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| A Return to Empire | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 28 2014, 06:11 PM (1,784 Views) | |
| Whal | Jan 28 2014, 06:11 PM Post #1 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Belvedere Imperial Palace, Outskirts of Vienna.. Posted Image Four members of the elite Royal Uhlans Division stood motionless in front of the frozen lake bordering along the entrance to the Imperial palace. They wore no winter outerwear over their colorful spring uniforms, but they stood at attention regardless, despite the cold. A bone-chilling and quite peculiar frigid wind blew over the East German capital on this night. It wasn't that cold weather was necessarily out of season at this time in Vienna, but the wind appeared to move with a particular aggressiveness which made even the stoic faces of the Uhlans flinch in evasion. Like it or not, this was their post and it was one of the highest honors in the Ostliche Militar. A soldier may find guarding the Imperial family pointless, even an archaic practice no longer needed or required in a liberal, parliamentary society; however his role would be precious to those with which so much trust had been vested on his duty to protect their privacy. He would soon come to know the fruits of his sacrifice. Out of the night's darkness, falling snow, and harsh winter winds came a single motorcar. Stopping an ear short of the third guard's position, the car stopped and a warmly wrapped chauffeur appeared from the driver's side door and walked briskly to the vehicle's rear. Before a hand was even placed on the handle, a man in an expensive charcoal pea coat emerged; quickly tipping the chauffeur, he preceded down the windy path past the guards and towards the palace steps. "Thank you, Mr. Hunderschorn", the driver responded excitedly, obviously not accustomed to the gesture. "Make yourself comfortable", Hunderschorn replied whilst walking away, "This may take quite a while." Two of the Uhlans caught up immediately and positioned themselves around the gentleman with one on each side, thus providing an escort. Hunderschorn smiled to himself more from nostalgia than discomfort and walked at his own pace, forcing the guards to match his speed. Eventually they made it to the grand steps marking the palace's entrance where Hunderschorn was quickly led through to the building's interior. The wealth of the Hapsburgs was immeasurable and even the prosperous Hunderschorn had to acknowledge the amount of money needed to construct the Belvedere. It must have cost literally tens of millions! Indeed, no small investment, and this wasn't even the only imperial residence. After gazing for a few seconds, the gentleman was ushered into a private, guarded room at the end of an elaborate hallway. Four more men resided there, all seated and all very familiar to the illustrious CEO that Hunderschorn was. Starting from Hunderschorn's right, the individuals were Lothar von Pommern, Ulrich Wolf, Graf Jurgen von Pless, and Herman Harpe. The first, von Pommern, was the Ostheer's highest ranking military commander besides Chancellor Schlesinger. Ulrich Wolf, the second and tallest, was the ranking commander of the Luftwaffe. Graf von Pless was the most well-known and richest member of the Austrian nobility outside of the imperial family, and a very powerful man. Finally, Herman Harpe, the largest and most portly member of the group, was the President of the Federal Counsel and had considerable sway over both the Bundesrat and Nationalrat. With Hunderschorn present as well, it appeared most of the Federation's most powerful men had been assembled in one place. "Mr. Hunderschorn has arrived, your Majesty", a servant stated whilst bowing. A figure off to the side by a fireplace turned to face him. Hunderschorn was internally embarrassed. How could he have forgotten one of the most influential men in Austria? "Good evening, your Majesty", he replied calmly, but with a friendly nature. Karl von Hapsburg, Archduke of Austria, Head of the United Traditional Party, and rightful heir to the Imperial throne smiled widely as he approached Hunderschorn and embraced him. "Ah, Klaus, please sit down", the Archduke requested. Hunderschorn sat without delay. "The CEO of Chemostadt?", von Pommern asked bewildered. "How can he help here?" Graf von Pless rolled his eyes then said, "Clearly he's more than that." "You are correct", Karl II answered, turning towards Hunderschorn, "Major Klaus Maximillian Wallner, Commander of the 32nd Armoured Division of the Holy Roman 9th Army." The Archduke's words garnered all of the room's attention upon the correctly identified Wallner. "Impossible", Wolf uttered in disbelief, "You were imprisoned". "Was, briefly", Wallner corrected him. "It wasn't meant to last thanks to his Majesty." The room fell silent for a moment while the men took in the news. Wallner calmly sipped a drink handed to him earlier by the servant. The Archduke waited patiently for his friend to continue. "I have been a close friend ever since", Wallner began, "Now, I imagine, my services will be needed once again. Both the old and the new." Karl von Hapsburg smiled wide, pleased at the man's apparent compliance. The room fell silent once again, however this time awaiting the response of the Archduke. They didn't wait long. "Well, gentlemen, let us begin", He stated confidently. "We have much to discuss and time is of the utmost importance." Edited by Whal, Jan 28 2014, 06:17 PM.
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| Whal | Jan 30 2014, 08:29 PM Post #2 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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With the unveiling of Wallner's true identity, the introductory phase of the meeting was at its close. Not that the men in the small dimly lit room needed time to get more familiar with one-another (it was only Hunderschorn, rather Wallner, who was truly the newcomer), on the contrary, they had been meeting in secret as early as the Federation's foray into Slovenia. At that time, however, the situation wasn't yet ripe enough for their intervention. Luckily, that time had passed. Their time to come out of the shadows was vastly approaching... Although, despite this perfect opportunity to surface, the Archduke's plans could not simply be allowed to unveil themselves all at once. No, their secret operations had been so successful thus far because they had been allowed an optimal incubation period. Acting too rashly without exercising the proper precautions could threaten the ideal revolution the Archduke and his visionaries shared, and thus such meetings at the palace were still needed. Wallner would still need to be brought up to speed however, and quickly, for he had missed several months of preparatory planning and extremely difficult work. Indeed, much more would need to be done in the coming weeks and the newcomer would need to be properly outfitted and instructed. Karl von Hapsburg took his seat at the large circular table at which his accomplices were already seated, waiting. Wasting no more time in idle small-talk, he rather quickly unveiled a large map and laid it in before the men. The map was a dearly held dream of the Archduke; a detailed and beautiful tapestry-like piece of parchment outlining the borders of the old Holy Roman Empire of the 11th century. "This, gentlemen, will be the end result of all our hard work", Karl von Hapsburg purred. Wallner's eyes widened and he broke out in a subtle series of goosebumps. The domain of the recent empire, his empire, had never reached the territorial boundaries of this empire of old. He found it quite easy to fall into the Archduke's dream. "It is beautiful", he whispered, continuing once he realized the attention in the room was once again diverted in his direction, "How, your Majesty?" "Patience, Klaus, there is much still needed of all of you", the Archduke replied, raising from his seat and returning to the fire place. Herman Harpe, the portly President of the Counsel, sighed deeply, "So much has been accomplished already. The removal of Schlesinger's support among many in the business sector, the compliance of the military and Abwehr, as well as the promises we made to the clergy and nobility." "All necessary components", Karl continued with a wide smile, "But much more has yet to be secured. You all still have contributions to fulfill before we can deliver the final blow to the Federation. Its time we discuss the final preparatory stages to our little revolution. Your Grace, it's time." Von Pless closed his eyes and nodded in affirmation. With a look to the two servants guarding the door, the shades were dimmed and the room cleared of all except the six men. Once he was sure the space was secure, Graf von Pless removed a small sheet of paper with an extensive checklist. Many points had already been crossed off, but a substantial few remained. "We are looking at the final stages of our operation and they're no simple feat", he stated seriously. "We have secured the support of much of the Ostheer and Luftwaffe forces inside of Vienna District, Upper and Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Tyrol, yet we have almost no assurances that the divisions inside the remainder of the country, Hungary, Slovenia, or Croatia will back our ascendancy. Likewise, we have yet to gain the support of the Kriegsmarine or a major foreign power. Either of these will mean control of the seas." Von Pless took a moment to let what he said sink in before he continued. This issue remained a serious deterrent to execution of their plan, as the military would be essential in maintaining order or even fighting for them should the operation become violent. "On the political scene, we have yet to gain the support of our close friends in the OV. Without the nationalists, we will fail to execute the beginning of the entire operation. We need Parliament to approve of a vote of no confidence in Schlesinger and the Social Democrats. Additionally, we still need to garner more support among the middle class and the urban poor. We already have the nobility, clergy, and most of the private business sector, but the common people must be made to detest the Chancellor and his party if we have any hope in succeeding", von Pless finished. Most of the party nodded in familiarity as the Graf explained the operation, however Wallner was still confused as to his role. Most of the things mentioned could be handled by the men the Archduke assembled, yet Wallner still pondered what he was to contribute. When von Pless finally got to his role, Wallner once again was embarrassed. He wondered whether the Archduke was already aware of his plans. "Now, for our new man", von Pless continued, looking at Wallner. "Despite our support inside the business sector, we have yet to obtain the support of the government's only industrial savior. If we are to crush Schlesinger's hold over the Austrian industry we must have AMAG." Austria Metall, abbreviated as AMAG, was the Federation's leader in industrial output and metal-working and had, as of late, signed a huge contract with the government allocating huge swaths of government property and resources to the industrial giant. Wallner's company, Chemostadt, had just recently entered its hand into the aluminum business and it had been his dream to one day surpass AMAG as Austria's leader in basic materials. However, to do this, Wallner would need huge amounts of money or for AMAG to suddenly "disappear". Wallner had no idea which of these the Archduke envisioned for him to accomplish. "You wan't me to surpass AMAG?", Wallner responded in disbelief, "That's just not possible with my current resources." The Archduke smiled wide before speaking, "No, Klaus, I wan't you to buy AMAG." "Excuse me?!", Wallner almost spat out his drink onto the fancy antiquated map before him. "How would I go about doing that, your Majesty? I would need unheard of funds to do this and that's only if AMAG's executive board is even willing to be bought out." "I will transfer you the funds required", Karl von Hapsburg reassured the bewildered Wallner. "I would purchase it myself, but that would only garner Schlesinger's attention. Your interesting relationship with the Chancellor may also attract his attention with this arrangement, but he will be powerless to resist any move you make. The fool may even be under the assumption that he can use this to control you. His folly will distract him from our pushes elsewhere, and will allow us to gain a huge upper hand over this country's industry. What do you say, Klaus?" Wallner deeply pondered the situation. So intricate were the Archduke's plans; so thought out and marvelous that they might actual work. Not only would AMAG's resources and establishments be under Wallner's command, but his position in the Archduke's new Holy Roman Empire would be forever solidified. Perhaps, there was something to gain here after-all he thought. "I would be honored to do this, your Majesty", he replied with a grin. "I thank you for this golden opportunity and the privilege of serving the crown in this endeavor." "Excellent", Karl von Hapsburg muttered. Both men contemplated how they had effectively outplayed the other. Only time would tell who had been granted the upper hand: Wallner, with the massive resources and client-base of a giant transnational industrial conglomerate, or the Archduke, who would preside over one of Central Europe's most promising rising Empires. With all of the men assigned their respective duties, the meeting was adjourned and the group set about their own businesses. Wallner grabbed his coat and exited the palace; returning once again to the brutally frigid winter night. Much like before, the Uhlans rushed to his side and escorted him back to his luxury sedan. The chauffeur rather clumsily crushed his cigarette on the frozen ground and opened his boss' door. "Where too, Mr. Hunderschorn?", the man asked, shaking frantically from the cold. "Home sounds lovely", came the reply. Wallner remained silent the entire ride home. The revolution had begun its most vulnerable stage. |
