The Coronation of King Tikhon Anastasi Dimir Velira

[Thanasi]

While King Tikhon was king the moment his father died and thus was crowned as soon as possible, it is considered proper for his official coronation to happen when he is old enough to rule in his own right and that time is now. Compared to the great extravagance of the coronation of the late Anastasi II, this time it is much more austere, reflective of how the entire Velkan treasury is being turned over to the war effort and how this is an event marked by the blood of Velkans being shed in order to fight for what they believe in. But Velkans are still a celebratory people so all their cities and villages are decorated and festival celebrations are ongoing with feasting, drinking, and religious processions. Nowhere is that more clear than the royal city of Zeleza where the king makes his court. From the walls proudly fly the flags of Velka, Raejisa, and Avakonia and throngs of people make their way into the city, street corners echo with songs to Dejan, Velka, and the martyred Anastasi, food stands are on every street corner, silver merchants hawk their wares, priests of Dejan walk the streets, and all the more. There is a humdrum of excitement for even those who cannot reach the palace for the King will be walking the streets as part of the ceremonies and greeting the people. While one think the day being cloudy is an ill omen, the King reportedly happy with it since it will mean he can have his people see his face instead of his albinism making him go with a mask.

The royal palace is well decorated and servants bustle to and fro, but, a careful eye will note, that guards are all over and hiding in the corners, keeping a careful eye over the proceedings.

 

Characters to potentially interact with:

• King Tikhon
• Queen-Mother Alina
• Dowager-Queen Lena
• Keeper of Family Virtue, Princess Ekaterina Velira from The Velka That Never Was
• Keeper of Family Virtue, Princess Elisaveta Velira from Velka
• Crown Prince Innokenty Velira and Princess Anastasia Velira (if someone wants to interact with a pair of eleven year olds)
• Duchess Frosya Velira and her siblings

 

Nations who can send people:
-Avakonian Empire (the Empress was explicitly invited) @Zayuz
-Holy Kingdom of Raejisa (Emperor Dvanik was also explicitly invited) @Zayuz
-Thixinixithinitraxes @Featherscale
-Veyhr Confederacy (more specifically Safiri, though a note to her was included that there is a chance the Empress might be present and Dejanism plays a part in Velkan coronations so her declining to come is understandable) @FLH_Prime
-Dammerlicht Satrapy @Easter01
-Purulosii Archonate @goldencalf
-League of the Hundred Pearls @Secretariat
-North Baria @Sonny Walker

 

A invitation was almost accidentally sent to Drakkis of all people but was intercepted by the Office of the Keeper of Family Virtue and shredded. Crown Prince Innokenty has been duly punished by his mother for the prank.
 

Edited September 29 by Thanasi (see edit history)

[Thanasi]

At the palace one sees, grouped roughly, the albino king greeting people, commoner and noble with Protector of the Blood Xenia standing close by his side and the Queen-Mother, someone who apparently has been very withdrawn from court affairs, standing next to him along with the Keeper of Family Virtue and his grandmother Elisaveta.

 

The Dowager-Queen is sitting in the gardens of the palace, watching over her young children as they play.

 

The Keeper of Family Virtue Ekaterina Velira has sequestered herself in part of the main hall, surrounded by Velkan nobility from the Velka That Never Was. They are distinct from their counterparts given their grim demeanor, pale complexions, and thinness.

 

The crown prince and his twin sister are sitting in the main hall doing some people watching.

 

Duchess Frosya and her siblings Duke Victor and Duchess Elanie are seeming to just be wandering around randomly but Frosya has that smile that never seems to reach her eyes.

Edited September 29 by Thanasi (see edit history)

[Featherscale]

Thixinixithinitraxes sends a delegation from Thixu

 

 

Earlier:

Thixinixithinitraxes was displeased.

This wasn't uncommon, but it wasn't good for the Dragon Proxies.  A handful of the most senior had been eaten in the past few years, after the embarrassing attempt to expand Thixu economic influence.  Last year, another was "retired" after failing to acquire potted platypus. 

Xeli was promoted rather against her will after that.  She checked her body paint, uncomfortably aware the pigments worn by Dragon Proxies were chosen for their effect on the draconic palate.  But that was no reason not to look good.

Today, Thixinixithinitraxes was displeased because Thixu wasn't as respected as he thought it should be.  Which wasn't a problem Xeli could fix.  Luckily Thixinixithinitraxes had a solution. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work.

