“Raithen Dux.” The Solar Sovereign’s eyes darted to the tell-tale wings at his back. She made a point of noting the Phædryns, whether true or baseborn, but this one was hard to miss as the only living Avialæ of Aværyan lineage… albeit not enough to impress a Sanguinist as devout as Thalya IV Imperatrix. She inclined her head and gestured for him to pass to greet the ambassador. When Raithen troubled himself to greet his attendant knight, as well, Sir Ayreon seemed taken aback. No one else had greeted him with more than a nod. A sidelong glance was also cast by the Solar Sovereign, before she returned her attention to the approaching Princess Varvalla of Gens Astræon-Sol’Aværys.
“Your Resplendence…” The Aurisian knight had registered the winged man’s title as it had just been uttered by the Solunarian monarch, though he might not have taken note if not for his starkly different, and rather striking, appearance. His voice was deeper that one might expect from one with his features, and his Vastian was accented- favouring a guttural Aurisian ‘R’ rather than the flipped or rolled one used by natives.
“I will accept your welcome, but I must, with reluctance, decline your hand. I am in service to His Excellency tonight as honour guard.” He inclined his head in a polite apology, but leaned forth to lower his voice conspiratorially,
“But… perhaps, after the lights go down on this grandiose pageant, I might entreat you to show me how Solunarians revel when they are not under the eye of their Sovereign?” He offered a sly wink, before rising to his full height and resuming his sentry duty.
With representatives of each branch of the House of Sol’Aværys having processed into the ballroom and made obeisances to Her Divine Radiance before greeting the Aurisian ambassador, the ball continued. Courtly couples promenaded across the dance floor, guests of grand and slightly less grand status paraded their spectacular fashion senses before both their betters and their lessers, haute hors d’oeuvres enhanced to enliven senses beyond the taste buds by ætherically adept chefs were enjoyed, and fine spirits were imbibed. When the guests were as near to relaxed as one could ever be in the presence of the Solar Sovereign, the hour was at hand.
“Populus Solunarius!” A surge of otherworldly awe burst through the crowd from the origin point of the Solar Sovereign. It was well known amongst the elite, albeit not the lower castes, that Mesmer fell amidst the massive menu of magics manipulated by she who was meant to be their most masterful mage. The discourse faded to a halt, the music shifted as if being conducted by the shear will of the Sovereign to underscore her proclamation. All would look to the monarch as she rose from her throne, the miniature sun rotating above her crown moved with her and faded slightly as not to blind those now gazing toward its lustre.
“Today we celebrate the long and storied history that exists between Auris and Solunarium. We are grateful that His Excellency, Ambassador d’Averyx, has seen fit to grace us with this evening of opulence here at the embassy, which is in loco Auris. But we have a surprise for you all today. Princess Valæra, please step forth.” The dark-haired moonborn of House Phædryn quit her mother’s side and stood before the Sovereign’s dais, curtseying dutifully, before Her Radiance gestured for her to stand to her left. Now flanked with the ambassador on one side and Valæra on the other, the queen smiled faintly.
“The princess has been hard at work in Auris, where our blessed Founders, He of the Sceptre, and She of the Scourge, sit amongst their pantheon. The Aurisians recognise the glory of Aværys and the serenity of Varvara. They value our relationship and acknowledge our Faith as righteous. And so, they have afforded us a boon. Ambassador?” She gestured to the pale elf at her side, who regarded the crowd before them with a stoic ease, as he addressed them in slightly accented Vastian.
His Excellency, Davion D'Averyx
Aurisian Ambassador to Solunarium
The ambassador gestured, as those on the dais descended its steps onto the floor before it. Within moments, the room began to quake as the dais and the high seats upon which the queen and ambassador had been perched moments earlier, melted into the floor and it was as if they’d never been there. The queen, the princess, the ambassador and his tall ward all turned to the rear wall which began to warp before the eyes of the onlookers. Within the great arch that mounted the wall, the stone began to glow in hues of white and blue and soon there was no stone visible at all. Moments later the bright glow dimmed, save around the edges of the arch where timespace was still warped by pulsating blue-white light. But within the centre, was a vision of something else.
“Behold!” Cried the ambassador,
“Kaladon!” He raised his arms in triumph as, indeed, a great volcano became visible, looming in the nighttide darkness, emitting an orange glow from its mouth beyond the newly formed portal.
“A temple of the Varværyn Faith has been erected in Auris, and this gate will stand open for those deemed worthy of the pilgrimage! Come, Scions of Solunarium, and stand upon the true and hallowed sands of Auris!”
The Solar Sovereign took the ambassador’s arm, and the pair were the first to step through the portal, but they were soon followed by other royal delegates, as well as members of the Aværyan Guard.
As guests stepped through the massive portal, they found themselves within a clear, crystal pyramid. Its vaulted ceiling was tiered, and so a prismatic effect warped one's view of what lay beyond it, but one smooth, transparent wall was facing Mount Kaladon directly. While ornate, the temple was not after the typical Solunarian fashion. There was a simplicity to the architecture, which relied upon illusory effects created by the refractions and reflections of light against surfaces so transparent they might have been invisible if not for how they cast back the light of the two moons above. But there was no doubt that the structure had been built to highlight the mountain itself- framing it as if it were some verismo painting or stained glass mosaic. It might have been both depending upon the angle from which one viewed it as the light played against the image.
As guests dispersed throughout the large chamber, which was clearly the sole hall of the temple (at least aboveground), Aurisian attendants moved to offer sparkling wine to all who thirsted.
“The Temple of the Radiant Rending, in which you now stand, shall be operated jointly by Aurisian and Solunarian devout.” The Solar Sovereign proclaimed,
“The Ministerium Divinitatis will take applications from all who would make their sacrifices before the site of the Founders themselves and the office of the Princeps Pontifex will assess who is deemed worthy of this blessing, before presenting their names to the Aurisian Embassy. We accept this boon in deference to Auris and acknowledge that this portal shall be used only at their discretion. Now, then, strike up!” By the time her speech was finished, the musicians had set up in the temple and were poised to play a jaunty, elegant tune as The Solar Sovereign raised a goblet of bubbling white wine.
“And let us vaunt a new phase in the ancient alliance between Auris and Solunarium! Pro Deus et Domina! Semper altius et excelsior!” The ambassador turned to toast the Sovereign, as the room erupted in cheers- as dedicated Mesmers situated throughout the room subtly urged the assembled toward due excitement.
