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| Autumn Ball | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 20 2013, 06:07 PM (707 Views) | |
| Demoness | Sep 20 2013, 06:07 PM Post #1 |
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To My Fellow Leaders, In the interests of continuing peace and close relations, you are cordially invited to a three day ball commencing Saturday, 21 September at 2100 at the Sacred Palace. Families are welcome, but be advised that some official rituals observed during the Autumnal Equinox may not be suitable for small children. Please RSVP as soon as possible so appropriate accommodations may be prepared for your arrival. Sincerely, Lawspeaker Beowulf Corbmac The Dragon's Realm of Demoness |
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| Intermaris | Sep 22 2013, 11:50 AM Post #2 |
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From: Commonwealth Office of Foreign Affairs To: The Dragon's Realm of Demoness The ball will be attended by the following, The President and wife. The Ambassador and wife. Establishing security details will be discussed on the appropriate channels. |
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| Cetatsenia | Sep 22 2013, 11:54 PM Post #3 |
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To Lawspeaker Beowulf Corbmac of The Dragon's Realm of Demoness, His Royal Highness Voivode Gavril IV of Cetatsenia would be honoured to accept your invitation to the ball. He will be attending alongside the Cetatsen Ambassador and his wife. They will be accompanied by their security details as well. The Voivode is looking forward to improving relations between our two great nations. Sincerely, Decebal Negrescu, Cancelar of the Voivodeship of Cetatsenia |
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| Demoness | Sep 23 2013, 10:51 PM Post #4 |
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OOC: I will give it a few more days for others to join before I start posting about the ball. |
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| Demoness | Sep 27 2013, 10:40 PM Post #5 |
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No matter what one thought about Demoness or the Demonessians, it was hard to disagree that it was one of the most beautiful countries in Hazia. Its countryside was virtually untouched by the modern age, its elder forests and vast plains only occasionally broken by farmland or scored by railways and roadways. Even its densely packed cities sought to harmonize with nature and Sacred Rock was no exception. The majority of the ancient city sat on the south shore of the Blood River. Though it had grown organically over its lifetime, a mandate from Empress Daene in the late 19th century had restructured the city into a more transportation-friendly grid and the city had consequently become more open and easier to navigate at the cost of some of its historical buildings. However, the change had shown great foresight and few modifications were made in the interceding years. The city was partitioned into distinct districts, dividing the large danchis from commercial buildings and the bright lights and sounds of the entertainment industry. City life, though typical of many other countries, was accompanied by the wilds. Chitaels, the national animal and spiritual guardians, wandered streets covered by lush tree canopies. Many buildings sported solar panels or complicated hydroponic systems that also utilized the sun's energy to cool the building, eliminate carbon footprint, or even grow crops. People walked blocks to their destination, sometimes crossing walkways between buildings high above the streets, but many also utilized the train system with its punctual schedule. While the avenues were wide enough to allow commercial and private travel via automobiles, they were more often traversed by foot or bicycle traffic and were occupied by retailers selling their wares from carts and booths. Though the Plateau dominated the skyline, more than one eye would be drawn to the second largest attraction: the Blasphemous Shrine and its willow. Despite being a hateful reminder of a heinous event, the tree had been given free reign to grow in the city's heart and gave the surrounding buildings a run for their money when it came to height. The boughs of the weeping willow were as thick as support beams and its canopy enveloped a city block within its leafy veil. As fall approached, its cherry blossoms began to bloom and would shortly litter the streets like fine pink confetti for a short week. When combined with the other streets sheltered by healthy trees, the city resembled a moss-covered slab of granite. The river itself was a powerful sight. Though not particularly wide or deep, it fed the whole of the country with its waters and allowed trade to connect the capital with its outlying cities in ancient times. Like much of nature, this river too was sacred and was believed to be the blood of the Demonessians' sleeping goddess. The river wound around the whole northern end of the city, embracing it like a mother guarding her child while also shielding the northern shore from the rest of the population. Two gates, towers on opposing sides of the river, sat on either end