Post by cerdigon on Jun 5, 2017 18:07:14 GMT
Bells tolled within the city, a long serpentine procession of men, horses, and a small army of courtiers trailed in the wake of Crown Prince Rhodri Aeron Sefti. The heir of House Sefti was making his first visit to the Southern capital of the Empire for the first time in five years. Emperor Aeron himself, approaching his second century rarely left the Northern capital of Morgraig and was slowly transferring more and more responsibilities of the state to his grandson.
The scion of House Sefti and House Rodrigo seemed a natural fit to succeed his grandfather, containing blood links to House Sefti and Rodrigo in a marriage that linked both royal houses. For a man entering his eighth decade, he still looked remarkably young. His true appearance being of a man in his early forties with a shock of grey bursting through a mop of thick black hair. It was a result of his Sylph blood that had slowed the aging process so dramatically, though Rhodri knew he would never live as long as a pure blooded Sylph or Elf. The Prince was tall with a muscular build, having the broad shoulders to support a set of wings that weren't there. Unfortunately, complications in his birth had meant that those wings had been amputated as a result of a deformity. No one said that mixing human and Sylph blood wouldn't bring complications...
He was neither human, nor Sylph. Much like his grandfather before him, he was an outsider, a microcosm of the Esharan Empire today that was full of multiple races and people.
" Your Grace. " The Prince said bowing low as he entered the throne room of the Emperor, a wave of courtiers from both nations standing side to side. Like the sea splitting before a prophet, they parted before him as he approached the dais.
" Cousin. " He said, his face splitting into an even broader grin. Rhodri had known the Berrandan Emperor since he was a small child on visits to the Imperial Court.
" I come on behalf of your co-Emperor Aeron Sefti to conduct a tour of our glorious Southern Holdings, I invite you to come North with the new year. It has been too long since we've been graced with your presence in Morgraig. "
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In with the soldiers, courtiers, servants, mistresses and minstrels of Prince Rhodri's party came five men with a different mission. Each wore the silver badge of the Imperial Courier Service and it would be widely expected with such a large party that the Prince would want a small army of messengers on hand.
Alas however, Colonel Louis Ortega and his staff had come on different matters entirely. One relating to the Northern Border and the Union of Haiho's ambitions to rally the pagan nations. Such efforts could not be ignored. Ortega and his Berrandan counterpart rarely had face to face meetings, but the cover of a state visit meant that a sufficient number of eyeballs would be on the Royals as they met.
Ortega had arranged for a small drawing room in the palace to be set aside, pausing briefly to wipe the dust from his spectacles before looking up at his Berrandan counterpart.
" Shall we begin then? " He said, handing over the latest intelligence gathering and Imperial troop movements towards the Northern border. It was going to be a long night and even longer weeks ahead but both of their monarchs were relying on the intelligence both services could find.
The scion of House Sefti and House Rodrigo seemed a natural fit to succeed his grandfather, containing blood links to House Sefti and Rodrigo in a marriage that linked both royal houses. For a man entering his eighth decade, he still looked remarkably young. His true appearance being of a man in his early forties with a shock of grey bursting through a mop of thick black hair. It was a result of his Sylph blood that had slowed the aging process so dramatically, though Rhodri knew he would never live as long as a pure blooded Sylph or Elf. The Prince was tall with a muscular build, having the broad shoulders to support a set of wings that weren't there. Unfortunately, complications in his birth had meant that those wings had been amputated as a result of a deformity. No one said that mixing human and Sylph blood wouldn't bring complications...
He was neither human, nor Sylph. Much like his grandfather before him, he was an outsider, a microcosm of the Esharan Empire today that was full of multiple races and people.
" Your Grace. " The Prince said bowing low as he entered the throne room of the Emperor, a wave of courtiers from both nations standing side to side. Like the sea splitting before a prophet, they parted before him as he approached the dais.
" Cousin. " He said, his face splitting into an even broader grin. Rhodri had known the Berrandan Emperor since he was a small child on visits to the Imperial Court.
" I come on behalf of your co-Emperor Aeron Sefti to conduct a tour of our glorious Southern Holdings, I invite you to come North with the new year. It has been too long since we've been graced with your presence in Morgraig. "
------------
In with the soldiers, courtiers, servants, mistresses and minstrels of Prince Rhodri's party came five men with a different mission. Each wore the silver badge of the Imperial Courier Service and it would be widely expected with such a large party that the Prince would want a small army of messengers on hand.
Alas however, Colonel Louis Ortega and his staff had come on different matters entirely. One relating to the Northern Border and the Union of Haiho's ambitions to rally the pagan nations. Such efforts could not be ignored. Ortega and his Berrandan counterpart rarely had face to face meetings, but the cover of a state visit meant that a sufficient number of eyeballs would be on the Royals as they met.
Ortega had arranged for a small drawing room in the palace to be set aside, pausing briefly to wipe the dust from his spectacles before looking up at his Berrandan counterpart.
" Shall we begin then? " He said, handing over the latest intelligence gathering and Imperial troop movements towards the Northern border. It was going to be a long night and even longer weeks ahead but both of their monarchs were relying on the intelligence both services could find.
