Jo-Jo's Place

THE LION’S DEN

Empress Kvaen sat motionless as she fixed her gaze upon her staff, while royal artisans continued to paint her royal portrait. She was filled with a sense of relief that her husband, Emperor Tsesarius, was far too busy to sit in for today’s session with her. Normally she welcomed his company; but lately he had become increasingly preoccupied with the affairs concerning some of the smaller empires beyond their own borders. Emperor Tsesarius was a very focused and strong-willed ruler of their empire, Leonem-Tenne; but whenever issues would arise he was incapable of softening his focus for even brief moments of time. The truth of the matter is that they both had worked tirelessly to rise to the position of power they now held. The empire of Leonem-Tenne is so vast; that the remaining 4 empires combined barely equaled the massive expanse of land which they now controlled.

Tsesarius and Kvaen both wanted to rule Leonem-Tenne for as long as either could remember. Although their marriage had been arranged when both were barely old enough to speak, their union had taken place during a grand conjunction of heavenly bodies. At the time, some argued it was a very auspicious omen, while others insisted there was an undercurrent of darkness flowing beneath the otherwise favorable heavenly signs above—however the one thing all could agree upon was that whether the omen was favorable or ominous, it was exceedingly powerful. Roughly twenty- two years after their wedding day they assumed the rule of Leonem-Tenne as Emperor and Empress under very similar celestial omens.

During the early years of their marriage they focused on gaining the favor of the common people and more importantly those who had amassed considerable influence and power within Leonem-Tenne, plus the four lesser outer kingdoms. Tsesarius and Kvaen had been born into wealthy families and as a result both carried a deep appreciation for what large amounts of wealth could buy. As they quickly became schooled in the utility of harnessing the desperation of their pawn’s lust for wealth, the ease of positioning themselves to take over the throne when the time was ripe was almost too easy. Now, with their positions as Emperor and Empress firmly in place, the time was approaching to expand the domain of their empire. There were four more kingdoms they had every intention of conquering—but as large as their appetite for absolute power is, they still can only devour the remaining four one bite at a time. 

Well orchestrated manipulation is something Empress Kvaen had quite an appreciation for, and shortly after they assumed power she got right to work at planting the seeds of discontent among the four minor empires: Middangeard was to the East; Egni to the South; Udrah to the West; and Matih to the North. The objective was to pit the four minor kingdom’s against one another over time so that when the time for Leonem-Tenne to strike did arrive, the four kingdom’s would be unable to quickly unite, coordinate and rise against them until it was far too late. However the logistics of those battles were of very little concern to her as that was Tsesarius’ responsibility—and one that he executed with great zeal.

Ixam, the highest ranking knight in the kingdom of Udrah was approaching the Great Palace in Leonem-Tenne to deliver Udrah’s greatest treasure, The Gyvata Aeternus.  It was being given to serve as a reminder to Emperor Tsesarius and Empress Kvaen of their vow to protect the kingdom of Udrah from all harm at any cost. Unfortunately, both Kvaen and Tsesarius view The Gyvata Aeternus as theirs anyway, just as soon as they attack and conquer Udrah; and the fact that no one else is aware of their plans (yet), is a very small detail in their eyes—but only for a little while longer.

While Empress Kvaen continued to sit as the royal artisan’s carefully painted her portrait, she couldn’t help but indulge herself in reminiscing about the day she wed Tsesarius, some twenty-five years earlier…

Their marriage had been arranged when she was a small girl and she truthfully couldn’t recall the day she had met him, as it seemed to her as if she had always known him. Back then she was known as Princess Kvaen Daraniya of Middangeard and he was Prince Tsesarius Krasthai of Leonem-Tenne. The merging of their two houses was highly anticipated, as most royal weddings are. Although Prince Tsesarius was not heir to the throne, his marriage to Kvaen would secure economic dominance for Leonem-Tenne, since Middangeard was by far the wealthiest of the lesser kingdoms. His eldest brother Iustus had only recently become Emperor of Leonem-Tenne, since the death of their father from the fever. Iustus’ marriage to Empress Marista from the kingdom of Udrah had secured access to the purest mineral waters in all of the kingdoms and they gushed continuously from massive springs that flow out to all of the kingdoms. Many believe the spring water possesses great healing properties that extend life, heal the sick, and that they are filled with Divine energy to bless and protect—but only if the water is obtained at the Heart of the Spring; a secret yet heavily guarded place deep within Udrah.

