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A Return to Empire
Topic Started: Jan 28 2014, 06:11 PM (1,787 Views)
NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

In an age of selfies, social networking, and the camera phone it was a bit surprising that news took as long as it did to reach Moscow. In truth the Emperor wasn't even in Moscow when the news was finally picked up by the KSB. He'd gone back to Saint Petersburg to be with his wife and newly born son at the winter palace. No sooner had he walked into the palace itself that he was interrupted from his family. A servant had informed him that he had a conference call in his office. On the other line was not only the director of the KSB but also the rest of his cabinet.

"Your majesty" the KSB director said over the phone, "there has been an incident in Vienna. As the situation was explained to him a fit of rage came over the Emperor. "How dare they pull such a stunt as diplomats from our own country, MY OWN BLOOD, attends the wedding" he yelled. His tirade against the Austrians continued for several minutes until at last he was calmed by his ministers. Though it seemed almost certain that the Emperor would settle for nothing less than war, he was reminded that both the Grand Duke and Duchess had cellphones and could have called if they were truly in danger. Besides this, there was the real possibility that war could be brewing in the Americas so a war in Europe as well would be, problematic. Though greatly displeased with the entire affair, the Emperor settled for a dispatch, voicing his strong disapproval of the affair and a reminder, that Russia was watching.

Private Communique
Russian Empire
TO: The Austrian Government,
The Russian Empire has taken note of the situation now developing in the Austrian capital of Vienna and reminds the Austrian government that royals of his majesty's family are currently visiting as guests. Their safety is the Empires sole concern and warns that nothing short of war shall result should any harm befall either the Grand Duke or Grand Duchess.

-Russian Foreign Ministry

________________________________________________

The Russian motorcar pulled before the palace just as the Porcuian one pulled away. Both Constantine and Sophia were about to exit when Constantine got a text from home. It was from the Foreign Ministry and he reassured them in a brief reply that all was fine for the moment.

"They are worried at home" he replied to his sister.

"I imagine they should be" he stated, "but I imagine the worst is over."

"I only hope your assessment is accurate" he replied before finally tapping on the window to have the door opened. Exiting first he turned to offer a hand to his sister who emerged last from the car. Befitting siblings, they walked arm in arm up the palace steps and into the palace itself. Like with most royal affairs, they were announced upon entering the ballroom of the palace and as they did so, a few of Austria's own less nobility came to greet them. Small talk soon ensued and for both Constantine and Sophia, this was much more prefer over the death of silence. Still, while carrying on their conversations, they continued to watch the room and in particular, the interactions of the Porcuians with the rest of the room.
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
 *  *  *  *  *  *
The Archduke, royal couple, and the remainder of the "inner circle" took notice as the tide of various delegations began to simmer. A small, but pronounced smile formed on Karl's face as he contemplated the notion that his "guests", Atratinus in particular, had likely decided to flee to their home countries, rather than face the truth to their accusations. His smile soon faded into a slight frown, however, when the Porcuian delegation (headed by none other than Atratinus himself) strolled proudly into the ball room with the Russians following closely behind.

To make matters worse, an aide approached the Archduke not soon after to inform him of the Tsar's communique. While the transition from a parliamentary democracy to an autocratic state was almost complete, the new Austrian government had not yet finalized the creation of all its ministries and, therefore a response to Moscow would need to be delegated personally by the Emperor himself. Karl informed the aide exactly what was to be the Austrian reply:

Private Communique
 
TO: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
As you are now aware, a change in government has been undertaken within our capital, Vienna. While there was some minor instability at the onset of this change, this should not be cause for alarm and the Russian government can take solace in the fact that the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are safe and well within the Hofburg Imperial Palace. The proper precautions have been undertaken by Austrian forces to properly guard their person and all measures are in place for their safe return journey to Russia.

We look forward to a healthy and prosperous relationship between our two great empires in the foreseeable future, and wish to apologize for any disillusionment any recent events have caused.

-Karl II of Austria, Emperor of Austria

________________________________________________

Meanwhile, the calculating Atratinus scanned the room before deciding on where he would place himself. Walking confidently and possessing little shame, he made a point to end up within close proximity to the Archduke and the rest of those he had scorned. The Porcuian King and Queen took notice of this, but Maxentius IV in particular had grown completely tired of Atratinus' antics and decided to resolve him to whatever fate he would meet. Instead, they remained at a comfortable distance and conversed with the Russians.

"I must say, your Majesty", Atratinus began after silently implanting himself behind the group, "This is quite a splendid party; a perfect end to such an important day."

The group remained silent for a moment as they read the man's character. Indeed, it appeared as if the Porcuian sincerely wished to be struck down by one of the many antagonized royals. Before anyone could necessarily respond however, the Archduke's eyes were drawn to the entrance where the Archbishop of Vienna had finally arrived. Literally, brushing Atratinus aside, he moved as quickly as he could to bring the man over and to ultimately clear his daughter's good name.

"Thank God you've arrived, your Eminence!", Karl cried once he was out of earshot. "Please tell me we can clear this terrible lie up as quickly and quietly as possible?"

"I can ease your pain, your Majesty, but I fear you may dislike the methodology required", the man replied blushing.

"You must elaborate...."

"Well, your Majesty, in order to verify your daughter's purity we shall need to confirm she still posses her maidenhood, so to speak."

"Oh....I see. Only you shall be needed to verify this I pray."

"Alas, that is not the case, your Majesty. In order for this to be concluded properly we shall need witness from all involved parties. Ours and theirs."

"I will not have my daughter's honor tarnished by display to that snake! We shall have Maxentius view it if we must!"

"As your Majesty commands."

The Archduke was enraged that such matters were required simply because a foreigner had challenged his daughter's chastity to stir trouble. However, as the accusation was made, it would need to be dispelled if Adrian and his beloved Eleanor could ever marry with honor. Plus, without a legitimate marriage the Austro-German alliance could never be solidified officially and this was a necessity as the clouds of war gathered on the horizon. Austria would benefit invaluably from the Margraviate should war with Porcu, Marslava, or even the Russians become a reality.

The Archbishop and the Archduke returned to the terrible silence of the group. From quick glances, Karl could discern that Adrian and Ferdinand had murder in their minds, however his sweet daughter simply radiated the urge to overcome. He gave her a quick nod and in an instant she was made aware of her current predicament. She held her head high and awaited the beginning of a horribly awkward situation.

"As a God as our witness", the Archbishop began, "We are here to discern the truth surrounding this objection to the holy matrimony of Eleanor of Austria to Adrian von Lebus. I humbly request that the gentlemen who made the accusation repeat it once more for God to hear."

Atratinus remained virtually motionless. "I restate my objection. I have lain with the lady", he stated without remorse.

"As God as your witness, you lay your honor behind your claim?", the Archbishop replied.

"I do", Atratinus replied rather annoyed.

The Archbishop then turned to the royal couple, "As God as your witness, you refute this accusation?"

"Yes, of course", both Adrian and Eleanor responded in tandem.

"Very well", the Archbishop said solemnly, "Then we shall have the representatives of each party follow us to commence with the test."

The Colognian Catholic Church's insistence on marital chastity may be regarded as outdated by some, however to royal families who solidify their relations based on obvious consummation, the need to guarantee such matters was paramount. Obviously a nightmare for the royal couple, Adrian and Eleanor nonetheless followed the Archbishop to the secluded master bedroom deep within the Hofburg. Following close behind was the seemingly uncomfortable Queen Helvia who, having graciously "saved" her husband the embarrassment of watching the spectacle, would represent the accusing party's witness. The area where the delegations now resided became eerily quiet as all awaited the final verdict.

The silence proved welcome for some, mainly the Austrian "inner circle", who took the time to procure some refreshments or view the immense beauty of the Hofburg palace. For Ferdinand, however, silence was never comfortable and he found himself slowly infiltrating the space of the Romanov Grand Duke and Duchess.

"A pity such an event has been reduced to this", the young Austrian said aloud, in perfect Russian, to neither of the Russians in particular. Noticing that both Constantine and Sophia were rather annoyed, he presented his tone very lightly in an effort to dispel any lingering hostility. Slowly his gaze fell upon Sophia and he smiled, "Have we met before, my Lady?" Surprisingly, she allowed him to lift her hand to his lips. "My name is Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Austria."

OOC: No need to help with the test, y'all. I thought id leave some room for dialogue before the results come back.
Edited by Whal, Mar 2 2014, 12:18 AM.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Surrounded by ever member of the Consilium, and with a direct video feed to the Secretary of the SSR, President Gularis began the meeting with carefully chosen words. By now all were aware of events transpiring in Vienna and some were also aware of the communiqués sent by the Republic's allies - concern over a strong, central European alliance of the Germans and Austrians was spreading like fire, and as of yet no retardant was within reach. Opinion as to what to do generally fell into two camps. Gularis and a majority of the Consilium, mostly quaestors and aediles, felt that a unified response was necessary, that action should be taken in step with the Marslavans, and that diplomatic steps should be taken to soften the sharp transition. Vibius Pansa, heading the minority along with the liberal democratic Consul Marcus Aurelius Cotta, felt that an immediate signal was better. The awaited reaction of the Russians was also a point of difference.

