The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]

Maisara, you ask why we should deal with such a waste and grand expenditure on such a triviality which does nothing to improve the material situation of the populace at large. The expenditure is precisely the point of the ball and the festival. They are grand, they are imposing and they are made to be the end-goal of the Empire. The work for the year is done precisely so that one can enjoy the festival. The war is won so that the dance can be held. In the case of something like the Imperianna, it shall be expanded. Whereas the main ball is reserved for the highest ranks and those most deserving of the honour, every city should host its own dance at the same time.

Any who call the noble ball a waste of money and effort are doing it out of spite and their own exclusion from the event. There, of course, is some merit, but the nobility are not the centrepiece of the Empire. They are merely the exceptional individuals that have been chosen to fill up the rank and file of the elite. The ball needs a reason to be hosted, and when it is hosted, it is done for heroes. Whether heroes of war, of survival, of culture, of achievement, it does not matter.

Thus, the Empire needs to hold noble balls regularly. Local lords are expected to make sure that the needs of the local people are satisfied, and the need for social events is a great one. As times change and the individual becomes more insulated from the world at large, it is our role to make sure that they do not forget the world at large. If there are no places for the young to meet, then we shall create them.

And whilst competition can be a part of it, the purpose of the Imperianna is to try and set an example for humanity which they can try to imitate. The Bureau of Culture knows to suggest to dances which are done in pairs the most. Whereas Divinity obviously will not be getting into relationships at the Imperianna, that is a failing of ours. As the elites, we merely have to be aware of where a situation commonly leads, even if it does not lead into that direction for us. Men and women dancing hand-in-hand together, one does not have to be a genius to work out where it leads.

So no, Maisara, I am honest enough to admit when you are correct. In this situation though, you are wrong. The Imperianna does have a purpose, and that purpose is a cultural one. The explanation I have give you in the text, I think you will understand, otherwise, know that we are building a country that celebrates class and tact and beauty.

What separates man from animal is that man cannot live for the sake of living. A lifetime can be spent on killing ambition and finding balance, all to get to the state that a dog is born in. Man will physically walk through this world as his mind is clouded by the abstract. And if we do not fill those abstracts with aspirations of greatness, then someone else will them with aspirations of pessimism.

- Email written by God Arascus, of Pride, to Goddess Maisara, of Order.

Paida did not have a damn clue on what had gotten into her when she stepped into the train to go to Lubska. The war had stalemated in its entirety, that was obvious now. Even Kassandora was expanding the military, creating new branches of experimental troops which would be sent off to Ainai. But that was neither here nor there, the important thing was that Paida had time and she wasn’t going to lose to Olonia again.

The Goddess of Lubska had shown exactly how the Empire operated when it came to local prestige and culture. The Land of Gods Project had been a farce at first, now even Fortia and Maisara were talking of getting a home in southern Lubska. The rest of the Empire would need to catch up eventually, and Paida would make sure that Rancais would be the second to join the cultural race.

The Imperianna was going to be a ball, and it would be the greatest ball in the Empire for now, but there was one way to make sure that it would be the greatest ball in the Empire for the next decade. One way to make sure that it would become immediate tradition, no matter if the whole venue went down in flames.

Paida looked to her left where the forest of ICDT towers stood. Rows of spikes, engines and gemstones affixed to them. A plantation of steel, each tree in it a carbon copy of the next. Considering that Ciria had built them using her power, they were probably copies down to the very carbon in them. The Goddess of Civilization was in the distance in a cream coat to protect her from the cold air. Her husband, Halkus of Industry, was closer and next to some sort of rather ugly building that annoyed Paida’s sensibilities.

The two were working. The latter had his hands on the ugly building with its uneven chimneys. A truck next to the factory was slowly depositing raw copper ore into a chute. From the other side of the factory, copper wire was slowly being rolled out on a massive spool on the other side of the factory. Further down, Halkus was also iron, chromium, alloys of the metals as well. It was all coming out in ugly large blocks on the exits of his factories. And his wife was devouring the materials that were being brought in from the rest of the Empire. Thin spines of steel were growing, then slowly filling out thin nets of metal spiralled from them, then filled further out.

But before all of it stood Arascus, God of Pride, as he watched over the landscape. Paida inclined her head and tried to seemed small. The Emperor stood in the Imperial black, with a short cape of red and gold and with him so tall and broad, it made Paida feel small. There was no style that would work around him, a colourful dress would be childish, a uniform of Paida’s own make would be too competitive. Official suit in Imperial black was the only way to go, and that was only because everyone else did it. “Sir.” Paida said as she finished her approach.

