[sub][indent][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]ℍouse 𝕂othlin[/color][/h3][/i][/indent][/sub][hr]Up and down. Up and down. It was a game Arthur Kothlin often played as a child, on long trips to adjoining houses and visitations to the Aterium mines. Follow the horizon with your eyes and avoid obstacles with your vision. Pass the time. Ignore the veritable mountain of paperwork and lordly duties to be done.

Paperwork… no, he wouldn’t think of it. The stack of sheets next to him was too daunting.

[color=d8cfbe]“If I do paperwork now, I won’t have enough mental energy for the talks,” [/color]he said to himself. He tried not to look at the paperwork.

Yes. That was it. The talks. He was en route to the most important event in his life so far. He was representing the people, the lands, the [i]strength[/i] of House Kothlin.

And he was going in a carriage! The absolute nerve of his chief secretary, Oyel, to book a carriage to such an event!

[color=d8cfbe]“See, if you arrive in a carriage, you show that you’re just like those damned Southerners, and they’ll be more favorable. It’s all about impressions,”[/color] she had said in response to his protests.

She was probably right. But that didn’t make it any less boring. He loved the feel of a car, the speed, the hum of the engine, the power he felt at the wheel. In contrast, a horse-drawn carriage was so weak, so spindly, so [i]fragile[/i].

Kothlin looked out the window once more. The fence posts were passing by so [i]slowly[/i]...

[color=d8cfbe]“Agh, stonge this,”[/color] he muttered. He flicked a switch inside his gauntlet. His suit came to life, drawing energy from its power bank. His helmet tried to snap on, but he stopped it with his hand. He wanted to feel the rush of wind and air on his cheek and see the afternoon sun on the distant Jin Ranges, not projected numbers and calculations on a screen. A powersuit gave [i]life,[/i] let humans achieve their true potential and reach for their dreams. It would certainly fulfill his dream of getting out of that stuffy carriage.

He kicked the door off its hinges, sending it flying off the road and into the bushes alongside it. The carriage ground to a halt. Arthur leaped out the side and landed, the powerful servos in his greaves assisting the fluid movement.

[color=d8cfbe]“Sir, what are you-”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“I’m going on ahead!”[/color] Without another word, he kicked the suit into high gear and began running in great leaps and bounds, covering many meters in a single step.

The scenery was beautiful once he was out of the carriage. The leaves were just starting to change color, enveloping the area in brilliant reds and oranges. There had been some light rains earlier, and fresh drops glistened on every surface he passed. In the distance, he could see the dual mountains enclosing the keep on either side. From his position, it would be about two hours by carriage to reach their bases.

Forty minutes by powersuit.

He let out a laugh as the wind rushed past him. How wonderful it felt to have this control over his destiny. If the South played nice, he could possibly lend them some suits to let them have a taste of this beauty, this scenery, this wonder that was only possible through tech. [i]If.[/i]

[color=2E2C2D]hello[/color]
[sub][indent][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]ℍouse 𝕀mmolis & ℍouse 𝔻alris[/color][/h3][/i][/indent][/sub][hr]The next arrival at Harrow’s Tower came in with a bit of a crash. The massive bodies of two wyverns - one black, one grey - came down onto the ground right outside of the tower. Atop the black one, a blond man who looked as if he was about to go to war. Cedric Immolis, the man who never left home out of full armour. He got off with ease, offering his hand to one of the people on the grey wyvern. The guards rushed behind him to pick up his luggage.

The dainty form of Ruel Immolis hopped from the beast, ignoring his brother. He was dressed more elegantly, looking around with wonder. His first appearance outside of his estate. That seemed to be a recurring theme with these talks. 

[color=d8cfbe]“Take them to the stables, Lorise,”[/color] Cedric said, adjusting Ruel’s collar. [color=d8cfbe]“You’re free to do as you please. I’ll come down to check on you later, just stay out of trouble.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Got it, sir,”[/color] the woman left on the grey wyvern said. [color=d8cfbe]“I wouldn’t dream of it.”[/color] With a wicked grin, she cut the ropes securing the luggage to the other wyvern, then took to the air once more. The black wyvern followed, leaving the poor guards to scatter from the falling bags.

[color=d8cfbe]“Ah! That took so long. We should really move to the north of Immolis. It takes too long to get anywhere,”[/color] Ruel yawned.

