Oneida
Established Nation
The Rose Palace had buzzed with activity as a frantic staff crisscrossed its halls. They shined polished every piece of glass, shined each of the thousands of gold pots and vases that dotted the entirety of the Palace. They intricately replaced every lightbulb on every chandelier that was no longer lit. Cords sprawled across the long hallways, powering the roars of vacuums hell-bent on finding every last speck of dust. No dust mite was no safe. There was no refugee for clutter or imperfection.
It was all in preparation for this moment – the arrival of the Kaiser of the Empire, Joseph V and the Crown Prince, Rudolph. In the earlier years of the Kaiser’s reign, he had visited the Palace quite frequently. While located in Kalosca – one of Harkány’s larger cities – it was several miles away from the urban center and deep into the dense forests that surrounded the city. It was isolated, secluded and removed from the pressures of the Imperial Family.
It wasn’t hard to see its allure as a refugee. With exception to improve necessary to ensure safety, the Palace was identical in 2018 to how it was in 1239. Well, truth be told, the heraldry of the Harkaner Kings of Old was replaced with the heraldry of the Carinthian Emperors as opposed to the heraldry of the Carintho-Harkaner Kaisers. This, too, was particularly alluring to the Kaisers who were of an exclusive Carinthian bloodline.
The Kaiser and the Duke of Hallein, Prince Rudolph, had arrived the night before. They caravan was noticeably smaller and more discreet than what usually travels with them. The Rose Palace’s usual staff had been cut to make it more manageable for the Paladin Guard. The Paladins searched their ranks to fill whatever position could be replaced from the regular Palace staff.
Chancellor Furst’s motorcade arrived in the early hours of the morning. He had spent the night in Kalosca, having dinner with Prime Minister Nándor. When his motorcade pulled into the parkway in front of the Palace, the Paladins immediately approached.
“Herr Chancellor,” the Guard bowed “Allow me to welcome you to the Rose Palace. His Majesty, Kaiser Joseph V, has requested an immediate audience – he asked I apologize for the haste.”
“None needed,” the Chancellor responded. He had been used to being whipped around by the Kaiser. He would have been more shocked if given even a minute to breathe before presenting himself to the Empire’s most powerful egomaniac.
The Chancellor entered the Grand Hall of the Rose Palace. A base color of white, with gold trim, and red accents adorned virtually every structure in the palace from the intricate, high ceilings, the marble flooring, and furniture. It was a large, rectangular room with the Grand Staircase sitting directly across from the entrance. Immediately at the top of the Staircase was the entrance to the Kaiser’s personal quarters. Atop the door was the double headed eagle – the symbol of the Carinthian-Harkaner Dual Monarchy conceived from Joseph III himself.
When the Chancellor walked through the doors, he was brought straight to a dining room that had large Burgundian doors leading to an outside balcony, overlooking a now frozen lake. In the center of the dining room sat the Kaiser and the Prince.
“Your Excellencies,” the Chancellor addressed them both at once, a slight perhaps only a man of his position can do, bowing.
“Chancellor Furst,” the Kaiser did not rise from his seat “It does the heart warm to see you again.” The Kaiser spoke as if they did not meet for a weekly lunch that had not been cancelled in four years. The Kaiser was a man of great girth. He had a taste for the all the riches and privileges of his position and dressed himself accordingly. Despite that, he was a boisterous man who fancied long nights of drinking more than any stately meeting. It had taken a great deal of convincing to get him to attend. He had grayed in his later years and wrinkles covered his face – despite the fact he was only 65. His rosy red cheeks did help compliment his dull, gray eyes. A well-kept beard hid his double chin.
“Likewise, your Grace,” Furst nodded his head and turned his attention to Prince Rudolph. Had genetic testing not proven it, no one would suspect that Prince Rudolph was his Father’s son. Rudolph, at 28, was a striking young man. He was tall and slender, with muscle reminiscent of a man who goes to the gym regularly but just can’t build the physique to match. He had blonde, perfectly combed hair with not a single strand out of place. His face was clean shaven – but that might be more attributed to his complete lack of ability to grow facial hair. His green eyes were bright and noticeable. He was dressed far more conservatively than his father. His clothing was perfectly tailored to the exact measurements of his body and they were rigid enough to force him to maintain a constant, proper posture.
“Herr Chancellor,” the Prince spoke, softly and cordially “Welcome to the Rose Palace.” He extended his open hand, in the direction of an open chair. The Chancellor nodded and took his seat.
“Do you not find it odd to invite the representatives of the Harkaner’s ancestors to Harkány and bring no Harkaners to meet them?” The Prince asked – directly and spontaneously.
“Believe me, you don’t want Nándor here,” The Kaiser interjected before Furst could answer “That insufferable man would act as though he was an actor in opera and make the Chervonians all the more uncomfortable.”
“With respect,” the Chancellor moved to answer the Prince “The Chernovians are here to meet with representatives of the Empire, not Carinthia nor Harkány individually. I had dinner with the Prime Minister last night and explained the situation to him. He understands fully.”
“I see,” the Prince answered.
“Well I hope he offered to pay,” the Kaiser jabbed Furst in the arm, laughing. “to the serious business though, these Chernovians are to arrive within the hour. Dear Chancellor, do tell us why you thought it so necessary to bring us to this meeting.”
