The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring (pLease sign up first)

[Constaniana]

Prince Maximus noticed the woman standing off by herself, and since he couldn't find Mara at least it was better than not talking to anyone, and besides, Maximus was a social person by nature. He was 20, 6 feet tall, less skinny than he had been when he was a teenager thanks to Sky Navy service whipping him into a very well-muscled man, with brown hair that always seemed a little messy and windswept, light brown eyes, and a smile always on his face. He walked up to the woman, and bowed shortly; the type of bow one would use for one below one's status, or if you didn't know what class the person was. "Who might you be?" He asked.

Annya giggled and smiled, a commanding aura immediately making the air around her feel heavy. "I am Annya Illyiva Pytrova," she responded, holding out her free hand for a hand shake. "Premier of the People's Republic of United Slavic Nations." She was positive that this young man knew nothing of her dark reputation, either that, or he was just trying to be polite. She blinked her large, innocent-looking golden eyes at him, analyzing his body language and expressions.

Maximus smiled and shook hands with her. That's a bit odd, he thought. Usually at formal events like this,it's expected for nobility or Royalty like myself to kiss women's hands, not shake them. But I suppose foreigners have different customs.. "I am His Royal Highness Prince Maximus, Third in line to the throne of the Holy Empire of Constannia," He winked at the woman, noticing her looking at him with interest. Although it seemed to him like she could possibly be hiding something, but he couldn't figure out what. Oh well, he thought.

[United Slavic Nations]

Annya giggled and smiled, a commanding aura immediately making the air around her feel heavy. "I am Annya Illyiva Pytrova," she responded, holding out her free hand for a hand shake. "Premier of the People's Republic of United Slavic Nations." She was positive that this young man knew nothing of her dark reputation, either that, or he was just trying to be polite. She blinked her large, innocent-looking golden eyes at him, analyzing his body language and expressions.

Maximus smiled and shook hands with her. That's a bit odd, he thought. Usually at formal events like this,it's expected for nobility or Royalty like myself to kiss women's hands, not shake them. But I suppose foreigners have different customs.. "I am His Royal Highness Prince Maximus, Third in line to the throne of the Holy Empire of Constannia," He winked at the woman, noticing her looking at him with interest. Although it seemed to him like she could possibly be hiding something, but he couldn't figure out what. Oh well, he thought.

"Oh, my, how polite you are!" she giggled once again. "For someone who is seven years my junior, you're so mature!" Retracting her hand, she looked at the cieling, a dreamy expression crossing her face, sighing contently. "I remember when I was your age. My, my, Slavingrad was practically burning to the ground back then!" She waved it off and smiled sweetly at him.

[Constaniana]

"Oh, my, how polite you are!" she giggled once again. "For someone who is seven years my junior, you're so mature!" Retracting her hand, she looked at the cieling, a dreamy expression crossing her face, sighing contently. "I remember when I was your age. My, my, Slavingrad was practically burning to the ground back then!" She waved it off and smiled sweetly at him.

"Why thank you, " he said smiling at her as she giggled. He was confused about what she said after that though. "How was Slavingrad burning? Was there some kind if accident in a factory or something?" He asked, getting a little nervous, although oddly enough that sweet smile of hers seemed to really calm him down.

[New Edom]

Gehenna, Pyeon-Gang Ho, Riemaia, Hittanryan, Cossacks

"I don't play at national level," Perrin said with a grin at Tia. "So I'll be watching, but it will be fun. Actually His Majesty David, Third of that Name, is the real driver and rider in this much extended family. Where is the King, anyway? Wasn't he supposed to be here?"

"Our Royal Cousin will be present for the feast," said Mara cheerfully. "Olivia just sent me a text to that effect. Hey, does anyone want to go to see the Zoological Park or see the Conservatory before we break up for preparing for dinner?"

[Riemaia]

Gehenna, Pyeon-Gang Ho, Edom, Hittanryan, Cossacks

"I guess I will go wherever you push me." Anneli said as she felt the armrests on the wheelchair she was sitting in. "Should be a good sight to see exactly where a good chunk of my money went to anyway, I never did get the list of specific plants and everything that were going to be in there... certainly do hope theres saffron and dandelions. Did you know dandelions aren't native to Riemaia? They go for a few dozen Copees a tray now..."

[United Slavic Nations]

"Oh, my, how polite you are!" she giggled once again. "For someone who is seven years my junior, you're so mature!" Retracting her hand, she looked at the cieling, a dreamy expression crossing her face, sighing contently. "I remember when I was your age. My, my, Slavingrad was practically burning to the ground back then!" She waved it off and smiled sweetly at him.

"Why thank you, " he said smiling at her as she giggled. He was confused about what she said after that though. "How was Slavingrad burning? Was there some kind if accident in a factory or something?" He asked, getting a little nervous, although oddly enough that sweet smile of hers seemed to really calm him down.

Annya looked shocked. "Are you not aware of the Twenty Year War?" She sighed and then thought for a moment, taking on the 'oh-I-get-it-now!' face. "Well, I'm not surprised. The nations and satellites that conprise the USN were all under isolationist policies before the Party."

She smiled maternally. "The Twenty Year War was the conflict between the Kingdom of Svebosk, the Principallity of Slavingrad, and the Commonwealth of Novask and Lebevin. What happened was: Communist revolutionaries in Slavingrad demanded the land that Svebosk had stolen from us nearly one-hundred years before. War broke out, and the communists prevailed in the end," at this, she paused, letting it all sink in. "Eventually, Svebosk and Novask-Lebevin were announced de facto, and their lands were divided between the United Slavic Nations and neighboring countries, with most of Svebosk and Lebevin going to the USN." She finished her history lesson with: "and I'm the lucky woman in charge of all of my little darlings!"