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| Whal | Feb 4 2014, 05:31 PM Post #3 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Osterstag Building, Vienna... Posted Image Klaus Maximillian Wallner took a long and drown out puff from his cigarette. Without a care in the world, he let the ashes from it's lit end fall uninterrupted onto the Osterstag's granite steps. Another deep inhale, followed by a sigh of annoyance, vibrated off the building's pillars as he awaited his companions to meet him. Today was the day. The bitter work undertaken by the Archduke's secret committee had taken a conceded effort from all of its members. Not least of all, Mr. Wallner, who dealt with serious unwanted attention from the public and even Chancellor Schlesinger himself. In the later case, Wallner handled an extremely delicate situation in which the understandably suspicious Chancellor paid him a home visit to inquire as too his recent business venture. Traditionally, AMAG had given Schlesinger the support he needed from the business sector, but now that Wallner had acquired it so suddenly the Chancellor was forced to investigate. At first Wallner assumed the worst, but subsequent revisiting of the situation allowed a cooler attitude to prevail. Wallner couldn't help but grin as Schlesinger attempted to direct his company's next moves; obviously threatening to reveal his dark past should he refuse the Chancellor's directions. Wallner wished desperately to unveil their plans then and there, but he stayed his tongue and Schlesinger left never the wiser. Today, he thought, today Schlesinger will learn. Wallner took yet another prolonged drag from his cigarette. Not but a second after, the Archduke arrived and exited his private luxury sedan. "You've picked up smoking, have you?", The Archduke toyed with Wallner as he walked up to meet him. Wallner scoffed, "Today's a good enough day as any", then asked, "Is everything in place?" "Right to the point, I see", Karl von Hapsburg replied as if annoyed. "Yes, everyone has accomplished what they've set out to do. The right precautions have all been taken in case politics fails us here, however I find that highly unlikely. Parliament has been waiting for this for quite some time, but not nearly as long as I." "Shall we then?", Wallner said, waving his arms in the direction of the doors. The two men walked in earnest towards the entrance of the building where they went their separate ways; Wallner to the non-essential seating and the Archduke to his seat as the United Traditional Party chairman. The two men made eye contact just as Herman Harpe, the Federal Court President, entered on the left of the main floor and walked towards the podium. It wasn't time to destroy Schlesinger just yet, however, and Harpe made the usual preliminary introductions and minutia of the parliamentary system. He made a rather inconspicuous wink at the Archduke before taking his seat in the front row. It was then Schlesinger's turn to address the august body. He made his usual introductory speech and proceeded to begin the day's hearings. The usual discussions, operations in Hungary (which exulted grumbles from the body), the social welfare agenda, education reform, and a particularly interesting bill proposing the dissolution of the Federal Protectorate Region of Croatia and the establishment of a standard Federal Republic of Croatia. Wallner sat through the entire deliberation, a ridiculously long process, which, to be honest, he would be happy to see shortened by the Archduke's reforms. Then it was time. Wallner almost went to the restroom as Harpe took to the floor once more. "Everyone, Ladies and gentlemen", Harpe announced in a bid to settle the crowd of people, "Esteemed parliamentarians, it is at this time that we move to a vote on something of utmost importance. It has been decided, based on popular demand from this august body, that a motion of no confidence be orchestrated against the current government in response to the questionable handling of the ongoing Hungarian War. By which, a total dissolution of the current cabinet shall be undertaken immediately, and a new cabinet be formed based on a majority vote from this august body." A wave of gasps and yells immediately rained from a quarter of the room as Social Democrats and Communists yelled obscenities at Harpe. Chancellor Schlesinger was floored. His cabinet members present all looked towards him for guidance, but the giant of the East German Federation just stared ahead in disbelief. "This is absurd!", yelled a member of the SPO, "You're undermining our very chances of success in Hungary!" The Nationalists, Traditionalists, and Free Democrats rejected the outburst outright and fired back, "Don't be ridiculous, we're saving the situation in Hungary!" The two sides continued in verbal gridlock as Harpe attempted restore a semblance of order. Schlesinger attempted to analyse the situation in his head; wrestling with the various outcomes and his inevitable responses. Eventually his eyes met those of his enemy, Karl von Hapsburg, who raised a glass of water in a mocking toast to Schlesinger. It was at that moment that all of Schlesinger's recent shortcomings finally ran together. In an act of humility and true leadership, Schlesinger rose from his seat and approached the podium. "Attention, everyone!", Schlesinger commanded passionately, as if it was his last speech, "If it is truly the wish of this assembly then we must allow this motion to pass unabated. It is our duty as parliamentarians to respect the due process of democracy even when the outcomes are not what we intended. Please, everyone relax and let's get on with this." Schlesinger raised his own glass of water at the Traditionalists in a show of respect as much as defiance. In response, the Archduke smiled and shook his head. He had to give Schlesinger the credit he deserved; the man was a pillar of exemplary good conduct. If he had not only been a noble, Karl von Hapsburg thought, he would have been an extremely valuable asset to the empire. In truth, the Archduke hoped that Schlesinger would submit and join his new dream in some way. He remained doubtful. Harpe distributed the ballots to each party present and then cast his own vote. The entire event took a measly, yet shocking, 15 minutes. Harpe then took the results to the recently purchased counting machine and waited. Many teetered on their seats in anticipation, some, like Schlesinger and Karl von Hapsburg, sat quietly and accepted the inevitable outcome. Schlesinger was so deep in his own introspective thought that he missed the first part of Harpe's announcement. "This assembly has voted for dissolution of the current cabinet....." Schlesinger did not miss the second part. "...As for the new cabinet, this august body had voted in favor of the United Traditional Party with the majority 145 of 360 total votes. With the dissolution of the current cabinet, and provided the VTP fails to produce an individual for the position of Prasident at this moment, the current government shall be headed by myself, acting Federal Court President. With deliberation concluded, the current cabinet is requested to......" Midway through Harpe's address, the Nationalrat erupted into chaos. Members of the SPO and KPO, enraged at a conceived "plot", charged the seating section for the VTP, OV, and FPO leaving the Greens and others stuck in the maelstrom. Fist fights and scuffles began between parliamentarians of all ages, backgrounds, and genders. It was a sight to behold and one quite unbecoming of members of government. Looking from a relatively safe perch, Wallner acquainted the scene to that of a Wiemar Republic street fight rather than a civilized assembly meeting. He couldn't help but smile as these men and women fought like children. Chancellor Schlesinger looked on in shame; as much for the outcome as for the conduct of his country's leading elite. If this is what the Federation was coming towards, perhaps a change was necessary. He walked through the carnage and signed his resignation documents. One thing was certain to Schlesinger, however, in that he would need to get his family out of Austria as soon as possible. Some calls would need to be placed to the Federation's allies while they still remained as such. Perhaps he would return to Austria one day. Karl von Hapsburg watched with delight as Schlesinger signed over his power to Harpe. The toughest aspect of their struggle was over and he could now begin consolidating his power around the military, which thankfully was not required just yet. However, the situation was far from stable and Harpe would need to order the military to mobilize around the capital. There was no telling how the entire civilian population would react to the change, but intelligence had suggested reactions would be positive. Like many things, this would be determined by a test of time. One fact was clear to the Archduke though; the Federation so dear to Schlesinger wouldn't see another sunrise. |
