Marcus was slightly taken back by just how many had arrived, he'd also not expected East Moreland after the issues between his father and King David over the Cobble Field issue. The Prince though was keen to be as friendly as possible and shook everyone's hand with a smile, especially after the Governor of Elysium's attempt at the local dialect. "My father is sure to be delighted so many of you turned up. Old friends and new." He held a hand up and with just two fingers motioned to a blue jacketed military type stood some way off. The man obediently tucked his pace stick under his left arm and snapped a salute with the others, Marcus returned it with a graceful nod of his head. "Sergeant I'd like you to begin helping our guests make their way to the ceremony please."
"Yes Your Highness." He took two small steps backwards, saluted and preformed a neat salute and strode off yelling at a group of similarly attired men who stood in front of a row of cars. The drivers extinguished cigarettes and scurried into their drivers seat. The cars had been used by the Imperial Family for a while and it was likely each of the guests had much grander vehicles back home but the Prince was hoping the quirky
nature of the roof would be something the guests would enjoy. Castries after all was a beautiful island with lush green forests, sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters. This time of year colour was still filling the forest and the drive would showcase much of the islands beauty.
First the Prince motioned for the car to stop in front of the East Morelanders. "The coronations have been good. The people have been celebrating, I think in some cases a little too much, they've been some sore heads as we've left each province but I think tonight the Imperial Family may even join in, the hectic travel can stop for a while. I know my father intends to take a few days off to recover." He helped Stasya into the car and waved them off. Next he deposited the Kermah delegation in their vehicle happy that Tebogo had come. He'd meet him twice now and always enjoyed his company. The Prince did his best to seem amused by Sabrina but in truth failed to see the funny side. He was a grown man with a step-mother he hardly knew who was younger than him, in truth it was rather embarassing but Marcus waved Sabrina off in her car. He turned as the next car arrived. "Thank you Emperor Eijirō and I am sure they'll be an oppurtunity for the two of you to talk later and you can pass them on yourself. I hope you enjoy your time here." He bowed as he waited for them to get settled and then drive away.
Marcus motioned for the next car to come further. Karlis and his grand-daughter couldn't be expected to wait as long as they had been and Marcus should have insisted that the old man go first. "Your Majesty I'm sure we can find some time to enjoy a fancy umbrella drink on the beach, but please for all that is Holy leave the Speedos." He smiled at the old mans humour and hoped he was half as cheerful when he reached that age. Perhaps it was the fact that these two nations were members of SUN that he felt more at ease or perhaps it was as he'd got into the swing of this now. Infact he spotted Queen Atalanta travelling on her own and having greeted her got her into the same vehicle as the Chistopolians, it would no doubt be a good image for those in the media to see the SUN monarchs arrive together. Sadly King Đurađ and his rather ill attired wife wouldn't fit with the other three and so had their own car.
As the Achkaerin delegation arrived Marcus thought now an appropriate moment to mention something, having greeted them all he took Serenity a little to one side. "While I know your children will be more than welcome I think I must warn you." He turned and checked the children were out of ear shot. "The ceremony will feature elements of both the Rastafarian and Vodou faiths. Just before the element of the ceremony where the new Empress is crowned a Hougon will make a sacrifice of a goat, it will be beheaded, I am not sure your children will want to see this. I would recommend perhaps a toilet break or something once the Rastafarian prayers end. I'll have a member of our Zangbeto put your party at the end of a row so you can, if you choose, make a discreet exit for that part of the ceremony. Just give him a nod and he'll take care of it." He hoped Serenity was not offended by the conversation and happily waved at the girls as their car pulled off.
Finally "
Fulljoy di trip an hab ah gud day." Marcus shook the hand of the Heyran as they set off.
OOC - If anyone else wants to still join in assume you've arrived and been packed off.
