The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Methos on 04-09-2008, 22:56:12</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Methos</strong> on <strong>04-09-2008, 22:56:12</strong>
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				The King is dead. That statement alone best summarized the state of affairs in the realm of Delreign. King Randal III who had assumed the throne at the age of 19 and ruled the realm for the following 35 years, died rather suddenly in the night. Problematically he had left no will and expressed no clear determination over which of his four remaining sons he wished to succeed him. Quite naturally they all declared themselves the rightful heir to their throne and that their father had indicated personally to them that they were to be king upon his passing.<br><br>Some Kings died leaving the problem of no heir, King Randal had simply left too many. The result was utter chaos. Four princes claimed to be kings, and a nobility with its own agenda sought to curry favour and influence each in turn. Naturally the nobles of the land all sought to line their own pockets, expand their lands and gain positions of importance with whom they thought to be the inevitable winner in the conflict. Loyalties for some were regional, if nothing else simply because to have a hostile prince for a neighbour placed one in a precarious situation. But much of the realm was a patchwork of allegiances and a no man’s land where not one of the brothers could claim any definitive advantage.<br><br>To the south of the kingdom lay the lands of Illia. There Prince Alexander from his fortress in the city of Aless had rather ambitiously sought to consolidate his hold upon the throne. He was not the eldest of the remaining brothers, there had originally been five although the eldest had been killed in battle against Fellenia many years past. He was the third eldest brother by birth and the second eldest remaining. However, his holdings were by far the richest of any of the Princes. His lands lay to the south of the kingdom bordering the sea. The trading cities of Illia with their booming harbours kept a steady flow of gold flooding into his coffers. Rich farmland with a long growing season also aided the prosperity of the region and left it rich and populous. His wealth and a reputation for being more intelligent and capable than his older brother were his principle assets in the ongoing struggle. When asked why there had been no formal pronouncement in his favour Prince Alexander had been known to respond “Isn’t it obvious? Surely he would not have imagined it believable for anyone but I to suceed.”<br><br>The Prince was twenty three years of age. It was oft remarked on that he remained unmarried now after the foreign princess he’d been wed to at a rather young age had fallen gravely ill and died. The situation would have been thought strange if it didn’t attracted so many ambitious lords and ladies for that matter, eager to thrust their daughters upon him. A situation he seemed to tolerate with bemusement as he professed himself still young, and having no desire to rush into such a thing. That and evidently he seemed rather consumed with directing his energies to attempting to secure his own crown and scheming and maneuvering against his brothers, Robert, William and Basil.<br><br>The Prince himself was found in the bustling city of Aless holding court in his fortress. He was tall as he stood some six feet and three inches in height. The Prince was sprawled upon a marble throne. Brilliant blue eyes regarded the courtiers who surrounded him. Naturally servants and guards stood a short distance from the crowd. His guards were clad in well worked plate and his scarlet livery. The prince had a rather athletic form, for he rather fancied himself a knight and soldier of some repute. Although his experience in that particular realm was impressive for his age, it remained somewhat minimal aside from rather notable showings in a number of tournaments. His features were considered handsome, for they were strong and tanned in colour given the clime and his activity.&nbsp; His hair was black hue and cut rather short, and a strong jawline was graced by a goatee and a royale. Black leather boots rose up to the tops of his calves just below the knee where they met trousers of the same colour. A scarlet tunic graced his form with the cuffs ornamented with thread of gold, atop said tunic he wore a shirt of chainmail gilded with gold.<br><br>The hall around him was a designed as a tremendous display of wealth power. There were a smattering of chairs to the sides of it beyond the columns that that stood severla feet from the wall creating a coridor to the dias where he sat. The columns and his own elevated position seemed designed to inspire some measure of awe and impress upon others his position. The placement of the chairs also left everyone else standing if they wished to have any idea of what was going on. At the moment Prince Alexander found himself listening to the protestations of loyalty from several representatives of the Vinters Guild, and as they produced a trunk full of gold coins to offer to his war effort he smiled faintly as he wanted “And what is it then my so very devoted subjects wish to ask of me? As you will forgive me if I find it rather unlikely that it was entirely your patriotism that moved you to such a lavish gift.”&nbsp; <br><br>One of the merchants shifted slightly upon his feet and looked to the other, who cleared his throat after his fingers nervously tugged upon a graying beard. “Well milord, we were rather hoping that you might see your way clear to allowing trade to resume with Fellenia, your father had forbidden trade with them even after the war was over.” The Prince lofted a brow “You realize that those wretches killed my brother.” The grey robed merchant nodded his head slightly “Yes, we are aware of that Majesty. However, we were hoping you might overlook that fact. While none of us should wish to embrace the Fellenians as brothers or friends, they do inquire after our wine offering good prices and we’d stand to make a substantial profit. While you Sire would of course be receive your usual tariffs to aid in your efforts to compel recognition of your rightful position as King.”<br><br>Prince Alexander smiled faintly as he regarded the merchant “Very well then Master Vinter, I am impressed. A gift of gold and an appeal to my own self-interest. Your guild may trade with the Fellenians once more. But my relaxation of this restraint is limited to your guild alone and the sale of wine and port. Others must apply for similair dispensation in turn.” The merchants bowed and several servants scurried out to loft the chest of coins and carried it off to the treasury. The Prince turned to his chancellor “What other business do I have remaining today?”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>07-09-2008, 09:47:22</strong>