[Hittanryan]

New Edom (Touchstone and Finnhald)

President Touchstone listened gravely during the previous talk, nodding now and then, saying "That's wonderful to hear," or "I find that most reassuring." However he occasionally reiterated the points about the risks New Edom would be taking to her national security. He pointed out the border disputes to the north and in the Gloria Regis Islands, regional tensions generally, and the barely quieted insurgency in Raith Immel Province, not to mention military committments in the Chyeknovostan Republic...

Sif was a bit more proactive, stating, "I think that there are excellent prospects for a fruitful longer discussion regarding trade, in that case...but I think that if you could briefly sum up the situation on East Klamath the President and I would be glad to hear about it."

President DeGroot gave nothing away, but he was growing slightly frustrated. Despite being up-front with Adiron's intentions, Touchstone was clearly yes-ing him. Hopefully it was just because he hadn't necessarily prepared for these sorts of talks, and not because he wanted to get them out of the way so he could get back to the party.

Foreign Minister Finnhald's response to Friedman dropping the proverbial bombshell seemed to indicate the former, and more worryingly, they seemed to be in the dark on the mounting crisis. East Klamath was an island dependency located in the ocean between the Imperium and New Edom. By all accounts, they should have been clued in. 'I really hope they're just playing dumb,' Friedman thought.

"We have reports of sectarian violence on East Klamath. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the territory's history, but its population has traditionally been split between Magi and Christians. Tensions came to a head several times in the past, but there was little more than vandalism to show for it all. That was before the Imperium arrived on the world stage, however. If the reports are accurate and violence has indeed broken out, well, take it from us, that's always a bad sign."

New Edom (Mara, Perrin etc.) Gehenna Tartarus, Riemaia, anyone else in that general area of the reception

Rhea was in the middle of a drink when Mara made the crack about body-painting yourself red in support of the red team. Unable to stifle a laugh, she abruptly started coughing. She finally managed to squeak out a "...sorry." Tom noticed the teen from Tartarus turn a rather luminescent shade of red. If she kept that up, she wouldn't need the paint. 'Yeah, that's Mara all right,' he thought knowingly. 'I just wish I could eradicate the mental image of face-painting football fans trying the same thing. Can't...un-see it...' He shuddered.

"So wait, everyone's rooting for red? Guess I'll have to be different. I'll go blue, like Rhea over there if she doesn't stop choking," Tom quipped. Still coughing lightly, Rhea replied "Shut...up...if you'd been listening *cough* you'd know we're rooting for whoever has the hottest guy." "Fine, I'll root for whoever has the ugliest. Sport like motor jousting's bound to result in quite a bit of involuntary face rearrangement."

[Constaniana]

Annya looked shocked. "Are you not aware of the Twenty Year War?" She sighed and then thought for a moment, taking on the 'oh-I-get-it-now!' face. "Well, I'm not surprised. The nations and satellites that conprise the USN were all under isolationist policies before the Party."
She smiled maternally. "The Twenty Year War was the conflict between the Kingdom of Svebosk, the Principallity of Slavingrad, and the Commonwealth of Novask and Lebevin. What happened was: Communist revolutionaries in Slavingrad demanded the land that Svebosk had stolen from us nearly one-hundred years before. War broke out, and the communists prevailed in the end," at this, she paused, letting it all sink in. "Eventually, Svebosk and Novask-Lebevin were announced de facto, and their lands were divided between the United Slavic Nations and neighboring countries, with most of Svebosk and Lebevin going to the USN." She finished her history lesson with: "and I'm the lucky woman in charge of all of my little darlings!"

Maximus smiled back at Annya. "Will it certainly sounds like your country has been through a lot recently," he said. Oh brilliant, now she's a bloody communist thought Maximus. The Holy Empire was not known for having a love of communism, as it often went against many of the traditions and ways of life Constannians had made. "So what is a communist's opinion on Royalty? " Maximus asked.

[United Slavic Nations]

Annya looked shocked. "Are you not aware of the Twenty Year War?" She sighed and then thought for a moment, taking on the 'oh-I-get-it-now!' face. "Well, I'm not surprised. The nations and satellites that conprise the USN were all under isolationist policies before the Party."
She smiled maternally. "The Twenty Year War was the conflict between the Kingdom of Svebosk, the Principallity of Slavingrad, and the Commonwealth of Novask and Lebevin. What happened was: Communist revolutionaries in Slavingrad demanded the land that Svebosk had stolen from us nearly one-hundred years before. War broke out, and the communists prevailed in the end," at this, she paused, letting it all sink in. "Eventually, Svebosk and Novask-Lebevin were announced de facto, and their lands were divided between the United Slavic Nations and neighboring countries, with most of Svebosk and Lebevin going to the USN." She finished her history lesson with: "and I'm the lucky woman in charge of all of my little darlings!"

Maximus smiled back at Annya. "Will it certainly sounds like your country has been through a lot recently," he said. Oh brilliant, now she's a bloody communist thought Maximus. The Holy Empire was not known for having a love of communism, as it often went against many of the traditions and ways of life Constannians had made. "So what is a communist's opinion on Royalty? " Maximus asked.

