A gentle August breeze (MT, IC)

[Rivienland]

Sign Up at the OOC if you wish to attend
Some tunes to set the scene...

---

As the sun seem to rise from the Great Forestian Sea, the pristine, white facade of Het Oranjerie Paleis seemed to glow. The facade, constructed of white marble sourced in Horrndorp, was detailed with intricate carvings of Renaissance patterns. The scents from the nearby orchard seem to engulf the estate.

It was her favorite part of the day. Upon the second floor balcony, Duchess Charlotte Zuylen stood watching the sun rise, with her coffee in hand. Donning her white dress with yellow tulips, she took a moment of solace before the afternoon chaos. All of last month, the Duchess had been planning today: booking the Oldenzijl aan Zee Symfonieorkest, arranging catering and hiring private security. She was glad to know that the party would soon be done. Granddaughter of the Grand Duke, she knew she be forced to marry someone in high society. And, at the end of the day, she did get lucky marrying Neel, or Duke Cornelis Zuylen. He was nice, but everything that came with it, like the parties and family drama, was never was fun.

Hearing a noise behind her, Charlotte quickly turned. It was Jessica Bakker, her personal assistant, with tablet in hand. "I am sorry to bother you, Your Grace. We still have some final details to discuss before the guests arrive."

"Of course, Jessica. Lets take a walk." Moving through the house, Jessica began, "Now, the orchestra is setting up in the Main Garden as we speak. I have given them the playlist we requested, and the payment has already been processed. With the caters, they are placing the food now -- finger sandwiches, tarts and various other snacks. The champagne and wine came in last night from the capital."

"Very good, Jessica," Charlotte responded. "Tell me, do we have the updated guest list yet?"

Jessica, quickly tapping her tablet, handed it to her. "Yes. We unfortunately had several guests cancel, specifically the two deputies from West Vorstdam. Though, we have had confirmation from several foreign delegations and acquaintances, and it should balance everything out."

"Several heads of state, CEOs, notable personalities," Charlotte mumbled, "and do we have enough security?"

"Yes," Jessica responded confidently. "Several teams from the Zathon Corporation have already arrived, and have secured the estate."

Entering the Great Room, butlers and maids scurried about. With 30 foot ceilings and hanging chandeliers, the room saw many parties over the decades. As the two ladies graced passed the Grand Fireplace, the Duke appeared. Coming close and giving Charlotte a peck on the cheek, he commented, "Did the two deputies from West Vorstdam actually cancel on us? As if we needed more politicians to disappoint us."

"Yes, it is true, but do not be so dramatic, Charlotte humored. "Besides, the Stadtholder of Horrndorp is still coming." The Stadtholder, Jan Abspoel, had been in power for nearly a decade, and, with the Zuylens regularly visiting the area, they had become well acquainted.

"Good enough, I suppose. Where shall we greet guests," the Duke asked.

"The Main Garden, Your Grace," Jessica responded. "If there is nothing else, guests should be arriving soon and I still need to oversee the kitchen."

"Of course, Jessica. I will call you if there is anything else. Neel, lets go outside," the Duchess suggested. With a brief nod, Jessica stepped away. With the host and hostess entering the garden, they admired their work. The area was a mirage of color, from the flowers to the food. Trays of cookies and scones sat next to bouquet of roses and tulips. With clear skies and a cool breeze off the sea, it was becoming the perfect day.

Deciding to stand next to the original 18th century fountain, the Duke and Duchess prepared to greet guests.

[Kuronami]

At long last, a vacation! For the Daidouji Sisters of Kuronami, of the Amaterasu Domain, what a great opportunity to spend some time together. Well almost, their eldest sister, Lady of the Domain declined to come along to this bash overseas, opting instead to quietly spend time with their mother. While of course it was always nice to see their mother, even she agreed no reason for them to not go. It'd been a rather lengthy but pleasant trip over the seas, but they arrived soon enough. A difference of arriving from winter in Kuronami to summer up here in Rivienland. Both didn't paticularly look like royalty, (well royalty and a company president) dressed in a couple pretty Japanese clothes, styled kimonos pretty and adorable, to an outsider might look a bit exotic but still very common back home. Himiko, wore her hair loose, while Tomoyo wore her hair styled tied up in braids in the back, letting a couple of tails flow forward in the wind. Beautiful darken silken hair between the two identical in every way imaginable, a still a bit of a childlike streak to the two when they loved to confuse people about which twin was which. Both carried parasols to keep the sun off their delicate skin, even though neither would be adverse to the beach on another day only with plenty of sunscreen. But this was a formal event, don't want to go in smelling like zinc oxide so this was a good solution.

