Shy

[size=1]AWith the help of the potions Alecia uses as treatment I imagine that she will be mobile with help of a wheelchair soon, maybe in the next day or so. She has a long way to go with her recovery, but she can move around with assistance and probably return to Rosengard in a few days. The accident was never meant to remove Morphia from the story. I like writing Morphia a lot, and I'm very eager to see you take over for her full-time, Cyriel. If anything I think the accident makes her a more sympathetic character and adds some more tension to Henry/Morphia/Bavaria. -Shy[/size] :whoops:

[size=1]Your Audrey avatar has the wrong dimensions. [center][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/audrey-avatar.jpg[/IMG][/center] There you go. The main page of the RPG has been updated to include her avatar as well. -Shy[/size]

[center][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/ladybavariaavatar.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/henryavatar.jpg[/IMG][/center] [size=1][indent]Unlike many, Henry Grimalkin entered Eshe Rehema with a large grin across his face. And why not? Only yesterday he had placed second in the Chimaera Cup, becoming the pride of all of Czenovia. Never before had a child of the working class stood among the Dynasts’ own jockeys as equals. As he walked through the halls towards Morphia Markham’s room he only regretted that she couldn’t have been there with him. The entire race had been a blur, but deep inside he felt as if he were somehow responsible. Morphia was an excellent rider, perhaps even better than he was. Even though accidents were common at the Cup there was no explanation for her chimaera’s tragic fall. He turned the corner to discover Lady Bavaria and Prince Primas walking past, the two deeply engaged in conversation. He noticed that Bavaria and Primas were wearing the same outfits that they had to the races. [i]Could they have been at the medical center this entire time?[/i] Henry's smile quickly dissolved into an awkward panic as they approached. “[b]Good morning, Prince Primas, Lady Bavaria,[/b]” Henry said with a bow, “[b]I’ve come to see Morphia. How is she?[/b]” “[b]What are [I]you[/I] doing here?[/b]“ Bavaria asked, “[b]Come to finish the job, have you?[/b]” “[b]Please, Bavaria. I’m sure the boy means no harm,[/b]” Primas said, “[b]Morphia has many serious injures and broken bones, but the girl remains in good spirits.[/b]” “[b]That‘s good news then.[/b]” Henry replied as he reached into his bag, withdrawing a full bouquet of wildflowers, “[b]I brought these for Morphia. Is she seeing visitors?[/b]” “[b]Certainly not your kind. I forbid it.[/b]" "[b]Why?[/b]" "[b]What you did to her at the races was a blatant insult to the entire Deacon clan. If you have any decency you will leave right away, and take those weeds with you.[/b]” Henry narrowed his eyes, “[b]If I had known that crashing into Fervus would have caused her...[/b]” “[b]--I’m speaking of your kiss with my sister![/b]” she huffed, “[b]I know you hold much ill-will towards me, but there is no reason to bring Morphia into this.[/b]” “[b]That… that had nothing to do with you, Lady Bavaria. Is it so hard to believe that I might care for her?[/b]” “[b]I know your kind, Grimalkin, all too well. You jockeys move even faster than the chimaera you ride upon, and I will not sit idly by and allow you to break my sister‘s heart just to spite me.[/b]” “[b]That’s enough from both of you,[/b]” Primas commanded, “[b]Now I should get going, for I fear I have been away from the Mirror Palace for much too long already. Will you be alright without me Bavaria?[/b]” “[b]Of course, but you have been far too kind. Allow me to take you to your carriage…[/b]” The prince smiled. “[b]It would be my pleasure.[/b]” Bavaria grimaced as she turned her back to Henry, clutching tightly onto Primas‘ arm, “[b]See her if you must. I trust you’ll be gone by the time I return, Grimalkin.[/b]”[/size][/indent]

[size=1]Speaking of CHAOS, we added the 8th Chronicle, this one focusing on CHAOS Academy. Special thanks to Mom for writing that up for us. I imagine that we'll be learning even more about the school now that CHAOS is back in session. -Shy[/size] :whoops:

