A royal visit [closed]

[Izzyshipper]

"However I do not do all myself and have the aid of both my vassals and I do also have the advice and bureaucratic aid of the various advisories so it is hardly like I do everything myself!"

The Queen laughed slightly and nodded, "Yes your Royal Prince, The Queen knows only too well the multitude of advisers we must listen to. But yes, the Royal Family traditionally stay out of politics, with the obvious exception of the Monarch, we found it caused strife in previous Kings and Queens reigns. For example my daughter Victoria is a Liberal, while I myself am conservative in my politics. If we were to go public with that information it may be seen that there is a strife in the House Maddox." Queen Sophia explained gesturing to her husband, "Even our dear husband Prince Edward must remain neutral in state affairs, although of course he gives me his opinion in private."

She knew this concept would be alien to the imerians, whose concept of a government determined by birthright alone would horrify a lot of Izzerians. There was only a handful of inherited political positions left in Izzyshipper and they came under public scrutiny constantly. The extent of the Nobility dominated government Imeriata was not something the Queen thought was right.

[Imeriata]

"Yes your Royal Prince, The Queen knows only too well the multitude of advisers we must listen to. But yes, the Royal Family traditionally stay out of politics, with the obvious exception of the Monarch, we found it caused strife in previous Kings and Queens reigns. For example my daughter Victoria is a Liberal, while I myself am conservative in my politics. If we were to go public with that information it may be seen that there is a strife in the House Maddox." the queen continued however the mention that her daughter was a liberal was indeed something that made Primus raise his eyebrow as to him as most imerians did he see a crazed red blooded person shouting that richer commoners should also have a say in the government and that individual realms should be able to go against the king if they felt it necessary. Which as far as he where concerned seemed like a bad idea as it would end with money being the driving force in the governments mind rather than what was right for both the nations and by extent their peoples. What made him raise his eyebrow even more was when he the queen said
"Even our dear husband Prince Edward must remain neutral in state affairs, although of course he gives me his opinion in private."
To this did he had to ask as the idea seemed a bit strange and alien indeed to him
"your royal highness does not rule with the approval of your husband?" then it hit him that it would indeed seem a bit rude as most nations did not lived by the ideas of the past that the Imerians and the other peoples that they together with in the federation treasured and the demands of a king dead some 1 500 years ago would not be blindly followed in other nations while the federal subject considered it as something natural so he quickly added "no offence intended your royal highness but it is a bit different to the system me myself have grown up with as daughters are not allowed to inherit the silver throne and most civilized nations do seem to be similar patriarchal minded when it comes to who should inherit the crown so I had to ask!"

As he said so did they past a giant pound of still dark water which made the elves quickly pull up two iron symbols depicting a burning rose and started quietly chanting in ancient Imerian which were considered a holy language by the chronically and while it was doubtful that the elves even know what they were saying so had they as most federal subjects memorised them to be able to praise the gods on their own language while the prince himself without really thinking about it took his own hand to a similar symbol but made of silver he had hanging around his neck as even he gave the cold water a nervous glare.

[Izzyshipper]

"your royal highness does not rule with the approval of your husband?"

The Queen froze as the Prince spoke, and glared daggers at him. The one thing Sophia hated, and indeed any monarch, were people questioning the legitimacy of her throne. Prince Primus seemed to think for a moment before adding; ""no offence intended your royal highness but it is a bit different to the system me myself have grown up with as daughters are not allowed to inherit the silver throne and most civilised nations do seem to be similar patriarchal minded when it comes to who should inherit the crown so I had to ask!"

Stifling the now growing flame or indignation, the Queen spoke, "Of course you had to, your Royal Prince. While the line of succession is governed by male-preference Prigomenture, if there are no sons to take the Crown then the eldest daughter will. We are the eldest of two daughters of our father King Henry for example. Hopefully that is . . . civilised enough for you."

Yet as after she had spoke the oddest incident occurred, they passed a pool of water and the servants and his highness pulled out what appeared to be the Holy Rose of the Chronicle church. After they had finished their chant they seemed to gaze almost fearfully at the water. The Queen hesitated before asking,

"Is your royal prince unsettled by the pond?"

