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Post by zurajai on Sept 25, 2014 2:59:06 GMT
The construction of Juturna Kerk had gone without a hitch, the stone structure slowly growing in stature on it's hillside position overlooking the southern coast. Even from before the start of it's construction the missionaries of the Order had arrived to look over the work, to bless the structure, and to slowly start acclimating to the surrounding region. From the start the missionaries had taken time to visit local villages, spreading the word of Aed and offering the Vaekirate's aid in any issues that might be ailing the people there. It was the prerogative of the Kerkir of the mission, High Priestess Antje, to immediately get into contact with the local Vassal-Lord to really start the missionary process in full.
It was with those intentions that High Priestess Antje, a female Messarom clergywoman of notable standing within the Crimson Tome, organized and accompanied the diplomatic party sent to the Crowned Republic of Juturna. The venture consisted of the High Priestess Antje, a female Byrnian Tovenaar-Akur by the name of Adeliyu, and several other missionaries from the Order. Due to the strategic location of Juturna Kerk on an already extant road the journey to the capital of the Republic was of little consequence, the Tovenaar-Akur serving as more than enough of a guard for the group. Dressed in their simple crimson robes the Order's diplomatic party arrived in Juturna City, passing by the guards with little fanfair. It was at this point that all those who joined the High Priestess, besides Adeliyu, spread out through the city on missions of alms-giving and preaching allowing the pair to continue on to the palace proper. It was here that they dutifully waited permission to see the Queen or anyone who might give them audience.
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Post by psychopathickids on Sept 25, 2014 3:41:56 GMT
As the pair of crimson clad missionaries reached the manor proper they would find the outer doors open to them and a young woman alone upon the steps standing straight as she had been for twenty minutes, looking fondly upon the grape vines and fruit trees native to the region which dotted the hill her manor stood upon while silently scanning the horizon in anticipation of the guests a runner from the capital had just a half hour ago informed the Queen of Juturna and her court to be expecting. Gracefully descending the wooden steps which led to the outer doors of her longhall and the rest of the building proper upon spotting the pair, the Queen of Juturna stopped a respectful distance from the pair of priestesses before deeply curtseying, eyes locked upon those of each of the women before her as she took their hands in turn, reverently kissing the back of each of their hands one by one, modest gown of sky blue trimmed and fringed in cream tones and dark curls bobbing about her figure in the slight breeze coming off the sea as she introduced herself to them, “Revered servants of the One True God, I am Queen Kallista Eudokia of House Makris. Please, allow me to welcome you into my home as my honored guests. Those who devote their lives to the service of Aed shall always hold a place of esteem and friendship in the court of the Crown Republic of Juturna and seat of House Makris.”
Turning wordlessly back toward the manor Kallista couldn’t help but wonder if the Vaekirate and the Order had sent women to her and the court of the Crowned Republic in the hopes of courting favor with her, personally. Powerful women looked upon one another with great respect as a rule, did they not? Humorous really, considering women by simple merit of their gender weren’t looked upon with much respect by the people of the Southern Shores, and would be seen by much of the court to have risen too high and in a role traditionally filled by men, not something which would earn them much love among her people, and having long since accepted her place among society as one who ruled only by necessity due to her lack of a husband, brothers, paternal uncles, or sons didn’t offer them any special regard in her own eyes, but the thought still cast a knowing smile upon her lips as she walked up the steps, presumably with the missionaries in tow. Upon entering the antechamber of the manor Kallista would turn to face the missionaries while signaling a pair of handmaidens to bring the pitcher of Southern wine, strong and nearly closer to black than red in tone, three gilded goblets, and a bowl of dates, figs, pomegranates, and candied raisins they bore respectively as she offered a seat in one of the three cushioned chairs set around a small circular wooden table to each of the women in turn, before finding her own. “I trust your journey was pleasurable enough, honored guests? How is the mission coming along? I’ve been meaning to visit for some time now, but between administrating over the daily affairs of my people, establishing trade contracts with the Kingdom of Navaren, and performing my weekly food walks to provide for the poor and crippled among my people I have most sadly not been able to find the time.”
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Post by zurajai on Sept 25, 2014 5:01:02 GMT
"Most benevolent Queen Kallista Eudokia," cooed Antje, a slight smile pursing her humble features as she returned the curtsy with a traditional Messarom bow, her simple red robes fluttering. A slight crimson took to her fair skin as the Queen kissed her hand followed by an immediate shake of head as if to ward it away. "Good Queen, you need not do such things. I am but an old woman, not one of the ostentatious bureaucrats of the Grand Empire. But I thank you for your kind words."
