RuneScape Forum Archive | Scions of House Arenar (RP)

Fysyx

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She had been brought to the palace with just enough time to prepare for the ceremony. Measurements were taken, a bath was drawn. When she returned to her bedroom - decorated just as she left it (the servants had dusted very recently) - there was dress left for her, designed by Princess Chloelle. It was gorgeous and would perfectly complement Eva's relatively plain features; this must have been designed specifically with her in mind. It was a bottle green velvet dress, golden embroidery creeping up from the hem, with a split to show white skirts draped with strings of pearls underneath. Tiny pale blue gems, matching her eyes, studded across the surface of the green velvet, the chest of which was cut in a sweetheart style. The dress had flowy, bell shaped white chiffon sleeves, and beside it a pair of white gloves and a small box of jewellery: pearl string earrings, and two loops of pearls for a necklace. Eva was stunned. She had not expected such generous concern from any sibling after the shock of her return; she deserved much worse. She would have to make it up to them.

A servant came and helped her into the dress. She gone through such procedure in several years; she would have to dust off her royal etiquette skills very quickly. Then, the ceremony.

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11-Jan-2022 21:08:00

Fysyx

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In the antechamber, Eva spotted faces she hadn't seen in years, some far longer than her absence. She saw Flynn and Roland, each having gone on their own adventures. Most of her family now had official positions in the kingdom. She even saw a new face: some new scion discovered in the years since she disappeared. It would be good to meet him, and good to talk with everyone else again after this time.

This sense of hope was shattered at Roland's boasting. Same old Roland. It took all her effort to bite back a retort - it would be a terrible first impression after her return, and by passing the opportunity by she could show how at least she had grown up a little. She put on her best smile, which wouldn't have required Adrienne's empathic magic to see through.

"I came here to see everyone again. The pronouncement of the heir had nothing to do with it."

She saw Flynn smile at her, and it showed no trace of malice. She had a hard time meeting his gaze. Her return had been so abrupt, disorienting even to her, and yet she had been treated with nothing but kindness. Well, except perhaps with Roland. Eva felt a familiar tug on her mind - Adrienne's magical influence, just trying to read the room. She waved it away, a habit that returned with surprising ease. Perhaps she had been too quick to do that - if she noticed carefully, Adrienne might notice the dismissal itself as tinged with regret. Eva would have to see how things develop, and talk with Adrienne herself. Who, Eva noticed, was approaching her. Eva turned and smiled sheepishly.

"It's a bit overwhelming to be back. I've been good these past few years, just trying to live a quiet life."

A slight pause, and she continued,

"I didn't realize how much I've missed you all until just now."

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11-Jan-2022 21:08:29

NotFishing

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The Throne Room

Prince Flynn's announcement incited a mixed reaction. Most kept their expressions carefully neutral. Some looked on distastefully, seeing the Black Prince as little more than a graverobber and a desecrater. A few - those who were more open-minded or of a scholarly disposition - recognized and appreciated the Prince's various achievements. Then there were the more... adventurous types who found something about a mysterious handsome man in all black to be deeply charming.

As he presented himself to the King, another announcement rang out a moment later.

"Princess Evalayne, fourth trueborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar!"

Those in the crowd furrowed their brows in confusion. Princess Evalayne was dead! Had the chamberlain mispoke? A few looked at the King expectantly, assuming he was about to unleash his full wrath upon the foolish announcer.

Then Princess Evalayne stepped into the room, and a series of gasps rang out. The entire room was then shocked into silence. Even the music stopped. There was no sound save the footsteps of the Princess as she made her way toward the throne.

When she found her place, the King approached - descending from the steps. "My daughter..." he said, embracing her - not even bothering to address Flynn. "I had believed you were dead. It is a great miracle to see you finally returned to us." Then he turned to regard the rest of the hall. "Princess Evalayne lives!" he declared, and the assembled nobles began to cheer.

When the festivities died down, he looked back to his children. "Go, take your places in the festivities. Both of you." Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

13-Jan-2022 03:47:51

NotFishing

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"Prince Roland! Fifth trueborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar! Knight of the Realm! The Golden Prince! Lord of Lightning! Hero of Greenhaven! Wanderer of the Wastes! Saviour of Townton! Slayer of the Dragon of Janbury! Vanquisher of the Stratmere Griffin! The Bane of all Brigands!"

