< 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!
Simply being around Elias was already making her feel more clear-headed. She was drained, but the headache was receding and she felt more herself with each passing moment. Elias said he wasn't worried for himself - which didn't surprise her as she knew he was more than capable of defending himself and taking out his enemies - but rather for what it could mean in general. What the man had done to her was an affront to Elias, and he did not take things like that lightly. He was the kind of man who shut down dissent quickly and decisively. If someone had done something to her in an attempt to hurt him in some way, they would surely pay dearly for it.
Elias told her to take his hand and she did so without hesitation. She did not enjoy dancing for fun, but she knew that Elias had not asked her to do it simply for the fun of it, and she moved easily along with the song and with him leading the steps. She did not enjoy dancing, but she knew how to do it of course. She couldn't make Elias look bad. Looking up at him as they moved along the dance floor she noticed he was on the lookout. His intriguing pupils were no mystery to her though she doubted many other people would be able to figure out the meaning of the shapes they bore, and she knew right now he would be keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble. She would be keeping an eye out as well, in case Thomas Dunn or the child made their way back here before they were found by the guards.
Who was the woman, Elias asked. Eurydian? "No, I believe her and Dunn are a separate issue from the Eurydians. Thomas Dunn appears to be a doctor from Artavia. She said he wanted to make slaves. Mortal weapons. She was an Ajatar. I left her with a Black Cloak for further questioning."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Nov 29, 2017 8:04:37 GMT -7
For a man with such smooth skin and perfectly coiffed hair, Woodrow was strong, and his fingers were certain to leave marks on Tom's arm. It didn't matter though. Tom was still on top in this situation, and Woodrow's bite was nothing compared to what Elias Harel's might be. "It's not so simple," He whispered through gritted teeth, Scarlett circling with her platter of chocolate-coated desserts to keep an eye on threats.
Tom thought about his words carefully for a moment, wanting to ensure that Woodrow would be mobilized as quickly as possible. Woodrow needed to exert his power to obtain Violet, for if he could, she could be eliminated and Tom would be safe once more. Finally, he decided what to say, "There is a spy who knows too much about our arrangement. Harel got to her before I did."
Post by Elias Harel on Dec 1, 2017 21:25:07 GMT -7
[googlefont=Montserrat]
[attr="class","mary"]
[attr="class","mary2"]
[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] What Sabela was telling him was strange, almost foreign to Elias. There were many threats he concerned himself with, as he knew there would be when he took the mantle of restoring Muerte to greatness. Artavia had never been one of them, and nor had any 'doctors'. What purpose would a Doctor from Artavia have in coming to Muerte, even if to make slaves? There were subjects above, he was certain... Which to Elias, meant that Dunn's motivations were rooted in the feelings of supremacy Elias had made it his very purpose to quell. The Muer people were not slaves. Not to magic, and certainly not to a man.
The two danced to the eastern side of the ballroom, and it became clear to Elias that the source of negativity from here was not the man in question. He had pinpointed it's source: Adesola Meixner's husband. It was jealousy, likely over how much more interested Adesola was in speaking with Elias than to her own partner, whom she rarely saw. It was clear to Elias that Adesola's was a marriage of necessity, not of choice. He assumed if the woman had her way, she would rule Fiamont on her own. The man she had chosen was inert to Elias, he did not even have her ear to turn her against him, and so his jealousy was just another pitiful feeling that would go without action.
The eastern edge covered had Elias move himself and his dance partner towards a new segment of the room. "Slaves? Hm," Elias' tone betrayed the feelings of concern and anger at the edges of his mind, it was flat and purposeful instead of tense, "I would be happy to show him what becomes of those who view my people as slaves. But you say a doctor? Not a man of magic?"
Sabela's concerns about the man were on a much less grand scale than Elias's. She was not the head of a country nor did she want to be, and so while she did consider the implications could be greater than what they seemed she didn't dwell on the thought. She would do what Elias asked of her in order to fix the problem, and that was that.
As they danced to one side of the room she continued her lookout for the man, the girl, or anyone who looked particularly suspicious. She didn't see any of those, however what she did see was the man whose picture she had been given before dinner. Her prey. He was speaking to a woman who looked about as interested in him as Sabela was, except likely for wildly different reasons. She wondered if the woman would prove to be a problem later when she came back for him. She hadn't been given permission to kill anyone else, so whatever happened she would have to extricate him without bystander casualties which was of course possible but more tricky. After all, if she was last seen with the man it would become obvious what had happened if he never reappeared, and while there were many rumours that flew about her purpose to Elias none of them could be confirmed because she was never actually caught doing anything suspicious. She would prefer to keep it that way, and she was sure Elias would as well. If he wanted someone very obviously taken out he had his black cloaks for that.