As a full Proxy, she wouldn't get eaten for pointing this out.  

Probably. 

Some sort of giant sapient locusts were having a private event and dared the world to send a gatecrasher! If Xeli could get in, the glory to Thixu would be sung across both continents!

But- Xeli, in no way, had any chance of getting in.

"How about, shining one, I go to the coronation of King Tikhon of Velka.  Many famous and powerful people will be there!  Far more than will attend to a meeting with violent bugs!"

The Great Dragon snorted his assent.

Then:

Xeli, in deference to outlander customs, wore a tunic and skirt, just translucent enough to be 'modest' without giving undue weight. Sandals weren't as unusual to her, but she hadn't neeed them in years. The cloth of the garments was dyed in the saffron and green colors of a Dragon Proxy, while her arms and face were painted in the metallic color and pattern befitting her station.

The rest of her party wore similar, but drabber, clothing. They all felt naked in loose cloth instead of soothing paint on their bodies.  The younger staff had tried painting themselves under their clothes, but the smearing was more irritating than nudity. Every Thixu diplomat learns that the first time out...

Her party had reached the border, after crossing through Dammericht and daring the strength of the Gray, Yellow, and Green diplomatic pennants to pass them through active warzones...

Now, though, she reached the final leg of the Journey...

"I am The Proxy of Thixinixithinitraxes the Silver, here at the invitation  King Tikhon, please direct me to his palace that I may attend his coronation."

Now:

Everyone here wore clothes, even in the heat of the day!  It was bizarre, but Xeli was glad she had insisted the party followed local custom.  And everyone here was so happy! 

 The Thixu weren't morose, or at least Xeli never thought so, but neither were they celebratory. One day was much like every other, and Thixinixithinitraxes was there at the beginning, he would be there forever, and, if you were good, he wouldn't eat you until you had died of natural causes anyway.  Calendars weren't forbidden, per se.  But the Thixu had no holidays.  To mark time made Thixinixithinitraxes uncomfortable.   And he did so much for his people that... simply couldn't be allowed. 

Xeli finds herself alone in the main hall. Her retinue had dispersed.  Some would break and never return.  Some would find lucrative trade or diplomatic ties.  Those that came home would be more useful for the experience.  Those who ascended to Dragon Proxy lived lives free of any care or want... save those of The Great Dragon.  She had her choice of lovers, of food, of other pleasures... but few Proxies grew old.  Her children barely knew her, to protect them and her. 

Foreigners were different, but less than they thought.  The difference was, she firmly believed,  people like her, the ambitious, brave, bold... in human lands, she might be a captain or a madame or a chef.  In Thixu... she was a prince, the greatest among equals, with only a handful of absent-mindee dragons between her and the gods themselves...  she gloried in it. 

She strides up to the twins... "Hello, My Name is Xeli.  I'm curious.  We don't have holidays where I'm from.  Are they all this... busy?  Or is it just coronations?  We've had the same ruler since before time began, so I understand they are more important than the sorts of holidays that happen every year?"
 

[Thanasi]

13 hours ago, Featherscale said:

Thixinixithinitraxes sends a delegation from Thixu

 

 

Earlier:

Thixinixithinitraxes was displeased.

This wasn't uncommon, but it wasn't good for the Dragon Proxies.  A handful of the most senior had been eaten in the past few years, after the embarrassing attempt to expand Thixu economic influence.  Last year, another was "retired" after failing to acquire potted platypus. 

Xeli was promoted rather against her will after that.  She checked her body paint, uncomfortably aware the pigments worn by Dragon Proxies were chosen for their effect on the draconic palate.  But that was no reason not to look good.

Today, Thixinixithinitraxes was displeased because Thixu wasn't as respected as he thought it should be.  Which wasn't a problem Xeli could fix.  Luckily Thixinixithinitraxes had a solution. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work.

As a full Proxy, she wouldn't get eaten for pointing this out.  

Probably. 

Some sort of giant sapient locusts were having a private event and dared the world to send a gatecrasher! If Xeli could get in, the glory to Thixu would be sung across both continents!

But- Xeli, in no way, had any chance of getting in.

"How about, shining one, I go to the coronation of King Tikhon of Velka.  Many famous and powerful people will be there!  Far more than will attend to a meeting with violent bugs!"

The Great Dragon snorted his assent.