To be honest, neither were entirely sure if they were invited or if it was one or the other, or their older sister, given their sister was the actual Lady of the Domain and thus the high up. I mean it's not that unlikely to be invited as attaches but oh well, it seemed unlikely they'd be turned away from this event. A successful business woman, a Princess, I mean what's not to love about these two?

"This place is beautiful!" Himiko tugged on her sister's shoulder, "What a great idea to spend our trip here."

"Well figure it'd be a nice change. Plus it's still summer up here so good to get away from the snow and cold."

"True. Only a shame sis wouldn't come along."

"You know her, she's not much for big parties and gatherings or traveling. She attends Imperial functions out of obligation more than anything else."

"You're right about that."

"Oh and what about your personal maiden? A little surprised you didn't bring her along to help you get ready."

"Why, when I have you! No I figured this would be good as any time to let her take some holiday time. Given it's going to be winter break for schools soon, I gave her an advance in pay."

"That's a good idea. Though, do you do that with all your staff? You sure do give a lot of special attention to her."

"Most of my staff are already adults and none are homeless orphaned middle schoolers and the rest answer to sis. Yuna-san remains my designated employee."

"Fair enough."

The scent of freshly baked scones and cookies and other goods caught their noses "Oooh my we gotta get inside quickly, I'm suddenly starving!" Tomoyo urged as she was practically drooling at the scent of all the tasty baked goods.

"All right, all right we're at the doors now."

"This might even rival some of Lady Wistaria's garden parties. Maybe she otta considering throwing a bigger one this spring."

"Hope so."

[The Selkie]

Nora Cathlong of the Tribe of Cork.
Main Garden of the Het Oranjerie Paleis near Horrndorp, Rivienland.
I smiled as we entered the Main Garden.
The Orchestra was setting up, the weather was beautiful and the evening was neither too hot nor too cold. Rivienland was a beautiful land and after we heard so much about it, it was splendid to be here, finally.
SDY was expanding. And we needed places to expand to. This was not the evening to go into too much detail, but merely to explore, to sound out and to make connections, both to Rivienland and to other places, from which people might be here.
The fun part was, that both Gabha Blacksmiths and Gabha Motorworks were also expanding and also had representatives here: My old friend Gwen Banphrionsa of the Tribe of Cavan and her niece by a few corners, Nolwenn Gluaisrothar of the Tribe of Wexford (or Nolly, for friends, which both of us were).
The blonde, green-eyes woman was of 25 Springs and looked a bit nervous, as this was the second time, at which she represented the company she would one day inherit, abroad: Gabha Motorworks Limited, a producer of engines and cars and motorcycles and paraphernalia to some extend. Her blonde hair was long and open, falling over her back combed and well-maintained, but not particularly styles, which fit the outfit all three of us wore (that, in a moment). Nolly was actually a student, of Business and Economy in Leuda, and modeled for Bicíní Industries, who, to my knowledge, had allowed her to listen on their behalf. She had been our driver, as we had moved ourselves from the harbour in Oldenzijl aan Zee to here, the Het Oranjerie Paleis.
Gwen and I, on the other hand, were not of 25 Springs anymore. Quite on the contrary, Gwen was 48 Springs, but still could give a 20 year old lass a run for her money. Her brown hair was open, but slim silver hair clips held it a bit in check - yet, a few strands still framed her face. Her green eyes shone like emeralds. She was the CEO of Gabha Blacksmiths Limited, a mother of three children (one girl and two boys), one of the heads of the Cabhair Group (a charity group in the Free Lands) and daughter of a long line of arms manufacturers, as well as a leading member of one of the most influential clans of the Free Lands.
I, Nora Cathlong of the Tribe of Cork, had my black hair long, straight and open, my brown eyes shining a slight bit - Gwen swore, that they narrowed and became darker, when I was thinking about business, but right now, I didn't. I was a mother myself, of a daughter (Gwenny was my greatest treasure, even after the stunt she pulled), widowed and CEO of Silverport Dockyards Limited, the largest shipbuilding company in the Free Lands and certainly a name known internationally.
And I could get used to motorized transportation, to be honest, especially since the ride Nolly had put us through:

