NationStates Jolt Archive

The Danaan High Kingdom of the Resurgent Dream is hosting a large public celebration and more exclusive ball in Tarana to celebrate the return of Grand Duchess and former High Queen Corrina ni Gwydion, Grand Duke and former High King Immanuel ap Gwydion, and most especially Grand Duke and former High King Timon ap Gwydion, the Father of the Nation, the First Hero of the High Kingdom, the Unifier of Peoples. We would cordially invite our friends, allies, and well-wishing nations to join us in these celebrations. Please let us know as soon as possible if you plan to attend.

*bump*

On the fringes of the star system, a ship, elongated and made of some strange material that reflected light off its yellow hull, which was riven with dark speckles, with four protrusions like claws or tentacles at the front, turned. It sent a transmission as it began to slow its existing velocity. The transmission was, decoded, only four words.

"I shall be there."

A transmission was sent back to the origin point of the signal. When translated, it said "We thank you for your response and look forward to your arrival. Might we ask whom we have the pleasure of addressing?"

((OOC: Waiting for at least one or two more people before I start the actual party))

Message to the Daanan High Kingdom,
In the interest of forming new friendships with other peaceful nations, the Free Land of Mariskale is honored to accept your invitation. You may expect our hereditary leader, Prime Minister Anala, as well as our Foreign Minister Lady Ralin. We are a peaceful island nation of artists and shipwrights, renowned for our woodworking skills. You may expect a gift from our people to accompany the Prime Minister to your celebration, according to our custom. May Eternal Sunshine and Fair Winds befall thee and thy people.
The Foreign Ministry of Mariskale
Free Land of Mariskale

"Ambassador Kosh Alkesh of the Vorlon Empire."

The reply transmission was short and to the point, and the Vorlons were, if one had heard of them, more of a legend than a reality in the eyes of most responsible people. Though they did claim some small area of space, they guarded it fiercely, and few who ventured there returned. They were known for being enigmatic, and so far, this Vorlon seemed to be keen to live up to the reputation.

((OOC: Given the apparent... sedentry nature... of a vorlon, it is definately best to wait for more. They're not really talkative enough to be the life of any party. :P ))

The Vorlon's and the Mariskaleans receive specific instructions on where the ball is to be held, details of normal diplomatic rules and regulations as interpretted by the TRD Foreign Ministry, and all the other technical details needed to make arrangements.

((OOC: Waiting for one more person. Also, I actually think Timon could relate more to a Vorlon than he could most beings now living. The man is ANCIENT))

Hereditary Prime Minister Anala spun before her full length mirror. The light, airy fabric of her new gown billowed around her in satisfying swirls. The color was just right, a deep jewel green to set off her warm brown skin and long black braids. For the celebration, of course, she would adorn her braids with matching beads, perhaps a tiara as well, but for now the everyday wooden ones made a fine enough headdress. She was pleased at the invitation, since Mariskale was such a new nation, and herself a new ruler, she had attended relatively few parties in other lands. She contemplated for a moment if Empress Aiwyn would be there, they had met at the empresses coronation in Archenheim, and it would be nice to know someone at this new celebration. Did the High Kingdom do anything besides party? She smiled at her own observation The opportunity was sure to be enjoyable, and perhaps profitable as well. The Prime Minister pulled a braided cord next to the mirror, summoning a maid.
"Tell Sefus I will see him now." she commanded.
Moments later a stringy, oily looking man arrived. He was Sefus, Minister of Intelligence and Security. Anala had never much liked Sefus, but he was very good at his job, too good to be allowed to slip away.
"You summoned, Prime Minister?"
"I requested your prescence Sefus, you needn't make it sound as if this is a dictatorship."
"What about a monarchy, Prime Minister?"
"Don't be rude. I called you to discuss this party I am to attend."
"Oh, is that what you called me out of my job for? Well, and here I was thinking it was something trivial."
The Prime Minister eyed Sefus coldly, this was getting rather tiresome.
"That will do, Minister. I want you to find out who else is attending and learn what you can. We should turn this affair to our advantage, diplomatically, and if the occassion warrants, in other ways. I don't want to jeopordize our new friendships, but I also wish to be prepared. Dismissed."

A knock came at Ariel's door, though both knew it wasn't needed. 'Come in Marcus' she told him through the mind link. The door opened to reveal a man just over five and half feet, though little else could be ascertained due to the long light black cloak and hood. He walked silently as he entered the room.

Ariel had jet black hair to about her shoulder blades and her light blue eyes seemed to look in his direction though not at him. She was slim figured and pretty, though not the beauty the kings daughter was. They were ready and so was the ship that would take them to the meeting. The ship was old but reliable and the new technologies were only beginning to take hold in Highport and Dragonsreach. The situation with Nathicana still troubled her and she still couldn't understand how Marcus could have duped. She had probed him, yet all he said had been true. He saw her, she gave the orders and he never questioned her. Yet it wasn't her in that case.

She stood and they headed to the old Cutlass. It was much like the security chiefs personal ship and the crew was very familiar with it's operation. They had been drilled time again in it's use. Silently, at least to those without psionic talent, they sat, waiting to arrive at their destination. Both were psionic but Ariel was considered one of the most powerful in a race of psions. Though blind now, she had no trouble getting around, using her psi talent as her eyes.

The Cutlass was a standard drive, never having been upgraded but the trip wasn't a long one. Upon reaching the borders of Resurgent dream the comm officer began sending out a signal, "Attention Resurgent Dream control, this is the Astral Wind. We bear representatives for the Kingdoms of Highport and Dragonsreach and request instructions to land."

A crisp, young voice answered the Astral Wind. "Come in to Dock 7. You'll be provided with air transport to Tarana once you're there."

Indeed, the delegation from Dragonsreach is led swiftly to a car, driven to an airport, and sent to Tarana at a swift and efficient pace.

And there it is. Tarana. The city is the largest in the nation, a city of millions upon millions. The new city is formed around the old and is largely the same as the other cities of Shieldcrest on a larger scale. The poorer areas on the outskirts of town are significantly dirtier but designed on the same basic model. It's a lot harder to sanitize poverty on a larger scale. One might still be impressed that no area has been allowed to degenerate into the kind of outright wasteland you find in many comparable cities in the world. Still, it's the old city that draws the eye. It's visible over the tallest modern building. Partially because it's built on an outcropping, partially because no one dares build anything above the high queen's palace.

The old city is white marble, literally carved into a great marble outcropping in the middle of the plains. Five shining walls stand ready. Five gates open, carrying in waves of government employees, tourists, and other people. Each gate is unique and ornate. The largest stands guarded by great stone gryffons and another has similar lion guards. The other three have no statues before them but great carvings in the marble of the gates themselves. They bear the marks of a great arm, shining stars, and a great silver tree, respectively. The five corners of the city walls are marked with five towers, thin and high, like the towers one might expect to see more in the illustrations to a book of fairy stories than in an ancient structure. Yet, there they are. The inside of the city itself, gleaming in the light of the sun, consists of pillared and domed buildings in a neo-classical style, centering on a great domed palace, with its own golden gate and four massive wings. In the very center of the palace, rises a sixth tower, the highest of them all from which the land can be seen for far around. Before the gates of the palace is a great square, containing statues of the nation's past heroes, the largest of which is a statue of Timon himself.

"Will we be met? So that we know where to go." Ariel asked.

"Of course."

Ariel stood quietly, waiting for thier escort. Her mind whirled as she tried to figure out who had set up the governments of Highport and Dragonsreach. Whoever they were chose appropriatly, knowing that Marcus would never go against or question 'Ariel'. She extended her sense, lightly brushing the minds of those near them, catching surface thoughts only in order to protect herself. She didn't know if she would need protection here but it was always good to be safe.

The guests are ushered into the palace in the center of the old city. The ballroom is resplendent with bright gold and green hangings. The windows cast soft light into the room, dancing gently with the shadows cast by the pillars supporting the arched ceiling.

A long table bore refreshments of all sorts: Fresh pastries, finger sandwiches, small sausages, fine wines, rolls, finely cut meats, fruits and vegetables from all corners of the kingdom, caviar, small roast birds, and a few exotic looking items not easily identified.

A full orchestra played in one corner, playing soft classical music for the beginning. Dozens of people milled about of all the Resurgent Dream's many races, all dressed in gossamer finery. High Queen Agwene ni Gwydion stood in the middle of the room, next to Prime Minister Vincenzo Lacau. The middle-aged human man had the queen's arm in his. They both smiled lightly, awaiting their guests.

Corrina, Immanuel, and Timon were not yet present. A few of the guests occassionally glanced towards a large set of double oak doors from which the guests were expected.

Marcus led Ariel to an area where he could see all exits and entrances and watched, awaiting the proceedings while Ariel stretched out with her mind, trying to take in what was going on from surface thoughts and emotions. Though blind she was still able to move about, relying on her senses and used the minds of others to help navigate.

*bump, waiting for Mariskale and the Vorlons*

Darius looked quizically at his attendant, "you want me to go to a party? I've barely organized the tribes into a nation, and you want me to live it up?"

The attendant modestly replied,"It's called diplomacy, and it wouldn't hurt for us to make nice with a few of the nations around here. They could help us you know."

"Oh, all right, take care of the messages, I need to get ready" and pray I don't make a fool of myself.

The message sent reads: Darius Troneck of Amelung shall arrive shortly, if allowed.

He's informed that he's allowed.

The gaurds outside the palace notice a lone man approaching on foot at a surprisingly close distance for them not to have seen him earlier. He is of average height wearing a suit of woven leather ornate enough to be appropriate for court, but still funtional if need be. when he reaches the gaurds the man says,"Yes, The Gracious Darius Volker Lord of the Commonwealth of Amelung . . . blah blah blah. I should be on the list. you don't mind if I let myself in do you? I don't want to make a scene."
and immediately upon entering he whispers, "this place is huge, how am I ever going to find where i need to be?"

A man in a black cloak with an odd blue X on the back was in the shadowy area of the Dominion of Xarrin control room. This was Xarrin, the leader of the new Dominion of the same name. A man wearing the exact opposite, a white cloak with a red X, stood next to him. He was Xarrin's second-in-command.

"I see... it seems that various nations will be attending this event." Xarrin stated, "I don't suppose it would be a bad idea to go, now, would it?"

Xarrin opened his main e-mail service provider and wrote the following in a response:

"Expect Xarrin of the Dominion, should I be welcome."

((OOC: The guards outside Tarana? Entering Tarana is like entering Washington or London or Berlin. Do you mean guards outside the old city? Or guards outside the palace? Anyway, why wouldn't they see you?

Everyone go ahead and post your entrance to the ballroom. Assume all the other stuff unless you're trying to sneak something nasty in or something, in which case, tg me.))

The ambassador's transport folded its petals in on itself as it fell through the atmosphere, becoming more streamlined, tucking some of its forward protrusions in against itself to reduce drag. It set down quietly, as quietly as such a thing could anyway, while it was silent, it was far from discrete, and the vessel's owner made his way to the ball.

One could say that Ambassador Alkesh was tall, and well dressed. This however, would overlook the major feature of his appearance, that he wore some form of artificial suit, with a high shoulders, made of a smooth material mottled in deep orange and brown, and an elongated head with a single green lens-eye, with another sensor above and to the right of it, for depth perception one would assume. Several valves on the shoulder piece moved in time with what was presumably the breathing of the creature within, sucking in air now and then. Heavy robes of deep orange and purple, trimmed with gold and scarlet hung from this, covering the rest of the suit, but for a chest plate that contained a number of crystals and jewels, some of which would be illuminated in different, radiant, colours when the ambassador spoke.

He came without guards or accompaniment, though he would not truly need them for most threats, one of the functions of the 'Encounter Suit' was as a sophisticated defensive suite, for though they would never admit it, the Vorlons were more than a little paranoid. When one was effectively immortal, with accident or malicious intent being the only cause of death, the tragedy of such things seemed enhanced. Alkesh looked around with his solitary eye, the iris over the lens sliding to about half of its maximum width.

Marcus looked over at the Vorlon, eyeing him speculatively. Ariel 'saw' the Vorlon through her telepathic link with Marcus. "Interesting", was all she said.

Anala entered the ballroom slowly, a vision in billowing green. The beads in her long braids rang harmoniously as they touched one another. She was flanked by two attendents in white robes, each carrying a box. A Mariskalean never appeared at an official function without a gift of some sort for the host. Anala strode into the room, hoping to appear more confident than she felt, head up, eyes straight ahead, regal smile fixed. The gold and emeralds in her tiny tiara caught the light, drawing attention to the new, youthful ruler.