Then:

Xeli, in deference to outlander customs, wore a tunic and skirt, just translucent enough to be 'modest' without giving undue weight. Sandals weren't as unusual to her, but she hadn't neeed them in years. The cloth of the garments was dyed in the saffron and green colors of a Dragon Proxy, while her arms and face were painted in the metallic color and pattern befitting her station.

The rest of her party wore similar, but drabber, clothing. They all felt naked in loose cloth instead of soothing paint on their bodies.  The younger staff had tried painting themselves under their clothes, but the smearing was more irritating than nudity. Every Thixu diplomat learns that the first time out...

Her party had reached the border, after crossing through Dammericht and daring the strength of the Gray, Yellow, and Green diplomatic pennants to pass them through active warzones...

Now, though, she reached the final leg of the Journey...

"I am The Proxy of Thixinixithinitraxes the Silver, here at the invitation  King Tikhon, please direct me to his palace that I may attend his coronation."

Now:

Everyone here wore clothes, even in the heat of the day!  It was bizarre, but Xeli was glad she had insisted the party followed local custom.  And everyone here was so happy! 

 The Thixu weren't morose, or at least Xeli never thought so, but neither were they celebratory. One day was much like every other, and Thixinixithinitraxes was there at the beginning, he would be there forever, and, if you were good, he wouldn't eat you until you had died of natural causes anyway.  Calendars weren't forbidden, per se.  But the Thixu had no holidays.  To mark time made Thixinixithinitraxes uncomfortable.   And he did so much for his people that... simply couldn't be allowed. 

Xeli finds herself alone in the main hall. Her retinue had dispersed.  Some would break and never return.  Some would find lucrative trade or diplomatic ties.  Those that came home would be more useful for the experience.  Those who ascended to Dragon Proxy lived lives free of any care or want... save those of The Great Dragon.  She had her choice of lovers, of food, of other pleasures... but few Proxies grew old.  Her children barely knew her, to protect them and her. 

Foreigners were different, but less than they thought.  The difference was, she firmly believed,  people like her, the ambitious, brave, bold... in human lands, she might be a captain or a madame or a chef.  In Thixu... she was a prince, the greatest among equals, with only a handful of absent-mindee dragons between her and the gods themselves...  she gloried in it. 

She strides up to the twins... "Hello, My Name is Xeli.  I'm curious.  We don't have holidays where I'm from.  Are they all this... busy?  Or is it just coronations?  We've had the same ruler since before time began, so I understand they are more important than the sorts of holidays that happen every year?"
 

The crown prince and his twin sister both look at each other at the question being asked to a pair of eleven year olds but Innokenty elects to answer. "Hello Xeli, I am Prince Innokenty and this is my twin sister Princess Anastasia." Anastasia gives a small curtsey. "Festivals are a big deal in Velka so a lot of places have yearly ones or even multiple festivals a year. But no, most are not this big but the coronation of the king is important to us. The people want to celebrate that the Blood of the Savior remains to lead Velka."

 

At that Anastasia chimes in. "We weren't born yet but our father's coronation was even bigger than this one and involved over a week of celebrating. Aunt Ekaterina told us that a lot of our budget has gone to the army so we had to make things smaller for Tikhon." Which, to be fair, by the precedent set by all of two previous coronations, that of the Old and New Wolves, this is pretty modest and, logically, the festival budget would have been the first thing cut for the war effort.

[FLH_Prime]

The country was very much like Onke described.  Similar but different to the Isle. The forest, nature itself, held an important place in their cultures.  The Velkans fought against it for their survival, while the Dinma'ari were reliant on it for their survival. A warrior culture and a hunter culture.  The Velkans fortified themselves in their towns while the Dinma'ari roamed the jungles of their homeland. 

But what really caused her to crack a small smile as she traveled through Zeleza's streets to the palace was the people's celebration.  To be able to celebrate in the face of all that has happened, that took a certain strength.  Of course, she would have preferred being able to witness their celebrations without drawing attention to herself.  But, that was unavoidable as she and her party caught the gazes of countless people as they continued to the palace.  It was understandable.  The vast majority of the Velkans would have likely never seen a Dinma'ari.

These gazes did not lessen as they neared the palace.  Those who had never seen a Dinma'ari couldn't help but stare as Safiri and her party approached the palace.  Safiri heard conversations slow and quiet to a murmur for a moment as she and her party entered the main hall. Her party was comprised of her brother, Onke; her sister, Ziyanda Lehtu-Kiama Paubi'Elulu; and her cousin, Wako Kausu-Baloji Irakalla'Ku.  