Early Afternoon, Harbour of Oldenzijl aan Zee.
We had arrived a bit earlier today aboard the Cineál , a vessel built by SDY, and had made ourselves ready for the big night. Now, we stood on the pier, where our vehicle waited.
Nolly had insisted on taking the massive car along and while it had been a bit of a tight fit, it had been a fit - and now, that the massive Gabha Motorworks G 23 Starrcailann Luxury SUV stood before me in all of its wine-red glory, I couldn't help but make an appreciating round around it.
"Nice ride.", I commented, then looked to the grinning Nolly, who had watched me make my round around the two ton heavy car, more then 5 meters long and two meters wide, with clear amusement. I knew, that Gwen was just about to do the same and maybe peer through the tinted windows. "Where's the driver?"
"Oh, that'd be me.", Nolly said, her grin only widening as she raised a hand and pressed a button on her car keys, the remote unlocking the vehicle. "Get in, we're having a party tonight!"
Gwen and I looked at each other as Nolly approached her car with a swing in her hips as if she was approaching a magnificent stallion, about to mount the majestic beast, which threw off man after man only to show them, that she could tame and ride him.
Gwen shrugged. "She's the driver."
Thing was, technically, like with horses, everyone in the Free Lands, who could steer a vehicle had the permission to do so, there was no formal driving education yet (the Elder Council was debating passing a street regulation based on the Lillorainian one, though), so Selkie-Drivers had a bit of a reputation abroad... if it was known here, I was not sure, thing was, it was there.
Stopping at the driver's door, Nolly put her arms onto the roof and looked at me: "Don't worry, I have an international license. Made it last year, actually, when I wanted to make a foreign semester in Megido."
Well, that explained the confidence, I guessed.
"Well, then...", I said and shrugged, "Let's get going."
Gwen got the passenger seat while I placed my rear in the back - and blimey, this car was roomy! Like, really, really roomy! And the seats of a light, beige leather and the dashboard with the wooden inlays, they were comfortable. My rear immediately felt as if I was sitting on a cloud.
Nolly made a few adjustments to the rear view mirror, seat height and a few other small things, put both hands onto the steering wheel, nodded, then put a finger onto the starter.
"Ready?", she asked with a grin.
We both confirmed and she pressed the button.
Immediately, I felt the rumbling of the 4 litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine with 550 horsepower, rumbling through the car, through the seats and into our bones as it settled for a presence at the back of our minds. I did not drive in cars often, so I felt it, much like a rider riding bareback for the first time might notice the beat of the horse's heart at first.
Nolly grinned. "Everyone strapped in?"
What followed, as she revved up the engine to get us into motion made me understand why Gabha Motorworks had named the G 23 in honour of a vicious predator of the Great Woods, of the Scalefang, of a massive beast, who's roars were the stuff of legends.
And we began to move.
Looking out of the windows, Gwen and I had just as much fun as Nolly did with driving, watching the landscape pass by, first the city, then the coast. Rivienland, or at least this part of it, was beautiful and a part of me envied the people with villas here (then I remembered my own holiday home in the Archipelago, which I hadn't used in years). It was beautiful.
And as we approached the Het Oranjerie Paleis, I was not disappointed either: It was a fancy and nice palace, and compliments to the gardeners, who's work complimented the white palace in the Renaissance Revival architectural style perfectly - it was not my style of Architecture, but it had a certain something.
And that brings me back to the current time...

