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mythriteshah · 5 months

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Gratitude Be to Garlemald

There was commotion abound in the Imperial Palace. From within its glowing halls of blue and grey echoed the rhythmic footsteps of Garlean soldiers. From without, the muffled roar of warmachina could be heard, mixed with shouting commands from officers and soldiers alike. For a regular citizen of Garlemald, this would be a normal day.

The Empire had especially been in high spirits in recent days since news of Ala Mhigo's annexation spread, and whispers amidst the citizenry and nobility could be heard from every corner. One such official was a young girl of sixteen summers, with fair skin, hazel eyes, and tresses of platinum blonde. She stood quietly and tall outside an ornate set of double doors, her hands folded at her waist. Whenever a noble would cross her path, she would bow low and greet them with a gentle "Glory be to Garlemald" or "Ave Imperium".

While it was not her business to intrude upon whatever was going on behind the doors she guarded, she could not help but overhear the discussion at certain points - apparently some sentiments regarding a treaty, the royal family's ambitions, and a "Regalia". Some bells would pass and the din of shouting and machinery would subside. The sound of metal chairs scraping along the floor could be heard from behind the doors, and a moment later, they would slowly creak open.

The young Garlean pureblood had little trouble standing for long periods of time, for she had been trained to serve among the Palatinus. Her head was already bowed as the magistrates and senators began to pour out from the room...

"Are you certain parting with that woman was wise?" spoke a magistrate. "Though a savage she may be, the Duskwight has proven herself to be a Magitek genius rivaling that of House Asina - perhaps even that of Garlond's!"

"Even that may be a stretch," replied a female praefectus, "but there is no mistake that she served us well; she had even earned her place among us as a citizen through said genius alone. What is one mind to spare, when we've but thousands? Not to mention the coin paid was far greater than negotiated - generous, even..."

The hushed conversations continued until they were no longer within earshot of the girl, and the committee had all but vacated the area. The last to exit the room were an unexpected sort: a pair of Dunesfolk Lalafell, garbed in habiliments from the more tropical, southern regions of Ilsabard - specifically Thavnair. The male was turbaned and had a well-kept goatee of ice blue, and always had an intrepid aura about him. As for the female, she had hair as white as the snow which fell upon the Magna Glacies, and orbs of silver. She was elegant and graceful in her mannerisms, never wasting a single movement in her steps.

Following them were several other purebloods who bore the colors of the Populares faction. As the doors behind them closed, she would raise her head and turn towards the departing guests...

"Lord Higuri?" she uttered. They would coast to a stop to acknowledge the girl. "I... wanted to extend to you my family's gratitude for your deeds. Though we also wanted to warn you... to not get your hopes up. With recent events unfolding as they are, the movement for your Ilsabard Branch may not be likely to pass."

The male chuckled and approached the girl, stroking his facial hair as he did.

"My dear girl - Miss Youmei, was it?" the Lord Higuri - also known as Fafastima - replied, to which the girl nodded. "We are well aware of the history of your people, and understand that their obstinance is well-founded! But even Garlemald cannot deny generosity when it is presented to them! And even should the door close on this deal, our time in Ul'dah has taught us that there are always more opportunities to be made! But thank you for your kind words, Miss Youmei, and give our own regards to House Kyria! Make no mistake that this will not be the last you see or hear of House Higuri!"

A fade to white, and time fast forwards to the present day. An older Youmei snaps back to reality as she takes in her surroundings: she is within an airship, bound for the Near East. After spending so much time on the home front, she was finally given leave to relax as she awaited new orders. Look off the starboard bow she would shield her eyes from the bright afternoon sun which loomed above, and the port of Yedlihmad came into view. The heat was a welcome sensation to the Garlean shieldmaiden - a stark contrast to the heat and humidity to which she was accustomed by necessity.

As the ship made its descent, she caught the glimpse of some sort of cart or carriage approaching the port town from the west, being pulled by what appeared to be hippos, and some strange bipedal... marid...? holding the reigns. Taking in all the colors and vibrancy, the only familiar sight was the emblem on the hood - the emblem of the Higuri Regalia. When it arrived, a Lalafell of amber-malachite hair and dressed to the nines in gold jumped from out of the carriage to approach the pier.

Stepping cautiously out of her ship, Youmei had safely arrived at her destination, having stepped foot upon Thavnair for the first time. While her tenure in the militum took her to places far and wide, she never had the luxury or fortune to venture so far south.

"Welcome, Miss Youmei, at long last... to Thavnair!" the Lalafell greeted with a bow, sporting a posh accent that only a noble could possess.

"Baroness von Suna!" was all Youmei could get out before the locals swarmed her, gasping in awe as they barraged the Garlean pureblood her with questions and requests alike - some questions involving Magitek, and others pushing to have their wares sampled. Youmei could only chuckle sheepishly as she was out of her element, but the Lalafell was quick to scatter the crowd with her bladed cane, lightly brushing away the ambush so as to give her breathing room once more. "So sorry about that, dear. Shall we proceed?" she said as she gestured to the cart.

As they embarked, they would begin their journey outside the port town and into Thavnair proper, with the Baroness catching Youmei up to speed about general knowledge surrounding the region. As they were bound for Radz-at-Han, they had plenty of time to pass away, and the carriage's leisurely pace extended it considerably.

