Royal Ball

[Sultan 3953]

Invitations written on fine vellum in silver ink are delivered by couriers to the Gentry and Nobility of the Empire. They are embellished with flourishes of glittering violet, perhaps powdered amethyst or chalcedony.

Most Blessed Subject of the Holy Empire, His Imperial Majesty the Holy Emperor of Oren and Chosen of the One God, Godfrey the First of His Name, invites you and your retinue as his personal guests to a celebratory ball in honor of the union of Imperial Crown Prince Horen IV and Lady Ari Hightower of Salvus in Holy Matrimony. Please be in attendance at the Hall of St. Daniel on the 7th hour of the 7th day of the 7th month of the 59th Year of Asulon. In celebration of this most auspicious event we invite our honored guests to wear the Imperial colors.

Cordially,

The Imperial Government of Oren

The Hall of St. Daniel was the Emperor’s favored location to host balls and other social events. This was reflected, of course, in its lavish decorations. Many yards of linen and silk tapestries adorned the walls, depicting famous scenes from Imperial history. The upper windows were circles, framed with painted garters.

In the centre of the building, in a large gilded oval, Godfrey I was represented in the habit of the Order of the Cross of Horen. His right foot rested on a lion's head, and he was attended to by Renatus, Hanseti, and Salvus. Religion and Plenty, represented by cherubs, held the crown of the three kingdoms above him. On each side of the monarch were images of Aegis and Asulon, superimposed with emblems of war and peace.

In the same oval as the exalted Emperor was the seal of the Imperial House, supported by two stylized images of the cherubs Holiness and Eternity. The Angel of Justice, attended by fortitude, temperance, and prudence, was depicted beating down the twin devils of rebellion and faction.

Nearer the throne was an octagon, in which was St. Daniel’s Cross, encircled with a Garter similar to those decorating the windows. It was upon a Star of Glory decorated with an array of Cupids, and embellished with the motto: ‘’Shamed be he who thinks evil of it’’ in raised letters. The Seven Muses attended to the image in full concert, completing the of the grandeur of the Hall.

In the lower compartments of the ceiling, over the music gallery, was the collar of the Order of the Cross of Horen, likewise supported by cupids. It was encompassed with a variety of characters mythical and historical characters, emblematic of the illustrious Order.

On the north side of the chamber, extending nearly six score feet in length, was the elegantly painted the triumph of Edgar the Steadfast, son of King Charles I and founder of the Order of the Cross of Horen. He was depicted seated at the upper end of the image receiving Richard, King of Grwund and David, King of Orlkan as prisoners.

At the lower end of the hall was the noble music gallery, finely carved and gilt, supported by four slaves, beautifully carved in wood, bending, as it were, beneath their burden. The floor was paved with black and white marble, and at one end, on a balcony, was a glorious baroque throne, richly gilded and supported by carved figures of slaves.

As the varied guests entered, they were announced in a startlingly grandiose manner by a veritable army of heralds. Members of the gentry received a few trumpet calls, but the royals and higher members of the nobility were treated to what amounts to a symphony of brass instruments. The clamor was surprisingly tolerable, but it still caused a few winces amongst the more sensitive members of the audience. Upon entering the hall, the racket from outside faded and a soft orchestra could be heard.

Sonorous notes of violins, harps, and other instruments filled the ballroom. Sounds flowed off the walls, and tempted the onlookers into dance, their bodies swaying as if under a spell. Some resisted the temptation, opting to stay on the edges of the room drinking and being merry. The times were clearly quite good in the Empire, especially for the nobility.

The Emperor, Godfrey I, rested high upon his throne in a balcony over the ballroom. Eyes of warm, fatherly gray-blue stared down upon his subjects. The day had been long, and he had been engaged in meetings with his councilors all day.

Glancing down into the cup of burgundy liquid which he was delighting in, the Emperor smirked at his own reflection.

[Sultan 3953]

(OOC Information)

- When you first enter the ball room you have to role play the Herald announcing your name and full title - If you are an unlanded noble Lord is your title.

