< 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 Elias Harel on Jun 25, 2018 21:10:20 GMT -7
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[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] Her freakish movements did not phase Elias, though he had to admit to himself that they were rather vulgar. He couldn't admit to being much a fan of ajatar in general, and Violet was not helping their case. Something he could admit to, was curiosity over how she would fare in the desert sun. He doubted she would be so childish if she realised where her need to be forced into usefulness would lead her. He had a perfect cell for her to die in, and while he would not find pleasure in it, he would see it as well-earned.
"No," His response was terse as he eyed the grotesque shape of her fingers. Then, he raised his eyes and used his magic. Enchantment flowed invisibly between them, just a mild amount - a small suggestion. He could see the strings through the veil and across her and Arzuul's forms. His mind reached out to pluck the ones that tethered Violet with light strums. This could be refused with enough mental wherewithal, he was not going to waste his energy here, but Elias imagined Violet's strength of will was not her strongest suit. Particularly not no.
The magic went along with low words: "I would encourage more specificity, should you be capable of managing it. I would hate to see your use wear thin, Violet Macar."
Post by Violet Macar on Jun 26, 2018 14:17:00 GMT -7
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Just like with the Lamini from earlier, Violet felt a tug in her mind. It was as if strings had been attached to the edges of her lips and were trying to force her to make words that weren't entirely her's. She was being controlled, and she knew she had to fight it... But it was so much harder to fight when you were tired. When the magic was strong. When you were bleeding and scarred and burned and angry. Violet did not have half a mind to fight. She only had the ability to pretend, and pretending wouldn't help her avoid the pull he was enacting upon her.
"Two months. Just... Two months. That's it. Two months. Two months," The words kept tumbling after she said them once, the relief on her mind palpable as she gave in to the suggestion, "As far as I know, two months."
Post by Elias Harel on Jun 27, 2018 12:09:02 GMT -7
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[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] As Violet fell apart at the seams and loosed the truth from her lips, Elias smiled. Cooperation always made him smile, even if it had to be coerced. "Thank you for your honesty," He spoke evenly, "Now for the answer you are owed in exchange... Did you think I would forget, Violet? I am a fair man. You'll understand that in time. Those in attendance tonight have begun that same understanding. They have begun to respect what we have done in order to restore the balance of the world.
"As much as you may feel personally discontented with my actions due to whatever relationships, bonds, or misconceptions you have been taught to accept, you must realize that what we do is for that balance, for justice. Revenge is merely the restoration of equality, and I am a firm believer in equality, as should we all be," It was in these words that Elias blossomed. His charisma ran rampant, and his conviction burned behind his eyes. This was the man people fell over themselves to follow. He had no use for enchantment in this moment, though he did not disconnect himself from her strings entirely, Elias was thoroughly convincing all on his own. As Arzuul's breath hitched in the excitement of the moment, Elias continued, "The leaders of Fortuna have come here to recognize that devotion. To join with Muerte on a path to re-implementing its sovereignty and position as a world power. Aebrynis' sympathies to Muerte are well-received tonight."
Post by Violet Macar on Jun 28, 2018 12:08:02 GMT -7
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Violet couldn't believe her ears as Elias told her what she'd asked to know. She'd thought for a moment he'd begin spouting lies, the same that he fed to his mindless followers. She thought he'd claim everyone here tonight was throwing in their support, and that Muerte was a thing again. Violet would have known it was a lie, because Violet had met with Pelagia Xista who most certainly did not support Elias Harel's horrors. But that wasn't what Elias claimed. What Elias was saying here was... Almost reasonable, yet not quite. Violet couldn't - or didn't want to - believe that King Toran or Queen Nickell could support this ass. She would have not wanted to think that Lord Woodrow was working with him -- but the douche had been working with Tom. There was a chance, Violet realized, she'd put far too much faith in people who were essentially politicians.
Still, Violet couldn't imagine a world in which this were possible, no matter the offer Harel made to them. Yet, here he was, telling her just that. In reaction, a new wave of sickness consumed her. It was a different kind of sickness than she had ever felt before, and it left Violet feeling sapped. It was utter hopelessness.
