Monique's arrival is preceded by Primus, who quietly peels away from his employer to deliver a message. The Greenmarch Lady continues on to the Valardin benches, her chin level, her smile inviting.

A bundle of furry leather and bulky knitwear comes into the hall, and somewhere inside of all of that, under the hood and under the scarf and under the ridiculously giant mittens is Grady. His wool pants crinkle gently, the sound of a packet of waxed paper tucked away in one of the large pockets. He pushes off his hood once he sits down, revealing a magnificent mess of 'hood hair', and loosens his scarf so the lower half of his face is actually visible. Then off come the mittens, one by one, while his pants go 'crinkle, crinkle'.

Caspian has joined the Commoner Benches.

Ysabel enters quietly, a smile offered up to Remus who follows her in before she's then moving off to settle at the Lyceum benches.

Patrizio is, for once, settled in the Pravusi benches, at Raven's side, rather than at the more familiar-to-all spot at the front of the room. This seems to be sitting quite alright with the prince-general while he's opening his folio and settling it on his knees as if to take notes - a glance, admittedly, towards Tyche at the Voices' table, before he's annotating something on the open leaves before him.

Magaen has joined the Redrain Benches.

Prince Victus has forgone any chair-related feats of athleticism today. As he sits with the other Voices of the Realm, he wears a calm face. Both elbows on the table, hands together, fingers threaded. It's a cold day, but a relaxed one.

Remus follows Ysabel sitting next to her if she allows, offer a warm smile in return.

Drea has joined the Redrain Benches.

Rosalind is here! A rarity for the Ravenseye, but for once she's noton some scouting trip. Dressed comfortably in warm leathers and furs, Rosa comfortably makes her way to the Redrain benches.

Remus has joined the Lyceum Benches.

Quenia has joined the Lyceum Benches.

Keely is sitting front and center among the Grayson benches, having arrived early. While appearing to be on her best behavior, she is making her poor assistant pass notes as subtly as possible to various people around the room, and is also waving cheerfully at familiar faces when she spots them. Grady's antics, as ever, seem to make it difficult for her to maintain her composure, and she disguises some quiet giggles with a cough behind her hand.

Jaenelle unfolds herself from the seat at the center of the High Lord's table, looking over her shoulder towards Corban as he stands guard and says something quieter to the man with a smile. When he replies, there is a nod shared before she turns forward once more, "I wish to welcome all of you to the Assembly of Peers, the first of the new year. Please rise for the convocation of the Faith of the Pantheon. Archlector Giada," she turns fully towards in the woman's direction at the Godsworn benches and offers a respectful dip of her head.

Tyche has taken her proper place for the day's events at the table with the other leaders and Voices of the Realm. She sits comfortably, her gaze lingering over the Pravus benches here and there as she watches the members of her fealty filter in. Jaenelle calls for them to rise, and she does with a sweep of steelsilk about her legs.

There's a moment while Patrizio's clearly in conversation with a few of the others at the Pravusi benches, but on hearing the call to rise for the convocation, he does close his folio - stylus in place to mark his spot - before rising to his feet respectfully.

Quenia dared to venture out today, in spite of the stormy snowy weather outside. Furs are shed at the door, but a blanket is tucked under her arm as she makes her way over to the Lyceum benches and settles down. Once there, that blanket is spread over hear lap, and ready to go around her shoulders in case she should find herself much to cold.

Raven rises and bows her head for the convoction.

Gianna rises to her feet with a small flourish of red honeysilk.

Her attention arrested by the various chatter going on at the Lyceum benches, Ysabel doesn't seem to hear the call to rise at first. It takes her a few moments before she's blinking and turning her attention forward and then doing just that, a book she has brought clutched loosely to her chest.

Alis rises alongside the others at the Voices table, a quiet murmur given to Tyche whom she sat herself beside (and it now standing beside) while she looks out over the benches to see who is there.

Griffin rises.

Rufio has joined the Setarcan Benches.

