[center][b][h1]The Kingdom of Thakis[/h1][/b] [i][h3]Morning, Throne Room, Pharess' Palace[/h3][/i][/center] [hr] ...Undead had no need for sleep, and yet she found this behavior of the living to be relaxing in some sense even now. The top floor of the palace was a place that few ever trod, and among those were herself and her servants and occasionally some of the royal guards. Even so it was her bedroom, a grand room in a large rectangular shape with smooth marble walls and flooring that were peerlessly shined and cleaned each day. Grand rugs and carpets made of the best hides and materials sat symmetrically around the floor on either side of her grand bed and especially before the grand door to enter her chambers on one of the smaller side walls in the far east of the ballroom-sized bedchamber. To this end it was to be noted that her own grand bed lied against the long back wall to the south of her bedchamber, the bed itself oversized and covered in soft silks and velvet sheets and gold/silver trims and so forth and standing upon a specially carved and strengthened Dracis stone bed frame with embedded jewels. Even so the bed was as soft and fluffy to lie upon as only the grandest of kings and dukes and emperors could hope to ever know. Likewise, opposite of this long back wall on the other long length-wise side was then a large wall of windows in turn, shielded by soft and luxurious curtains that effectively blocked out light. A few side tables sat on either side of the ruler's grand bed, though more notably on the far western side of her chambers sat tools and alchemical appatari and shelves of supplies and books and ink and quills and other desks or shelving filled with messy tomes bound in leather and sewn together with a fine and very careful touch. A work station for a scholar, yet fit and stocked for a queen no less. On this note the undead queen, after sitting up and scooting to the edge of her bed in her velvet red silk nightgown, pushing pure white sheers underneath the velvet top cover, gave a snap of her fingers after letting out a yawn. By the time her legs swung over the edge and onto the soft rug-covered marble flooring next to her bed, two of her servants had already rushed in and began to open the curtains with a careful but trained haste. It wasn't a haste built on fear, however, but rather a sort of...disciplined reverence. Sunlight flooded in as the curtains parted, though, with the gold trimmings of the curtains and bed slightly glowing in the radiant yet harsh light of day. The Pharess didn't even have to squint, but even so softly stood up and stretched her arms and so forth. [color=gold]"Hmm...this sleep spell works generally well,"[/color] she muttered to herself, standing up on the right side of her bed and turning to face the side table, grabbing an enchanted quill and inkwell left sitting there as she opened a tome left there last night to the next clean page, [color=gold]"For undead has its merits, simulating the experience of sleep for the living. The dream experience is, however, still rough...ah. I'll introduce this to the University Head later today, let them conduct further research on the matter. Willing test subjects from a larger pool, under controlled circumstances, should allow us to find the root of that issue to fix it. Likewise it will allow other issues to come to the forefront with observation and usually proper procedures put in place..."[/color] Scribbling notes down with a sleepy expression, the enchanted quill magically re-coating in ink smoothly as she wrote with all the grace and care of a ruler and all of the haste and rapidity of a busy scholar. The inkwell near the quill itself was disturbed every so often as ink was magically transferred to the quill and the correct amount was transferred to the tip without extra mess. It was a marvel of magical craft on a personal level, an intricate if not fancy things, but in fact it was one tool the Pharess herself had put to more than a 'bit' of use over the last several hundred years. Then after she was done, she returned the quill, dried the ink magically with a wave of her hand, and gently re-closed the tome once more. [color=6A5ACD]"My Pharess. I come bearing the morning's messages."