Topic: Rhy'Din's Council of Ministers

BardGallant

Date: 2010-04-29 17:38 EST
Rhy'Din's Council of Ministers

The following record stands as a complete synopsis of the positions and job functions of the Governor's eight appointed members of the ruling Council of Rhy'Din. These eight individuals will be tasked with assisting in the day-to-day governing of the City of Rhy'Din within limited parameters of authority. At any time, the Governor may choose to add or revoke privileges, as well as replace appointed officials should they be found unfit to perform their job functions for the better of the City.

Minister of Defense: The holder of this position within the Council of Ministers will be responsible for the regulation of Rhy'Din's armed forces. It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Defense to oversee all functions of the City's military organizations, including both the volunteer City Watch and the Rhy'Din Air and Space Guard (RASG). The overall function of this position will allow the Minister complete authority to see to the safety and security of Rhy'Din's citizens. While it will be the responsibility of the Minister of Defense to command these areas of the government, the holder of this position's authority is only second to the Governor himself.

Minister of Trade & Commerce: The individual given this position within the Council of Ministers will be responsible for the regulation of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Revenue for the City of Rhy'Din. It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Trade & Commerce to oversee all functions of the City's intake and output of monetary gain or loss. The setting of taxes and the approval of commercial merchandise will all be overseen by the Minister of Trade & Commerce. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Trade & Commerce to command these areas of the government, the holder of this position's authority is only second to the Governor himself.

Minister of Magic: It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Magic to act as a liaison between the government and Rhy'Din's mystically inclined citizens. The Minister of Magic will be responsible for the study and cataloging of magical anomalies that may otherwise not be explainable through conventionally modern scientific methods. Where necessary, the Minister of Magic will have the authority to regulate magical practices in association with the Ministers of Defense and Justice should any malpractices reveal a threat to society. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Magic to command these areas of the government, the holder of this position's authority is second only to the Governor himself.

Minister of Science & Technology: The Minister of Science & Technology will act as the government's foremost authority on the research and development of beneficial improvements to the every day life and prosperity of Rhy'Din's citizens. Additionally, the holder of this position will be responsible for the study and cataloging of scientific anomalies that may otherwise not be explainable through mystical means. The Minister of Science & Technology may work alongside the Minister of Magic where necessary. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Science & Technology to command these areas of the government, the holder of this position's authority is second only to the Governor himself.

Minister of Justice: The holder of this position amongst the Council of Ministers will be responsible for the regulation of Law and Order within the City of Rhy'Din. It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Justice to oversee all judicial functions within the government. Where necessary, the Minister of Justice will have complete authority over seeing justice served where applicable for related crimes. Where applicable, the Minister of Justice will work alongside the Minister of Defense in accordance with his duties. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice to command these areas of government, the holder of this position's authority is second only to the Governor himself.

Minister of Citizen Resources: The Minister of Citizen Resources will act as the government's foremost authority on the regulation of such institutions as Health, Employment, Education and Public Works (for example: sanitation). It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Citizen Resources to oversee all public services within the City of Rhy'Din. Where necessary, the Minister of Citizen Resources will have complete authority sanctioning or prohibiting the activity of these relative organizations. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Citizen Resources to command these areas of government, the holder of this position's authority is second only to the Governor himself.

Minister of Agriculture: The individual given this position amongst the Council of Ministers will be responsible for the regulation and distribution of all the fundamental resources necessary for a living creature to survive as well as the maintenance of applicable public venues such as city Parks and Nature Reserves. It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture to ascertain the quality of produce, clean drinking water and other associated food stuffs to ensure a continued high standard quality of life for all of Rhy'Din's citizens, as well as regulation of Hunting and Foresting activities. Where necessary, the Minister of Agriculture will work alongside the Minister of Citizen Resources to guarantee this ensured productivity of fundamental elements. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture to command these areas of the government, the holder of this position's authority is second only to the Governor himself.

Minister of Cultural Diversity: It will be the responsibility of the Minister of Cultural Diversity to act as a liaison between certain aspects of the Rhy'Din citizenry and the government. The Minister of Cultural Diversity will be responsible for overseeing such functions as the distribution of Information, the regulation of Tourism and Communications, and the encouragement of Sports events and Public Events. Where necessary, the Minister of Cultural Diversity will intervene should any such activity threaten public security and work alongside the Ministers of Defense and Justice where appropriate. While it is the responsibility of the Minister of Cultural Diversity to command these areas of government, the holder of this position's authority is second only to the Governor himself.

