*Begin!*It's a nice night for the Queens birthday party, everyone would agree. Not a cloud in the sky! Yet. It's a little cold
The place you were escorted to when you showed your invitation is in the center of the city proper-the previously shabby public park with a small stream running through it. The place seems to have been cleaned up nicely of trash and footpads, and there are new trees and flowers planted everywhere-there is a strong scent of newly tilled earth here, something anyone who had lived and farmed in the countryside would appreciate.
The monuments to former rulers have been...surreptitiously removed to the darker corners of the park-instead, a newly unveiled Marble Statue of the Queen has taken up the center. This statue of Queen Laythe is positively huge-she towers over the park and casts her stony glance down upon the city, a sword in one hand pointing to some imagined foe in the distance, and a round shield in the other emblazoned with the Royal crest in vibrant blood red hues. At the base, are inscribed words.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! MAY HER REIGN LAST A THOUSAND YEARS!
...
Once you get past the statue, you find the veranda, constructed by Hugo van Vissersdorp himself. It's a marvel of architecture, with lovingly detailed arches and murals-the astute viewer notices Hugo actually wove an entire epic tale into the frescoes about a female warrior slaying a dragon but losing her lover in the process, if one takes time to view them all in the right order-and a high vaulted roof that rivals a cathedral and almost seems to defy gravity.
The roof of the Veranda is laid out in what can only be termed artistically as an alien sky-stars are painted in the wrong places, and strange moons and soaring comets with people riding on them float silently overhead, giving it a measure of ultimate mystery. What was Hugo thinking? Well, you can ask him yourself-he's right over there.
Within this venue, one can find the food and drink-mountains of it, on a finely carved table so long and heavy it had to be built into the floor. Most of the foodstuffs and imbibements seems to be the robust Ligorian foods and strong drink said to be preferred by the Queen-rich dark ales and wines, roasted pork and vension, trays of spiced and fried salmon and shrimp...it never seems to run out, either, which begs the question of where it's all coming from.
Every chair also has a name engraved into its head-so, if you happened to not show up...everyone would know. Especially the Queen, who has the throne at the head of the table, slightly raised so she can look down upon everyone.
Raised stages to either side house the entertainment-musicians are playing upbeat songs in time with the performers-groups of daredevil fire swallowers, sword jugglers and acrobats who seem to be cheating death every moment. A few actors can be seen to one side, organizing some sort of play that will go one later this night.
A pretty looking silhouette in a jade green overcoat (it's sort of chilly tonight Like I said, so we can only hope you dressed warmly)with a jauntingly raked beret over her fashionable dark red hair materializes from the crowd and approaches you, in time. She smiles dazzingly and leans scandalously close, enough to smell her own sweetened perfume-the scent reminds you of...ah, you can't quite place it.
"Tala Alanis, charmed to meet you....welcome to the Party."
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Topic: You Are King II: Tales of the Storm Coast (Winter 416a) (Read 239090 times)