[Imeriata]

Primus could not believe he had been so stupid to ask something like that when he heard the queens reply
"Of course you had to, your Royal Prince. While the line of succession is governed by male-preference Prigomenture, if there are no sons to take the Crown then the eldest daughter will. We are the eldest of two daughters of our father King Henry for example. Hopefully that is . . . civilised enough for you."

He did for a moment looked away before he swallowed and made himself face the queen "well of course your royal highness as I said so where no offence intended and I myself have some female vassals myself as birthright should in most cases come before gender and the only reason a princess can't inherit the throne is simply because his royal highness Emanuel the first said that only his sons and their sons could do so when his royal highness founded the kingdom of Imeriata!" it was when he where finished talking they passed the pond and they took up the holy roses and for a moment where the car quiet as they drove past it before the queen asked
"Is your royal prince unsettled by the pond?" he gave the pond a last superstitious look almost as if what could be lurking inside would appear if he let it go and turned to answer the queen
"Well yes your royal highness and with all right I might add as they have been sightings of a bäckahast in the area!" he explained before he realised that the queen most likely never had heard what a bäckahast even whereas the federal subjects rarely spoke about them in the fear that their very name would call their attention

"Well your royal highness see a bäckahast is a kind of evil spirits that come out from the underworld during the autumn and take the shape of a white horse that lives in ponds or rivers and it is said that they have the ability to enchant those who cast their eyes upon them to do what they say which in most cases is to get their victim to ride them, and when you are atop of one so are it impossible to get of no matter how hard you try so they ride down into the water they live in where you drown afterwards do they precede to eat your corps!" he finished his explanation of what one of the horrifying creatures.

[Izzyshipper]

Once the Queen heard what these bäckahast were, and the fear that they inspired in the prince she had to stifle a laugh. She had expected that it was some holy place, perhaps to the Godess Helia who was some sort of Queen of the Underworld, but this was just . . . ridiculous.

"I see your Royal Prince, well that is certainly . . . something to be aware of. They almost sound like the fabled Kelpies of our land, although there a merely legend than anything else. It seems that Imeriata takes this threat seriously however?"

Sophia spoke softly, trying in the best diplomatic lanuage possible to question the seriousness of the Princes fear. She knew that there was some form of "magic" in Imeriata, butshe found the idea of magic horses luring people to their watery deaths to be just too ridiculous to believe in.

[Imeriata]

"I see your Royal Prince, well that is certainly . . . something to be aware of. They almost sound like the fabled Kelpies of our land, although there a merely legend than anything else. It seems that Imeriata takes this threat seriously however?" the queen said after he had explained what the dreaded creature was
"well yes your royal highness it is something that should be taken seriously as they do have the ability to..." for a moment he stooped to think of what word would be the best to use "jump if your royal highness excuse the liberate use of the term between lakes while in water disappearing into one of them and appearing in another one, even if the royal science advisory have so far been unable to figure out exactly how much water is needed for them to jump and how far they can do so with the few of them we have managed to catch!" the prince said as he felt better and better the farther away from the pond they came "what we however do know is that they are not able to travel in salt water so they are once more with the lack of a better word stuck here!" he finished his explanation.

---

OOC: I do for the record think I need to add that I have not made up the "beckahäst" and it is actually a "real" (for the lack of a better world) creature in Scandinavian folklore and no I do not care how ridiculous they sound but those things are freaking terrifying!

[Izzyshipper]

As the Queen listened to the Prince's description she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. While she was cynical to say the least, she was aware of Imeriata's slightly magical nature, yet she was still unsure if the beckahäst was real or not. She decided to give the Imerian Royal Advisory some credit and Queen Sophia decided for our curiosity that she would get her daughter to investigate.

"If it please your Royal Prince, may we so bold as to request some of the Royal Advisories papers on the beckahäst? My daughter, Princess Victoria is an avid biologist and influential patron of the sciences in Izzyshipper, and we are sure she would be fascinated by the unique fauna."

---

OOC:I know, I have come across them before. I think it's probably the basis of the Scottish folklore of the (previously mentioned) Kelpie, most probably adapted from tales from scandinavian settlers/Vikings.

