Imperial Wedding (Closed RP)
OOC: okay, for those who signed up here http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=416083 here it is...
IC:
The imperial palace seemed to be drapped in white and red silks, Lady Yokako observed from the slow moving automobile. It bore her family crest upon, the mon of the Kujo family.
For, members of the imperial household could only marry other member, foreign royalty, or members of one of the Five Great Princely Houses.
She had the luck to be of the latter. And thus, it was Lady Yokako who had the honor of being selected as the future empress. Soon, she would pass through the gates that marked the inner palace, where the imperial family resided, and it would be all over...
Or not quite. She'd still have to be named a Lady in Waiting to the Imperial Family ("Tenji") as tradition demanded, and stay the night alone.
"And tommorrow is the day...that I'm wed, and that I meet my future husband." the utter blasphemy and irony of it all shocked her.
The maid at her right gently laid a hand upon the silk sleeve of her ceremonial kimono (one of the few times that she had ever worn such a garmet).
"Yes?"
"We've reached our destination."
"Good." as the car came to a stop, Yokako stepped out, accompanied by two train bearers. Slowly, they made there way towards the Palace of Imperial Glory, a large building dedicated to houseing the Ladies in Waiting.
Two hours later the announcement was made, and everyone was preparing for the wedding that was to take place the next day, at midnight.
OOC: that should give everybody time to arrive...
General John Csaszar, Supreme Leader of Doweir, looked out the window of the modified Dassault Falcon 900B jet. They were beginning their decent to Tisopea. With him was his 25 year old son Marc and their two personal bodyguards. Marc was home on leave from military officer training. He insisted that his son come with him, since Marc had never traveled outside the Region of Brock, and also for him to meet the many world leaders that would be there, and with whom he may have to deal with, when he took over as Supreme Leader one day.
The jet made a smooth landing on the runway and came to a stop. John and his party walked down the stairs of the plane onto the runway. A couple dozen paces away there was a long black limo waiting for them. A short man dressed in a navy blue suit and blue chauffer cap walked up and greeted them.
“Hello, my name is Deryk, the Emperor is expecting you.” He looked at John “how would you like me to address you sir?”
John gave a slight smile “General Csaszar will suffice” he replied. “This is my son Marc and these two gentlemen are our security. I would have brought more, however I was assured by the Emperor that security will be more than adequate.”
“Yes, indeed.” Deryk opened the back door of the limo, “Very good, I will drive you to the palace at once.”
The four Doweirians got in to the luxurious vehicle and were driven to the palace. None of them had been to Tisopea before, and even John found it hard to hide his interest in the foreign surroundings as they drove.
A short while later, they were there. The palace was not too unlike the palace John called home in Doweir. It was beautiful, majestic, and powerful all at once.
The limo stopped just outside the main entrance. John and his entourage emerged.
Baron Fudamoto no Kazetaka was not a particularly powerful man. He was nearing fifty and rather looked it. Thus, it had come as a surprise when the Emperor had appointed him to the position of greeting the Doweir delegation. However, such an appointment meant that his future could benefit, and thus he resolved to take adavantage of it.
He wore a simple dark western style suite, adorned with several awards recieved for a few services to the throne.
Slowly, he cleared his throat, just as the convoy arrived at the Great Heavenly Gate, which marked the entrance to the 300 acre palace complex. As the Supreme Leader stepped out of the car, he greeted him genially.
"Welcome to Tisopea, Your Execelency. I hope you enjoy your stay here at the imperial palace. As you can see, the silk draped all about is for the upcoming ceremony.
"His Imperial Majesty has arranged for you to lodge, along with your party, in the Eastern Palace." he indicated a great building near the eastern palace wall. It was large and surrounded by gardens, including a carpe pond. The roof was of black tiles. "The Emperor's Guard and I will escort you. His Imperial Majesty, The Son of Heaven, will meet with you shortly. He himself dwells in the Imperial Compound, at the Palace of Divine Bliss." Again, Baron Fudamoto found himself showing the dignatary another building, this time it was a large maroon wall, which surrounded an inner complex of palaces and gardens.
"Best wishes, now follow me..."
Yokako had been very surprised to find out that she would not be named a Tenji, in accordence with the old tradition. Instead, it had been decided that such a thing was unneeded and archiac.
Thus, the young girl had been turned away, with her party, from the Hall of Tenji. However, old traditions were kept, and she was instead bid to climb inside a gilded planquin. This done, the Lady was carried to the palace that housed the emperor's wife and her future mother in law, Empress Sadako.
Sadako was a kind woman, in her mid fourties, and of the powerful Fujiwara Family. Ushered in, she bid her soon-to-be daughter in law rest.
"Attendants will arrive tommorrow to array you for the ceremonies. Until then, well, I'd revel in being single." she winked. Such a comment was not neccessary heard by a woman believed to be the wife of a god. Thus, it was hard for Yokako to smile, but she pulled it off.
It was going to be interesting, these next few days, she thought...
Baron Fudamoto let the group through the beautifly manicured gardens and into the Eastern Palace. The ancient building was breathtaking. The group from Doweir walked in silence, taking in the foreign elements.
John walked up to Baron Fudamoto so he was beside him. Being a military man before he was ever a leader of a nation, and still wearing his customary military uniform, he was curious about the agenda.
"Baron, is there a schedule of events that we should know about?"
OOC: I'm crazy busy, I'll try to do more later.
"Not for today, no, Excelency. Tommorrow a chamberlain will deliver the proper information and lists of events." the baron answered.
Lady Yokako had been awake since dawn. She and the Empress had risen early, so that they could dress in traditional court robes (which were only worn upon certain occassions). Ladies in Waiting had robed her in a priceless white silk kimono, embroidered in silver and gold threads.
The Empress entered the room, "The planquin has been readied to take you to the palace's Holy Shrine of Amaterasu. You'd best go."
"Oh...yes, of course." she was startled, but easily recovered. In almost pristine grace, she made her way outside, and boarded the planquin, which was soon born away to the shrine by six footmen.
The ceremony was about to begin.
The Doweir delegation were shown to their rooms where their luggage was delivered.
“When can I meet with the Emperor?” Asked John. “Will we be having dinner with him and his son?”