Recent Imperial History
Emperor Anso died young of a, as of then, incurable degenerative disease leaving behind his wife Empress Inphangenia and his two sons, Prince Joye (8 ) and Prince Jon (6).
Inphangenia was Imperial Regent for the new Emperor Joye in conjunction with the Imperial Council as tradition and law require.
The Imperial Council rules the Empire in times when the Emperor is indisposed or during the Interregnum. In this case, Joye was under the age of majority and though was ?Prince-Emperor?, The Imperial Council managed the day to day affairs of the Empire and made decisions in the name of the ?Prince-Emperor? (after consultation with the Empress-Regent Inphangenia and the young Emperor)
The members of the Imperial Council are appointed by the Emperor and are normally from the Noble Houses. They serve at the whim of the Emperor and under normal conditions remain council members for significant portions of their lives.
As a young prince, Joye, was drawn to the radical politics of Lady Gemina. He was fascinated by the democratic concepts she explored in her political tracts. There is excellent reason to believe that Emperor Anso would not have permitted his sons to be exposed by such radical thinking until they were old enough to reason fully, however, Empress Inphangenia, a scholar at heart, believes in open education and communication.
During the reign of Emperor Joye, there were more and more democratic experiments, much to the dislike of most of the nobility and especially the more conservative Noble families.
This is not to say there was wholesale democratic reform; there was merely a relaxation of some of the more onerous laws and more liberalization for the lower classes ensuring better access to education, services and opportunities.
During the Great Verlon War, a Verlon agent assassinated Joye. His younger brother, Jon, succeeded him to the throne. There is an unsubstantiated rumor that Lord Brusut Gedeon was somehow involved in the assassination. Rumor, is just that however and no evidence was ever produced to support that claim.
Jon was far more pragmatic and not nearly as liberal as Joye.
The prerogatives of the nobility gradually increased during the time of the Regency and through Joye?s reign. In his attempts to be fair, he did not exercise his Imperial Authority as frequently or as completely as past Emperors; this laxity only encouraged various noble families and factions to assume levels of authority/freedom not normally within their purview.
Jon sought to reassert Imperial power and control that Joye had let slip. This effort, surprisingly enough, was not resisted by a large majority of the noble class. Joye?s more liberal rule was exploited by a small faction of powerful nobles and those that want to be powerful. SThey were not happy with the change in Imperial rule.
In addition to his attempts to reign in elements of the nobility, Jon also started the repeal of many of Joye?s more outrageous reforms. This, however, caused a backlash amongst some more militant members of the lower classes. Chief among them was Koba Nalla, an outlawed noble and rival of Jon?s for the affections of Lady Bara Modwyn. Hence, there is a question if Koba Nalla?s rebellion was truly based on political motivations or more personal ones. As of this writing, most Imperial Historians attribute his motives to his personal passions as opposed to any substantial political ideology.
It was during Jon?s reign that Lord Brusut Gedeon discovered access to what is now called the ?Red Dragon Sector?. His agent, Thane Reggian was sent to reconnoiter and report on this unusual place.
Jon was considered a good, if not great, Emperor. He was very popular with the people. He was young, dashing, a war hero (from his involvement in the Great Verlon War), a star-crossed lover and everything you would want an Emperor to be, etc?
Two events seem to be at the crux of issues that drove those that supported the Usurper?.
1. Based on reporting from Thane Reggian about the nature of the Red Dragon Sector, Jon decreed that the ?RDS? is an Imperial Protectorate and not to be exploited. The existence of the Red Dragon Sector was an Imperial secret.
The main areas of concern that Jon had about the ?RDS? were:
i. The cross dimensional properties of the surrounding space;
ii. The inability to secure that space and control it (based on the magical nature of the Nexus that prevents anyone from controlling it or establishing stable control), and
iii. The unknown, ill understood phenomena of Magic.
However, the secret was less then ?best kept? and a number of nobles (those same ambitions ones and the more aggressive militarists who saw the potential for military conquests) resented this decision that would prevent them from exploiting this new area.
2. To eliminate internal discontent and upheaval as well as to consolidate his control, Jon entered into negotiations with Koba Nalla and his rebels. By eliminating the annoyance of Nalla and his so-called rebels, Jon would then be able to fully turn his attentions to curbing the abuses of the some of the Noble houses
A contingent of very old-fashioned nobles, encouraged and led by the Prince Mikal (first cousin to the Emperor but relatively low on the succession, planned and managed to pull off a Coup d'tat.
