Post by Cassian Rainecourt on Oct 10, 2022 14:26:40 GMT -5
[ OPEN COURT IS HERE! Only nobles of Nevermere may attend, with the exception of @iliana, as queen of Nevermere. ]
The throne room was often occupied by milling nobles seeking one thing or another, but open courts were different. They were special. A little more intentional. An opportunity for any topic to be raised and addressed. For the nobles to bring their compliments and their complaints to the throne.
The king was present, of course, sitting in his throne with the black crown on his head and a somber expression. The queen was usually present, too, unless Iliana had other matters to attend in Lorendale. In fact, since his brithday, even the crowned prince was invited to sit at the king's left, a shiny little crown on his head. Their three thrones sat on the highest part of the platform.
There was a second platform to the right, lower than the thrones but higher than the standing places. The six chairs on this platform were for the King's Right hand, Kennet Caern, the Captain Commander, Hadrian Usher, and the King's Witch, @alys, and for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. @norah, Magda Ivanova, and @alinore had had their presence requested and were retrieved by a messenger using the king's portkey. They weren't always brought home for these, but today's was significant.
The nobles who were present and willing to speak had surely heard about the arrival of Dresmondi guests. No, those guests weren't invited to speak here today. Nobody needed to hear from them. Cassian and Kennet had all the information that they needed.
The topics of the day would surely revolve around the Dresmondi and their young king's ambitious expansion of their kingdom. Nevermere had seen great growth in its wealth following the acquisition of Cambria and Coheed. Their military was, however, spread some, and that didn't sit well with many who feared an attack on the kingdom. The military had been offering extra incentives to potential recruits, hoping to bolster the numbers of young people that chose to serve after their mandatory training.
The very first item on the docket, however, was a special word from a woman who had never spoken in open court. In fact, as the milling people were brought to a hush, they would no doubt wonder at who the woman was that mounted the platform in the center of the room, one often used for monologuing, though not required. It was Odina Ellis, and she had a message to give. It was Cassian's understanding from their conversation that she would begin by revealing her Ellis identity, and then proceed to support Cassian's rule. She had claimed, after all, that her vendetta was not against him, but against his father, and with Julius' absence to be put to rest. She had supposedly decided not to punish Cassian for the sins of his father. This moment, with all eyes on her, would tell whether her conversion had been sincere or just a ploy to gain an audience. This moment would determine her involvement in Nevermere in the years to come, whether she would continue on as an honored princess, or...well, the alternative was yet unknown.
GUIDELINES:
- Again, only nobles may attend. Even if you play a commoner guard assume they are outside and therefore do not need to join this thread.
- It is known and has been the case for all of Nevermere history that only men may speak out, with the exception of Kennet Caern, which was established under Cassian's rule. The exception to women not speaking is if they are directly asked to speak by the king.
- The primary posters will get to post at any time; primary posters are those who are engaged in the conversation that is happening in front of everyone. If your character is a woman or someone just listening for now, please only reply to every THIRD UNENGAGED REPLY. If you're confused, just ask me in a DM!
- Don't forget that for most nobles, open court is an opportunity to eye marriage prospects.
- Regan Lassiter is to be the only played royal guard present in the room, unless a royal guard is also a noble, in which case he/she may be present (but as a noble, not a guard). There are more NPC royal guards present.