- Main idea is to mingle, dance, plot between nobles, win favor, talk politics gain more power etc. AND OF-COURSE SHOW OFF YOUR CLOTHS.

- No one line posts they well be deleted.

[Austin 697]

William is sitting in Westfall and takes the letter from a young servant boy who has delivered it to him. He smiles as he reads it and informs Elena, they are fitted in there best clothes and start preparing for the ball.

The herald announces Imperial Highness Prince William III, Duke of Westfall and following that he announces Imperial Highness Princess Elena Horen, Duchess of Westfall. Elena flows in with a beautiful dress of a bright vibrant pink dress of the finest cloth in the region:

William wears a long red cloak his hair has grown long and he has a stern expression on his face, looks to the other nobles slowly, noting each ones attendence he slightly resembles his twin at this point. Stone Cold, Hard and emotionless.

William takes a glass of wine from a servant and sips from it, he watches as Elena does the same. He begins to speak in small talk to the other nobles, he appears distracted and then wipes his hair to the side as it began to cover his eyes.

[Old Man Boiendl 1454]

As High Pontiff Adeodatus I sits and prays, a courier comes in and hands the High Pontiff a letter. As Adeodatus I carefully skims the letter he perks up with excitement of a royal ball. He calls for his butler to get him his robes. Moments later they come back and help Adeodatus I get dressed. He happily walks outside and mounts his carriage, then begins riding off towards the Hall.

A little while later Adeodatus I arrives at the hall, he steps out of his carriage and his servants carry his long robe behind him. As he walks into the hall the Herald announces him " Now announcing, His Holiness the High Pontiff Adeodatus I"

Adeodatus I strolls in smiling and greeting people. He bows to Emperor Godfrey and smiles, then he makes his way to the center of the room and smiles at his granddaughter and says warmly " Hello my grandchild, how are we today?"

[Goldd 126]

((Elizabeth is 13 years of age so she is smaller than most.))

*Elizabeth Silverblade arrives in a pretty carriage with gold lining.

She steps out of the carriage straightening her dress and making sure she look perfect.

She walks into the ball room and looks up at the herald whispering her name and title.

The Herald announces a name loudly*

"Elizabeth Silverblade, daughter of Mizu and Piper Silverblade."

*Elizabeth smiles happily as she walks to the center

Her dark red dress dances beautifully with her movement the silver laces (of the dress) swishing about.

Her dark hair is done gorgeously wrapped around some places, twisted in others, braided, to make a pretty hairstyle.

She wears a majestic necklace made of silver and decorated with rubies

The dress also includes shades of darker reds and silver outlines.

Lilibeth's silver eyes seem to twinkle as she halts after walking.*

"Hi Grandpa."

[Arkelos 1027]

The letter bound for Salvus was rerouted to Alras, Kyral receiving the note in haste as she ran towards her keep. Giggling as she got ready for her first Royal Ball, pulling out a large red dress, with golden silk that stuck to her body as designed to, showing off every elven curve as she grinned, nudging James to wake up, leaving him the note. Taking her boat, she made her way to Arethor.

Kyral grinned as she was escorted to the The Hall of St. Daniel, looking towards a young boy as she wrote a note, giving it to him to give to the Herald. The young boy nodded happily,.bowing as he walked in to give the herald the note.

The boy walking out of the hall was greeted with a small bag of minas and a pat on the head as the herald call for everyone's attention. The Brass symphony playing as the Herald announced

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you the Queen of Salvus, Queen of Aeroch Nor, and finally High Queen of Alras, Her Majesty, Kyral Hightower!"

Kyral grinned as she took her steps inside The Hall of St. Daniel, spinning around as her dress picked up air, lifting past her ankles as she made a full spin, ending it in a curtsey as she walked off, grinning as the music continued, doing another spin half way as she went to take her seat, giving Ari a polite wave as she waited for the others to arrive.

[Braxis 813]

Uthor sits in his armor blade in his hand. Praying silently in the empty halls of Riven except for his patrolings Conscripts. Praying for the saftey of his sons and wife.

