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Hidden 11 mos ago 11 mos ago Post by Tpartywithzombi
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Tpartywithzombi “Strong women are absolutely unpredictable.”

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Time: 5pm - 6pm
Location: Guest house
Mention:Farim - @LavaAlckon
Appearance:Dress, Hair style but red,

The afternoon with Callum was nothing short of amazing for Ari. Having someone she could trust with such an important thing and having that person love magic even more than herself was inspiring to her. They finished off their afternoon talking about so many different things she couldn't keep track of it all. However, she did promise Farim that she would attend the supper and with Ana running off she would feel horrible if he ended up going alone.

After some time at home, Ariella had cleaned up and headed towards the estate for dinner. Arriving outside she stood around nervously. She had never really gone to such an intimate private event before and her mother certainly did a bunch of work on her nerves. When she found out who would likely be attending she was quick to pull out a new dress she had ordered, making sure that she was overdressed as always. Ari just hope she wasn't TOO overdressed.

Finally spotting someone she pulled him aside. " Um..excuse me..Could you find Farim, please? My name is Lady Edwards, I was supposed to meet him for dinner." The man didn't say much, he simply nodded and walked off. Once again she stood alone, nervously shifting as she looked around. It wasn't long after that she heard a familiar voice that pulled her attention. She smiled at him nodding "Yes, it went very well actually. However, I cut it short to make sure you wouldn't be attending the event alone." She offered him a smile. "I do hope I'm not overdressed, I wasn't sure what you wear to a dinner like this, and Mother insisted I wear the new gown she ordered." She looked down at her gown pulling at the sides of it. "You're right we should head inside, I don't want to keep anyone."

She followed him inside the Estate and towards the dining room where there was already a group of people chattering amongst themselves. She looked around clearly nervous as her fingers fidget with the fabric on her dress. She smiled nervously trying to keep her cool, she started to second guess why she decided to come but her new friend was simply more important than her silly anxiety.
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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Rodiak
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Rodiak 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔞

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L A D Y Z A R A I L E S D E M A N
L A D Y Z A R A I L E S D E M A N

S O R I A N P A R K , 6 : 0 0 P M

I N T E R A C T I O N S :
@Mole@Conscripts@Potter

M E N T I O N S :
@princess


After the hardy feast with Anastasia, Wystan, and Sir Barrios, they parted ways in what Zarai thought was a peculiar way. Anastasia had seemed rushed and somewhat nervous when saying her goodbyes. Now, as her mind settled back down and the edges of the worlds began to materialize back to reality, she realized how uneasy she felt about it.

Her hands toyed with the lace of her dress, fingers working to trace the repetitive patterns there to soothe herself. Anastasia still had the other guards with her, and Caesonian knights would not let anything happen to their princess. Right? She’d send her a letter later, ensuring the princess had returned safely to the palace.

“My lady,” Sir Barrios said as he approached the bench, she was sitting in. He had two cones of flavored shaved ice, one lemon and the other vanilla. He handed her the vanilla one before taking the empty seat next to her. He was glad that she had finally settled down and wasn’t keen on running around anymore. Gods know what Duchess Lesdeman would have done if she saw Lady Zarai out of her wheelchair and about the streets.

Zarai had requested Sir Barrios to take her to the beach for the afternoon, opting out of seeing the sword competition. As much as she would have liked to watch it, she was starting to become groggy from her high, and being around so many people and loud noises, she knew she’d been overwhelmed. Zarai would rather spare Sir Barrios that.

“Thank you.” She took the cone, mindlessly eating the shaved ice as she stared at the sea.

They sat there for what felt like hours in silence, something Zarai was grateful for. They watched from their bench, kids running around until they found a spot near them. One of the kids began to draw a circle while the other two opened a brown sack. She could hear the clicking from inside, marbles. She’d played with marbles before when they were all the rage in Varian. She still had her pretty collection back home stored somewhere in the attic.

Roll.

Roll.

Clink.


Footsteps approached them, and Sir Barrios quickly stood and turned to see a stranger holding a pink envelope. The messenger greeted the knight, handing him the envelope before departing. Zarai continued to look at the children, now in full swing in their game.

“It says it’s from Princess Sadie.” Sir Barrios offered the letter to her, and when she didn’t move to take it, he opened it for her instead. The knight hummed with curiosity, eyes darting to Zarai when her shoulders twitched. “Very interesting, but I do not think–”

Zarai sighed and glared back at Sir Barrios, palm extended to him for the letter. He tried and failed to hide the smug smile as he handed her the paper.

Like one of those new fancy electricity bulbs, her mood lit up seconds after reading the letter. “Oh!” She stood up abruptly, wincing as she did so. “We should go!” Zarai thought it might be fun to see the rest of the Varians enjoying each other's company.

Sir Barrios stared at her as if she had just pulled a magic trick on him. He nodded slowly and helped her into the wheelchair.

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Sir Barrios had to carry Zarai up the small hill to where the gathering would take place. She had initially tried to climb by herself, but with every step, the pain in her torso grew worse until she had to ask the knight for help. She tried not to look at him as they both made their way uphill, too afraid to see the expression on his face. Zarai would have to be blind to not see how he looked at her. Everyone in Puerto Vira who had heard the rumors looked at her the same way.

Dirty. Degenerate. Disappointment. A waste. Unworthy to become the future Duchess of the grand southern city of Puerto Vira. What a bunch of bullshit. Zarai blamed her crash for being so susceptible to others’ opinions.

When they finally arrived at the location, Sir Barrios set her down near Princess Sadie and Prince Felix. She’d hoped to be further away, but the knight had deemed it necessary to greet the royals first. Great.

“Your Royal Highness, Prince Felix. Princess Sadie.” She did her best to curtsy both of them without wincing or shaking. “Thank you for extending the invitation; it is a lovely reception with an amazing view.” She smiled, turning to John to extend the greeting before excusing herself to sit away from the growing group.
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Hidden 11 mos ago 11 mos ago Post by Lava Alckon
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Lava Alckon

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Farim

Location: Guest House -> Dining Room
Time: 6pm
Mentions: Ariella @Tpartywithzombi, Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Mayet @13org, Layla @Potter, Nahir @Rodiak, Leo @Helo, and Charlotte @princess


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Farim would smile brightly at his friend, eyeing the gown she had chosen for the evening and nodding in approval. "You are looking splendid, not at all too much!" He held out a hand for her to take before turning towards the hallway leading to the dining room. "No matter what you wear I am sure someone like yourself will always be a radiant beauty. He said with a wink, gently leading her towards the room where everyone was seated.

An array of familiar sensations filled his lungs and nostrils. His demeanor lightened up even more as he was reminded of home, his hand seemed to absent-mindedly grip onto Ariella's as he took in the sights. He looked around and saw his family amidst a few other faces he had yet to see. Before he could address them he would first turn towards the Sultan.

"Ah, dear Sultan, always the brightest in the room. I am happy to see you in good health, and hope the day's toils have not had much wear on you. This will be a fun dinner!" He said with a deep bow before beginning to walk around the table with Ariella towards an ideal spot to sit. The first one he saw was a young man who had an outstretched hand greeting him about his exploits as a tradesman. He smiled and met the hand with his own, shaking it firmly and beaming with pride at the notion that even in far away lands his trades were talked about. "It is certainly nice to meet you as well. With a stature like yourself I believe you must be one of the Danrose brothers." He took a moment looking the man up and down to take his guess, as he hadn't caught the man's name yet. "Prince Auguste, I presume?" He ended the handshake and gave a much more reserved bow before walking over with Ariella towards their seats.

He stopped very briefly however once I saw the man sitting at the other end of the table. He knew that seat would be for his "father", whom he despised, yet another man he had not yet met sat in that chair. The man seemed to be teeming with his own sense of pride and confidence that Farim had to admit was quite bold of him. He walked beside the man and stopped to lean down and whisper. "I do not know you, sir, but I should warn you that the Grand Vizier usually sits opposite of the Sultan. So do be careful."

He continued in stride towards to the two open seats near the man he just spoke to and pulled a seat out for Ariella to place herself. He had given her the seat nearest to Nahir since he had noticed a slight disposition from her when she walked by the strangely confident man. He then took a seat between her and the man he would soon learn to be Lorenzo before looking around the table.

"I am happy to see so many faces, some old, some new. For those not properly acquianted I am the one and only Farim Hafiz Kadir. Pleasure to meet you all and to see some of you again." His hand casually gestured towards Ariella, a smile across his face while he spoke next. "This is the lovely Lady Ariella Edwards. I do hope you don't mind that I invited her. She is but one of many lovely people I've met on my first day here. This is certainly quite the city with extremely wonderful people thus far. I hope for those whose names I do not know that we can become acquianted before we part ways this evening."

He looked towards his three cousins lined up to his right. "I trust you all had yourselves some fun in the park after our short forray. I believe I even heard some common folk referring to a growling tiger over by the pancake event, so even cousin Mayet is enjoying her time here!" He chuckled, thinking again about how they had themselves a bit of an exuberant show of fun and games earlier, but quickly waved his hand as if to stop himself from going further. "Ah but alas I came amidst a conversation. I believe Nahir was just speaking about swordplay at the colliseum. I would love to hear more!"


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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by princess
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princess

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Location: Castle Guesthouse
Interactions: @FunnyGuy Lorenzo @Rodiak Nahir @13org Mayet @Potter Layla @Helo Leo @Inertia Auguste @JJ Doe Riona




The doors creaked loudly as the Grand Vizier stormed in, his elaborate outfit rustling against his skin with every step. He wore a soft, flowing tunic in a deep shade of blue that complemented his complexion. Gold thread embroidered the sleeves, depicting patterns that gleamed under the soft light of the chandeliers. His matching coat, adorned with ornate golden buttons, fell elegantly to his thighs, and his pants hugged his legs snugly. On his head, he wore a turban in a shade of gold. The jewels that adorned it sparkled brilliantly in the light, drawing attention to his piercing gaze.

As he entered the room, his eyes scanned the guests like an animal taking in what intruders were in his territory, the air growing tenser with every second. The anger simmered just beneath the surface, and he could feel the gazes of the other guests upon him, watching his every move. However, Hafiz found himself locked on one guest in particular in no time.

“Fine of you to join us, brother.” the Sultan greeted him warmly.