"Well, since communism is founded on the principals of classless society and common ownership of all national property, and monarchies have different classes and property rights," she said, highlighting the difference between the two. "We're not very fond of it." Patting his back in a semi-reassuring gesture, she made sure to feel dominating in the simple act by applying a slight pressure to his shoulder afterwards. "But we're always happy to trade!"

[Constaniana]

Maximus smiled at Annya, feeling his shoulders relax a little when she applied that pressure to them. He wasn't sure if she was flirting with him or simply trying to make herself dominant over him. Of course, it would take much more than a touch on the shoulder to dominate a Royal. But enough of being paranoid, he thought. "So what would your country have to trade? If you're any indication I'm sure it has plenty of beautiful women, " Maximus said, winking as he said the last part.

[Constaniana]

Meanwhile Princess Irene had gone to the refreshments table and was grabbing some food while she looked over the people in the room, wondering who to talk to. oooh, cream puffs she thought, grabbing some. Even though she was a princess, and very pretty, with long blonde hair, a nice curvy figure, and fairly tanned, almost bronze-coloured skin, she didn't really act like a normal princess, worrying about her hair and her makeup. She was actually quite a tomboy, although she could use her femenine charms when she had to. Well nobody would probably want to talk to the princess stuffing her face with food, she thought. And where had Maximus gone off to? She still needed to find out who his mystery crush was.

[New Edom]

Constaniana

A pretty fair haired woman wearing a pink tunic style dress that came to just below her knees walked dreamily out of a restroom, smelling of lilacs and marijuana, and approached Irene, seeing her. "Heyyyyy," she said. She had long hair, wore a bracelet of beaten gold, and was barefoot. She had soft blue eyes and a friendly smile. "I'm Princess Ava Shalmaneser--it's nice to meet you--are you Prince Maximus' sister Irene? Wow...everyone's still here, that's awesome. I guess the dinner's going to be soon, I'm totally famished." she smiled at Irene. "Gosh, you're awfully pretty--I think you won't have an empty dance card tonight!"

[Constaniana]

Constaniana

A pretty fair haired woman wearing a pink tunic style dress that came to just below her knees walked dreamily out of a restroom, smelling of lilacs and marijuana, and approached Irene, seeing her. "Heyyyyy," she said. She had long hair, wore a bracelet of beaten gold, and was barefoot. She had soft blue eyes and a friendly smile. "I'm Princess Ava Shalmaneser--it's nice to meet you--are you Prince Maximus' sister Irene? Wow...everyone's still here, that's awesome. I guess the dinner's going to be soon, I'm totally famished." she smiled at Irene. "Gosh, you're awfully pretty--I think you won't have an empty dance card tonight!"

New Edom

Irene smiled at Ava. "Thanks, you look really nice too. But I'm not Maximus's sister, I'm his cousin," Irene noticed the odd smell around Ava, but was too polite to say anything about it.

[United Slavic Nations]

Maximus smiled at Annya, feeling his shoulders relax a little when she applied that pressure to them. He wasn't sure if she was flirting with him or simply trying to make herself dominant over him. Of course, it would take much more than a touch on the shoulder to dominate a Royal. But enough of being paranoid, he thought. "So what would your country have to trade? If you're any indication I'm sure it has plenty of beautiful women, " Maximus said, winking as he said the last part.

She chuckled. "No, we have uranium mining and arms manufacturing!" she chirped, acting like it was no big deal her main resource was conventional warfare, and possibly nuclear weapons of mass destruction. "What do you have? Please say 'fine wine'. My little darlings absolutely love good wine! Though, now that the war is over, we've cultivated the vineyards to make heavy industry factories." Giggling, she squeezed his shoulder tighter, smiling largely.

[Herskerstad]

It had been a while since anyone had actually led Ashali anywhere but she did not mind because it seemed as though the other woman gaining more confidence through the action. Once they were standing away from the crowd, she absorbed what Punja without saying a word until she had finished. This was an interesting individual no matter how Ashali looked at her. A women with a curious past and a conflicted heart.

She kept her face friendly as she spoke. “Before I go into detail about myself or anything else I must say something else. You speak of having defects or being defective, but I do not see that. You are simply yourself. If you have faults, they are not because someone gave them to you and if you make mistakes it is not because anyone forced you into making them. I know I speak from my own experience, but we have been given the ability to choose and it is those decisions which define who we are, not another person.”

Ashali’s then leaned herself against the wall beside Punja and flashed a smile. “I think that is enough philosophy for now. Now let me tell you a little about myself.” She took in a deep breath and exhaled. “I am a social anthropologist, I teach at a university, and I conduct fieldwork whenever I have the opportunity. I suppose I have always been fascinated by the vast and complicated thing that is human culture.”

“I grew up the capital of the Hamarahtta province, Koldari and also attended university there. My mother operates Keerut Naval Aeronautics and my father takes care of the house. I have younger sister and two older brothers.”

She then rapped her fingers against the wall and considered how much more she should indulge and decided that she should be as open about herself as Punja had been. “I was also engaged to be married until a year and half ago. She was a beautiful and intelligent,” Ashali then gave the appearance of having swallowed something bitter, “Things did not end well though. I could go into the details, but I think an analogy will work just as well. Imagine if you will someone taking a white hot piece of iron and working it into your flesh slowly, millimeter by millimeter, until it reaches your heart and you finally expire.”