"We risk losing all the foundation of cooperation with the Austrians if we rush ahead." Gularis said with clear conviction.

"They've already destroyed that via the coup." Aurelius Cotta said.

"We must make known that this "transition" is not legitimate and that we will not stand for it." Vibius Pansa shot back at the president with equal conviction.

"We work within certain realities, Publius Vibius." Gularis replied.

"Quite;" added the ever pragmatic leader of the Greens Holo Benedictus, "we have to consider that any decision we make will have repercussions for the Marslavans, as well as the rest of Europe. We should take the time to consult with Prague and Moscow."

"And how is it that we didn't see this coming?" Vibius Pansa barked, his ire growing. He directed his comments to the SSR chief who sat staring back through the television screen. "Shit-for-brains! You've made a mockery of the Republic!"

"Calm yourself, Publius Vibius." Aemilius Cesca, the senior Consul, said with a neutral tone.

The SSR commander's response was as brief as it was uninformative. The Archduke and his accomplices executed the coup d'état almost without a fault. Additionally, the Republic's main espionage efforts were not directed at a major ally.

"Madam President," Vibius Pansa said in his most moderate tone yet and with just enough respect and deference to the Porcuian Head of State, "we should first move to take over drilling operations in our shared territory with the Austrians outside of Narvik. We should also rescind to offer Narvik as a base for their navy. Then, we should..."

"There's no legal basis for that!" cried Livius Salinator, an up-and-coming socialist.

"Neither was the takeover of the Austrian state!" Vibius Pansa shot back.

Gularis motioned for calm before turning to the senior consul for input. "We should reach out immediately to the Marslavans and see how the Russians feel about all of this. My guess is that they are only unsettled by the methods and not by the act itself. Still, we may find some agreement with them. At the same time, however, I find merit to the young Pansa's argument."

"Secretary?" Gularis asked.

The Secretary sat up immediately. "Yes, Madam President?"

"How quickly can special forces be mobilized?"

"Within 10 hours, Madam President. The entirety of the shared territory east of Narvik can be safely secured within 30 hours."

After a moment of silence, "You have your orders, Commander."

"Parliament will have to endorse this move." Aurelius Cotta said.

"I assume I can rely on support from my distinguished opponents of the centre-right?" Gularis replied with a smile.

"Of course."

...

Atratinus stood virtually motionless as the Archbishop began his business, yet the clockwork within his mind continued to click at regular, mechanical intervals. King Maxentius IV was at his side.

"How do you plan to proceed after they call your bluff?" the King inquired.

"That question is theirs to ponder, not mine." Atratinus said flatly, as if it was an obvious point. "I'm not quite finished yet."

The Porcuian stepped forward just as the procession, which included the Porcuian Queen, was set to leave.

"Your Holiness, I do believe that as the foremost representative of the advanced claim my presence as witness is necessary..."

Both the Archduke and the Margrave began to flush as their blood boiled anew.

"...according to your Church's own protocol, of course."

There was no possible argument on the matter. Atratinus was entirely correct and the Archbishop knew it. While he knew the Archduke firmly opposed it, the Archbishop was a simple man - God was the ultimate witness and the Church's laws were clear. The former Porcuian president was then allowed to join the group, as Queen Helvia was informed by Atratinus that her help was no longer required.

The Margrave and the Archduke both watched as Atratinus marched ahead confidently, without shame or concern, and it only fed the tempest within their hearts. Their eyes eventually locked and the Porcuian only confirmed his reputation - while their eyes betrayed the shame, humiliation, and fear that fed their rage, Atratinus' own projected the power and cold terror he had accumulated and perfected over the years.

Atratinus' eyes signaled victory. Adrian's and Karl's signaled the immaturity of their fear.
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Atratinus and the Archbishop took their seats behind a rather large off-white satin curtain. Behind the porous barrier between them and the imminent spectacle, several maids scurried from one end of the bedroom to the other lighting candles, turning down lights, and setting up the bed. The sight was rather bizarre to the Porcuian, whom had likely never partaken in such a strange practice, but was actually rather common for the Archbishop. Religious leaders were often required to legitimatize the marriage of noble couple's by observing their consummation, and the Archbishop treated them with immeasurable professionalism and sincerity. So detached from the actual act of coitus was the man, that he often described such affairs as part of his "business" duties. Indeed, the stereotypes of Austrian efficiency, ingenuity, and pride in one's work all ring true.

It wasn't long before the servants disappeared and the room remained empty in anticipation for the royal couple. Both Atratinus and the Archbishop said nothing to one another, however something began eating at the former Porcuian President the more he waited. Until that moment it hadn't occurred to him, or rather he had ignored, that his plans might actually land him in a life threatening situation; something even Atratinus could not say with confidence he didn't truly fear.

His eyes were quickly drawn to the doorway at the opposite end of the room where Adrian emerged wearing a simple cotton shirt and his military trousers. The two men locked glances for a brief moment and Atratinus could see that his pupils burned with a passion for revenge. A small smile emerged at that thought on the part of the Porcuian. He stared intently back at the Margrave with a look which firmly stated, I dare you to strike me.

Adrian glared back, but his gaze shifted to another door where his beautiful wife emerged wearing a thin flowing nightgown. Giving no thought towards her onlookers, Eleanor approached her husband and slowly let her long blonde hair down. Instantly, Adrian forgot everything around him and focused intently on his partner. Very slowly they began undressing each other; taking time to caress each other's well sculpted frames. She starred into his eyes before tenderly kissing his chest to his neck and then finally his lips. She grabbed his hand and led him to the bed. Adrian looked away briefly at the the curtain.

"Hey, stay with me Adrian. Its just you and me here", Eleanor said soothingly, placing her hand on his cheek and turning his face towards hers.

She seductively lay back onto the bed; the coolness of the sheets touching her bare skin. Adrian focused all his attention on her as he slowly placed himself on top her..
_____

The Archduke walked angrily to one of the many servants distributing cocktails and grabbed the first drink in reach. He abruptly tilted his head back and swallowed the drink in one fowl swoop, but not before he was approached by both Duke Lothar von Pommern, Minister of War and Duke Jurgen von Pless, the newly appointed Imperial Chancellor. Both men looked flustered and inconsolably agitated.

"Your Majesty, we're being invaded!", von Pommern cried, his fists clenched.

"I beg your pardon?!", Karl responded in confusion and disbelief.

"The Loki Platforms, your Majesty", von Pless responded quickly. "The Porcuains have landed elements of their special forces at the site and have begun occupying the platforms on our side!"

Karl fell backwards, completely shocked, into a chair. "I don't believe it. I won't believe it! Are they truly that stupid?"

"It would appear so, your Majesty. What are your orders?", von Pless inquired seriously.

"We should drive those bastards back into the North Sea! We can mobilize the Kriegsmarine an-", von Pommern screamed, stomping his foot.

Karl interrupted him abruptly, "No, we must respond intelligently. What's the current situation in Loki?"

"Porcuian forces occupied all of the drilling platforms before our forces even had time to react. Now, we're aware of the attack, but the majority of our forces are surrounded and cut off inside their bases", von Pless replied.

"Some of our men were captured by surprise, yet so far no shots have been fired and our troops are at a stand off", von Pommern continued.

"What are our current capabilities in Norway?", Karl asked rubbing his for forehead.

Von Pommern frowned, "We can't resist an assault should the Porcuians resume their advance. We simply don't have the men or the material to resist in Loki. However, the First Maritime Fleet is stationed just outside Narvik and can provide relief."

"How many men?", Karl questioned.

"20,000 Royal Marines", von Pommern answered sternly.

Karl buried his face in his hands and thought long and hard. The Porcuians had no doubt assaulted Austrian property and threatened her economic prosperity, yet a war was not something his emergent empire was prepared for. He assumed, with reason, that the Republic was merely acting preemptively to weaken his position and also was ill-prepared for a war, and therefore he would have to respond intelligently and decisively to avoid a war neither side was prepared for yet.

"We cannot risk a war which could threaten our borders with Marslava, however we will not take this blatant affront laying down. I wan't immediate economic sanctions imposed on Porcu! Raise tariffs...no, install a trade embargo on their goods entirely! Then, I wan't the First Fleet to land the Royal Marines outside the city of Harstad, occupy it, and dig in. For our forces in Loki, tell them not to fire on Porcuian forces unless fired upon. This will be seen as their aggression against us!"

"Yes, your Majesty", von Pommern replied with a salute and rushed off.

"We need to send a communique to their president, your Majesty", von Pless responded, his face was as stone.

"Very well, write this down..."

Official Communique
 
To: Porcuian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Austrian government strongly condemns the unprompted and illegal seizure of its sovereign territory in Norway by the Republic's Armed Forces. The Republic has annexed Austrian industrial platforms without any cause or regard for the safety of their workers, the local inhabitants, and their own delegation within Vienna. If Porcuian forces do not withdraw from Austrian territory immediately, Austria shall have no choice but to respond in its own self-defense.

-Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs


As Duke von Pless left to fulfill his duties, the Archbishop, Atratinus, and the royal couple emerged from a hidden passageway. The Archduke saw this and immediately informed two of his personal guard escorts to shadow the Porcuian lest he attempt to flee. The Archbishop approached Karl and took him aside.

"As God as my witness, your daughter was indeed pure. However, she no longer posses her maidenhood and the marriage has been consummated", the man replied with a smile. "Congratulations, your Majesty. You're a grandfather."

"Thank you, your Eminence", Karl responded, patting the man on the back.

He then proceeded to embrace his daughter tightly. He teared as he apologized for all that happened to her on her wedding day and he vowed to avenge her pain. Eleanor said nothing, but just cried softly returning her father's embrace. Adrian also approached Karl and shook his hand. Karl whispered in Adrian's ear of Porcu's recent occupation and informed him to be on his guard for Atratinus.

Meanwhile, a guard rushed into the ballroom with a letter stained in blood and written in Porcuian Greek. He approached Adrian and Karl exasperated and informed him of further Porcuian treachery.

OOC: annnnnnnd cue, Margrave! :D
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Margrave
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Is very much a holla-back girl.
 *  *  *  *  *
Adrian stood behind Karl as he read the letter to himself quietly. A small smile appeared on the Margrave's face, but it vanished instantly when the Archduke turned to face him. He shoved the letter into his hands.

"Take care of this. Now." Karl's rage was barely concealed under his hit breath. Adrian pretended to read the letter, then gave it back to Karl. He summoned all the rage he had for the dastardly ex-president.

"Ihr zwei! Mit mir, jetzt!" He pointed to two Markgrafwehr Uhlans. They came to attention and followed Adrian closely. He drew both of their sabres and they had only their lances equipped. He called to Ferdinand before tossing him a sabre. "You as well, come with me." Adrian explained the situation while they crossed the ballroom. The Archduke shouted and pointed to Atratinus.

Atratinus was not deaf, but was unable to find his accuser in the crowd before Adrian and Ferdinand were upon him. A small circle cleared in the crowd to watch the episode. "Herr Atratinus!" Adrian cried. "I accuse you of treason and conspiracy to commit murder!" Adrian pointed his sword at Atratinus's torso, and gasp rippled the crowd as the murder passed the Margrave's lips. Atratinus was dumbfounded for only a moment. His enemies were only on his front side, and he knew he could melt away into the crowd if he needed. But a certain curiosity stayed Atratinus from running, at least for the time being...

OOC: Porcu, he's yours, so I left it open ended as to whether or not he's arrested. He can escape if you'd like. You can PM me if you want to work out the details.
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Alberto
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Resident Italian
Prague

Many news had been coming from Vienna, and they were extremely worrying. A coup had formalized the rule of the Habsburg autocrat over Vienna - ending de facto the C.E.D.O alliance - and the Porcuians had responsed by occupying rashly Austrian territory in Scandinavia. The scandal created by Atratinus - a desplicable man - did not aid the cause of peace in Europe either ! Weakened by the war in Hungary, and militarily very inferior to Porcu, Austria would probably not respond militarily. However, the situation remained very delicate, as what happened in Vienna would surely have consequences for Marslava. Moreover, one should not exclude the possibility that Austria would act recklessly -for instance by murdering Porcu's former head of state. Such an act could be the start of an European war.

Otokar of the Premyslids, who came from a family that had fought in the XVth century to free Bohemia from the Holy Roman Empire - had no love for the Habsburgs: proud, reckless and ruthless, the Austrian dinasty would set Europe ablaze to serve its silly dynastic ambitions. However, this was not the time for war: it was not for the Austrians - who like the Marslavans had been bled by the war in Hungary - and it was not for Porcu, who risked to lose much credibility in waging a war of aggression. The events that were unfolding in Vienna, felt the Grand Duke and the Prime Minister Von Koudenberg, may have farreaching implications for Marslava, and the Grand Duchy should not be left out of them.

What was needed was for someone with the right credentials to reach out to the Austrians and verify their intentions. Lady Daria Slavnikova, normally the ambassador of Marslava in Moscow, had been called to serve this purpose. An aristocrat coming from a family that traced its origins to the VIIIth century, she belonged to that category of people which the Habsburg would not look at as inferior beings.
"My going there" she said bluntly "may be less useful than you think - the events in Vienna are largely out of our control"
"They are out of our control" replied the Grand Duke "but I'd rather have someone there to see with her eyes what is happening in Vienna. These events I do not like and we need to show that we are listening, watching, and ready to take action".
As Daria Slavnikova left for Vienna, the defense minister Bodislav and generals Zdenek and Radetzky of the Ducal Guard entered the room.

The two generals reported on the situation in Hungary and Southern Bohemia: no suspect movement had been noticed and the Austrians had not shown any hostile intention. This said, the risk of an escalation in Vienna was real. The government of Marslava now felt that it was vulnerable, to its aggressive neighbours, and to the imprudent decisions taken in Ariminae. Thus, the Ducal Guard was to be put on alert, and the decision was taken to reinforce the fortifications in Marslava's borders.

OOC: I post this here firstly because what is happening in Vienna is quite important and relevant for Marslava, a hope you do not mind if a Marslavan envoyee makes his way to Vienna. Also this is one of the best rps I have seen in this forum, all my respect goes to you !
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"Your evidence?" Atratinus replied, his arms settling behind him.

Adrian's anger spiked momentarily when he noted the cool demeanor of the former president. A subtle smile escaped him a second later. The blood stained letter was then quickly obtained from the Archduke and brought to Adrian by one of the impressive Royal Uhlans and the Margrave held the letter out for all to see.

"Your Imperial Majesty..." Adrian said loudly to the Russian Prince, hoping to draw the Russians to him and to pin the enigmatic Porcu in a corner in one movement.

"Yes?" Constantine responded, startled.

"What is the language of this document?"

"Latin." Constantine replied flatly after skimming through the document held out to him by the Margrave.

"And do you recognize this signature?" Adrian yelled, holding the stained sheet out for Atratinus to see.

The Porcuian, cautious of the blade pointed at his midsection, bent his torso and leaned delicately over the sabre. The attached signature was clearly his, but the Margrave wanted a show and Atratinus was gentlemanly enough to provide him that courtesy.

"It is my own."

"Louder!"

"The signature is mine." Atratinus said loud enough for everyone to hear once he stood upright.

A silence fell as the tension grew. It seemed that at any moment Adrian would take the step forward required to stab Atratinus. It was during this delicate scene that a thought entered the mind of the Porcuian King. Julius Maxentius IV had few personal dealings with the former president, but those numbered encounters were always striking, terrifying, and comprehensive. The King knew little about the powerful figure he respectfully bowed to, but he did know that Atratinus was of a calculating and deliberate breed of man.

Nothing escaped him because nothing could escape him. When one was destroyed it would happen as if by Providence, and the deed would occur without a trace. Maxentius IV knew what Atratinus was capable of and leaving behind such incriminating evidence was almost laughable.

"Your Majesty?" King Maxentius IV asked while stepping forward. The breaking of the silence nearly brought the shards of chaos crashing down onto their heads. "Might I have a look at the letter? Perhaps I might be of some use?"

Adrian made the immediate calculation that the Porcuian King would only be able to verify and corroborate the damning evidence against the former president. The exposure of Atratinus' pearly canines as the letter was handed over sent a chill down the Margrave's spine. Adrian renewed the vice-like grip on the handle of his sabre.

The expression of curiousness on the King's face quickly turned to perplexity as his eyes scanned the document. Surely enough, the signature at the bottom was Atratinus', but the grammar and occasional phrasing of the sentences was suspect. Additionally, Maxentius IV knew personally that Atratinus' 'writing voice' was very different than that found in the letter.

"Your Majesty?"

"Yes?" Adrian responded with a tinge of nervousness.

"I cannot say with confidence that this letter was written by Vopiscus Tarquinius."

Before a breath could be taken by anyone, a voice. "And why is that, Your Highness?" Atratinus asked with faux sincerity.

"Well, mostly, it's the style of writing. There are also a couple of idiosyncrasies with regard to word choice." the Porcuian King responded.

"Curiouser and curiouser..." Atratinus whispered mockingly.
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

Whal
Mar 2 2014, 12:05 AM
The silence proved welcome for some, mainly the Austrian "inner circle", who took the time to procure some refreshments or view the immense beauty of the Hofburg palace. For Ferdinand, however, silence was never comfortable and he found himself slowly infiltrating the space of the Romanov Grand Duke and Duchess.

"A pity such an event has been reduced to this", the young Austrian said aloud, in perfect Russian, to neither of the Russians in particular. Noticing that both Constantine and Sophia were rather annoyed, he presented his tone very lightly in an effort to dispel any lingering hostility. Slowly his gaze fell upon Sophia and he smiled, "Have we met before, my Lady?" Surprisingly, she allowed him to lift her hand to his lips. "My name is Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Austria."

