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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 4, 2006 18:39:04 GMT -5
Smiling and nodding I began to walk at a decent pace toward the statue that was located nearby- I had always felt a certain attunition with it and it was rather familiar to me. "Do you know much about the history of Terre d'Ange?" I asked Alexei as I walked. "I know that you must have studied some of it before arriving, but did anything here that you didn't learn before you came suprise you especially?"
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 4, 2006 21:40:18 GMT -5
"I know all of d'Angeline history, besides the regular tutors I had there was a d'Angeline that stayed at the palace for awhile and he instructed me as well," I told her as we walked. "What has surprised me is the level of beauty that exists in everything here. You hear about it, but it is impossible to believe until you see it with your own eyes."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 4, 2006 21:50:45 GMT -5
"I am sure Ruskovian art is beautiful too," I said quietly, "I think every country must have something beautiful about it."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 4, 2006 21:58:23 GMT -5
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and more poignant if it is something not familiar," I said thoughtfully. "I am aware the City is beautiful but it isn't as strongly affecting as it is the first time I'd seen it or re-visiting a site after a time away."
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 4, 2006 22:15:42 GMT -5
"There are many things about Ruskovia that are beautiful, but it is a very different kind of beauty. The City of Elua is like a decoration made of spun sugar set atop a cake. I wonder if such beauty can survive even a moderate rain storm," I said, gesturing to the buildings we passed. "In Ruskovia, the beauty comes from a fierce will to survive. Every piece of art is monument to person whose life was so blessed they had the time to just live, but to create. We create as a tribute to life and to the gods, as a way to say thank you for all of our blessings and for surviving another winter. It is as if d'Angelines create because they can't not, beauty runs in their veins like blood."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 4, 2006 22:21:28 GMT -5
"It sounds like a wonderful place," I replied, meaning it. "And interesting. I have to disagree with the idea of our art being so delicate though- like an adept, our strength is hidden and downplayed but still present, like a Cassiline's battle dance." It was good to have such a conversation with a person who was not d'Angeline and prone to thinking the same way as most others.
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 5, 2006 15:48:59 GMT -5
"To me, it seems as if everything here is made of light and air. I know that it possess an inner strength, or else it would not have survived for this long, but the perception is of such delicacy," I told her.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 5, 2006 21:49:55 GMT -5
I nodded in agreement with both Allisande and Alexei. I found myself admiring Allisande very much. She was very tall and outspoken, and so intelligent. We D'Angelines often judge based only on outer beauty, but Allisande had a true, strong character that only complimented her outer loveliness.
Alexei, too, I admired very much. He was generous, and though not D'Angeline, his personality highlighted his Ruskovian features well and made him appear much more handsome than other D'Angelines might first see.
"Who are Ruskovia's gods?" I asked. "We are seeing Azza now, does Ruskovia have a similar deity?"
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 6, 2006 11:11:47 GMT -5
"No," I said, shaking my head slightly. "Ruskovian gods are more like those of.. Hellas. They mostly reside in the city of Iriys. Erce, for example, is the earth goddess and presides over the season and all growing and living things."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 6, 2006 19:50:39 GMT -5
"Anael was the one who was good with growing and living things," I said over my shoulder- we were drawing very close now. "He's the patron of L'Agnace, where a good deal of our farmland is."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 6, 2006 21:24:24 GMT -5
"I see," I said. "Well, our cultures are not so different, after all. Did your gods have scions on Earth, too?"
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Alexei Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 6, 2006 22:15:02 GMT -5
"No," I said again. "Our gods are gods and do not… reproduce with people." I had struggled for a moment trying to find the proper word that would not be uncouth in this company.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 7, 2006 9:12:45 GMT -5
"I see," I said quietly. We were almost to the statue and I turned my attention to Allisande. I imagined she would have something very interesting to say about it.
