Silver Light Ball

Silver Light Ball

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Clarien Castle, Familial Estate of House Bast
Saint Claire du Velle, Mitan, Noveaux

"Are you sure that you want them to attend?" Olivier asked the Chancellor. The topic of the chancellor's family had come up considering their opposition to his position in the government, his politics and indeed to the young Sovereign's election. Sigmar von Lohen was the black sheep of his family by a long shot, his nephew the young Kozig (King) of Altannen was quite vocal about wanting to disown his uncle and strip him of his surname. It was no small matter as special dispensation had to be granted by the Sovereign and as of yet that had not occurred. Olivier was the host of this year's Silver Light Ball and as such could simply not invite the Kozig of Altannen but that would be politically difficult. Olivier would if the Chancellor so believed that his nephew would cause trouble at the event.

"It would be improper to not invite him. We both know what he would do if he was told he could not attend. That he wasn't 'welcome' here." Sigmar said with a bit of a exasperated look on his face. The situation wasn't favorable as he really didn't want his nephew there stirring up dissent among the High Nobility and Realm Royalty. He, like his father, had a knack for letting trouble find him. The von Lohens had been nearly toppled following the fall of the Novean National State in 1949 and the restoration of the Imperial Administration. They had been willing collaborators with the Nationalists and had been the only House of the High Nobility not to flee the country in 1942 with the Emperor. They had nearly been exiled in 1949 but the Emperor had simply stripped them of half their lands and wealth making them nearly collapse in the 1970s during the national financial crisis. They had however survived while some of the older and more prestigious houses had collapsed. They somehow knew how to worm their way through events and come out stronger against all expectations. That feat however made them plenty of enemies throughout the central and western realms.

Magnus IV von Lohen was the young Kozig of Altannen and had been the only challenger against the young Ascendant Evander Atlas for the sovereign election several days prior to the Ball. The wounding of his pride from losing so thoroughly to minor had driven him to rant against the Imperial Monarchy, the centralizing of authority in Noveaux and the peaceful stance the nation took on the world stage. "Might as well invite the brat, I'm sure he's already planned to attend anyways." Sigmar said letting out a small sigh as he took a sip of the tea. It was a passionflower blend that had been imported and he rather loved it. It seemed to both calm his nerves and give him little bursts of energy that helped him get through his days.

"I'm not sure the Kozig would appreciate being called a brat." The voice startled both Olivier and Sigmar. They turned from where they were sitting under the pavilion in the gardens to see that it was the elderly figure of Lukas Montcourt. They both stood rather swiftly and bowed respectfully to the man before them. Olivier and Sigmar were rather embarrassed that the Lord Regent overheard the two talking rather poorly about one of the realm sovereigns. That was when Lukas smiled at the pair and motioned for them to sit back down, pulling himself up a chair so as to join them. "Then again family is not given the same regard as non-family." He said with a bit of a smile. The atmosphere seemed to thaw between them and the three carried on conversing about the evening's various guests. The thaw was what was known as the Montcourt charm, wherever he seemed to be any conflict seemed to just dissipate as if ice thawing.

That Evening
Everyone who was anyone in Noveaux was in attendance. Most of the Novean guests had already arrived at the estate in the mid-afternoon to partake in a religious ceremony that was being presided over by the Grand-Divine. The ceremony was known as the Petranari in which the Clerics ask the Goddess Petra for a blessing of wisdom to the people of Noveaux. Fire sacrifices of fir branches send pillars of smoke high into the sky and all around Noveaux one might thing that they are signal fires if they had never witnessed the ceremony before. The ceremony in the plaza of Saint Claire du Velle had every citizen and the guests of Olivier present for the event. This however was greatly dwarfed by the ceremony taking place at Mont Sarcien which held Petra's Prime Temple. The bonfire and ensuing smoke could be seen for many miles and as it made its way to the aetherial planes above it acted like a beacon for all the others.

After the ceremony the guests made their way to Clarien Castle where the ball was being held. The small hedges in the central courtyard of the Castle had a wooden platform and steps placed over them so as to provide more space for guests. A live band would be performing various music popular in Noveaux while also playing traditional Novean classical dances for the guests to enjoy themselves. A buffet style of tables filled with various Novean foods and a small selection of foreign cuisine selected for the international guests who were present, as were trays of champagne, Novean Wine and light non-alcoholic drinks for those who preferred. An arched tunnel of sorts led out from the south wall of the courtyard into the maze while on the north wall a similar tunnel opened to the drive where guests were being dropped off by cars. Security was tight as guests were expected to leave their own guards at the tunnel entrance since the Imperial Guard would be handling all internal security. At the entrance to the tunnel leading to the drive stood those who made up what they themselves joked as the 'greeting committee'. First in the line was the Chancellor Sigmar von Lohen, then came the Lord Regent Lukas Montcourt who, when not shaking the hands of the guests had his hands behind his back as if he was in his own mind pacing back and forth. Next to the Lord Regent stood the young Kaizig (Emperor) Evander Atlas. The sixteen year old was wearing a tux that had a sapphire sash with golden leaves embroidered along the edges. He was smiling and greeting the guests as though he had been raised for this sort of thing. To the right of Evander and the last in the committee was the host, Olivier Bast. He was young, handsome and by all accounts enjoying himself.

The mood was jovial, the atmosphere was warm and the people were mingling as they listened to the music. All the 'committee' could do was wait for their international guests to arrive. The young Emperor stood there smiling and was eager to meet them while the Lord Regent seemed to be in his thoughts. The others present were just there mingling among themselves and entertaining those who they could from where they were. 

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Clarien Castle inner courtyard
Music at the Silver Light Ball -- Hope you enjoy