Anna wasn't one for metaphorical discussion, especially at such a time, "The two things power and money are different sides of the same coin, in effect they are one and the same thing. What is actually more important than both is knowledge, without knowledge you aren't equipped to make money, oh you can inherit it easy enough but as a wise person once said a fool and their money are easily parted. On the other hand we have power, well you say its the ability to influence people, and how do you influence people, well through your knowledge of them, it allows you to know what buttons to press, what emotions to play upon, hence the phrase knowledge is power." She hoped she'd made herself clear. There would be no time for a follow up anyway as the hour was getting on and there was work to be done, Anna made her excuses to see the Cardinal out before preparing herself for the day ahead.
The temporary High Priestess had made arrangements while the Palace slept, the Queen's body had been taken to the Temple of the Goddess, it was awkward to move it there as a narrow descending corridor lead to it, vibrant bright colours decorating the wall either side showing scenes of joy and a love of live, even the floor was painted to look like like grass while a sky with a few white clouds was painted on the roof. The corridor allowed just enough space for a coffin to be held if the soldiers carrying it stood inwards and shuffled along, careful to take care of their precious cargo. At the bottom of the corridor was the inner shrine, the most Holy place to Lodjains as it was believed that this was where the goddess Sessifet first ever joined with a Queen of Lodja. The coffin was placed on the cold floor and guards stood watch over it. While this was going on the Priestesses aides had been gathering the various people together.
Luckily Roksana was supposed to be escorting Tatiana to the Shrine, so it was of no surprise to the aides that the Lady in Waiting was already at the young woman's room. The pair walked silently side by side with one of the Warriors of Gaia leading the way dressed in ceremonial uniform. As they headed along the Palace corridor several staff members, and even Lord Besarian had turned out to watch, the pair meet Lady Stasya and Ariana, the girl looked elegant in a long black dress, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, a long gold chain around her neck. Compared to Tataina dressed in a simple grey suit complete with white blouse and even a tie Ariana already looked like she was a Queen. The next duo to join them was Lady Anna, who once shut of the Cardinal had picked up Nataliya whose fern leaf pendent stood out against the black dress she had worn. Finally completing the group came Lady Jasmina and Katyusha, their matching red hair both pulled back into a neat braid. The younger girl dark blue dress, minus the gold braiding, looking like something not too disimilar to what a Queen would wear. The eight women made their way into the Shrine following the route that the Queen's body had taken. The High Priestess joined them and for a few moments lead the group in prayers over the Queen's body within it's glass coffin. Once the prayers had been said the Priestess stood from her kneeling and went around the Shrine blowing out all the candles as she made her way to the door, "I shall return in one hour, use the time to focus your mind" and with that the final candle was blown out leaving just a fient amount of light from the candles in the hallway to cast a few glimpses of the images on the wall of the shrine.
During that hour the Queen's Hall was prepared, long benches put in place for the audience Alla anticipated, at the front four stools had been placed at the foot of the steps that lead to the throne. The High Priestess greated each of the people coming to view the unique occasion, the first time a Priestess had publically questioned a future Queen, it had always happened but always done in private, this was clearly a new way of administraring the faith and Alla seemed to be revling in it. "Besarain, so pleased you spent the night in your own bed." she teased, "I believe by this time when we selected Viktoriya you were already chasing Jasmina like a puppy dog." she teased him much to Dragan's amusement. The Conclave took the front seats but then were ordered to move to the back. "You've had several days to meet them, let the world view them." Alla ordered and while the others hesitated it was Anna Utkin who moved first followed by Dragan.
