Baifa Monü Zhuan
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To expand upon a prominent figure in Atrisian lore submissions
- Image Credit:
Sin City
Fatal Frame II
The White Haired Witch of the Lunar Kingdom - Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Atrisia codex Atrisia wookiee
- Media Name: Lian Niu (birth name) The Onyx Empress (Royal name)
- Format: Holobook
- Distribution: Planetary
- Length: Medium
- Description: Rewritten from information and documentation in the Atrisian libraries that could be recovered. Io Murasaki compiled all of the information on the Onyx Empress. An ancient and influential figure from the Kital Phard dynasty of Atrisia. Often regarded as both incredibly beneficial and a visionary towards greater unity within the Dynasty and a cruel leader for pitting minor houses and clans against each other to keep them from unifying against her. Rumors about the fate of her sister Hakafu abound specifically what happened to the two of them when they were lost as children. She has been credited with the creation of the five forts of Atrisia... long standing ancient fortress that have persisted into the present day and offer massive strongholds for some of the most influential and dangerous armies on Atrisia. The stories about what became of her emperor after their first and only child was born were parts of a legend and tales of her true purpose at Kansai's capital city and academy. Io has compiled the most definitive collection of information to try and present the Onyx Empress as she really was.
- Author: Io Murasaki
- Publisher: Atrisian Commonwealth
- Reception: Received well after the initial destruction of the library at Jar'kai and its continued attacks by off worlders. The rebuilding of the information with some revisions as multiple sources were combined to form a library of information and history are much appreciated.
Presented from her early life wit her parents and sister. To her death at the hands of her handmaidens.
CONTENT INFORMATION
Early Childhood: Born to Jaiyi Guiying and Tian Niu the emperor and empress of Atrisia. Lian and her twin sister Hakafu were considered two of the more special being from two of the strongest houses at the time. Their mother dying in childbirth and father grief stricken to the point he mostly withered. They were raised by advisors and yovshin. Hakafu often being considered the nicer of the pair who made small gifts for visiting dignitaries and Lian constantly in her room or in the barracks training with the soldiers. When they were visiting the Ishiyakushi forests. Something happened it is unclear but Hakafu was killed... her sister found grasping her body and covered in blood after having walked for three days in the winter months to the nearest village. What transpired in the woods is unknown but from all accounts by the empress later she and her sister were attacked on the road and their yovshin killed. The pair fo them found a village that wasn't on any maps and the townspeople seeing their were twins tried to sacrifice them to their heathen gods. They managed to beat her sister into a bloody pulp but Lian escaped. When sent in to investigate there was no village found just an area covered with blood and teeth.
Teenager: The years proceeding the incident in the woods saw Lian becoming more of a focused leader. She was quick to learn and quicker to fight not allowing dissension in her court. When she was old enough she married a suitor picked out for her by a royal matchmaker. Speculation and notes from the time include anecdotes about the empress not caring for Saji Hanzo who was chosen for her but instead she chose him because of his sister Oda. Scandal was considered and court gossip is court gossip but it was known that Oda as well as Xuanzong the brother and sisters handmaiden was taken along to the palace. Within a year of their official marriage Saji had passed away from a sickness that had been lingering. Considered distraught the empress and her sister in law were in seclusion for the birth of her son Yoshu Hanzo. When her new Onyx Yovshin were revealed as a means to execute the doctors and healers who had failed her she was named the Onyx empress by the people in songs about her sad life. Rumor and speculation that the old song "Dreamfyre" was written about her and Oda's relationship.
Oda Rebellion: Not much is known about what led to the rift that formed between Oda and the new Onyx Empress, from court documents and pictures made of it. Oda petitioned to journey to the mystical lands of the Horse Lords and explore with the Li-Ves clan. The empress denied the request twice but finally after arguments she granted the request upon the third time. The empress was regarded as angry and in a rage sent after a day her finest soldiers to kill Oda and her party. Rallying to her side several smaller houses who were loyal and friends to her family rose up to protect her. The battles were quick and swift compared to many ad ended at the red cliffs. Called that now because of the massacre that happened there. With the empresses men coming in the night and killing everyone before the sun rose and the agreed upon battle would take place. Sometimes regarded as a dishonorable act but also as a means to restore order quickly and not allow the rebellion to continue to grow roots. Purging her former friends house with the exception of her own child was a big thing for what she would later do.
The Five Forts: After the rebellion to handle and restore order among the houses that had risen up against her. The Onyx empress saw the construction on the remains of the houses fortresses. her most loyal houses were given the resources and slaves to construct the forts. Her family the Guiying clan was set to create Zongbao deep in the mountains. the Fortress of the Dawn, the Fortress of the Dusk, Seiryutō fortress and the fifth that was lost now... we haven't been able to find its name in records. The construction of each fortress was on the backs of slaves from the defeated houses.. their bones in the foundation itself. Her master of war Guan of the yu clan served to place them but more then that after Oda's betrayal was revealed the empress herself started a new and more dangerou method. Instigating among the minor houses and allowing them in controlled battles to settle disputes. In stoking rivalries and animosity it made them focused on each other and not on rising against her again.
Kansai Academy: With the institution of the new warfare games.. a means to settle disputes similar to a kaggoth for best comparisons. It was designed to keep houses against each other and prevent unity or uprisings.... but there was more. Going to Kansai's capital the Empress oversaw what would be construction of Yovshin academies within the city. To produce the strongest she had the system on a smaller scale with the academies producing active battles between the schools for becoming superior at the time. The best of the best would graduate and the next crop would be sent in to actively train itself in battle rather then just training like in other cities. Her elite guards were from Kansai and often regarded as the best. Her son being trained and protected by a cadre of yovshin cadets who had passed through the academies on Kansai. Her years on the throne almost came to an end when she was attacked by Xuanzong who had managed to survive and disfigured had infiltrated the palace as a member of a grotesquerie.
100 Handmaidens: The attempt on her life led the empress deeper into a state of paranoia, sending her child away to be kept safe she took from each house under her the first born daughter of them. Their sons were important and that could lead to rebellion outright. The handmaidens were kept in the palace and the only ones who were allowed to be with her. Deep within her palace she spent years taking out her anger on those who displeased her and sending attacks against their families. Having the military leaders loyal meant she could crush most rebellions and pitting the houses against each other depleted their resources more then her own. Then something happened.... it was never clear who started it but the Onyx Empress was found killed, her handmaidens poisoned and left buried around her within. The little research showed that she had been poisoned, stabbed in the heart, shot with several bows, hung by her neck, disemboweled and finally drawn and quartered.
Legacy: In the aftermath of her death the palace of the Onyx empress was sealed and its location largely made into the place of ghoulish legends. Her son eventually took over and reversed a number of policies she did to try and win back the people becoming one fo the most devout and beloved Emperors. Marrying the daughter of a military commander to secure peace. They led Atrisia semi out of the larger military focused growth into expansion and reaching for the sciences. Developng better sewer systems, sanitation and education systems around the planet.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Written from collected information by Io Murasaki, the tales and information of Lian Niu better known as the Onyx empress was considered important to many to learnf rom history and see that times themselves had changed. What was acceptable and considered the norm back then now wouldn't be tolerated and looked on with favor. As part fo the new era it is about remembering and learning from history so that it is not repeated.
