Sisyphus

My Heart is on the Throne

The savannah sun was high in the sky as Cheick climbed the many steps of the palace, sweat running down his bare chest. Behind him, the city of glass was in full afternoon bustle, all motion and commotion as peddlers hawked their wares in the impromptu marketplace that had sprung up around the palace ages ago. Each individual stall and shop had probably been their for more than a hundred years, and every merchant could probably trace his mercantile lineage back generations, and would do so with pride. That was the way of things, in the land of the Bosanda - everything was old.

Cheick had been practicing in the training yard down the street when the summons from his father had arrived, calling him back to the palace. In other lands, he knew, those of noble lineages lived lives separate from their people, but that was not his family's way. A Bosanda must train his skills alongside his people, that they might know him should the day come when he must lead them into battle; and knew him, they did. Slung across his shoulder was his great sheathed broadsword, a gift from his sister; in his other hand he held the letter that had summoned him here.

His father was waiting for him in their usual meeting place, the "family study" - a small room packed with bookshelves and scroll racks, dominated by a single wooden table in the center. Cheick had had many a lesson in this place, and though he would never admit it, it was probably his least favorite room in the palace. His father was seated, scanning a piece of parchment, a soft smile on his gray bearded face.

The smile broadened when the old man looked up and saw Cheick enter. "My son," the Lord Bosanda said, "I am glad that you yet come so quickly, when a foolish old man calls. Does your training go well?"

Cheick brought a hand to his heart and bowed his head. "I believe I am improving, father."

"Very humble, from the man whispered of as the finest warrior in the land!" Lord Bosanda chuckled. "Master Kada tells me your studies of heraldry are much improved. Tell me, do you recognize this banner?" He gestured to an open scroll across from the table.

Cheick leaned forward to peer at the symbol - a black bird on a red background, wings spread wide. An easy question, seeing as it belonged to one of the Ten Houses. "It is the Phoenix, father. Of House Laventis, in the north."

The door opened again, and Aya stepped inside. Cheick's sister, she was as tall and dark as he was, with long black hair styled into the locks of one of the old mystics. She waved her hand and the door closed behind her, and the sorceress cocked her head at her father. "You summoned me?"

"I summoned both of you," Lord Bosanda said, rising slowly to his feet and passing the letter he had been examining to Cheick. "A message arrived from the King last night. He has declared a mixing of the lands - for two months, one of the children of House Laventis will be living among us, to teach us something of their people and learn something of ours." He paused, then shrugged, a cheeky grin on his face. "Also, hopefully, to marry one of you."

"House Laventis?" Aya wrinkled her nose at that, trepidation audible in her voice. "A blood cult. Their gods are -"

Lord Bosanda cut her off sharply. "They will be our guests, and they will be treated as such." His voice softened, and he looked somewhere past his child. "'Though there are but Four Gods, in their wisdom they have seen fit to give man many ways of being,'" he said, quoting a passage from a holy text of the faith that had grown increasingly popular in modern times.

For his part, Cheick had been scanning the king's letter in silence. "Do we know who they will send?" he asked.

"Ah... no," Lord Bosanda said, shrugging. "House Laventis has seven living children, though they're not all of age to be sent. The family heir is... Ariella, I believe her name is. Said to be a clever girl... and also quite lovely," he said, poking a wizened finger into Cheick's chest playfully. "In case, I tell you this because I want you two to handle the visit. Organize the welcome, their quarters, entertain them... all of it. I don't intend to do a thing. Since your mother... passed, it seems time that you two learn to handle the job."

Cheick nodded. "I understand, father. Will Ajak be helping us?"

Lord Bosanda waved the question a way. "Ajak is a child yet. Let him be so." The old lord grinned and started towards the door, grabbing his ornate glass-decorated cane from the wall as he went. "I'll leave you to plan, then. My garden is calling me."

After their father shut the door behind him, Cheick and Aya shared a long, silent look. "I don't know how to do this," Cheick admitted after a moment, the ghost of a smile crossing his face.

Aya laughed long and loud, and settled down at the table next to him. "I believe we have a great deal of work to do then, brother."

My Heart is on the Throne

Post should be coming soon, been delayed by real life stuff.

My Heart is on the Throne

Ari is going to melt in the Savannah xD

@The Muse

Hope you packed a parasol, Snow White! :P

My Heart is on the Throne

Question: would it be possible for a candidate to, later down the line, withdraw their candidacy and throw their support behind another house? I'm not asking because I plan to do that, necessarily, I just think it would be a cool option / dynamic later in the RP.

My Heart is on the Throne

Oh, a question while the subject of map-making is on the table. @Viciousmarrow, is your house on the border to Grey Valley, the little strip of land that connects to Geriang? I only ask because that would make sense, since (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think anyone's claimed the border to Geriang yet, and the term 'marches' applied geographically essentially means 'borderland', or the part of the kingdom that neighbors another kingdom. Just found that out today when I googled it.

Fun fact, that would also make the lord of your house a Marquis. The more you know!

