Mariska V
Joined: Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:17 pm
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Post subject: Enter the New Padishah 
Her return to Aleris had gone largely unnoticed. The time she’d spent on Eiler had been brief and she’d stayed relatively secluded. Regardless, Eiler had bigger issues and her arrival was barely a blip on the radar. Right on the heels of two devastating wars the land was now besieged by plague. Humans seemed to be at the greatest risk and as luck would have it she was human. Not your average human to be sure, she wouldn’t die from the illness, but she could still succumb to it. As a result she was never without one of the Death Dealers Maniac had sent with her at her side. Each had been given the option of returning home once they had seen her safely to Aleris but they had chosen to remain, having become bored with Earth and what they considered a sedate life without the daily threat of war.
She was grateful to have them there. They not only provided additional resources and protection but she had a ready and constant source of power. She was possessed of a unique gift, one that allowed her to copy the supernatural abilities of any person or creature she touched. It was why she was never without a pair of leather gloves and also why her companions were so useful. A simple touch gave her the temporary immunity of a vampire, as well as their strength and regeneration abilities. In essence it was a vaccine that kept her from getting sick but should she get caught without one of them around, and the borrowed abilities wore off, she would be as at risk as any human.
There was a reason for her return but it was put on hold when the conditions of Aleris became clear. Travel by sea was dangerous, travel of any kind was dangerous for that matter, and all hands were needed then and there to help fight the plague sweeping the four continents. She and her companions, Mordant and Arthur, helped where they could. When those driven to violence by the illness needed to be fought back she gladly lent her sword to the fight but there were other ways for her to help. Healers were in high demand and, when needed, she could take on the more advanced healing ability of those who healed through supernatural beings simply by touching them. In that way she was able to help stave off the illness though she suspected it was only a matter of time before their effort would not be enough.
Though it was rare she was occasionally gifted with some time to herself and in those hours she made discreet inquiries as to the state of things on Heruin, specifically regarding the Bel Telal. There was little of interest at first, reports concerning the Bel Telal’s efforts to fight the plague on Heruin. Then questions began to rise regarding the absentee Padishah and just where she was in her continents time of need. The rumors of the Padishah burning down their house before going into seclusion in the Magister’s manor in Drybrush spread like wildfire, no pun intended, and the news quickly reached Mariska’s ears. Now more than ever it seemed as if her return was not well timed. How could she make him deal with the shock of her return when he already had so much on his shoulders? He thought she was dead…she began to wonder if perhaps she should stay dead.
Fate had other plans for her, however. Reports came to Eiler that the Padishah had fallen ill and was being taken to her home world of Eternelle Lune for care. That left the continent of Heruin without a ruler, the Bel Telal the last remaining presence of Order in the desert land. Elias needed someone to see to things in Heruin until the ill Padishah returned, or stepped down, whichever came first. With recent events, however, most of his people were already assigned and he was short on able bodied emissaries to send out to the renegade continent. But rumors spread, even in times of crisis, and word of the woman who mostly kept to herself unless she was helping the sick or fighting off the violent infected.
She was summoned to the palace for an audience with King Elias. He had heard much about her and it all seemed to be good. After a brief interview he seemed to agree with everyone else’s assessment of her and asked that she travel to Heruin as the acting Padishah until the fate of the former Padishah was determined. He needed someone with her skills that would not fail the people and he felt she was the best choice. He must really be strapped for help, she silently determined, but still agreed to the assignment in spite of what it meant for her.
She was going to have to face Valorius. She was going to have to tell him she was alive. He deserved to know, anyway.
Two days later she was on an airship bound for Heruin. It was the quickest, and safest, way to travel and as soon as she was deposited at her new post it would be turning back to Eiler as no hands could be spared for long. They traveled swiftly out of necessity and soon Heruin was on the horizon.
Given all the open space it was easy enough for the air ship to find a spot to set down on the hard packed ground just outside of Drybrush. The King’s emissary that had accompanied her showed her and her companions to the Magister’s Manor in the center of Drybrush where she would be staying during her time as the Padishah. No Magister had been named for Drybrush and with her presence in the city none would be necessary for now.
