"By the gracious order of immortal Magus Imperator Nais VI, may his empire last forever, the lands of Theden are to be protected by five kings, all answering to the Magus Imperator. The provincial governors of the four ancient provinces of Avria, White Reach, the Algond, and Middland are to be elevated to kingship by His Eternal Majesty. Naren Vale, the Southernlands, Arnas, and Lortheora shall remain under direct control by His Majesty, the Magus Imperator in his new, glorious capital of Lortheoren. The eastern provinces shall be ruled by the Adeptus Imperator of the East, Artheus tur Thalyen. Aurdeth tur Fara-Daruein, due to his excellence in battle and just politics and loyalty to the Imperator, is crowned protector of Avria, which was taken from the Beastmen in the name of the Empire. May Freyjis grant you and your people fertility, Tyron; protection, and may Aldrein guide you."
The envoy from Lortheoren rolled up his scroll, his gaze on enthroned Aurdeth.
"Nais, our glorious Imperator, gives you and your line full control of the army and internal affairs of Avria. But he reminds you, as you rule your land, to remember who gave it to you."
"You may assure the Eternal Imperator that I shall. Is that all, envoy?"
"Yes, your Majesty. Will you allow me to return to Lortheoren now?"
"Go, and the Sanctum watch over you and the Empire."
The imperial courier bowed, somewhat shallowly, then left along with his companions.
Bannar, Aurdeth's chief general, stepped closer to the throne.
"So, we have two imperators now; one in the south and one in the east. I told you that Artheus would be elevated. Too many connections in Lortheoren."
"His Immortal Highness in Lortheoren is no worry to me. But I don't like Artheus... too ambitious with too many resources at his disposal. He will want a foothold in the west."
"The Algond and Middland buffer us from the Eastern Empire. For now, we are at peace, my king."
Aurdeth nodded, shoulders relaxing. Avria was at peace; White Reach was it's close ally; the Algond and MIddland were preoccupied with Wilders, giants, and Artheus, Aleronia was going through internal troubles, and Theden was weak from the recent splitting of the empire and constant decaying of the Imperator's power. And Nulcarn and the Scourges were gone. The Breach of Baragrond had happened two generations ago when Nais VI's ancestor, Magus Imperator Kallen I reigned in Amoniroth. Even a band of orcs hadn't been seen since. Aurdeth looked up again at his favorite general.
"Are the people gathered for the ceremony? Is the priest ready for the coronation?"
"Aye, they're all gathered and ready, your Majesty." Bannar nodded.
Aurdeth rose, maroon robe rustling as he did. He strode across the stone hall, booted footfalls echoing off the high gray stones. It did not take long for him to cross the squat hall; he flung open the doors that led to a balcony overlooking the simple stone city of Avara. A great crowd, most of the inhabitants of the city, were gathered at the foot of Aurdeth's keep, along with a number of Aurdeth's soldiers. At the sight of their new king, a great cheer and hundreds of shouts, prompted by the soldiers, thundered up to Aurdeth. Bannar came up behind Aurdeth on his left side and Thesces, his head judge, on his right. Honath, the chief priest of the city, came last of all. Aurdeth knelt before the cleric.
"By the will of the Sanctum and Magus Imperator Nais VI, I give you the purple mantle of rulership," here the priest laid a purple and gold-laced cape upon Aurdeth's shoulders, "the oil and ulein crown of kingship," Honath anointed the dark hair of Aurdeth with fine oil and crowned him in a circlet of white ulein leaves, "and I, by the will of the Sanctum that flows through me, place the scepter of Law in your right hand and the sword of Protection in your left hand. May you use them both wisely and justly. I anoint you with a new name to mark your entry into Theden kingship. Rise, King Aurdeth Ascerean, and rule your people."
Aurdeth Ascerean rose to tumultuous applause. The soldiers, armed with spears and horns, blew a mighty fanfare and banged their spear hafts on the cobbled ground. Bannar stepped forward and bellowed over the applause and horns.
"People of Avria, will you bow to your new king?"
Suddenly everyone was silent as, first the soldiers, then the civilians knelt on the ground, heads bowed in acceptance. Aurdeth put his hands on the cool marble banister of the balcony.
"Rise." he called out in his commanding tone, filling the silent air of the city square. Everyone did so.
"Today, after six years of labor and blood, sweat and tears, this land is starting in a new direction; one of growth and peace. Six years ago, this fertile land was lost from the light of Theden. Ruled by minotaurs and Wilders it was; roaming free and unchallenged, they raided and slaughtered, no legion or cohort able to follow them through the Numinean Wilds. Six years ago, I led many of you brave people through those same Wilds. Six years ago, we began a war that seemed endless, even hopeless. But we kept on fighting, we held on, you kept on fighting, you held on. Many of you lost family and friends to that war, the blood of good and noble Theden men was spilt for this land. But as some of us fell into despair, what happened? Because of our determination, because of our spirit, we slew the minotaurs, the centaurs, the ogres, and we killed Menaderik and his hordes!" the stones of the castle shook as the people cheered at this last statement. "And now this land is at peace, free of war and strife. We conquered this land not just for Eternal Theden and ourselves, but in the name of Naren Vale and the ancient kingdoms of Men! Like our ancestral homeland, our kingdom shall serve as a beacon of light and strength for Ages to come! And for this reason I rename my kingdom to honor our old home: Narenior shall be our home now. Together we shall make a kingdom, a legacy that our children will inherit and carry themselves! Long live the People of Narenior!"
