(Chatlog from 12/30/06 commences.)<br/><br/>HomerinNYC (3:02:09 PM): The magnificient Palace of the Scarlet Empress stands before you, carved into a mountain, the massive building still leaving essence aurorae in the midday sky, giving a slightly oil-slick rainbow color to the air above the Manse.<br/>HomerinNYC (3:02:37 PM): The growing city around the Manse is continuing unabated, and you can see new buildings being built as you travel by them.<br/>HomerinNYC (3:03:08 PM): Each of you is in an individual carriage, coming from different directions, unaware of the fact that soon you're going to have an irritating couple of neurotic new friends<br/>HomerinNYC (3:06:33 PM): The carriages slowly come to a stop in front of the Manse, and each of you notices that there are two other carriages there, two other people standing in front of the colossal stone door that marks the entrance to the Palace.<br/>circlmastr (3:08:54 PM): Ofuji disembarks from his carriage with a touch of disappointment briefly marring his serene confidence. He had greatly looked forward to a private audience with the Empress.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:10:13 PM): Checking the intricate, silver-wire peace bonds on her jade blade, Allisara stepped down from the carriage with her heart hammering in excitement. She might have been giddyer if she were to meet her now deceased father, but not<br/>Dullone598 (3:10:47 PM): Amaya climbs out of her carriage, obviously more than a bit nervous. A pair of curved slashing swords are now strapped to her back (which she still doesn't find very comfortable), but she still carries the large satchel.<br/>HomerinNYC (3:11:17 PM): There's still a few minutes till your scheduled appointment, and the door isn't likely to open before then.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:11:35 PM): really. If her father was everything she aspired to be, the empress's cause was everything she aspired to serve. Her elegant blue armor was ardorned with drifting gauze ties. Her helm under her arm, and her paltinum blonde hair<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:11:58 PM): falling down her back in a ponytail as she atempted a formal march towards the manse.<br/>circlmastr (3:13:04 PM): Ofuji briefly appraises the two young ladies at the gate with him, then bows his head politely in greeting.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:13:36 PM): Stopping a good ways back from the door, Alisara glanced at those others who were summoned. Her snow white skin was taut from nerves, and she swallowed her heart back into her chest, tried to reach for the cocky swager that had<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:14:58 PM): sometimes come to her with her father's exaltation. He'd probably come before the empress with a flirtatious smile and a cocky wink, but she was definatly not her father, however much of his power she'd gained. Ice Diamond eyes in<br/>Dullone598 (3:16:50 PM): Amaya also bows slightly, though her eyes widen at the sight of the other two.<br/>circlmastr (3:19:25 PM): (I'm waiting to see if Muse finishes his sentence.)<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:19:42 PM): (Something didn't send, and I didn't do her eeys right. Back up to the beginign of the mysterious sentence.)<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:20:09 PM): Amythest eyes in an elfin face met each of the others who'd come to the gate, showing the fear that her stance did not.<br/>circlmastr (3:22:39 PM): When neither girl introduced herself, Ofuji took it upon himself to speak up first. "Toshiro Ofuji, at your service, my ladies."<br/>Dullone598 (3:24:27 PM): "Yan Sing Amaya. It's a pleasure to meet you." She hopes so, anyway, forcing a nervous smile.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:25:32 PM): The amythest eyed, snow skinned girl replied with a bow, Ky'lilandren Hikaru Alisara, how do you do?"<br/>circlmastr (3:25:36 PM): Ofuji returned the smile, with genuine relief to see the ladies as nervous as they were. It would definitely help his impression to the Empress, though he still wondered why he was to meet her with these two.<br/>circlmastr (3:26:20 PM): "The pleasure is all mine, of course."<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:26:59 PM): Alissara bit her lower lip as a nervous giggle escaped. "Ahm, do any of you care to guess why we've been so honored?"<br/>circlmastr (3:28:57 PM): "I am afraid I could not say, for certain." He did not mean to let on the connections he and his parents had formed throughout the Blessed Isle, and risk appearing too prideful.<br/>Dullone598 (3:29:54 PM): "I have no idea." She glances around. It couldn't be that, could it?