OSTWARD, Aelyria Prime -- (Second Day of Winter, Year XV): Shock and awe gripped the Capital City early this morning when an Ancient Aelyrian Skyship entered the port of Ostward parish in the Old Prime District, and Imperial Regent Milo L'Evienne voluntarily boarded the vessel, being addressed by the Ancients as "Prince Milo". Analysts are quickly determining that months ago, in secrecy, Milo forged a compact with the Ancients upon the Isle of the Crown to restore Aelyria as a prosperous Kingdom, and in turn, the Ancients recognized him as Prince.
Prince Milo, accompanied by numerous dignitaries and functionaries of government, including his sister, Princess Nikki L'Evienne, His Eminence the Archprelate Llanwyn, and even the Governor of Prime Province, Liselle Sapientia-Vampyler, was absconded to the mysterious skyship which departed flying both the flags of Aelyria and a strange armored-winged emblem upon a vertical bicolor sharing the colors of the Realm, depicted by an artist's rendering below. Numerous adventurers accompanied His Royal Highness, as did his Rosemen bodyguards, as they boarded the skyship, whose Captain Tyberia identified it as the "Skyship Eternity", and quickly departed to the Northeast, towards the Isle of the Crown.
"A New Beginning"
His Royal Highness, addressing the crowds which had gathered at the Docks, issued brief remarks before boarding the vessel and called the alliance with the Aelyrians "a partnership of good faith and shared trust that brings with it the hope and promise of a new era." Saying that what people were witnessing that morning was "a new beginning, a Covenant", the Prince vowed that he and his advisors would return to the Isle of the Crown to bear witness to the alliance and called upon the Aelyrian people to honor the "new partnership between land and sky ... witness history unfolding into a more prosperous future for us all." (
Read Prince Milo's Speech.)
Retired Viceroy Tor Totalitat, witnessing the unfolding of events, informed the Herald that this development "is of phenomenal importance, changing everything we know about this nation." The Former Imperial Consul had been out on his morning constitutional through the dangerous neighborhood of Ostward when he was among the first to witness the arrival of the Aelyrian Skyship. Reflecting upon what had happened, Tor remarked, "There is no doubt that the Imperial Regent has become the Prince, and that the Ancients are somehow back and ready to involve themselves in our affairs." However, Tor cautioned that citizens remain calm, for he recognized fellow Retired Viceroy Wessex de Evile IV, himself an Ancient Aelyrian, on board the Aelyrian Skyship. "This is all being orchestrated behind the scenes, I assure you," he said.
Scholars at the University of Aelyria's College for Princely Affairs were divided on the organic implications of Milo boarding the vessel, accepting the public acclimation of those on board and around him as Prince, but Professor Dafydd Beqr said, "There is agreement in the academic community that, at the very least, the Aelyrian Empire is undergoing significant flux, and what will eventually emerge will be a new institutional order that will reconsolidate the Realm into a new political entity." Some analysts are already giving a name to that entity, and rushing to conclusions based upon history.
"The Kingdom of Aelyria"
Professor Lyndara Phoul, a senior lecturer at the College, and head of the Soc Center for Public Policy, spearheaded the effort by local academics to give form to the functions that were witnessed. "The Empire is no more," she said, addressing an audience of students during the mid-morning lecture hour later that day. "In its stead has risen a shining new kingdom, and in the finest traditions of our history, the Kingdom of Aelyria has returned." Explaining herself further, Professor Phoul drew parallels to Aelyria's earliest history. "During the Kingdom that preceeded the Proclamation of Aelyria as an Empire in 9259, King Constantine was recognized as the Sovereign Monarch reigning from the Palace on Insula Coronae while Prince Rynus von Oreskovich was recognized as his coequal ruling from Aelyria Prime. There can be no dismissing the notion that the Ancient Aelyrians and His Royal Highness the Prince are, in effect, trying to restore that order."
