First Sight: Aretas' View

Your browser lacks required capabilities. Please upgrade it or switch to another to continue.

Loading…

His mother enters just as the servants have finished making him ready, all that is missing is the choice of jewels. She dismisses them with a wave of her hand and they are quick to scatter. She waits until they've left before turning to him. Circling him with a critical eye, she finally breaks into a smile. "You look so handsome!" she says, capturing his face with her hands and smushing his cheeks. "Mother, please," he groans but he doesn't pull away. As he looks at his mother's face he can see that under the years of practiced sternness is genuine pride and her eyes are full of love. "Remember to watch them all Aretas. Do not be distracted by their smiles and flattery," she says, her hands still holding his face. He's used to her insistence and her warnings. His childhood has been full of 'watch them, Aretas' and 'do not be blinded Aretas'. Words he has always heeded as a young prince. As a future king. "Trust in your son, Queen Mother," he grins and pulls away to look at the jewels presented for him to wear. The crown of Kauket draws his eye but he turns from it, instead picking up a gold circlet. "The crown is your right you know. It was as soon as your father took his last breath," His mother says, her eyes looking at the other crown. The crown of the first king felt out of reach, as did the crowns of his father's time. He is finally of age to rule in his own right but there is a pang at the sight of these crowns. The glint of gold so similar to the shine in the eyes of the nobility that has watched him his entire life. He smiles at his mother reassuringly. "I'll save it for the coronation. We wouldn't want to overwhelm our guests too soon, would we?" His mother frowns, her nose wrinkling and he laughs, offering an arm to her. "Let's not keep my people and their schemes waiting." Heavy doors open to greedy eyes and cunning smiles and as he ascends to his position he attempts a tentative optimism. He has allies and supporters, perhaps more numerous than any detractors in the room. And court events always bring about new faces. His strongest ally yet could be among them. [[Continue]]

Leone

character page

<<link "Character" "Character">><</link>> <<link "Codex" "Codex">><</link>> <<link "Credits" "Credits">><</link>> <<link "Back">><<if tags().includes("game-info")>><<goto $return>><<else>><<run Engine.backward()>><</if>><</link>>

<<script>> var passages = document.getElementById("passages"); passages.scrollTop = 0; <</script>>  <<if tags().includes("title")>> <<elseif tags().includes("credits")>><h1>Credits</h1> <<elseif tags().includes("character")>> <h1>Character</h1> <<elseif tags().includes("codex")>> <h1>Codex</h1> <<else>><h1>$chapter</h1> <</if>>

<<set $chapter to "The First Look">>

<ul> <li>Banner assets <a href="https://www.canva.com/">Canva</a></li> <li>Fonts <a href="https://fonts.google.com/">Google fonts</a></li> </ul>

Codex

ORANGE: Game info - character page, codex, credits. Populate these with what you like. GREEN: UI & game set-up elements. These can be edited to suit your needs. RED: Code. Everything in these passages should be labelled; things might break if you mess with them.

Thoughts from the feast

<style> #ui-bar {display:none;} #passages {width:100vw;margin:0;background-image:var(--banner-top),var(--banner-bottom);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:50%;background-position:top center, bottom center;overflow:hidden;scrollbar-width:none;font-family:var(--header-font);transition:0s;padding:0;} ::-webkit-scrollbar {width:0px;} .passage {text-align:center;transition:0s;} #passages a:before {content: none;} #story {margin-left:0;} h1 {text-align:center;margin-top:25vh;} @media screen and (max-width: 800px) {#story {margin:0;}} </style> <h1>First Sight: Aretas' View</h1> <<if Save.autosave.ok() and Save.autosave.has()>><<link "Resume Game">><<script>>Save.autosave.load()<</script>><</link>> | <</if>><<link "New Game" "1">><</link>> | <<link "Load Game">><<run UI.saves()>><</link>> | <<link "Settings">><<run UI.settings()>><</link>>

As he enters, his mother following closely behind him, he looks across the Great Hall at the many bowed figures. Some are the nobles that have been on his council for as long as he can remember, but the feeling of eyes on him gives him pause. In a sea of bowed heads, there are your eyes, looking at him. [[You quickly look down.|Look down]] [[You wink at him.|Wink]]