[/color] The undead queen turned her head toward the entrance to her chambers, a servant having popped her head in and asked of her before stepping in and bowing deeply before her and hurrying over. The younger servant was decked out in a red, velvety with golden trim uniform, one which hugged her arms and torso with long sleeves in a neat but fashionable stylet, yet simply had a strip of cloth in front and one behind with golden frill on the edges to accommodate a sense of comfort in movement (at least for a Dracis). A Dracis this servant was indeed as well, even persistent in her duties and willing to learn for one of her youthful age. Diligent to a fault in regards to her own health at times, yes, but she'd promised the girl's parents back in the mountains that she'd be well taken care of and educated in the palace those several years ago. After all, a bad staff was only asking for a bad result! Likewise she wanted her people to learn, to know, to grow and become more. Such was herb belief as ruler and scholar both, and even as a mage when it came to magical learning. [color=gold]"Come, Hina, speak with me as we walk,"[/color] the Pharess said, giving a wave of her hand as her nightgown removed itself from her and neatly flew over to hang itself softly on a rack, whilst a golden dress of superbly regal design floated over in turn and donned itself onto her body, softly accentuating her curves and lovely figure even as a serpent-topped crown of gold (with silver on the bottom border and jewels about its rim in a neat pattern) gently floated down onto her head. The young Dracis briefly blushed at the sight of her Pharess, but all the same didn't avert her soft blue eyes from the scene as she rapidly scrambled to regain her tiny bit of lost composure back. It brought a smallest of grins to the undead queen's face, but even so her smile softened back into a look of stoic neutrality and regal posture once more as she donned her royal golden sandals and grabbed her golden mage's 'staff' adorned with a fan-like blade at the top of its sturdy and magically-reinforced smooth wooden shaft with a gold and silver-rimmed metal 'cap' at the bottom. She then began to walk to exit her chambers, the young Dracis moving to keep stride with her and stay by her side as they moved out into the servant-filled, guard-stationed, and bustling palace halls and stairwells. [color=6A5ACD]"Y-Yes! Ahem. The first message I was sent with was from Royal Counselor Thothas, who sends a requests a meeting about increasing border and internal garrisons for security in his provinces sitting on the Eastern border. Next is a message that the head of the Royal Guard wishes to speak with you in the throne room before it is opened for other business today. There is also the matter of General Sylvan, who has amassed and sent the latest border reports and scouting details from the south and primarily southwest provinces."[/color] [color=gold]"Hmm...first send word to Caeldari that I am already heading to the throne room as we speak. Next have the couriers send a message to Thothas that he shall have his meeting in four days' time, and to be here promptly just after sunrise. Add that his magi must coordinate with the Royal Guards to prepare a magic portal ahead of time, or else he must find another way to get here using those four days. I will hear him out, but he must provide sufficient evidence to back his demands. Finally I want the reports from General Sylvan brought to Caeldari for review, before being brought to me alongside her thoughts for further review and considerations to be made. Depending on the content we might take a few days to return a response to the General."[/color] [color=6A5ACD]"It shall be done! Then...ah...let's see...the final message has come from the far western ports, sent by Overseer Amitana, who tells that the 'special fleet' has been finished in final."[/color] The Pharess stopped for a moment, taking a glance over at Hina and giving a nod of thoughtful approval before walking again. [color=gold]"Very good. Ensure a message of my approval is sent to the Overseer by messenger magi in this case. Notify the overseer I will visit by portal tomorrow morning just after sunrise, primarily to inspect facilities and each ship going on the voyage myself. Then message the Commander to ensure proper guards are stationed to protect the ships, as well as that he is to check and quadruple-check that he and his men's supplies and rations and so forth are in order. Likewise inform him that High Diplomats Yuki and Varanian to proceed to the western coast to board alongside the other specialized personnel and traders. These priority messages, with my permission given and an emphasis on the urgency of these being sent."[/color] [color=6A5ACD]"Y-Yes, my Pharess!"[/color] Hina would say once more, with emphasis, giving a deep bow before rushing ahead, her smaller legs jotting along at a rapid pace and notably greater haste. The undead queen could even see the girl put her right hand to the side of her head, a means for focusing on using the communication magic she'd taught her long ago. Not breaking her stride this time, however, the undead queen moved with grace and vigor toward the special stairs and halls going all the way down to the throne room on the bottom floor. Four of her Royal Guards (two on each side) stood there at the entrance, saluting her staunchly with weapons in hand as she approached. They would naturally escort her along the way, switching off with select sets of guards along each segment of the narrow but grand passage. It was normal procedure, among many