of the city and with a word could block off river traffic; this was all that remained of the city's ancient protective walls, which once enclosed everything. There was only one bridge within the city: the Dragon Bridge, so called because it was the gateway to the Plateau and essentially protected it from the rest of the city. While rivers and streams were said to be protected by ryuu, typically dragons, this river was the dragon and the ornamentation of the bridge reflected the splendor of Daemonesu-kae's incarnation as a river spirit; the lane was plain stone, but the railings were carved into detailed two-headed dragons - one head at each end. The north shore held the main attraction - the Sacred Plateau - but also overlooked two sacred grounds: the remains of the Sacred Grove, which had been burned to the ground by terrorists two years prior, and the Field of Suicides, a pristine field north of the plateau where it was believed the spirits of suicides were tortured in limbo for a hundred years. None were allowed to disturb the field and the only ones allowed to step foot within it were the empress, priests, and the goddess' creatures. The Plateau itself was a mystery and a marvel; sans its structures, the formation still towered over skyscrapers, and might be the largest concentration of jade and white marble in the world. A guard booth sat at its base, protecting the path that wound lazily around the formation and allowed access to its summit. The path was narrow, allowing only the passage of carts, and had no railing as it curled around the plateau at least thrice and navigated around and under a slender waterfall, which fed the river from a natural spring deep within. The Plateau was broken down into four landmarks: the palace, the cathedral, the catacombs, and the courtyard. The Courtyard was a wide and flat expanse of white marble and it was here that the path led; it too lacked railings. Simply, it was the empty space between the palace and cathedral, but it served more purposes than that: it was the area in which the High Guardsmen practiced with Sentinels, where personnel congregated to relax, where rituals were performed, and many more activities; it was a home as well as a recreational area. The majority of the courtyard was an open space and was divided by a covered walkway that connected the palace to the cathedral. The remaining space was further subdivided into two gardens, which were separated by the only irregularity on the otherwise flat surface: an outcropping that jut out into the walkway and was reputed to be the spot into which Daemonesu-sumae had disappeared on the day of her withdrawal. One garden was for public use - this was the one nearest the cathedral - while the smaller garden near the palace was reserved for the empress, her family, and her close friends and was the source of the waterfall that cascaded down the plateau. The supposed "real" entrance to the Catacombs was through the solid wall of the outcropping in the walkway, but the more practical entrances could be found in the lower levels of the palace and cathedral. It had never been fully explored due to superstition, which had been exacerbated by the Fire of 1168, rumored to have been a punishment for finding Daemonesu-sumae's final resting place within the Catacombs, and it was from this belief that the name had been derived. However, it was known that the catacombs were an extensive network of natural tunnels that honeycombed the Plateau and while it is widely believed that one could enter the disused jade mines through the catacombs, it had not been proven and more explorers had been lost than successful in mapping their twisting passages. Veins of an unknown mineral lined the labyrinthine passageways and were said to glow with an eerie blue light that inconsistently faded and brightened, furthering the supernatural funeral feeling of the Catacombs. The larger of the marvels of the Plateau are its structures, which seem to have grown from the stone rather than appear to have been built atop it. The Cathedral, the center of Morante and home to the Council of Twelve, is both timeless and anachronistic because its construction closely resembles the Gothic architecture of another religion, copying - or perhaps inspiring - their impressive towers, large windows (which would later be filled with stained glass), buttresses, and gargoyles. The interior is likewise cavernous to better provide a space to properly worship, as it used to cater to the entire city. The Cathedral has three basement levels, several offices, and a small, private chapel behind the main altar. It is situated on the east side of the plateau, to be in line with the rising sun of Daemonesu-kae, and likewise the semi-rectangular structure runs in an east-west fashion. Despite the splendor of the Cathedral, which sought to praise the Goddesses, the Palace was made to house a goddess and this was reflected in the manner in which it was guarded and decorated. The main doors had been replaced several times over the years, but they still retained the thickness of a drawbridge and were reinforced by a portcullis, yet there was still care in their presentation: the doors, which were at least twenty feet in height, were painstakingly