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| Whal | Feb 4 2014, 05:31 PM Post #4 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Donaustadt area, Vienna... Schlesinger wasted no time in returning to his place of residence after the fiasco in the Osterstag. What began with violence will certainly end with violence, the former Chancellor thought as he unlocked his front door. Paying no attention to his security detail, he pushed ahead into his private home and began frantically calling for his wife and daughter. Luckily for Schlesinger, his wife Veronika rushed down the stairs to meet him. Her eyes appeared heavy with puffy sockets and he knew she had been crying recently. Without a word, he grabbed her and held her in a his arms. A slight whimper informed Schlesinger that his wife must have been watching the news and had heard of his his removal, yet it was unclear whether or not she was aware of the imminent danger. "Klaus, what are we going to do?", Veronika inquired, fighting back tears. Schlesinger smiled and stroked her face. Even now his wife fought to emulate her usual "calm under fire" nature even though every minute they spent talking was time wasted. He would never cease to be inspired by her fortitude. She had always been his rock. "There's no time to waste, Veronika", Schlesinger said softly. "Get Lidia and pack only the essentials. We need to leave Vienna tonight." Veronika's eyes closed and she whipped her tears onto her sleeve. With one final squeeze of his torso and a slight kiss, she turned and rushed back up the stairs to begin packing. Schlesinger could hear her soft and tender voice through the ceiling as she awoke their sleeping daughter. Wasting no time himself, he ran down the hallway and into his private study. There, hidden expertly inside a locked safe, was a simple pistol that Schlesinger had never hoped he would need; rather, its only use to him had been as a potential escape from his own personal dark past. A ticket to the hell Schlesinger was sure he would one day be sent. Now, however, it was his last defense between all he held dear and the government which he was sure wouldn't hesitate to harm him or his beloved family. Suddenly, a loud crash from the front door and a single gunshot startled him. Schlesinger loaded the pistol, cocked it, and held it firmly in his grip as he ran back down the hallway. Veronika had just peeked down the stairs when he rushed past. With a quick wave of his hand, she knew to flee to a safe position with their daughter until he could make out the situation. Schlesinger raised the pistol and slowly peeked his head out the window, but one of his security detail rushed inside the house. Schlesinger lowered his weapon. "Sir, there's been an accident", the Abwehr agent stated seriously. "We engaged Minister von Franke's security team by mistake as they attempted to enter the grounds. No one has been injured and the situation is under control, but the Minister wishes to speak with you." "He's no longer the Foreign Affairs Minister, son", Schlesinger responded, slightly relieved, as he rushed out the door. Schlesinger was greeted outside by the remnants of his cabinet, some who even sported injuries from the scuffle at the Osterstag. The only one who was missing was Dieter Krupp, the former Bundesprasident. "What's going on, Jochim?", Schlesinger asked of von Franke. Von Franke looked terrible; his suit jacket was torn and a big bluish bruise covered his left eye. However, the jovial, slightly overweight man whom Schlesinger had grown accustomed too still radiated through the former minister's smile. "It's not looking good out there, Klaus", von Franke responded, "They arrested a lot of us Social Democrats at the Osterstag after you snuck out. They even announced Karl von Hapsburg as the new Chancellor!" Schlesinger looked around at his former coworkers. Many looked terrified and he assumed they had good reason to be; the Archduke was fixing to eliminate all the old vestiges of the former government in preparation for his new one. He had to do it rather peacefully, however, so the recent infighting served as a perfect way to corral the opposition until he could truly accomplish his mission. "What are you all doing here? You need to prepare to leave at once!", Schlesinger berated them. Anke Brandt, the fiery former Interior Minister, interjected, "We don't plan on fleeing just yet. We can still salvage this." "Are you insane, Anke?", Schlesinger yelled, "The Bundespolitzei are probably looking for all of us this very moment. The Archduke's going to abolish all our constitutional defenses first chance he gets. There is no way to fight this legally, everyone, we have to leave now!" "Perhaps legally", Miss Brandt replied angrily, "But if we're smart about this then we can evade them long enough to strike a decisive blow to their leadership. C'mon Klaus, the majority of the people have no idea what they've unleashed and if we can eliminate Hapsburg's cronies then we can turn them against the new establishment." Schlesinger froze for a moment, "What do you mean by eliminate?". She didn't respond, so he repeated it louder. "You know what I mean!", She yelled. "It's the only way to stop them! Stop pretending you've never fought for anything in your life, Klaus. Your a soldier!" "We can't kill them in cold blood, Anke! We're not murderers!", Schlesinger responded defiantly. Von Franke put a hand on Schlesinger's shoulder, "There doesn't seem to be another way. Its the only way to stop future suffering." Schlesinger turned to von Franke in amazement, "You too? What's gotten into you, von Franke?" The cheerful man's smile faded away and a serious expression took its place. "You know it must be done. The Hapsburg's will never relinquish their power to Parliament willingly. We need to form some sort of resistance and hit them when they don't suspect it. Are you with us, Klaus?" "I can't", Schlesinger said without much thought, "I won't. I will not put my family in danger to partake in a plan with no guarantee of success, nor will I be a part of a campaign which besmirches the honor our cabinet and government was founded on. I urge you all to reconsider and leave while you still can." He turned to leave not wanting to hear more of their plans. "Good luck then, Klaus!", von Franke yelled back sincerely. "Take care of yourself and your family!" Schlesinger stopped mid stride in deep contemplation. Turning his back on his friends was one of the most physically and emotionally taxing things he ever had to do. It only added to the long list of hardships and regrets in his life. However, Schlesinger could never endanger his family. If it was the last thing he did with his wretched life it would be to get them to safety. "Too you as well", he responded with a smile. "Please stay safe." It was more of a goodbye than anything else, and Schlesinger had to fight to hold back his own tears. As he re-entered the lobby he closed the door behind him. Schlesinger rubbed his forehead in deep thought, taking a moment to let the situation sink in. "What was that outside?", came Veronika's voice from behind him. She had just returned from deep inside the house. Schlesinger paused a moment before responding, "Nothing, let's go. We have a long way to go." A few minutes later their car was packed and they left their house with a small inconspicuous security team en tow. Schlesinger pushed the rear view mirror away as his house drifted into it's view. The Marslavan border was quite far away. OOC: Marslava is willing to take Schlesinger in right, Alberto? Edited by Whal, Feb 8 2014, 07:41 PM.
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| Whal | Feb 8 2014, 07:43 PM Post #5 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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OOC: My last double post kinda messed with the story-line here, so the next entry is above this posting. The subsequent post will be an edit of this one, and so forth. Sorry for any confusion. Also, anyone who wants to help the resistance or the Hapsburgs can post encrypted messages to them now or in the coming posts. To those I've already spoken with, I'll PM you with when you can become majorly involved. Thanks! Edited by Whal, Feb 8 2014, 07:46 PM.
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| Alberto | Feb 10 2014, 05:42 PM Post #6 |
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Resident Italian
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Encoded Message, addressed to Chancelor Schlesinger The government of the Grand Duchy of Marslava offers safe haven, and its protection, to the Chancellor Schlesinger and his family. Arrangements are currently being taken by the Marslavan Security Service to assist the Chancellor and his family in crossing the border into the Grand Duchy of Marslava if the new government of the Federation was to obstaculate his movements. |
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| Whal | Feb 15 2014, 06:18 PM Post #7 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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OOC: Thanks for that Alberto, plus now I can continue without editing previous posts ^^ . IC: Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna... It was a frigid night, akin to the one at the Belvedere, that Klaus Wallner attended yet another one of the Archduke's summons. His private luxury sedan came to a stop at the summit of the great driveway which had led visitors towards the famous former home of the Hapsburg emperors for almost 4 centuries. Wallner chuckled to himself at the sweet irony of the building's current occupants. Ever since the complete abdication of the imperial throne in 1961, the Hofburg had been the official residence of the chancellor. Wallner found it hilariously accurate that the palace now fulfilled both its original and "modern" role. After entering into the foyer, whipping the fallen snow off his coat, and handing it to a pretty young attendant, Wallner was led to the main ballroom where the sheer extravagance of the scene that greeted him had the effect of a rush of cool water to his face. The chamber was abuzz with any and every characteristic which constitutes a lavish and extravagant party; equipped with elegantly dressed women, cocktail servers, and all of Austria's notables. Before Wallner could retrieve a cocktail from a servant's tray, he was politely "ambushed" by Graf von Pless. "Ah, Mr. Wallner", the royal began with an air of snobbery, "Nice of you to join us this evening. We believed you had forgone our little gathering in the interest of another. For whatever reason, his Majesty has seen fit to wait until your arrival to discuss important matters." He slowly began walking in the direction of a side room. Wallner frowned, "I hardly see a party as being important, your Grace." "That is because all you common men lack the refinement to understand their significance", von Pless replied condescendingly. "Come, his Majesty has some information he strangely deems you worthy of hearing. Then you may leave us." Wallner rolled his eyes, but followed regardless. The side room was guarded by two imposing Uhlans with what appeared to be loaded rifles. Well, this meeting must be somewhat important, Wallner thought. Inside, Karl von Hapsburg sat patiently in a large oak armchair reading a letter. He arose from his seat to greet Wallner; putting a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations on the election, your Majesty", Wallner said with a smile. "Chancellor is a prestigious position." "Ha! Don't insult me, Klaus!", the Archduke replied excitedly. "The only benefit this position holds is as a taunt to our friend, Herr Schlesinger." Von Pless interjected, "Speaking of our dear friend, has news been reached of Schlesinger's apprehension?" "Regrettably, yes", von Pommern responded perturbed. "Herr Schlesinger has escaped into Marslava along with the majority of his staff we believe. It's our assumption that they have been communicating tasks to the local underground here in the city." "Pamphlets and posters haphazardly dispersed by local cretins who are led by impotent expatriate ex-politicians are hardly a major problem for us now", the Archduke scoffed. "Our focus is now shifting to the final stages, which will render any such worries pointless. The time has come for the coup'de'etat which will launch Austria back into the Empire it was always destined to be." Von Pless grinned widely, "Does that mean Kasnyia is with us?" Karl von Hapsburg turned to von Pless in astonishment, "Kasnyia? No, your Grace, the Kasnyians have proved too difficult to negotiate with for this matter, yet they shall serve another purpose at a latter date. The assistance we shall receive shall come from the young Margrave of Brandenburg and a small cadre of elite men." "Von Lebus?", von Pless questioned in disbelief, "The boy is still wet behind the ears; a mere welp! How can he support such a maneuver? He barely has the military might to contend with Marslava, how can you expect him to assist us in a war against Porcu, the Baltic Germans or the Russians, your Majesty!?" Karl II merely smiled, "Young Adrian is a loyal and dear friend of my family and my future son-in-law. He has a friendly, sizeable, and most importantly, local army to assist us in any endeavor. With a Vienna-Berlin Pact, our interests in the region are very much secure, plus they bring with them the trust of other German powers abroad. With his help we can be sure to succeed." Wallner sat quietly as his associates debated the issue, but remained silent, indifferent to the entire matter. He had already sent the cargo to Berlin as requested by the Archduke several days ago; the uniforms and credentials were most likely being unloaded by Brandenburger troops as they spoke. All Wallner cared for was the future business opportunities inside Berlin that had been promised to him. Berlin was a perfect place to begin another manufacturing center. Wallner's thoughts began to dissipate as he tuned back into the conversation. "What is the plan, your Majesty?", Herman Harpe questioned. "Simple", Karl II replied. "We're going to seize the Osterstag indefinitely." |
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| Margrave | Feb 16 2014, 07:03 PM Post #8 |
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Is very much a holla-back girl.
