"Mmmm. A sensitive lad - We'll have to work on that."<br/><br/>Still, they<em>did</em>have plenty of time. It would be a while before he was sufficiently accustomed to her presence...And longer before he was properly educated and trained. Regardless, Queen Ileosa had high hopes for him - She intended to spare no expense to ensure that she had a Champion worthy of her!<br/><br/>But now, her thoughts turned to other things entirely. More<em>immediate</em>concerns.<br/><br/>"Indeed?<em>Very</em>good...It seems like we've been more successful than we thought." Her smile touched her full, pouting lips, the Queen's eyes half-lidded...<br/><br/>"-Now. Shall we see what else they have in mind?"<br/><br/>The great doors to the banquet hall swung open. Before, it'd been rough-hewn stone and wood...Now, with the passage of time, the opulence of the place had increased. Grand marble columns supported the high-vaulted ceiling, great tapestries adorning the walls - the polished stone of the grand table polished to a gleaming finish, like cool, dry ice!<br/><br/>Just as she'd expected - Only female delegates. Lady Farthia, in particular, caught her eye...She seemed to stand out even from the others, tall, willowy - Younger than the other elves Queen Ileosa had seen so far, though their agelessness made it difficult to tell *exactly* how old they were. Something told the Queen, however, that she was someone to watch out for...<br/><br/>But then - with a rustle of fabric - Queen Ileosa's gaze was caught (and held!) by the jewel before her. The huge ruby sparkled with a light that was more than merely natural, her eyes drawn to the intricate lines of golden script etched into the surface by a master's hand...Even from here, she could feel the power of the thing.<br/><br/>"Lady Farthia, honored guests - We thank you for your presence here, on this grandest of occasions." A slight nod, signalling that the formalities were done with...Queen Ileosa didn't intend to mince words!<br/><br/>"As you know, the world faces a new era. Korsova stands at the forefront of what is to come; the laws of the Old Time-" Before she'd started the game! "...are wearing away, with future glories yet to come. Your Empire faces a crossroads, too - Growth, or stagnation."<br/><br/>The luscious Queen eased herself into the high-back seat at the end of the table, her hands settling on the armrests!<br/><br/>"From the nature of those gathered here today, I see that you have been much intrigued by Our kingdom. The rule of female over male - the promise of a God-Queen - it goes against everything the Elven Empire has ever known, does it not? And yet...There is word that our religion is taking root. The Elves, too, are hungry for change."<br/><br/>Her lips curved in a slight smile.<br/><br/>"As you know, conflict is inevitable. The Empire's old guard will never stand for the<em>new way</em>of things...Sooner rather than later, things will reach their natural limit. Merely by being here,<em>now</em>- You are the faces of the New Way."<br/><br/>If they weren't, they<em>would</em>be, by the time Ileosa's spies leaked the details to them...<br/><br/>"But this is your chance. An opportunity, like no other. Seize the moment...Declare yourselves<em>openly</em>for me. Korsova will supply you with whatever you need - your people, hungry for change, will rally to you. In the turning of a few years...The<em>entire</em>Empire will be yours."<br/><br/>Her slim fingers settled on the table, as she looked at Lady Farthia over them-<br/><br/>"What do you say, Lady Farthia? Will you stand with Korsova?"