The vehicles had deliberatly been spaced out and police motorbikes acted as outriders as they made the trip from the airport to the temple. The trip was along the coast road, sugar cane farms dominated the low lands and then the road peeled away through the forests, occasional flashes of colour could be seen in the trees. Sometimes it was a parrot or other colourful bird swooping across the road, others it was one of the brightly painted wooden homes that people who worked the forest lived in. The road snaked back to the coast and through the islands capital Mount Andrew. The city was nothing much more than a collection of 15,000 people in pretty white wooden homes. The streets were full though of people preparing long tables for a street party and only the main road was open. The more observant would have seen group gathering in green, red and gold wrapped flags heading up the hill towards the Temple where the ceremony would take place. A large cordon had been created around the Temple and its sacred tree clearing. Large video screens made ready to broadcast it to the waiting crowds. The guests were whisked inside the cordon and lead to the gardens of the temple. A shady tree canopy kept them out the intense sun and large pitchers of iced water, orange juice and pineapple juice sat waiting with slices of mango, melon and papaya for those wanting a snack. Before they could enjoy themselves to much though two large walking haystacks entered with bells being shaken. Behind them was Princess Sophia who quickly stepped past them. "Accept my apology. We are a little behind schedule" She blushed, "These are my fellow
Zangbeto." She began to explain, "Each year every town, city, even villages elect Zangbeto, in the ancient days they were the Police, today though we are best described as a spiritual police. It is our duty to make sure rituals are conducted correctly, sacrifices done correctly, even to check in the markets that those selling animals for sacrifice are not cheating their customers. These two" she gestured to the two haystacks now dancing, throwing rum and singing, forgot to clense this place before you arrived and rather than waiting for me to warn you thought they'd just start." The two walked the perimeter somehow navigating their way around the guests and doing their best not to throw anything on them. Once satisfied they began to leave and Sophia ordered them back and whispered to them. The closest hay stack opened and a man in his early twenties stepped out, he was wearing just a pair of shorts and flip flops and looked most out of place. Sophia stood to one side. "As Zangbeto at ceremonies we are expected to wear outfits to scare off the evil spirits when on duty." The group could see the inside of the costume had a kind of rucksack strapping system and several metalic hoops to maintain its shape. "This is Pieter, he is one of ten Zangbeto for Castries."
The man stopped and suddenly conscious of his state of dress stood rigid and bowed. "Your Majesties, Highnesses, honoured guests." He dipped with each group he mentioned, "My apology but we had a ceremony to perform and sometimes we get a little to eager" He only now realised what he had been moving around, he had known people were there but thought they were just ground staff preparing his visibility reduced. "I hope we didn't worry you." He smiled at the two small Princesses from Achkaerin. "We take our sacred duty seriously and today is a very special day." He beamed as Sophia told him he could get on with his duties. Like a magician entering a magic box Pieter disappeared back into his haystack and with a jingle of bells was off again.
"You will see several of them during the day, next time they will not be in costume. They will be in their
Agbada uniform." Having had a phone call from Marcus she used her phone to show the guests what that looked like making doubly sure Serenity saw it. She herself would be wearing hers but in yellow as a mark of her royal rank while the others wore purple. "We have half an hour before anything happens so please relax and enjoy the refreshments, safe in the knowledge the evil spirits have been chased away."
Zuri was in the Temple's lodge, a place reserved usually for visiting Hougon or Mambo. Today several servants busied themselves with final preparations. The Yellow robes with a small black stripe. The robe at the first coronation had been the reverse and at each subsequent one the yellow had become more dominant. She was nervous as it still seemed unreal knowing that another coronation would be needed each day, until today. In just a few hours the farm girl from Kermah would be an Empress, she was sure Disney would make a film about this perhaps. She had gotten to know Benson better each day and learned he was a kind caring man but also a man who could be ruthless. He had brushed aside his children's concerns with little worry regarding their marriage and while that helped Zuri feel loved it worried her that Benson seemed so laser focused once he had made a decision. She had been able to see all the cars pull up and was nervous about the day now that the guests had arrived. In just an hours time though she would be an Empress and be committed to a life time of helping her adopted nation.