A Winter Wonderland 
Frost 50, 124th Year, A.o.S.
There was no shortage of parties of all kinds throughout Silfanore, and Sol’Valen in general. That wasn’t including the festivals, of course, or special days of devotion to the pantheon. Most were open to nobles, some were reserved for royal families only, and some were by invitation only. And some of the more coveted invitations were those issued by the Princess of Thorns. As the weather turned cold and wet, infrequent flurries of snowflakes offered children a little taste of natural magic.
Some, of course, took the end of the year to relax and winter, staying in where they were warm and dry; but Akantha had been keeping herself busy overseeing the arrangements for her Winter Ball. The attendance list had involved the noble and royal families, and she had picked a select few others to receive invitations. Decorations had been planned and arranged, entertainment sampled and chosen, comestibles and libations coordinated with the wintry theme. Considering her fondness for Aedrin, the seasons and cycle were a constant, welcome dance, and she would honour and celebrate it.
Those that arrived at the Royal Palace would walk through the well-lit hall to find themselves before a shimmering portal. Cloaks and coats could be checked there by those who had chosen to wear them, if so desired and were not a part of the outfit. Upon stepping through it, it would seem that they were outside - every appearance suggested it, with a snowy path brightened by arcane lights above and around them as well as in the trees that lined the path and perfectly spherical orbs of ice lined the path. And yet, it was not cold. There was clearly snow falling, but it did not land on the guests. There was no wind bearing down on them - for all intents and purposes, despite being outside, it felt like they were inside. The hues of twilight were would be slow to fade into the dark of the evening, but the lights were plentiful.
There was a gentle slope to the tunnel, though it was barely noticeable. It was broad enough for two people to walk side by side quite comfortably without feeling cramped or closed in. The pathway opened up into a wide open space, and allowed them to walk down a few wide steps to come into the 'ball room', such as it was. The floor of it looking like pressed mosaic tiles made of snow, though it was as solid as any marble. There was still plenty of snow around the edges, piles and piles of it, especially around a number of glass-like bubbles that featured comfortable booth-like seats, giving people an opportunity to take a load off and take a break - they were specially warded to reduce the amount of external noise, allowing for comfortable conversation while still being able to enjoy the music that was playing.
Hundreds of crystalline lights and lanterns were suspended overhead, illuminating the snow that continued to fall from the skies around them. Ice sculptures of all kinds - from the local wildlife that lived in the forests and high in the mountains, to more exotic animals and creatures. A number of them seemed to have colours worked through them to highlight attributes and aspects of them, and to make them stand out. And every so often... a number of them they seemed to move. A stag's head might turn, a lynx might inch forward, a bird's wing outstretched. Ice orbs like the ones that had been in the tunnel leading to this room laid around the outskirts beyond the seating bubbles. There were benches for those who didn't quite want one of the bubbles, and taller standing tables around the edges as well.
Cleanly dressed servers circulated trays of drinks and wines to suit a number of tastes, and multiple canapes were brought around on trays. There was a stage near one end of the room, and on it was room for a good-sized band that was playing with a number of the more traditional instruments of Sol'Valen, from the aulos to the harp to the kithara to the lyre. The rhythm of the music was well-suited to the more formal ballroom dancing. And in the thick of it, was the Princess of Thorns that was happily greeting and welcoming guests that came in and approached. She had elected to forego a herald to announce arrivals; choosing instead a more intimate feeling for this winter wonderland.
Akantha wore a sleek, blue and white gown that shimmered and shone with runeforged beads and exquisite fabrics, with a fairly full skirt that drifted just off of the ground. Long blonde hair was swept up and with multiple soft braids and gathered at the nape of her neck, and she wore a tiara of crystals and pearls that seemed to have taken on an organic shape as if to resemble the way ice froze on a window. She was in her element here, socializing and mingling, and the snow, far more than ever occurred in Silfanore, lended to a more cozy setting than one might have expected.
Some, of course, took the end of the year to relax and winter, staying in where they were warm and dry; but Akantha had been keeping herself busy overseeing the arrangements for her Winter Ball. The attendance list had involved the noble and royal families, and she had picked a select few others to receive invitations. Decorations had been planned and arranged, entertainment sampled and chosen, comestibles and libations coordinated with the wintry theme. Considering her fondness for Aedrin, the seasons and cycle were a constant, welcome dance, and she would honour and celebrate it.
Those that arrived at the Royal Palace would walk through the well-lit hall to find themselves before a shimmering portal. Cloaks and coats could be checked there by those who had chosen to wear them, if so desired and were not a part of the outfit. Upon stepping through it, it would seem that they were outside - every appearance suggested it, with a snowy path brightened by arcane lights above and around them as well as in the trees that lined the path and perfectly spherical orbs of ice lined the path. And yet, it was not cold. There was clearly snow falling, but it did not land on the guests. There was no wind bearing down on them - for all intents and purposes, despite being outside, it felt like they were inside. The hues of twilight were would be slow to fade into the dark of the evening, but the lights were plentiful.
There was a gentle slope to the tunnel, though it was barely noticeable. It was broad enough for two people to walk side by side quite comfortably without feeling cramped or closed in. The pathway opened up into a wide open space, and allowed them to walk down a few wide steps to come into the 'ball room', such as it was. The floor of it looking like pressed mosaic tiles made of snow, though it was as solid as any marble. There was still plenty of snow around the edges, piles and piles of it, especially around a number of glass-like bubbles that featured comfortable booth-like seats, giving people an opportunity to take a load off and take a break - they were specially warded to reduce the amount of external noise, allowing for comfortable conversation while still being able to enjoy the music that was playing.
Hundreds of crystalline lights and lanterns were suspended overhead, illuminating the snow that continued to fall from the skies around them. Ice sculptures of all kinds - from the local wildlife that lived in the forests and high in the mountains, to more exotic animals and creatures. A number of them seemed to have colours worked through them to highlight attributes and aspects of them, and to make them stand out. And every so often... a number of them they seemed to move. A stag's head might turn, a lynx might inch forward, a bird's wing outstretched. Ice orbs like the ones that had been in the tunnel leading to this room laid around the outskirts beyond the seating bubbles. There were benches for those who didn't quite want one of the bubbles, and taller standing tables around the edges as well.
Cleanly dressed servers circulated trays of drinks and wines to suit a number of tastes, and multiple canapes were brought around on trays. There was a stage near one end of the room, and on it was room for a good-sized band that was playing with a number of the more traditional instruments of Sol'Valen, from the aulos to the harp to the kithara to the lyre. The rhythm of the music was well-suited to the more formal ballroom dancing. And in the thick of it, was the Princess of Thorns that was happily greeting and welcoming guests that came in and approached. She had elected to forego a herald to announce arrivals; choosing instead a more intimate feeling for this winter wonderland.
Akantha wore a sleek, blue and white gown that shimmered and shone with runeforged beads and exquisite fabrics, with a fairly full skirt that drifted just off of the ground. Long blonde hair was swept up and with multiple soft braids and gathered at the nape of her neck, and she wore a tiara of crystals and pearls that seemed to have taken on an organic shape as if to resemble the way ice froze on a window. She was in her element here, socializing and mingling, and the snow, far more than ever occurred in Silfanore, lended to a more cozy setting than one might have expected.
"There is no rose without a thorn."