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Josh, I have a small issue with the way you've portrayed Daedalus in your post. Even if himself and Fonty are not very close, I'm certain Daedalus wouldn't snap at him over something as simple as who's going to take Magitech over after he dies, in fact with his condition I imagine it's something he'd be seriously considering. If you want to have Fonty express an interest in selling Magitech I imagine that might make Daedalus a bit angry, as he sees it as something that ties the family together, much like Rosengard. But I don't think Daedalus would actually lash out physically or verbally over it, maybe just express a distaste at Fonty's intentions and a will to not let it happen.[/SIZE][/QUOTE][size=1]Yeah, that's fair. I was a little unsure of how I portrayed Daedalus, so I'll edit that right now. I figured that he was still recovering from his injury, and may have had him overreact to the idea that Fonty would consider selling the company without consulting him. -Shy [b]Edit:[/b] I made the edits and I actually think this version is more true to the characters. I hope you agree.[/size]

[size=1]Okay, it's the next day! Lots of stuff going on, but everyone should feel free to do their own thing. [i]Everyone[/i] will be thinking carefully about their allegiances to Czenovia as even more turmoil threatens the nation. It should be interesting to see who remains loyal, who flees, and who demands revolution. CHAOS Kids (Aaryanna, Mom, Indi): Make sure to note that CHAOS was robbed the previous night. Is CHAOS in session 'today?' Did we ever have a clear answer on that? Anyways, keep up the good work guys. Today it begins! -Shy[/size]

[right][font=garamond][size=4][b]Sides[/b][/size][/font][/right] [center][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/princessaugustine-avatar.jpg[/IMG][/center] [size=1][indent]Princess Augustine paced back and forth in front of her father’s quarters, eagerly awaiting news from the Starks. It was obvious that the assassination attempt on her brothers had failed, but if the Starks were apprehended why hadn’t she heard about it? Something was amiss, but given the King’s health she had little choice but to wait by his side. As each moment passed her country drew closer and closer to the brink of chaos. Augustine knew that anything less than her own rule would fail to satisfy the people’s hunger for revolution. That she would make certain. Now she only wondered if her father would make the right choice in selecting his successor. Agron Deacon opened the door a crack, and motioned for the princess. “[b]How is he Agron?[/b]” “[b]The concoction the potionists have given him is enough to soothe his pain, but I fear it won’t be for much longer. To see both my daughter and my King in such a condition, I wonder what have I done to deserve this?[/b]” “[b]You have been a loyal servant to the throne, Agron, but you must tell me…[/b]“ Augustine rested her hand on Agron‘s shoulder, leaning in closely, “[b]Has my father named his heir?[/b]” “[b]I am afraid not, my princess. He calls for Leonhart Almagest.[/b]” “[b]What?[/b]” “[b]He demands to speak with Almagest. He says there is still much to be done, that all of Czenovia is at risk.[/b]” Augustine‘s eyes widened, “[b]That cannot be! My father must be delusional from the potions he has received. Could he already be that far gone?[/b]” “[b]Have no worries, I will ensure that the king chooses a successor. You have my word.[/b]” “[b]Thank you, Agron.[/b]” The door closed as quickly as it had opened, and Augustine was once again left alone with her thoughts. Juvenous had locked himself in his bedroom in an alcoholic rage, while Primas had not left Bavaria Deacon’s side since her sister’s accident. [I]If anyone is deserving of the Crystalline Throne.[/I] she thought, [I]It should be the one who has waited patiently by the king's deathbed.[/I] A palace messenger rushed down the hallway, carrying a folded slip of paper in his hand. “[b]Princess! I have an important correspondence from New Czenoble.[/b]” Augustine quickly snatched the paper from the boy’s hand, discovering that it had been sealed with the symbol of a dove. The messenger kneeled, “[b]I was instructed that you would know who sent it, my lady.[/b]” Augustine quickly broke the seal and opened the note, discovering several lines of sheet music printed across it. Her demeanor changed suddenly as she read the notes on the page, and a sly grin spread across her face. "[b]Today it begins.[/b]"[/size][/indent]