carved with a grand scene incorporating several ryuu and chitaels. The center of the piece was Morante's holy trinity: Kae sleeping while Sumae watched over her and cradled a figure representing the Empress. The Palace, like the rest of the plateau, was constructed from white marble and was five stories in height with three basement levels, yet it was a city unto itself, housing not only the Imperial Family, her servants, and her protectors, but several government officials, embassies, a functioning hospital in the basement, and the staff required to run it all smoothly. Most guards were highly visible in the uniforms of the High Guardsmen and the Jade Watch, a specialized division of the former, and some were more subtle: the handmaids, amontsu who generally performed light servant duty and dressed in gossamer fabrics, and chitaels, who appeared more alert than the denizens of the proper city. Personnel - sometimes true servants, but just as often assistants, cooks, or even family members of other residents - made appearances as well. The main hallway ran the length of the palace and was as wide as an avenue. Portraits of all the past empresses were hung side by side - some were photographs, but most were paintings done in the styles of their respective eras - and starting from the door, which boasted the portraits of the Goddesses and the first empress, it was clear that each empress bore a striking resemblance to her predecessor and heir, even if they were not biologically related. Even empresses who lived thousands of years ago appeared to be no more than sisters to Empress Jia Li. The portraits were spaced appropriately and between them were tables, chairs, vases, and other small objects of art, all of which seemed to have come from at least a century prior. The hallway was sectioned off by doorways, which appeared to lead to offices, all of which were equipped with locks, or larger rooms. Immediately after the portraits of the goddesses was the throne room, which overlooked the empress' garden. It was a large, open space meant simply to impress, but it also had practical uses: when the empress was the sole judge of law, petitioners from around the country would seek her audience in that room. The well-worn floor still glittered with its ribbons of silver, gold, and jade laid into the white marble and subconsciously led the eye to the white dais and its throne. The throne itself was rather humble, save for the material from which it was constructed: jade, to represent the living goddess' connection to their deities. Past the throne room and the offices of officials and ambassadors was the great hall. Though it was not recorded what it had been used for, it had been long assumed that the larger but plain space had once served as the original throne room. Now it was decorated by tapestries depicting the season and it guided the eye beyond to the ballroom; both were connected to the kitchen, which sat at the back of the palace. When the ballroom had been constructed, it was not for the purpose of holding balls and was instead an overflow area for the great hall. Though a smaller space, it had been expertly converted: gilding to accent the molding and trim, which depicted wildlife and vast scenes of nature. A chandelier had been secured in the center and the sparkling of its many crystals resembled the sun and the stars. Green cloth was draped around the room to accent the season and the furnishings already in place and tapestries were stretched over the walls, but the large, north-facing windows were left open so that guests could enjoy the view without stepping out onto the balcony. The many courses for dinner were still be prepared in the kitchen and their smells wafted in and permeated the great hall and the ballroom where many servants scurried around making last moment preparations. Ariana Nedia, the Head Handmaid, stood at the doorway between the two rooms. Though her eyes seemed to be only on the main hallway on the lookout for guests, her attention remained on the room and she was ever-vigilant for security issues. She appeared unassuming: in her late fifties, she was a fading beauty with blue-grey eyes and long hair a distinctive shade of auburn the country called Nedia brown; though bound into a crown of braids, no grey hairs were evident and her face was practically unlined. She wore the uniform of the Handmaids: a dress with loose sleeves - just long enough to conceal weaponry - a tight bodice concealing padded armor, and a flowing skirt. No pattern was mandatory and hers actually resembled her predecessor's tastes, but the fabric was always deceptively light. She wore several bracelets on her wrists, which jingled when she moved, but they would interlock into gauntlets in a second; this was the only visible amontsu paraphernalia she carried. Her posture was demure and she could have easily been mistaken for an older servant if not for her eyes, which betrayed how quickly her thoughts moved. Her job would be to announce guests, but she unofficially held herself to be the first line of defense against probable attackers. Though the Jade Watchmen made themselves visible while the handmaids blended in, the High Guards were prominent. The term "High