“Paida.” Arascus said. “Good to see you, what’s the occasion?”

Paida stepped next to Arascus, unsure if she was allowed to be in public with the Emperor like this or if it would be a bad look. For him, not for her. “I…” She took a deep breath and restarted. Great. Already that was one misstep. “May we talk here or not?”

“If not here then where?” Arascus asked, his voice managing to boom even when he wasn’t speaking especially loudly. Ahead of them, Ciria raised her hands and shifted her stance as the pile of steel beams by her side slowly shrank whilst the massive spike of steel grew.

“I don’t know.” Paida said. “Apologies for the unprofessionalism, I didn’t know what Bureau to go to or anything else like that. I…” How stupid. She should have prepared something. Or she should get right into it. Arascus probably would like that… Paida took a deep breath and just said what she had come here to say. “I’ve gotten permission to host the Imperianna.” Paida said.

Arascus made a slow sound of agreement. Mmmhh.

“I’ve come to ask on whether you’ll attend.” Paida said. “And to formally invite if you haven’t made up your mind yet.” She finished and couldn’t believe what she had just said. The Goddess of Rancais stood there, staring at that tower rising out of the ground as Ciria built it. Halkus’ massive factories chugged in the distance, making long trails of black smoke in the air. She glanced at the God of Pride, still almost shocked that she had managed to say something which tried to pressure Arascus into accepting.

The God of Pride stood there in that magnanimous black suit, with the aura of an Emperor around him. The untouchable ruler of Epa and Arika and… And the God of Pride actually smiled. “Is that even a question?” He asked. “Are you thinking I’ll miss it?”

“I was worried you will.” Paida said, that was a good answer. It was defensive enough without being too much, and it set what she wanted to happen on the table. “So…” She trailed off. “Will you?”

“You understand we run an Empire for the purpose of these events?” Arascus said and Paida blinked.

“What?”

“It’s not a tyranny, nor a military junta. It’s an Empire, complete with balls and wine and nobles.” Arascus said. “It’s the best part of rulership.” Paida couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was… Surely Arascus could not get excited? Maybe over his daughters or something equally as serious, but… Over a ball? Excuse me? Some things were just farcical.

“You enjoy balls?”

“Do you think they would be getting hosted if I did not?” Arascus asked. Paida didn’t know what to say. Of course Arascus enjoyed balls. The man may have been God-Emperor, but he was still a man. And he must have noticed her surprise. “You’re acting as if this is some unexpected revelation.”

“I…” Paida didn’t know what she had assumed. “I don’t know, yeah…” She said. “I… Well, it’s good that you’re going to be there then.” She had come in here expecting there to be some sort of discussion. Or bargaining. Or either Arascus would go and try to take control of the Imperianna, or he would have to be convinced. Paida had even considered offering up shares of the breweries she ran so that the first Imperianna could be the grandest show on Arda.

And…

And he just accepted? Not only that, he even sounded mildly curious about it? Somehow, that was worse than anything else that Arascus could have said. Paida had wanted a negotiation. Now she was here to make sure he had a good time? How in the world was she supposed to provide that? “Oh..” Arascus chuckled to himself.

“Don’t worry Paida.” He said. “You’re not the first, you won’t be the last with that reaction. Believe it or not, I do also have things I enjoy.” Of course he did. It had been farcical to think he did not.

“You get this reaction a lot?”

“It’s common enough to where I’ve had it explained to me why people shut down. No Paida, I am not a monster, I will not eat you. Likewise, I will not punish you for asking questions, and I am too old to find a pleasure in the humiliation of those less powerful. But I do understand, but I will say that the thing you have to worry about most when meeting with me is public opinion on whether you give off the impression you’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Oh.” Paida said. “Thank you.” The pair of deities stood in silence for a few moments, side-by-side, until Arascus dropped something that Paida would never expect him to say.

“Did you know I like wolves?” Arascus said. Paida took a deep breath, Arascus had a favourite animal. Why wouldn’t he?

“I like horses.” Paida replied quietly. Rancais had always been known for its knights, and there was no country on this world that produced better wine, better horses or better language. The rest of the bests were negotiable, although Rancais still won, but wine, horses, song, speech, beauty and love were non-negotiable. Go Rancais or go home. And aeronautics, and fine arts. Food too, of course. Paida blushed and shut her mouth. She had almost gone on a rant about the best horses in the world to him. Close call. “Do you want anything to be there? I think we could get a wolf in?” The question sounded far better in her head than out loud. How the fuck was she going to get a wolf into a ball?