'Young and unsure', Ariel muttered as she sensed the emotions of the woman who just entered. 'Laura still has such feelings.'

Marcus nodded and looked over the new arrivals to allow Ariel to see them.

Agwene watched the guests enter, waiting patiently for them to walk over with a light smile. She took a single step gracefully towards the door, sliding her arm out of the Prime Minister's and folding her hands demurely in front of her lap.

Anala motioned for one of her attendents to follow her to where the High Queen was standing. With two official presentations to complete this evening, it was best to get the first over with quickly. Besides, when offering a gift to a host, Mariskalean ettiquette dictated that it be done outside of the prescence of the guest of honor. Anala swept into a graceful curtsey in front of the Agwene.
"May eternal sunshine and fair winds gree thee and thy people, your majesty."

Agwene graciously inclined her head, her visage shining radiantly upon Anala. "May eternal sunshine and fair winds always greet you and yours, my lady. It gladdens my heart to see you here. Perhaps this might lead to more formal relations between our peoples. It would gladden my heart to exchange embassies and to open up further trade. I do hope you had good sailing?"

To Agwene, my dear friend;

It was with joy that I received your invitation, and I would be honored and pleased to attend this celebration.

Sincerely,

Siri

((OOC: From this point on, it would make more sense to just assume transportation and RSVPs and such. After all, they would have icly been sent earlier and not be arriving in the middle of the party. Anyway, that's from this point on. Consider this response to the last post to have been sent some time ago.))

Sirithil,
My darling friend, it warmed my heart to hear that you would be attending. Aside from my personal joy in your company, of which I feel not the need to speak at length here, it will be well to have our strong friend and ally present. The majority of our foreign guests are from unfamiliar powers and, while we certainly delight in meeting them, we are glad not to be in entirely unfamiliar waters. Grandfather, in particular, is looking forward to meeting you. He says that is has been too long since he has had the opportunity to speak to an older woman. In any event, I hope that you arrive safely and that all goes well in Menelmacar.
Yours Always,
Agwene

And so it happened that Siri was on her way to visit The Resurgent Dream, again. ;) The gravitic destroyer Gilthoniel descended towards Tarana, but instead of the dramatic arrival of the last trip, Siri transferred down by shuttle instead.

And from shuttle to the ballroom was only a few minutesfor Sirithil, driven in a style befitting her station as all are visiting chiefs of state. When Agwene, still speaking to the Mariskaleans, spotted the entering Elentari, she turned her head briefly that way and gave a small, subtle, soft smile before turning back to Anala.

Marcus looked in the direction of the newcomer as Ariel felt the presence. "The high Queen is receiving the guests", Marcus said, "should we approach?"

"Not yet, we should wait until those of higher rank have made thier presence known."

Immediately outside the ballroom, the air crackled with arcane energies as an etheric portal manifested itself. As it stabilized, Lady Alexandra Lucius stepped through the vortex of the portal, bridging the vast distance from her palace in Archenhiem City. She came alone, preferring to forego her usual heralds in favor of a less dramatic entrance.

She wore a long black gown trimmed in silver. Her hair matched the gown's trim, smooth strands of purest silver resting upon bare shoulders the color of freshly fallen snow. Alexandra was a vampire, and though her general lack of color made that obvious, the fangs her smile revealed would leave no doubt of her vampiric nature in the minds of those around her. As befits a vampire, she was at once both seductively beautiful and unmistakably sinister.

Marcus looked at the woman as she entered. 'Vampire' he said through the mind link.

'A rather gross display of power, if you aske me. Laura is far more subtle.' came Ariel's reply as she examine the woman through Marcus' eyes.

'Why do most of thier kind feel the need for such rediculous displays?' Marcus asked.

'I don't know. Aside from Laura, Arleena and Ferranifer I haven't had the chance to speak with any other vampires.'

Anala rose gracefully.
"The sailing was quite pleasent, your majesty. Made all the more pleasent by our destination. We should be happy to exchange embassies as well, our people are always interested in making new friends. But before embassies, it is our custom to exchange gifts. This ball is your gift to me, your majesty, and now, let me present my gift to you."
The attendent stepped forward and Anala lifted the lid off the box and withdrew a small figurine. For the hostess, she had chosen a slightly smaller gift, so as not to outshine the one that was coming later for the guests of honor. But what it lacked in size, the gift more than made up for in splendor. It was a jewelry box, small and light. Like all Mariskalean gifts, it was made up primarily of the highly polished hard woods of their world. The box was made of ebony, dark and lustrous. The center of the lid was inlaid with a Mariskalean hieroglyph for friendship, done in glittering green jewels, surrounded by gold, it seemed to leap from the lid.
"A gift, from the woodworkers of Maris city. May you take this token of our friendship in good faith, your majesty." Anala said.

Agwene smiled broadly, taking the box gently in hand. She began to shine brightly as she ran her hands over it, examining the work in detail and seeming to grow vibrant in the presence of the work. "I am very glad to meet you, lady. It is my sincerest hope that our peoples can one day enjoy a strong friendship with yours and that we shall all one day look back upon this day of our meeting with joy."

Agwene gestured to the human man standing beside her. "Lady Anala, this is my own Prime Minister, Vincenzo Lacau."

Lacau smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, m'lady."

"And it is an honor to meet you, Prime Minister." Anala responded politely. "Perhaps, when time permits you might honor me further with a dance? We ministers seem to make the most lucrative agreements on our feet, do we not?"
Anala smiled to show she was merely trying to banter with the Prime Minister. She wished her Second Minister Praylor had joined her, he was more Lacau's equal, being the elected head of state. Anala's position was more like that of the Queen, a hereditary power vested as much in blood as ability to rule. But as Praylor was at home, minding the store, and Trade Minister Ralin was in bed with a strange strain of flu, it was up to Anala to be the lovely diplomatic leader. Not that this was any true task. Diplomacy came easy to one who had been taught it from birth. Speaking of which...
"I beleive others would care for a moment of your time, majesty. So if you will permit me, I shall yeild, until later this evening at least, when I hope we may yet speak further."

Agwene nodded gently. "Thank you, lady. And thank you for your gift. I shall be sure to cherish it."

Lacau stepped forward with a broad smile. "Perhaps that dance, m'lady..." He offered his hand politely to the young woman.

((OOC: Done with Menelmacar over irc))

Agwene moved towards Sirithil as soon as she finished speaking with Anala. Agwene inclined her head to the Elentari, a little deeper and a little longer than she had for the other visiting chiefs of state. "Your Eternal Majesty, thank you for coming."

Sirithil blushed intensely, but she returned the favor, bowing her head similarly in return. "The pleasure is all mine, Your High Majesty," she said with a wry smile. "Though I think you needn't use that overblown title. I almost never require it of anyone."

"I do not give respect based upon where it is required but upon where it is earned, Your Eternal Majesty."

Sirithil blushed again. "You flatter me, my friend," she answered.

Agwene smirked ever so faintly. "In the sense that I mean to compliment you, Lady Sirithil, that might be true. But you know me well enough to know that a Gwydion will not say a single word lest she believes it truth."

Sirithil nods a bit. "Yes, and I believe it... I am flattered nonetheless."

"And I am flattered that you came. I know if you went everywhere you were invited, you would need the traveling powers of the Christian St. Nicholas."

Sirithil laughed. "So you say your grandfather is here?"

"Grand Duke Timon. He just returned. He's one of the honorees of the party."

"Returned?"

"From the Silver Path."

"The Silver Path?" Siri asked.

Agwene nodded. "I've told you that my people, even when slain, do not pass beyond knowledge as do the the souls of men. The Silver Path is where they go."

"So, do you have to give him the throne back, or...?"

Agwene shook her head. "No, no I don't. It passes permanently when the old high king is slain. It's a built in means of ensuring that leadership changes enough to meet the needs of a changing world." She smirked playfully with a quick wink. "It's why my majesty isn't eternal."

Sirithil blushed again. "Well... if I didn't change at times it's likely we wouldn't still be here."
Agwene blushed slightly. "I didn't mean to imply any criticism, Lady Sirithil. We have, of course, nothing but the highest respect for your form of government which, on the whole, is not all that different from our own."

Sirithil smiled. "I know... and thank you. Shall we join the party?"

"I still have a half dozen world leaders to greet, most of whom I've never met until today, before my time is my own."

After parting with Sirithil, Agwene moved towards Lady Alexandra Lucius. She smiled politely, warmly. "Good even, lady. Are His Majesty and my Imperial Sister not attending this evening?"

Normally the presence of two light blue insectoids a touch over two meters in length would be something of note, but it could be possible to imagine how the two panNorm here could blend into the background. After hearing of the celebration, arranging transit, and making their polite greetings, the two stand beside each other and chatter more-than-idly in their complex language--the audible Geiger counter clicking, visual cues in the form of careful gestures and antennae sign-language, and olfactory cues from organically generated esther pheronomes, vague, almost imperceptible fruity smells.

To an outside observer, the two are twins and, for most intents and purposes, they are. One's carapace, Scientist 82142895 (who initiated contact with The Resurgent Dream), is smooth and devoid of any ornamentation except for a simple black-webbing utility vest; the other's carapace is covered in the yellow repeated insignia that indicates her as AdminCoordinator 67521, probably the closest the panNorm have to a centralized leader.

Looking around with their compound eyes, they see old allies and people they've never seen before, but the latter is indeed the reason why the too-rational panNorm have taken an interest in the Dream. It is... different, very much so, and that inspires curiosity.

'Well look at that', Marcus said through the link, his eyes shifting to the blue insectoids, 'and I thought we had bug problems.'

'Marcus', Ariel sent along with a low wave of pain.

'Sorry', Marcus replied after wincing a bit, 'just trying to keep the mood light.'

'My mood is fine', she sent, 'and there are a number of sentien insectoids on our world, this should be no surprise to you.'

The Vorlon regarded the latest arrival curiously, his eyepiece narrowing as he regarded the elf. Then he looked at the giant ants, having for the briefest moment, mistaken them for something else entirely, though their carapaces were too colourful to be what he had taken them for. Were he a human, he would have perhaps let out a little breath and muttered ‘Perhaps they won’t show up this time…’

That The Tower would have decided to ignore this even would have been strange. That it nearly had happened would have been unthinkable. Since The Tower was being used by the Regent as a rather large sledgehammer on the way to making the Kingdom a bit more stable, its proverbial rear end was saved from a major embarrassment when a note arrived on the desk of Grand Alchemist Li asking if he was about to ignore this opportunity to do something useful. That the only alchemist available to actually be present at the...the Tower wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed important...was a slightly unstable persona whose very presence could cause terrible misfortunes and havoc, was the one thing The Tower overlooked. Then again, managing a massive reconstruction of a major realSpace barrier was possibly a good excuse for such an oversight.

An alchemist and a Constructed Sentience weren't the most noticeable pair at a gathering of personas that featured real heads of state. Unfortunately, the Regent was once again on the other side of the galaxy, keeping the Kingdom from exploding. it was unfortunate from Kira's perspective because she was planning to spend the day actually sleeping. With the final 200-page thingamajig on flux dynamics in relation to subatomic transmutation of metalloids in the drop box...but that was a tangent. She poked Akira, who was bouncing on her toes, watching the various foreign delegates.

"Isn't that the vampire person from Akaton?" she asked in Weyrik. The actual phase had a few expletive-add-ons, which, when translated in context, came out to a rather civil phrase. Weyrik was a colorful language, at least according to some people. Others simply said it was vulgar.

"Ah, yeah," Akira grinned. The construct drew her cloak closer about her. The crest of the Kingdom -- a mountain beneath the rising sun, crowned by three stars, a city at its base -- shifted slightly on its breast. "Shall we say hello?"

"After they're done," Kira nodded. She really needed a nap.

Alkesh glided over to the Weyrikans and inclined his head in a deep nod. The crystals on his chest flashed several times as he spoke, his language, like musical chords, being translated efficiently, though some of the meaning was lost, into English, and came out as a male voice, “I give you greetings on behalf of the Vorlon Empire,” it said, and his eye opened fully.

"Greetings!" Kira said after a slight pause, working out the various implications, switching into Anglish. She hated the language -- it was so...limited. It was better than some of the other Human language, sure, but the cultural connotations were always a pain. "The Kingdom of Weyr returns your greeting. May the Lady smile upon you. So...how's life?"

'Two more', Marcus sent to Ariel and shifted his eyes in the direction of the delegates of Weyr.

