Post by Fyremage on Jan 30, 2018 16:12:47 GMT
The prevailing feeling of importance filled the air around the palace of Whitefall. Ferrus lumbered down the front steps of the palace proper, shuffling to his carriage flanked by mounted guards. There was a faint chill in the air as the chill of winter desperately tried to cling to life in the face of spring's presence. Despite the fact that the day would warm up as the sun would rise higher up, Ferrus wore a sable fur-lined cloak over his black doublet with gold trim. He smiled warmly at the servent who opened the door of his personal carriage, and after a few moments was able to heave himself up and into the cabin.
His personal valet sat in the cabin with him, with the Sergeant at Arms shouting a command, and the carriage with it's dozen riders set off and out of the courtyard and across the bridge. The hour was relatively early, with the sun shining just above the horizon and it's radiance brightening the town as the moments waned. Townsfolk had already set about their day, with many gathering along the road as a crier mounted on horse rode in front of the King's procession. "HIS MAJESTY, KING FERRUS CASSIAN, THE THIRD OF HIS NAME, IS TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION AT THE ROYAL ORPHEUM! ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND TO HEAR HIS MAJESTY'S WORDS!"
As the procession continued onward, more commonfolk began crowding around the streets and following en masse the riders behind the carriage. While most of the time, hard work and discipline were valued highly in Rjillish society, one did not dismiss lightly the invitation to hear the monarch speak to address his people. Usually, such occasions were of great import. So bakers boys were encouraged to follow the procession, with wives leaving their laundry at the washing wells, and laborers setting their crafts down in due course. While not all of the townsfolk did so, a sizeable portion did.
Eventually, the Royal Orpheum came into view - an ancient construct of stone and mortar left over from the days of the Empire, maintained over the millenia to serve as a place of state address in Carenna. It was but a shell of it's splendor in the bygone days, with its aged columns and halls playing host to state musicians and speeches from generations of Cassian Monarchs. And like his forebears, Ferrus would do the same. He had only used the Orpheum to such a purpose once in his life, with that instance being to announce the state of war that had been declared by Alendron some fifteen years prior. And now, he would make a proclamation that would be near-equally important.
His carriage pulled to the front of the Orpheum, with a perimeter of guardsmen cordoning the front from the gathering crowd. The interior of the orpheum itself wasn't going to be used for this address, but the overlooking balcony over the entrance was, for Ferrus to stand atop and to address his people. A clamour began to rise from the gathered people of Carenna, with many moments passing until Ferrus had emerged at the top of the balcony, standing rather tall and strong in the face of his people. While he was aging and slowly declining in health, in this moment he felt as he did when he was a younger man. He felt strong, and in no small part due to the simple fact he had to appear so for his people. He had been strong for them during the war, and now it seemed all the more important for him to remain the edifice they all needed for the gathering storm. "People of Carenna, I thank you for gathering here today for this important announcement." The crowds clapped and cheered at the sign of graciousness on the part of their King, with the crowd settling once more.
"It is our intent with this gathering to first and foremost express the heartfelt gratitude I feel in my heart for each and every one of you. We as a people have been through dark times in the past two decades, and have had to support each other during days when that seemed the best we could do as a nation. But as has been the case since the days of the Empire, the people of Rjillund have proven time and again to be determined and strong in the face of everything that seeks to undermine us!"
The crowds cheered again, young men yelling with national pride as often is the case with young men who have it instilled in them from birth, and young women joining along in kind. As Ferrus spoke, a large collection of armored men began to line the streets before the Orpheum, standing at attention and gathering in some type of formation as he continued. "And while you and I both long for peace and prosperity for the rest of our days, it seems that others are not content for such peace. You all are aware of what has been going on in the Kingdom of Aladez, namely with the death of the His Majesty, the late King Ferdinand. Chaos has erupted in our neighbor to the west, with many of Aladez's dukes rising up for fear of an illegal regency on the part of Juan Du Valdez, the late King's brother. And even with the regency falling squarely on the Queen Mother Elija's shoulders, those fears of something untoward happening to the late King's son and heir, the newly crowned King Ferdinand Carlos Du Valdez the Fifth prior to his coming of age to ascend to the crown. After much deliberation, it is the nation of Rjillund's decision to act in support of our allies, the nation of Luska, and in the interests of supporting King Ferdinand Du Carlos bid to retain his kingship and for Elija to retain her regency, proclaim Rjillund's commitment to protecting the Grand Duchy of Caedwyni and to send a peacekeeping force of Rjillund's finest into the Grand Duchy so as to ensure a cessation of possible hostilities between those who may undermine King Ferdinand's authority both within his Kingdom, and without, and so as to validate the Grand Duchy's fears of his lord Uncle seizing the throne from under him. It is our hope that the Kingdom of Aladez's regent, Queen Mother Elija, pay heed to the Grand Duchy's fears and approach the situation with peace in mind, rather than with haste to war."
While not all of those present may have understood all of what their monarch has said, they understood enough to know that Rjillund desired to act in the interests of the new Valdezian Monarch, and for that they cheered once more. After a break in the cheers was found again, Ferrus smiled and gave a nod which served as a signal. At once, the state musicians began playing the Rjillish anthem, with the armored men gathered by the Orpheum marching in step to the music in a procession through the city streets, starting from the Orpheum and navigating throughout the city. The soldiers marching were decked in their finest ceremonial armor and weaponry, with line after line of black-clad infantry and horsemen and even knights passing by. Ten thousand in number, all of whom thereafter were to march outside of the city and proceed to Ard Caedwyn as a 'diplomatic peace keeping force'. Ferrus smiled as he watched the well disciplined soldiers pass by, but otherwise stood straight and firm as he watched over them, giving a Rjillish salute across his chest at the passing warriors.