As soon as your eyes meet you quickly bow your head. The rushed gesture is so different from the rehearsed bows and pristine ettiquette he's seen and he can't help but grin at the way your eyes widened slightly as they were caught by his. Despite the huttied execution, your bow isn't bad. Aretas muses that someone must have taught you well. The thought of you knowing the ettiquette but still deciding to hazard a look draws a chuckle out of him, earning him a questioning look from his mother. He quickly looks away from you and towards the guard that announced his arrival, granting permission for all guests to rise. Avoiding his mother's scrutiny, he tries to focus on speaking to the guests, but he can't shake the feeling of your eyes on him. He can feel when you're looking at him and when you look away, and as he finishes speaking he treats himself to another glance. He knows for certain that he has never seen you, and he knows for certain that he will not be forgetting the sight of you any time soon. Who have you come with? Which family are you from? Name? Age? These questions plague him, nagging at him as he entertains audiences and conversation with his other nobles and courtiers. "My King, we are honored to approach your presence," Lady Yemoja says, briefly rescuing him from his persistent speculations about your identity and affiliations. Her words are polite but her grin is easy and familiar. Lady Laverna is on her arm sporting a similar grin and he feels a bit more at ease. Their families have always supported his rule and the two of them spent almost as much of their childhoods in the palace as he did. "Girls, I'm so glad you've come," his mother stands to greet them, her arms open, and as each of them embrace her Aretas can see the reactions grom certain members of nobility. He takes note. "He looks very...king-like," Lady Yemoja whispers once they've sat at the table. "I know," Lady Laverna whispers back. "I can't believe that circlet can fit on that big head of his." His mother snorts and promptly hides her laugh behind her fan and he rolls his eyes. Too comfortable with the teasing for there to be any genuine irritation. Afterall, so few prople intentionally irritate him, moments like this feel like a treat. "Sure, mock your king. I'm sure the elders of your family would approve," he says dryly and both Laverna and Yemoja look at each other before giggling. "We will be praised just for speaking to you!" Laverna says bluntly, before turning to speak to his mother. He takes another moment to seach the crowd and he thinks he might have caught the hem of your garment as you walk through the Great Hall. Yemoja seats closer to him, taking a silver wine jug from a servant and pouring a glass for him that both of them know he won't drink. "There are many interesting people here my King," she starts and her raises an eyebrow. He recognizes that careful but quietly eager tone in her voice. The sound of a suggestion, the prelude before a request. "Are there?" he asks, deciding to play along. "Yes, like Lord Merikh. You were pleased when Tangur Fort was taken, yes? Well the man who took it is here," He leans back in his seat and looks at her. Yemoja has always been sharp and he would consider her a good judge of people. She knows that he has been looking for more young and talented nobles to offset the authority of some of the more senior members of court. He nods to her with a smile and gestures back to the feast. "Then please, if you happen to see him during your feasting, let him know that he is welcome to visit my table. She doesn't bother to give the appearence of lingering. She's up from her seat and collecting Laverna from her conversation with his mother before he can even blink. "Of course my King! I will find him now so that you can quickly become familiar," He smiles at the two girls' retreating forms and his mother laughs with a shake of her head. Their departure frees up his time and table, and soon other nobles join it. Talk of policy, flood relief, and anything they can think of takes up his time, to the point that he doesn't have time to even touch the food on his plate. "My daughter's dance intructor praises her relentlessly my King!" Lord Nifen proclaims And this isn't just the boasting of a proud father. Other ladies have said that—" "Lord Merikh!" Aretas calls out as he sees a man that looks a startling amount like Lord Labaton approaching with Yemoja. [[And with you.]]