“Quite.” Hafiz agreed distractedly. Before anyone could react to the new presence in the room, he was already moving toward Lorenzo with a purpose. As he loomed over Lorenzo, Hafiz's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of a shout of fury. "Duke Vikena. Move from that seat," he commanded with a chilling authority, his eyes boring into Lorenzo's with a look that could curdle blood. "You insolent fool." The words dripped with venom, though it was only loud enough for those close enough to Lorenzo to hear.

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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by 13org
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13org Stay fresh!

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Time: 6pm
Location: Guest House Dining Room - Dinner with the Sultan
Interactions: Nahir @Rodiak, Layla @Potter, Farim @Lava Alckon, Leo @Helo, Sultan Raif Kadir, Prince Auguste @Inertia , Charlotte @princess, Lorenzo @FunnyGuy
Mentions: Riona @JJ Doe, Grand Vizier Hafiz Kadir




Mayet couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the small 'accident' that was most probably caused by the servant who was with Lord Leo. Coupled with the intense stare the woman had, Mayet was definitely intrigued by her. After all, it didn't take much to imagine that servants who made such... 'mistake' would be punished very severely by the likes of King Edin and the other more... haughty nobles.

Fortunately for the servant, Lord Leo didn't seem to take that much offense to her little prank. At least not immediately. While Mayet thought of offering Leo her help, seeing how he apparently didn't want to draw any more attention to that small accident than what he had to, Mayet simply offered a silent, apologetic nod as he regained his balance.

It wouldn't be until later, when Prince Auguste arrived that she would learn the name of the particular servant who almost made Lord Leo fall down. After hearing her name, Mayet gave another glance towards Riona, with an intrigued expression before she turned to Prince Auguste. If it wasn't clear before, it would be more than clear now that Riona had definitely caught Mayet's attention.

"Prince Auguste, thank you! I must admit, even though I was merely testing my opponent at first, she proved herself to be remarkably talented! Its a shame my offer for her to go back to Alidasht with me was rejected. With some training, that woman... 'Reogh', would become a very dangerous blade." Mayet said with an amused expression. While her usage of the word 'blade' instead of warrior was a bit strange, it was undeniable that her words were of praise to the 'unknown' fighter.

"But I digress. Your match was also a wonderful event to watch. Not only a true show of skill and mastery of Caesonian swordplay, but your sword also told me a lot about yourself..." Mayet said, with an amused smile towards Prince August.

Mayet's words to Auguste weren't simply empty words, as it was definitely a very entertaining duel. One thing Mayet couldn't help but notice was how different Auguste's sword was compared to his usual demeanor. The moment the battle began was almost as if Prince Auguste finally dropped the 'noble' mask he wore, truly enjoying the thrill of the combat.

Coincidentally, another one of the Caesonian princes seemed to have a similar 'fire' within him, which became clear in his swordplay... Prince Wulfric. Although this one was much more ferocious and dangerous... Traits that definitely made Mayet interested.

"It seems we both might have more in common than I previously thought..." Mayet said with an mischievous smirk.

"Oh! Before I forget, I must thank you for the events the royal family hosted on these last days. The hunting and the swords competition in particular were very enjoyable." Mayet said, the previous, enigmatic expression she had immediately giving way to a smile as she thanked Prince Auguste for the events, after she overheard him mentioning them to Lord Leo.

Soon after Mayet took her seat before her sisters, Nahir and Layla arrived. The latter one making quite an entrance, as it was already expected of her.

"Sister Layla, sister Nahir! You both surely took your time, didn't you?" Mayet asked with a smile as she greeted both of them.

"Zilal, adorable as always, aren't you?" Mayet said with a chuckle, gently caressing Zilal's head after he greeted Nala with a boop.

"Humble as the room might be, you need to admit that the cutlery, the dishes and especially, the unmistakable aroma of the fine spices surely make up for it." Mayet said, closing her eyes for a moment as she felt the wonderful aroma of traditional Alidasht cuisine being prepared on the kitchen.

"At least we won't have to bear the Caesonian cooks and their pitiful attempts to imitate Alidasht cuisine." Mayet said to Layla with a chuckle.

"Don't get me wrong, Caesonian food isn't that bad... But the cooks surely should keep focusing on their field of expertise instead of trying to copy us." Mayet completed with a shrug.

It was just after that when her cousin Farim approached them, mentioning the growl Nala gave on the park, back when she went to try some of the pancakes before being interrupted.

"Oh that... You can thank that small growl to the impertinent people who don't seem to know how to approach someone of royal blood..." Mayet said, rolling her eyes as Farim mentioned how the commoners seemed to be talking about Nala's growl back at the park.

"Still, ignoring some of the... 'problems' we had to deal with, my stay in Caesonia has been quite interesting so far. The recent events surely helped me to vent some of my frustration." Mayet replied to Farim with a chuckle.

It didn't take too much for Layla to notice Auguste though, which wasn't surprising, considering how well he was dressed. Her small provocation to Prince Auguste made Mayet let out a chuckle before she turned to Layla again.

"You know, sister Layla... Prince Wulfric seems to hide quite a 'fire' inside of him, if you can see past the noble mask he wears... I wonder if this 'fire' extends to other matters beside the blade..." Mayet said in a mischievous tone to Layla, not only because she knew Layla would definitely like to know that, but since her comment would also make help Layla to tease the prince.

Unlike Layla and Mayet, Nahir's reply to Prince Auguste was more formal and not as provocative. In a certain way, Nahir was quite similar to Prince August, regarding the mask both of them wore in most social and political events. Maybe that was the reason why Nahir seemed to want to change the subject instead of letting Layla have her fun with the prince. Instead, she asked both Mayet and Layla about the competition, something which Farim also seemed to be interested in.

"Of course we did! It was very 'fun' to play with my opponent. Although I must admit I was quite surprised by her talent. I wouldn't mind taking that 'Reogh' girl back with us, especially with her talent and potential." Mayet replied to Farim and Nahir with a chuckle.

"Talking about having fun though... Sister Layla! Your match with that woman was very... peculiar, wasn't it! 'Lyra' if I recall correctly. I felt a different kind of 'tension' going on between both of you besides the tension of combat..." Mayet said, looking to Layla with a teasing grin.

Before Layla could reply though, a loud, familiar and rather obnoxious voice echoed through the hall, making Mayet's smile immediately disappear. She was truly expecting the 'guests of honor' to have learned with their mistake... Particularly Duke Vikena, at least to avoid making his poor daughter have to deal with the consequences of his mistakes.

Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be exactly the case, as Duke Vikena announced his entrance with in a loud and cheerful tone instead of being discreet.

"Calm down, Layla... I promised I wouldn't let anyone ruin my mood tonight but I'm not sure if I can keep that promise if Duke Vikena proves to be as much of a nuisance as the previous times..." Mayet said, more directed at herself than for Layla.

The moment Duke Vikena looked towards her, thanking her for helping him deal with his small conflict back at the park, Mayet's expression towards him was a cold and serious one. A warning for him to think twice before doing anything that might offend her.

"There is no need to thank me, Duke Vikena... Truly. I merely ask you to be aware of your words and actions... Lest you want to provoke someone that you shouldn't provoke." Mayet said to Lorenzo, in a not so veiled warning to him.

Nala too seemed to not appreciate Duke Lorenzo's presence that much, as it was evident by her gaze towards him when he spoke.

"Having to deal with such a fool of a father... I truly pity Charlotte." Mayet said with a sigh.

Unfortunately, it seemed Mayet's warnings were for naught, as Duke Vikena immediately followed up with another one of his blunders... Sitting in the very opposite side of the table as her father. Not only that was extremely disrespectful towards Mayet, Nahir and Layla, as he was putting himself on a seat that insinuated he was the second most powerful person aside from the Sultan, but it also meant that he was taking the seat of someone else that hadn't arrived yet... Someone who would definitely not be happy with having his spot taken.

"Duke Vikena!" Mayet said, raising her voice both as to make sure Lorenzo would hear and as a warning.

"Wouldn't you prefer to change your seat, so you can sit closer to your dear daughter...?" She asked, her tone of voice, unlike her words, making it clear that it wasn't a suggestion.

Unfortunately, her warning seemed to come a bit too late, as the Grand Vizier Hafiz entered the dining room like a storm. To make things even worse, it seemed he wasn't exactly in the best mood.

"This night might be much more exhausting than I thought it could be..." Mayet mumbled, letting out a deep sigh as the Grand Vizier commanded Duke Vikena to move.

She hoped Duke Vikena wasn't as mindless as to do or say anything else besides simply lowering his head and changing his seat. It would be better if he did so silently, but for some reason, Mayet doubted he would do so...
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Hidden 11 mos ago 11 mos ago Post by princess
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Turnless Posting Begins For the Guest House Dinner Guests!


ATTENDING GUESTS:@Rodiak Nahir, @13org Mayet, @Lava Alckon Farim, @Potter Layla, @Helo Leo @FunnyGuy Lorenzo @princess Charlotte @Inertia Auguste, @Tpartywithzombi Ariella @JJ Doe Riona


REMINDER THAT IT IS OPEN POSTING HENCEFORTH. YOU MAY POST WHENEVER YOU WISH AS LONG AS AT LEAST TWO OTHER PEOPLE POST BEFORE YOU POST AGAIN.




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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Infinite Cosmos
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Infinite Cosmos XIV

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(Writing this on a tablet, please excuse the lack of flair, tabs and the multitudes of errors that this post surely has.)

Munir, ever the social butterfly, heard that his family is at a dinner. However, he originally decided to not to attend, not wanting to sit at another family gathering with other royals. It is just simply too tiring for him, all this official events. All he wanted to do is to make sure his dear Mina is doing alright, and to enjoy his time in the Northern Kingdom before needing to return to Alidasht.

Alas, Munir sighed and got out of the chair he was sitting in. Pushing open the window to his room, letting some cool night breeze in. Mina was resting, after all of her ordeals. He was also a little hungry. The honeyed figs and chilled wine can only carry him so far. He needed to eat, and he did not feel like asking his personal guard to go fetch more bread for him. He walked over to his wardrobe, and gathered some of his more presentable clothing and dressed himself. Donning a tan linen tunic, over a pair of soft white breeches, he cinched the tunic to his waist with a soft red sash, made of fine silk. Over his tunic, he draped a soft shawl that matched the color of his sash. Putting in a few decorative accessories into his hair, both to keep them in place and to accentuate his facial features. Deciding to wear his royal signet tonight as well, Munir found a pair of light male sandals that went just slight past his ankles, he absentmindedly reached for coil of leather that sat by his wardrobe as well. Tying the whip to his waist, he pushed past his door and signaled his guard to follow him as he made his way to the dinner.

