[2327 IC] Weijin, Capital City of All Greater Cathay, Seat of the Dragon Throne
Weijin had been described in ancient days by the explorer Marco Polare as the greatest city he had ever witnessed in the entire world. It had been, in fact, the first true Cathayan city ever built, long, long ago, established back before even the nation of Nehekhara had encountered anyone from the Far East. It had been built not deep within the heartlands. It was not built along the coast. Many such other cities and towns had done so, the bountiful agriculture or aquaculture offered by such options attractive and easily capable at growing and sustaining significant growth and eventual stability. But in truth, Weijin had not been built where it was because it was easy, but because it was hard. Because before Weijin, there was no Great Bastion, and the tribes of the Hung, the Tong, and so many others had freely invaded from the north. There was no point to building something further inland under such threats. That is not, however, to say that others did not try. Indeed, before the coming of the first Emperor, that which is known as Cathay in the modern day had been split in a great many directions, a great many kingdoms who warred with one another as much as with the northern invaders. Thus, there were other cities, yes, and by the strict chronological reckonings of various foundations, there are older ones that exist today.
But the nation of Cathay, a united Cathay, began in Weijin. Founded not as a place of peace, but of a place of war. Of defiance. A bulwark made manifest out of the will and strength of its inhabitants. Comparing the records and dates with scholars might inform one that the Emperor Xen Huong had ruled his territory from Weijin in, at least, almost three thousand years before the coming of Sigmar. But then, Xen Huong ruled only the Kingdom of Weijin, title or not. It was not until another arrived as the line of Huong died out from sickness and endless warfare, that Greater Cathay's true journey to unification could begin. The First Celestial Dragon Emperor, identified in some apocryphal records as being named Zheng, arrived and took control of the city with sheer force of will. A beast, a dragon, from the skies, dominating and commanding a realm of men. Then, generally agreed upon to be the year -1800, by the Imperial Calendar, he succeeded in his goals of unifying the land into a single Empire, simultaneously building the Great Bastion in the same measure. No mere mortal could organize the construction of the Bastion, no man could ensure its completion despite constant attacks and straining resources in less than a century. Stretching hundreds of miles long, at minimum a quarter mile in height at its lowest points, the Great Bastion stretched – and still stretches – across the much of Cathay's northern border east of the mountain range in the northwest. Each segment, responsible for large swathes of the wall, is garrisoned by tens of thousands of soldiers – for the denizens of the Chaos Wastes were, have been, and forever will be relentless and unending. Of the three main northern cities, Nan-Gau in the west, Weijin in the center, and Port Ki in the east, all are heavily defended redoubts, but none so much as the capital.
It was Weijin which began the tales of cities in Cathay being crafted whole cloth from jade. This, too, is largely an untruth that has taken on a life of its own – magically enchanted or not, there is no way jade would be used solely for constructing a city. There simply would never be enough. When the explorer Marco Polare was brought before the Dragon Throne, beholding the sitting Celestial Dragon Emperor, whose blood directly descends from the First Celestial Dragon Emperor's sons and daughters who formed the first true noble houses of Cathay, he was blindfolded by his captors long before Weijin itself was within sight. The bewildered and confused Tilean, so used to thinking of his home cities of Tilea as the pinnacle of civilization, was shocked to find that he knelt within a palace of brilliant jade, white marble, and gold. The sheer size of the halls and ceilings built over literal thousands of years to accommodate the Emperors and Empresses and their own specific proclivities, surely staggered and practically struck the man dumb. And, yes, while the Celestial District was indeed full of buildings of jade, it was not every single one, only the towers of the astromancers and the highest ranked nobility who bore blood of the dragon within their veins. And yet, the tales persisted.
The Jade Palace was, however, truly magnificent. It was, in truth, practically a small city unto itself in its various wings and towers. There was the royal hall, yes, but also sections dedicated to the courts, to the scholars, to artists, and even separate manses built within its superstructure meant to house any visiting dignitaries from the major martial art schools. Tens of thousands visited it daily, meeting with magistrates and legal representatives for all a manner of purposes – from licenses to charters and more. It had grown, immensely, since its first incarnation, each successive Emperor and era of the Empire adding to its size.
Johanna hated it.
"I never did make it here last time," Genevieve murmured, her voice so quiet that only a vampire's ears could catch it, and even then, Johanna had to strain. "Master Po took me away from the cities and towns, save when absolutely necessary as he journeyed about. Rightfully cautious, I suppose."
"Mmm."
"But you…you've been here before, haven't you," Genevieve continued, her voice completely controlled, utterly calm.