'Aside from Agwene I don't know any of these people' Ariel sent back, 'I'll need to review our information.'

'Rather difficult now that the Queen has dropped out of the U.N.'

'We'll make due', she sent to him.

Alkesh cocked his head to one side, observing her distress at the use of the limited human language, then nodded politely at the blessing. He said something else, lights flashing again, "Precious..." he said in reply to her question, "How is your own?"

"Same as always," the alchemist grinned. Well, she showed her teeth.

"At least you're not getting shot at," Akira noted in Common Weyrik.

"True," Kira swept a loose strand of fiery crimson hair behind one long, slightly-pointed ear. "Vorlon...never heard of it."

The lights flashed again as he listened to the reply, "Good," he said, his meaning quite obscure. He could perhaps mean that it was good that she was not being shot at (though that would presume an understanding of their language). In fact, he meant that it was good that the Vorlons were unknown. Other forces had not tarnished their reputation here at least.

"Er...riiight," Kira tried to figure out what the hell this dude was saying.

"So...where is Vorlon, if you don't mind me asking?" Akira inquired, sensing the alchemist's confusion.

(After parting with Sirithil, Agwene moved towards Lady Alexandra Lucius. She smiled politely, warmly. "Good even, lady. Are His Majesty and my Imperial Sister not attending this evening?")

At Agwene's approach, Alexandra bowed deeply.

"It is an pleasure to be here, your Majesty. They speak highly of you in the court of Akaton, I am honored to finally meet you."

She rose from her bow, smiling.

"I imagine the Imperial family will attend. As it happens, I am surprised they have not yet arrived. Since the Emperor departed to rule the Empire of Mists, I have become regent. Now that I am expected to represent the Imperium, I thought this celebration would make an excellent opportunity to acquaint myself with foreign dignitaries."

In the quite unintelligible polysensual panNorm language, which, in case anyone's listening, also extends into the lower radio frequencies:

Click clickety klack klackity click klack. So, sister, it seems your reports about this place were accurate.

Klacketyclikitititack. I did my best not to exaggerate, AdminCoordinator, and I am not sure I would have been able to exaggerate if I tried. The very nature of these people are wholly unlike anything we have come to understand.

A few gentle waves of antennae asserting. Indeed. Your recommendations were correct; this place certainly deserves continued study. Also, the fact that they can relate to us despite us being so different could be an advantage...

Certainly. The balance is that we must be tolerant as well to some... near-abominations that certainly do offend the senses, far more than any endoskeletal.

Simply another obstacle to overcome.

Turning her head to better see the crowd, the AdminCoordinator ambles into the growing group of international personalities; mingling with others is indeed one of the specialized niches of the Coordinated Hives that it is her role to fill. Seeing that the two from Central Worlds (although she doesn't know that) don't seem to be overly engaged, she walks easily on her four legs over to them and waits at a polite distance for them to finish their conversation amongst themselves before introducing herself, a smoothly synthesized feminine voice piping from the translator box she holds in her blue mandibles. "Good evening. I am AdminCoordinator 67521 of the Blue Mother of Us All, representing the Coordinated panNorm Hives at this event." She proffers a bony manipulator 'hand' as is the common tradition without being insisting about it. "Hopefully all is well with you?"

Agwene bowed her head with a light smile and joked. "Perhaps His Imperial Majesty is nervous at meeting his father-in-law?"

"In all seriousness, I do hope they arrive soon. I always enjoy His Majesty's company and I do miss my sister dearly. Tell me, my lady, are you enjoying yourself so far?"

Anala graciously accepted the Prime Minister's invitation. The dance floor was not very crowded, just the way she liked it. Remembering to let the gentleman lead, a custom it appeared in every nation except her own, Anala lifted the edge of her green skirt off the ground and slid easily i into the waltz. It was her favorite dance, smooth, graceful, and leaving one with enough breath to carry on a conversation.
"What a splendid affair, Prime Minister. Your nation must be quite well off to afford such excellent entertaining."

Lacua smiled a little as he danced with the lovely young lady. "Well, we manage to do well enough for ourselves. Partly through the hard work of our many citizens. Partly through our rather lucrative foreign commerce. I am given to understand that Mariskale has a rather fine shipping sector?"

"Good evening. I am AdminCoordinator 67521 of the Blue Mother of Us All, representing the Coordinated panNorm Hives at this event." She proffers a bony manipulator 'hand' as is the common tradition without being insisting about it. "Hopefully all is well with you?"

They had seemed to only be standing, thier conversation carried by mental link, the man watching everyone as woman only stood looking forward. The man extended his hand taking the manipulator, "Count Marcus Cole, and this is Princess Ariel, it's a pleasure to meet you. The woman looked in the direction of the admincoorinator, though it seemed she didn't look AT her, and smiled.

"I believe", she said, "that the advisor of Dragonsreach has had the pleasure of meeting one of your kind." Still she seemed not to look directly at the admin.

(Agwene bowed her head with a light smile and joked. "Perhaps His Imperial Majesty is nervous at meeting his father-in-law?")

Alexandra laughed lightly.
"Perhaps. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if that was the case. It has been a long time since the Emperor had any real family."
She spoke the last sentence in a voice barely more than a whisper, a distant look in her eyes.

Alexandra looked back to Agwene, smiling once more.
"They are probably just being delayed by the inter-planar instability from my portal. Our technology is still far from perfect. They should be arriving in the next few minutes, once the etherics have stabilized."

("In all seriousness, I do hope they arrive soon. I always enjoy His Majesty's company and I do miss my sister dearly. Tell me, my lady, are you enjoying yourself so far?")

"Though I have hardly more than arrived, I would I have enjoyed myself thus far. Tarana is a beautiful place. It is nice to see a few familiar faces... and some new ones as well."

At this, her cold gray eyes moved from Agwene to the Weyrians, finally coming to rest on the panNorm.

Anala nodded, executed a rather nimble turn, and then replied, "Indeed, our people are renowned shipwrights, in the traditional style. You will find no more skilled woodworker than a Mariskalean shipwright, each plank on the hull is lovingly laid and carved with the shipwright's own, personal symbol. My own state ship, The Maris, contains no fewer than 3,000 seperate woodworkers symbols. Tell me, do your people ply the oceans as well?"

Lacau grinned. "We certainly do. One can hardly avoid it when one lives on an island. However, my lady, I will say that if Mariskale produces ships half as beautiful as her women, then they are very beautiful ships indeed."
...
Agwene smiled to Alexandra. "I do hope he finds himself at home. Father really is a very gentle man."

She nodded. "Well, I won't keep you from mingling. I'm see you're rather interested in quite a few of our friends."

Anala felt a blush rising, and try as she might to supress it, a glow of pink crept into her cheeks.
"And if your ships move half so quickly as your men, Prime Minister, it is a wonder you never happened upon Mariskale before." she teased back. "But in all seriousness, we do have lovely ships. And our people are accomplished in other ways as well. Musicians, actors, painters, sculptors. We are a race of artists, you see, looking to spread our art to the world."

Lacau laughed lightly. "Well, I must be. I'm not immortal like Her High Majesty. Besides, you are quite the inspiration, lady." He twirled her gracefully, a playful smile on his face. "Unfortunately, there is only a small market for wooden ships in the Resurgent Dream. We have something of a surplus at the moment. Still, I am sure there are many other things upon which to develop a prosperous trade with Mariskale."

Anala nodded, "Indeed, that would be my wish as well. We have many talents, as I have said, mainly in the creation of beautiful things. Perhaps you may find them more, suiting your present needs."

"Yes, I do appreciate beautiful things." Lacau said with a smile, looking into Anala's eyes as he dipped her. "So how are you enjoying the celebration so far?"

Anala smiled back warmly,and gave her head a shake to untangle her braids. "In present company, sir, I am thoroughly enjoying myself. You...dance quite well, Prime Minister."

"Count Marcus Cole, and this is Princess Ariel, it's a pleasure to meet you.["]

"I believe", she said, "that the advisor of Dragonsreach has had the pleasure of meeting one of your kind." Still she seemed not to look directly at the admin.
The insectoid nods. "Indeed. That one is standing right over there," she indicates momentarily with one antennae, "and it is on the authority of her report that I am visiting now. I believe there is much we can learn from friends here."

If the Princess is indeed looking through her, the Blue doesn't seem to notice. Then again, given that her chitinous head is completely devoid of any of the markers commonly associated with human expression, it would be hard to tell if she did.

Lacau laughed a little. "I would hardly say that. I do, however, give it my best. After all, I represent my kingdom in everything I do."

The insectoid nods. "Indeed. That one is standing right over there," she indicates momentarily with one antennae, "and it is on the authority of her report that I am visiting now. I believe there is much we can learn from friends here."

If the Princess is indeed looking through her, the Blue doesn't seem to notice. Then again, given that her chitinous head is completely devoid of any of the markers commonly associated with human expression, it would be hard to tell if she did.

Marcus turns to look in the indicated direction while Ariel continues looking toward the admin. "Ah yes, I see the other", Ariel says, even though she never even turned her head. "I would indeed be interested in learning from your people. The Queen of Dragonsreach in particular would like to know of your systems of learning in particular." Marcus looked back toward the Admin as Ariel continued. "Could I ask you a question? I truly mean no insult by it, and in fact hope to prevent future insult by asking it."

Lacau laughed a little. "I would hardly say that. I do, however, give it my best. After all, I represent my kingdom in everything I do."


Anala nodded, "In...everything, Prime Minister?" she asked flirtatiously.

(Agwene smiled to Alexandra. "I do hope he finds himself at home. Father really is a very gentle man."

She nodded. "Well, I won't keep you from mingling. I'm see you're rather interested in quite a few of our friends.")

Alexandra replied in a respectful tone.
"I do hope you have not taken my interest in the guests as a dismissal, I would not presume to be so ungracious. Still, thank you."

She executed an elaborate bow, rising and making her way towards Akira.

Elsewhere, in the area of the entrance, another portal was forming. It was not precisely like Alexandra's, serving the same purpose but lacking the dramatic arcing energy and swirling vortex. It was simply a tear in reality linking two locations, in this case, the Imperial Palace and the ballroom. Through this portal stepped Emperor Phaeton Draconis.

Draconis wore the dress uniform of an Imperial Lord Admiral, his title in the centuries before becoming Emperor. It took the form of a floor length, high collared black coat buttoned halfway down and carefully pressed gray pants. The coat was adorned with several medals of crimson and gold. It was not the sort of absurd decoration common amongst insecure island dictators, but rather a tasteful display of an illustrious career in the Imperial Sky Navy. His mostly black hair was, as per his usual style, combed back behind pointed elvish ears.

He waited a moment by the portal for his wife, the Empress to follow.

Lacau smiled wryly. "Yes, my dear lady, in everything." He continued to dance, strong yet gentle as he led. "I am sure a lady in your position understands the sentiment well. So tell me more of Mariskale."

Aiwyn glided through after her husband, resplendent in a strapless gown of light green gossamer, lined with gold. She tossed her long waves of red hair as her glowing visage smiled gently, excitedly. She slid her arm through her husbands, gliding into the main ballroom. "Ready to meet father, love?" she murmured to Phaeton as they entered. "He doesn't seem to be hear yet."

Anala took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts and trying to remember the official answer. "We're a small nation, just newly opening its borders. My family has been ruling the island for almost 400 years, in conjunction with the people's representative, the Second Minister. As I have said, we are artists, each citizen spending a lifetime in their chosen feild, becoming masters of their craft. I myself, began studying the Mariskalean harp before I could write my own name. It is a beautiful instrument, the harp." Anala noted the entrance of the Empress over the Prime Minster's shoulder. They had met at the Imperial Exposition on Archeneim some days before. The music drew to a close, ending the dance. Anala curtsied to her partner.
"You have been more than gracious, Prime Minister, we thank you. But I see the Empress of the Mists has arrived, and I'm sure that means the other guest won't be far behind."

Lacau blinked once, confused. "Most of the guests are already here, I'm certain." He shrugged a little. "Nonetheless, thank you for the dance, my lady. I cherished it dearly." He bowed briefly.

((DOne with Vorlon Prime over irc))

As soon as she finished speaking with Alexandra, Agwene turned to Alkesh with a light smile, inclining her head. The Ambassador drifted serenely over, and bowed his head a little flattening the nozzles of his suit back as he did so. "Greetings, Ambassador Alkesh."

He looked up again, "Greetings," he replied, barely moving as he did so.

