Robertson 2005 This gaming system is based on that described by Dr. Barker for his own gaming sessions (as described byIn the Empire of the Petal Throne, will you find glory, or a knife in your back Choice of the Petal Throne is a. An epic adventure in a new galaxy.Looking to make their way in a foreign land and become citizens of the great Tsolyáni empire, five eager adventurers are recruited by a mysterious temple representative to run a simple errand and locate a missing family. It’s such a simple errand, in fact, that they are only being accompanied by one temple agent.
It will rain soon, if the dark clouds are of any indication. What wakes Prince Renjun is the toll of the bell, dull, lifeless, just barely enough bite to cut through the misty morning. It’s not his servant who wakes him up in the morning, nor is it the annoying sparrows that chirp incessantly before sunrise.
No sound of the patter of rain drops. When it rains, a royal was having a bad day somewhere.It was not raining yet. His mother had died on a rainy day in April. A wrong vote, a rejection of a desperately needed alliance, a death. Something always went wrong when it rained in the kingdom.
The first droplets of the rain begin to fall, sliding down the large panes of glass.Prince Renjun of the Huang family line sits in his private study, wet clothes deepened into a dark green mourning colors of the Nomis Empire. Seven tolls and his mother’s family crest, a pin with a phoenix in the center, was dropped into his shaking hands.He glances out his window. He’s heard seven tolls once in his life, when his mother had died. Seven.Renjun sits up slowly, fingers curling around his bedsheets.Seven tolls.
The whole of the empire plunged into mourning, flying deep green flags with his family’s crest from every roof. Four days? Five? He can’t remember, and truthfully, he feels like he’s lived several lifetimes since he last slept longer than three hours.Sometime last week. He’d been awake since some time last week. He had been surrounded by grieving people all day in the rain, and he figures this was the Fates, offering him the last bit of silver lining.He takes a sip of his cold tea and wonders how he is still standing. Renjun rubs at his temples, thankful for this moment of quiet, taking in the steady thrum of the rain hitting his window.
And snakes are what will keep it alive.Right. A kingdom with roots in fraud, wealth falling into all the wrong hands, the youth running with wild abandon while their parents lay on sick beds before they lay on the death barges.Snakes are what brought this kingdom up. This kingdom was built on debauchery, misgivings, backroom politics and drunkards far too willing to let secrets slip. Fitting, Renjun thinks, staring out his study at the town across the palace grounds, sporting those flags, wet and limp in the rain.
“And you could at least pretend to be a prince,” He directs to Renjun. “You could at least pretend you are still in mourning,” Jeno says.Donghyuck leans down to rub his shin, groaning with pain. “Long live the king.” Donghyuck’s wavy hair glints as he bows low.Jeno kicks him in his shin as Renjun cuts Donghyuck a look. His servant bows and hurries out as Renjun drinks the last of his tea.“Well, well, well,” Another voice drawls a short minute later. His friends don’t need to know how tired he is. He was fourth in line for the throne.“Send them in,” Renjun says, straightening himself.
“Says that you are working behind the scenes to make these dinners happen and setting the kingdom affairs in order before his coronation.”Not grieving, Renjun notices. Renjun would rather travel with pirates before he is the reason the scale tips to a side.“He’s covering for you,” Jeno tells him. It’s weirdly balanced, but balanced. He poses no real threat to either one of them, and they respect Taeyong too much to take the crown from him. Renjun knows those kinds of bonds can’t be severed, no matter the baggage one of them carries.Besides, Renjun is last for the throne. When they were younger and didn’t know any better, the four of them were close, playing and studying together.
Your own family hasn’t said a word to me since Father died.” He nods to Jeno at that. The Jung Clan are still supporting the riots in Anthea. “The Moons are still angry about the Nella Dam. Especially after the funeral.”Renjun crosses his arms. “You need to be seen by the people. Taeyong, the closest to the King out of them all, was seated at the dinners, so why wasn’t the last of the princes? Taeyong was protecting him, still, even after all that’s happened.Renjun makes a note to thank him personally later on.“You are expected tonight,” Jeno adds on with a short nod.“He was expected at the dinners for the past three nights,” Donghyuck murmurs.
“Suit up, Your Highness.”Jeno nods, pulling Donghyuck back by his shoulders. And you are not a flattering look right now.” He throws the coat at him. “Because image is important. Both are bad, but evidently, one is worse.Donghyuck walks to where Renjun had shrugged off his suit. “What’s the point of going when most, if not all, nobles and common folk wish it were me in that coffin?” He’d run out of paper before he could list names of people who would have rather said good-bye to the Bastard Prince than their own corrupt king. If they didn’t agree with his father, they were going to hate Renjun.
He doesn’t miss Father’s crown atop his brother’s head, just a tad bit too big. There’s no malice in his voice, not even a hint of exhaustion. There would be no announcements for him, and he prefers it that way.“I’m happy you decided to come,” Taeyong says to him as Renjun walks up the dais with a wide smile. “I’ll be there.”He’s thankful that when he arrives, the dinner is in full swing. Don’t let the court sway you.”“We’ll see you at the dinner?” Donghyuck asks, lifting a delicately shaped eyebrow.Renjun straightens his coat, smoothing out the wrinkles and lightly brushes his mother’s phoenix on the lapel.
After the dinner.”Renjun pauses. The Prince had given him a bare glance when he walked into the ballroom before turning his attention back to the crowd.“I’d like to speak with you. “I figured it was about time.” He moves to the seat on the far side of Doyoung. “Last night with open gates,” He says easily, the script in his head scrolling down. It should have belonged to Taeyong long ago.Renjun bows politely, acutely aware of the stares piercing his back.
Renjun remembers it all, each memory hitting him as each Lord and Lady curtsy in front of him. “I’ll be around here afterwards.” One more bow that he’s sure half the room watched, and he slowly sinks into his throne.The Bastard Prince. “Sure.” He tacks on a smile for show.
A boy brought up surrounded by snakes eventually learns to become one.So he smiles, he plays his part, lets every dirty look bounce off harmlessly and shows the court that he is the King’s brother now. He’s survived this much, and he’d be damned if he didn’t seize every opportunity to keep his name alive. The King’s last worry was the fourth in line bastard son that came with the wife.Renjun has been on his own since he stepped foot onto palace grounds. After all, he married Renjun’s mother. He remembers how his Father never intervened.
Well, at least he’s eating some now.“Couldn’t. You should have eaten something then,” Renjun chastises lightly, watching Taeyong slurp some soup up. Not very prince-like and not very king-like, Renjun thinks absentmindedly.“Neither did you,” His brother points out.“It was a dinner. The crown was off, discarded Fates knew where, and Taeyong’s golden hair was ruffled around the edges. “You didn’t eat?” Renjun asks his older brother as he slid into a chair across him.
Not everyone has a Nomis palate.Taeyong hums, stirring his soup gently. It was a small form of entertainment. Renjun saw some guests struggling with the spice earlier that night. Shellfish soup, a pride of the Nomis Empire. “Very boring stuff.”“It was what Father entrusted you with.” The soup was just hot enough to burn Renjun’s throat in the best way possible.
“In truth, I can’t be responsible for a lot of things I used to be responsible for.
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