open | The Emperor'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: January 12th
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 commander of all law enforcement in Keeliai and its surrounding areas 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 one 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 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

[wintershepherd]

"Good, I'm glad she's all right," Jack answered, the flash of concern melting away again before he gets down to the purpose of his visit.

"But if you could answer a question for me, I'd really appreciate it. Some people here have said that we're brought here to defend against something. If that's the case, I'd rather hear it from those who are doing the bringing."

[alderwood]

"Then consider it heard." He never spends much in the way of words when it comes to questions. Evandau figures confirmation is enough, as this Jack character will provide him with a direction of what exactly he wants to know about it without his volunteering too much information.

[wintershepherd]

"Defend against what?" Jack asks simply.

[alderwood]

"An ancient threat." Again, few words serve him best, though he elaborates a few degrees further this time. "A deadly one that threatens and plagues us."

[wintershepherd]

That was definitely not what Jack wanted to hear, and his fingers tightened on the wood of his staff worriedly. "But you've brought kids here," he said, looking up at Evandau near the throne. The urgency in his voice was clear.

"Kids that shouldn't be caught up in anything like that."

[alderwood]

"No one should be, but it happens." Which is, in his view, the core of the matter. Wars which have been started must be fought, otherwise there is the risk of annihilation.

"What children there are here have either the skills to help us or are some of the few, lesser-suited ones caught by the current." A bitter smile drifts upon his lips momentarily at that. "Trust that I would prefer only the capable arrive, but there is an element outside our control which disrupts that intent."

[wintershepherd]

"But people also leave," Jack insisted. "There was just someone that went back home, right? So what if... what if someone agreed to stay, if something could be done to make sure the younger ones are at the front of the line to leave?"

[alderwood]

"That's beyond my control as Commander," he replied. "My role is to combat the threat with what I can." He pauses a moment. "As to the Emperor's control, it is not that easy. Things must be done for each and every Foreigner's arrival, same as it must be done for their return. To change that could destroy decades of hard work at opening the passageways which bring you to our aid."

[wintershepherd]

"Please," Jack said imploringly. "Will you ask the Emperor? I'll do anything if it means a chance for them to go back to where they belong."

[alderwood]

"It cannot be done," he clarified. "All possibility is wiped out by the effort and the risks." And Evandau would not dare risk what they had for a simple plea about children. "All that can be done is to keep them from combat, but even that I cannot promise."

[wintershepherd]

The winter spirit exhaled a frustrated breath, a visible plume of sparkling frost passing his lips as he lowered his head. For a moment he just stood there, then reluctantly raised his gaze back to Evandau.

"Thank you for listening anyway."

[alderwood]

"That is what the audience is for."

This is not the first rejection he offered today and he doubted it would be the last, for the Foreigners had a habit of requesting the impossible. Hardened against it, he simply nodded -- though, as protection seemed the goal of this one, he added one thing: "They are the last I would choose to fight. Be content with that."

[wintershepherd]

It was a hard thing to be content with, but Jack nodded. "And I'll do what I can too," he promised. "For both the ones that are brought here, and the ones that already live here. Kids are kids."

[alderwood]

"That conviction is what we need." A nod and a tentative form of agreement, for at least they can somewhat see eye to eye on this.

[wintershepherd]

The winter spirit returned the nod, turning to leave; apparently that was the only thing he'd wanted to bring to the audience today.

"Good luck with the rest of the meetings, Evandau."