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Post by Stonelark on Aug 18, 2016 23:20:03 GMT
Adirion stood patiently at the entrance to the Pavilion, staring out at Draemir's bustling streets. His short platinum hair and long gray coattail were shifting in the gentle breeze. The Selkie's stern gray eyes held a thoughtful expression and he was as unmoving as a statue, despite his stormy thoughts.
Poor, sweet-natured Laith wasn't dealing well with his mother's death, his sister's betrayal, and subsequent coronation. Laith was groomed to be king from the time he was born and Adirion knew he could do it, and do it well. He loved his people and his country, but to become king under such circumstances... Adirion sighed. He wanted nothing but to run to Laith and hold him tightly to chase away all his fears and insecurities. Their time in Veirntarn helped Laith to come to terms with everything, but to face reality was a different story altogether. Adirion knew Laith could get through this, but the new king needed to learn so on his own.
Since there was nothing to do for Laith at the moment, he volunteered to welcome the other emissaries as they arrived in the city. Adirion was especially curious about the one from Kalemnos. The city was quite secretive, so no information about who they were sending had been revealed. Quite a smart move though. Any correspondence birds might be in danger from Niara. She could have eyes everywhere. Adirion's demeanor was unchanged as he felt a sharp pain in his heart. This betrayal was such a shock to the entire kingdom. Niara used to be so kind and considerate. She loved her family fiercely and was one of the first to approve Laith and Adirion's companionship. Sure, she had become reclusive in recent days, but no one could have even imagined something like this! What is her end game? What caused her to snap? Adirion shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts for the moment. There will be a time and place for discussion once everyone has arrived and Laith has completed the Queen's funerary rites.
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 19, 2016 2:39:36 GMT
Adelbert Markham strides up the pathway to the Pavilion. He is formally dressed, prepared to carry out his administrative duties. He wears formal wear of a fine silver cloth engraved with blue waterfalls. This matches well with his shimmering silver hair and blue eyes. He wears a rapier with an engraved silver hilt on his left side. Adelbert spends his attention taking in the sights and studying the architecture as he moves closer to the center of power.
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 20, 2016 3:36:58 GMT
Adirion's finned ears twitched at the approach of a rather well-dressed man. Overly gaudy, some might say, but ideal for a day in court. The waterfalls reminded him of his own home. He held his arms out to his sides, palms up in a traditional offering of hospitality.
"Hail and welcome. I am Adirion, Emissary of Veirntarn. I act here on behalf of his Majesty, King Laith Draemir, and upon the council of my King Lieros of Veirntarn. Welcome to the fair city of Draemir."
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 20, 2016 5:07:43 GMT
Adelbert perfectly copies the welcoming gesture, and replies formally, "Well met sir. I am Adelbert Markham, Emissary of Kalemnos, who represents the Ruling Council of that city in the present proceedings. Please convey my thanks to His Majesty for the fair greetings. I look forward to reaffirming the solidarity between our cities."
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 20, 2016 5:48:51 GMT
"His Majesty sends his apologies for being unable to greet you personally. Due to recent...circumstances, you might understand his absence. He will, however, be with us shortly. As soon as the other emissaries arrive."
Adirion bows ever so slightly in deference to the delegate from such an influential yet unknown city. He straightens and rests one hand at the small of his back and gestures with the other toward the center of the pavilion where there is a large table with a dozen or so comfortable seats surrounding it.
"I have always wondered about your extraordinary city. Tales of it have reached far and wide, yet none who have not already been there know many details. Stories of a wondrous library and an extensive magic school. Streets with no crime, where all races live in peace together. A utopia, if there was ever such a thing. I know more than most because of my own position, but if you are able to sate my curiosity, is it true that magic surrounds it such that none may harm another within its walls?"
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 20, 2016 20:53:59 GMT
Adelbert smiles a pleasant smile. "If such a magic existed, we would use it everywhere and many of the world's problems would be solved. Still, your description is not inaccurate. I doubt we are a utopia, but we go to great efforts to keep our citizens safe. Personality conflicts are inevitable with people of any race, but we contain violence to certain areas and allow it to be resolved."
"As to libraries and schools, you could hardly have chosen a subject nearer to my heart. I have invested a considerable amount of my own wealth to enrich our libraries. I daresay they are among the finest in the world. What are you the most fond of in your own homeland?"