Ilmia rises

Caspian hoists himself up to his feat for the convocation, his head bowing slightly.

Rising to her feet with a brush down of rustling cloth, Cassima rises and with one last flickering glance over all does head bow in await.

Edris stands when the invtiation is given, along with the sea of others, dark eyes moving to the Archlector as she is called, his own head bowing respectfully.

Nina arrives just in time, settling into the commoner benches in her warm coat and waiting for the beginning of the prayer. She rises at the appropriate time with her head bowed.

Watcher has joined the Commoner Benches.

Thesbe is really minding her own business, it's unusual to see her here. She gives a polite dip of head to her cousin, Romulius, a chuckle when he barely breaks his statue-like visage. But nonetheless she stands in attendance for her and her sister. Whom were identical, often hard to know who was who.

Natasha has left the Thrax Benches.

Remus rises when called, he seems mainly focused on what is happening rather then the conversations yet.

Rising simply from the Benches and taking a small step forward, Giada nods at Jaenelle. She lifts her hands, turned with the palms up, and begins to speak. Her voice is pitched to carry easily.

"Gods of the Pantheon, in whom we find our peace, the Compact gathers in Assembly to address the issues we now face. We ask that you give us your blessings. May the leaders of the realm and the Peerage be given insight and boldness, and may the people whom they lead see wisdom in the vision of their lieges. May the Compact prosper as we rebuild, grateful for the victory you have already assured us." And then she sits.

Tyche joins in the prayer, and when Giada sits and they are all encouraged to as well, she reclaims her chair. But not before leaning over to the Valardin Highlord to murmur something in return, an easy smile accompanying the words. Once settled, she reaches for her folio, sifting through the pages to pull one to the top.

The chatter in the Assembly of Peers pauses as the door guard announces, "Highlord arriving!" Their fealty respectively rises while until they are seated.

Gianna settles back down on the bench when the prayer is concluded.

Darren has joined the Voices of the Realm.

Watcher is a little late, though, fortunately, also quite unremarkable. She slips swiftly and quietly to the commoner benches as the prayer is given, glancing toward the godsworn bench only briefly, squinting just a moment, before taking a seat.

Griffin settles back down to listen.

Quenia glances away from whatever might be happening at the benches to regard the new person entering the room. Her eyes fall on Darren a moment, taking a measure of the Redrain High Lord, before glancing to the others at the table. She then drops her voice to the benches once Berenice points something out.

Darren strides into the Assembly of Peers with an apologetic smile for being late. The highlord drops into a low bow towards the Voices of the Realm and then walks up to take his seat at the high table.

"Thank you Archlector Giada for your wise words in opening the Assembly. You may all sit," Jaenelle tells the gathered now that the prayer is complete. With a quick smoothing of the spidersilk skirt, she begins, "I wish to invite House Valardin to come forward to share any information they wish to regarding their fealty, whether that be issues or something we as a Compact should be familiar with in celebration. Your Grace," she says as she motions towards Alis.

Alis rises from her chair again, and gives Jaenelle a warm smile. "Thank you, Your Grace. House Valardin has nothing new to report to the Assembly." Yep, that's all. She's seated again immediately.

Kiera has joined the Valardin Benches.

Margerie has joined the Valardin Benches.

Sofia has joined the Lyceum Benches.

"Thank you, High Lord Alis, I am not sure if we are thrilled or disappointed that there is nothing new to inform. Perhaps next time you can tell us about the mountain." What mountain? I guess we'll find out next time. "Next, House Pravus," she turns her attention towards Tyche and offers a curious gaze towards the woman. "Please share anything you believe the Compact would find beneficial in knowing, any future plans to assist or steal for themselves?"

Shifting slightly in his seat beside Giada, Aelgar takes the occasional curious glance about the crowd and nods politely whenever he meets any eyes. Beyond that he remains still an attentive in his seat.

