The people of Athenia culminate in Magnestis to hold a special event! In the name and honour of Exedias, the honoured painter in residence at the royal palati in the capitol, King Minas has chosen to host an event for both artists and sailors alike. A contest was announced nearly two weeks ago: ship decorating! Merchants and sailors might have little use for a vessel painted and decorated in garlands and bright colours (both in body and across its sails) but a hefty prize of gold coins has changed many a stoic voyager's mind. The whole of Athenian nobility have turned out to see the event, along with its people who are all permitted to enter in groups of workers, decorating the ships they have offered to enter on behalf of the Houses. The harbour of the Xanthos province has never looked so colourful!
The day was bright and clear and all that it should be for the approaching event. Luckily, life in Athenia had been calm over the last month or so. No severe breeches of conduct from within its people, no large arguments to be settled between the Houses. As such, while her days were always busy aiding her father in the administration of the kingdom, life had not been excessively so. Which meant that she had been able to finalise the plans for this event at least a month ago, rather than working onto them until the moment they were to begin. For the last few weeks, she had been able to enjoy the company of Exedias - the painter and sculptor who had been charged with creating a portrait of her father and had been staying in residence. It had been wonderous to converse with the man and discover all the elements of life he had witnessed in different kingdoms, performing his craft for the great and powerful.
Now, she was to escort the man, along with her father and her sister to the event being held in Magnestis. One of the Xanthos provinces, Magnestis was on the coastline and a bright and sunny place that dealt with an excessive amount of trade. Unlike in her own barony of Arcana, where the produce of the land came from the waters around it - fish and other such caught creatures - the province of Magnestis traded mostly in goods, via the vessels in its harbour. The area was, therefore, more international in feel and well-travelled in person than some of the other areas of Athenia, with a large and arching harbour that was generous to ships of all shapes and sizes.
The location had been an obvious choice for just such an event that required so much space upon the water. And it looked as if her instructions for the informing of the event to the people had been followed to the letter, as the open carriage her and her family (and their guest) were pulled in reached the open dock and so many sails and ships came into view.
Glancing across with satisfaction at the soft smile on Exedias' old and wizened face, Persephone was pleased to be able to offer the man a view and excitement for the event, despite his age and experience likely making him a little jaded and hard to surprise. Not that he hadn't been anything but kind since his arrival in their kingdom.
When the carriage holding the king, his daughters and the guest of honour, arrived at a staging area, draped in red and silver - the colours of the House of Nikolaos who were hosting the event - the people of the province called, gasped and pointed. Many of them would have never visited the capitol and this would have been their first witnessing of the royal family. Others were, perhaps, just impressed with the gold, jewels and raiment in which they were clothed.
For herself, Persephone was dressed as a princess should be. Her chiton was wide and sweeping but made from layer upon layer of almost see-through white gossamer. The overlapping of the gown kept the look demure and elegantly innocent over risqué. A brilliant red himation was draped around her shoulders, her colour choice a tip of honourable respect to the hosting House. Her black hair was curled and positions atop her head in a convoluted design of braids that left soft curls at her neck and ears. Her lobes were heavy with refinement as were her forearms that sported cuffs of garnet studded gold. She wore a simpler and smaller version of her ivy wreath crown woven in amongst her hair, making her role as princess obvious but not arrogantly displayed.
She and her family had stayed in her barony the previous evening, only a short ride away, so they had made good time and arrived at the event just as the crowds were gathering and the enthusiasm was starting to rise. Clearly, however, they had shocked the participants in the event that judging would be happening ahead of schedule as Persephone noticed from the corner of her eye, contestants rushing to complete the designs upon their vessels...
Persephone breathed in a soft inhale of the sea air, used to the salty scent from her upbringing in Athenia and turned to her sister. Before she could speak however, the royal guests were approached by the hosting House of Nikolaos and several armed guards were forced to dismount from their escorting horses and start to push back a crowd eager to make contact with the royal family.
Emilia had been told about this event that was to take place in Magnestis just a couple of weeks before they were to depart, and while the young sixteen year old was eager enough to attend it, it was for reasons much different as compared to why her sister and father were. Magnestis was a sunny province that was on the shore, right next to Emilia's favorite place - the sea. There was just something soothing about the crash of the waves, the salty tang in the air and the cry of the seagulls, all melding together in Emilia's favorite song from nature.
Rumbling in the open carriage along with her family and seated next to her father, she allowed them to converse and introduce the province to Exedias - someone that, while respectful and following of Persephone's instructions, Emilia had not went beyond regular day to day conversation. The man was pleasant, but she was not yet as well versed with conversation as her sister was, and much to learn yet regarding entertaining royal guests within their halls.
Instead, Emilia smiled and waved at the gasping and pointing people of Magnestis, who were clearly excited to see them. Whether it was because they were royalty, or it was because they were draped in fineries, Emilia did not know, nor would she find out, for the younger Xanthos was draped quite thoroughly. The brunette had chose a chiton of a wheat colored tone, and the material had been sewed with braided cloth in the color of champagne gold. The braided strands would be tied up on her left shoulder in a bow, leaving it prettily down her upper arm, whilst the remainder of the shining champagne material would be tightened and chinched around her waist, giving a nice contrast to the wheat colored chiton. The chiton itself fell to her ankles, layered enough to make it seem as if Emilia glided upon clouds as she walked.
