- Messages
- 10
- Character Biography
- Link
The sky painted various shades of vidi red, amber, and towards the trailing edge of day, violet and black. Spring was in full swing here in Alliria, the sweet scent of growing things filling the air and hiding the more unpleasant odors of the city. No matter the time of year, no matter where within her bountiful walls, there was always the faint scent of the Shallows, of the bay, and of tens of thousands of souls living in close proximity. The scent was of a faint, almost invisible corruption.
A convenient allegory, that.
Despite the retreating daylight, the Alleur estate was well lit. Lime lights cast brilliance upon the graveled drive that came in from the streets, the gates in the walls thrown wide for the evenings spectacle. Roses and tamed bushes lined the drive, climbing roses twined their way up the gleaming granite walls that surrounded the four acre plot in the heart of Alliria, in the Inner City. Capped by wicked spikes of wrought iron, the walls held the city out like the fortress it was meant to imitate.
The building itself was a splendid affair, two stories of dressed limestone and granite, cunningly fitted together to hide and seems. The whole thing was intricately carved in whorls an d designed round base, corner, and eve; windows bore planters with profusions of color to contrast against the stark white of the stone. Everywhere was finery, rich and not shy about flaunting itself; the drive, the front of the home, the gardens that flanked the structure with their winding paths and hedges for privacy, all lit by lime light and mirror. And in back, a raised gazebo towards the back of the spacious space held musicians, their violins and flutes and other such accoutrements plying their trade, filling the air with a festive, reserved music.
Indoors, there were the hors d'oeuvres to set the mood before the proper meal could be served, but that would be much later this evening.
The object of the festivities sat at a table by herself, smiling happily as guests approached to offer her their well wishes. Alice was a beautiful, charming girl, Mirriel had to admit - raised and bred with class and charisma to match. It was only natural, of course; she was her daughter, after all. The girl's mother stood on the steps leading out of the manor, watching as dignitaries, wealthy merchants, nobles, and the ever-present Families - they of the shadow, of the smuggling, of the robbery, of the dirt dealings - mingle with one another. She stood aloof from it all, for now. Dark eyes like polished glass sparkled in the brilliant illumination, and oddly caught some of the natural fireworks in her eyes. The fiery light of the dying sun gleamed therein, in those icy orbs.
The Alleur widow wore an ankle-length dress of such deep blue as to be nearly black, silver embroidery chasing hem and sleeve, and encircling her throat like another fine necklace. The neckline dipped, but only enough to tease; the bodice fit tight, revealing the figure that had snared so many. She wore jewelry, too, but the pieces were of thin gold with small gems - mostly ruby and garnet, to complement the blue. She had tied her hair back tonight. She stood there, regal and distant - much like her namesake suggested.
The Raven Queen.
She nodded to a guest as they passed by, their respectful nod curdling her stomach. The tall fellow was an influential member of another of the syndicates here, and while the name escaped her, she could feel nothing but disdain for him and so many of the others here. Politicians were little better than thieves, and the thieves held themselves to the same standard, thought them the same class as the nobles that mingled with the rest.
It was a sickening sight to her. That she technically belonged in that special class of criminal did not make her rest any easier...and she had no intention of abandoning the path she had set out for herself, twenty years before.
With the setting of the sun, the flow of those who considered them the who's who of Alliria would arrive in greater number. It was but her daughter's sweet sixteen, but such gatherings served as more than shows of wealth and power. They also served as places where the unscrupulous of the city could hammer out alliances, discuss business - and do so in broad daylight, as it were, without raising alarm or a word against them.
There was nothing to do but watch, for now, and allow her daughter to enjoy herself as was proper.
A convenient allegory, that.
Despite the retreating daylight, the Alleur estate was well lit. Lime lights cast brilliance upon the graveled drive that came in from the streets, the gates in the walls thrown wide for the evenings spectacle. Roses and tamed bushes lined the drive, climbing roses twined their way up the gleaming granite walls that surrounded the four acre plot in the heart of Alliria, in the Inner City. Capped by wicked spikes of wrought iron, the walls held the city out like the fortress it was meant to imitate.
The building itself was a splendid affair, two stories of dressed limestone and granite, cunningly fitted together to hide and seems. The whole thing was intricately carved in whorls an d designed round base, corner, and eve; windows bore planters with profusions of color to contrast against the stark white of the stone. Everywhere was finery, rich and not shy about flaunting itself; the drive, the front of the home, the gardens that flanked the structure with their winding paths and hedges for privacy, all lit by lime light and mirror. And in back, a raised gazebo towards the back of the spacious space held musicians, their violins and flutes and other such accoutrements plying their trade, filling the air with a festive, reserved music.
Indoors, there were the hors d'oeuvres to set the mood before the proper meal could be served, but that would be much later this evening.
The object of the festivities sat at a table by herself, smiling happily as guests approached to offer her their well wishes. Alice was a beautiful, charming girl, Mirriel had to admit - raised and bred with class and charisma to match. It was only natural, of course; she was her daughter, after all. The girl's mother stood on the steps leading out of the manor, watching as dignitaries, wealthy merchants, nobles, and the ever-present Families - they of the shadow, of the smuggling, of the robbery, of the dirt dealings - mingle with one another. She stood aloof from it all, for now. Dark eyes like polished glass sparkled in the brilliant illumination, and oddly caught some of the natural fireworks in her eyes. The fiery light of the dying sun gleamed therein, in those icy orbs.
The Alleur widow wore an ankle-length dress of such deep blue as to be nearly black, silver embroidery chasing hem and sleeve, and encircling her throat like another fine necklace. The neckline dipped, but only enough to tease; the bodice fit tight, revealing the figure that had snared so many. She wore jewelry, too, but the pieces were of thin gold with small gems - mostly ruby and garnet, to complement the blue. She had tied her hair back tonight. She stood there, regal and distant - much like her namesake suggested.
The Raven Queen.
She nodded to a guest as they passed by, their respectful nod curdling her stomach. The tall fellow was an influential member of another of the syndicates here, and while the name escaped her, she could feel nothing but disdain for him and so many of the others here. Politicians were little better than thieves, and the thieves held themselves to the same standard, thought them the same class as the nobles that mingled with the rest.
It was a sickening sight to her. That she technically belonged in that special class of criminal did not make her rest any easier...and she had no intention of abandoning the path she had set out for herself, twenty years before.
With the setting of the sun, the flow of those who considered them the who's who of Alliria would arrive in greater number. It was but her daughter's sweet sixteen, but such gatherings served as more than shows of wealth and power. They also served as places where the unscrupulous of the city could hammer out alliances, discuss business - and do so in broad daylight, as it were, without raising alarm or a word against them.
There was nothing to do but watch, for now, and allow her daughter to enjoy herself as was proper.