Empire! Sobrida Assembly of Diplomats

[PepperP.]

This thread is for the members of Sobrida only. Nobody else is welcome to post, though you may read it if you must.

KOI Morning

Queen Mellado soared over the Broken Enclave on Penndreth, the capital was still in mourning for the death of the former Queen, Areta. The Jade House had been draped in black after her mother's death the previous Fall. As she flew the short distance North to Sanglea, the newly rebuilt city of Galilor came into view, it's bronze domes and metalwork glistening in the bright sun that shone above the clouds. She flew Penn a few levels on the pillar below Galilor to the stables and took a skywhale fitted with a howdah up to the Diplomacy level, it's handler floating it back down once she had departed from it to pick up more guests and dignitaries.

She had come early to ensure preparations had been made to her specifications. As she approached the Diplomat Hall, she took note of the banners of the people of the Empire, the bright Sobrida banner flew above the individual flags, including the new additions of the An Naduri and Aloren. The few steps going up to the building were lined with guards who were practitioners of The Resolute Star, the last bastion of the stilt-wearing culture that had formerly dominated Sanglea for centuries before the civil reforms which were among her mother's greatest achievements.

Inside the Hall, the bronze and glass dome let in copious amounts of the natural light favored by Spriggans, the walls had been draped in embroidered tapestries that depicted the varied lives of the Sobrida people while the floor was tiled in the design of the Roimoata emblem. The large circular room was arranged casually with comfortable benches and chairs upholstered in green and black to match the emblem, tables were set up with food and drink, liquor was available as were several pitchers of cool water. From the set-up of the space, it was obvious that this was not a formal meeting, but a chance for it's members to strengthen the bond of the Empire.

The local dignitaries started trickling in, Prince Crother, Regent of Sanglea and his consort Li Guntai dressed similarly casually in their preferred leather breeches and boots, looking in good health and distinguished in their middle years. King Meryn arrived with his daughter and her husband, Queen Alynda and King Athelwyn of Aloren. Unlike her mother, who was dressed in an airy black silk dress typical of the Enclave style, Alynda had adopted the more formal style of Aloren, wearing a gown whose bodice was intricately embroidered with the flowers and fauna native to her new region. The bodice ended just under her bust, framing her visibly pregnant belly. Her husband, King Athelwyn was also dressed formally in red and black, the colors of the Aloren banner.

The guests looked up curiously as the Herald announced "Regent Sar Banis of Hivern". A stocky man walked in dressed simply in roughly worn leather, his wavy yellow hair falling past his shoulders, his ice blue eyes coldly surveying the room as if for threats. His face was red and he was visibly sweating, clearly uncomfortable in the heat despite the relative coolness of Galilor's high altitude. He was followed by two teenage girls introduced as "Lady Beleti Banis and Lady Nin Banis of Hivern." The older girl, Beleti, wore the heavy leather and furs native to her polar region, having refused the offer of lighter, more appropriate dress. She reached to her absent sword as if for comfort and scowled at it's absence, her chin raised in defiant pride to the foreigners. Her younger sister, Nin, was dressed in a blue airy robe that suited her well and looked at the assembled people curiously and without hostility.

Queen Mellado made introductions to which the new Regent responded politely, if grudgingly. Beleti following suit while Nin eagerly struggled through the common tongue to greet everyone individually. Queen Mellado was bemused as Sar Banis idled over to the refreshments and started fixing himself a large plate of food.
"We are still waiting on a few guests, notably the new King Koncordan and the Qeyzer of Sobrida."
Regent Banis made a noncommittal noise in response as he proceeded to ravage his plate of food.

Spoiler: Beleti and Nin Banis

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Spoiler: Attendees available for rp

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Queen Mellado and King Meryn of KOI.
King Athelwyn and Queen Alynda of Aloren.
Regent Prince Crother and consort, Li Guntai of Sanglea.
Regent Sar Banis of Hivern. (p16) Widower
Lady Beleti Banis of Hivern. aged 18, unbetrothed.
Lady Nin Banis of Hivern. aged 16, unbetrothed.