The corner of her lip twitched slightly as Ashali then changed topics. “I can not tell you very much about Nuleztahni, not knowing her very well, but I will give you what I can. Nuleztahni is the second princess of the Ali-Zebu royal family. She is an air force pilot and I believe she holds a degree of some kind, but I can not recall what it is in. Her mother is Queen Saysun IV and she has a twin brother, a younger sister by the name of Yesmin, and an older sister by the name of Asri. Both of Yesmin and Asri are married while Nuleztahni has no real long term attachments to anyone at the moment.” Ashali laughed breifly, “If it were not such common knowledge already, I probably would not mention this, but our second princess is quite well known for her amorous nature. That said, it is not as if she is a wild animal. She can be quite charming and alluring, but does not force herself upon anyone she shows an interest in. She also loves a good wine.” Ashali omitted that at one point in time she had fallen under the woman’s spell for a brief period. It was probably a wise thing to do considering the woman she was talking to might have some sort of interest in the second princess.

Ashali then turned so that her shoulder rested against the wall and her face looked toward Punja. “I will tell some basic things about Ali-Zebu right now and if you want me to elaborate on anything, then just let me know. The nation itself came into existence in what is the year 297 in our calendar and 703 BC in the Christian calendar. The nation as a whole is a devoutly religious one with nearly every person belonging to the Jezrahlist faith. Jezrahlism predates Christianity and Islam and is something of a contemporary of Judaism and Zoroastrianism.”

“Ali-Zebu experienced a period of civil war over fifteen-hundred years ago, but survived and managed to come out stronger. We have fought many wars and skirmishes with our old northern neighbor, the Sultanate of Zoltab over the centuries. I am actually named after an old war hero from the early period of the last century.”

“There are many dozens of languages in Ali-Zebu, over two hundred recognized ethnicities, and many different cultures. I am of a southern Hamarahttan ethnicity, the Amhasi. The cultures of Ali-Zebu are all matriarchal in nature with the exception of the Helladrian, Ichi, and Aochi minorities that live in the SAR.”

Ashali paused to look Punja over again. “Ali-Zebu has a warm climate and a variety of different landscapes and ecological zones. We also have quite a few species of plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If have visited many different nations and I believe there is no other that is more beautiful.”

She then pulled herself up from the wall. “If you wish to visit my nation, then let me offer you a place to stay when you do. I may not be a princess, but I do well enough to keep a comfortable home and I am sure that you would find it very cozy” Ashali smiled and offered her hand again. “How about we walk around for a little while?”

Punja gave a friendly smile and nodded to her request. She finally leaned away from the the wall and stood before Ashali. It was apparent that Punja had been rather clumsy as to dressing herself before this party. While her dress being made of beautiful dark mesh with gentle red specular highlights revealing the Herskerstad emblem, as well as a belt holding it together around her middle only to have the rest go down cover all just above the knees seemed both conservative and feminine in it's appearance, she had forgotten to change lab undershirt. In a strange way, it complimented her appearance. Herself, being of the Asari variety had natural long pink hair and oddly enough, two tails instead of one. She also had on the top of her head what seemed like red-tinted pilot glasses, but she had yet to use them. Her skin was pretty much Caucasian and stood lucky to hold a natural beauty of her own, as she could not be bothered to wear makeup aside from some basic lipstick. In a very swift, but friendly way she snatched Asari's hand and gave a swift, yet warm smile. As she once again took initiative to go on a walk. This time the general direction was away from the building they had just visited.

She seemed generally happy at this moment, even after hearing about Ashali's misfortunes. She was bursting with energy, part of her wished to walk faster than Ashali's normal phase, but she was composed enough to avoid doing so. Even though some enthusiasm could be noted as her grip at times tightened somewhat. She turned her head sideways to face Ashali as she said. " I am very happy I meet you Ashali. It is hard to express with words how dull the life in Herskerstad can appear at times. I mean, for some people I can see that it would be a heaven of some kind. Only a modest consumption tax, so corporations thrive, has entire cathedral cities, so tourism and well.... religious humans have it well. I cannot stand the classical choir music, but even I will admit the architecture challenges human creativity. Valleys of water with re-enforced glass plates one will not be able to see just under the surface, to make one appear as if one is walking on water. Valleys with monasteries that have choirs placed in regions which creates a beautiful, faint echo. Architecture from all over the world. Architecture with strict zoning laws, that ensures the cities become great wonders themselves. Yet, beyond the beauty, one can find the beast. Underneath many cities, there are gigantic slums that go many, many stories underground. In their own way, they stand as a monument. There exist no rules or law in those.... pits. The largest one is under the capital, called sin city. Essentially, anyone finding them on the lower end of the lower class tend to be forced to emigrate there. You will find colluseums, brothels, black markets if you can even call it that there, organ sales, even charities and hospital clinics. Again, no law, but a general ceasefire upon good will I suppose..... Even though there is little to be found there. Largely gang controlled, and if I know Baptista right, he will have established all the viable connections to make an economic boom from this sick venture. I once disguised myself to see the just the first two underground levels, and well..... Once I saw an arranged fight, I decided that place was not for me. The man who lost well.... he also lost his face in the most cruel way imaginable. Yet, the crowd was in a grand mood. To see that humans can find themselves supportive or even enthralled by such vile desires... It goes beyond what I am willing to accept as truth, I suppose, but it stands as a heaven, compared to the second lowest level called purgatory I hear. Underneath purgatory is well... hell, and I have only heard rumors. They are as unpleasant as one can imagine."

