Sunset: 1755
- No Greyhawk Events today
Inauguration Day
The big day dawns bright and beautiful. After a sumptuous breakfast, the team sets out early for Ratherton. Spirits are high. The day is gloriously warm without a hint of cloud. The birds are singing, and it is rather more than seasonably warm. The perfect day for a ceremony! The Ratherton market square is gaily bedecked with banners of black and yellow to represent Greyhawk, and purple and silver, to honor the dead Lord Mayor Halverine. A large presentation platform has been erected at the southern end of the market square. It is currently unpopulated. Although a few people have already gathered, the square is nearly empty. The honorees are ushered into a candle maker????s shop at the north end of the square; the others are asked to wait outside. Crym, Nyra, and Firena head for the square. Once inside, the others see that the lower level is packed with Greyhawk city guardsmen. They don????t have time to chat, however, as they are hustled upstairs to await their moment on the stage. Time passes slowly for the group, the members of which entertain themselves alternately by speaking quietly with each other and staring out the windows to watch the spectators arrive.
Before long, a very large crowd is gathered. The people are restless, though respectfully quiet with only the smallest hum of conversation. Then, at exactly 9:15, the time when the Greyhawk Council convened the meeting that would elect the first Lord Mayor, eight people march into the square and onto this platform. At the front stand Delefthorial, the chairman of City Council, and Mannivess, the high priestess of Zeus. Behind them are the other six City Council members ???? four men and two women. Tar and the others are gathered on the first floor of a candle maker????s shop at the north end of the square. From the windows, they have a clear view of the entire scene.
Suddenly, loud trumpets sound forth with a call to arms, and 24 city guardsmen exit the candle maker’s shop to march into the square, clearing as they go a path from the shop toward the platform. At regular intervals, a pair of guardsmen split off from the others to stand at attention with halberds held sideways to keep the path open. The final two stop just short of the stairs leading up to the platform. Once they are in position, three more people leave the shop. They are lead by Lady Lillan, Knight Grand Marshal of Greyhawk, wearing shining plate mail and her full regalia, including a full-length, lemon yellow cloak. Behind her walk the Captain of the Greyhawk city guard, dressed in heavy chain mail and wearing a short black cloak, and a large, middle-aged man the group does not recognize. He is also armored, although he is wearing gleaming, heavy chain mail, and the short lemon yellow cloak of a Protector of Greyhawk. The trio station themselves blocking access to the stairs to the platform, with the woman in the middle and the two men flanking her.
The trumpets blare again, this time in a victory call, and Lord Aphic emerges from the candle maker????s shop and steps into the sunlight. He is dressed in a mantle of silver and green (his personal colors) and wears his full Baronial regalia, complete with coronet and all honors. He walks slowly and regally through the now silent crowd, who, to a person, bow as he passes, and reaches the foot of the stairs. There he is challenged in turn by Lady Lillan; the middle-aged man, who identifies himself as Sir Ronulf, Defender-Captain of Greyhawk; and Ullam, Captain of the Greyhawk City Guard. To all three, Lord Aphic????s response, clearly audible to Tar and the others, is the same; he identifies himself and states his purpose for appearing here today. The three stand aside to let him pass. Lord Aphic silently mounts the stairs and kneels at Mannivess?????? feet.
Mannivess announces the arrival of the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater, and proffers a formal invitation to join the Council. At this point, Lord Aphic stands, bows toward each of the council members in turn, finishing with the Chairman, and finally turns to face crowd, flanked by Mannivess and Delefthorial. After a moment, Delefthorial announces his intent to install the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater as the Lord Mayor of the Independent City of Greyhawk, and asks the council members to cast their vote. Each in turn steps forward and announces that they acknowledge the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater, as the legally elected Lord Mayor. After the last council member speaks, Delefthorial turns and casts his vote likewise in
favor of Lord Aphic.
At this point, Delefthorial steps back, and Mannivess steps forward to offer prayer to Zeus for wisdom for the new Lord Mayor, then moves to stand behind Aphic. Delefthorial steps forward again, and he and Lord Aphic turn toward each other, side on to the crowd. Lord Aphic raises his right hand, and Delefthorial administers the oath of office. Lady Lillan turns and marches with stately precision back toward the candle maker??????s shop, where five pages await her arrival. She opens the door and calls for those who bear the Mayoral Devices to come forth. When the pages exit the building, she formally greets them and escorts them back to the presentation platform, where they mount the stairs, leaving the Knight Grand Marshal again posted to guard the entrance to the platform.