As he arrived at the dining room, the guards posted at the entrance seemed surprised to see him there. He smirked and nodded at his personal guard and sent him off until he was needed again. Looking at the doormen, he raised his eyebrows quizzically. “Am I going to need to open the door myself or…?” He said to the guards who jumped back slightly and quickly pushed the door open. The attendant then saw him, making the same expression as the guards. Munir waved him off as he was about to announce his arrival. It was a bit late for all that now.

Munir offered Lorenzo a bow, not forgetting his courtly manners. To his siblings and cousin, he simply smirked as he walked past them. Giving Farim a small clap on his shoulder, he allowed his hand to trail across the back and shoulder of Ariella. His smirked turned into a softer smile as he walked past his sisters, with him offering Mayer a small wink before arriving next to the Sultan. “Father, glory be on to ye.” Munir said softly. To the princes and princess of the other kingdoms and houses, he offered a half bow, a mere gesture of common curtesy.

Seeing an empty seat next to Auguste, he took his seat and reached for the nearly goblet to him. He did not much care if it was Auguste’s cup, as he simply took a drink from it. The chilled wine, while mundane by this point, was as refreshing as ever. A small drop remained on his lip as he looked to Ariella, offering a small wink and a quick bite of his lower lip.

“Don’t let my late arrival interrupt your conversations. Please carry on.” He said, the smile from before never left his face.
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Hidden 11 mos ago 11 mos ago Post by FunnyGuy
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FunnyGuy

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Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Guest House
Interaction: @princess Hafiz, Raif, Charlotte, @Lava Alckon Farim, @Potter Layla, @13org Mayet, @Rodiak Nahir, @infinite cosmos Munir, @Helo Leo, @Tpartywithzombi Ariella, @JJ Doe Riona, and @Inertia Auguste.
Mention:
Hafiz's Reputation

Lorenzo had sat comfortably at the head of the table opposite of Sultan Raif who simply stared back at him. Everything seemed to be going swell so far and the gifts hadn't even been presented yet. However, the Alidasht royal, Farim whispered a warning of sitting in Grand Vizier Hafiz's seat. Lorenzo raised a brow, finding something so trivial quite ridiculous. In my home, it's first come first served. That's why I make sure I hurry to the table before anyone else does. And I thought the book said they were competitive… I think it'll be fine. He might not even come.

Mayet was the second to address Lorenzo about his seating choice. Unfortunately, her roundabout way of asking, no matter how forceful, was simply taken as a suggestion. It was more about what she said and not how she said it. It wasn't because of some backward thinking either. Lorenzo honestly thought Mayet always sounded aggressive as he had no frame of reference for the contrary. He gave her a quiet nod, not budging from the seat.

When Hafiz burst into the dining room, Lorenzo initially looked at him with a smile out of politeness but found his turban to be… a bit much. He naturally averted his gaze from the slight strobing effect of the sparkling jewels. The lighting of the room reflected off it like newly polished gold. Kier would have stolen that shiny cap for sure.

As Hafiz bee-lined toward him, Lorenzo kept his gaze on the tablecloth to avoid making an odd squinting face at the vizier. The Alidasht were very sensitive about disrespect. That fact is one Nathaniel had drilled into him while they shopped for gifts. It was thanks to Nathaniel that Lorenzo might have any hope of surviving tonight thanks to a recital of information on the exotic kingdom pulled from a history book and last week's newspaper highlighting their arrival. There was a great piece written with useful information but whether or not Lorenzo remembered… Well, that would determine how this evening turned out for the man.

“Good evening. Vizier Hafiz. You almost made me believe dawn was breaking in the evening. You look too incredible for me to look at. Really.” Lorenzo complimented while he shielded his eyes from the man looming over him now.

"Duke Vikena. Move from that seat," Lorenzo didn't understand why he approached with such animosity toward him about the seat. He might have simply given it up until Hafiz spoke again, this time with venom that wouldn't be detected by the others at the table.

"You insolent fool."

But Duke Lorenzo Vikena was all too familiar with this venom. It reminded him so much of Count Damien, a man he both feared and despised. That single shot of gin Nathaniel gave him was just enough to diminish one of those feelings. The former…

With a hand held up to shield his eyes from the sparkling turban, Lorenzo looked up at Hafiz to the best of his ability.

“Vizier Hafiz Kadir, though you are a sight to behold, your order to have me move and your insult in addressing out of my name disrespects not me, but your family and country. Me? An insolent fool? Is this how the Alidasht treat their honored guests? One who has brought gifts to admonish the mistake he made against your family? In front of foreigners who have welcomed you into our country!” Lorenzo shook his head in disappointment.

“Hospitality, Vizier. Is that not a right to a guest of your people? And are you not praised for your tact and ability to speak eloquently? But I will say again, you call your honored guests a fool! Why shouldn't I just leave? Actually… I don't feel very welcomed here. Charlotte.” He addressed her as if telling her to be prepared to go.


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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Tae
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Tae

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Time: 6pm
Location: The Docks
Interactions: N/A
Aesthetic: Top/Jacket, Pants, Boots, and Hair



Kalliope stepped off the gangway and breathed in the salty air of Caesonia's bustling port. It was evening, and the sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the sky. The past two weeks had been rough for her. She had been sent on a job that required her to travel by ship and spent the last two weeks heading back on said ship, which wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for her bunkmate. The woman had talked nonstop the entire journey, leaving Kalliope with no reprieve from the constant chatter. For a brief moment, she’d even considered using her skills to rid herself of the woman, but trying to be rid of a body on a ship when there were many eyes to get past sounded more like a headache than it was worth. So now she had a buzzing headache that she desperately wished to get rid of and a hot bath with a good book sounded like the perfect cure.

As she made her way through the busy streets of the docks, Kalliope couldn't help but feel relieved to be back on solid ground. While she didn’t mind traveling by ship, even enjoyed it sometimes, this time the constant swaying of the ship had made her queasy, and the noise of the waves crashing against the hull had kept her up at night. Or maybe it was just the snoring of her bunkmate. Gods above, she truly despised that woman now. She was looking forward to a good night's sleep in her own bed. Of course King Edin would like a debriefing on her mission, but that could wait until the morning. She truly didn’t know if she could deal with his idiocy tonight.

As she walked, something caught her eye - a ship she didn't recognize. It was foreign yet familiar, and she couldn't resist the urge to investigate. Glancing at the name, the Sada Kurau, memories of a gruff old foreigner she'd befriended in the pit mine came flooding back. He had paid dearly for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but she had found him endearing nonetheless. Maybe it was the fond memories of this man that drew her to the ship, or maybe it was simply her curiosity getting the better of her. She looked around, checking for any alert eyes, before silently slipping up the gangplank. She knew she shouldn't be snooping, but she found she couldn't resist. She wanted to find out more about these people and where they came from.

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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by CitrusArms
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CitrusArms Space Crystals

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Stratya Durmand

Time:
Afternoon -> Evening
Location: Estate Zone and The Bazaar
Interactions: None
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A meal had been just the thing to ruminate about these events. While the one part of her brain that demanded food was let to occupy itself with eating and tasting, the rest of her mind could focus. According to the bazaar merchants, they hadn't seen anyone like what the knight was describing.

The knight had also returned to the alley (with food), to pour over the scene once again. There were a number of things that could have happened, but it didn't seem to her like any of them were the answer. It seemed like the suspect had simply… disappeared. It was an interesting situation, one which had only a few answers.

She should interview the target of the attempted assassination. She had a fairly clear picture of the chase, but the events before were foggy. She should at least get a look at the scene, but they'd probably cleaned up already. Well, she was a little late on that one. Oh well. Shall she ask the cleaning staff? Such an unusual incident must have stuck out in their minds, maybe they'd remember what the aftermath looked like. If she could clean up her image of what lead up to the chase, the moment in question would become clearer, too. Where did the perpetrator go? How did they escape? She had to be certain.

She broke her used wooden skewer into smaller pieces before scattering it into a flower bed she was passing. She had more interviews to conduct, but before that, she'd go talk to the royal guard she saw leaving the estates. They may have just done some asking, and it wouldn't do to go asking right behind them.

This time, she got some different information. They hadn't bothered the staff, so she went and asked some of the help some questions. Rather than try to explain all of it, they walked and talked their way to the scene, which had yet to be fully cleaned and repaired. "Ooh."

"It all happened so fast, ma'am."

"It wa' quick, was i'?"

A guard spoke from the hallway, "it was, I saw. One moment, nothing. Then, the windows break in and arrows start flying like a swarm of bats came in." He was a little jittery, and it seemed like he'd coped an arrow in the arm.

"Wha' o'you mean by 'at?" Arrows everywhere?

"It was like we were surrounded by murder holes, ma'am."

What?! "So they wehr…" Stratya trailed off as she turned to the room and made a motion through her finger, tracing random trajectories through the air. "Hmm." There were holes all over the walls, even the outer wall, where you might expect them to be coming from. This whole thing was reeking, more and more.

That was enough information for now. She might interview the attacked, but later. This whole incident must have been very stressful.

She went over the grounds once more, then it was time for dinner at a local tavern, and… there was something neat going on tonight, wasn't there? Aah, right, fireworks. Something she hadn't had the chance to see, yet. She'd better not miss it, either.

With her dinner scarfed down, she decided she'd inspect the fireworks launch before finding a good spot to watch from.
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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by ReusableSword
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ReusableSword The Mighty.

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Time: evening
Location: To the park
Interactions: Sadie @Potter, Felix @Mole, Zarai @Rodiak, John @Conscripts
Mentions in order: Violet @Tpartywithzombi
outfit: Red tunic with a summer burgundy cloak and no hat





Watching the strange man go with a smile and a nod that one was strange but he could appreciate the attitude of a good soldier when he met one. The smile on his face did not fade while he walked through the streets. Taking in the sounds of the city and its people, the smells floating through the air were not all unpleasant, he made sure to pick up more than a few tempting treats and grilled meats. The evening sun slowly falling ever closer to the horizon did at the very least begin to lower the temperature of the city to a comfortable temperature for the north man.