Once the hall was full Alla took her seat, one step below the Queen's throne which sat empty save for a bunch of flowers, a symbolic gesture that the Queen would not be attending a meeting in the Hall. One by one the girls were accompanied into the Hall, being escorted up the aisle between benches by a Lady in Waiting, Alla instructed each of the girls to stay standing until all four had gathered. "Stand on the stools" Alla instructed and hesitatingly one by one starting with Tatiana the girls did so, the three others taking care of their balance in heeled shoes, meanwhile the nimble Tatiana practically leapt onto the seat. "Turn for the audience." They were instructed, the idea seeming bizarre to them, each did as was told and completed a 360 spin. "Now Sessifet was a creature of pure beauty, as such the Queen must be to, so let us see what we are dealing with." Alla walked down to the floor and took a box from an aide, "Remove all your make up, jewellry and then remove your dresses" the four girls looked puzzled at each other, "Sessifet tells us to not be ashamed of the human body, it was her greatest creation, modelled after her own perfection" As if to emphasis this she began unbuttoning a blushing Tatania's blouse, "If you are ashamed Sessifet will not embrace you." Slowly the four did as told, Ariana seeming to be the only one completely unconcerned about being stood in her underwear, Tatiana did her best to cover herself and was thankful she'd worn something a little more lady like than the briefs she normally did, the thought made her laugh and apparently for no reason she stood chuckling to herself. Natalia eyed the laughing girl as though she was insane, while Katyusha arranged her long hair to try and cover herself a little more. "Remain standing" Alla ordered, "I believe we have some questions." Things had been arranged and the first to stand was Emalet.
"If you wouldn't mind could you tell us how your best friend would describe you?" The Achakerin ambassador sat back down before Alla added a part to the question, "One word, then why."
Alla pointed to Tatiana indicating she should answer, their was little hesitation, "Curious. The worlds a big place and I want to experience it and everything in it, to try new things and gain from them." The finger then moved to Natalia, "Helpful, I think its important to help anyone your in a position to do so, whether it be my father, or people in my community." The red head of Katyusha was the next to answer, "Popular, I have a way of getting on with everyone and becoming their friend." the girl said confidently, finally the finger fell on Ariana, " Determined, I want to be the best I can in everything I do, be it sport, education or anything else."
"The next question comes from our guest from Neu Urburzis, rather inventively he asked Lodjains for questions, and they gave him this garbage" she shook her head disparagingly but she'd agreed all ambassadors questions could be asked and so read it. "How can the Godess forgive and still stand on our Side, when not only the People had the insolence to Demand the Pregnancy during the first Year, but also the High Priestess ended her Chosen vessel before the Godess released it on her own Accord." The finger extended once more, this time to Ariana.
"We can not dream to know the thoughts of the Goddess.....unless we are fortunate enough to join with her.....Sessifet has a purpose for all of us, she is the only one who knows this and while we the people can only hope for things the Goddess will pick what happens and it shall be for the best." Ariana hoped her theological understanding made sense.
Next up was Katyusha, "The Goddess loves us like her children, a parent will forgive her children, she may be disappointed but in time we will make her proud. I believe Sessifet choose not to become a mother with Viktoriya not to break tradition, but to allow Viktoriya to shine like a comet in the darkness, a flash of short lived brilliance, paving the way for the rest of Sessifets children, perhaps Raisa Chownyk was part of that plan, we will not know." A mumour went through the audience as the girl seemed to seek to justify the former High Preistesses actions.
Next up was Natalia, "The Goddess must have consented to the release, otherwise the gun would have jammed, the killer have been discovered before hand. Viktoriya was pregnant, Sessifet had listened to the people and provided, nothing is needed to be forgiven, as always Lodja and Sessifet remain one." a few people nodded their approval.
Finally it was Tatiana's turn, " Sessifet can fogive us as a people because not all of us carried out the actions the questioner talks about. Yes tradition dictates the Queen get pregnant within the first year, but traditions change, if Sessifet wishes to wait then we the people will learn patience. One woman pulled the trigger, I did not, you did not, they did not." she motioned to the crowd, "Sessifet will stand on our side because Lodja did nothing wrong."
"Lady Emalet" Alla asked the Achkaerin ambassador again, the woman stood and then spoke, "If you could be any animal what would it be and why?"
Katyusha was smiling as she spoke, "I'd be a swan, they are elegant, graceful but out of sight they are hard working, just how I hope I am." it was something they'd once had in an interview at school and she had recalled her answer, Ariana wished she'd thought of that and instead hesitated, "I'd be a horse, to be able to run free and be beautiful." Tatiana had also an answer in her mind, "I'd be Dolphin, I've seen them on the islands, intelligent, nimble, quick, and they have fun by the looks of it." Finally it came to Natalia, "I think I'd like to be an Eagle, something about soaring high above Mundus excites me." she explained.