The envoy from Lortheoren rolled up his scroll, his gaze on enthroned Aurdeth.
"Nais, our glorious Imperator, gives you and your line full control of the army and internal affairs of Avria. But he reminds you, as you rule your land, to remember who gave it to you."
"You may assure the Eternal Imperator that I shall. Is that all, envoy?"
"Yes, your Majesty. Will you allow me to return to Lortheoren now?"
"Go, and the Sanctum watch over you and the Empire."
The imperial courier bowed, somewhat shallowly, then left along with his companions.
Bannar, Aurdeth's chief general, stepped closer to the throne.
"So, we have two imperators now; one in the south and one in the east. I told you that Artheus would be elevated. Too many connections in Lortheoren."
"His Immortal Highness in Lortheoren is no worry to me. But I don't like Artheus... too ambitious with too many resources at his disposal. He will want a foothold in the west."
"The Algond and Middland buffer us from the Eastern Empire. For now, we are at peace, my king."
Aurdeth nodded, shoulders relaxing. Avria was at peace; White Reach was it's close ally; the Algond and MIddland were preoccupied with Wilders, giants, and Artheus, Aleronia was going through internal troubles, and Theden was weak from the recent splitting of the empire and constant decaying of the Imperator's power. And Nulcarn and the Scourges were gone. The Breach of Baragrond had happened two generations ago when Nais VI's ancestor, Magus Imperator Kallen I reigned in Amoniroth. Even a band of orcs hadn't been seen since. Aurdeth looked up again at his favorite general.
"Are the people gathered for the ceremony? Is the priest ready for the coronation?"
"Aye, they're all gathered and ready, your Majesty." Bannar nodded.
Aurdeth rose, maroon robe rustling as he did. He strode across the stone hall, booted footfalls echoing off the high gray stones. It did not take long for him to cross the squat hall; he flung open the doors that led to a balcony overlooking the simple stone city of Avara. A great crowd, most of the inhabitants of the city, were gathered at the foot of Aurdeth's keep, along with a number of Aurdeth's soldiers. At the sight of their new king, a great cheer and hundreds of shouts, prompted by the soldiers, thundered up to Aurdeth. Bannar came up behind Aurdeth on his left side and Thesces, his head judge, on his right. Honath, the chief priest of the city, came last of all. Aurdeth knelt before the cleric.
"By the will of the Sanctum and Magus Imperator Nais VI, I give you the purple mantle of rulership," here the priest laid a purple and gold-laced cape upon Aurdeth's shoulders, "the oil and ulein crown of kingship," Honath anointed the dark hair of Aurdeth with fine oil and crowned him in a circlet of white ulein leaves, "and I, by the will of the Sanctum that flows through me, place the scepter of Law in your right hand and the sword of Protection in your left hand. May you use them both wisely and justly. I anoint you with a new name to mark your entry into Theden kingship. Rise, King Aurdeth Ascerean, and rule your people."
Aurdeth Ascerean rose to tumultuous applause. The soldiers, armed with spears and horns, blew a mighty fanfare and banged their spear hafts on the cobbled ground. Bannar stepped forward and bellowed over the applause and horns.
"People of Avria, will you bow to your new king?"
Suddenly everyone was silent as, first the soldiers, then the civilians knelt on the ground, heads bowed in acceptance. Aurdeth put his hands on the cool marble banister of the balcony.
"Rise." he called out in his commanding tone, filling the silent air of the city square. Everyone did so.
"Today, after six years of labor and blood, sweat and tears, this land is starting in a new direction; one of growth and peace. Six years ago, this fertile land was lost from the light of Theden. Ruled by minotaurs and Wilders it was; roaming free and unchallenged, they raided and slaughtered, no legion or cohort able to follow them through the Numinean Wilds. Six years ago, I led many of you brave people through those same Wilds. Six years ago, we began a war that seemed endless, even hopeless. But we kept on fighting, we held on, you kept on fighting, you held on. Many of you lost family and friends to that war, the blood of good and noble Theden men was spilt for this land. But as some of us fell into despair, what happened? Because of our determination, because of our spirit, we slew the minotaurs, the centaurs, the ogres, and we killed Menaderik and his hordes!" the stones of the castle shook as the people cheered at this last statement. "And now this land is at peace, free of war and strife. We conquered this land not just for Eternal Theden and ourselves, but in the name of Naren Vale and the ancient kingdoms of Men! Like our ancestral homeland, our kingdom shall serve as a beacon of light and strength for Ages to come! And for this reason I rename my kingdom to honor our old home: Narenior shall be our home now. Together we shall make a kingdom, a legacy that our children will inherit and carry themselves! Long live the People of Narenior!"
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