It is a tradition harking back over two hundred years now; a tradition adhered to and continued despite the ongoing outbreaks of Plague, of smallpox, of political upheaval. Time waits for no man, or for the running of the Monarch's Stakes ( Read more... )

This gala promises to be a gala like none that have come before. Weeks have been spent in preparation, and the kitchens have been working at full strength throughout the day to produce the most exotic foods for their guests to sample. In the great hall, the decorations have not been spared, and the pageantry lavish; great tables line its perimeter ( Read more... )

At other times, especially when suitors have flocked to the palace in hopes of winning the hand and heart of a princess, the throne room is filled with the glittering nobility of the northern kingdom. On those occasions, the pomp and majesty of the crown are in full display, for the sake of faithful and less faithful vassals alike, and for the ( Read more... )

The mid-afternoon spring sun beats down upon the Maximoff Estates, its grandiose courtyard currently filled with the bustle of men and horses and at least two wagons. One is the commissary wagon, loaded with food, drink, cooking and camping equipment for the ride that lies ahead for the Duke, his men and their new - if somewhat bizarre - additions ( Read more... )

Duke Howlett is more than familiar with Lady Maximoff's well-appointed and oft-frequented stillroom, characterized by its heady smell of drying herbs that hang from racks chained from the age-blackened oak rafters of the lofty ceiling, and the precious glass flasks, tubes, and beakers that constitute her craft. The huge work table in the center of ( Read more... )

It is a clear and quiet morning on the Maximoff estate, staff moving about performing their normal duties with little fuss ( Read more... )

Summer is gaining a tenuous foothold on the Northern Kingdom, and with the warming of the countryside and the lengthening of the days comes a renewed fervour and interest in the affairs of court, as the months grow ever closer to the combined 16th birthdays of the Princesses. Once a month for the last eighteen months, men from all corners of not ( Read more... )

The fort's chapel is not overtly lavish, though it is well-appointed, being attached to the fortified residence of the Duke. Five days he was away from here; five days suffered amongst the talk of men and war, and throughout it all his thoughts never strayed from home. Even the King was hard pressed not to take note of his demeanor, and despite his ( Read more... )

Duke Howlett is renowned for his patience and his diligence, keen wit and effectiveness. Respect is earned and given by him, trust won hard but loyalty unquestioned. He is a man who has stared death in the face time and again in battle, to come away unscathed even with uncanny wounds; but this night he faces a new kind of dread ( Read more... )

All that can be heard are the usual sounds of the stable -- horses moving, stablehands tending to them, gear being repaired and polished ( Read more... )