OOC: No need to help with the test, y'all. I thought id leave some room for dialogue before the results come back.
"This is the lady Sophia" Constantine responded, "Grand Duchess of Russia and I am Constantine, Grand Duke. We are the guests of the wedding couple, here to represent our brother the Emperor. I must say, if this is how traditional Austrian weddings go I am not sure if we'll be able to attend another"

For a moment, Ferdinand ignored Constantine as he gazed at the rather enchanting Grand Duchess of Russia. For her part, Sophia was rather surprised at the dashing nature of the Crown Prince of Austria though she was quick not to complete assure him that he'd won the exchange. After all, Sophia was a young woman of substance and it would take much more than a handsome face and gentle kiss to win her over.

"Oh yes, the ceremony" Ferdinand finally stated, "yes, well I can assure you the events of today are far from the norm for my people. While perhaps unfortunate timing, I assure you what has transpire is for the best not only Austria but for Europe." Ferdinand then decided to change subject, not fully sure how the Russians felt over the situation and hoping, through his own charismatic skills, to make the two feel a bit more a home.

"Tell me Grand Duke, do you hunt?"

"Why yes" Constantine replied.

"Well from red deer to wild boar, we have quite the game in Austria" Ferdinand replied. "You must allow me to host you sometime at my family's private lodge."

The two men carried on a rather lengthy conversation over the subject that soon developed to others subjects, all of which were far from the current events that continued to play out around them. Sophia joined in, from time to time, only showcasing her own well-educated upbringing and perhaps further impressing the Crown Prince. The conversation would have perhaps continued even further, place the group even more far-apart from the events around them were it not for the interruption imposed by Adrian.

"Latin." Constantine replied flatly after skimming through the document held out to him by the Margrave. It was the last reply made by the Grand Duke as he, his sister, and now the Austrian Crown Prince watched as the situation in Vienna seemed to be on a even faster road to disaster. Sophia, despite her own curiousity over the events was now a bit frightened. She'd never seen a person die before, much less witnessed a man held at knife point. Constantine was acutely aware of this, perhaps Ferdinand as well. After stepping forward in an obvious attempt to defuse a situation whose end results could echo throughout Europe for the perceivable future, Constantine saw Maxentius attempt as his own cue to help in the situation.

Glancing at his sister so as to say, without words, that all would be alright, he moved through the crown until he was almost beside Adrian, though the guards permitted him from getting truly within arm reach.

"Margrave" Constantine stated calmly, in a voice and tone most respecting to the man he was conversing to. "While I fully understand the situation for what it is, may I suggest that this spectacle be carried out away from public view." Constantine intervened not out of any loyalty to Porcu's former president. On the contrary, he had little desire to save a man who he viewed as unsavory and vile. Still, despite what the Margrave may wish to do to him, an truly he had the right to do so, there was still protocol to follow. Were it simply about honor, then the Margrave had the right to punch the pompous Porcuian square in the jaw and let that be that. Now, however, the charges were conspiracy to murder a national leader. Diplomacy in these matters were everything, less the Margrave wish to be viewed as savage as the Genesisian Pope.

Constantine then leaned in as further as he could, his tone now little more than a whisper though some closest to him could still here him. "Surely there is no need to feed more fuel to the fire for the press and foreign ministers alike. You have laid a charge, surely it is in the right of the archduke to arrest him or you to arrest him on the archduke's behalf, should you be invested with this power. Detaining this man is the right of the Austrian state and there are few who can argue this here now. So I suggest detaining him and giving the evidence to the proper authority to investigate. You must, especially now that doubt has been caste on this evidence. I am confident that justice, whatever justice that can be in these matters, will be served and truly you shall save Europe from what darkness shall erupt from these proceedings should other options be taken instead to resolve these issues."

The Grand Duke wasn't sure how the Margrave would take his plea. However, despite what he may think of Atratinus he was confident that killing him now would be disasterous for not only the immediate actors but all of Europe.
___________________________________________________________

Saint Petersburg, Russia....


Ivan was more than annoyed that his personal family time was being so rudely interrupted by the events in central Europe. Yet, he quickly began to understand the ramifications of the events should they continued to spiral out of control. Within the hours since learning of the initial coup, Russian intelligence was now monitoring the escalation of troop movements in northern Norway. There was a very clear feeling in Moscow, from his ministers, that war was on the horizon.

"The Porcu's own escalation of troops in Norway is troubling your Majesty" Prince Anton Leiven, Minister of Defense stated over the teleconference line. "Still, I don't believe it foreshadows an intention on the part of the Republic, for war. The Porcuians simply aren't aggressive in this manner and I don't believe they'll risk war when there is still much room for diplomacy."

"I must agree your Majesty" Count Ivan Tolstoy, the foreign minister, agreed. "I have already heard unofficially, that Porcuian officials are indirectly attempting to understand our position on this matter through questions sent to our Embassy in their capital. I have directed our staff there to simply state that we are reviewing the situation and nothing more. I am confident, however, that the Republic will seek more diplomatic actions and this escalation in Norway is simply a show to the Germans that while they value diplomacy, the Porcuian people are not afraid of a fight if there must be one."

"We have no relations with the Germans, no more than formal acquaintances would" said Ivan plainly, "Yet, our relationship with Porcu and with Marslava, whom I feel shall equally be a risk if these events escalate further, is little more than general understanding and healthy trade relations. To suggest we have a obligation to come to their aid without question is ludicrous though it is, within our best interest, to deescalate the situation if possible so that trade is not hindered. Still, it is my understanding that the Porcuian government is calling the new Austrian regime, illegal, correct?"

"From the reports we've seen so far, yes your majesty. However, we have no officially requested a clarification of this from their President"

"An we won't, for now" Ivan stated. "I do not wish to tip our hand until we've had amply time to understand ever angle of this situation. While we may share in mutually beneficial trade relations with Porcu and Marslava, to whom I believe is equally invested in these events, we exist more in a relationship of mutual understanding and not outright friendship nor any form of military agreements. That said, while we have no formal relationship what so ever with either German State, I am not willing to jeopardize future relations either. Besides this, we must also remember that for now two highly important representatives from this court remain in Vienna and their security is paramount. I feel a balanced approach must be available to us and while I am fully aware that time is fleeting in this matter, I still believe a time to discover this balance approach still exists. Naturally, I lean heavily on the council of my ministers for the discovery of this. Until then, all replies will remain as they have and it shall be plainly stated that we are monitoring this situation but have, as of yet, come to a conclusion."

"As you wish, your majesty....."
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Whal
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Ferdinand's eyes had first widened with anger as Adrian informed him of Atratinus' treachery. As the Margrave threw him the saber, Ferdinand gripped it with all the intention to join in the execution of the dastardly bastard. However, no doubt for the better, Constantine's interruption into the affair allowed a cooler head to prevail in the young Crown Prince and suddenly killing Atratinus seemed less likely to achieve the retribution that was required.

His gaze quickly shifted to Sophia, who he could obviously see was greatly bothered by the tone and posture he and Adrian were promoting. Why her discomfort bothered him so he could not discern, yet something tugged at his inner self and he allowed his outstretched sword hand to lower.

Turning to Adrian, Ferdinand spoke softly, "Brother, perhaps the Grand Duke is right. This would cast quite a negative shadow."

Adrian would have none of it, and he turned to Ferdinand with a look of disappointment. "Did you not hear me?", he barked. "This vile creature plotted to kill me and your sister. Your sister, Ferdinand!"

"I heard you clearly", Ferdinand responded thoughtfully, "But, we must end this here. Think of the message threatening him in public sends. Let us apprehend him until we can figure this all out."

It was at this moment that Karl himself interjected into the situation. He had grown weary of Adrian's volcanic temper and brash approach to situations. Indeed, there was inconclusive evidence surrounding the entire debacle anyway. It was no secret that Austria had enough cause to apprehend the Porcuian anyway. Karl moved in-front of Adrian and put his hand on the Margrave's arm, lowering his sword slightly.

"Adrian, listen to me", he commanded, "I want to see this man pay just as much as you do, but you understand we need to try him, yes?"

Adrian said nothing, but resumed his aggressive posture and even attempted to raise his sword arm despite the Archduke's grip. It only made Karl grip his arm tighter.

"Austria has cause to apprehend him, my boy", Karl said thoughtfully, in a bid to calm Adrian down. "Please, lower your sword."

Adrian's eyes shifted around the room and he locked gazes with Ferdinand, Karl, Eleanor, Constantine, before finally settling on Atratinus. The man resumed his calm and collected demeanor and even produced a slight smug smile. Adrian contemplated whether to kill him on the spot, strike him, or to give into the demands. The whole room held their breath.
Edited by Whal, Mar 8 2014, 07:58 PM.
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Adrian lowered his sabre.

"Take him away." He said quietly, just loud enough for the Uhlans to hear him. The Uhlans cuffed Atratinus and left the room. The whole time his chilling gaze never left Adrian's.