These appointed eight Ministers will be expected to frequently keep both the Governor and their associate Ministers informed of their services to the City. In such cases that a single Minister may not be capable of resolving an issue of governance on his own, it will be expected then for the complete total of eight Council members, as well as the Governor himself, to meet to discuss policy and vote together upon the best possible resolution.

(( Again, I am looking for actual honest to goodness played characters to fill these positions. It is my preference that these eight characters be played by eight different people. Any interested parties looking to fill these positions may contact me through Private Message here on the site. The following post will also discuss some Out of Character expectations for this proposed extension of the storyline. ))

BardGallant

Date: 2010-04-29 18:03 EST
OOC Disclaimer

First of all, let me say that I feel tremendously honored to have been voted in to play the part of this year's Rhy'Din Governor. I put a lot of work into the Remember Your Roots Campaign, but in some places feel that I could have added more to increase the number of votes in my favor. When I decided to put Dris on the chopping block to run for this position, I had a lot of ideas about how he would change the way the government is run, and only now do I have the opportunity to put those ideas into motion.

The appointment of a Council of Ministers was one of my first ideas that I never mentioned during the campaign. Mostly because I didn't want to give away any ideas that my opponents could have used themselves. The idea for this expansion of the storyline came to me from the simple notion that it seemed very secular for only one character, one player, to be put in charge of something that could be seen as very important to the overall vision of the shared setting of Rhy'Din. My hope with this expansion is to extend the boundaries of the storyline and allow other people to get more intricately involved with "ruling Rhy'Din."

It is my hope that those people who express interest in playing a part as one of Rhy'Din's Council Ministers will put an extended amount of time and effort into the role. I'm interested in seeing what sort of ideas the characters (and you players) may come up with on their own in their positions of authority, as well as how the nine of us (myself included) work together. Those who apply should look forward to potential play dates in which we can get together to actually hold Council Meetings, though this is by no means mandatory.

While I do have only eight slots open for the roles of the above detailed positions in the government, this does not mean that only eight of you will be chosen from however many I receive PMs of interest from. As a community, I believe that we can expand this storyline even further by including even more intricate side stories. Those who are chosen to play the roles as Ministers are free to choose additional characters to act as personal assistants or secretaries or any other sort of underling you can think of in a political aspect. If I do not choose you to act the part of a Minister, I may instead suggest you appeal to those whom I have picked for the roles to work alongside them and make this storyline even more interactive than it ever has been before.

I fully encourage expanded interaction. Some of you have responded to the Inaugural Speech, and that pleases me. Do not feel as if you cannot involve yourself in any side story that may come as a result from the overall Government of Rhy'Din storyline. Every part, no matter how small, is important. Sometimes the smallest parts can lead to a snowball effect of inspired greatness.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me as well. Though I am hoping that a majority of the PMs I receive are those that express interest in filling a role as one of Rhy'Din's Ministers. So far I have already received some notifications of interest and am already looking forward to making tough decisions on who to choose over whom and for what positions. I hope to have concluded the "interview process" by the end of next week, if not sooner.

Again, thank you for this opportunity and allowing me the liberty to open the doors even wider to those who may be interested in playing at politics. I'm looking forward to a year's worth of fantastic storytelling. And here's hoping that by doing this more and more players will find interest in the idea of a government in Rhy'Din as well. Happy gaming!

BardGallant

Date: 2010-05-07 20:56 EST
The following speech was presented live before the Governor's Office on the evening of May 7, 2010 by the Rhy'Din Standard calendar system. Video and printed copies would become available to the public by the morning after the presentation.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

"Again I must express my gratitude to you the people for allowing me the honor to act as the third elected official Governor of Rhy'Din. In only the short week in which I have been sworn in to take up this duty, I have been working long and hard hours to ensure a smooth and swift transition. From this day forward, gone are the days in which this government has been run by a single man or woman. Though I willingly accept the responsibility of acting as your Chief of State, know that I am not so naive nor egotistical enough to think that I can best serve you alone.

"Last week I announced to you that my first act as Rhy'Din's Governor was to be the appointment of a Council of Ministers to help me best fulfill my obligations. That plan has not changed. Tonight I come before you to announce my decision on who amongst the community will in future work beside me to better govern this city.

"Know that this was not a decision made in haste. Long before I was elected into this position have I been amongst you, coming to know you, making contacts. During my campaign, I had a plan, but only now that I am officially your Governor am I at liberty to put this plan in motion. After much deliberation and review, the following eight individuals who I am about to name have proven to me to be the best applicable candidates to fill the positions that have previously been described and made available to the public."