[Aedilred]

The dragons were visible from some distance, and among them a familiar sight for many: the great golden wyrm Lumisand, flanked by the white-gold Annetuli, and behind and below them a small host of followers: both harpies and perytons in the sky, and ships below carrying further courtiers and bodyguards.

The dragons circled the pillar once before descending, the two riders surveying the area and ensuring they were seen before they dismounted: diplomacy and government is about display as much as anything, and seeing such exalted figures would be a point of excitement for many of the people. Elwyn's garb, however, was more subdued than his normal crimson and cloth-of-gold array, his coal-black skin scarcely distinctive from his black mourning garb from a distance. The ghost of Kalderdan was with them, it seemed.

Simovyr, the Triad of Flame, was dressed more in keeping with his normal custom: the white cloth edged with silver and gold thread marking him as one of the highest priests of the Imperial religion, and in his hand the orichalcum Sunspear, the ancestral weapon of the Jarrow Divinorums. Shortly behind him was his remaining daughter - besides Adylla - Vellyndra, also dressed in the robes of a Panshén cleric, though a less exalted one than the Triad himself, and two younger folk dressed in clerical robes: two of his grandchildren.

Spoiler: Delegates

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Elwyn
Simovyr, Triad of Flame (b.500)
Vellyndra, Sedecate of Fire, Simovyr's daughter (b.521)
Arvaya, Vellyndra's daughter, novitiate of Fire (b.546)
Combulyn, Simovyr's grandson (b.550)
Assorted others as needed.

Lumisand and Annetuli, dragons

[PepperP.]

As the Qeyzer of Sobrida was announced, the assemblage paid their liege homage by standing and performing the formal cross armed salute. Alynda reddened with embarrassment as she struggled against her large belly to stand from the low, cushioned bench on which she sat, her father finally taking her arm and assisting her to her feet, to both of their amusement. There was an awkward moment when the Banis's were taken off guard, having yet to meet their new Liege. Sar Banis, possessing a wisdom belied by his unkempt appearance, recovered quickly and followed suit after wiping his greasy hands on his tunic. Nin performed the salute gracefully, bowing deeper than strictly necessary while Beleti scowled and crossed her arms, a look of defiance on her proud, cold face.

After the formalities were seen to, Queen Mellado bade Elwyn to make himself comfortable and introduced the unfamiliar faces,
"Qeyzer, this is Regent Sar Banis, of the newly incorporated Hivern, and his two daughters, the Ladies Beleti and Nin." gesturing to the girls in turn.
"Honor Ser Qeyser." Sar Banis said clearly if somewhat warily, conscious of his people's sudden beholdence to this man and his own obligation to see to their well being.
Upon her father's words, Nin fell to the floor in front of Elwyn, supplicating herself willingly,
"I am but your servant, your Eminence." Her words were muffled by the floor and Mellado and fellow delegates shifted uncomfortably and stared at the display, unsure whether to be amused or embarrassed.

Beleti's arms remained crossed as she regarded Elwyn coolly and at length, finally granting him a grudging nod as she glared at her prone sister's back and shaking her head in disgust. Her father's gaze finally caught her eye and he gave her a stern look, silently willing her into obeisance. She rolled her eyes, certain she was he only one there willing to represent her people with honor as she watched her sister prostate herself to the Liege of their conqueror with disdain. She pointedly turned her back on the display, walked over to the refreshments table and took a goblet of wine, downing it in two swallows, whether to occupy or numb herself was clearly up for debate.

[Aedilred]

Elwyn's eyes scanned the assembled throng, noting those who had acknowledged him - and the one who had not. They turned downwards to take in Nin, and for the briefest of moments he paused, as if taken slightly aback. Then one of his fingers flickered out, and a young man, scarcely more than a boy, darted past him to take Nin's hands and help her back to her feet.

"Rise, my lady," the Qeyzer said, softly, and then more loudly to the assembled throng. "No subject of mine need prostrate themselves before us. We require loyalty, not supplication."