We were walking in a few meters behind a pair of sisters, who I thought I recognized from somewhere, and looked quite distinctive: We wore Geansai.
The Traditional Garnments of the Selkie were always eyecatchers, I knew that from experience, for various reasons. Some found them funny, some found them exotically alluring, some found them almost scandalously, some found them savage and for Selkie, it was normal to wear them for formal occasions, but also, in some places, in daily life.
The Geansai, especially of the woman, emphasized the figure and the curves quite a lot, consisted of three main parts: The sleeves, as their name was, were a mixture of short cloak and sleeves, as they covered the shoulders and upper arms in fabric, the shoulderblades and upper part of the spine, however, with a long piece of fur, while fur lined the collar. Then, there was the Holder, which held the 'argumentation amplifiers', a fur piece covering the breasts, nothing being stuffed or pushed up or something, while the piece itself was closed by a series of straps on the back, covered by the fur piece of the sleeves. The third and last major part of the Geansai was the skirt, held up by a utility belt with a number of small pouches holding important things (like money, passport, ID, condoms, such things), but the remarkable thing was, that the skirt was knee-long on the right side, but made the arch up to the belt and hip on the left, showing much, much leg.
There were also smaller elements, like the Bróg, the shoes of hard leather soles and straps and the strap around the ankle with a cloth, which looked like a shoe's upper, or the small fur bands around the wrists, but at the end of the day, that was it. Oh, and fur, in this case, means fur, as in the pelt of formerly living animals.
Gwen's husband actually bred Tines for that purpose (and a petting zoo, but that was another question).
The next important part of the Geansai were the colours, which told those in the know, which Tribe one belonged to or which Cult one was a member of. I, for example, wore my fur uncoloured, the red of a Guarding Fox proudly on display - and it was the genuine article, the red was quite telling. It showed, that I was associated with the Cult of Gavida, the Cult of the God of Arts and Crafts in Selkie-Paganism, I was even an Arcane Servant, meaning a trained laywoman of the Cult.
Gwen wore Cavan's Dark Green and Red.
Nolly, meanwhile, wore Wexford's Variation, meaning, that she wore Fish Leather in its natural colours, leather, which shimmered in different colours of the rainbow as it had once belonged to a Horned Sea Snake. Wexford's Geansai had no sleeves, while the Holder covered the shoulder on the right side, hiding the straps of leather holding everything together beneath a small, hidden flap. Her skirt was as our woolen ones, but made of fish leather as well. She also wore a vembrace on her right arm, but that was more of a personal choice.
Even among Selkie, she was an exotic eyecatcher.
I grinned at the two others, Gwen in the center, Nolly to her left, me to her right.
"Tonight's going to be quite an experience.", I told Nolly in Selkie, who seemed a bit nervous still, far removed from the confident driver I now knew her to be, while Gwen nodded.
"Awesome.", she replied in the same language, "That's why I am here."
"Then watch and learn, searrach.", Gwen said as we entered behind the two sisters, who seemed so familiar.

[Brettenwald]

"Shireen, this is not the time- yes, I'm aware Leyton want to renegotiate again, the bastards, I should set fire to my contract and call Kalhein, they'd scream with joy to have me back writing for them- look, I'm Goddess knows how many miles away from Marinhal and on my way to a social function, I'll just call you later. In the meantime, tell them from me exactly where they can shove their latest offer. Sideways."

I tapped "end call" on my phone, sighed, and shifted down a gear, turning left and aiming my vintage Rolls-Royce between a pair of wrought-iron gates and up a long, sweeping driveway through orchards bursting with produce, the smell of fruits and flowers wafting through the open windows and mixing into a a heady perfume with the car's essence of leather and motor oil. Rivienland was a gorgeous country, I had to admit. It reminded me of the west of the Empire: scenic farmland and charming coastal towns wherever you looked. I appreciated Forest's commitment to preserving the environment, that was one thing they had in common with the Empire. From the earth we came and to the earth we shall return, as the scrolls say. Trust the caprices of the Empire's largest publishing house to blow a hole in a pleasant reverie. I should have stuck with my old company, mostly because they weren't trying to milk me for as much money as physically possible, but also because I felt something of a responsibility towards Kalhein & Sons, having been informed during a celebratory lunch for the release of The Killing Moon that Death By Numbers singlehandedly saved them from bankruptcy.

