open audience;

[ironwood]

Characters: The Ironwood Emperor and anyone who came to speak with her!
Date: November 15th.
Location: The Palace of Landed Sky
Situation: The expected holding of an audience for any that care to speak with the Ironwood Emperor.
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 Emperor is painting today, broad sweeps of colour across canvas. She's dressed very simply, with no ornamentation, and every once in a while she'll stop to wipe her brow with her arm, which has resulted in more than one smudge of paint on her cheek or forehead. She seems to be in a decent mood today, at least?

[Actionspam or prose are both acceptable!

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 will continue to allow mingling for those waiting for an audience in an antechamber. There is a thread header below to allow for that!]

Comments

[ironwood]

"Septimus, then. It's a pleasure to meet you face-to-face, finally." She inclines her head in acknowledgement.

[survival_isnt_living]

"Likewise." He returns the nod. "To business, then. Perhaps the matter of protecting the egg first?"

[alphatar]

[Korra's toppled a would-be scary tyrant, at least that's how she sees Amon, and Eshai's nothing of the sort. It still makes her blink a few times with a somewhat lost look on her face.]

It's a blanket. You know, for the colder weather we're getting now. They take a while to make, but it'll keep you warm.

[Is your painting distracting you too much Eshai?]

[andaway]

"I want it." He crosses his arms without even thinking about it. "But I am curious if magic would be needed to keep our memories... or it would be used to make us forget."

[backinakidflash]

[Ouch, lady. There's no reason to be rude about this. He hasn't called you and your friend Evandau names.]

[He keeps his mouth shut, barely. That's fine. He doesn't need to prove himself to her rught now. Bart just needs to get that key, and he can yell at her the next time. He takes the token with a murmur of thanks and rolls it over in his hands.]

What is this? Why would you waste something that probably has real uses on a hall pass?

[veryveryfrightening]

Gratitude isn't something my allies display often. It is the least I can do for both them and you, Majesty.

[His eyes flick to the painting and a small smile cuts into his serious expression.]

I had questions, but they can wait if you wish to finish your depiction. I wouldn't mind seeing its completion.

[beunbroken]

[Probably the Luteces. And Elizabeth herself. Odd you'd find her so polite, given her favored form of greeting is throwing books at people.]

I appreciate that. Have a wonderful day, your majesty.

[With a quick curtsey, she makes her way towards the door.]

[ofmyth]

[Ah. Proper cosmic evil from the dawn of time. The news just gets better and better.]

What do we know of how it has worked in the past? How were other worlds destroyed by it?

[langsyne]

[WELL IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME if the Daily Bugle had any say. But right. Okay. That's fair. Also kind of really disappointing but still fair.]

You wouldn't happen to know if there are any local crops that have those same properties, would you? Or know of someone who would know?

[fatedchaos]

[Oh, good. Because that would have been pretty horrible, and she didn't want to think of how that happened, or whose idea that had been.

But she follows after the Emperor when she tells her to, curiosity taking a bigger hold than caution.] Where are we going?

[tomemyoutliers]

I don't suppose there was a sign-- some trace of its presence in it before it announced that it was there. You might not have recognized it as such then, of course.

( Something, anything. Enough for Shockwave to have something to go on to prevent what seems like inevitable disaster. If Orion was concerned about what they might do without influence, if Malicant found some way to control them... )

There's no need to tell you the reason behind my sudden interest in preventing it from gaining a stronghold here, at least one that would allow it to exert control over technology of that scale. No matter how complicated it might be.

[constants]

Although it is not perfect [ THIS PLACE FOR EXAMPL- ahem ] I can keep track of references and potential references to the Enemy.

[ Now for the super secret part which she doesn't really tell anyone, but. Desperate times and desperate measures. She knows how to respect things like Malicant. ]

I perform a similar function in the world I come from. It is not something I am unused to or incompetent at.

[unconchonable]

[He rolls his eyes at that, though he does look at her painting. She definitely isn't bad, but Eridan isn't one much for art unless it's depicting something relevant to his interests. Like war, or portraits of violent Alternian warlords. Not. Lighthouses. However, he does reconsider his attitude. Sure, he's PISSED, but she is fellow royalty, even if inferior by a long shot. Her attitude is understandable, it isn't like he's a fan of blatant disrespect, even if she's far more deserving of it.]

