Newbie
gender: Female
status: offline
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Clan/Family: Ravencourts
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Post by Raylinn Ravencourt on Oct 24, 2018 19:31:10 GMT -8
Daughter,
That's how the missive began. Not with her name. Or an official title. No endearments.
After negotiations, New Arisalon and the Raven Islands have reached a tentative contractual agreement for your betrothal to Victor Kaliba, hinging on his agreed compliance . Per this agreement, the port city of Raven's Perch is to be turned over to the sole ownership and governance of you, Raylinn Ravencourt, until such a time as the marriage is carried out....
There was more after that, but it was hard to read through the blur of hurt and angry tears.
...and considering your reckless and careless actions, We fully expect your compliance. It is your duty as Princess and Daughter to do your utmost to see to the ultimate success and fruition of this important and worthwhile union to correct the damage done to both Royal authority and reputation.
Queen Raelle Deleon Ravencourt
That was it. Sold for a port city and a ring. No words of love, support, or encouragement. Had Victor heard of this? What must he be thinking?
It was never supposed to be this way. That night had been an indulgent treat, as cliche as it sounded - a dream come true. It was the start of something that could lead to amazing things in the future between the two of them. It was precious. Something Raylinn would cherish for the rest of her life, and her mother had shit on it.
Rage was too mild of a word for the inferno blazing within her. Literal sparks lit up her turquoise eyes and danced from her fingertips as she stalked down the hallways of the People's Palace. The air around her sizzled with destructive potential. Only her deep, heartfelt affection and respect for the Kaliba's kept her in check.
Ray did not ask for directions to her mother's temporary room. She didn't need them. The four Queen's Guards standing sentinel outside made it obvious which door to choose. She didn't bother greeting them. Their wary suspicion at her determined approach was warranted, and typical. They were Islanders, through and through.
They didn't reach out to stop her when she reached for the door. The silly woman inside left it unlocked. Ray stepped inside, and slammed the door behind her.
Raelle Ravencourt was standing at the window, looking out over courtyard. She turned around, far too casual to know who it was she'd find standing in wait. "Did you find the merlot I...oh." Raelle's eyes widened at the sight of her seething daughter, then slid to the corner where she'd left her sword.
Raylinn let out humorless laugh. "Fallon warned you about leaving your weapon out of reach. Now here you are, with no steel to protect you from your own daughter. What were you going to do? Stab me?"
Raelle was quick to recover, adopting a relaxed, careless posture that was at odds with the faint, nervous waver to her words. "Raylinn. Of course not. You simply surprised me. I wasn't expecting..."
"Liar!" Ray snapped.
It was all downhill from there.
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Newbie
gender: Female
status: offline
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Clan/Family: Ravencourts
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Post by Raylinn Ravencourt on Oct 25, 2018 9:31:09 GMT -8
"You really think I would murder my own child?"
"So murder is a hard no, but selling one isn't?"
Her mother rolled her eyes. "I did not sell you. Don't be ridiculous, Raylinn."
"Ridiculous?!" The temperature of the room spiked dramatically. Beads of sweat pearled on her mother's forehead, satisfying and encouraging the dark inferno within her. The Kalibas were the sole thin, frayed thread of control left to her and Ray clung to it.
"Yes. Ridiculous." Raelle frowned at her daughter. "You've always known an arranged marriage was in your future. You could not have a better match than this one." She smirked. "Obviously there is chemistry between you. Every Islander knows your chastity was lost to that boy that night. Really, Raylinn, did you seriously think you could keep it a secret? You have a duty --"
"Duty?!" A bitter laugh followed the word. "This wasn't about duty! This was mine! I tried to keep it secret because I didn't want this to happen! I don't want Victor to feel obligated to be with me! That's not how love --"
"Love," Raelle chuckled and shook her head. "You love that boy? Then what is the problem, Raylinn? You're getting what you wanted."
"I just said it wasn't --"
Raelle wasn't finished. She took a step forward, green eyes flashing. "What else were we supposed to do with you? You're 18, and not a single noble Island House has sent offers for you hand. Did you expect to live in the castle all your life? Be supported by us and your brother when he assumes the throne? Is that the life you'd rather have? To be a constant burden on your family, your kingdom?"
"Of course not. I could be of use. Fight with our military, or the navy..."
"They'd be more scared of you than the enemy!" Raelle fired back.
"They... They just have to get used --"
"Dammit, Raylinn! The Islands don't bloody want you!"
Silence.
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Newbie
gender: Female
status: offline
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Clan/Family: Ravencourts
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Post by Raylinn Ravencourt on Oct 29, 2018 10:46:07 GMT -8
The Islands don't want you.
...don't want you...don't want you...don't want you...