Her arrival at the manor was met with some relief from the servants that cared for it, the very same ones that had watched their former Padishah waste away. The King’s Emissary did not tarry long but rather departed as soon as he deposited her at the manor. He intended to visit the Bel Telal and inform him of the acting Padishah’s arrival before he would return to Eiler though she had asked that he not give Valorius her name, rather preferring to tell him herself given the circumstances.
Soon word would spread that a new Padishah had been chosen. Soon Valorius would come to meet his new ruler. Soon he would know she was still alive and she would have some serious explaining to do.
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:59 pm
Mariska V
Joined: Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:17 pm
Posts: 5
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Post subject: Re: Enter the New Padishah
Valorius did not appear that first night. Nor had he arrived by the following morning to report to the new Padishah. After a restless first night in the Magister’s Manor the acting Padishah arose with the dawn, black eyes surveying the land of Heruin in the first light of day from the balcony of her chambers. Before her eyes the city of Drybrush began to awaken, bustling about its business as if attempting to get as much work done before the scorching heat of midday set in. Not that she blamed them. Why could it not have been Arthuran that needed a temporary ruler? Snow she was used too handling but was unsure how her pale skin would fare in the baked desert. She spared only a brief moment for such thoughts. She had agreed to the job and she would do it to the best of her ability and forcing her thoughts from the whereabouts of Valorius she set about seeing to her tasks.
There was more than enough to occupy her attention and as she waded into the problems that beset Heruin she forgot about her anxiety over confronting Valorius and set about attempting to craft some manner of Order from the Chaos. Arthur, one of her Death Dealers, had volunteered to venture into the City of Drybrush to speak with the citizens and asses the needs of the people. He was also tasked with compiling a complete report on the state of the disease in Heruin as well as the impact it had had on the continent as well as what measures had been taken towards containment and treatment of the illness.
Shadowed by the other half of her pair of Death Dealers, Mordant, she began the arduous task of granting audiences to those citizens that had heard of the arrival of the acting Padishah and had come seeking her aide. Most of their needs concerned protection from the illness and some manner of financial support as many had business and jobs that had been impacted heavily by the vicious plague. Word of her arrival had spread through Drybrush quickly and she was kept quite busy until Arthur’s return late that afternoon. Valorius still had not arrived. He had no knowledge that it was she waiting for him but should he have not reported to the new Padishah regardless? What was keeping him? Or..who?
That was an unwelcome thought but one she forced herself to ignore. She had no say on what he did or who he did it with and she needed to remember that. Shoving such thoughts to the back of her mind she sequestered herself in the study for the rest of the afternoon reviewing the report Arthur provided after his day of scouting.
”Al’Sir camp is being used as a quarantine site for those who have been infected in an attempt to contain the illness. What healers are available are there doing what they can and any and all citizens displaying symptoms are relocated as soon as possible. It has helped to cut down on casualties but has not stopped the infection from spreading and new cases are reported every day. The Bel Telal brought in reinforcements from Eternelle Lune. The Protectorate as well as his Elites are camped outside of the city and are providing most of the support for the continent at the time.”
The Elites were there. She’d known of the reinforcements from Eternelle Lune but word that the Elites were also present brought a slight rise of a single dark brow. They were some of the fiercest warriors she’d ever encountered and it spoke of the severity of the situation in a way nothing else could. If the Elites were needed to handle the out of control infected things were dire indeed.
”I will need to inspect Al’Sir for myself to assess the extent of the illness. It will also do the citizens of Heruin good to see the new Padishah actively taking an interest in things. The inattention of their former ruler has lowered morale of the people drastically. Tomorrow morning one of you will go to the Protectorate camp and inform them that the new Padishah will be traveling to inspect the quarantine camp the day after tomorrow. “
Mordant immediately declined to act as the emissary to the Protectorate camp, preferring instead to stay behind as Mariska’s shadow. No surprise there, really. Mordant had made his interest in her blatantly clear but she had yet to take him up on it.