It was altogether possible that his words would send ripples throughout the realm of Trevast, and while he could not fully predict how or in what form they would take, he was ready to stand by his words. He turned to his son Trion who stood beside him. "Put the eastern and western garrisons on alert. We do not want war, but we must be prepared if heated heads prevail."
His personal valet sat in the cabin with him, with the Sergeant at Arms shouting a command, and the carriage with it's dozen riders set off and out of the courtyard and across the bridge. The hour was relatively early, with the sun shining just above the horizon and it's radiance brightening the town as the moments waned. Townsfolk had already set about their day, with many gathering along the road as a crier mounted on horse rode in front of the King's procession. "HIS MAJESTY, KING FERRUS CASSIAN, THE THIRD OF HIS NAME, IS TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION AT THE ROYAL ORPHEUM! ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND TO HEAR HIS MAJESTY'S WORDS!"
As the procession continued onward, more commonfolk began crowding around the streets and following en masse the riders behind the carriage. While most of the time, hard work and discipline were valued highly in Rjillish society, one did not dismiss lightly the invitation to hear the monarch speak to address his people. Usually, such occasions were of great import. So bakers boys were encouraged to follow the procession, with wives leaving their laundry at the washing wells, and laborers setting their crafts down in due course. While not all of the townsfolk did so, a sizeable portion did.
Eventually, the Royal Orpheum came into view - an ancient construct of stone and mortar left over from the days of the Empire, maintained over the millenia to serve as a place of state address in Carenna. It was but a shell of it's splendor in the bygone days, with its aged columns and halls playing host to state musicians and speeches from generations of Cassian Monarchs. And like his forebears, Ferrus would do the same. He had only used the Orpheum to such a purpose once in his life, with that instance being to announce the state of war that had been declared by Alendron some fifteen years prior. And now, he would make a proclamation that would be near-equally important.
His carriage pulled to the front of the Orpheum, with a perimeter of guardsmen cordoning the front from the gathering crowd. The interior of the orpheum itself wasn't going to be used for this address, but the overlooking balcony over the entrance was, for Ferrus to stand atop and to address his people. A clamour began to rise from the gathered people of Carenna, with many moments passing until Ferrus had emerged at the top of the balcony, standing rather tall and strong in the face of his people. While he was aging and slowly declining in health, in this moment he felt as he did when he was a younger man. He felt strong, and in no small part due to the simple fact he had to appear so for his people. He had been strong for them during the war, and now it seemed all the more important for him to remain the edifice they all needed for the gathering storm. "People of Carenna, I thank you for gathering here today for this important announcement." The crowds clapped and cheered at the sign of graciousness on the part of their King, with the crowd settling once more.
"It is our intent with this gathering to first and foremost express the heartfelt gratitude I feel in my heart for each and every one of you. We as a people have been through dark times in the past two decades, and have had to support each other during days when that seemed the best we could do as a nation. But as has been the case since the days of the Empire, the people of Rjillund have proven time and again to be determined and strong in the face of everything that seeks to undermine us!"
The crowds cheered again, young men yelling with national pride as often is the case with young men who have it instilled in them from birth, and young women joining along in kind. As Ferrus spoke, a large collection of armored men began to line the streets before the Orpheum, standing at attention and gathering in some type of formation as he continued. "And while you and I both long for peace and prosperity for the rest of our days, it seems that others are not content for such peace. You all are aware of what has been going on in the Kingdom of Aladez, namely with the death of the His Majesty, the late King Ferdinand. Chaos has erupted in our neighbor to the west, with many of Aladez's dukes rising up for fear of an illegal regency on the part of Juan Du Valdez, the late King's brother. And even with the regency falling squarely on the Queen Mother Elija's shoulders, those fears of something untoward happening to the late King's son and heir, the newly crowned King Ferdinand Carlos Du Valdez the Fifth prior to his coming of age to ascend to the crown. After much deliberation, it is the nation of Rjillund's decision to act in support of our allies, the nation of Luska, and in the interests of supporting King Ferdinand Du Carlos bid to retain his kingship and for Elija to retain her regency, proclaim Rjillund's commitment to protecting the Grand Duchy of Caedwyni and to send a peacekeeping force of Rjillund's finest into the Grand Duchy so as to ensure a cessation of possible hostilities between those who may undermine King Ferdinand's authority both within his Kingdom, and without, and so as to validate the Grand Duchy's fears of his lord Uncle seizing the throne from under him. It is our hope that the Kingdom of Aladez's regent, Queen Mother Elija, pay heed to the Grand Duchy's fears and approach the situation with peace in mind, rather than with haste to war."
While not all of those present may have understood all of what their monarch has said, they understood enough to know that Rjillund desired to act in the interests of the new Valdezian Monarch, and for that they cheered once more. After a break in the cheers was found again, Ferrus smiled and gave a nod which served as a signal. At once, the state musicians began playing the Rjillish anthem, with the armored men gathered by the Orpheum marching in step to the music in a procession through the city streets, starting from the Orpheum and navigating throughout the city. The soldiers marching were decked in their finest ceremonial armor and weaponry, with line after line of black-clad infantry and horsemen and even knights passing by. Ten thousand in number, all of whom thereafter were to march outside of the city and proceed to Ard Caedwyn as a 'diplomatic peace keeping force'. Ferrus smiled as he watched the well disciplined soldiers pass by, but otherwise stood straight and firm as he watched over them, giving a Rjillish salute across his chest at the passing warriors.
It was altogether possible that his words would send ripples throughout the realm of Trevast, and while he could not fully predict how or in what form they would take, he was ready to stand by his words. He turned to his son Trion who stood beside him. "Put the eastern and western garrisons on alert. We do not want war, but we must be prepared if heated heads prevail."