Jon and some of the Imperial Council were to meet and treaty with Nalla and the Rebel leaders and work out the final terms of ?the Peace?.
Suddenly The Imperial Flagship ?Destiny? the rendezvous took place upon, blew up. The Emperor, Koba Nalla, Lady Bara Modwyn, the attending members of the Imperial Council, and the 95% onboard died
Simultaneously, the immediate heirs to the empire and the other Imperial Council members also met bloody deaths.
Andens are very strongly concerned about Honor. Betrayal of one's Lord or Emperor is the greatest sin imaginable. Coups are not common, betrayal is an abomination, hence, the reason Mikal was so eager to blame Jon's death and the other assassinations on Gedeon.
Since members of the Council were also killed when Emperor Jon was, an Emergency Council had to be formed. Mikal was in position to declare that he was ?in control? and in this ?State of Emergency? he called upon various Nobles to form a new ?Imperial Council?. Needless to say the deck was stacked with those who were sympathetic to Mikal and his drive to "bring the Empire back to her former glory"
The issues surrounding proper succession are such:
1. All the living heirs to Jon were killed in the coup up to Prince Kalgen, Mikal?s Uncle.
2. Kalgen, after private consultation with Mikal, formally abdicates his claim to the Imperial Crown. He speaks on behalf of his progeny. However, his children are all legal adults and his oath does not bind them. Since none rushed to make a claim, their silence on the matter mollified Mikal.
3. Syrrthus did not renounce his claim to the Crown, he was the rightful heir and successor to Emperor Jon before his cousin, Prince Mikal.
The Civil War and Restoration
The Anden Empire was in upheaval. Civil War ravaged (as Civil Wars are want to do) the Empire.
Prince Mikal sat on the Imperial throne self declared ?Emperor Mikal?. As ?Emperor? he ratified the ?Emergency Imperial Council? as official.
Prince Syrrthus quietly raised loyalist forces to contest the usurpation and to restore stability to the Empire. In this effort he was aided by Thane Reggian and Bili Konnor. Thane and Bili were instrumental in rescuing Syrrthus from an ambush and assassination attempt arranged by Mikal as a result, they became his most trusted lieutenants.
Upon learning of his cousin?s escape, Mikal and his supporters arrested Prince Kalgen and Princess Alkeya and formally charged his uncle with being part of Lord Brusut Gedeon?s plat to assassinate Emperor Jon and seize the crown but not to wear the Imperial White and Gold himself but to set Kalgen on high. Thus he hoped to paint Syrrthus as a traitor and to discredit his opposition to Mikal.
Prince Kalgen, Princess Alkeya and their youngest son, Prince Athus were already in ?protective custody? and were held in surety of Syrrthus and Kirael?s good behavior. After
High level supporters of Mikal died through assassination since the Coup including Admiral Kata Chen who was to have married Mikal and become Empress. Mikal and his followers blamed Thane Reggian for the assassination.
The Military was split in loyalties. There had been increasing defections to Syrrthus? movement. Mikal, always paranoid and unstable (see notes on Prince Mikal below), no longer trusted the military and hired mercenaries at an increasing rate.
The instability of Mikal?s rule, his arbitrary decrees, his fits of fury and paranoia further eroded his ability to command loyalty throughout the Empire. (i.e. the re-establishment of slavery, the arbitrary imprisonment of nobles he was suspicious of with no proof of wrong doing or due process, etc?)
There were those lords and military leaders who are ambitious enough to take advantage of this situation to attempt to setup their own principates. This was especially prevalent in those parts new to the Empire (i.e. Wei, Ofwei, Caratan). The loyalty of these rogues impacted Syrrthus? efforts to seize the Crown.
Those that threw their lot in with Mikal, knowing they committed High Treason and their lives and fortunes were at risk did whatever was necessary to resist Syrrthus and prevent him from ousting Mikal and restoring the proper succession.
Those nobles that initially were unsure of what to do given the cloud over Prince Kalgen?s (Syrrthus? father) head, eventually found their honor again. In increasing numbers they began to provide real support to Syrrthus.