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				<table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>(http://70.32.39.16/elluiki/images/e/e2/Miriam.png)</td><td>There weren't many in that room who were there for idle pleasure, or idle amusements. Few nobles could afford that particular luxury, now that loyalties had been fractured and split between the four princes of Delreign. Those with territories bordering a royal estate were automatically aligned, one way or another, with a prince; this was a given, since it would be more than slightly dangerous to do otherwise. An alliance with a prince a mere dozen miles away, even a weak prince, was preferable to alliance with a powerful one who might be too far away to help should an 'accident' befall that ill-choosing noble.<br><br>For powerful families, the choice was usually an easy one, especially if their holdings were not bordering those of either four. For a noble family, prosperity and reputation were tied closely with its holdings and standing. In the current political climate, only alliance with the winning prince would assure that lands and support remained, without fear of being branded traitor. Thus, the scramble for alliances; while some nobles had an easy idea of who they wanted to support, others who had not been so involved in the political going-ons were most uninformed... and were thus making visits to each prince's holding of choice, to analyze his actions and see him in effect.<br><br>So, it wasn't a far stretch of imagination to believe that of all the nobles in that room, most had not yet chosen their allegiances, and were simply waiting and seeing what this prince could offer. Of course, his lands were the richest, a powerful incentive and argument under no uncertain terms; however, one of the younger brothers had very lucrative trade contacts despite lands that did not fare so well as his elder brother's when it came to agriculture and harvests, and then there were those who did not wish to disturb the order by making a second son king over the elder, who yet lived and breathed and still held a legitimate claim over the throne. The <em>most</em> legitimate, many would claim; the priesthood had pledged their support behind the current eldest.<br><br>Miriam had always had a good eye for people, though; she'd been to the courts of the other three princes, and had seen what they could offer, and did offer to their allies. Andrean had also been quite a politician himself, involved in the thick of politics on the King's Council and the like. She'd hosted no few dinners for him and other politicians when they had lived in the capital, with him working on the lords and she gossiping with the ladies and trying to influence them in that way. After the incident, she'd withdrawn, of course; the Countess Lorreine, then, had not a wish to have suitors beating a path to her door and trying to woo her with flowers and bad poetry. Especially after Andrean had died, and left her to the hungry jaws of gossip and intrigue.<br><br>Five years of marriage and involvement in Delreign's political sphere (albet indirectly) and then three more years as a widow had helped her grow up. She was no longer the idealistic, innocent young thing she'd been at sixteen; no more dreams about marrying a prince and living in a castle, or having some kind of fairy-tale romance with a knight in shining silver armor, riding a white steed. She'd learned to run a household and how to properly converse without stepping on Andrean's toes when they danced at social gatherings; being tongue-tied among handsome men was now a thing of the past, and her ability to discern barbs from true compliments was quite accurate. Miriam had dropped out of the political sphere three years ago, yes, but her skills in socializing had not dulled in the slightest.<br><br>At present, Miriam Rochefort, Countess Lorreine, watched Prince Alexander with guarded blue eyes as he dismissed the merchants, satisfied that she'd made the right choice. He had more wealth in his holdings than the other three, important if civil war <em>were</em> to break out. The wish was that it wouldn't happen, of course, but... one never knew, with a title dispute. The servant, her note in hand, should be reaching the chancellor soon; a request for a private audience. And while she was no powerful noble, with both lands and wealth to offer in alliance... it was her stables that bred the country's best horseflesh, and her lands the only estate with a large, easy trade route into Pheralae, which dealt largely in base metals. Not some wealthy noble, but nobody to scoff at.<br><br>Even without a husband, Miriam didn't think she was one who could be brushed off easily, as Prince Robert had done. She'd been tentatively courting William, the third eldest, for the past weeks, because of his lucrative trade contacts; however, he had not the guile nor that touch of <em>something</em> that a born leader had, and after some research and questions, she also didn't think that he possessed the sort of stable wealth that would be needed, should the country fall into a recession. That was not even mentioning his relative... well... naivete in court. Surprising trait, in a prince; deadly in a king. He was no country bumpkin, of course, but Miriam didn't believe that he had what it took to be a king, and she didn't think he could win this particular battle for the throne.<br><br>Prince Alexander, on the other hand...<br><br>When she saw the servant she had given her note to tap the chancellor on the shoulder, Miriam nodded and slipped out of the room quietly, headed for the stables. She would be easy to find, in her specially-designed riding gear; muted blues and blacks, all of it, fitted snugly to her body like men's riding attire. She even wore white breeches, stark above her knee-high boots, which was highly unusual for a woman and even moreso for a noblewoman. Only the fashionable, light riding coat she wore over that made the entire outfit decent, even fashionable; it fell to her knees in front and trailed slightly lower in back, with cuts up the front and back so she could ride comfortably. Unlike other women, she rode astride; more comfortable and more secure a seat, she thought, and when others objected to her boldness and her lack of fashion, she'd corrected that by having custom riding gear designed.<br><br>Eccentric, she might be, but someone easily dismissed she was not.</td></tr></tbody></table>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Methos</strong> on <strong>07-09-2008, 10:52:01</strong>
