Private End of an Era

[Jiro Kirionaka]

The streets of Kelewatari were silent. For the first time in three generations, a city of one hundred million souls had nothing to say. Vendors stands lay empty, restaurants and taverns were sealed shut, and the planet's busiest dockyard lay inactive. Everyone in the city, both those living within its boundaries and those that had traveled to the city lined the streets of the city, their heads bowed as the procession made its slow way through the city. Warriors in white armor trimmed with gold, a rare metal on Kelewan, marched in perfect unison before and behind a litter easily the size of a large building. On top of this litter lay the still body of the four hundred and second time Emperor Ichandar, the Light of Heaven of the Empire of Tsurannuani.

The death of an Emperor in Tsurani society marked the ending of an era and the start of the next upon the ascension of his heir. That heir stood behind the still body of his father, scarcely out of his childhood. The rest of the Imperial family stood respectfully behind the heir and the Emperor's body, their similar white and gold silk robes drifting in the breeze of the day. By tradition, when an Emperor passed back into the Wheel of Life, his body was marched through every street of the Kelewatari, so that the people of the Empire could all pay their final respects to their spiritual leader. After passing through the city, the litter would be taken to the Wastes of Turakamu, for final rest.

Lords and ladies from across the Empire had received word of the Emperor's death before the common citizenry, giving them time to make their way to the capital city and take up residence in statehouses set aside for every House in the Empire. As the litter passed down another street, the wide variety of colors belonging to these Houses stood in stark contrast to the simple white and gold. Before every door stood the head of House, flanked by an honor guard. As the litter passed, each lord or lady bowed their head in respect to the Emperor, crossing their hands across their chests in a final salute to the Light of Heaven. Though, most did not do the sign for the dead, but for the living. Striding at the head of the procession was the Warlord, the most powerful political figure in the Empire. As was his right, he wore white and gold like the rest of the Imperial family and procession, showing his status as having been adopted into the family upon his election. The true leader of the Empire, many ruling heads of Houses bowed their heads to this man long before the litter ever crossed their apartments.

Jiro Kirionaka, head of House Kirionaka watched without visible emotion as the litter approached his apartment. The ten warriors in the red and yellow of House Kiriokara behind their lord stood without motion, each holding a banner with the red flower on a yellow field, the symbol of House Kirionaka. As the Warlord passed, Jiro remained immobile, his eyes showing nothing like a brief flash of annoyance crossed the Warlord's face, though Tsurani custom kept the man from showing his feelings in the open. Jiro instead waited for the litter to cross across from him, making the necessary bow to the deceased Emperor, his red and yellow robe shifting at the motion. At his sides, the Kirionaka warriors fell to a knee, lowering their banners to show deference to the dead and their subservience to the Imperial family.

Jiro held his pose for several seconds until the Imperial Whites following the litter passed, their lamiawood armor making little noise. Rising from his bow, Jiro glanced across the street to Yōkai Maeda and Surtur Atlantis of the Houses Maeda and Atlantis respectively. He was interested to see how they would react to the event, though he did not give anything away. The Great Game of the Council was ever-present, even today. Jiro watched for any potential political or social cue that he might be able to someday spin to the benefit of his House, though it was unlikely he would get it this day.

 

[Tarsus Gideon]

Lord Surtur couldn't believe the utter silence, however it was more than warranted. The ten warriors standing guard held the symbol of House Atlantis, each bowing respectfully to the Warlord and the Imperial procession.

The new age had truly begun. Surtur himself wasn't emotionally affected by the death of the Emperor however he felt fear for the young heir. The Warlord was a very powerful man and to say the least, the new Emperor was not.

The Great Game of the Council. It seemed to dominate his mind at all times. When he wasn't engaged in battle, thought or conversation, the Game was dominated his thoughts.

After the procession passed, Surtur rose from his bow tipping his head to Lord Jiro Kirionaka and turning slightly to face Lord Yōkai Maeda giving him the bow.

 

[Yōkai Maeda]

Yōkai and the warriors of his house gave the deceased Emperor his respect as he passed by, House Maeda would be caught doing no less given their station, feelings aside. It had not been the most prosperous era for his house, and Yōkai was privately glad to be on with it. After all, this time was not only for mourning. All the Lords and Lady's would be in the city, bringing the intrigue of the Great Game front and center. The reign of his father had brought dishonor to House Maeda, and Yōkai has plans to reassert his families power in the Empire. As one of the Five Great Houses, many looked to them for guidance. Now was a time to forge alliances and increase their sphere of influence. Politics would no doubt make their way to the proceedings as well. Yōkai's ascension to leader of the Yellow Flower Party was a vote of confidence that he swore to live up to. Many eyes would be on his progress politically.

Yōkai greeted his fellow Lord's of House Atlantis and Kirionaka, giving the latter a careful nod. Given their political differences, House Maeda and Kirionaka would often find themselves at odds in the Great Game. These days would be no different. There was another person Yōkai had is eye on however, the young Emperor's elder sister. She had not been wed, and Yōkai sought to bring her into his House. Increasing influence with the young heir and Imperial family may yet provide him support from the common people and lower houses alike. Perhaps he could offer his guidance to the young man, and those family ties would only bring more honor to his house.

 

[Jiro Kirionaka]

Jiro folded his hands behind his back as, at an unseen signal, all the lords and ladies on the street they were on began to march towards a towering structure in the distance. While the rest of the Tsurani people in the capital would likely follow the Emperor's litter all the way to the wastes, the noble Houses were to gather within the Imperial Palace for a final Council session. Under the current Emperor's guidance. The Council session itself was a rather loose event, with Houses residing in small apartment suites set aside for them within the mountain-sized Imperial Palace, with only informal meetings between lords and ladies looking for personal advantage or alliance. When the new Light of Heaven arrived back in Kelewatari, the Council would gather together officially and renew the oaths of the Empire.

Jiro came to walk alongside Yōkai Maeda and Surtur Atlantis as they marched towards the Imperial Palace, his eyes staring ahead at the green and grey armor of the Lord's honor guard before them. "Lord Maeda, Lord Atlantis. Peace on to your Houses, and good health on to you. It is a sad day for the Empire, is it not? The new Light of Heaven and his sister held themselves up well to what must be a trying time for their family." The not so indirect wording of his statement was directed to Lord Maeda. Jiro had spotted the young lords' interest in the Light of Heaven's sister, something Jiro had little care for, to be honest. The Imperial family had long been opponents to the Blue Wheel Party, and only tradition and a need for acceptance from the rest of the Empire of Tsurannuani had kept them in line. Now though, things could potentially change, and Jiro desired to see where the players would begin to fall.