It has been five years since Emperor Titus Helvius Venatius defeated his brother Marcus the Usurper, and since then he has ushered in an age of unprecedented technological advancements and prosperity. The Emperor also has been without an heir, and upon pressure from his council, decides to marry the previously unknown Antoniae Galvisia. Both the commoners and the nobility alike are stunned, especially the venerable Duke Friedger Wintersend, who was enraged upon hearing that his granddaughter, Wilfriede, would not be Empress. The wedding ceremony, however, has been promised to be the greatest event of the century, and while only the Empire's upper nobility and various foreign dignitaries will be allowed to attend the ceremony, the commonfolk of the Empire have been given permission to celebrate, with many taverns selling ale and mead for only one aeris.
Emperor Titus Helvius Venatius was in the Imperial Archives, having spent the last few days browsing the vast array of scrolls and tomes. He opened one, titled Nobiles Familiae ex Historia Imperii, and flipped to the section on the Galvisia family. As far as anyone in the Empire was concerned, such a family did not exist, and the only mention of them was one Gnaeus Iulius Galvisia owning a small farm on the Durikadi border centuries ago. The Emperor frowned, for he was concerned why his council had pushed him to marry an unknown woman who might not even be highborn. Antoniae's mannerisms were also strange. She would use Rohdari phrases, quote the Kniha Jednoty instead of the Libro Ignis, and even slip into High Gozari when excited. Everything pointed to her either being Rohdari or Gozari, or even being a spy for the Union, but Titus' council had demanded he marry her. Frustrated, he closed the book and returned to his quarters. On his way to his bedchamber, a sacerdos ran up to him.
"Your Imperial Majesty, Lord of Fire, Uniter of th-"
Titus waved his hand.
"Enough with the titles. I am tired and wish to return to my bed, so what is so important that it cannot wait until morning?"
The sacerdos grimaced and spoke once more.
"Well, as you know, tomorrow you will need to speak and mingle with the nobility and the foreign emissaries. I was instructed by His Holiness, may the Great Phoenix watch over him, to give you a brief summary of the attendees."
Titus pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Very well, tell me."
The sacerdos grinned and unfurled the scroll he held.
"Well, you know the nobles attending from our glorious Empire, so I'll skip them. First, the North Durikadi envoys Magmachin and Ironfall will be attending, along with Lord Brorgar Mineheart."
"I expect Lord Mineheart will be asking if I could spare some legionaries to send back with him?" Titus asked.
"Yes, your Imperial Majesty. Next, the barbarian-I mean Nrali High King and his huscarls will be attending."
Titus frowned once again.
"I already know they're attending. I sent the letter myself. Continue."
The sacerdos nodded and continued reading.
"Hmm, well next there's someone called John Henry Primrose and his bodyguard, Adam Butler. Says he's the son of a wealthy textile tycoon from the Atlantian Dominions. How they change leaders every four years I can't imagine."
Titus brightened for a brief moment.
"I do not know, but I hope this John Henry Primrose will help us work out a trade deal for textiles. Even though our silk is the envy of the world, the poor of the Empire are barely clothed."
The sacerdos nodded once again, though more to keep the conversation moving then out of sympathy for the poor.
"Well well, a man of religion. Says he's the leader of the Cult of Cthulhu. I don't know who Cthulhu is, but to be visited by such a prestigious man. I simply wish I he had a normal name. Gnaiigof'n ot Cthullu. Who would name their child that"
Titus sighed and shook his head, his crown nearly slipping off.
"I don't care what his parents were thinking, just finish the list already so I can rest."
The sacerdos almost scoffed, until he remembered he was speaking with the Emperor.
"Y-yes, your Imperial Majesty. Finally, we have Prince Argalaic of House Wend, from Kalmarnavia and Ser Dontas Greenbow."
Titus looked up once he heard the House Wend.
"A prince of Kalmarnavia? Is he married? I do believe my cousin Umbrenia is unmarried. To be allies with Kalmarnavia would allow us to crush those arrogant Rohdari and Gozari!"
The sacerdos, not wanting to upset the Emperor, spoke up once more.
"Your Imperial Majesty, the Prince Argalaic is betrothed to his second cousin, Lady Rachel of House Vasa."
Titus scoffed and rearranged his crown, as it had fallen off his head.
"Well, perhaps we can convince him the benefits of being related to an emperor, eh?"
The sacerdos nodded furiously and left as Titus returned to his quarters to rest.