[quote name='DeathKnight'][color=crimson]Wandering into independent territory, what is your opinion of Michael Bloomberg? He is not definitively involved in the race, but has done a great deal of probing into his possibilities on a national level. I would say there are a few situations where he might throw his hat in, if prompted to believe he could pull something off.[/color][/QUOTE][size=1]I think if Bloomberg wanted to throw his hat into the ring, he should have done it already. There is still plenty of time before the elections, but he doesn't have enough of a national profile to make an impact at this point. All I think he would do is draw votes away from whoever the Democratic candidate would be. As for Nader, I read that he was still considering running for '08, so um.... cool? While I don't like Hillary for a lot of non-political reasons, I find myself siding with her on most domestic policy issues. I like Ron Paul a lot, but there's no way in hell he's going to be elected to anything. This makes Clinton the clear front-runner for me at the moment. 1) Paul, 2) Clinton, 3) McCain, 4) Obama, 5) Romney I would never vote for Huckabee, no matter how charismatic he is. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/daedalusavatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/fauntleroy-chronicle.jpg[/img][/center] [size=1][indent]Fauntleroy rested in his bed as he carefully sorted through a large stack of papers that had been waiting for him. Being the most social member of the Almagest family tree, he found himself inundated with letters of condolence from hundreds of Czenovians that he had never even met before. It was a comforting thought to know that so many strangers cared, but it would take much more than that for the small hole in his shoulder to stop stinging. He only hoped that Alecia had forgotten about his promise to return to the hospital after the races. There was a knock on the door to his quarters. Fauntleroy winced. “[b]Come in![/b]” The door slowly opened to reveal Daedalus, clearly exhausted from a long day at the races. “[b]Oh, Uncle. Hello! Has Nellie returned to Rosengard yet?[/b]” “[b]I’m afraid not. However Dawlish has promised me that he would stay up late tonight, and wake me as soon as she comes home.[/b]” Fauntleroy nodded “[b]She's a grown woman and a member of the Guard. I’m sure she can take care of herself.[/b]” “[b]Perhaps so. But I’m not here to discuss my daughter with you...[/b]” Daedalus locked eyes with his nephew for a moment, sending a chill down the young man’s spine. “[b]We did not have much time to speak earlier,[/b]” He said sternly, “[b]But I want to know what you think you plan on doing with Artemis Air Transports’ offer…?[/b]” “[b]Oh, that? I had scheduled a meeting with Meredyne Artemis. We‘ll discuss her intentions over some drinks… I had planned to talk to you about it when I had more information.[/b]” “[b]Artemis wants to tear Magitech apart piece by piece. You‘d be a fool to even speak with them.[/b]” “[b]I’d be a fool [I]not[/I] to! Do you honestly think I’m capable of running this company in your stead? Something needs to change and I‘m merely willing enough to explore our options.[/b]” “[b][i]In my stead?[/i][/b]” “[b]Please. That’s not what I meant, Uncle--[/b]” “[b]I know exactly what you meant.[/b]” Daedalus replied coldly. There was a moment of silence before Fauntleroy spoke, “[b]I didn't mean to upset you with this news, Uncle. I respect your opinion, but you know as well as I do that if I secure enough votes from the family, your disapproval won‘t be a factor.[/b]” Daedalus was taken back by his nephew‘s audacity. He rubbed his forehead as he spoke, surprised that the boy he had helped raised could speak to him in such a manner.. “[b]I had no idea that you could feel so strongly, boy,[/b]” he said disapprovingly, “[b]Magitech had always been something of great importance to your father. It's a shame that only a few days after his passing you are already thinking about selling it off.[/b]" "[b]I think it's for the best.[/b]" "[b]If that's the case, so be it. I just hope you reconsider your position, Fauntleroy. Good night.[/b]” And with that Daedalus shut the door behind him.[/size][/indent]