Tyche stands when Pravus is called forth, and she spares only a moment of looking to the benches where those in her fealty gather before she addresses the room at large, "We have nothing to bring forth to this Assembly today, but we wish to express how grateful we are that Bastion was retaken and is once more in Grayson hands. We remain ready to help the Compact as we weather these crises." And then she sits again!

Raven's eyebrows knit and her lips purse. Her puzzled gaze turns to Patrizio.

Ysabel turns her bright blue gaze upon Tyche while she listens, her fingertips idly drumming against the cover of the book settled atop her lap.

A glance to Raven when she's looking to him, and then his attention shifts forward to consider Jaenelle, though he looks... amused. And somewhat unimpressed.

"House Pravus has nothing new to speak of, though again, next time we might hear of the strangely shaped cloud that floated over Setarco last Sunday and then disappeared moments later." As clouds do. "Thank you Marquessa Tyche," Jaenelle tells the woman with the most serious of faces and a dip of her head. "High Lord Victus," she calls out the next down the line, "would you like to share any news from the Mourning Isles that people might find interested or read anything for us so we may learn?"

And then Patrizio just shakes his head, and returns to his writing.

Sofia has left the Lyceum Benches.

Remus is listening to the Asembly curiously, just focused on the topics being discussed

Prince Victus stands, unfolding a scroll that is nearly as long as his arms. "House Thrax presents no pressing concerns to the Assembly. However, we would to take this time to make good on our reparations to the lords of Helianthus for our nomenclature. Rather than using 'Helianthus' vassals' as an umbrella term for the fealty and whatever situations therein, we will now be listing everyone within Helianthus' chain individually." He clears his throat for dramatic effect as he unfurls his long piece of parchment.

He proceeds to list every vassal beneath Sungreet. All of them. Including the names of their rulers and any grandiose titles therein.

For every. Single. One.

When he's finished holding time hostage, he dips his chin respectfully and sits back down."Thank you."

Giada checks composure at hard. Giada is successful.

As Victus reads off names, Giada's expression remains admirably quiet, but anyone looking closely might see the unvoiced laughter in her eyes.

Tyche arches a brow as Jaenelle speaks of strange clouds, a glance cast the Pravus-benches and then back to the Lyceum's leader in mild curiosity.

As Victus reads off names, Giada remains admirably quiet, but anyone looking closely might see the unvoiced laughter in her eyes. <fix>

Darren listens attentively at Victus' long list of names, nodding along with most of them and then he stage whispers to Tyche, "Were any of those made up? As in we need to guess the made up one? I think those were all real, though."

Tyche's eyes widen as Victus actually makes true on his promise and unrolls that scroll. She settles back to listen to the names, and when the Redrain leader stage-whispers to her, she cannot help the small huff of a laugh that escapes. "They sound real enough," she returns.

As Victus reads his list, a very soft sound from the Grayson benches can be heard in the silent hall. 'Crinkle, crinkle'. Grady is trying to unobtrusively, and quietly as possible, fish a waxed paper packet full of some kind of candy out of his pants pocket. Waxed paper being what it is, he's only marginally successful.

Raven meets Tyche's inquisitive look and offers a puzzled look and shrug to Tyche. shaking her head indicating there have not been any suspicious clouds she'

Raven meets Tyche's inquisitive look and offers a puzzled look and shrug to Tyche. shaking her head indicating there have not been any suspicious clouds she's heard of.

Noah looks up as Victus starts to read a few names. Then a few more names. Then even MORE names. He turns his eyes towards Jaenelle. There is a clear 'I stayed sober for this' look.

Ember, a prominent blot of shadowmeld in the Thrax benches, spends the entire list of names staring off into space, as though trying to withstand a challenge from the gods themselves not to disrespect a single one of those many, many vassals and rulers.

Remus is still here sitting alongside Ysabel listening to the Assembly and all the topics discussed.