Guard" referred to two individuals who watched the empress in twelve-hour shifts a piece: the Lunar High Guard, who watched from sunset to dawn, and the Solar High Guard, who protected her through the day. These were held to be the most elite of the High Guardsmen and both were present since this was a large event, but it was the Lunar High Guard who stayed by her side while the Solar High Guard would move through the crowd. Both wore a simplified version of the High Guardsman uniform, but in basic black, and were only truly differentiated by a small patch on the right shoulder of a sun or moon. Like the rest of the High Guardsmen, they wore a katana on one hip and a sidearm on the other; neither were peace-tied. Jia Li and Xel stood just beyond the doorway in a welcoming line with their eldest children and Lawspeaker Beowulf Corbmac. Beowulf was a dour man with a permanent expression of disbelief plastered on his face; though he appeared annoyed with his present company, the truth was that it was his default expression. His hair had begun to grey years ago, but recent divorce proceedings and the resultant suicide of his wife had truly begun to age him. Nonetheless, he took pride in his appearance, as he was a representative of the government, and his black tuxedo was immaculate. The twins, Elisa and Kieran, were nearly identical to their parents at their respective age: Elisa small and doll-like, dressed properly and her reddish black hair allowed freedom, and Kieran standing proudly, almost protectively, and his hair bound fast into a ponytail. Kieran spoke quietly to his sister, who would alternate between giggling and irritation; she was trying to be serious and he was not helping. Xel was a stoic individual: he often appeared to be a disapproving statue rather than a human being. He had inherited his mother's piercing blue eyes and her scowl, but he otherwise resembled his father with his long, black hair, tall stature, and athletic build. Despite having retired from being the Solar High Guard for over ten years, a lifetime of habit kept him in a ready posture; his first and last thought would always be about his wife and his protectiveness of her was the easiest way for him to express his affection for her. Smiles did not easily come to his lips, except for his wife. Even though he was the High Priest now, his outfit resembled his old uniform rather than the vestments of his station; both were black, but the gold piping, representing his status, was downplayed and the wide ceremonial robe was instead replaced by the practice gi. which increased its resemblance to the High Guard uniform. In contrast, Jia Li always had a gentle smile on her face and she appeared quite vibrant despite her pallor. Her wide eyes were a bright green and her face was sculpted like a porcelain doll. Her long, black hair held hints of red and was allowed to flow freely down her back, unlike every other Demonessian. She was thin and tall, yet she still resembled a child in her posture and mannerisms and perhaps this was what inspired those around her to shield her so much. Her blue dress was a simple flower pattern and was light against her form. It reached to the floor, concealing the simple flats she wore; they were thin to resemble being barefoot, her preferred state. Two female chitaels lounged at her feet; their amber eyes flitted around the room curiously, but they appeared more interested in playing with one another. These were litter sisters and her faithful companions Nemesis and Aphrodite. --- Intermission: Autumn Equinox Jia Li was quietly roused from her slumber by her Head Handmaid, who was never tired despite the late hours she kept. She quickly and dexterously dressed her empress in a light robe; there was no reason to go through the full motions as the day's events would more than fully compensate for any slip in normal routine. Jia Li was escorted from her room by her husband, the Solar High Guard, and the handmaiden, all who trailed her as faithfully as her twin chitaels. Sun did not yet kiss the horizon, instead allowing its sister, the moon, to continue to enfold the city with its ethereal light. None of the previous night's guests were disturbed as the quartet made their way across the courtyard and into the cathedral. The Sacred Cathedral changed little over the centuries, save for the addition of stained glass and refurbishing of its furniture and adornments, and the interior of the expansive structure left one with a primitive sense of awe - after all, it had been carved from the living stone and the technology of the day suggested it had been only by hand, yet its engineering was as advanced as any modern day venture and its acoustics allowed a speaker's words to reach across a football field with a whisper as long as one stood in the correct spot. The nave composed the main body of the cathedral and once held the entirety of the city's original population. Its wooden pews were well-worn and the carvings that had once adorned the aisles had faded into unrecognizability, and the aisles and transepts were lined with smaller shrines to deceased empresses or other prominent religious figures. However, the focus of the Cathedral was the altar at the center of the crossing. Though it