A New Made Master|Sensatiamens, Sensatia
Sept 19, 2011 17:58:37 GMT -5
Post by Kender Bard on Sept 19, 2011 17:58:37 GMT -5
Libre adjusted his new clothing, tailored swiftly for this day. He wore a doublet of crushed velvet in deep purple, embellished with thread of twined silver and gold. His pants were of the same style as the doublet and resting over all of that was a long surcoat that looked more like a cape with sleeves; it was long and trailing, made of purple dyed wool—the finest wool money could buy, in fact—and lined with cloth-of-gold that shimmered brightly. A black raven was embroidered into the back of the surcoat, taking up most of his back. He wore a heavy gold chain with an amethyst embedded in the center, cut to look as much like a Mind sign as possible.
He felt like he was going to die of heat in the damned thing, but when he looked into a mirror, even he had to admit the effect was precisely what he desired. He looked regal. Give me a crown, and I’d almost say princely, he mused. But the Masters wore no crown. The finery of his clothes and the jewelry were as much as he was permitted to show off his status. He waited impatiently as his body servant finished slicking back his hair with scented oil. Bleh, he thought. Now he truly felt like a basted goose waiting to be roasted.
“You look very fine, Master Libre,” the servant remarked.
Libre spared a grateful smile for the man. “The efforts of your labors, not mine. Thank you; you’re dismissed.” The servant bowed and teleported away. Libre stayed where he was, staring into the mirror. Father, he thought, Is this what you looked like the day you took the mantle of Master? His father had barely ever spoken of that day in the past, aside from mentioning that he’d been so overawed by his new position that he could hardly remember anything. Liar, Libre thought retrospectively. You remember everything. He looked adult. He felt still a bit of the child. Would those feelings burn away with experience and time or would they linger on forever? He’d grown up thinking his father had all the answers but that proved to be untrue. His final confession rung in his ears still. You tried. That was all anyone could do, really.
Time to try then. he touched his signs and teleported to where he was expected, a raised platform in the heart of Sensatia. The entire structure was lined with guards, for his protection. Standing at the center was a middle-aged man in armor enameled with the colors of Thuoth, holding an ornate looking longsword point down, hands on the hilt. He was the temple’s Susceptor Thesaurus, the protector of the Thuothians, and today his honor guard. Libre took his place at the man’s side. The soldier glanced down at Libre and offered a silent, encouraging smile. “Thuoth bless you this day,” he said quietly. “Master.”
That’s the expectation, Libre thought wryly, but only said, “Thank you, Susceptor.” Stepping forward, he was surprised at the strength and volume of the cheers that went up at his presence. That lifted his spirits considerably and he smiled and waved, earning more wild cries. Of course plenty were not cheering or smiling, but the volume of those who were more than made up for them.
Libre held up both hands to indicate silence and the roar died down. Another servant, a Mind-Wind, started to chant softly behind him. Libre felt something change in the air, though he wouldn’t have been able to put his finger on a good description of what, precisely. “My people,” he began, his voice booming out in amplification. “Today marks yet another moment in history; the passing of Master from old to new. I am honored that you all saw fit to bestow me with this rank. I know not all of you loved or approved of my father and his choices, and there are still some fears that I may make the same mistakes that he did… But what are mistakes but events to be learned from? I made a solemn vow to improve Sensatia and her people at every step of my Mastery and it is one that I will keep to my dying breath or the day I give Mastery over to the next young, bright mind.”
“But that is far in the future, and though I turn my eyes towards the future in all my decisions, today is about the now. It is about my first step in the journey to serving all of you; for although the rank of Master implies superiority over another, in reality, it is I who bends the knee to all of you. Sensatia is the true Master, and I am but only a servant to him. “
At this point, the head priest of the Thuothians, and the voice of the temple for all of Sensatia, Anton Sawyer, stepped forward. Libre knelt before him, head bowed slightly.
Anton’s voice was similarly amplified. “Do you, Libre Redway, son of Thelon Redway and Tres Redway, swear before the eyes of all the Forces to fulfill your duty to Sensatia and her people as leader and protector to the best of your capacity?”
“I so swear it,” Libre answered.
“Then let it be known to all that you have made your oath in the eyes of the Forces,” Anton declared. “Rise, Master of Minds.”
When Libre stood again, the applause was deafening. He couldn’t help but smile as he gazed out over the people. My people, he thought fiercely, protectively. He’d lost his father and his mother. But Sensatia and Flame were his family now. “My first act as Master will be to reinstate Xavier Kenway and Darrtan Sontief as my closest advisers. My second act will be to declare today and the next two days as festival days in celebration of this day of renewal and hope for Sensatia.”