Making a brief stop at the Hippo Riders' headquarters in Svarna, Youmei would be introduced to the little meyhane they had established, partaking in the local delicacies - the most popular among them being lassi. Her roots as a merchant allowed the Garlean to become fast friends with the Arkasodara Matanga, and after a warm meal and rest, they were on the road once more.

"Baroness," Youmei began, "There's... something that has been on my mind that I must divulge." Von Suna arched a curious brow at Youmei, silently gesturing her to continue... "Though it's obvious that I share a past with the house you serve, there is no mistake that my people are yet seen in a negative light. I've served under the yoke of several imperial legions, and have bore witness to many of the atrocities inflicted by each. Each fight I came out of secured a better future for Garlemald - at least I thought so until the grand deception and purpose of the Empire was revealed. There are a small number among us that wanted our fight to actually have meaning beyond bending all to the will of the ivory standard. I've witnessed Othard's unique and majestic mountains; seen the vast lakes and plains of Aldenard, and even found beauty in the Dalmascan Estersands. Though I grew as a soldier, so too did I grow as a person, hoping that our hunger for conquest and Eikon extermination would one day subside. I remained loyal to Garlemald, but knew in the back of my mind that there was a chance to make things better for us - I just never imagined it would involve the devastation of our homeland."

The delicate features upon her face tensed as Youmei's hands balled into fists within her lap. Staring at the Baroness, she continued:

"Because of the magnanimity shown by House Higuri years ago, my house and several others began to foster hope for a better Garlemald. By the grace of the non-aggression treaty were Lord Fafastima and Lady Mimizo even able to step foot into the capital to discuss trade matters; we had even voted in favor of them establishing their Ilsabard Branch Headquarters... But we knew better than to be sure of the movement passing. The Higuri's beliefs differ vastly than the stories I've heard regrading those from Ul'dah's society - the ones who only seem to be drawn by the allure of profit. As a merchant by trade, we respected such ways of thinking, but greed often gets in the way of their train of thinking..." She paused and inspected the gown the Baroness wore and her cheeks would flush a bright pink. The gown worn bore an esoteric symbol that denoted the selfsame greed of which Youmei spoke. "N-No offense. I know you've made your own strides towards Garlemald's restorations in recent moons -"

The Baroness could only laugh in response to Youmei's sentiments. Then, she would begin to loosen her updo and remove her shaded spectacles, revealing her onyx orbs as her hair trailed messily down her neck, stopping at her upper back.

"None taken, Miss Youmei!" she replied. "I was never Ul'dahn by birth anyway!" What struck the Garlean as odd, however, was the sheer fact that the Baroness's accent dropped, now giving way to a more traditional, Near Eastern dialect. "The Baroness is an alter ego I've assumed when the Regalia had risen to such prominence that even those serving House Higuri knew the delightful sting of opulence! While Baroness von Suna - the dangerous lady with gil in the pockets - may be Ul'dahn, Susuna Suna is Thavnairian, tried and true! We adapted fast to the ways of Ul'dah's upper class, and establishing the Baroness persona was done to help better spread the influence of His Eminence! My sisters do it as well, and it has worked in our favor for some time!"

Youmei blinked her eyes at the revelation. Then blinked once more before bursting into laughter herself, having been had all this time.

Their conversation would seem to have teleported them a great distance as it did not take long for the Wakeful Torama to come into view - the towering gaja statues that guarded the entrance to the Gate of First Sight which led into Radz-at-Han proper. Their destination was slowly approaching, but there was yet sentiments to divulge - which the Baroness - or Susuna Suna - would gladly do.

"You're absolutely right about one thing, Miss Youmei," she started, "Our Lord Thiji could've taken that route; he could have been counted among the many other Monetarists whose hands are in the pot of Ul'dah's politics - driven only by profit and maintaining the status quo; he could have likewise been lauded in a similar light to the so-called 'goddess of merchants' Rowena, with the Regalia having identical mannerisms to her 'House of Splendors'; he could have easily betrayed what it truly meant to be a noble worthy of the name and status; he could have forsaken it all to be led only by that most deadly of sins: greed, greed, greed... But he didn't. Somehow, some way, he had been enlightened by Nald'thal and the Sisters that a far greater destiny awaited him and those whom he could evangelize into the ways of prosperity - a true prosperity that could only be had if it was shared. He always said that, 'the rich must get richer, but those riches mean naught if not used for good.' He found that balance: where he could share his wealth to aid those less fortunate in his own way while still having pockets deep enough to beggar the predatory gaze of the Syndicate. It swayed even I - the Apsara of Greed - the one Angel blessed by the Mythrite Sultan to embody all that is avarice - to embrace its more... benevolent aspects. The hunger to want more turned into a force of good, and I used that greed - that drive to make richer the rich - to further my lord's ambitions."

As they approached the gated checkpoint, the two ladies would disembark from their cart. Susuna - quickly re-assuming her guise as the Baroness - tipped the Radiant guards for their service before leading Youmei down the bridge into Thavnair's capital.

"I thank you for helping clear my mind... Baroness," spoke the Garlean maiden. "I see knew that our gratitude in Lord Thiji was well-founded, but your words have proven to me that the Regalia is more than just a fashion emporium - it is a beacon of prosperity and opulence, achieved through the cooperation and generosity of others."

Pleased by her words, the Baroness twirled her blade-cane happily in the air before lowering her shades to shoot Youmei a wink.

"And in due time, my dear..." she had also retrieved her posh accent, "...Garlemald will know opulence once more. And whilst you await your new orders, you are long overdue for a tour of the city... Lady G!"

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