You know what. We're both royalty, and I suppose that was a tad... [He lifts one hand from his crossed arms, gesturing with it] uncouth a me. [Note how he isn't apologizing] So let's start this ower. I'm Eridan Ampora, Prince a Hope an' a the royalblooded trolls of Alternia.

[See! He can SO do this diplomatic thing.]

An' I'we been told that my bloody concerns should be brought to the so-called Emperor, an' so here I am. [He lets his arm fall back in place, in a cross over his chest.]

So, I'm requestin', between royals, a real answer on what the real intention behind you housin' so many bloody hostages from all ower the damned place is? I ain't all too fond a findin' myself here, housed with a bunch a commoners [even if he's in the fire sector] against my will, and who a my standin' would be. How-fuckin'-ewer, I could rest a bit more easy if I knew what your intent is.

[And before she can even start to answer, he squints at her judgingly:] It better not got anythin' to do with blood sacrifice rituals. [Even if he's kinda stopped believing those are a thing, but you never know!]

[ironwood]

"First of all, though I didn't want to say anything on the Network. There's a possibility that the 'eggs' have been planted by Malicant." She pauses, and then sighs, puts a hand to her forehead. "It's not one I'd like to entertain, as-- they could mean the hope and survival of this world. But it's a possibility. Would you still like to go ahead with your plan?"

[ironwood]

[Well. Then. Eshai blinks down at it, and takes it from Korra's hands.]

I-- thank you, then. I do appreciate it.

[ironwood]

"Magic would be a requirement, yes." Magic is the foundation, after all, of what keeps everyone present in Keeliai.

[ironwood]

[An eyebrow this.]

It is a hall pass.

[ironwood]

[She shakes her head.]

No. Ask your questions.

[ironwood]

I know very little. It destroyed the world the kedan hailed from originally, I had thought to... save them, by bringing them here, but. Mmn.

[Her lips quirk downward. The stories of how the kedan were being damaged by being brought to Keeliai are prolific enough, at least.]

To my understanding, it drains the life energy of a planet to utter depletion. Every creature on it sickens and dies.

[ironwood]

Lieuen would.

[She purses her lips.]

He has a broad knowledge of agriculture. There are several plants that grow wild beyond Keeliai that might produce the same results, but as they aren't ones we cultivate I'm not certain as to whether or not the effort in harvesting them would be worth it.

[ironwood]

I have a sitting room I find to be quite pleasant.

[And on cue, she comes to a little green door, pushes it open. It overlooks one of the palace's internally built hanging gardens, and there are open windows with high sweeping archways, draped all in ivy like curtains to be parted. Eshai gestures to a small round table at which there are two chairs, and takes a seat in one of them.]

The man Malicant had possessed was named Yvaes. He was the leader of the Foreigners here at the time.

[alphatar]

Hey; least I could do, right? [Someone's a fan of having the barrier improvements. That and the last time Korra saw her, Eshai looked pretty weather worn, unlike now.]

...I don't know how the whole thing works, but- [The sound clinking juulan fills the air as she tugs out a pouch.] I wanted to know if I could see my future? I need to know if I'm going to be the Avatar everyone needs.

[Then she pauses as she looks at the bag in her hands.] Um, if this enough I mean. I can get more, or something else. I've never done this before.

[And she's horrible with money, so she just picked a ridiculous numnber like five hundred and went with it.]

[ironwood]

Nothing that we noticed. I was not involved with the areas that would have picked up on such interference, and much was lost in the war.

[She sighs.]

It's only speculation, of course. It could be that it had possessed a man or woman in a high-ranking position and used their knowledge, but I'd rather be safe than sorry in this case.

[ironwood]

[A nod.]

That would be beneficial, yes. What would you like in exchange?

[ironwood]

[You're about three hundred years too late for the blood sacrifice deal-io, Eridan, not to worry. Eshai gives him a rather archly annoyed look and doesn't speak for several maddening moments.]

There's a creature here called Malicant. It's an ageless, formless, chaotic being intent on the destruction of not only this universe but each one from which you individuals hail. As I'm of the opinion that a good offense is the best defense, I have brought you here to fight it. Take care not to speak its name outside the palace walls, it listens and hears. This place is warded, the rest of Keeliai is not.

[A sigh. Why can't these people ever speak amongst themselves and learn first. Though she can hardly expect a spoiled little prince to use that level of foresight.]

My intent is to stop it. And believe me when I say I'll throw as many bodies at it as it takes. Malicant wants to kill Tu Vishan, once that's done it can kill the rest of the world and move on.