Late last night a car bomb was detonated outside of a courthouse in the city if Hinsida, capital of northwestern Grand Principality of the same name. Authorities have stated that the bomb was "crude" & "unstable", and had been placed in a delivery van which the perpetrators parked in front of the courthouse. Hinsida's Chief of Police Chai'at Chai'at Mali referred to the attack as "heinous" and an "undeniable attempt to kill innocent civilians" and that those who perpetrated the attack have "no concern in their minds for the people of Hinsida." Chai'at also added that the police had received a warning and had managed to evacuate the area; at present there are no reports of any injuries. The police currently have 2 unidentified men in custody, but have so far declined to release any information regarding their identities. However the police have stated that they believe the attack to have been perpetuated by local minority Nationalists. The Sorrow was a period of rebellion & civil war that lasted from roughly 1963-1976 between Imperial loyalists, Communist rebels, & Nationalist minorities. And while the war ended decades ago tensions still remain & there are several Nationalist terrorist groups that remain in the hinterlands of the Empire.

------


After several days of abnormally heavy rain, thousands of millipedes have been sighted on railways outside of the city of Bawpxm. This has resulted in the trains being delayed as alternative routes are worked out & labourers work to remove the millipedes from the track. The millipedes typically dwell in wet detritus on the forest floor and are known to swarm after periods of heavy rain. Which can prove dangerous when they swarm on or near railways as the viscera from thousands of crushed millipedes can interfere in a trains ability to brake properly. In mid-2007 two trains collided and injured 21 people due to a millipede swarm. The current delays are not expected to last any longer than a few hours, and are not expected to have any major lasting impact.

------


Her Imperial Highness Tantasatityanon Thikhamphorn Kanda, daughter of HIH Grand Princess Tantasatityanon Thikhamphorn Songsuda and granddaughter of our esteemed Empress, has funded the opening of a new homeless shelter in the city of Bangein. The Princess is well known for supporting & funding a large number of charities in Kinkhnland, though most have been concentrated in the Grand Principality of Bawpxm governed by her mother. Bangein, however, is located within Kinkhnland's capital province and has been suffering from a homeless epidemic since the turn of the century, and attempts by the local government have done little to alleviate the problem. When asked why she wished to expand outside her mother's land the Princess said that she has "already done so much for the people of Bawpxm but as a daughter of the Imperial family it is my duty, and my desire, to assist my Kinkhn sisters & brothers wherever they might live." Princess Kanda has grown to be incredibly popular in Bawpxm not only due to her open funding of various charitable institutions but for her active volunteering as well; near a decade ago on the Princess' 16th birthday she made headlines by spending most of the day volunteering at a soup kitchen and instead of throwing a lavish party donating the funds for it to charity.

[PENDING REWRITE]


The culture of the Kinkhn people is a rather unique one on Mundus, and their culture is a source of great pride among most Kinkhn. Despite attempts to 'westernise' in the late 19th century and the increasing globalization of the modern day, the Kinkhn have managed to keep their unique culture alive and comparatively free of foreign influence into the modern era. However some might claim this was achieved in part thanks to the fostering of xenophobic and reactionary attitudes as well as draconian 'cultural preservation' laws; a statement not without merit. Certain scholars believe that there is no Kinkhn identity but rather several peoples who all fall under the umbrella of 'Kinkhn', however efforts at forging a national identity since the Empire's foundation have been widely successful. In modern times the vast majority of citizens identify with a singular Kinkhn identity despite the continuing existence of regional dialects and local customs & traditions. The exception to this are the various ethnic minorities in the nation; they were distinct peoples from the Kinkhns even before the existence of a unified Kinkhn identity, and were not subsumed into the national identity.