There is a pause while the Governor lifts a small stack of papers from the podium and shuffles them into order. Perhaps even a dramatic pause to allow him a moment to put his own thoughts in order. Though it may just as well be an allotment of a few short seconds to ensure that he has the full attention of the audience. Then he looks up, leans that slight bit closer to the microphones, and proceeds.

"As your Minister of Defense, I have chosen a man of high military standing and expertise. This man has lived amongst you for many long and dedicated years, both as a defender of your basic sentient rights and as a family man. He is a husband and a father, and a friend to all he meets. As I said in my campaign, it is time for change and the introduction of a new administration full of new ideas. Though this man will also continue to support the beneficial military improvements that were made during the administration of Governor Matt Simon. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Defense, I appoint for you, Admiral Wolvinator, representative of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets.

"As your Minister of Trade and Commerce, I have chosen a woman of exceptional quality who for several years has traveled the realms engaging in trade, both foreign and domestic. She has worked a decade in the business of shipping and proves herself knowledgeable in the exchange rates of many forms of currency. This is a woman who knows the value of the dollar, the silver coin, the rupee and so much more. She has made many contacts with foreign nations over the years, and will use this as an asset where regarding future trade relations between Rhy'Din and her neighbors. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Trade and Commerce, I appoint for you, the lady Silver Starblade.

"As your Minister of Magic, I have chosen a man of unquestionable dedication to the Arts Magical. He is a man who is focused to a fault and never afraid to back down from any challenge. This man comes to me strongly recommended by his peers, and after much review I have found no error in their judgment regarding this man's character and resolve. He has done many beneficial things for our city already, and in future will do many more. This man will act also as a liaison between all magically inclined citizens to help them better understand and appreciate their own talents, as well as to encourage them to use those skills to better benefit our city. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Magic, I appoint for you the master Silas Greyshott.

"As your Minister of Science and Technology, I have chosen a man of superior integrity who has made it his life's work to better understand the fundamentals of the universe. He has for many years lived secluded in our city, dedicating his life to his family and to his craft. Though now, through my own urgings, he has agreed to once again come into the public light and work beside me for the benefit of our society. This is a man who knows his trade, of that there is no doubt, and in future he will prove this to those who do not know him as well as I. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Science and Technology, I appoint for you Master Scientist Drake Valkonan.

"As your Minister of Justice, I have chosen a woman of inarguable qualification. She is a woman who began her career as a prosecuting attorney in foreign realms. This woman spent the appropriate length of years studying law in a prestigious institution in her homeland. Since coming to Rhy'Din, she has opened a dance studio and set aside her involvements in the law. However, an old flame has been re-lit within her. This woman has offered her services to our fair city, and I can think of no other with a more creditable resume than hers to fill the position. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Justice, I appoint for you the lady Riley O'Rourke.

"As your Minister of Citizen Resources, I have chosen a man who knows the people of this city perhaps even better than myself. He is a retired Captain of the Rhy'Din Military Force local Militia 27th Division in the WestEnd. This man has lived a long and dedicated life to our fair city as both a husband and a father, as well as a close friend to many of our city's most renowned citizens. His is a name well-known, and he is a man who has faithfully devoted himself to sustaining the memories of those who have built Rhy'Din's very foundations. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Citizen Resources, I appoint for you the founder of the Jewell Ravenlock Center for Community Partnership, the one and only honorable Brian Ravenlock.

"As your Minister of Agriculture, I have chosen a woman of unyielding loyalty to those causes she deems universally just. She is a decorated war hero from her home-world of Earth, and she claims ancestry in the agriculturally inclined. Though on Earth she is a dual citizen of Great Britain and the United States of America, circa 2010, she is likewise a citizen of Coruscant and your very own Rhy'Din itself. This is a woman who has a head for logistics moreso than I can rightfully claim myself, with a doctorate in Business Administration, and she has always stood by me as a valuable advisor. Now she will do this in an official capacity. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Agriculture, I appoint for you Major Merriam Ksyhsravor.

"And finally, as your Minister of Cultural Diversity, I have chosen a woman of sensational social standing. This is is a woman who has been most frequently viewed as only the wife of one of the most influential men of our society for the past two years. Though as I know her, she is so much more than that. Additionally, she remains the undefeated title holder of the black Opal known as ShadoWeaver for the past two years as well. She owns the most famous fashion boutique in all the realm, and on top of that kicks butt and takes names all while wearing heels. Ladies and gentlemen, as your Minister of Cultural Diversity, I appoint for you the admirable Mrs. Koyliak VanDuran-Simon."