had never been replaced, the carved surface of the jade altar showed no deterioration from its centuries of use and its stained surface was draped by a large, scarlet velvet fabric. While normally bare, it was currently occupied by an ornate gold and ivory basin of water, several cloths, a smaller bowl of flowers, and a white gown that had been laid out for the ceremony; the altar had seen many rituals over the years, primarily vows of imperial matrimony, but its plain state represented the pure relationship between the goddesses and their people. This simple message, however, was somewhat muddied by the tapestry that adorned the wall behind the altar and separated the nave and the crossing from the choir. The tapestry changed seasonally to represent the perceived moods of the land and currently reflected the equinox, but it would soon depict the large battle between Sumae and the Betrayer to welcome the Departure of Daemonesu-sumae and the season that would contemplate the end of the golden age. Because it was the second planting season of the year, the current tapestry displayed farmers plowing their fields. The motherly face of the red sun shone over a representation of the sacred grove in the foreground, where a lovely maiden in purple stood with arms outstretched. Before her knelt another maiden in white, prostrated before a willow with a dagger in one hand and blood on the other. The willow blossomed pink - the same color as the flowers in the bowl. Jia Li paused at the basin in the narthex. Cleanliness was a primary tenet of Morante, good hygiene representing the purity of the soul, and the Empress was no exception. She sipped from the provided ladle, rinsing her mouth and spitting into a drain on the floor, before ladling water over her face and hands; the others in her party followed her lead, though none were particularly pious, and they entered the long nave. Several priestesses waited in the crossing and when she reached the altar, she was disrobed by Ariana while her Solar High Guard took his position to her left and her husband, who would never forget his former role as her guardian, took a flanking position on her right. The priestesses dipped sponges into the ornate basin and gently scrubbed her in silence as part of a larger cleansing ritual. She was then dried using the cloths and draped in a white gossamer gown; though it was several layers of sheer fabric, only the lower layers clung to her slender form and the rest flowed around her like a cloud. Cherry blossoms were woven into her long, dark hair and a small jade tiara was affixed to her head, transforming the fragile empress into a nymph or nature goddess. Golden powder was used to conceal the dark circles around her eyes and the paleness of her skin, but her wide, gentle smile made the symptoms of her illness disappear. Plateau activity picked up as dawn began to break over the horizon and bathed the Cathedral in a golden glow. A crowd had gathered outside the doors of the church, waiting for their empress to exit; this was part of her processional and included her three children, who had been prepared by Chihiro Masaki, the Second Handmaid, and Adiwyn Tsukihana. Though Elisa would someday be empress, she was not dressed in white; it was not yet her time. Instead, she wore a kimono of green, which complemented her eyes. Her brother wore an identical kimono, blue in color, and held his little sister Adiwyn's hand as she toddled around and cried; she wished to be with her mother and cared little for the airs of ceremony. The church bells throughout the city began to peal as soon as the sun broke the horizon and this was Jia Li's signal to begin. She exited the doors in all her glory holding a paper lantern and was escorted proudly by her twin chitaels, who possessed the aplomb of human manservants. Xel and Makoto Kanzaka feel in silently behind them, followed by Elisa, the Council of Twelve, a set of handmaids paired with Jade Watchmen, and finally, the rest of her family and any other witnesses. Each member of the procession carried a paper lantern, save for the Council of Twelve, and instead they carried a set of silver chimes identical to the ones tied around the chitaels' necks. The procession was silent and somber as it followed the cliff path winding around the plateau, proceeded through the sorrowful Field of Suicides, and arrived in the burnt remains of the Sacred Grove, where further preparation had already been undertaken. They stood in what could hardly be called a clearing: years ago, it had been the center of a lush forest, but terrorism had reduced the copse to ash. Here awaited a dagger and a seed laid upon a handkerchief beside a small, pre-dug hole. Jia Li set her lantern next to the hole as her followers formed a semi-circle around her and laid theirs at their feet; in years past, these lanterns would have been hung from branches. Instead of a forest, however, there were three saplings and though they were planted on the last equinoxes, they had already quickly grown to human height. None blossomed, but their verdure confirmed the forest was recovering from the blaze. Greenery crept along the ground in the form of grasses and wildflowers, yet it was a pale substitute for the once