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 7, 2006 11:47:21 GMT -5
"I know that some of the Thirteen Houses have obvious patron gods, but what about the others? Do either of your Houses worship one of your gods besides Namaah?" I asked them curiously.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 7, 2006 11:53:07 GMT -5
"Balm has a certain softness for Eisheth, as they are the healing House," I replied. "Valerian and Mandrake pay a certain homage to Kushiel-" I suppressed a shudder, "- and in others it depends solely on the adept who they honor with Namaah, whose duty they mirror."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 7, 2006 11:57:35 GMT -5
I nodded in agreement. "Myself," I said, "I pay homage to Naamah and Elua. I am simple." I gave a soft smile.
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 7, 2006 12:18:02 GMT -5
"Interesting, thank you" I said, nodding slightly and storing away that information about the Houses.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 9, 2006 23:06:19 GMT -5
The statue of Azza was in sight, filling the center of the park that surrounded it with it's very presence and stature though it was no huge monument. "We have arrived," I said with a glance at the two who accompanied me. "Azza, patron of Azzalle, hidden arts and forbidden knowledge."
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Alexei Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 10, 2006 15:10:31 GMT -5
I stepped as close as possible to the statue, studying it intently.
"Amazing," I said softly. "It looks so real. As if he will step down and walk across the street to shop."
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 10, 2006 18:56:37 GMT -5
For a moment I thought, then smiled and cocked my head. "I guess I never thought of him that way, just mixing among the people," I said with a slight laugh. "Then again, that was their way- they bred with the people and thus we exist. Though they also say that Azza possessed the sin of pride. We may not live up to his lofty standards."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 10, 2006 19:00:34 GMT -5
I smiled at Alexei's vision of Azza and commented, "Our gods are lovely because they, like we, are flawed. We, like they, try to be the best we can be, and I think that's all Azza, or any god, can ask for."
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 10, 2006 20:52:36 GMT -5
"Ruskovian gods only mix with people to occasionally bestow a blessing or punish a blasphemer. Our gods are above us, not part of us," I explained as I circled the statue.
"This really is incredible," I marveled.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 10, 2006 21:00:43 GMT -5
"Our gods are still greater than we are, we just also carry a drop of them with us to remind us of the possibilities and our duty," I replied as I looked up at Azza. "They cannot be among us so they leave something behind."
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 11, 2006 14:40:32 GMT -5
Stepping back, I smiled at Allisande. "Thank you for showing me this, it is remarkable," I said.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 11, 2006 15:57:15 GMT -5
"Thank you, my lord, I'm glad you think so," I replied with a nod and a smile. "I know it seems strange, but I find Azza's confidence rather comforting."
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 11, 2006 16:06:51 GMT -5
"Thank you, Allisande," I said, echoing Alexei. "This has been very lovely. Unfortunately, I must make my way home now, but I hope to see you both again soon."
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 11, 2006 16:31:18 GMT -5
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Maeve," I said, bowing.
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Post by Allisande nó Dahlia on Oct 11, 2006 16:33:42 GMT -5
"It has be a lovely spending time with you, I hope things go well," I added with a smile and a nod.
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Post by Maeve nó Heliotrope on Oct 11, 2006 16:37:51 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said. "See you both soon. Pleasure to meet you." To Alexei I curtseyed, to Allisande a courteous nod, and I went on my way back to Heliotrope House.
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Alexei Romanov
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His Royal Highness the Prince of Ruskovia; House Romanov
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Post by Alexei Romanov on Oct 11, 2006 16:50:03 GMT -5
After Maeve left, I looked back at Allisande. "I don't think it's odd at all that you find comfort in his confidence." I motioned to the statue." I think one's leaders and gods should exude confidence. Otherwise, their purposes may not be other following. There is a statue of Chadovich Romanov, the first Tsar of Ruskovia, in the Palace. There is a story that says he actual ordered it remade fourteen times because he did not think it should the depth of his convictions. If he had known there were artisans who could have made him look this real, I have no doubt my forefather would have done anything to have them sculpt him."
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