< 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 Zota Vanros on May 24, 2018 18:55:00 GMT -7
Somehow, Zota doubted that Thomas would be so happy to have him as a guest in Artavia. Whether or not Thomas was sincere, his answer was enough for Zota. He had no real interest in fighting Thomas on this. But Zechariah's own uncertainty in when he'd visit was more concerning. This entire decision on his part was far too sudden and unlike him. He spoke and hugged Zota as if he were saying goodbye, leaving for the long term like Nicole had. Yet this felt different. With Nicole, Zota felt proud. She had spent years preparing, and Zota waited for her to leave the roost. Both he and Nicole knew when the time was right.
Zechariah was not the kind to make spontaneous decisions, but his reasons were sound. Zota could not exactly talk him out of it. Putting his down foot and demanding that Zechariah stay would simply reek of desperation; a pitiful attempt to assert authority over his son rather than to truly persuade him with any sense or reason. Given time, perhaps Zechariah would come home of his own accord. For a moment, Zota tried to imagine himself in Zechariah's position. Zota had rejected the priesthood that his father had hoped for him. He refused to take his father's own path, so he could not be entirely angry with Zechariah making a similar decision. Even still, Zota began weighing his options for how to keep an eye on Zechariah. Letting Zechariah study his abilities in Artavia would be a idiotic decision if Zota had no plan for getting Zechariah to use the abilities to help him. To help Hausos.
"Well then, I wish you luck in Artavia," he said to Zechariah. Shaking his son's hand, he spared a parting glance towards Thomas. "And the best of luck to you as well on your research, Doctor Dunn. Come on, Edgar." Leading one son beside him, he left the other to begin his path on Artavia.
OOC: Thomas Dunn (Feel free to have Thomas give his own parting words here! I'll have one last exchange between just Edgar and Zota now that they've parted ways, which will end the thread.)
Post by Thomas Dunn on May 30, 2018 21:57:55 GMT -7
Tom was feeling confident. Not over-confident, where he believed that every part of that which was being said was truthful (or if not truthful, in alignment with Tom's goals), but he was feeling confident that Black was a success. He had mastered the control of the Kina race. Magic was no match to him. He was, essentially, a God of sorts.
As Black said his goodbyes to the life that had harboured him whilst separated from the Doctor, Tom thought on his plans. Red2 would be introduced to the family, thanks to her (now proven) success on the Vanros mission. Green would aid him with the implantation of the new model of chip (now proven) into his Diryn patients, speeding the process. Black would be an astute guard, waylaying any intrusions on Tom's work or livelihood.
Shockingly -- pleasantly -- this had been extraordinarily easy. It was even as though Zota had just handed Black to Tom on a silver platter, making the Doctor wish he hadn't bothered with a ruse in the first place. Why trick Edgar, after all, when the patriarch was so generous with his wards?
Tom wore his toothy smile, and nodded pleasantly at the two Vanros men. "I'm quite certain I'll need no luck, but I'm glad for the well-wishes, Zota," He offered with pleasant rapport, his hands clasped behind his back non-threateningly.
Tom watched the two men depart, giving them time to leave earshot in the crowded skyport before clapping a hand on Black's back. "Job well done, my boy," He complimented, pride ekeing from his very pores, "Now, what say we return home, hm?"
Last Edit: Jun 4, 2018 8:26:52 GMT -7 by Thomas Dunn
Post by Acacia-Black on Jun 20, 2018 7:44:28 GMT -7
Black waited until Zota had left with Edgar before he could begin visibly fuming with anger. It was if Zota did not want him anymore, and was all too happy to throw him away, like he was just some miner to be fired and forgotten about. Why wouldn't Zota fight for him? Black scratched at his temples, trying in vain to purge the thought from his mind. Of course, Black would have chosen the master regardless, but he would have at least preferred if Zota indulged the illusion of whether Black, or Zechariah, whichever his two fathers thought to call him, would have some sense of conflict over the choice.
It was then that Black understood why Zota allowed him to leave. It was because one way or another, Zota would get him back. Maybe not now, or tomorrow, but eventually. Perhaps for the next couple of months of the year, Black would be free. But once the new year would begin, Zota would no doubt have made plans to get Black back. Ah, but why would Zota need to "retrieve" him? The warmth of the master's approving hand was proof enough that Black's act had persuaded Zota that this was Zechariah's own decision. He had reminded himself of that already, yes? Perhaps, but no harm in telling himself that more and more. It kept away the-
No. This was not fear he felt. The master was the sort who desired absolutely foolproof plans. Black could not allow a single loose end untied. The simplest option, of course, would be to murder Zota and Edgar, but Black's hands froze at the thought. Not yet, he forced himself to accept. One day, perhaps the master would allow him to kill the Vanros family. Nicole, too, if he could find her. Black's greatest weakness in the face of the master was always the possibility that Zechariah would return, but Zechariah was nothing more than a concept, was he not? If he killed the Vanros family, there would be one of two possibilities. The first was Zechariah would stir, trying to take revenge. Of course, Black was confident he would take control once more, and snuff him out then. It would only delay the inevitable, and his primary concern was not that he would lose to Zechariah, but that the embarrassment alone would be enough to displease the master. Black did not want to consider what would happen then.
