In the Court of a King::OOC[PG13]

[Aurelia Courville]

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu274/ranilove2616/00V6IW-194483684-2.jpg
In the Court of a King
Rated so for potential Violence/Adult Situations/Sexual Situations



A rich and compelling story of secrets, lies, ambitions and intrigue, In the Court of the King gives an inside look into the lives of those who live in one of the most exciting and glamourous courts in Europe.

THE SETTING;

The setting is that of Elizabethan England- only, Queen Elizabeth doesn’t exist- also, there is a bit of magic in the air. Everyone knows it exists, so there won’t be any witch hunts in this RP, but pretty similar to the location, technology and fashion.

Religion is still a ruling factor in most everything, but the people (or the majorities of them) are pretty open minded towards magic. Even kings all over Europe have court sorcerers (think Merlin in the court of King Arthur) used more for advisement than weapons of mass destruction.

THE STORY;

Prince Gregory the II would make for a horrible King: a man with a tendency to give into earthly pleasures, and a very weak willed individual. His father, King Gregory I an ailing King of England, is well aware of all of his son’s faults, but how could he deny his only heir their birth right? All he could do was hope and pray that his son would not ruin his own legacy.

Shortly after the start of our story, King Gregory will (yes you guessed it) die of consumption during the courts seasonal progression, turning our young Prince Gregory II into the King of England.

THE CAST*;



NPC's


::King Gregory II of England [= (http://img.osobnosti.cz/foto/emmanuel-leconte/N299977-9c394.jpg)]
::Queen Isabelle (w/ child)[= (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/FairyPrintSets/GemmaArtertonA460.jpg)]
::Prince Alexander (the kings younger brother)[= (http://www.cinematocasa.it/public/images/eragon.jpg)]
::Queen Amelia of Portugal (the Kings older sister; Queen by marrige)[= (http://1979semifinalist.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/anwar1.jpg)]
::King Christofer (Amelia's husband; King by birth)[= (http://audrinaxo.celebuzz.com/2008/11/20/Audrina-Henry-Cavill-Celeb-Crush-11-22-08.jpg)]
::Lady Catherine Grey, Lady-in-waiting to Queen Isabelle [= (http://l.yimg.com/eb/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/elizabeth__the_golden_age/abbie_cornish/golden1.jpg)]

Courtiers

::The Lady Sophia Chatto, Countess of Sussex: Lady in Waiting to the Queen [= (http://role-player.net/forum/showpost.php?p=105935&postcount=3)]

::The Lady Margaret Francis Hathaway, Duchess of Cornwall[= (http://role-player.net/forum/showpost.php?p=106108&postcount=4)]

::Lord Edmound Hathaway: Valet to the King[= (http://role-player.net/forum/showpost.php?p=106108&postcount=4)]


Entertainers

::George Buchanan "Feste", jester of the court[= (http://role-player.net/forum/showpost.php?p=107605&postcount=6)]


Magic Advisor

::Adele Temperance Kathryne Du’lance, Mystic-Seer[= (http://role-player.net/forum/showpost.php?p=109634&postcount=8)]

Ambassadors
Diplomats
Politicians

::Lord Charles William Spencer, Duke of Devonshire[= (http://role-player.net/forum/showpost.php?p=113966&postcount=19)]

People of the church






Application**:

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Position***:
Description:
Bio(brief):


*NOTE: Cast will be divided and organized as laid out above. If you are in the court but not in apart of the Council that advises the king (i.e. Ambasadors, church members and the like) You are a Courtier. Members of the Queens followers (Ladies in waiting/Companions) will also be put under said label but will indicated as such.

**NOTE: Also, be aware that I don't want everyone to be oh so young and handsome. Take a note from history; woman were married young so they could get as many children out of them. Most were married for money. But I'd like a diverse cast as well, through some old ladies, and old men in there as well.

***NOTE: Position; as in what do you do in the court: are you a politician? ambassador? Person of the church (and if so which church). Your title of Nobility should already be established in the Name section of your application.

[Aurelia Courville]

Reference:

It isn't necessary that you read all of this, and I don’t expect you to. It’s here for reference, for details. I will put anything that you need to know in bold. As of now, I’m open to discussion on all of these and anything ‘officially’ accepted will be added to the reference. In other words feel free to give suggestions!