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OOC: The wedding is going to tie in this RP, so I'm posting this here. |
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| Porcu | Feb 19 2014, 01:56 AM Post #9 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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President Gularis had sat and stared at that terse response for a great deal longer than she would care to admit. Matters at home were extremely difficult - only the day before she had completely botched an interview with a premier journalist for one of the Republic's main television networks - and there was some optimism amongst her senior staff that the sideshow of a marriage, away on the Continent no less, could draw attention away from her. Considering her general dislike of the Porcuian royals, Gularis did not even care to inform the King and Queen of their scheduled visit to the storied land of Haydn, Freud, and von Metternich. In fact, the aging royal couple found out by the reading the morning papers. The King smiled though, as it was a shrewd move politically. King Julius Maxentius IV also enjoyed the position of Censor, the profoundly esteemed rung on the cursus honorum which traditionally acted as the crowning political achievement of one's life, the presidency aside. The only question in the King's mind was who would accompany him and his wife. |
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| NRE | Feb 19 2014, 04:51 PM Post #10 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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| Whal | Feb 19 2014, 09:02 PM Post #11 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna... Karl von Hapsburg II sat quietly in his elaborate leather armchair. His eyes were staring at the fire blazing away across from him, uninterrupted and unflinching in its natural beauty. He marveled at its ability to change forever whatever it ensnared within its fiery grip; the element of great change, but also of great power. Suddenly, a soft hand on his shoulder brought the Archduke out of his intense contemplation. Looking up from the flames, he recognized a familiar and friendly face as that of his nephew-in-law and Duke of Istria, Otto von Treschow. "They should arrive any second now, your Majesty", Otto said softly, his gaze gradually shifting towards the fire. Karl II said nothing in response, but nodded his head in a rudimentary form of comprehension. For the first time during the entire operation thus far, he began to develop doubts that the final stages of the operation would play out to his liking. All the necessary precautions had been exercised to the Archduke's meticulous instruction; so much, in fact, that immediate failure seemed so highly unlikely that his doubts would most likely excite only laughs from his associates. At that thought, a smile began to form on the Archduke's face and it did not go unnoticed by the ever vigilant young Otto. Otto smiled back himself, and the two men shared a moment of silent understanding not uncommon in there strange relationship. Otto's family, the Treschows, had long been a supportive noble clan to the Hapsburgs at every turn. It had been Otto's family who had supported the Archduke through ever political decision he ever made, and it was Otto himself who endured a frightful capture by the Baltic Germans at his secret undercover mission to the Lacaedemonian League. The mission was to uncover the organization's goals, but had ulterior motives in spying on the Archduke's ally, Eleanor's fiance, the Margrave Adrian von Lebus. While the meeting proved fruitless, Otto did manage to catch a glimpse of a test on the Margrave's fidelity to Eleanor. The beautiful Baltic woman who had tempted Adrian was no doubt only interested in disrupting the Berlin-Vienna alliance, but Otto had wished secretly that Adrian was unaware of this fact and had acted upon the woman's invitation. Cursed by his true feelings, Otto was madly in love with Eleanor and had wrestled with his duty to her family and to his country all his adult life. Their marriage stung him immensely. A rather commanding knock at the door alerted both nobles that their guests had arrived. With a wave of the Archduke's hand, von Treschow opened the large door to the hallway and was immediately knocked off balance by an abrupt embrace. Eleanor looked more beautiful than he had remembered her; her blonde hair was longer and flowed freely down to her shoulders, but her blue eyes glistened like the familiar pools of precious sapphires he always remembered. He was speechless, but hugged her back until he noticed the Margrave waiting patiently behind her waiting to be announced. "His excellency, Adrian von Lebus, Margrave of Brandenburg-Vorpommern and his wife, Lady Eleanor, your Majesty", he said formally, even though it was only the four in the secluded room. Adrian wasted no time and brushed past Otto, paying the man little attention, and moved straight to the Archduke. Otto's eyebrows tensed, but he soon relaxed them as Eleanor playfully jabbed him in the ribs with her finger. God, it had been too long. "Ah, Adrian, it is good to see you both!", Karl II exclaimed raising to embrace his son-in-law. Adrian smiled, and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Eleanor who rushed to hung her father. Squeezing him tightly, Eleanor began tearing slightly and Adrian questioned why he had waited so long too reunite them. No matter, they were together now and there was business to discuss. "Dear", Adrian said reassuringly in reference to Eleanor, "I wish to discuss some important matters with your father". He lovingly put his arm around her waist to add some levity to his request. She whipped her eyes and took a moment to gaze at her father before responding, "Oh, yes, of course." She kissed Adrian gently on the lips before Otto escorted her out of the room. She was still unaware of the true nature of her wedding. "Now, Adrian my boy, let us discuss this little charade", Karl II asked seriously. Outside the palace, and all throughout Austria, preparations were being made for the wedding and its aftermath. Unbeknownst to most, however, were the preparations for the pre-wedding operation both monarchs had been planning for months. OOC: Margrave, I left you some room for a small dialogue between the Archduke and Adrian before the parade if you're interested. If not we will just proceed with the parade, event, and wedding. Edited by Whal, Feb 20 2014, 12:01 AM.
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| Margrave | Feb 20 2014, 09:42 PM Post #12 |
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Is very much a holla-back girl.