Safiri stood proud at the front of her party.  Her dark auburn hair was partially held up in a bun with two longer braids running down from her shoulders across her chest. No feathers or bones could be found as she elected for a more human style.  She wore a small circlet made of bone and decorated with polished colourful stones and feathers, a symbol of her position made specifically for her.  She wore a long dress that ended just above her feet (which were bare of any footwear), constructed with a combination of silk and Lo'Rax leather, decorated with polished colourful stones and feathers to complement her dark amber skin.  A belt made of animal fur wrapped around her waist, and held in it an ornate Zey'mahzi'Hahku.  The dress left her forearms bare with the exception of an armlet on her left arm made of tin and bone, decorated with polisehd colour stones.  

Onke stood by the side of his sister, in a far less formal outfit.  He wore no shirt, only wearing a series of necklaces made of bones, animal teeth, feathers and colourful stones.  He wore standard Dinma'ari armguards, and around his waist was a belt made of animal leathers decorated by bone, feathers and animal teeth.  Onke wore standard Dinma'ari leather craft trousers.  At his side was Zey'mahzi'Hahku and a Ah'Dalk (Hunter's Dagger).  His hair was was brushed back and tied up into a wolf's tail.  

Ziyanda stood at approximately 2.78 metres tall, with a light amber skin tone and hazelnut eyes. She wore a more traditional Dinma'ari outfit comprised of a two piece leather tunic that showed off her midriff.  The two piece tunic was decorated with animal teeth and feathers.  She also wore a traditional Dinma'ari armguard on her left arm, with a bracelet made of bone, tin and polished colourful stones on her right. At her side was her Zey'mahzi'Hahku and series of polished crystals hanging from leather straps.  Her  waist length black hair was kept in a large braid, decorated with bones and feathers.  

Wako stood at approximately 3.58 metres tall, with a bronze skin tone and dark green eyes.  His dark brown hair is near shoulder length, and well kept.  He wore the traditional Dinma'ari hunter's tunic, with no armguards and a pair of basic sandals fitted for a Dinma'ari foot, making him the only member of the Confederacy's delegation to wear any type of footwear.  At his side was a Zey'mahzi'Hahku, and held at his opposite side was a simple wooden box.  

"Greetings." Safiri said as she approached the newly crowned king, her common much more refined than the common spoke by most Dinma'ari, "Thank you for the invitation. On behalf of the Confederacy, please, accept this gift."

She motioned for Wako to step forward and present the wooden box.  Within the box was an ornately crafted, human sized, Dinma'ari Ah'Dalk.  

[Thanasi]

Port City of Ansirth, Kingdom of Velka

 

@Tonbo Taira

For better or for worse, the bulk of the Velkan soldiers and sailors who stationed in the city are from The Velka That Never Was and these men are surprised by very few things. Princess Kheri suddenly showing up qualifies as a surprise. While princess is detained a few soldiers go to the garrison commander to ask him what to do about this. Among the questions that they seek clarification on is if they actually do take prisoners and what the rules for dealing surrendering enemy nobility who requests sanctuary is. After some quick conferring about things, and noting that the princess is technically requesting hospitality so they couldn't harm her even if they wanted to and should help her out, it is elected to bring her to Zeleza asap where the coronation will be taking place in a couple days. The higher ups there are about the only ones who can deal with it And, if problems come from it, well, King Tikhon is currently surrounded by every noble in Velka (read: a small army of heavily armed men), his personal guards, and a fanatically loyal populace so he should be safe.

 

So Princess Kheri and those accompanying her are sent on their way to Zeleza with a guard, a respectful guard but still a guard, and will arrive at Zeleza on the day of the coronation. Keeper of Family Virtue, Princess Ekaterina Velira, being judged as the most calm about things despite it being 'her' who was killed not that long ago is tasked with handling things. So when she arrives she is, discreetly to avoid making a mockery of her, brought to the palace and escorted to some actually comfortable chambers where Ekaterina is waiting for her in a seat. Waiting for Kheri to make her move.

 

(OOC: figured I would set the scene for your arrival)

[Tonbo Taira]

Kheri's attendants are very few- two handmaidens, and one rather nervous-looking youth whose primary job seems to be looking about wide-eyed.

 

Kheri bows low to her esteemed hostess, and her trio of followers hastily follow suit.

 

"Your Highness. As I doubt Velkan prisons are so well-appointed, you have my thanks. Particularly given how things stand between your family and mine."