If Aretas was honest with himself, he would admit that the sight of your eyes looking at him while everyone else bowed already unerved him. He had never encountered anyone so audacious, to the extent that he was convinced that you were oblivious. He might even go so far as to say that your ignorence was mildly amusing. Any excuse of ignorance disapeared as soon as you winked. For a moment he felt every thought leave his mind, everything replaced with just those irreverent two seconds. He quickly looks at his mother, but fortunately she's channeling her hateful stare onto some poor coutier. He finds himself looking down, partially to break whatever hold your mischevious gaze may have on him. He cannot believe that you would do something so flagrant and at the same time he's fascinated. As Aretas tries to focus on speaking to the guests, but he can't shake the feeling of your eyes on him. He can feel when you're looking at him and when you look away, and as he finishes speaking he treats himself to another glance. It's only fair since you treated yourself to a wink. Who have you come with? Which family are you from? Name? Age? These questions plague him, nagging at him as he entertains audiences and conversation with his other nobles and courtiers. He knows for certain that he has never seen you, and he knows for certain that he will not be forgetting the sight of you any time soon. "My King, we are honored to approach your presence," Lady Yemoja says, briefly rescuing him from his persistent speculations about your identity and affiliations. Her words are polite but her grin is easy and familiar. Lady Laverna is on her arm sporting a similar grin and he feels a bit more at ease. Their families have always supported his rule and the two of them spent almost as much of their childhoods in the palace as he did. "Girls, I'm so glad you've come," his mother stands to greet them, her arms open, and as each of them embrace her Aretas can see the reactions grom certain members of nobility. He takes note. "He looks very...king-like," Lady Yemoja whispers once they've sat at the table. "I know," Lady Laverna whispers back. "I can't believe that circlet can fit on that big head of his." His mother snorts and promptly hides her laugh behind her fan and he rolls his eyes. Too comfortable with the teasing for there to be any genuine irritation. Afterall, so few prople intentionally irritate him, moments like this feel like a treat. "Sure, mock your king. I'm sure the elders of your family would approve," he says dryly and both Laverna and Yemoja look at each other before giggling. "We will be praised just for speaking to you!" Laverna says bluntly, before turning to speak to his mother. He takes another moment to seach the crowd and he thinks he might have caught the hem of your garment as you walk through the Great Hall. Yemoja seats closer to him, taking a silver wine jug from a servant and pouring a glass for him that both of them know he won't drink. "There are many interesting people here my King," she starts and her raises an eyebrow. He recognizes that careful but quietly eager tone in her voice. The sound of a suggestion, the prelude before a request. "Are there?" he asks, deciding to play along. "Yes, like Lord Merikh. You were pleased when Tangur Fort was taken, yes? Well the man who took it is here," He leans back in his seat and looks at her. Yemoja has always been sharp and he would consider her a good judge of people. She knows that he has been looking for more young and talented nobles to offset the authority of some of the more senior members of court. He nods to her with a smile and gestures back to the feast. "Then please, if you happen to see him during your feasting, let him know that he is welcome to visit my table. She doesn't bother to give the appearence of lingering. She's up from her seat and collecting Laverna from her conversation with his mother before he can even blink. "Of course my King! I will find him now so that you can quickly become familiar," He smiles at the two girls' retreating forms and his mother laughs with a shake of her head. Their departure frees up his time and table, and soon other nobles join it. Talk of policy, flood relief, and anything they can think of takes up his time, to the point that he doesn't have time to even touch the food on his plate. "My daughter's dance intructor praises her relentlessly my King!" Lord Nifen proclaims And this isn't just the boasting of a proud father. Other ladies have said that—" "Lord Merikh!" Aretas calls out as he sees a man that looks a startling amount like Lord Labaton approaching with Yemoja. [[And with you.]]

As he gestures you and Lord Merikh closer he gives a tight smile to several of the nobles sitting directly in front of them and he knows that them leaving would make his smile a great deal more genuine. He can sense their judgement, their feelings of security in their positions in court being undermined as soon as Lord Merikh approaches. Good. This would be the first nights of many letting the people of his court know that the king is no longer a child that blindly accepts. They would need to earn his esteem. "When I received news of your capture of Tangur Fort, I was most pleased, however the report was too vague for my liking. I wish to hear more of how you accomplished it." He says as the two of you sit down. Merikh strikes him as very useful. Unsure politically but with a good mind for war strategy and encouraging collaboration. And him bringing you to the table also doesn't hurt. As he speaks to Merikh and mentions General Nari, he can feel some of the nobles squirming and he smiles to himself. Years of biding his time and now his approval is worth more than any gold in their pockets and he'll be sure to remind them of that. His mother already is and he resists the urge to frown as she glares at several of them. He wishes that she would understand that it is his turn to be the protector. That he is the one to secure both the crown and their safety. He let's it go for now, instead looking at you once again. How do you know Lord Merikh? Where are you from? And why does it feel like he's never seen eyes like yours? "I'm being rude! Lord Merikh, your companions?" You look at him as he says it and a new feeling surges through him. The smile on his face is not polite or crafted by duty. He just finds himself wanting to smile at you. He finds himself wanting to know you. Smiling like this feels almost like being too honest and the laugh that comes out of him almost sounds nervous. He begins rubbing the back of his neck but catches himself and clears his throat. He has to remember that he is king. And no set of eyes, no matter how intriguing can change that. "You are my guests and new to court, so I wish to be well acquainted," he adds, his eyes still on you. He would do his best to become very well acquainted.