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']I do find the topic amusing in that the one trend I have noticed since I became a member is that the complaint goes back and forth. From [I]you're not strict enough[/I], to [I]you are being too strict[/I]. [B]o_O[/B] I kind of feel sorry for the staff at times since no matter what they do, someone is always unhappy. And it doesn't help that other members can't see when someone works it out with a moderator via pm so they assume that someone is being 'silenced' when that's probably not accurate.[/QUOTE][size=1]That's always going to be the way, I think. We have a large, diverse community so it's almost a guarantee that at any given moment [i]someone[/i] is going to be unhappy with things. As Mom clarified, yes, I think the staff can be too proactive at times, but I don't mean to say that OB is a police state. Our current mods are far from unreasonable, so I'd rather see these kinds of disputes brought up and discussed in a public forum rather than through PM. Of course, as long as the members' concerns are being addressed by staff then it shouldn't matter where the matter is settled. -Shy[/size] :whoops:

[size=1]I think the moderating staff often crosses a line when they try to prevent arguments or drama, especially when discussing a topic like evolution. It seems perfectly natural that members would argue with one another and sometimes those arguments get a little heated.But why exactly is that a problem? We're trying to create a [i]discussion[/i], not a debate. If members stray a little bit off-topic then I don't see why that's a problem. Of course, I [I]do[/I] have a problem with people who decide to post in another damn 'Evolution' thread. Can't you people find something else to talk about? -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Neuvoxraiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I think we should have an image of him. I always envisioned him as a dashing Zorro figure, the mask hiding the ticking time bomb of evil inside him...[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE][size=1]That's fine by me. If someone can come up with an image I'll put it up. James, do you have any plans for Hugo Black? Perhaps this could give Henry something to do, seeking out revenge for the 'accident.' As for the day, I actually forgot that Malkav has an important post that he is still working to finish. He should have it up over the weekend, so until then I'm just going to shift things to the evening. I know Rach had some things he wanted to play around with, so maybe this will give him a chance to do so. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Since we don't need to read every character's personal reaction to Morphia's accident, I'd like to ask the group if it's alright that we move the story forward in time. I would suggest placing things later in the evening, where we get to see some of the fallout from the accident. That way some of the characters who were brought along for the races have a chance to wander off and do their own thing. If you guys want to move things even further (onto the next day or whatever) that's fine by me. In reality, only a handful of the characters knew Morphia very well, and I imagine accidents at the races are fairly common. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]Just to let everyone know, in regards to the race Morphia [spoiler]is alive, but very seriously injured.[/spoiler] -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/Minneymin/morphiaavatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/Minneymin/henryavatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/Minneymin/ladybavariaavatar.jpg[/img][/center] [size=1][indent]Morphia stumbled across the stable grounds, halfway in a daze, before reaching her favorite mount, the enormous red lizard Fervus. As she approached the beast it extended its’ large purple tongue towards her, instantly recognizing the scent of her rival. The creature let out a low growl, frightening a pair of hired hands nearby. “[b]Oh Fervus, please![/b]” Morphia said as she climbed onto her saddle, “[b]The last thing I need is criticism from you about my love life.