open | The Commander's Audience at the Palace of Landed Sky

[alderwood]

Characters: The Ironwood Emperor Alderwood Commander and anyone who came to speak with the Ironwood Emperor.
Date: June 15th
Location: The Palace of Landed Sky
Situation: The expected holding of an audience for any that care to speak with the Ironwood Emperor, though they will be met instead by the Alderwood Commander.
Warnings/Rating: N/A; to be updated if necessary

The hall is still and white, strung with softly glowing lanterns that are strung up high beyond reach. Outside, the sun is at its zenith, and it filters down through the cloudy glass roof to create a brilliant, nearly blinding ambiance.

The floor is marble, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and ruby quartz. It catches the light, and casts strange patterns on the walls.

The room itself is almost eerily silent. No noise, no echoes. No one and nothing vaguely human, excepting the presence of Evandau. The Alderwood Commander stands before the Emperor's empty throne with patient expression and posture reminiscent to the at-ease bearing of a soldier. He waits to receive the petitioners, kedan and Foreigner alike, in Eshai's place this day. As with her audiences, those wishing to make their case must approach him and he will make not move to shorten the distance between the grand entryway and the throne that he defends.

The 'audience' is an open one, and no one will be turned away. So come one, come all, to the Palace of Landed Sky.

[Actionspam or prose are both acceptable! The Emperor has delegated the audience to Evandau this month and he has been temporarily granted many of the authorities that she naturally holds. Why is that? Well, telling y'all would be too easy, wouldn't it?

Characters will only be admitted into the hall one by one, so there won't be anyone present for anyone else's conversations, and there won't be any 'mingling' in the chamber itself.

By popular demand, we continue to allow mingling for those waiting for an audience in an antechamber. There is a thread header below to allow for that!]

Comments

[alderwood]

This rates a moment of thought, broken by a tired shake of his head. How many times now has he been asked this? Too many. Foreigner after Foreigner demands it without understanding that he fosters no conspiracy of information -- he lacks it. "Had I that information, do you not think I would have already had you Foreigners act upon it?"

[imaginate]

'I have no doubt.' His reply is firm, but calm. This is a train of thought he should abandon, and perhaps field to Eshai directly. One's superiors did not always keep one informed, he thought, wryly. 'Secondly - what is suitable payment for me to see my future? Money? Services? Information?'

[alderwood]

"And yet you make the inquiry," comes his dry reply. Too many; that echoes in his thoughts, an eternal refrain. "Trust that I would. As Alderwood Commander, it is I that will mobilise the Foreigners once the scope of the threat is known. It is no easier on me than it is you to be kept in the dark and not know which of you will be needed when and where."

Evandau lets it go after that, stepping from that frustration which hounds him to a request more easily addressed in the scope of his duties as proxy. "That depends on what you seek and how many years to your future it resides in."

[imaginate]

Because what is the use of puppets if you cannot make them dance? He bites it down, and inclines his head in a deferential gesture. An apology, of sorts. He did not intentionally mean to waste Evandau's time.

'A few months, no more. I cannot offer you monetary compensation, but I can offer my services, or information. I have a ring-' he briefly holds out his right hand so that it's visible '-that permits me to do a great deal in a short amount of time, and I'm extremely well-travelled, having served in several wars.'

[alderwood]

"What wars were these?" As this is a topic of personal interest to him. Evandau has much experience of his own, but these Foreigners have been summoned not with the expectation of mobilisation as an army. Yet, he still leans towards such options when he plans against the unknown and is always seeking those that have military experience when his thoughts turn that way.

[imaginate]

'Interplanetary. I can provide you with the exact circumstances of each if you wish, but you have only my word to go on.' It's not out of a desire to prove himself to Evandau, but merely reinforcing his own position with what proof he can. Kyle does not speak or traditionally hold himself like a soldier, but there are other tells. The uniform. The note of self-assurance in his voice. And perhaps a hint of coldness in the eyes, but these aren't obvious to him because he does his best not to appear threatening at all.

[alderwood]

"I see." He does not sound shocked by the scale, more like he observes the possibility without weighing too heavily in upon it. "Services, then. You would be retained for a one day to provide services in support of Keeliai. That day would be at my discretion -- or at Eshai's. That would be the cost of information."

[imaginate]

Kyle nods, considering. 'May I ask for specifics?'

"Support" was vague but he suspected he wasn't going to get an order he'd willingly disobey.

[alderwood]

"I won't lock either of us down to specifics," Evandau replies simply. He does not know what the future brings and will not risk losing access to some great skill by strict wording now. "You would help Keeliai and would not be asked to hurt Foreigners. That's the best I can state until that day comes."

[imaginate]

He frowns, considering. It's a fair request, and he wonders if he's just making a show of being slightly petulant. But eventually, he nods.

'Your terms are acceptable. One day of service.'

[alderwood]

"Done." He turns away with that, heading to a small door secreted behind a column near the throne and he pushes it open easily. "This way."