< 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!
She had found herself in some shitty little tavern in Vieri (a place where no one seemed to know how to drink), separated from the crew (on purpose), and well on her way to a drunken stupor. All because of a birthday. All because of the memories associated with birthdays. Amelia, who she would never see again, and who was likely married to some shit-skin noble. Her parents, who she would never see again, and who were likely dead. Karenina, who she would never see again, and who was definitely dead.
Some might have thought Leigh would enjoy spending her birthday with her new family. With Captain Astra. Kali. Colossus, maybe. Heck, even Maldrem would be fine. Nicole, she might have put up with... But she didn't like the way these memories made her act. Pathetic. And so, she'd dropped off the airship when they made port to restock, and told everyone she'd find them. That she always did.
And then she had found herself in some shitty little tavern in Vieri.
Valleyfall, the town was called. She had made an excuse about coming here to get some extra lightning for the airship. She might actually come back with some after nursing her hangover tomorrow. For now though, she was slumped in a booth, cradling weak mead, and wishing for the day to end.
It couldn't get better, in her mind... Or worse. She didn't realize she'd probably be wrong about one or the other.
Sneaking aboard a airship wasn't a wise idea, even more so when you were low on your food supply. You couldn't just hide happily and munch on your reserves. No! Lucard had to sneak around to try and get some food to nibble on, that had been a pain in the ass for four days. Course, when the ship had docked, he bolted for it with one of the crew members on his tail; and a thick steak in his mouth. Now it was two days later and he was both soaking wet and cold. A cough left him as he tasted salt water again in his throat though he was certain he hadn't fallen off the wooden docks again...did he? As if afraid he had, he paused and searched his bag for his items. The potion bottle was still in there and so was a spare outfit, now it was too...oh shit. His pouch was open and when he stuck his hand in there his face went pale. All of the herbs he gathered....gone. One of the times he fell in the pouch must've opened and he hadn't realised it.
TIck tock tick tock. The right head's voice rang in Lucard's mind.
Shut it. Lucard replied back mentally as he closed the pouch and started walking.
Guess you're really gonna have to conserve that stuff now huh? While making the round about trip of course.
They were right...he needed the potion and he couldn't afford to waste any of it now. Oh dear, he had just gotten all the ingredients again too! Hopefully this place would have a good market once he figured out where that could be. For now though, some heat would be nice an where better than a tavern or pub? Well that would be easier to find than a market let alone a way back from where he came. Opening the creaky door, he cringed at the noise but ignored the few stares he got. There was warmth in here and he took a seat at a empty table, the waitress who came to him was surprised to see a boy so young but he managed to convince her he was with someone. Ordering a soup, he gave a sigh as he managed to dodge that bullet.
You shouldn't have lied. The left voice said disappointingly.
"I had to." Lucard muttered out loud, whether or not someone heard him could be debatable.
Last Edit: Jan 23, 2017 19:50:55 GMT -7 by Deleted
Post by Cherry Milerand on Jan 24, 2017 1:04:05 GMT -7
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Something about drinking in Vieri; It feels sinful but awesome?
Vieri was not a common place of business for Cherry; while the nation certainly wasn't one that was especially lacking in people looking to enjoy some high fashion, it still wasn't really common either. Well, she supposed that was sort of to be expected when you looked at how monastic a lot of the place was. Entirely too stuffy for her taste in lifestyle, but at the same time, the people were like, super nice? So hey, mixed bag!
Surprisingly enough though, there had been a store up here that had put in a few commissions for her work, hoping to do their part to put Valleyfall on the more modern map by getting some trendy clothes up for sale. This, Cherry could very much appreciate! So she'd found herself working out the deal earlier in the day, and with that business concluded, saw herself to a bit of sightseeing. Vieri was honestly a really beautiful place, and there was much of it she had never seen. She was surprised when she happened across a tavern, and feeling like celebration was a perfectly acceptable thing to do to express her cheery mood, she decided that she obviously had to go in right now immediately.
Moments later saw her with a fruity drink in her hand, her cheer infectious to the barkeep that had served her, and she asked if anyone knew how to play the piano that was in the corner of the dusty establishment (some might call it rinky-dink, or 'shitty'. Cherry called it a work in progress!)
He simply shook his head, shrugging and explaining that it had been there for ages and no one had ever played it. This, Cherry found to be completely criminal and unacceptable. And so, not even quite drunk yet, she wandered her way over to the instrument, climbed up on top of it, and stood proudly for all in the tavern to behold.
"Attention all you sadsap tavern-goers!" she called, getting the attention of many of the residents who clearly had just been there to drown some sort of sorrow in their drinks. She smiled, brandishing her fruity martini like it was a scepter. "This place is clearly too depressing, and we need some music to liven it up! So who here knows how to play the piano? Hm?"
She took a sip of her drink, and boy must she have looked a sight; all done up with diamond earrings and a stylish high ponytail, the hair lightly curled into waves, adorned in a black dress with a skirt that was split into multiple ends, with sleeve cuffs to match and a white cravat worn at the neck, along with pointed ankle-boots in a matching white. She definitely did not look like she belonged there, and that's exactly why she did, if you asked her.