Mikal?s support collapsed and those who had prodded him in this treason abandoned him. Mikal committed suicide before he could be captured and brought to justice.
Almost immediately, opposition to Syrrthus evaporated or when undergroup. The immediate concerns of those that had supported Mikal was he saving of their necks and that of their families. Those that sat on the sidelines fell over themselves to support Syrrthus now with hope of gaining favor.
Jockeying for Imperial Favor became the latest pastime as people of all levels of the empire sought to better their condition and to fill the vacuum of those that fled.
Traditionally, coronations are held only at sunrise on the first day of the new year. Mikal broke with that tradition using the ?state of emergency? as his excuse. Syrrthus? first public step was to created an emergency Imperial Council to rule the Empire until his coronation which was to be held in accordance to tradition. This simple step reassured the vast populace of a return to order and symbolized the restoration of the succession after this period of internecine conflict.
While the Imperial Council ruled in name, Syrrthus ruled in reality. Not a move was made without his direction or approval. As the Empire took to celebration and planning for the coronation some months away, Syrrthus turned his attentions to securing his rule and consolidating his power. In this his closest allies (other than his sister) remained Thane Reggian and Bili Konner.
Through direct action, diplomacy and the intrigues of court, Syrrthus solidified his control throughout Anden Imperial space. Upon his coronation, recognition of his loyal supporters were made and rewards doled out as expected.
Both Thane and Bili were ennobled and granted lands and holdings. As expected Lord Bili Konner was appointed head of the Imperial Guard. However, a shock rippled through court as Syrrthus? appointed officially the members of his Imperial Council. It was expected that Lady Thane Reggian would be appointed Syrrthus? Prime Minister and head of the Council. When she was not, confusion abounded. Was she not the Emperor?s closest and most trusted advisor? Was she not continually at his side? Did not Thane Reggian speak for the Emperor already in all things?
Such was the confusion among the courtiers that another rumor was needed to fill the gap of their expectation. Thus it was believed by some for a short while and even to this day, that the Emperor plans to marry Thane and make her Empress. The Emperor and Lady Reggian continue to foil those expectations as the Lady increasingly spends less and less time at Court to the relief of those that fear her and dread her influence with the Emperor.
Emperor Anso died young of a, as of then, incurable degenerative disease leaving behind his wife Empress Inphangenia and his two sons, Prince Joye (8 ) and Prince Jon (6).
Inphangenia was Imperial Regent for the new Emperor Joye in conjunction with the Imperial Council as tradition and law require.
The Imperial Council rules the Empire in times when the Emperor is indisposed or during the Interregnum. In this case, Joye was under the age of majority and though was ?Prince-Emperor?, The Imperial Council managed the day to day affairs of the Empire and made decisions in the name of the ?Prince-Emperor? (after consultation with the Empress-Regent Inphangenia and the young Emperor)
The members of the Imperial Council are appointed by the Emperor and are normally from the Noble Houses. They serve at the whim of the Emperor and under normal conditions remain council members for significant portions of their lives.
As a young prince, Joye, was drawn to the radical politics of Lady Gemina. He was fascinated by the democratic concepts she explored in her political tracts. There is excellent reason to believe that Emperor Anso would not have permitted his sons to be exposed by such radical thinking until they were old enough to reason fully, however, Empress Inphangenia, a scholar at heart, believes in open education and communication.
During the reign of Emperor Joye, there were more and more democratic experiments, much to the dislike of most of the nobility and especially the more conservative Noble families.
This is not to say there was wholesale democratic reform; there was merely a relaxation of some of the more onerous laws and more liberalization for the lower classes ensuring better access to education, services and opportunities.
During the Great Verlon War, a Verlon agent assassinated Joye. His younger brother, Jon, succeeded him to the throne. There is an unsubstantiated rumor that Lord Brusut Gedeon was somehow involved in the assassination. Rumor, is just that however and no evidence was ever produced to support that claim.
Jon was far more pragmatic and not nearly as liberal as Joye.
The prerogatives of the nobility gradually increased during the time of the Regency and through Joye?s reign. In his attempts to be fair, he did not exercise his Imperial Authority as frequently or as completely as past Emperors; this laxity only encouraged various noble families and factions to assume levels of authority/freedom not normally within their purview.