Making his way slowly back to his warehouse gave the man plenty of time to think as he nibbled on some of the food and handed some of it out to either children as he walked by or the seldom scruffy looking beggar here and there. The events of the day gave him a lot to think about, from all of them forgetting what happened the night before then finding out that the first women he actually had a natural connection with left, meeting up with Jacob and crystal again, then the issue with the hunting area, Verrick winning the archery competition wasn’t all that surprising.

The blacksmith lessons went rather smooth considering the turnout for participants, then there was meeting the outlander Sjan-dehk and learning about him while watching the end of the arena fights. Blood thirsty the lot of them, he just shrugged at the thought as he shouldn’t judge them too harshly. There have been several encounters which should have killed him but instead he blacks out and wakes up the next day surrounded with carnage. The memories from some of those instances flooding back for a moment before he pushed through them.

The incident with the bear was worrying, it should not have been able to get that close to the city and it wasn’t starving. Even with the possibility of it being sick it would have been more attracted to the smells and sounds of the carnival than them in which case it would have done a lot more damage before getting put down. He guessed that was a good thing but it also seemed odd he just couldn’t quite figure out why or who would have an angle for that to happen. He also heard a rumor that Mina had some sort of episode at the execution as well from one of his passing men, he hoped his old friend was doing well with it. The last thing she needed was to make her father worry about her even more.

The entrance to the warehouse came into view as he realized that he wandered here without remembering he was so close. The two guards at the main door stood as he approached from their seated positions under a small awning. With a wave of his hand they relaxed and accepted some of the food he had brought back with him. Stepping inside he saw that a few of the others from the ship had moved into the store house as well. They weren’t technically supposed to stay here but he bought the whole place for the summer and made sure the local guards knew that his people would be staying here.

Moving to the back of the warehouse he saw Eric writing on some parchment, the diligent worker didn’t even raise his head as roman handed him a skewer of meat and vegetables. They didn’t say anything at first as roman began to change into some evening clothes and wash up a little for the firework show. The smaller man at the table finally set the pen down and leaned back in his chair followed quickly by a yawn and rubbing of his eyes. “Is that the last update to the queen before she leaves?” He asked in a serious but quiet voice than usual, he did not need to be loud and boisterous in here.

Aye, won’t know for sure who is goin wit her tell the morrow.” Eric answered his friend with a tired voice beginning to eat a few chunks off the stick he was given.

You need to add in there for her or one of her advisors to meet a Lady Adiyan, she is a representative of the Viserjantan Commonwealth on the trade ship Sudah. They are from a far off island nation fresh out of a civil war. Could be a good trading partner if not an ally perhaps someone to keep neutral if things here go bad.” Roman spoke as he applied some neutral fragrances and started to put on his evening clothes.

Eric gave his superior a questioning look for a moment, “I… I don’t know how to try to spell what you just told me... I'll include it in this missive so they can decide what to do on their end.” Picking up the pen again to add in a few more sentences.

Also do include that I suspect that there are more strange occurrences in this city this time around. Just a feeling, everything seems just a little more sideways than it normally is. Maybe another player we are not aware of that’s shaking things up.” Roman made sure to almost whisper that part as he made sure that his sword, seax, and pouches were secured to his belt and inside pockets. Opening one of the small boxes with flowers painted across its side, he took a small glass orb that barely fit in his palm it was a small ceramic jasmine flower encased in glass. A small trinket that Sadie may enjoy.

Your gut feeling then” the man retorted.

Something like that, just another thing to watch out for.” Throwing his light brown cloak over his shoulder with a shrug, he didn’t need the cloak but it helped to hide away his weapons a bit better since many of the city folk were on edge around open carry weapons at times. “I’m off to the park to see the princess, try to get some sleep or something after you’re done with the queen.” The other man just waved him off while Roman headed back out the door and towards the park in the setting sun.




The walk back to the park was uneventful, the only thing that stood out was the look of an earlier gunfight down some of the streets near the Damien estate. Just another thing to chalk up to weird events through the city, might be worth investigating in later but not now, right now he was to meet up with some of the other nobility of Varian at the park for the firework show. Even before he got to the park he could see the spot that Sadie picked out for their show.

Drawing closer still he noticed a few familiar faces prince Felix was there with the good doctor John and he could even see the form of Lady Zarai being carried up the hill to the others. It would seem that her injuries are still getting the best of her and the wheelchair from earlier wasn’t all for show. Roman slowly strode up the small hill towards the others as well. One of the guards moved to intercept him for a moment but a quick look to the man made him reconsider his earlier decision.

Making it to the top of the hill he gave a respectful bow to the prince and princess. “Prince Felix, Princess Sadie, Lady Zarai, Dr. Williamson. A pleasure to see you all again on this lovely evening.” Spoken with a smile and his ever friendly demeanor towards his fellow countrymen. “I hope you all had a wonderful and eventful day.” Either not reading the room very well or not caring too much for the personal space of others in an aloof kind of way, he found his spot next to Lady Zarai.

Turning to face the young lady with a genuine smile. There was no judgment in his gaze or persecution lingering in his voice. He honestly felt like she needed a friend in his own sort of way without being entirely too awkward. “I do have to say, you look as stunning as ever Lady Zarai.” His words were meant as a compliment, he always did enjoy her company but never saw her as more than a friend or little sister.

He wasn’t always the best person to gauge the emotions of others but she was looking a little down. He could only think that it was because of either being as beat up as she was or that she was just annoyed that she had to be stuck with a babysitter all day either way he figured he could at least try to cheer her up.

Still smiling with that big brother attitude he had towards most of the other Varian nobility, “Zary, I’m proud of you.” He teased her, quietly using his childhood name for her, the words just meant for her but he wasn’t hiding it either. “You’re doing a good job, I’m glad to see you out here with the rest of us, instead of letting your injuries get the best of you and remaining in bed.

Always the optimist and in a good mood, the giant looked at the others that where with them on the hill as the fireworks went off above them. “I believe that we are all doing a good job, our lives can be stressful and challenging at times. Yet if it wasn’t challenging it wouldn’t change us and we wouldn’t grow.” He looked to them again from his seated position and continued to give them all a smile. “I still believe this summer is going to be very interesting for all of us.” Again he continued to smile at them while they enjoyed the evening air.

With his hopeful, short, pick me up speech done Roman let his eyes wander through the crowd below. There were plenty of people moving about plenty of sights and sounds. Then his eyes locked onto someone familiar and his smile dropped slightly. He knew it was her from the moment he saw her that form and dress. Violet? Calbert said that she would have been gone to their home in the interior yet here she was limping through the crowd with a cane? It was hard to tell at this distance but he almost certain it was her. He needed to investigate but wanted to make sure that Zarai was okay first before going down there after her.
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Rodiak 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔞

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S I R M A T H I A S L A R S E N
S I R M A T H I A S L A R S E N

S O R I A N P A R K , 6 : 0 0 A M

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@Potter@Mole@ReusableSword@Conscripts

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After the sword competition, the trio decided to head back to the guest house for Lukas’s evening nap. The boy did not even make it from the arena to their rooms before he fell asleep in his father’s arms. During their brief rest, Mathias took the time to get some paper done work. While he wasn’t the active Captain of the Royal Guard right now, he was still tasked to oversee the hiring of new potential knights as well as any promotions in the ranks. It was a meticulous task that he did not particularly enjoy, but he found the task quite relaxing.

The knight was deep in thought, reading a report, when Mary came into his room as quietly as she could– Lukas was sleeping in the bed– and handed him a letter. Mathias opened it, expecting a letter from Sir Volkov back home, but instead found an invitation from Princess Sadie.

Ultimately, they decided to attend the party, mostly due to Lukas waking up in the middle of their conversation. The trip to the park was quick, with the boy pressuring them to hurry their pace because he did not want to miss the fireworks.

Once they arrived at their destination, it was easy to spot the location their little gathering would take place. Mary and Lukas giggled in delight, seeing the ample amounts of pillows as they climbed up the hill.

“Ah,” Mathias’s face lit up when he spotted Princess Sadie and Prince Felix. He bowed to them first, Lukas mimicking his father and Mary curtsying. “Thank you for extending the invitation to us, Princess Sadie.” She then turned to Prince Felix, “It is good to see you, Your Highness.” He nodded and turned to the rest of the group with a polite smile.

“Doctor, Lady Zarai, it is good to see you both.”

Mathias led the trio to an empty spot near Roman and helped Mary down as Lukas climbed onto her lap. “Roman looks like we cannot escape each other.” He offered a smile as he finally sat down.
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Rodiak 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔞

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S H E H Z A D I N A H I R K A D I R
S H E H Z A D I N A H I R K A D I R

G U E S T H O U S E 6 : 0 0


M E N T I O N S :
@Inertia


Nahir had watched Lorenzo and Charlotte finally arrive; eyebrow arched at the number of gifts their servants had brought. How cute. The man was at least thoughtful; she would give him that. After the whole debacle from the night before and after much thought, Nahir had to admit she let her feelings and fears get the better of her. And while she still thought the man a bit… aloof, there was something about him that she quite enjoyed.

“I'm afraid we haven't had the opportunity to be formally introduced, but I could never forget the angel that wished to have my life spared in the face of many that would have enjoyed witnessing my final hours. Thank you, truly.”

Nahir had shaken her head and offered him a smile. “There is no need to thank someone who does not wish death on someone who made a mistake.” She sipped her wine glass, “We only hope it is not repeated.”

Farim and a woman she had not seen before came in next. She smiled at the woman before turning to her cousin, “Where did you find such a gem?” Her perfectly painted lips tugged into a smirk as she leaned into her when she was settled in the chair next to Nahir. “That is a beautiful dress, Lady Ariella. The color compliments your eyes in such a lovely way.”

"Having to deal with such a fool of a father... I truly pity Charlotte."

“Mayet, please.” Nahir frowned at her sister. Insulting their guests was distasteful, even more so if they had taken their time to buy them so many gifts! Although, the Duke had trouble reading the room, and there was so much Nahir– or anyone– could do about that as the man did not seem to register the warnings sent his way.

Too late.

Nahir pressed her fingers against her temple as the figure of their uncle graced them with his presence. She did not have to look at him to know his reaction when he saw the Duke sitting in the seat he had claimed for himself. She could already feel pressure against her head with what was coming next,

"Duke Vikena. Move from that seat,"..."You insolent fool."

There it was. Really, could he not act like a decent adult? The man may be the Grand Vizier, but he was still a guest in this kingdom. Rude! To call him that in front of everyone... no matter how true it may be, it was still rude.