"You're lying," She mumbled, her tone lacking inflection and her eyes not bothering to rise in defiance. She didn't sound convinced, but she had to try to fight what he'd just said. If Aebrynis was going to ally with Muerte, and they were going to do it while snacking on centaur, she didn't think there was an acorn's chance in a volcano that her expose would ignite the change she had been counting on. He had to be lying to her -- or why else was she sticking her neck out for Nikolai?
Post by Elias Harel on Jun 29, 2018 20:57:16 GMT -7
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[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] If Elias were not perceptive, he might have thought Violet Macar had finally broken. Instead, he presumed it was only the illusion of hope that the world had so cleverly crafted around her that had shattered. The belief in the altruistic nature of politicians. The understanding that everything was black and white. The belief that evil was clear, and good was righteous. Perhaps she hadn't been so simple as that, but now she was more complex than she had been before.
Violet tried to claim his words false, and Elias chuckled at her incomprehension. True, he was positioning himself to lead her into an incorrect belief, but he told no outright lies. Adesola Meixner had been convinced. That was as well as he had intended for tonight. The rest would follow, even if he had to pull their strings more blatantly. "Oh Violet, you know better than that,” He chided flatly, ”Please don't allow your empty hopes to cloud your more logical mind, hm? I still owe you answers, after all. Or have you run dry of questions?"
Post by Violet Macar on Jul 7, 2018 10:37:26 GMT -7
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Had Violet run dry of questions? No. She hadn't before, and wouldn't now-- But she didn't know how much worth her questions were, anymore. He owed her one, but he would lie. Or at least, tell her something she didn't want to know. Either way, she didn't want to hear them from his stupid, Aasimar face-hole. She wanted to see it somewhere he couldn't mislead her. Maybe ledgers. Maybe... Maybe a journal. Some kind of written record that he had hidden away. She wanted access to the Palace like she'd had before being captured. She wanted to catch him in his falsehoods.
...But she also knew: That hope was gone now. She didn't know where she was -- how far underground, how many locked doors she was behind, how many guards were waiting to catch her slinking around -- and she was too exhausted to dissolve into the shadows. She could ask for a meal and a rest, she supposed, to try and gain her energy back... But once this meeting ended, she knew her life was not guaranteed. Which meant she needed to come up with another question that might actually be worth something, anything.
"Why?" She finally invented, "I mean... Why do you despise Beastfolk, to the point where you'll cannibalize them? Just-- Why? And don't you give me the answer you give to those people out there. If I'm not making it out, you at least owe me that much."
Post by Elias Harel on Jul 11, 2018 9:02:28 GMT -7
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[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] The loss of hope in his enemies was something that Elias treasured. In truth Violet was not much of an enemy, though did oppose him, and so that same wash of enjoyment flushed his senses as her ideations of tomorrow fell to a single desperate plea. This answer he would happily give her. "Progress requires an opposition, Violet Macar, and the support of that progress requires evidence of success. The enemy of Muerte has always been the cannibals: The governments of Liesdro, and Dirys to whom Muerte has always been a fitting corpse to scavenge. A sacrificial goat easily slaughtered for the betterment of their own 'progress'. Rich mines, powerful trains, impeccable schools. Power and resources stolen from our Goddess-given territory.
"When we rid this land of its snakeborne plague, our people were nothing better than slaves. Malscure's bearkin attempted to steep that future in concrete. And we were weak, we had been kicked on the sand for too long. My people needed something to unify them, to rise against and protect our pride... A battle we could win without the same bloodshed we had faced for a millennia or more. Snakes. Bears. They're all animals. They're all... A historical enemy. Culling the weak of them in the name of Muerte's future? It has inspired my people in a way that no fight has come near before.
