KING & COMMISSIONER
THE KING, PART ONE:
'OPEN TO THE WORLD'
THE KING, PART ONE:
'OPEN TO THE WORLD'
He held a sword, sat upon a white horse, and rallied a crowd of some several hundred when King Alaric symbolically set fire to the Port of Vesper in 1916. Up in illustrious flames went a near armada of retired wood naval vessels beside impounded Himyari pirate ships, each conspicuously re-painted and erroneously flying the imperial banners of many European unaware world powers. The message would then be sent in pictures, cartoons, and film 'talkies' that echoed Alaric's scornful view of the world as the: "wicked cesspool of dishonorable and deranged men".
Commerce would continue thereafter through a narrow of filter of protectionism. Diplomatic tables were thus abstained as a matter of institutional ideology, and international negotiations were opened as often as the cicada flies. It was for good reason that most of Europe had forgotten about old and distant Vesperia for a half century. They were simply absent from any world event for as long as any elderly man or woman might care to remember. One generation? Three? Millions in Europe had drawn their first and last breath without passing the name "Vesperia" across their lips. Vesperia however, and long from, had yet to forget about Europe. An all watching propaganda department consumed and regurgitated only the most lecherous scenes from foreign films, masterfully spliced together to show how far Europe had rotted in social decay, substance abuse, and a European character concerned mostly with gratifying base vices. 'The Concerned Citizen', a written news agency, would play more cunning games with the Vesperian mind: allowing for example a glimmer of hopeful civilization in Eiffelland to appear, before plunging back into further fits of bloodcurdling degeneracy. It went that way for decades with only a few notable breaks in narrative happening when foreign governments managed to develop new frequencies to broadcast counter propaganda, or one of the few merchants and businessmen with visas shared their "skewed view" with friends or family.
Modernity in 1956 brought thousands of merry men and women back to the Port of Vesper where a King driving his own blue and gold sportster contrasted his Grandfather's white horse, and in lieu of the Familial Royal Sword a new and polished handgun hung holstered loosely on Gerald's belt. His smile and wave sent the women folk to swooning before he calmly opened the passenger side door, offering a hand to his wife Queen Angelica who accepted with her own gold gloved hand. As so ordered the Royal Guard and Urban Constables allowed the public in close to them within a distance to touch, for just this day there seemed to be no fear and distrust of the stranger. The people did so rush in to do precisely that, touch them, but as if held back by corporeal chains they withdrew before putting flesh to ornate cloth. What seemed like pandemonium and free reign could not possibly be when a second look was applied. Snipers perched anxiously on every roof nearby elegantly carved gargoyles, each offering the same grimace and fright for the onlooker who dared looked away from their intended spectacle.
Fewer and fewer could look away from them as they waved and smiled brightly for all to see, but it was their shaggy haired dog Fritz who stole the scene when he rushed ahead of his Royal Parents, putting his front paws on the speaking podium to let out no more than three gentle playful barks. Laughter rang out as Angelica retrieved the canine by removing one glove, which itself caused a terrible gasp, and whistling with fingers in mouth. "I'd love to borrow a moment of your time," King Gerald suggested when he reached the podium, "Fritz has a few more suggestions for the direction of this Kingdom, but then again don't we all?". Most continued to laugh but some were taken aback, surely the King had directed that comment at them individually and precisely, hadn't he?
"Fifty years ago King Alaric set this port aflame, thereby protecting all of us from what dances and schemes abroad. Stiff law and heavy tax burdened their constantly prodding tentacles, Kingdoms and Empires then, now Republics and People's Parades or some-such, quite often red this and revolutionary that," Gerald scoffed for all to see, "all awash in bloodshed I can verify, and all we have most carefully avoided until this very day." The cheering had stopped now, leaving only small murmurs, each trying to suggest what he may say next. "I stand before you from a position of strength, not desperation or particular need, and in this same way Vesperia shall stand before Europe once more, available for those who wish to see and displaying a model of virtue for those capable of appreciating it".
King Gerald went on to explain in exhaustive detail how trade with these companies and countries would be re-examined to that degree, and how Vesperia might strike balance between the overarching blocs as a party separate from all. "Europe: we so humbly offer you beauty," Gerald said as children began throwing flower petals into the sea, "we give you peace," he continued as doves were released up to the heavens, "and finally," King Gerald said with a raised and lowered hand "we offer order!". A sortie of war-fighters flew overhead in formation going inland after which a line of artillery pointed at the sea fired out towards the sea. This sweeping change in policy had not and would not change Vesperia's heightened taste for dramatic gestures
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