Changelings Anonymous

Yeah, we can keep posting to introduce each ourselves for another. I'll have 'it' post again when everyone arrives to advance the story.

My Heart is on the Throne

@Bishop I'd be cool with a trade agreement between Bosanda and the Bastij. Helps me answer that question of 'where the hell are the Bosandans getting all this sand for the glassblowing'.

My Heart is on the Throne

Registration of Current Nobles

The Name of the Noble: Cheick Bosanda

The House of which said noble belongs: House Bosanda

Current Age of said Noble: 26

House History: Tradition holds that House Bosanda is the oldest of the 10 Houses, and this may well be true. Long, long ago, the diverse and squabbling clans of Handon's eastern savannah were united under the rule of a line of priest-kings, terrible in war yet generous in friendship, and wise in the ways of that land's Four Gods - the Lion, the Spider, the Eel, and the Stork. These priest kings were the early Bosanda, and their people were and are fanatically loyal to them; only a Bosanda will ever truly rule their lands.

When the ten houses united, House Bosanda threw their support behind the new kingdom unconditionally; they pride themselves on being a generous ally and a staunch protector to the king and the other houses. Though peace and prosperity reign in Handon, the armies of House Bosanda have not forgotten their history as warriors and conquerors, and remain ever vigilant for a threat to the peace of the realm.

For time immemorial, leadership in House Bosanda has passed from father to eldest son in an unbroken line of lords. Traditionally, the Lord of House Bosanda serves three roles - the first is as a military leader, for every son of Bosanda is trained in the arts of war from the moment they are able to grip a weapon, and the old Bosanda were said to always lead from the front (though in recent days, this role has fallen to less prominence). Second is as religious leader, for the lord of House Bosanda is said to have the greatest connection to the Four Gods, and the old faith remains strong among the people of the east. He is expected to provide the blessings of the gods to any of his vassals who seek him out, and is an important figure in many holidays and religious occurrences. Finally, he serves as representative of his people and peer of the other lords of the realm, for Bosanda's connection to the other houses is strong, as it always was.

The Four Gods

The people of the Eastern Savannah have had but one faith for all their history - the faith of the Four Gods. Tradition holds that on the first day of the first men, the Four Gods came one by one to the first village to offer their wisdom and their blessings to mankind. The Stork came by dawn, the Lion at midday, the Eel at sunset and the Spider in the dead of night. On that village, the city of Konsak was founded, where House Bosanda has ruled ever since. (Many modern practitioners have come to view this story as largely metaphorical, though in the name of tradition they continue to act as though it is literally true.)

The Four Gods are considered to be both timeless and genderless, depicted as old and young and male and female all at once. Though the faith is strongest by far in the Savannah, it has spread to a certain extent throughout the kingdom - most large cities will at least have a shrine to the Four, though some see more traffic than others. All worshippers of the Four Gods are expected to make pilgrimage to Konsak at least once in their life, and are encouraged to seek the blessing of the Lord Bosanda as well.

The Four Gods are:

Stork: The god of art, song, celebration, the sun, joy, carnal love and ease. The patron of lovers, poets, and dancers, it is said that the Stork came at Dawn, his arrival heralded by the most beautiful song known to human ears. It was the Stork that taught the art of glassblowing, led them in a dance and celebrated the dawning of the new age with a raucous feast. He taught people to love one another, to drink deep from the cup of life, and to be ever joyful, and he departed.

Lion: The god of war, courage, loyalty, laws, fire, mercy, and strength. Patron of warriors, kings, and parents. The Lion came in midday, when the sun was at its highest, and he made soldiers of men. He taught them to fight and protect, to build walls and to defend them. Honor and laws were the greatest of the Lion's gifts, for it was his decree that the strong must always protect the weak. He looked down on his people and saw that they were warriors, and roared, and left.

Eel: The god of home, family, farming, maturity and marriage. Patron of farmers, fishermen, merchants, and husbands and wives. The Eel came in the evening, and from his place in the river he taught men to fish, and to farm, and to mine the ore of the land. Under his gaze, the people built homes, took wedding vows, planned for the future. When the Eel knew that they were ready to live, to grow old and die together, he returned to the sea, and the sun sank below the horizon.

Spider: The god of wisdom, cunning, magic, craftsmen, and death. Patron of sorcerers, smiths, scholars, and the grieving. The Spider came at night, and he taught men the secret lore of the world; to pursue knowledge, to learn, to study. Magic was his gift, as was the art of blacksmithing. When he left, it is said he took one of the people with him, the first of the dead, for that was the spider's final gift: impermanence, so that men may always value what time they are alive.

Banner

The banner of House Bosanda is simple - red and yellow, the colors of the Savannah sunset, with a stiff stripe to indicate their military prowess. The image of the Lion represents the god that the house associates itself with most closely, for their ferocity and courage. Rather rarely, it is considered a minor religious infraction to paint this symbol on anything but a shield, making it a 'banner' in name only; for House Bosanda believes themselves to be the aegis of the realm, and has no patience for silken things.