Until his squire comes with him for a message. Uthor takes the message and raises a brow as he begins to read and nods.

"I shall attend.Go fetch me horse boy"

The squire nod and sprints off to fetch Uthor's Horse. And in a few moments returns with the steed.

*Uthor nods and goes to mount the Horse and looks to a young boy around the age of fourteen. Tale, and brown hair like Uthor but paler skin with half elven ears. And says somthing to him the boy smirks softly and nods and runs up getting on the Horse with Uthor as the two head off to arrive to the keep shortly*

They arrive Uthor sends two of the conscripts who accompanied him away. And waits for the Herald to yell his name.

"Introducing, Uthor Silverblade, Grand Knight of Oren,Leader of the Order of the Red Dragon, and Count of Monde, Gruska, and Riven. Elder of House Silverblade."

The Herald nods to Uthor as he walks by but then again looks puzzled of the young half elf with him. The young half elf looks at the herald and hides behind Uthor. Who just chuckles and nudges the boy to stand by his side. Uthor in his usual Noble clothing. Grunting wanting to be in his plate and chain then the noble silks.

[Agnub 605]

King James was having a dream about an eternal bunga party when he was awoken by the nudging of his wife. He squinted and rubbed his eyes and took a sip from the glass of wine he keeps by his bedside before reading the note that his wife had evidently left for him to read. Having read the note, James prepared for this grand ball and then set out for the hall wearing some of his court finery.

The King arrived at the Hall and before entering nodded to the herald to announce his arrival. The herald pounded his staff on the floor twice before loudly announcing:

"His Royal Majesty King James Hightower. High King of Alras, King of Salvus and Aeroch Nor, Patriarch of House Hightower and Pontiff of the Church of Oren!"

James then entered and began the customary mingling with the assembled nobility. He slowly made his way over to his wife, who was looking stunning in a flowing red and gold dress and gave her a kiss on the cheek before greeting the Emperor.

[Scipp3r 451]

Patrick sits in his study at his desk when a letter is delivered. Before tossing it in the fire like most of his messages he does he notices the Imperial Seal- The Red Dragon. He pops it open with his Renatian knife and reads. He quickly sits up and rushes to his personal wardrobe parlor in Solace and is fitted.

The herald notices Patrick's arival and announces, "The Right Honorable Lord High Treasurer Patrick Denims Count of the High Mountain Sanctum" as he enters St Daniel's in a ravishing expensive outift.

[Stevie 1598]

Thomas Chivay sits in his personal chambers, reading over a recently acquired Marian Dictionary, feeling strangely bliss at the amount of peace he has been afforded. For once, the bustling of Krak du Rhoswen was low, and most of the men had not come to bother or request the Lord's presence. The Keep was quiet, for the most part; the only sounds clear to the Chivay was the crackling of his recently fed fire and the turning of a thin page. This peaceful silence would only last for so long, though, as the abrupt rapping of his chamber door soon pierces his ears, an impulsive twitch startling him. With a closing of the book and a short inhale, Thomas bellows out to the door, permitting the one inside. The figure enters quickly, revealing himself to be a messenger of the Empire based on his attire. With a extending of his lanky arm, the messenger repeats what he had said behind the door, the words becoming more enunciated face to face, rather than behind a thick wooden door.

"Message, my Lord. From the Imperial Government."

With a low mumbling reply, Thomas takes the letter, deciding to ponder the seemingly hyper-extensive arms of messengers later. After a somewhat tedious process of opening an ink-sealed envelope carefully, Thomas takes a read of the letter, his regular solid face soon turning into a smile at the prospect of a Royal Ball. With a dismiss of the messenger, he rises from his chair, sliding the letter to the center of the table for later reference as he makes his way into his bedroom, bringing open the simple wardrobe and looking at his even simpler collection of clothing. Normally, the Knight-Baron would have been content with wearing his regular tabard and chain; but this was a royal ball, a special occasion if there ever was one. He chooses his newly fitted noble attire, one that he commissioned when he first came to their new citadel, but never had the opportunity to wear properly. He lays it across his bed and exits his chambers, seeking out the always helpful Tanith to fold and prepare these robes for travel.

