Court today seems a little different. Maybe it's the entire unit of Seppun in full armor arranged in front of the dais?

No tables or seats have been left out to form the galleries.

It seems something major has happened.

Just as the wait is beginning to get irksome--Matsu Tsuruyo can be seen pinching her palms to stop herself from pacing--the rear doors open to admit the Imperial contingent.

The Emerald Champion and Imperial Chancellor move quickly and efficiently to their positions, the Ruby Champion close behind, but unable quite to match their pace. Curiously, Kakita Hajime is unsmiling.

Seppun Sadako is next, her steps almost leaden. Then Tooru, looking almost lost as he trailed in her wake. Then Keihime, dressed entirely in white, he eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Last of all, Miya Hachi, the Imperial Herald emerges onto the dais. He is carrying a scroll. He walks slowly to the center of the lip of the dais and begins to unfurl it, letting himself take a breath before he begins.

"Honored kinsmen, Delegates, and Guests, it is my sad duty to inform you that Her Imperial Majesty, Hantei Retsuhime, the ninth descendant of the Kami Hantei to occupy the Emerald Throne, our Lady, our Defender, and our Guide, passed into the company of her blessed ancestors yesterday evening."

"NO!"

Lord Ikoma's cry shook the chamber.

At this time, all characters with the Epilepsy disadvantage will need to roll their check to resist an episode from the weight of the event of the Empress' death.

Hachi peered over his scroll, his kind eyes scanning the room.

"I am afraid so. Hantei Retsuhime was taken from us before making her will known to us. We, her servants, are left to take care of her Empire the best we can without her guidance."

He took in a breath.

"In order to leave her beloved servants time to reflect on her memory, the Imperial Court will be in abeyance today and tomorrow. The Empress' funeral will take place in Otosan Uchi, as has that of each of her forebears. However, her faithful servants are invited to share their memories and wishes for the Empress tomorrow at this hour tomorrow, before her earthly remains are sealed to travel to the capital."

And with that, he rolled up his scroll.

"That concludes our business for today. This court is therefore suspended."

He bowed deeply to those assembled, then turned and walked out the way he came, followed, one by one, by the other Imperial Officers, and then the honor guard. The door slid shut, and the world was changed.

[This thread is now open]

Kiuchi was stunned. It wasn't surprising it happened. But it was surprising it happened now.

And before she named an heir. This Court has suddenly is going to become much more chaotic. But.. no. Now is not the time for that. The Empress is dead. She must be mourned. The Champion will know who the Empress wanted. So, for now, Kiuchi can mourn and leave the burden of the future to his Champion.

Ryusei felt the bottom drop out of his stomach.

Her wise ban on outright conflict. Her steady hand. The assurance that the choice of heirs was hers and hers alone...

Gone. All gone. The fiery old lady had proven just as mortal as anyone else, and the succession was unresolved- indeed, a fifth potential heir still had yet to arrive.

And she called it out in Court, so unless these ambitious vipers are willing to publicly flout her wishes without the authority of the Throne to back them, the last heir is on the way...

He looked to Higashime to see if she had any instructions... and he also looked for Yuna, to steady him.

Because right then what he WANTED, was to be back at Shiro Shigi, showing her the family library, introducing her to his mother, and not having to concern himself with any of this.

It couldn't be, of course. They were at Court and they both had duties to their clans that the empty throne wouldn't obviate.

But it was a nice spot of mental refuge as he processed the shock.

Well, that made things into a shit show. Might as well go ahead and set the whole damn Empire on fire now, whoever was best at putting it out could set themselves up as her heir. Of course, that wasn't really what the clan wanted, so it wouldn't really work out.

Daichi took the news rather stoically, at least on the outside. He was rather used to news of people's deaths after all, and while the loss of Empress was shocking, he was well able to take the news in stride. There would be no tears from him though, as there was work to do. He hadn't gotten a good measure of any of the heirs at this point after all that would have to change.

Shiba Ryusei wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 6:24 am

Ryusei ... looked to Higashime to see if she had any instructions... and he also looked for Yuna, to steady him.