[/b]” The sound of a marching band echoed from the Circuit, instantly sending the stables into a frenzy. Jockeys quickly hopped aboard their mounts, angrily tossing out orders from their assistants. In the distance she could see Henry climbing on top of his enormous featherdragon, and her thoughts began to scatter once again. “[b]This is no time to lose your head![/b]” a familiar male voice called out from behind, “[b]All of Czenovia is outside of those doors.[/b]” Morphia turned around to discover the Dynast’s favored jockey, Hugo Black, returning from the latest heat. Sweat dripped from beneath his polished leather helmet as he walked by, a mad grin spreading ear-to-ear across his handsome tan face. “[b]I was only thinking of how I will defeat you at the finals, Black![/b]” she replied. Hugo winked at the young woman, “[b]It will take more than daydreaming, Miss Markham. Good luck.[/b]” She turned her head away in disgust, and motioned for Fervus to exit the stables. Only a week ago she had trouble finding suitable company for dinner, yet now it seemed as if every available man in the Circuit was vying for her attention. [I]It must be the races. They’re always so full of surprises…[/I] It was only a few moments later when Morphia and Fervus stepped out among her competition, lining up as Thomas Dreadnaught announced each racer. In the distance she could see her sister sharing a drink with Prince Primas, her face full of disappointment. Morphia turned her attention towards the other racers, locking eyes with Henry momentarily. She turned away quickly; if she had any hope of qualifying for the next round she would need to remain focused. Thomas’ voice blared throughout the entire stadium as he shouted into a loudspeaker from a nearby platform. “[b]This is the second qualifying round for the Chimaera Grand Cup! Each jockey is required to race around the track a total of [I]25[/I] times. The first four to finish will be declared the winners, and sent into the next round, the semi-finals![/b]” The crowd began to shout in anticipation, and even the jockeys could feel the vibrations of their applause. Thomas withdrew a small pistol, aiming in towards the sky, and began his countdown. “[b]3... 2... 1... Go![/b]” Before the smoke could escape the barrel of Thomas Dreadnaught’s pistol, the dozen competitors had already left the gates, with Morphia at an early lead. She held tightly onto Fervus as they raced, desperately hoping to stay ahead of the others. Fervus was an excellent sprinter, but in endurance races such as the Cup she would have hold back some of her chimaera’s energy until later. “[b]Do it Morphia![/b]” Lady Bavaria screamed from the grandstands, “[b]Make the little blonde snot suffer![/b]” Primas raised an eyebrow, “[b]I had no idea that you had such passion for the races, Bavaria.[/b]” “[b]It’s not the race I’m concerned about, prince. It’s the family honor![/b]” Several laps had passed when Fervus began to shake violently. Morphia looked down at the dirt track in confusion, noticing that one of her chimaera’s ankles had become injured somehow. [I]The race has barely begun![/I] she thought, [I]If we stop now the entire season will have been a waste.[/I] It was at that moment Henry passed her by, thus taking the lead. She turned her gaze towards Henry, her eyes full of panic, as the young boy slid his mount towards her own, attempting to knock her off the track. “[b]Henry, don’t![/b]” Morphia called out, “[b]Fervus is injured![/b]” Over the crowds and excitement around them, Henry could neither see nor hear Morphia as he moved her ever closer off of the track. She looked behind her, where nearly a dozen more jockeys were eager to take her place. Fervus called out in pain. In an instant the beast collapsed, twisting Morphia off and knocking her violently against the dirt below. There would be no time for the officials to stop the racers. Within a heartbeat each of the lumbering chimaera began to trample the two as they lay helpless on the track.[/size][/indent]

[quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]I have a question or rather confusion about the plot. It was indicated that one of the heirs was thinking Bavaria would make a fine Queen, but that makes no sense to me. I mean royalty married to produce heirs so why would he consider a woman who is apparently barren? Unless he's not aware of this? Though I would imagine hiding the fact that she produced no children for Leonhart would have been impossible and highly gossiped about among the wealthy. Anyway, that's something that I've been curious about since that post. So what exactly is the deal?[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE][size=1]Lady Bavaria is a very talented diplomat, and Primas himself mentioned that she may be single-handedly responsible for preventing a war with Anova and the Old Globe. Putting her in the role of Queen may ease some international tensions, which is first and foremost in his mind. And I don't think he (or anyone) knows that she's barren. Lady Bavaria married Leonhart later in his life, so perhaps he never wanted to have more children. If Primas were to marry Bavaria, her inability to produce heirs would obviously create some tension. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]I imagine Beatriste would have more of a problem with Victoria riding a Chimaera than Bavaria would. Those things are dangerous! -Shy[/size]

[quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Also... Shy! Post! I have the feeling that someone is going to [spoiler]die[/spoiler] when the next bit of drama happens. I could be wrong, but I'll be surprised if I'm not. XP[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE][size=1]Hm. Could be... Great posts everyone, but [b]James[/b], your post is stretching out the page! Put the posting avatars on different lines. >_

[quote name='indifference'][COLOR="Indigo"][B]EDIT: [/B]And done, though that took a little longer than I expected. [/COLOR][/QUOTE][size=1]My goodness! I think you deserve an award for using so many characters in your post. Well done. -Shy[/size]

[size=1]I imagine that there are different classifications of chimaera, and thus there might be different events for each type. Flying chimaera obviously couldn't compete against ones without that ability, and they probably break things up by size as well. There might also be different obstacles, like hoops the racers have to fly through, so it could be much more exciting than a simple race. This is some great stuff so far, though. I'm eager to see what the final product looks like. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]Anyway, as long as all of that is clear at this stage, we should be fine from here on. Tonight is the Chimaera Cup (some characters have already arrived) and Gustave is about to make his little entrance. Should be an interesting race. :catgirl:[/font][/QUOTE][size=1]Oh you have no idea. While I don't want to go into a lot of details about how the races work (if someone else wants to, that's fine) I'm curious to see how Gustave interacts with the larger group. He certainly seems so...[i]foreign[/i] (But I guess some of the characters might find that charming.) At the very least, it will be nice to see someone in Czenovia who isn't mourning the loss of a loved one or experiencing a great personal tragedy. [spoiler]For now at least. Nobody is safe from The Underdogs! Heh.[/spoiler] -Shy[/size]

[size=1]The NES Robot is a playable character!? Can I just send Nintendo the check now? -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]On that thought, exactly how is Magitech being divided up Josh/Sandy ?[/SIZE][/QUOTE][size=1]It hasn't really been established yet, but Magitech has a board of directors who each control a large share of the company. The Almagests combined have a controlling interest, and that is split between Daedalus, Catherine, Bavaria, Fonty, Bea, Macey and Eva. In order for any major decision about the company's future to be approved, the majority must vote for it. This means that in most cases whatever the Almagests say goes. We'll get into the fuzzy math later on, I imagine. But ultimately what the players decide goes. There will be an official vote at a later date. Dame Anna was given a very generous inheritance from Leonhart, but Lady Bavaria could have it tied up with legal red tape for quite some time. Also don't forget that Henry is an accomplished chimaera jockey. He probably has more than enough saved to care for he and his mother for quite some time. And Kathy wins this thread. End of story. -Shy[/size]

