NationStates Jolt Archive

5 Minutes till Showtime

The beautiful new Empress of the Rystal Dynasty and the Empire of Khallayne looked into her mirror as the best makeup artists in the Empire did the final touches to ensure that Her Majesty looked her best on camera. "My darling please don't do this," pleaded her mother the Grand Vizzer Opal ry'Ewo Rystal, "You'll bring the Empire crashing down into rack and ruin, you know you will if you do this..." Her Blessed Majesty had had all she could stand, "Mother, SHUT UP!" the slap that rang out brought all activity in the room to a stand still.

"How... How... How Dare YOU! Guards!" Empress Diane screamed in indignation, "Remove this woman to her chambers and keep her there until I have time to deal with her." The guards removed the sputtering 40ish mother of this young 15 year old monarch out of the room.

"Now you will have to do my makeup agian. And do it fast and perfect or I'll have your head."

The makeup artist believed her.

The Announcement

The 15 year old Empress Diane al'Von Rystal I, the youngest Head of State the Empire had ever seen and currently the youngest Head of State in the world stood at the podium. Her growing breasts filled her blue satin strapless evening gown and her short but growing fingernails were painted midnight blue. Diane's fiery red hair was held back by a tiara of silver and sapphires.

Before her was an audience she herself had preselected, the Senators who had supported her, liberal clergy of The Way of Peace, and leaders of various Reform groups in the Empire (the legal ones at least).

The Empress then began to speak, her words and image on live television, her words spoken to History itself.

"Imperial Citizens of the Empire of Khallayne, and followers of The Holy Order of The Way of Peace. For over a thousand years since the formation of Empire it has been Imperial Policy that all Imperial Citizens share the same religious beliefs in the hope that this would encourage the birth of Orange Heaven when almost all of creation would follow The Way of Peace."

"This Policy is Wrong."

"More than wrong, this policy has during the Reign of Emperor Giusecchio III turned to mass executions on live television, sadistic torture, and high crimes agianst HUMANITY itself. Even the Holy Praetor Yvette herself has asked me to stop the maddness."

"Henceforth, in all lands and protectorates of the Empire of Khallayne I declare Absolute Religious Freedom and the right to pursuit religious enlightenment in all non-dangerous faith-systems and beliefs."

"Of course certain ancient pacts forged in blood with the Holy Order will remain, The Way of Peace will forever be the State Faith, but no longer the Only Faith."

"May my Era of Glorious Reformation take hold all across the Empire, May Yellow Heaven, and ALL Heavens support us!"

What seemed a tidal wave of cherring emerged in the audience as in perfect synchronization they rose to give their Empress a standing Ovation.

I would like to congratulate the princess on bringing her nation a step in the right direction away from the horrors of the past and into the bright potential of the future. It is within the interests of such a future that I would like to visit your nation sometime in the near future, to discuss the possibility of alliance and trade.

Prince Nikola Kedaz
First in Line to the Throne
Constitutional Monarchy of Torlanseff

Mirkana hails this decision by the Empire of Khallayne to proclaim religious freedom. After all, all persecution does is anger the persecuted, and what good can come of that?
This also is the first statement by the Armed Republic regarding the Empire of Khallayne. We hope that you will regard us as friends.

General Remmol
CoC of the Armed Republic of Khallayne

I would like to thank Prince Nikola Kedaz and General Remmol for their kind words, this is a sign that the Empire has needed to change the policy of One Faith at any cost. It is good to know that despite the die-hards in both Temple and State this is the right desision.



Her Blessed Majesty Empress Diane al’Von Rystal I, Empress of the Khallaynans, the Daughter of Heaven, Protector of the State, Defender of the Faith, Descendant of the Prophet, Ascendant to Yellow Heaven

1 hour after Announcement

The 15 year old Empress glared at her mother who served as her Grand Vizzer in the Imperial Court. "How dare you slap me!" Diane roared at her mother, "How DARE you challange Imperial Will and Policy!" "Di, my darling..." Opal began but was cut off. "Don't you Di, me mother, how could you humiliate me in front of all those people?!"