Two pages move to stand behind Mannivess. The other three move behind Delefthorial, who turns to the first and removes from a yellow silk pillow the Mayoral Medallion ???? an ornate emblem (though what that emblem might be the observers in the candle maker????s shop cannot see) on a gold chain with large square links. This he hangs around Lord Aphic????s neck. He turns to the second and lifts the Mayoral Sword from her hands. This he buckles around Lord Aphic????s waist. He turns to the third and removes from a pillow identical to the first the Mayoral Ring. This he slips onto the middle finger of Lord Aphic????s right hand. Lord Aphic bows to him, then turns to face Delefthorial, who turns to the fourth page and removes the Mayoral Scepter from yet another pillow. This he places in Lord Aphic????s right hand. Finally, he turns to the final page and removes the Mayoral Orb from the last gold pillow. This he places in Lord Aphic??????s left hand.
Delefthorial dismisses the pages, and they depart in single file. Finally, the three turn to face the crowd. Delefthorial then formally declares Lord Aphic to be, for the duration of his natural life, or until such time as he chooses to relinquish the title, the legally elected Lord Mayor of the Independent City of Greyhawk, upon which declaration, Lady Lillan shouts in a voice that can be heard throughout Ratherton and to the very gates of Greyhawk itself, ????All hail the Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor of Greyhawk, the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater!???? The crowd gives forth with a tremendous cheer as the banners are changed magically from Halverine????s purple and silver to Lord Aphic??????s green and silver. The cheering continues for no short time, and is only stilled by the Lord Mayor raising his hands and calling for silence.
When the crowd has stilled, the Lord Mayor accepts the position to which the people of the city have called him. He turns to Delefthorial, and the other council members in turn, acknowledging them and offering them the opportunity to retain their present positions. None decline. He bows to Mannivess and declares that the City is, and will continue to be, a servant of Zeus and the lesser gods in his pantheon. He then calls to the Knight Grand Marshal, the Defender-Captain, and Captain of the Guard, who mount the stairs for the first time, kneel at the Lord Mayor??????s feet, and offer their swords. Lord Aphic accepts the swords with a touch of the Mayoral Scepter, after which the the three return to their post at the foot of the tairs.
After these traditional ceremonies, the Lord Mayor makes a very short speech for the benefit of the people gathered in the square, in which he promises to represent all citizens of Greyhawk and its environs equally, but re-iterates his dedication to nature and the arts. Finally, after this speech, he announces that as his first formal act as Lord Mayor, that he would like to take advantage of his traditional Mayoral right in recognizing those who have performed outstanding service on behalf of the city. He will solemnly, but with great pleasure, add seven new names to the rosters that delineate those recognized as Defenders of Greyhawk. This is the cue for those members of Tar????s company who chose to accept the title to head downstairs and wait by the front door of the candle maker????s shop.
Again, the Defender-Captain leaves his post, this time marching to the shop. Again he opens the door and calls for those to be recognized to come forth. When the soon-to-be Defenders have entered the square, he formally greets them and escorts them to the stairs, which they mount. Rather than resuming his post at the foot of the stairs, however, Sir Ronulf attains the platform, moving to stand near Lord Aphic. The honorees stand, face to the crowd, shoulder to shoulder in a single line. As Lord Aphic steps to the front of the platform and draws the Mayoral Sword, the Captain moves behind them, and they kneel. One at a time, beginning with Drathon, the Lord Mayor requests they intone the oath of a Defender of Greyhawk:
I do solemnly swear by Zeus and by all the gods in the heavens, and in free and voluntary desire, to serve as a Defender of the Independent City of Greyhawk, and do hereby swear to place my allegiance to that city before all other allegiances. I furthermore swear by the Eternal Powers that guide my destiny, to obey all orders given unto me by the Lord Mayor of the Independent City of Greyhawk, and to aid in protecting my sovereign city against all foes, foreign and domestic, in any manner available to me. This oath do I give of my own free and independent will.
After each has spoken the oath, the Lord Mayor touches his or her right shoulder with the Mayoral Sword and declares that this individual be recognized henceforth as a Defender of Greyhawk. Sir Ronulf places a mantle similar to his own upon their shoulders. This mantle is bright yellow with a coal black lining, and has the coat of arms of Greyhawk (pictured at right) embroidered on the upper left chest. Finally, the Lord Mayor slips onto the middle finger of each person??????s left hand, a gold signet ring into which the coat of arms of Greyhawk has been artfully cut. Upon completion of this ceremony, the honorees stand, and are introduced to the people as Defenders of Greyhawk. Again, the crowd cheers voluminously.
The Defender-Captain dismisses the Defenders, then follows them to take up a guard position at the foot of the platform, to the left of the Ullam. At this point, the Lord Mayor steps forth and addresses the crowd, telling them that two individuals have so distinguished themselves in their dedication and loyalty to the Lord Mayor and the City of Greyhawk, that it is his distinct pleasure to invest them into the Most Chivalric Order of the Ram, and calls Lady Lillan to bring them forth. This is Lady Lillan??????s cue to go to the shop, open the door, and call for those to be recognized to come forth. She formally greets them, and leads them at a serene pace back to the stairs. Lady Lillan joins them on the platform, next to Lord Aphic. Yalinari and Tar are briefly left standing, facing the crowd on their own.