Kvaen and Tsesarius had always been close, as they shared the same lust for power and an equal drive to wield it. The night before they were married, Kvaen surprised Tsesarius by learning how to gain access to the Heart of the Spring; and there they both stripped naked, swam in the water, and made a solemn vow to one another that they would do whatever became necessary to reach the throne of Leonem-Tenne; swearing to never stop until they ruled over every piece of land in all of the kingdoms. Although their intentions weren’t good, since the desire for absolute power is never good—they were pure; and at that moment the great Ruah Sitareh appeared at the edge of the water before them. The Great Goddess had a golden chalice in each hand filled with the mineral water that had now been transformed into a magical elixir, infused with the vows that Kvaen and Tsesarius’ had just spoken moments before. She began slowly emptying the celestial rain out, one onto the fertile ground and the other back into the Heart of the Spring, while declaring in a very high-pitched, otherworldly language the blessing that would not only seal their vow, but would also insure that it came to fruition. The Ruah Sitareh then evaporated into the crisp night air, and Kvaen and Tsesarius knew that nothing could ever tear them apart. For them this was their wedding—the marriage of their two souls bound together for eternity with the sole purpose to amass power and wield it, ad infinitum.

"Empress Kvaen, we’re finished for today and we continue to be extremely honored to paint your royal portrait" said Ruben Vandyke, one of the royal artisans. The Vandyke family had spent many generations as artisans for royal families, and many of their other works were proudly displayed in the museums located throughout the kingdoms. Each descendant, both male and female, devoted their lives to perfecting whatever art form they had the greatest affinity towards, and for Ruben that was painting portraits. He would lose himself for hours as he worked at capturing the essence of his subject; and he was held in the highest regard for his abilities to uncover and portray the beauty of the soul hiding behind what was often a less than beautiful exterior. As he gathered up his brushes and bowed before her, he thought to himself about Kvaen and Tsesaruis, noting that it wasn’t always easy for him to hold back the image of the souls he sometimes had to paint—because sometimes what lurks beneath the surface should be kept there. And just like that, like a hypnotist loudly snapping his fingers, Kvaen was brought back into the moment—back from savoring her memories of that auspicious night; and she was filled with a renewed sense of power and purpose.

Emperor Gradag Daraniya of Middangeard is known as being a very cautious, practical, and ruthless sort of man. It’s not that he doesn’t care about his family, including his daughter Empress Kvaen of Leonem-Tenne, it’s merely that he cares about his own wants more. One doesn’t successfully rule the wealthiest kingdom by prioritizing ridiculously cumbersome things such as emotions or family ties—especially when things of real, measurable value like gold and money are in constant need of his delicate, specialized care; a duty that he could never imagine entrusting to anyone outside of himself. People come and go without a trace—their bodies rot in the ground until there is nothing left; but gold on the other hand endures, long past when even his bones will be reduced to dust. Kvaen’s husband, Emperor Tsesarius, always admired Gradag for his unflinching loyalty to gold because it made his reactions very predictable, and also made Gradag very easy to control. Tsesarius and Kvaen would often laugh together about Gradag’s ‘love affair’ with gold, joking about him polishing each and every coin before turning in at night; and instead of counting sheep to fall asleep he likely counted gold coins instead.