. . .

Arriving now at the ball, Thomas adorns his new noble clothing which he had changed into a few minutes before entering. With a smile and nod to the Herald, Thomas inhales a bit, putting on a face fit to please and a posture to match. He stands his ground a few moments as the Herald raps his cane on the floor, announcing the new entry.

"Presenting the Lord Baron Thomas Chivay! Honored Ser of the Chapter of the White Rose!"

Presenting himself with a wide smile now, Thomas steps forward, showing quick greetings to the few nobles he recognizes and even to some he doesn't. He maneuvers himself into the crowd, exchanging smiles and gesturing nods to a few more attendants, mingling with the crowd. Although normally uncommon for a Chivay to exemplify this show of etiquette, the bearded Baron keeps his face strong and his attitude lifted, soon evolving itself into an enjoyed experience, rather than a mere charade. It was here that Thomas had hopes of introducing himself to some of the other noblemen of the realm, and possibly some of the ladies as well; always delving on the idea of a companion for his later years. It was here that he would make his face, and his name, a bit more known to Oren. And, with a newly received goblet of wine from a nearby servant, Thomas sets off to make these hopes reality.

[Electric Wizard 78]

Aside from the carouse, along the road, through the hills and over by the swamp to the left, rode a man on a steed and two to his flanks close to his rear.

As they approached, faces became visible, in the back left was a man about the age of thirty four, his beard was trimmed and black as night. His His horse was the second most grandiose, was draped with velvet and dark dyes of olive and lavender.. The armor of this man was not tarnished by battle for it was his parade armor. The lining of this armor is silver with gold beads. His helmet is of an old fashioned design, and has not been used for many, many a year. Blue in color and the crest was black, with gold painted tips. His chest plate bore the symbol of a goblet.

The back right horse was mounted by a man in elegant but not nearly as elegant as the one to his right. It was a simple coat of dark blue. His necklace was silver, with a gold medallion on the end, one cannot see the symbol on the medallion as he is too far to perceive. A hat lay on the top of his head, a traditional bourgeois cap, a beret, in a dark, dark, red. The whole time one was observing the convoy, the three were talking, but too far away to decipher what he was saying.

As they approached even closer, one would began to see the fine details of the one in front.

At the head of this caravan, a man sat with his back straight and his posture upright, aside from a small slouch to his left. One first notices his head, topped with a beret of olive green silk lay atop his head, lined in gold trim. A blue string, embellished with golden beads, lay on top of the cap, around his head. Locks of his hair come out of the bottom of the beret, brown and well kept, most of his hair is tied in the back, however, into a pony tail. A single lock of hair is braided and at the end of the braid, a golden bead with intricate engravings in it. His eyes never looked around, always seemed to be focused on one area in front of him. His eyes take one quick moment to glance around and make eye contact with most nobles among others. He appeared happy, a smile was on his face the whole trip.

His beard was shaped into a Van Dyke, well kept and showing some age, with long, thin streaks of gray. His neck hung many necklaces of various designs, but the most prominent was a medallion, hung by a golden chain. The medallion bore a symbol, it was of two tools together, a square and a compass, a symbol also displayed on his ring on the right middle finger.

One did not focus long on his medallion, but on his green, green as an emerald, velvet robes, of old fashioned design, lined in gold bead, each bead as intricate in pattern as the other. The velvet shone in the sun, one can begin to see the outline of armor under his robes. A saber hang at his side, his scabbard is embellished in gold trim and design, with emeralds as the prominent gem in the scabbard. He holds the reigns of his steed in his left hand, while holding a staff, iron, gilded with silver and a golden vine and leaves twisting around it. From the grip hang a small golden chain.

The three men stay their steeds. The man on the left clears his throat and speaks with a proper Western accent, being careful to enunciate properly.

"Allow me to herald, his right honourable, the Lord High Chancellor of Oren, Count of Hawcaster and Stolistes, Lord of Alandros, Lord of Del Riviera, Alexander de Stolistes"

Some guards to the left raise their hand to the band to call for the brass section to begin playing.

