< 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!
[attr="class","gilles2"]Though Gilles had returned to Giakohs shortly after his first encounter with Xanthe, Tristan had not been so quick in his duties with the Aurcaeli soldier, and perhaps he had not been quite as successful. Still, as the Imperator and his troops returned in the early hours of the third day, Gilles knew they would have enough opportunity to exchange notes and prepare. Or rather, Gilles would permit Tristan a view of his memories, which had been stored on his return three days ago, and Tristan had shared what he had learned in his own way.
From what Gilles could understand, and interpret, the relationship between the soldier, and Xanthe was of some importance. Gilles had no interest in destroying such relationships for minor gain, and so he would not attempt any underhanded techniques... But his promise was only to himself. He could, at the same time, see no wrongdoing in destroying such a thing if word were to reveal it ruinous to Xanthe, or Atton. Perhaps their gain would see to more worth in such an act.
Following their meeting, the two had parted for preparations. Gilles was unsure what these would be for Tristan Cowell -- he worried they may consist of drinking and moping -- but he knew what his own plans were. He would review the meeting he'd had with Xanthe several more times, ensure the forms of his men and women were aligned for the welcome, and, finally, meditate on a walk through the fort.
Giakohs was very unlike any of the other forts in Atton, at least that Gilles had ever seen. It was not impressively fortified with sky-spanning walls, or constructed of heavy stones built for utter permanency. No, Giakohs was built upon magic. Each wall was conjured from Protera, in Rielcia, something that only a Master with the triggering word could accomplish or undo, and the objects within it were illusions, transmutations, and enchantments to trick the mind and body. Everything was architected in the eclectist style of Rielcia, with decor harkening to the gothic revival of Malscure. It was over the top, luxurious, and obviously a mystical fantasy. No one with half a mind could think such a place existed physically, not every piece of it. It was enough to convince one of small parcels of the collective, however... If they did not look close enough to determine otherwise.
In truth, most of what Rielcia provided to the war effort in Atton was comfort, a certain... Quality of life. Malscure was the provider of strong warriors.
However, the piece de resistance of the whole place was the mystical fog. It seemed utterly natural in the swamps around the area Eleusia had claimed for safety to be consumed by the mists, but it was a fiction as much as the rest of the fort. Tristan had crafted it himself, a masterful illusion that even Gilles could not prod a hole into. The fog performed as any fog would-- with the added bonus of confounding the senses and forcing those who wandered into it to become lost. Usually. Unless of course, they weren't looking for Giakohs. In that case, men like Ellis Danton could stumble upon them out of thin air.
Xanthe would be looking for them, but Xanthe would have Feofil Peti by her side. He would know the feeling of their locale, having been to Giakohs several times before, and he would also know that Malscure had scouts hidden throughout the swamps. If the two made enough presence to drive notice, the Eleusan scouts would raise their signals and someone could direct them in. Or at least, Gilles had planned for it to be that simple.
On the arrival of their gladly received guests, Gilles hoped to be standing at the ready, with Tristan by his side. So, as he walked, and meditated, he kept himself abreast of conversation and alarms. Today was not a day for surprises.
Post by Tristan Cowell on May 30, 2018 14:12:16 GMT -7
[attr="class","tcowell"]
[attr="class","tcowell2"]
[attr="class","tcowell3"]REFLECTIONS ON THE MOON
[attr="class","tcowell4"]OF A HEART TORN IN TWO
[attr="class","tcowell5"] Tristan Cowell was, for the first time in years, invigorated. His time with Ellis Danton had been of little success, but Gilles (of all men) had found great achievement with his own task. Yes, the Stormbringer had discovered the Attonian chieftain the two had watched through the recalls, and had convinced her to come and discuss terms with them. Not quite alone, which would have been preferable, but attended by Feofil who was somewhat agreeable to the two Eleusian powers. More agreeable, in any case, than Pelagia Xista or Erik the Sharp-Eyed.
The unfortunate circumstance was that Gilles had promised her three days. That wasn't much in the way of time for Tristan, who had arrived only this morning an hour before sunrise. His team had been tired (moreso than he, as he had fed upon them) and there was little time for proper preparations. They needed a plan, and so Tristan would need to work quickly.