With that the two fell in line, following the Queen through the House Makris estate, taking in the design of the place. The pair were recent arrivals to the southern shore and had yet to see much of the architecture it had to offer: Adeliyu especially showed an interest, taking extra time to stop and admire the decorative pieces. The two offered their thanks as they took their seats, respectfully declining the offer of wine but happily accepting as fruits were held up in it's place.
"We found the trip quite relaxing, thank you. Juturna Kerk, as the Chief Priest has deigned to name it, comes along well. And do not worry yourself with not visiting, I understand the Chief Priest did not request permission to build at the site in question anyways. Though, I must say, to hear that you take part in such charitable acts brings a smile to my face. To treat those people who suffer in this world with the dignity they deserve is one of the greatest ways to praise Aed. I must admit to you, your Highness, I requested this assignment intentionally. I have heard the people of the north, at least partially, are not known for their more open ideals on the rights of women. To hear of yourself, ruling as Queen, I was curious. If I may be so bold, I would ask as well about your faith? You have spoke in reverent tones of Aed, I am interested to know your true thoughts. I humbly ask you speak plainly for there are no judgements held by myself or my guardian."
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Post by psychopathickids on Sept 25, 2014 5:50:06 GMT
"As with many of the Northern monarchs, Aed is not the God of my childhood," the young Queen admitted while ushering the handmaiden bearing the pitcher of chilled wine away, and gesturing to another bearing a fresh pitcher of sweet water flavored with lemon slices and chilled nearly to freezing in the sea-side cellar beneath the manor, but twenty feet away from a natural cliff-side cavern which grew incredibly cold from the crash of the waves and sea foam against its surface with every movement of the ocean's eternal tumult, "I was raised worshiping the Seven of Lucente, though I was but six or seven when I converted, and hardly remember a time when I didn't worship Aed," Kallista confessed as she grasped the pitcher’s handle and poured for each of the women, taking care to sip from each of the goblets in turn before placing them in front of her guests. A strange practice, but one the missionaries had no doubt grown accustomed to during their stay along the Southern Shores. During the lifetime of Raegar the Ancient poison had been as common as the figs and dates which grew plentifully on the sea side hills and coastal byways of the Crowned Republic of Lucente and her successor states, to include that of Juturna, and around four hundred years ago the noble Houses of Lucente, to include House Makris, had decided that the only way to stop poisoners, whether acting on behalf of their host or merely servants paid by invisible enemies, from killing the guests every year or so was to ensure that should a dish served to honored guests be poisoned it would mean the death of the host as well as their company, and by extension, their servants. The poisonings were pretty much stopped by that last part.
“When my father converted before Emperor Yvor Khaitis and swore fealty to him, I knelt by his side, said the words --, hardly understood what they meant in the naivety of my youth, of course, but as I grew older my tutors instructed me in the ways of the faith, and eventually I came to understand. Well, to understand as little as I do, who can truly understand the infinite splendor of Aed, after all? However, I feel as though I understand enough to get by as a humble queen of a modest nation, serving my people at the whim of the One True God,” with that Kallista stopped speaking for a moment, seemingly lost in ponderous thought as to the nature of Gods and men, picking up a date and taking a bite from it absently, revealing the filling of almond paste within the previously pitted fruit, both bitingly bitter and succulently sweet. “So far as the role of women in society, I do believe that our gender’s proper place remains that of supplicant nurturer, better suited to tend to the needs of those beleaguered and naive amongst us than to lead --, and, please do not misunderstand me, I do rather enjoy being a woman. No one asks me to don heavy, encumbering plates of mail, or lead boys younger than me to their deaths on the field of battle, and whenever my councilors discuss battle or stratagem they leave me to work at my preferred vocation as nurturer, collecting taxes to better establish trade routes on behalf of my people, designating the most advantageous sites to dig irrigation cannels, making sure the common folk do not go hungry during winter. However, I rule over the Crowned Republic only because I have neither brothers, paternal uncles, a husband nor sons,” and with that last bit the young queen seemed content for the moment, placing the rest of the date in hand into her mouth before taking a drink from her own goblet of fresh, cool water.
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