< 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 Ichabod Afof on Apr 23, 2018 11:54:43 GMT -7
Ichabod had hoped that maybe, just maybe Ophelia wouldn't remember the doctor. It hadn't been much of a hope in all honesty, but it was enough that when she asked about the bleeding clod he couldn't help but let mild disappoint trace his features. He would need a good story for her. Which meant he needed to buy time.
"Relax," He tried to keep his voice soothing, but urgent. As he spoke he pressed her shoulders firmly, but gently with his palms to keep her laying down, and met her eyes with a 'concerned' smile. "You need to rest."
Post by Ophelia Rothchild on May 2, 2018 10:30:06 GMT -7
Ophelia could not focus very well, particularly in the dimly lit... place... they were in, and so fell back against the pillow as Ichabod pressed her to do so. He was being very comforting, but only in the way where someone said the right things and you knew you were supposed to nod and agree that you felt better for their comfort, it was the way that left you feeling like there were words unsaid, but as though you could not say them for fear of hurting their feelings. In other words, Ichabod was not very comforting, no matter how he was trying to be. Ophelia just felt a feeling in her stomach that was... Unsafe, uncomfortable, and worried.
"Ichabod," Her hand nervously met his on her shoulder, and she could not help but notice how cold he was, especially as she hoped he would be warm. The hand pulled back again, scrunching into the blankets over her stomach and gripping tightly, "I'm resting... I'm resting... Please just... Tell me what happened?"
Post by Ichabod Afof on May 2, 2018 12:05:27 GMT -7
The question was simple: How much did Ophelia know? The trouble was, that questions were always simple for him. He knew the things to ask to get what he wanted. He knew the things to ask to determine an outcome.
What he did not know was the answer. Her answer. In this situation an answer was a complex proposition that defied his call - and defined this outcome. If he got it right, Ophelia could be controlled. If he got it wrong... It could very well ruin everything.
HER HEART IS SILENT TO ME, Mother reminded him of that which he already knew, USE THAT SILVERED TONGUE OF YOUR'S, CHILD. CONVINCE HER.
"My mistakes became your burden," He finally answered, lowering into his the chair with fallen shoulders. His hands mirrored her's purposefully, clutching at the tatters of his shirt and gripping with white knuckles. His eyes downcast to the edge of the bed, and he attempted to posture himself into exhaustion for the sake of the performance. After a moment of quiet, he mewled to her, "Ophelia... I can't begin to explain, or to apologize. What has happened to you... This is all because of me."
His words held all the truth in the world. A diviner could have been fooled by his delivery, as it was only in intent that he was hidden. If he maintained that, perhaps he could maintain her. If nothing else, he would damn well try.
Post by Ophelia Rothchild on May 7, 2018 9:44:37 GMT -7
Ophelia's mind was running with all of the bad things that could happen to her now, here, with him, so she was very surprised when he slumped back and apologized. He seemed truly saddened by what had happened, which was not what she had feared, a large part of her had thought dangerous things. A man who knew monsters so closely and who had brought her to a... cave? Or something of some kind was the kind of man she expected to do something terrible. But instead it was her who was terrible.
When had Ichabod done something to hurt her? He had tried to insist she not come with him, he had given her reason to look forward to her days, even if it was just to watch him talk to Claudius, he had made her feel special, and loved, and strong, and when she was attacked he had mustered all of his strength to help her even though he was also hurt to the point of near dying. He was a little creepy, that was true, but... Maybe that was just how he was, and she was bad for thinking that the coldness of his skin or the piercing of his eyes or the secrets that he had necessarily made him a bad person.
She forced the unexplainable feeling of fear away, and instead water began to touch the corners of her eyes, and her teeth bit down on her bottom lip. He blamed himself, but SHE had been the one not to listen. "No, Ichabod," She told him, her grip releasing on the blanket and reaching for his hand, which she could not quite grasp from her laying down position, "You told me not to go. I shouldn't have gone. I should have listened. But I... Was scared for you. Because... Well, you have given me... A life again. Sort of. That sounds silly."
Post by Ichabod Afof on May 8, 2018 6:40:33 GMT -7
She reached for his hand, and with only a moment of hesitation, Ichabod reached back to close the distance. He intertwined his fingers into her's, and held to her like a life raft. Perfect emerald eyes watched their hands together for a moment, as he let out a breath he had pretended to hold. The character Ichabod was playing was relieved. In some ways: So was Ichabod. In more ways, however, he was... Amused.
Her heart was so full, and he was the only one she could share it with. Her husband kept her for the sake of an image, and the servants were paid to be his ear - not her's. She was his, he realized. So long as he feigned regret and shouldered blame and self-flagellated and maintained the romantic character she believed she could 'help'-- she was his.
"It's not," He reassured her, eyes finally moving - purposefully languid up her body - to her face, meeting eyes that were a misleadingly complex grey and blue. He squeezed her hand tightly as he told her again, "It's not silly. I've-- Ophelia, I have never... With you, I feel...
"My heart has always been asleep. I did not realize it was so, until I saw you by that fountain. It was as if I was breathing for the first time, feeling for the first time. But-- You belong to another. I fear it has been a mistake of greed and envy to attempt to separate you. I fear that it has put you into danger's path."