Instead of leaving it down, Emilia had kept the strong seaside breeze in mind, and instead had asked her maids to wind her brunette locks up to tight curls atop hr head, and picked a simple filligree wound gold made into ivy leaves. A few tendrils framed the side of her face, and her neck was adorned in golden chain links that went all the way to where the dress was held up by the tied up champagne braided knots, where a brooch in the shape of a swan was connected to her chain, giving the whole ensemble a more complete look.
To top it all off, the young sixteen year old had popped on her usual chains on both feet, preferring to arrive at the seaside barefooted, whilst her wrists were decorated with two wide golden bangles embedded with Taengean water emeralds that glitered in the daylight.
Like her sister, Emilia breathed in the sea air, a small smile on her face, before flashing that delighted smile at Minas, glad that she was here with her little family. Turning to watch as the Nikolaos house arrived, Emilia's expression turned neutral, although a small smile graced her face when she saw old friends, glad to see familiar faces in her first time visiting a province.
Adrestus was joyous that his family was hosting one of the most important events, at least in his mind. One could say that he was for sure in his element, here. After spending most of his life on ships, sailing throughout the lands exploring and trading, it was hard not to get excited for ship decorating. He still had his own ship, too, and while he was currently having a mind to sell it, he hadn’t been able to touch it. Sailing was in his blood, but at the same time, he was incredibly sad about his whole ordeal with his family. It’d be better to sell it, so he didn’t to be reminded every day of his failure with not finding Sokari, and yet he was still holding on. He was thinking about talking to Timaeus about it, but he didn’t have time to send a letter now because of the event they were hosting. For now he had it- why not use it? Especially since they were hosting, it’d be a shame not to decorate. His ship was covered in beautiful designs of sea creatures and plants, along with hints of gleaming gold. It was quite a sight, and while he had entered it into the contest, he had no ambition to win it. It was merely for show.
They approached the royal family and Adrestus smiled brightly. He could see the two princesses, and the two women were as lovely as ever. He glanced around and there was beautiful colors everywhere, especially on the ships which looked as though a lot of people had worked very hard on them. This was a nice surprise, and he was glad that the event was seemingly going according to plan. He glanced at the guards pushing an eager crowd back, and struck a grin. It was not every day royal came to every province, and it made their event especially grand that the royals had in fact come. It made their family look, well, important, and that was what they wanted. Or at least, Adrestus did. He bowed to the royal family as he approached, and welcomed them.
“Your Majesty,” He looked over to the princesses, “Princesses of Athenia,” He stood up straighter, “We hope you enjoy your stay in Magnestis,” Adrestus spoke smoothly, before putting his hand on one of his younger sibling’s shoulders. What he really wanted to do was to go look at all the ships more closely. He waited for the right chance, and when he saw it, he immediately, but slowly, started to inch his way away from his family and towards the ships and the people doing last minute touches. The second thing that he liked just as much as sailing, was talking to other sailors. He didn’t mind the royal family, but… with all these sailors around, it was just so tempting to ignore his duties and dive in to his true interests.
Breathe...! Breathe goddamnit! The Nikolaos House..here?! In the very flesh?! Oh, thank Apollo! The day had finally come to prove his worth! To prove that she deserved to be recognized! So what if she was Stavros’ bastard child?? If she couldn’t be part of the family, she could at least be recognized by them! They had to know that she was out there!
He had been practicing for forever on his phorminx! Finding hacks on how to play it easier and make the sound smoother. This phorminx was his life! If he lost it, he didn’t know what he would do anymore. Koko honestly wouldn’t know what career he would pursue...What else she could do to get some attention! Just even a glance in her direction would be good!
Breathe.
Koko took a moment to inhale the salty air, wanting to stop his nerves. These were royals she was talking about! They were all expected to talk and act in a certain way! Which meant that he would be expected the same if accepted. She wasn’t about to be recognized by her father nor half-siblings if she couldn’t even show that she could fit in. She didn’t want to be labeled a rugrat, she didn’t want her family to think of her as a waste of seed.
She belonged in the Nikolaos house!
There they were! The royals! Koko’s heart stopped but he had so much adrenaline in him that he instantly knew what to do. He looked around the terrain, eventually finding a small pole where he would be seen on. Jumping upon it, he leaned back against it and gripped onto the phorminx. Raising his voice the loudest he could, Koko began to sing. His voice came out smooth and charming, while he was singing he was telling a story as well.
“Of the cunning hero, The wanderer, blown off course time and again After he plundered Troy's sacred heights. Speak Of all the cities he saw, the minds he grasped, The suffering deep in his heart at sea As he struggled to survive and bring his men home But could not save them, hard as he tried— The fools—destroyed by their own recklessness When they ate the oxen of Hyperion the Sun, And that god snuffed out their day of return.”