He retired to his chambers for most of the day, preferring evenings and nights to the exhausting assault by the sun, and surrounded himself with reams of parchment and deep pots of ink. He drew draft upon draft of plans, and found himself interrupted only on his request for favours or tasks to be completed.
When all was said and done, he felt prepared for success. He knew that this meeting would be of more worth than the waste of an afternoon he had spent with Ellis Danton. He knew that great change was coming. He didn't need a diviner to know all of this. He didn't need a diviner. He just needed this. Meaning.
"Sir," A hand knocked firmly on the door, shocking him from his focus. The fear he had placed in the soldiers had somewhat dissipated over the past few days of excitement. Tristan had a new purpose to drive him, and if the soldiers continued to press upon that purpose, they thought perhaps they could maintain his better moods. It was a pleasant thought, he supposed.
With a gentle breeze of evoked wind from his gaze, the door creaked open to permit the soldier inside. "Do they near?" Tristan prompted, his fingers deftly tying a knot around the magically dried roll of parchment.
The woman nodded firmly with assent, and told him, "The scouts have alerted us that the two have come near. They are in the process of leading General Inspector Peti and the Attonian Chief to the entrance. They have called an expectation of twenty minutes."
"Excellent work. Raise the flags."
The soldier nodded and turned back, closing the door behind her and leaving Tristan in darkness once more. Alone, Tristan opened a drawer and pulled out a small velvet box. With a smile, the box found its home inside of his pocket, and Tristan readied himself to join Gilles outside.
Three days had been more than enough for Xanthe. She wasn't much of a 'planner' as much as she was a 'doer', and honestly after the meeting with the Kina man (who she found out from Feofil was Gilles of Rielcia) she had been ready to immediately meet and get this over with. However, that wasn't the way the invaders did things and that meant it wasn't the way she could do things either, and so she had waited.
The first thing she had done after the meeting was find Feofil. The thing with that was she didn't want to see Ellis yet, and she certainly couldn't trust herself not to knock Erik's beak off after what that memory had shown her, so she had to find him when he was alone or request to meet with him. She didn't want to request a meeting because even peacekeepers gossiped and she didn't want it spread around that she had returned at all, let alone to request a meeting with only Feofil. No, she decided to stalk the broken temple fort until he went out for a walk, and when he was far enough away to not be noticed she fell into step beside him and filled him in on what had occurred. That was when he had informed her that the man she had spoken to, whose name she had never asked or received, was Gilles of Rielcia (she had figured out where he was from, during their meeting, but the name was a nice addition). He also agreed to go to the meeting with her, and to utter secrecy until it was concluded. Maybe he agreed so readily because of his own reasons, or maybe it was because he knew how serious Xanthe was when she insisted upon it, even though she didn't share the contents of the more recent memories Gilles had shown her. When he explained he had been to Fort Giakohs many times and began telling her its approximate location she had levelled a look at him and waved his directions off.
They agreed to meet by the jaosi s'na nearest the Peacekeeper's fort on the day of the meeting, and with everything decided she had left once more.
Now, the day was upon them. The meeting time was... nebulous, at best, and Xanthe found herself otherwise engaged until late afternoon so by the time the lightning flashed and she appeared from the jaosi s'na she saw that Feofil had been meditating nearby, likely having been waiting for some time. She didn't apologize, and Feofil met her at the tree in silence. It was a companionable kind of silence, and it was one of the things she appreciated about Feofil. He had a flair for fancy words, but he was also quite perceptive and he could tell she was not in a mood to talk just yet. They had a meeting to attend, and she was sure there would be enough talking to go around once they arrived.
She was clearly prepared to act as a proper emissary for her people at the meeting - she wore her full headdress and her leathers were pristine, and even her wild hair was tamed somewhat. In such an outfit she truly looked like the Chief of Atton, and she intended to be treated with the respect her position deserved amongst the people she was to meet. She couldn't go into this meeting as just another Attonja. With so much misinformation going around, and having never met anyone but Gilles in person from their fort, she needed to put her best foot forward and show that she was serious about her responsibility to her people and her country.