[Thanasi]

1 hour ago, Tonbo Taira said:

Kheri's attendants are very few- two handmaidens, and one rather nervous-looking youth whose primary job seems to be looking about wide-eyed.

 

Kheri bows low to her esteemed hostess, and her trio of followers hastily follow suit.

 

"Your Highness. As I doubt Velkan prisons are so well-appointed, you have my thanks. Particularly given how things stand between your family and mine."

 

"Despite the fact that we are at war, you came to us, surrendered into our custody, and asked for sanctuary. That is enough for us to say you are asking for hospitality and hospitality is sacred to Velkans." Ekaterina answers matter of factly, the sacredness of hospitality is one of the things shared between Velkans on both sides of the rift, perhaps it is even more sacred to the Velkans who endured the Winter. "So accommodations being provided to you and your servants along with food is the least we can do... I will however confess, even with hospitality, most of my family is on edge at the news of your coming, seeing as your father's locusts killed 'me' three years ago and he destroyed Dejan's helm so that is why I am the one speaking with you. Now come," she gestures at a seat across from her, "take a seat princess. I imagine you have quite a story to tell me."

Edited September 30 by Thanasi (see edit history)

[Tonbo Taira]

11 minutes ago, Thanasi said:

 

"Despite the fact that we are at war, you came to us, surrendered into our custody, and asked for sanctuary. That is enough for us to say you are asking for hospitality and hospitality is sacred to Velkans." Ekaterina answers matter of factly, the sacredness of hospitality is one of the things shared between Velkans on both sides of the rift, perhaps it is even more sacred to the Velkans who endured the Winter. "So accommodations being provided to you and your servants along with food is the least we can do... I will however confess, even with hospitality, most of my family is on edge at the news of your coming, seeing as your father's locusts killed 'me' three years ago and he destroyed Dejan's helm so that is why I am the one speaking with you. Now come," she gestures at a seat across from her, "take a seat princess. I imagine you have quite a story to tell me."

"It's... more what I hope to be the beginning of a story than a completed tale, but..."

She took the indicated seat.

"I had to forge my father's seal to make this possible, but..."

She sighed.

"He wasn't a bad man once. He did a lot to better the lives of the people of Khur, especially for women and children. He reformed many laws,, and reduced the scope of priestly abuses but... I need not tell you that he has become a monster. The Children of R'Karth, that..."

She took a deep breath.

"That and the Pact, makes me feel I must betray my nation to save it."

Behind her, her trio of attendants- all younger than twenty- looked even more nervous, if possible.

"Before I set upon this course, I asked him to abrogate the Pact. Failing that, I asked if he was set on naming Kherdan-Neth as his successor. I asked him to at least give me the helm. He told me..."

She shrugged.

"Essentially, he told me no. I think the Helm might have been possible if I'd reached him sooner. But 'if' is useless. So I see my father, a man who has embraced atrocity, and my half-brother looking to follow on his footsteps, leading my homeland into darkness, and I... I confess, your highness, I'm well out of my depth. But I feel that Khur is fated to be defeated, and... I would not have it destroyed when that happens. There are good people there- just as there were innocents in Raesija when he- we unleashed those things on it. The..."

She shook her head.

"Whatever happens, our homelands are fated to be neighbors, whatever nation holds sway. I would... hope to help shape the future for the better. And right now, that means helping Velka. Because my brother... he's too weak to resist what he has been handed. The Pact, the priesthood, all of it. I can't save Khur from within. Someone has to save us from ourselves. Which brings me to you... our people have been enemies for a long time, but... honorably. In a strange way, I know I can trust Velka."

[Thanasi]

6 hours ago, FLH_Prime said:

The country was very much like Onke described.  Similar but different to the Isle. The forest, nature itself, held an important place in their cultures.  The Velkans fought against it for their survival, while the Dinma'ari were reliant on it for their survival. A warrior culture and a hunter culture.  The Velkans fortified themselves in their towns while the Dinma'ari roamed the jungles of their homeland. 

But what really caused her to crack a small smile as she traveled through Zeleza's streets to the palace was the people's celebration.  To be able to celebrate in the face of all that has happened, that took a certain strength.  Of course, she would have preferred being able to witness their celebrations without drawing attention to herself.  But, that was unavoidable as she and her party caught the gazes of countless people as they continued to the palace.  It was understandable.  The vast majority of the Velkans would have likely never seen a Dinma'ari.