Our England;




Rank in descending order of hierarchy
(grouped by same rank; masculine and feminine counter parts)
King & Queen

Archduke & Archduchess

Grand Duke & Grand Duchess

Duke & Duchess
Prince & Princess

Marquess & Marchioness
Marquis & Marquise

Count & Countess
Earl & Countess

Viscount & Viscountess

Baron & Baroness

Baronet & Baronetess

Knights&Dames
--




--Titles of Nobility:
In order to be Welcomed into the court, you will need a title of nobility. The king has the right to strip you of your title as well as grant you higher titles and lands.

For peers, the various titles are in the form of (Rank) (Name of Title) or (Rank) of (Name of Title). The name of the title can either be a place name or a surname. The precise usage depends on the rank of the peerage and on certain other general considerations. Dukes always use of. Marquesses and Earls.

In speech, any peer or peeress except a Duke or Duchess is referred to as Lord X or Lady X. The exception is a suo jure Baroness (that is, one holding the dignity in her own right, usually a life peeress), who may also be called Baroness X in normal speech, though Lady X is also common usage. Hence, the Baroness Thatcher, a suo jure life peeress, may be referred to as either "Baroness Thatcher" or "Lady Thatcher".


What comes with the title;
((coming soon))


--Court Progression

::Autumn
--Whitehall Palace, London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ingo_Jones_plan_for_a_new_palace_at_Whitehall _1638.jpg)
::Spring
::Summer


--Powers of the church:
--Fashion:



MAGICintheCOURT;




The best way I can describe the magic of our story is to referance our wizards of old: Merlin and the witches of Macbeth. In other words: Black Magic.

Bubble bubble, toil and trouble.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover though the fog and filthy air.

and any other random rhymes from them.

Slight clairvoyance; a 'seer' of sorts is possible.
((more to come))

[Aurelia Courville]

The Lady Sophia Eloise Mary Anne Chatto
Countess of Sussex
Eighteen:: Female:: Courtier:: Apperance (http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/Galleries/Shows/S_Z/Tq_Tz/Tudors/season3/tudors44.jpg) ii (http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/Galleries/Shows/S_Z/Tq_Tz/Tudors/season3/tudors42.jpg)
__Sophia looks more ethnic than her English roots should allow. With long wavy dark hair and a slightly tan complexion on her 5'5'' body, she has spent a great deal more time in the Portuguese court than in the English one. In many ways the Portuguese and Spanish courts were similar; and both were quite different from that of the English. A bright and ambitious girl, Sophia is the apple of her father’s eye. Though in looks she is more average than a ‘great beauty’ it is her father’s hope that he can use her to climb the social ladder (mainly by using her to get closer to the queen, who is the main one with the Kings ear.)

__Sophia was born twentieth in line for the throne of England and just a bit further in the line for the throne of Portugal. The only child to Maria (a princess by birth) of Portugal and Henry Chatto; Earl of Bedford, her father got her a place in English court as a Lady in Waiting for Queen Isabelle after the passing of King Gregory I, as well as gaining a seat in the kings Court himself. The Chatto family owns a large estate in Portugal as well as a smaller one in Richmond, though she will now be spending most if not all of her time wherever the court stays.

[Ophelia]

The Lady Margaret Francis Hathaway
Duchess of Cornwall
Thirty-seven :: Female :: Courtier :: Appearance (http://www.hji.co.uk/blogs/main/cc-awards-kristin-scott-thomas.jpg)


Margaret Hathaway was the most beauteous of six sisters, which still shows, to some extent. Her pale and soft skin show that she has taken meticulous care of her looks over the years. However, most of her beauty faded with her youth and the five children she gave birth to- only two surviving past the age of eight. She enjoys keeping up with the latest fashions, and is often one of the first to be seen wearing the new trend- as soon as it becomes popular, of course.

As a girl, she managed to exceed all expectation when she married the heir to the Duchy of Cornwall at the unusually late age for a girl of her social status of seventeen. Some wondered if it was partly due to some enchantment her family had paid for- it was never disclosed either way. Ever since then, her ambition has only grown. She often comes across as manipulative and cold-hearted, and would no sooner keep a secret than grossly exaggerate it and spread it round the court. However, her high position in society nevertheless demands respect, and she is particularly close with several key figures in King Gregory’s court. Unfortunately, her long-suffering husband is as close to death as her beloved King, which has thrown her position into unease. Therefore, she is seeking to use her children, a son and a daughter, to the greatest extent she can in order to maintain her position.