Tsesarius stopped to visit with Gradag, which he did on a fairly regular basis with all of the rulers of the lesser kingdoms. As was usually the case, the topic of conversation revolved around money, and Tsesarius commented to him after bidding him farewell, “aren’t you aware yet that money doesn’t grow on trees?” Gradag responded, “Are you really sure about that? Times are changing.” Tsesarius joked, “Well if anyone was ever able to make it grow on trees, I have no doubt that person would be you.” Gradag’s only response was to grin, just like a cat who had swallowed a canary. Tsesarius knew he was up to something and it would only be a matter of time before he uncovered what it was. Gradag’s obsession made him careless as far as Tsesarius was concerned—because obsessions are weaknesses that cloud the senses. 

After Tsesarius was gone, Gradag decided to pour himself a pint of strong ale as he waited for an update regarding the whereabouts of Ixam, the highest ranking knight of Udrah. Gradag knew Ixam was carrying one of the great chalice’s, The Gyvata Aeternus, to Leonem-Tenne; and Gradag desperately wanted the power that the chalice contained, and he was willing to spend whatever monies necessary to possess it. Once he knew where Ixam was on his journey, Gradag would send out two of his best men to take The Gyvata Aeternus from Ixam, by whatever means was necessary. He knew it would be much easier to acquire the chalice while it was en route to Leonem-Tenne than once it was within the Great Palace walls, where Tsesarius and Kvaen would keep its powers all to themselves. Even though Empress Kvaen is his daughter, it didn’t cause him to trust her more than anyone else, or to want to share his great plans with her. The truth is he believes that he must have the power of The Gyvata Aeternus to give life to his most magnificent creation: a tree that produces golden coins as its fruit. Gradag spent many years secretly studying the art of Alchemy, and after countless hours and sleepless nights, he finally reached a point where he knew he could not only transform matter into gold—but he could transform it into a living golden tree. With unlimited wealth, he could own the world and all of the kingdoms within it.

What Gradag had thoroughly underestimated was how well protectedThe Gyvata Aeternus actually is. Tsesarius was correct in that obsession clouds the senses; and in Gradag’s case, he had spent a lifetime so bound to the material world, that he understood virtually nothing about matters unseen and of a higher order. There’s a very good reason that it only requires one knight to carry The Gyvata Aeternus on horseback, and that’s because the sacred chalices were entrusted to the kingdom of Udrah alone. The power of the great chalice is not a power anyone else can wield unless the Divine wills it to be. So Ixam, the greatest knight in Udrah, carried The Gyvata Aeternus proudly as he rode across the country on his way to Leonem-Tenne, because he was shielded from the view of all the eyes of men, beasts and even sorcerers. After days of Gradag’s men being unable to locate Ixam, Gradag received word that The Gyvata Aeternus had been received at the Great Palace by Empress Kvaen and Emperor Tsesarius. Gradag was furious, but refused to allow his rage to sidetrack him; and instead he began devising plans for how to get what he wanted: bringing the golden tree to life through whatever means would be necessary. 

The lesser kingdom’s of Egni to the South, and Matih to the North were known throughout the kingdoms to have tensions between them, even though no one could recall why anymore. Emperor Anselmus of Egni was very popular and well-liked within his kingdom; although Empress Ysmay of Matih to the North couldn’t stand him. She figured that he had to be up to something because what other explanation could there be for his popularity, and for his exceeding kindness whenever the two of them had to meet to discuss political matters? Unlike Emperor Anselmus, her manner of ruling the North is considered by many to be a bit harsh; as she had grown very suspicious and untrusting of anything new or anyone who was overtly kind to her who wasn’t required to be. To anyone on the outside, it appeared that her head and her heart were locked inside an icy tomb, and only her body had the freedom to move about the kingdom. It’s not that she didn’t have wonderfully amazing thoughts in her head, which was constantly buzzing with ideas; it’s just that she had lost touch with her own heart years earlier—and without access to one’s heart there is no impetus to move the thoughts of the mind into action.

