State of the Islands Address [IM][P]
Apr 7, 2014 14:52:01 GMT -7
Post by Solus on Apr 7, 2014 14:52:01 GMT -7
Singing out their lungs blocks of soldiers marched across the broad straight street, their boot covered feet hitting the soil in perfect synchronization. The military display was part of a yearly recurring event. The State of the Islands Address had been performed this way in the last two hundred and forty eight years without a single deviation from protocol. Representatives from every part of the army of the Country of Tea march over the perfectly straight road from the Fuu palace to the 'Knights Hall'. This was the hall where the nobility had traditionally gathered since the Fuu family ruled Cha no Kuni to govern the nation, pass laws and discuss the diplomatic situation. A grand performance on the square bordering the Knights Hall involved a large part of the populace, switching between pompoms and vibrantly coloured cardboards as they formed words on top of the crowds or chanted with the national anthems. Despite the large crowds security is tight, everyone who wants to enter the area is screened as they move through the Royal Marechaussee checkpoints at all streets that lead to the main street where the parade is held. Rows of police and the Royal Marechaussee line the sides of the street where the parade walks, one half of them eyeing the crowd and the other half looking across the parade onto the other side of the street. Among the crowd disguised secret service agents move.
In his personal chambers in the palace the Lord Fuu is fixing the last parts of his attire. Fully clad in cumbersome and clumsy ceremonial gear. Over several layers of pink and red ceremonial kimonos the man wore a piece of golden armour that was as useful as cardboard when it came to blocking incoming missiles. On his left hip hung a ceremonial golden sword that would most likely merely bend if he tried to cut a pork chop with it. In an hour the last block of soldiers, all marines, would march by the palace, after which his gold plated carriage would join the parade. It was a thing drawn by eight horses, making it difficult to move and difficult to drive. Around him mounted Royal Marechaussee would accompany the carriage, some of which were trained too to steer the carriage in case anything happened to the original driver. From then on it would be a fifteen minute ride to the Knights Hall where the assembled lords, which would arrive as the parade progressed, would await him. Then it was a matter of reading the pre written speech to the noblemen and receive their half hearted applause. Then he would appear on the balcony to wave to the people before embarking on the way back to the palace.
Eyeing himself in the mirror Lord Takaishi Fuu noticed the wrinkles that had started to appear around his eyes. Despite being halfway his forties, his raven hair had started to turn grey at his temples. Despite being a fairly tall and well built men he could feel not only the actual weight of his clothes on his shoulders but also the weight of the danger and the responsibilities he would face today. Many wished his death and today they would have the perfect opportunity to send him to the afterlife. He could only hope that the shinobi villages he had requested for aid would show up and stick to their end of the bargain. "Have they arrived yet?" his low voice inquired, but his most trusted advisor, who held the mirror merely shook his head. "We have not yet received any word my lord. let us pray to the heavens that they shall arrive soon!"