"You there!" she said, pointing a finger at a young-looking boy who looked like he was trying to quietly blend in with his surroundings, a bowl of soup before him. "Do you have a flair for the keys?" she asked. She then swiftly moved her finger to instead point at a woman sitting at the bar, who quite visibly had a hook for one hand. "Or you!" she declared. "You can't fool me! I know that that hook can probably dance on the ivories like a pro and make them bleed beautiful music!"
She took another sip of her drink, pleased to see that several of the tavern residents were actually smiling at her antics, their attentions starting to look more lively and less morose. Cherry did a little dancer's kick with her legs, a little hop on the piano's lid. "The first person who comes up to play gets a front row seat to watching me dance! And I'll dance to whatever you play, your call."
She tossed a little wink at the room at that, her gaze flitting around at any perspective takers, including the two she had already singled out. The woman with the hook had looked especially bummed, and the boy looked like he'd been despairing over something. That wouldn't do at all!
OOC Notes: Figured I'd offer a little bridge for those two meeting, and get involved at the same time. =D
Post by Leigh Haskell on Jan 24, 2017 13:37:38 GMT -7
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[attr="class","wavesundtext"] She almost groaned with disgust at the cutting, cheery voice that was attempting to bring up the energy in the room. Was it not bad enough that she was having a bad day? Could she not drink in peace? She didn't turn at first, pretending to ignore the headache inducing shrill, but when she was called upon, she couldn't help but turn a head over her shoulder. First, at the other sap she'd picked out of the crowd (some kid who had no right being in the tavern, which was an act of rebellion she could respect), and then at the woman. It helped the lamini's cause that she was good looking... And it helped that she looked rich. Alright. Leigh could play this game.
She swiveled her stool around with drink in hand, pulling it back sharply to finish it off. When her feet hit the ground she wondered if she had somehow ended up back on the ship - but figured she had actually consumed enough drink to make her balance waver. She wasn't stumbling, and certainly wasn't to the point of slurring, but she was feeling better. Good.
"Tell you what," Her statement was defined by the smacking of the glass back on the bar's counter, and made almost scary as she made her way towards the piano. More than a few looks seemed concerned that the angry, dark, hook-handed pirate was about to give the cheery fashionista a piece of her mind, and she was happy that she could offer them that second-hand intimidation. She walked past the boy's table, and latched her hook on the back of his shirt, forcing him up from the table and out in front of her. This got a few whispers. She forced him towards the piano, and then put her hand on his shoulder to force him down onto the bench.
He'd be their player. Then, she looked up at the well-dressed woman (Was that fashion these days? Leigh would pass) and decided she didn't mind the green skin as much up close. As long as she stopped yelling... Which Leigh was sure she could help with. She offered her hand up to the girl, a potential gesture to help her down, though Leigh was never so sweet. She smirked, and made her counteroffer: "I don't play. But I do dance."
With his soup delivered, he thanked the waitress and had only gotten a few spoon fulls when a voice broke through the normal chatter in this place. He had been in a few taverns and the cheery sound felt a little out of place. Turning his head to look, he raised a brow as she pointed at him and mentioned playing the piano.
"M...Me?" Lucard muttered weakly, feeling nervous and not sure on what to think of this.
Can we throw the piano at her? The right head questioned, clearly disliking the cheery air that the strangely dressed woman had.
No. Besides, I like this lady. I wanna see where this goes. The left head replied in a excited tone.
I can't play the piano, so before you suggest it no. Lucard thought back to the two voices.
Sadly things didn't seem to be in his favor, he thought about speaking up and saying he couldn't play. But he felt something hook onto the back of cloak to his shirt and he was lifted up. The spoon had clattered as it hit the table from when he dropped the item in his surprise.
"HEY!" Lucard snapped as he had to get up and go where she wanted. "I can't play either."
His admittance was in a lower voice and he was shoved down in the seat of the piano. His nervousness was still there but he clearly wasn't pleased. His bag slid off and the young man reached for it to prevent it from falling on the ground. Having saved the bag and it's contents, he set it down on the wood floor gently.
If she wasn't making us do this, I'd say I'd like her but at the moment....I don't. The right head commented.
Are you sure it's not just the hook and the dark demeanor? The left head questioned.
Post by Cherry Milerand on Jan 24, 2017 17:17:23 GMT -7
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Someone's gettin' a little bold!
She was surprised, and amused, to see that the lady with the hook had decided to accept her little invitation, but what really brought the giggles was in the way she snatched up the first boy Cherry had pointed at with her hook, ignoring his indignant struggling, and soundly plopped him right in front of the piano. Then she offered a hand to Cherry and suggested the idea of joining her in the dance Cherry had promised.
She gave the woman a coy smile, then glanced down at the grumbling boy, feeling slightly sorry for him but too tipsy to care too much. She gingerly took the woman's hand - it was rough compared to hers - and then hopped down lightly, expertly avoiding spilling her drink. "I think a dance sounds like a fine thing. Just oooooone sec."