Traditional Kinkhn culture has been referred to as one of the most matriarchal cultures on Mundus, something which it very rightly deserves. In simply terms the Kinkhns believe that whilst men are the stronger sex that women are the more intelligent. But beyond this men are lustful, violent, and dimwitted by nature and in the Kinkhn worldview this makes them unfit for leading or decision making, controlled as they are by their baser instincts. Women are the only ones allowed to hold positions of power in the government and the eldest woman is generally the head of the household. This stark dichotomy also manifests itself in the celebration of the feminine and the denigration of the masculine. Motherhood is considered extremely important in Kinkhn culture; the Empress herself is often viewed in the lens of a Mother of the Nation, who takes care of and rules her subjects as if they were her metaphorical children. Conversely fatherhood holds little importance; historically fathers had little say in their child's upbringing with the primary male role model being the child's maternal uncles. While this has changed into the modern day and fathers more often raise their own children, they are still considered second in importance the child's mother. Men also have to deal with the cultural expectation that they control themselves their inherent nature and to show subservience to their mothers then their wives. As a former Empress once famously said "Men are the body of the nation, but it is the women who are the nation's mind & soul".


Among the Kinkhns family is of the utmost importance; it is expected that one place the needs of the family above the needs of the individual. Many even consider the Kinkhn nation itself to be akin to a giant, extended family and believe that it should be treated as such. Nowhere is this reference no obvious than in Kinkhn religion for the native Kinkhn religion, known as Laththi Brrphburuss (a phrase roughly translating to Ancestor Cults). The religion is based around the veneration of the spirits of the dead as well as the worship of deified ancestors. The faith has far too many gods to list as the vast majority of them are heavily regional & localized, with only a small handful being worshiped across the Empire. And all deities of this faith were, according to legend, once living breathing human being who ascended to the status of Gods upon their death. The only exception to this rule is the Allmother who birthed the world and all within it, but while she is an important being in the cosmology of the faith there is little active worship of her. The most common of these ancestral deities are the guardian deities, those who serve as the protector and patron of a family, place, people, etc. There are all manner of guardian deities and some have more than one; a family might worship both its founding member and a powerful & prestigious member as guardian deities. Whilst there is officially a codified method for determining whether or not an individual has ascended to godhood after death, in practice all it takes is for enough people to believe the person has become a god and to worship them as such.

In terms of priests the closest thing Laththi Brrphburuss has would the Hmxphi, more commonly known in English as shamans. They are women, and only women, who the faithful believe are able to achieve contact with and relay messages from the spirits of the deceased with the assistance of certain psychoactive plants. Any woman is able to undertake the training to become a shaman, though most claim to have received dreams or signs pointing them to becoming a shaman. The training itself takes years of tutelage underneath another full-shaman, and there is no standardized practice and what exactly it entails can vary greatly from region to region. Shamans also have several traditional responsibilities, such as taking part in various cultural rites to the upkeep of the shrines to local guardian deities.


Perhaps the most famous, though some might say infamous, cultural practice of the Kinkhns is their casual attitudes towards that most forbidden of taboos: human cannibalism. Cannibalism is not merely an act that the Kinkhns tolerate, but one which they wholeheartedly accept and many practice on a regular basis. Kinkhn cannibalism has its origin in their funerary rites, which consisted of the consumption of the deceased's flesh both as a sign of respect & to assist their soul in passing on. But what began as a simple funeral rite has transformed itself into a corporate endeavor. In the modern era it is not uncommon for individuals to sell the rights to their corpse to a corporation (excepting a small portion of the flesh to be used in the funeral), and after the funeral is finished the company will take possession of the corpse and butcher it, selling the various pieces off to other companies to be turned into finished products. For the person's body is not just used for its meat; the meat & blood are turned into foodstuffs, the blood & bone are often used to create organic fertilizer, bones are often used in various crafts, etc. This is a phenomenon mostly found in urban & suburban populations however; in more rural regions the funeral typically involves the consumption of the entire corpse and the rest of the body is broken down and used by the community itself, as opposed to being sold for monetary gain. It does, however, bear mentioning that whilst cannibalism is completely acceptable the fact remains that not everyone sells their corpse & one cannot farm human beings, and because of this human meat and other human-based products are generally considered luxurious as opposed to everyday.