After all that, the Governor pauses for a breath and a drink of water, leaning away from the podium only slightly. Again he shuffles the small stack of papers in his grasp, then sets them down neatly to be left alone. Once his breather is complete, he looks out upon the crowd with a smile and leans back in that marginal inch to resume speaking into the microphone.

"In these eight individuals I place my trust. Together, myself and the newly appointed Council of Ministers will work to better provide for the needs of every Rhy'Din citizen. Know that any issue I cannot deal with personally will be brought to the attention of my administration. I do not claim to know all. I am only one man, a man awarded the honor of being elected into a position of authority and power. These eight Ministers will ensure that I alone do not abuse this privilege as granted to me by you the people.

"The naming of these men and women is just the start. We have much work to do and only so much time in which to do it. Now I will give each of my appointed Ministers leave to speak on their own behalves. As I have put my trust in them, so too do I hope you, the people, can put your trust in them as well. Thank you."

With that, Governor Driscol pushes away from the podium and turns around with a smile to shake the hands of a few as yet unrecognizable official-looking individuals seated behind him on the stage. Uncertain words are exchanged as the blinding flash of cameras make lip-reading difficult and the boom mics can't quite reach over the wall of Watch members on guard to pick up the sounds. After completing the row of handshakes, Governor Driscol steps down off the stage and into the company of a woman with dark hair. The pair of them slip into the shadow of the crowd and are reported to have disappeared into the Governor's Office.



(( All the names bolded in red above should be links to profiles, just in case anyone's curious and wants a quick link to characters they don't know or whatever. Now, everybody named has the opportunity to reply to this post with their own character taking the podium to give a little speech should you so choose.

I want to thank everyone who has expressed interest in a position, or in this storyline in general. To those of you who were not picked to front the major title of the position, do not fret. As I said above in the disclaimer there is still plenty of room for your involvement. In fact, I have a few ideas for some of you and I'll be passing the word along to the rest of those involved where applicable. Thank you and enjoy! ))

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2010-05-08 16:02 EST
Offering a soft, yet respectful clap for the Governor, Brian smiled faintly, offering glances among his peers a moment. A nod to each, as he quietly lifted from his seat, and made his way to the podium itself. His eyes panned the gathered, as he lifted a hand, adjusting his tie a moment, as he cleared his throat a bit...

It has been a long time, since he had been before any gathering such as this, and in truth it felt a bit strange, but this was what he and the others would have to get used to, here on out. Being in the public eye, and more so, accountable. Lifting the antique spectacles, he was so fond of wearing, from his face, as he set them upon the podium itself. The his eyes panned to the gathered once more, as he offered we friendly wave, and smile. "Well, this is something else, it is not?", said with a chuckle, as he continued. "Thank you, Governor and Good evening. Ladies, and Gentleman...Friends, and family, collegues, co-workers, and friends in the media, and lastly, and most importantly, never forgotten, the citizens, of Rhy"Din. Good evening to each, and every one of you. And rest assured, I shall keep this brief, as I am sure others, will wish have a moment here, as well. My name is Brian Ravenlock, and well...I am your newly appointed Minister of Citizen Resources.

My family, and I have been a part of Rhy'Din, for a very long time, and no matter, where I ended up, I had one home, and one home only...

Here...

I love this city, as do my collegues, I am sure. We have fought for her, and her peoples, on nay different fronts, doing what we could, when we could, and more so..

And we never did it alone..

We did it with the help, of so many others, and in truth too many to count, and in fact, I see a great many here tonight, in this small gathering...Each doing what they could, for the betterment, of this wondrous city. And making a difference, in more ways, that even you can imagine.

And then I was taken away, for a time...However, I am here now, and more so, I have seen things...This place, has changed, to a degree, and so had her people...For the good, and for the not so good...I saw eyes with blinders, to so speak...Words, and no action. I could not sit idly, any longer, and I believe that sentiment, rest with others, as well.

The Governor is right...This is not a one party, event...And this was not decided lightly, on any event, by any of us. I will speak only for myself, when I say it is time, to stand once more, and make that difference, a true reality once again. And to do that, we need you...Each and every one of you.