The Empress was already dreading the day before her because she had to meet with Emperor Anselmus to discuss the recent collapse ofThe Ogygian Tyrrhene from a terrible storm. The Ogygian Tyrrhene was a very old tower that sat directly on the border of their two kingdoms, on the only small tract of land where their two borders meet. If it wasn’t for that piece of land she wouldn’t have any reasons to deal with Emperor Anselmus at all. Sometimes she wished she could just wash her hands of it and give the piece of land over to him—but she knew she could never do that because it was the only route which connected North and South without having to travel through Middangeard or Udrah, and as a result it was extremely valuable.

The journey from her castle in Matih to The Ogygian Tyrrhene wasn’t terribly long, and as much as she always initially dreaded the trip, once she was out of the immediacy of her palace walls she would relax. It never ceased to amuse her that she always forgot how much she enjoyed not only the journey, but also leaving the confines of her palace walls. She never felt trapped when she was there, but she became quickly aware of how trapped she really did feel as soon as she got away from there. As she gazed out the carriage watching the scenery change from the desolate woods that characterized much of Matih, to the greener forests filling up with life the further from her icy home she traveled, she wondered if Emperor Anselmus would be as irritating as usual. There was nothing in particular that he ever did to upset her, she just found it annoying that no one ever said anything bad about him—at least not that she had ever heard; and she was confident that most people didn’t speak nearly as well of her.

Their meeting today would be brief, as the main purpose was to assess the damage and decide if they were going to rebuild it, replace it with something new, or just leave it there in ruins. This would be the first time that either of them would see with their own eyes the extent of the damage. As her carriage approached she knew immediately that rebuilding The Ogygian Tyrrhene wasn’t going to be possible, as the once mighty tower was now reduced to hunks of rubble. Emperor Anselmus was already there—early as usual; and she found herself wondering if there would ever be a time when even one hair would be out of place in that golden mane on his head. As he noticed her carriage pull up a warm smile grew on his face, and as soon as it came to a halt he anxiously approached it, as he always looked forward to seeing her again.

"Empress Ysmay I’m so delighted to see you once again" taking both of her hands in his, he gently kissed them. "I hope your trip here was enjoyable, I’m just sorry we couldn’t be meeting under better circumstances today." She exhaled and replied flatly, "I don’t know Anselmus, is there ever a good reason when you and I meet?" Standing there looking at him she still couldn’t find a hair out of place, as thoughts began dancing in her head of throttling him, or at the very least smacking him upside the head once or twice—she wondered if it would prove to be as satisfying as she’d always imagined it would be, or if the reality would pale in comparison to the fantasy. Anselmus responded with a laugh and said, "Well Ysmay, maybe once we rebuildThe Ogygian Tyrrhene we can hold a celebration right here in honor of it. Then for once we won’t have to discuss the affairs of the kingdoms, we can dance and laugh together instead!” She raised her eyebrows and looked him in the eyes, “I never said I’d dance with you” and he quickly responded, “Well, I haven’t asked you yet.” He always enjoyed seeing her, the sparring back and forth with her sharpened his mind like nothing and no one else could. Although their meetings were never long enough, he still hoped that one day he’d be able to crack that hardened exterior of hers. She had experienced her own difficulties including her husband, Emperor Galerean losing his mind and senses, leaving her to run the kingdom alone while he sat day after day in a catatonic state—a man who was as close to actually being frozen in a block of ice as was possible. Anselmus wanted to reach out to her, but he wasn’t willing to risk setting their fragile alliance any farther back by possibly upsetting her.

As they both surveyed the ruins of what was once The OgygianTyrrhene, Ysmay couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that even the seemingly mightiest structures still crumble eventually—and noting that impermanence filled her with an inner stillness and peace she had never experienced. Turning to look at Anselmus as he asked one of his men to check one particular pile of rubble for anything worth salvaging; she noticed that she no longer wanted to smack him upside the head, nor did she find him to be annoying in that moment. She thought to herself that perhaps a huge celebration once they agree on what to put in the place of The Ogygian Tyrrhenne might be exactly what her kingdom needed—and that maybe a dance is just what she needs too. 