---

Lord Edmund Thomas Hathaway
Son of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
Nineteen :: Male :: Valet of Prince Gregory II :: Appearance ( http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8700000/Sweet-Arthur-bradley-james-8787847-624-352.jpg)


Edmund, or Eddie to his friends, bears more of a resemblance to his flaxen-haired, soft-featured father than his mother, much to her delight (particularly as before his birth, there were some scandalous rumours as to the true parentage of Margaret's child). He has a strong, well-built frame that exceeds that of his nineteen years, and the arrogance to carry it off with, making him appear several years older. He has obviously been pampered and catered to most of his life as the only male heir to the Duchy, causing him to become spoilt and cocky.

However, his mother had the good sense to employ him as a valet at the age of fourteen to the young Prince Gregory, which taught him a little humility, if nothing else. He is not particularly close to his elder sister, whom he deems to border far too often on the edge of scandal and notoriety. Edmund is aware of his mother's intentions for him, none which include remaining as the Prince's valet, especially now he is so near his coming of age. He possesses a little magical talent from his father's side, just enough to entertain the Prince on a rainy day or impress a lady of the court, but has no intention to develop his skills.



---

Eek. Hope this is okay! Tell me if you want anything changed (:

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

x] Reserving post not! Cause... Yeah. :] I really wanna join this; just deciding on characters. Iris, read your PMs if you haven't already! :D <3

[Govannon]

Name: George Buchanan, Goes by the stage name of Feste
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Position:Jester
Description: http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs48/i/2009/168/d/8/The_Jester_by_lydia2693.jpg
Bio(brief): Born to a servant girl in the queen's employ, George was lucky to survive past childhood. He never knew who his father was, his mother was always fairly secretive on that subject, but George suspects it was one of the minor noblemen that frequented the court.

Despite his poor upbringing George was always a bright child, not in terms of facts or figures, but in the way of general knowledge. He grew up in the court, and he knew the players, even if they did not know him. His main problem however, was that while he was bright, he was even more reckless. After one highly inappropriate and unfortunately timed comment, he was arrested and put on trial on the spot. George's mother though that he was destined to be flogged to death, but upon hearing the offending statement, the King himself began to laugh, and decided that he had a better use for the boy. Now, George works as a jester to pay for his comment, but he has long since stopped viewing it as a true punishment. He is well kept, well clothed, and for a non-noble, well fed. He is granted impunity to say what he will about the members of the court, to a certain degree, and he believes himself to be in good standing with the majority of members, so long as they are not the ones in his sights at the moment.

<OOC> Hope this is okay. Fun fact, I took the name from a real Jester, who tricked James VI into handing control of Scotland over to him for two weeks.

[Aurelia Courville]

Incase any of you haven't noticed, you all have been accepted.

I'll wait a few days (because I like to procrastinate under the illusion that I'm waiting for who ever showed interest to put up a sheet just so I know where everyone is when I start) for my own services.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

http://i47.tinypic.com/dwc84i.jpg
Adele Temperance Kathryne Du’lance

Sixteen .::. Female .::. Mystic-Seer .::. Advisor

::.Adele appears to be a typical blond-haired and blue-eyed young woman of pure Anglo-Saxon decent; her figure blossomed in her young teens to a shapely hourglass that so many women desired to have and men looked for in a wife. Her skin is lightly speckled with beauty marks and her lips are full, but pale, like the rest of her skin, as she sees very little sun.

::.Ever since her gifts were discovered, Adele was kept close by England’s court, under their thumb, so her “gifts” were not “spoiled,” as it has become rumor and, within the circles that magic are accepted, almost unquestioned that only virgins are able to have talents like hers. Rhymes are not common in her prophecies, but allusions and analogies are tools she frequently uses to verbalize her visions or when putting them on paper. She tends to answer to Adele or Temperance, as she is equally comfortable with either name.

::.Due to being shut up and watched after most of the time, she is quiet, but has been described as a firecracker, because when she gets worked up (especially behind closed doors) she is not the good Englishwoman she appears to be in court or around many of its members. Also, her gifts allowed her the exclusive right to learn to read and write, an ability she cherishes above the ones she was born with; she confides everything to the thick pages of her diary, and no one else.

::.Adele was taken away at the age of six, when she foresaw the king’s fields crumble to a foreign insect brought by travelers; of course, word quickly spread to the king himself and she was “accepted into a better life.” Because of this, her family is alien to her – the most she knows is that her mother was a Dame and father a knight to the king, but she was told this and nothing else by one of the more gossip-y kitchen girls, so she’s taken it with a grain of salt.