Speaking of Elias, he was changing their direction now and she turned her attention from her prey back to her dance partner. "The two are not mutually exclusive," she replied. After all, many things were made easier by the use of magic - including the job of a doctor. "Though I cannot confirm whether he has magical talent. I was unable to question her further." She wished she had been able to get more information from the woman, but she simply hadn't been able to keep her control long enough and without her thrall there was no way to ensure the woman spoke the truth. She could say anything she wanted if she wasn't compelled, and they would need either need a diviner or to simply trust her word, and she hadn't done anything particularly trustworthy. Especially given that she had been here under a guise. Ajatar were tricky like that.
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 6, 2017 10:56:30 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] If they had not been in a public space, Woodrow would have struck Tom right then and there. It would have been so rewarding to feel the crack of a breaking nose under his fist, particularly Tom's. They were, however, in company, and... Tom still had his uses. Though Woodrow would be lying if he claimed the use was still greatly outweighing his risks. Still, against his greatest desire, he released Tom’s arm and brushed the man against the wall as the Peacekeeper turned out to the crowds. "I will handle this," He commanded, "Depart unseen. You and your child."
Tom was just going to continue being a risk if he stayed here. Woodrow had a suspicion the spy was more dangerous to Tom than they were to him, and while the danger was enough for him to act defensively, it was not enough to appear in collusion with the scientist if he could avoid it. Now he merely needed to locate the ignorant fool Elias, and find a way to access the spy without generating further suspicions on Tom or himself.
[attr="class","mary5"] Elias nodded stoically at Sabela's statements. He would always associate Artavia with the less magically inclined, though he had little reason to do so. Temos was as magical a Deity as any other, her people were certain to have talents he was unfamiliar with -- in the same way that his very eyes were an uncommon trick amongst even theologians. She was right not to eliminate the possibility of an enchanter.
"You did well," He asserted to her, his hand on her waist giving a reassuring squeeze.
They neared the next source of negativity. One look told him all he needed to know, however. It's source was not Artavian, not even close. Dusty skin barely visible under a full face wrap. It could have been cultural dress, but with the waves that tinged his senses with a sour stench he knew it was a disguise. Eurydians had indeed attempted to infiltrate, as they had many times before. The fact that he only sensed one likely meant they were getting better and stifling their emotions. He guided Sabela away from the threat and his next look went to one of his own guards stationed in the room. This look was one of his Enchantment, which told the guard all they needed to know through silent communication. The Eurydian would be quietly seized, removed from the room... And questioned until they were no longer worth questioning.
There was one source left, fully across the hall from them. If the man was in the room... It should be him. Slowly, they would make their way over.
"I am certain the Black Cloaks shall extract more of her intelligence. But if this man has targeting you, I should like to speak with her myself before they are through. As for the Doctor... He will enjoy our questioning as much as his accomplice has, I'm sure."
Post by Thomas Dunn on Dec 11, 2017 14:26:06 GMT -7
On any other day, Tom would have pretended to obey, but then found some way of remaining in order to get what he had wanted. Today, after Violet...? He wasn't going to push Woodrow over the edge. He wanted to ensure that Woodrow viewed Violet as a risk, and not an opportunity. He needed to ensure that Woodrow did not question his motives any further than he already had. So, Tom didn't even utter a barb. He simply nodded with all seriousness, and with a focused thought about Scarlett, found her standing next to him, chocolate lining her lips.
"Are we really going, Papa?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with innocence despite her having none of it. She was obviously confused -- they had not gotten the files he wanted. She would obey, of course, but she also knew his desires better than sometimes he did.
He nodded in response to her, bending down to wipe her face free of the sweets. "I'm afraid so," He answered, the truth of the matter clear in his tone and his mind. She nodded her understanding, and motioned to be picked up, which he did. The act's purpose was clear: They were father and daughter, not Spy and Master. They looked perfectly innocuous as they skirted the crowd to leave, and even when Tom took one last look to see if he could spot White one more time, it did not appear that they had anything untoward in their plans.
"Is she coming?" Scarlett asked, noticing the glimmer in Tom's eyes and reading his mind.
Tom shook his head, "Not tonight. But we'll be back. We know where to find her, now."