“There is no need to act in such a way to the Sultan’s guests, especially in front of Prince Auguste and our other guests.” Nahir spoke up without looking at him, as she was too busy staring at the wine glass in her hand. She had considered talking to her father about his title, perhaps changing it to Grand Whiner Hafiz. That was more of his line of work these days, and it was the only thing he had been doing since they set foot in Caesonia.

“Why should he not sit there, uncle? Duke Vikena is the reason why we are gathered here, to enjoy each other’s company and learn from one another– Duke, please take a seat. I beseech you to forget his rude words. The Grand Vizier may have skipped breakfast after all.” She frowned worriedly at her uncle.
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Hidden 11 mos ago 11 mos ago Post by Apex Sunburn
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Apex Sunburn Justified text enjoyer

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Interactions: Kalliope @Tae
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Time: 1700 - 1800

Peaceful rivers. Soaring mountains. Lovers beneath peach blossoms. Ships lost amidst storms. Sjan-dehk had always been amazed by how simple black ink brushed upon white silk could so vividly depict scenes of such variety. The strokes were wild and free, with rough edges and fading trails. Yet, their graceful turns and elegant flourishes were masterful displays of control and restraint. Their details were sparse and their colours non-existent, but it was only with such austerity did the intricacies of their portrayals become all the more apparent.

Truly, any one of the paintings Sjan-dehk looked at was fit for a palace.

But he wasn’t in one. Instead, the polished walls of lacquered wood the silk canvases hung from were part of the Sudah’s lavishly designed interior. Even though Sjan-dehk knew that the shipwrights had designed her with the express intention of impressing visitors, he was still amazed by the sheer lengths they went to achieve just that. Timber from Jafi; sails from Kadapo; metalworks from Nak Sidan; paintings from Ai-kai, it was as if they had scoured every region of the Commonwealth for their best works and hammered them together into the Sudah.

Sjan-dehk stopped in front of a painting of a blooming flower. He crossed his arms, resting the elbow of his left on the hand of his right as he scratched his chin. Truth be told, he didn’t like the Sudah as much as her designers had likely hoped. She was a fine – albeit slow – ship, sure, but she was also a little too made up for his tastes. Too much of a yacht for show and too little of an adventurer for exploration. But now that he was – and had been for a while – waiting to see Lady Adiyan, he could at least appreciate that there were things to see and take his mind away from the boredom.

“Taking an interest in art appreciation? I’m surprised, provincial. Didn’t think you had it in you.”

The woman’s voice, playful and teasing, came out of nowhere, but Sjan-dehk had been expecting – even waiting – for it. A small grin tugged on his lips. “Took you long enough,” he said to an empty corridor as he continued to study the painting. “I was starting to think that you weren’t actually here.”

Then, he turned around. What had once been an empty space between paintings was now taken up by a woman who rested her back against the wall. A cheeky smirk graced her elfin, sun-kissed face, and her eyes sparkled with a sort of mischief that was familiar to Sjan-dehk. “As if I’d miss a chance to mess with you,” she replied as she adjusted the pins holding her bun of dark hair in place. “Or try to, at least. Can’t say I’m not impressed, provincial. How’d you know I was there?”

Sjan-dehk shrugged and leaned his back against the wall. “It’s as you say. As if you’d miss a chance to try to get one over me, but I guess I’m too sharp for you. And stop with the ‘provincial’ gull-dung. You’re one as much as me, and you know it.”

The woman pushed herself off the wall and leaned over to wag a finger in Sjan-dehk’s face. “The east had courts and scholars when the Jafins were still pirates,” she said in a sing-song voice. Had it been anyone else who had said that, Sjan-dehk would’ve found it reason enough to start a fight. From her, however? He simply chuckled and looked back at her with defiance in his eyes.

“Courts and scholars poisoned Viserjanta. Jafin ‘pirates’ saved it.”

“You got me there,” the woman said with neither disappointment nor resentment in her words. Instead, she stood next to Sjan-dehk and looked down the corridor. “The Lady of Wise Counsel’s still waylaid by all the doctor’s lining up to stuff her with medicines and herbs and all that nonsense. Shouldn’t take too long, but you never know with these smart types, no?”

Sjan-dehk clicked his tongue. “Your lady’s got more shot and shrapnel in her than a canister, Iyen.”

“Ah, she’s survived worse.”

“She might lose a leg.”

“Shame about that, but still, she’s alive. That counts for something, doesn’t it?”

There wasn’t much Sjan-dehk could say in response to that. Iyen did have a point. Losing a limb was not at all a pleasant experience by any stretch of the imagination; Sjan-dehk couldn’t even begin to imagine what it’d feel like. But it was probably far better than losing one’s entire life. At least, that was what he had gathered from his few conversations with Sahm-tehn on the subject. Granted, the man had answered with the dry and sardonic attitude he had towards most things.

Iyen was right about the other thing as well. Lady Adiyan had survived far worse. Sjan-dehk knew that as a fact; he had been there with her for at least a handful of those incidents. They – along with Iyen who had been Lady Adiyan’s personal guard as she still was – had fought alongside one another during the various campaigns to recapture, pacify, and liberate the scattered and isolated smaller western islands. Compared to the injuries they had suffered during those violent years, catching a few pieces of metal in her side was probably nothing.

So there really was no reason for Sjan-dehk to worry. But still, worry he did.

“It’s still a leg,” he muttered.

Iyen’s shoulders sagged, and she dipped her head. “It is, isn’t it?” She sounded far away, as if her physical body and mind had separated. For a while afterwards, she said nothing. The sounds of creaking wood and muffled construction from the decks below punctuated the uncomfortable silence. Eventually, she drew in a deep breath and spoke once more. “You know, if I’d been a little faster, or if I’d seen the bastards–”

“Oh no, you’re not going down this road.” Sjan-dehk held up a hand in front of her. “All it does is make you feel like gull-dung. We had what we had and we did what we could. Sometimes it works out. Just our poor fucking luck that it didn’t this time.” He turned to look at her with a grin that probably looked as forced as it felt to him. “Besides, are you really trying to tell me you can outrun a cannon shot? That’s a fucking stupid idea you fucking know it.”

That got a soft laugh out of Iyen. “Who knows? I’ve had some pretty lucky things happen.” She dragged a finger over the thin, braided rope wrapped across her body and around her waist, as if deep in thought. “I suppose I should thank you, by the way. For taking out the sneaky little fucker. I saw it all happen from the top deck and I’ve to say, that was some fine sailing and shooting.”

Sjan-dehk shrugged. “I can’t take all the credit. Azwan was commanding the guns and Sahm-tehn was on the sails, as usual. All I did was shout really loudly.”

“Just take the damn compliment, provincial.”

The soft rattle of a door sliding open interrupted their conversation. Further down the corridor, a man who had clearly seen far better days stepped out of a room. His robes were in disarray, and his carefully pinned top-knot on the verge of falling apart. A rattan basket hung from one arm, and beneath the other, he held a rolled up sheet. “The Lady of Wise Counsel is ready to see you,” he called out. His words were punctuated by pants. “Please do not take too much time. I have given her strong analgesics which should lull her to sleep in short order.”

“We hear you loud and clear, doctor,” Iyen replied with a wave. To Sjan-dehk, she said, “Guess we’ll have to chat later. Shouldn’t keep the Lady waiting for too long. She’s been asking after you since we pulled into harbour.”

“Hopefully for good reasons,” Sjan-dehk commented as he pushed himself off the wall.

Iyen laughed. “You? It’s a toss-up, really. I’ll be hanging around outside if you need me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Might need it if she starts trying to get up and about.” With that, Sjan-dehk continued down the corridor. Not for the first time since boarding the Sudah, he wondered why Lady Adiyan had sent for him. As far as he knew, she had been confined to her quarters ever since that action in the mist. Surely she didn’t know that he’d taken the liberty of exploring the city? Or perhaps one of her people had heard something when Avek and Mursi came aboard the Sudah seeking gifts for the King’s representatives. That seemed to be the most likely case. Then again, it was also possible that the royal tutor had approached her about Sjan-dehk’s shortcomings with regards to a royal audience, and Lady Adiyan wanted to set him straight herself.

Either way, whatever possibilities he conjured in his mind didn’t matter. He’d find out the real reason soon enough.

Sjan-dehk quietly slid the door shut behind him, then immediately greeted her the same way he had with King Edin, albeit with a lot less reluctance and more sincerity. He knelt and bowed at the waist, both hands wrapped over one another before him and thumbs interlocked. “Lady of Wise Counsel, Voice of the High Queen. Captain Wasun Sjan-dehk of the Sada Kurau, and Fourth Lesser Marquis of Jafi stands before you, as ordered.”

“No need for that. Stand up and come here.”

The short response wasn’t anything Sjan-dehk hadn’t expected. Lady Adiyan had always been the sort to eskew as many rites and ceremonies as possible. Even so, and despite his own aversion towards courtly ways, it just didn’t feel right to him to be overly-casual in her presence.

“As you say,” he replied simply and rose to his feet. As with the rest of the Sudah, the room had been built to be fit for a noble of any stripe. It was easily twice as large as his quarters aboard his Sada Kurau, with a ceiling high enough to make any sailor envious. Lanterns of waxed paper hung from the ceiling, bathing the mural-covered walls in a warm glow. Opulent rugs and masterfully carved furniture filled the empty spaces in the corners and middle of the room.

And directly across, situated under a long painting of birds in flight, was a bed. Layers of soft cotton and shimmering silk swaddled the woman seated on it. Even from a distance, she looked sickly. Her naturally dark complexion had paled to a sandy brown, and sweat glued strands of matted hair to her cheeks and forehead. Every laboured breath heaved her shoulders. “Please, sit,” she said and gestured to a chair by her side with an arm. Even that little movement seemed to drain her strength.

Sjan-dehk nodded and crossed the room. As he approached, he noticed the open books and ledgers on the bed beside her. He also noticed the outline of only one leg stretched out before her. An involuntary wince flashed across his face. It didn’t go unnoticed by Adiyan. “You’ve seen far worse, I’m sure.”

For a moment, he said nothing, and when he opened his mouth, he could only say the single thought that ran through his mind. “We should’ve acted quicker.” He barely noticed the words tumbling from his tongue in a slurred mess. When he finally did notice, it only served to embarrass him. So much for that little talk he’d only just given to Iyen.

