To Choose An Empress (IC - Closed)

[Underaloz]

“Yes, I'm from Red Cove! It's all because of the mirror in the restroom.” Kilran answered so fast the words barely made sense.

He stopped abruptly, remembering he wasn't supposed to talk about that.

“Red Cove, Underaloz.” he lied unconvincingly. “Right by the... err... the lake of... the lake of Underaloz.”

[Rave Shentavo]

"From...a mirror..." Claudia had had enough for the day. "Alright...then."

She was done trying to make sense of everything that was occurring. She looked back at Dominic. "I will see you later," she bowed slightly, and headed off, far, far away from the delusional fisherman.

[Underaloz]

Kilran watched as the only person he knew in the room walked away. He then realized he was right in the middle of the room and that absolutely everyone was staring at him.

He looked down so as to avoid eye contact but all he found was Dominic's gaze.

[Sigma Octavus]

Dominic watched Claudia practically flee, and then turned his attention to the man in front of him. He put a hand on the apparent ambassadors shoulder. "Calm down. Have a drink... or, maybe don't."

[Underaloz]

The sole fact someone would talk to him and try and reassure him was enough for an exhausted Kilran to melt down. Tears started flowing in his eyes as he fell more than sat on the seat next to Dominic's.

“What... What are ambassadors supposed to drink?” he asked with a broken voice.

[Sigma Octavus]

"Whatever they want." Dominic waved over another server. "They tend not to do it while crying though."

[Underaloz]

“I'm sorry,” Kilran replied trying to compose himself. “I haven't been an ambassador for long. I'm Kilran, by the way.”

[Rave Shentavo]

[Phalanix]

"I suppose you don't think when you are immortal that you'll ever be out of that position," she shakes his hand. "I imagine that the knowledge you've acquired through visiting other nations has proven most valuable?

[Sigma/Underaloz]
A server comes over to Dominic as he waves her over. "What can I get for you sir?"

[Sigma Octavus]

"Dominic." He kept his introduction short, as the server approached. "Order whatever Kilran. Time to start playing the role of ambassador."

[Underaloz]

“I'd like a rum please,” Kilran tells the server as if he was asking for a favor.

Then he looks back at Dominic.

“Are you not an ambassador? Are you... playing a role? Not sure I understand this ambassador business. Not sure I understand what all of this,” he says waving at the crowd, “is all about.”

[Sigma Octavus]

"I'm not here as an official representative, no. More of a... Friend of the family, as it was."

He waved a hand towards the rest of the room in a broad, sweeping gesture. "Everyone here is playing a role. Being an ambassador is all about playing nice towards a specific goal. Currently, it's getting to know the gentleman in the middle of the room."

Halvar was still easily identifiable, perfectly placed for maximum visibility.

"Inviting outsiders to help decide a ruler, though, is out of the ordinary. So I'd guess that a majority of the people here have never quite been to a gathering such as this."

[Underaloz]

“Oh yes, the Compromise!”

Kilran bent a bit closer to Dominic bringing an unexpected air of confidence and an almost unbearable smell of fish and sweat to the conversation.

“I'm not here for that. I'm just waiting for the Empress to show. I need to talk to her.”

[Kykid8]

The crowd, still gathered into the later hours of the afternoon, hums as a quiet motor of activity as Devonte Haldrin's escorts clear a precarious path between the crampt quarters. Gliding smoothly across the floor, Vonty Haldrin's eyes dart between begger, commonfolk, and guards. Approaching the wall of armed men, Vonty meets a young guard who points an accusatory finger in his direction. With a swift hand swipe from underneath the silk underside of his fitted suit, Vonty coaxes the invitation out and provides it to the armored lad with a sly smile. With that single action, the dulled humming of the motor turned into a sputtering roar of activity as Vonty's escorts begin shoving the poor from their employer. Quietly proceeding through the iron-clad watchmen, Vonty reaches the doors that lead into his future full of desire and greed.

Without missing a beat, Sir Haldrin, as his payed muscle coined, turns on a swivel to the direction of the Leo Room.

