Kalistan

[Doc]

New Inductions into Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke
Membership of Elite Organization to include Prince Consort
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 7, 5703


Her Imperial Majesty welcomes His Highness the Prince Consort to Ancient Order

The Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke, the secret society associated with the Royal Family, and formal Chivalric Order tied to House Ananto, held its fall conclave at Ananto Estate in Eveari this week. The Order is a highly secretive organization, the only thing about which that is publicly known is its membership. It consists primarily of the Royal Family and spouses, as well as specific high government officials and invited foreign heads of State. Certain privileges associated with membership place members above certain laws in Kalistan, and it is believed that the largest material benefit for membership is direct and personal access to the Empress.

At this season's meeting, which took place behind closed doors, several new members were inducted to the Order. The members entered a closed room, and in a half hour, several individuals were shown in and emerged forty five minutes robed in Order Regalia. His Highness, Prince Consort Elliot Rosenfeld was the highest ranking new member, joining at the rank of Stranger Knight Companion. He was instructed to never speak of any activities that take place in the secret meeting, but was happy to talk about he thought membership meant.

"Well, I am already excused from the protocol restrictions around the Empress in private," said His Highness. "I don't think we could have a marriage if I had to ask her if Her Imperial Majesty wanted Gaduri food or Indralan food for dinner. But being a member here also puts me in contact with movers and shakers from across this Empire and those who are closest to us. We have a lot of Gaduris, and the President of Valruzia and King of Hutori are both members as well. This puts them both in a very special position with regard to this Empire. It really is a very small club and most people in this world will never be allowed to be a part of it. It's not something I ever imagined I would be in."

Also in attendance was His Majesty, King William XVII of Hutori who has completed his enlistment period in National Service at the beginning of this month, and is preparing to return home to Hutori to take the throne. The 23 year old Monarch has lived in Kalistan for the last 9 years as a ward of the Anantos. Her Imperial Majesty considers the King to be a younger brother, and He holds the rank of Knight Commander of the Order, a special rank which establishes formal familiar ties between the two monarchs. The rank is a hereditary rank held explicitly by the Monarch of Hutori.

A number of theories exist as to the conduct of the Order behind closed doors. But what is known is that there is frequently a dinner that includes press and invited guests after Order business. And as it is held at Ananto Estate, it is always well worth the visit to cover the event. The next Order event is Order Day in late April of early May. The date is a closely held secret until it is publicly announced on the Spring Equinox. Her Imperial Majesty will have delivered her first child by then and is expected to be in attendance, this time with His Highness the Prince Consort as well.

@LaModa