Xanthe wrapped a hand around Feofil's forearm and touched the tree, and a moment later they appeared near the Rielcia/Malscure fort in another lightning flash, emerging from the storm tree nearest their bizarre base. It was enough to alert the scouts that they had arrived, and by the time they were met Xanthe was already leading Feofil through the fog. The scouts insisted on being the ones to lead, and the two had shared a slightly worried look before they all continued in the direction Xanthe had already been walking. It wouldn't be long now. One more step towards an Atton not only free, but a part of the rest of the world. Not that she had many pleasant experiences with the rest of the world, but they couldn't simply go back to how they had been before their discovery and so forward was the only way. At least it seemed that some of the invaders could be reasoned with.
[attr="class","gilles2"]The first he had heard of Xanthe's near arrival was through the grapevine, which was not how Gilles preferred to learn things, but he would not complain. Instead, he listened carefully to what two soldiers - who did not see him standing behind a column - were conversing upon. Evidently, Xanthe had appeared from a tree with Feofil by her side, terribly near the fort. A surprise, as he had been determined to evade. He realized it was possible, then, for the Attonian people to have marched on them long before now. He would need to remember that Xanthe had not lead them to do just that.
After hearing all he needed to, Gilles began to make his way to the center-front of the fort, and soon found himself inundated with soldier after soldier telling him the same news he had only just eavesdropped upon. "I know," Was all he told them, his eyes never moving from the path ahead that he swiftly walked. They scattered in response, knowing they had positions to take up.
He arrived at the front only minutes before Tristan, and stood there calmly with his hands locked down at his sides. Rielcian and Malscuri evokers had gathered themselves along the tree-lined pathway into the fort, preparing for what Gilles had taught them. Eight of the soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder on either side, eyes front and bodies untwitching.
Before the very eyes of every soldier in the area, the fog ahead of them began to clear into the shape of a large, twenty-foot high door, and then -- with a loud, illusory gong -- it opened.
On cue, the first pair of evokers positioned their hands skyward, sending a bolt of lightning directly skyward. After the firing, the pair dropped to one knee, crossing their firing arm over their chest to touch their shoulder.This process continued down the line of the eight pairs, until it finally came to where Tristan and Gilles were standing.
In perfect time, Gilles raised both of his arms. He did not fire lightning into the sky, but instead formed a cloud above them and called upon it wordlessly to crash lightning into the ground behind the two Masters. The burst singed the ends of his hair which gleefully danced in the burn, and Gilles then crossed both arms over his chest, his eyes falling to Xanthe.
The scouts did not speak as they led Xanthe and Feofil to the fort, however Feofil himself made smalltalk despite their silence. Xanthe said nothing, though as they approached the fort she grew more and more restless. Eventually, the scouts stopped and a great door was revealed from the fog, and as they entered through it they were greeted by quite an extravagant show. Eight soldiers, four sets of two on each side of the path, shot lightning into the sky one after another as they walked down the path - if they had been intending to play on Xanthe's interests in order to gain her favour they were doing a good job of it, to be honest. Once the last pair had shot their lightning all that was left were Gilles and a green-skinned man at the end, and Gilles put his arms up to call lightning from the sky to strike dramatically behind where the two of them stood. Feofil handily pointed out, once that was finished, that the green-skinned man was Tristan Cowell of Malscure. Xanthe made no indication she heard him.
Stopping in front of the two leaders she bowed her head respectfully before speaking, her words heavily accented but recited with care - practiced. "I am honoured to be here on behalf of Atton to discuss the future of our countries." The next part was not as practiced, as she glanced at the singed ground behind them before turning to Gilles and adding with an amused look, "Good lightning."
Post by Tristan Cowell on Jun 5, 2018 11:20:38 GMT -7
[attr="class","tcowell"]
[attr="class","tcowell2"]
[attr="class","tcowell3"]REFLECTIONS ON THE MOON
[attr="class","tcowell4"]OF A HEART TORN IN TWO
[attr="class","tcowell5"] Tristan would never admit to being surprised in the context of his role as Imperator, but the feeling rolled over him in a mild sense as Gilles created an impressive reception of lightning for the Attonian Chief. Tristan might have thought to welcome her with their people bowing deeply to confer respect, but he had not considered such a thing as Gilles had. As the shots went off, his dark eyes slid away from the show and over to Gilles, who was impassive as always. Tristan could hardly ask for a better partner for a moment like this.