He would not allow this to ruin his evening. Adrian took to mingling to the guests and a gradual calm appeared in the room. The air of the accusations left, and some of Adrian's family arrived, albeit late. His brother Adalbert and his wife, who was visibly pregnant, congratulated the royal couple. Adrian eventually moved to the Russian delegation, and made a few apologies but assured them that they were never in any danger. He hadn't seen the two since the Debutante ball in Berlin, and tried to make an effort to catch up.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

"I request a phone call, so that I may speak to my attorney." Atratinus said at Adrian as the Uhlans worked to cuff him.

Before anyone could say another word the spectacle was over and Atratinus had been forcibly taken away from the ballroom.

It had been, up til now, a curious experience for him. Everything that he had done in his life had been calculated and checked with the regularity of clockwork. While his earlier outburst had not been spontaneous, it had not been entirely thought through either. Additionally, Atratinus had made a - rare - miscalculation. Expecting Adrian to lash out physically, the former president did not foresee himself in chains.

Yet here he was; the cold metal rubbing uncomfortably against his wrists.

Led away and down several corridors of the palace, Atratinus half expected to see a private garden with a solid wall against which he would be placed and summarily finished for his disagreeable trespass. A voice suddenly cried out from behind the Porcuian and his two sturdy escorts. Beside them in a moment was Ferdinand, who had managed to escape from the larger crowd and follow Atratinus. He still clung to the sabre.

"You are a disgrace and a vile commoner, whose presence here only confirms the superiority of those with the proper blood. To hell with you, Mr. Atratinus. Curses on your family and shame on you!" Ferdinand snapped, his body language mimicking his speech.

Atratinus stood in place silently for a moment in disbelief. The thought crossed his mind to jump for the Crown Prince and to take a bite of his neck, nevermind the sabre. The thought to simply laugh also crossed his mind. Both were discarded.

"I beg your pardon?" Atratinus replied, turning so that he faced the Crown Prince directly.

"How dare you defile this solemn occasion with your lies! How dare you try and eliminate the Margrave and take away what is his rightly by birth and what will be his by marriage! Harlot of the masses! You Porcuians are nothing more than..." Ferdinand said with growing anger.

Suddenly the room became dark and the Uhlans beside the former president disappeared from view. Ferdinand locked eyes with Atratinus and what he saw terrified him beyond measure. Standing ten feet tall, Atratinus became Fear - the shadows withered, the air was cold, and the breath was snatched out of Ferdinand's lungs.

Those pale grey eyes became a fine silver. The lips were curled back to reveal vampiric canines.

"We Porcuians are more than you, the Margrave, Austria, or the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. I and every other Porcuian individually are more than the cumulative wealth of the Russian Empire. A child of the streets - of Porcuian stock! - has more value than anything you can offer and stands for more than anything you can imagine."

Atratinus began with a start, but at a low roar. He now took a step forward and locked onto his prey.

"You and your House will wither and die, but the Republic will last! Austria will fall and Vienna become a desert as the lights of Ariminae continue to glow. Everything I do I do for the Republic! Her glory, her majesty, her honor, her dignity! You cannot compare to nor compete with an ideal!"

Ferdinand felt himself weak and entirely unprepared for a confrontation with the monster that dwelled inside Atratinus. A cold sweat ran down his face and he simply could not take his eyes away.

The darkness grew and the chill deepened. Terror descended on the Crown Prince when he saw a faint smile cross the former president's face.

"I can crush you now and leave no trace...Yes...I think I'll devour you. Taking the time to savor you would be a waste, however."

Desperate to save himself from the upcoming assault, Ferdinand gripped his sabre and thrust straight forward.

A scream.

Light immediately returned and the chill dissipated. Tears were forming in the corners of the Crown Prince's eyes when he looked down to see Atratinus collapsed on his knees, his arms still restrained behind him by the handcuffs. The two Royal Uhlans were quick to pick up the Porcuian, revealing a deep wound off-center on the chest. Blood rapidly began to stain Atratinus' clothing and his thick glasses hung precariously on the edge of his nose. The Archduke Karl and the Russian Prince Constantine were soon at Ferdinand's side, having heard Atratinus' shouting before his cry of pain from clear across the palace. Additional curious bystanders were blocked off by a wall of Uhlans further down the hallway.

"What happened?" Karl asked with astonishment. Atratinus' blood was quickly soaking into his jacket and color was fading from his face.

Ferdinand himself did not know precisely. What had been a hallucination and what reality? It had been terrible, but had it been real?

If action was to be taken to prevent the death of the Republic of Porcu's most powerful and influential leader in a lifetime it would have to be taken without a moment's delay.
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Whal
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Utter blackness, sheer unrelenting darkness had surrounded the terrifying figure which had stood before the Crown Prince. Reality had vanished from the situation, a monster had stood poised to consume him, and all the comforts of Ferdinand's title, wealth, and power seemed to evaporate each passing millisecond he persisted where he stood.

The beast, or rather what creature Ferdinand had perceived at that moment, appeared to leap forward with a deepening roar. In his instinctual reaction of self defense, he raised the saber. Its curved blade skewered the advancing monster before its canines could sink into his exposed neck.

A scream, a rush of light, a return of color, and the cruel results of the entire episode. Atratinus, not a nightmarish beast, leaned bleeding upon a shaken Ferdinand.

"NO!.......no, no, no...", Ferdinand pleaded, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. His hands shook behind the saber's hilt. Blood dripped down the blade and onto the floor.

What had he just experienced? Surely, he had hallucinated the monster which had advanced against him, but what had caused such an uncharacteristic and frightening vision. Whether it was God or the Devil, Ferdinand could not discern.

Atratinus' warm blood ran down Ferdinand's gilded tunic and he had to respond quickly. The two Uhlans assisted in lying Atratinus' unconscious body on the ground as Ferdinand leaned over desperately checking the man's vital signs. His face was pale and he was losing fluids at an alarming rate, yet he was ALIVE.

"D-did you see it?", Ferdinand stammered, pleading with the guards. "The monster.......tell me you saw it!"

The Uhlans looked at one another before turning back to Ferdinand with mixed reactions. While they most certainly had not, in a state of equal shock they merely nodded with reassuring smiles. Ferdinand knew they were lying, yet somehow their response comforted him. As they placed a bandage over the wound, Karl and Constantine rushed to his side. Their faces were blank in disbelief.

"What happened?", Karl had cried in astonishment.

Ferdinand turned abruptly and grabbed his father's lapels. "I saw it, Father! It came for me and I stopped it!" Ferdinand was quickly losing his grasp with reality and he could barely formulate his thoughts. He began to shake, his knees felt weak, and he collapsed backwards on the floor next to Atratinus.

"He's in shock!", Karl yelled reaching for his son. "Help me!", he requested of Constantine.

Constantine waited for a moment before he descended reluctantly. At this point, a crowd began to gather eagerly jockeying for a view into the small corridor. The Uhlans pushed them back, but inevitably Eleanor, Adrian, Sophia, and the Porcuian King and Queen made their way into the fray. More Uhlans had rushed from the other direction with stretchers for both Atratinus and Ferdinand.

"Get him to the infirmary on the next floor! If he dies then the whole world will burn!", Karl barked at them in reference to Atratinus.

Eleanor rushed to her brother's side as they lifted him onto the stretcher. Holding his hand with a tender grip, she began to weep as the situation began to worsen. So much had occurred on this day, her day. Adrian rushed to the other side and helped carry Ferdinand along; his reassuring gazes to Eleanor calmed her slightly. Soon enough both Atratinus and Ferdinand were placed in the elaborate medical facility within the palace. Atratinus would need serious medical attention, however the journey to the closest hospital would likely be too much.

"He'll make it, but he needs a transfusion", the doctor stated flatly. "What's his blood type?"

"O negative! He's O negative!", King Maxentius IV cried.

"That's Ferdinand's", Eleanor replied softly and with doubt.

After a quick group questioning it was discerned that no one else could provide Atratinus with the blood he needed, but Ferdinand. In his current state, drawing blood from Ferdinand would be risky and could cause serious mental issues in the long term. The decision was left to the Archduke. Eleanor pleaded with him to consider the repercussions, but Karl had to prevent a political backlash at any cost. With a stone cold face he ordered the transfusion.

The room became eerily quiet aside from side conversations between the various groups.
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While Constantine and Sohpia were among the group who went to the palace's infirmary, they soon stepped outside the immediate room where Ferdinand and Atratinus were being held. The Russians felt it was a bit unnecessary to be in the room and perhaps even, a bit inappropriate. After all, neither men were of much concern to either Constantine or Sophia. While they did sound a bit cold, the thought even more so for both of them, it was in the end the truth.

"This situation is getting more and more serious the more the night goes on" Sophia stated plainly to her brother. "I am not so sure I wish to remain a guest to this party."

"I understand your sentiments exactly" said Constantine, "If harm should behalf either man in there Europe could easily be plunged into war."

"I imagine Europe would be better off without one over the other" Sophia said, with little remorse for her words.

"That may be so" Constantine said, his tone lowered, "but it is not for us to decide who should live and who should die. Besides this, I pray that for the sake of European peace, no more harm comes to either man in there."

