In the
grounds of the imperial palace in Kingswater, there is a bell. It is
a small bell, a leaden bell, of particularly un-noteworthy
appearance. Among all the grace and splendour of the imperial
grounds, all the mother-of-pearl, the marble and the sweeping elegant
roofs, this bell and its tower are unlovely in their iron
ordinariness.
The
tower is old, almost as old as the bell. Its stones are a brownish
grey, the slopes of its tiled roof simple, and its sides mossy.
No-one goes near the tower, except when a member of the royal family
dies (may they live forever).
Long
ago, before there were Emperors in Seven Isles, or kings of glens or
lochs, the bell was forged. Men say it was made by Hidayo the
smith-god, but monks say that the bell is beneath such divine
craftsmanship. One hundred and thirteen Emperors (may they live
forever) have had their passing marked with seven tolls of the little
bell. Uncounted princes and princesses of the blood have been
honoured with one, three or five.
The
Emperor's great-grandfather Odinato is the only one not to receive
seven strokes of the bell. He was lost at sea on the passage to
Aniran, leading a fleet against the Enemy. All men know that the
Emperors (may they live forever) have the power to control the winds
and tides, so Odinato (may he live forever) cannot have been drowned
like a mere ship's monkey. Though no man knows where he now lives,
even Emperor Ragesuni, all men knows that he will live forever, doing
the gods' work.
Emperor
Ragesuni (may he live forever) has long been sick. Confined to the
Imperial Palace these last six years, he is wracked with pain, drawn
and pale and losing his hair in the comfort of his bower. As his
hands are carved to talons clutching blood-spattered handkerchiefs,
his heart and mind have stayed the course, driving the Seven Isles as
only an Emperor can. The doctors long ago bowed their heads and
delivered the Emperor (may he live forever) into the hands of the
monks. None of the knowledge born of medicine or chirurgy could
compete with the all-conquering will of the dying monarch.
 |
| Masoya Teyuma holding court. |
Recently,
to ensure the success of his son Yosima's reign, he engaged his
beautiful daughter Ishunē to
Masoya Teyuma, heir to House Masoya, third strongest house in the
Empire. With the support of his in-laws, Yosima would become the most
powerful man in the Empire not only in law, but in fact. But the
wedding has not yet taken place, and so the Jasmine Throne stands
precariously alone, with neither father nor son reigning from it as
an Emperor must.
The
throne is itself an artefact of ancient times, as are many things in
Kingswater. It is said to have been spun from the scent of the
jasmine tree by the Tengu before it earned the ire of the gods, and
crystallised by the birthing cry of the first Emperor, Suneshima. In
the centre of the Imperial Palace it stands, on rock rather than
wooden floors, the centre and icon of kingship in the Seven Isles.
Indeed, the palace and the city of Kingswater grew up around the
throne.
The
lake island of Kingswater is connected to the mainland by a great
bridge of marble and ironwood. That bridge leads to the main road,
which itself leads to the Imperial palace, as an artery followed from
the body leads to the heart. And in the Imperial palace, among the
riches and wonders of three and a half thousand years, the
masterworks of every artisan and architect, there is a little
grey-brown tower. Within that plain little pile there is a little
iron bell, inscribed faintly with spirals of forgotten letters.
The
bell is ringing.
May the Emperor live forever.
This is the start of
the story campaign using Craig Woodfield's Ronin that will
begin as soon as I have painted the models for it. There will be four
main Buntai warbands: House Masoya (Bushi), Bandits/Rebels (Bandits)
the Imperial Order (Sohei), and House Jiryaki (Bushi). The storyline
is mapped out, so I just have to hope that the games don't scupper
it!
On a personal note –
I'm genuinely gutted not to have been able to post for so long, but
personal things can dig deeply into hobby time. As can other hobby
things – check out MW367!
That said, I hope to
pick up again soon – if you have any Ronin/Elderblossom questions,
please do ask them in the comments.