“We’ll have none of that,” Lady Adiyan said with a wave of her hand. “Least of all from you, Shanya.” Her use of that name gave Sjan-dehk pause. Outside of his family, he could count on one hand the number of people he allowed to address him in that manner. Lady Adiyan and Iyen were two of them. “That you could bring your Sada Kurau to our aid with such haste is already laudable enough. What more could you have done? Seen the future? Control the winds to propel your ship faster?”

Sjan-dehk sighed and sat down. “I wish I could do all that, but no.”

Adiyan reached across to gently pat his forearm and looked at him with a motherly smile. “Then you did all you could, and for that I thank you, captain.” She held his gaze for a moment, then pulled her hand back to her lap. Whatever warmth she had on her face and in her words instantly disappeared. “So let’s not speak of such matters. I trust you understand why I’ve called you here?”

“I’m not sure I do,” Sjan-dehk confessed. “If it’s about the meeting with the King, I was going to write you a report at the end of the day.”

“That’s part of it, yes,” Lady Adiyan confirmed with a nod. “And yes, a report would have sufficed, but I’ve also been reliably informed that you took leave of your ship to explore the city.” She flicked her gaze down, towards her leg. “As you can see, I’m hardly in a state to move, and I doubt the doctors would even allow me to try for at least the rest of the week. And yet, there is still work to do, and I cannot do that work if I’m deaf and blind to my surroundings beyond this ship.”

Things quickly clicked in Sjan-dehk’s head. “Ah, so you just want me to tell you about the city?”

“In so few words, yes.”

Sjan-dehk could feel the load lifting from his shoulders. It wasn’t an easy task, but it was at least one that he had done some preparation for. And so he wasted no time, and launched into a retelling of his exploits and experiences in the Caesonian capital thus far. He started from the strange matchmaking session, and focused on the King’s – in his opinion, he made it clear – overblown reaction to a mere onion. Of course, that meant he had to touch on the prince who decided to eat it raw in court. Then he moved on to how he discovered that not only had Alidasht sent their own representatives to the city, but there was also a third power – Roman’s homeland, of which the name Sjan-dehk had unfortunately forgotten – present. He also detailed what he had seen of the city, from the clean and pristine streets around the castle to the dirt paths and grimey buildings of the slums and Aislin’s little fishing village.

All the while, Lady Adiyan said nothing, only offering the occasional nod and furrowing of her brows as her only reactions. She also picked up her brush to scrawl rough notes in one of her books every so often, but not once while Sjan-dehk spoke did she interrupt.

“So,” she began a few moments after Sjan-dehk finished. “It seems like you’ve made some connections.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way, to be honest.”

Lady Adiyan ignored his response. “How fortuitous that everyone that we hope to meet in the region have all gathered here in one city. This is an opportunity we cannot allow to slip from our grasp. Do your best to make contact with Alidasht’s people, and this Roman…What do you think of him?”

Sjan-dehk took his time to formulate his response. He hadn’t known the giant long enough to give a proper answer – or at least one he thought proper – and so he simply gave his honest opinion. “He seems to be like one of us. A man who’s seen battle and knows the cost of war. I’d take his words at face value, that he just wants trade between our nations. Can’t speak for his lieges or whatnot, though. Haven’t met them.”

“Good answer,” Lady Adiyan said with a nod. “See if you can find out if his lieges are in the city.”

“I will likely see at least one of their princesses at the park later. I’ve a debt to pay.”

A ghost of a smile told Sjan-dehk all he needed to know about how Lady Adiyan felt about that. “Very, very good. I will admit, I was worried about making you our representative, but you’re making yourself quite the diplomat, indeed.” His face flushed at the compliment, but he kept his face otherwise impassive as Lady Adiyan continued outlining her plans. “We will prioritise Alidasht and this new nation for now. Caesonia, on the other hand…It requires more thought.”

More thought? What else was there to think about? Sjan-dehk furrowed his brows. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“From what you’ve told me, and I do trust your judgement, this King Edin might not be the best person for us to negotiate with.” Lady Adiyan’s expression turned dark for a moment, but she quickly cleared it away with a slight shake of her head. “It may be…Improper of me to say so, but what you describe sounds very close to people whom we have faced before in the past.”

Sjan-dehk nodded solemnly. “No, I understand perfectly.” King Edin was nowhere near as terrible or evil as some of the wayward and self-proclaimed nobles he’d fought, but the similarities were there. The same sort of temperament, the same proclivities, the same sort of demeanour. “Far better for us to dawdle and be safe than to befriend a wicked king, yes?”

“Let’s not use such words to describe our host, Shanya. He sounds like a character, but I shan’t use the word ‘wicked’ yet. Not until I see him for myself.” Lady Adiyan chided, but nodded anyway. “In any case, our archivists may have discovered another person with whom we could discuss trade.”

It took all of Sjan-dehk’s self-control not to groan with frustration. “With respect, are you talking about the same archivists who got us lost at sea for months?”

Lady Adiyan opened her mouth to respond, but a yawn interrupted her. She blinked several times, and it was clear that she was finding it harder and harder to keep her eyes open. “I know you have your opinions of them, but please try to trust them this time.” Her words became more and more slurred and sluggish as she went on. Even so, she pushed on. “There was a fairly big name amongst traders back then. We don’t know much beyond their name.”

“Just give it to me. I’ll make sure I find them.”

“Wey-kan-ya,” Lady Adiyan said, then yawned again. “It should be Vikena in the local tongue.”

The name sounded familiar to Sjan-dehk, but he couldn’t quite place where he had heard it before. It didn’t matter now. He could deal with the search later. For now, he just needed to end things quickly and let Lady Adiyan have her rest. “If they left any descendents, I’ll sniff them out. Bastards and all. I can assure you of that much.”

Lady Adiyan could only manage a tired smile as her eyelids drooped. “Just one will do,” she said in a soft voice. “Iyen. I will have her assist you. Will tell her what to do later.”

Sjan-dehk took that as his cue to leave, but as he stood up, he felt Adiyan’s hand gently wrap around his wrist. “What is it? Do you need something?” He asked.

Adiyan shook her head and looked at Sjan-dehk with an expression that he could only describe as deeply apologetic. It unsettled him, to be honest; he’d never see her with such a look before. “I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I could do it myself,” she said in a single breath, then closed her eyes as she drew in another deep one. “You are a soldier. A good one. But now you need to be a marquis. I wish I could tell you what happens in their courts and what you should do, but I cannot. For that, I am sorry.”

“I’ll figure it out.” Sjan-dehk tried to keep the concern from his voice as he carefully plucked Adiyan’s hand from his arm and placed it on the bed. “You know I always do. I’ll drag Iyen along if I have to.”

She closed her eyes and settled beneath the sheets. “Courts, they’re a battlefield of their own. One you haven't had the chance to get used to. But it is one I must now throw you into.” Whatever medication the doctor had given her, it was sapping her strength quickly. She yawned again, but found it within herself to say, “So please, be safe, Shanya.”

And just like that, she was out like a snuffed candle.

Sjan-dehk took the time to make sure that she was properly tucked into her sheets before quietly leaving the room. All the while, he ruminated upon Adiyan’s parting words. It was just a warning. One that he likely needed and one that was fair for his circumstances. Nothing more, nothing less. Adiyan had always been like that with both Iyen and him. One part cold and logical strategist, one part overbearing mother.

Yes, that was all it was. Just a warning.



The sun was already well on its way towards the horizon when Sjan-dehk finally stepped off the gangplank and back onto the deck of his Sada Kurau. It hadn’t been that long since he’d left – he knew that – but yet he still felt as if it had been weeks and months since he’d been aboard. Placing the gifts he had taken from the Sudah onto the deck, he stood where he was to simply enjoy the moment. His crew was hard at work keeping the Sada Kurau in top condition, and she seemed pleased with the treatment. Her yards swayed in the gentle breeze, and her ropes creaked a gentle melody.

“Ah, captain! Welcome back.” Mursi called out as he rushed over. “First officer Azwan, along with Masters Hai-shuun, Dai-sehk, Sahm-tehn, and Avek have gone ashore to purchase supplies. I’ve been left in charge of the evening watch.” He half turned and gestured to the men in the rigging of the ship, then to those armed with muskets standing by the guardrails. “We should be done with maintenance works before sundown, and I took the liberty of rostering the men for guard duties.”

Sjan-dehk nodded slowly. “Well done, master Mursi,” he said and reached into his pocket, pulling out one of the steamed buns which Iyen had insisted he take from the Sudah’s galley. She had practically stuffed them into his trousers when he told her that he hadn’t actually eaten anything substantial since pulling into harbour. “How are the guns? Any of them need repairs?”

“Larbord thirteen might need a proper swab. She’s built up too much residue, but it’s nothing that we can’t fix ourselves.” Mursi reported crisply.

“Sails? Any tears, rips?”

“None, captain.”

“What about the hull?”

“Master Hai-shuun reported nothing of note. Just minor scratches and chips from combat. He already has men repairing the damage.”

Sjan-dehk bit into the bun, then pointed with it to something behind Mursi’s right shoulder. “What about a strange, red-haired woman wandering around like she owns the damn ship?” He asked a little too casually considering the situation. Mursi certainly didn’t feel the same levity. It was a wonder that he didn’t give himself a headache with how quickly he spun around on his heel. Sure enough, there was a red-headed woman simply walking along the gunwale, looking the ship up and down as she did so. She wasn’t even snooping around; the crew simply paid her no heed. At least, not until now, when Sjan-dehk pointed her out to them.

“Alarm! Intruders!” Mursi shouted out, his hand flying to the pistol tucked into his belt.

“Intruder,” Sjan-dehk corrected as he chewed on his mouthful of bun. It was still pleasantly warm, and full vegetables and fish stewed in a light sauce. He simply watched as his men burst into action. Almost every one of them had a weapon of some sort on hand. They shouted at the woman in words she likely didn’t understand, ordering her to stop, to turn around and face them, to identify herself. The armed guards soon took up positions in a semi-circle around her, their muskets raised and cocked.

By all accounts, Sjan-dehk had every right to be angry. To be upset that someone had dared to step onto his ship without his permission. Yet, all he felt was amusement. That one woman could so easily just walk up the gangplank and onto his ship, and after that just walk up and down her deck with neither care nor worry was just laughable. Mursi would of course have to answer for that later, but for now, Sjan-dehk saw the humour in the whole situation.

