NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: I took it from you TG reply, that you agreed to do a thread about it. If I'm wrong, just post it and I'll work towards locking this thread or something.)

Dictator Christopher Bradley looked out the window of his personal plane, a plane he just recently bought off the open market, upon the lands of Parthia. He was amazed at the industralized areas who could immiedately see, the seemingly hundreds of ships at the cities docks and the extremely large city which he was told was called Persepolis. He knew these Parthians must be something great in order to achieve this and all at once he relaxed as he knew his decision to align himself with the Parthians was a good move.

A sat calmly as he endured his first airplane landing, back in Saint Alpha airplanes were non-existant be they for the military or civilian useage. In fact the one he was on was horribly primitive being roater flown instead of by jet engines. As the plane jerked as it hit the runway, Christopher Bradley was jerked as well and as the plane came to a slow stop he exhaled. He had finally landed, and without incident either. Two of his Bodyguards (men with M1 Grande-style weapons) appoarched him.

"You Excellency, we have arrived," stated one of them.

He liked the ring 'Excellency', it was actually stated to him by the Parthians in returning his telegram to them, and since then he'd informed all his immiedate bodyguards and government officals to call him by that. "Excellent," he stated as he stood up. As he exited the plane he noticed a group of Parthians standing there.

"Your Excellency, if you would follow us," stated one of them. Christopher Bradley and his bodyguards followed them. As they entered the airport complex, the Excellency was amazed at how modern it was, it even had a fully functional air conditioning system. Despite this amazment, Christopher Bradley acted like it was an everyday thing as to not tip off the escorts to it. He figured being seen as a leader of a such a primitve nation would lead the Shah to reconsider his alliance. As the escort let him to the limousine, Christopher Bradley and his bodyguards entered the vehicle again in amazment as it as liquor and other refreshments all courtesy of the Shah. His bodyguards were only of the few trained troops in Saint Alpha and knew not to make themselves at home, while a normal soldier would have already begin pouring himself something to drink these bodyguards stood still and did not even eye the liquor. Christopher Bradley wasn't a drinker himself, and preferred other refreshments, but in order to not let the Shah's kindness go to waste he drink himself one glass. As the limousine appoarched what appeared to be the Shah's palace Christopher Bradley didn't know what the expect.

This meeting could very well be the end or the beginning of his reign. He had to make everything go smoothly.

The great iron gates stood apart in the massive stone wall which surrounded the Shah's palace outside the city of Persepolis. It was a rugged land, the Zagros mountains nestled the acres of land and the palace itself within a sort of bowl, surrounded on three sides with snow capped peaks. The gate itself, opened in two parts, the thick iron moving aside to allow the car within the palace compound.

The road, tarmac on the outside, was now changed to a smoothed cobblestone pave, surrounded on both sides by cypress trees and peripheral buildings. In the distance, the equestiran fields and stables stood out, while the palace towered in the distance. As they grew nearer, the car passed through another gate, this one made of iron and plated with gold, shining like the sun. Once they were within the inner core of the Shah's estate, the somewhat naturalistic and sparse exterior quickly became an eden, irrigated gardens of flowers and shrubs, fountains spewing water into natural ponds, and on the side of the road, columns topped with marble statues of great kings of Parthia. The car slowly pulled into the circle drive at the end, the grand staircase to enter the palace appeared, hewn from blocks of marble, set up as two symmetrical staircases with two shallow flights of stairs, leading up to a single point centered on the entance to both staircases, almost 50 feet above the ground. The Shah's Immortals, dressed in blue and gold uniforms with blue berets bowed as the Dictator moved past them.

At the top, past the open bronze doors leading into the palace, the Shah stood, flanked by Immortals and a pair of winged bulls, hewn from massive blocks of stone, each stood over thirty feet high. The Shah himself waited for Dictator Bradley to enter, so that he could give him due welcome.

While in the car, driving threw the palace grounds Christopher couldn't help but feel as big as a spec of sand. The grounds were elligant, magnificant, and truly a work of art. When compared to Saint Alpha this palace ground alone was almost as beauitful as the whole country. He could never bring himself to believe any land was more beautiful than Saint Alpha, regardless of how true it may be. He was even more impressed when he passed threw the gold plated iron gates and to the tower itself. His 'palace' was a four story high building converted into a tempoary headquarters and when compared to the Shah's grounds was like a shack. Though in the back of his mind as he exited the limo he knew that one day Saint Alpha would far surprass this palace.

He continued to feel as bit as a spec of sand until the Immortals bowed to him. That proved two things, one the Shah respected him enough to order his men to bow and two, the Shah was taking this meeting seriously. As he appoarched the doors that would lead him to the Shah he raised his hand and his bodyguards stayed where they were. He figured the Shah wouldn't like having two ill-dressed troops stepping into his room with rifles. As the doors opened Christopher Bradley inhaled deeply and entered the room attempting to act as calm as humanly possible. He walked towards the Shah and awaited his response.

The Shah waited in the entry room (http://www.art-arena.com/Iran/golestanin.jpg), flanked by Immortals, carpets had been laid out neatly, servants stood by waiting for orders while the Shah walked up to Dictator Bradley, "Excellency, welcome to Parthia! Has my honored guest, feel free to make yourself at home, if desired, I can show you around a bit."
The Shah smiled a bit as he called forth a servant, "Please, obtain a drink for our honored guest, and bring me a scotch." The servant turned to Dictator Bradley and spoke, "Lordship, what is it that I might bring for you?"

Christopher Bradley nodded while the Shah was speaking, "Yes Your Majesty, if I may call you that, it is a honor to be in your Shahdom and yes I would desire to take a look around this magnificant palace," stated Bradley. As the servant spoke to him, Bradley smiled and knew he didn't drink but figured it was better if it he; least he seem rude. "Yes a scotch would do fine for me as well," said Bradley. With that he awaited the Shah's move.

-=Bump=-

The Shah smiled as he led the way through the left hallway, opening the mahogany doors to reveal the main hallway, floored with marble tiles under silk Persian rugs, walls covered in mosaics and frescoes, occasionally, with a large gem planted into the pictures, especially those of the epic struggles of previous Shahs. Stories of the lives of the great Shahs were sometimes done in extraordinarily ornate styles. The Shah halted near one, a man wearing an elaborate crown on a horse, recieving the sceptre from Zarathustra, though it was a relief, Zarathustra was covered in gold, with two sapphires for eyes, while the crown radiated with gems placed into it. The Shah stopped and spoke, "This is Ardeshir, the first ruler of my dynasty, he took over in 224, I come from a very ancient family you see, and we know what must be done to hold our power."