"Leo Room, Leo Room, Leo Room... Damned this place if I can't find one forsaken room," Vonty whispered in contempt, "Room after room with no sign-- AH! here it is, ...the loudest of all."

With a few carefully decided steps, Vonty stands in the open doorway to Leo Room, sharply gazing across the bustling crowd to find the vortex of people inadvertently circling the man he came to talk to - Halvar.

A quick-paced, off-beat thumping sound off in the distance as Vonty's burly bodymen lose their practiced grace to catch up to their paycheck. After a short moment, the panting, enormous, big-boned men clear their throats and take a deep breath to center themselves. They begin to glance around the room, judging various threats or perhaps checking out the wealth of the room's occupance compared to Lord Haldrin. Soon, the trio- Haldrin and his muscled men- take off around the commotion of laughter and stay on the outer perimeter to prolong the inevitable contact deemed unnecessary by Vonty's calculations. Growing closer to the vortex's reach, Vonty is made sure himself to stare deeply into anyone who dares look in the direction of his posse (a method he developed to maintain superiority in unfamiliar environments). As a few awkward attempts to greet the odd-moving group reflect off Vonty's glare, they have made it close enough to Halvar deemed appropriate. Straightening his suit and brushing off the ugliness of being close to the likes of those in the room, Vonty prepares to speak.

[Sigma Octavus]

Dominic raised an eyebrow. The confidence threw him off far more than the fish smell. Either the fisherman/ambassador was crazy, or he knew something that everyone else didn't.

"Well, that might be a little difficult. Isn't she supposed to be dead?"

Had Ravelyn just gone underground for longer than usual? Dom wouldn't put it past her, but a century was a bit excessive. He decided to push just a little farther, not seeing what harm it could really bring. He'd entertained madmen before, plenty of times. Every once in a while, it paid off.

"Are you expecting her to show up?"

[Phalanix]

"You tend not to I'd assume, I'm sure after the first century or two you get rather complacent in your rule." Looking about he signals to a server to pass off his empty glass, declining a refill.
"Well I'll be honest with you, this is my first time out of the homeland. Silly they'd send someone so untested but here I am, apparently the right person for the job. Least I hope I am considering he picked me for it," his attempt at hiding the slight embarrassment of that fact was quite evident.

[Pasifiktes]

George understood the importance of legitimacy, the lack of it had lead to civil war in Pasifiktes, so he nodded in agreement. "What then, do the people want, what do they expect, in your opinion? Won't they expect someone the most like the Empress, a vampiress being the obvious choice?" the merman asked, curious what reaction his question would receive.

[Underaloz]

Sigma Octavus

“Oh she will,” Kilran said with unwavering conviction. “two days from now. The man in the mirror told me.”

He then nodded repeatedly, eyes widening, as if some vision had appeared to him right where Dominic was.

“And I need to be where she will be... because I have to talk to her.”

[Sigma Octavus]

Underaloz

Dominic nodded. "Two days, eh? I'll keep an eye out for her, and let you know if I see her."

Standing, he took a sip of his whiskey. "If you'll excuse me, I still have to meet three other candidates today. It was very interesting meeting you Kilran."

The whole conversation was just weird. Only time would tell if it was prophetic, or just crazed ramblings.

[Rave Shentavo]

Pasifiktez and Phalanix

Eloanne pauses. "They would most likely expect a female vampire to take the throne. I think that - being a matriarchal society, and considering Quissera's rule having been a tumultuous time, Halvar will cause a good bit of friction. With Charmaine, she is reminiscent of Quissera - strong...but I'm not sure how she would do. As for Deliverance...she's a bit of a wild card. I'm not quite sure what game she is playing here, but she is definitely sure of herself - like she knows something that everyone else doesn't. As for myself, I hope that my experience in war fighting alongside the men and women of this nation speaks for my dedication."

"I know that somehow I ended up being a part of the bloodline - but I know that my lineage is that of advisors. Those who took over in the absence of the Empress until her return. And I think you are doing a fine job Anders, in the role that you've been given.

