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 Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:48 pm
 Surrounded yet again by another massive wall, this enormous palace is most certainly the largest in the known world. The current Ruler and all of their family members reside here, protected and under watch a hundred percent of the time by royal guards and secret police. Only the servants and most important figures are ever allowed in the Palace without a personal invitation from the King, and even so, none may enter the King's personal chambers. The spacious Palace even has its own royal tea house!
The palace compound its surrounded by a vast circular wall, made of stone and covered with red-painted plaster. The gate is pierced at each cardinal direction by a gate and studded with numerous guard towers. The gates and towers are the only parts of the palace visible to the public. The palace's South Gate, its largest and most ornate, serves as the main entrance to the compound and is an iconic symbol of the Earth Kingdom and the strength of its king. Heavily fortified, the South Gate has three arches and is topped by a two-storied pavilion. Two wings support double-eaved guard towers to both sides of the gate. Outer Courthe Earth King's palace can be divided into two parts; the outer court, encompassing the important ceremonial buildings at the front and center of the palace, and the Inner Court, which contains the living quarters of the royal family, numerous pleasure gardens, kitchens, and servant's quarters. The most important buildings are located on the palace's north-south and east-west axes. Directly through the south gate is an immense plaza which dominates the Outer Court. This plaza contains defensive positions for the king's Royal Earthbender Guards, and is marked down the center by a long ceremonial lined at the end by ornamental pillars known as huabiao. At the north end of the plaza is a stream which runs east-west the entire diameter of the palace. This stream is crossed by three stone bridges. Main HallBeyond the square lies the enormous Main Hall, which is both spiritually and physically the heart of the Earth Kingdom - not only is this where the Earth King holds his court, the building itself is located at the very center of Ba Sing Se. By far the largest and most impressive building in Ba Sing Se, the Main Hall holds the king's throne room and is the spiritual heart of the Earth Kingdom. Hundreds of steps lead up to its entrance. The buildings building has quadruple eaves and huge stone pillars holding up its roof. The exterior is primarily colored in shades of red and gold, while the interior is green. The main building also contains the Throne Room. Throne RoomThe Throne Room is located at the center of the Main Hall. 18 large stone pillars run down the entire length of the hall, each topped with intricately painted brackets and supports a corbel from which hangs a large green lantern. Diaphanous curtains are hung throughout the hall to draw attention to the Earth King's throne, situated on a dais near the back of the room and accessed by nine stairs. The throne is surmounted by a massive stone Badgermole clutching the Earth Kingdom's emblem, and in front of a screen painted with scenes of deer, cranes, and mountains on a gold leaf background; above the throne is a large caisson, also colored in gold. To each side of the Main Hall is a large square centered on a round, multi-tiered temple atop a two-tiered terrace. A gate behind the Main Hall leads to the Inner Court. Royal ShrineThe Royal Shrine is a temple reserved for the sole use of the Earth King and his wives. All others are forbidden entry to its sacred grounds. Inner CourtSet off from the rest of the palace by walls and some forested areas, the inner court of the palace is where the day-to-day life of the royal family plays out. Many buildings line the road leading to the palace's North gate. These buildings hold the living quarters of the Earth King and his family, as well as storhouses, kitchens, and servant's quarters. Palace GroundsThe Palace grounds are consist of numerous ceremonial temples, quarters to house the king's servants, intricate gardens, and the King's menagerie of rare, exotic animals. In the northeast section of the palace is a large ornamental lake with a pavilion in the center. A large part of the palace's ground is forested, and there are several groves of ornamental cherry trees. Tea PalaceThe Tea an elegant tea room surrounded by lush gardens, and is where tea is brewed and served to the Earth King and his honored guests. This small wooden pavilion has a light and airy design, and features brightly painted beams and pillars; the Earth King, when visiting guests, sits on a low throne on top of a raised platform, complete with a small table for holding cups and two large metal urns. The decorative screen behind the Earth King's throne serves as a focal point for the room, and features a relaxing landscape of lofty, mist-shrouded peaks and pines. Quote:
Security
Only servants and the highest-ranking citizens of Ba Sing Se are allowed entry into the palace grounds, and even they are never permitted to enter the personal quarters of the Earth King. Common citizens are forbidden from entering the Earth King's walled domain, unless they receive a personal invitation from the King himself.