As another flash called him to look upon the bright lights and the entering guests, Tristan took in Xanthe for the first time outside someone else's perspective. The memories of Corporal Evard had done her no justice (she hardly looked like a savage beast), and Gilles' memories from the night he'd seen Danton and Xanthe had been blurred. Now that Tristan could see her for himself, he could see her power. The tattoos he was certain noted some importance, but the cultural headdress called to her significance even more. Malscure had no history of fashion such as this, but others did. The larger, and more imposing the piece; the more intricate and perfect the beading, feathering, or embellishing was, the higher the rank. Thus, this Xanthe was truly as important as they had thought. Or: She was excellent at pretending. For now, he favoured her truth.
Tristan nearly flinched at the lightning Gilles summoned behind them, but held fast with a curious narrowing of his eyes to Feofil instead. Seeing the man reminded Tristan of Ellis Danton, the weaselly soldier whom Tristan disliked so greatly. The man who had somehow arranged peace between Aurcaele and Atton. The boy who Tristan could only say was either a hapless mouthpiece or a wilesome villain. Feofil, Tristan believed, was always so willing to see the good in people that he missed their most obvious schemes. Feofil, he also believed, would want to see the good here as well, even if Eleusia attempted to somehow extricate Aurcaele from the whole deal. Should his hopes not cloud his judgment, Feofil might think it was simply Eleusian officials being cagey about working with Aurcaele, and considering their historical relations it was not quite a long shot that such a thing would hamper talks like this. The truth was, Tristan wanted to control this deal as bilaterally as possible.
Xanthe offered a proficient greeting in common that impressed him, in response to which Tristan placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head in respect. Her following words were somewhat less expected or practiced, and earned a curious smile from him. He was both pleased that she appreciated Gilles' efforts, and amused by the way she had been able to ease the tension off the backs of his soldiers with a mere comment. She was a great leader, that was clear.
"Quite," Feofil added with a smile, charmed by the comment as much as anyone, "You two certainly throw a spectacular show."
"Thank you Xanthe, Feofil," Tristan cut in, "Gilles and I are honoured to break bread with the Attonian people at long last. Before we retire to a more private space, we have an offering to give to Atton. Chief Xanthe... If I may?" Tristan touched his pocket with two fingers, the fabric of his clothes highlighting the small ring-box contained within. He awaited patiently for permission, permitting Xanthe the first move of power in their meeting.
Xanthe's introductory sentence was far more eloquent than her current understanding of common allowed her to be on the fly. The past few days, really ever since Ellis had been marked by Pelagia, she had hardly spent any time learning more of the language. Ellis had been her primary teacher and with their current fallout she had lost some of her motivation to learn. Only the promise of a meeting and a potential agreement to peace had pulled her back into things, and even then only to learn enough for the introduction and a few of the more obscure words that related to peace treaties.
That said, she understood a majority of what Tristan said and she definitely understood when he said they had an offering to Atton. Not just to Xanthe, but to Atton. She was visibly intrigued the moment the word offering had been said, but even moreso now. His touching his pocket did little to satisfy her curiosity, having no idea what a ring box was, and when he asked her permission she nodded once. She couldn't turn down an offering. She didn't expect him to attack her here of all places, and her curiosity easily won out over her wariness, but she remained on guard just in case. After all, within their own fort would arguably be the best place to attack her - surrounded by all of their allies while she had only herself and Feofil (and after seeing what she saw of Erik she couldn't even be sure of Feofil - could he be hiding something like that too?). But Gilles was there, and she may only know him from one encounter but he was a kindred spirit, and she trusted him, at least so far as to trust him not to be part of an ambush against her. So Tristan had offered something and she would accept it, and hopefully it would bring good blessings to their peace talks.
[attr="class","gilles2"]Gilles was not one for light-hearted fun, and so he took Xanthe's compliment as just that, and nodded as tersely as he always did in response. Others seemed to take her words with greater effect, relaxing around him absurdly. With the Chief's acknowledgement, he lowered his arms from their crossed position, returning them stiffly to his sides as Tristan did what Gilles had hoped he would do -- Talk.
For years now Gilles had been left with the responsibility of leading. Tristan had been volatile at best, absentee otherwise, and Gilles had become a figurehead. A terrible one. He had been chosen by Tristan for his powers, and his symbolism as a lightning evoker in Atton... Not for his well-worded wisdoms. Thankfully, the last week had been a marked improvement, proof that Cowell had finally found something to care about; a distraction, if nothing else. Gilles hoped it might be a path forward from the man's obsessions, but would need to prepare for Tristan to lose interest and revert to his new old self.