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Post by Licht on Aug 20, 2016 22:49:05 GMT
posting to let you know to have aidrion respond and then have him be cut off in the middle of a sentence, I'll post what happens then
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 21, 2016 1:49:14 GMT
Adirion listened to Adelbert speak, nodding occasionally, expression unreadable. Indeed, stories can be just that, stories. Nowhere is perfect. Yet, there was a fervor with which the man spoke of the libraries. "It gladdens my heart to know that even old hats like us can still become excited when we expound of home. It is the coral reef gardens surrounding the Beryl wing that I favor. They are well tended and host an enormous variety of all kinds of life, plant to animal. When I was a child, I would oft hide there, watching the wondrous vibrancy of life."
"I still make time to visit there regardless of whatever my duties may be. It is quite dear to my heart. I wish to inquire if residents of Kalemnos are allowed to speak of the protection magic surrounding the city, or is that forbi--"
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Post by Licht on Aug 21, 2016 1:52:01 GMT
Adirion is cut off by a loud crash, and a black shape scampers away from a fallen bookshelf. The creature skitters over, stops and looks up at Drew and Adirion. It is a small black humanoid thing, about the size of a cat, with beetle wings and lumpy features.
After studying them for a few seconds, it screeches "PIZZA!!!" before scampering off out the slightly opened door to the pavilion.
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 23, 2016 18:15:08 GMT
Adelbert blinks several times at the strange creature. "Well, either that is the strangest form of advertising I've ever seen, or something most strange is happening." Markham moves over to the fallen bookshelf and attempts to put things right, looking to see if there is any specific book the creature might have been after.
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 24, 2016 0:32:25 GMT
Adirion prided himself on not being able to be surprised by much of anything in his career anymore. He'd dealt with assassination attempts during coronations to naked toddlers interrupting council meetings. This strange creature, with its strange cry wasn't the most unique occurrence, but it ranks up fairly high on the "strangest" list. He locked eyes with it as it stared at him and then watched it scurry off to likely cause more mischief elsewhere.
He shook his head in amusement and helped Adelbert pick up the heavy bookshelf, then began replacing the books. "Advertising what, though? What in all of Enkii's Blue Waters is "pizza"!? Only Qizmat may know." Adirion stared off in the direction the creature went. "Mayhap Galvian..."
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Post by Licht on Aug 24, 2016 5:58:28 GMT
There is a knocking on the partially open door before a proper looking gentleman opens the door laughing "Oh that's just Pizza, don't mind him. Local brownie you see. No one knows why he has some obsession with some obscure pie-like food, but there you have it." He enters the room and sits some baggage on the floor. A fae woman enters behind him and bows to the two emissaries. He wears a crisp white shirt with black vest and pants, while she wears an oriental looking robe with a flower print.
"Forgive me," the man continues "I am Zoh, and this is my wife Kaya." He moves to give a firm handshake in greeting.
"We are the emissaries that represent Dusk Glade," Kaya continues. "Though I admit it has been some time since a message would not suffice between matters of state. I represent the four courts of the fae, while my husband speaks for the interest of the Shifter tribes. You must be the Veirntarn and... Kalemnos emissaries?" She guesses, obviously picking out Adirion because of his race and giving her best guess as to Drew.
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 24, 2016 19:49:11 GMT
Emissary Adelbert Markham accepts the handshake. "Greetings, Lord Zoh. I am Adelbert Markham of Kalemnos. Considering recent events, I am not surprised that we have been called here in earnest. I look forward to meeting the new King, and extending to him whatever aid we might provide." That said, Markham begins searching the bookshelf for any tome of interest, then pulls it off the shelf to inspect it.
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 26, 2016 1:11:04 GMT
Adirion accepts Zoh's handshake and bows formally to Kaya. "Hail and well met, Lord Zoh and Madame Kaya. I am Adirion. I represent the interests of King Lieros and Veirntarn. On behalf of His Majesty, King Laith, I welcome you to his fair city." He places one hand at his chest and extends the other toward the table and chairs. "Please, make yourself comfortable. As soon as King Laith arrives, we will begin. I will call for refreshments." He leaves the two newcomers with Adelbert and moves off to the side where there is a woman in a uniform standing. "Tara, if you wouldn't mind popping down to the kitchen for some fresh drinks and perhaps some sandwiches or cakes, it would be greatly appreciated." She curtsies and is immediately off to complete her task.
Adirion turns back to the group and asks Zoh conversationally, "Is the brownie, Pizza did you say, your companion?"
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Post by Licht on Aug 26, 2016 1:48:23 GMT
"Not as such," Kaya admits while taking a seat gracefully at the table. "He has been about Draemir for as long as I've been emissary, which was several rulers ago I must admit. He pops up from time to time to say hello I suppose in his unusual way. I must say I gave him quite the scolding when he first tried to scare me."
