[i][u]The Estate of Grevis Valarien[/u][/i]

[quote=Ralltene Valarien]They soon reached the top of the stairs, allowing Ralltene a moment to study the ongoing party with a discerning eye. Quickly making note of who was with who, the manner as they spoke to one elector or contender. Many might have seen a simple gathering of the empire's most powerful men or woman, but Ralltene saw it for the battlefield it was. One quite unlike the ones his eldest brother might be so familiar with. It was one he was ready for all the same.[/quote]

Part of that battle was approaching Ralltene at that very moment. A dark skinned and wizened elder wearing a kaftan that bristled with military merits - obviously a member of the Kawachian delegation - stepped into view, his approach heralded by the loud thud of his cane hitting the ground. Or rather the actual [i]saber[/i] the old man was [i]using[/i] as a cane, its sheath appearing to have been modified for that express purpose. Scanning the remainder of the crowd within the portico, Ralltene only saw one other individual wearing a kaftan - a woman conversing with Dowager Queen Hiltruda. That meant Grand Duke Ormoneric of many tasteless titles had either been unable to make it, or else was running late.

"Your Grace." The old man treated Ralltene to the same manner of bow Sarapis had presented to Hiltruda, substituting his left arm in place of the right due to the need to grip the hilt of his unorthodox cane. "I am Diende Argider. My second-great-grandson Grand Duke Ormoneric was unable to attend, and as the senior member of House Chalarensis I am here acting as his representative in the capacity of Arch-Elector." He treated Ralltene with a faint smile that did not show off nearly as much of his wooden dentures as he had shown to Alliana, and he had strategically closed his left eye to hide the unnerving glass prosthesis. 

"Given my extended families' displeasure with the manner in which Emperor Taramyth's administration has treated the Isles, I am pleased to inform you that House Chalarensis intends to elect you and support your candidacy for Phoenix King and Emperor of all Ethica." He paused momentarily for effect. "We believe your experience as an administrator and influence within economic circles makes you the logical choice. I will not pretend that my House is liked by anyone, but we nonetheless do good business with the many peoples of the mainland...and the Dawn in your pocket is a Crown in ours, as they say. That and, to be honest, you cannot do any worse to us than the other contenders shall, should they be elected." Diende bobbed his head pleasantly and blinked his one good, opened eye in an approximation of a knowing wink.

"If there is anything that I or my delegation can do to aid you in your bid...anything at all...I should see it done. If you will trust us. If you have no current use of me or would merely like to get away from this old man and mingle, I do have a matter of business I would be most grateful to speak of with your wife, the Duchess of Violette...if it would please her Grace, of course." Diende turned and inclined his head to Victoria.

[quote=Hiltruda Caernavir]"Tell me, did you ever spend time at the Eldva? I hear so often how enterprising Kawachian students are in their study of the sciences in particular. Truly an underrated academic powerhouse," She said with a soft and accommodating smile. In contrast to Sarapis' chilly demeanour, Hiltruda's was warm and almost kindly. There was something unruly and slightly mischievous about the twinkle in her eye, but the way that she held herself was a projection of her station, filling her corner of the room with her elaborately styled hair and not insignificant size.[/quote]
"Unlike most of my extended family, I had the privilege of studying mathematics and architecture at Eldva, amongst other things." Sarapis replied coolly, setting her stein of wine on a nearby table and reaching into her kaftan as she spoke. "Bear in mind that my House consists of thirty six separate families. Only the most prominent regularly send their kin to the university. If there should seem to be many of House Chalarensis there, it is likely merely because there are more amongst our number relative to Houses with less...[i]diverse[/i] lineages." 

Sarapis then withdrew a tied bundle of herbal sprigs from her kaftan, the small stems topped with pale-blue flowers. Sarapis took one of them and proceeded to grind it into a mushy powder between the palm of one hand and the heel of the other before dumping it into her wine.

"As for the matter at hand...as governor of Acantha, I am responsible for the largest gas harvesting industry in the Grand Duchy, as well as in all of Ethica. However, products such as isolated Helium, Brimstone, and Vitriol Humors make up only a small percentage of what we acquire. More than nine parts in ten of all the substances and gasses we harvest, we release into the air or else drain into the ocean. Every day, my surveyors and laborers discover new substances found nowhere else in all of Ethica...but we have little in the way of alchemical knowledge. I have decided that an expert, potentially several, in alchemy need to come to the isles in order to establish a study of the various volcanic materials we handle - that we might discern their uses and exploit them." She took a long sip from her stein, allowing Hiltruda to take everything in.