[Imeriata]

"If it please your Royal Prince, may we so bold as to request some of the Royal Advisories papers on the beckahäst? My daughter, Princess Victoria is an avid biologist and influential patron of the sciences in Izzyshipper, and we are sure she would be fascinated by the unique fauna." The queen said as Primus had managed to finish his more detailed description
"Well I am sure that it could be arranged your royal highness if your royal highness wishes, however I would need to point out that it is a spirit rather than an animal so I am not sure that fauna would be the correct term but I am not that well read in the field of para-biology to say what a spirit would be classed as, However I do believe the royal science advisory do have one captured so if you wished so do I believe that I could arrange for her royal princess to see one herself without the risk her royal princess would normally would take if she wished to see one wild!"

[Izzyshipper]

"I do believe the royal science advisory do have one captured so if you wished so do I believe that I could arrange for her royal princess to see one herself without the risk her royal princess would normally would take if she wished to see one wild!"

The Queen raised an eyebrow as she heard the Prince's claim, feeling her skepticism wane in the light of this new evidence. You can teach an old dogs new tricks The Queen thought wryly, giving herself an half smile.

"That is indeed most generous of your Royal Prince, and indeed our daughter would leap at the chance to see one of these water~spirits up close, who knows perhaps we'll have another paper published by her!"

At this Prince Edward hesitated slightly, Sophia remembered how close he was to their daughter and was therefore not surprised when he added, "So long as she is safe of course."

[Imeriata]

"That is indeed most generous of your Royal Prince, and indeed our daughter would leap at the chance to see one of these water~spirits up close, who knows perhaps we'll have another paper published by her!" the queen said as the prince gave her his suggestion but before he could reply so did she after a quick look at her husband add "So long as she is safe of course."
"Why of course she will, while I myself have not seen the beast myself so do I believe that it is kept under close observation with the highest safety measurements available and I will make sure that the thing is safely kept behind bars!" he said before he added "after all it is the least I can do for another royalty!"

Sure the creature had managed to kill almost ten guardsmen when they had managed to catch it but as it was now so where it safely looked away as far as Primus where concerned but he made a mental note to make sure to assign a small honour guard from the second army just to be on the safe side.

as he looked out though the window once more so did one of the white ruins that could still be found over the entire continent that served as a reminder of a long dead empire and its inhabitants "well that would surely explain why a bäckahast was in the area!" he thought as he could only assume that one evil spirit would be attracted to the magic those places where said to mark, or if you wanted to believe magicians at least however as most of them where unpredictable to say the least and never really where able to do anything but enchanted items so where he not really sure how much trust he should put in them.

[Izzyshipper]

"Why of course she will, while I myself have not seen the beast myself so do I believe that it is kept under close observation with the highest safety measurements available and I will make sure that the thing is safely kept behind bars! after all it is the least I can do for another royalty!"

Queen Sophia gave her husband a glance and he nodded his approval, and the Queen smiled in delight. “We are agreed then; we assure you that you have made our daughter a very happy girl – well woman.” She amended reluctantly; after all she couldn’t call her twenty four year old daughter, soon to be an Empress Consort “girl” for much longer.

As they continued their journey the Queen saw in the distance jutting through the horizon some white stone, which looked man-made and to the Queen stuck out in her mind.

“Are those ruins your Royal prince?”

[Imeriata]

The prince nodded as the queen agreed to his invitation on her daughters behaves and returned to look at the old ruins before he where dragged back to reality by the queen asking “Are those ruins your Royal prince?”

"yes they are your royal highness!" he said as he turned towards the queen "they and similar of them can be found over the entire federation as remains of the long dead warhen empire that stretched from shore to shore over this continent with the aid of magic, which I guess is the reason for a so high amount of magical beings calls this continent their home compared to the rest of the world, however both their empire and themselves are extinct in the modern days!"

he stopped for a moment to think about the exact words for he said "'so it came to be that the gods themselves steeped down from the heavens to aid their loyal subjects and sons in the war that came as humanity marched down from the mountains to claim what was rightful hers in what would be the first exalted march the world had seen and against such a divine army could not even the darkness of the warhen and their pacts with Helia help them as they were all swept away before the storm!' or that is what the holy chronicles says anyway" he finished quoting the book his religious teacher had forced him to all but memorize

"no matter if that is really how they died or not so did they surely know how to use the magic at their command to create buildings with the intention to hold as it is still debated how many millennia ago it must have been since they died out while their buildings do still stands at some places!" he finished his answer in the hope that he did not bore the queen with the lengthy explanation.