Underaloz, Kykid8

While other guests may have been put off by Vonty's entourage, the servants in the room all seemed unphased - like they didn't get paid enough to have a reaction. Halvar had a few guests to either side of him, and he had gone back to telling some grandiose story - entertaining his groupies.

[Emazia]

King Marius Lyonne of the North - The Wolf of Rose Hill

The King entered in full (ceremonial armour) as his armour was decorated with jewels and military decorations. His sword was at his side (although it was quite blunt), as he entered the hall, taking a sip of wine as he entered.

He walked around the hall, looking for people to engage him as any candidate would look for him as an asset: not merely because he is an independent monarch and willing to join the Empire, but also because he is intelligent and of the Northern breed of vampire.

[Kykid8]

Leo Room - Vonty Haldrin

"Good Evening, Sir Halvar," Vonty interrupted, "My name is Devonte Haldrin, but you may call me Vonty. I know not your personal intentions with the empire nor do I particularly care. Your whit intrigues me. Care to chat... Alone?" Vonty smiled, bowing with only his head. His crooked teeth gleemed disgustingly in the light, taking most of the charisma out of the surrounding air and replacing it with a dank stench of uneasiness.
Before an answer arrived to his ears, Vonty gestured towards the door- his musclemen beginning to float towards the entrance to the room.

[Phalanix]

"Well I appreciate the vote of confidence, we are our own worst critics. So my question in all this is have any of you been truly tested within a leadership environment? I don't mean to make assumptions but your background lends to the current situation one would hope," pausing for a moment to continue formulating the line of thought, "You already have one advantage in the whole matriarchal society, you can place proof of your dedication to the people with your service and willingness to give for their safety and well being. If you can translate any leadership experience you have that as well will only help paint you as a competent choice."

[Sigma Octavus]

Dominic watched the hired goons trying their best, and chuckled from across the room. He silently wished Halvar good luck, and decided that it was time to leave the Leo room. Heading out into the hall, he took stock of who he had to talk to. He knew who he wanted to talk to last, and that left the other two. He took a small coin out of his pocket, and flipped it in the air.

"Heads."

Snatching it out of the air, he revealed where fate was leading him. It was tails. That meant the Virgo room. Turning, he strolled casually down the hall, keeping his eyes and ears open. The last two conversations he'd been involved with had been been either some creative flirting and a trip to crazy town, something much more serious, or a combination of the two.

He was looking forward to finding out which.

[Rave Shentavo]

Kykid8

"It depends on what your proposition is in regarding," Halvar's eyes drift towards Vonty's entourage at the door. "If I have a choice between the men at the door and a beautiful woman beside me," he lifts his arm around the random groupie about him - just because he could. "I think I'll stay here with the wine and women."

Phalanix
"Well, I was an officer in the military. I don't think any of us have been tested in the same fashion that will require the new leader. I hope my service record will service in swaying any possible discord in the future," she paused for a moment. "Don't you think it's odd - that all these other nations were invited to give their opinion? It's because of the ties that the Empress had formed...because those connections were so very valuable to us. That, and that we don't know how to do this ourselves without her."

Sigma Octavus

The Virgo Room is a lot quieter than the Leo room. The woman at the table is pensive and calm - gently speaking when asked a question. When Dominic enters the room she notices him - perhaps a little too quickly. She smiles. Definitely the person who knew something everyone else didn't.

[Sigma Octavus]

Dominic quickly found that he preferred the Virgo room to the Leo room. It was much quieter, and filled with less ego. He didn't have to pace the room to find the candidate, as Deliverance made eye contact as soon as he had entered the room.

As he approached, he plucked a glass of wine from a passing tray. He wasn't going into anymore conversations drinkless. He'd taken the straightforward approach with Halvar, but knew it might not be the ideal method in this situation, given what little he knew about the woman.

Reaching her, he gave a light bow. "Miss Dane? Dominic Wrathe. Might I join you?"