other things, but security was kept tight always as a general rule of thumb among the myriad procedures and processes and protocols she'd set in place long ago here in this converted and renovated 'former' royal palace built first by Thakis' former royalty pre-revival. It would be a long day ahead indeed, though, if the messages and bustle and first meeting in the throne room were of any indication. [hr] [center][h3][i]Later That Day, Western Docks, West Coast of Thakis[/i][/h3][/center] [color=tomato]"[b]Sh-Sh-She's coming [u]tomorrow[/u]?![/b]"[/color] Overseer Amitana paced back and forth in his simple office near the docks, hooves clacking on the wooden floor as the male Satyri's face twisted in a look of sudden panic after the message from the palace had been received. Yet he would suddenly stop, slap himself in the face, take a deep breath, and with his hands behind his back approach his assistant standing near the doorway of his office. The tall elf woman stood there, eyepatch over her left eye, leaning on the doorframe with her arms crossed, before letting out a small sigh and looking her boss dead in the eyes. [color=silver]"Boss, this was a big order from on high when we first got it. There is no denying that. All we need to do is finish our end and hold up our end of the deal. Just breathe, before I have the men drag you to the bar by force and I have to pass on the orders."[/color] It was something to report back to the Pharess directly via a messenger magi, albeit one sent there months ago as a royal representative no less, but the stress of the situation was something she did not envy either. Especially in the case of the ever-anxious but detail-obsessed overseer of their ship-building company here on the coast. It was no wonder he'd been chosen for the task, he was the best damned shipwright in the port city itself and even one of the very best on the Thakisian Coast, but all the same the last few months of meticulous work had made her and her boss almost ill with the raw stress alone along the way. Especially given her boss' ship-building company had been chosen to be the group to [b]direct and lead[/b] the whole work of making this strange fleet the Pharess wanted. Hell, it was a top-priority job that had taken all their work for the last six months to bring to the best possible quality their workers and more could muster without quitting or dying on the job. Rumor on the docks had it this was a diplomatic mission heading south, others said it was some kind of military-related task stopping by Karynia to assist in the succession there, and frankly even more eerie and ludicrous ideas lingered out there among the workers and locals she didn't want to think about right now. Military had sent troops there ahead of time only a month ago, which had at least kept crime down a bit more. Drove some of the shadier traders and the black-market sellers out of the waters for the moment being, or at least to the edges of town. That was how the port city of Ramouth was run, however, and had always been. Order was well enough kept overall and trade flowed splendidly on the average throughout the year, with the ice crews and ships working hard and traders flowing in from Karynia and out from Thakis to Karynia, but where the wealth was there was always a darker side to it. For example, she'd gotten smashed a few months ago with some sailors at the bar before some wife later that night stabbed her left eye out with a rope-cutting knife for supposedly 'flirting with her husband at the docks'. More like it was the damn worker from a rival company who'd been trying to sweet talk her, before she gave him a black eye and a few less teeth when he'd tried something on her that night and been kicked out by her mates from the same company. Idiot Caeldoni man. Idiot human wife of his. Either way it was a long gone encounter, nothing to ponder on right now as her boss tried to compose himself whilst they were on the cusp of the best payday in any of their combined years of experience in shipbuilding and repair. Even the men were excited at the promised pay to come, and their customer was as wealthy and reliable as they could come in all of Thakis. [color=tomato]"Y-Yes, you're right...I-I was just going to ask if you had anything for...a-ah...the nerves? Please, Navarrae?"[/color] The silver-haired elf woman rolled her eyes, but even so reached into her coat and withdrew a worn metal flask. Popping the cork out of the top, she handed it over to the shorter male Satyri. He seemed to look at it for a moment, hesitating, before finally taking a proper swig and handing the flask back. Navarrae too took a swing, before re-corking the flask and stuffing it back into her coat before gesturing to the doorway. [color=tomato]"By the gods that feels a bit better!"[/color] [color=silver]"Let's get moving, Boss, before we waste any more daylight."[/color] [color=tomato]"R-Right!"[/color]