As promised last week I give you Queen Velturasa as my guest today.



Your Majesty, it is true honor to have you as a guest on Lady Lava's Questionnaire today. You rarely give this honor and I am a little curious why you have graced me with this opportunity?
The honor is mine, Lady Lava. I have always wanted the opportunity to meet you, as you are a distinct Expert of Fashion, which is something of a hobby of mine as well, however the colors of my House tend to dwell into Blacks and Greys, although we like to spice up things abit from time to time with a splash of deep red.

Recently you have been more in the public eye. Your attendence at MOA is a example of that. Is there trouble in the palace? If not why this new turn of event?
It is true, that it has been some time since we last visited the Auction at Majestic Oaks. I believe it was before the lands of Tokuno had been discovered. Recently our House, Qu'ellar d'Viaxus, along with our allies of the Second Empire of Armageddon, were forced to withdraw a strategic position from the Island of Nujelm, at the hands of the Britannian Armed Forces. Since then, the Empire has been graciously allowed to reposition itself in the cities of Umbra, Buccaneer's Den, and Despise. As things have become more stable, as of late, it has been of keen interest to us to re-equip our Imperial Forces, through the convienence of shopping at the Majestic Oaks Auction, as it is located closely to the portal that links Buccaneer's Den to the Mainland. We have, however, also found many great bargains at High Drama Vendors in Luna, and Astrian Jewels Yew Moongate Shop.



With stately dignity you sat during the auction at MOA. Both you and your guards made a dramatic impression. Who is the dressmaker to the Queen?
My dress was crafted by, "the Drow Elves," whom is one of the oldest craftsmen on the shard of Great Lakes. "the Drow Elves," is a collective endeavor of the subjects of my Valsharen Qu'ellar, (Imperial Noble House) and so no one true soul can be blessed with the honor of that specific piece.

How many pages do you have at this time?
My Quar'Valuk, Velturus Viaxus, serves as the executive officer of my affairs, and contends himself with such numbers. Often he accompanies us to the Imperial Senate Meetings of the Second Empire of Armageddon, and oversees the day to day operations of the House. He is well staffed with several Olath Kyorlen (Dark Guards) to see to it that our will is served. He would be the chief page of many, if I understand the question correctly. If have not, then I have achieved twelve pages within my tome in the Hall of Matrons, to exploit my undertakings while as Ilharess.



How many Ladies in Waiting do you have at this time?
I require constant attention, as the life of any Despot would, and therefore have four Priestesses to serve me. Their devotion to Lloth is impressive and unwaivering. Did you know that in the south-west corner of the hedgemaze still stands the first Temple of Lloth to grace the Multi-verse of Sosaria?

Do you have a Court Jester and if so whom is it?
I suppose that my most entertaining member is Kewi'ti Viaxus, a Tagnik'zur Faern (Dragon Wizard). His antics and practical jokes certainly do liven up dull moments. However, if I ever get the chance to cage that delightful elf who was formally Chancellor of the High Council, Ra'Dian
Fl'Gith, he would most certainly serve as an unwitting entertainment. Unfortunately, I have heard that he swiftly left the High Council, with his resignation penned upon the Compassion Grove Civic Center. Should he ever be found, the House of Viaxus is paying a staunch reward for his live capture.



Which is your favorite crown?
Between the Black One and the Harrower One, I'd have to say the Crown of the Black One. When I wear it, I feel most compelling an authoritative, which is extremely important should you find yourself face to face with Zenarthentolex. However, the Crown of Zenarthentolex was cursed by Raistlin, the Archmage of the First Empire of Armageddon, less than a year after the discovery of Trammel. The Crown bears too much power to be worn through the entire day, and fills one's head with the voices of the Imperial Archmages, Emperors, and Empresses from before.

Do you wear a tiara around the castle on a daily basis?
I am naut sure I translated this word, "tiara," correctly, but yes, I have several that are used to beat slaves to a bloody pulp.