That got even more applause. But of course it would. Libre chuckled quietly at that. The vendors were surely cheering him now if they weren’t before. He would be expected to go out and enjoy the celebrations as well, but it could wait. There was still a few more things to do yet. With another bow to the gathered, but dispersing crowds, Libre teleported back to his own home and mentally beckoned to Xavier and Dart. ~Come join me in my home. I’d like to discuss a few things before we all go to celebrate.~
He felt like he was going to die of heat in the damned thing, but when he looked into a mirror, even he had to admit the effect was precisely what he desired. He looked regal. Give me a crown, and I’d almost say princely, he mused. But the Masters wore no crown. The finery of his clothes and the jewelry were as much as he was permitted to show off his status. He waited impatiently as his body servant finished slicking back his hair with scented oil. Bleh, he thought. Now he truly felt like a basted goose waiting to be roasted.
“You look very fine, Master Libre,” the servant remarked.
Libre spared a grateful smile for the man. “The efforts of your labors, not mine. Thank you; you’re dismissed.” The servant bowed and teleported away. Libre stayed where he was, staring into the mirror. Father, he thought, Is this what you looked like the day you took the mantle of Master? His father had barely ever spoken of that day in the past, aside from mentioning that he’d been so overawed by his new position that he could hardly remember anything. Liar, Libre thought retrospectively. You remember everything. He looked adult. He felt still a bit of the child. Would those feelings burn away with experience and time or would they linger on forever? He’d grown up thinking his father had all the answers but that proved to be untrue. His final confession rung in his ears still. You tried. That was all anyone could do, really.
Time to try then. he touched his signs and teleported to where he was expected, a raised platform in the heart of Sensatia. The entire structure was lined with guards, for his protection. Standing at the center was a middle-aged man in armor enameled with the colors of Thuoth, holding an ornate looking longsword point down, hands on the hilt. He was the temple’s Susceptor Thesaurus, the protector of the Thuothians, and today his honor guard. Libre took his place at the man’s side. The soldier glanced down at Libre and offered a silent, encouraging smile. “Thuoth bless you this day,” he said quietly. “Master.”
That’s the expectation, Libre thought wryly, but only said, “Thank you, Susceptor.” Stepping forward, he was surprised at the strength and volume of the cheers that went up at his presence. That lifted his spirits considerably and he smiled and waved, earning more wild cries. Of course plenty were not cheering or smiling, but the volume of those who were more than made up for them.
Libre held up both hands to indicate silence and the roar died down. Another servant, a Mind-Wind, started to chant softly behind him. Libre felt something change in the air, though he wouldn’t have been able to put his finger on a good description of what, precisely. “My people,” he began, his voice booming out in amplification. “Today marks yet another moment in history; the passing of Master from old to new. I am honored that you all saw fit to bestow me with this rank. I know not all of you loved or approved of my father and his choices, and there are still some fears that I may make the same mistakes that he did… But what are mistakes but events to be learned from? I made a solemn vow to improve Sensatia and her people at every step of my Mastery and it is one that I will keep to my dying breath or the day I give Mastery over to the next young, bright mind.”
“But that is far in the future, and though I turn my eyes towards the future in all my decisions, today is about the now. It is about my first step in the journey to serving all of you; for although the rank of Master implies superiority over another, in reality, it is I who bends the knee to all of you. Sensatia is the true Master, and I am but only a servant to him. “
At this point, the head priest of the Thuothians, and the voice of the temple for all of Sensatia, Anton Sawyer, stepped forward. Libre knelt before him, head bowed slightly.
Anton’s voice was similarly amplified. “Do you, Libre Redway, son of Thelon Redway and Tres Redway, swear before the eyes of all the Forces to fulfill your duty to Sensatia and her people as leader and protector to the best of your capacity?”
“I so swear it,” Libre answered.
“Then let it be known to all that you have made your oath in the eyes of the Forces,” Anton declared. “Rise, Master of Minds.”
When Libre stood again, the applause was deafening. He couldn’t help but smile as he gazed out over the people. My people, he thought fiercely, protectively. He’d lost his father and his mother. But Sensatia and Flame were his family now. “My first act as Master will be to reinstate Xavier Kenway and Darrtan Sontief as my closest advisers. My second act will be to declare today and the next two days as festival days in celebration of this day of renewal and hope for Sensatia.”
That got even more applause. But of course it would. Libre chuckled quietly at that. The vendors were surely cheering him now if they weren’t before. He would be expected to go out and enjoy the celebrations as well, but it could wait. There was still a few more things to do yet. With another bow to the gathered, but dispersing crowds, Libre teleported back to his own home and mentally beckoned to Xavier and Dart. ~Come join me in my home. I’d like to discuss a few things before we all go to celebrate.~
