Still sick, but starting to feel better. Should be less issues with getting today’s posts up in a timely manner.
Sator & Messor, the Founding of Imperialis, and the Proclamation of the Empire
laying the cornerstone of the walls of Imperialis.
Sator would go on to become the first Elven Emperor,
while Messor would become a major religious figure.
During the period of the Kingdom of Natalis, the office of the King remained largely symbolic and representative of the powers of the state which was largely executed in practice by the Senate.
Eventually, a dual Kingship was formed, with the Senate proclaiming two Kings simultaneously to ensure the stability and continuity of the state even in times of crisis. Traditionally, one of the two Kings actively participated in the Kingdom’s military campaigns while the other remained to oversee the Senate.
In the period after the Kingdom of Natalis’ expansion into the Sea’s Edge and Gallicantu, the dual Kingship passed to the twins Sator and Messor, descendants of Fulmen and Creusa (and by extent, Adrastos and Eos).
The twin Kings were unusually active for Natalian Kings, involving themselves in political affairs and taking a particular interest in large-scale building projects, establishing cities in the Kingdom’s recently-acquired territories, enlarging cities in the Kingdom’s heartland and building extensive defensive lines on the Kingdom’s new borders.
Most notably, Sator and Messor founded the city of Imperialis, the future capital city of the Elven Empire and first city of Realmgard for centuries.
Though much-loved by the people, Sator and Messor often found themselves drawing the ire of the Elven Senate, who felt that the twin kings were overstepping the traditional duties of their offices.
As is often the case in Elven history, such political rivalry soon escalated to all-out civil war. Notably, this would be the last civil war to be fought in the Kingdom of Natalis, as the war’s conclusion would see the Kingdom reorganised into the Elven Empire.
Much as their ancestor Fulmen had been, Sator and Messor were put to flight. And, much as their ancestor had been, it is said that Sator and Messor were aided by the river goddess Creusa. The most famous story tells that Creusa dried up her namesake river to allow safe passage to Sator and Messor and their companions, then caused the river to suddenly flood to wash away the pursuing Senatorial army.
Despite fighting from an initial position of weakness, Sator and Messor were able to rally much of the citizenry to their side, ultimately triumphing over the Senatorial faction.
At this point, Sator and Messor became the key players in one of the most celebrated acts of rectitude and magnanimity in Realmgard’s history, granting clemency to many of their defeated political rivals and confirming their Senatorial status and privileges.
At the same time, however, Sator and Messor proclaimed the abolishment of the dual Kingship of Natalis and that the ruler of the Elves would henceforth be sole Emperor — this is the moment when the Elven word “imperator” first began to convey the notions of regal, absolute power of the modern word “Emperor.”
Sator and Messor assembled the citizens of the Empire and had them acclaim one of the two as the first Emperor of the Elves.Though only just, Sator was acclaimed by the people and crowned as the first Emperor.
Once again, Messor performed a celebrated act of nobility and humility, graciously accepting his brother’s acclamation and being the first person to acknowledge him as Emperor. In order to prevent himself from being viewed as a potential pretender to his brother’s crown, Messor removed himself from political affairs in Imperialis, journeyed to the Sea of Origo, took up a priest’s life and founded the community of temples that would eventually become the Elven Empire’s most important sanctuaries.
Clearly, I am feeling better, because this has been my longest write-up so far.
Reminder that my latest chapter went live yesterday:
And, because it’s a really good song, here’s Blue Oyster Cult’s Godzilla again
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Realmgard 