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Adrian was dressed relatively plainly, compared to his dress uniform, wearing only a white dress shirt with black slacks and dark shoes. He was very happy to see Karl again, and the series of events unfolding would be a power play on par with the stabbing of Caesar. This would catapult the German region to it's rightful place as a superpower on the world stage. Karl again took to his chair. "I have 1200 men ready for tomorrow. I will be at the front of the parade on horseback, followed by 400 Uhlan Lancers. Behind them will be 400 soldiers from the Markgrafwehr. Following those men, a carriage will house Eleanor and any dignitaries attending. The rear will be taken up by the last 400 Markgrafwehr." He said all of this from behind Karl's leather throne. He crossed to the fireplace, placing his hand on the mantle and leaning forward slightly. "We will begin the parade near Freud Park before advancing down Universitatsring toward the Osterstag. The procession will stop in the Volksgarten across the street, where the men will prepare. On my order the will sto-." He stopped. "They will put our plan into motion." "I worry, though, for Eleanor." Adrian said quietly. "I know not how she will react to this." Karl smiled and patted the younger man on the shoulders. The next day the parade lined up as planned. Adrian had only spoken briefly with the foreign royals, wanting to quickly begin. They were crowded into the carriage housing Eleanor. She looked slightly worried. These men were obviously well trained and scarred by fighting. They loaded their weapons with the kind of ruthless efficiency only seen in the Prussian style of warfare. "Wait... loaded weapons?" She whispered aloud, realizing with horror the purpose of the soldiers. The others in the closed carriage were not ignorant of the fact, and reacted appropriately. Before any protest could be raised, the parade was underway. Adrian mounted his white horse and lead the parade. Behind him, 4 horsemen with lances bearing the flags of the Margraviate, the Federation, and two golden standards of the old empire on the flanks. In the streets a great crowd had gathered on either side of the path of the parade. Small flags of wither country were waved, and steamers and confetti came down like a colorful deluge of yellow, black, red and white. "This day will be remembered." Adrian thought to himself as he smiled smugly. Before they reached the Volksgarten, the carriage broke off to the other side of the garden, so that Eleanor would cross the garden with Karl II before reaching the Margrave on the other side. The troops behind the carriage fell into place on Adrian's left flank. The carriage was in place, and Karl was the first to step out of the compartment. He nodded to Adrian. Adrian touched the bill of his ornate helmet and nodded before raising his sabre. The troops in the park immediate turned toward the grand building housing the Austrian parliament. When his sable fell he charged to the building with his Uhlans, followed by half of the Markgrafwehr. The second half pushed back the crowd and made sure the royals made it to their choice seats. Karl turned to see Eleanor stunned, tears welling in her eyes. They briefly made eye contact before she ran into the crowd. The chaos in the streets was nothing compared to the battle in the Osterstag. Guards of the parliament were stunned when the river of horsemen entered the hall, skewering their comrades on their archaic weapons. Adrian abstained from the violence, with the exception of one guard whom he stabbed, the first of the causalities of the ensuing scuffle. He and the Uhlans bearing the Imperial standard entered the chamber alone. It was emptied with the exception of a few guards and few minister trying to escape, but Adrian moved to the speaker's podium, flanked on the sides by two Federation flags. He took his helmet off and tossed it to the ground. The flags were removed, thrown to the ground, and replace by the standards of the Empire, one bloodied from the previous combat. The single guard remained, standing on the second tier of the room. He raised his rifle. He carefully trained the gun on Adrian's head before pulling the trigger. Eleanor used the crowd as a smokescreen to escape the pair of Markgrafwehr accompanying Karl in the search for the girl. Karl searched frantically through the crowd before spotting her white dress. "Eleanor!" He cried as the Markgrafwehr closed. Eleanor didn't know what to do. Her whole world was collapsing around her. Stunned civilians congratulated her while simultaneously expressing concern. An old elder of a woman approached her and touched he hand softly. "There, there, cold feet?" She smiled to the princess. Her cataracts made her eyes seem almost white. She pulled Eleanor along with one hand, leading a young girl with the other. The girl looked wide-eyed at Eleanor. The woman towed Eleanor toward the soldiers. "No." She said quietly. The guardsmen thanked the women profusely before taking Eleanor back to the carriage and to Karl. "Eleanor, I was worried. Wait in the carriage until this business is all sorted out." Her legs felt like jelly as she fell into the chair. "Am I a pawn?" She wondered as she sat. She cried. In the Osterstag, Adrian fell to the ground as the shock of the bullet hit him full force in the chest, piercing his silver cuirass. The bullet did not go deep but Adrian writhed in pain on the floor nonetheless. The two dismounted Uhlans unloaded a volley of pistol fire on the assailant as he made his escape. They called for a medic and Adrian was brought out on a stretcher out the back of the building. Adrian refused painkillers for fear they would cloud his judgement. As the medic expertly removed the bullet he screamed before putting his index finger to his mouth. The doctor nodded, even though he was unsure of its meaning. The Osterstag was seized. All in all, 27 men were killed and 42 more injured, excluding Adrian. He was led out of front of the building clothed in his uniform and cuirass, his bandages hidden. Although the bullet hole was seen and he was visibly pale, he carried his sabre in the left hand, waving to Karl in the crowd. Karl nodded. "Look at Adrian." he said to his daughter. "No." She replied. "Is this all I am to you?" She said. "A chess piece in some grand game?" The question buried itself deep in Karl's heart. "Eleanor. You are my daughter and the love of my life. That man there loves you. Do you think he chose you out of pragmatism? If had access to stronger allies. The Russians, for example." He gestured to the delegates. "You have known him since you two were children. He is willing to storm a government building for your hand. I wish I had a spouse half as dedicated." His speech was making little impact to Lady Eleanor, but she had finished crying. She stepped out the carriage as Adrian mounted a house and rode to the ceremony. Karl walked her down the aisle, but she refused to lock arms with him. Adrian was stunned by how beautiful she look in her white gown. Almost immediately he noticed the streaked make up evidencing her emotions. Adrian make a look of concern as she walked to him, but she rebuffed any eye contact. The chaplain of the Royal Uhlans read the vows. "Do you take this woman as your wife, Margrave von Lebus?" "I do." He said. "Do you take this man as your husband, Lady Eleanor?" Eleanor paused. She hesitated for a long time before replying. "I-I do." Edited by Margrave, Feb 20 2014, 09:46 PM.
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| Porcu | Feb 21 2014, 01:05 AM Post #13 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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Arriving with fanfare typical of B-list celebrities, the King and Queen of the Republic of Porcu were welcomed to Vienna, generally, and to the festivities of the upcoming wedding ceremony, specifically. Both His and Her Majesty were impressively dressed, for what else were these sort of occasions for than to showcase the latest and greatest designs that unearned money could buy? The groom's interaction with his esteemed guests was cool at best, for it was clear that his mind was on other matters, yet one guest did draw an extended gaze and a rather bitter and harsh handshake. While it was not his own choice to have made the trip to Vienna, the former President of the Republic did his best to enjoy the festivities. Atratinus countered the Margrave's handshake with a menacing grin and was inwardly delighted to have elicited such a response. No words were formally exchanged between the two. Once within the packed carriage the Porcuian royals immediately took note of the guards, impressive and stoic, beside them. Little was thought until the sound of rifle and magazine clicked and drew the attention of those inside the carriage. Queen Helvia kept her gaze fixed on the guard closest to her as her hand nervously searched for that of her husband. King Maxentius IV remained silent, but his worry faded and immediately gave way to confusion when he turned to see Atratinus. The President had been sitting motionless and without expression until his eyes caught the King's. Then, a smile. "Quod ludus!" Atratinus said through a grin. The carriage jolted forward and began to move at a steady pace, following the lead of the Margrave and his snow white steed, until it broke off in order to cross the Volksgarten. It was only when the Archduke stepped out of the carriage did an eruption of activity take place. Panic. Chaos. In the ensuing turbulence the King and Queen of Porcu fought and pushed their way out of the carriage that housed them. The Queen took a few paces before the sight before her stunned her and she stopped in her tracks. The King, immediately behind her, lay a strong hand on the Archduke's shoulder and spun him around. "What is the meaning of this!?" Karl's eyes moved from the Porcuian royal to his own daughter still sitting inside the carriage. Tears formed in her eyes and she too moved to exit and then run. Without a word, the Archduke shoved Julius Maxentius IV aside and with the aid of two Markgrafwehr dove into the crowd in order to find and apprehend her. It wasn't long before all three Porcuians, for Atratinus had finally decided it leave the carriage as well, saw the Archduke walking back towards them, his daughter and jewel in tow. The imposing nature of the Markgrafwehr kept the Porcuians near the Archduke and when Eleanor returned to the carriage and began to cry profusely Queen Helvia was quickly at her side. No comfort could be given, yet, the Queen remained in the hopes that her presence was of some relief. In the end, Eleanor calmed and lashed out at her father before descending from the carriage once more and following the Archduke's lead down the aisle. A crude exchange of vows was performed and a long silence then fell. "What? And no allowance for an objection?" Eyes turned and strained to find the culprit of such an ill-timed remark. The process was simplified when Atratinus stepped forward. "Are you mad?!" King Maxentius IV screamed under his breath. "When useful, Your Majesty." Atratinus replied. Adrian and Karl both gazed with disbelief at the Porcuian, while a terribly confused chaplain paused momentarily to see if either of the two men managing events would provide a lead for him to follow. A moment passed before, "And what is your objection to the union of these two individuals of pure and noble standing?" squeaked out. "Only that the gentleman enters his union under false pretenses." Atratinus replied. "What?" Adrian cried. "The Lady Eleanor is not pure." Looks of absolute bewilderment were exchanged. A cold sweat formed on the necks of some. "Explain yourself...Mr..." "Vopiscus Tarquinius Atratinus; I mean precisely that, the Lady Eleanor is not pure." Confusion still. "I have lain with the Lady." Atratinus said with complete confidence and certain knowledge that no such thing had occurred. Silence reigned supreme. OOC: Sorry if this messes with anything; just wanted to capitalize on the moment. I'll edit anything you guys need/want. Edited by Porcu, Feb 21 2014, 01:06 AM.
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| Whal | Feb 21 2014, 12:18 PM Post #14 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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OOC: Well, i did not expect that. Please keep it though! I'll post my response later today.
Edited by Whal, Feb 21 2014, 03:54 PM.