While cannibalism is not a taboo in and of itself like in most cultures across Mundus, there does remain several very important taboos regarding the practice in Kinkhn culture. The first is the consumption of the brain; the brain is traditional considered to be a gathering point of spiritual impurities in the body, and as a result eating the brains of a human being is strictly prohibited. The second is the consumption of those who died of disease; the body is considered impure & unfit for consumption and in these cases are traditionally cremated. Many anthropologists agree that these taboos came about in ancient Kinkhn culture as precautions against sickness resulting from their funerary rites; the brain taboo in particularly is often believed to be the result of the increased risk of prion diseases such as kuru associated with the consumption of brain & spinal nerve tissue. The third major taboo is against the consumption, in any part, of a still-living human being. The Kinkhn have just as great a taboo against eating another person as the rest of Mundus, however they believe that once a person has died and their soul has left their body that what remains is not a person. What remains is a mound of meat & bone & blood no different from the carcass of an animal. Even if the body part has been separated from the living person, it is still a part of them and thus part of a person. While this might seem needlessly pedantic to outsiders it is a very important distinction to the Kinkhns, and saying that they eat people is considered to be a grave insult.

I need to take a short leave of absence for the time being. I'll still pop into the Discord to chat, but for various reasons trying to RP has become more stressful than fun so I just need to give myself a chance to rest and reset before I give it a go again.

To Nimue Jowenys, High Priestess of Raoism & Head of the Theology Guild of the Faejeon

The Kingdom of Oltremaria wishes to extend its most sincere of congratulations to your esteemed nation. The rediscovery of such a direct connection to Awhaele's history and tradition is surely a thing that must be celebrated, and we are most honoured to receive your invitation. The Oltremarian delegation will consist of two individuals: Her Excellency Eleonora d'Avvocati, Marchioness of Transardano, and Her Illustriousness Aloisia d'Avvocati, Archcountess of Transardano and the Marchioness's eldest daughter & heiress. They both wish you and your nation the best, and are most looking forward to visiting your fine nation and giving you their well-wishes in person.

May the Lord watch over you,
Sincerely,

His Illustriousness Alessandro di Bianco, Count of Montebianco & Chief Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Oltremaria

EDIT: Just remove Xæth from the map until I can fully & properly commit to a new primary nation.

1. The nations signing this treaty agree to the formation and maintenance of the Mundus Atomic Energy Agency, (hereinafter referred to as "the Agency) based on acceptance of all parts of this treaty.

2. The Agency shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It shall not knowingly involve itself in any measure designed to use atomic energy for military purposes. For the purpose of this treaty "military purpose" shall be defined as any weapon that derives its destructive and/or lethal force from nuclear reactions or radioactive material. Including, but not limited to, fission, thermonuclear, and radiological weaponry

3. The Agency is authorised by its members to carry out the following duties.

i) Encourage and assist with research, development and practical application of, atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world.
ii) Act as an intermediary for the purposes of securing the performance of services or the supplying of materials, equipment, or facilities by one member of the Agency for another.
iii) To make provision to help less economically developed nations access the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes
iv) To foster the sharing of technical and scientific data relating to Atomic Energy.
v)  To encourage the exchange and training of scientists and experts in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy
vi) To put in place safeguards to ensure expertise, material, services or equipment provided by the Agency are not used for military purposes.
vii) To put in place safeguards to ensure the use of atomic energy is safely monitored.
viii) To acquire, establish and maintain any facilities deemed necessary for the fulfilment of  the Agencies role.

4. In order to fulfil its duites the Agency shall;

i) Act in a manner to promote peace and co-operation.
ii) Maintain a record of all known fissionable materials held by member nations.
iii) Establish teams of inspectors to ensure compliance with this treaty.
iv) Publish quarterly reports of its activities.
v) not make assistance to members subject to any political, economic, military, or other conditions incompatible with the provisions of this charter.
vi) at all times seek to respect the sovereignty of all nations.

5. Any nation willing to abide by all articles of this treaty shall be considered members and granted all the rights and responsibilities contained within it.