"I pray as well" Sophia said solemnly, "I pray as well...."
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 *  *  *  *  *  *
Karl paced back and forth muttering to himself as, a few feet away, Eleanor waited patiently by her brother's side. She tenderly rubbed the hair over his forehead whilst saying a small prayer. As extracting blood from an unconscious man was a potentially life threatening decision, Eleanor prayed that somehow God would protect her brother from the possibility of his heart stopping from the stress. Every now and then Adrian would arrive to console her, but his attention often gravitated to the equally as unconscious Atratinus.

How ironic and infuriating! the Margrave thought to himself as he starred at Atratinus and then back at Ferdinand.

Was it not Ferdinand who requested that Atratinus not be touched? Was it not Ferdinand who stabbed the man Adrian himself wished to assault? It simply made no sense and was equally aggravating. However, despite all that had happened, Adrian was thoroughly enjoying seeing Atratinus desperately clinging to life. Should death happen to befall the Porcuian, Adrian would happily welcome a world without Atratinus. The Porcuians, on the other hand, certainly would not and a renewed European war seemed increasingly more likely; a fact, which accompanied by Ferdinand's demise, would only mean worse consequences for the people of Europe.

Karl stopped a moment from his pacing to glance at the Russian royals. Because the night had escalated so quickly and horribly, the Archduke imagined that his guests had likely seen enough and could be permitted to retire to their rooms or to Russia should they truly wish to do so.

"Grand Duke Constantine, Grand Duchess Sophia", Karl said quietly, but enough to get their attention, "I would imagine that you two have seen quite enough. Please feel free to retire to your rooms and away from this madness. The party is over."

Constantine looked at his sister, but before they could respond the Archduke had already moved on. As Karl walked to outside the room and into the hallway, he was approached by his newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Duke Albert Zalesky II.

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to trouble you under these grave circumstances, but an envoy from the Great Duchy of Marslava has arrived and requests an audience", Zalesky said thoughtfully.

"Just what we need now - Marslavan prattling", Karl responded, obviously aggravated at the situation.

"What shall I tell the Lady Daria Slavnikova, your Majesty?"

"Slavnikova?", Karl turned back abruptly. "Why do I know that name?"

"Well, she is Marslavan nobility. At least what passes for nobility in those Slavic wastelands", Zalesky responded with a condescending smile.

Karl chuckled to himself for a moment, but corrected his posture immediately. "Well, at least she's not a parliamentarian", he responded seriously. Taking a brief moment to glance into the room before continuing, Karl replied humorously.

"Go meet with the Lady Slavnikova, your Grace. Perhaps, we can extract some information from our good friends the Marslavans."

Both men laughed as they departed in separate directions.
Edited by Whal, Mar 20 2014, 09:33 PM.
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Alberto
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The sending of a Slavnik to Vienna was a message on itself. The Marslavan aristocracy was generally quite open and cosmopolitan, they spoke French and German, and looked with sympathy to the cultures of Vienna and in Paris. The Slavniks were not like that. Having come twelve centuries ago from the depths of Russian steppe, the Slavniks were rude warriors and looked at the other Europeans with disdain and with hostility. Their motherland, their real country, was not Europe, but rather that community of Slavs which spanned from the Urals to the Mediterranean. The Habsburg may have known that name because it was a Slavnik who led the wild troops who repelled the Holy Roman Emperor's army which was sieging Prague during the revolt of the Hussites. The Slavniks had come upon the Habsburg forces, and they had made no prisoners.

Daria Slavnikova was a frail figure, with blue eyes and dark hair. Her glaze was cold and hostile, and she spoke with a sincerity that bordered impoliteness. The rude lady Slavnikova represented very well the new Marslavan stance toward Austria. The growing nationalism of the German peoples was having its parallel - and senseless - repercussions in the Grand Duchy. The confusion that had happened just before had been noticed by Lady Slavnikova, and Prague was aware of the developments which were taking place. The Habsburg could spare any politeness, and the Marslavan envoy would do the same.

"Atratinus...he is a despicable man, someone who has risen only by luck, and whose intrigues are petty and vulgar. I have no sympathy for him, but if he was to die and if Porcu was to react, Marslava would intervene and Austria could not fight off both... and you have many enemies here in Europe. I would like this to be explicit since the beginning so to avoid rash actions from your part".

"We see no sense in maintaining the old structure of CEDO, it is now outdated" said the Marslavan emissary "we will denounce the treaty and terminate it. However, we do not wish war to occur, the status quo is what we desire and nothing else. As long as Vienna will not look upon the lands of the Slavs, we will not look upon the lands of the Austrians. I would like to know of your intentions and how far you want to go in your bickering with Porcu". Lady Slavnikova waited for the arrogant reply that would come from the Habsburg.
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 *  *  *  *  *
Adrian exited the infirmary and stood behind the Maraslavan. His voice made her jump with surprise as he spoke.

"I may not speak for my father-in-law" Adrian said "but it the choice of Arminiae how fat this goes. I have a great respect for the Porcuian people. My quarrel is with Atratinus and him alone. Unfortunately, that quarrel will not end tonight."

Adrian carefully analyzed the situation mentally. He smiled, realizing the cards he held in his hand meant he could not lose.

Porcu would not declare war, even if Atrainus died this was a private matter between Royals and Porcu would come off as intervening in something with which they had no business. Atratinus was no longer president.

If Ferdinand lived, he would have a powerful ally and a great force for German federalization. If he died, why, for all intents and purposes Adrian would be the successor to the Hapsburg throne. This thought he kept somewhat buried, but as morbid as it was, it was true.

The Marslavans were on no consequence. They were merely here to puff their chests and pretend they were important. They ate from Porcu's hand and if Porcu would calm so would they.
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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OOC: Actually, Ferdinand's younger brother Karl III would be next in line, but Adrian would definitely be third.

IC:

Duke Albert Zalesky II looked upon Daria Slavinovka with disdain. While Slavic blood existed in his family line at one point, Zalesky viewed his Austrian lineage as supreme and had fought his entire life to burry his more Slavic past. Sadly, this trend was not uncommon among the Austrian nobility with less-than-Germanic backgrounds, as their Aryan counterparts often lifted up their noses at them when the truth did inevitably come out. Luckily, Zalesky's blond hair and piercing blue eyes weren't qualities that would necessarily betray him, and thus his familial origin was something the ambitious Zalesky had managed to keep hidden - at least for now.

Lady Slavinovka spoke bluntly and with a scowl that the Austrian noble found frankly amusing. Surely, the Marslavans sent this rather rude noblewomen to promote their opposition to Habsburg power and their self-perceived notion of importance in matters which had little to do with them. Zalesky respected her drive to cut straight to the point, and he would oblige her as the time for pleasantries between their two countries was drawing a close. A new "iron-curtain" was developing between the Germans and their Slavic neighbors, and the Marslavans represented the main bulwark for opposition to Austria's ambitions in the Balkans. If war was to be avoided, and Austria did wish that it would, a common understanding between the two countries would need to be established early on.

Duke Zalesky prepared to speak until he noticed Margrave Adrian exit the infirmary and promptly enter their conversation. The two men smiled to one another as they realized they had their "guest" properly cornered.

"Lady Slavinovka, surely you understand as I do, that the situation with Porcu remains as a transgression against Austria and not the other way around. The seizure of the Loki platforms is undoubtedly illegal and any aggressive action in its wake shall be at the fault of the Porcuians and them alone. As for Herr Atratinus, I must agree that his demise would be regrettable only in the fact that it would escalate a conflict further between our four countries. I assure you, my lady.......we are not so alone in friends as you may think."

Zalesky directed his gaze from Lady Slavinovka towards Adrian; a point to be made that Austria was far from alone.

"Now, my lady, I do not wish to promote that war between us is destined....far from it. You could do well to assist us in condemning Porcu's actions in Norway as criminal and thus eliminating any threat Austria presents to your people, and vice versa. Remember that your decision to join Porcu in armed conflict against an innocent Austria shall be viewed as equally dastardly by the international community. You see Madame, like you, we too value the status quo be maintained within Central Europe. Even without our mutual efforts with C.E.D.O, both Austria and Marslava can work together to maintain the peace by acknowledging our respective sovereignty. Simply put, Madame, if Marslava merely recognizes her backing of Porcu as support for an illegal action, then any future conflict shall be avoided."

Zalesky made a point to make no reference to Austrian desires in the Balkans. A wide grin erupted across his face as he anticipated his rival's next move.


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Alberto
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To Lady Slavnikova Adrian had been described as young and brave, to the point of recklessness. The young ssovereign was proud, hostile, and showed this hostility quite openly. Thus, it was not particularly unpleasant to deal with him: Adrian von Lebus was sincere, and his sincerity had something admirable. On the other hand, the second interlocutor had a patronising attitude which could only attract disdain.

