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Of Pastrami and Kings; Julian's happy romp in the city of New Hallevel.
Topic Started: Jun 19 2016, 01:13 AM (77 Views)
Ceroulia
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OF PASTRAMI AND KINGS
or The Follies of Emperor Julianus Sextus


A Comedy-Pastiche with incidental music

As written by

RYAN MORGAN & GERARDO RODRIGUEZ

Collected Music by
CARL MARIA VON WEBER
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

© 2149 VALERIA HOUSE PUBLISHING
394 Maarschalkerweerd Street, New Hallevel, Nassau, North Caranthia

NEW HALLEVEL | ASGARD | BORJES | SANT-DENIS
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED



Cast (in order of appearance)


  • Louis, the Majordomo
  • Matthias, the Equerry
  • Anna Maria, Infanta of Ceroulia
  • Laura, the Infanta's mother
  • Ezra, The Emperor's brother, Duke of Sidonia and Infante of Ceroulia
  • Julianus, the Emperor of Ceroulia and of the Caranthias

Edited by Ceroulia, Jun 19 2016, 06:12 AM.
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PART ONE
Overture: Overture to "Oberon", opera in three acts, by Carl Maria von Weber


After the wars of Holstein, the domestic plans of the previous year were placed in prime importance to the Grand Majordomo and the Great Equerry, who oversaw the ceremonies and organized the means of transportation for the ceremonies for the Emperor, respectively.

In January of 2015, there was an exchange between various groups within the North Caranthian Commonwealth and the Royal Household and the Ceroulian Government in regards of the Imperial Visitation, an old formal state visit of the Ceroulian Emperor to the North Caranthian Commonwealth. It began in the years during and after the Great War, largely meant to foster good relations with the large nation after the collapse of the Novgorod Agreement. The initial meetings were to originally oversee the return of lands seized by the Extremaduran Army in the region known as Alta Extremadura.

The Emperors continued to make visits to the Commonwealth up until the outbreak of King Hyacinth’s War, due to the proxy war between the United Commonwealth and Ceroulia. Visits afterwards were few, the last Visitation being in 2003 under Nicholas II.

The men made their way from the little port of the island of Cadaques on a little car that was provided for them. In the far background, the low skyline of the old city of Borjes lay, with skyscrapers looming behind further still where the newer heart of the city lay. This view was blocked by trees, as the two officials found their car escort. A little 5 minute drive which would have taken more to walk, the winding road found itself leading to the gated section of the island. Here the manicured forests gave way to gardens in a Gallic style, where all of the days of the Emperors was spent here, if not at the Medinat in the city proper. The little palace was still further behind a barricade of trees and stone wall. The quaintness showed. The final gates were opened, the imperial flag on a mast beside it.

Cadaques Palace, once the seat of a formerly great noble family whose fortunes were lost in the Macean Revolution (along with their lives), became the seat of the Imperial Family. When the old shack was restored by Julian’s fourth great-grandfather, Nicholas I, it had been left to rot for at least eighty years. At the time of the War of the Macean Restoration, he resided in Gallia, and his ancestors’ palace, the Medinat Azahara, the seat of former Caliphs and Kings of the past, was in a state of disrepair, mostly due to the artillery blast that ravaged the riverside façade. The city itself was no longer the city of the High Middle Ages as well. The smell of industrialization and other seditious philosophies had transformed the city. People walked on Nicholas’s streets that were once private. The vendors and their chants of the daily grind, the soot of the nearby factories. Indeed, Hardenburghian coin benefited the Macean Republicans immensely. This little meager palace on a sheltered island in the Bay of Borjes made such an impression on the young Nicholas that he wanted this little palace for himself. He bought it.

“Oh, this drive seemed to take longer than usual, Louis”, said the Majordomo in an immensely disgusted tone. He didn’t like the heat.

“You will get used to it Matthias. These summer in the Metropole can be absolutely horrendous. The Maceans,
naturally, like their cousins in this land act as if nothing is happening.”

“They don’t die of heatstroke?”

“Perhaps it is second nature. They don’t have summers like this in Hallevel?”