The second option was more outlandish, and he would have to verify it with the master first, to be certain that his plans would not backfire. Perhaps the best way to think of Zechariah was that he only existed so long by the belief that he belonged to the family. They were his "tether", as it were. Without them, there would be nothing to connect Zechariah to any family beyond what the master had granted him. Without a Vanros family to belong to, Zechariah would be nothing.
His mind racing with possibilities, Black gathered himself, and bowed to the master. "Yes, of course, sir. The sooner I can put this wretched place behind me, the better."
Post by Zota Vanros on Jun 20, 2018 8:05:39 GMT -7
Zota walked side by side with Edgar, refusing to face him. His disappointment in Edgar could not be understated. "I suggest you put a stop to your ridiculous masquerades," he said plainly. If only for Edgar's own reputation, were he a decade or so younger, Zota had half a mind to keep him to a strict curfew. Certainly his masquerades were more trouble than they were with, and what fruit had the brought either of them? "I understand you want to make nice with nobles and bed whatever pretty harlot bats crosses your path, but I only tolerated it because you claimed this would be your way to get us into nobility. I am in no particular rush for an heir - nor do I trust you to be capable of raising one - but whatever you had in mind, the most this has ever accomplished is bringing that doctor to steal Zechariah away."
He stopped for a moment. He had a few months to salvage this. The key was to deal with these messes one at a time. "Listen, Edgar. With my expedition, I need you to focus on that. If you actually do have any interest in finding a bridge, I suggest you take it more seriously. Kornelius is going to have both our heads if you keep this up, and I would much rather get on his good side. You cannot mess that up. After all, seeing as how it's your fault that Thomas was able to even speak with Zechariah, I am… well, I can't say I'm 'trusting' you to get Zechariah back, but I'm asking you anyway. Do I make myself clear?"
Post by Edgar Vanros on Jun 20, 2018 9:09:06 GMT -7
Edgar kept silent as his father and Thomas hashed out the formalities. If Edgar didn't know any better, the two of them seemed like divorcees debating the custody of their son. It all seemed rather; too pleasant, though Edgar expected nothing less from his father. As harsh as his father could be when happily lording his authority over his employees or his children, he had a remarkable sense for diplomacy. Edgar didn't quite have the same patience for it, which is why Edgar preferred to only make deals if he could twist them in his favor. He didn't particularly care how transparent he was, but his father seemed more interested in playing his cards close to his chest.
He was inclined to think that his father was just handing Zechariah over, but he knew better than that. Edgar had his own personal business to run, after all. You don't sell people for nothing, and although his father would never sell away his children, he was no doubt keeping to that basic rule of trade. So, did he want Zechariah to go with Thomas for some other purpose, or was he taking adapting to an opportunity that had presented itself? "You take care, too!" Edgar waved to Zechariah as their father and Thomas had reached an understanding. After Thomas had strung him along, Edgar was mildly wary that Thomas had some other plans to match, though Edgar put the thought aside. Zechariah would be keeping himself busy, which meant that things could get back to a normal routine. All in all, this had gone much better than Edgar had expected!
"I suggest you put a stop to your ridiculous masquerades."
…Shit. When Edgar and his father had gotten some distance from Zechariah and Thomas, why was that what his father chose to open with? Of course his father was quick to lay all the blame at Edgar's feet, but he had no idea what he was talking about. He wasn't bedding just anyone. Some of his buyers strictly prized marital purity, and Edgar was always careful to make the distinction between the women he wanted for himself, and the ones who would keep the business flowing. Edgar was allowed to indulge his own tastes every now and then. One night stands meant no commitment, but commitment would mean a chance someone could find him out. In his current position, it was in Edgar's best interests to wait until he found someone who had no objections to his business before pursuing any serious courtship. Unfortunately, such women were a rare find.
Edgar could not abandon the masquerades, but he appreciated his father's decision. He could promise that he knew a few smugglers that could help retrieve Zechariah, but that would give his father jut enough incentive to start digging into his business, and he could not have that. No, if his father wanted Zechariah back, then Edgar needed to be so discreet that not even his father would suspect anything untoward. He let his father's insults slide; better that he thought of Edgar was an incompetent idiot than a middleman for the slave trade. "Of course, father. I won't let you down again." He nodded, keeping his answer short and simple.
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