6. The Agency shall establish a General Conference which shall give each nation one seat which may be filled by a representative of their choosing. The General Conference shall be based at the Headquarters of the Agency which shall be in . Each member of the Conference shall have one vote. The General Conference may discuss any questions or any matters concerned in this Charter. Recommendations may be passed with a majority of voting nations. The approval of the General Conference must be gained before the Agency undertakes any tasks laid out in Article 3. The General Conference shall elect a President to act on behalf of the General Conference.

7. The President of the Agency shall represent the General Conference in discussions with nations and shall report back to the General Conference before any decisions are taken. The President shall serve for two years but may be re-elected

8. The General Conference shall elect a Chief of Staff who shall oversee the day to day tasks of the Agencies staff. The Chief of Staff shall serve for four years and may be re-elected. The staff shall include such qualified scientific and technical and other personnel as may be required to fulfill the objectives and functions of the Agency. The Agency shall be guided by the principle that its permanent staff shall be kept to a minimum. Staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any source external to the Agency.  They shall not disclose any industrial secret or other confidential information coming to their knowledge by reason of their official duties for the Agency.

9. EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS

a) Each member should make available such information as would, in the judgement of the member, be helpful to the Agency.
b) Each member must make available to the Agency all scientific information developed as a result of assistance extended by the Agency.
c) The Agency shall assemble and make available in an accessible form the information made available to it under paragraphs A and B of this article.

10. SUPPLY, STORAGE AND TRANSFER OF MATERIALS

a) Each member nations shall maintain a record of material capable of producing more than 25 RAD.
b) Each member nation shall be able to surrender to the agency such materials with 30 days notice.
c) The Agency shall maintain facilities to store such materials.
d) Members may only transfer materials to other member nations. Such a transfer must take place through the Agency. The Agency shall collect the materials and these shall be handed to the recieving nation no earlier than 14 days later.
e) The Agency may at 48 hours notice inspect any facility recorded as containing material capable of producing more than 25 RAD.
f) The Agency may at 24 hours notice inspect any facility recording as containing material capable of producing more than 100RAD.
g) The Agency may with no notice inspect any facility recorded as containing material capable of producing more than 200RAD.
h) Nations must ensure that their storage facilities are safeguarded against;

i)hazards of the weather,
ii)unauthorized removal or diversion,
iii)damage or destruction, including sabotage.
iv)forcible seizure.

I) Nations found to be in breach of e,f,g or h will no longer be permitted to receive materials from the Agency.
J) In storing its own materials the Agency shall ensure the geographical distribution of these materials in such a way as not to allow concentration of large amounts of such materials in any one country or region of the world.

11. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AGENCY

a)  The Agency may inspect any specialised equipment or facilities concerned with the production of nuclear electricty. This is to ensure it conforms to international safety standards and is being used for peaceful means.

b) The Agency may enforce any internationally recognised Health and Safety conventions.

c) The Agency may view any facilities operating records to assist in ensuring accountability of materials.

d) The Agency may view and observe procedures involving the by products and waste of nuclear facilities.

e) The Agency may dispatch to any member inspectors to visit any facility as outlined in this charter. Inspection teams must consist of at least ten members drawn from at least four nations. Inspectors may speak with anyone they deem suitably qualified or employed in areas utilising nuclear material.

f) The Agency may inspect any other facility or materials approved by the General Conference.

g) Any nation deemed by inspection teams as interfering in these processes will lose its right to be transferred nuclear materials or equipment.

12. AMENDMENTS, SUSPENSIONS AND WITHDRAWALS

a) The Treaty may be amended at any time by approval of two thirds of General Conference voting members.

b) Any nation deemed to be breaking this charter may be suspended with the approval of two thirds of General Conference voting members. Upon suspension the right to receive material is lost.

c) A suspended nation may at any point petition for its suspension to be lifted only if it has first presented evidence of full complience with this charter.

d) A nation may withdraw from this charter at any time having first given at least 60 days notice.

e) A nation may re-enter the Agency at any time by resigning the Charter.

