OOC: This is a closed thread. Anyone who has not signed up in the original thread is barred from participating.
Temple to the Summer Sun, Terran Derscon
Formerly the "Tzarhof"
At least it's not too cloudy. The Chief Steward sighed, the slight breeze allowing his stress to slowly fade away into the morning sun. It was an unexpected and certainly last minute order from Kaesthondheim: "Prepare the Temple for foreign heads of state immediately." Thankfully, the summer palace of the Tsar's from the Second and Third Empire constantly underwent maintenance from the on-site staff, most of them garden drones or computer engineers watching over the environmental controls.
The former Tzarhof had been built a few thousand years ago during the time of the Second Empire, under the Romanov-Saryudin Dynasty, the few times an Andropov had not been on the throne of the Amaranthine Imperium. The palace grounds used to cover an entire city, which was ravaged and destroyed as punishment for a rebellion. To add insult to injury, the funds from the seizing of the treasonous noble's estate were used to clear the city out and build a palace complex larger than some states. A throwback to the Renaissance, but with a Dersconi twist, the Neobarogothic layout, architecture, and landscaping provided a strange mix of the flamboyant, imposing, and futuristic, creating experiences ranging from the awe-inspired to the horrifying.
The various monarchs or delegates arrived at the airfield located in the south-east corner of the palace complex. The airfield itself was situated on a small hill so that incoming guests could get a panoramic view of the entire estate; the layout was chosen deliberately in order to impress upon those visiting the wealth and power of the Cosmic Throne. They were met by a palace steward and a seven-foot tall dragon-like Ekhaecan Guardian in full ceremonial armor. Normally, new guests to the palace would be taken on a walk through the palace complex to the meeting location in order to further impress upon the visitors. However, because of the short notice given to the Temple staff, it could not be brought to perfection so quickly. As such, the incoming leaders were brought to what looked like a magic circle from a cyberpunk world, further adding to the mystery of the Dersconi people. It turns out, it was a magic circle of sorts; once in the center, a quick flash teleported them to the Inner Temple of the Life-Giving Star.
The Inner Temple really was just a grand terrace located in the center of the Western Gardens, overlooking the reflecting pools and the channel that led to the sea that could be seen just in front of the horizon. Stepping off from a minor terrace several meters from the Inner Temple, the stewards led them though the garden paths lined with the mythic immortal flowers, the namesake of the Empire, and up the marble stairs to the grand terrace. The terrace itself was made out of the same marble, including the twelve pillars around the edge and the balustrades connecting them. Indeed, it seemed it all was carved out of the same gigantic stone. In the center, gold and platinum inlays depicted a sun, its rays reaching out to form galaxies located sporadically throughout the terrace. Above the sun, another perfectly circular marble stone levitated to serve as a round table for the guests, with seats around the table, one per leader, that almost seemed alive, molding to the body of the user.
As the guests arrived, servants, overseen by the Chief Steweard, brought out hors d'œuvre and drinks for the royals to nibble and sip as everyone arrived. Their host, though, was currently in the palace itself, and would likely not arrive until everyone else had time to make themselves comfortable.