[Aurelia Courville]

we has IC time now yess?


IC (http://role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?p=111512#post111512)



GOGO postpost and all that jazz. Any questions don't hesitate to ask~

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

So it's autumn at the moment? And why isn't winter in the court progression, if you don't mind me asking?

[Aurelia Courville]

lol. Yes it's Autumn, and I took Winter out because I figured it'd be too harsh of weather to move about the country?

But I have to say, I'm in love with the post so far :adoration:

[Govannon]

Alright, my first post is up. Some points of clarification: italicized is a thought bubble,
Yellow is George, And red is Feste. It's not Multiple personality disorder or anything dramatic like that, more like an angel/devil on the shoulder sort of thing. It'll make writing some of the thoughts he's going to have much easier.

Just thought, I should so this here so that my post wasn't as confusing...

[Ophelia]

This is looking fantastic! I love it already :aweme:

[Aurelia Courville]

ikr?

jeez you guys post fast though. Not that i'm complaining, i'm just used to having to kick people into posting.


But i'm working on a posty now. It might be up tonight.. or...er, today (it's 4: 30am already Dx) if I can stop myself from falling apart, every muscle in my body is killllling me.

[Govannon]

I know what you mean. It's currently quarter to 8 in the morning here, I haven't slept since ~ 10:00 yesterday morning. (A desperate bid to get my sleep cycle onto something other that 'vampire') It really, really sucks.

[Aurelia Courville]

lol. I don't even think i can consider my sleeping pattern vampire anymore. I have to force myself to sleep or i stay up for two days straight or longer till i pass out from exaughstion and then wake up four hours lated Dx.

and having the only people you talk to live in places so out of my timezone make it even harder. >.<

Speaking of people in different timezones. They decided to get on later than usual and interupt my typing. and since i'm not tired, i'll get back to it then, while the idea is still in my head.



EDIT: And the king is dead

u_u(somber moment)


and now the fun can begin :AWSM:

I wasn't sure how soon to knock him off, but there wasn't a forseeable reason to keep him around any longer. lalala~
I'm going to sleep now :/

[Leilayh Blaine]

I was wondering if I can still post a character sheet?

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Hahaha, this is rocking! -Skips off to read IC.-

[Leilayh Blaine]

Lord Charles William Spencer
Duke of Devonshire
Twenty-five| Politician and Courtier| Appearance (http://i48.tinypic.com/103dc1l.jpg)


Charlie Spencer always had a smile on his face. Whether he be at Court among beautiful maidens or sopping drunk at a discreet tavern, that dashing grin charmed the masses. Tendrils of dark hair curled along his neckline and was constantly wind blown from his wild racing on the back of his steed, Dante. He was a gift from the King on his twentieth birthday and first days at Court. It wasn't like the king favored Charles over others, but it was more like sovereign had favored his mother. Alas, the poor woman had died giving birth to Charlie, and his father had perished under mysterious circumstances during a hunt.

The King had seen to the boys education and holds on his family estates until Charles was of age. But the King did not have influence over the heartbreaking ways Charlie went about his life. He left a wake of women sighing, a few crying, but never..and he made sure of it, with child. A brief marriage to the beautiful Anne Keighly had taken this young man's heart, and some in the Court whispered “His soul”, as well. Anne had been Charlie's world. But a sudden consumption during December had swallowed his love and left him alone.

[Aurelia Courville]

Charles is absolutely bril. (and i love your sig pic too :3) So welcome aboard Leilayh~

[Cheshire]

Ack, really sorry for not posting a CS D: Trying to think of a good, Britishy sounding name D:

[Aurelia Courville]

It's ok Ches. Are you looking for a female/male name? or like a last name? Because you can google it, that's what I did. They didn't have a big pool of first names to choose from. A lot of Cathrine's/Mary's/Anne's/Jane's John/William/Henry/George/Thomas/Richards...... there are more >.> but yeah, google does wonders.

[Ophelia]

These sites helped me a lot, if you're looking for a girl (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/givennames.html#women) or a boy's (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/givennames.html#men) name. Or a surname (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/surnames.html#list)! Hope that helps :D

[Aurelia Courville]

That's exactly the same list I found. I couldn't remember the url and was just looking for it again. Thank you Ophelia for posting the links ^_^

[Leilayh Blaine]

Not going to lie. I wanted the name Charles Devonshire, but then saw there was the 1st Duke of Devonshire during the Elizabethan times. Except his last name was Cavendish. Then I noticed their names stayed Cavendish but with an extra last name. I saw one called George Spencer I believe, and was like.