The Royal Palace and the Earth King are personally protected by the King's Guards, an elite force of guards who act as sentries against intruders. Though not on par with the Dai Li, their Earthbending ability allows them to send impressive stone projectiles from the palace towers, enabling them to easily crush any would-be invaders.
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 9:13 pm
Ϻѯΐ ζΐ βѯΐ Ғɸȵɕ 
Mei looked around the throne room and tried to see if she could find all of the guards that were placed in the vicinity. She sighed lightly once she hit the number ten, the head of the palace guard was being overprotective yet again.
She shifted in her seat uncomfortably as she tried to make her butt feel better. Even though she probably had some of the best silk cushions in the world, it didn't matter if she sat on them for several hours straight. Once she found a spot the felt softer she started to play with her hair. However, instead of just looking bored and pretty as she sat on the throne, she was devising a plan to take a break and get out of the city.
She heard a shuffling a feet and the swish of clothing, right then she made a break for it. She leaned forward so her fingertips lightly brushed the floor, and collected several small pebbles off of it. She had a mischievous smile on her face as she planned her line of attack. Twirling the pebbles with her hands she extended her arms and her fingers, aiming the tiny rocks at her guards, and then bolted for the back door. Hearing voices come from the hallway, she scraped her fingers against the wall and used the same technique once again on the unsuspecting people. Eventually she made her way to her chambers to change out of her garments and into normal clothes that she wore to the market when she ran out like she just did.
Mei grinned widely at her success, yet again. But this time, she wasn't going to disappear into the market. She was going to take a small vacation out into the rest of the Earth Kingdom to see how different it is to the crazy system of Ba Sing Sae.
All she could manage was a laugh at her obtained freedom as she bended her way to a tunnel
Eventually, when she made it to the other side, she slowly poked her head out to check her surroundings. and then scratched a pattern into the wall and whispered, "Jian.. Jian come quickly.. " there was a loud rumble as the ground started to shake.. "Quietly!!" she hissed under her breath. More quieter, this time, the ground that was being upturned headed towards her, and then came to a halt. from the ground peeped the large head of a badger mole.
Mei looked fondly at the creature and giggled quietly, "Jian, let's go.. before they find us." And from there she jumped into the hole the badger-mole had made, and with a wave of her hands, the hole disappeared.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:09 am
Ϻѯΐ ζΐ βѯΐ Ғɸȵɕ
Mei approached the palace gates and stood there, pondering what to do next. She looked around and spotted a guard, "Where might I find one of those Dai Li agents?... I'm not allowed to access the prison without them..." She thought about how lame her statement was, but it was true. She wasn't allowed in the jail unless she had an agent with her, at the very least. It was not the place for royalty of any sort, especially women. She was actually tempted to go without the agent, because she knew where it was.
To her surprise however, she noticed an agent approaching her with the prisoners. "Let us meet in the throne room then... we shall speak there." She motioned for Apet and Jian to follow her.
 北 方
You have to think like a rock, be like a rock... Just be a rock
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:26 am
Kikio glared slightly at the agent holding her as her and her friends were taken to the thrown room. If they were to convince the Earth Queen to let them go, she'd have to be very persuasive...
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Rakiaya Tressorea Captain
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:26 am
The grand doors creaked open and a guy in dark red armor was pushed inside. He was followed by two guards who kept a close eye on him. When he got to the throne room, he admired the architecture and the vastness of it, as he had only been to a throne room on a rampage in the Fire Nation. He turned and saw the Earth Queen. "Um... do I bow?" He stepped forward uneasily and got to his knees, bowing respectfully. He got up without permission, as he didn't know he needed it, as he was born a peasant. "Your Majesty, I'm Colonel Luo Agagisan of the Fire Nation Army." He looked up at the Earth Queen and found her to be quite attractive and young for a royal.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:29 am
Apet followed her to the palace he looked around taking it all in. He had not been here in years. He gave Mei a puzzled look when she has to ask permission to go to her own prison. He followed Mei and Jian when she said they were going to the throne room.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:29 am
杜松|Juniperus|Waterbender
Without bowing or anything, Juniperus walked in the grand palace with his friends and sister clinging unto his arm. He looked around and was quite blown away with how great the palace was. He ran his fingers through his hair at least trying to fix the front up. I hope everything goes well today. He said fixing up his water skin string across his shoulder.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:32 am
Ϻѯΐ ζΐ βѯΐ Ғɸȵɕ
Mei frowned at how the captives were being handled. "I think I can handle it from here... if you would please step aside or at least loosen your grip it would be greatly appreciated.." Her comment was directed at the Dai Li agents, though she knew they wouldn't exit the room, they'll at least let the captives go and stand a few feet behind them.