Jaenelle waits patiently as Victus lists names and titles and any other important information. This goes on for some time, and when he finishes, there is a nod of her head, "I think the last time something of this nature happened was when His Majesty wished to impress Praetor Marcus and Emissary Zulana. House Thrax has impressed the Compact," she then assures the man with a dip of her head. Her hand extends towards Darren, "House Redrain, please share any information you believe the Compact should have knowledge on."

Alongside Grady's crinkling come some faint giggles that appear to be bubbling from Keely. Her eyes are closed and her mouth is hidden behind a pale hand which is doing a valiant job of muffling most of the soft, mirthful outburst.

Giada's eyes land on Ember and her shadowmeld. The Archlector's lips press into a flat line for a few moment.

The commentary from Jaenelle prompts a bark of laughter from the Commoner's Benches. To her credit, Sydney does have the good sense to immediately quash it. Damnable startled laughter.

Tarik has joined the Commoner Benches.

Corban has left the Voices of the Realm.

Reedy, a King's Own aide have been dismissed.

Darren stands up from the Voices of the Realm with a movement and bow towards Jaenelle that's almost a dance step, if not quite, "I am concerned about shav attacks in the Northlands, and believe some of the recent troubles, such as Bastion, may have emboldened groups that wish to reclaim ancestral lands. Our enemies can only draw a conclusion that we are vulnerable when a great house loses its holding, and any of us may be susceptible to attack. While I do not think any of us have been lax in our defenses, we should likely expect shavs to try attacks in the near future."

It's hard to deliver a message to that table at the front of the room. But one enterprising messenger has literally snuck up there to hand Alis a note. Which, when she reads - waiting until Darren has finished his hop, dance, and speech - murmurs quietly towards the others before she gets up and gestures to whomever of her Voices is out there at the benches (Hi Cris) to come up and take her place to answer any complicated questions that hopefully someone asks because she is not there to have to answer.

Alis has left the Voices of the Realm.

Sir Rhys, a Valardin Knight, Laurene, a military adjutant leave, following Alis.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Nina before departing.

Caspian has left the Commoner Benches.

Tesha has joined the Valardin Benches.

Sylvie slips inside the Assembly late, casting a thoughtful look up to the commoner seating in the rafters and then towards the Lyceum benches, before spotting a certain Marquessa in the latter and making her way to take a seat near Quenia.

Sylvie has joined the Lyceum Benches.

Aedric has left the Thrax Benches.

The small hop Darren does is certainly noted by Jaenelle and she claps for that single move before the Redrain Highlord begins. "If you need any assistance with such issues, the Compact is here and most willing to assist in any capacity we can. I know none of us wish a repeat of Bastion and we were all guilty as the feelings that it was not ours. One bleeds, we all bleed." Then is is her turn, assuming that Liara wishes to go last, "House Velenosa has no issues to present to the Assembly today. We have small mountains and boring clouds. We do not have any long lists of vassals, and our shavs are busy at the moment." There is a pause, "and I have no further information about anything you might be seeing of the dead nature. Should anyone see anything dead that should not be seen, please feel free to share."

Cassima has left the Thrax Benches.

Remus having nothing to add Remus is still sitting on a bench with Ysabel listening

Ilmia has left the Grayson Benches.

Ilmia has joined the Commoner Benches.

After she speaks of her House, a hand is extended towards Liara, and Jaenelle gives her the floor.

Scylla has left the Thrax Benches.

Tesha slips in quietly and goes to sit at the end of the Valardin benches, hoping to not disturb anyone and to listen in for the rest of the assembly.

Having listened to proceedings up until that point with a faint smile - even during Victus' listing of lots and lots of names - Liara rises to her feet, that smile growing further. She does not speak immediately, instead turning her head as her gaze takes in the peerage, though only for a couple of seconds. When she does speak, her voice carries clearly, her words crisp, and the message decidedly upbeat, "Bastion has been reclaimed. House Grayson offers its deep gratitude to all who were involved. Our focus now turns to enabling our people to return to their homes and to the restoration of the city." The next few words are slightly terse, "There shall be a reckoning."