The crowd had already begun cheering before the chamberlain had even finished speaking. Prince Roland entered the room with a confident swagger, that just barely somehow managed to appear dignified at the same time. He flashed the crowd a confident smile, winking at any attractive man or woman who caught his eye. He stopped before his father and offered the customary bow.

"Princess Kathlyn! Sixth trueborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar! Royal-Steward of House Arenar! The Blue Flame!"

Princess Kathlyn's introduction was not received as well as Roland's, but she still received a respectable level of approval as she made her way down the room. As he had before, the King had a few words for each of them, before sending them to mingle with the crowd. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

13-Jan-2022 03:48:04

NotFishing

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"Princess Ariadne! First baseborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar! Royal-Marshal of the Realm!"

The blunt and barebones announcement was precisely what everyone had expected. Princess Ariadne received a light round of applause and a series of approving nods as she entered the room. She was not loved, that was true. But she had a certain degree of integrity, diligence, and responsibility that most couldn't help but respect.

The only ones who were truly wary toward her were high-ranking army officials - men and women she had clashed with during her attempts to bring the army back up to standard. The fact that Ariadne always emerged from these clashes the victor had left something of a grudge. But it was a grudge they couldn't do anything about, save sulk and glower, and even then they couldn't be too obvious about it, so they applauded alongside everyone else.

"Princess Adrienne! Second baseborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar! Twin sister to Princess Ariadne! Royal-Emissary of the Realm! Seer of Souls! Recognized for her vital role in settling a century-long feud between Houses Reyalia and Jonelis!"

Adrienne received a far better response - the same cheers that had greeted Derene, Chloelle, and Roland before her. As a Royal-Emissary, a good portion of her career had been spent smoothing over the fallout of her father's indiscretions. The rest had been spent mediating over disputes between high noble houses, and negotiating trade deals with the other provinces. In that sense, her presence was rarely regarded as a good sign. But she had a natural way of making friends and setting people at ease that even the court couldn't help but like her. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

13-Jan-2022 03:48:24

NotFishing

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When Adrienne and Ariadne both stood before the King, he first looked to Adrienne. "Princess Ariadne," he began in a reproachful voice. "I have received a great deal of complaints about you. Enough to justify an investigation. And after an extensive period of searching, do you know what my agents have found?" He let the obviously rhetorical question hanging in the air, obviously attempting to create a dramatic suspense.

"Nothing!" he said a few moments later, and chuckled. "The complaints were unfounded!" Then he looked to Adrienne. "And you. You have been doing a stellar job, as ever. Now, both of you, carry on. Go join the festivities."

---

"Prince Gallus! Fifth baseborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar! The Prince of Thorns! Master of Gales! Champion of a dozen tourneys, and victor of half a hundred duels!"

The cheering resumed as Prince Gallus entered the room, smiling and waving for the crowd. He took his place before the King, and then came the time for the final Scion to enter.

"Prince Reyner! Sixth baseborn Scion of King Yareth of House Arenar! Lord of Wheelton!"

A polite round of applause greeted this new prince, but nothing beyond that. There was no hostility or wariness in the air like Prince Flynn had received, but rather a certain sense of... curiosity. Curiosity, and indifference. Maybe some apprehension. Nobody knew what to make of him just yet, and there was much a single Prince could do to shift the political dynamic of the entire realm.

"Prince Gallus. Always the cloud pleaser, I see." Then the King turned to Reyner, and for once, he seemed at a loss for words. By the look on his face it was clear there were certain questions he wished to ask, but knew this was not the place to ask them. "Prince Reyner. It is good that you have made yourself known to us at last," he settled on instead. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

13-Jan-2022 03:48:36 - Last edited on 13-Jan-2022 03:59:13 by NotFishing

NotFishing

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Once all the Scions had been introduced, the King once again addressed the crowd. "Friends and vassals of House Arenar!" he declared. "It is a joyous day, for all of my children have returned!" More applause. More cheers. Although, there should have been an unspoken 'all the ones that I know about' in there somewhere...

Once the noises of approval died down, the King continued speaking. "And yet it is also saddening, for on this day I must confess that my life is nearing its end." The crowd suddenly went deathly quiet. "I remain healthy, of course, but I am in my seventies. I shall not live forever, even with my brother's healing magic. And I have also found myself in a position where I must choose between my children." He shook his head ruefully. "For only one can be heir."