"Welcome to the Danaan High Kingdom. This is our first meeting and, as I understand it, your first visit."

He nodded, "Yes," he said, with his usual curtness, dulled musical tones accompanying his words once more. Agwene paused a moment, regarding him calmly. Alkesh 'breathed' steadily, looking back with interest. Agwene folded her hands in front of her lap. He was not used to being the one to speak first, but he felt the need here "My visit has proven to be most interesting..."

Agwene nodded. "We do like to think we are somewhat unique."

He breathed in deeply, and turned, "You are," he said, true to the best of his knowledge.

"I know very little of the Vorlons."

"Knowledge is power, we rarely give it to those we do not know. What knowledge do you seek?" he asked.

"Names are power."

He moved a little closer, "Names also are knowledge," he said, agreeing.

Agwene smiled faintly. "They are the heart of knowledge."

He regarded her for another moment, not entirely agreeing, but interpreting it as he wished, "Yes," he replied.

"How do you find the Weyrik?"

He breathed again, considering, "Doomed," he replied after a moment.

Agwene arched a brow faintly. "That is...unfortunate."

"Yes," he replied in agreement. Unlike some of his less
scrupulous compatriots, he prided himself on feeling for such people.

"And us?"

He cocked his head to one side, "I do not know," he said, "yet."

Agwene nodded slightly. "I see..."

"I will learn..." he said, "Do you wish to hear of it when I have done so?"

"Perhaps. I do have my own seers."

He nodded, taking note of that, even though the Encounter Suit recorded all he saw and heard by default, "I see..."

"You are...very old."

"Exceedingly," he said, eye narrowing a little, in an almost human gesture.

"Older than my grandfather?"

"How old is he?" the Vorlon asked, having been drawn into far more conversation than was normal for his kind.

"Thirty-six thousand."

"Yes," he said, snapping back to the oral conservatism of
his kind for a moment.

"What brings you here?"

"I seek Understanding..." he said, vague in his meaning once again.

"As must we all."

He nodded silently once again.

"Have you found it?"

"In part."

Agwene seemed to zone out for a very long moment, her mind in another time, another place. He regarded her curiously, a green light on his chest flashing and staying on, restraining himself from the urge to probe her mind. Agwene shook her head swiftly. "Not yet...:

The vorlon made a strange noise, but said nothing. Agwene tilted her head at the noise. "You answer an unasked question." Alkesh observed

"I answer a fear in the back of my mind, an unnamed terror that has dwelt there since my unremembered visit with the Moirae on Samhain last."
The armoured creature made a noise that could perhaps be curious, "When will its time be?" he asked, curiously.

"Sooner than I'd like."

Anala smiled kindly, "Forgive me, I thought we were still awaiting the High Queen's father. Do not think I leave in haste sir, but it would be rude for one young lady, ruler or no, to monopolize all your time at such an auspicious occasion. I do hope we will be seeing more of each other this evening, Prime Minister, a great deal more indeed." her coal black eyes shone and danced in front of the Minister. There was no law in her country after all, that forbade the Hereditary Prime Minister from having fun at state functions, now was there.

Lacau laughed. "Ah, yes. I thought you meant our foreign guests. Still, I would not want to monopolize your time either. There are many people here who it might be advisable for a burgeoning young nations such as yours to establish contact with: The panNorm, the Menelmacari, and others."

Anala curtsied again. "I shall carry your advice close to heart, sir. And I thank you again, you have been more than kind. When time allows, it is my fondest wish that we migth be able to dance again, and perhaps lay down more formal arrangements, yes? Until later then." with that Anala moved off across the dance floor, skirting the clumps of people who had gathered to wait for the next song to begin. She hoped the Prime Minister wouldn't think she was rude, leaving him so soon, but they had danced a long while, and she wanted to see the Empress before family matters took control. Anala approached cautiously, hoping that her dancing had not undone her grooming. More than that, she hoped that Empress Aiwyn might remember her pledge of friendship from the Imperial Exposition. That was the night they had given away the dolphin statue, a true labor of love for the Royal Carvers that had been. When she had reached the lovely Aiwyn and the somewhat formidable Draconis, she dropped into her customary deep curtsey. Even on Mariskale, an Empress outranked a hereditary Prime Minister, even if she was the head of state.
"Your majesties. May Fair winds greet thee and thine always. I was so hoping to see you here again."

Lacau nodded. "I would like that as well." He watched her go with a small smile.

Aiwyn, for her part, grinned brightly at the young human woman, embracing her lightly and kissing her on each cheek. "My dear lady Anala, it is wonderful to see you again. I hope you are enjoying yourself. Have you met my sister? She's a lovely lady. Oh, thank you so much for coming."

Anala grinned, pleased at such a warm reception.
"Indeed, I have met her majesty, and she is lovely. It must run in the family." She laughed a little, "And who are you enjoying being Empress of the Mists? I understand the post is, exciting to say the least."

Aiwyn colored slightly, glancing off. "Actually, it's not that exciting at all. I'd much rather be a knight in the field. Still, we all do the duty given to us, do we not?"

She gestured towards Draconis, still smiling. "You remember my Imperial Husband, Lady Anala?"

Marcus observed the coming of the Emporer and Emporess then looked back toward the admin.

'Marcus', Ariel said in his mind, 'watch the Vorlon.'

He looked at her inquisitively but didn't question her, watching the one he was told to keep an eye on.

((Done with S-14 on irc. Yay!))

Agwene smiled, stepping towards the Admincoordinator next. It's hard to sneak up on someone with compound eyes on the sides of her head, so the AdminCoordinator pivoted gracefully along her 'hips,' her four legs skittering to suit, and mimiced a human bow by tilting her thorax downward in an analogous but curious-looking gesture. Agwene inclined her head. "Admincoordinator. Glad you could make it."

"Good evening, High Queen Agwene ni Gwydion of the Danaan High Kingdom of The Resurgent Dream. Ever since my sister's report on this nation, I have always been interested in seeing it first-hand, as you say. I believe congratulations are in order?" The voice indicates she spoke with a smile, even if her insectoid 'face' was wholly unemotive from a human viewpoint.

"They are. My parents and grandfather have been returned to us."

"Outstanding." Another seemingly incongruent vocal smile as the AdminCoordinator's antennae waved. "May your Mother and your venerable ancestors live long and well."

"They will live forever."

The panNorm canted her head in an almost human sideways nod. "Then may they live well."

Agwene nodded deeply. "I understand you are establishing an embassy."

"Yes. I believe we have a great deal to learn from each other, in spite of and indeed because of our differences."

"I couldn't agree more."

"I do hope," the ant-like creature continued, "that your own mission will be pleasantly surprised by Alpha. We are indeed proud of our old home and the work of our venerated ancestors. Is all going well with the preparations on your end?"

Agwene nodded. "All is as planned."

"Outstanding. The efforts on our end have been primarily cosmetic, mostly because the standard panNorm Coordinator's quarters the EngCoordinator has allocated would probably be unacceptably... austere for your purposes."

"Austere?"

The AdminCoordinator chuckled softly through the metal grille on the front of her translator box. "We are by all accounts a very rational people. We do not 'decorate' our living spaces," she said the word curiously, as if it were truly alien, "or anything else unless there is specific utility in the act. Additionally, our quarters are perhaps most analogous to the cells used by members of relatively common religious organizations here. Therefore, the accommodations set aside have been suitably expanded."

"Clerical quarters are quite comfortable here."

A slight noise of thought while antennae tap slowly together. "We are perhaps working on incorrect assumptions. The Menelmacari--whom we share Eärendil with--are quite fond of their space." Agwene nodded, giving a sidelong smile to Sirithil "The housing is, by nature, modular... so the most logical course of action may just be to clear out a sufficiently large block and then modify it to your diplomats' specifications when they arrive."

"Perhaps."

"No preferences?"

"I think the Lord Minister will take care of all that."

The AdminCoordinator bobs her head slowly up and down once in a nod. "Understood. My apologies; now is not the time for technicalities." Agwene smiled lightly. "I must also apologize for my ignorance. What brings your venerable ancestors back to you after what I can only gather has been an unfortunate absence?"

"They completed their journey on the Silver Path."

"What is the Silver Path?"

"Where our dead travel."

"Ah." The insectoid canted her head curiously. "This is all rather new to me, and to us. We do understand that many cultures believe in afterlives and there are a few stories of resurrections, but this is a new one to us."

Agwene nodded. "As you said, we have much to learn from one another."

"Indeed we do. We are most curious, and look forward to it."

"Congratulations on your NDA membership, by the way."

"Thank you, but we have only applied so far," the AdminCoordinator replied cordially. "We do expect and hope to be admitted, but nothing official has been determined yet."

Agwene nodded once more. "Those members of the NDA we have relations with, we've had good relations with."

"That has been our experience as well. We believe that joining the NDA is a very good way to ensure our own survival and success in tulmutuous times."

Agwene inclined her head. "Good luck."

"Thank you, High Queen Agwene ni Gwydion, but our intent is that luck will be unnecessary." She said this with a quiet vocal smile.

"Of course."

"May you succeed in your endeavours as well, High Queen Agwene ni Gwydion." The AdminCoordinator politely bowed again. "It would be inappropriate of me to keep you from your other guests for too long."

"We shall speak again."

"I look forward to it."

Agwene nodded once more. "As do I." She broke away, going to greet more guests.

Aiwyn colored slightly, glancing off. "Actually, it's not that exciting at all. I'd much rather be a knight in the field. Still, we all do the duty given to us, do we not?"

She gestured towards Draconis, still smiling. "You remember my Imperial Husband, Lady Anala?"

Anala smiled and curtseyed, "Of course! Good evening, your imperial majesty. I hope that ruling an empire stirs your blood sligthly more than Empress Aiwyn's. I understand things are a little tense in the Empire at the moment."

Aiwyn arched a brow ever so faintly. "A little tense, m'lady? I am afraid I don't know quite to what you are referring." She smiled gently, awaiting Anala's answer.

Agwene then turned her attention to the two delegates from Dragonsreach, gliding gracefully over. "Good evening. Welcome to Tarana."

As soon as she finished speaking with Alexandra, Agwene turned to Alkesh with a light smile, inclining her head. The Ambassador drifted serenely over, and bowed his head a little flattening the nozzles of his suit back as he did so.

"That was...the strangest conversation I've ever had," Akira said after a long moment, reverting back to Common Weyrik.

"Yah," Kira agreed. "Strange fuckers." A disturbing little encounter, she thought. It was sort of like talking to Ash when he got drunk and lost himself in millenia upon millenia of memory, except different. It felt different, at least, but with the same weird undercurrents that she never seemed to get. "So, looks like they're done. You say they got the drive shit?"

"Far as I know. Do keep it civil," the construct chuckled.

"I know, I know," laughed Kira.

Alexandra replied in a respectful tone.
"I do hope you have not taken my interest in the guests as a dismissal, I would not presume to be so ungracious. Still, thank you."

She executed an elaborate bow, rising and making her way towards Akira.

"Milady Alexandra," Akira bowed in that same precise manner. "This is Kira li'Starhavven of The Tower."

The flame-haired alchemist bower at the words. "An honor to meet you" If she cared at all that the person she was being introduced to was a vampire, she hid it well. In reality, she couldn't have cared less. Twelve odd years of direct neural feedback turned tolerance into a virtual instinct for the aspirant alchemist.

Agwene then turned her attention to the two delegates from Dragonsreach, gliding gracefully over. "Good evening. Welcome to Tarana."

Marcus bowed, "You honor us with your invitation", he said. Ariel turned toward Agwene, though she didn't quite look at her, "Heart to heart I greet you", she said, holding one hand to her heart and the other palm outward."

Agwene copied the gesture. "Heart to heart I greet you. I do hope that you are both enjoying yourselves. The guests of honor should be out soon. In the meantime, feel free to dance, help yourselves to refreshments, socialize..."

"I'm afraid that I can't dance", Ariel replied, "but thank you. We of deryn are accustomed to being shunned. We are quite comfortable." Still she looked toward Agwene but not at her.

Agwene frowned quite a bit. "You are hardly being shunned. I am sure everyone here would be quite happy to talk to you. Simply take some initiative and approach someone."

Agwene waved one arm, gesturing to the courtiers who milled about in the room as well as to the other foreign guests. "Have you met the panNorm yet?"

"We were speaking just before you arrived. Actually Queen Silverlief's advisor has had the opportunity to speak with them previously. A confrence concerning the heritage of the Sidhe as I recall. A rather interesting species. Congratulations, by the way, on return of your family." Ariel's expression never changed as she spoke but stayed absolutely neutral.