Which kingdom is the most threatening to yours?
The word, "Ilharess," translates most peculaiarly into your language. It means, "Queen," or "Matron," or "Mother." My, "Kingdom," is more of the Noble House of Viaxus, royal bloodline of the First Ilythiiri that set foot upon the Multiverse of Sosaria, many years ago, from the Ilythiiri City Che'el Menzoberranzan underneath Neverwinter Nights (Which was promptly canceled in July of 1996, preceding the birth of Sosaria). From those days we were at war with the Crusaders of the Realm, whom have all but vanished, the New Out Riders, who have traveled on to other Multiverses, and the Bregan D'Aerthe, who ironically ended up on the same Shard of Sosaria as we did. Although our relationship with Bregan D'Aerthe has been teniuous since the collapse of the First Empire of Armageddon, before the Discovery of Ilshenar, we have had a brother-sister type of interaction. Currently however, the combined forces of the Britannian Armed Forces, the Northern Alliance, and the Royal Knights of Redemption, as led by Ren the Conjuror, pose an immediate threat to not only our ancestoral lands within Che'el Despise, but also the territories of the Second Empire of Armageddon as a whole.

You seem to always be surrounded by grandeur. Would you say your kingdom is one of the more wealthy?
The Wealth of our House is carried on the backs of our Tagnik'zur Faernen (Dragon Wizards) who are constantly attempting to keep the House within the means that I deem as confortable. Grandeur is not derived by one's own personal wealth, just as power is not derived from one's own personal sword, but from the wealth of those that serve you, as power is derived from the strength of those that serve you. Much of our Wealth comes from the strategic placement of Houses on the Fellucan Shard, many many years ago, and the subsequent sale of those strategic locations in the past couple of years.

If a young strong man wanted to join your guard how would they go about doing it?
He would be required to visit the Hall of Matrons, within the City of Viaxus, located in the Dry Highlands, South of Umbra, and learn the ways of the Ilythiiri (Drow Elves). He would then require complete transformation the likes of which cannot achieved through the changing of a name or the questing of a race, but rather a complete rebirth. After which, he would be subject to the whims of the Priestesses, who's carnal curiosities are unsatisfied by even the most in depth of instructional manuals, to find his path in service to me, his Ilharess, and his Goddess, Lloth the Spider Demon.



When not troubling yourself with your royal duties how do you relax and enjoy yourself?
In real life, I have certainly lost the meaning of the word relax, as I was just blessed with the birth of my first child, a son. My husband, who also serves as my Quar'Valuk, was gracious enough to care for the child for the two hours that I was permitted to attend the Majestic Oaks Auction (Those guys are great, really. And believe it or not, I think Pratt works at the same educational institution as my mother once did, although it is only a rumor. Students fly wild with their accusations of one of their professors being the greatest merchant on the Great Lakes Shard!), as well as dispense enough of our personal cash to allow me to have a few personal bidding wars. The most amazing bidding war was against Ren the Conjuror, of the Royal Knights of Redemption, over two Ancient Runebooks of exceptional quality. Ren and his forces had most recently liberated the Island State of Nujelm, and have been attempting to maintain a protectorate of the Island in order to help the budding Civil Government of the Island. As this defeat of our Imperial Forces was most disturbing, I decided to destroy him in a war of pure cash. The end result was that I had won the bidding war, paying two million coins for the two runebooks. I suppose that in this way, I was able to relax, both in character and out of character.

I could not do this Questionnaire without asking this delicate question, my readers would be disappointed if not.
Is there truth to the rumor that your Father, the previous King, sired many illegitimate children and mainly with red headed women?
In the Society of the Dark Elves, it is not uncommon for a Male to be passed around the ruling female class, so this is naut impossible. I have seen some resemblance to Astrian Jewel and my Father, as she looks slightly elven, and I have also seen some resemblence to Kuan Ti and my father. It is possible that he was captured in some surface war, and passed around by the dominate females of your Kingdoms. Have you ever felt like you had Elven Blood within you?



Where do you see your kingdom two years from now?
I see us as prosperous, if not more so than we are now. However, the threat of Extinction is always mindful, every guild, alliance, or kingdom that walks Sosaria. Although we are one of the oldest, we have had our days of sleep, but have learned much from each new soul that we come in contact with.

What is your motto?
Malla tlu Lloth. (Honor by Lloth) (In Character)
And:
It could be worse, you could be a laywer. (Out of Character)

Reminds me of a Joke, actually. A man walks into the Cat's Lair, and asks the Bartender for a Drink. He tells the Bartender, "Wow, have I had a tough day. I just got sued by a local auction house for accidentally making a bid. I tell you, all those lawyers are thieves!"
A gentleman stood up, and stated, "Excuse me Sir, but I am offended by your comment."
"Let me guess, you are a Lawyer."
"No Sir, I am a Thief."

---