For all of her seeming inactivity, Empress Ysmay was very active beneath her placid exterior and she was always on top of the goings-on within the walls of her own kingdom as well as everyone else’s. She had grown to rely heavily upon her heightened mental faculties ever since her husband Emperor Galerean had lost his. Seeing him each day frozen, motionless, with his empty eyes gazing out towards nothingness, she knew the success of the Kingdom of Matih rested solely on her.

She had heard a few rather interesting rumblings about Emperor Gradag Daraniya of Middangeard which piqued her curiosity. Everyone, rich and poor alike knew that he worshipped nothing but gold; so it came as no real surprise to her upon hearing that he was feverishly working to create his very own living golden tree, which was to bear fruit of golden coins. She had also heard that he was planning to acquire the magical Gyvata Aeternus as it was en route to the Great Palace in Leonem-Tenne, but due to his naivete in most subjects not directly related to gold and coin, he was completely incapable of stealing the magical cup—and even if he had the Gyvata Aeternusgiven to him, he still wouldn’t have the knowledge or wisdom to know what to do with it. However the next bit of news she heard disturbed her greatly, as there were reports that Gradag was setting out to the far reaches of their world on what was referred to as a ‘mining expedition.’  

She quickly decided that the most prudent course of action would be to send out her eldest son, the knight Noein of Matih and some of his best men, to see if he could locate where the greedy old Gradag was, and hopefully they could stop him before he reached the outer fringes. She knew full well the only thing of value which resides in the outer fringes, and she feared what would happen if Gradag made it there. The nameless lands at the outer fringes of their world is where the lower powers reside; and they had been kept at bay for many years deep within the darkest caverns on the fringes of their world. A shrewd businessman who didn’t believe himself (or anyone else) to have a soul would think he’d struck quite a bargain if he sold his soul to the devil for an unlimited supply of gold. She’d known Gradag for many years and therefore knew that he was more than fool enough to strike such a deal. It’s not that she cared what Gradag did with his own soul, but she did care about what he would likely stir up from the darkest depths in his selfish pursuit. Her senses were telling her that it might already be too late, but she had to try--there was no time to waste.

Gradag knew that before embarking on his long journey to the outer fringes he needed more than his trusted knights to guarantee his safety once he entered the darkest caverns—he needed the Triewe Heoru, the sword of ultimate truth, which was the surest weapon against the King of Darkness. Although Gradag never gave credence to any powers beyond what his eyes could see and his hands could touch, he knew the King of Darkness once did roam the lands hundreds of years earlier, before he was cast out to spend the rest of time lurking in the icy, dark caverns at the outer fringes of their world. The Triewe Heoru gave to whoever held it the power to defeat evil—but only those who are pure of purpose can wield it. Gradag knew that the Triewe Heoru would not present itself to him, so he sent out Aonghus, who was his most devoted knight with the purest heart to retrieve the mighty sword. Aonghus was steadfast in his devotion to his King and was honored to serve any request that Gradag made of him, so he gathered his men and immediately set out for the sword. Gradag insisted they take along Securus, one of the court jesters for entertainment, since the journey to retrieve Triewe Heoru would be long, with few small villages to stop for rest.

Aonghus and his entourage road for weeks, travelling from lush green lands through to rocky, desolate places that few men living had ever seen. The daylight grew shorter the closer they came and finally, when daylight ceased altogether they knew they were close.

For all of her seeming inactivity, Empress Ysmay was very active beneath her placid exterior and she was always on top of the goings-on within the walls of her own kingdom as well as everyone else's. She always had heightened mental faculties, and she grew to rely on them heavily ever since her husband Emperor Galerean had lost his. Seeing him each day frozen, motionless, as his empty eyes gazed out towards nothingness, she knew the success of the Kingdom of Matih rested solely on her.