Agwene inclined her head. "Thank you. I am rather elated about the event as well. I was not expecting them for another century or so. Still, the Silver Path is often mysterious in how is works." She tilted her head a little, studying the Deryn. "So...I am given to understand that your race is rather unique, even among our most interesting friends in Dragonsreach?"

Ariel just stared a moment saying nothing, her face never changing. "We are all unique."

Aiwyn arched a brow ever so faintly. "A little tense, m'lady? I am afraid I don't know quite to what you are referring." She smiled gently, awaiting Anala's answer.

Agwene then turned her attention to the two delegates from Dragonsreach, gliding gracefully over. "Good evening. Welcome to Tarana."

Anala spotted her gaff and moved to correct it. She inclined her head in apology, "Just some idle talk I picked up at the coronation, Empress. Nothing, I'm sure to be bothered with. So, I understand I'll be seeing more of the Danaan High Kingdom this evening. I hope the rest of your family likes gifts made of wood. Apparently that's all we have to give out at the palace right now, some kind of surplus of hard woods this season. You wouldn't happen to know of anyone interested in purchasing a supply of mahogany, majesty? or teak? They're quite rare in some places these days."

OOC: Sorry for the lateness of my reply; internet's been unreliable lately.
_________________________________________________________________

("Milady Alexandra," Akira bowed in that same precise manner. "This is Kira li'Starhavven of The Tower."

The flame-haired alchemist bower at the words. "An honor to meet you" If she cared at all that the person she was being introduced to was a vampire, she hid it well. In reality, she couldn't have cared less. Twelve odd years of direct neural feedback turned tolerance into a virtual instinct for the aspirant alchemist.)

Alexandra nodded to Akira and Kira, smiling in her usual fang-revealing manner.
"Quite a pleasant surprise seeing you again, Akira. And, of course, it is an honor to meet you as well, alchemist li'Starhavven. How are things in the Kingdom?"
_________________________________________________________________

(Anala smiled and curtseyed, "Of course! Good evening, your imperial majesty. I hope that ruling an empire stirs your blood slightly more than Empress Aiwyn's. I understand things are a little tense in the Empire at the moment.")

Draconis returned the smile and bowed to Anala.
"Good evening to you as well, milady. I must agree with my wife that being Emperor can become a bit dull. Still, I do find myself at the helm of a sky cruiser on occasion. Enough, at least, to keep life interesting. Reminds me of an old human proverb, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'."

(Anala spotted her gaff and moved to correct it. She inclined her head in apology, "Just some idle talk I picked up at the coronation, Empress. Nothing, I'm sure to be bothered with. So, I understand I'll be seeing more of the Danaan High Kingdom this evening. I hope the rest of your family likes gifts made of wood. Apparently that's all we have to give out at the palace right now, some kind of surplus of hard woods this season. You wouldn't happen to know of anyone interested in purchasing a supply of mahogany, majesty? or teak? They're quite rare in some places these days.")

Draconis thought a moment.
"Quite rare indeed, I doubt there is even one tree still standing within Akaton's borders. While for construction purposes, steel and concrete have replaced wood, there are many artisans who would be willing to pay the wood's weight in gold for a chance to acquire trade rights."

"As always," Akira chuckled. "The clans are at war, the Margravine is threatening to secceede, we've had an attack of demons. Life goes on. Kira knows this better than I do, she's been in the middle of it."

The crimson-haired alchemist shrugged dismissively. "They broke out of the barrier, we pushed them back, the Resurgent Dream helped us patch the barrier up. No harm done." Her eyes flashed at the lie beneath the words -- the bodies were still being pulled from settlements across the Eastgard Plain -- but this was a Weyrean issue. Though the young alchemist wouldn't have admitted it, she wanted The Tower to clean up alone, without leaning on others for help. "So how's life?"

"I can't imagine a world without wood." Anala said sadly, "in fact, we wouldn't be able to survive without it. My people call our trees "the living world" with absolutely good reason. Perhaps we could bring some of our world to Akaton. A world without trees." Anala suddered sligthly, "It must be such a cold place."

Alexandra nodded. If she knew of the actual state of affairs in Weyr, she made no mention of it. The vampiress wondered for a moment if Kira realized the irony of mentioning life in her question. She resisted the urge to give a sarcastic reply, simply smirking slightly.
"Life is as good as could be expected. Recently, with the Emperor's departure to rule over the Empire of Mists, I have been named regent of Akaton. While I haven't held the position long enough to tell much about what it's like, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the change of titles, so I suppose it is a change for the better."

Draconis sighed. This wasn't the first time someone had suggested trying to reclaim Akaton's wasted landscape. He took a breath and prepared to launch into an explanation of exactly what Akaton was like.
"I suppose you didn't get a chance to see much of the Imperium outside of Archenhiem City when you came for the coronation.
It is not the sort of place where green things can thrive. Beyond the cities, Akaton is a scorched cement wasteland stretching for hundreds of miles. The only soil is ash. The only mountains are rubble, left from before industry centralized to the four great cities.
Akaton now stands as a monument to technology's greatest achievement and its most terrible cost."

Agwene nodded to Ariel. “Of course, my lady. In any event, I do hope you enjoy the rest of the party. I do plan to speak with you again before it ends.”

Aiwyn inclined her head to Anala. “Quite a few people, actually. Is Mariskale in a trading organization of any kind? We find it makes business so much easier.”

The Empress then turned to her husband with a light grin at his comment on absence. “Is that how you felt when I was away at the wars?”

Aiwyn arched a brow faintly at Phaeton’s excitement over the wood. It wasn’t that she didn’t know of Akaton’s rather ruined environment. She was quite aware. It was merely that the Resurgent Dream, Farinor specifically, had such large lumber markets for his trading. Still, she did smile even more brightly at Anala’s statement. “Lady Anala, have you ever met a kubera?”

When her husband mentioned the desolate state of Akaton, Aiwyn squeezed his hand tightly, gently, reassuringly.

After some time, a herald, dressed in livery of gold and green, appeared from one of the side doors to the ballroom. “Announcing Their Graces, Grand Duchess Corrina ni Gwydion, Grand Duke Immanuel ap Gwydion, Grand Duke Timon ap Gwydion!”

A sidhe man and woman entered, arm in arm. The woman was almost shockingly short, standing no more than five foot two. Corrina was full-bodied for a sidhe with a more voluptuous earthly figure replacing the tall, angular frame usual for the race. Of course, that figure was rather modestly covered by her green gossamer gown and one could only make out the loosest outline. Immanuel was rather tall and dashingly handsome with windswept brown hair, though there was no wind.

As soon as Corrina entered, a young satyr in a scarlet robe moved towards her. He paused a few feet away and went pale, pausing in his very breathing. He turned away, the robe swirling faintly and revealing a bit of tense, furry leg. The satyr frowned apologetically, taking a step back from the Grand Duchess. “Your…Your Grace, welcome home.” He bowed hurriedly, moving back to mingle among the other guests.

Corrina smiled at the retreating satyr, her gaze moving casually over three or four other fairies growing similarly overwhelmed by her presence. All were male and all but one or two were sidhe. Corrina met them all with the same easy smile, seemingly rather used to this manner of display.

Immanuel took in the decorations with an aesthete’s eye, nodding in approval here, frowning in consternation there.

While Immanuel ruminated on the décor, a young sidhe in fine black silks started towards Corrina, his belt bearing a dagger whose golden pommel was carved in the shape of an elegant serpent. He bowed to the Grand Duchess, speaking quietly.

After the two, came a taller, more muscular sidhe to whom the room seemed to bow and curtsey in a wave of admiration.

Ariel motioned to Marcus to remain where he was and moved forward to a respectful distance. She curtseyed respectfully to the three then stepped back, allowing those of higher rank to be addressed first. She looked in the general direction of the three who entered.

Anala saw the pain in Draconis' eyes. It hadn't been her intention to cause the Emporer sadness on such a triumphant day. But the thought of living without trees, large oceans, and the lush tropical plant life that she had taken for granted her entire life terrified her. For once, she begant to think that perhaps her ancestors decision to close their borders so many centuries ago, was not so narrowminded after all. She made a note to look into what the trees could do for Akaton, as soon as possible. For now, she tried to turn back to more pleasent conversation. What was it her ettiquette teacher was always driving into her? "Keep it light Anala, it's a party, not a wake." Anala shook her head at Aiwyn's question. "No majesty, we are not in a trade organization as of yet. My second minister, the people's representative is a little less forward thinking than I. Unless I start talking about the next election, of course. And I am afraid that I have also never heard of a kubera, perhaps you could explain it to me?"
Just then, Anala noticed the wave of curtseies moving through the room, and the three sidhe who had caused it.
"Perhaps, your majesties, the kubera will have to wait. I think the rest of the Empress's family just arrived."

Aiwyn smiled gently at Anala. "The choice is yours, of course. Though, I do believe you would be quite fond of the Kubera. Of course, that is in part because they are simply the most likeable race one could imagine but also...you share much in common, lovely lady of the artisans."

Anala blushed slightly, "Well, they sound like very interesting and exciting people, your majesty. I am intrigued. If it is not too much of a burden on your time, perhaps you could tell me more?"

"Friends are not a burden on my time." Aiwyn said simply. "The Kubera are plant people for lack of a better term. While they can and often do adopt a human form, they are essentially made of vegetable matter. They are preternaturally charismatic and possess certain other magical traits. They each live inside a plant that they cannot be separated from too long and to which their life is linked. In their dreamforms, they ressemble roughly humanoid plants. They value life above all things and live it with a zest for its pleasures which the more prudish sometimes find scandalous."

"They sound very much like my own people." Anala replied. "Beings made of plant matter, what would our priests make of that, I wonder? We hold the natural world as sacred and divine, a sort of ever present god. Some of our highest philosophers spend their time exclusivley in trees, to be closer to such divinity. A Kubera would make a great sensation indeed on our world. Do you know if any are in attendance this evening, Empress?"

Aiwyn shook her head. "Unfortunately, I do not believe there are any in attendance this evening. I can, however, arrange for you to meet one, lady."

(The Empress then turned to her husband with a light grin at his comment on absence. “Is that how you felt when I was away at the wars?”)

Draconis turned to Aiwyn.
"Well, I would never consider your absence a desirable state of being, but we all must make the best of what fate gives us."

The herald's announcement drew his attention to the arriving royalty. Looking back to Aiwyn, he smiled.
"It would seem your family has arrived, dear."

Aiwyn inclined her head, gliding towards Corrina. "Mother, it is lovely to see you."

The two women embraced tightly. Aiwyn then turned and gave a similarly huge hug to Immanuel. "Father. Welcome home."

Alexandra nodded. If she knew of the actual state of affairs in Weyr, she made no mention of it. The vampiress wondered for a moment if Kira realized the irony of mentioning life in her question. She resisted the urge to give a sarcastic reply, simply smirking slightly.
"Life is as good as could be expected. Recently, with the Emperor's departure to rule over the Empire of Mists, I have been named regent of Akaton. While I haven't held the position long enough to tell much about what it's like, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the change of titles, so I suppose it is a change for the better."

"True,""Kira nodded. "Can't get anywhere by staying in the same place, after all. I wish you luck." Her ears literally perked up at the herald's announcement.

After everyone had been greeted and the guests of honor were entering, Agwene alone retreated quietly to the balcony and clutched the railing, looking out quietly and almost sadly. Seeing her slip out, Sirithil discreetly followed her onto the balcony, standing beside her there. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Not...really. I'm just..." She trailed off, leaning forward a little.

"You're just what?" asked the Elentári, gazing out over the city.

"You mean a lot to me, Sirithil." Which was not, of course, the answer to the question.

Sirithil smiled. "Thank you. You mean a lot to me too..." She waited a few moments, enjoying the quiet setting. "You were going to say something else, though."

"Seeing my mother, with her nine ardent chaste lovers and all the pageantry...my life is very different than hers, than that of any queen before me. And...I stand by the choices I've made but there's things I miss, things I want."

"What do you want, my friend?" Siri asked. Agwene looked away a long moment at that, shifting her body and staring over the city. Sirithil frowned, and after a moment, she gently asked, "Agwene?"

"Yes?"

"Well... you didn't answer." She smiled a bit at the sidhe.

"It is not the kind of question I can answer."