"Because you've made a mistake." The Mother-Dowager and Grand Vizzer said simply to her furious daughter.

The two were in total privacy inside the Mother-Dowager's opulent bedchambers in the Palace of Perfect Serenity in the Imperial City. Opal sat down on a chair made of rare Italian Silk after her daughter had already done so, the Empress did a few visible breathing exercises to calm herself down.

"This will cause the government, the Holy Order, the nation itself to fracture into divided camps." the Grand Vizzer said, "One group that supports your Religious Freedom Policy, one agianst, and multipule groups out to bring down the Dynasty to form whatever Commie/Fascist vision they have for us."

Empress Diane the replied with a voice that seemed backed by every Imperial Anscestor speaking as one, "But this is the right desision, and I have a plan to break up any resistance to both the Proclamation and to me."

"You'll see, trust me."

"Tell me, my son, what do you think of this empress of Khallayne?" Nikola sighed as he and his father went over current events. The attempted assassination of the Aequalio delegate had dampened international trust, but the blame was going mostly toward the nation the fanatic had associated himself with. "She's oppositional defiant, a tad naive, but she's very ambitious and-"

"I didn't ask you to analyze her. I asked what you think of her." Nikola raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "She's a tad young, but her emotion compensates. She seems... interesting."

The King smiled and gestured for a messenger. "I was wondering why you wanted to meet her in person." Nikola's blood practically froze. "You went through my message before it was sen-"

"I didn't need to. Did you honestly think anything the royal family does can ever truly be secret?" Nikola nodded and returned to the papers. "No doubt you already have some sort of scheme planned for the empress."

"For the both of you. If you're going to show interest in foreign royalty, we may as well take advantage of-" King Nicholas sighed as his son stormed out of the room. That boy always thought he could keep secrets.

-=- -=- -=- -=- -=-

"Hello, Nikola." Nikola had just picked up the phone and the contact was already on the line. He was good. "What does his majesty need?"

"See if Empress Diane al'Von Rystal I is interested in a private meeting with the constitutional prince of Torlanseff. Let her know it can either be her coming to Torlanseff or me coming to Khallayne, but I would prefer the latter to keep my parents from making a mess of things. Make sure she knows that despite being a constitutional prince, I still hold substantial political power."

"No problem. She'll have the message within the hour."

"Oh and y'know that nation........Khallayne?
Yes the one who declared that everyone of us who didn't follow their religion were Heathens?
Well they now seem to have been taken over by a young lady who has declared that everyone can follow whatever religion they want...."

The Valkyra present (10 of the 12) look at each other in amazement, that was bound to cause one hell of a lot of trouble for them.

Sonne continued.
"Yes and by the news report I saw on the TV this morning, they have changed colour as well. It seems that blue is the vogue.

I wonder however, what has happened to the previous Emperor and Empress?
Trine didn't speak very highly of the old Empress at all, but she was with child."

OOC For Children of Valkyrja: Death of an Emperor... (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=448425) will tell you everything you need to know.

"You called me?" General Foran, Secretary of Commerce asked.
"Yes," General Remmol answered calmly. "I need to talk about expanding our commercial affairs to Khallayne. Since they have declared religious freedom, we can now go there without our people being executed for heresy."
Foran checked a list of business activities abroad. "I would recommend the usual - security contractors. Captain Joseph Corran would be a good choice."
Remmol raised his eyebrows. "I'm not familiar with Captain Corran."
Foran called up his service record. "He's got an excellent command record. Ran the Enforcers (OOC: Mirkanan military police) in Redwater for five years. Cut crime by 30%."
Remmol smiled. "An excellent choice. I'll talk to the Empress."

".........Executed in their bed and then mass suicide by the executors by all accounts......"

Sonne throws the papers down on the desk and leans back in her chair.

"From all accounts this new "Empress" isn't much better mannered or able than the last.
Sisters, I recomend that we leave them to it, not the sort of peoples we really want to deal with."