[color=d8cfbe]“You may be the lord now, but you can’t just move the capital around as you please,” [/color]Cedric replied. He waved at the guards, indicating for them to take their luggage inside. He didn’t carry any of it himself - neither did Ruel. [color=d8cfbe]“It doesn’t matter anyway. This is a one off. Don’t expect to be making lots of trips.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“This didn’t take that long!”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Lorise is a busy woman. I’m not taking you anywhere.”[/color]

Ruel opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He resigned himself to staring up at the tower. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh, wow! Isn’t this cool, Ced?”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Lords don’t stand around calling things ‘cool’. Lords go inside to prepare for the talks. Let’s go.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Yes, but lords also tell their heirs to stonge off. Come on! I wanna look around.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Language.”[/color] Cedric’s eyes narrowed.

Ruel scoffed. [color=d8cfbe]“Fine then. But later, I will have my way.”[/color]

Yet another carriage arrived. It was a rather large one this time. The outside was scuffed and plain, but as it drew nearer, it almost seemed to fade off, revealing a carriage of a much greater grandeur. Large and elegant, just like the tall woman who stepped out of it - Elise Dalris, representing the information house. She looked more like she was dressed for a dinner party than anything. Following her was a stern looking bodyguard, who was carrying at least five suitcases.

Elise didn’t hesitate. As soon as she saw them, she started running after Ruel and Cedric. She was fast. She caught up with them quickly, tackling the elder Immolis with a tight hug. He didn’t even flinch.

[color=d8cfbe]“Oh, darlings! How I missed you!”[/color]

Cedric pulled the feral woman off of himself. [color=d8cfbe]“You visited us two months ago, Elise. That’s hardly anything.”[/color] Ruel gave her a wave, to which she ruffled his hair. 

[color=d8cfbe]“[i]I[/i] missed you, Ellie,”[/color] he said, grinning cheekily. Elise looked delighted.

[color=d8cfbe]“Ruel, you’re not a child. Stop acting like one. Let’s go inside,”[/color] Cedric said. He sounded bored, as if he’d been through this scenario a hundred times before.

Ruel laughed waving his hand at his brother. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh well. Care to join us, milady?”[/color] He bowed, trying to keep a straight face. And failing. He offered his hand to the taller woman.

She took it and curtseyed. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh my! Aren’t you the gentleman?”[/color] Hand in hand, they walked into the tower. Cedric followed closely, grumbling.

[color=2E2C2D]hello[/color]
[sub][indent][i][h3][color=d8cfbe]ℍouse 𝔾ranis[/color][/h3][/i][/indent][/sub][hr]Later that day, yet another carriage arrived. Despite being from one of the closest houses to the tower, it was also one of the last to arrive. House Granis, represented by its eldest heir, Eric. He stepped out of his carriage, chest held high, cape fluttering behind him. Even when it was still inside and despite the lack of wind outside of the tower. 

He was using his gate to make that happen.

[color=d8cfbe]“Fresh air! Finally,”[/color] he yawned. A few servants trickled out after him. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh, let me take my luggage. Don’t trouble yourself with it, dear. Nyna, keep talking.”[/color] A brunette maid nodded quickly.

[color=d8cfbe]“Well, Prina was like, with the guy, yeah? Then I swear they were on a date, right. He was real close to her. He bought her some lunch and all. She can do so much better.”[/color]

Eric nodded sagely. [color=d8cfbe]“Lunch dates? Child’s play. Why, afternoon tea is all the rage these days. I don’t want my sister at the mercy of such low class men.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“I [i]know[/i], right? So then, like…”[/color]

Nyna continued to recount the event of Prina’s outing, Eric making occasional comments while the guards inspected the carriage. He handed them their invitation letter, and after a minute, the gate opened for them.

[color=d8cfbe]“How disappointing. If she wanted to go on dates, she really ought to let me set her up,” [/color]Eric sighed. [color=d8cfbe]“Come now, get settled into the tower. You can all head into the town for the evening once you’ve unpacked.”[/color]

Enthusiastic at the prospect of a day off, the servants hurried inside. Eric followed them leisurely, humming a tune to himself. Soon, he would be meeting with some of the most powerful people on the planet. Somehow it didn’t bother him at all. It was the content of the talks that he was nervous about. So important that Pachel had bothered to turn up, alone, no less. There was no use dwelling on it.