Jon sought to reassert Imperial power and control that Joye had let slip. This effort, surprisingly enough, was not resisted by a large majority of the noble class. Joye?s more liberal rule was exploited by a small faction of powerful nobles and those that want to be powerful. SThey were not happy with the change in Imperial rule.
In addition to his attempts to reign in elements of the nobility, Jon also started the repeal of many of Joye?s more outrageous reforms. This, however, caused a backlash amongst some more militant members of the lower classes. Chief among them was Koba Nalla, an outlawed noble and rival of Jon?s for the affections of Lady Bara Modwyn. Hence, there is a question if Koba Nalla?s rebellion was truly based on political motivations or more personal ones. As of this writing, most Imperial Historians attribute his motives to his personal passions as opposed to any substantial political ideology.
It was during Jon?s reign that Lord Brusut Gedeon discovered access to what is now called the ?Red Dragon Sector?. His agent, Thane Reggian was sent to reconnoiter and report on this unusual place.
Jon was considered a good, if not great, Emperor. He was very popular with the people. He was young, dashing, a war hero (from his involvement in the Great Verlon War), a star-crossed lover and everything you would want an Emperor to be, etc?
Two events seem to be at the crux of issues that drove those that supported the Usurper?.
1. Based on reporting from Thane Reggian about the nature of the Red Dragon Sector, Jon decreed that the ?RDS? is an Imperial Protectorate and not to be exploited. The existence of the Red Dragon Sector was an Imperial secret.
The main areas of concern that Jon had about the ?RDS? were:
i. The cross dimensional properties of the surrounding space;
ii. The inability to secure that space and control it (based on the magical nature of the Nexus that prevents anyone from controlling it or establishing stable control), and
iii. The unknown, ill understood phenomena of Magic.
However, the secret was less then ?best kept? and a number of nobles (those same ambitions ones and the more aggressive militarists who saw the potential for military conquests) resented this decision that would prevent them from exploiting this new area.
2. To eliminate internal discontent and upheaval as well as to consolidate his control, Jon entered into negotiations with Koba Nalla and his rebels. By eliminating the annoyance of Nalla and his so-called rebels, Jon would then be able to fully turn his attentions to curbing the abuses of the some of the Noble houses
A contingent of very old-fashioned nobles, encouraged and led by the Prince Mikal (first cousin to the Emperor but relatively low on the succession, planned and managed to pull off a Coup d'tat.
Jon and some of the Imperial Council were to meet and treaty with Nalla and the Rebel leaders and work out the final terms of ?the Peace?.
Suddenly The Imperial Flagship ?Destiny? the rendezvous took place upon, blew up. The Emperor, Koba Nalla, Lady Bara Modwyn, the attending members of the Imperial Council, and the 95% onboard died
Simultaneously, the immediate heirs to the empire and the other Imperial Council members also met bloody deaths.
Andens are very strongly concerned about Honor. Betrayal of one's Lord or Emperor is the greatest sin imaginable. Coups are not common, betrayal is an abomination, hence, the reason Mikal was so eager to blame Jon's death and the other assassinations on Gedeon.
Since members of the Council were also killed when Emperor Jon was, an Emergency Council had to be formed. Mikal was in position to declare that he was ?in control? and in this ?State of Emergency? he called upon various Nobles to form a new ?Imperial Council?. Needless to say the deck was stacked with those who were sympathetic to Mikal and his drive to "bring the Empire back to her former glory"
The issues surrounding proper succession are such:
1. All the living heirs to Jon were killed in the coup up to Prince Kalgen, Mikal?s Uncle.
2. Kalgen, after private consultation with Mikal, formally abdicates his claim to the Imperial Crown. He speaks on behalf of his progeny. However, his children are all legal adults and his oath does not bind them. Since none rushed to make a claim, their silence on the matter mollified Mikal.
3. Syrrthus did not renounce his claim to the Crown, he was the rightful heir and successor to Emperor Jon before his cousin, Prince Mikal.
The Civil War and Restoration
The Anden Empire was in upheaval. Civil War ravaged (as Civil Wars are want to do) the Empire.
Prince Mikal sat on the Imperial throne self declared ?Emperor Mikal?. As ?Emperor? he ratified the ?Emergency Imperial Council? as official.
