The Funeral: Part One.
The funeral is barely controlled chaos. For two days prior to the ceremony travelers flock to the city from all over the Kingdom and Gnarland. Many make camp in the pristine green fields between the city and Castle Gemblade. It looks disturbingly like the brief views you had of the same place in 999.
Dignitaries from almost every civilized nation arrive, turning previously quiet embassies into small fortresses. Those delegations that have no embassy, the dwarves of Nomagrock in particular, simply buy out an inn for the week.
There are many notable attendees. Aianna Cadmurren, the high diplomat of the Destroytian Republic, and widely considered the greatest diplomat of the generation, is of course in attendance. She, along with an honor guard of republic knights attend in full regalia. She is accompanied by Harfirth Firstcrest, the former emperor. They are the first to arrive, no small feat given their number. The entire diplomatic corps seems to revolve around her, which gives credit to her reputation as the Republic is far less powerful than many other nations. The High King's guard leaves the castle only for their arrival and escorts them to their embassy. The delegation looks humbled by the honor.
The Yellowian contingent is lead by the king himself, Alawin Padwell. The brash youthful royal is respectful but often lacking in the exacting measures of etiquette. He is accompanied by Wisker Deldoran, the royal mage and chief advisor and Brandon Wells, the Champion. He is also accompanied by no less then fifty attendants of all sorts; among them but not always at his side is Thomas, the king's priest, a cleric of Tommimao. In the company Parker and Ari spot Maleek. Word spreads that Alawin has stripped the clergy of Tyrogatore of their legal judge status in the kingdom, although they can still adjudicate divine matters. He has also outlawed the cult of Drunnbar completely, causing instant strife with the Ice Gnomes to say nothing of the Sledghammers. There is also a delegation of Yellowian nobles apart from the Court. The king's delegation is given an honor guard of mounted marines but few of the public seem to care. The nobles enter the city quietly and stay at the city's finest Inn- the Diamond Arms.
From Nomagrok, Gunnbar 1st Sledgehammer, oldest prince, makes an appearance. His contingent is small. After hearing the Yellowian king's proclamation, not directly, but through the grapevine, he declares he will fight the king for his insult whenever, wherever, once the ceremonies have ended. It is made known that for such an important event, the royalty of Drunnbar swallowed their beliefs and allowed themselves to be transported here for the honoring of such a noble man and king. They go overboard in their homage to the king. They appear sincerely saddened by his death. Rumor spreads quickly that an army of dwarves enroute to help the kingdom in this time of need. Ari is informed that Grimdrek is in attendance as a bodyguard. They are escorted but not honored in one of the more awkward moments of the day.
There is a fair sized Orcish contingent led by the Grus Cannus of the 4th legion. They too are escorted and it appears they will not be honored until a single mounted knight, a woman bearing the standard of the High King's legion takes command of the escort and marches them to their embassy while a spell recites the litany of the 4th Legion's victories. By the end of the procession a sizeable crowd has gathered to watch and, as it concludes, applaud in admiration.
Habastalai sends a single cleric. It is already clear that they disapprove of the war. Their choice of a 2nd tier cleric, non-grovetender to attend the funeral is evidence of their opinion.
Iott sends Layla the Marshall who attracts a great deal of attention. She has ten attendants, a representative of each tower in Iott. She is the antithesis of style compared to Aianna. Attractive and influential in a very different way. Her outfits are borderline inappropriate, but her charm and beauty are undeniable. She talks to everyone. She talks up the king of Yellowia's decisions, applauding them and praising him. She says nothing about the wars going on around the world that would indicate her and Iott's position on them. She expresses proper sorrow at the loss of the king, but to your eyes, she is here much more for the event of the gathered dignitaries. The Iott delegation is largely ignored but Haskra the Reddened, the Sakor'akai dean of the Bardic College School of Magic greets them at their small embassy.
Thalmeret, Hertoplowis, and the Grean republic all send standard delegations. They cause no drama and are expectantly appropriate. They receive no escort. Layraedia, Port Talp, and Northut arrive at roughly the same time. Members of the Marine legion that was traditionally based in Layraedia form their escort.
The Great Forest sends a large delegation, represented by Wooduke. Taemus Bewall. He tells everyone that he is representing the Forest Coalition: Fellos, Balinhost, the Three Communities, and of course his realm. He claims to speak for Garrlacal and Scalehome as well, but that is less believable. His delegation includes members of all the races appropriate to his claim, and includes a total of fifty members. Their delegation is escorted by a dwarf, a captain of the Knights of the White Sword named Derman Warmarch, and ten younger knights.
Finally, the delegations from the Kingdom's long standing allies arrive. The delegation from Pacyr is notable. It includes three figures of great import and their fifty person entourage. Elizabeth Toppin, high cleric of Stasis from Pacyr, who is the official leader of the group. Ari knows that Elizabeth is also one of the highest ranking Guardians, perhaps the mightiest not on the Council. It is commonly believed that she is the most powerful of Stasis' clerics as well. Thousands of people line the streets to see her and Nisoru Metakae precedes her on his griffon as she rides to the High Temple. The grand entry into the city is lined with soldiers and many flags of Hemator's symbol are unfurled from rooftops. Michael and the other leaders of the church greet her on the steps of the high temple. She is accompanied by Roland, the cavalier and Defender of the Faith of Pacyr. He is a formal, imposing, dour man The third member is another skilled diplomat, the elf Simonir, the Lord of Strategies.
A large delegation lead by the queen, Brianne Rosetree, arrives from the Rosetree Kingdom. They set out to show the proper respect and grief fitting a kingdom that has long been an ally. A company of elves from one of the legions escorts them, led by a female elven general who embraces the queen. Conversely, Amansky sends an eight member mission: four Sakor'akai and four Nipits. They are lead by a Sakor'akai named Keverene who is dark blue in color and he wears a mask of silver and white swords, eight to be precise. Strydus Archir, the Nippit high noble and his house guard greet and escort the delegation.
The String Mountain Kingdom delegation is led by the king himself, Bruumur Premit Highmountain. It is known among the diplomatic circle that the king is in bad straights at home. After a ten year treaty between himself and his relatives expired last year, a battle for control has ensued. He is on the younger side and not a gifted speaker. He is happy to be recognized at least here as the undisputed king. He is given a massive royal welcome, with an honor guard of Diamond Brigade shock troopers in full dress armor. Thale Blazingem, the high mage of Icefia, Gramble Firepeak, Thane of the Firepeak Clan, Buld Mountainmagic, Herald of the Church of Stasis and Midan Granitebreaker, Avoral of the Guardian Temple, greet him at the city gates and escort his delegation to the embassy. His only notable companion is a dwarven warrior, Boddar 'the one eye' Granitebreaker. He is said to be a formidable combatant and expected to be a serious contender in the next Suian.
Finally, the gnomes of Gnarland arrive. They are led by Snella Firstice, niece of the high cleric of Gnarion, ruler of Gnarland, that commands the attention. A stunningly beautiful female, she is a cleric of Gnarion, and likely an Evangelist as well. Their 50 gnome contingent is also given a parade first to the Temple of Gnarion, the first built outside their homeland and one of the largest as it is built to human dimensions, and then to the embassy, the oldest in the city.