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				&nbsp;Prince Alexander watched his Chancellor stride forward as he announced “Your Majesty there are those here seeking your justice regarding specific matters of law. They have been told to wait until the afternoon as it is your habit for dispensing with justice later in the day. However, there are those that wish to speak to you privately that you may wish to deal with in the meantime.” The Prince regarded his Chancellor and nodded his head slightly. The Chancellor was no novice to dealing with matters political, and happened to be the Prince’s favourite uncle. The Baron of Alda had been the youngest brother of the late queen and his lands lay to the south making him naturally the vassal of his nephew. The Chancellor was just over his fiftieth year of age and his hair now grey but for streaks of dark brown running through it. He was slightly above average height, standing five feet and ten inches. He’d once been quite fit, but now a bit of paunch protruded at his waist, he ever seemed to have a genial smile gracing his lips. However, it was the searching look to his eyes that was his most readily identifiable feature. His dark eyes rarely missed anything. The Baron also had had the measure of his various nephews and in truth were he to have had his choice as to where his lot was cast, it would be as it was for none of the others struck him as being quite as capable.<br><br>The Prince rose from where he had been seated upon his throne and announced “Then I adjourn my court until later this afternoon when I shall deal with matters of law and dispense my justice to those that seek it.” His tall form towered over the room from the dias as his dismissed the courtiers. He walked towards the hallway leading from the throne room, stopping briefly to allow his uncle to catch up with him. “Well as you mentioned there were people wanting to see me, I’m assuming there is someone you think would be worth seeing?” The Chancellor responded “Naturally, otherwise I wouldn’t have mentioned it. The Countess of Lorreine is here and wished to see you.” <br><br>The Prince lofted a brow to his uncle as he noted “What’s she doing here? I thought after her husband died rather mysteriously some say conveniently that she’d dropped off the face of the world and wasn’t seen outside her lands.” His uncle nodded “That was true, until this whole business with your father dying took place. Now she’s like everyone else, trying to figure out how to keep her head above water. Our spies tell me she’s visited Robert and William’s courts but not Basil.” Alexander grinned slightly “Poor Basil, if only there had been more land left over for him - he’d be the one who worried me the most. He’s not a fool like William, nor a mendacious and irksome prick like Robert. He’s really my favourite brother. However, despite being clever and warlike he’s poor in land and gold compared to the rest of us. We really need to convince him to give over on his claims to be King and join me. He’s the only one I don’t have much heart to fight.” <br><br>He moved down the hallway as a short distance later he arrived at an antechamber that he used to conduct his private interviews. A rather large wooden chair whose immensity made it resemble a throne rested behind a desk of polished oak. Alexander slide onto the cushioned form of the chair and he leaned back against it. “Did she say what she wanted?” His uncle shook his head as he noted “Only that she wanted to speak to you in private, although I would suggest that having visited each of your brothers and now you she’s seeing where her allegiance should lay.” The Prince nodded “Same as everyone else then. Sadly not a duchess but there are only so many great lords to win over. And I’ll take as many of the middling ones as I can get.” He paused and then inquired “So what do we ‘know’ about her.” At this point it was more of an inquiry as to what sort of unusual knowledge they possessed of her. The Chancellor replied ‘Well, we know that her husband has been dead for several years now. She’s been all but in hiding until your father died. Many believe she was the cause of her husband’s death. I don’t believe that to have been the case, but she does ask a lot of questions about it though. And we do have some interesting information here..” A folder of information was set down upon the desk for the Prince to peruse. <br><br>The Prince opened the folder and idly scanned the pages and his head nodded slightly. “This all would be found credible in your mind?” The Chancellor nodded “Many believe it already, so it would be.”&nbsp; The Prince nodded “My thoughts exactly.” The Prince beckoned for a servant to fetch him a bottle of a sweet white wine that was grown in the region and several glasses as meetings should not be conducted with out refreshment. Thereafter he slid the folder to the side of his desk and leaned back into the chair. “Alright then, go tell her I’ll speak to her.”<br><br>With that the Chancellor turned to leave the room and made his way through the castle stopping at his office to inform several of his underlings to locate the Countess and take her to the Prince’s antechamber. His messengers learned that the Countess had made her way to the stables, thus it was a scarlet clad messenger who arrived in the stables and addressed the fetching if oddly dressed noblewoman. “Milady, Prince Alexander has agreed to meet with you. And I have been instructed to take you to him immediately. If you will follow me…” The messenger waited for her to follow and presuming she did began to lead her through the maze of hallways in the castle to the room where the prince himself was waiting.<br><br>The room he waited in lacked the purely regal splendor of the throne room, it remained impressive none the less. Behind the desk where he sought a shelf containing numerous leather-bound volumes of books were found. While on the opposite side of the room a fireplace was situated, and above that a portrait of his father had been hung. The floor was marble as was that of much of the castle save for the more distinctly military portions of it. Upon the expanse of the wall a large mural of a battle in progress was seen, with soldiers milling about in combat. Before the desk three sturdy but simple wooden chairs were seen, much smaller and humbler than his own a fact which was without a doubt entirely intentional.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>09-09-2008, 13:13:08</strong>
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				When the servant came to fetch her, Miriam was idly feeding her mount some cut-up apples, thinking about how she should organize her thoughts when she met with the prince. Her request for an alliance and affiliation with him was legitimate, when considering all outside factors. He had wealth in abundance of course, but she was not offering him more wealth, at least not directly. His own trade network was hardly pithy by any means, though Prince Robert's looked to have inherited the bulk his father's shrewdness for trade and merchantry, as well as some of the requisite ruthlessness and profit-seeking mind. It was significant to note, though, that Prince Alexander's land had, in the last several years under his leadership, become increasingly agriculturally productive, even moreso than in the years prior. It was well hidden, but the same could not be said of Prince Robert's lands (those that were arable, anyway; some of the provinces under his control crossed into regions with less-than-favorable land conditions.<br><br>For Miriam's purposes, she felt she might be better off courting Prince Alexander's interests, rather than his younger or older brothers. The youngest had no real stake or chance in the contention between the older three; too insignificant to matter, really, though Miriam had no doubt of his intelligence or cleverness. The oldest - well, she might have considered it, if he had solved the problem for both of them and dismissed her as useless for his purposes, as she'd had neither wealth nor significant influence in any social circles. Miriam couldn't see the stability of a rule under Prince Robert, for all his cunning and intelligence. Prince Alexander had the wealth, the lands... the means to keep his allies in comfort during and after the struggle for the throne.