Dubhaine Family/Ciarghuala/Roleplays/1019/January

1st January

Summer Evening -- Poryatu

Alessio de Medici

True to her word, the Empress Andrea sailed to Shinnen aboard the Medici ship, His Imperial Majesty's Chimaera. It was a beautiful vessel, with intricately carved patterns, golden fixtures and most notably of all, a large chimaera bust at the front of it. She stepped aboard with a small unit of imperial guards, perhaps a dozen. She walked surrounded by them until a much familiar sight appeared, her dear friend Irina and her husband, Staedtler. Andrea was pushing what was almost like a wheelbarrow, inside a month old baby girl and a baby boy, perhaps a year or two. Of course, they were not touching the wood, rather it had a very comfortable and coushiny look to it all.

"It is wonderful to see you both again," she said. "Look at this wonderful contraption, it is a converted wheelbarrow. I feel as if the best of servants know my own needs better than me. How have you been, both of you? Nervous?" a smile came to her face, and she scratched at her neck. She was wearing her hair braided around her head with a small diadem sat upon it. For her outfit, a blue velvet houppelande lined with fur, flared sleeves, a collar and it was belted beneath the bust.

3rd January

Autumn Evening -- Poryatown

Luarin Bowker

Luarin was still recovering from the wounds of the last battle when she received the message that Irina was in labor. She bathed and changed into a comfortable dress, not knowing how long it would take. Irina was a strong but stubborn woman. Anything could happen.

"Prepare the blue room for Irina," she ordered the servants. Take hot water, lots of clean cloths and candles, lots of candles. Irina will be hungry so prepare a basket with fruit, bread and leave plenty of fresh water. Perhaps a bottle of wine too. I´ll need some."

Finishing to get ready, Luarin went to meet the couple and soon found himself in front of Empress Andrea.

"Greetings, Empress. It is good to be able to count on your help," she said bowing her head at the same time.

Turning to Irina, Luarin open her arms to hold the girl.

"My darling. It's time yet?"

Staedtler la Stylo

The clouds were breaking above Shinnen, and sunshine poured on through the cracks. The Euschean waves caught the light in blinding flashes, forcing Staedtler to look away and into his hands.

He turned back to garden, stunned by the burnt spots of colour on his eyes, and tried to find his wife's silhouette upon the palace grasses. Dazed and disorientated, he focussed his sight upon a figure approaching along the path. Jewelry and gems were shining up and down their form, as if a fragment of the sun-shot waters wrestled itself loose and came to torment the dazzled king further. However, the figure was also guiding a wheelbarrow before them, so liklihood was that they were closer to a gardener. A particuarly well-dressed, fashionable gardener with an imperial gait.

"It is wonderful to see you both again," she said. "Look at this wonderful contraption, it is a converted wheelbarrow. I feel as if the best of servants know my own needs better than me. How have you been, both of you? Nervous?"

"Empress Andrea," Staedtler blustered, forcing his senses back to him. "Oh my goodness, no. We were beginning to feel worried that you'd arrive in time - perhaps a little shaken, for sure - but nervous?"

Staedtler twisted on his heels towards the palace lawn. There, he saw Irina on a lounger, laid out beneath a standing parasol. She was carelessly fanning herself with a serving tray, like a hummingbird effortlessly blurring its wings. At her side stood a red-faced serving girl, clutching in her arms the fruit the tray had spilled and the paper fan it had replaced.

Staedtler returned to Andrea with a fearful smile.

"I think, out of the two of us, my wife is coping rather well. I, however, feel like i'm falling apart from the inside-out." Staedtler stepped aside and beckoned Andrea forth. "But come, let's reintroduce you two."

From behind Irina, Staedtler spotted Luarin, visibly giddy with excitement as she approached. The soon-to-be great-grandmother spied Andrea and her wheelbarrow first.

"Greetings, Empress. It is good to be able to count on your help," she said bowing her head at the same time.

Turning to Irina, Luarin open her arms to hold the girl.

"My darling. It's time yet?"

Irina shook herself lucid and dropped the tray onto the serving girl's foot. She strained herself forward and warmly embraced Luarin, mouthing an apology to the girl over her relative's shoulder.

"Heh, not likely," Irina shrugged with laughter, patting her belly with both hands. "We're all ready to go whenever he's ready, really, but I think he's gone and got himself scared."

Staedtler sat next to Irina's feet on the lounger, resting a hand on her hip. He saw that her face was drenched in sweat, and she was holding her bump as if it could escape and fly free at any moment Aside from that, she was a flawless portrayal of motherhood, and held not a fear in the world. That was his job.

"Have you eaten anything yet, love?" Staedtler asked.

"No. Don't intend to."

"Well, fair enough. Not like we're trying to bulk you up for winter."

Irina playfully knuckled Staedtler's hand. "Rude. No, i've got my reasons."

"Mhm. Which are?"

"Strictly feminine issues, love. Trust me."

"Of course." Staedtler mocked, throwing back his chin in theatre. "And as the very epitomy of masculinity, I couldn't possibly conprehend feminine matters, even if I tried."

"You sir," Irina said, locking eyes with her husband. "Are making quite the fool of yourself. Keep it up - it's why I married you in the first place." She faced Andrea and threw her arms wide. "And Empress Andrea, how could I possibly ignore you? Come here, give me a hug! Oh, you look so beautiful." She leaned herself forward to embrace her friend and first lady of the empire.