Which was a feat, considering the guards that were surrounding them on all sides. Each of the Palace Guard possessed heartbeats, to be sure, but all twelve of them had no doubt been extensively trained and equipped precisely to be deserving of their positions. For all the nepotism that might exist within Cathay, the Dragon Emperors quite simply refused to have anything but the best when it came to the ranks of the Golden Ten Thousand. Those who escorted them through the palace did not speak, their boots thumping loudly upon the jade and marble floors, the sight of them enough to part the crowds like a ship cutting through the sea. Though eleven of the guards were impassive, near inhumanely stoic, the twelfth who happened to be standing directly behind Johanna was practically melting his eyeballs staring at the back of her head.
"…yes, master," Johanna finally replied, ignoring the glare behind her.
She did not have fond memories of the Jade Palace anymore. There used to be, but they had all long since become soured and retroactively unhappy things. And, given the guard behind her, at least some still remembered when she had been here last. One would think that impossible, given the amount of time since then, but then again, those who rose high within the Celestial Empire often benefitted from the various elixirs and pills created by the royal alchemists. Said alchemists, in turn, benefitted from Dragon Emperors themselves granting them the use of the blood of the dragon. Ping had nearly…damn it.
"Halt," one of the Palace Guard barked, the entire formation and thus those within it freezing immediately.
The doors were just as Johanna remembered them. Stretching to the height of a Bonegrinder and wide enough for a main city street thoroughfare, the shaped slabs of pure jade were intricately engraved and painted to display many of the most important moments of Cathay's history. The First Celestial Dragon Emperor, or at least that was what it was presumed to be, stretched throughout the entire work of battles and deeds, cities founded, and discoveries made, for despite being long gone – or long slumbering by the reckoning of some theorists – without him the whole of Greater Cathay would not have become as powerful as it had. One giant stood at each door, and though neither were Bonegrinders they had the potential to live long enough to become such. By Johanna's reckoning, given the utterly massive guandao they bore, the armor that sheathed their bodies, the lack of hunch to their frame and the dangerously bright spark in their eyes, they likely certainly would. Each had been installed within the palace as the Final Guards of the Gate – though it lost something when translated to Reikspiel – by the Empress Huang a full five centuries ago, her last act before being succeeded by her son and departing 'to the Heavens once more'.
Today, though, the gates were opened, the gargantuan levers the giants used to open and close it already utilized. As such, the reason they had halted was instead because they had to wait for permission. Quite simply put, none ventured within the Royal Hall of the Celestial Dragon Emperors without permission. It was a fatal decision to attempt to do so otherwise. Said hall could also fit the entirety of the Imperial Court and the Golden Ten Thousand all at once, though such an occasion rarely occurred. Still, a hundred more of the Palace Guard approached them down the massive length, made small by the massive pillars which held up the ceiling and the banners created by teams of dozens of weavers and dyers which hung from the walls.
"Who approaches the throne of the Celestial Dragon Emperor, the Son of Heaven, Guardian of Cathay, Lord of Sky and Earth…,"
Johanna tuned out the spiel as she glanced around. It really, really hadn't changed much. It should have been more shocking to her, but then again she might well have gotten a bit more used to things being inviolable to the passage of time than she used to be. Still, she wasn't so lost in her memories that she didn't begin moving again when the rest of the guards did, eventually wrenching her eyes forward and welding them in place with willpower as they walked along the lushly carpeted path. The Throne itself was magical – she hadn't known that last time. It was only her nature as a vampire now which let her see the immense power woven through its entire frame, though perhaps that was simply a result of being the seat of choice for the Dragon Emperors for thousands and thousands of years? As it was, the bloody thing took up the entire wall, spiraling artwork and carvings spreading from wall to wall, and from ceiling to floor, all centering upon the absolutely enormous length of the 'seat' portion proper.
And yet, all of it, all the artwork, the tapestries, the decorations, were easily missed because of the one who sat upon the throne.
"So. These are the brave monks of the Jade Dragon who shattered a Storm Altar of Nippon."
Today, the Emperor Taizong of the Wu Dynasty graced them with a human form. In most aspects, at least. His eyes were blatantly serpentine, while a magnificent set of antler-like horns sprouted from the sides of his head and extended backwards. Johanna could see the weave of magic about his body, with Chamon being the strongest, though Ghur was a close second. His robes were of what appeared to be literally woven and enchanted gold, not just goldcloth, and it brushed and clung like silk. He bore no sword, nor even a dagger, but then one such as he did not need one. None could mistake him for what he was, and of all Cathayan citizens only the insane or those who worshipped Chaos would dare attempt to bring him harm. His presence was distinct and seemed to press down upon them even though he was sitting with arms folded in his sleeves. His scent was undeniably inhuman, and dangerously enticing.
Most unfortunately, however, was the fact that his eyes slid right off of Genevieve as she bowed, and struck Johanna so heavily that she was frozen halfway into a bow of her own.
"We remember the Little Red Tiger," the Emperor said tonelessly. "Her hair, even as that of a corpse, is…most unique."