"All right, then," she said, falling silent again. "I'm here for you if you want to talk about anything, though." Agwene turned, looking at her a long moment, almost desperately hopeful, expectant against expectations, before looking back over the city. It was such simple things, really. But if she asked, it was nothing. Sirithil smiled back at her. "Something is on your mind." Agwene closed her eyes, almost pleadingly, but bit her tongue. "What is it? Now you've got me very curious."

"If I asked, I would no longer want it. It would lose all conceivable meaning."

"Oh," she said. "Then I won't press you on it." Agwene shed a single tear, waiting another moment. Sirithil said no more, but gently put an arm around Agwene's shoulder and
hugged her close.

Agwene smiled weakly. "I didn't inherit a dozen ardent lovers with my throne as my mother did. I don't think I want all the ritual, the serenades...I think it's silly and past it's time. But...there's a dozen little things that I suppose are cultural, that I have no reason to expect you to know...but I do anyway..."

Sirithil smiled. "Well, tell me, then I'll know."

"I'd like you to give me a red carnation."

Sirithil pulled out a small device, like a Palm, and made a note. "Red carnation... got it."

"I love you, Siri."

Sirithil smiled. "Love you too," she replied. "Anything else?"

Agwene smiled gently. "Nothing specific. But just stand with me awhile. The crowd will be too busy with Grandfather to notice my absence. He did found the nation."

Sirithil nodded, and wrapped an arm around Agwene again. "So, what does the red carnation mean?"

"It means you like me." Agwene said in an increasingly playful tone.

Sirithil laughs. "Then maybe I should get you a whole bouquet of them."

"Thanks for humoring my mood. Though...in truth, there's more weighing on my mind."

"I'm listening."

"Last Samhain, I spoke with the Moirae. I...don't remember what was said but there's something...a shadow of a memory, plaguing the back of my
mind."

"The Moirae?"

"Servants of Fate..."

"Okay... go on."

"I don't remember. I just feel a heavy Fate and one involving events to come soon, for good or ill."

Sirithil nodded a little, pondering. "That's very strange... If I can help at all, you know I will, and you need only to ask."


"I don't know how much you can help directly. Some things, a woman must do on her own. But you do help, Sirithil. You make me stronger."

Sirithil smiled. "I do what I can, my friend." Agwene’s smile faded slightly as she looked over the city.
"Is something wrong?

"No. It's fine. If that's what it is, that's what it is. Though, maybe we should stop...the other thing we do. I mean..." She shrugged a little.

"Have I said something wrong?" she frowned a bit.

"No." Agwene peeked up a little. "I'm sorry if I'm upsetting you."

"I don't want to do that," Siri replied softly. "I like what we have. And I want you to be happy. I just feel right now like I don't know what you want."

"I want what I thought this was. But I'm not sure that's what it is with how you've been talking. Does that make sense?"

"I think so... I'm sorry." She hugged Agwene tightly.

Agwene hugged back. "So where are we?"

"We're more than friends, is where we are." Sirithil answered. Agwene nodded and started to say something else. Unfortunately, before she could even start to speak, however, a sidhe man strode out to the balcony, giving both women a superior smirk which, by all reason, he was in no position to give to either. He handed Agwene a bouquet of Indian jasmine wrapped in ivy and then turned on his heel arrogantly, walking back to the ballroom. Sirithil arched an eyebrow quizzically, and turned to Agwene. "Who was that?"

Agwene started to pass the flowers off to Siri, then blushed furiously, as though she REALLY didn't want to do that. Sighing, she turned again and set them down a plant. "I've never seen him before in my life."

"Well, he must have an invitation, if he's here, right?"

"He is apparently my fiance. That is what the flowers mean."

Sirithil arched her eyebrow again. "I see. Would you be offended if I spoke frankly?"

"It's me, love. Of course not."

"He's an arrogant and despicable little prat," she says, without hesitation. Then after a moment she adds, "...at least, that's my first impression."

"It is a horrible law and one I am working to overturn. However, while it is law, I can hardly declare myself exempt. If I did, how could I ever again claim my government was more than one woman's whim?"

"Is it?" she asked with a little smile. Without waiting for an
answer, she said, "Couldn't you put off the wedding until you overturn the law?"

"Jealous?"

"Not at all. I just want you to be happy, as I said. And I can't see him making you happy."

"Not at all?"

"Nope!" she said with a giggle. "I wouldn't want to marry him." She winked.

"That is not what I meant!"

Sirithil laughed. "Let's just say, he doesn't deserve you at all.You're way out of his league."

"Well, after I marry the prat, can I still have a beautiful elven lover?"

"Silly girl. You needn't even ask."

"No, I needn't. But I like hearing you say it."

"Then yes, of course you may."

"And will she try to be at least civil to my husband?"

"Can I compromise and just promise not to set him on fire?" She
grinned.

Agwene grinned despite herself and shook her head. "I swear, Siri, if I didn't adore you so much..." She winked.

Sirithil smiled. "If it would make you happy for me to be civil to him, then I will endeavor to do so."

"Shall we rejoin the rest of the party? I'm sure he'll be making the announcement soon. I should at least be there."

"I suppose we shall, then." Sirithil answered. Agwene proffered her arm. Sirithil linked her arm through it, and led Agwene back inside.

"She seems very close to her family." Anala remarked to the Emporer, with a twinge of sadness. Anala's own parents had died when she was young, in the Great Epidemic. She knew the sidhe were a long lived race, unlike Mariskaleans who at most could hope for 100 years or so of time on the Earth. Anala's own life was ticking away, hastened by the pressures of her office. There was only so much time now, to meet people, to do things, to live, and to love.... her eyes searched the room for a moment, seeking out the charming Prime Minister Lacau, wondering for a moment how strong [I]his[/] "familial connections" were. Still, it would be rude to abandon the Imperial couple, just then, and hideously stupid. The Empress might be offended if her new friend took off before a formal introduction could be made. Besides, Lacau wasn't going anywhere.

Aiwyn pulled away with a bright grin. "Father, Grandfather, meet my husband, Emperor Draconis, and everyone meet my good friend, Lady Anala of Mariskale. Of course, there's lots of other people to meet so...still..."

Corrina smiled warmly to Phaeton. "It has been too long, Your Imperial Majesty."

Immanuel and Timon both nodded as Immanuel turned to Anala. "It is lovely to meet you as well, young lady."

Ariel slowly made her way back to Marcus.

'I think our bug friend has fallen asleep on us', he said in her mind. She nodded as she stopped beside him, her face, as always, impassive.

'Perhaps thier way is silence', she replied in his own mind, 'in which case we should not interfere. These are different lands, different customs.'

Marcus nodded and continued shifting his gaze about the room.

Draconis returned Corrina's smile.
"Far too long, Your Highness."

The Emperor turned to Immanuel and Timon, bowing his head.
"I am honored to finally meet you, Your Majesties."

(OOC: Sorry... been busy, and thought you'd moved on.)

After being pleasantly but unfortunately distracted by Agwene, the AdminCoordinator turns back to Ariel and Marcus. "My apologies. There are always things demanding my attention, it seems. My sister-subordinate reported that your emissary to The Resurgent Dream during their evolutionary research had some way to allow us to be understood by others without the use of translators. Could you explain how that worked?"

"I'm afraid I can't", Ariel replied, "her talents are different from my own and Marcus'. I'm sure she or the Queen or Queen regent could explain it. I'm not familiar with the ways of magic. I'm a psionicist."

"Hm, unfortunate. Such knowledge could be useful--the Scientist also reported that our translator cubes were uncomfortable to that one. Perhaps aural testing should be implemented so we can eliminate potentially painful or harmful wavelengths?"

"The vampire has extremely sensitive hearing", Ariel told her, "she could hear a whisper across this room. Most vampires tend not to participate in public events, the majority of them being what we refer to as evil. I'm not sure to what you refer but I don't think you'll need to adjust anything, since most vampires would simply seek to kill you rather than talk to you."

"That would be unwise," the AdminCoordinator replies simply. "Very well; this at least means that there is one less species we need to accomodate. If these things are as evil as you claim, where can we find them and how do we distinguish them from other endoskeletals?"

Marcus looked at Ariel and sent another mental message, 'What the bloody hell is an endoskeletal?'

'I don't know', she replied in his mind. She thought furiously. The tone was certainly an interogative, but she wasn't sure what the admin was asking.

"Distinguish them ... yes. How do you tell one from a mortal?"

The Vorlon stood somewhat away to the side, watching the celebration quietly. He took note of the comings and goings of the other delegates, and kept his thoughts to himself, which was helped of course by the mask he wore. He had much to think about, and watching the doings of others was calming to the quiet soul. He tolerated the effects of the locals as best one could, and simply did his best to ignore them, noticeable, and a little annoying, but he would have to simply live with them.

The Blue quietly revises a few estimates in the back of her mind. It isn't her native language, after all. She taps the chitinous shell of one forearm with one stubby manipulator claw, click-click-clicking as she explains. "I would classify as an 'exoskeletal' on first sight--part of my skeleton is on the outside. Conversely, most mammals, like you, are 'endoskeletal' becase your skeletal structure is wholly internal. I do know from my sister's report that the 'vampire'--as you call it--in question was endoskeletal, but there were no physical characteristics obvious to us that distinguished her from any other endoskeletal." The AdminCoordinator has the sense to keep the rest of that statement, because they all look the same to us, safely unspoken in the back of her alien mind.

"Well I've done no in depth studies myself", Ariel replied, "they are varied within thier own species. Vampires are pale compared to most of the rest. MOST of the rest but not all. Thier body temperatures match the surrounding air as internal heat isn't required to survive. They have canines that are permanently set or are retractible in the upper jaw. They look like any of us, that's part of the problem. The woman your representative had spoken with would be the best to ask concerning this matter as she knows the necrology of Vampires."

Anala curtsied deeply, her green robes spilling out around her. On Mariskale, age was the ultimate gaurantee of respect, and she had heard that these particular sidhe were long lived indeed.
"Eternal Fair winds upon thee, your majesties. It is a great honor to meet you." At this point, a white robed attendant rushed over to Anala's side. He carried the slightly larger box, the one containing the gifts for the guests of honor. "I hope I might detain you a moment, before you become too busy this evening. It is traditional on my island, for a guest to bring a gift for the guest of honor. Please allow me to present you with a token of goodwill from the artisans of our nation." She lifted the cover of the box to reveal three perfectly round orbs of opaque dark blue glass, decorated with glittering, silver sea horses inlaid into the glass, with sapphires for eyes. The orbs were nestled into stands of rose colored teak, which were also carved with tiny, intricate seahorses.
"The seahorse," Anala explained, "is a symbol of longevity and wisdom in Mariskale. Even though, I understand the sidhe do not exactly require blessings for long lives or wise heads. The Resurgent Dream has been a good friend to our people, and on behalf of them I offer wishes of health,happiness, and eternal sunshine on thee and thine."

All three turned towards Anala. Corrina smiled oh so gently with that perfect mouth. "Why thank you, dear lady." She eyed the gift warmly, extending a hand to accept it. "We are most grateful. And I would never be so arrogant as to claim wisdom."

"And I would never be so forward as to contradict a lady of the sidhe. Particularly the mother of my friend, the Empress." Anala said, a slightly wicked smile playing around her brown lips.

Corrina laughed a little. "You are most charming."

Timon, however, frowned ever so slightly. "Lady Anala, you are a hereditary Prime Minister, a queen by any other name. You should hardly be so humble around mere dukes and duchesses, my lady." He gave her a deep, elegant bow.

After looking to one another a moment, Corrina and Immanuel followed suite with a curtsey and a bow of their own.

"Well I've done no in depth studies myself", Ariel replied, "they are varied within thier own species. Vampires are pale compared to most of the rest. MOST of the rest but not all. Thier body temperatures match the surrounding air as internal heat isn't required to survive. They have canines that are permanently set or are retractible in the upper jaw. They look like any of us, that's part of the problem. The woman your representative had spoken with would be the best to ask concerning this matter as she knows the necrology of Vampires."
"I see," the AdminCoordinator said with a nod. "We will have to look into this further--no internal heat, you say? That suggests something that performs almost none of the chemical reactions vital for life, as those are primarily endothermic. Most curious indeed."

"Well I do know that when a vampire is created the body dies and then reanimates. It draws power from another dimension or plane. Again this is not my area of expertise. Actually the Queen has done extensive studies on this particular subject. That of the alternate plane in question that is."

(This is Dragonsreach by the way. My comp at work is having issues with my dragonsreach login.)

The Blue taps her antennae together slowly. "This certainly calls for research in detail. Thank you for alerting us to it."

