The Emperor

The Emperor, said to be over a thousand years old, is one of the three hundred angels who followed the Creator when he created the new realm and world of Eternia. he possesses two greying wings which stretches out to either side of him, each as long as two men. The feathers are dotted with bright orange and yellow akin to a phoenix. The Emperor's hair is black, pulled into a neat ponytail traditional to Shengese style. He looks to be in his mid-30s with mature, strong features, and two piercing silver eyes. The true name of the Emperor is unknown to the public.

In Jianghu, he was worshipped as a benevolent God. Outside of the capital, natives of Yurhira, Herizu, and Xuantong sometimes show contempt, with a few believing that Jianghu is prosperous at the expense of other lands. Nonetheless, the Emperor was exceedingly popular throughout the Continent of Sheng, who had enjoyed very little conflict during his rule.

In the year 1464AD, following the loss of the colony of Ardent, the Emperor had personally addressed the tens of thousands of people who had all gathered to the Imperial Palace:

"The father that works his fields from dawn to dusk, providing for his family. The dutiful son learning a trade at school, to better themselves. The soldier,  fighting so that others do not have to. This is an address to not just the people of Sheng, but the world at large--I speak to you today with gratitude and in a desire to serve, as I have had the privilege of witnessing a human's kindness and compassion for over a millennia. It is a delicate, beautiful thing, the spark of life that drives each and every one of you to help others. Your very souls were brought into being with that spark at the core of it."

"I have been driven under the guiding principle that your benevolence must be protected at all costs. I have seen how tyrants can corrupt you and turn you against one  another. I have seen your institutions, made with good intentions and blood and sweat crumble under the force of the more powerful."

"So I became your Emperor. But I did not rule as one. I am the safeguard against the power of the Elected--the democratic leader of our nation. While mistakes have been made, the people have Sheng, when being able to rule themselves with their own voices, have enjoyed the peace that comes with allowing each and every neighbour to have their say in the future of our nation."

"It wasn't a decision I made on an impulse. When I rallied the people against the Lords of the Blue Isles, it was the first time I truly saw the corruption an unjust society can inflict on something so precious as the good will of humanity. It was then that I decided to become their banner, their leader--if they fell, I would lift them up. If they were injured, I would tend to their wounds. We fought many battles together, and I realized that ultimately, a creature such as I... should not make decisions for long. Rather than return to the higher planes and leave the living realm, I wished to stay and watch you grow as a people. My selfishness and attachment  would not allow me to miss a thing. The challenges ahead of you, the hurdles you'd overcome. Each generation that went by was another where the lives of the young would be longer lived, stable, and have more promise. It instilled hope in me--it made me feel such fantastic emotions of love and care. You have to realize, my children, my people- for thousands of years I had only seen war and devastation in the realm of Atmos, where we were born of the light and pitted against the dark."

"You were my joy. I could feel every blossoming relationship, every victory and the sorrows on the opposite side. No matter the emotion, there was always the light at the end of it all.  That is why I became your Emperor- that is why I made the hypocritical decision to place myself above humanity."

"I hope you  can forgive me. As my wings slowly lose their luster, I'm as much of a danger to you as the negative influences I've decried against in this speech. It is why I must return to the higher planes, why I must watch over you from the distance..."

"And prepare for the war to come... A dark storm awaits us on the horizon, and we must pass it together. Hand in hand. The fight against the fallen is inevitable, as they come closer to their goal. Like you did so bravely over a thousand years ago, I ask that you join me once more when the time comes, people of Sheng. But do not forget to smile in between, and enjoy your lives as people rather than soldiers. I will never lose you. I will always be in your hearts, and I will guide from a distance. My blessings will soon extend across the world, preparing us for this next challenge. My aids and distant, yet attentive hand will guide our nation through the following years, but please, always remember..."

"...Every life is precious. Every battle can be won. Every moment is not without meaning."

The Emperor then ascended into the sky, accelerating in a blur of white before before dispersing from view. Fireworks immediately erupted overhead- whites, yellows, oranges, reds, golds... The display could be seen across the entire continent of Sheng. Beautiful explosions in the air, with thousands of souls below crying over their Emperor's departure.