“Of course, your Grace,” the Chancellor pulled three identical binders out of his brief case. He handed one to each of the men seated at the table. The Prince immediately opened his while the Kaiser let it stay on the table. “Let us begin.”
@Chernovy
It was all in preparation for this moment – the arrival of the Kaiser of the Empire, Joseph V and the Crown Prince, Rudolph. In the earlier years of the Kaiser’s reign, he had visited the Palace quite frequently. While located in Kalosca – one of Harkány’s larger cities – it was several miles away from the urban center and deep into the dense forests that surrounded the city. It was isolated, secluded and removed from the pressures of the Imperial Family.
It wasn’t hard to see its allure as a refugee. With exception to improve necessary to ensure safety, the Palace was identical in 2018 to how it was in 1239. Well, truth be told, the heraldry of the Harkaner Kings of Old was replaced with the heraldry of the Carinthian Emperors as opposed to the heraldry of the Carintho-Harkaner Kaisers. This, too, was particularly alluring to the Kaisers who were of an exclusive Carinthian bloodline.
The Kaiser and the Duke of Hallein, Prince Rudolph, had arrived the night before. They caravan was noticeably smaller and more discreet than what usually travels with them. The Rose Palace’s usual staff had been cut to make it more manageable for the Paladin Guard. The Paladins searched their ranks to fill whatever position could be replaced from the regular Palace staff.
Chancellor Furst’s motorcade arrived in the early hours of the morning. He had spent the night in Kalosca, having dinner with Prime Minister Nándor. When his motorcade pulled into the parkway in front of the Palace, the Paladins immediately approached.
“Herr Chancellor,” the Guard bowed “Allow me to welcome you to the Rose Palace. His Majesty, Kaiser Joseph V, has requested an immediate audience – he asked I apologize for the haste.”
“None needed,” the Chancellor responded. He had been used to being whipped around by the Kaiser. He would have been more shocked if given even a minute to breathe before presenting himself to the Empire’s most powerful egomaniac.
The Chancellor entered the Grand Hall of the Rose Palace. A base color of white, with gold trim, and red accents adorned virtually every structure in the palace from the intricate, high ceilings, the marble flooring, and furniture. It was a large, rectangular room with the Grand Staircase sitting directly across from the entrance. Immediately at the top of the Staircase was the entrance to the Kaiser’s personal quarters. Atop the door was the double headed eagle – the symbol of the Carinthian-Harkaner Dual Monarchy conceived from Joseph III himself.
When the Chancellor walked through the doors, he was brought straight to a dining room that had large Burgundian doors leading to an outside balcony, overlooking a now frozen lake. In the center of the dining room sat the Kaiser and the Prince.
“Your Excellencies,” the Chancellor addressed them both at once, a slight perhaps only a man of his position can do, bowing.
“Chancellor Furst,” the Kaiser did not rise from his seat “It does the heart warm to see you again.” The Kaiser spoke as if they did not meet for a weekly lunch that had not been cancelled in four years. The Kaiser was a man of great girth. He had a taste for the all the riches and privileges of his position and dressed himself accordingly. Despite that, he was a boisterous man who fancied long nights of drinking more than any stately meeting. It had taken a great deal of convincing to get him to attend. He had grayed in his later years and wrinkles covered his face – despite the fact he was only 65. His rosy red cheeks did help compliment his dull, gray eyes. A well-kept beard hid his double chin.
“Likewise, your Grace,” Furst nodded his head and turned his attention to Prince Rudolph. Had genetic testing not proven it, no one would suspect that Prince Rudolph was his Father’s son. Rudolph, at 28, was a striking young man. He was tall and slender, with muscle reminiscent of a man who goes to the gym regularly but just can’t build the physique to match. He had blonde, perfectly combed hair with not a single strand out of place. His face was clean shaven – but that might be more attributed to his complete lack of ability to grow facial hair. His green eyes were bright and noticeable. He was dressed far more conservatively than his father. His clothing was perfectly tailored to the exact measurements of his body and they were rigid enough to force him to maintain a constant, proper posture.
“Herr Chancellor,” the Prince spoke, softly and cordially “Welcome to the Rose Palace.” He extended his open hand, in the direction of an open chair. The Chancellor nodded and took his seat.
“Do you not find it odd to invite the representatives of the Harkaner’s ancestors to Harkány and bring no Harkaners to meet them?” The Prince asked – directly and spontaneously.
“Believe me, you don’t want Nándor here,” The Kaiser interjected before Furst could answer “That insufferable man would act as though he was an actor in opera and make the Chervonians all the more uncomfortable.”
“With respect,” the Chancellor moved to answer the Prince “The Chernovians are here to meet with representatives of the Empire, not Carinthia nor Harkány individually. I had dinner with the Prime Minister last night and explained the situation to him. He understands fully.”
“I see,” the Prince answered.
“Well I hope he offered to pay,” the Kaiser jabbed Furst in the arm, laughing. “to the serious business though, these Chernovians are to arrive within the hour. Dear Chancellor, do tell us why you thought it so necessary to bring us to this meeting.”
“Of course, your Grace,” the Chancellor pulled three identical binders out of his brief case. He handed one to each of the men seated at the table. The Prince immediately opened his while the Kaiser let it stay on the table. “Let us begin.”
@Chernovy