<br><br>The heels of her boots made quiet, but audible clicks as they walked through various hallways. Miriam tried to rehearse in her head the various reasons why she would make an invaluable noble to have within his circle - prime horseflesh (always in demand and relatively easy to find buyers for, especially with his contacts), lands containing the only major trade route leading into a country rich in minerals and raw metals, and... well, speculation. That Earl Lorreine's widowed wife had come out of the woodwork to support the second prince - well, that would draw no few murmurs. She and Andrean had been quite a force, in their day; her choice would, no doubt, influence some others on the fence with their decision.<br><br>Before she could think any more on the matter, though, the servant knocked at a pair of tall double doors, waiting for a murmur of affirmative from inside before opening one side with a deep bow for the countess. She thanked him quietly, favoring him with a smile, before striding in and murmuring her greetings to the prince.<br><br>"Your Highness. Thank you for agreeing to see me today." Her voice was quiet, but melodious; lower than the high-pitched squealing of young debutantes, with the assured, smooth tones of someone used to dealing with people. Even without being dressed in formal gowns and day dresses, Lady Rochefort was quite striking - she had sharp features and an aristocratic face, with icy blue eyes that were sharp and expressive. Her riding dress had been a good choice, today; the overlapping panels that made up the skirt didn't show the breeches she wore underneath at all, unless she was astride the saddle. And the dress itself was ornamented just enough to be beautiful, in a simplistic fashion, while still rendering Miriam elegant and poised. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Methos</strong> on <strong>10-09-2008, 08:25:27</strong>
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				Prince Alexander slouched in his chair as he waited for the Countess to be brought into his presence. Waiting was the part of his life that he truly despised. So much time ever seemed to slip through his fingers as he waited for news or the arrival of various people. However, impatient as his nature might be he was well aware that it was virtue he must force himself to embrace. His fingers tapped idly upon the arm of his chair and thereafter he beckoned to a servant standing in one corner and indicated for the glasses before him to be filled with wine. “Leave the bottle for now, leave the room when the Countess enters.”<br><br>Alexander raised the glass of wine to his lips. He tilted the glass back as he sipped it and the sweet white wine wet his lips and slide over his tongue. He smiled faintly as it was no coincidence that the vintners had appealed to him earlier, for he’d encouraged their efforts and indeed even devoted a good portion of his own land to wine production. His investments in irrigation had been paying off handsomely and the increase in productivity was allowing for greater export of the region’s agricultural products be they grain, wine, olive oil or various fruits and vegetables. In years past there would not have been so great a surplus that the vintners would have been looking for markets outside the traditional trade routes of recent years.<br><br>He lowered the glass back to the desk before him. He heard footsteps approaching so he straightened in his chair, rigid posture adopted as he sought to look suitably regal in his bearing. He saw a servant enter bowing rather formally and announcing the arrival of the Lady Rochefort, Countess of Lorreine. He nodded and with a dismissive wave of his hand bid both of the servants to depart. With that done his blue eyes examined the woman who entered, his gaze looking her up and down. The woman’s garb was indeed rather unorthodox, for starters most women would have arrived by carriage as opposed to riding. However, she’s always been known as an attractive woman and his eyes thought such reports hardly did her justice. Thus he offered her a smile as he inclined his head slightly to acknowledge her presence.<br><br>“Lady Rochefort, I’m pleased to see you.” He stated in greeting, thereafter he beckoned to one of the chairs before the desk in front of him. “Please sit.” He remarked and noted “Do try the wine, I’m rather fond of it. It’s from my own estates.” He reached over to the other glass and raised it to his own lips sipping it before setting it down to the desk towards her edge of it. “You have no reason to fear me, but in times such as this glasses poured in one’s absence make some people nervous. So please sit and drink with me and let nothing of the sort trouble your mind.”<br><br>He paused as he scooped his own glassed back into his hand and leaned back into his chair. His lips twitched slightly as he inquired “Well my dear Countess what can I do for you then?” His tone was casual enough as he observed “Now I assume you know I’m rather well informed. As I am rightfully King I take a rather close interest in what transpires in all of my Kingdom.” He grinned slightly as he noted “That means I’m quite aware that you’ve seen my brothers Robert and William. I take it your here to finish your rounds of inspecting the various claimants?” He added “But you won’t bother to see Basil, I’m not even sure Basil seriously thinks he could be King. God knows he’d be a better King than either of my other brothers but he simply lacks the resources to really be in the game.” He smiled to her as he toyed with the glass in his hand “Now the fact you’ve come this far seems to suggest to me one of three things. Firstly, you either intended to look to all those with a possibility of winning before making up your mind where your loyalty should lie. Or you rather thought you should see if you could get the three of us to compete for the joy of your loyalty.” He paused as though to scrutinize her reaction. “Although I think it most likely is the case that Robert either insulted or annoyed you while he was irritatingly full of himself, and after meeting William you realized that while he might make a fine country squire or a jolly baron matters of state are somewhat above his head.”<br><br>His wine glass was brought to his lips as another sip of the beverage was taken. “You see my lady that leaves you with me.” He toyed with the glass as he noted “Your land is not as substantial as some but it is of some substance and advantage to my cause. You breed fine horses, and have an excellent trade route.” He idly noted “So I know more or less what you offer to me. Although your appearance in the land of the political has been rather surprising as you’ve rarely left your lands since your husband’s rather unfortunate passing. So my dear Countess what is it you wish to speak to me about? Although I assume I’m correct in thinking this not entirely a social call.” <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>01-10-2008, 08:57:44</strong>