Signed on behalf of Stein Ulfsson Head Gothi of Nya Åland
Signed by Oliva Cole, East Moreland Minister of Science and Technology
Signed by Kathryn Deed, Achkaerin Minister of Science and Technology
Signed by Grand Duke Hugo Lascelles of Bakkermaya
Signed by Her Imperial Majesty Empress Beatrice of the First Empire of Rokkenjima
Signed on behalf of King Finley of Ui Cenneslaig
Signed on behalf of Queen Cait of Cantabria.
Signed on behalf of Queen Klara of Lodja, Guardian of Sessifet
Signed on behalf of His Excellency President Alyasa of The Loistavaan Federal Republic
Signed on behalf of Her Imperial Majesty Ælirn xy Thælyrn of Xæth

Once Ascendant Natrax finished her speech the Throne Room was filled with applause and cameras flashed as those members of the media present took pictures. Much of it was more the result of polite expectations, but there were those assembled for whom it was genuine as Nyx was the first to so publicly express such sentiments while not at the same time being one of the hegemonic world powers. Ælirn herself didn't necessarily agree with all the points Natarx had made; as far as the Empress was concerned Tamora and Slava Lavosk's crimes weren't attempting to become a 'player' but rampant human rights abuses and the jeopardizing of the planet's nuclear disarmament efforts. But regardless of that she found herself thankful that Natrax put forward such a strong sentiment in her closing lines; Ælirn wouldn't have blamed her had she gone with something a little more non-committal but her words were the exact opposite. But after the speeches were done and the applause died down came the boring part: meeting people.

One by one prominent Xæthoons made their way forward, had their names and titles stated by Ælirn's herald, and then greeted the delegates and offered well-wished for future relations before moving on to the next. It started off with members of the Imperial family: dour Crown Princess Llyri, young and smiling Prince Allan, silver-haired and one-legged Princess Næxyn. Then came the Cabinet members. Then lesser, but still important, government officials, members of the nobility, and some high-ranking military officers. Many of the statements were obviously rehearsed but only a handful seemed outright insincere. Though one individual, a ginger-haired woman tall and lean with a hawkish nose and dressed in an Army uniform who was introduced as Colonel Ilra xy Aphxara, was far more enthusiastic than most. She grinned as she expressed her hopes for peace and friendship between their nations and a desire to potentially work alongside her counterparts in Nyx.

But eventually the people stopped coming and for that Ælirn was grateful. Standing around and just meeting people exhausted her and she was happy that she could finally get away from this crowd, for now came a private luncheon with the Nythymn delegates. The Empress knew how important state visits like this were, but it was unreal how much she had to sit through just to talk to the people she invited into her country. As a servant lead her and the Nythymn out of the Throne Room Ælirn noticed her herald standing off to the side, looking rather tired. It wasn't difficult for Ælirn to realise why; she hadn't been doing this very long and that was a lot of people to remember. After all, the young woman couldn't look at her cheat sheet after every single person presented. Ælirn wanted to say something reassuring, but she wasn't sure if it would be appropriate. She fussed it over in her mind until the group had nearly passed her, and when she saw her chance slipping away Ælirn made a snap decision and took a few steps toward her. "You did great out there," she said in her native tongue, forcing a smile.

The herald's eyes went wide and she nodded vigorously before replying back in kind, "Oh, thank you Your Majesty! You're too kind."

Then Ælirn returned to the group; the exchange had only taken a scant few seconds and so the group hadn't advanced very far at all. And so the group was lead to a private dining room in the Palace with a large window overlooking the river. It was a beautiful view with the sun sparkling off the water and the Temple of Sun visible on its hill in the distance. The table was currently empty save for several bowls of water and soaps and it was rather short and lacking in chairs. Instead there were a number of large and comfortable cushions placed upon the ground, which the servant motioned for them all to sit upon. The servant waited a short moment to speak as it was now that another guest arrived: the Empress' great aunt Princess Næxyn. She took her place on the cushion beside the Empress, quickly removing her prosthetic leg so that she could take a more comfortable position and setting her cane upon the ground.

"We can retrieve silverware for any of our esteemed guests who desire it, otherwise if you would please rinse your hands in the bowls in front of you," the servant said politely. Once the Nythymn had replied and the servant left Næxyn spoke up before Ælirn had a chance to "So, Ascendant Natrax. How is your arm?"