The party promised a lovely afternoon of outdoor recreation & refreshments with a wide variety of notable people, and though I didn't have a guest list I had an idea of what to expect. An upbringing full of upper-class balls & parties had been repressive and generally unpleasant, but the ability to expertly navigate nearly any social situation had proved advantageous over the years. "Hmm. Someone's got money." Parking the Rolls next to an equally imposing Gabha SUV, I stepped down and out, checking my elegantly brushed hair in the rear view mirror. "Well, thank the Matriarch I don't look 40, or feel it for that matter," I thought, straightening up and pulling my suit jacket on. A few guests were already here, making their way through the gardens in front of the huge, marble-faced mansion. A pair of young, parasol-equipped Kuronamian ladies led our little train of people, followed by three Selkie lassies dressed in matching outfits that, depending on where you wore them in the Empire, would earn you either a standing ovation or a public indecency fine. Or both at the same time, come to think of it. We eventually stopped near an impressive fountain and began to greet our hosts, a string orchestra playing softly in the background.

[Middle Barael]

“Ah, Rivienland, another jewel in the crown of Forest. It’s so beautiful, it reminds me much of home, with the sloping green hills and the citrus orchards on all sides,” said Chloë, leader of the Green Party of Middle Barael, and thus also majority leader in their Parliament.

“If only we knew how to throw a party like this,” retorted Prime Minister Marc Nuya, in his assertive yet calm voice.

“Hey, even you’ve got to admit, I did a pretty good job organizing our last private banquet with Mowte,” laughed Solomon, King of Middle Barael, a position that he, with his kindhearted and polite personality, always felt the need to explain how it was a democratically elected position, much like a president in other countries.

“Yeah, well, entertaining authoritarian crazies like Dick isn’t exactly the same as having a banquet like this, at a beautiful palace with splendid food and fancy guests,” replied Chloë. “Still, I think we should be able to pull off a state dinner with Duke Cornelius and Duchess Charlotte when we get home. I mean our landscape is just as beautiful, and we’re in no shortage of lovely venues, it’s just really the logistics and the costs.”

Despite their flippancy and jokes, both Marc and Solomon agreed with Chloë, especially with regards to how similar the beauty of Rivienland was with the landscape they had all grown up with. Both Middle Barael and Rivienland we’re located in the region of Forest, though they existed on opposite ends of the Forestian Ocean, known by various names in various cultures. The flowing streams, the fragrant orchards, the cascading hills, the tumbling waves; this is what Forest was about: humankind being at peace with nature, and together with it building a more beautiful world. From their electric yacht they could see the distant shores of the other nations in Forest, yet that was not real net to tonight.

Tonight, they agreed, should be spend socializing and dancing and buttering up world leaders and tycoons alike with praise, to project the beauty and relevance of Middle Barael onto the world stage, to make it no longer just a small mosaic of settlers on the shores of Forest.

As their yacht neared the harbor, they prepared for the short ride in their fancy, elegant, older-looking yet still electric car. It was turquoise, with an energy-efficient electric engine, luxurious fake leather seats with heating and surround sound, and a classic design. It was part of the Luzari brand of AFEA Barael, the largest car company in the nation, which also happened to be state-owned.

Finally, they made it up to the palace. After checking their spot on the guest list, the security let them through the gate, as their chauffeur drove the three politicians up the winding road to the entrance to the Main Garden.

“Ugh, we’re late again,” whispered Marc to Chloë.
“Shut up, you are in the presence of royalty,” responded Chloë.
“But I’m technically royalty, albeit in name only, and you’re not this nice with me,” joked Solomon, before Chloë promptly hushed him.

The three saw that already several guests had arrived, including what appeared to be two identical twins wearing kimonos from Kuronami, along with a couple Selkies, and a maiden of Brettenwalder clothing and complexion, whom the Prime Minister could almost recognize, but not quite yet. They also saw a man and a woman greeting guests in front of the fountain, which both Solomon and Chloë knew to be the original 18th century fountain, from before the palace burnt down. The 3 Baraelim all assumes that these were the hostess and host, and thus approached them daintily, with the mien of the politicians, leaders, and members of high society that they were.

---

OOC Edit: How’s this for a first try at RP?