These gazes did not lessen as they neared the palace.  Those who had never seen a Dinma'ari couldn't help but stare as Safiri and her party approached the palace.  Safiri heard conversations slow and quiet to a murmur for a moment as she and her party entered the main hall. Her party was comprised of her brother, Onke; her sister, Ziyanda Lehtu-Kiama Paubi'Elulu; and her cousin, Wako Kausu-Baloji Irakalla'Ku.  

Safiri stood proud at the front of her party.  Her dark auburn hair was partially held up in a bun with two longer braids running down from her shoulders across her chest. No feathers or bones could be found as she elected for a more human style.  She wore a small circlet made of bone and decorated with polished colourful stones and feathers, a symbol of her position made specifically for her.  She wore a long dress that ended just above her feet (which were bare of any footwear), constructed with a combination of silk and Lo'Rax leather, decorated with polished colourful stones and feathers to complement her dark amber skin.  A belt made of animal fur wrapped around her waist, and held in it an ornate Zey'mahzi'Hahku.  The dress left her forearms bare with the exception of an armlet on her left arm made of tin and bone, decorated with polisehd colour stones.  

Onke stood by the side of his sister, in a far less formal outfit.  He wore no shirt, only wearing a series of necklaces made of bones, animal teeth, feathers and colourful stones.  He wore standard Dinma'ari armguards, and around his waist was a belt made of animal leathers decorated by bone, feathers and animal teeth.  Onke wore standard Dinma'ari leather craft trousers.  At his side was Zey'mahzi'Hahku and a Ah'Dalk (Hunter's Dagger).  His hair was was brushed back and tied up into a wolf's tail.  

Ziyanda stood at approximately 2.78 metres tall, with a light amber skin tone and hazelnut eyes. She wore a more traditional Dinma'ari outfit comprised of a two piece leather tunic that showed off her midriff.  The two piece tunic was decorated with animal teeth and feathers.  She also wore a traditional Dinma'ari armguard on her left arm, with a bracelet made of bone, tin and polished colourful stones on her right. At her side was her Zey'mahzi'Hahku and series of polished crystals hanging from leather straps.  Her  waist length black hair was kept in a large braid, decorated with bones and feathers.  

Wako stood at approximately 3.58 metres tall, with a bronze skin tone and dark green eyes.  His dark brown hair is near shoulder length, and well kept.  He wore the traditional Dinma'ari hunter's tunic, with no armguards and a pair of basic sandals fitted for a Dinma'ari foot, making him the only member of the Confederacy's delegation to wear any type of footwear.  At his side was a Zey'mahzi'Hahku, and held at his opposite side was a simple wooden box.  

"Greetings." Safiri said as she approached the newly crowned king, her common much more refined than the common spoke by most Dinma'ari, "Thank you for the invitation. On behalf of the Confederacy, please, accept this gift."

She motioned for Wako to step forward and present the wooden box.  Within the box was an ornately crafted, human sized, Dinma'ari Ah'Dalk.  

King Tikhon, clad in a dark blue tunic and leather pants with a cloak of wolf skin around his shoulders, is standing as he greets people, noble or commoner who approaches him to wish him well. The young king looks remarkably like his father, well, if his father was an albino and clean shaven. Though compared to the kindness and joy Anastasi had in his eyes often, Tikhon's eyes lack much of that in favor of a hardness a fifteen year old probably shouldn't have. But that is because, perhaps, times are changing for Velka and they must return to what they once were with the war going on, a nation willing to fight to the last man, woman, and child if it meant even the slightest hint of victory. Laying at his foot is his wolf Zaren, who he raised from a pup as is tradition in the royal family.

 

With him are three women.

 

The first standing to his immediate right is a woman still wearing black and a mourning veil, the Queen-Mother Alina, Anastasi's first wife. Not much can be made of her features from behind her veil and she has only extremely rarely appeared in public since Anastasi's death.

 

Also to his right is the current Keeper of Family Virtue, the King's grandmother, Princess Elisaveta Velira. She is still smarting from her loss in Khur but if their losses meant that Velka triumphed in Raejisa, she is willing to accept that loss. Her long auburn hair is streaked with silver, her face is showing lines that come with the strain of age and losing her husband and children, and but her eyes have a sharpness to them as she looks people over.

 

Standing to his left is someone who might as well be considered one of Anastasi's daughters. Xenia has grown up, no longer the slim young girl Anastasi found nearly frozen to death in the bodies of her birth parents, she has grown up to be a full woman, but one that is lethal in her armor with her spear at her side and her own auburn hair done in a long braid, as befitting of the left hand of the King of Velka. There is no doubt to her devotion to the man she is standing next to much like she was devoted to her second father.