Yuna gasped at the announcement. Oh. Oh no.

She caught Shiba-san's eye, as he instinctively looked over to her to steady him, in her position at his side.

She took a deep steadying breath. No words. But a chance for them to practice listening to each other's breathing. Matching their breaths. Deliberately slowing their breathing. The centering pace. The calming pace.

Breathe in on the breath prayer: Be still and know the void is all and nothing
Breathe out

Breathe in (Be still and know the void is all...) Silence replacing the final words. The breath just as deep.
Breathe out

Breathe in (Be still and know the void...)
Breathe out

Breathe in (Be still and know...)
Breathe out

Breathe in (Be still...)
Breathe out

Breathe in (Be...)
Breathe out

Masaki had *not* chosen the kimono with a white background for today. Perhaps thankfully so.

On the outside, she looked stoic as well, although her eyes immediately went to the ground. On clowee inspection, there seemed to be *some* weight on her expression. Those who knew about her house's last 10 years or so might imagine why - death had been less present than it was in other Crab lands, but not unknown of, and those they had seen had happened in rather unauspicious circumstances.

Her head immediately went to numbers. This was the fifth day of court. Yesterday was the fourth day. Shi. Four. Death. As before... but the whole Empire being affected now.

She felt her head spinning, her stoic face a bit shaken, closed her eyes for a whole, trying to recompose herself. Still a bit dizzy, she looked at her acquaintances and friends among the Crane - Hoshiko, especially. Had she noticed too?

Her eyes then shifted to Daichi, then to Masahiko. If the Empress really did not leave a will, they would definitely have to talk.

Eiji cast his eyes downward. Emma-O's spear had finally completed it's thrust. It was a sad ending to the tale of a hero of the Empire. The Empress would have been happier to have gone out, sword in hand facing off against some monsterous foe. A warrior found no glory dying on their sick bed.

It had taken strong hands to hold the reigns of the six-headed horse that was the Empire. Now it was left to the bureacracy to try and keep things together just long enough to find another rider who had similar strength. That there were now five striving for the chance was not going to be helpful. The Empire might well die with the Empress, as many tried to pull in their own direction.

And what would the coming chaos mean for the Scorpion delegation here at Kyuden Ikoma? With the Empress dead and the delegations in chaos and shock, the knives well may come out.

Eiji cried. Both for the tragedy that was the end of the Empress and for the coming tragedy that may well be the end of the Empire.

Shiori was rather stunned by the announcement of the Empress's death, much like everyone who gathered here. In her case, it was a real loss of knowing how to process this news into reality. Perhaps it was her Crab upbringing but there was the foolish assumption that the threat of death was merely an inconvenience until duty was done. The Empress wasn't a Crab, obviously, but being the Daughter of Heaven meant that her divinity would grant her greater power than all Clans combined. Clearly, something she would still wrestle with even at the funeral on the next day.

That tetsubo drop of news certainly sucked the air out of the proceedings today. For now, Shiori maintained a stoic veneer as she internally deliberated with both her feelings and what this objectively meant for the Empire in the future.

What a time for my superior to be absent from court.

Masumi pressed her lips together. The Divine Wind, still unrecorded (shouldn't the Ikoma make sure to include every detail for factual evidence), had been an ill omen that went unnoticed. That or it was all the suspicious activity was connected... surely not. Still she couldn't shake the feeling that a probing strike against the Crane would be perfect for finding some vulnerability to reach the Empress herself.

Such was the ways of paranoia. She wasn't by any means a medical examiner (and what hinin could she recruit to work with the flesh of the divine?) nor would she dare run up to them and demand the cause of death. These ideas would have to be conveyed to Sae in due time.

Sanjuro was shocked, much like the others standing here. His mind went back for a moment to the cry of the fire kami yesterday,

He quickly brought his thoughts to the Daughter of Heaven whose fierce spirit was here until the last. Though not as firm in body, her strength guided us all. May her legacy be bright and her memory guide us through the coming days until the next Hantei is named.