”While there speak with whoever has been seeing to the needs of the sick camp; find out what supplies they are in need of most. Since we’re making a trip out there we might as well bring some aide with us.”
There were few supplies to be had these days but what King Elias had been able to spare for his beleaguered desert people had been delivered upon the same airship that had carried her there. A few more details needed tending to and she did so with the same attention to detail and order that always shadowed her actions. Dismissing the Death Dealers she briefly clasped hands with Mordant, her right hand devoid of the black leather glove that typically covered the appendage, whorls of silver veins visible over her skin. The contact with his skin would ensure that she would not go unprotected for several hours as she would be possessed of all the physical, and metaphysical, abilities that the vampire was gifted with.
Left alone in the study she turned to the books that lined the study walls and, inspecting the titles on the spines, she selected one that boasted a history of Al’Sir camp and settled down in a chair near the window to read. It was not in her nature to go off halfcocked, oblivious to the nature of what she would be encountering. There were rumors surrounding the continent of Heruin, rumors that had nothing to do with the plague that now ravaged the land and its people.
It was best to be prepared for whatever she may face out in the untamed desert. The fact that it also kept her mind occupied had nothing to do with it.
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 3:02 pm
Mariska V
Joined: Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:17 pm
Posts: 5
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Post subject: Re: Enter the New Padishah
The following day found the acting Padishah of Heruin at afternoon tea as she listened to Arthur’s report regarding his trip to the camp of the Elite’s. He had informed them she would be traveling to Al’Sir the next day and his announcement had been met with resistance. Their Commander and Prince was not there to approve the venture and were reticent to agree to allow Mariska passage without Valorius’ approval; her status as the new Padishah notwithstanding.
”The Elite’s have set up portal points all over Heruin to make it easier for the Elite to police the vast expanse of the continent. I asked to speak with the Prince but he wasn’t present. Got called away they said. No idea when he’ll be back. ”
Though not a hint of her thoughts showed in her expression her mind turned unwittingly to the newspaper article she had happened to read, the one where they spoke of Valorius’ concubine on the side. Lifting her eyes to fix on Arthur’s she allowed a single brow to raise in response to his report.
”I do not take orders from the soldiers of the Bel Telal, nor from the Bel Telal for that matter. Neither do I need his permission to travel the land I have been given to rule. We will travel to the Elite camp tomorrow morning as planned and use their resources to travel to Al’Sir. If that is a problem Valorius can come and tell me himself.”
There was steel in her voice as she spoke, the cold glint to her black eyes ensuring the Death Dealers set to guard her that she was most sincere in her intentions to travel to Al’Sir the following day, with or without the knowledge of the Bel Telal or the consent of his men. Arthur and Mordant were dismissed and she was left to herself and not for the first time she wondered if she had made a huge mistake returning to Aleris.
****************************************************************************
The sun was high in the sky when she strode into the camp of the Elite guard. There were several looks of surprise cast her way, some of the Protectorate remembered her, she had a history in Eternelle Lune, however brief. And, until recently, most of those who were a part of that history had believed she was dead. Whispers followed her as she walked through the campsite; her dark gaze fixed on the tent she knew would house the camp leader, refusing to glance left or right in acknowledgement of the hushed voices. Mordant and Arthur flanked her. They had been part of the Death Dealer contingent within the Protectorate when Maniac had been their Commander and no doubt recognized some of the soldiers now watching their approach, but neither of them glanced to the side, facing forward as stoically as their Mistress.
In spite of the blazing sun she was still adorned in her preferred black though, thanks to Maniac’s interference, it was far more expensive than anything she had ever purchased herself and had been tailor-made for her. A simple high necked, long sleeved, black undershirt was beneath the specially made black leather vest that was strapped down tightly over her torso with several buckles on her left side. Black leather pants ended in black boots, her sword sheathed at her left hip. Raven black hair had been pulled back into a serviceable pony tail leaving the scar on the left side of her face clearly visible. She should have been dying of heat but seemed as oblivious to it as any other immortal being. The one concession to flair that Maniac had insisted on was the crimson cloak draped about her shoulders, it was the crimson hue the Welsh were known for, and on the back was emblazoned the crest of her Mother’s family, the Black Dragon of Powys.
