Long live the Emperor | Long live his Empire

[Zqppy 918]

Earoslav closed his eyes upon hearing the news, "Eam niet far behind old friend, all that was built must eventually pass on." He would pause his money counting for a moment, sending a prayer for Tiberias and the Empire, "And may Owyn's Radiant flame guide this empire of yours."

Edited December 3, 2025 by Zqppy

[Pegleg_Bob 1107]

The first house to join the Empire was Winburgh, and Larkin Mack knew this well. He understood what it meant to be loyal to a cause, to be born among those who had remained steadfast since the days of Veletz. His family was surely smiling down from the Seven Skies, but still, Larkin Mack worried.

He knew the Crown Prince would be a good leader, yet he had seen the darker side of Hadrian. He prayed to God and to the Heroes of old that his worries were misplaced, that Hadrian Horen would prove to be like Aurelius, bringing peace to the Empire and to Man.

[SethWolf 2340]

✠

 

Titus read over the missive whilst he sat at camp on patrol, deep within the woods of the East. The prince had known Tiberias his entire life, even if that life he held was still yet so young. To him, even as a small boy his grandfather seemed a titanic figure, towering head and shoulder above all creatures of the Earth.

 

And even still as a young man, he had taken life and spilled his first blood in his name, and in defence of his empire. He had only ever knew one master of Mankind, and his name was Tiberias. Now, it was his father whom even the world itself would seem to bow to, except for time. Time it seemed, was the undoing of all things. As Titus approached his sixteenth nameday, the world would seek to test him, too. The trials ahead would be difficult, and they would test every belief and tennant he held dear.

 

But Titus knew no fear. For it was Tiberias who imparted unto him perhaps the most valuble lesson the boy had ever been given. The words rang out in his ears from a decade past, reaching all the way from Kalldur. He spoke them aloud, softly:

 

"As stubborn as a bull, and as bold as a dragon."

 

Titus gently folded the missive into the space behind his chestplate, and made to re-seat his horse. With swiftness and determination, he would beat against the wind with purpose and conviction. To never flinch in the face of his eventual undoing, and to make of this life a quest to leave the world better than he had come into it. For his father, for his elder brother, for his house, and their Empire - he could not fail.

 

✠

[KBR 2046]

A Dragon-Knight clad in black armor gazed down upon Rittersburg from the Krak des Châtaigne that sat on the hill before. He remembered fondly the advice given by Emperor Tiberias, and his years in service to the man and his family. His mouth opened as he spoke to his brothers then "A new age dawns for the Empire, and in it a new place for the men of Lorraine." 

[Britannicvs 2508]

"End of an era." Narvi Jewelbeard remarked. 

[sam33497 7356]

A rotten elf that clung to a poor facsimile of life did witness that missive, though the happiness he knew he would like to feel did not reach his vessel of undeath. Still, his gaze beheld the vast swathes of Empire, the great justice or great mercy upon those he had once called enemies and allies alike.

 

His gaze rose to the heavens he had always cursed, searching for some distant, invisible place.

 

"Hurin... Vylaennen... Are you watching? Gaspard, my old liege, are you watching?"

 

It was bitter that he was despondent to that great joy. So it was bitterly that he smiled.

[Frisket 4538]

While most sung praises and wept. Vivien, and Ember spoke a singular word. Knowing quite well what was to come.

 

in Viviens head were the words which Hadrian spoke in passing.

 

”we must be cruel to elves, unless they dare walk over us again…”

 

Ember remembered the echos which those blessed like her spoke

 

”the age of ruin… is here, and it shall not be stopped by no man, elf, dwarf or orc.”

 

they both echoed alone in a silent manner 

 

“In ruin, there will be change…”

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 15456]

Having been born during the era of the Second Yokai War, a time of heroes with the likes of his great ancestor, the Yobushidan, Saint Caius II, Peter Stroheim, Ser Morgan of Lemonhill and a young man named only Tiberias then, Ena of the Kato Clan had been grateful to grow up in a world where peace had been earned through the trials and sacrifice of those before him with the full intentions of maintaining that peace by any means necessary - even by the similar sacrifice of those before him.

 

 

"Godspeed You! Tiberias-Tei!" Ena shouted from Raijima to the north across the sea, wishing the retired Emperor his best for what was to come.

[Luto 439]

Churchbells of abdication rang out in the countryside.

Noiye stopped her work, stabbing the pitchfork into the ground to face the capital with a salute against her person.

An acknowledgement to Tiberias' tenure. Self reflection of what'd come next. This lasted a minute.

She picks up the pitchfork and continued where she left off.

For her, there was still tomorrow to worry about.

Edited December 3, 2025 by Luto

[MrMojoMordor 2413]

"And to THINK he united ALL of Mankind with a small loan of a million minas from the Church - to line the pockets of Krugistan, Kyo-Kuni, Urguan & that one or two High-Elf nations."  A goblin chortles, still a bit bitter as he hoped for a long & fun war - only to have everything collapse after 2 meager battles.

[DizzyGrey 1229]

A Kharajyr snarled in fury at the missive, scorn lighting her eyes as her weak hands threatened to crumple the paper. A warped and wretched thing, left squatting in the dark and remnant corners of the world by the orders of a human who wouldn’t even know she existed.

 

The figurehead of the slaughter. The one at the very top of the greatest threat to her kind, so far out of her grasp. Her people skinned, dead and living, time and again.

 

”No.” She hisses under her breath. “You don’t get to have peace. No quiet retirement, or painless death. In this life or the next, tlacayeliztli, she will make sure suffers.” 
 

No fire was used to destroy this missive, no dramatic cast into destruction. As ever, Yhl’Flaaowni clung her to her bitter hate, keeping the missive declaring the happy life and proud abdication of a monster to her kind.

 

Spoiler

Bro what a journey, that’s a hell of a story! I hope you enjoy the (hopefully) less stress and get to bask in what you’ve put so much effort into forging.

 

[Werew0lf 24180]

Where most men would be filled with the great swelling pride of leading humanity to a new age, the young prince — now Emperor to be — sat within his bedchambers. 
 

Blood coaxed the letter penned by his father, its crimson had splurged from Hadrian’s mouth after a hoarse fit. 
 

The sickly prince curled a handful of hair into a balled fist. It was a race against time; a few short years to live, and an Empire that starved for more. 
 

So the prince — soon to be Emperor — made a rational decision.

 

To conquer everything. 

[DancingZebra267 1626]

Hans von Aesterwald raised his sword into the air. "Long live ze Kaiser, long may he reign!"

 

Grimbol Grobol heard the news, he was a tad worried. "Ah wonder if me tree in the Imperial Gardens will be grandfathered in?"

 

Rhorgvar stroked his beard as the news reached him. "ah wondeh wot koind uv Emperor uv Umri, 'e will beh... onleh toime will tell." He'd then grab his pickaxe and head to the mines. 

 

[trinn 5128]

Joan Mariana read the missive from the confines of a rattling carriage,  velvet drapes hiding the window which would otherwise document her journey back from her time at the convent. A heavy grip settled on her heart. 
 

Things always seem to happen while I am away.

Nonetheless, she folded the declaration neatly.  The princess wasn’t one to mope or otherwise lament, and decided instead to pen a letter to her father.

 

Dear Lord Father,

 

I have married. Do not pass away before I am returned. Lest you plan to linger as a spectre.

 

With much reverence and love,

Joan.

 

[Frawlic 1602]

History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up...

Dima left the missive among the stack of many, for this was no longer her concern. From one tyrant to the next, her fight against man had been over for some time now. She would not pray to faux angels and gods for the future, not anymore.