The Imperial Lineage

 

 

 

God-King Itomas I

Sovereign of the Rule of Man

Itomas at 44 is still in his youth for a God-King, as his line is a long-lived one. Greatest Monarch of Palladium, it is rumored that he will attempt once again the subjugation of his recalcitrant subjects in the east.(In his youth he once mistakenly joked about putting the noblility of Timoro to the sword, and so this rumor has stayed with him.) His conquest of Phi was a swift brutal stroke, hinting at military genius. He has also journeyed to the Isle of the Cyclops and once again affirmed their age old treaty with the Ruler of Mankind, currently the elite units of Qurub once again train with the legendary javelins of lightening. Now in attendance upon his council is the legendary Slayer of Mountains a reputedly immortal wizard of mythic power. Itomas seeks power like a lodestone points north, unerringly. It is said that Umurs and great Lords place longstanding bets on the extents of his conquest. The lifestyle of Itomas is severely Spartan and he is much given to meditations of extended periods followed by great spurts of energy and planning. Widely regarded as a strong and capable ruler, he is much feared for his merciless sense of bitter humor and documented ability to kill an individual with a glance.

Notes on Succession

The Imperial family is a very small one, contrary as what one might expect. Ancient laws and tradition regulating the procreation of the God-King has kept it so. The ancient wars of succession devastated the empire continually, until tradition developed limiting the sexual relations of the God-King. For fear of illegitimate children who might one day rise to power or become the pawns of powerful lords, the God-King is restricted to sexual relations with only his spouse. Furthermore the God-King is restricted to a single spouse. His spouse too, is forbidden to have sexual relations with anyone else. Traditionally the consequence for defying this tradition is a long and painful death by exposure atop a crumbling ziggurat in the Palace district. Since magical means exist that will identify illegitimate children and divinations exist to determine the fidelity of a spouse, rarely is this put to the test. Furthermore, over the millennia a great codex of succession laws have been developed. These laws are as severe and unforgiving as the sun that beats down on a summer's noonday. In every possible circumstance there is a precedent as to who will sit upon the throne. Voluminous roles of proclamations and essential parts of the wills of long-dead God-Kings make up the balance of the codex. What the laws do not encompass the following procedures account for and wars of succession have become things of the past.

Essentially the lineage is conceived of as the ziggurat upon which Mankind worships the Gods. As it has many steps ascending to the heavens, so too does the hallowed lineage of the God-King. Upon the summit stands the God-King alone. On the second step may stand his spouse (a place of honor), and immediate family. The third step is the place for aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters. Those who would stand on the more distant steps must enter their names in the Rolls of the Relinquishment and suffer themselves to be rendered incapable of having offspring. Most often a fine sinecure amongst the clergy is found for these individuals. If such a tragedy were to occur such that the next in line was to be one of these unfortunates, then powerful magical healing would be applied and the lineage would continue. Whereas the more powerful clans would have members in the thousands, the Imperial clan rarely numbers over one hundred. Adult children of the God-King of the are often granted posts as Enkenkurs, tradition makes the Enkenkur of Ashur to be the God Kings heir.

Distinguished members of the Imperial family:

 

Empress Karaean:

The greying spouse of the God-King, she was taken to wife by Itomas early in his reign. She is the princess of the Royal family in Phi taken by Western hostage by Western troops during the conquest 20 yr. ago. Renowned for her beauty, poise, and strength of will, she commands great respect from the assembled nobility. From position of influence she has tirelessly struggled to protect her homeland and people from the worst excesses of Western tyranny.

 

Enkenkur Ashur, Lugalmaru the Rising Sun:

Twenty year old heir of Itomas, he lives a life of strict discipline. Favored by his father, he has been continually showered by grants of power and responsibility. The time honored tradition of father struggling with son has not taken hold here and the empire looks for an easy transition of power when the time comes. Lugalmaru is becoming a competent leader, administrator, and general at a very young age. A great swordsman and considered a prodigy, he has become the student of the aged Rahuman Bel-Turrem. Bel-Turrem lived the last several hundred years in silent meditation in a mountain cave in the Northern reaches. Lugalmaru made a personal quest to seek him out and ask to become his disciple. Apparently he so impressed the aged master that the master came out of seclusion to train Lugalmaru in his Palatial estate in the Old Quarter. Lugalmaru is friendly with Umurs Tarquin, Lugalbanda and Urnammu. It is rumored that he does not like the company of Umur Ashbaalum.

 

Sakkanakku Uruk, Kara Priestess of Erishkigal:

The dangerously beautiful daughter of Itomas rules Uruk with a strong arm and moves her temple again to prominence. The pale skin and ice blue eyes of Phi royalty mingled well with the jet black hair and dusky beauty of the west. Her suitors are not few, despite the possibility of having no grand-children.

 

Enkenkur Yin-Sloth Protectorate, Barashum the Wicked:

This old eunuch, uncle of Itomas weaves his complex webs of intrigue in the courts of the mighty. He finds the epithet given to him in common usage to be quite amusing and has had it legally added to his cylinder seal. Lacking more usual pleasures it is rumored that he delights only in power, wealth, influence and certain unnamable depravities.

 

Turtan of the Left-Hand, Qurub Beth-selit:

A mighty warrior and a cunning general, Beth-selit has served well in her 50 odd years in the Armies of the West. The older sister of Itomas, she is one of the most feared duelist in the empire as her light scattering of scars attest. Her skill as a charioteer is second to none and often the God-King honors her with his presence at her races. Beth-selit served as a Turtan in the wars of the subjugation in Yin-Sloth. Her name among the natives of that region is a curse for she is not known for mercy.

 

 

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