Only time would tell, he supposed.
"We can make... More," Gilles stated, after Xanthe had given her permission for Tristan to reveal the item. Feofil's brow quirked in curiosity, and the Inspector's eyes narrowed onto the slowly revealing box as he tried to solve the mystery. The object was an idea of Cowell's, crafted by a Rielcian artificer. It was expensive, and rare... And finally, after all this time, it would see some use.
Post by Tristan Cowell on Jun 10, 2018 8:32:08 GMT -7
[attr="class","tcowell"]
[attr="class","tcowell2"]
[attr="class","tcowell3"]REFLECTIONS ON THE MOON
[attr="class","tcowell4"]OF A HEART TORN IN TWO
[attr="class","tcowell5"] As a test of trust and interest, Tristan saw the ring-box as a success. Xanthe was either curious enough for her caution to become outweighed, or perhaps she truly felt safe here, within Fort Giakohs. Certainly she seemed (at the least) intrigued by Gilles, as not only had she come here after a sole meeting with him, but she held evident appreciation for his talents. All then seemed to bode well for this meeting. The signs were in their favour.
Tristan pulled the ring-box free, which was made of silver and covered in red velvet. He placed it with long fingers into the centre of one palm, and popped the lid open with a smooth flourish. Inside the box was a band of similar silver, inlaid with a beautiful fluorite gemstone, sparkling in many colours. The magic contained in the ring seemed to radiate off of it, the wealth of power more clear than could be properly described.
"This ring," Tristan began to explain, cautious and slow with his words, "Was made years ago now, for you and your people in the hopes of a day such as today. ...I'll save the particulars for after you try it. You'll see why, in a moment, I believe.
"I do hope you'll trust us," Tristan imparted the words as if speaking to a quiet confidant, his brow knitting with worry. He then held his opposite hand out gently for Xanthe and Feofil to see a similar ring with a similar cut of fluorite upon one finger, radiating that strong magic once more, "I would not expect you to attempt something I would not."
We can make more, was what Gilles told them, as Tristan removed the mysterious box from his pocket. More? Without knowing what the item even was it was an interesting thing to start with, that was for sure. Xanthe would never refuse an offering, but not knowing what it was was indeed a risky move on her part. Then again, she was a chief of risky and impulsive moves, and it had both helped and hurt her many times in the past.
Tristan placed the box in his palm, wrapped in red fabric that was eyecatching even next to his red cohort, and when he opened it the offering was revealed to be a ring of some sort with a striking gemstone of many colours. The most noticeable was not the gemstone itself, though it was quite beautiful, but the strength of the magic that it seemed to contain. Something of such magic was surely a worthy offering, though as he explained it had been made years ago for her and her people he did not mention why they had made it, or what kind of magics it contained. He wanted her to put on the ring without being told anything useful about it. He said he would tell her after she 'tried it', and said he hoped that she would trust them.
Then, in a strange turn of events, he held out his other hand and showed that he had a very similar ring on his own finger, and said that he wouldn't expect her to 'attempt something' that he wouldn't himself. Attempt? Was putting the ring on some sort of test? Was it going to do something to her when she put it on? What kind of magic was in it, anyway? Was Gilles saying they could make more a considerate promise, or some kind of threat? She was left with many questions but no answers, as Tristan simply held the ring out to her and waited for her to take it.
Caution told her to refuse it, to ask these questions and demand answers.
Custom, however, dictated her actions as she bowed her head and replied, "I accept your offering." Likely, they would not appreciate the significance of such acceptance. As the chief of her people, of Atton, it was a great deal more important than perhaps they realized. If the offering was made in good faith, it would bode well for their meeting. If it was given with ill intent however, they would realize their mistake quickly.
She saw how Tristan wore his ring and took the offered one from the box carefully, slipping it onto the same finger on her own hand.
The skin OTHERWORLD was made by JAWN of WICKED WONDERLAND.
FORTUNA-RPG was created by MELLIE. Images belong to their respective artists. All codes and scripts belong to their respective coders. Please DO NOT take anything without the owners' permission.