She stopped for a moment and looked to the skies. A gust of wind caught her hair as she said. " I cannot say I myself have been betrayed like that.... I cannot remember anything from when I was 13. Now I am 27, but unlike the Asari, I live on, I feel I have far too much energy to expire just yet. Baptista, who created me, merely laughed at me when I asked. Saying that I would know when my time arrives. I've learned before hand it is a mistake to go beyond his half-answers. The emperors knows nothing, and while he tolerates Baptista's presence far more than I myself do, I cannot bring myself to believe he for a second never heard of the crusader initiatives, which stood the most brutal divisions in the war. Ruthlessly effective, they sometimes left nothing behind, but rubble, bodies and smoke. I for one managed to catch Godfrey, the leader of the crusader divisions in his wartime armor. It was a frightful sight..... That man hates me in a way far more than Baptista ever could. Yet finding myself alone with him, he did nothing. Other than a frightful stare, we did not associate any further. I think it was painfully clear he hated me for being one of the Sari, yet, he stands a legend in Herskerstad, a cultural icon even..... I do not know where to begin. Yet despite the man's hate for me, I don't feel it returned. Such hatred I saw could only have been created, over a lengthy period of time. And seeing how he is Baptista's personal bodyguard now that the war is over, the cause stands painfully obvious. Yet I fear, that when I was created, Baptista tampered with my systems intentionally in a way which will cause something horrible to happen one day. Perhaps something horrible did happen, the day I lost most of my memory before I was 13. It probably did, but it seems unlikely as I was in attendance with a fairly well-supervised wing that has no allegiance to Baptista, and none account for me leaving my lab.... Yet, Baptista is known for his mastery of deceit, and I dare not confront him anymore, and I do not wish to involve the emperor. The emperor kind of takes care of me, I suppose, but inviting unpleasantness with Baptista is something I swore I would never ask anyone to do. He would know it was I who asked, but I've never really loved anyone either. I did never really enjoy the science in the way that makes most people happy either. It just... absorbs me. Entirely, and without pause. "

She turned around, and this time, her voice was not as much serious, as it was a sight of relief on revealing something. " I don't know what to tell you about faith, really. I always thought Christianity in Herskerstad only was a tool for political control, due to how central Baptista stood in the Church of Herskerstad. The crusader divisions, the cultural war..... Yet, there where 3 events that contradict my life. One came fairly early, when I was 16. I was walking past a very humble office during the defensive war, it did not even look like a monastery. Yet, I saw a man in black clothes which probably had not been washed for some time. He was thin, and his eyes... they did not align. Signaling he probably had a brain tumor or some other defect. I.... walked towards him, my original intent, due to frustration, was to prove him and his faith to be false. I talked around him, many times, giving him questions he did not stand capable of answering. He stood there, his hands trembling as he had lost most of his control over them. Yet, for each rebuke I came with, he only invited me closer. Each time I presented a paradox, he only replied that he knows not the ways of God fully, yet wished me to merely seek him. He tried to invite me in several time, even giving me some of his precious coffee when he stood entirely incapable of making one. Then I asked him why does he confide with this God, who he says is so good, considering all the misfortunes bestowed upon this priest? He replied that he still had a purpose, to remove the pain others had, and bring them closer to God. That their joy, far more than made up for his own suffering, and despite that he could no longer remember certain prayers, or talk with God as he used to, his presence was still felt in the far horizon, and he longs for the day he visits that unknown.... I never accepted his invite, I walked away. He is probably dead now, I could even have paid for or heck, done surgery myself on him, but I was confused, angry, and I've never dared visit that place again... If it even exists anymore, but a man that was so good, despite all the bad he had encountered. That made me think. There was also that time during the war, where I visited a nearby town that had just been bombarded from the air. I was sent there to retrieve some writings from the library, and to my surprise, heard a voice under one of the massive ruins of several shelves.I thought no man, let alone a child could have survived having fallen under one of those, yet, I saw there was a small angle on how it had fell, and true enough, being in the spiritual section, one of the large tombs containing the old testament had fallen, creating an angle just small enough for the child to escape being crushed on the other end. I looked closer at the few books who had made such an odd tumble, and where the book that had the old testament which true enough, seemed ruined after the fall. The new testament, while not having prevented the fall, had a small ray of light on it, and a second ray of light which stood before the rubble which had a small hole in it. I leaned over towards the bible, yet, what I saw was that through the small hole, the voice I had heard, which I presumed was that of someone who was dead, revealed to me the child still alive and trapped on the far end. I called it in quickly, and the child was saved. I never contacted him after the fact, but, had that one ray of light not hit the golden texts, or the old testament not broken the fall just so much near the edge, that kid would have been dead, like so many others. The last event which I can think of really was the visit underground. I never cared much for the priests on the surface, enough riches to make Midas blush and pampered fools who think themselves holier than others, yet, on the underground, there was this one young priest who lived in what could hardly be called a church. I spoke with him, and to my shock, he was in fact formerly a very wealthy man, who had lost his fortunes at the start of the war. He told me that he planned to kill himself, as wealth really was his God, he was still Christian then when he had those thoughts, but once he saw the vile nature in sin city and another area called Freetown, he soon had to fight for his life, but his will was already dead. At the mercy of one of the rare and violent Desari, he decided it was his time, and did not even put up an effort to survive. The sari remarked that he could not kill something that was already dead, and left him shortly after. Yet, in that moment of fear, he felt that his life had purpose. Even in what some would think as negative, he felt life within himself, and indeed, a new kind of wealth. Before long he had become a preacher and he told me some of the most amazing stories, I was not even angry when listening to them, but he really had found something that was beyond the concept of normal life. With danger, and then friends ever present, he used most of his time helping those recently banished to the underworld. I suppose for the first time I really took an interest in the story of another man. And when I saw the vile fight later on, I asked myself that, with war, and the hell humans can create for themselves ever present, how can people survive without something to look up to?"

