Velaryon Family/Monterys/Wedding in Sirion/State Dinner

Roleplay from Allard Azimuth

Allard looks up from the table in his room at the inn, strewn with countless bills of sale, testimonies of rivers of grain flowing from Sirion's bread baskets to the hungry cities. "I have a what now?" His secretary is clearly excited. "An invitation, M'Lord. To the state dinner, M'Lord. Tomorrow, M'Lord!" "Oh, ye Gods." Allard cannot share the man's enthousiasm. A state dinner means wearing pretty clothes. It means making polite conversation. Nothing good can come from it. "Can we find a reasonable excuse? I'm pretty busy here." The man looks incredulous. "M'Lord? You *are* Sirion's Lord Speaker, what the Perdanese call the Banker. You are a dignitary. You would be sorely missed." Allard groans. "I'd rather go fishing. Or hunting. You can get to know a man when you go hunting with him. Fancy dinners only show people's fancy outsides." A frown crosses his young face. "Which reminds me. Go look in my clothes chest. See if there is a serviceable cod piece in there. And those stupid pointed slippers everybody is so crazy about. Or is that already passee?" The secretary purses his lips. "Um, yes sir. Your slippers don't point up far enough for today's tastes, I'm afraid." "Fashionable frippery. But alright! Find me a pair of those fancy shoes. Pay for them out of my personal purse." "Yes, Sir, M'Lord!" The man is clearly pleased to go make the life of the city's craftsmen miserable by insisting on the most dysfunctional footwear available. He'll probably come back with a full outfit in the latest fashion, "because in your old clothes you'd be the laughingstock of the evening! M'Lord." And there probably will be dancing, too! For a man with the elegance of a bear, that is a risky prospect, especially if there are Ladies of the Court involved. Now then, man up! he tells himself. It can't be all bad. The food will be excellent, the beer will be Sirion (and that is synonymous with great). And who knows, he may be able to find a Perdanese knight who has fought the Ysrgard pirates. Those scoundrels landed in Allard's home region, and emptied his beloved grain silos. They were gone before he could get to them, and it still smarts. Maybe the Perdanese warriors have found out what their weakness is ...

Allard Azimuth

Roleplay from Lyanna Arylon

State Dinner, Sirion City, The Great Hall, Republican Palace --- The Great Hall was filled by the sounds of laughter, discussion, music and the consumption of food and drink. The servants were busy filling wine and beer cups at dozens of tables, filled with the almost forty nobles who had declared for the tournament, as well as their advisors and friends. At the head table, presiding over the evening's dinner was an unlikely collection of people. It was an oddly shaped table -- a half-circle, which then cut out at a right angle at the bottom of the curve, jetting out straight in either direction. This odd and intricate table allowed for both the observation of the room, as well as a more easily facilitated conversation between those at the head table. In the exact center of the half circle sat Ambassador Lyanna Arylon, Chief Justice of Sirion, Margravine of Sirion, and host of this Tournament. To her left sat her betrothed, Monterys Velaryon, Margrave of Trinbar and former Prime Minister of Sirion. To his left, the current Prime Minister of Sirion, Micah Smallwood, followed by Allard Azimuth, the Lord Speaker of Sirion, and then a number of Sirion government officials, Dukes, and region Lords. To Lyanna's right sat Queen Alyssa Kingsley of Perdan, the guest of honor. To her right, the Lady Isana Everlight, betrothed to the newly crowned Queen. Beyond that sat an army of Perdanese that were part of Queen Alyssa's entourage. In Sirion, official state dinners featured four courses, beginning with bread and soup -- in this case a delicious tomato and cheese soup -- followed by a roasted chicken dish with vegetables, and then a main course of beef, followed by a dessert. Customarily, the toasts were done after the second course, before the main course. This evening, the dishes had just been cleared from the chicken, and the staff was preparing to bring out the finest Sirion beef to the room. Lyanna sensed an opportunity, and with a glance she let the Queen know that she was about to begin. Lyanna stood, glass in hand. Glasses clinked around her as the room began to silence. Sirionites were nothing if not well rehearsed and disciplined in formal settings like this. "Your highness," Lyanna began as the last voices quieted, "On behalf of Prime Minister Michah, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the city of Sirion, and of course to my impending wedding." Polite applause began to ring out the hall. "As you know, just a short time ago this kind of meeting would have been not only impossible, but unimaginable. It is truly remarkable that we are able to stand here today in friendship, and I would like to thank you for your many years of friendship and trust, from a time when both of us were but lowly commanders fighting in a war that had persisted too long. May the bonds that we continue to build here today carry us through for many more years to come." Queen Alyssa smiled broadly. "I also want to take a moment," she continued, "to welcome all of the other visitors to my city who are here for the Great Tournament of Sirion. I am extremely pleased to see so many of the East Continent's most prominent citizens among us here now, and I am certain that we are in for one of the most memorable and remarkable contests that any of us will see in our lifetimes." At this statement, a raucous roar exploded in the Great Hall. "One of you will emerge from this as Champion of Sword, and another as Champion of Joust. Remember your honor, my friends, and compete with spirit, energy and honor. I look forward to overseeing this fine group of nobles -- and many more on their way now -- in only a few days time." Once the cheering died down, Lyanna left room for a quiet pause before continuing. "I would also like to take a moment to recognize my betrothed and my beloved, Monterys Velaryon." Turning to him, she continued in a quiet voice. "Monterys, I never truly believed that love would find me, and that such a love could be possible in a marriage. Yet in just a few short days time, we will be joined together, and I couldn't possibly be happier." She raised her glass while looking at him. "May our union be unbreakable, and everlasting." As Monterys nodded at her with a smile, Lyanna turned back toward the Queen. "And you, your Highness, I wish you and the Lady Isana every bit of happiness in your lives and I hope for in my own. Congratulations to you both." Finally, Lyanna turned to the hall and raised her glass. "To absent friends, and the discovery of new ones."

