The Imperial Capital

'And I beheld before me a most glorious sight… A city of gold and crimson, with trees that bore thousands of flowers and as many or more wondrous people walking its streets.'
- Francesca An, Ankytherine trader, in a letter home

The home of the Emperor and many officials the Imperial Capital houses the headquarters of many of the Empire's ministries. A grand and open city with wide streets lined with flowering trees, there is usually something official happening every day here.

The beating heart of the Empire, the Imperial Palace is an imposing building that sits atop a set of grand, tiered, granite steps. While it is technically the home of the Emperor and his family, the space set aside exclusively as living quarters is small compared to the size of the building. The vast majority is used for staging the large official events that are hosted throughout the year by the Imperial family. Lavishly decorated ballrooms, dining rooms and galleries are the public face of the Palace. All the most important work takes place in the smaller, private offices which lead into the Hall of Records.

Until recently, the Street of Silk had been the headquarters of the Mercantile Guild. Through it flowed the vast wealth of the Empire. However, since the development of Xiang Geung and the rise in maritime trade, the flood of gold has slowed to a trickle. To the Street of Silk cling the old merchants who refuse to invest in the Imperial Fleets and those whose fortunes are waning.

While the spiritual needs of the people are tended to by the myriad monasteries and temples scattered throughout the Empire, the centre of worship in the Empire is without a doubt the Imperial Temple. Located in the heart of the Capital, it is the headquarters of the Imperial Priesthood and the Ministry of Rites. Emperors and Empresses are crowned here and the Temple holds ceremonies throughout the year during festivals and on holy days, attended by the Empire's elite. The priests can be seen debating philosophy and performing rituals in its courtyards, walls echoing with the sound of their clapping hands. It is not just a place of worship but of culture and wealth and while it's not the largest of temples it is certainly the most influential. Decisions made here about spiritual matters affect even the smallest and most isolated of temples.

The Hall of Records is the headquarters of the Department of Administrative Affairs. The hall is not so much a building as a sprawling complex adjoining the Imperial Palace in which all the high ranking administrators work so that the Emperor can summon them at a moments notice if that is his whim. Contrary to its name, the Hall of Records contains only the most recent records gathered by the Department and most of the complex is taken up by the offices of the myriad officials who work there. Once a year aspiring bureaucrats travel from all over the Empire to the Hall of Records to take the imperial civil service exam.

Socialite sisters. Their father was an important bureaucrat, as was his father before him going back generations. Rather than follow in their father's footsteps for wealth and influence they have forged themselves a rather different path. On the guest list for every large official, and otherwise, event they wield their status with masterful skill.

Bo Yuan Shi is the head of the Emperor's Guard, a stalwart soldier for whom life is duty and whose duty is the protection of the Imperial Palace.