[Izzyshipper]

"My, Imeriata has such a rich folklore and history your Royal Prince." Queen Sophia replied, to what seemed like was at best a very colourful retelling of Imeriata's conquest of the land. More likely, the Queen suspected that some nasty bugger of an Imerian warlord had either gathered every free human to war or had tricked the previous race to an bloody death.

Despite the small sadness the Queen felt for the now extinct race, she knew that if they had managed to build themselves an empire chances where that they were as underhand and bloodthirsty as their usurpers. Although she had to admit an race of magic did sound fascinating, especially for someone like herself who came from a place where magic was almost unheard of or disregarded completely.

---

Sorry for small post, wasn't much I could think of to write

[Imeriata]

"My, Imeriata has such a rich folklore and history your Royal Prince." The queen said as he had explained the fate of the warhen after his ancestors had managed to put them to the sword
"Well that is of course your royal highness the chronically's version and it have been hard to separate fact from fiction in such an old and not to mention religious text what we however have been able to gather was that the part of the humans living in the northern iceplaines and modern Vedian that would be the Imerian race led by Imer the great managed to conquer the eastern parts of their empire that they hadn't lost in the first war between us and them!" He finished his tale to explain a bit better but had to make himself stop once more before he babbled on about what he himself considered an interesting and fascinating topic.

To better make himself stop did he take another piece of cheese and a sip of the wine before he asked his two guests "I hope that your royal highnesses did find the cheese" he stopped for a moment as he turned towards the prince or the queen husband which he himself still considered would be a king if that where the case before he continued "and the wine to your royal highnesses approval?"

It was then first as a quiet dripping noise against the roof of the car followed by the sky opening up and one of the common heavy rains that where so common to the autumn started and gave the already dark and wet forest a grey and dull look.

---

OOC: Not a problem at all as I myself where only griping for straws when I wrote in the ruins

[Izzyshipper]

"....Imerian race led by Imer the great managed to conquer the eastern parts of their empire that they hadn't lost in the first war between us and them!"

Prince Primus finished rather happily, with the gusto of someone who was talking about something they enjoyed immensely. of course Queen Sophia could see why, after all if someone is to inherit the throne of their country they would find the past a very interesting thing. After all it is to the previous Kings that a monarchs legacy is assessed, and the thing that weighs heavily on any Sovereign's mind is how future generations view their reign.

"I hope that your royal highnesses did find the cheese and the wine to your royal highnesses approval?" the Prince ask, just before rain began to pound heavily on the car's roof, and when Sophia gazed out the windows she saw the torrential downpour outside.

"Oh dear, we hope that is not an omen for our visit!" Queen Sophia said dully, thinking that her dress was not designed to face the cold or rain, before answering the Prince, "But yes thank you, the refreshments were lovely, if a little stronger than the Izzerian pallet."

After a small pause the Queen decided to ask Primus about his father, the King, "Tell me your Royal Prince, what is your father's interests? The Queen knows much of His Majesty the King, but little of Oskar rex Caesar, and we do not wish to bore him with dull conversation on top of his already busy schedule."

[Imeriata]

"But yes thank you, the refreshments were lovely, if a little stronger than the Izzerian pallet." The queen said to the prince delight as it meant that he at least made something right, but then did she to his shock as a question he had not expected
"Tell me your Royal Prince, what is your father's interests? The Queen knows much of His Majesty the King, but little of Oskar rex Caesar, and we do not wish to bore him with dull conversation on top of his already busy schedule." for a moment could primus only look at her surprised as he tried to figure out what the distant figure that was his father could enjoy at his spare time, that was if he had any spare time as the king as far as Primus always had thought didn't have any of that commodity except the things that were expected of him as a nobleman to do but now that he thought about it so where that rather absurd.
"H-his royal highness?" Primus stuttered "uhm... I would guess that his royal highness would enjoy the jousting arena, painting and traditional hunting in addition to literature, painting and socialising with the rest of the higher classes as most noblemen should but more than that am I uncertain!" Primus said truthfully as he never had gotten around to meet his father that much in private other than to discuss politics and offer each other some deal since he had gotten back from serving his uncle as a page in Erathia where he for all tense and purpose where raised, sure he had gotten to know his mother rather well but that was expected and his father had he not had the same contact with.