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| NRE | Feb 21 2014, 03:02 PM Post #15 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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Both Grand Duke Constantine as well as his sister, Grand Duchess Sophia had become somewhat accustom to these sort of events. Their brother Ivan freely rented them out whenever he saw fit and where ever the pressence of Russian royalty was thought beneficial to the Emperor. Rented, naturally, was not the official belief but more the word Sophia choose for it, especially when speaking with her brother Constantine over the matter. She rather saw occasions like this as rather boring, she hardly found anything in common with any of the other European monarchs. "I don't understand why Elizabeth couldn't be sent instead of me" Sophia complained as she looked out of the window of the aircraft, Vienna coming into view now. "Because you are the eldest my dear sister" Constantine replied, "or did that fact escape your fair head?" Sophia cut her eyes at Constantine before childishly sticking her tongue out at her older brother. "Yes well, I find the whole affair simply boring" she replied finally. "We'll be a spectacle to the people as we're parade down some avenue, sit through what will undoubtedly be a long and uneventful ceremony, and then have to carry on conversations with royals who we have nothing in common with." "Oh come now Sophia, surely you and the Queen of Porcu have something in common. Why, I bet you both choose the same dress for the affair." Constantine motioned jokingly as if to fix his own dress. His sister was again, unamused. "Oh please" she stated with irritation in her voice, "she's hardly even a Queen. Its by the grace of the people that she even carries that title, what little it is worth. I imagine a rockstar could buy a stronger title if they choose to do so." "Oh come now sister, that isn't entirely fair. Besides, I think the royals of Porcu are rather nice people and at least they have that. Anyway, what else did you so desperately have to do that was more important than this?" "I don't know, have tea with the other ladies in Saint Petersburg, go to the country side, see a ballet; anything would be far more interesting than this my dear brother" Sophia sighed. Constantine shook his head, "Well until you yourself have a secured marriage, you know you'll be required to do your duty to the Emperor just like the rest of us." The large aircraft of the royals landed in Vienna with the usual fan-fair they were accustom to. In truth, it was a bit surprising given that the country wasn't known for its royalist attitude. Still, both the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess were always conscious of the idea Russia had of itself. IT saw itself as a true player of Europe and though it did not always come out on top in regional affairs, it continued to believe that its name and its reputation preceded it anywhere it went. After the customary time given to the local reporters and photographers, as well as some of the commoners, both Constantine and Sophia were taken by convoy from the airport to see the other royals who'd arrived for the affair. Making small talk with many of them, they were finally shown to the carriage where they would be spending the parade. Sophia was a bit surprised she and the other guests were going to be sharing a single carriage but said nothing, only smiling at the attendant who helped her into the carriage and to her seat. After entering, Constantine took note of the guards and a worried look came over his face. Sophia had been somewhat oblivious to them but noticed her brother's own reaction. She tilted her head as if to ask him without words, what was wrong. Constantine simply smiled and shook his head, he did not wish to worry his sister over things he did not understand himself. The early stages of the parade seemed to dim his fears as they proceeded just as a parade should until it simply didn't When the first shots were fired Sophia gripped her brother's arm with all the force of the world, her fear greatly apparent. Constantine instinctively moved to cover his sister's head and shield her just as the lady Eleanor erupted out of the carriage, followed by the Porcuian royals. Sophia had the instinct to follow but Constantine held her still. "No" she said plainly, "it may not be safe." Sophia obeyed and soon Eleanor was returned to the carriage. Sophia joined the Porcuian Queen in attempting to claim the obviously distraught Eleanor. When she at last composed herself and left the carriage once again, now with her father, the two Russian royals followed with the others and as the vows were exchanged, the interruption of the former Porcuian President was perhaps even more surprising than the previous events. "My god" Sophia whispered, just enough to be heard by Constantine who saw by her side. "An you said the entire affair would be boring" he whispered back, a boyish smile on his face. |
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| Whal | Feb 21 2014, 05:19 PM Post #16 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Sheer silence and bewilderment permeated through the small group standing on the steps of the Osterstag. The crowd, which had gathered at the building's entrance following the assault, had an entirely new spectacle to witness. For safety reasons, many of the mounted Uhlans had placed themselves in front of them, thus blocking any direct contact, yet surely audio would suffice in this particular instance. The silence was soon broken by the exasperated voice of the Margrave. "I beg your pardon....?", Adrian managed to say in disbelief. His posture slightly weakened as if a sledgehammer had struck his abdomen. Adrian's face went from confusion to terror as a small, but pronounced, smile appeared on the Porcuian's face. Suddenly, Atratinus turned his back on the royals as if addressing the crowd. "Perhaps I should enunciate more this time", he said, his soft voice raising slightly. "I have lain with the Lady Eleanor!", to which incited a range of gasps from among the first line of onlookers. "Liar, how dare you dishonor the pure reputation of my daughter on this most solemn occasion!", Karl screamed at the former President. Atratinus' face was stoic. Not once since objecting to the vows had he let his gaze shift towards Eleanor. It was not that he couldn't bare to look at her, rather his gaze was intended more for the Margrave. For quite some time now the two men had shared an animosity toward one another, and Atratinus had seized the moment to inflict a serious blow to the man's pride and reputation. Why he had done so was yet to be revealed, however his interruption had caused pain to more than just Adrian. Directly to her husband's left, Eleanor looked upon Atratinus with a mixture of confusion and pure hate. "I fear not, your Majesty", came Atratinus' reply. "You would do well to ask the lady yourself of her chastity." "A shameless lie!", Eleanor yelled in disgust as she moved closer to her accuser. Adrian attempted to restrain her, but she pulled away. "Just like this entire wedding!", she cried in agony as she turned away from her husband. Adrian felt the cold brush of his lover's shoulder with the utmost intensity; had he not done all this for her? In his anger, he reached for the hilt of his saber still strapped to his waist. In an instant he attempted to remove it from its scabbard and stick its bloody blade into the Porcuian's chest; to wound him like Adrian had been wounded himself. "No!", Karl cried as he stayed his ally's blade. He moved the wounded Margrave to the side, away from the situation unfolding around them. "The entire international press is watching us this very moment. I beg you to show some restraint in this matter for enough blood has already been shed today." An insult on the Margrave's conduct? Adrian could not be sure, yet he pulled away from the Archduke's grip just in time to see Eleanor flee in tears heading towards the pillars of the Osterstag. Without a word, Adrian ran after her. Back within the group, King Maxentius IV grabbed Atratinus from behind and practically threw him to a secluded spot out of earshot from the Russians, the crowd, and the Archduke. "What is wrong with you, Vopiscus Tarquinius! Do you want to get us all killed!!", he chastised Atratinus, holding him by the scruff of his tuxedo. Meanwhile, Karl was furious. So far the wedding had been a disaster, his putsch had been a bloody mess, and his daughter's purity was called into question by a precocious Porcuian commoner. Undoubtedly, the wedding could not be declared official until the matter was cleared up, but to do so would elongate the painfully awkward situation he know found himself in. He shifted his gaze to the Royal Uhlan chaplain and grabbed him. "As God as my witness, I shall see that man burn for this!", he yelled, "Is there anyway we can clear this up without further public spectacle?" "Regrettably not, your Majesty. We must consult the Archbishop of Vienna for official guidance in this matter", the man replied terrified. The Archduke sighed, "Very well, the truth must be revealed. Contact his Excellency, the Archbishop, and gather everyone and proceed to the reception. We shall get to the bottom of this dastardly lie". _____________________________________________________ Vienna International Airport... Crown Prince Ferdinand proceeded down the terminal from his private jet and into the busy scene which greeted him in the lobby. Hundreds of people clamored at the front desk of a very frightened and overwhelmed clerk looking for salvation in the form of an airline ticket. Many were shoving and pushing in vain to procure a better place in line and Ferdinand assumed that his father's plan must have just recently begun. His security detail of four fully armed Uhlans drew looks from many in the crowd, but the majority remained steadfast in their attempts to earn ticket more rapidly than their competition. Ferdinand almost felt sorry for them. Their world was ending; crumbling all around them like a sandcastle in the tides. Had he been a commoner, or worse, a social democrat or communist, he too would have been fighting his fellow citizen for a ticket to freedom. Luckily for him, however, the world for the nobility was just beginning once again. All the people before him were now subject to the strict social codes of old, and he would assist ushering them kicking and screaming to their rightful place below him. He smiled as he approached the baggage claim to retrieve his luggage. His stay in Kasniya to pay his respects to the late emperor had been less than fruitful, yet it had reaffirmed his mission that he would need to marry to form a strong alliance. At 21 years old, and in great shape, the young crown prince was surely to find a suitable mate among the European royalty, however, he prayed she would also be as beautiful as beneficial. Suddenly, his quiet retrospection was interrupted by the brush of the shoulder by a unwitting porter. "My apologies, friend", the man said, paying no attention to Ferdinand's clothing nor his retinue. At first Ferdinand stood silently as the man continued his task, but once it became apparent he would not apologize in the manner the young prince expected, he quickly grabbed the man by his uniform and threw him to the ground. "You WILL treat me with the respect of my birthright, you damnable peasant!", He screamed, putting his boot on the man's neck. The man was startled and could not find the words to express his blunder. He frantically began to croak when Ferdinand's boot became heavier on his throat. Finally, he cried for mercy with an exhausted plea. Ferdinand smiled and released the man from beneath his boot. He coughed as he grasped for air. The crowd of people fighting for tickets were now firmly starring at the situation which had unfolded so close to their proximity. Ferdinand threw his bag to one of the his Uhlans before starring back at the crowd. Rather awkwardly, they all bowed to him as his Uhlans grasped their weapons. "Better", he said in delight that they had learned. As he left out the front door leading to the street, he stopped for a moment to gaze at the flag of the Federation. Without a moments thought, he pushed it over on its side. An end of an era was truly approaching. |