Last Edit: Dec 11, 2017 14:26:32 GMT -7 by Thomas Dunn
Sabela was not a child who required constant validation of her abilities or worth, however in this particular instance when Elias assured her that she had done well it was a welcome sentiment. Something about the doctor had thrown her off, and maybe it was magic or poison or exhaustion but as much as she hoped they caught him she also hoped he had left and she and Elias would never see him or his child spy again.
They slowly circled to another part of the room as they danced, and she kept a lookout for the doctor as they did so. She couldn’t get him out of her head, like a bad dream or the afterglow of looking into the sun, every time she closed her eyes she saw the look on his face when he’d seen her in the hallway. He had never touched her, but she could feel his hands on her, could hear him whispering to her.
She didn’t notice the Eurydian but she caught the look Elias shot to a guard and a moment later they were moving again, and she frowned as she realized she’d missed something. It wasn’t technically her job to be looking out for Eurydians - that was what the guards were for - but she also wanted to protect Elias, after all he’d done and continued to do for her. She supposed she would be more than capable of defending him from an attack if they did it from nearby, though it wouldn’t be helpful if they shot him from afar or poisoned his drink and she was none the wiser.
As they began moving Elias spoke again, telling her that the Black Cloaks would surely get more information from her and, as they had targeted Sabela, Elias himself wanted to speak with her before they were through. The ghost of a smile played at her lips at the thought. The mouthy woman would surely have learned her lesson by the end of it all.
”What if the doctor has already escaped? Will he be hunted?”
Post by Elias Harel on Dec 11, 2017 18:48:52 GMT -7
[googlefont=Montserrat]
[attr="class","mary"]
[attr="class","mary2"]
[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] "Yes," His answer was swift and decisive. Perhaps he had not shown himself to be a threat to Elias, but he had victimised Sabela, that was reason enough to hunt him down. "To the ends of Fortuna."
As Elias spotted the final spark of negativity, he knew that was the precise thing he would need to do. It was not the man. This left him with three options.
The first, was that the man had already left, or was at least a distance enough away that Elias could not sense his negative intentions towards Muerte's fearless leader. It was quite possible, of course. Elias was very accustomed to crowds, had honed his senses to a fine edge from the time he joined the revolutionaries so many decades ago... But his palace's walls were sturdy, thick sandstone. They could conceal intentions as they concealed screams.
The next was that the man was practised in the art of concealing his intents. It was uncommon, but it would make him a more impressive threat, one worth all of the concern. If he had such an effect on Sabela, it was not unlikely. Still, aasimar of his kind were immensely rare, and so their skills were less well known than those of Ayniea, Paiia, or even Moann. Could the man be affiliated with the Eurydians? Enlisted by them? A man for hire? These were all possibilities.
The final was also the one Elias considered perhaps the least likely: The spy had lied. The man had weakened Sabela, who was also in need of a meal, which she had waited so patiently for, and she had been less able for her time with the spy, leading to a lie slipping past the defences. The man was not an intended threat to Elias himself - he was a threat to Sabela. He could not solve for the reason she would be targeted, however. Arzuul was a more dangerous threat among his closest, and if it was merely to get to Harel personally they would surely target his wife if not him. No, he could not devise a reason, and so he had to dismiss the idea.
Dismiss it in the same way that he would dismiss the final source of his negativity. Markus Woodrow, the man who had so quickly gone from useful tool to impertinent pest, was approaching quickly, and the feeling was coming off in sickening waves. Elias was prepared to turn his partner around and find a reason to leave the room in search of this man, but Woodrow stepped forth and spoke up to prevent such a thing. The peacemonger looked Sabela over briefly in a way that made Elias' nostrils flare protectively, and then visibly dismissed her while turning back to the ruler and interjecting with...
Post by Markus Woodrow on Dec 11, 2017 18:58:17 GMT -7
[attr="class","mwoody"]
[attr="class","mwoody2"]
[attr="class","mwoody3"]A PREDATOR OF THE SEAS
[attr="class","mwoody4"]CURING THIS OCEAN DISEASE
[attr="class","mwoody5"] "Elias, a word?" Woodrow asked, not at all troubled to impede on the dance the man was engaged with. It perhaps struck Woodrow as somewhat questionable just who Elias was spending this time with. Woodrow did not recognise the woman as anyone important, and while she was mildly attractive, he couldn't imagine choosing her over the numerous other (much more stunning) women in attendance. Perhaps it was something to remember, the woman might have been of some importance. An affair, perhaps? "I've heard of some intriguing news that I'd like to discuss with you..." He looked at Sabela pointedly, it was clear she was not to be included, "Privately, if I may."
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