"Your most welcome. Feel free to contact us. Highport has a space facility and communications device for star vessels. I'm sure that Ferranifer and the Queen would be happy to tell you about it."

Corrina laughed a little. "You are most charming."

Timon, however, frowned ever so slightly. "Lady Anala, you are a hereditary Prime Minister, a queen by any other name. You should hardly be so humble around mere dukes and duchesses, my lady." He gave her a deep, elegant bow.

After looking to one another a moment, Corrina and Immanuel followed suite with a curtsey and a bow of their own.

Anala flushed so hard that shades of deep crimson were visible through her brown skin. "You grace, I - I -" she stumbled, it was all much easier when she was the one doing the bowing. "Please, please rise." she took a deep breath to recover her composure, "Where I come from, it is always the young who show deference to the elders, no matter their rank. Besides, we have come here tonight to honor you. Perhaps I shall hold a celebration in Maris City in the future and there will be pletny of opportunity for bowing then. Perhaps, for tonight, we could just be peers, and of course, friends."

Timon, the oldest by far, thirty-six millenia old, pre-dating even the ancient Mesopotamian empires by countless years, answered by once again bowing elegantly over Anala's hand, delicately kissing the air just above her hand.

Anala couldn't help herself, she let out a very undignified giggle. "I never knew the Danaan High Kingdom was so charming, your grace. Now please, don't let me keep you from the other guests."

Timon rose elegantly with a small smile before walking past without another word, finding himself almost immediately surrounded by the buzz of local courtiers. Meanwhile, Corrina and Immanuel parted from the crowd, walking arm in arm to speak quietly in a corner.

Anala curtsied to Aiwyn and glided away, eyes scanning the room for a very particular man. She found Prime Minister Lacau in a corner, not too far from Agwene. With her best smile she slid over and curtsied slightly.
"Prime Minister, if you have a moment, I would love another dance."

Apparently finished with the admin Ariel turned toward Marcus, "Would you get me a drink?"

"Of course", he slid away and found a light wine then returned to Ariel, handing it to her.

"Thank you, your free to roam."

"I'm fine", he told her.

"Your mind is elsewhere, or should I say on someone else."

Marcus blushed slightly, "I am ever in your service."

"I know, if I need you, I'll summon. Go now, mingle, see if you can find the one you seek."

Marcus bowed and headed off into the crowd, careful to avoid the ranking officials. He sought Sascha, though he had no idea what he would say or do.

Ariel stood to the side, keeping her senses extended in case anyone should approach.

Lacau smiled warmly, offering her his hand. "I would love one as well, my lady. I would love one as well."

They moved out smoothly onto the dancefloor, mingling with other twirling couples. There was another waltz on, and they slid easily into the rythym.
"I hope your wife won't mind me monopolizing your time, Prime Minister" Anala said innocently.

("True,""Kira nodded. "Can't get anywhere by staying in the same place, after all. I wish you luck." Her ears literally perked up at the herald's announcement.)

Alexandra smiled.
"Quite true."

She noted, with a great deal of interest, the arrival of Timon and the other nobles. Alexandra also noticed, with a bit less interest, the crowd of courtiers surrounding them. She made a mental note to speak with them later, when things were less chaotic.
"I see the guests of honor have arrived. I wouldn't want to take any more of your time than I already have, and so I bid you farewell for now."

Alexandra gracefully slipped away into the crowd, looking for the insectoid she had seen upon her arrival.

Elsewhere in the hall, as Anala moved off, Draconis turned to Aiwyn.
"Your friend is quite charming, isn't she?"

Lacau laughed a little. "How very subtle, m'lady." He shrugged as he twirled rapidly with her about the dance floor. "Unfortunately, there is no Mrs. Lacau. Never has been."

'Subtle', Ariel muttered to herself, 'I'm blind and I could see what she was hinting at.'

(( OOC: I'm choosing to politely ignore that one, Dragons Reach :) ))
Anala mentally kicked herself for being so obvious, but nothing to do now except smile graciously and hope Lacau liked forward women.
"Really? Well, Prime Minister," she stepped away, executed a turn, and stepped back in a little closer, "So glad we got that out of the way. I hope you don't think me too forward. it's just that in my country, we honor love but despise misunderstanding. "

Lacua nodded. "And in my country, we love beautiful women..." He pulled her slightly closer in the dance, pulling her briefly against his body. "Though I find it hard to understand what such a lovely young lady would see in a withered old man like myself."

(OOC - Mariskale - The comment wasn't meant as anything more than to reflect the personality of the character in question. Basically Ariel is the type that if you want to say something say it. Trust your judgement. If for some reason your hesitant or think it might not be a good idea then go with your feeling and remain silent. Of course the King she serves, she served for a long time and he views more as friend than an advisor, so she's used to speaking her mind. Though in this case it wasn't meant to be heard, just that she is blind now and she uses her psionic talent to 'see', so to speak, but surface thoughts and emotions leak through. (Short winded version - no insult intended.))

((OOC: Don't worry about it Dragons Reach, i wasn't really insulted, was just kidding you a little))

Anala let out a slight gasp, but continued dancing. "Let's say, Prime Minister, that I am here to gather experience. After all, I'm the first Mariskalean to leave the island in over 300 years. We have a lot of catching up to do."

(OOC - Ah okay, cool :) )

Lacau grinned a little. "Well, what would you like to know about the last three hundred years of history? Granted, I wasn't around for most of it. Still, even in the last few years, there have been enormous changes here."

"Changes, Minister? Of What sort exactly? The sidhe don't seem to be a warlike race, and they are quite advanced already. I confess I know so little , about my neighbors."

Lacau laughed lightly. "Do I look like a sidhe to you, lady? You really shouldn't go identifying a rather large nation by one race. There are really only about twenty million sidhe in the Resurgent Dream."

"Really? Well please excuse me, Prime Minister. As I said, Mariskaleans are as a whole, desperatley in need of a broader, cultural education."

Lacau, the most prominent human in the Resurgent Dream, just smiled. "We are much more diverse than the vast majority of other nations. We like to consider it our greatest strength. Is Mariskale entirely human?"

He twirled her, dipping her at the end and pressing his face close to hers before pulling her back up. "I believe Kubera would love visiting Mariskale, from what I've heard. Perhaps that is a race you will soon have much contact with or even immigration from."

"I don't dance," Kira said flatly. There really was nothing better to do now except get drunk.

"I'll teach you," Akira giggled. "C'mon."

"No," the flame-haired alchemist pulled away, found the construct's firm grip on her shoulders.

"You," Akira said seriously, an evil grin on her face, "Are going to learn how to dance. Now come." Leading Kira by pushing against the small of her back, the construct wove their way onto the dance floor.

Lacau, the most prominent human in the Resurgent Dream, just smiled. "We are much more diverse than the vast majority of other nations. We like to consider it our greatest strength. Is Mariskale entirely human?"

He twirled her, dipping her at the end and pressing his face close to hers before pulling her back up. "I believe Kubera would love visiting Mariskale, from what I've heard. Perhaps that is a race you will soon have much contact with or even immigration from."

Anala felt her breath catch slightly as the Prime Ministers face brushed her own. She could feel the heat of his breath on her skin for just a moment before he lifted her out of the dip. She smiled sweetly at his comment,
"I have heard much about the Kubera, and I am very intrigued to meet them. No race would receive a warmer welcome in Mariskale than one who has such a close communion with growing things. And yes, we are an entirely human population. I never realized how rare that was until we re-opened our borders. and to think of all that I was missing."

Lacau laughed a little. "It's not THAT rare. We are still the most common race in the galaxy and we make up the overwhelming majority of the population in places like Pantocratoria, Excalbia, the Dominion, Lavenrunz, the Latin Union, and countless other nations. Still, the world is a very vast and very diverse place."

He spun her again, grinning. "I do hope I'm not monopolizing your time. I know every man in the room likely wants a chance to dance with such a lovely young lady."

"Well, every man in the room can wait." Anala replied, "at least until the song ends."

Lacau nodded a little as the song did pull to a close, bowing to the lady and kissing her hand. "Perhaps, in the near future I might find myself on a state visit to Mariskale. For international relations, of course."

Marcus continued moving around the outskirts of the room while periodically looking over to check on Ariel. He could see her standing off to the side, apparantly not paying attention to everything going on around her. He knew this wasn't the case. With her psionic talent she probably had a better idea of what was going on than most in the room.

"Ok, now I expect you to be sober enough to pilot when we get back," the construct said finally. She wasn't sure how much more abuse her feet could take. "You stay sober."

"Yah," Kira nodded, feeling rather dizzy, stumbling slightly until she reached the nearest drink dispensing thingie. 'Drink, right."

Anala bowed, and faded into the crowd. Lacau was a nice man, and she'd be sure to have him to the palace one of these days. For official business, of course. "Now then," she glanced about the room, "I'm not quite ready to settle down to espionage just yet. I wonder who else is available to dance..."

Marcus set down his barely touched drink and scanned the room again. Momentarily he locked on Ariel, making sure everything was okay. He ran a hand through his thick black hair then over his close cropped black beard and mustache, his blue eyes never staying in one place for very long. Draconis was familiar to him, 'I've never seen anyone who can disappear into the shadow's', the emporer had told him. Simple for a Deryn, at least one talented in Marcus particular art.

Draconis looked around the room, searching for a familiar face. He found one he knew in Marcus. Turning to Aiwyn, he smiled and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"I hope you do not mind, love, but I believe I see an acquaintance of mine in attendance. I'll be back in a minute."

The Emperor headed in Marcus' direction, picking up a drink on the way across the room.

Marcus spotted the Emperor moving across the room toward. After a quick glance around to see if, perhaps, it was someone else he was headed for, and deciding that it wasn't, he moved to approach the man, smiling. "Greetings, Emperor", he said in his strange but pleasant accent once he was close enough, "it's a pleasure to see you again."

Once he closed to the proper distance of ten feet, fighting pike range, he bowed with hands spread to show homage and demonstrate his lack of threatening intent and then stood and placed one hand over his heart and the other palm outward toward Draconis, "Heart to heart, I greet you."

Aiwyn smiled softly to her husband. "Oh, go ahead. Just remember I get the last dance."

Draconis smiles back at Aiwyn as he walks toward Marcus.
"I wouldn't miss it, love."

Turning back to Marcus, the Emperor bowed his head to the Count, as a show of respect to a noble of lesser rank.

"It is a pleasant surprise to see you here, Count. How has life treated you since we last met?"

"Not very well I'm afraid", he replied. He glanced at Ariel then around then back to the Emporer, "It seems someone wanted me discredited in the eyes of others."

Draconis frowned slightly.

"I am sorry for that. In my experience, I have found few things more dishonorable and foul than the spreading of lies."

"It was more than that. Someone came to me who looked like the Lady Ariel and sent me on a diplomatic mission to another country. I fear I'm no diplomat. I'm only glad that it didn't come to war, though I don't know if we could ever patch things up with the Dread Lady."

Agwene picked up Marcus's words with a light frown and slipped her arm from Sirithil's, moving towards the delegates from Dragonsreach. "Excuse me, Elentari. I shall speak to you again soon."

The High Queen glided up to Marcus, saying nothing as of yet.

Marcus turned to Agwene, 'That's the high Queen, Agwene', Ariel told him in his mind. Marcus bowed deeply, "High Queen", Marcus said and rose holding one hand over his heart and the other palm outward toward her, "Heart to heart, I greet you."

Agwene inclined her head. "Thank you. Though I should be the one greeting you. You are my guests, after all. I couldn't help overhear you speaking about Nathi...the Imperatrice of the Dominion."

'Another term for empress', Ariel's voice rang in Marcus' mind again.

"Yes I was just discussing with the Emporer my ill fated visit to her domain."

"Oh?" Agwene asked. "Why so ill-fated?"

"I'm afraid I'm no diplomat, which was why I couldn't understand why she was sending me. I tried to tell the truth, but it seems that in this case the truth was not the best policy."

"What truth was that?" Agwene inquired.

"I told her that I was no diplomat and that I don't know why I was sent. That in truth I was trained as an assassin. After that she twisted everything I said."

Agwene expression hardened and her eyes flashed dangerously. The faint golden glow that normally surrounds her grew to a rather furious aura of wrathful flame like the fires of the very sun. The sense of tightly but barely controlled rage and power than emanated from the High Queen seemed to fill the room in an enveloping wrath as she regarded the man with that gaze of ancient fury that had never before been seen in Agwene but was always just below the surface of any Gwydion heart. Her hand trembled for a moment. Normally, she could put aside insults to herself or even her friends. She'd never frenzied before. But...so soon after what had happened...to hear...