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| Porcu | Feb 22 2014, 02:39 PM Post #17 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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"What is wrong with you, Vopiscus Tarquinius! Do you want to get us all killed?!" Atratinus turned to face his sovereign by title only and moved to fix his glasses. "No, no..." "I just don't know what possessed you to do such a...a...disgusting thing." Julius Maxentius IV said. "What? Was it not clear that the Austrian lady did not wish the arrangement set up for her?" "She couldn't have known what her father or her husband to be was going to do. None of us did..." Atratinus realized that the situation was a dangerous one, but having left the world of Porcuian politics some months ago he was overjoyed to again feel the rush that came with an unplanned motion. On an unconscious level, Atratinus had hoped that Adrian would indeed strike him, potentially setting off a chain of events that would have seen relations between the Republic, the Margraviate, and (especially) the Federation strained terribly. In hindsight the move was brilliant - and characteristic of the former Porcuian president. Just at the mountainous moment, the crowning achievement, for both the Margrave and the Austrian Archduke, a blade of shame, dishonor, and humiliation was delivered into their side by, perhaps, the only individual who could - or dared. The Porcuian King was about to again rebuke Atratinus when the Archduke himself stormed over to the two figures, a small bodyguard in tow. His eyes radiated murder and his cheeks were flushed. Atratinus gave a tongue-in-cheek bow to the Archduke. "You!" Karl hissed. |
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| NRE | Feb 22 2014, 05:43 PM Post #18 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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Sophia and Constantine remained mostly out of the way of the several parties now playing to the delight of the crowd. Sophia could not have imagined she'd be witness to such a social spectacle of a personal matter. Constantine on the other hand was just glad that the both of them were safe following the storming of the Osterstag. Damn these Germans and Austrians, who do they think they are endangering our lives in such a manner.It was certainly visible to anyone who looked upon the Grand Duke that he was not pleased with the situation at all. Everyone was being moved to the site of the reception though both Russian royals were curious if a wedding for the reception was going to take place at all. "This is outrageous" Sophia finally stated in confidence to her brother. "I cannot believe that they would invite foreign dignitaries to witness this. Such barbarism, such outlandishness, this is far from befitting true royalty." "I am incline to agree Sophia" Constantine stated plainly. "While amusing as it is, we could have been serious injured or worse. I am sure had our brother known, neither of us would have been sent. I am also sure when he does hear of this..." "I am sure when he hears of this, the Austrians will have to pay" she replied before her brother could finish. Constantine gave a nod. Always the politician though, he couldn't help but recognize the situation for what it was. "Still my dear sister, I must say that I am highly impressed to a certain degree. To orchestrate all of this without any warning signs. Also, it is interesting to see how strain the relations between Porcu and the Austrians are becoming. Their democracy seems fleeting now, who is left in Europe for them to turn to. No doubt the Austrians will ally with the Germans." "The Germans can have them too" Sophia scoffed. Constantine smirked a bit at his sister's comment. While certainly still furious at how they'd been treated, he was interested to see how it all play out. No doubt his brother was be equally so and Russia itself would be watching the Germans and Austrians more closely from now on. |
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| Whal | Feb 23 2014, 09:30 PM Post #19 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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The Archduke's mind was swirling with thoughts on how to proceed. Had he wished it, Karl could have had made Atratinus "disappear" at any moment, yet he understood what the repercussions would be. Despite the man's absence from the Porcuian political scene, no one's absence would be more noticeable than the infamous Atratinus and the Austrians had no need to make more enemies this day. Karl still hoped there was someway to salvage the relationship with his guests, however the sour look on the young Russian Duchess' immaculate face was enough to transmit that the events had transpired quite poorly. There was time to mend these wounds, no doubt, but the Archduke would have to proceed carefully and intelligently. He took a breath before addressing Atratinus further. "What you have done today is quite unforgivable", he eventually managed to say angrily. "No, your Majesty, marrying your daughter off for political spectacle is unforgivable", Atratinus replied plainly and without any remorse. King Maxentius IV groaned audibly to voice his dissatisfaction with the comment and to distance himself from its bearer. It appeared to him that the willy Atratinus simply could not refrain from antagonizing the situation further. From the look the Archduke snapped in his direction, the Porcuian royal could discern that the Austrian wondered why Atratinus had even been allowed to accompany them in the first place. Karl sighed deeply before reprimanding the audacious interloper further. "Perhaps your upbringing has afforded you your ignorance of such matters, but I shall remind you that you are no longer in Porcu and therefore your actions carry different repercussions here. I pray, for my daughter's sake, that your accusations are baseless, Mr. Atratinus. Should they prove so, you shall find yourself responsible for the damages inflicted upon the relationship between Austria and Porcu." At that, a wide terrifying grin appeared on the Porcuian's face. Meanwhile, the distraught and furious Eleanor found herself pacing back and forth among the tall marble pillars of the Osterstag. How had her childhood dream descended into pandemonium so quickly? She found an isolated stone bench for which to cry and quickly began sobbing. It wasn't until a gasp, followed by a wet spurting noise, to her rear captured her attention. She turned to find one of the building's guards slowly fading away; a thick tide of crimson stained his uniform and formed a puddle around where he had fallen. "....I-I'm sorry", was all she could manege to say, as she gripped his cold hand. Then, miraculously, the young man nodded in understanding. Eleanor stroked his face gently and kissed his forehead as he slipped away. In the distance she could hear the unmistakable sound of jack-boots clicking on the marble floor coming straight for her. Adrian's hand, intended for his wife's shoulder, stopped mid grasp when she turned to face him. Her mascara had run down her eyes, ruining her dress, but she still looked beautiful to him. She always would. Both of them locked eyes as silence once again returned. Edited by Whal, Feb 23 2014, 09:31 PM.
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| Margrave | Feb 23 2014, 10:38 PM Post #20 |
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Is very much a holla-back girl.
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When there eyes met, Adrian chin dropped as he avoided her gaze. "Damn her eyes." He thought. "Damn her beautiful, blue eyes." "I-I... I'm sorry. I don't belive that Porcuian devil." was all he managed to mumble before making an about face and headed back to the main hall of the Osterstag. Even though this was going on in the background, these details were not lost to "Porcuian devil" Adrian described. He rather relished seeing the proud Margrave so humbled by a crying girl. Adrian hated Atratinus, he decided this long ago. But this would be his last insult. Oh, how he wanted to drive his sabre through the torso of the bastard, to see the light fade from those two mercurial orbs, but that, heavenly as that would be, would carry too great a consequence. No, Adrian had to be more subtle. He smirked. He knew what he would do. He walked to the second tier of the Osterstag. He found the body of the young man who nearly killed him, his back rife with bloody wounds and his rifle by his side. He looked to the name tag on the uniform. Princip was the name of the would-be assassin. Adrian laughed to himself, rather painfully, about the coincidence of the man's name. "Mr. Princip, you are about to go down in history." He marked the location mentally, and walked to a nearby office. There he very carefully typed out a letter in Porcuian Latin, ordering Mr. Princip to shoot Adrian and Eleanor at their wedding. He found a copy of Atratinus's signature on the internet, and forged it accordingly. He put the paper in the breast pocket of the still warm body. Now the Noble Margrave would seem a hero, saving himself and his blushing bride from the machinations of a much hated former president! Princip would be seen as a pawn giving himself up to prevent German unification, and thus give greater credence to the Baltic State's xenophobic claims. "Two birds with one stone," Adrian thought. He felt some amount of remorse about the damaged relations between himself, the Porcuians, and the Russians, but it would all be worth it if Atratinus were brought to Berlin in chains. Edited by Margrave, Feb 23 2014, 10:40 PM.
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| Whal | Feb 25 2014, 10:06 PM Post #21 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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Eleanor waited a moment after her husband's departure to allow herself some time to recollect. The way she saw it, her options were few and the ones she desired farther still. Marriage to Adrian seemed the most probable outcome even though she doubted her feelings for him now that so much death and destruction had occurred on their wedding day. Then there was the matter of Atratinus' accusation, of which she worried very little and attributed no merit. When they had first met at the Berlin Debutante Ball, Eleanor had thought highly of the Porcuian plebeian who had so expertly played the hand he had been dealt and who ended up as the small Republic's president. In their short conversation, he had reaffirmed her self-confidence in her true moral compass as well as her right to individuality. Now, however, his words stung her to her very core and his terrible lie threatened the very future of the fragile European peace. Eleanor knew her father and he would surely hold a grudge towards the Republic for this transgression against his family. As a Hapsburg, she had always been told the importance of family and her role to protect and honor it no matter the situation. Family is everything, her father had always said. Family is all that remains, she remembered as she rose, dusting off her dress. "Though the world may scorn you, hold up your head in triumph. For you are a Hapsburg and for that you must rejoice", Eleanor muttered to herself. The family motto never made more sense to her than in this moment. She would not abandon family in its hour of need. She would do what was most required of her, no matter her feelings for Adrian. Prudence and honor would prevail this day. Eleanor wiped the last of her tears and cleared her face of dried make-up. Walking with the composure of a woman who had emerged victorious from her ordeal she walked down the Osterstag's long steps and rejoined the group. A thick feeling of animosity hung in the air between her father, Adrian, Atratinus, and the rest of their guests. With all the grace and flawless prowess she had been attributed all her life, Eleanor began charming the group with her new found confidence and fortitude. Her tears were replaced with a radiant smile; even the smirk Atratinus was slightly entranced by the princess' ability to recover from such a personal attack. Soon enough, it was time for the reception and all parties were eager for the rescue of their own private limousines. One for each delegation. The Hapsburgs were joined by Adrian, who also seemed in more high spirits. The ride to the Hofburg Palace was a short trip, but the unspoken actions of body language had set the precedent that the German-Austrian alliance was still very much alive. At first slightly reluctant to give in, Eleanor found herself quite comfortable leaning upon her husband's frame. It wasn't complete reconciliation, and there was still much that needed mending, but the couple appeared to have recovered slightly from the fiasco and grown re-accustomed to each other's touch. By a simple glance, one could assume that Atratinus' outburst had the opposite effect; essentially unifying the three as one family against the whole of Europe, perhaps the entire world. No one could know the nature of conversation inside each others cars, but once they arrived at the Hofburg the precedence for the future power balance of Central Europe would be set. The royal couple's limousine was the first in the procession to arrive. As they exited, a line of Royal Uhlans on both sides of a wide red carpet marked the pathway to the lavish party within. Adrian and Eleanor, arms locked, walked calmly through the main entrance and into the grand ball room. Very soon the others would be entering. The royal couple put on a display of cohesion, pride, and joy to greet them. |