[quote name='Malkav']If at all possible, have Morphia and Bavaria go to the little shindig. I promise I'll post something with Jack before the end of the week detailing his exploits infiltrating the underdogs. Cyriel's leaving the country soon, but I please don't write off her character.[/QUOTE][size=1]Oh I have plans for Morphia, don't you worry! I'll be writing about her adventures at the races in a future post. With Cyriel away and Muse disappearing it appears that I'll have to write about the actual race myself. That's fine, though, since things are about to get very interesting for the both of them. -Shy[/size]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/henryavatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/catherinesaraavatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/damegrimalkinavatar.jpg[/img][/center] [size=1][indent]After a brief carriage ride across town, Catherine Sara’s coach pulled before the ivory-colored gates of the High Czenoble Downs, better known as the Czenovian Chiamera Circuit. The roads were packed with visitors of all walks of life, each eager for the first heat of races to begin. A small fair had assembled out front, containing dozens of colorful merchants eager to sell their wares. In a time when Czenovia was in such great turmoil, it was a pleasant sight to see such great crowds joining together for a peaceful occasion. Dame Anna stared out across the vast sea of carriages and steam cars, “[b]Every year it seems to grow larger and larger, doesn’t it Lady Almagest?[/b]” Catherine Sara winced, “[b]Please don’t be so formal, Anna. Today you are my guest, and more importantly you are my friend. Although Bavaria may attempt to keep you from Rosengard, I‘ll always make certain that both you and Henry have a home.[/b]” “[b]Thank you very much, Catherine,[/b]” Henry said gratefully, “[b]But if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll walk the rest of the way. It is only a short walk to the stables from here.[/b]” “[b]Oh! And before I forget,[/b]” Catherine said as she reached into her purse and withdrew a small pin, “[b]I wanted you to have it.[/b]” “[b]What’s this?[/b]” Henry eyed the object carefully. It was a small silver pin, featuring both a lion and the Almagest family seal. “[b]This was… this was Leonhart’s. He wore it on the day he received the Wreath of Valor from King Prosperous himself.[/b]” “[b]Oh Catherine, no,[/b]” Anna pleaded as she reached for a handkerchief, “[b]Wouldn’t one of the other children..?[/b]” “[b]They have more than enough, I can assure you![/b]” she quickly replied, “[b]I can think of no one more deserving of it than our young chimaera jockey.[/b]” Anna’s eyes began to water as she embraced her child tightly, “[b]Oh Henry. Please be careful out there. And try not to go so fast if you can help it.[/b]” “[b]What she meant to say was ‘Good luck,’[/b]” Catherine added, “[b]We’ll be waving at you from the Achard Marquee.[/b]” Henry nodded, a huge grin across his face, and hopped out of the carriage onto the bustling street below. [center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/donner-avatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/princessaugustine-avatar.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/blair-avatar.jpg[/img][/center] Deep within the High Czenoble Downs a small army of Royal Guards stood stationed in front of a large tunnel, leading to the labyrinthine underbelly of High Czenoble. An investigation of the Rosengard incident had led to speculation that The Starks had entered the estate from below, but few were aware that these same tunnels were The Dynasts’ primary form of transportation. A pair of heavily armored guards appeared from the darkness of the passage, enveloping the three Dynast heirs. Each were dressed in their finest, eagerly awaiting their day at the races. “[b]Good work men,[/b]” Primas Generous said as he motioned for the large group to separate, “[b]You have each been informed of your station. Under no circumstances are you to leave your post.[/b]” The fleet of guards saluted as they dispersed, leaving behind only a handful of bodyguards with the royals. Princess Augustine removed a small mirror from her handbag and began to examine herself carefully, “[b]What an exciting day! It has been much too long since we’ve joined the public for an event like this.[/b]” “[b]Too true,[/b]” Juvenous said with a nod, “[b]And even longer since I’ve gambled alongside them. I only hope I brought enough Crownes...[/b]” Primas Generous grimaced, “[b]Both of you need to stop being so childish. We are only here to ease any suspicion of our father’s health. If Czenovia knew their King was on his deathbed they would find little reason to celebrate.[/b]” “[b]We must remain in good spirits. After all, father has pulled through much worse,[/b]” Juvenous replied, “[b]Besides, was it not you, brother, who extended a personal invitation to Lady Bavaria this very morning?[/b]” “[b]She is a brilliant diplomat and a fascinating woman. Were it not for her political skill, I fear Czenovia would already be at war with both Anova and the alliance of the Old Globe.[/b]” “[b]She would make a fine wife, Primas. I only hope you can get some time with her today.[/b]” “[b]She will be a [I]great[/I] wife,[/b]” Primas said confidently, “[b]And an even greater queen.[/b]” The trio let out a strained laugh as Primas, Juvenous, and their guards left the darkness and made their way towards the upper levels of the grandstands. Princess Augustine waited behind in the tunnel for a moment, listening carefully as two familiar figures approached her from behind. She turned around, only to discover Donner and Blair Stark standing before her. "[b]Your Majesty...[/b]" Donner and Blair said with a hint of sarcasm in their voices. "[b]There you are. Do you both understand your assignment?[/b]" "[b]Yes, your Majesty.[/b]" "[b]Then be off, and don't get caught,[/b]" Augustine commanded, "[b]There is much work to be done, and so little time before the races begin...[/b]"[/size][/indent]