He stepped through the crowd until he was at the line of musketmen. “Relax,” he said, pushing the barrel of the closest weapon down. “It’s just one girl. We don’t have to set up a firing line just for her. Aside from the guards, I want everyone else to return to their duties. Sun’s going down and unless you want to work by candlelight, I’d suggest you finish up your tasks quickly and sharply.” He released the weapon and took another bite out of his bun. “Keep your muskets trained on her if you must, but don’t shoulder them.”

“Yes, captain,” the closest guard said. He lowered his weapon to his waist, but kept the muzzle pointed in the general direction of the woman.

Sjan-dehk took his time to walk over to her, stopping a safe distance away. Yes, she was just one girl, but ‘just one girl’ could easily have ‘just one knife’ or ‘just one pistol’ tucked away somewhere to bring his life to a very abrupt end. Granted, he was sure that he had yet to anger anyone in Sorian enough to warrant something as drastic as that, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. He still had his promises to Lady Adiyan to keep.

He looked up and down, though he wasn’t quite sure why he did that. As if he could tell anything about her other than that she had red hair, and she looked like most people he’d seen in the city. A curious local who simply wanted to get a closer look at a foreign vessel, perhaps? Or maybe something more sinister, a spy who aimed to steal Viserjantan secrets. One seemed more likely than the other, but regardless, Sjan-dehk figured that it paid to open with something polite.

“You, strange lady.” He said after swallowing whatever he had in his mouth. “Who are you? Why do you come here? To our Sada Kurau?”
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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Potter
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Potter

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Time: 6pm
Location: Guest Dining Room

Attire: Her dress
Interactions:
@Rodiak Nahir, @13org Mayet, @Lava Alckon Farim, @Helo Leo. @princess Charlotte, @FunnyGuy Lorenzo @Inertia Auguste, Ariella@Tpartywithzombi



Layla turned to see Nahir join her and gave her a polite nod. Their conversation earlier remained in her thought process, but she chose not to dwell on it. Whatever happened would be revealed soon enough. The question from Nahir seemed innocuous, but the underlying tone of it was not. From Layla’s peripheral vision, she noticed Nahir’s lips slightly turn upward. Briefly, Layla’s eyes narrowed, but the expression was gone as quickly as it came.

We are one in the same, are we not, sister? She turned her attention away and smirked into her wine instead, choosing not to reply. Two can play this game, little sister.

Thankfully, Mayet intervened and her youngest sister’s words caused her to chuckle. However, the conversation veered towards her fight again and Layla had to take a moment to collect herself. She took a sip of her wine and rolled her eyes. ”Please, she was nothing but a toy to play with.”

Finally, the fools of Caseonia arrived and the conversation shifted away entirely. They hadn’t come empty-handed; two men were carrying a large pile of gifts. For a moment, Layla found herself possibly impressed; that is, until the duke began rambling. At this point, Zilal shifted around her neck to rise into the air and let out a menacing hiss. Layla rubbed her temples and took an extra long sip of wine and glanced towards the bottle in hopes it would refill itself. Fortunately, the Duke had a stroke of genius them all; and once he addressed her, she rolled her eyes. Him, the better dancer? The fool had stepped on her dress hem. Layla scoffed and said nothing. If she responded, the fool would continue talking. She scrutinized their attire and then made eye contact with Charlotte and a malicious grin spread over her face. It was one that promised vengeance and misery. Layla didn’t break the contact first and stared her down with the same grin on her face until the miserable and sickly pale doll turned away.

The duke continued his ramble, now turning his attention to Mayet. Layla watched their interaction play out and chuckled into her wine glass. How did this fool live to be this old? Even Nala seemed disturbed by his presence. These dinners, though annoying, would prove entertaining, and she couldn’t wait for the meal to begin. Just when this bumbling idiot seemed to get it together, he lost it moments later. Layla nearly choked on her wine at Mayet’s comment regarding Charlotte. She quickly caught herself and laughed snidely towards the sickly, pale doll. However, Nahir didn’t seem to enjoy this comment, and Layla glanced at her with a bemused expression.

The bumbling idiot continued his fifteen minutes of idiocy. He sat in the Grand Vizier’s seat. Layla froze and stared incredulously at him. For a moment, she was speechless. Memories threatened to resurface which she quickly pushed back. Mayet spoke up first in a warning but it fell on deaf ears. Layla poured herself more wine and began sipping it as a smirk crossed her face. It’s been all of five minutes and you’re in waters hotter than the sands of Alidasht, Duke. Nahir tried to play the peacemaker, but all of it fell on deaf ears.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to recuperate from the error because now her uncle had arrived. Layla glanced away and instead began to examine the napkin in front of her. She felt her uncle’s gaze but didn’t meet it, and readied herself for the next moment of buffoonery. From the corner of her eye, she watched Hafiz approach Lorenzo. She shifted and bit her lip to restrain laughter. The duke, instead of apologizing and moving, decided to counter Hafiz’ words and Layla glanced at Mayet with amusement and pity in her eyes.

Throughout this ramble session, Layla sighed and rubbed her temples. She drank more wine and wondered how someone could be so dumb and be allowed to become a man in power. Had it been a joke that got out of hand? Her gaze landed on Charlotte and she allowed the grin to return again before it disappeared. Layla avoided eye contact with the others while Hafiz prepared his next move.

“There is no need to act in such a way to the Sultan’s guests, especially in front of Prince Auguste and our other guests.” Nahir spoke up, then continued. “Why should he not sit there, uncle? Duke Vikena is the reason why we are gathered here, to enjoy each other’s company and learn from one another; Duke, please take a seat. I beseech you to forget his rude words. The Grand Vizier may have skipped breakfast after all.”

The voice of reason, the peacemaker, the subtle one. Layla stared ahead of her over Prince Auguste’s head and awaited the next moment. She remained silent and rubbed her head once more, whether it was from the stress of the situation or something else, it was unknown. One thing was clear to the oldest Shehzadi: Hafiz’s reaction would not be a pretty sight. She glanced towards Lorenzo and shook her head.

”Leaving so soon? Like a dog running with its tail tucked between its legs? What kind of example is that for Charlotte? You have shown us that not only are you a bumbling fool, but a coward at that. What a pity. Heed my Uncle’s words and give him his chair. He has well earned his spot; meanwhile, you should earn our respect after what you have done. You are also holding up our dinner and we could use a taste of Alidasht after the disaster you have bestowed.” She briefly met Hafiz’s gaze and let out the tiniest of smiles before letting her haughty smirk return. In agreement, Zilal uncoiled from her neck and hissed angrily at the chaos. She glanced at him and rubbed his head gently with a smirk.
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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by 13org
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Time: 6pm
Location: Guest House Dining Room - Dinner with the Sultan
Interactions: Nahir @Rodiak, Layla @Potter, Charlotte @princess, Lorenzo @FunnyGuy, Munir @Infinite Cosmos
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It only took but a moment between Mayet saying Duke Vikena was a fool, her sister Nahir calling her out for her words and the clueless Duke actually proving her point by talking back to the Grand Vizier. Even though Mayet was already expecting such reaction, she still couldn't help but let out a deep sigh as she massaged her temples. Not only he had the gall to reply in such a way despite being clearly in the wrong, but instead of just keeping the problem between himself and the Grand Vizier, Duke Vikena also dragged the entire Alidasht Royal family into it, insinuating that that was how they treated their 'guests'... Which was an incredibly bold assumption to make, considering he wasn't exactly a 'guest of honor' in that banquet... Considering the reason behind him being invited for it in the first place.

The Grand Vizier was never known for being an... agreeable person. Mayet was always well aware of that. But even with Hafiz being a difficult man to deal with, Duke Vikena seemed to always cause chaos wherever he went. It was honestly incredibly unbelievable that such man was still alive... Considering the amount of people he surely must had offended or humiliated with his lack of tact...

Mayet was certain that if he went to Alidasht... He wouldn't last a year before he did something that was too much to be forgiven...

"So, sister Nahir... Do you still think my words were too much?" Mayet asked, looking to Nahir with a chuckle and an amused expression, playfully teasing her.

"Lady Charlotte doesn't deserve to be punished the way she is by her foolish father's mistakes." Mayet said with a sigh as she watched the scene happen in front of her.

"Brother Munir, It's good to see you changed your mind regarding tonight's dinner. Unfortunately, it seems you have arrived just in time for tonight's show." Mayet said with an annoyed tone as she rolled her eyes, motioning towards the foolish Duke, which seemed to be quite determined to dig his own grave.

Staying a true diplomat until the end, her sister Nahir still tried to salvage the situation, trying to calm down her uncle Hafiz and defuse that entire situation before it ended in bloodshed. While Mayet could appreciate Nahir's efforts, she couldn't completely agree with her words as she asked Hafiz to sit in another chair, disregarding the clear offense and challenge to his authority that was Duke Vikena sitting on such chair.

Where Nahir was the diplomat and the mediator, Layla's venomous, cutting words sought to put Duke Vikena into his place. To humiliate and offend him as much as he had humiliated her for all his words and actions. Much like Nahir, Mayet could understand and respect Layla's point, but fanning the flames of conflict didn't seem to be a smart move to do, considering her uncle Hafiz was already in the room. Regardless, Mayet did agree that Duke Vikena had to learn that he couldn't simply say and do whatever he wanted without consequences.

"Dear sister Nahir, even if uncle Hafiz's reaction might be a bit too much, we cannot ignore the fact that Duke Vikena did offend him and challenged his authority by sitting on such spot." Mayet said, voicing her own opinion, which wasn't as pacifist as Nahir, but it also wasn't as hostile as Layla.

Besides that, Mayet also had another reason to use the words she did... To try and give her uncle Hafiz the feeling that his reaction, albeit excessive, was somewhat justified. Something that would hopefully help to placate his ire.

"Duke Vikena, you should really be aware of your position and your surroundings. You are not the 'guest' of honor tonight, nor you are the dignified noble you seem to think you are." Mayet said as she stood up, with her fiery, hostile gaze betraying the rather polite words and tone she used.

"Nobility is more than just a title, Duke Vikena. Dignity, strength, competence, courage and above everything else, respect. Respect yourself, your ancestors, your lineage and those around you. No matter the situation." Mayet said, with a firm tone, this time not much as a hostile warning, but a firm lesson Lorenzo had to learn.

"Remember why exactly you are here tonight. Recognize and accept your mistakes and face them with the respect and dignity of a noble of your position. If not for yourself, do it for your daughter. Lady Charlotte does not deserve to be punished for her father's words and actions any further than she already have." She continued, looking directly towards Lorenzo.

