open audience; the alderwood emperor

[alderwood]

Characters: The Alderwood Emperor and anyone who seek to speak with him
Date: January 8th
Location: The Palace of Landed Sky
Situation: The expected holding of an audience for any that care to speak with the newly appointed Alderwood Emperor.
Warnings/Rating: N/A; to be updated if necessary

The hall is stark and black, lit 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 warm the dark room.

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

There is beauty to it, but the room has been repurposed to function moreso than form. Weapons racks line the walls and there are officers stationed at regular intervals to ensure the safety of their assets and, of course, the Emperor himself. It is but one sign of heightened security, another being that all attendees must be escorted in with the attendance of a pair of armed guards. The rein of Alderwood begins in caution and will not be made victim of as Ironwood's did in its end.

The Emperor himself is seated at a broad table and working his way through cleaning a variety of firearms that range from elegant handguns to heavy muskets. He works with swift precision, dismantling each in turn before proceeding with cleaning and reassembling, then he moves to the next. Like the weapons upon the racks, these vary in age from rudimentary to advanced technology reminiscent of the spectre weapons. He knows each of them as spoils of war gathered over the centuries and now he seeks to repurpose them. To use them against the enemy that had him fight in the first place.

He is dressed in his familiar military cut, having no mind or pleasure in anything of ornamentation or to further denote his rank, and greets each attendee with the curt statement: "Speak to your purpose."

[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!]

Audience | Canon Updates | Antechamber

Comments

[alderwood]

"It doesn't," is his flat reply as Evandau sets aside a rifle that has been thoroughly worked over by his hand. He takes a moment to look at this Foreigner -- a newcomer, it appears. Eager to please, which makes him a sight less defiant than others that have rushed in to demand a return home.

It is with that eagerness in mind that Evandau leans back in the chair and focuses on the conversation rather than the weapons. "I am no magician," he offers in explanation. "Soldiering and science are how I do things. The spells are Eshai's and continue in her absence."

[ixis]

The mention of science gets the wizard's ears to flatten, but it's barely a twitch before they're back in their neutral place.

"Speaking as a humble mage who knows well his craft, Your Majesty, I confess concern over this fact. That a spell so complex that it spans realms, zones and dimensions is left running without the original caster. It in is my experience that this can lead to disaster; a magic left to run on it's own accord, with no one maintaining or understanding it on hand, it runs the risk of fraying. Unraveling.

"Not that I suspect His Majesty to be unaware of such risks and that he has not already investigated it, of course. I ask not to tamper with it, only to study it. And offer my expertise should it come under some manner of malfunction. Along with any other elemental or magical needs His Majesty may ask of me. I live only to serve."

He bows again with that statement, though not as low and a bit more brief than the first.

[alderwood]

Evandau sighs, a rare showing of his frustration, but Ixis has struck the nail straight upon the head. The magic has safeguards on it to continue in operation, but he is wary of the unravelling risk mentioned here. However, he is also wary about what such studying would do to hasten that.

"What magics do you know, Foreigner?" he asks, aiming for the point rather than the formalities.

[ixis]

Sadly, Naugus' manner of speaking is always this grand and honeyed. He's a poet in his soul, really. And even worse still when he talks about his abilities.

"A great deal, Your Excellence! I will offer a demonstration only if granted permission, of course," he says, giving a meaningful glance at the guards on either side of him. He doesn't want to come off as aggressive! "In summation, I am a wizard of the four elements. I can freely transmute one to the next and command each quite handily. Seas rise and rain falls at my whim, earth moves with but a thought, fire heeds my call and carries out my will, air lifts aloft I and enemies alike. If it can be done with any of these elements, I can see to it.

"I command as well invulnerable crystal magicks, Your Majesty, perfect for any manner of defense, both large and small. And as I said, all of these powers are yours to guide. You need only but ask."

[alderwood]

"They sound grand for combat, but the magics that govern this lifeline are delicate," he replies, a careful and even tone carrying his words. "Your services, I would accept. Your studies, less so. I cannot risk anything disturbing it."

[ixis]

The ears twitch again, but it is again a short flick and little else. Easily mistaken for a mote of dust causing irritation, perhaps. Naugus dips low into another bow, a wide, toothy grin on his bearded face.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I readily understand such guardedness and need for preservation! I only, with all due respect, implore you remember my offer and concern. Managing rifts that span realms is another magick I am knowledgeable in. I swear here and now I would never meddle in the summoning's status quo unless it is in a manner His Majesty sees fit."

[alderwood]

"It will be remembered, Foreigner, do not worry about that." Evandau reaches for a small device, no larger than his hand. It is crusted with dead sea growths and salt, a mess of which he begins to work at. "And stop with the Majesty," he adds as an aside. "I am a soldier risen to command, not born to the crown. Evandau suffices."

[ixis]

"As you wish, Your Maj-...Sir. Evandau." He gets there eventually, though the unease of first name basis right out the gate is clear on his face. It feels odd on the tongue. Such familiarity doesn't suit a king, soldier-bred or not! He's gonna slip up on this in the future.

"If there is no immediate request of me, Your Mmmrrgh-...Evandau, I ask to take my leave."

[alderwood]

"Take it," is his reply to that. They will, it seems, be at odds between formality and soldiery, but it is a start.

[ixis]

He bows low again, still showing formality and respect in actions if not words.

"Do not hesitate to call if you have need of me."

Then, with a swirl of the cape and a twirl of the staff, Naugus about-faces and marches out of the audience chamber, still keeping an intentional pace ahead of the guards.