She had heard a few rather interesting rumblings about Emperor Gradag Daraniya of Middangeard which piqued her curiosity. Everyone, rich and poor alike knew that he worshipped nothing but gold; so it came as no real surprise to her upon hearing that he was feverishly working to create his very own living golden tree, which was to bear fruit of golden coins. She had also heard that he had planned to acquire the magical Gyvata Aeternus as it was en route to the Great Palace in Leonem-Tenne, but due to his naivete in most subjects not directly related to gold and coin, he was completely incapable of stealing the magical cup--and even if he had the Gyvata Aeternus given to him, he still wouldn't have the knowledge or wisdom to know what to do with it. However the next bit of news she heard disturbed her greatly, as there was news that Gradag was setting out to the far reaches of their world on what was referred to as a 'mining expedition.'  

After reading through everything I've written since the beginning of this course, I noticed a definite shift from where I began to where I am now. Initially all I was able to write about were real, concrete things that either had happened to me or were in my immediate surroundings--and always from my own vantage point. Whether it was Le Muenst, Monster Feet, or even a dream I had about a black dire wolf, it was still only about myself and my experience. 

For roughly the past month my writing has shifted from being stuck to topics that were solely my own experiences, out into a world where I can channel years observations regarding characters, people, and their motivations by using images as a focal point and as guides. (Thanks, Professor!) Prior to this I thought I was incapable of writing anything fictional, because the thought of creating characters out of thin air in their own world was an overwhelming concept. Initially, I thought the three weekly images were going to be totally separate stories which had nothing to do with each other; but when it was suggested that they be part of an ongoing story I got nervous. Truthfully, I have a notebook where I keep track of the growing family trees within the kingdoms, and the meanings and origins of all of the names of the people and places I spend hours searching for and piecing together so they sound cool. If this course spanned 2 semesters, I'd end up needing to draw a map of the kingdoms, landmarks etc. as I discover them. 

Having 3 images presented to me is just plain fun and I enjoy chewing over the numerous possible scenarios that they can potentially represent--then trying to think ahead to see where they could go should they need to at some future point in the story. 

The lesser kingdom's of Egni to the South, and Matih to the North were known throughout the kingdoms to have tensions between them, even though no one could recall why anymore. Emperor Anselmus of Egni was very popular and well-liked within his kingdom; although Empress Ysmay of Matih to the North couldn't stand him. She figured that he had to be up to something because what other explanation could there be for his popularity, and for his exceeding kindness whenever the two of them had to meet to discuss political matters? Unlike Emperor Anselmus, her manner of ruling the North is considered by many to be a bit harsh; as she had grown very suspicious and untrusting of anything new or anyone who was overtly kind to her who wasn't required to be. To anyone on the outside, it appeared as if her head and her heart were locked inside an icy tomb, and only her body had the seeming freedom to move about the kingdom. It's not that she didn't have wonderfully amazing thoughts in her head, which was constantly buzzing with ideas; it's just that she had lost touch with her own heart years earlier--and without access to one's heart there is no impetus to move the thoughts of the mind into action.

The Empress was already dreading the day before her because she had to meet with Emperor Anselmus to discuss the recent collapse of The Ogygian Tyrrhene from a terrible storm. The Ogygian Tyrrhene was a very old tower that had sat directly on the border of their two kingdoms, on the only small tract of land where their two borders meet. If it wasn't for that piece of land she wouldn't have any reasons to have to deal with Emperor Anselmus at all. Sometimes she wished she could just wash her hands of it and give the piece of land over to him--but she knew she could never do that because it was the only route which connected North and South without having to travel through Middangeard or Udrah, and as a result it was extremely valuable.

The journey from her castle in Matih to The Ogygian Tyrrhene wasn't terribly long, and as much as she always initially dreaded the trip, once she was out of the immediacy of her palace walls she would relax. It never ceased to amuse her that she always forgot how much she enjoyed not only the journey, but also leaving the confines of her palace walls. She never felt trapped when she was there, but she became quickly aware of how trapped she really did feel as soon as she got away from from there. While gazing out the carriage watching the scenery change from the desolate woods that characterized much of Matih, to the greener forests filling up with life the further from her icy home she traveled, she wondered if Emperor Anselmus would be as irritating as usual. There was nothing in particular that he ever did to upset her, she just found it annoying that no one ever said anything bad about him--at least not that she had ever heard; and she was confident that most people didn't speak nearly as well of her.