shady grove. Jia Li knelt beside the hole, folding her legs beneath her, and gently cupped the seed in her hand. In a calm, clear voice she said, "On this day of Autumn, the middle of Your bountiful planting season, we thank You and Your daughter for providing for us this year, and by Your Grace, we ask again that You continue to sustain us with Your growth. Let those crops that have been planted this season sprout, if that is Your Will, and the rains nourish them and us." The seed was dropped into the ground and she retrieved the obsidian dagger. When she had begun the rituals as a young teen, Jia Li would cringe before every session, imagining the dagger sliding through her skin before she did it, but the years had dulled the pain and she showed no hesitation as she sliced the meaty part of her left palm. "I offer my divine blood as sacrifice to ensure the continued wondrous bounty of my Divine Mother and Divine Grandmother, and to renew the covenant between the Great Goddess and the People," she continued, allowing the blood to drip down her hand and from her fingers onto the seed. After a few drops fell, she set the dagger aside and wrapped the handkerchief around the wound. She watched as the white slowly changed to a deep crimson, and she still grimaced as she pulled the cloth away, taking the clot with it; the handkerchief too went into the shallow hole as she said, "I am thankful for the lifeblood of my Grandmother flowing through me and I return a portion of it to Her womb. I know She shall bless Her people and continue to provide the wondrous bounty through the next year of my reign." Her posture was stately as she rose and discreetly wrapped her injury with a second handkerchief. "Long live the Empress!" shouted the chorus of witnesses. "May she live long and rule wisely!" She stumbled slightly, the blood loss striking her harder than she would have allowed, and the twin chitaels quickly flanked her; Nemesis butt her head into Jia Li's hand, subtly granting her stability as they trotted faithfully beside her and escorted her to her husband, who took over providing support. Xel smiled reassuringly at her, yet inwardly he was concerned for her health, which had begun a slow decline; he feared she would die an early death like her mother, but when he expressed his worries to her she only stubbornly dismissed them. The two of them led the recessional back to the Plateau. The party left the lanterns in the grove to be retrieved later and though somber, the parade was less ritualistic because even the Goddesses understood the toll the bloodletting had on empresses. When the recessional reached the top of the cliff path, the party separated and retreated to the respective places - the priests to their church, the witnesses to their homes, and the empress to rest. Dawn needed to warm the Courtyard and the earth for several more hours before the celebration would continue. Once mid-morning had been reached, the fertility rites would begin: dances and litanies requesting a strong rainy season and a good harvest. OOC: Feel free to write your entrances now and perhaps write a reaction to the equinox ritual at a later time. |
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| Intermaris | Sep 29 2013, 04:14 PM Post #6 |
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As one could expect it had been a busy few days. The arrival of a head of state always heralded such and the Intermarine embassy staff and MSZ (Intermarine Ministry of Foreign Affairs) had spent plenty of time ironing out details and ensuring the minimization of complications. And so far everything went well, the official greeting, the meeting with Intermarine expats living in Demoness and the laying of wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials. Now word was sent ahead to inform the Demonessian hosts that the expected politicians were on their way. Henryk Mosciski had been brought up to date on the situation in the country by the embassy staff and now all the presidential pair had to do was make their greetings and leave an impression that the two countries were on good terms. The president was typical for Intermarine politicians, in his fifties but sure to keep his back straight and stomach in while a lack of hair on his head was made up for with a neatly trimmed beard. A quick search on the net would reveal a past career in the Commonwealth Police rather devoid of anything interesting. This also was typical of Intermarine politics, a brief career in a uniformed service was seen as a good thing for aspiring politicians. His wife, Joanna, was ten years his junior and her diploma claimed her to be a doctor. The tabloids had little to write about on her topic as charity work wasn't seen as good selling material and she was more "handsome" rather than "pretty". Jan and Akacja Ekert were younger than the presidential pair with both of them being in their 40's with both of them having finished ethnographic studies. Jan was almost the opposite of the president in appearance with a head of hair and a clean shaven face. Akacja, though being more or less the same age as Mrs Mosciska but looked younger and fell mor ein line with what was seen as "pretty". Edited by Intermaris, Sep 29 2013, 05:31 PM.