"Cardinal" Alla gestured for the man from ES to ask his questions and the man stood from the bench he was sat on and spoke, ""How will you see Lodja in 10 yrs?", "How would you wish to work on relations between Lodja and ES?", "How would you wish to work on relations between Lodja and the rest of Mundus?"
The selecting finger of Alla extended towards Natalia, "In ten years I'd hope to see Lodja richer, happier and as pious as ever. In terms of our relationship with your nation I think Viktoriya laid the foundations on which to build upon, the Council of Albion being a prime example. As for the rest of Mundus I think our culture confuses many, sharing that with others is vital." she thought about her time in the Iwi and how many of the things she spoke of back home confused the locals. Alla pointed at Ariana, "In ten years time I'd like to see Lodja viewed internationally as a land of great cultural works, a haven for art and music, to be the centre of the worlds new renassance. In terms of our two nations I think grand projects based on this new renassaince are a good start, our faiths are as different as they come and its time to better understand each other. As for the rest of Mundus this is where we have great foundations with the CNN, I would seek to better utlise connections there to better know Mundus." Then it was the turn of Katyusha, "Ten years from now Lodja needs to have ensured the safety of our way of life here at home yet at the same time seen living standards for all increase. The ES and Lodjain relationship is one that should be the strongest on Mundus, I'd need to work with your Pope to achieve that, only after meeting with him would I know how. Similarly for the rest of Mundus we need to use our talents to ensure we are valued by friends globally." As the finger came to Tatiana she went silent, weighing up her answer, "In ten years I want to see us in a situation where more Plebs are becoming Patricians, to do this we need more oppurtunities, it would be a dream one day to see so much oppurtunity that there is no reason why any hard working, loyal Pleb can't become a Patrician one way or another. As for the relationship between ES and Lodja I'd see it as important but not vital to work on more than any other nation on Mundus. The way we work on relationships there is changing their views of us, but not to the detrement of losing who we are. "
FInally it was back to the Achkaerin Lady Emalet. "If any of the candidates are better than you, what makes them better?" the killer question was asked. Alla selected Natalia, "All three of the others know Lodja better than me, I've spent the last few years in The Iwi, it means my day to day knowledge of whats happening here isn't as good as theirs because I've been experiencing another culture." She hoped she'd turned her negative into a strength. Katyusha was next, "Ariana is prettier, Natalia more knowledgable about one of our allies and Tatiana a better dancer" She's selected minor things for each of the girls hoping to show there were not significant weaknesses. Ariana was still smiling from Katyusha's comment, "If Lodja wants a Queen to build upon Viktoriya's friendships then Natalia is our choice, she already has friends within the CNN, an organisation we must take more onboard with." Finally it was Tatiana's turn, "As a whole person none of them are better, just as I'm no better than them. As one we'd make an amazing Queen, individually we'll all need help, I realise that and so I don't think overall Katyusha, Natalia or Ariana are better than me, I know what I know, and more importantly I know what I don't." The others looked at her as though she'd cheated by not complimenting at least one of them.
"The girls will stay on their stolls, feel free to come chat with them or some of the Ladies in Waiting, the Conclave even, if you wish, why not even the guards hey." She pointed to the uniformed men standing at the doors to the hall on three of the four sides. Alla motioned to Besarian to join her at the front of the hall to the left hand side. "So, what do you think."
Besarian had a clear idea but he wished not to show his hand to early. "I think three of them could become Queen tomorrow, Tatiana worries me a little." he said and Alla nodded her understanding.
"And who would you take to your bed?" Alla was blunt at all times with the Conclave, Besarian was flustered once more and unsure what to say to a woman of faith, he looked back at where the four underwear clad girls were stood on chairs with a few people speaking to them. "Come on its not hard, I'd take Ariana and I'm not even into women." the High Priestess probed.
"She's a beautiful young woman for sure" Was all Besarian would say as the pair made their way back to stand within hearing range of the gathering.
OOC - Feel free to interact with any Lodjain or someway or other give me your thoughts etc. I'm going to try and move this on a little more probably Friday.
