The story began in late spring, Varlann Empire, in the tenth year of the Dragon Emperor Suk Lam reign.The morning spring breeze sweep across the beautiful meadow spotted with patches of white small flower, blooming along a curvy road. The road carved its way through that green sea of gra.s.s, and stretched far to the horizon. On the jagged horizon of faraway mountains top, the sun raising slowly, shinning its golden rays on a convoy of three carriages and five wagon slowly roll along that curvy road. Escorting the convoy is four hundred Downer men strong, clad in black lamellar armour, their spears shine under the morning sun like the stars of the night. On the men"s back is a short yellow brocade cloak, embroidered with cloud, sword and lion motifs. These are the prestige Brocade Cloak Guards of the Varlann Empire in charge of safeguard the imperial family.
The men riding a strange creature, the velelis. A bipedal, horse size, dinosaur-like creature, with horizon posture, covered from head to leg in filament feather, small feathered arms with three fingers, and the tip of their tail also covered in bird like tail-feather. Their snout and mouth are like of a horse, and on top of their head a pair of cat-like ears. The creature"s coat has two main colours, brown and yellow, sometime spotted between two colours. They"re being use as a mean of transportation and mount by the inhabitants of Varlaurea continent.
In the middle of that convoy, there"s a red carriage, the biggest of the three, pulls by four velelises, with curved roof painted in deep jade green, red lanterns adorned with silver wind chime and red ta.s.sel hung on each corners. Inside the carriage, hung a hammock, on it, lied a Downer man, the man is in his early thirty, clothed in a knee length, right lappet, red cross-collard robe, a type of robe worn by all Varlanner, rich or poor. The man has shoulder length black hair, handsome face typical of a Downers, slightly slanted eyes and thick eyes brow with a short goatee under his chin, and on his forehead, right at the hairline, protruded a pair of small, deer-like antlers bend upward. That man name is Suk Lam, Emperor of the Varlann Empire, the Lord of One Hundred Clans, the son of Dragon. Laying on his hammock Emperor Lam reading the reports of his official from the city of Qualoh, a port city on the lakesh.o.r.e of Kaoren Lake. And these particularly report is the reason His Imperial Majesty left the comfort of his palace.
"Your Imperial Majesty, we"re will arrive to Qualoh in thirty minutes please get ready." An official said.
Then the convoy stop for the royal servants get in His Imperial Majesty"s carriage to help him change to a more formal attire. A black silk, right lappet cross-collard robe, with big loose sleeves, embroidered with cloud motifs, and a coiling dragon made of gold thread in the middle of the chest, finally an ankle length silk skirt. His hand and leg adorned with intricately carved gold bracelets with silver rattler bells attached.
Thirty minutes later, the imperial convoy came to Qualoh city, at the outskirts of the city, a deputation of Qualoh, the lord governor Buh Huy is waiting to welcome His Imperial Majesty arrival. Lord Buh Huy of Qualoh city get off his velelis, following him is his family. They came before the convoy kneel down and formally bow by interlock their fingers, raise their hands in front of their face, palm faced inward.
"I, Buh Huy and my family, welcome Your Imperial Majesty. Long live the Emperor, may you reign for thousands and thousands of years." Lord Buh Huy and his family simultaneously spoke.
"Be at ease." Emperor Lam"s voice came from behind the carriage"s veil.
"Thank Your Imperial Grace." Lord Buh Huy and his family said and stand up.
After the welcome, they continue to enter the city. In the city the citizens have took to the street to welcome his arrival and immediately Emperor Lam can feel the air of distress from the citizens, is it because they fear him? Is it because Emperor Lam a tyrant? No. There are clearly hope in their eyes when they saw a glance of the emperor carriage before they kneel down. And suddenly a cry echo from the crowd. Emperor Lam ears caught the cry and order the convoy to stop, then his step out of the carriage order the Brocade Cloak Guards to find the person who the cry belong to. After a while the Brocade Cloak Guards escort an old man out of the crowd, the old man face etched with many winkle by time, his eyes soaked with tear. He came before Emperor Lam, put down his walking stick, formally bow and kneel down painfully, His Imperial Majesty immediately took to the ground and hold the old man hand help him get up.
"Your Elderly, why are you cry? What"s trouble you mind?" Asked the emperor.
"Your Imperial Majesty, these are the tears of joy, for this old man had finally can set these blurry eyes upon you. These are the tears of relief, for finally you are here. The G.o.ds are smiling upon us today, for the terror from the deep soon will be vanquish." Said the old man, his tears roll down his wrinkle face.
The crowd becomes noisy, some pray to the G.o.ds, some burst into tear, and murmured relief that the emperor is here.
"Your Imperial Majesty, my old sickly wife and two granddaughters are all what left of my family, my sons…" A hiccup interrupted the old man "…all four of my sons and my grandsons are death, the youngest of my grandsons is only fifteen he"s die too young…. It"s all because of that monster… please! Your Majesty slays that monster, so that my sons and grandsons can be at peace, so their souls can meet Mien papa in the underworld and pa.s.s on to the next life." The old man kneels down again as he finished his sentience.
Emperor Lam holds his hand and pull him get back up as the crowd started to cry.
"My beloved subjects, ease you mind now and do not be afraid, here I am and right here in the name of the G.o.ds, in the name of the supreme Quelas"Airuth, in the honour of the Imperial bloodline and my father the Emperor Suk Luotu and my mother the Empress Lu Nue…" Emperor Lam stop for a second to take a breath, tear started to swelling in his eyes. "…This, I swear to yours all, the terror yours have endure thus far shall be no more, I shall not rest until this monster has slain, and the souls of those who has gone because of this abomination be at peace."
"LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR! LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!" Cried the crowd.