She paused for a moment. " I suppose my answer when it comes to religion or faith is that I don't know. I am no longer actively trying to disprove anything. Yet, in humble quarters, God seems to be at his strongest should he exist. I truely cannot say, but I've meet people better than me who seem convinced.... Then again, I have also meet rich fools who have not a shred of use, and I hope that when they one day stand before the throne of God, they will find themselves surprised that it is not they who sit in it! Nothing would please me more. Then again, my own nature often has desires towards the misfortunes of others.... mostly impulsive, but still. While I would rarely ever turn to violence or plotting, they still... define much of who I am. An imperfection, flaw, and negative trait sure.... Probably something worthy of what people call hell. Cowardly when others need me, Cowardly towards myself, angry often, disgruntled normally, and when I try to act independent, if it was not for a few close friends, whom I despise openly, but love.... I would not have been able to stomach life. Kind of like Raeder, a man who got so many negative traits I could never count them openly, but at least I know that should I be in trouble, he would act on my behalf. The old, insistent fool that he is. And as far as God goes.... I suppose we are at what one could call a ceasefire. I will admit I talk to myself often when I am alone in my lab, and sometimes, the conversation turns towards God... Well, mostly against him, but it continues and goes on and on. I don't think like a human, so I cannot rightly say what his son or... he was thinking when he faced death among people who openly despised him only to advocate their forgiveness, yet, he must have had the same kind of love that some of those I mentioned earlier had. I cannot associate with it, but I know that such a love, transcends sense itself in a way..... I don't know, at times everything seems mad to me, so I suppose that a love that is there even among all the madness can be a good thing. Humans are as capable as any at creating miseries at the end of the day, and that a person can indeed change his or her nature is good, but I doubt I ever will. I am too cowardly, simple as that."

[Constaniana]

She chuckled. "No, we have uranium mining and arms manufacturing!" she chirped, acting like it was no big deal her main resource was conventional warfare, and possibly nuclear weapons of mass destruction. "What do you have? Please say 'fine wine'. My little darlings absolutely love good wine! Though, now that the war is over, we've cultivated the vineyards to make heavy industry factories." Giggling, she squeezed his shoulder tighter, smiling largely.

"No, we have sports cars, information technologies like computers and such, sheep farming, things like that. We're rubbish at making wine or any sort of alcohol for that matter, and we even banned it 80 years ago," Maximus noticed her tightening grip while she was giggling and smiling at him. "So what exactly is the shoulder grip for? You're not planning on giving me a massage, are you?" He asked, winking at her. In his head he was beginning to get a little worried, but he'd hide that with his perfect charm and humour.

[United Slavic Nations]

She chuckled. "No, we have uranium mining and arms manufacturing!" she chirped, acting like it was no big deal her main resource was conventional warfare, and possibly nuclear weapons of mass destruction. "What do you have? Please say 'fine wine'. My little darlings absolutely love good wine! Though, now that the war is over, we've cultivated the vineyards to make heavy industry factories." Giggling, she squeezed his shoulder tighter, smiling largely.

"No, we have sports cars, information technologies like computers and such, sheep farming, things like that. We're rubbish at making wine or any sort of alcohol for that matter, and we even banned it 80 years ago," Maximus noticed her tightening grip while she was giggling and smiling at him. "So what exactly is the shoulder grip for? You're not planning on giving me a massage, are you?" He asked, winking at her. In his head he was beginning to get a little worried, but he'd hide that with his perfect charm and humour.

She looked at him like he's just sprouted a second head, before flashing a strained smile. "I didn't realize I was squeezing," she lied, convincingly, to the Royal. Apparently, her plan to dominate worked, as she had noticed the way he seemed slightly nervous. "I'm sorry," she apologized, releasing her death grip on his shoulder, smiling cheerily. "Anyhow, back to trade relations: the country could use a firm wool supply.

"It's rather cold in my region, and there is hardly any pasture to use for anything other than military bases, since the soil in frozen solid six-out-of-twelve moths of the year." She waved the statement off a moment later with a laugh.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Pyeon-Gang Ho, New Edom, Riemaia & others

Prince Hugo nodded his head to Hyeon-Mi’s explanation, thinking to himself that his mother would never let Elizabeth attend a party without a chaperone, even if she was more capable than her older sister at looking after herself. “It is always unpleasant if you have to miss out on things due to no one else being available to go with you,” he said, with a smile.

He looked up as Mara spoke about going outside to visit the parks and it was one of the reasons they had come to the Gala. “I must see if my sister would like an escort around the park. You are welcome to join us.”

Tia looked at Perrin and grinned, thinking to herself that he must have mistaken her comment, she had been teasing him more about her looking at other men than thinking he was going to take part in the joust, but she did not say anything to clear up the misunderstanding. “Watching is always fun,” she said, as she released his hand, now that everyone seemed to be getting ready to go outside. She loved being in his company but she did not want to dominate it.