Last Edit: May 8, 2018 6:41:57 GMT -7 by Ichabod Afof
Post by Ophelia Rothchild on May 11, 2018 9:28:23 GMT -7
This time when he touched her, she felt warmth in place of the cold she had felt before. It was almost as if her mind had been playing tricks on her, but really it was her heart playing tricks on her, now. She so desperately wanted Ichabod to be the man she had dreamed of for so many years, her romantic hero, that her illusions were capable of deceiving even HER. The warmth of his hand was nothing more than a trick of touch that she never would have questioned, as she didn't think herself capable... But desperation could do very magical things.
"Ichabod," She sighed, the pain in her neck stinging with the deep breaths she was taking, "It wasn't a mistake. It's not a mistake. I... Please, I... I... I understand what you're doing with him. Please don't stop. Please help free me, so that I can be with you. I promise to stay out of it from now on. I will give you your time, and keep myself from danger, and if danger should find me....Well, it will at least have been worth it for the chance of being with you."
Post by Ichabod Afof on May 14, 2018 17:05:38 GMT -7
She was insisting. Begging.
She was so desperate for him, and for his help, that he knew he was close to securing her permanently. If his plan could continue without another hitch like tonight, he thought that it all might work. Then, he could use her to help open a great number of seals.
For now, while she needed him, he knew that she was not yet guaranteed. So, he brought her hand to his lips, meeting her knuckles. Her scent was rich with blood from the events of the night, and something else. Parchment, ink, glue. Books, maybe. The blood was more enticing, but the book scent was more interesting. She was naive for someone who smelled well read. Perhaps there was more to her than he had assumed. Or, perhaps not.
He held her hand there for a moment, lips to knuckles and nose to the tops of her fingers, living in the silence her request had created. Finally, with a top-tier performance of a hoarse voice, Ichabod told her, "Every option holds risk of losing you. How can I choose the right path?"
Post by Ophelia Rothchild on May 18, 2018 9:00:48 GMT -7
Ophelia felt a chill run up her spine as Ichabod pressed his lips to her hand, and then she felt it run back down and turn from a chill to something warmer. Her tummy did flips and for that moment she saw Ichabod before her without a single spot of blood on him, and without the dingy backdrop of wherever they were, and as the man that she dreamed of every night. Her gasp was louder than she thought it might be, and her mouth went dry as she tried to say something to him. He broke the quiet first though, his soft voice saying words that felt almost like they had come from a romance novel.
She pulled her hand from his and moved the other, then leaned forward and took Ichabod's face in her hands, meeting his bright green eyes with her dull blue ones. Almost dizzy with excitement, she managed to get out the words she wanted, "You don't choose a path... WE do."
Post by Ichabod Afof on May 20, 2018 10:13:28 GMT -7
Oh how deeply Ichabod wanted to laugh at Ophelia. Even his Mother seemed entertained by it, with the way a tickle reverberated through his body. This idiot woman was so easy to fool, and was already so completely dedicated to him. Even in her greatest moments of fear, she was a gullible tool. It was so perfect it made Ichabod happier than he had been in some time. A smile dimpled his cheeks, and a light came to his eyes to prove the smile genuine. Its intent was not as innocuous as it seemed, but its reality was true. He would assume she would see the thing as charming or handsome.
He leaned forward, forcing her hands away from his face, and embraced her in a way he had embraced no one in his life. His arms encircled her in something that could have been protective, and he pressed her head with a feather-light touch so that her chin could come to rest at his shoulder. He could smell every bit of her now, and how delicious she seemed to him. She was paper, and ink, and blood, and comfort, and adrenaline. He would devour her if he could. He would devour someone else in her place to stave off this hungry desire.
"Very well then, Ophelia," His voice was just above a whisper and he deposited it into the silvery hair near her ear, "Then tell me what you would have us do. I am your slave."Until you become mine.
Post by Ophelia Rothchild on May 24, 2018 9:34:53 GMT -7
As his arms surrounded her, and his smell engulfed her, and his words tickled at her, she was everything and nothing. He was beautiful, and handsome, and sexy, and horrible, and wonderful and evil and she wanted him more than what she would be able to describe with words. He was all that she could have ever wanted before, and the exact thing she had once desired to have before being saddled instead with the fate of Claudius and his secrets.
Not only was Ichabod wonderful, and not only did she want him, but he wanted her. More than that, he wanted to be her's. Her slave. Just the word was too much for her, while at the same time being just enough. She couldn't imagine a feeling anything better than right now, and so she sat in it for as long as possible before finally accepting the realization that she needed to get home before it was too late, and Claudius discovered her absence.
"Ichabod, Ichabod, Ichabod," She cooed at him, pulling free of his embrace and laying her hands upon his firm but lean chest, "You must do what you are doing now. Give my Claudius the chance for confidence in himself and free me from the cage from which I have been captured. Then we can be free, and open about ourselves, and our love, and speak it openly. You must... Tempt my husband to reveal his truth, so that we may have our's. Do whatever it is you must, just... do what I need."
The skin OTHERWORLD was made by JAWN of WICKED WONDERLAND.
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