[Izzyshipper]

"H-his royal highness?" Primus stuttered "uhm... I would guess that his royal highness would enjoy the jousting arena, painting and traditional hunting in addition to literature, painting and socialising with the rest of the higher classes as most noblemen should but more than that am I uncertain!"

Queen Sophia was a little surprised at the young man's response, he seemed a little unsure of his own fathers activity! While Sophia knew that monarchs where far from perfect parents, with schedules and resposiblities that rarely allowed for much interaction with their children, yet this level of distance between father and son shocked her.

She had four children, whom she spent at least a little time with each of them each day, national crises allowing. She hoped at least she knew of her hobbies, and a little about herself personally, and not just the life of the Queen.

"I see, although like His Majesty we do so often find little time at all for hobbies, and indeed when one finds ourself free we more often than not do not know what to do with it!"

[Imeriata]

"I see, although like His Majesty we do so often find little time at all for hobbies, and indeed when one finds ourself free we more often than not do not know what to do with it!" the queen explained about her own free time and taking away Primus from what he considered a bit to personal question to be entirely proper
"Which of course your royal highness is totally understandable given your title and position as ruler of your nation!" Primus said as he nodded as they passed a glade where a surprised moose gave the car a scared look before it returned to eat as the rain fell down upon it totally determined to eat enough to be able to survive the long and harsh winter that where only a couple of weeks away at most.

Primus could however feel a bit as if the conversation where coming to a halt so he decided to change topic "might I ask your royal highness as I am a bit curious about the outside world what duties exactly that your royal highness do attend back in your royal highness own nation as its ruler?"

[Izzyshipper]

"might I ask your royal highness as I am a bit curious about the outside world what duties exactly that your royal highness do attend back in your royal highness own nation as its ruler?"

Queen Sophia was a bit surprised at the Prince's question, but began to formulate an answer almost immediately. "As an absolute Monarch, I have complete authority over my Kingdom's laws as it has been since it's formation in 910AD." The Queen paused as she began to explain the complexities of the unwritten constitution that Izzyshipper's politics followed, "However, in the early 19th century Queen Isabella the Fair introduced the system whereby the population would vote for an advisory party who would form Her Majesty's Privy Council, and would advise the sovereign of the people's opinion. So the Council will propose to me a bill, and it is my job whether to Veto it, pass it or to amend it. Usually if I wish to personally pass a law I will consult the council before having it written into law, although occasionally I will bypass this in times of urgency. To prevent blatant abuse of power, my Grandfather King Henry II gave the council the right that if they unanimously vote to overthrow the monarch, then they can hold a referendum to the people whether to keep the monarch or not."

The Queen paused for a sip of water, wondering what the Prince would think of her government, although she guessed that he would think of it as an twisted mockery of an proper monarchy.

"So my duties, your Royal Prince consist of meeting with the council every day to attend to matters of state, doing the multitude of paperwork that comes with this, and acting as the ceremonial head of state. Which includes state visits such as this, holding court, attending charitable events and of course there's the extra duties of being Matriarch of our Noble House Maddox." The Queen lay back in her seat, finished with her long explanation, and hoping not to have bored the prince to death.

[Imeriata]

Primus nodded interested as the queen explained how her governments system of government worked even if he had a hard time understanding why on earth someone would voluntary decrease their own powers especially if it only where the commoners that profited from them.

"So my duties, your Royal Prince consist of meeting with the council every day to attend to matters of state, doing the multitude of paperwork that comes with this, and acting as the ceremonial head of state. Which includes state visits such as this, holding court, attending charitable events and of course there's the extra duties of being Matriarch of our Noble House Maddox." the queen finished her explanation

"It is certainly different from our own system..." Primus started a bit careful "but a similar system was considered to be adopted as a compromise to replace our own most blessed system during the civil war however did luckily my great grandfather not give in and we were not only able to remain our political system that have been all but unchanged since we were founded but also remain a capitalistic nation!" Primus pointed out the small theorized attempts to adopt an Imerian constitution almost a century ago more to keep the conversation going than anything else the fact that those that had proposed it had been fired and later on even attempted a coup where something he did not point out as he felt he would seem as he bragged how much better his own system was than his guests.

[Izzyshipper]

"indeed your Royal Prince, however we find with this system that although it reduces some of the Monarch's power it also gives the population more content with unpopular policies as they feel that they have contributed somewhat to the decision making of our reign."