Marissa was standing near Anneli when Mara had announced it was time to go outside. She was torn between going over to her brother, as the plan had been, or staying with the more entertaining Empress. But she felt that Anneli wanted some time with Mara, as they seemed very good friends and she did not want to get in the way. She had been told by her mother that it was not very ladylike to impose yourself on someone when they clearer wanted to speak with someone else. She could always catch up with the Empress later, if the chance arose.

[Constaniana]

Maximus grumbled under his breath. "It's alright ..I guess " It seemed more and more apparent to him that this communist woman was...unstable, to say the least. When she made the remark about the soil being constantly frozen and then laughing like it was nothing, it only convinced him more that she was...off. "yes, your country certainly does sound cold. It must be hard for the poor farmers in your country to grow anything at all with that kind of weather. But I'm sure the wonderful system of communism provides equally for everyone, right? It's not like the party officials sit in nice warm houses with tons of food, wine and women while the workers starve and freeze to death, right?" Maximus asked. Based on the tone if his voice and his body language, anyone would say he was asking completely innocently, but deep down it was a scathing criticism of how communist nations were always some if the most hypocritical nations of all.

[United Slavic Nations]

Maximus grumbled under his breath. "It's alright ..I guess " It seemed more and more apparent to him that this communist woman was...unstable, to say the least. When she made the remark about the soil being constantly frozen and then laughing like it was nothing, it only convinced him more that she was...off. "yes, your country certainly does sound cold. It must be hard for the poor farmers in your country to grow anything at all with that kind of weather. But I'm sure the wonderful system of communism provides equally for everyone, right? It's not like the party officials sit in nice warm houses with tons of food, wine and women while the workers starve and freeze to death, right?" Maximus asked. Based on the tone if his voice and his body language, anyone would say he was asking completely innocently, but deep down it was a scathing criticism of how communist nations were always some if the most hypocritical nations of all.

Her eye twitched visibly, her smile becoming strained. "Yes, of course!" she said, the air around her becoming heavier and somewhat...cold. "We make sure to provide food rations for everyone, when winter rolls along." Nevermind that everyone included Party members and peasents who could pay for them only, and that a percentage given to the middle class was small and couldn't feed a single person for a week. Ah, the life of a dictator...

[Constaniana]

Her eye twitched visibly, her smile becoming strained. "Yes, of course!" she said, the air around her becoming heavier and somewhat...cold. "We make sure to provide food rations for everyone, when winter rolls along." Nevermind that everyone included Party members and peasents who could pay for them only, and that a percentage given to the middle class was small and couldn't feed a single person for a week. Ah, the life of a dictator...

Maximus noticed her strained smile and twitching eye. He smiled to himself with satisfaction, knowing he had control of the conversation now. "That must take a lot of work, getting food to everyone , especially since your soil is essentially worthless for growing anything. Are you alright? You seem a little tense. Must be the strain from being a wonderful, kind and generous leader, am I right?" Maximus said, grinning and barely concealing the sarcasm.

[United Slavic Nations]

Her eye twitched visibly, her smile becoming strained. "Yes, of course!" she said, the air around her becoming heavier and somewhat...cold. "We make sure to provide food rations for everyone, when winter rolls along." Nevermind that everyone included Party members and peasents who could pay for them only, and that a percentage given to the middle class was small and couldn't feed a single person for a week. Ah, the life of a dictator...

Maximus noticed her strained smile and twitching eye. He smiled to himself with satisfaction, knowing he had control of the conversation now. "That must take a lot of work, getting food to everyone , especially since your soil is essentially worthless for growing anything. Are you alright? You seem a little tense. Must be the strain from being a wonderful, kind and generous leader, am I right?" Maximus said, grinning and barely concealing the sarcasm.

"Oh, no; we happen to import wheat from several countries, and have wonderful harbors for fishing!" she retorted, imagining bashing in his skull with a near-by chair and grinning evily at the bloody, messy thought. "And I'm peachy. I just feel a bit irrate, mainly because my idiot Minister of Foreign Affairs and his aides couldn't get the date for the gala correct, and I ended up arriving late for the symphony. It's such a shame when one has to miss a good hour of New Edom's famous symphonies, isn't it?" She put heavy emphasis on the idiot part, just for Maximus, who was, in her mind, now laying on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. Such is the normal thing to go through a sociopath's mind whenever they're speaking with royalty they find irritating, yes?

[Constaniana]

"Oh, no; we happen to import wheat from several countries, and have wonderful harbors for fishing!" she retorted, imagining bashing in his skull with a near-by chair and grinning evily at the bloody, messy thought. "And I'm peachy. I just feel a bit irrate, mainly because my idiot Minister of Foreign Affairs and his aides couldn't get the date for the gala correct, and I ended up arriving late for the symphony. It's such a shame when one has to miss a good hour of New Edom's famous symphonies, isn't it?" She put heavy emphasis on the idiot part, just for Maximus, who was, in her mind, now laying on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. Such is the normal thing to go through a sociopath's mind whenever they're speaking with royalty they find irritating, yes?

"Yes, it certainly is. That's always a sign of a good culture, one that has things like freedom and peace." Maximus said, using another opportunity to insult communism. "But I feel a little sorry for your poor minister, he must have a very hard job, " he continued. Just talking to this woman for 5 minutes is already pissing me off, I can't imagine how much worse it would be working for this woman.
He thought dryly. "But about those fishing puddles of yours. Now are they frozen hellholes the whole year round too, or is it just your land that's a barren icy wasteland?" He asked, talking and smiling as if he was explaining the alphabet to an incredibly stupid child.