<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:31:28 PM): Alissara nodded, looking from face to face, then asked, "Was there anything... odd about either of your Exaltations?<br/>circlmastr (3:32:10 PM): "How do you mean, my dear?" He was hedging, trying not to be the first to give anything away.<br/>Dullone598 (3:33:10 PM): "Um...not that I know of? I was doing my homework." She shrugs, half-heartedly. "My family wasn't exactly impressed, but it wasn't abnormal as far as I know."<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:34:19 PM): She sighed softly, then shook her head.<i>I guess I'm just a freak, then.</i>"Never mind, just an odd fancy that I've already saught the council of my instructors at the Heptigram with regaruds too."<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:34:43 PM):<i>And been met with a bit of a subtle run-around from them as well.</i><br/>Dullone598 (3:34:44 PM): (AIM doesn't use HTML. Use the italics button.)<br/>HomerinNYC (3:35:05 PM): ( Or just press ctrl+I.)<br/>circlmastr (3:35:21 PM): (Or tilt your monitor at an angle when you type. ;-) )<br/>HomerinNYC (3:35:32 PM): ( Or slant your fingers. :-P)<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:35:59 PM): (lol But it'll come up in italix when we post the result on Elliquiy, won't it? And 'til then, we all know waht it means?)<br/>HomerinNYC (3:36:19 PM): ( True enough.)<br/>circlmastr (3:36:24 PM): (Elliquiy uses []'s not <>'s)<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:36:30 PM): (ah)<br/>Dullone598 (3:36:50 PM): (Bwahaha.)<br/>circlmastr (3:37:47 PM): (Anyway)<br/>HomerinNYC (3:38:09 PM): Slowly, ponderously, the large stone doors open, leaving a large enough opening for all three of you to enter the intimidatingly huge building.<br/>circlmastr (3:39:50 PM): "Shall we?" Ofuji enters the gates with the pair, subtlely maneuvering to walk between them.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:39:57 PM): Nerves returning, Alissara thanked the Dragons she'd been able to force down some food this morning, or surely she'd faint while being presented to the empress. "Shall we?" she whispered, then started into<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:40:44 PM): the shade of the manse. Hearing the same words from Ofuji, she giggled nervously and touched his wrist. "Thank you." She strode forewards more excited than afraid.<br/>Dullone598 (3:40:50 PM): "...I guess we shall." Amaya proceeds slowly, suddenly wondering if she's going to live out the next hour.<br/>circlmastr (3:42:50 PM): Ofuji gave each girl a smile, and walked with practiced dignity and casual station.<br/>HomerinNYC (3:43:36 PM): The entrance hall is colossal, stretching up even greater than the main hall of Amaya's home, the distant echoes of your steps giving you a sense of the sheer scale. Halls stretch off to either side, beyond sight, leading through<br/>HomerinNYC (3:44:52 PM): the giant Manse. A small, pure white automaton walks up to you, and in a mechanical, buzzing voice, says " The Empress waits for you in the Antechamber, please follow me." It begins scuttling through the hall<br/>HomerinNYC (3:45:10 PM): towards one of the smaller hallways, moving quickly, requiring a quick pace from you, as well.<br/>circlmastr (3:46:11 PM): Ofuji matches pace with the automaton, maintaining an even stride and gentle smile, still beaming the perfect look of confidence.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:46:19 PM): Alissara smiled at the Automaton, half like a girl cooing over someone elses puppy, half wishing she could take it apart.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:46:44 PM): Grinning for a moment before finding a serene face, she matches her pace to Ofuji's.<br/>Dullone598 (3:47:25 PM): She's dealt with few such constructs before, but compared to the rest of Amaya's life lately, the automaton is hardly that strange. She quickens her pace, managing to at least look a little less terrified than she is.<br/>HomerinNYC (3:48:50 PM): It takes a rather unprecedented amount of time to walk through the halls, at least fifteen minutes of following the automaton through twisting, curving hallways.<br/>circlmastr (3:49:45 PM): Ofuji keeps walking without losing a step, immensely glad for his Collar of Dawn's Cleansing Light that he will still be impeccably presentable after this exertion.<br/>Tenshi Muse (3:50:35 PM): Alisara gave up her smile so it would not become a rictus, but clung to her confidence as she marched, studying the wonders of the manse out of the corners of her eyes.<br/>Dullone598 (3:52:13 PM): She keeps an eye on their surroundings as they go, though she can't hope to understand the Manse. Fortunately, a fifteen-minute march isn't very strenuous, even for Amaya.