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				As soon as she entered the room, Miriam noted the subtle richness of the furnishings. The dark hardwood paneling of the walls lent the room a comfortable privacy, as did the wide door and muted colors of the masculine furnishings. The desk (and the man sitting behind it) were symbols of power; the leather-bound books behind him, symbols of knowledge and wealth. Everywhere that her eyes flitted were signs of wealth, a regal sort that contrasted the flagrant opulence of his oldest brother. The rich, highly-polished marble floor bespoke of good servants and good leadership; the mural on the wall was a magnificent piece of artwork, and the countess paused to take in the entire scene before she walked the last few feet to the desk and seated herself.<br><br>Miriam chuckled when he waved her towards the glass of wine that had been poured for her. "My thanks, Your Highness, for your reassurance. In these times, one can never be sure, though I wouldn't have worried." She glanced over at the label on the open bottle - <em>Sohbai</em> white grapes, harvested the year she'd married Andrean. He'd been the connoisseur of wine, not she; though he'd an eye for rich red wines and not the sweet white that she preferred, even Miriam remembered how ecstatic he'd been about that year's grape harvests. In the Lorreine wine cellars, there were quite a few bottles from that year resting in the shelves from Delreign's southern provinces. <br><br>Swirling the glass on the table, she took a sip and saved the sweet taste as the cool liquid slid down her throat. "You've good taste in liquors, Prince Alexander, though I shouldn't be surprised." The appearance of nonchalance as he revealed some of what he knew of her was very real - she had no doubt that the prince had his ways of digging up information about his subjects, especially in times such as this. She raised her glass to him, lips quirking in a small smile when he mentioned his brothers. "Indeed, what you say is nothing less than the truth. Prince Robert, for all his cleverness and contacts, quite neatly dismissed me as useless but a few weeks back. My own beliefs as to the worth of my title and support are contrary to his, but you've no doubt looked into my background before asking me in here."<br><br>She took another sip of wine, rolling the liquid with her tongue and savoring the sweetness before putting her glass back on the table. She pursed her lips; tasting wine, she licked off the drop absently, quickly putting her thoughts together. "Indeed, this is not a social call. In times as these, civil war is likely to happen, of none of the three eldest princes quickly gain the majority of support from the kingdom. Robert has the support of the priesthood, William the support of the merchant princes, and many of the dukes and marquesses have already gathered under your banner. However, no one prince has the sort of overwhelming favor that would allow him an uncontested coronation. But-" Miriam stood now, and extended her left hand, opening it to reveal Andrean's signet ring, around the chain she always wore around her neck. Beneath the warm gold glinted the silver of her wedding ring, still unmoved from her ring finger. "Even the lesser nobles have a stake in the fate of this country. I would swear to the gods, and on this ring, to aid you if you've the need. That is..." Miriam sat again, caressing the warm gold in her fingers. The polished surface shone under the sunlight coming in from the window. This was the right decision - right?<br><br>"I would wish for a promise of Lorreine's continued security, even in my absence. If you can promise me that, I would do all in my power in your name. As you know, I left political circles upon Lord Rochefort's death. However, my influence and opinion still carries much weight, even after my absence. If you pledge my estate's security, I will use all my influence to turn my peers in your direction - including a few that have already leaned towards the other two princes." She was serene as she took another sip of the <em>Sohbai</em>. "For instance, the esteemed Duke Mehrle befriended me when I was a new bride and untutored in politics. He does not ally himself with you or your brothers, because his trade contacts are also those who are under the thumb of Prince William. And Marquess Pherae, as well, would change his loyalty if I asked it."<br><br>"Is there aught that you would find disagreeable in this bargain? I only ask for the continued security of my livelihood - you would gain much support in this bargain, were you to agree."
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Methos</strong> on <strong>06-10-2008, 08:19:31</strong>
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				The Prince did take some care in assuring that his surroundings were appropriately regal. For whatever the merits of one’s claims upon authority, the symbolism of it generally was secondary in importance to one’s ability to exert the power required to maintain it. If you appeared to be a ruler, people were far more ready to accept you as one. Hence his palace and each room was designed to appear a rather lavish display of wealth tempered by taste. The crass displays that some favoured irritated Alexander, so there was a subdued temperament to the extravagance of his home and in particular to those rooms he made frequent use of.<br><br>Alexander offered a faint shrug of his shoulders as he commented on having tasted the wine&nbsp; “Ah well, I would hope that no one would think as much of me. But at the same time, we live in uncertain times so many find their minds full of fear and suspicion and I’m sure that shall prevail until this whole sordid mess is sorted out one way or another eh?” he raised his own wine glass and took a sip of wine and noted “But you’re correct in thinking that you have no reason for such concerns. It would be unseemly at best to engage in such things, I only hope that things don’t become so dire for them that my kin begin to sink to such a level. It should be beneath us, what there is to settle should be done nobly on the field of battle.” He grinned slightly “Naturally once I’ve tilted the balance of power as far in my favour as is possible.”<br><br>He did have his ways of staying well informed. Naturally he was in the market for information even when times were good. And now that conflict was in the air, he’d established a rather extensive network of spies. He smiled to Miriam as he remarked “Ah well, that’s unsurprising about Robert. He tends to believe he deserves everything and because of that everything will work out in his favour. He’s never had to work for anything in his life.” He shook his head slightly “If you aren’t horribly impressed with his greatness he hasn’t much use for you. I’d be in a worse strategic situation if he wasn’t a fool.”