[Audio Drama] Argentum Aria: Emergency Casting Call
AJ Goss for Empress Caterina di Argentius
Profile: Early 40s, the current empress from the Argentius dynasty of the Argentian Empire. The empress is an extremely commanding figure; standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall, she towers over the majority of people under her command. She is a strict leader, though not cold-hearted. She is an individual that exercises a lot of tough love, not one to sugar-coat issues or complaints. Despite this, she isn’t afraid to spoil the ones she loves from time to time with affection, making sure that all her children feel the warmth of their mother. She isn’t afraid to fight them either; on many occasions, she personally leads sparring lessons with all her present children at the palace, being sure that despite their differences, they have the strength and determination that is expected of the princesses in line to compete to become the next empress.
Personality: Empress Caterina , while strict, is a very caring and compassionate mother. She raises her children with tough love, but she isn’t opposed to spoiling them every now and then with affection. She isn’t one to let people sly away from their duties, and makes sure that those that try to overstep their boundaries know the possible consequences for trying to do so.
Director’s Notes: Empress Caterina’s vocal register I am envisioning to be on the lower end for female voices; she depicts an air of royalty, and carries herself with much poise, as if she is presenting herself as the example imperial monarch to take notes from. She is very collected, even when she starts getting angry, and only really lets loose if someone is purposely trying to cross her or harm the people she loves.
[During an imperial parliament summons, one of the representatives in the parliament is suggesting to the empress to try and raise taxes for his region to help expand the infrastructure of the region. She supports the decision, only so long as the booming industries carry the brunt of the taxes. He tries to negotiate in favor of not having the industries pay a hefty sum of the taxes, but the empress senses his attempts at deceiving her and calls him out for it rather bluntly.]
Line: Representative Gormes, please don’t tell me that you are forgetting your place… I find it upsetting that you are trying to take advantage of half the reason you are sitting in that chair right now. Or do you believe it was the industries themselves that put you into power?[During the same imperial parliament summons, the empress tells one of her representatives that her youngest daughter, Mercedes, will lead a relief effort to provide aid to their region, which has been affected by less than ideal yields from their crops. Mercedes excitedly confirms this statement, then gets a little over ambitious as to how much aid she will provide. The empress, for a moment, breaks her more stoic character and explains to Mercedes in a stern, but sympathetic tone that there is an order to things, and that first she needs to be sure that their essential needs are met first and foremost.]
Line: Patience, Mercedes. Food is of the utmost priority for the Parmese people. Please, aid them with food first, then hear their requests and tend to them in order of importance. Though our empire is mighty, it is difficult to tend to every single request from the populus effectively. Do you understand, my dear?
Director's Note: Parmese is prounced: Par-mees. Last "e" is silent.[The empress and the members of the imperial parliament receive news that the man who conspired in the assassination of Lucia di Argentius has been reported fleeing to the elven kingdom of Myrvindel. The eldest crown princess, Helena, snaps and demands the empress move her from leading peace talks to leading the team investigating the assassination. The empress was not appreciating the tone of how she was asking for this request, and for the first time in the summons that day, raises her voice and uses her authority to snap some sense into Helena, and defuse her rage before it gets out of hand.]
Line: Helena. Di. Argentius. You will watch your tone with me, not only as your mother, but as your superior in the chain of command. Or would you prefer to be put on forced leave and have me break the news to our “Giant. Goddamn. Infant”?