You people, are the very reason we are here tonight, and more so, you are the reason, we are even here at all. Rhy'Din, and her people...One in the same. Know that, standing, and making that difference, does not require so much...One is not needed to fight tooth, and nail, loss of limb, and what not. A simple act, a concerned glance...An anonymous alert...A helping hand, and so much more!

For that, again, we need each of you.

My plate is a full one, as I am sure the same will be of my collegues for the time being, however...Rest assured my door is open, always, to you...Remember, I serve this city, and more so, her people...Each and every one of you. And to that, I look foward to serving you, and I look foward to working with you, so that we may make Rhy'Din, even greater than she already is.

I thank you, on behalf of myself, and my family, and am honoured for this opportunity."

A bow offered to the crowd, as he smiled, as he then turned, bowing to his collegues, and the gathered that were seated behind him. It was then down the steps, as he was met by Jenai, and the twins. A smile, as he offered, a kiss to Jenai, and then quickly hoisted Nathressa in arm, as Jenai took Aleyah. The family Ravenlock, then moved into the crowed towards the rear, nodding to, and shaking a few hands, of some they happened to pass, along the way.

Wolvinator

Date: 2010-05-08 19:24 EST
After Brian completed walking off of the stage, Wolvinator clapped and smiled, continuing onward with the introductions. He stood from his seat and gave a tug down on the upper half of his Starfleet uniform to smooth it out. Then, approaching the microphone, he took hold of it in one hand and leaned down toward it, waving his hand outward towards the eldest Ravenlock.

"Ladies and gentleman, one more time, for the Minister of Citizen Resources, Brian Ravenlock and our Governor, Sheridan Driscol."

Wolvie took a step back for a moment and clapped for the two gentleman with nods of approval. He smiled and then stepped back up towards the podium. He didn't have any papers readily available, as he had memorized his speech during the last day.

"Ladies and gentlemen, citizens and denizens of Rhy"Din, good day to you. For those of you who don't know me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Admiral Wolvinator, representative of Starfleet, the United Federation of Planets, and most recently your new Minister of Defense.

"Allow me to first start out by thanking Governor Driscol for this opportunity. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected for such a cabinet position, and I truly appreciate it. Past administrations have been rather reluctant to take such a course, and I believe that the Governor should be commended for making such a momentous change during the first days of his Administration.

"It wasn't that long ago where I, myself, had been running for this very office and I understand the importance which is placed in such a position. As your minister of defense, I will ensure that Rhy"Din's sea, air, land and space are protected collectively and in tandem. I am looking forward to working alongside the Governor and the people to improve the City Guard, the Watch, and the Rhy"Din Air and Space Guard. I am confident that the proposals that will come in the following months will help make Rhy"Din a safer place for all walks of life.

"However, safety is strongest from within. It is my first order of business to implore each and every one of you to volunteer for the City Guard, the Watch, and the Rhy"Din Air and Space Guard; especially those of you with unique and special abilities. Our goal is to unite all the Heroes and Heroines under one banner, and work in a Democratic fashion to bring justice to our streets. It is with your help, that we can proactively stop those whom wish to harm the innocent dead in their tracks.

"Those of you whom are interested in doing so are welcomed to contact the Governor's Office, or the office of the Ministry of Defense at any point in time. The Ministry of Defense has an open door policy, and we are here to work for you and to work with you. I'm a person who doesn't like sitting in an office and being behind the scenes. I'm a fighter, and I prefer to be knee deep in the trenches with the Watch, so I expect to see you all out there with me."

There was a smile and a chuckle as he completed his sentence. Taking a moment to look out the crowd he savored the moment before finishing his speech.

"I look forward to fulfilling all of my duties and responsibilities of this appointment and I want to once again thank you all for giving me a few moments of your time to speak. Thank you.?

The Admiral stepped back from the podium and offered a wave. He turned around, nodding and to his fellow cabinet members, before he approached the governor. Shaking Dris's hand he pulled him closer and thanked him once more for the opportunity before he made his way down the stage to listen to the others if they chose to speak.

Riley ORourke

Date: 2010-05-09 03:05 EST
After the new Governor and the new Minsters of Citizens' Resources and Defense had given their speeches, a tall, leggy brunette with caramel-coloured, almond-shaped eyes, dressed in a conservative pin-striped pantsuit, red button-down shirt and sensible heels, walked up to the podium, a sheaf of three-by-five cards in her had. She took a moment to look out over the assembled crowd, smiling brightly when she spotted a particular dark-haired man. Then she dropped her eyes to the cards, which she had laid out in a grid pattern on the podium. She licked her lips and then leaned forward just a touch, her voice like honey, purring out into the room.