The fact that much of the political establishment in Aelyria Prime has accepted Prince Milo's change in title is not surprising, notes Professor Beqr during a separate interview. "Prince Milo had been acting as head of state and steward of the Realm for years," he pointed out, "and so, being enshrined as Royalty changes very little about who is at the top of things." However, Dafydd went on to explain that what does change is significant: "Structures and institutions, the power players and kingmakers, the organization and distribution of power -- all of these are now subject to modification, because with the Ancient Aelyrians, in effect, appointing their representative to govern Aelyria, they are operating an inorganic fashion." The terms "organic" and "inorganic" refer to the validity of an action as it relates to the Articles of Imperium, the governing constitution of the Realm. Other scholars are not being as generous as Beqr and Phoul.
"This is entirely illegal," exclaimed Professor Sheia, also of the College of Princely Affairs, but humorously still addressing Milo as a Prince. "The Ruler of the Empire is selected by a Rite of Ascension, and for the Prince to accept this title and join with the Aelyrians suggests that he has foresaken the Crown, or it has foresaken him. In either case, it flies in the face of the Articles of Imperium. There's not much that can be done about it, though, for the Regent himself had plenary power to do as he wishes as Lord Steward, even assuming the throne in a foreign coup d'etat!"
Mages in Panic, Preparing Response
The involvement of the Ancient Aelyrians in this massive power-shift has unsettled the magical community, which sensed their arrival yesterday during the falling of the Veil over Silrosia, and the Academy of Magic Sciences has already convened an emergency session of the Board of Regents. "We are not going to stand idly by while transplanar invaders, no matter how revered they may be by superstitious whimper-folk, seize our magical heritage!" exclaimed Mistress Pullen, a regent of the Academy. Citing a fear that the Ancients may try to re-impose control over arcana the way that they had presumably done with the Aethergem has struck the hearts of many senior leaders of the magical establishment. "While we have hope that the Imperial Magus and other Mages en route to the Isle of the Crown will prevent the Ancients from imposing arcane anarchy, our trust must rest with our own means - which are indeed considerable!"
Other arcane societies, such as the Guild of Mages, have adopted a "wait and see approach", and while are entrenching in their magical positions, closing their doors to non-magical outsiders, they are also hopeful that a prospective partnership with the Ancients can bring new magical or technological benefits. "They know much about the nature of reality that we have only begun to perceive," said Master Tarn, a member of the Guild and also a regent of the Academy. "If their skyship is any evidence of the power at their disposal, then they are surely centuries ahead of our arcanomechanic capabilities!" The first modern "airship" was recently invented and began widespread production under the Regent's orders, but its ability to travel large distances in the sky is limited and it is often known to make forced landings and succomb to poor weather.
An Uncertain, Exciting Future
Yet for all of the crowds who witnessed the arrival of the Aelyrian Skyship, the acclimation of their widely popular regent as Prince, and the boarding of numerous ministers and government officials onto the vessel, today's developments herald "an uncertain excitement, but certainly exciting future," concluded Viceroy Tor. "People have long suffered for the past fifteen years under Feeblepox, Wars, Instability, and Misery. One cannot help but feel this rush of infinite possibilities, as we are finally turning the page towards a prosperous new tomorrow. Anything is possible, and anyone can be a part of it."
Judging from Prince Milo's remarks, the legation from Aelyria Prime is expected to stay on Insula Coronae to begin discussions on the Covenant - the framework of the partnership between the Ancient Aelyrians and the People of Aelyria to create the Kingdom of Aelyria. As this is a developing, major story, the Herald - and our new sister publication, the Chronicle - will be reporting regularly on these exciting events. For now, citizens and officials across the realm have been urged to "remain calm and optimistic, guarded but prepared," says Viceroy Tor Totalitat, who along with local ministers and functionaries are keeping the basic wheels of Imperial Government moving until Prince Milo returns with more news.
Milo Proclaimed Prince by Ancient Aelyrians
Alys--former handmaiden intent on social advancement....
Linear Mode