Raelle paled and her eyes grew wide. The acrid scents of scorched cotton and fear filled the room.
The inferno within Raylinn flared with the added fuel of heartbreak, betrayal, and shattered dreams. Her vision ran red. She'd felt lesser versions of these things before, but this... Something within her broke beneath the onslaught.
The sparks within her eyes and sputtering from the tips of her fingers went from red...to blue.
This was a cold, calculating rage. Emotions were obliterated to ash, leaving a calm clarity in their absence. That which was broken was immediately reforged.
Raylinn took a step forward. Raelle took a step back.
The daughter saw the realization dawn in her mother's eyes. The Island Queen straightened her posture and squared her shoulders, determination tightening the hard line of her lips. But it was too late. The power scales had shifted between them. That single moment of submission changed everything, and both women knew it.
"You were born here, in Tyran," Raylinn began, her tone soft and all the more intimidating for it. "You brought Tyran to the Islands. You were given two, pure Island males, and then a Tyran child of your own. And you scorned it. You don't want me? You don't want Tyran?" Raylinn took another step forward.
Raelle stood firm, mother and daughter facing off eye-to-eye. Now would be the time to defend herself and the Islands, but she remained oddly quiet, only clenching her fists as Raylinn's icy, rage fueled words continued.
"As your chosen representative of Tyran and all your personal failures in these lands, I am here to tell you, Mother, that Tyran is happy to grant you the separation you so dearly desire. You don't get to sneer at a land while happily eating up its resources."
"I do not --"
"You do," Ray countered, the blue flames in her eyes daring her mother to deny what they both knew was true. "Horses and produce from Riverview. Intel from the Tyran-born Griffins. Imports and exports from Raven Perch's thriving port. Lumber, livestock... Tyran magic to power your gates, your spying, to strengthen Island influence among the scattered nations of the northern seas. You use everything Tyran has to offer, but curl up your nose and do nothing to stifle the prejudice in the lands you now rule. All of that ends now."
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Newbie
gender: Female
status: offline
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Clan/Family: Ravencourts
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Post by Raylinn Ravencourt on Oct 29, 2018 18:09:20 GMT -8
Raelle's eyes narrowed to mere slits. "Now you listen closely, Raylinn Ravencourt," she pointedly stressed her daughter's family name. "I am your mother. Your queen. You may have had a Kaliba between your legs but --"
SMACK
The sound reverberated through the room, and then once again... Silence.
Raelle was posed with her head still turned aside from the force of the slap, her daughter's hand a brand on her cheek even redder than her hair.
Raylinn slowly brought her hand back to her side. "No," she said simply, in that same dangerous softness. "You don't want me. You revoked your right to hold family or duty over my head ever again."
The Island Queen whipped her head around, her own fiery temper flashing in her eyes. "That is not how this works, child. Even New Arisalon recognizes the duties of a princess. I had to sign over Raven Perch to even get them to agree to take you. And even that came with the caveat that the city becomes theirs once the marriage is finalized." She grinned faintly and leaned closer to Raylinn. "You are so insulted, feeling sold. The Islands would have had to gain something in return for that to be true. We already had the alliance. I had to pay them to take you."
If she expected a gasp or other sign of emotional injury at the barb, she did not get it. A flick of Raylinn's wrist, and her hand was immediately engulfed in flickering blue flames. Later, she'd ponder this new level of power, likely while suffering the consequences of using it, but for now...
She took another step towards until her and the woman who birthed her were forced to breathe the same air. She had to give the Island Queen credit - Raelle did not step away this time. Not even when Raylinn brought those flames close enough their glacial light cast the Queen's face a ghostly blue.
"You did not pay enough."
Raylinn let the full significance of those words settle, her eyes boring into Raelle's until she was satisfied the other woman had realized just how high a price her Tyran child was prepared to claim if forced.
"You paid New Arisalon, but you did not pay me. Riverview - mine. The Griffins - mine. Either you draw up the paperwork and sign it all over...or else."
"Or. Else. What?" Raelle ground out.
"Or else, I will take it."
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Newbie
gender: Female
status: offline
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Clan/Family: Ravencourts
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Post by Raylinn Ravencourt on Nov 2, 2018 5:11:53 GMT -8
Night had fallen by the time Raylinn finally left the Island Queen's rooms. She retraced her steps from earlier, the fire drawn fully within, posture straight, chin lifted, her face blank of all emotion. New Arisalon legal scholars and scribes formed a clumped group of intelligence, leaving directly after her but remaining far enough back she could not make sense of their hushed whispers. In her hand - a bound collection of vellum representing the eventual return of her pride and dignity.
Her mother had met her demands.
Raven's Perch, Riverview, and the Griffins - hers. The proper copies would be sent to the capital the next morn.