<br><br>Alexander offered her a slightly bemused grin “Oh you’re telling me my victory isn’t preordained to the extent I can’t simply crown myself and watch all opposition crumble before me? A pity, I was rather hoping that was the scenario I could expect.” His tone was rather droll as the mock surprise of the comments was clearly a jest. He nodded to her as he remarked “Truly, everyone has a stake in the fate of the country from the meanest commoner to the richest of nobles. And I don’t think myself above the aid of either. I’ll have need of both in all likelihood before this conflict is over.”<br><br>The Prince waited for her to explain what exactly it was she wished from him. After all most who offered him their aid sought some concession or at the very least simply sought to curry favour with him in the expectation that their might be greater reward once he was firmly ensconced upon the throne. He nodded slightly to her as he remarked “I would defend your in any case. You have my promise that I will defend your lands. As your liege I should be obliged to do so in any case. But you have my personal assurance.” He offered her a bemused smile as he noted “Besides I wouldn’t want any of my brothers to get their hands on your horses or gain enough iron to begin forging substantial amounts of weapons in any case.”<br>He lofted a brow to her as he remarked “The Duke’s allegiance and that of the Marquess would both be useful to me. If for no other reason than it would strength me and weaken those that are arrayed against me. And once more of the greater and middling lords side with me, it will be futile for my brothers to stand against me. Although my hoping that they recognize such futility is unlikely toe avert blood shed which is why I continue to raise more and more troops.” He grimaced slightly as his fingers drummed upon the desk before him. “Which means there are going to be far too many rascals who need land settled upon them at the end of all of this to keep them quiet and out of trouble.”<br><br>He smiled faintly as he noted “In any case your support comes relatively cheaply.” He grinned slightly and shook his head “You must be rather certain I’m going to win with or without you that being the case.” He chuckled “Most people don’t seem to be relying on my generosity when making requests. In any case you can pay me fealty and homage, tomorrow.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>06-10-2008, 09:04:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Ah - the comment made her smile twitch involuntarily, and she chuckled, clearly amused at his nonchalance and laid-back manner. "No matter how you look at it, Your Highness, the only reason you would die is if the Gods of Fate truly wish for you to die before your time. You've support in greater numbers, as well as a stable wealth that does not rely solely on trade; Delreign's finest military commanders have pledged you their support. Through reputation and skill, you have gained the support of many of Delreign's finest knights and soldiers. Really, Your Highness... if you lost, it would have to be some mighty stroke of ill luck that cut away all that you have at your fingertips."<br><br>Her brow lifted slightly as she drank her wine, idly sipping the last bit in the glass before setting it down on the table again. "And Your Highness... really. Do you think my assistance comes so cheaply?" And now Miriam relaxed enough to laugh lightly, the throaty richness of her voice warm and fitting in very regal, understated elegance of the room. His confidence was not the least bit damning - a strong leader needed confidence. Even a certain amount of arrogance was understandable. Trust in oneself, trust in one's subordinates... both qualities of someone born to be a king. Her eye had never been as good as Andrean's, but Miriam did not believe that her instincts lied to her now. Yes, this man would not lose on the basis of his own skills.<br><br>"Horses and trade are finite items, Your Highness - that is my trade, for gaining security for my people, should I be lost to them. I did not say that my other skills would be yours by my own generosity." She smiled and leaned forward to grip the bottle of wine gently, filling first his glass, then hers with a quiet softness in her movements. Miriam had not always been so graceful - learning to maneuver and negotiate in a political sphere had taught her many things, that among them.<br><br>"The support of the Duke of Mehrle and the Marquess of Pherae are necessary for you, if you wish to sway the priesthood. Both have powerful influences within the clergy, currently backing His Highness, Prince Basil. You are lucky that Lord Vithaer was a regional lord of Prince William's, and not the eldest, and that the Honorable Duke of Mehrle stands to lose much if he allies with Prince Basil. If both had backed him..." She let the sentence hang - the implication was clear.<br><br>"For my own selfishness as well as your necessity, I will encourage both lords to back you. Their combined support will put the clergy in a very unenviable position, of opposing the two oldest families of Delreign. Once their support wavers, you will have more of an advantage. And then, of course, I will extend my long-sleeping political talents to bring more open support behind you, Your Highness." Miriam smiled to herself as she watched the wine in her wine glass swirl, the opaque liquid's sweet scent only adding to her enjoyment of its taste.<br><br>"For a price. I would ask a prize - a boon, if you will - for each noble's open support and vowed loyalty to your name." She paused and smoothed the fabric of her dress, licking her lips clean of the sweet wine. "I have not extended my skills within Delreign's considerable political climate for a long time now, but don't misunderstand. Leaving that world was a choice I made of my own volition. My name is not insignificant among even the social elite."<br><br>Miriam shrugged and sat back calmly, returning the glass to the table after another sip. "The reward, you may choose. But, perhaps proportionate to the rank and influence of each title. After all, I'm sure a single duke is worth more to you than one earl." Her eyes flickered up to meet his gaze, her pale eyes steady despite her verbal opponent's considerable power and influence. "Is my assistance worth the price to you, Prince Alexander?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Methos</strong> on <strong>10-10-2008, 08:50:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Alexander heard the Countess stating that his own demise was rather unlikely. He offered her a bemused smile as he stated “Yes, just as you said my elder brother has the clergy behind him, and my younger brother has the princes of trade backing him, my base of support as it were has been the knights. The lesser and middling lords have rallied to me, so as it stands I can field a far better army than any others. Nor would it be an army of foreign mercenaries which I imagine to be William’s plan. Had I a greater store of arms and more infantry that was battle hardened as opposed to raw and untested, I confess to you my dear Countess you would not find me here now but I would assert my right by force. But while I had made some preparations, I was not expecting my father’s death so soon. And even with many of my father’s soldiers joining me I was not prepared to occupy the whole country.” His brow furrowed for a moment as he observed “A troubling thing isn’t it, to look back into the past and to see how you should have prepared differently knowing what you now know.”