She smiled at the man's comment about bowing. "It's courteous, yet unnecessary. Thank you," she said as she returned the respect.
After scanning the prisoners, and hoping they were all in the room she decided to start her questions. "I'm curious to know why you all were imprisoned in the first place. From what I was told, there were fake identities involved...." She paused a few moments wondering what else to say. " I would like to here your claims on the situation at hand."
She looked over to Apet and Jian, glad they could be there. She wanted to make the right decision, and listen to their stories, even if they were far-fetched.
北 方
You have to think like a rock, be like a rock... Just be a rock
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:35 am
Ember stared at the Earth Queen and realized her pretty eyes. She was beautiful. Ember could tell just by the Queens replies she was a very nice and patient woman. She looked back at Luo who was normally the guy to did all the speaking. She let go of her brother waiting for her chance to speak.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:37 am
Apet leaned up against one of the many pillars as he watched Mei act out her duty as the queen. He was more cautious about the Dai Li then the prisoners.
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Rakiaya Tressorea Captain
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:39 am
Luo Agagisan nodded and began his case. "Me and my comrades are traveling the world in search of a traitor to the Fire Nation. Recently, one of our country's top officials attempted to assassinate the Fire Prince Jet, who is right here." He pointed to Jet. "After a series of travels we landed here in Ba Sing Se. Deciding to stay for a few months and study at the world-famous Ba Sing Se University, I was afraid your agents would arrest us as soon as we revealed our true identities as Firebenders. Thus I took a new name, Tang Lao Huo, and studied at Ba Sing Se University for a few days." He coughed and cleared his throat, then glanced at the Dai Li agents to see if they were about to kill him. "I was in a tea shop one day when a bounty hunter had us confused for a bunch of criminals and tried to kill us. We managed to fight off the bounty hunter just in time for the Dai Li agents to come and arrest us. That is why we're here right now, asking for you to release us."
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:42 am
Kikio nodded as Luo talked, glancing up at the Queen every now and again. She was a Royal Guard member for the Fire Nation and had met her once in the past, and she didn't seem to change much since their last encounter.
((aww i had this huge post i was going to post then u posted xD GR))
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:43 am
Ember nodded as Luo finished speak, "But my brother and I are from the Northern Water Tribe." She added. She moved in next to Juniperus basically to show who else she were talking about. She thought it could've been pretty important to add that in.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:54 am
Jiro run trying to catch up with everybody, "where everybody go?" he said quietly to himself. After wandering for a mintue he found them and ran towards them, he bowed "Im Jiro Kokurai Yomoto im the general of the fire nation."
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:57 am
Ϻѯΐ ζΐ βѯΐ Ғɸȵɕ
Mei took notice that the fire prince was among the captive party. "I offer my condolences... I hope that the criminals are caught," she said solemnly as she bowed deeply this time. She hadn't recognized her peer until he was mentioned, and there was a slight look of shock on her face when she did notice him. Because of Jet's presence there, she scanned the firebenders and noticed Kikio. "I'm quite surprised you aren't the one to speak," Mei said with a hint of laughter in her voice. She genuinely smiled now remembering the guard's comments after the peace conference with the past Firelord.
"I honestly think that you ran into a string of misfortunes..." she paused a few moments to collect her thoughts. "The Dai Li may be intimidating.. but don't let them make you live in fear. They shouldn't acquire you because you are firebenders, yet the threat of war is now in the air after Firelord Kajo's death... The peace we agreed upon was almost solidified... now it may fall apart." Mei's eyes saddened as she realized what she was saying. She had to keep the peace between the two nations, war would only hurt them more. And she felt that this was the first step to bring the broken peace back together.
She looked at the Dai Li agents and waved her hand. "These few are free... they may stay in Ba Sing Sae, even within the palace if they wish."
Mei then turned her attention to the girl and her brother. "Did you accompany Prince Jet and his party? or is there another cause for your arrest?" her gaze softened as she asked the girl.
Her concentration was broken as the general arrived. "Welcome general, I assume that you are in the same party as Fire Prince Jet. As of right now you should be free to stay in the palace. I can send for the palace guards to guide you to your rooms, and set things back to how they were at the university."
北 方
You have to think like a rock, be like a rock... Just be a rock
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