Lands and Ownership: The Eastern Savannah - a large expanse of plains on the southeastern coast of Handon. There are a variety of small villages and towns that swear fealty to Bosanda, though the jewel of the Savannah is the walled city of Konsak, also known as 'The Glass City'. This is the largest settlement in the Savannah, and the traditional seat of House Bosana. Most of their people are farmers or fishermen, though they boast a larger-than-average army of elite warriors, and the skill and art of Konsak's smiths and glass-blowers are well-known throughout the kingdom.

Autobiographical Knowledge: Cheick is the eldest son of the current Lord Bosanda, and he has been groomed for leadership his entire life. Ever the dutiful son, he studied the teachings of the Four Gods, practiced his skill at arms and sat through lesson after lesson about history and courtly tradition from a young age, as all eldest sons have before him. He is well beloved by his people, though his stoicism and silence are a stark contrast to his father's boisterous good humor.

Cheick has two siblings, a sister and a brother. His elder sister Aya is a powerful sorceress, believed by her parents to have been blessed by the wisdom of the Spider from a young age - the two are very close, and she is his most trusted confidant. He is more distant with his younger brother Ajak, a frail and sickly young man who was never quite up to the rigorous expectations of his household, and reacted to this difficulty via resentment of his prodigal brother. His father is an old man; though in his childhood Cheick knew him hardly at all, so busy was he with the Lord's duties, the two have become increasingly close as Cheick prepares to accept his father's responsibilities, though his father has not given up encouraging him to smile more and sing louder. "You have the strength of the Lion, and the Spider's wisdom, my son," he is so fond of saying, "But the Eel and the Stork are mysteries to you."

As to whether he has any ambitions in his life aside from serving in the office he is destined to, the answer is simple; he has never been allowed to, and he knows this. His role has always been clear; the solemn son, the warrior prince, raised in a land of beating sun in a City of Glass, friend to the people of the kingdom and peer to the great houses. Outwardly, this is his only identity, yet in private moments he admits to himself an abiding loneliness; for though the Lord of Bosanda must always be available to his people, he has never truly known a companion, someone he may be at peace with.

Portrait:

Changelings Anonymous

@BubblegumQueen @coffeetime @Medjedovic @Pathfinder @XxLyraxX

The IC is now live, and we are good to go! I know it looks like there aren't any posts, but that's because I did that 0th post thing. Trust me, it's there. Let me know if y'all have any questions, and happy posting!

Oh, and to answer whoever asked this earlier, yes, the other World of Darkness creatures do exist in this setting that we're using. We'll see whether or not they'll show up, but Vampires / Werewolves / Mages / Prometheans / Hunters / Demons do exist. Maybe Mummies and Beasts, too. We'll play it by ear.

Changelings Anonymous

Changelings Anonymous

Chapter One

---

The corner of Williamsburg and Bushwick. A little warehouse, cozy but not too small, private and safe. It had spent a lot of time planning this meeting, and it was finally ready. It smiled - or it would have, if it had a body. It liked when people smiled, and liked to pretend that it smiled sometimes, too.

It had watched the Changelings for a while, now. It still remembered the first one it saw all those months ago, the little green one - that was its favorite. It hoped that she would come. It hoped that they would all come. It knew that that was a long shot, after what they'd been through, but still. It hoped.

They had all been contacted by it, in the last few days. The little green one, she'd seen a message spelled out on a foggy mirror. The angry one, the Beast, he'd found a note addressed to him, blowing down the street. Others had been addressed in other ways. It had gotten creative, and it was proud of the work it had put in to make this happen. They had all been given a time, and a place: Saturday, 4PM. The corner of Williamsburg and Bushwick, Brooklyn.

One of them was here.

---

Nicholas didn't know what he was expecting, when he walked in the place. Actually, that wasn't true. He knew fully well what he expected - a trap, some snare left by the Princess to drag him back to the workshop and lock him in the darkness again. When some stranger handed him a note telling him to come to some warehouse in Brooklyn, he'd wanted to crumple it up and forget about it.

"But I didn't," he muttered, standing in front of the unassuming building door. "Not sure why. Guess I figured anything was better than living in a box and eating garbage. That's not true. I know that's not - talking to myself again." He clamped his mouth shut, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

Well, it didn't look like a trap. The inside of the warehouse was small, sparse, concrete floor, concrete roof, four load-bearing pillars. One of the walls was covered by a mirror, which Nicholas quickly glanced away from. He didn't need to be reminded of the tall, pale thing that would be looking back at him.

What was really interesting was what was in the center of the room - six metal folding chairs, arranged in a small circle, each one with a tiny scrap of paper on it. He approached slowly, snatching up one of the papers like it would burn him, and brought it up to his face, pulling down his sunglasses to read it.

'My Name Is' Nicholas

Part of him wanted to run right then and there, but fortunately it was outweighed by the part that really wanted to see what was happening here. He swallowed sharply and lowered himself into the chair, pulling his thin knees up to be held in his too-long arms. "I'm not scared," he murmured softly to himself. "Not too scared to wait."