The drive was an uneventful one as the cars easily made their way through the city; the streets had been closed off for the delegation to come through so they suffered no delay. The cars themselves were jet black and the car housing the Crown Princess had an open top, which she used to her advantage by politely smiling and waving when at the people who had gathered along the streets. Some of them came to get a look at a member of the Imperial family and some strained for even the smallest glimpse of the visiting foreigners, something the tinted windows of the car would deny them. But it was not overly long before they arrived at the Imperial Palace, a large complex sitting on an island in the river that flowed through Jiloola.

The cars would pull up in front of the Palace proper, a grand white and gold structure located atop a hill in the middle of the complex. The cars would pull up in front of a large statue depicting a bare-breasted woman holding a curved blade aloft whilst she stood with one foot on the chest of prone six-armed figure with horns and a great mane of hair. Behind that would be the Palace itself, outside of which members of the media gathered behind a cordon of guards to take pictures as the delegation was lead up into the building. Leading up to the Throne Room where the greeting would take place the delegate would hear the sounds of many conversations happening at once, but once they stepped into the Throne Room the voices would almost immediately trail off into silence as everyone present looked at the foreign dignitaries.

The Throne Room itself was a lavish room, longer than it was tall with pillars all down its length and a second level balcony from which even more people stood. There were a great many people assembled, from military officers to government officials to those simply lucky enough to have been born to a family of Old Nobility to members of the media, and as the delegation made their way forward across the mosaic floor they all stared. But the most striking thing in the Throne Room was, appropriately enough, the throne itself. The Ivory Throne of Xæth was a great beast: it consisted of a more typical throne draped with silks and with panels of carved ivory upon which sat the Empress, but that was located atop what amounted to a small structure a story tall ornamented with numerous figures of ivory and gold. The Delegation would have been forewarned of what exactly would be expected of them here; they'd be introduced, the Empress would be introduced, they would greet each other, then the Empress would give a short speech, followed by any Delegates who wished to say any words to the assembled Xæthoons. It would've also been made very clear that none of the Delegation were to bow, simply because they were foreign Heads of State and bowing was seen as a sign of submission and subservience in Xæthoon culture.

Ælirn opened her eyes as those around her went quiet as she knew that it could mean only one thing, and she let out a sigh when she saw the Nythymn and realized she was correct. As they made their way forward she shut her eyes again, controlling her breathing and mentally preparing herself for what was to come. She only opened her eyes again when she heard their names and titles being introduced to her. Then came her own introduction, and she sighed as she stood and made her way down the flight of stairs to the floor of the Throne Room. "Her Imperial Majesty Ælirn XIX of the Imperial House xy Thælyrn," her herald, a young noblewoman around her age, introduced her as to the Delegation, "The Most Serene and Celestial Empress of Xæth; Queen of Thælyrn, of Ynith, of Oova, and of Maashirn; High Queen of Jalyl; Lady-Protector of Maryrn; Sovereign Guardian of the Mountain Queens; Favoured Daughter of the Virgin Sun; Mistress of the Mountains, of the Hills, of the Forests, of the Rivers, and of the Seas; Warden of the Twin-Straits; and Rightful Ruler of all Xæth and its Peoples."

The Empress confidently strode over to the Delegates, or rather she at least outwardly appeared to move confidently as inside she was anything but, and spoke, "Ascendant Natrax, Empress Qi'rrow, Archdruid Iaxxodril, and Ionia Maar Velkin. We greet you as equals, and it is with great pleasure to welcome you to our wondrous nation. It is our greatest hope that you enjoy your time her in the Most Serene and Celestial Empire of Xæth." She waited until the Delegates greeted her in turn, then the Empress and Delegates both would head to the front of the throne for Ælirn to give her speech. A servant nearby would hand her the microphone and with a deep breath to steel herself she began.