The guards opened the doors of the car and allowed in the palace. A review for undesired objects and they were cleared. A servant of the palace escorted them to the study of Julian. An orchestra rehearsed in the distance, always the Court Orchestra. In the summer months they often rehearsed in the Palace in their patron, where they returned to their original use, as entertainers of the Emperor, before returning in the fall to their concert hall in the city, offering performances to the public.

As they passed by and entered the second floor, they saw the Infanta Anna, one of Julian’s cousins, aged only 16 or so. She stood around, posing with a dress with her mother nearby giving her commentary on the dress. There was a disagreement. Chattering in English between Ezra, and some handsome Hardenburghians while playing billiards. Their accent gave them away as members of the aristocracy, if not royalty. Matthias kept gazing, and as they turned the corner to enter another hallway, Louis pinched him in the arm and said in a loud whisper, “If you keep starting at them, they’ll wonder if you’re crazy!”

“But I know them already!”

“You’ve only been the Majordomo since November. The last one had your job for thirty-seven years before and he could speak at comfort with any of those people! You have to prove yourself.”


The servant probably smirked, his face perhaps going solemn when Louis droned about the other Majordomo. He quite liked his old boss.

At last, they had reached the study. From inside the chattering could be heard between two old men and Julian. The servant posted by the door saw the trio walk up, and quietly said “I’ll go tell.”

“Are the two Gentlemen here?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Julian nodded to the servant and said to the men. “Gentlemen, tonight’s festivities sound well planned. I have another meeting with two of my ministers regarding a travelling issue. I will see you both tonight.” The men thanked the Emperor and left the room, turning to face him and bowing, turning again to actually leave the room. As they left the two old men recognized the Majordomo and the Equerry, smiling as a greeting. They were the Artistic Directors of the Court Orchestra, who took the role of organizing tonight’s performance for the relatives of the Queen of Hardenburgh. A goodwill mission, if you may.

When Louis and Matthias entered, they bowed before the Emperor. The emperor simply said “Gentlemen.”, as if to coax them to sit down.

“You told me, two weeks ago, that the North Caranthian Commonwealth desired me to reconsider the subject of the imperial visitation. I have decided that I will take Mr. Forrest on his word and make my journey to the Commonwealth. What itinerary have they suggested?”

Louis, the Great Equerry answered, “They suggested six cities so far – “

“Six?” questioned Julian. “My father visited 11 cities during his visitation.”
He stroked his beard, then asking “Well, what cities have they proposed?”

“New Hallevel, Saint-Narcisse, Edmonton, Athabasca, Sant-Alejandre and Port Arthur. I may add, that due to the uneasy relations that Empire has with the Helvans, it may not be wise to spend a lot of time in the Commonwealth. In the words of the Prime Minister, he’d ‘hate to see you die’ ”

“Caranthians don’t possess nuance or subtlety do they? Well, I cannot blame his concern.”
He paused to drink some water, which was getting a tad warm in the heat. Julian grew up without air conditioning, despite his royal birth. “I assume New Hallevel will be big, considering my real estate there.”

“Quite Your Majesty. New Hallevel’s Lord Mayor was very enthusiastic about this. He’s pushed the government quite a lot for another visitation.

“Increases tourism and fills his coffers to no end, I know how city bureaucrats work. Good man, Mr. Morgan.”

“The Hallevelian-Caranthians would be very pleased to see another Emperor set foot in their city again. Here is an article the New Hallevel Times ran about the rumors of the Visitation last year.”


A ten page special on the history of this most hallowed of meetings, replete with pictures of the emperors and fetes. Julian was impressed at the coverage.

“How enthusiastic is the Lord Mayor Morgan?”

“Very, Your Grace.”

“I think I will make my entry in a grand parade to my tower on 34th Street and 5th Avenue. Prepare a communique with the Commonwealth to open a formal discussion on the itinerary of this visitation. The Hallvelians have their ‘cultural appreciation month’ in June, no?”

“I believe so.”

“They cannot deny their rightful sovereign a parade.”, Julian smiled.

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