<br><br>He offered Miriam a rather genial smile as he remarked “Oh but I do think that you have asked me for very little. If a King is not seeing to the safety of his people, why do they have a King at all?” His head turned slightly as he let his eyes drift over a mural on the wall. “Trade prospers and agriculture flourishes so long as there is peace. The crown needs to see to that, which is why we collect our taxes. Some say money is the lifeblood of trade, but like as not there is a good argument that stability is the lifeblood of trade. For whether there is money or not there shall be exchange so long as people are at peace and left to their own devices.”<br><br>Alexander raised what remained of his wine to his lips and finished the glass before setting it down upon the desk before him. He leaned forwards slightly as he listened to her, his blue eyes fixed upon her as she spoke. “Well Lady Rochefort, if you believe you can undermine my brothers and cause their supporters to shift their allegiance to myself then by all means I support the attempt. If you are half so persuasive as you promise me then I stand to profit rather handsomely. “<br><br>He seemed to consider her conclusion that the clergy could be made to waiver as a hand raised to rub against his chin. “It is possible that two of their benefactors changing sides could cause some hesitancy among the clergy. To what extent I do not know. But if nothing else it might soften their support and leave them open to some sort of negotiations for their support.” He offered a wry smile as he observed “Perhaps at that point they can announce that God has changed his mind as to who should be king.”<br><br>Alexander looked at Miriam as a bemused smile graced his lips. “You fancy yourself a Kingmaker now do you my lady?” He slouched in his chair as he regarded her,&nbsp; a laugh parted his lips as he remarked “Ah and you wish a commission for each noble you can persuade?” He shook his head slightly as though thinking the suggestion rather unbelievable. “Perhaps I shall have to provision you with wine from my vineyards as well.” He offered her a smile as he noted “As the sale of that usually garners a percentage.”<br><br>The Prince seemed to consider the matter for a moment as he offered a smile to her “But I shall accede to your rather unusual request. For ever noble you bring to me. I shall find some manner of rewarding you. What that reward shall be my dear lady, shall be entirely at my whim. After all, once you throw your lot in with mine it would be ill for you not to seek my victory. After all its to the victors that go the spoils, and ruin and misfortune greet those who fail to find themselves within the proper faction.” He smiled as he observed “But I am fond of you Countess, so I will reward any good works you do for me. For I see little potential for lose in agreeing to your request, and it always pleases me to be able to indulge a beautiful woman.” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>02-11-2008, 03:36:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She laughed, the throaty purr as much an expression of her amusement as it was a sensual caress to the senses. "As a warning, your fondness might lessen once you realize just how many nobles I can ally you with. I do hope that your indulgence stretches quite far." Miriam smiled as she stood again, taking a last sip of wine before she curtsied deeply. "However, that does mean that I must return to Lorreine to prepare missives and send out my letters."<br><br>Straightening from her curtsy, Miriam wondered, briefly, if she was making the right choice. Could she really be certain that he would make a good king? Of course he seemed the best of the four, considering all his assets and connections, but... for some, power corrupted the sense of responsibility. And having power over others - well, how a man handled his responsibilities for other people was a factor in the kind of ruler he made. <br><br><em>Well, there's hardly much I can do now, having pledged myself.</em> She nodded to him, regally, before sweeping out. There were plans to be followed through with, now - and with royal assurance of her future security, that would make her unexpected return to society all the sweeter. And of course, if things went well and the prince succeeded as he aught, then she would have plenty of opportunity and wealth at her disposal to go digging up old history and asking questions.<br><br><br><br>Several weeks later, the stalemate between the three older princes had not shifted too much, outwardly. With winter rolling in, most of the trade routes between the major regions in Delreign became more dangerous to travel, especially for noblemen and their ladies who preferred to stay in the warmth and safety of their own estates, luxuriating in their creature comforts as they tried not to worry (too much) about the current state of affairs in the country.<br><br>Still, for many of them, even that wasn't such a big worry that it occupied their days endlessly. For many nobles who hadn't yet aligned themselves with one of their princes, winter would be a two- or three-month long reprieve from thinking about the benefits and consequences of allying with each of the brothers. No army would be able to make any kind of time worth horse manure trying to travel through winter storms and snowed-out roads. So, when the first snows fell just after Miriam returned to her estate, the as-yet unaligned nobles all breathed a collective sigh of relief.<br><br>There would yet be time to make a decision.<br><br>Of course, just because all the roads were snowed through, didn't mean that the noble class had a lack of entertainment. There was no lack in house parties and visits to old friends. If anybody kept very careful count, they might even realize that, in fact, such visits and house parties and holiday balls were filling up titled calendars much more than in previous years. And the difference, of course, was the unexpected death of the king, his lack of a chosen heir, and the subsequent decision by the members of the aristocracy to choose their side.<br><br>For Miriam, such balls were hardly an unknown thing, but it had been years since her last social event. However, people still continued to send her invitiations despite her continued absence, something that she had been grateful for when, several weeks ago, she had to plan her calendar for the winter, in order to best speak with as many nobles of influence as could be done in one season.<br><br>Considering her long absence from the social whirl of Delreign's middling aristocracy, most people had thought she might be less sure of herself than she had been in the past. Many were surprised when she swept into Lord and Lady Brearly's ballroom with a serene smile on her face, eyes glittering with some secret mirth. Swathed in a gown of flattering navy silk, she drew all eyes and occupied more conversation than the latest gossip. Everyone wondered why Lady Rochefort had decided to return to the social scene after so long a time out of it; others wondered if, perhaps, she had some wish to remarry. It might have been a logical cause for return to the social scene for many other noblewomen (and certainly, that had proved to be the case many times in the past).