"Our true enemy has always been our neighbours. Taking advantage of our weakest moments to thrift our land bare. With my people united against a single cause, it will be easy enough to divert them to our borders. To win back stolen territory. To make Muerte an empire once more. If I have needed to slaughter so-called 'innocent' beasts to restore this country's greatness, so be it. Consider it our revenge, and our warning."
Post by Violet Macar on Jul 12, 2018 11:07:22 GMT -7
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Violet's eyes widened as Elias spoke, and her shoulders began to shake, eliciting a tightening grip from Harel's black-cloaked lackey. Sharp nails pierced into her, but she could hardly pay attention to them for the genocide that the dictator spoke so casually of.
She couldn't be sure which was worse. The fact that Harel had started a genocidal attack on beastfolk, or the fact that the attack wasn't even about Beastfolk. They were casualties. Scapegoats. Violet thought about Nikolai, and the two younglings they had saved from the circus. They had been considered animals, but the enslavement of them had at least been purposeful. It wasn't a pinch of salt in the recipe for biscuits, it was the damn flour. She could at least understand the evil of those men, she could rationalize it. But for Elias? His plans were... Bigger, darker, and altogether horrifying.
The world needed to know, the public needed to know. Politicians weren't going to do a damn thing, but public opinion was a powerful thing -- no, not a thing. A weapon. It was a weapon, and Violet knew how to wield it. She just needed to get out of here.
"Well well!" She tried to cut through her disgust and fear and hopelessness with her signature bright tone, "I suppose that's a bit of a comfort. But I hope you know we aren't quite done yet. I know more, you know more, perhaps we should continue over drinks, now that we've cleared the whole beastfolk thing up."
Post by Elias Harel on Jul 16, 2018 11:54:27 GMT -7
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[attr="class","mary3"]THIS KINGDOM OF MINE,
[attr="class","mary4"]THIS GIFT FROM THE DIVINE
[attr="class","mary5"] The timing could not have been more perfect in Elias' eyes. His truth had developed her drive, and Violet now had a renewed energy about her, an energy he would peaceably allow Arzuul snuff out. A broken soul was worthless to the Black Cloak, but one of great vigor could hold many joys. If nothing else, it would extend Macar's life a few days until the Black Cloak tired of her, and Elias ascertained that he needed nothing else from her.
That was something he already knew. Yes, it was true that there were questions that could be of use if she had the answers, but Elias believed he had enough to move on to a new target, one who wasn't so close to bargaining for freedom. "I'm afraid you misunderstand, Violet Macar," Elias was plaintive as he stood and corrected his sleeves. He stepped from around his desk and made his way past Violet as he continued, "That was our final exchange. A stirring finale, if I may say so. I must thank you, of course, as your knowledge regarding Thomas Dunn was most helpful to me. But now I shall say my goodbyes. Arzuul shall... Show to your permanent lodgings."
With a nod to his partner, Elias departed the room, leaving the two to their new business. Elias had his own meetings to attend.
Post by Violet Macar on Jul 16, 2018 13:34:57 GMT -7
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Elias' meaning did not dawn on Violet at first. In fact, it didn't dawn on her at all before crack! -- Arzuul struck her head hard enough to stop her from thinking at all.
Partly outside the room, and partly inside of it, a woman resisted the urge to help. It was an urge that she had resisted many times before, and while this time was no harder than others, it always stung. She was a good person. She wanted to help. That's why she here, after all. Still, instead of helping, she stayed where she was -- merged into the stone of the wall, patiently awaiting an opportunity to access the room with no one inside. That was what she came here for. Information. Not this... "Violet Macar".
Still... Maybe she would make a stop at Violet's cell later on. If nothing else, she could do as she had done for so many of Elias Harel's prisoners -- collect the woman's last words. Liese had gotten good at that. It wasn't much, but it seemed to make the difference. Knowing that a loved one would hear a final goodbye, or that the little piece of hidden knowledge they had kept for so long wouldn't die with them always gave Harel's victims some small peace. And knowing that Liese existed, that people were working to fight the regime, didn't hurt, either.
It was sad that it was all she could do for them, but-- Times were hard in Muerte. For everyone.
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