The winds from Cantio started to subside from their ferocity allowing one single bird of paradise to fly from the crystal bastion, its wings golden to light the sun, deep azure to the eyes of the sea. It flew over the verdant lands of Casis in search for the one man it was sent to find and without much luck went to volcanic sands lying north, then to the east to the frozen rainforest, finally ending up flying south to the luxurious shores of San Helio. Here the bird flew to the council chamber in Axerath to deliver the letter attachted to its leg.The council was already in mid discussion about amendment eleven which they had passed earlier that week and the repercussions it caused in Torma where two Sentinel leaders were executed instead of a group of Ordination as per the change by the Minister.
“Ah my lovely Elizabeth.“ Said the Minister, his furrowed brow and his brush of a moustache moved in unison. “I am sure the council knows what the arrival of the this bird means?" The bird squawked as the letter was taken off from the golden miniature casket from which it was hidden. He unfolded the piece of paper over the polished oak table till its entirety was covered by the parchment.
“I still don’t get how the Empress can do that. If she really is still pure blooded it’s a bloody marvellous power.”
“You question the blood of the Empress Councilman Breton?”Retorted the Chairman with distinct disgust, he raised his had as though to signal the guards who lurched forward.
“No...no, please Chairman.” The hand was dropped, the guards relaxed and the table sighed relief.
“What do you see here?” Said the Chairman showing off the bird of paradise.
“A deep purple bird with golden ribbons attached to its legs, feathers rich and vibrant.” Replied one of the councilman from the Regency.
“No, its brilliant orange in all of its fiery tones, with threads and bells attached to its legs.” Argued a Ohrainian
“You are all wrong.” Protested a councilman from Casis. “It reflects the bountiful harvests of our green crops and landscape. Hues of green and red intermixed into a delicate pattern, and its wearing one of those eye restraints and cap for hunting birds.”
“You are all right but incorret. Our native bird of paradise reflects the true values of your own province but its not what the bird actually looks like. It is what it represents. Have you not heard the lore. Four times every season, every one hundred years the emperor or currently the Empress gives an audience to the current Chairman to update her personally on the workings of their nation. I have had this plan in back of my mind a while now if the time ever arose. I am planning to allow someone from the empire, someone from the everyday life, to take my place. I will select that someone myself.”
“Hang on one minute Chairman. You really expect us to belive you will choose the right person, let alone not go yourself. What are you up to?
“Nothing Councilwoman. Only trying to give a sense of reality to the Empress to help her get a better idea of the world she now lives in. Politics is not her strongpoint.”
“That seems reasonable Chairman, but the Ohrainans belive we will not be fairly represented.”
“Fine select one of your best men or women and I’ll…I’ll create a competition between all those represented." The Chairman thought for a minute.“I have it, the Chameleon Lighthouses and their respective Temples on each island. We give each competitor a jewel and a scroll that will grant different rewards when they reach tha temple on that island. Then jewel needs to be placed in the lighthouse itself so that the light shines on the Crystal Bastion. Each competitor will have a different colour. When all lighthouses are lit we can judge by the colour who has won. To keep it fair we will start them off initially as a group blindefolded so nobody can ally with eachother. I ask you to take heed that if any of your selected people know eachother all of your competitors will be disqualified. They will then have to work out as a group how to get to the temple to pick up their own crystal and then as a group to the temple. Unless there are unforseen problems. It will be up the the individual to make sure that their own party wins.” Just as those last words were uttered a man burst into the room with a cold sweat upon his face, his clothes tattered and his spirit half broken.
“It’s that man from earlier in the week, that Rodentia bloke. Didn’t he mention the Empress was missing?” The council gasped and started to gossip like they did before when the news was wildly exclaimed.
“Sorry to burst in on you like this Chairman but there are two Sentinel women outside who have knocked the guards unconscious and demanding satisfaction, could we have everyone evacuate the building please. If you check the painting next to the window to your left you will see a small door. Please enter the painting and use that as an exit to the street. Carriages are waiting behind the building to your left.”
“Wasn’t he stark raving mad? Where did all this normality spring from?” Asked one of the councilman to the Chairman.
“Ladies and Gentleman could you please exit through the painting to the left. I will talk to Mr Rodentia and try to tackle these women alone. Thank you.”
Half an hour later the word of this competition had spread, not only through each island council but through the subcultures and smaller internal factions. All three provinces had their own ideas on who would make the ideal candidate but could nether discriminate from who they had chosen so their own groups were set up in hope that if they had a group the other islands would have only one person representing and so they would win. However the Valeons, the Ordination, the Sentinels, and some of the other powerful families on the continent had listened to the same grapevine an cottoned on to the idea that they could change their situation for the better. If they could get five minutes alone with the Empress, the world would chance. Not just inside the Tempest Barrier, but for the whole of humanity.
The day of the race arrived. All the islands plus a couple of others had turned up much to the displeasure of the Chairman. They stood at the gates of the Mehnos Academy, the largest learning establishment next to the library at Axerath. Each arrived blindfolded and were moved towards the cetner by their councillors. The Cassians, Ohranians and the Regents plus a group selected by the Minister unbeknownst to the rest of the council and a self proclaimed last group who refused to give their name. The Minister handed out necklaces to each of the contestants.
“These are teleportation Crystals.” He said in fount of the Council of Provinces. He released the bird of paradise back to the Empress, “GO” he yelled as he activated the crystals.
It was however a nasty surprise for some to be found in jail that next second at the barracks of the Imperial guard at Ulrix. They were in this one cramped cell two from each of the province groups. Uproars were heard echoing down the damp and dark dungeons unheard by their fellow man. With that minor alteration, they blindfolded nine ended up at a campsite at the base of Mount Carachi. They were however disturbed by the dead bodies of six Imperial guards each with the Mark of the Virulen Lord burned into their foreheads.