Their meeting today would be brief, as the main purpose was to assess the damage and decide if they were going to rebuild it, replace it with something new, or just leave it there in ruins. This would be the first time that either of them would see with their own eyes the extent of the damage. As her carriage approached she knew immediately that rebuilding The Ogygian Tyrrhene wasn't going to be possible, as the once mighty tower had been reduced to hunks of rubble. Emperor Anselmus was already ther--early as usual; and she found herself wondering if there would ever be a time when even one hair would be out of place in that golden mane on his head. As he noticed her carriage pull up a warm smile grew on his face, and as soon as it came to a halt he anxiously approached it, as he always looked forward to seeing her again.

"Empress Ysmay I'm so delighted to see you once again" as he took both of her hands in his and gently kissed them. "I hope your trip here was enjoyable, I'm just sorry we couldn't be meeting under better circumstances today." She exhaled and replied flatly, "I don't know Anselmus, is there ever a good reason when you and I meet?" Standing there looking at him she still couldn't find a hair out of place, as thoughts began dancing in her head of throttling him, or at the very least smacking him upside the head once or twice--she wondered if it would prove to be as satisfying as she'd always imagined it would be, or if the reality would pale in comparison to the fantasy. Anselmus responded with a laugh and said, "Well Ysmay, maybe once we rebuild The Ogygian Tyrrhene we can hold a celebration right here in honor of it. Then for once we won't have to discuss the affairs of the kingdoms, we can dance and laugh together instead!" She raised her eyebrows and looked him in the eyes, "I never said I'd dance with you" and he quickly responded, "Well, I haven't asked you yet." He always enjoyed seeing her, the sparring back and forth with her sharpened his mind like nothing and no one else could. Although their meetings were never long enough, he still hoped that one day he'd be able to crack that hardened exterior of hers. She had experienced her own difficulties including her husband, Emperor Galerean losing his mind and senses, leaving her to run the kingdom alone while he sat day after day in a catatonic state--a man who was as close to actually being frozen in a block of ice as was possible. He wanted to reach out to her, but he wasn't willing to risk setting their fragile alliance any farther back by possibly upsetting her.

Emperor Gradag Daraniya of Middangeard is known for being a very cautious, practical, and ruthless sort of man. It's not that he doesn't care about his family, including his daughter Empress Kvaen of Leonem-Tenne, it's merely that he cares about his own wants more. One doesn't successfully rule the wealthiest kingdom by prioritizing ridiculously cumbersome things such as emotions or family ties--especially when things of real, measurable value like gold and money are in constant need of his delicate, specialized care; a duty that he could never imagine entrusting to anyone outside of himself. People come and go without a trace--their bodies rot in the ground until there is nothing left; but gold on the other hand endures, long past when even his bones will be reduced to dust. Kvaen's husband, Emperor Tsesarius, always admired Gradag for his unflinching loyalty to gold because it made his reactions very predictable, and also made Gradag very easy to control. Tsesarius and Kvaen would often laugh together about Gradag's 'love affair' with gold, joking about him polishing each and every coin before turning in at night; and instead of counting sheep to fall asleep he likely chose to dream of each coin.

Tsesarius stopped to visit with Gradag, which he did on a fairly regular basis with all of the rulers of the lesser kingdoms. As was usually the case, the topic of conversation revolved around money, and Tsesarius commented to him after bidding him farewell, "aren't you aware yet that money doesn't grow on trees?" Gradag responded, "Are you really sure about that? Times are changing." Tsesarius joked, "Well if anyone was ever able to make it grow on trees, I have no doubt that person would be you." Gradag's only response was to grin, just like a cat who had swallowed a canary. Tsesarius knew he was up to something, and it would only be a matter of time before he uncovered what it was. Gradag's obsession made him careless as far as Tsesarius was concerned--because obsessions are a weakness that cloud the senses. 