Charles William Spencer, Duke of Devonshire. And what's sad is the 1st Duke, William, married an Anne Keighly. o: I just wanted to keep things era friendly. Haha.

[Ophelia]

Hmm, I was wondering. Would Prince Gregory still be referred to as a Prince until he gets crowned King, or would he be called King from the moment his father died?

Oh, btw Leilayh, I absolutely love your character! 8D

[Aurelia Courville]

Heartbreakers are so likable some times. Edmund is hinting at that as well. ;D

Um... I suppose some would call him king but it wouldn't be necessary until he's been crowned? At least that's what I'm assuming.

[Ophelia]

Yeah, that's what I thought. (:

DRAMA TIEM, I think!

[Leilayh Blaine]

It was always a courtesy to say.

"The King is Dead, Long live King..so and so."

But the next king would still be called Prince Legally and King among his peers until the coronation.


Posty tiem, ftww.

[Govannon]

Feel free to move onto the next major event without me giving a post. Given that jesters in the death room would be in bad form, I couldn't really be doing anything right now other then simply wandering the castle. (Which I plan to do next round, if the situation doesn't change.)

[Leilayh Blaine]

Hope my first post was alright. Please let me know if I must change anything.

[Aurelia Courville]

besides a few grammatical/spelling errors >.> It was a wonderful post :)

and Govannon I'll try to make it so you'll have something to do. Maybe the Prince will throw a party? lol. we shall see.

[Govannon]

A party for the death of the king? I wonder what that would be like... Nah, I'm probably just going to skulk around, see if I can hear some of the powerplays that are going on. (If nobody is actually talking about it where I can hear, I'l just create some NPCs and humiliate them...) Maybe Feste would know some the of the drivers...

[Leilayh Blaine]

Yea I wrote it at a late hour. My checking over skills were banished by then. I will try to reread before posting from now on. ^.^

[Ophelia]

Govannon, feel free to latch onto Margaret, if you like. I think she pretty much deserves it. ;)

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

I think poor Adele is going to have something close to a panic attack with everyone's decisions being made and the different futures she's seeing. xD

[Aurelia Courville]

yes well... all my ideas wouldn't come to play until later D: So i'll try to post something, but there isn't a need to wait for me if you have something in mind for yourself si?:C

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Hey guys, this looks like an awesome roleplay! If you would like to see your roleplay advertised as Roleplay of the Week, please don't think twice about contacting myself or any of the staff. It’s a great way to get noticed and even better if you are in need of more players! Keep up the great work!

Required information for Roleplay of the Week submissions can be found here (http://74.220.215.108/%7Erolepla3/forum/showthread.php?t=905).

[Cheshire]

Ack, there still any room in this? D: sorry, upstairs flooded and our kitchen ceiling got trashed so life's been hectic. I so meant to do a CS for this a while ago D: I see the IC has already started, but if there's still room I'll make a character once I've caught up on a few other things.

[Aurelia Courville]

of course Chesire :) we aren't that far in so you should have no problem catching up.

and sorry about that flooding thing eek hope everything is good now. :/


Also, I should say, this isn't written out fully, (parden my laziness/selfishness) meaning the plot is completely character driven...so have fun with that.(:

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

-Flail.- Why for has this stalled?! D:

[Aurelia Courville]

I have no idea ): You guys weren't waiting on me to do something were you?

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

I was waiting for at least one other person to post again before I did; I have a weird thing about posting within a certain number of posts of my last one, you know?

[Aurelia Courville]

That's a good thing in most cases (:

I think I said this before, but I'll say it again: this RP being mostly charachter driven--meaning any Plot I have is pretty thin, a skeleton if you will--if you have anything you want to set up with your characters, feel free to impliment it.C: unless it's something big that involves the NPC's then you can clear it through me, though i'm pretty open to ideas so don't be scared to speak up.*approve*


in other words, my character isn't the "main" character, so you don't have to look to her posts to move the plot along. get it?

I will however (as the GM) put up posts through some NPC's view that will tell you if I've jumped to a new day or some special event, just to keep everyone generally on the same time line.-dur-

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

I'ma jut go 'head and post once I get mine written up fully.

[ｒａｂｂｉｔ]

Guyyys, what's going on with this? :[