She downed the rest of her martini, set it on top of the piano, then turned back to the boy sitting on the bench. Lifting the cover off the piano keys, she grabbed the boy's hands and set them on an easy-to-reach set. "You don't have to be able to play to get the party going," she explained. Guiding his hands, she then had three of his fingers on each of his hands push some keys a couple of times, then moved them to the right for a few more taps, then back left for a few more, before guiding him back to the center. It was a simple, jaunty little tune that was easy to dance to, and easily repetitive. "Just keep playing those keys in that order, kay?"
Tags: @lucard OOC Notes: Giving the next post to you for your response before Leigh gets back to Cherry.
Having someone so close to him made him tense up, Lucard usually kept a distance from people due to the threat he knew he was. Other than nervous he wasn't sure what he felt as he had a lady this close to him and then..she grabbed his hands with her own. For some reason, he felt his face heat up a bit and to the others in the room they would see his face turned a bit red. Was it blush? He never felt this conflicted let alone having a woman stand so close to him and actually touch his hands. He didn't fight her, just let her have him press a few keys and she recommended that he just repeat these ones.
This.....what is this feeling? The right head questioned in a slightly irritated tone.
I don't know... The left head replied, she sounded puzzled.
Lucard couldn't respond to the two voices in his head, he merely tried to copy the keys he had seen the lady have him do. Feeling uneasy still, here merely pressed the keys over and over. The music came out though he wasn't very relaxed. If anything he looked like a stiff trying to push the right keys on the thing. Course he was nervous so what could you expect?
Post by Leigh Haskell on Jan 24, 2017 19:31:34 GMT -7
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[attr="class","wavesundtext"] Leigh eyed the drink and almost shook her head at the woman's mistake. All noble women made it. Fruity, sweet, expensive drinks filled to the brim with strong booze. It would go to her head a lot more quickly than Leigh's would. Leigh would need to get a water or two in her before trying to do too much.
She stood to the side and let the lamini teach the boy a simple melody - one Leigh still couldn't play, as it required two sets of fingers - and when he seemed to get the drift, she dropped a couple bronze coins on the top of the piano and signalled to one of the tavern girls to bring the piano player a drink. The wench seemed unsure - he looked like a kid - but a hard stare from Leigh and the glinting of her hook usually convinced people to listen to her. Dropping an extra few coins onto the piano, she leaned into the boy: "Play slow, and there's more of that for you, kid."
With that, she turned back towards the thing she was hoping to lose herself in tonight. "Sorry," She whispered, snagging Cherry's left hand in her own, and wrapped her hook-ended arm around the girl's waist, pulling her quickly and solidly closer, "I'm a leftie." It wasn't so close as for their bodies to collide... But close enough that Leigh could feel the temperature of the girl's body, warmed by drink. She drove the dance with less than fluid movements, Leigh not being much of a dancer. She might have been, as a girl, with Amelia... But she hadn't done it in a while. "You hardly look monastic enough for a place like this. Malscure?"
Post by Cherry Milerand on Jan 24, 2017 20:01:11 GMT -7
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Not what I'm used to... But that's not bad ♥
The roughness of hook-girl's good hand, the unkempt look to her hair, the very slight smell that hung on her... it was all very different from the sorts of people Cherry usually engaged with in this sort of setting. Usually she'd meet people like this while cave-diving or treasure-hunting. But a seemingly romantic dance? Well, that was new territory for such a rough woman. Cherry didn't find that she minded, her lips curled in delight as she was pulled close and led in a graceless sort of dance. That was also charming. She could probably dance circles around hook-hand, but would she? Pfffffft hell no. Only douchebags did that, and Cherry liked to believe she wasn't a douchebag.
She watched the hesitant tavern wench bring a pitcher to the boy at the piano, who was dutifully playing the tune Cherry had told him to, slower than she demonstrated but still somewhat clumsily at parts. It didn't really matter, though. It was already generating smiles around the tavern. Of course, the pair of dancing women might have been aiding in that. But hey, as long as the place started livening up!
"Right and also wrong," she replied to hook-hand, raising the hand that was resting on her shoulder to tap lightly at her nose. "Not from Vieri, but not Malscuri either. Nisequois, actually. And Liesdron. Bit of both. And you? Something tells me that you're more the seafaring type."
Did she mean more of the coin or more of the beverage. He wasn't sure which he meant but he did as she asked and went slower. Slower was good for him as this was his first time doing it. If he tried doing this fast well, that would be a hard thing to do. In all honesty, he was shocked to see the waitress bring the pitcher over.
It sounds lovely. The left head commented.
I wanna see what those other two are doing. The right one said simply.
For some reason, Lucard could imagine that one swaying to the sound despite the mistakes he made where he screwed up and pressed the wrong key for a moment before he could correct it. He took a deep breathe to stay relaxed and keep the order of the keys memorized that the other one had showed him. As if to keep the Right head a little quiet, he glanced over his shoulder to see them moving to the music. Though he didn't look over long as he made two mistakes easily and figured he needed to stare at the keys in order to do it somewhat right.
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