[Cartoonia]

Enroute to the Het Oranjerie Paleis in Horrndorp, Rivienland. August 8, 2020. 10:59 AM

The sun surely shined bright on this delightful August morning. The Supreme Leader and his wife thought so too on their way to the Het Oranjerie Paleis. After an overnight stay on their yacht, they drove up to the place for a nice little party hosted by Duke Cornelis Zuylen. It has been a while since the two have been out of the country since the global pandemic began, but their recent success at holding the chancellor Inaugural Ball a couple of days ago would help in bringing them back out of the country again. They have been medically tested once again before heading to Rivierenland by yacht. They have heard many of their allies would be meeting here, and besides it helps make a good impression on a nation they have only just heard of. They arrived at the Het Oranjerie Paleis right on time as usual. It was a grand palace indeed quite similar to the summer estates they had back across their empire.

“This is going to be quite interesting” says Rachel, a young lady for her age. Wearing a red dress with white frills.

“Indeed it will, I heard some of the guests come from our close friends across the sea” replied her partner, The Supreme Leader of Cartoonia, Jimmy Kudo, who is looking elegant in a dark navy blue suit and red tie. “And besides, it is in our best interest to get to know another partner across the sea. And Rivienland is quite a beautiful country indeed.

Rachel agrees and as they talked, they find themselves at the entrance of the beautiful main garden of the palace grounds. Ready to introduce themselves to other guests. Upon entry they see Duke Corneilis and walk up towards him.

"You grace!" Jimmy says as both he and Rachel bow in respect. "You must be Duke Corneilis. It's a pleasure to meet you".

[Shwe Tu Colony]

Main Garden

A man in simple, white-and-aqua robes stepped into the scene, his round, thick-rimmed glasses shining in the morning sun and his eyes blinking slowly as though he were half-asleep. Despite his sleepy appearance, he maintained a swift, rhythmic gait as his moon-white shamisen pick hovered just above the instrument strapped to him, a silvery shamisen with a gleaming ribbon stretching from the top down to the body — had it been late at night or in some dark corner, the strands would have glowed like stars, but for now, they were only just discernible in the morning light. On the other side of his instrument, the two tattered remains of another fabric strand drooped a few inches downward, as though someone had torn it in a hurry, leaving just half of a moon of fabric, owned by only one Penglairean: Tsuchan Yīng-Guzhei.
The man frowned as he listened to the instruments, picking apart and analyzing the elegance of strings, the shimmering hope like a glittering dream, the gentle piano, the sonorous echo of brass, and his thumb brushed at his shamisen pick's tip as he withdrew his hand to the side, turning to the woman beside him. "I must confess, my dear wife," he said, his old voice like a radio host's from a bygone era, "that I can not see myself embracing these 'western' instruments with my shamisen." His eyes opened as his pick flicked against his shamisen a few times, and he shook his head. "How unfortunate... I would have loved to share."

His apparent wife was silent, her middle-aged face frowning as she looked around. She too was dressed in white-and-aqua robes, her long black hair adorned by a bronze headpiece, bronze pins, and an aqua-colored flower with ribbons dripping a foot down her hair. Compared to her husband, her steps were slow, heavy, yet her arms were always pinching, releasing, and playing with her robes whenever they passed, and her eyes constantly scanned and judged the room and those who crossed her path. Still, like her husband, she too had an instrument strapped on her: a wooden guzheng of vibrant mahogany, its lacquered and polished wood shining in the sun, yet she moved unburdened by its weight, as though she were carrying a mere dream across the way.
"Yes, unfortunate..." Her voice was like a witch's, crackling, yet there was a certain power behind her, a power that did not need her to yell to be heard. "But I'm sure that we will have our opportunity at some point." She closed her eyes, and her hand plucked the air in front of her, thinking. "I'm sure of it." She was Sarasvatī Yīng-Guzhei, the matriarch of the Yīng-Guzhei nobles, and though her physical capabilities were mediocre, she carried her influence in other ways, so that the other Xian nobles were right to fear her. Indeed, rumors abounded that there was one who had so disgraced her that, from then on, nobody remembered him.