“Paida.” Arascus said. “I will turn up, I will be there, but don’t make special arrangements. You will anyway, but don’t have wolves at a ball of all places.”

“No, of course not.” Paida quickly said. It had been idiotic to propose. What sort of ball had these things? But now that the man had started, it was actually a good point to get some of her worries put to rest. The meandering questions she had not thought of whatsoever, but now that she was next to Arascus, she could imagine. “Is there any ball etiquette you require?”

Arascus sniffed in humour. “The Imperianna is your idea, the etiquette is yours. I will adapt if it is good, if not, then I will come as is.” Paida blinked. Well of course, it was already crazy to her that Arascus was accepting the notion of her setting the scene.

“What do you mean by that?” Paida asked. “So…” An example would explain it easier. “Obviously we’re not going to do this, but I told everyone to wear pink.”

“That just wouldn’t happen.” Arascus said. “Kassandora wouldn’t attend either then.” Paida blinked.

“Kassandora is attending?”

“Isn’t everyone?” Arascus said. “You’ve already said you’re going to host the grandest ball there is. I have one suggestion for you, although I think you’ll agree.”

“What is it?”

“It should be three days after Victory Day.” Arascus said. “And then, every year after that, Victory Day we’re going to make into a national celebration already. Imperianna can be the culmination of that, we have a pleasant.” Arascus motioned with his hand. “One, two, three, then third night, three-day celebration. Those are classical.” That, Paida could manage. That was a challenge she could do. Prepare a team that could host a celebration three days after Victory Day. In fact, that was the best thing Arascus had said to her all day.

“So Kassandora is going to be attending?”

“Everyone is.” Arascus said. “That’s what I’m bringing to the table.”

“Even Fer?”

“Fer will be there.” Arascus said it as if explaining to a child. Paida could sense the beginnings of annoyance forming in his voice. She didn’t want to press, but there were stupid questions and she had to get them out of the way.

“So no masks?”

“No masks.” Arascus said.

“What about drinks?”

“It’s your ball so I expect Rancais Purple, otherwise, I like whiskey.”

“You like whiskey?” That was annoying frankly, Alliana was the one who made good whiskey. Rancais did wines and sweet drinks, not the hard stuff that was only there to get people drunk.

“I do.” Arascus said. “You like wine.” Paida pursed her lips. She didn’t like being this predictable.

“I do.”

“So does Elassa, although she’ll complain about your wine since it’s not Arcadian.” Paida bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from ranting to Arascus about exactly what she thought of Arcadian magicians who used magic to grow their faux-grapes to faux-distil into faux-juice-strengthened-by-alcohol. There were a few that weren’t Rancais which could claim to make wine, Arcadia was not one of them.

“What about the dress code?” Paida asked. Arascus actually turned to look down at her. Heavens above, he was tall even amongst Divinity.

“You know one of your friends rang me to ask for help picking out a dress already.”

“Who?” Paida asked before she could stop herself. It was going to be Olonia or Saksma. One of those two, they were inept in style.

“I’m not telling.” Arascus asked.

“It’s Saksma.” No evidence for it, it was just a gut feeling. Olonia didn’t seem like one to call Arascus of all people for help. She would definitely ask someone, but definitely not Arascus.

“I’m not telling.” Arascus repeated himself without a single tell on whether she was wrong or correct. Well, the God was what? At least five times her age? It wasn’t even an achievement. Besides, it was Saksma. “But the point was that I told her to have fun and not worry about it.” Arascus followed up.

“Have fun?” This was a ball, it was a competition. It was showcasing Rancais before the entire Empire. Maybe Arascus and his daughters could be having fun but they had nothing to prove! Paida had never heard such terrible advice in her entire life. “What?”

“In terms of the dress code.” Arascus said. “Take it seriously, of course…” He glanced down at her again. In the distance, Ciria got to work on another stage of the tower. Another truck began to unload its material’s into Halkus factories.

“Don’t do anything too out there.” Paida said. “No, I understand. Fun is not farce. There is some decorum to maintain.” If anyone could be trusted with high-fashion that was exquisite and tasteful, it would be her. No, Arascus did not want avant-garde, nor anything pretentious. “Like something out of a story.”

“Like something out of a story.” Arascus confirmed.

And they were set.