The Duke von Zalesky, had a beautiful name, perhaps from Bohemia or from Poland. In fact, an old and noble Marslavan family bore that name longtime ago. Having decided to side with the Emperor in the days of the religious wars, it subsequently was expelled from Marslava. Perhaps that Zalesky was related to the Marslavan lineage. This said, the "von" added in front of the name nearly spoilt the harmonious sounds of that surname. Lady Slavnikova could not however blame him for that, since many Marslavan nobles did the same.

"Gospodar Zalesky" she started, calling him with the high title that corresponded to the one of Duke "I am not here to talk about the relations between Marslava an Porcu. What I have told you is an announcement of what we will do if things were to get out of hand - which I am confident will not. It is the belief of my sovereign that clarity in these matters will help all to avoid bad development. Thus, I have not been sent here to negotiate on this aspect - Marslava will not either explicitly approve nor condemn the actions of Porcu in Scandinavia".

"However" added the Marslavan emisssary "there are other things we can talk about. You are right, war is not what our nations should be doing. Quite frankly, Marslava finds the status quo to be convenient. What my nation proposes is that the current borders be frozen an that our states renounce to expansion for the time being. In other words, both Austria and Marslava will renounce to interfere against those lands that lie just beneath our sphere of influence. In such a way, many possible reasons for conflict will be prevented".

OOC: I picked up on the Slavic origins of the Duke von Zalesky, suggesting some possible origins. I hope you don't mind, and of course you are free to ignore it.
Edited by Alberto, Mar 25 2014, 05:20 PM.
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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OOC: We're good, but their is no "von" before the surname, as he is the Duke "of" Salzburg not Zalesky.

IC:

Duke Zalesky raised an eyebrow at Lady Slavinovka's association of himself and Slavic nobility - as underlying as it was. Gospodar, the title she had used to define him, was customary for Marslavan royalty and was poorly referenced in description of him as far as Zalesky was concerned. His family hadn't resided in Bohemia since the early 17th century where his ancestors had floundered under the every-increasing power of the old Bohemian aristocracy. However, the arrival of the Austrian's at the turn of the century had given his ancestors the opportunity to rise against their more fortunate brethren, and the Zalesky family managed to gain prestige and authority among their new German overseers. Indeed, one people's traitors are another's honored friends and the Zalesky's eventually completed full "Germanification" under the Habsburgs.

By the time of the Empire's revival, probably even earlier, the Zalesky name appeared almost exclusively German; the Slavic phonetics merely a relic of the Austrian forays into non-German territory during the times of the first Holy Roman Empire. For Albert Zalesky II, Duke of Salzburg, his future remained one where he was an Austrian and nothing else.

He would not entertain the Lady Slavinovka's references to the past. More importantly, not when his people were looking towards the future.

"Yes, I see", he purred, after the Marslavan had spoken. "While I cannot say I disagree with your insistence against expansion, I happen to find it......irresponsible....in the long run."

Lady Slavinovka scoffed openly.

"I find it irresponsible to allow the cancerous spread of Translava's terrorism to continue unabated. As you are surely aware, my Lady, Translava is firmly entrenched within the various disorganized entities which operate throughout the Balkan peninsula. Their goal has continued to be the destruction of the Austrian state and her people, and they have obviously acted brutally in this endeavor. By forgoing operations in these areas, you are asking me to allow the planning of terrorism and mass murder to continue without retribution. Surely, Marslava, like Austria, understands that only harsh unflinching measures can be undertaken against this menace?", he continued seriously.

"That is unless......Marslava had chosen to turn a blind eye to their barbarity?", Zalesky taunted rather bluntly.
Edited by Whal, Mar 28 2014, 09:18 PM.
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Alberto
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"Eradicating terrorism does not need the occupation of foreign land" answered the Marlsvan envoy "any claim to the contrary would be disingenous".
The envoy continued "we are not merely asking you to not expand south, we are offering you to freeze our frontiers too, freeing Austria from the danger of being encircled. We are offering you to stop any competition between our countries before it begins".

Lady Slavnikova was surprised. This offer, to freeze the current borders, had been made in good faith. It was a major effort made by Marslava, while trying to satisfy Austria's need for security. Truly, this was a last offer before the recourse to power politics. It seemed, however, that the Austrians were more than willing to revert to a state of open defiance in order to further their own ambitions.

"I have to insist" said impatiently the Marslavan emissary "this is for us a sine qua non. It is the only fair settlement that would avoid conflict between our countries. This is a perfectly honorable arrangement, whereby both Marslava and Austria renounce to their expansionist pulsions. We are not renouncing to little: of all the states in Central Europe, Marslava is the strongest and most industrialized, the one that could most easily be expansionist. Yet, our senses tell us that peace is something too precious to be wasted for expansionism".

"To refuse this settlement" concluded Lady Slavnikova "would mean, for Austria, to openly declare its expansionist intentions, and to show explicitly that stability is not what it wants. This is because Translava can perfectly be fought without invading the lands which have for millennia belonged to the Slavs. Just consider that, if we both abandon our expansionist mires, we will be able to cooperate to fight the terrorist threat, while respecting the independence of the Balkans."
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Duke Zalesky sighed at Lady Slavinovka's open contempt for Austria's right at self-defense. While he understood her ignorance of the matter, as Translava would be sympathetic to Marslavan foreign policy as long as it remained introspective, Austria would never be able to sit idle as Slavic terrorism and nationalism fumed so close by. Translava had started more than a conventional war with their targeted bombing of Vienna. As far as the Habsburg Monarchy was concerned, a war of ideologies, nationalities, and culture had been declared upon the Austrian people by the "free Slavs" in the Balkans. If Marslava truly wished to avoid war in the future it would have to learn to respect the growing economic, military, and cultural might of the Austrian Empire.

"My lady, I fear that you continue to view the situation from only your own viewpoint", Zalesky stated flatly. "After all, our peoples may share a common goal in eradicating terrorism, however must I explicitly remind you that it was Vienna, not Prague, which suffered a heinous targeted attack? The reality of the situation remains that Austria continues to be the prime focus of Translava's hostility and clandestine operations into the Balkans will not suffice to stop it."

Obviously, the Archduke had other plans for the Balkans outside of Translava's destruction, yet for the time being it represented the most legitimate claim and would therefore be Zalesky's sticking point on the matter. Marslava may be threatened by an increasingly powerful Austria, but this was the nature of the world. States rise in competition to one another before one inevitably falls behind the other. While Marslava had the current edge in production, population, and GDP, Austria was quickly catching up and already possessed superior infrastructure, technological advancement, and public health. The two could coexist together, but it would not be easy. Measures would need to be taken to calm the Marslavans.

"It is no secret," Zalesky continued, "that Austria will eventually catch up to Marslava's industrial output rate. While you may claim superiority now, warfare between our two states would not end well for either of us and I trust you understand that Austria has little interest in war with your people as a result. While I must say that I cannot agree to renounce expansion, my lady, perhaps there is an agreement we can reach here today that will remove your fears about Austria's rise? If you truly still do not believe that our intentions are honorable, then perhaps a non-aggression pact between the Empire and the Great Duchy will satisfy you?"

Lady Slavinovka didn't bat an eye, but refrained from speaking. Whether this was out of respect, interest, or something all together different, Zalesky was not sure.

"The pact would guarantee that both Austria and Marslava pursue no direct actions of armed aggression towards the other under penalty of eternal dishonor and threat of war. This will assure you that our intentions are not to inflict harm against the Marslavan people whilst also allowing you an assurance that any actions to the contrary would mean the gravest of insults to our personal honor. And Austrians highly regard their personal honor", Zalesky finished with a confident smile.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Surrounded on all sides, Atratinus found himself the focus of an inquisition. No two individuals were the same and none were recognizable to the former President. They sat in long circular benches with wooden countertops and glared at him. The questions were unrelenting and Atratinus simply did not have the time to answer each in turn.

Their tone was uniform, yet not angry. Their disposition was as varied as the individuals.

"Silence!" Atratinus screamed. He was on his knees on the floor, centered before everyone.

A dark skinned elderly man with curly silver hair spoke next, "You have eluded death more than once, Vopiscus Tarquinius Atratinus. But not this time."

"I will not." Atratinus replied. "My time has not yet come."

"With what authority or power do you make that statement?" a young, extremely attractive woman asked. Her eyes caught Atratinus and his heart sank.

"Pride has finally enveloped you." a masked figure added.

"I make the claim only with the conviction that I feel deep within me." Atratinus said in an effort to bolster his confidence. "I have survived the fall to Abaddon and seen the Fallen Angel. Pandemonium is the shadow I never asked for, yet the burden which I have to bear."

"He speaks the truth." a humanoid figure of gold said.

"Yes, but you lost the battle with Apollyon." the elderly, silver-haired man replied. "Instead of seeking light to rid the shadow, you have sought darkness in which to hide."

"My conscious is clear!" Atratinus yelled defiantly. "One either drives events or is driven by them. I have chosen to shape the world."

"To play the Creator." the young goddess said.

"No, only to not have my fate be decided by others. Even by such as yourselves."

"Why do you persist?" a middle-aged gentleman dressed in an expensive suit asked.

...