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| Porcu | Feb 26 2014, 12:08 AM Post #22 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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"Perhaps your upbringing has afforded you your ignorance of such matters, but I shall remind you that you are no longer in Porcu and therefore your actions carry different repercussions here. I pray, for my daughter's sake, that your accusations are baseless, Mr. Atratinus. Should they prove so, you shall find yourself responsible for the damages inflicted upon the relationship between Austria and Porcu." At that, a wide terrifying grin appeared on the Porcuian's face. "You reprimand me?" Atratinus hissed, his calm, slightly effeminate voice carrying a chill that the Archduke had never had the displeasure of hearing - or feeling. "You, the result of an incestuous relationship by the historically privileged, dare to cow me into regret or remorse? I, a Porcuian of true blood, am more than you will ever be! You are merely a King, flesh and blood, but I am a whole Republic; I am the whole of her majesty, her might, her glory, just as I am the embodiment of the abstraction of the ideal that is the Republic. "I pray, not for your sake or your daughter's, but for Austria's sake, that you are not as stupid as I think you are." The conclusion of Atratinus' remarks to the Archduke coincided with the reappearance of the Margrave, followed shortly after by Eleanor. The demeanor of the two had changed, yet Adrian's volcanic hatred of the former Porcuian president was still obvious. Soon enough the various delegations were packed into their respective motorcars to be taken to the reception, confusingly for a wedding that had not actually taken place. King Julius Decimus Maxentius IV could not hold himself any more once the door to the limousine closed. "Just what, in all that is good and holy, was that?" the King said with eyes trained like daggers on Atratinus. "Merely a test." the calm and stoic figure replied. "You have shamed that poor girl." the Queen replied. She carried a heavy countenance as the motorcar slowly moved along and her gaze remained focused outside of the window. "You have shamed us." King Maxentius IV added. "Another word out of you, Julius Decimus, and I will destroy all that you hold dear." Atratinus said with a low growl. "Your sons will never be King and the monarchy will evaporate. You will spend the last of your days trapped in the terrible solitude of an impressive estate you will not own and I will see to it that yours are made to suffer equally." A visible mark of sweat fell along the King's neck. Maxentius IV suddenly felt cold. "But why? Why say anything?" "Austria and the Margraviate were placed on this path long before today; my actions only livened up the proceedings, so to speak." "You will be held to account for this." the King said with genuine concern. "I can't say what the Germans and Austrians will do, but I imagine that you will not be returning to Porcu after this." "Only if they are, in fact, that stupid. The Margrave is, undoubtedly, but the Archduke is made of much cooler material." Within a few short minutes the stream of motorcars began to arrive at the Hofburg Palace. |
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| NRE | Feb 26 2014, 04:00 PM Post #23 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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"We should leave" Grand Duke Constantine stated to his sister, his voice somber than before. He and his sister had just gotten into their limousine. "I shall have the drive turn around and take us to the airport at on...." Sophia grabbed her brothers arm, motioning him to seat back in his seat. "No, let us not leave now just as the final act is about to begin. You yourself were looking forward to this affair." "You yourself, weren't as I recall my dear sister" Constantine groaned. "You can't possibly want to stay, our lives have been put endanger already once. We've been gravely dishonored, you yourself said such things." "Yes, yes I know what I said dear brother. Still, whether we leave now or later will not change what has happened and what our dear brother may do in response to these transgression against us. At least by staying, we'll have the full story to tell him. Besides, you cannot sit there and tell me you aren't the least bit curious as to whether or not the Porcuians accusations are in fact true." "Bah" Constantine said with disdain. "While I cannot speak personally on the lady Eleanor's reputation, I find it hard to believe she could have a moment of weakness and choose to spend it with a man like Atratinus. He's a vile snake of a man and I believe the Porcu did more for letting him go from his post than keeping him in it." "I don't believe the lady Eleanor laid with the man either" Sophia said, her nose turning upward at the mere thought. "Still, to make such an accusation and such a time. I am interest to see the repercussions of such actions." "Very well my sister" Constantine said with a smile, "I imagine we are in no more danger now than we were a few hours earlier. If you wish to see this play come to its fruition, then so be it. As for Atratinus and his fate, well that is certainly uncertain. He's disrespected and challenged the honor of a noble woman. Were he any other commoner, he'd surely be locked away and completely forgotten about. Yet, despite what we may think of him, he is not a simple commoner nor is he a man born of these lands. What the Germans and Austrians do with him will not only change the course of affairs between there nation's and that of Atratinus's own Republic, but could very well change the current course of politics for all of Europe." |
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| Whal | Feb 26 2014, 09:31 PM Post #24 |
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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The limousine housing the royal couple and the Archduke had been the first to arrive at the Hofburg. Their early arrival several minutes ahead would give them the time they needed to prepare their appearances. It was decided that the reception would be altered slightly in response to the day's events and a more informal attitude was prepared for the party. Indeed, the royal couple even made a precedent to stand away from the entrance to avoid direct interaction with their international guests. Not surprisingly, the foreign guests had not yet arrived themselves and there were rumors that the entire spectacle had proved too much for them. Already, some of Austria's most prominent noble families had sent their humble apologies for their absence; evidently the embarrassment was not entertaining to all who attended the wedding ceremony (or lack thereof) and many wished to simply wash their hands of the whole matter. The Archduke would not forget their choice to abandon him, but there was still the matter of greeting those that did show up. The first to arrive were several of Austria's leading landed gentry, many of whom were close friends of the Archduke and had been supporters of his ambitious operation. Among them were the famous orchestrators of the putsch; men such as Jurgen von Pless, Duke of Styria, Lothar von Pommern, Duke of Carinthia, and even Herman Hunderschorn, the illustrious CEO of Chemostadt-AMAG. These men who had worked in the shadows for so long, now emerged in the full regalia of their stations. Not soon after, Crown Prince Ferdinand himself arrived at the palace and found himself eager to comfort his sister and her husband. Very soon the large grand ball room flooded with the Austrian guests invited to the reception. The only man whom the Archduke needed now was the Archbishop of Vienna, but he had yet to arrive. Likewise, the Porcuians and Russians remained unseen for now. "Congratulations, your Majesty!", von Pommern bellowed. He, Ferdinand and the other members of the Archduke's inner circle strolled confidently over to the now legitimate monarch. "Your rule is official! Everything's falling into place across Austria as we speak." "Not everything I'm afraid", Karl responded with sheer disgust in his tone. Duke von Pommern took a look at Eleanor and Adrian and held his head away in shame. Ferdinand shook his head in anger. "What a snake", he growled at the thought of Atratinus insulting his family. "It's one thing to show disapproval, but to dishonor a wedding in such a manner. Truly shameful and he shall suffer for it." "Now now, no need to despair", Duke von Pless said reassuringly, "We'll get to the bottom of this horrible lie. That Porcuian bastard will pay for what he's done to this solemn occasion." "Indeed, however extreme caution is needed in this matter for even after we dispel these false accusations we lack true cause to keep the man here in Austria", Karl replied, stroking his chin. "Make no mistake, our holding of Mr. Atratinus here will cause quite the uproar throughout Porcu and therefore our reasoning must be sound." Adrian smirked, "That devil's treachery is legendary and I aim to prove it." Karl looked upon Adrian suspiciously, but merely shook his head. Sometimes the Margrave worried him with his brazen attitude and blinding ambition as they were traits he often saw in his eldest son. Both Ferdinand and Adrian would need to learn restraint and tactfully approach their issues if they wanted to continue their countries' longevity. The wraith of a united Porcu was not something to be treated lightly. Outside the Hofburg, the limousines holding the Russians and Porcuians pulled slowly up the driveway to the main entrance. Edited by Whal, Feb 26 2014, 09:33 PM.
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| Porcu | Mar 1 2014, 05:57 PM Post #25 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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News of the progression of events in Vienna took slightly longer than the intake of a breath to reach Ariminae and to permeate every corner of the parliamentary complex. Many parliamentarians had hoped to enjoy the recent pause in bad weather, however, they were now spending their time glued to the televisions which were included in almost every parliamentarian's office. The extraordinary scene was powerful to witness - the charge of the Royal Uhlans into the Osterstag elicited sharp gasps from everyone watching. The President herself had been made aware of the news as she was being led to the parliamentary complex for a meeting of the Consilium, to discuss the upcoming meeting with the Marslavans, the situation in Hungry, and the intelligence reports about the Federation no less. Gularis stopped dead in her tracks when she saw recordings of the chaotic scene being played on Porcuian news channels. "I want a link to SSR (Porcuian military secret intelligence) established immediately." the President said to a nearby assistant. The usually packed hallways echoed as Gularis' heels hit the marble floor and she proceeded, almost alone, to her scheduled meeting. ... Atratinus was the last to exit the motorcar once it had come to a stop in front of the Hofburg palace. His demeanor was one of complete calm, his expression was stoic, his eyes were their usual cold grey, and he carried himself every inch the impressive figure he had cultivated over the years. The Porcuian King and Queen, contrariwise, were visibly nervous. Despite the lack of photographers, the Queen vigorously waved and the King held an unnatural smile. To their immense relief, the Porcuian royals were eventually drawn into the palace, though a greeting was utterly lacking. The former Porcuian president slowly moved across the elegant carpet and up into the palace and was quickly flanked by a guard. A simple engagement of eyes was enough to disjoin the tall, muscular guard from Atratinus, who proceeded without batting an eyelash while himself for the predictable assault of nobles and royal charlatans. |
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11:36 AM Jul 13