[New Edom]

For Everyone
As the reception began to break up aides, servants and attendants reminded guests that the Conservatory, the Museum and the Zoological Park were available for them to stroll through or they could take time to rest before the dinner and following dance. From out of the Concert Hall there were paths leading to the locations mentioned or to where they could be picked up in their cars and taken to the Majestic Hotel not far off. If none of these were preferred it was possible to go and simply stroll through the park.

The Zoological Park

One of Mara's favorite parts of the new park was the Zoo. She also loved the Conservatory but in a way preferred to enjoy it alone. So she strongly encouraged others to visit the Zoo with her, which involved a short walk through the park till you came to the entrance, which resembled enormously a collection of trees grown together so that their branches formed a gate which unlocked cunningly as they arrived. The Zoo itself was largely made up of a collection of islands woven through with footpaths covering streams, and was a habitat rather than simply a series of cages, most of them designed as much as possible to reflect natural environments. There were a series of options as to which animals people might like to see. Mara, Perrin, Elijah, Governor Augrim, General Abiathar and his wife Michal were among those who intended to see the Zoo.

Birds
Phoruscids or Terror Birds:
Lesser Griffon
Great Crested Griffon
Kelenken, or Spectacled Griffon
Royal Griffon(Species nearly extinct in the wild)
Other Birds:
Bony Toothed Albatross
Giant Barn Owl
Limpkin
Giant Teratorn
Great Wader
Fig Parrot
Branta Goose
Jacamar
Great White Pelican
Rhea
Black Stork
Little Blue Penguin
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Peacock
Euphonia Finch

Reptiles
Salt Water Crocodile
Chameleon
Green Sea Turtle
Javelin Sand Boa
Calabar Python
Twig Snake
New Edomite False Garial
Worm Lizard
Hinge Back Tortoise
Spike Helmed Tortoise
Glass Lizard
Reticulated Python
Megalania or Great Roamer
(nearly extinct in the wild)

Amphibians
Heavy Head Salamander
Andrias Salamander
Rocket Frog
Common Toad
Tree Frogs

Fish
Great Spinefish
New Edomite Stargazer
Surgeon Fish
Bara Catfish
New Edomite Manefish
Samart Seahorse
Slovenia Seahorse
Greater Spotted Perch
Mene Moonfish
Sabre Tooth Salmon
False Lookdown
Quisque Herring

Mammals
Slow Loris
Small Horned Rhino
Nestor’s Seal
Edomite Fur Seal
Pale Sperm Whale

Toxodon
Giant Camel
Goblin Monkey
Long Eared Hedgehog
Beaver
Brushtail Possum
Spiny Mouse
House Mouse
Giant Pouched Rat
Black Rat
Chamita Badger
River Metathere
Ladder Horn
River Dolphin
Short Tooth Walrus
Hesperus Fox
Plains Beaver
Nilgai Antelope

The Conservatory
The Conservatory was a collection of greenhouses mingled with hydroponics which were intended to created an artificial set of biospheres for a variety of plants for the purposes of study and exhibition. It included a great variety of flowers, mosses, plants, shrubs and trees, and included the following environments: desert, rain forest, temperate forest, marsh.

Among those visiting the Conservatory were Prophet Thaddeus Burden and his wife Ophelia, Prince James and Princess Rebecca, Minister of the Environment and Agriculture Dr Krist Antonije Petrović

The Museum

The Museum held both original works and prints or copies, paintings, statuary, sculptures, and various dioramas of New Edomite history. Among those intended to go here were Judge Gabrielle Balaam, Ms. Antonia Justus, Countess Olivia Lalery, Mr. Randyll and Ms. Stephanie Fabian.

Hittanryan
President Touchstone said, his tone hard to read, "Tell me, please, the exact situation of the Christians in East Klamath, in no uncertain terms."

Sif paused and then said quickly and carefully, "Sorry--we are foreigners to one another. The President needs to know that this situation demands his attention. We are very used to saving face in our society, and he does not wish to insult you by implying that you absolutely need his help while the friendship between us is uncertain. It is our way, but if you were to speak very bluntly about it it might help, as it sometimes does when language is similar but very different..."

[Constaniana]

Irene had been eating some more cream puffs as she looked around, hoping to grab Maximus and go look at the Zoo, since that was the biggest reason she wanted to come, as she loved biology, more specifically marine biology and Zoology. She finally spotted Maximus, and he definitely looked like he was in trouble. She could tell it was another one if those situations where no matter how confident and fearless he was acting, be was really thinking "Dear Lord please deliver me from this evil"She quickly walked over to the pair of them, and grabbed Maximus's arm and smiled disarmingky at the other woman. "Maxie would love to stay and chat, but we have something else that requires our attention. You know, with us being Royalty and important and all that nice stuff, " she said, as the two cousins walked outside. "Irene, you have the greatest timing for that sort of thing, don't you?" Maximus asked jokingly, although his smile was beaming off his face. "I told you Maxie, I have the eyes of a hawk, " Irene said, winking and laughing. "You honestly have no idea how grateful I am for you showing up when you did, that woman was insane, " Maximus said. "Alright, you can tell me about it later. Let's go look at the zoo now!" Irene said, clearly excited., and the two of them walked into the zoo and Irene began looking at the different animals like a child in a sweets shop.