She would have protested what she considered to be an overly flamboyant garment if not for the fact that it represented her mother’s heritage. Maniac had known that too, the wily bastard. She had had no choice but to accept it gracefully. And he was right; it definitely made for a dramatic statement.
Reaching the tent that housed the camp leaders she pushed the flap aside and entered without waiting to be announced. Inside she found what she expected to find, a command center for Valorius’ Elites that looked much like every other command tent she had seen him erect. With Valorius absent she expected to find Tyler awaiting her but instead Alice turned to greet her, a look of shock spreading over her face the moment her eyes fell upon Mariska. The Padishah came to a stop several feet in front of the table Alice sat behind, giving the other woman time to regain her composure.
She’d known Alice during her time as Valorius’ companion. Though they had not had opportunity to become friends, as such, a mutual respect had been shared between them. She’d always felt as if Alice had approved of her and her relationship with Valorius and Mariska in turn had admired Alice for her skill and loyalty. Alice recovered quickly and rose slowly to her feet before moving around the table to stand before Mariska.
“I was told the acting Padishah would be coming here today, she offered by way of greeting. There were questions burning behind her eyes, where had she been, what had happened to her, why wasn’t she dead!? But those were questions Valorius would wish to ask himself, and such a conversation was not meant for public display.
”I am the acting Padishah, Alice. And I am here to travel to Al’Sir for survey. King Elias wishes a report.”
Alice was already shaking her head by the time Mariska had finished speaking. She knew Valorius would not want the new Padishah traveling to Al’Sir without him under normal circumstances but considering just who the new Padishah was he really wouldn’t want her going. It would be best for all of them if Mariska waited for Valorius to return so they could have this…discussion…in private, face to face, with no witnesses, er..bystanders.
”It’s best to wait for Valorius to return. Al’Sir isn’t safe. He will want to escort you himself.”
”I have a schedule to keep, Alice, and I am not waiting, especially since you don’t know when he will return. Arthur and Mordant will escort me. I assure you I will be perfectly safe.”
Black eyes slid from Alice to scan the room and Alice knew she was looking for the travel portal. If memory served he would have one portal for the general Protectorate and one for himself and his Elites. Her gaze paused on the curtained area with its own contingent of guards and Alice could see the smile in her eyes as they returned to the Elite woman. Raising a gloved hand she gestured for Arthur and Mordant to follow her and turned towards the area of the command tent that housed the travel port, her head turning to again meet Alice’s gaze.
”Tell ‘im I ‘it yah, luv,” she drawled in a low voice for Alice only, her cool, controlled, demeanor slipping for just a moment, she even smiled at the outraged expression her words drew to Alice’s face before turning and heading towards the travel port. Behind her she heard Alice asking her to stop, to wait for Valorius, but she ignored her. She was nearly to the curtain that shielded the travel port when she heard Alice’s voice behind her though she wasn’t addressing Mariska.
”Valorius…we need you back at camp.Now!
The words drew her to a stop at the curtain and she turned, her eyes meeting Alice’s and she sighed. The tone Alice had taken with Valorius had held enough urgency that he would no doubt heed it, no matter where he was. And they both knew it. Glancing back towards the curtained off area she saw that the Elite’s set to guard it had closed in, prepared to detain her. Gently detain her, no doubt, but detain her none the less. She didn’t want to hurt them and they seemed just as reluctant to have to fight her and she knew she was beaten. She wasn’t going to potentially harm one of Valorius’s soldiers just to get her way. That would be bad form.
Alice knew she had won when Mariska turned and moved back into the main body of the tent, the Death Dealers still flanking her every move. Her face remained inscrutable, nothing of her thoughts showing in her cool expression, but the tension in the tent ratcheted up a notch or two as they waited for Valorius to respond to Alice’s summons.
This was really happening. Bollocks.
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:22 pm
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