[Lord of Counsel's Office] Founding The Future (Hadrian)

[Echelon]

50th, Summer of 512 News had spread evenly about the city concerning Ethel Farson's sudden and unexpected death. She had been on the latter day of her life, no doubt, at age 57, but with her supposed kind disposition and limitless ambition none close to her had suspected the heart failure. Just the same it had stuck, and among leaving many broken hearts behind, all believed her most ambitious project would now die with her, the Academy of Innocence. Being an orphan child at the age of fourteen herself she had always held the pleas of children close to her heart. Five children had been taken in by her over the years, orphaned as she had been, and all but one proceeded to be healthy and quite wealthy members of society, though not all still resided within Zeltiva. She, however, was determined to continue her influence to the gave, founding an Academy in support of orphaned children, giving them the greatest gift of all, knowledge. It had been Lord of Counsel that approved the construction, and allowed donations to be raised for the effort once news of the storm had come about. In that time almost an entire block of the old quarter had been refurbished, and adjusted to fit the purposes of the would be Academy. Nearly finished, however, the tragedy stuck and none seemed capable or willing to continue the project without her. Not even Lord of Counsel could spare the donations, and administrative power to complete the project. Naturally this knowledge found it's way into Hadrian's lap, ever aware of opportunities within the city he remembered with an intimate knowledge. Along with this knowledge was Maria's attempt to gather power, in these days her opinion meant ten fold that of her father, or her father's mother had. Surely an allure to the young professor. The warm interior of the ornate reception room glowed with an impunity from what wear and tare the storm had left upon the streets outside. So much rebuilding was in order, yet this office shone clear with expensive reconstruction, deep reds or a flawless new floor housed the giant heavy redwood desk within the center of the room. "Welcome to the Lord of Council's office. How may we help you today?" Tranaris Johnson sat behind the deck, a plaque of his name perched proudly upon the ostentatious hardwood of his document littered desk.

[Hadrian]

It was strange, he thought, that his clothes for mourning would have been the camouflage that helped him survive that fateful trip to Ravok in search of Kendall's body and news to send back to Syliras. But there he stood, hair combed though the storm and pulled blue out of the black, wearing a black silk doublet, a black suede jerkin, and black leather trousers. He was suitably attired, and growing up in the Aelius household, he knew how to act around the wealthy and the powerful. But even acting correctly, he rarely fooled them: he was a bit of an odd duck. It had been two years since he graduated and left Zeltiva to explore the world, and when he had been a student, he had not rubbed elbows with the city's Lord of Council. He didn't know this man's name, but he would learn it. "My name is Hadrian Aelius," he said, making the man's acquaintance with a respectful nod. "Pleased to meet you. I came to offer my condolences. Though I am only newly returned to the city, I remember Ethel Farson from my days as a student. She seemed to be universally loved. But my regrets don't amount to much. I had hoped to offer some assistance with the dreams she left behind."

[Echelon]