Autumn Evening -- Poryatown

Alessio de Medici

The Empress raises her right arm and a nearby servant comes to take the wheelbarrow, as she steps away to embrace her friend. "Amica mia, it is wonderful to see you again - you are so big! It must have been since the wedding, just before the announcement? You must eat, I brought a basket for you!", at which another servant comes from behind the guards with a basket - in it, a panettone, a crostata, some doughnuts, a bouquet of purple peonies, and lastly, two bracelets - one for baby, one for mummy - they were both silver bracelets, engraved with musgravite gemstones (fewer in the smaller, of course, though still following the same design).

Stepping back from the hug, she gives a light bow to Staedtler and to Luarin. "Messere la Stylo, Madonna Bowker. I would not miss such an event as this, I can hardly wait." The small group of guards, which it was now clear there were a dozen exactly, formed what was akin to a wall around the group. There were now three servants in sight, one holding the refurbished wheelbarrow, one holding the basket of gifts and another who was dressed the same as the other pair, though held nothing. He did, however, have a wonderful and big moustache above his grin.

4th January

Summer Day -- Poryatu

Eoghan

Of Feasts and Chess, Part I – A Play written by Eoghan of Via.

Cast;

The ‘Queen’ of West, a large, slovenly ‘woman’.
The King of Blades, a Knight in Red.
The Queen of Suns, a Beautiful Maiden.
The Knight of Anchors, a ragged but handsome Knight.
The King of Nightmares, a Dark and Evil-looking figure.
The King of Two, a colourful Knight with a Mask of Two-Faces.
The King of Prayers, a tired, long-bearded old man.
The King of Birds, a dishevelled, wry looking Knight.
The King of Stars, a brutish, dim-witted looking Knight.
The King of Silence, a vacant, absent looking older man.

---

[The Scene opens with a banquet hall, three grand tables, two on either side of the stage, and a table in the middle. As all of the characters take their places at the tables, The Narrator, in this case Eoghan, steps forward to speak to the audience, Lyre in hand.]

The Narrator:

Welcome, welcome, one and all,

To a tale still in the telling,

The Monster Hordes have long since gone,

And Man’s wealth and opportunities are still swelling,

At the Great Feast of Kings and Queens,

The King o’ Nightmares Sleeps aside,

And although his Monsters prowl no more,

Good Queen o’ West, she weeps inside,

For the Good Queen o’ West, she’s grown fat and greedy,

And glances to the plates o’ her peers with unreasonable eyes,

For when a King or Queen moves their piece,

An innocent is oft’ the one who dies.

[The Narrator steps back into the scene, taking his role as the Minstrel of the Court to play a simple, courtly tune.]

[The scene begins to bustle – The Queen of West sits alone (except for the King of Nightmares, who is asleep in his chair) at the stage-left table, which is over-burdened with food on which she gorges upon – between them are several empty chairs, un-worn and dusty crowns at their places. At the stage-right table – a modest table, sit the Four Kings of Prayers, Birds, Stars and Silence. At the middle table sits the Queen of Suns, an empty chair beside her, the King of Blades and the King of Two.]

[Queen of West chortles as she gorges upon the food messily.]

Queen of West: Hark, fellow Kings and Queens! Our battle with the King o’ Nightmares sees him fast asleep in his chair for longer yet! Forsooth, ‘tis your succour I owe our success and bounty. Long has the King o’ Nightmares coveted our delights.

[Queen of West raises her glass in a toast, and the other Kings and Queens bar the Kings of Silence and Nightmares raise their own glasses in response.]

All: To Victory o’er the Nightmare King!

[The Queen of Suns rises to stand.]

The Queen of Suns: My fellow Kings and Queens, verily ‘tis a joyous day indeed! We all have sacrificed much, despite our differences, to aid the Good Queen of West in her aspirations, and ‘tis a wondrous occasion to see thee in good health, when all is said and done.

[The Queen of Suns sits to another round of toasting, as the Queen of West begins to greedily tuck into her food once more.]

The Queen of West: Hark, so the youngest but kindest of us speaks – come, let us revel in our hard-earned spoils!

[All begin to Feast, and the Queen of West becomes engrossed in her spoils. The Narrator once more moves to the front of the stage to address both the audience and the Peers.]

The Narrator:

But listen, friends, my Lords and Ladies,

Another name approaches from the East,

A brave and opportunistic young man,

Who comes to join the feast!

B’ware though, friends, for this man,

Will for’er upset the apple cart, so to speak,

Fore’ when this man takes a seat at the table of Kings,

Watch the Queen of West wail, and shriek.

[The Narrator steps back into the Shadows. All except the Queen of West and the King of Nightmares turn to notice a new guest – the Knight of Anchors, who enters from stage right. The Queen of Suns rises to address him warily.]

Queen of Suns: Who goes there – be named, or be removed with haste!

Knight of Anchors: ‘Tis I, the Knight of Anchors – an honest, honourable man who comes seeking only opportunity an’ home in this brave, new world. Verily, is it true? Doest mine ears deceive my sensibilities? Has the King o’ Nightmares been put to rest by you brave souls I see before me?

Queen of Suns: Mine apologies, Ser Knight, for my hasty remarks, and nay, thine sensibilities do not lie – ‘tis true, the King o’ Nightmares has been bested. Come, come, take a seat at my side – all that is mine is yours, for there is plenty for more brave souls like thee.

[The Knight of Anchors takes his place beside the Queen of Suns, and begins to feast hungrily.]

Knight of Anchors: Verily, I am grateful for thine succour, Queen of Suns. To your Health. Though I query, why is thine table so meagre in compare to the Queen of West’s table? Doest she not wish to share the spoils?

Queen of Suns: Nonsense, Ser, nonsense – the Queen of West is like any of us here. Hark, such preposterous notion of Greed by her! Go, be seated at her table, take upon thee an empty crown, for we have lost many.

[End of Scene One!]