Queen Sophia replied, not adding that the reduction of powers was hardly an altruistic decision by the Kings and Queens of past. Queen Isabella for example had passed the reforms to ease the growing republican feeling of that time, with widespread riots in Izzyshipper. Her Grandfather had simply feared his son would destroy the monarchy with his actions, and gave the council new powers to prevent such an thing.

Yet to the Imerians, who believed in birthright defining a persons destiny above all others, she knew that at best the prince would nod politely, all the time thinking of their goverment weak and overly liberal.

---

Sorry I took so long, away from computer for a couple of days

[Imeriata]

"indeed your Royal Prince, however we find with this system that although it reduces some of the Monarch's power it also gives the population more content with unpopular policies as they feel that they have contributed somewhat to the decision making of our reign." The queen explained but as far as the prince where concerned so did the idea seem a bit strange and not to mention too lenient as the commoners in most cases where not even sure what they wanted
"but would that be the best Idea your royal highness? I mean commoners do tend to be uneducated and not really sure about what they want and only shout about that their lives should be better, I mean it do sound like a awfully complicated system your royal highness!" He pointed out as he himself have had some contact with the lower classes and they did in most cases whine about dragons eating their mammoths, that their son should not be conscripted as they needed him to keep their farm going or similar minor problem that was their duty to live with.

---

OOC: not a problem as we all most of us everyone but me have a life beside ns.... Man I must get one of those soon...

[Izzyshipper]

"but would that be the best Idea your royal highness? I mean commoners do tend to be uneducated and not really sure about what they want and only shout about that their lives should be better, I mean it do sound like a awfully complicated system your royal highness!"

the Queen gave a half smile before answering, "Then we deal with preventing such widespread lack of education. As part of what is now known as the "Freedom Reforms of 1836", Queen Isabella introduced compulsory free education to everyone up to thirteen. It is now increased to sixteen, with higher education free to those who achieve the correct qualifications. Complexity, your Royal prince, should not be something that prevents a government from carrying out what they believe is right."

Sophia hoped she was not sounding sanctimonious or insulting, but she was very protective of the Izzyshipper form of government, bizarre as it might be.

[Imeriata]

"Then we deal with preventing such widespread lack of education. As part of what is now known as the "Freedom Reforms of 1836", Queen Isabella introduced compulsory free education to everyone up to thirteen. It is now increased to sixteen, with higher education free to those who achieve the correct qualifications. Complexity, your Royal prince, should not be something that prevents a government from carrying out what they believe is right." the queen explained while the prince nodded "we do offer some limited education to the lower classes until they grow up where they learn to not only be proper federal subject but also soldiers of the king would his royal highness need their serves and they are in return given some education thought I have always found them being able to forget it rather quickly!" he said as he took another sip from his goblet of wine "I mean I do remember some of what I learned before I where twelve!" he finished as they for once exited the forest and drove over a rather large field that now where only a large piece of mud while it only some weeks earlier would have been cowered by large golden grains but it did reveal the village on the other side where a collection of buildings in stone and wood could be seen in the medieval architecture that most Imerian farmers favoured "but I guess that is a blessing as well!" primus said as he looked upon the distant village through the rain "as it do allow us to keep our society intact instead of the horrible chaos that have engulfed most of the world" He finished a bit more sad that he usually way he spoke.

[Izzyshipper]

Sophia hesitated before answering, noting the young man's slightly sombre tone. The Queen knew of the threats the monarchies of this world were subjected to every day, and although she did not believe that keeping the population in ignorance was the answer, she could certainly sympathise with the young Prince.

"Indeed, your Royal Prince, Time is the enemy of Kings. Like a river it erodes the rock of tradition to dust, and it seems we must go in its direction, otherwise we are swept it away by its raging current." Queen Sophia noted sadly, while gazing out of the window. What she saw was some farming village, it looked like something out of a book of fairy tales, with old thatch cottages and other artefacts of times long past. Despite its picturesque appearance Sophia doubted whether it was comfortable or easy to live in such conditions, and wondered how the modernisation of their farms would help make these farmers lives easier and perhaps longer.

"It seems Imeriata is trying its best to defy that current however, is the interior of these cottages as . . . traditional as its outward appearence, your Royal Prince?"