With Nin returned to an upright posture, he turned to Sar Banis. "Lord Regent, how fare you. I am glad that you and your people have joined us in our fellowship, after your long subjugation at the hands of the Kells."

[PepperP.]

Elwyn's eyes scanned the assembled throng, noting those who had acknowledged him - and the one who had not. They turned downwards to take in Nin, and for the briefest of moments he paused, as if taken slightly aback. Then one of his fingers flickered out, and a young man, scarcely more than a boy, darted past him to take Nin's hands and help her back to her feet.

"Rise, my lady," the Qeyzer said, softly, and then more loudly to the assembled throng. "No subject of mine need prostrate themselves before us. We require loyalty, not supplication."

Nin arose from the floor with the help from the boy, who while seemingly younger, was a head taller than the diminutive girl. Tears stood in her eyes, she had not expected such kindness from their new subjugators. She sank onto a proffered bench thankfully, her knees unwilling to support even her light, wispy frame.

Beleti harrumphed impatiently under her breath at her sister continuing to make a spectacle of herself. Her stomach, accustomed to being empty most of the time growled loudly in the presence of the feast that had been assembled and at the aromas that wafted into her nostrils enticingly. She turned her back on the delegates and filled a plate to brimming. Her father hoisted a leg of fowl as in toast and she scowled, walking the plate over to Nin and shoving it at her. Nin gifted her sister with a beatific smile before sampling the various items on her plate delicately. Beleti moved behind her sister and smoothed her long hair behind her, almost motherly, avoiding the gaze of the assembled mass.

With Nin returned to an upright posture, he turned to Sar Banis. "Lord Regent, how fare you. I am glad that you and your people have joined us in our fellowship, after your long subjugation at the hands of the Kells."

Sar Banis had gone back to dismembering the fowl he had put on his plate, as Elwyn directed his question at him, he put down his food and thought very carefully over his words, again wiping his fingers on his tunic,
"We have always fought, the Kell, the elements, and most of all the clans. Banis against Gikas, Gikas against Stathis, Stathis against Palamara. We say we fight for Honor, but I see now it has kept us weak. We squabble like dogs for scraps. We could not unite the clans against the Kell. The elements won that war for us. The Eternal Winter drove them out. Perhaps it will drive us out too, and we will be lost to the wastes along with the elves of old." He shrugged as he searched for the unfamiliar words,
"But perhaps not." His eyes gleamed at the thought of a prosperous future for his people,
"We have been promised aid," he waved the leg of fowl he had reclaimed from his plate in Queen Mellado's general direction.
"Perhaps if we do not have to squabble for scraps it will be different. There is hope I think here, where under the Kell, there was only," he paused, struggling to find the right word and failing,
"Mitu." his eyes lit up as he found the word,
"Death."
Beleti's face had remained troubled as her father talked, her eyes studiously examining the back of her sister's head.
Nin's face had remained passive as she nibbled on the morsels of food with pleasure, shyly glancing at Elwyn from time to time.
Sar Banis glanced thoughtfully at his daughters for a moment, as if debating with himself,
"Ser Qeyzer, if I could trouble you with housing my girls in your lands, it would be for their good." At this Beleti's head snapped up, her eyes lit with disbelief and fury.
"Father, my place is with you, fighting for our people and Ekallim! I have no desire to become some pampered fool's brood mare." She sputtered between clenched teeth.
"Was your mother a brood mare then? She was never so happy as when you girls came along. Would you throw your life away so easily, after she died protecting you from the Kells? Would you rather be stolen in the night, plunder for the blasted Palamara?" His hand knocked against his mostly empty plate, it fell to the tiled floor with a clatter. At the mention of her mother, Beleti was at once silenced, choking back tears of fury, stubbornly refusing to let them fall. He turned to his youngest,
"What say you, Nin?" She considered carefully for a moment,
"I think I would quite like to go, please." She glanced hopefully at Elwyn.