"But that grim decision..." the King continued, "...need not come yet! For now, we shall feast, and dance. Seven days of celebration, in honour of Alyssia and her six companions who fought their way down to the First Temple to awaken the Lifebringer! Then, and only then, shall I name my heir!"

Roland, already surrounded by a throng of young ladies and a handful of handsome men, smiled. Evidentally he was not opposed to a few more days of revelry. Gallus, accompanied by his various sparring partners and a few friendly tourney rivals, sighed in disappointment.

Derene and Kathlyn, standing together with their own network of friends and acquaintances, visibly winced. Given their positions, they would have been responsible for raising the funds for this festival in the first place. Given their personalities, they had likely objected on the basis of it costing too much money, only for their father to overrule them. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

13-Jan-2022 03:48:53 - Last edited on 13-Jan-2022 03:52:11 by NotFishing

Drahcir Evan

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Reyner maintained an impatient stoicism as his apparent siblings bantered and shared their remaining greetings as they were called one-by-one into the ballroom. The last prince listened with interest to the varying levels of noise from the crowd on each person's entrance. Inevitably it was his turn, by which point he was unsurprisingly the last one remaining outside the ball.

When the goblin servant informed him it was time for his entrance, he approached the doors like a man walking to war. At the last moment he leaned in slightly to quietly acknowledge the goblin.

"If you're unhappy here, seek me out." he offered, with naught but the slightest hint of anger in his voice. Without waiting for a response, he briskly continued through the grand doors to be greeted by the full hall of nobles and officials.

-

There was little reaction from Reyner as the king spoke and eventually announced what would be a seven-day-long party followed by the proclamation of the chosen heir.

"Enough to make a man mad." the prince said lowly. His brusque complaint was almost inaudible under the crowd's merriment, having been addressed to no one in particular and likely only heard by those nearest.

13-Jan-2022 14:20:55

George Rozas

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It was hardly a difficult task for Flynn to take note of the expressions he passed - the majority far too schooled in the art of holding a blank expression to be seen through from such a passing glance. However, those expressions that were tilted away from that careful neutrality told him much - those with barely restrained disgust and hostility told him such nobility were either new to the game or hated the prince far more than they could keep to themselves, and such distinctions between the two could easily be made from other factors. A few looks of respect almost surprised him; sometimes it was easy to forget the court held those who were not so insular and sealed off from change. Then, of course, were the expressions that held more than a scholarly interest. All the while he kept his cool smile, not changing for any one of them.

But upon standing before his father the king Prince Flynn had wiped all of the nobility from his surface thoughts, presenting himself before his father with a customary bow - flawlessly executed, even - and received not a wit in response from the man. Still, in those seconds before the next announcement was called Flynn did not back down nor break, meeting his father's gaze with calm confidence - a world apart from how their last meeting had gone, so many years ago. Then came the call for Evvie to enter, the resounding gasps and silence presenting Flynn with the right time to step aside and allow his younger sister to present herself.

" Seems father is still somewhat embittered over my choices, " He whispered to Evalayne with some amusement once the two were dismissed, begining to make his way towards one side of the gathered court. Before stepping far, however, he whispered once more to his sibling. " Tossed before the wolves, dear Evvie - if they get a little overwhelming, find your way to this pariah of a brother and that should stave a good number of them off. "

With a softened smile directed her way the prince stepped I am Inferi.

13-Jan-2022 15:40:15

George Rozas

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towards a small group of nobility who had seemed more interested in his findings than his reputation, finding their scholarly queries far more refreshing than the exhaustion of courtly double-talk.

-

Minutes later with the last Scion of House Arenar presented before the court it was declared that a seven day celebration would take place before the heir was to be named. Flynn's expression twitched at the thought but was soothed with another, his eyes drifting across the room to where his various siblings stood even as he continued his conversation with a young lord enamored with the thought of adventure.

Leaving the boy with a few words of caution to consider the prince took his leave of the chat, navigating his way to where the drinks were located - of course, no noble worth their salt would pour for themselves at such a prestigious event! Not in the first hour of the celebration, at least. Flynn did as Flynn was want to do, of course, and found himself just the right kind of warming mead - politely waving off a servant's attempt at pouring it for him. He found his place there, sipping at the sweet booze as his eyes idly browsed the room - a social buffer of sorts seemed to have surrounded him, a small circle of empty space where people were not want to stand near to the Black Prince. A good bastion for anyone looking to find refuge. I am Inferi.

13-Jan-2022 15:40:19

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