"My name is Riley O'Rourke. It is an honour and a privilege for me to be standing up here, with my colleagues and our newly elected governor. I'm excited about my new position as Minister of Justice and I'm looking forward to making Rhy'Din an even better city than it is now.

"I'm proud to say that I've been a citizen of this amazing city for just over a year now. There are many things in this city of which to be proud " the general tolerance of creatures and people of different skin colours, religious beliefs, even species. By and large, you, the citizens of this city get along harmoniously, working together to better your lives and the lives of your neighbours. I have been witness to, and involved in-" and here, Riley winked at Admiral Wolvinator, "many different occasions where complete strangers, who had nothing to gain from such an act, step up and help defend their fellow citizens from robbery and murder."

Her expression clouded now and she leaned forward more, her voice losing its honeyed purr and taking on a more serious tone. "But too many times have I heard of occasions where no one lifted a finger as some was brutalised by those amongst us who feel they have carte blanche to do as they choose, or worse, the times when someone did try to help only to be shouted down by their companions and others who did not feel it was their place to interfere."

Riley paused for a moment, her eyes moving over the crowd, speaking to an individual face for a moment as she asked her question before moving onto a different face as she asked another. "When will it be time to interfere" When it happens to our next-door neighbour" When it happens to our mother or our sister" When is it important enough for us to get involved?"

Her voice and her expression softened a touch and now she looked directly into the TV cameras, speaking to the people watching at home. "My grandfather, James O'Rourke, served the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the great city of Boston as District Attorney for thirty years before his retirement. He is responsible for my love of jurisprudence, the science of laws and lawmaking. When I was only ten years old, I watched him try a case from beginning to end. It was a case against a child rapist. He spoke powerfully of the need to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on all charges, and the man who thought he could get away with harming a child, with taking away her innocence and her childhood, is still behind bars.

"It was at that moment, when that jury came back with the guilty verdict, that I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to pursue justice for innocent victims, and to remind those who would commit crimes that they would stand trial and be punished for their misdeeds."

She paused again, taking a sip of a fresh glass of water and letting her gaze move over the room once more, engaging even more spectators with this sweep of her caramel eyes. "I make this promise to you, Rhy'Din. I promise that I will continue this fervent pursuit of justice for you now. Governor Driscoll has seen fit to appoint me as the highest law enforcement official in this realm, and I swear that I will do everything in my power to seek justice for your wrongs and to make sure that you feel safe leaving your homes and walking your streets."

She collected her index cards together and made a neat pile with them, rapping them softly against the podium's surface. She looked directly into the banks of cameras again, and with her trademark lop-sided smile said, "Thank you again to Governor Driscoll for this opportunity to serve you, the citizens of Rhy'Din. I promise that I will not take this new duty lightly and I will strive to make you proud of me."

She flashed a brilliant smile, holding her pose at the podium long enough for the pop of flashbulbs to fade and then returned to her seat, making sure to shake the Governor's hand as she passed him.

Technomachia

Date: 2010-05-09 11:11 EST
The next woman to approach the podium reached it via use of a cane. Her suit jacket and skirt were a blue reminiscent of military issue formals, and she wore her slightly silvered dark hair pulled back into a club at the back of her neck. She smiled slightly as Riley passed her, and leaned into the microphone, applauding.

"Your Minister of Justice, gentle beings."

She straightened again, smiled, and inclined her head.

"Now, I imagine you're wondering just who I am. My name is Merriam Ksyshravor, and I am your Minister of Agriculture. I've lived here in Rhydin, on and off, for four or five years' total, though for the last two, I've lived with my husband on Coruscant, because we have a three-year-old son." Pausing to chuckle warmly, then. "You're probably wondering why I was named to the position of Minister of Agriculture, when my knowledge of agriculture is apparently lacking."

Mer raised her head, blue-grey eyes sweeping the audience with a steely gaze. Its sternness was broken by another one of those slight smiles that just curved the corners of her mouth, giving softness to the edge.

"It's true. I don't know much about actually tilling the land and sowing and growing crops—outside of my own garden. While my mother was the daughter of farmers, and my grandparents grew crops before coming to America, my mother went into the Air Force, and it's her footsteps I followed. However, I do know when to shut up and listen. Farmers, especially generational farmers, know what they're doing. I don't feel I need to be a know-nothing with a degree who walks in and tries to change everything. I don't want or need to try to do their job better than they do. What I do want I is to be a resource to help them get what they need to do their jobs. What I want to do is what I'm good at, after their crops are grown. Getting them to market on time and fresh, and putting the coins back in our farmers' pockets. "

Eyeing the audience again, she nodded and smiled briefly.