After Tsesarius was gone, Gradag decided to pour himself a pint of strong ale as he waited for an update regarding the whereabouts of Ixam, the highest ranking knight of Udrah. Gradag knew Ixam was carrying one of the great chalice's, The Gyvata Aeternus, to Leonem-Tenne; and Gradag desperately wanted the power that the chalice contained, and he was willing to spend whatever monies necessary to possess it. Once he knew where Ixam was on his journey, Gradag would send out two of his best men to take The Gyvata Aeternus from Ixam, by whatever means was necessary. He knew it would be much easier to acquire the chalice while it was en route to Leonem-Tenne than once it was within the Great Palace walls, where Tsesarius and Kvaen would keep its powers all to themselves. Even though Empress Kvaen is his daughter, it didn't cause him to trust her more than anyone else, or to want to share his great plans with her. The truth is he believes that he must have the power of The Gyvata Aeternus to give life to his most magnificent creation: a tree that produces golden coins as its fruit. Gradag spent many years secretly studying the art of Alchemy, and after countless hours and sleepless nights, he finally reached a point where he knew he could not only transform matter into gold--but he could transform it into a living golden tree. With unlimited wealth, he could own the world and all of the kingdom's within it.

While Empress Kvaen continued to sit as the royal artisan's carefully painted her portrait, she couldn't help indulging herself in reminiscing about the day she wed Tsesarius, some twenty-five years earlier...

Their marriage had been arranged when she was a small girl and she truthfully couldn't recall the day she had met him, as it seemed to her as if she had always known him. Back then she was known as Princess Kvaen Daraniya of Middangeard and he was Prince Tsesarius Krasthai of Leonem-Tenne. The merging of their two houses was highly anticipated, as most royal weddings are. Although Prince Tsesarius was not heir to the throne, his marriage to Kvaen would secure economic dominance for Leonem-Tenne, since Middangeard was by far the wealthiest of the lesser kingdoms. His eldest brother Iustus had only recently become Emperor of Leonem-Tenne, since the death of their father from the fever. Iustus' wife, Empress Marista from the kingdom of Udrah, secured access to the purest mineral waters in all of the kingdoms which gushed from massive springs that flowed out to all of the kingdoms. Many believed the spring water to possess great healing properties that would extend life, heal those who were sick, and that it was filled with the Divine energy to bless and protect--all of these things and more the water was rumored to contain, but only if it's obtained at the Heart of the Spring; a secret yet heavily guarded place deep within Udrah.

Kvaen and Tsesarius had always been close, as they shared the same lust for power and an equal drive to one day wield it. The night before they were married, Kvaen surprised Tsesarius by learning how to gain access to the Heart of the Spring; and there they both stripped naked, swam in the water, and made a solemn vow to one another that they would do whatever became necessary to reach the throne of Leonem-Tenne; swearing to never stop until they ruled over every piece of land in all of the kingdoms. Although their intentions weren't good, since the desire for absolute power is never good--they were pure; and at that moment the great Ruah Sitareh appeared at the edge of the water before them. The Great Goddess had a golden chalice in each hand filled with the mineral water that had now been transformed into a magical elixir, infused with the vows that Kvaen and Tsesarius' had just spoken moments before. She began slowly emptying the celestial rain out, one onto the fertile ground and the other back into the Heart of the Spring, while declaring in a very high-pitched, otherworldly language the blessing that would not only seal their vow, but would also insure that it came to fruition. The Ruah Sitareh then evaporated into the crisp night air, and Kvaen and Tsesarius knew that nothing could ever tear them apart. For them this was their wedding--the marriage of their two souls bound together for eternity with the sole purpose to amass power and wield it, ad infinitum.