[b]Damakuneta, Akataneka[/b]
It is a particularly hot night in the capital city of the Nochi on top of the already highly saturated marshland air. Around the city are massive stone walls, rising several scores above the ground, being partially a levee to keep the marshland from encroaching on the drained-out capital. At the center of the city is a large tiered castle, rising up eight stories, truly the pinnacle of man's dominion over nature. Outside the walls of the palace-castle torchlight burns in a massive display, some odd two hundred lights in all, shouting out with the same voice.

Nearing the end of his life, Emperor Ramaki lies in his sickbed, surrounded by a cast of servants watching over him, ready to fulfill his order. The protesters outside the walls call for the start of the new dynasty. The present emperor, like the marshland itself, is a stubborn man; having borne no sons under him, he turns to his daughter who weeps at his side then back to his highest general.

"Taowa," begins the emperor, "Go now, tell the people this. This dynasty does not die so easily. My daughter will-"

"Emperor!" interjects General Taowa, "This goes against the tenets laid out since before the first dynasty! We can't just-"

"I am the emperor, Taowa. If I say that Hanaka is to be the new emperor, then damn it she will be."

"Forgive me, but putting Hanaka on the throne would not only break the tenets of which this empire has been governed for millenia; the green clan will too march their armies on the capital to claim the throne for themselves in accordance of the tenets. It will be war."

"Then we'll just make sure that we don't break the tenets. Hanaka!"

Hanaka nods, "Yes, father?"

"This is no longer your name. You are now to be known as Bokun, Sixth of the Fourth Pink Dynasty."

"You intend me to... become a man?"

"I do. You've never taken much interest in the feminine arts, have you? You're always too busy attending my court alongside me."

"Well no, but..."

"Then it's decided. You'll become the new emperor."

"But why are you doing this? Why prolong the dynasty longer than need-be?"

"You know the kind of emperors the green clan has produced. They're ruthless expansionists, they're responsible for Kitaneka, for the political instability in the northern hills. It is our duty to postpone their dynasty at all costs."

"Of course father."

"Very well, leave me now and tell the people I've found my long-lost son."

Taowa holds his arm across his chest, bowing lightly at the waist, "As you will, my liege."

As the servants leave his bedchambers, the Emperor sits up, looking out over the city at the full moon,

"Because they'll learn the truth if they ever go back to Kitaneka..."