And well spoken he was, though direct. Luckily Mr. Johnson was more than acquainted with manners akin to his, receiving much worse from both the Guild's representatives and the universities, in differently flavors. A was a clearly quick witted man who listened smartly to the words, and took no more than a moment to realize them as good new for the city. Appropriately, however, he did not smiles. How bobbed his head in a seated bow of sorts, giving an appropriate recognition of the tragedy, then spoke. "That is very kind of you, Mister- " his eyes flicked to the paper he had mindlessly jotted Hadrian's name down on when he walked in, but did not recognize the name as being the new professor at the school, '- Aelius. She will dearly be missed by many, and I do believe I public ceremony is planned. I will ensure the date for the proceedings are sent in hand to the university to your suit, so that you do not miss it." Again, with flawless practice at his job he upheld a fluid and profession front as his hand raced without him looking across the page. "For now, what don't you take a seat while I go check if the Lord of Counsel is available. Something tells me she will want to speak with you herself, Mr. Aelius." He said, rising up, and gesturing toward a set of red velvet topped long benched, more akin to ornately carved pews bordering the walls, as he rose from his chair. He then disappeared into the other room, with a final look at Hadrian's clothing. He sure knew how to make a statement. The room was comfortable, even when empty, still warm and well insulated from the air outside, whole still inviting in plenty of fresh hair. Truly a marvel of architecture, clearly pre valterrian. It was a good thing, too, because the handsome yet aging man was gone for some time, before emerging from a second set of doors, these ones smaller, not alone but with a gorgeous women in his wake. She boldly stepped forward before him, and she was indeed a sight to be seen. Her clothes were not ceremonial of overly proper, instead a light summer dress freckled with modestly applied embroidery to give texture. Though the design was simple the fabric was divine, not ostentatious, but quality. And in short the same statement could be used to describe everything about this women. Her skin was aging, she was no young women, but she had the frame of one tucked modestly under a full, but not busty, exterior. She was a women, in her peak, not petite or learning, but experienced and confident. Her aura revealed something else, however. She was changing, growing, much as Hadrian had seen with his own eyes during his return to those shores that Zeltiva was. She had partly been broken down, by loss, by sorrow, and partly build up by the same pain. There was a determination in her, a strong gust of wind along the backdrop of something simpler. Lavender purple, smell of fresh salty airs, and the radiance of a partially cloudy day on a Zeltivan mountain top. She was a normal Zeltivan women behind those experiences, behind everything, and Hadrian didn't need magic to abstract that from her. She was so much Zeltivan that her blood seemed to course with the land itself in her veins, and nobody seemed more worthy to stand upon a boat, and think upon the world the peers. She seemed Zeltivan so much that the building around them seemed an adornment to her, not the other way around. She smiled, genuinely, "Professor, I had heard they had tucked you away in the University sometime upon arrival, I am pleased you found the time to come visit." Her eyes looked directly to his, and took not even a moment to terry on hid clothes, though she would not have disapproved. Her face maintained her kindness, and without apology her gave a consoling look, which proved her statement true when she continues to say, "I understand you recently heard of Eth- Miss Farson. It really was a tragedy. She was an idol of mine, and we had many close discussions. We will all miss her dearly. I do hope you got the chance to know her intimately while you were studying here?" She asked, one hand still resting on the knob of the door she had not even opened herself before her assistant spoke out from behind her, barely a nudge of a word before the women corrected herself. She was not embarrassed, and did not say so, though she did say suddenly in decorum she had earlier shunned, possibly on purpose. "Maria Satterthwite, Lord of Counsel. It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Aelius. I understand you wanted to discuss perhaps helping Zeltiva, and I would love to hear more. If you have the time around your pupils would you mind coming in and sitting down? It's more comfortable." She smiled, though this one partial fake. A partial grimace through the paleness in her face. If consented Maria would guide Hadrian off, though not to the office chamber where she usually met with people and received gifts, but to a more personal parlor, with flawlessly arranged furniture, not over bearing but not sparse, set elegantly float in a hearthed room wreathed in etchings along the wall and painted in natural tones which gave a calming sense to the room, and fit the Lord of Counsel perfectly. She sat first upon the soft green velvet seats of a settee.

[Hadrian]