Timon frowned severely from across the room and began to walk towards his granddaughter. He muttered words that could not be remembered by others that heard them, a strange, powerful tongue that seemed to slip from the mind even as he approached. He physically and uncermoniously hoisted the High Queen into the air, wrapping his arms tightly around hers to deny her movement and carried her from the room without a word.

Immanuel and Corrina frowned, drifting over towards Marcus. Corrina sighed and smiled apologetically while Immanuel looked at the man studiously. "What exactly just happened?" he asked.

"I don't know", he replied honestly, "I've never seen anything like that before. The closest I could come to is when the Queen of Dragonsreach is angered and is surrounded in a corona of her magic, flame being her speciality."

Immanuel sighed, bringing his hand up to rub his forehead. "What did you do? If His Grace hadn't interfered, she would have killed you. You do know that, right?" he said in utter exasperation.

Corrina just looked at her husband with a small frown before turning back to Marcus. "What my husband means to say is that you must have mentioned a sensitive subject of some sort."

"I was talking to the Emporer about my visit to the Dread Lady Nathicana. Someone impersonatig the Lady Ariel told me to visit her country as a diplomat. I'm not a diplomat but I went. When I told her the truth, that I'm an assassin, she got angry. After that she starting twisting everything I said. The Lady Agwene then got upset."

Draconis stood back, thinking it unwise to stand between Agwene and the victim of her anger. He was taken aback by her fury, even more so by Timon's solution to the situation.

Looking from the departing Timon back to Marcus, Draconis sighed.
"I must say, that is the first time I have seen a High Queen carried out of her own ball room. Still, you are lucky to be alive, Count. I imagine it was not the best move on your part, telling her that you are an assassin."

"What someone care to explain to me why that is? I'm not sure I understand", Marcus replied.

Ariel approached the group, taking a position beside Marcus. She looked toward Draconis, though not at him, "Yes, perhaps an explanation is in order. Is there some stigmata that we should be aware of?"

"It was not the best move to speak to her so unflatteringly of her friends and allies." Immanuel said bluntly enough.

"Love..." Corrina said to her husband with a light sigh. "It's over."

"What did I say that was unflattering? I don't understand", Marcus asked.

<snip>...Is there some stigmata that we should be aware of?"
The AdminCoordinator looks at the red unexpectedly oozing from her hands, then, feeling some more moisture along the spiracles of her side, sees some more spreading from the side of her thorax. "This is most curious indeed..."

Watching and listening to the almost-deadly conversation elsewhere, the AdminCoordinator carefully ticks off the presence of a potential (and not particualrly bright or tactful) assassin and prepares contingency plans with her sister Blue via the panNorm's radio-frequency 'telepathy.'

("What someone care to explain to me why that is? I'm not sure I understand", Marcus replied.

Ariel approached the group, taking a position beside Marcus. She looked toward Draconis, though not at him, "Yes, perhaps an explanation is in order. Is there some stigmata that we should be aware of?")

Draconis shrugged slightly.
"I meant no offense by it. I was just thinking that, in a place so filled with diplomats and politicians, the presence of an assassin could be misinterpreted as threatening. Obviously I know you well enough to know that isn't your intent, but not everyone shares the benefit of having met you."

"Marcus made no challenge", Ariel said, "so we are simply unsure of what the cause of this disturbance is. I seek only understanding."

Aiwyn sighed heavily and walked over, taking her husband's arm. "Love, what exactly just happened?"

Immanuel looked to her wearily. "His Excellency here was insulting the honesty of the Imperatrice of the Dominion. Her High Majesty...you understand."

Aiwyn nodded faintly. "Of course."

"I ins..", Marcus began angrily.

"Marcus", Ariel said stopping him.

"But my Lady...", he tried.

"Silence", she said, stopping him again.

She turned to face the general direction of those assembled, "Thank you for having us, I think we should depart now."

((Done with Menelmacar over irc))

Sirithil blinked delicately as she watched the scene unfold, a little surprised by what had transpired. She set her wineglass aside, and discreetly made her way out of the room, in the direction that Timon had taken Agwene. Timon stood outside a room down the hall, locked from the outside. Two Troll guards stood stoically on either side of the door. "Grand Duke Timon, yes?" Siri asked, as she approached. "Agwene wanted me to meet you... I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"It's nice to meet you."

Sirithil smiled, bowing her head a bit. "The pleasure is all mine. You probably already know who I am."

"I do, yes."

Sirithil nodded a bit. "Um... this may actually be incredibly forward, and do tell me if it is, but... may I ask what happened back there?" She glanced at the door and its stalwart guardians.

"Why do you want to know?" His face kept the same eerily calm, quiet expression as he spoke, studying her reflectively with timeless eyes.

Sirithil blushed a bit. In Menelmacar extramarital relationships were not especially looked down upon, but this was a relatively new state of affairs, thus it was generally expected that they be kept discreet. It took Sirithil a moment to remember that that wasn't the case here. "Well, I love her," she replied, after a moment.

Timon inclined his head, looking off for a long moment in thought. "If she were in a state to choose, I don't think she'd want you to see her like this."

"I understand," Sirithil replied. "If she doesn't want to see me, I won't press the matter. It was just... rather surprising to see her angered so. I'm told I have a temper, and I can't remember the last time I was that angry."

"Do you really love her?" he asked. His voice remained calm and gentle.

Sirithil couldn't help but feel she's being led, somehow, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Yes," she said. "Yes, I do."

Timon took a deep breath. "Then you need to see this. But we can't go in there."

Sirithil nodded a bit. "All right," she said.

Timon turned quietly, walking further into the hall. "It's not often I meet an older woman." he said, almost playfully, though still with the same calm, quiet tone.

Sirithil chuckled softly. "From what I hear, I can't be too much older," she replied.

"You have twelve thousand years on me. That's more than many people live." he said with a slight smile.

"Well, yes, this is true," she said, grinning a bit as she followed him along. "So... thirty-six thousand and something?" she asked.

"Thirty-six thousand one hundred and thirty-nine next Tuesday." He answered with a glance towards the Elf.

"Well, if I don't see you before then... happy birthday." She smiled over at him.

"Thank you." He smiled back as he opened a side door, beginning to climb a flight of winding stairs, his boots touching ever so lightly on the marble.

Sirithil followed him up the stairs, her steps no heavier than his. "Who was that she was talking to?" Sirithil asked.

"Count Marcus. He's from Dragons...a small state associated with Dragonsreach." As he reached the next floor, he opened her door and headed down the corridor. Sirithil nodded a bit. She had not overheard exactly what was said, and she felt it not entirely polite enough to press, unless Timon was going to volunteer more information. Timon didn't really hear much of what was said, just saw his granddaughter explode. "I'm not sure what he said. We've always had good relations in the past."

Sirithil nodded again. "So... where are we going?" she asked.

"In here." He opened a door, stepping into what looked to be a small sitting room. Sirithil stepped inside. Timon followed her inside, kneeling down and removing a small panel of floor, showing the room below.

Sirithil arched an eyebrow. "This place is full of surprises." She dropped gracefully to her knees opposite Timon.

"It's a five hundred year old palace. They tend to accumulate these little secrets."

Sirithil smiled. "I'll have to show you mine sometime," she said. Sirithil peered down through the hole. The room below was thickly padded with no windows and only the one heavily bolted door. Agwene was in the room, still blazing like a star come to earth, as she physically slammed her body violently and repeatedly against the walls. She punched them blindly until her knuckles bled profusely and kicked against them with all her might. Darting from one to the other with an utterly crazed look in her eyes, she seemed intent on physically destroying walls that seemed built specifically to resist such a fate. Sirithil gasped softly, a look of what could best be described as horror (but not exactly) on her face. "What is she doing?" she asked softly. Siri'd been mad enough to break things before, but never quite like this.

"It's...hard to explain." Timon said uncomfortably.

Sirithil nodded a little, sensing his discomfort. "I won't ask any more, then, if you'd rather."

"How much of her...moral life has she shared with you?" Timon looked at Sirithil, deep in thought.

"Well, she's told me of her very central role in your church," Siri mused. Then after a moment: "And... she said she thinks I have a good soul," she added with more than a little blushing.

"She tells a lot of people that about you." Timon added.

Sirithil smiled brightly. "I'll have to thank her, then. She has a good soul too."

"That's exactly the problem." He said, glancing sadly down at the rather tussled, bruised, and bloody woman.

"That's a problem?" Siri asked, peering down at Agwene.

Timon nodded a little. "Every Gwydion...you can't share this knowledge with anyone, you understand?"

"I promise," she replied.

"Every Gwydion feels the commands of the good to be absolute and unbreakable. Every lie however small, every inconsiderate gesture, every crime anywhere and any place, strikes Agwene in her heart of hearts not as one act but as the negation of goodness itself, as the willing of evil. The rage...the rage is at the whole world for failing, but more at ourselves. It is our inner demon and is against our inner demons at the same time."

Sirithil nodded a bit, listening, thinking she understood, as much as someone without the same problem possibly could, anyway. "So... does it happen often?" she asked, somewhat sadly, glancing down into the room again.

"This is the first time it's happened to Agwene in six centuries. She's normally...I don't know what he could have said." Timon sighed a little.

After some time, Agwene finally collapsed, a panting, bloody mess. Timon glanced over to Sirithil. "You can go down there now, if you wish." Sirithil nodded a bit, and she hurried from the room, down the stairs, to the heavy door with the trolls. The Trolls opened the door for her, bowing as she entered. Sirithil stepped inside, hurrying over to Agwene and kneeling down beside her. "Agwene, dear?" she asked quietly. "Are you all right?" Well, aside from the obvious.

"The world isn't worthy of you." Agwene half-murmured.

"You poor dear..." Siri stroked Agwene's hair, gently, and again, she closed her eyes and worked her magic, healing the sidhe's various wounds.

Agwene reached out and took Siri's hand. "You don't have to do that."

"Yes, Agwene. Yes, I do." She smiled, and gently, but firmly, continued.

Agwene blushed slightly. "You make me feel like a damsel in distress."

Well... right now, you sort of are." She smiled. "So don't feel bad."

"Better me than everyone in the ballroom, I suppose. I'm relatively certain I could have taken everyone there except Grandfather, you, and Alkesh."

Sirithil chuckled softly. "What in Eru's name did that fellow say to you?"

Agwene grimaced slightly. "He accused Nathi of persecuting him unjustly and of distorting the truth."

"And from your reaction," Siri smiled wryly, "I'm presuming she didn't."

Agwene smirked. "Well, I'll take her word over his. She's the first actual friend I've had."

Sirithil smiled. "You're very good to your friends... now, come, I'll help you get cleaned up, and we can go back out there." Agwene took Sirithil's hand and kissed it gently without a word.

A flash; the ground trying to pull her down. Kira leaned against the nearest object, which was, she might later have thought, a wall and not a living being, grasping for support with both hands. Damn it...

At the moment she was seeing what she could have described as an assload of whiteness, and had the sudden urge to empty the contents of her stomach somewhere nearby. What the hell was that... She took a deep breath, waited for her vision to clear, for her ears to hear something beyond that unwanted roar.

Ariel reached out, "Marcus, lead us out." Marcus took her arm, guiding her out. Once outside Ariel open a dimensional portal back to Dragonsreach and together they stepped through.

Agwene glided back into the main ballroom after some time, surveying it quietly. Her face was oh so slightly tinged with red as she walked towards the Weyrik, inclining her head. "Alchemist..."

Kira pushed off the wall, seeing the persona approach. Damn, name, what the hell was this person's name, because she knew she was supposed to know it, but and damn this pounding in the head, she had no idea what it was.

"Alchemist..."

"Uhm, your Highness," Kira fudged, bowing.

Agwene inclined her head. "I hope you're enjoying the party?"

"Yes," Kira nodded, the movement sending a white flash through her skull, still searching for the person's identity. "Kinda sedate...but it fits the mood. So, how's life?"

Agwene arches a brow ever so faintly. "Sedate?"

"Well, yeah," she reddens a bit.

Like, you didn't kill anyone yet. So it's sedate.

Except she can't say that.

"No one's died yet, so it's kinda sedate, I guess."

Agwene....just looked at Kira. There were about three of four more dances that evening before the music stopped and people started to drift home. Several of the more honored foreign chiefs of state were given state rooms in the palace itself while the other guests eventually either returned home or to hotels.

FIN