"If you truly want to become the noble and the man you wish to be, the father your daughter deserves then you need to remember one thing... Change does not come without a great deal of effort and persistence." Mayet finished, her fierce stare still remaining on Duke Vikena for a brief moment before she sat down on her chair again.
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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Helo
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Helo Wonderlust King

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Lord Leo Smithwood

Time: 6 pm
Location: Guest House; Dining Room
Interactions: Duke Lorenzo, delayer of meals@FunnyGuy, Grand Vizier Hafiz
Mentions: Mayet@13org, Auguste@Inertia, Charlotte@Princess


Leo watched and tried to hide his disbelief, as two grown men argued about who got to sit in which chair. He could understand that the Duke wanted to be treated with respect at this dinner, but to push back this far was only going to harm Charlotte. He could understand that the Grand Vizier wanted to be respected as well, but to continue to provoke things, it almost seemed like the Grand Vizier wanted to find any excuse he could to turn a minor mistake into a disaster. So now dinner was being delayed with a pissing contest over a chair and the food might be getting cold.

Leo could only imagine how much this had to be stressing Charlotte out, to have the table talking about her and her father and her father’s mistakes like this. He said nothing, he was not going to interrupt or argue with royalty, that was a clear no-win situation. He only smiled and nodded as Mayet offered a wise stance on what being nobility really meant.

“Grand Visier, peace be upon you. To be near your brilliance is an honor.” Leo spoke as he stood from his seat and offered the traditional Alidasht bow to the Grand Vizier. Then he looked at Duke Lorenzo and offered the traditional Caesonian bow.

“And Duke Vikena, I have been looking forward to sharing a meal with you, may I offer you my seat? Right here in the exquisite company of Prince Auguste, with an unobstructed view of so many radiant smiles,” he paused as he glanced at the Caesonian prince who could probably help reign in the duke for the rest of the meal, and towards the collection of faces both Alidasht and Caesonian so easily viewed from the middle of the table. His eyes lingered on Charlotte who was seated beside him for a moment then focused back on Duke Lorenzo.

“And, most importantly, next to Lady Vikena. I can think of no better seat at any table for a father than beside his child.” Leo pulled out of his chair and gestured for Duke Lorenzo to take a new seat, hoping that Duke Lorenzo could let this go if only for Charlotte’s sake. It was the best he could do; offer the Duke a way to take the peaceful compromise without making it sound entirely like a loss.
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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Tae
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Tae

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Time: 6pm
Location: The Sada Kurau
Interactions: @Apex Sunburn
Aesthetic: Top/Jacket, Pants, Boots, and Hair



As the crew surrounded Kalliope with their weapons drawn, she couldn't help but stifle a laugh at their panicked reaction. She had been wandering around the ship undetected for some time and found their sudden vigilance amusing. Despite her amusement, she knew that any sudden moves on her part could provoke them further, so she kept her hands raised in a show of surrender.

"My, so many men eager to show me their weapons so soon? You all could at least buy me dinner first," she quipped, though she wasn't sure how many of them understood her language. Her joke would likely be lost on many of them.

As a man stepped forward, Kalliope surmised that he must be the captain. She watched the scene unfold with an amused grin, noting that he spoke a language that was likely unfamiliar to many of Caesonia. She also observed that while the crew seemed to relax at some orders and go back to their duties, they still kept their weapons trained on her. In Kalliope's mind, this was the first smart thing they had done since she had walked onto the ship.

Kalliope found it curious that the captain seemed relaxed with her presence on his ship. She wondered if he was merely overconfident in his abilities or if he was playing some other game. Nonetheless, she noted that he kept his distance, which showed that he wasn't completely overconfident. This caused Kalliope to gain a bit of respect for him.

As the captain looked her up and down, Kalliope wondered if he was sizing her up or captivated by her appearance. She knew that many considered her a sight to behold with her red hair and tanned skin, but her scars often scared men off. She had even been called a "beautiful tragedy" by a certain king. Although she had convinced herself that she had accepted her scars, Kalliope couldn't help but wonder if it was a lie. Nonetheless, she was adept at lying and kept her emotions hidden.

“You, strange lady. Who are you? Why do you come here? To our Sada Kurau?”

Kalliope blinked at the captain's question and stared at him for a moment before letting out a chuckle. "Strange lady? And here I thought I was merely just one girl," she replied, using the same language he had spoken earlier. She leaned against the ship's railing, beginning to pick at her nails as a playful smirk danced across her lips. "Worry not, Captain. I merely let curiosity get the better of me and decided to have a little fun. I've just returned from a trip outside of Eromora and on my way back home, I spied your beautiful vessel here. So I decided to admire your beautiful Sada Kurau. I meant no offense, I assure you." With her bit of fun over and done with, Kalliope's smile became a bit friendlier. There was no sense in making an enemy of the captain if she hadn't already.

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Hidden 11 mos ago Post by Apex Sunburn
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Time: 1800

Despite the situation, hearing the women repeat his words in his native tongue – albeit with pronunciation that could do with some work – was likely one of the better surprises Sjan-dehk experienced since arriving to Sorian. He could hardly contain the smile that curled his lips, and so he didn’t bother to. At last, a local he could talk to without sounding like an illiterate fool. “You can be both. Just one strange girl,” he said and took another bite from his bun. As he chewed, he looked her over carefully once more. For someone with at least a dozen muskets pointed at her, she was awfully relaxed and calm. There was something more to her, Sjan-dehk was certain of it.

The scars on her face spoke of some form of violence in the past. Souvenirs of battle, perhaps? Or simply wounds from a back alley brawl? They could also be painful memories of abuse. Really, it was hard to tell, and it was hardly the most pressing question. That title went to her knowledge of his language. Where did she learn it from? And from whom? It had to be someone she met regularly, so that immediately struck off enterprising traders and merchants from the list of possibilities. A travelling scholar, maybe?

So many questions, but Sjan-dehk could only chew so slow before it started being ridiculous. “Ah, sorry, I meant woman. Or lady. Whatever you prefer.” He waved for his crew to stand at ease. They hesitated, but one-by-one, each man slowly brought their muskets to their sides, stocks resting on the deck and muzzles pointed to the sky. Whoever this woman was, she seemed friendly enough. A little too curious, maybe, but that hardly warranted a firing line.

“I will admit, you made us look like idiots, sneaking aboard like that.” Sjan-dehk didn’t need to turn or even look around to know that the guards – as well as Mursi – bristled at those words. As they should. “But I’ve to thank you. The path of knowledge is one of falls and rises, as it’s written. You’ve made my crew fall, but now they can rise stronger. Speaking of which, excuse me.”

He looked over his shoulder at Mursi. For a moment, the two of them held their gazes; Sjan-dehk with an arched brow and questioning expression, and Mursi with one that was beyond apologetic. “I’m pretty sure you know what to do, Master Mursi.” Sjan-dehk said with a subtle nod.

Mursi snapped to a salute. “Yes, captain. Latrines for the week, captain.”

“And the guards you posted. Make them help you. It’s their damn fault for being blind as well.”

A few of the guards standing behind Sjan-dehk let out quiet sighs of resignation, but none voiced any sort of opposition or contestation. Had this happened on any other ship, they would’ve been flogged for being negligent in their duties, but Sjan-dehk was willing to let them off easily for the first offence. “Don’t let this happen again.” He looked to his left and right at the row of musketmen, his gaze lingering on those with their heads hung low. “Learn from your mistake, and all will be forgotten. Repeat it, and well, we’ll have to help you learn. Understood?”

Their answer came as a unified chorus. “Aye, captain!”

Sjan-dehk nodded, then waved his hand. “Dismissed. Mursi, write up a new roster and deployment when you're able.”

He didn’t wait for them to fully disperse before returning his attention to the woman, and only then did he remember that she could probably understand most of what he had said. “Ah, sorry,” he said with flushed cheeks. “Rude of me. Just wanted to get that all done and out of the way as soon as possible. Better that way, yes?” He popped the last of the bun into his mouth and quickly ate it. Offering her a little grin, he continued, “Besides, I think having the one who got them in trouble around would make them commit it all to memory a little better.”

Was he being a little too casual with a woman – whose name he still didn’t know, no less – who had snuck aboard his ship? Probably. But she didn’t seem to mean any harm. If she did, she could’ve done whatever she needed to do a long time ago instead of wandering about like a sightseer. Neither did she seem to be particularly unsavoury or loathsome.

“You’re right, Sada Kurau is a beautiful ship.” That was another reason why Sjan-dehk decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. The compliment had sounded sincere enough to his ears, and anyone who could appreciate the beauty of his ship would already be on the same page with him. Within the same book, at the very least. “If you want to see her, you just have to ask. I’m more than happy to show you around.” He paused, then continued, “Oh, and you only answered two of my questions. Who are you?”
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princess

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Time: 6pm
Location: Castle Dining Room
Attire: Dress
Interaction: King Edin Danrose
Mention: @Silverpaw Wulfric @Helo Callum @Inertia Auguste @Lava Alckon Farim


"Where are they? How long will I have to wait for them to arrive before I-I mean we- can eat."


Anastasia sank into a cushioned chair at the elegant dining room table, her delicate fingers laced together, her chin resting on top of the bridge they had built. The soft pink dress she wore draped loosely over her figure, and her long hair tumbled over her shoulders in gentle waves. She had learned from her mother that Auguste had been invited to the Alidasht dinner. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment and a desire to barge in, using the excuse of returning Thara to Farim, rather than sit with her father, who appeared more interested in talking to himself than to her. Despite attempting to start a conversation with him once already, he had simply ignored her as if she weren't even there. The rejection was too much to bear after an already long day, so she decided to ignore him as well.

Anastasia watched as Alibeth left the room to find Wulfric and Callum, despite Anastasia's warning that Callum probably wouldn't be there. She sat feeling restless and anxious, the silence of the room was only interrupted by the occasional grumbling of King Edin. As time passed, Anastasia grew more and more restless. She drummed her fingers on the table and cast anxious glances at the doorway, eagerly awaiting Alibeth's return with Wulfric.

Suddenly, King Edin's voice broke the silence "Anastasia," he said, his voice low. Her gaze found his with a perplexed expression. "We will have a special guest arrive shortly. Make sure to greet him with respect, as he has been toiling all day to prepare a special treat for us."


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