<br><br>Very few suspected Miriam of having an ulterior motive greater than simple amusement, which worked well to her advantage. Having already secured the agreements of both the Marquess of Pherae and the Duke of Mehrle, who had already spoken to Prince Alexander about their sudden desire to change their alliance, the Lady of Lorreine had little real need to worry about her social standing, especially when she was seen laughing delightedly with both at the start of this very ball. Of course, those bumbling nobles who were less skilled at discerning the ploys of the socially experienced flocked to her like children on a new toy. Miriam was hardly one of their group - she quite realized that many of them had not yet sworn allegiance to any one prince due to uncertainty. Miriam, wiith a few well-placed words and a soft, sensual smile, had more than one of those young lords walking away wondering if they should look deeper into the matter of swearing their loyalties to Prince Alexander before the spring rains came.<br><br>"So why the sudden return, Miriam?" Nathaniel Vithaer, the Marquess of Pherase, took her arm and casually strolled away from the circle she had been mingling with, handing her a glass of sweet white wine with a smile. She chuckled, but shook her head. "I'm as self-serving as any noble during a time of imminent civil war, Nathan. I don't wish to be thrown out of my own home should some fool of a prince take to the throne."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Treasures of Illia (Methos and Caeli)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Methos</strong> on <strong>12-11-2008, 03:51:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Winter had arrived bringing something of a lull to the maneuvering and political posturing that had dominated the various courts of Delreign. No one in their right mind was apt to commence a military conflict in the dead of winter. However, while the ongoing struggle had reached a low ebb for the winter it certainly wasn’t forgotten. Indeed Prince Alexander rarely passed a waking hour where his ambitions to see himself crowned were forgotten. The season after all proved no real damper to his ambitions, thus a constant stream of missives were sent forth from his palace and various representatives were sent out to drum up support for his efforts. Naturally he continued to raise troops, and had weapons and armor forged to equipe them. <br><br>The Prince had continued to receive visitors, although with the winter the frequency with which he greeted nobles rallying to him. This was for practical reasons as much as anything, given that travel was more arduous and those coming at this point were generally arriving from more considerable distances.&nbsp; However, somewhat surprisingly the Prince had found both the Duke and Marquess that Miriam had promised to deliver him indeed had arrived in Aless professing a change of loyalty. If nothing else that had caused him to take the Countess’ self professed influence with others a bit more seriously. He’d rather thought her terribly optimistic about her ability to influence others. Although he had seen no harm is her making the attempt to sway opinion in his favour. <br><br>Possessing a well funded network of spies did have its uses, for it had informed him of the Countess’ ball. He was sure that the fact he hadn’t been invited had been predicated on the notion that he had better things to do and to avoid the possibility that he’d show up in force with a horde of supporters and soldiers. Alexander’s appearance in full force could very well have been seen as an attempt to intimidate those that had yet to declare their allegiance. While intimidation would likely briefly cause some nobles to profess their loyalty it was likely to be a fleeting act that would be easily repudiated. <br><br>Alexander on the other hand was confident that his mere presence could have a beneficial effect on swaying doubting nobles to his cause. While the idea of arriving with an army and seeking to impose his will on all the nobles the Countess had gone to the trouble of assembling for him possessed some appeal, he’d departed Aless with only a hundred knights as his escort. Thus amidst swirling snow he found himself on the back of his towering black stallion. A thick cloak fashioned from several black bears’ pelts was wrapped around his armored form. However, it proved insufficient to prevent a slight chattering of his teeth. His discomfort aside he cut a rather splendid form. His plated armor was sculpted to his form, and its shape mimicked and equally impressive physique in its decoration. A glossy black lacquer had been applied to it to and gold gilding rather ornately was patterned upon it, the symbols of a rising sun and a lion were both worked in gold upon his armor.<br><br>The long road to Lorreine had been traversed over the last several days. His last look at the map had suggested that the Countess’ estates were drawing near from the landmarks around him. Alexander harboured no illusions that at this point he was expected by the Countess. After all a hundred knights did not enter any noble’s territory without being recognized. Not to mention the fact that his black and gold standard with its golden sunburst with the figure of a rampant lion before it was flown over his party and was easily recognizable. He’d made absolutely no attempts to make his progress stealthy. He hadn’t been stopped at any point along his way, which was only appropriate given that the Countess had sworn herself into his service. Soon his eyes fixed upon the gates of the castle where she dwelt, and the bright lights that emanated from it in the evening’s gloom marked it even in the distance.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>As Alexander and his knights reached the gates, the guards seemed to perk up. The rather formal “Who goes there?” was called out and Alexander removed his helm and casually remarked “Prince Alexander, lord of Illia and your lady’s liege. I’ve come to pay a visit to her.” He glanced at the knights and remarked “Naturally I travel with a number of my men.” Alexander grinned “Given that I’ve been riding through her lands for a couple days I trust I’m expected, please do alert Lady Rochefort that I have arrived. Now open the gates the weather isn’t particularly hospitable.”<br><br>The gates indeed swung open to allow the Prince and his party to filter inside. The procession heading towards the stables, and undoubtedly even in the distant castle the sound might be noted. A guard had dashed off to the castle itself to alert the Countess that Prince Alexander had arrived with his bodyguard. The prince and his men began to unsaddle their horses and let warmth of the fires in the stable begin to take the chill off their flesh. Alexander turned to one of his men “Make sure you collect the gifts for Lady Rochefort before we head inside.”<br>
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		</dl>
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