[b]Damakuneta, Akataneta[/b]
The streets are oddly still today in the capital city of Akataneta. Crowds line the sides of the cobbled streets in the pouring rain. The sound of footsteps in unison, the clanking of metal plates, the hard solemn sound of a deeply resonating woodwind instrument fills the streets. Rank after rank after rank of soldier marches through the streets, grasping tightly their spears, their eyes locked forward they dare not look to the side for fear of losing control of their emotions. It is a still day, the day an emperor dies.

After many ranks of soldiers pass by a man dressed in fine silk, an emerald brooch securing it firmly at his breast, moves opposite them towards the castle-palace. He cocks his head as the emperor's funeral casket is carried past, otherwise he seems unaffected by the procession continues on its journey to the labyrinth of the emperors; the final resting place of emperors past, present, and future.

The emerald-green dignitary stands at the entrance to the castle-palace as the doors part for him, the palace floors are of a fine marble, imported from the northern territory, large pillars of a semi-precious stone rise up periodically leading to a eight-tiered platform, atop which are fine silk sitting-pillows, a throne of sorts it would seem. A young boy, no more than fourteen stands midway from the entrance to the throne. 

"Emperor Bokun," begins the emerald dignitary, "I am Narune, first-in-line for the fourth green dynasty. In accordance with the laws this empire was built upon, I have been brought here to become the sovereign of Akataneta until such time as you come of age."

"Yes," replies Bokun, "I was expecting you... It would appear my father's death was most untimely."

"Yes, quite. But when is it ever precisely when you want it? Do not worry, I will not disregard your authority, as long as it is logical."

"Very well, I will be off to my quarters then."

"Right, goodnight sweet prince."

With this, Bokun is led off by an array of servants upwards to the eighth story of the palace. Once out of earshot, Narune moves to the throne, ushering to a waiting servant, 

"Fetch me Taowa."

The servant rushes off, returning momentarily with an upright Taowa, dressed in his formal armour for the wedding, he speaks, "You wanted to see me, Regent?"

"Yes... There's a matter of import I want your council on. Follow me."

Narune leads Taowa into a room, a large table sits in the centre, with figurines to represent all of the various forces positioned throughout the empire and a map of the explored world. Narune moves along the width of the table and taps gently on a small island to the south of the empire,

"If I'm not mistaken, there was a colony here, correct?" he says.

"Yes, there was."

"And... roughly twenty years ago this colony mysteriously goes dark, no?"

"That is correct."

"Not only that, but twelve years ago, a small fleet was sent to this island to discover why. When we finally caught sight of that fleet, only one ship remained and naught twenty men aboard. But why?"

"The captain and the crew committed suicide at the shrine in Bakuneta, they left a note saying that the city was overrun by the marshland. It was so repulsive that the other ships and the rest of the crew drowned themselves because of it."

"Yes, well, doesn't it seem odd for a few hundred men to kill themselves for sight of a swamp?"

"I am no philosoph-"

"Don't give me that bullshit, Taowa! It's odd, isn't it? ...anyways. I called you here to see which troops we can suffer to send to this island, I want the truth."

"But, Emperor Ramaki-"

"Ramaki is dead, Taowa! I am your lord. Which troops can we afford to send to Kitaneka?"

"The majority of the garrison in the central provinces here... minus the capital guard. A total of seven thousand heads."

"Right, I want fifty guardsmen from each of the seventeen inner townships, also, the entire standing army of Hironeka."

"But that'll but us well over two-thousand!"

"I know. Issue the order, I expect them to meet at Bakuneta within the fortnight. We're reclaiming Kitaneka."