"Great people of Xæth, it is with great pleasure that we welcome the Delegates of Nyx who were able to make the trip to our most eminent of nations on this day. Some of you may have wondered why the first proper State visit of our reign would be the Nythymn, why not King David of East Moreland or Empress Beatrice of Rokkenjima? We must admit that it is because we see something of a kindred spirit in Nyx; many of you know that since the reign of my grandmother Her Imperial Majesty Yphaa IX began almost thirty years ago Xæth began to look inward. So much so that Xæth entered a period of near diplomatic isolation. We do not question my ancestor's actions nor do we question the decision of her daughters to continue her policies. But this is a new time. Our time. And so when I was enthroned last November my first decision was to change course, to not ignore the goings on of the world around us but to take part in them. Building friendships with other nations, assisting them and having them assist us in return as equals and partners. That is how we see the future of Xæth.

But a great nation emerging from isolation on its path to returning to and immersing themselves in the international community once again. Now we ask you, our people, are we describing Xæth? Or are we describing Nyx? While we cannot speak for their reasoning, the Delegation of Nyx have also decided that they wish to change the course of their country's isolation. And we are excited for the potential prospects and opportunities that can arise from this, for both Xæth and Nyx. It is my sincerest wish that our two nations can take these early steps together, as equals and as friends. For although their customs may seem strange to us, we are certain many of our customs will seem strange to them. So though the traditions differ, we see in them a healthy respect and honor for tradition that they share with the people of Xæth."

It would be then that Ælirn would hand the microphone over to any of the Delegates who wished to say any words, assuming there were any.

To the Esteemed Members of the Delegation of the Consecrated Nyx Coalition,

It is with great joy that I must inform the most esteemed rulers of the Consecrated Nyx Coalition that Her Imperial Majesty Ælirn XIX xy Thælyrn offers an invitation for a diplomatic visitation to the capital city of Jiloola of the Most Serene and Celestial Empire of Xæth. Her Imperial Majesty was honoured to attend the coronation of Ascendant Natrax, her only regret being that she was unable to speak to the Ascendant herself. She finds herself fascinating by the ancient traditions and culture of your people and is eager for a chance to learn more about your people. Furthermore, with the recent emergence of the Nythmn from their isolation her Imperial Majesty views this as an excellent opportunity to develop and strengthen a mutually beneficial relationship between our two most prestigious nations. It is with great anticipation that we await your respond, so that we may make arrangements for the meeting.

Sincerely,
Ithana Tyraa, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Most Serene and Celestial Empire of Xæth

Ælirn was absolutely relieved that everything with the Diet had gone well, and she let out a great sigh of relief once she was away from the assembly of foreign politicians. The young Empress hadn't even realized how tense her body was until she was away and consciously forced herself to relax. There was still a pit in her stomach, but experience told her that once she got her mind off of things that'd quickly dissipate. She certainly hoped so; the last thing she wanted for the rest of this visit was to feel sickened. Once she met back up with Beatrice she waved off Beatrice's explanation for Koizumi's behavior, "Oh it's fine. That's just how politicians are. We suppose we'd better get used to people like him, shouldn't we?"

At Beatrice's question about 'the classics' Ælirn spent a moment thinking before she answered, "We are... Unsure? Your classics are probably very different from what we would consider the classics, if we are to be honest." It was true; Ælirn was quite fond of certain traditional musics from her homeland but she doubted Beatrice would be able to name a single song that Ælirn would consider a "classic".

"But we are sure we will enjoy it nonetheless," she added with a smile.

Næxyn was surprised when Emperor Abbas himself made his way over to the three of them and actually addressed her husbands for once. It was a pleasant surprise, and Næxyn smiled at the man's words, "It has been a pleasure meeting you as well, Your Majesty, and I share that hope as well. And I would be more than happy to give this to my Empress."

"May your God watch over you," she said as her own farewell. The Princess was glad that something else had been gained from her attendance today; she sincerely doubted that Tamora and Xæth would ever be friends but she could perhaps do something to prevent the two nations from becoming too antagonistic. After all, she had fought Communist beside Tamorans and she'd hate to be forced to consider them her enemies. Then she opened up the case to see what exactly the gift was, only to laugh out loud when she saw what it was. Zadyr looked over curiously, smiling as well when he saw the pen. They both knew full well of Ælirn's fondness for fancy pens, and it seemed Alya did as well. Either that or it was simple luck, but Næxyn felt like giving the woman the benefit of the doubt.