Prince Syrrthus quietly raised loyalist forces to contest the usurpation and to restore stability to the Empire. In this effort he was aided by Thane Reggian and Bili Konnor. Thane and Bili were instrumental in rescuing Syrrthus from an ambush and assassination attempt arranged by Mikal as a result, they became his most trusted lieutenants.
Upon learning of his cousin?s escape, Mikal and his supporters arrested Prince Kalgen and Princess Alkeya and formally charged his uncle with being part of Lord Brusut Gedeon?s plat to assassinate Emperor Jon and seize the crown but not to wear the Imperial White and Gold himself but to set Kalgen on high. Thus he hoped to paint Syrrthus as a traitor and to discredit his opposition to Mikal.
Prince Kalgen, Princess Alkeya and their youngest son, Prince Athus were already in ?protective custody? and were held in surety of Syrrthus and Kirael?s good behavior. After
High level supporters of Mikal died through assassination since the Coup including Admiral Kata Chen who was to have married Mikal and become Empress. Mikal and his followers blamed Thane Reggian for the assassination.
The Military was split in loyalties. There had been increasing defections to Syrrthus? movement. Mikal, always paranoid and unstable (see notes on Prince Mikal below), no longer trusted the military and hired mercenaries at an increasing rate.
The instability of Mikal?s rule, his arbitrary decrees, his fits of fury and paranoia further eroded his ability to command loyalty throughout the Empire. (i.e. the re-establishment of slavery, the arbitrary imprisonment of nobles he was suspicious of with no proof of wrong doing or due process, etc?)
There were those lords and military leaders who are ambitious enough to take advantage of this situation to attempt to setup their own principates. This was especially prevalent in those parts new to the Empire (i.e. Wei, Ofwei, Caratan). The loyalty of these rogues impacted Syrrthus? efforts to seize the Crown.
Those that threw their lot in with Mikal, knowing they committed High Treason and their lives and fortunes were at risk did whatever was necessary to resist Syrrthus and prevent him from ousting Mikal and restoring the proper succession.
Those nobles that initially were unsure of what to do given the cloud over Prince Kalgen?s (Syrrthus? father) head, eventually found their honor again. In increasing numbers they began to provide real support to Syrrthus.
Mikal?s support collapsed and those who had prodded him in this treason abandoned him. Mikal committed suicide before he could be captured and brought to justice.
Almost immediately, opposition to Syrrthus evaporated or when undergroup. The immediate concerns of those that had supported Mikal was he saving of their necks and that of their families. Those that sat on the sidelines fell over themselves to support Syrrthus now with hope of gaining favor.
Jockeying for Imperial Favor became the latest pastime as people of all levels of the empire sought to better their condition and to fill the vacuum of those that fled.
Traditionally, coronations are held only at sunrise on the first day of the new year. Mikal broke with that tradition using the ?state of emergency? as his excuse. Syrrthus? first public step was to created an emergency Imperial Council to rule the Empire until his coronation which was to be held in accordance to tradition. This simple step reassured the vast populace of a return to order and symbolized the restoration of the succession after this period of internecine conflict.
While the Imperial Council ruled in name, Syrrthus ruled in reality. Not a move was made without his direction or approval. As the Empire took to celebration and planning for the coronation some months away, Syrrthus turned his attentions to securing his rule and consolidating his power. In this his closest allies (other than his sister) remained Thane Reggian and Bili Konner.
Through direct action, diplomacy and the intrigues of court, Syrrthus solidified his control throughout Anden Imperial space. Upon his coronation, recognition of his loyal supporters were made and rewards doled out as expected.
Both Thane and Bili were ennobled and granted lands and holdings. As expected Lord Bili Konner was appointed head of the Imperial Guard. However, a shock rippled through court as Syrrthus? appointed officially the members of his Imperial Council. It was expected that Lady Thane Reggian would be appointed Syrrthus? Prime Minister and head of the Council. When she was not, confusion abounded. Was she not the Emperor?s closest and most trusted advisor? Was she not continually at his side? Did not Thane Reggian speak for the Emperor already in all things?
Such was the confusion among the courtiers that another rumor was needed to fill the gap of their expectation. Thus it was believed by some for a short while and even to this day, that the Emperor plans to marry Thane and make her Empress. The Emperor and Lady Reggian continue to foil those expectations as the Lady increasingly spends less and less time at Court to the relief of those that fear her and dread her influence with the Emperor.