Genevieve paused and lifted upwards, ignoring decorum slightly to raise an eyebrow at Johanna, which was enough to remind the younger vampire to bow deeply.
"This humble one is merely a student to the Jade Dragon, now," Johanna said as calmly as she could, biting back a curse as her voice trembled.
Of course he could see that they were undead. He was the Emperor.
"Hmm…yes. It must be so. The Little Red Tiger left Cathay long ago, leaving political devastation in her wake. The death of her lover Gan Ping-,"
Johanna grit her teeth, her fists clenching together so hard she drew her own sluggish blood from her palms.
"And the death of Gan Yun, one of Our most beloved and successful Tiger Generals were tragic times."
The monster inside lashed at the bars of its cage, but Johanna barely throttled it down. It wouldn't matter even if she let it out. A far greater predator than her own was sat before her, his words barbed probes. She wouldn't get more than a step forward before she would be cut down by the Palace Guard all around her. Even if she somehow miraculously made it past all of them, there was no chance that the Emperor could not strike her down instantaneously.
"Although…,"
Johanna blinked.
"It did reveal much corruption in Our court, politicians thinking to manipulate Our generals and Our champions for advantages. So please, little twisted tiger, raise your head."
She did so, her entire body feeling impossibly stiff and jerky as she forced herself into a rote attention posture. Very carefully, she looked just past the Emperor's head, never directly into his glowing pupils. Even still she could see him smile thinly out of the corner of her eyes.
"So. We see before Us those of the Whore Queen's get, and yet not of the Pale Court whether willingly or unwillingly," the Emperor's voice was sibilant. "Genevieve Sandrine du Pointe du Lac Dieudonné. We remember your travels with Master Po, who was so beloved that he was granted the right to form the Jade Dragon in the first place. We also remember the slaver, the enslaved, and the pirate before being struck down by Master Po – his curiosity, his student, his jealously guarded secret."
This time, it was Genevieve who twitched. It was one thing to accept that their status as vampires was known. It was another to know the specific particulars of the matter. Or of their lives.
"This humble one begs forgiveness-," Genevieve immediately again, eyes locked on the ground.
"It is granted," Taizong shrugged, settling back onto their throne, little smile growing again. "Did you think your travels unnoticed? The Dragon Throne has been combatting the Pale Court within the shadows since they first reached out with cold fingers into our nation, young vampire…and others as well. Plotting Lahmians," he said the word distastefully, a massive undercurrent of seething loathing beneath the mild tone, "Muderous Blood Knights," he spat the last word hatefully and openly, "The occasional mad Necrarch, the pathetic Strigoi, the proud Brahtriya, the virulent Jade-Blooded…in truth, the Dragon Throne has been forced to confront the Mahtmasi and even a Von Carstein far too gone from home before."
Neither vampire said anything. There was no question asked, merely a terrifyingly aware declaration of knowledge.
"But no, that is not why you have been summoned forth," Taizong finally unfolded his arms from his billowing sleeves, revealing gleaming golden claws. "If We wished to have you both ended for past misdeeds, We would have done so. Rather," the Emperor smiled with sharp and pointed teeth behind those all-too-human looking lips, "We have summoned you to reward you."
His smile was such that his eyes were closed into narrow slits that was practically closed.
"For your destruction of the Storm Altar, your service to Our astromancers, our armies, and past deeds of valor and glory in this…despicable war," his smile briefly fell into a hateful snarl before his expression smoothed out again.
Ever so slightly, they relaxed. But only until they saw the look on the Emperor's face, at which point both immediately tensed again.
"Your skills are misplaced in…merely wandering across the battlefield, hoping to contribute here and there," Taizong said with a small, amused huff. "As a reward…you shall gain…direction," Taizong stood smoothly and began stalking towards them with golden robes quietly swishing.
They did not move, even as he finally came to a halt before them well within range to attack. In a movement that even Johanna's senses strained to discern, he withdrew two small tokens that she found her gaze locked on. She quite literally no longer possessed a pulse, and yet if she had hers would have begun pounding again. Sweat should have been pouring down her back, a cold chill should have been making its way up her spine. Master Genevieve looked concerned as well, not just because of the symbol on the small gold and jade discs, not just because of the Imperial seal that was engraved upon both while retaining intricately unique alterations each, but because of the clear magical nature of each of them. Johanna, however, was focused upon the one held in the Emperor's left hand. It was impossible. It should have been impossible.
"That…," she croaked out before her voice faltered.
The Emperor glanced down at it, and then up at her, offering a cruel smirk.
"Ah, yes. This one must be familiar to you," Taizong said, voice deep and low and just slightly inhuman. "It was recovered from Gan Ping's body. And now, you shall bear it, Johanna Fuerbach. For you both shall be my newest Fangs."
In the end, a hundred and twelve Palace Guard around them, the Celestial Dragon Emperor Taizong before them…there quite simply wasn't any possibility of refusal.