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| Cetatsenia | Sep 29 2013, 08:22 PM Post #7 |
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The time that Gavril had already spent within Demoness had not been particularly busy, it was mostly him waiting for the ball and associated events to begin. He had gone out and seen the city however, and he had to admit it was quite beautiful. While Cetatsenia had a sharp dichotomy between the basin that contained sprawling cities as well as farmland and the undeveloped highlands that were covered in massive tracts of forest, the Demonessians had formed a balance between their city and nature that the Voivode and the Amabssador both admired. But now it was time for the ball to begin, and for the time for sightseeing was over. Right now the only thing occupying Gavril's mind was making a good impression with Demoness's Imperial family. His father had only died a little over a year ago, and this was Gavril's first personal visit to another nation. In contrast to the Intermarine president, Cetatsenia's Voivode was a rather young man, only in his late 20s. He wasn't a particularly handsome man, though he was not unattractive either. He had a rather thin face with a prominent and pointed nose; below this sat a bushy, albeit well-groomed, moustache that reached down to his chin. The hair on his head was just as impressive, the black hair reaching down to the Voivode's shoulders. He was dressed in a black greatcoat, and had a short, dark blue cape trimmed with gold draped over his left shoulder. The Cetatsen Ambassdor, Mihai Funar, on the other hand was even older than any of the Intermarines that were going to be present, as the man was pushing 70 years old. His gaunt face was topped by a thin layer of completely white hair that hung to his neck. However, unlike the Voivode, Mihai had slicked his hair back instead of letting it hang freely. He also had a clean shaven face, and had opted to wear a simple black suit and tie. His wife Lucia was nearly fifteen years younger than he was, and had her greying brown hair pinned up in a bun on top of her head; in addition she'd decided to wear a simple black dress to the occasion. |
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| Demoness | Sep 30 2013, 11:35 PM Post #8 |
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Jia Li smiled warmly once Mosciski and his party were announced by Ariana and she offered her hand; her handshake was delicate and her hand soft. In contrast, her husband and the Lawspeaker's grips were firm; Elisa tried to emulate the adults, offering a soft handshake, but her brother kept with tradition and bowed instead. "Panie Prezydencie," Jia Li said in heavily accented Leszy. "It is an honor to host you this evening. I understand you toured through the Intermarine section before your arrival here. May I ask your impression?"
Jia Li smiled at Gavril as well, but it was a sad smile this time. "It is an honor to receive you tonight, my brother, but I must also pass along condolences about your father. I can't imagine losing a parent after having xem in your life for so long," she said and she couldn't; her mother had died giving birth for her and her father had only chosen to enter her life in the last fifteen years. Her government had sent condolences when it had occurred, of course, but she thought it would sound more sincere in person despite how belated the message was. |
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| Intermaris | Oct 4 2013, 07:55 AM Post #9 |
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The Intermarines returned the offered handshakes with handshakes of their own while throwing in a bow. The result of several centuries of diplomatic efforts to discover a motion that would serve to satisfy Demonessian protocol while not appearing servitile, not an easy thing to do. Faint smiles appeared at the decent Leszy which called for a similar gesture. - ‘Daemonesu-kami, it is an honour to be here. My impression? It is interesting as to how these people manage to fit in their sorroundings while not losing their Intermarine heritage. In short, the impression is positive as it bodes well, your Imperial Majesty.’ With a look down Moscicki offered an apolegetic gesture, - ‘’I feel I should apologize to the young ones that there is no one of age they could hold a conversation with but my youngest is twice their age while my grandson is only in its third year.’ |
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| Cetatsenia | Oct 4 2013, 12:31 PM Post #10 |
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Gavril nodded at Jia Li, a sad smile on his face as well. "I zank you for taking ze time to say so in person," he said, his speech slightly accented. Then his smile changed once more into a happy one, "But let us not talk of zings like zat for now. Now it is time for ze ball, of which it is an honour to be here." And with that he offered his hand to the Empress, as well as the other Demonessians assembled. While his face showed happiness, he still felt a twinge of sadness at the mention of his father. As well as bitterness. His father hadn't exactly been the doting type, quite the opposite in fact. He left his children in the hands of nannies and tutors whilst he was busy with his work. While Gavril now understood the magnitude work involved in running a country, he still didn't forgive his father. In fact, he considered his father the exact opposite of what he wanted to be to any children he may ever have. But despite this, he couldn't bring him to hate the man, like some of his elder siblings. He was still his father after all. |
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