 

People come and go and Tikhon shares a word for each and every one of them. The arrival Dinma'ari however causes a lot of people to go silent in awe of the huge giants walking through, though some of the guards want to see how they do in the fighting competitions. And there is one thought in the young king's mind as the 15 year old cranes his neck up to see Safiri's face when she stops before. Cool.

 

The king had been more or less stoic at a lot of the praise and presents given to him since then but this item, well, this is about the happiest the boy has looked since the start of today's events as Xenia takes the box from Wako and holds it out to him. The boy king reaches into the box and takes out the big hunting dagger and carefully examines the blade with an eye common to Velkans when it comes to weapons and gives a satisfied nod before returning it to the box and looking back up with Safiri. "Thank you very much for this. I love it." He says with great sincerity and more brightness in his eyes. Say what one will, Velkans love their weapons and the king is no different.

[Thanasi]

19 hours ago, Tonbo Taira said:

"It's... more what I hope to be the beginning of a story than a completed tale, but..."

She took the indicated seat.

"I had to forge my father's seal to make this possible, but..."

She sighed.

"He wasn't a bad man once. He did a lot to better the lives of the people of Khur, especially for women and children. He reformed many laws,, and reduced the scope of priestly abuses but... I need not tell you that he has become a monster. The Children of R'Karth, that..."

She took a deep breath.

"That and the Pact, makes me feel I must betray my nation to save it."

Behind her, her trio of attendants- all younger than twenty- looked even more nervous, if possible.

"Before I set upon this course, I asked him to abrogate the Pact. Failing that, I asked if he was set on naming Kherdan-Neth as his successor. I asked him to at least give me the helm. He told me..."

She shrugged.

"Essentially, he told me no. I think the Helm might have been possible if I'd reached him sooner. But 'if' is useless. So I see my father, a man who has embraced atrocity, and my half-brother looking to follow on his footsteps, leading my homeland into darkness, and I... I confess, your highness, I'm well out of my depth. But I feel that Khur is fated to be defeated, and... I would not have it destroyed when that happens. There are good people there- just as there were innocents in Raesija when he- we unleashed those things on it. The..."

She shook her head.

"Whatever happens, our homelands are fated to be neighbors, whatever nation holds sway. I would... hope to help shape the future for the better. And right now, that means helping Velka. Because my brother... he's too weak to resist what he has been handed. The Pact, the priesthood, all of it. I can't save Khur from within. Someone has to save us from ourselves. Which brings me to you... our people have been enemies for a long time, but... honorably. In a strange way, I know I can trust Velka."

The veiled woman, wearing pure white as she always had besides the brief time she swapped it out for black with the death of Anastasi, sits there silently listening. When she seems to be done Ekaterina begins slowly. "You do honor us with your trust and coming here to speak with us of such things... I am not the King so I cannot promise his support but I can promise to take your side in arguing your case before him. Had my brother still lived he would have done so without hesitation but Tikhon is hard for me to read. But, I guess the question is, you want to help your people, you want Velka to save your people, but how do you see that happening? What is the resolution we should aim for? What, by the end of things, do you wish for your homeland to look like?"

[Tonbo Taira]

1 hour ago, Thanasi said:

The veiled woman, wearing pure white as she always had besides the brief time she swapped it out for black with the death of Anastasi, sits there silently listening. When she seems to be done Ekaterina begins slowly. "You do honor us with your trust and coming here to speak with us of such things... I am not the King so I cannot promise his support but I can promise to take your side in arguing your case before him. Had my brother still lived he would have done so without hesitation but Tikhon is hard for me to read. But, I guess the question is, you want to help your people, you want Velka to save your people, but how do you see that happening? What is the resolution we should aim for? What, by the end of things, do you wish for your homeland to look like?"

"We make them question the legitimacy of Kherdan-Neth's rule... and we use the literacy campaign my father began to let the common people read and question our religious doctrine. That whole business where we're always saying Dejanists have no souls? I've read every damn known sacred text in our faith, and it's not in there. It's from a statement made by a Priest-King of Kalid during the reign of Avakonia over Khur. If you have scribes who can copy the older texts for us, it would be a great help. And you need to keep your army strong, to keep Khur from seeking more... glory farther afield. If Kherdan-Neth has to always watch his border with Velka, he can't go sending his forces off to rampage elsewhere."