When the man left him to his own devices, Hadrian did indeed walk toward the velvet-covered pew, but did not sit down. If she would see him, they would likely repair to another room. If not, he would go. If she only came out to say a brief hello and thank him for his concern, well, there was no point in getting comfortable. But he was given little time to stew in his own thoughts, for the woman herself arrived quickly and he smiled faintly, politely. She was going through a rough period, and she seemed forthright for the most part, although he didn't delve too deeply into what her aura revealed; somehow it didn't seem proper. But he bowed slightly, all the same. "Lord Satterthwite," he said. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." He paused for a slow, thoughtful smile. "I still haven't got used to being called Professor," he admitted. It had only been two years since he was a graduating student. But soon he was with her in a separate room, which was the best of the alternatives laid out before him, at least so far. He sat opposite her settee, and spread his hands wide. "I must admit, I was not a friend of Miss Farson, but I did admire her work. I remember the hungry winters of my student days, and everyone spoke of how fiercely she protected and nurtured those children in her care." He paused for a moment, recalling a time that had once been so close, but now seemed far. "I used to animate simple toys for the children at the orphanage in Syliras. It was practice for me, but seemed to bring them joy. It burned down recently... but I think the knights can rebuild a building with greater ease than a person such as Ethel Farson can be found to take her place. "I admit too that I am not quite settled back in Zeltiva, but I am moved and would like to help in some way, whether it be tutoring the orphans or the like. I would donate coin, but that will have to wait until I receive payment from Queen Morwen for some work I did for her before returning. You see, the everwinter city melted in the storm. Many died, and I fell ill from creating and recreating ice for the Queen's reavers to use in the rebuilding... I am much recovered now, of course. But I did bring with me a young man who lost his family. He chose adventure over his hold, and while he is too headstrong to take me for his guardian, I thought perhaps that if the orphans are well-taught, his thirst for knowledge might keep him where I can keep an eye on him. "You see, I do have somewhat selfish goals too. I feel compelled to keep him safe, both from the world and from himself."

[Echelon]

Maria listened with transparent compassion in her eyes, along with a genuine sense of impression when his work in Morwen was mentioned. She tried to think little on the topic of "making ice" and attempted to cast the thought of magic side. "That is a very touching story, Professor, and a very noble sentiment." She paused then smiled and looked toward another opening in the room, an archways leading into some dining area. Quietly she called, "Giorgio, could we please have some water." Giorgio, an armed, and quite attractive man came around the corner, and gave a receptive nod, them Maria looked to Hadrian. "Would you like anything to drink?" After response was taken, and Giorgio retreated Maria looked back to Hadrian. "As Lord of Counsel sentiment is always my concern, and I consider it my highest priority. I can't tell you how fortunate we are that you stepped forward. There aren't many children, and they are being looked after well enough at what has been completed of the Academy. However, we can't support them for long, and so we have been looking for other avenues to find them a safe home. However, if you could find it within your resources to patron these children, and perhaps more to come, then maybe Ethel's dream could survive." She bit her lip slightly as her choice of words as the drinks arrived, and were set out within elegant glasswork before them. No ice. "Thank you, Giorgio. What I'm trying to express here, Professor, is that any attention you can give to the Academy, and those children would be gladly accepted by myself, all of Zeltiva, and most of all those children. As for education, such was the plan, but unless you could spare the time, or think of another who wishes to volunteer, there is nobody to create an environment of learning. So much has been left unplanned. As of right now only the living areas for the children have been prepared to completion. A joint building, one for males and one for ladies. No program for the buildings upkeep has been instituted, and the refurbishing of the adjoining buildings is incomplete, as of course the specific management of the Academy. However, if this Vantha child would consent to it, any donations you could give to the Academy would be available to him in turn. And I would be glad to accept him as a citizen of Zeltiva. You're a good man, Professor Aelius, and I admire you for your worldliness, and your compassion. Two traits that rarely come together. I'll have Tranaris gather the relevant plans and have them sent to your office for review. Better you are well informed, and I apologize that the papers are not on hand. I also apologize I must be back to my duties. Your presence has been a true pleasure, and I'm excited to see what efforts you may be able to add to Ethel's efforts." Maria gave the appropriate farewells, and took the time to address any standing points of conversation or concerns Hadrian showed before having Giorgio show him to the reception area.

[Paragon]

Adventurer's Loot Hadrian's Loot : Hadrian Skill XP Reward Rhetoric +2 Auristics +1 Socialisation +1 Lore: Lord of Council: Maria Satterthwite, Orphanage Proposals Items or Consequences: OOC - I will have Echelon PM you any details as he's been planning the orphanage. Not much to say, but nice interactions and dialogue, I look forward to seeing these plans unfold - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.