"Let us hope that you are right, my dear wife." Tsuchan said, grinning. "Ah, hadn't The King visited those two?" He looked towards Rachel Moore and Jimmy Kudo, and his wife's steady gaze examined them as her husband's gaze returned to fiddling with the shamisen pick in his hand. "Cartoonia, he said... a supreme leader and his wife."
"Fascinating. I don't suppose we know anyone else?"
"Not greatly, no," Tsuchan said. "At best, mutuals of Parfuhmerie and Psytronius, as I'd expect out of those two, trying to befriend everyone." He glanced towards Himiko, then turned back to his wife. "Seems there's others of a similar culture, at least."
"So there are." A slow nod. "Well, I'm sure we'll enjoy our time here."
Her frown persisted, though there was something far, far more unreadable about her.

[Folaisia]

After a long red-eye flight, they finally arrived at the Palace, which seemed to illuminate like sunlight itself. Robert Padean Scougal wore a highland dress with a kilt of a complex of black, brown and yellow, complimenting his apparent strict and gentlemanly visage. His wife Iseabal Mairead MacIllÌosa wore a an 18th-century-long-sleeved shirt with a cravat and a longer kilt and a sash of the same complexion and her hair was tied to a bun to further compliment her bangs; a neat look for her who seemed looser than her husband. As business figures, it was their obgliation to dress as formally as possible to display their culture in high society. The Palace was owned by nobility, of course.

Upon reaching the Palace, they gazed with visible admiration and surprise in their eyes. And with it, their anticipations stretched high.

"It's even better than in the photographs," spoke Iseabal in Folaisian Gaelic.

"Indeed," her husband replied in a calm tone, "And I hope that the festivities are as good as they say."

"I'm betting on that. And we should try to organize a party like this. It would be appealing."

"I don't like being too extravagant. I'm not a noble, you know."

"Come on, your salary provides you more money than our hosts could accumulate. I recommend you do."

Robert shrugged it off. Soon, they reached the palace, and greeted their hosts.

[Middle Barael]

OOC:
NOTE: THIS POST, ALONG WITH ALL POSTS AFTER THIS, WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER ALL OF THE INTRODUCTIONS ARE COMPLETED. WE CAN EXPLAIN THE ABSENCE OF THE RIVIENLANDER CHARACTERS BY DAYING THAT THE RIVIENLANDER CHARACTERS ARE ALL BUSY RUNNING ABOUT GETTING THE PARTY IN ORDER, AND SO ALL OF THE GUESTS HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THERE KWN IN THE MAIN GARDEN, LEFT TO TALK AND MINGLE AMONGST THEMSELVES.

And now, to the IC:

Chloë Arborn, Head of the Green Party and Majority Leader

Despite the beautiful ambiance and setting, the three Baraelim present at the party in Rivienland were somewhat underwhelmed. As the waitstaff and maids and hosts and party planners frantically ran about, those three Baraelan politicians, along with the other guests, none of which they had yet met, were left to mingle and converse with themselves. Despite the absence of the hosts, the guests managed to enjoy themselves it seemed. Chloë, in all of her extreme politeness, of course said nothing, though she, to be quite honest, was a bit concerned over the proceedings, but nonetheless enjoyed the chance to privately converse with the other guests. She was naturally attracted to the grace and confidence of those maidens from Kuronami, and she was curious of their culture.

Chloë approaches the taller of the two, who seemed to be sisters, both due to their similar looks, and the manner in which they conducted themselves around each other. Despite their graceful yet exotic mien, they clearly carried themselves lightly as they privately talked and laughed. They almost reminded Chloë of her childhood with her own younger brother and sister; not to say, of course, that they seemed juvenile or immature or young, rather their cheerful nature when it came to each other was what seemed so nostalgically jovial to Chloë.

Chloë, after a bit of hesitation, finally approached the sisters, taking initiative and finally becoming the first to speak.

“So how do you two know the Duke and Duchess?”, finally asked Chloë. She wanted to open with a hook that could elicit further urge in the Kuronamians to maintain conversation, yet without seeming to forceful or overly-assertive.
She thought that this was a good opener, and eagerly awaited the Kuronamians to make their response and ignite a conversation.