"I also believe that in a time of crisis, my job will be to support the other Ministers. It would fall to me to help ensure our farmers can provide, should any natural disasters befall us, or, failing that, to alert, say, the Minister of Trade and Commerce that merchants would need to procure certain things. Governor Driscol is aware of this, and I believe that is why he named me to this position. I am willing to work hard to serve you, citizens of Rhydin, and it is my honor that you allow me to do so, in the company of my fellow Ministers. Good day."

With that, she straightened yet again, getting her bearings and her cane beneath herself, moving slowly back to her seat. She offered the Governor himself a small military-style salute before retaking her seat and settling in to listen to the rest of the speeches.

Warlock

Date: 2010-05-09 15:46 EST
Silas approached the podium, goggles on his head and staff in tow — wherever he had just come from, he had been hard at work. He seemed startled that there was a crowd at all, and that he was met with applause. He stared wide-eyed at all of them until he overcame his surprise and worked up the nerve to speak:

"Is this a....microphone" Is it on' Yes..." Oh....okay then." He cleared his throat, shuffled, hesitated, and continued: "Fellow Ministers, Governor Driscoll....thank you. Ladies and gentlemen....let me first say, though I realize I am here at the Governor's request, I am RhyDin's servant. I have no background in politics or administration, only a recently reopened workshop, a few academic papers and arcane inventions, and a very short stint as a gubernatorial candidate to my name. And as I am a scholar, a student of academic culture in many ways, you may not find it surprising that I do not hold much stock in the delineation between who, in this city, is supernatural, mystical, psionic or mundane. You might think me, uh, overly semantic for this....and I wouldn't fault you." He managed a nervous smile, bowed his head a little, and continued.

"But I honestly believe that this city doesn't have a single person that we could call mundane. A number of us come from all over a broad spectrum of powers, some of them not at all overlapping....but we are all people of widely ranging talents. Every last one of us has a skill, an advantage, something valuable to offer with which we can better ourselves, our neighbors, and the city we call home, and RhyDin's greatest moments that I have witnessed....have been when people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills unite to overcome hardship and build something good together.

"The arcane sciences are my background, and so I will focus on arcane problems, such as violent and destructive monsters and dangerous metaphysical phenomena. But I consider myself an advocate for all RhyDinians, and I hope I can promote understanding between whatever mystically-inclined communities may choose to identify with me and all other communities, and that we can overcome our problems together, be they natural or preternatural, not as full-elves or part-elves or dwarves or humans....nor as magi, carpenters, millers or witches....but as RhyDinians. Thank you."

Drake Valkonan

Date: 2010-05-09 16:49 EST
The Master Scientist wasn't moving at full speed these days, though considering he still only looked about half his age, the problem was more likely traumatic than systematic. Still, Drake mounted the podium with his dignity intact, though the hands he placed on the lectern supported more weight than he cared to admit.

He hadn't dressed up, so to speak, since he hadn't donned a suit and tie. But he'd always viewed the traditional white lab coat as his uniform, and in it he held himself with the sort of quiet power one might see in a general, or admiral.

Then the speakers blared the opening drums and synth-notes of "She Blinded Me With Science." Grinning, Drake spoke over the music, which had obligingly settled into the exact volume to remain audible without detracting from his words.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I come before you as a man with a mission.

"We here in Rhydin are a technological and scientific oddity beyond any I've seen in all my years and all my travels. On one side of the city, heroic warriors and knights ranging from technological and scientific between the fall of the Roman Empire and the start of the Renaissance; on the other hand starships dock so that their crew can mingle with robots and AIs to get their energy weapons repairs before blasting off with drives whose sole purpose in life is to make Newton and Einstein cry for their mommies. How, then, can we properly administer the government with regards to this one overarching principle?"

Dolby's opus contributed its own comment to the discussion, in the voice of Magnus Pyke: "Science!"

Drake kept smiling as he spoke. He was enjoying himself, after all. "I came out of retirement to take this position in order to advance an agenda. That agenda is advancement, progression, and refinement. It is time the government of Rhydin gave more than passing consideration and notice of these problems.

"The first mission of the Ministry of Science and Technology will be to advance full rights for any sort of quote-unquote 'artificial intelligence'.