Then, she takes a beat of pause, and changes topic, "I raise the disappearance of Prince Swelvio Redrain, born a Grayson, who went missing in the Crownlands. House Grayson requires that anybody with information about the matter send it to us forthwith."

Then she continues with a look to Darren in light of his announcement, though her words are projected to be audible across the chamber as a whole, "It is of the utmost importance that the Compact remains strong. Should anybody find their home under threat by forces from beyond the Compact, House Grayson will help wherever it can." And lastly, for good measure, "The Compact endures." With that, she finally resumes her seat.

Margerie has left the Valardin Benches.

Raven winces a but in sympathy as she hears tell of another missing Grayson and the expression one her face is solemn and grim.

Ilmia has left the Commoner Benches.

Ilmia has joined the Grayson Benches.

Lyra has left the Grayson Benches.

Noah is overheard praising Liara.

Darren nods soberly at Liara's mention of Swelvio, "One hopes for the best, but of course we would wish all of royals to avoid traveling without heavy guard during these difficult times."

Edris listens with interest, his expression turning rather grim at the mention of a missing prince. But for now, the Elwood knight keeps his peace, and perhaps filing that information away for later.

Thesbe is quietly sitting along the Thrax benches, hands in her lap trying not to fall asleep

Jaenelle dips her head towards Liara as she speaks, then looks down towards her notes, then glances around the room, "that is all the news from the Great Houses. I do not see anyone from the Commoner's Council present, and they have not sent any concerns to the Throne for discussion. It is at this time I open the floors to anyone who wishes to speak. If you are a commoner and have something to present to the Leaders of the Compact a noble must speak for you."

Tyche frowns when Liara speaks of a murdered peer, and she finds herself nodding with Darren at his words.

Iseulet arrives fashionably late, putting to bed any and all rumors that she and Thesbe may be the same person. It is very uncanny, their similar appearance and maybe even more unsettling when she takes a seat near to her, looking ever amused.

Monique bows her fiery head at the mention of the murdered Redrain-Grayson prince. She murmurs something to the Valardin benches, expression hidden by her glorious hair and the way her head is bent.

A smirk curls at the corner of her lips when Thesbe sees her twin sister arrive taking her place next to her. She leans in to whisper something.

Iseulet has joined the Thrax Benches.

Thesbe and Iseulet seemed to be exchanging a quiet conversation amongst themselves.

Raven leans over and speaks in low tones with Patrizio, gently brushing a hand across his back as if in reassurance.

Giada has left the Godsworn Benches.

Giada has joined the Godsworn Benches.

Patrizio briefly arches a brow at Raven, in the midst of murmuring back to her, a slender brow arched.

Raven ahhhs and smiles, bowing her head.

Keely is overheard praising Jaenelle.

Keely is overheard praising Liara.

Victus says, "I regret to inform you, your grace warrior princess, that I love my animals enough not to subject them to this. Although. I did smuggle an otter under my coat once, but he deserved it."

Remus is still listening, waiting to see if there are any last moment buisness.

Mailys has joined the Setarcan Benches.

Cristoph has left the Valardin Benches.

Rupert, the Laurent Archivist, 2 Valardin Knights, 1 Laurent veteran guards leave, following Cristoph.

Jaenelle shares a quiet word with those beside her before there is a nod in agreement by all those present, "On behalf of the Crown and Leaders of the Compact I declare this Assembly of Peers adjourned. If anyone wishes to guess which animal High Lord Victus has beneath his coat, you may at this time. He even named it."

Quenia finishes off her hot chocolate and starts to pack her stuff up. It seems she decided to start just at the most opportune time, and she rises from her seat, stuff in hand, to make her way out.

Sylvie slips out of the Assembly with Quenia.

Exchanging some quiet words with Victus at the table at the front, Liara holds back a laugh, and instead simply offers a smile his way, before lifting her chin somewhat primly as she looks on around, following Jaenelle's statement.