She paused. Seemed to consider her next words for a moment.

"Velkan armies haven't had the best luck against Khur's forces of late, but the victory in Raesija has to have made an impression. It also shows that the Pact aren't as strong as those Omagruthan bastards said they were when they sold the alliance. We let people see the lies they've been fed, and we see about a transition of power."

She shrugged.

"I won't bat my eyelashes and say I have no ambition. I would be quite happy to take the throne as a saner, more responsible ruler. But the new ruler doesn't need to be me. But we can't afford more Priest-Kings like these last two."

[Thanasi]

16 hours ago, Tonbo Taira said:

"We make them question the legitimacy of Kherdan-Neth's rule... and we use the literacy campaign my father began to let the common people read and question our religious doctrine. That whole business where we're always saying Dejanists have no souls? I've read every damn known sacred text in our faith, and it's not in there. It's from a statement made by a Priest-King of Kalid during the reign of Avakonia over Khur. If you have scribes who can copy the older texts for us, it would be a great help. And you need to keep your army strong, to keep Khur from seeking more... glory farther afield. If Kherdan-Neth has to always watch his border with Velka, he can't go sending his forces off to rampage elsewhere."

She paused. Seemed to consider her next words for a moment.

"Velkan armies haven't had the best luck against Khur's forces of late, but the victory in Raesija has to have made an impression. It also shows that the Pact aren't as strong as those Omagruthan bastards said they were when they sold the alliance. We let people see the lies they've been fed, and we see about a transition of power."

She shrugged.

"I won't bat my eyelashes and say I have no ambition. I would be quite happy to take the throne as a saner, more responsible ruler. But the new ruler doesn't need to be me. But we can't afford more Priest-Kings like these last two."

Behind her veil, Ekaterina's face twitches into a frown, she and her people may not be Dejanists, but to hear another country proclaim that Anastasi, the man who saved them, didn't have a soul, well... that didn't go over well. The mainline Velkans may proclaim Anastasi the First to be Anastasi the Savior but to them, Anastasi the Second is Anastasi the Savior and is treated with all the reverence of a people who owe him everything.

 

As she reaches the end, Ekaterina nods. "Honesty will bring you far in Velka. I cannot promise much as 'my' nephew has to approve everything in the end, but I am certain he will agree with your ideas and goals. I can however allocate scribes to you as I am in charge of cultural affairs in my Velka so I have a lot of them on hand. And they would probably would prefer working on something besides casualty reports and food storage ledgers. In the meantime, if there is nothing else, you and yours are free to enjoy the coronation and festival but you will have to forgive us for the guards keeping an eye on all of you. Should you have need of anything feel free to ask our servants for help, you are our guest and a foreign princess."

[FLH_Prime]

"Good.  I am glad you appreciate our gift." Safiri smiled down at the child king, recognizing the brightness in his eyes.  It was then that she decided upon kneeling to get closer to his height, "We call it a Ah'Dalk, or Hunter's Dagger. It is crafted by our best craftsmen. The blade carved from the claw of a Verfa'as Jusk, which in your tongue would be best translated as Fearsome Claw. The handle here is wrapped in a combination of the dried hide of a Lo'Rax, a Large Tooth, plus the skin of a Sahro'Vith, a Mighty Serpent."

Safiri then pointed to the ornate carving in the blade, which upon close examination seemed to mimic roots or branches, interconnecting with each other. "The carving represents the Al'Eykro, the Ever Forest. A reminder that all things are connected, in life and death, like a great forest."

[Tonbo Taira]

1 hour ago, Thanasi said:

As she reaches the end, Ekaterina nods. "Honesty will bring you far in Velka. I cannot promise much as 'my' nephew has to approve everything in the end, but I am certain he will agree with your ideas and goals. I can however allocate scribes to you as I am in charge of cultural affairs in my Velka so I have a lot of them on hand. And they would probably would prefer working on something besides casualty reports and food storage ledgers. In the meantime, if there is nothing else, you and yours are free to enjoy the coronation and festival but you will have to forgive us for the guards keeping an eye on all of you. Should you have need of anything feel free to ask our servants for help, you are our guest and a foreign princess."

"You are too gracious. Thank you, I think I would... like to see how a festival is conducted in Velka."

She gave a bit of a smile.

"And there is no need to apologize for being watchful. Khur and Velka are enemies, and until we can change that, caution is only sensible."