Lord Aphic steps forth, at which point Tar and Yalinari kneel before him. He requests they intone the Oath of the Order of the Ram:
I do solemnly swear by Zeus and by all the gods in the heavens, and in free and voluntary desire, to serve as a Knight of theIndependent City of Greyhawk of the most esteemed and Chivalric Order of the Ram. I do swear by the Eternal Powers that guide my destiny, to be both a true and chivalric Knight, to obey the orders given unto me by the Lord Mayor of the Independent City of Greyhawk, and to aid my brethren in any manner available to me. I also swear by all that is holy and dear unto me, to aid those less fortunate than I, to relieve the distress of the world, and to fulfill my knightly obligations to my Liege Lord. This oath do I give of my own free and independent will.
Lord Aphic makes use of the Mayoral Sword once more, this time tapping the recipients on both shoulders and on the head, and informing one and all that by the powers vested in him by the laws of Greyhawk and the dictate of the populace of that City, he hereby confers the rank of Knight on Yalinari and Tar, who will henceforth be known across the Flanaess as Sir Yalinari and Sir Tar. The new knights stand, whereupon Lord Aphic pins them with the Badge that identifies them as recipients of the Order of the Ram, 4th Class (pictured at right). The Knight Grand Marshal then straps onto their waists a ceremonial silver long sword with the black/yellow/black Order ribbon tied artistically to the top of scabbard, and a miniature Order Badge inset on the heel of the pommel. Lord Aphic then places on the middle finger of their left hands a gold signet ring topped with green enamel around a raised silver ram??????s head ?????? the Ring of the Order. 
Finally, Lady Lillan places on each of them a floor-length, bright yellow Mantle with black lining and ermine trim. The Shield of the order (pictured at right) is emblazoned on the upper left chest. Finally, the Knight Grand Marshal retires to her post at the foot of the stairs, and the Lord Mayor presents Sir Tar and Sir Yalinari to the crowd, which again reacts with extreme pleasure.
The ceremony over, Tar and Yalinari descend the stairs. They station themselves to the right of Lady Lillan just before the Captain of the Guard calls for the Lord Mayor????s horse. Guildmaster Keuoren appears, holding a beautiful dappled grey stallion. It is a very spirited beast, though the Guildmaster controls him with great expertise. Even Tar is impressed! Keuoren leads the horse to the base of the stairs, where he gives Tar a wink that only he can see. Lord Aphic descends the platform and climbs into the saddle. He raises his hand and calls for all who would support him and defend Greyhawk to follow him to the Lord Mayor????s compound, then wheels the horse and starts to walk the horse slowly toward the Lord Mayor??????s Gate. Behind him, in procession come:
- Delefthorial, Mannivess, and the six other members of the City Council
- Lady Lillan, Sir Tar, Sir Yalinari, and the 34 other Knights of the Ram
- Sir Ronulf, the other new Defenders, and about 100 other Defenders of Greyhawk
- Ullam and about 100 of the City??????s Constables and Guardsmen
- Most of the citizenry who have watched the ceremony so far
- Other citizens who feel inclined to join as the procession passes
Upon reaching the Ratherton Gate, Lord Aphic is challenged by the Chief Constable on duty to identify himself and state his business in the city. Lord Aphic responds, ????I am the Lord Aphic, Baron of Stillwater, and legally elected and duly appointed Lord Mayor of the Independent City of Greyhawk. I come to claim my rightful position as her Premier Citizen.???? The Chief Constable asks who will vouch for this man????s right to the titles he laims, to which Delefthorial, Mannivess, and the other Council members respond in turn. The Chief Constable bows, orders the gates to be opened, and bids the Lord Mayor enter. The gates open, to a great shout by the crowd gathered inside them. The cry can be heard passing up the lines of observers that line both sides of the Lord Mayor????s Promenade that the Lord Mayor approaches. Trumpets blare greeting to Lord Aphic as he enters the city gates for the first time as Lord Mayor. A similar scene is played out as the procession reaches the Hub Gate, the Ivory Tower Gate, and the Compound Gate. Finally, after a gruelingly slow march that lasts more than an hour, the procession arrives at the Lord Mayor????s Palace.
Lord Aphic dismounts and formally accepts the keys to the city from the City Steward, then declares that for the next 24 hours, the gates to the Lord Mayor????s compound will be left open, that the citizens of the great city may come and go at will, to pay just and proper respects to their new Lord Mayor. At this point, Lord Aphic enters the building and seats himself in the Lord Mayor????s throne. One by one, Council Members, Knights, Defenders, Guardsmen, Guild leaders, and private citizens pass before the throne to declare allegiance to the new Lord Mayor. After they have done so, Tar??????s company is free to do as they wish. Lord Aphic will be busy all day. After sunset, there is a huge, city-wide festival, but of that we need not speak. Suffice to say the hour is late when the various members of the company finally climb into their respective beds.