Zoh moves to give Drew a hand, helping straighten the shelf that the brownie fae toppled and organizing the scattered tomes. Drew doesn't see any correlation between the titles to raise an eyebrow or shed light on what the imp was doing. Some are frivolous reading, some are more serious tomes. Altogether probably a selection meant to give the emissaries some light reading here in this sitting or meeting room. There is a handsome pair of jade elephant bookends that were toppled as well, but seem undamaged. Zoh places them on the ends of the books as he finishes replacing them.
"I haven't been at this nearly as long as my wife" Zoh makes conversation "but I have met Laith several times when visiting his mother. He is a fine young man and I have faith in him... but of course no one was expecting him to be the next to take the throne." He looks down in regret at the statement. "But let's not jump into that too quickly. So, other than our young king who are we still expecting?"
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 28, 2016 18:07:56 GMT
Adirion perches himself upon the chair next to the fae lady. He rests one arm across his body and the other upon it, tapping his jaw with one finger contemplatively. "Interesting, you say he's been here generations? I suppose he's never seen fit to interact with me before. How is your family, Madame Kaya? Last I heard your father was travelling with your son. Are your sisters still as obdurate as before?." A smile tugs at his lips as he asks his questions casually, alluding at more than just passing acquaintance with Kaya. The length of both of their tenures as emissaries in these lands meant that they have worked together in the past, and sometime against one other, meaning they knew more than just a little about each other. The sunlight comes in through the side of the pavilion, shining upon Adirion, momentarily highlighting the light blue shades of his pale skin. His finned ears twitch as he catches a scent of salt water, indicating the wind blowing in from the southeast.
He speaks more formally as he addresses Zoh's question. "I do believe we are waiting upon the young ambassador from Lymira's caravan. I've not met them yet. If there is anyone else, I was not informed of such."
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 28, 2016 18:24:34 GMT
Adelbert Markham takes a seat with the others. He says nothing, but smiles pleasantly as the others engage in small talk, not wanting to interrupt.
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Post by Licht on Aug 28, 2016 19:22:50 GMT
Kaya chuckled at Adirion's comment "Oh you know how those two are." She shared a momentary dark look with the Selkie before adding "Still, they are family though, and I won't keep them out of our son's life... just perhaps not babysitting. He's staying with Ephea at court while we're here."
Zoh addresses the group at large "So with this young one you speak of sent to represent Lymira's group, that may be all of us. I doubt we will get a representative from the merfolk all things considered." He looks sadly at Adirion as he says it. "And with matters what they are in Blue Sky, who knows if they will have time to spare to send anyone."
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Post by Stonelark on Aug 28, 2016 23:34:36 GMT
Adirion laughed aloud, surprising even himself in such a serious setting. Slightly flustered, he coughed to compose himself while looking around abashed at the others. "Apologies. Thinking about your sisters babysitting..." Adirion's eyes shadowed with hidden rage at the thought of an emissary from the merfolk. "Sadly, Lord Zoh, I am representing the only merfolk that might wish to be on THIS side of the conflict with His Majesty's sister. On the matter of Blue Sky, if they are able to send someone, they will. However, if they cannot, this matter is too important to wait for them."
The servant girl, Tara, returned to the pavilion carrying a full tea service. Another servant followed her with a tray of various sandwiches and cakes and another with glasses and pitchers of ale, water and juice. They effortlessly set the heavy trays on the table. Tara looked at Adirion expectantly, still standing beside the tea. He smiled easily at her and shook his head. She bowed and they left. Adirion prepared a cup of tea how Kaya liked it and set it in front of her, then looked at Adelbert and Zoh. "Would either of you care for a cup?"
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Post by Adelbert Markham on Aug 29, 2016 4:54:58 GMT
"Yes, please, Lord Adirion." Adelbert reaches for one of the sandwiches. After sitting back, he frowns. "So we will not have a merfolk representative. Is this the way of it then? We are aligning our forces on one side of a battlefield across from His Majesty's sister?" The human diplomat steeples his fingers. "I had heard stories this was happening, but hoped they were exaggerated. My Lords and Ladies, the rumors say that this betrayal was planned, which means we are following steps behind. I propose that after the King has spoken his peace, we counsel him to send emissaries to his current allies to verify that no one has crossed sides, then seek out those who may be unaligned." Adelbert makes eye contact with those at the table. "I would see our new King remain surrounded by sure friends."
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