"The second mission will be to advance scientific and technological knowledge among all residents, especially those newly-arrived from disparate time periods. I intend to work with the Ministers of Citizen Resources and Cultural Diversity to make certain we can conduct this in a manner beneficial to all.

"The third mission is the standardization of scientific research principles, particularly ethics, across individuals and institutions.

"The fourth mission is to detonate the sun."

He paused a moment. As an atypically subtle counterpoint, the speakers commented, "Good heavens, Ms. Sakamoto, you're beautiful!"

"I understand politicians are supposed to make promises they have no intent of keeping," Drake continued, "so I trust you'll all remember that last one come election year. We'll make a scandal out of it. Drakedidn'tblowupthesunlikehepromisedgate." Grinning again, but no less serious, he swept the room with one of those gazes that makes a speaker seem as if he's looked at every person individually. "I look forward to this, and I look forward to working with the governor, the ministers, and the people of Rhydin to make this realm a better one, a progressive and productive one. A place we're all proud to live in. More so, because I know I already am."

He finished with another smile and a lifted hand by way of a friendly gesture, as he returned carefully to his seat.

Silver Starblade

Date: 2010-05-09 18:48 EST
Silver sat in the background with the rest of the ministers, watching as one by one they stepped toward the podium to make a speech. As the new Minister of Science and Technology finished up his last words, she took a breath and stepped toward the microphone, looking to the governor, the other ministers and finally to the crowd. A quick clear of her throat and she began loudly and clearly, in a voice much accustomed to shouting orders across a ship. "Good evening everyone. As all the other ministers have stated it is a pleasure to be here tonight and I must thank the governor for his faith in appointing me to the position of Minister of Trade and Commerce. Some of you may recognize me from my endeavors in the ports. I have been a citizen of Rhydin for well over a decade and immersed in the trading business for longer than that and I am proud to call Rhydin my home port. Just like the other ministers, I have an agenda and that is to make Rhdyin prosperous; to expand our current trade routes and to find new ones; to maintain current relationships with our current partners and to seek out new and thriving ones; to make Rhydin a city in which every merchant stops. It is with my newly appointed position that I hope to do this and much more in order to ensure that Rhydin continues to flourish. As a productive citizen of Rhydin, I understand the worth of a hard earned silver and will ensure that yours are not going to waste on unnecessary taxes and high prices. I hope to also guarantee that each of you.." Her voice trailed off for a moment as she looked through the crowd. "Are not wanting for anything; whether it be the comforts of your homeland or simple Rhydinian goods. I, along with the other ministers?" She paused, sweeping a hand out toward the others, "Look forward to working to better Rhydin. Thank you." She paused, flashing a lopsided smile toward the crowd and counting to three in her head to allow the photographers to get a picture before she turned and made her way back to her chair.

Koyliak

Date: 2010-05-10 14:35 EST
Koy listened as the Governor and each minister spoke in turn, smiling and clapping when appropriate. She stayed quiet although her orange ruched dress with its flirty hemline falling just above her knees was anything but quiet. She click-clacked her way to the podium.

"Name's Koy. Fer those who know me ye'll know I'm more fer action than speakin" so I'll keep this short," she flashed a crooked grin at the crowd. "I'd like ta thank Governor Driscol fer such a vote of confidence and I'm lookin" forward ta workin" with "em and my fellow ministers. I'd also like ta thank our last Governor fer not only bein" the rock of my own family but fer bein" an inspiration ta all of us. It's through his devotion over the last two years tha I've been able ta see this city through new eyes."

She cast another warm smile as her forest green eyes gazed over the crowd. "RhyDin's a city unlike any other in the realm. We open our arms ta bein's from all walks of life and offer "em a chance fer new beginnin's and fer safely settin" down a new set of roots. Jest as this city's "fforded me the opportunity ta make a livin" bringin" out beauty one outfit at a time I'd like ta return the favor in kind. It's my aim ta make it even more apparent and well known by our own citizens and in other realms tha there's nothin" more beautiful than our vast differences co-existin" within these city walls."

"My Boutique door and an Outback ring are "lways open ta anyone lookin" ta talk ta me. And fer any of ye lookin" ta cause trouble at any future cultural or public events under my watch, well, I don't jest wear heels "cause they make my legs look fantastic. Thankee.? She winked and grinned at the crowd again although anyone who frequented the duels would know that there was more truth than humor in her last quip'some even had the bruises to prove it.