![[Image: qc4fLbt.png]](http://i.imgur.com/qc4fLbt.png)
What do you get for the woman who has everything?
Anstarra pondered the question. To even imagine it applying to herself was an exercise in conceit of the highest order... and yet, perhaps less so than it once had been. She HAD come a long way, the savage little runaway of her youth an increasingly-distant memory. Still, it was not the question itself which intrigued her, so much as the boundaries surrounding it. For clearly, no one had ever truly had everything; it wasn't a query meant to envision the requirements of an Empress or Goddess (unless you were perhaps thinking of Hydaelyn Herself, in which case the conceit laid in imagining you could do aught but Her bidding). No, the question was tailored for those whose desires were so well-met that the very notion of meaningfully contributing to them evoked despair on the part of the questioner.
To wit; the capriciously rich. The indolently well-to-do. The powerful, and influential.
The nobility.
Oh, nobles had desires, it was true. Even casual eavesdropping on the discourse of Eorzea's upper crust quickly revealed that the more you had, the more you wanted. Nonetheless, Anstarra thought it unlikely that any large sample of the population, common and noble alike, would would be able to make a significant case against the notion that the greater riches, power and simple presence associated with nobility brought you closer to the lofty goal of being happy. How could they? Who would starve, when they could feast? Who would be ruled, when they could, well, rule?
Her mind flashed back, as it often did at such times. The brutal simplicity of her Sept. Strength. Violence. No rights for the weak.
She found herself growling, and coughed, clearing her throat. Glanced around. Nobody in earshot, good. Growling... that was a habit she was going to have to break. After all, she was a savage no longer. She didn't have a looking-glass on hand, but if she did she knew what she'd see: an elegant young female, well-dressed, manicured, coiffed. Rich-looking. Sophisticated. Intelligent. In short, everything an up-and-coming member of the noblesse should be.
All she lacked was the nobility itself. But ah! There were ways and ways! Some would claim you had to be born into the nobility, but what of it? She was the daughter of a Nunh, a ruler. The fact that almost all Seekers of the Sun were so made the distinction irrelevant by their standards; if need be she could point to the purity of her line, to how she would have been the Nunh's primary mate, had she not fled... but Anstarra would sooner rip out her tail than give them credit for her ascension. Besides, blood was not all that mattered. There was one's manner, and in that, she had banked heavily. Finding a retired finishing tutor for Ishgardian ladies had been difficult (and had required almost every favor and bit of weight she could throw around as a junior officer in the Maelstrom and liaison to Coerthas); convincing the inestimable Maître Vauderien to actually take her on as a pupil had been something else entirely.
In the end, it had come down to boredom, and coin. His, and hers, respectively, and quite a bit of both. Thankfully, coin was not something Anstarra was lacking. Doubly thankful, for it was the other pillar on which she wished to make her bid for joining the upper class. After all, of the three City States, only Ul'dah had a true noble class, and in that city, the golden rule had always been the rule of gold.
Thus. Manner, and money... her schooling was coming along passing well, and her finances grew. Still, she would need a lot more, always more. Not to mention contacts; friends both high and low. Where to begin? Perhaps it was time to have her retainer make some discreet inquiries... in some ways, this promised to be even more dangerous and exciting than her adventuring forays. She would need to balance her duties to the Maelstrom, and to the Harbingers, and to her mate, with the demands of high society. She would need friends, allies, opportunities...
And then, maybe someday soon... she could take a look at that question again. The thought made her smile.
~
OOC time! This is an open invitation to players of characters involved in one way or another with the nobility of Eorzea! Whether you're part of an LS or FC that focuses on such things, or simply RP a nobleman-or-woman, feel free to respond or message me! Anstarra's end-goal is simple: to become an acknowledged noblewoman. Beyond that? Well, she has other plans, but this is an important step! I look forward to hearing from you guys~
~
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
For my convenience and for interpersonal RP possibilities, I will be keeping a list here of those who've offered to take part, and what roles they might play! Will be updated as RP progresses...
![[Image: d1NEmBp.png]](http://i.imgur.com/d1NEmBp.png)
Allistair, Anstarra's Retainer.
Faye Covington ~ Noblewoman, distant ally in Gridanian nobility
W'Pondahl Amih ~ Aspiring knight, occasional martial retainer and student in etiquette
Zhavi Streetrunner ~ Street urchin, possible friend in low places, runner, spy, etc
Rurutani Sasatani ~ Sultansworn-in-training, possible connection
Lan Darklyn ~ Harbinger, contacts in Ul'dahn military divisions
Vyncent Fields ~ Knight, W'pondahl's sponsor, ally in military circles, officer in the Flames
Nako'li Chalahko ~ Noble tutor/military contractor, officer in the Flames, possible ally in noble circuits
C'kayah Tia ~ Powerful figure in Ul'dahn underworld, possible source of connections
![[Image: MBLxxyE.gif]](http://i.imgur.com/MBLxxyE.gif)
![[Image: NCtCate.png]](http://i.imgur.com/NCtCate.png)
![[Image: ValForumSignature.png~original]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/Kendei/ValForumSignature.png~original)