"Should those same experts then eventually return to the mainland and begin teaching nobles from other houses of their discoveries, and if the new substances harvested thusly have some use of some demand, and if there exists a market for such substances - quite a profit stands to be made. House Chalarensis is prepared to share its wealth and knowledge in this instance. We have little to fear of such an arrangement, as we would necessarily control all supply. We would require the cooperation of the university, the Conclave, and the Convocation of Farlook Post. If you can promise your assistance through use of your influence in this matter, I can assure you of a generous and mutually profitable arrangement between our lands for some time. The odds are favorable, in my opinion. Though the substances we waste are often highly toxic or else too esoteric to study through conventional means, I am oft presented with reports of humors and liquids of remarkable properties that we know too little about to appropriately handle or isolate."

Sarapis then turned to glance briefly at Ralltene and Victoria as they entered the portico. "...Although it be none of my concern, as I am no elector, I feel compelled to say that the choice of next Phoenix King...or [i]queen[/i]...might affect any particular arrangement we might come to. Emperor Taramyth's administration was responsible for many tariffs and customs levied expressly against my House. Should the next ruler of Ethica not possess the appropriate experience, returns are expected to be marginal after consideration of the inherent use and value of any substances we manage to isolate...understanding that such an arrangement is necessarily long term."

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/POZGDxX.png[/img][/center]

[i][u]Lalrial's Northern Gate[/u][/i]

The guardsman that Mottay Vagost was currently looming over and leering at was standing with his arms crossed and a shit-eating grin on his face. As an imperial garrison trooper, he was always treading on eggshells going out of his way to avoid offending noble travelers, with them always insisting on being called any number of ridiculous things - all the time, both by address and in response. However, the ruling House of Kawachia barely even pretended to be true nobility most of the time, and the guardsman intended to milk that - and his orders - for all they were worth in order to stick it to the overbearing pig of a man. By calling him [i]sir[/i].

"[i]Sir[/i]," He said emphatically. "I have received a note from the port authority telling me to not permit your passage through this here gate. I have a second note from the Royal Guard saying that they have already acknowledged receipt of every member of the Kawachian summit delegation, and [i]sir[/i] was not included amongst them. An I also do not like the way you are lookin' at me, [i]sir[/i]. So you are not to pass through the this here gate."

Though Mottay was both taller and wider than the guardsman, not to mention the fact that he had an actual [i]flanged mace[/i] strapped to the stump of his right arm, the guard was not worried. He had the entire garrison for the North Gate backing him up - many of them were already watching the scene develop tensely. The guardsman almost hoped this Vagost fellow would start something so that he had an excuse to throw the dark-skinned brute into some dank pit - something he could laugh at over a drink with some of his friends and a wench at the nearby tavern later that evening.

Mottay was dark-skinned like most other Kawachians, but his face had nonetheless visibly turned a ruddy shade, and his was the expression of a man about to commit massive parallel murder. "I am heading there on [i]official[/i] business between House Chalarensis and House Cragmore! I have documentation to that effect here, and I intend to set out and enforce its terms you pissant landlubber!"

The guardsman looked on with some bemusement at the 'document' Mottay was waving around in his one hand. It was a piece of burlap, likely torn from an actual sack, and looked to have been written on using charcoal. Even he could tell that there was no way the thing was legally binding...but then again, nobles - even minor, nobles-in-name-only nobles - had thrown bigger fits over even less in the past and still gotten away with it. Still, there was no way he was about to humor the giant Southerner.

"Which children's game was this you supposedly won again, [i]sir[/i]? The one where you throw eggs at the wall? I bet ya did it nice and proper alright.' The guardsman maintained an effortless grin even as Mottay's nostrils flared and the muscles of his right shoulder began to visibly tense up. "Anyway, if you [i]really[/i] have business with the goat fu-ahhhhouse Cragmore, you can stand to wait a few days in the city for them to show up for the summit and tournament later and deal with them then."

"Tournament?" Mottay's voice was dangerously low and quiet, although the gleam in his eyes had shifted - his was now looking past the guardsman rather than at him.

"Yeah, I guess all the other houses wanted a chance to show each other up so long as they were all in one place. I guess yours just was not special enough to get that notice, eh?"

Mottay had already turned around and was walking away, his thoughts elsewhere. Shaking his head slightly, the guardsmen went to report the confrontation to his captain - and ensure the rest of the garrison knew not to let Mottay or any of his thugs through.