Legally, she was still a Princess of the Raven Islands. The marriage contract drawn up with the Kalibas was still in effect. The terms would be honored. She would keep the name of Ravencourt until married.
But...
Raylinn turned down the hall, separating from the gaggle of scribes and scholars. Her eyes remained straight ahead, until she'd entered her rooms and shut the door behind her.
The instant the lock clicked the weight of it all buckled her legs and sent her to her knees. She wept. Sobbed. Mindful of outside ears, she kept her wails on the inside. Eventually she slumped over to her side, arms wrapped around the invisible, gaping hole of pain in her middle and curled up into a ball.
There was a lot to cry about. Tonight, she'd give herself until the sun shined upon a new day to grieve, and that would be the end of it.
Tomorrow, she had a great deal of work to do.
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Apprentice
gender: Female
status: offline
Alias: Queen of the Raven Islands
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Clan/Family: Ravencourts
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Post by Raelle Ravencourt on Nov 2, 2018 6:18:53 GMT -8
Raelle waited until the door shut and she was alone before collapsing back in the chair. She covered her aching eyes with her arm and then...just breathed.
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined how difficult being a mother would turn out to be. More specifically - how difficult being Raylinn's mother would be.
Everything that had passed between them today had been true. The Islands did not want Raylinn. Nearly thirty years, and despite all that Tyran had provided, the Islands still did not welcome any trace of Tyran upon their shores. Most ignored that their beloved Queen had been born there. While not proud of it, it was also true that Raylinn had come to represent her own failures.
She should have defeated Mordred. The Tyran crown should have been hers. As much as she loved her husband and the life they'd carved from the gray stone of his homeland, Tyran sang in her blood. But it sang louder in Raylinn's...and she resented that, too.
She loved her daughter. There was nothing she could do about the vile bitterness that choked her every time she looked at Raylinn. Try as she might, there was little warmth in her heart for the girl.
Damn Arc Kaliba. The man knew too much. She hated and admired his ability to arrange the pieces on the game board. It wasn't until after she'd left his and Rosewyn's rooms that evening that she realized just how clever he'd played her. But he'd done it for Raylinn. Not only for her, of course, Raelle was no fool. But he'd given her the key to ensure her daughter was well provided for.
All she'd had to do was wait for Raylinn to claim it. It had taken less time than she'd expected. Once again proving that of all her children...her daughter was the most like her.
Raven's Perch needed a leader who was not an ocean away, and Riverview belonged to Deleon blood, which clearly ran truest in Raylinn. The Griffins...now that one had been a surprise. Losing her spy network within the mainland was a hit, but it was time to cut ties. She'd straddled the fence for far too long.
Her heart ached for the pain she'd caused her child. Raylinn would be changed by what had transpired here. She'd feel abandoned, unwanted, and betrayed. Emotions Raelle had been forced to carry with her when King James had died and left the kingdom without an heir. Her family had been murdered. Supporters had betrayed her. And at the tender age of sixteen, she'd done her best to rally the land beneath a united flag. While she had not won the throne, the lands had been unified.
Raylinn did not have to unite an entire kingdom. Only a city, a village, and a network of spies. She'd also get to start with the might of New Arisalon behind her, support far stronger than the Raven Islands, even if that fact made Raelle choke.
It was as good a start as any parent could give their child.
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welcome
Tyrannights is a free-form play by post RPG with a medieval fantasy setting. It was formed in 1997 by Shawn and Doreen with many different owners and versions over the years. Its current version is Tyran: Tales of Legends owned by Sinead and Laelia.
Tales of Legends is world and character building focused with and original setting. There are no forced character aps or registration, so come stay in Wendy's Tavern for a drink. Have you character serve one of two Tyran gods. Rule a city of your own, or serve Tyran's Queen. There are limitless possibilities for your character's story... so what are you waiting for?
Tyran is PG 13 and LGBT friendly.
site updates (dd/mm/yy)
13/11/18 - THERE ARE NEW GODS! please check out the temple folders for more details!
29/11/18 - Both temples have staff positions open for those interested in joining the temples
29/11/18 - We are currently editing our achievements and adding more! Please be patient as we fix this.
current events
TBA
Time: Ongoing
Where: TBA
Host: TBA
staff
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Amika
x_Tempest_D
SW_Hotaru_SD
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(Username may varry)
Joshua
Shelzi
Storyteller/Trent
Wulv
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credits
Tyrannights/VampPub was originally created by Shawn and Doreen. Tyran: Tales of Legends remake is currently owned by Sinead and Laelia Content is copyrighted to Tyran unless otherwise stated. The skin is created by Wolf of Gangnam Style. The board and thread remodel is by Kagney.
Banner Image was created by Karnage82.
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