Those gathered in the infirmary held expressions of surprise and worry when Atratinus stirred on the firm mattress. A sweat began to break on his brow. The former President looked helpless without his glasses and the chill of his eyes immediately behind them.

"This is good, yes?" Queen Aglaea Helvia asked the attending nurse in German.

The nurse nodded, though the gesture was out of politeness and not out of any knowledge that the Porcuian's condition was actually improving.

King Decimus Maxentius IV hovered just outside the infirmary, along with most of the other dignitaries. He noted with worry that the Russians looked increasingly likely to leave, and he also took note of the young Margrave's excitement at the quandary developing. The Porcuian King needed some news from Ariminae.

Using his personal cellphone, the King made a call to a close associate in Parliament who, hopefully, would be able to shed some light as to what Ardea Gularis, Aemilius Cesca, and others were thinking.

"Yes?"

"Lucius? Yes, it's me."

"Your Majesty; are you and the Queen doing well? Rumors here have it that Atratinus is already dead, but that the Austrians are trying to clamp down on the story breaking." Lucius Valerius Flaccus, a longtime member of the Republican Party, a monarchist, and current Aedile replied.

"Not quite true." Decimus Maxentius IV replied. "Close though; Atratinus is in critical condition and the doctors are unsure whether or not he will make it. Consider too that the Archduke's own son is also in an unstable condition."

"Goodness!"

"Mhmm...The situation here is increasingly worrying. What can you tell me about where Parliament stands?"

"The President is of two very different minds on this: on one hand, she cannot simply let this seizure of power by the Archduke go without a strong response and she cannot seem to act indifferent to the detainment of a Porcuian citizen, let alone someone as powerful as Tarquinius Atratinus, but on the other hand, she is a peacenik by heart. In fact, privately, she almost immediately regretted ordering the seizure of the Loki platforms."

"And Parliament? Are there any votes scheduled?"

"There are several bills moving through their respective committees, but only two have a chance at seeing a vote. The first is a measure to seize all private accounts held by influential Austrians within the Republic. The Bank of Porcu will fight, but the Constitutional Court is expected to support the measure. The second is a bill that will wave the customary approval needed by the President from Parliament regarding the mobilization of Self-Defense units for a period of 6 months."

"Very interesting. What are their chances if they make it out of committee?"

"The communists are fiercely resisting the second, so it is not even an assurance that they will make it through committee, but both pieces of legislation have a good shot at passing if they do."

"Thank you very much, Lucius."

"My pleasure, Your Majesty."

The King's attention rapidly turned to the sight of the Marslavan Lady and the Austrian Duke. They were engaged in a stimulating conversation, that was easy to see, but how the discussion was progressing was not.
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Alberto
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The proposal of Zalesky was interesting: that offer would have been accepted if it had been made by a Chancelor of a republican Austria. However, this offer had been done by a Duke serving a sovereign who explicitly aimed to restore the Holy Roman Empire and had set his eyes over the Balkans. For Prague, accepting such a proposal would have meant to give Vienna a license to do whatever it wanted in the region, so to gain even more strength in a competition against Marslava.

Despite its smaller size and its lower industrial output, Austria was indeed a very capable foe. Whereas Marslava was a major industrial power capable of fielding a bigger army, the Austrian people was industrious and its army extremely capable. A war between the two countries would have been a bloody affair and a major conflagration in the European continent. Marslava was sure to be able to outlast Austria and Brandeburg in a defensive war, but it was not strong enough to defeat Austria in an offensive move.

Thus, the interest to find a permanent, peaceful, agreement was strong. However, Marslava was not ready to give complete freedom to Austria in exchange of a vague promess of act kindly. It was a pity: the two countries had been good allies and could have continued to be so if only this new regime had not overthroned the republic. Austria was not willing to accept the Marslavan offer. Marslava was not going to accept the Austrian proposal. This would make the two countries' coexistence harder.

"I will have to refuse this proposal unless both our countries' borders will be fixed to their corrent state" replied Lady Slavnikova. I fail to understand what is unfair or unjust in our proposal. We are asking Austria to give up what it does not possess and we offer to do the same."

Edited by Alberto, Apr 13 2014, 12:02 PM.
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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
 *  *  *  *  *  *
For the first time, Lady Slavinovka saw Zalesky's demeanor change from haughty to humble. Her refusal to accept the pact appeared to have genuinely saddened him, however the ambitious Austrian did not remain visibly disheartened for long. For what it was worth, Zalesky could sympathize with the Marslavan point of view. Austria was a very real threat to Marslava's regional dominance, and he could understand the desire to defend one's spot at the top, yet this understanding would not simply mean Austria would ignore its rising opportunity. No, Austria was destined to expand and reclaim her former glory and neither Translava nor Marslava would negate this right.

This made the Marslavan insistence on "frozen" borders impossible. While Zalesky doubted that Marslava itself did not wish to expand, he knew that geopolitics made stating such claims openly rather difficult. However, the young Austrian Duke was many things, but a liar and a charlatan were not among them. Zalesky was right about Austrian honor; he could not tell Lady Slavinovka in good faith that his country would not expand southwards and then sit idly by as Austria did just that. Personal honor meant honesty - something even enemies respected and admired.

"My lady, I must regretfully inform you that we can not accept a solidification of our borders at this time. While I will continue to declare on my honor that Austria does not wish conflict with Marslava, it shall be ultimately dependent upon future developments whether or not such an outcome shall occur. Expansion is not something I can swear away under current circumstances..", Zalesky managed to say rather bluntly.

Lady Slavinovka prepared a response until the uproar from the medical room garnered their attention.

"Its Atratinus!", an attendant cried, "He's awake!"

The conversation between the two envoys was concluded before a definite stance could be declared. While Marslava and Austria now have to contend with an ambiguous relationship, the matter with Atratinus and Ferdinand once again demanded the spotlight. Duke Zalesky and Adrian rushed to the doorway to see for themselves; Lady Slavinovka was left mostly to herself without a thought from her associates.

The two men entered the room just as small crowd leaned over Atratinus. His eyes were open and he was breathing normally, but he wasn't speaking and appeared to be in a trance. Adrian looked on intently, his interest in the matter increasing by each passing second.

"Why doesn't he speak?", Eleanor questioned from her seat upon her brother's cot.

"He appears to be in some type of fugue state," the doctor replied as he shined a light in the Porcuian's eyes. They refused to react.

"Herr Atratinus, can you hear me? Do you understand my voice?"

As the crowd's attention was fixed on Atratinus, Eleanor continued to stroke her brother's hair. Ferdinand had remained unconscious for quite a while now, and she remained fearful that the transfusions continued to trap him in his current state. The thought to pull the tubes from her brother's arm - denying Atratinus his blood - had crossed her mind many times, but she continued to pray that divine intervention would solve the problem for her.

Suddenly, the steady, methodical beeping from Ferdinand's heart monitor suddenly flat lined. The Crown Prince of Austria's heart had stopped!

"Oh my God! Ferdinand! Ferdinand!", Eleanor cried in desperation. "Someone help! My brother is dying!!"

The doctor rushed to his side immediately, practically pushing past the crowd. He began to prepare the defibrillator as a nurse ripped open Ferdinand's shirt. They placed the pads on his chest and the machine charged up before delivering a shock to Ferdinand's heart. Still the monitor remained at a constant low beep. Again they charged it and delivered the shock; again the line remained flat.

Eleanor began to shake uncontrollably and she in turn fainted. Now, half the group rushed to her side in an attempt to revive her. Suddenly, the shock from the recent charge blasted life into Ferdinand's heart and his eyes popped open wide. He saw nothing but darkness. The room, his family, everyone were nowhere to be found. That is, until he turned and saw the one thing his mind could make out.

He turned his head to the left at exactly the same time Atratinus' eyes shifted in his direction. Their eyes met and their gazes stuck.
Edited by Whal, Apr 13 2014, 02:30 PM.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

A low, unnatural laugh began to rumble from the lips of the Porcuian as he began to realize where he was and who he was looking at.

"Not yet..." he whispered in classical Greek, in between the bursts of laughter.

A chill developed and spread on the back of the Porcuian King as he stood nearby and heard Atratinus' first expressions of consciousness. The Queen, seated at the edge of Atratinus' cot, lowered her head. She was praying, but one would be excused to think that her musing was about the general, terrible progression of events that had occurred during the course of the day and evening. To say that everyone had been through quite a lot would be an understatement. How much more was to come?

Meanwhile, the medical personnel attending to both gentlemen carried on in their duties and were able to stabilize both Ferdinand and Atratinus. The Porcuians, Russians, the Lady Slavinovka, and some of the Austrians and Germans (including Duke Zalesky) were forced out of the infirmary while Eleanor was also attended to. Only the Archduke and the Margrave were granted immediate access in the future.

Atratinus' eyes shifted from gazing to the ceiling back to Ferdinand, who rested closely to his right. Ferdinand had not looked away since their eyes had first met and it was a curious expression that stared back at Atratinus.

"Yes?" Atratinus said to Ferdinand.
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