Alexander steps off his horse, slowly.

He waits for the herald to finish before entering the grand hall and looks around for a moment and beckons the other three to follow him.

Servants come and take his horses to the stables as they dismount. Alexander disperses into the crowd and heads to the nearest wine and women.

[Will (TauFirewarrior) 2466]

* Lord High Sheriff Kais Ishikawa sits in Castle Umbra and one of his messengers hands him an invitation to the Royal Ball. Kais reads it and prepares himself to mingle with the nobles he decides to wear a uniform Boiendl sent him as a gift many years ago.

* Although he felt stupid in it preferring wearing his armour he left and went to go to the royal ball with his cane

* He then set off with a few personal guards and his wife Elleh to set off. They both arrive at the Royal ball and the herald announces

"My Lords and Ladies His Right Honourable, the Lord High Sheriff of Oren, Count of Holthwaite, Lord of Castle Umbra, Shas'O Kais Ishikawa with the Countess Elleh Ishikawa."

[Jorgen Reimer 74]

Residing in his half broken and desolate castle. A messenger brings forth a message from his father.

"Dear beloved son

It has come to my attention that you still remained unmarried, because of that, I would greatly appreciate your presence at the upcoming ball. I expect you to dress accordingly and attend.

So does the cane.

Warmly and Sincerely

Your bellowed father

The Right Honourable, the Lord High Sheriff of Oren, Count of Holmthwaite, Lord of Castle Umbra, Shas'O Kais Ishikawa"

Akimoto Kenji Ishikawa reads, as he bursts into laughter. Ahh yes, "Bellowed son" he chuckles. Well the crazy bugger expects me, even though I am in important construction restorations! *He says, as he rises from his throne, the marks of many countless hours of sitting, in mangled on it."

*Akimoto Kenji Ishikawa prepares his appropriate clothes, even though he only hold armour as his only clothing, he decides to take on one of the most finest one.

Akimoto embarks on one of his finest horses, escorted with a small escorts of 8 retainers and a jester, who happens to be his greatest retainer. He leaves his trusted chefs at home, even though he will miss their cooking, it would not be long, before he could feast upon their marvellous creations.

Akimoto enters the magnificent ball room alone. His retainers have been paid for a 3 weeks, so they may find "inspiration" at the local homes of love, while Akimoto attends the ball.

A herald meets Akimoto, and requests his name.

"His Lordship Akimoto Kenji Ishikawa"

*The herald seems baffled by the name, but he scrambles around in his notes and replies.*

"Ahh Gregory Ishikawa, your father is waiting for you."

*A gentle eye twitching occurs in Akimotos left eye, as the name "Gregory" is said before him.

He nods and enters deeper into the ball room. Where his eyes meet those of the father.

Akimoto is baffled when he sees a woman speaking with his father, who appears not to be his latest conquest, and apparently very young.

Akimoto manages to keep his composure, but his left eye beings to twitch violently. [His inward feelings could be described in this picture]

It is too late to attempt to ignore his father, and he is forced to move towards them, to an uncertain fate.

[Goldd 126]

*The young and pretty Elizabeth Silverblade, walks around the ball room looking around.

She is completely stunned at it's beauty, and many paintings, of which she likes and receives inspiration.

Lilibeth lets out a small whimper with words mixed into it*

"Oh dear..."

*She continues to stroll around some more after looking at the stunning paintings, and then lays eyes on Akimoto's outfit.

After a while of studying it's design she shrugs and strides about the ball room some more.*

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Patrick Horen walks past the herald, the herald announcing the First Chaplain Patrick Horen, Duke of Pruvia, and Prince enter

He shakes his head, not caring for the extravagence of this place and thinking it is a waste of time

He wears the Armor of the Gryphon, and approaches his grandfather, the Emperor, kneeling with his white surplice over his head

He stands silently and moves to a spot off to the side of the ball, watching others enjoy the moment as he sits with his grim face and hard eyes