Lyanna Arylon

Roleplay from Monterys Velaryon

State Dinner, Sirion City, The Great Hall, Republican Palace Monterys held his glass in the air, approving and supporting Lyanna's speech. Lyanna was very diplomatic, which made sense considering her career as an Ambassador, and her regal-like public displays were always well remembered and noted. She was a great hostess of the event of this magnitude and he was glad for it. He always considered his own skills in situations like these to be somewhat wanting. After all, he was a warrior by choice and the killing to him came natural. Hosting dinners and events was something he thought he could improve on. As the happy and enthralled guests cheered each other Monterys couldn't help but notice the highly unusual relation of Queen Alyssa and the woman next to her. Betrothed, he thought to himself, to a woman. He assumed that the happy couple might find some trouble with creating progeny and keeping their hereditary rights intact, however, the Queen seemed rather resourceful so Monterys didn't ponder on it too much. "To absent friends, and the discovery of new ones!" He chimed in with the rest of them and emptied his glass. Sirionite vineyards left him bedazzled once again.

Monterys Velaryon

Roleplay from Alyssa Kingsley

State Dinner Alyssa nodded respectfully to the usher who motioned to her position at the high table. Alyssa found that curious, in Perdan she would be taken directly to her seat. Naturally she took no offense of another realm's customs but she did find the small differences in attitudes and practices fascinating. She had an escort upon her arm anyway in Isana Everlight, the woman who would likely soon be her wife. The lady flashed her the typical smile, which Alyssa could not help but return. She always enjoyed when Isana dressed formally, tonight in a gentle green cotehardie over a white kirtle and gloves. It matched Alyssa's own gown, white, with gold ornamentations, around her neck an emerald pendant, and on her left ring finger, the Ring of Autumn, the ring her beloved offered to her upon her proposal; on her left, the Turinqui Laimaril, the Ring of the Queen given to her by Lyanna herself. A loose belt of gold links and ornamented embossments hung on her waist, at her hip a scabbard holding a sword with a shimmering hilt, at the pommel a golden lion. Finally, atop her head a shining golden diadem, simpler and lighter than the heavy crown she wore in court, but with intricate ornate engravings of battling lions in place of the shimmering gems and sharp claws of Royal Crown of Perdan. Arm in arm, the Queen and her partner crossed the great hall to the head table where their seats were prepared for them. She spotted Lynna already there who greeted her warmly. They made friendly conversation as the first course was served, Alyssa finding Isana's hand under the table, resting them casually on her knee as the pair conversed genially with the Chief Justice. It was a welcome distraction. She had received reports from the south earlier that day and the anxiety of war was ever present in the back of her mind. I should be there with them. She thought to herself, before being brought back to the conversation by a gentle squeeze of her hand below the table. Alyssa smiled reflexively as Lyanna repeated her question. "Ah... of course. There are are a number of wonderful vintages throughout Perdan. There is actually a meadery run by the Belmont's in Dimwood that has been growing in popularity. I am not certain though whether it has made its way this far north though, I am afraid." She took a light drink from the cup in front of her, enjoying the taste of the sweet elven wine that had been provided. This seemed to satisfy Lyanna who nodded with interest as they continued their chat over the first course of the meal. Between the courses, Lyanna gave Alyssa a nod and stood up to offer a welcoming speech before the assembled nobility of The Continent. Alyssa smiled as she talked of their friendship and the fond memories they had shared. As she spoke of the love between her and the man on her other side, Isana gave her hand a gentle squeeze and Alyssa shared a fond look with her own love. As she looked back, Monterys Valeryon was giving her a curious look, one which she returned with a slight raise in her brow. She had never met nor spoken to this Monterys, nor did he ever reach out to her during his tenure as Prime Minister. The Queen recalled his kinsman Jacerys who had arrived in Perdan some time ago, leaving nearly as quickly as he came. Their eyes did not meet for long, as he turned away once more and raised his own toast to the assembly of nobles and dignitaries throughout the hall. Most of them cheered back, including the woman next to her who beamed with excitement as she finished a large drink of her wine. Alyssa smiled again fondly as the next course was served, and the nobles of the Continent feasted, and drank and swapped stories, the darkness of war lifting from all of their hearts and mind. The warmth of the room and fellowship came over her and she sighed contentedly before committing to emptying her own goblet and taking a deep drink which prompted a little giggle from her right as she shared a scandalous smirk with her betrothed partner. "Contrary to what some might say, I am not, in fact, immune to cheer." Alyssa admitted. "Entirely not. As I recall it was you who first invited me over for some bottled cheer, hm? Although," Isana tapped her chin in mock consideration, a smile still twitching at her lips, "sometimes encouragement is warranted." "Hm... Perhaps you are right. I am certainly better for it myself." Cheer came easily for the Queen of Perdan that night, with the love of her life at her side, and her dearest friend on the other, she had all the encouragement she could want.

Alyssa Kingsley