself and presume to know anything about the gods. "Perhaps the presence you feel is merely the surge of pleasure one should feel when doing her holy work," she added, her tone dismissive. A careless and indirect way of brushing aside his stupid fantasies without seeming cruel, while simultaneously allowing for positive reinforcement. A reminder that he had done well. "After all, you have helped foster peace in the land."
She returned to sipping at the wine after this, a signal that that was all she intended to say on the matter. But she kept one eye on him in a subtle glance, eager to take in his reactions.
Post by Ellis Danton on Feb 20, 2017 20:38:36 GMT -7
She rejected his thoughts quite soundly.
It was well within her rights, of course. She was a steer (in the honorable sense, if not the physical), she knew far more about Ayniea than he ever could. But... No, no. She was right. His ears went pink and he cleared his throat and stared down at his plate. His appetite had disappeared completely, and both his throat and lips felt too dry to even pretend to eat. It would be like sawdust now. He realized then that while he was more than a Scout now, he was not much more than a Scout.
Even if he had felt something truly godlike here. He was obviously just... wrong.
He had merely felt pride for acting in honour of Ayniea. The touch he'd felt, the voice he'd heard, the unexplainable experiences... "B-but I-- Heard--" He stopped himself. She was right. He shouldn't question her. That wasn't his place. He could expound his fantasies to Xanthe. She was his friend... She was that for him, no matter how he worshiped her. Pelagia was not a friend. She was purely an object of his devotion and servitude. She was more like Deity, and Xanthe was a mortal.
"M-my a-apologies... For... F-for speaking out of t-turn. M-my lord, d-do you r-require anything further f-from me?"
Post by Pelagia Xista on Feb 20, 2017 21:11:30 GMT -7
He started to question her, for just a small instant, but he stopped himself. Pelagia resisted the urge to smirk once he did so. Evidently her tactics were working as expected. He second-guessed the notion of questioning her even despite having something more to say. He convinced himself it was not his place. Good boy.
And then he apologized, and seemed as though he was prepared to excuse himself, to slink off with his tail between his legs. She shook her head kindly at him. "No need to apologize, Ellis. It is inspiring to see you do so much for Ayniea's holy radiance. Rest comfortable in that. I would not have marked you if you did not deserve it."
She nodded to his palm, another reminder. More positive reinforcement. More good feelings to counterbalance any negativity he felt. It was good he did not question her. She had chosen to honor him, after all. Clearly that meant he was doing right by her. And if that meant accepting his role and maintaining humility, then obviously he just had to keep doing that.
"You have been most helpful, Ellis. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I would be happy to dine with you again some time." And now she gave him a pleased expression, closing her eyes. "You are welcome to stay, but if you had anything else to do, then you are also welcome to leave. I won't be needing anything further for the time being."
Post by Ellis Danton on Feb 20, 2017 21:35:51 GMT -7
She dismissed him, and he nodded, setting his cutlery down gently on the plate, and patting his mouth softly with his napkin. The scar burned at the touch of the cloth, but he didn't permit it to show on his face - or at least, he tried. His teeth found his lip and his brows furrowed slightly. In a moment, however, it lightened and he looked upon the thing with mild pride.
He stood then, tucking his chair in gently and placing the plate and cutlery into the basket he had brought with him. "Th-thank you, m-my Lord," He managed, moving back to her chair and taking a knee once more. It settled his stomach and mind here. This was where he belonged. Sitting across from her - alone - made him feel far too strange. Perhaps if he looked more deeply into the feeling it would be clear that it felt wrong, but he wouldn't. He couldn't. He wasn't one to question.
"You honour m-me. I shall l-live my l-life in service t-to Ayniea, and to you."
He waited for a moment, permitting the moment to settle itself. He before her, as if she were his Queen sitting in a throne. He a knight sworn to give his life for her. He stood again, using his unscarred hand to steady himself as he took to his feet. "R-rest well, m-my Lord," He offered finally, stepping backwards cautiously with a bow at his waist before turning to leave the room.
With the door closed behind him, he took a deep breath through his nose, almost holding it until he had gotten far enough away that he felt alone once more. It was early morning now. Before sunrise, but not by much more than an hour or two. Tomorrow would be a long day, certainly.
A day where he'd need to explain all of this change to Xanthe.
He'd forgotten about her in the meeting. Not her existence, but what she was to him. With her, he had felt reverence, he had knelt to her. He had done the same to Pelagia. When he was with Xanthe, he worshiped her more than anyone. When he was with Pelagia - it was the same. He felt torn, pulled... Weak. He would need to be confident, inform Xanthe of the greatness he had been honoured with.
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