Næxyn was rather disappointed with Heydar. She hadn't know what exactly to expect, but she hadn't expected him to act like a child and storm off. For that was what Næxyn considered it despite how calmly he may have left. He made a request and when foreign royals had the audacity not say bow to his whim and acquiesce, he suddenly had family he needed to see immediately. It was honestly quite sad; he should've at least stayed for a moment longer just to keep up appearances.

"I suppose his majesty doesn't take well to being denied," Prince Zadyr said in their native tongue, deadpan.

"True. A pity that; I guess Seleucid hospitality only extends to those who lick your boots," Næxyn shrugged, then looked over at her other husband, who was simply picking at his food.

"Dearest wife, now that our host has taken his leave I think I'm going to do the same. There's still an entire festival out there, after all," Aataxaris said, smiling. Næxyn nodded, bidding him goodbye for the moment. She was thinking about the day so far, and it hadn't gone quite as well as she might have hoped. But at least she gained some measure of insight into King Heydar. And who knows, perhaps Ælirn might actually entertain Heydar's request. But at the moment her focus returned to the luncheon; she planned to stay for the whole of the festival so she might as well enjoy herself.

The Most Serene and Celestial Empire of Xæth supports the application of the Kingdom of Clysperis into the CETO.

Næxyn and Aataxaris were busy in Ghulum's tent when they received word that they should reconvene with King Heydar. Aataxaris found it a pity; he felt in his element here speaking of gems and jewelry and business. It was a shame to leave and return to the world of politics and royalty; he might have married an Imperial Princess but he had always done what he could to stay as uninvolved in politics as he could. Aataxaris did plan on returning here after they were finished, but for the moment the pair bid farewell and made their way to King Heydar. Zadyr was already seated when they arrive and they quickly made their way to seat themselves beside him, with Næxyn in the middle and flanked by each of her husbands. There was a short back and forth in Xæthoon as they caught each other up to speed before Prince Næxyn smiled and congratulated Heydar on his upcoming marriage. But once again she had to marvel inside at the backwardness of it all. Monogamy? Monogamy she could understand in a way. But a man with several wives? All it did was allow a man to indulge in his baser urges, which was the exact opposite of what most men needed.

Then as Heydar spoke up about his 'ulterior motives', Næxyn chuckled under her breathe. Of course a newly crowned King would have an ulterior motive; most monarchs weren't interested in simply having a nice chat with foreign leadership. And this was a chance for Heydar to truly cement his place on the throne; being forced to allow foreign soldiers to operate with impunity on your soil was a humiliation of the highest degree possible. If Heydar managed to get the Cennegslaig to leave no Seleucid would question him. The Princess wondered if anyone would take him up on his offer, aside from the Tamorans of course. She had no doubt that Abbas would be more than willing despite the futility of it; Næxyn couldn't imagine the Cennegslaig commander caring about the opinion of a Tamoran repesentative.

She looked to her side at both of her husbands, wondering what they were thinking. Zadyr was deep in thought, probably thinking much the same thing as she was if she was to be honest. Meanwhile she had to stifle a chuckle at Aataxaris and how his eyes had practically glazed over. She had no doubt that he just wanted to finish eating and head back to the festival, and she felt for him. But they had just arrived, and it might not be a formal banquet or anything of the like but leaving so soon would still be rude.

"That is quite the request, Your Majesty," Næxyn said diplomatically, "Unfortunately, I am not in quite the position to send anyone myself. However, I would gladly pass the message along to Empress Ælirn." She'd refuse of course, Næxyn thought, one could be friends with the Maori or one could be friends with the Seleucids. And her grand niece had already chosen with whom she wanted to pursue friendship. But Næxyn would still ask.

Xæthoon Specialties:

-Sailing
-Archery
-Shooting