On the eve of Hallow Dreams, Emperor Anak'tok gathered the court and various officials brought their concerns to the emperor. The following contains excerpts from the court records.
"
'What news have you from the western border General Rintel?'
'My Lord, the barbarians have begun to gather their tribes along the western front. The treaty holds for now, but the allied kingdoms of the north are famed for both their diplomacy and treachery alike. Should they reach out to the tribes, we may face enemies on two fronts.'
'What of the monsters beyond the barbarian tribes?'
'Our scouts say that they've grown in number and are pressing into the barbarian lands.'
'I see, no need to worry about the barbarians, General Rintel. The northern kingdoms are incapable of aiding the tribes against the monsters. The warchiefs of the tribes revel in blood and war, but far be it from us to presume their stupidity. No, they gather on the western border to seek aid from our soldiers. I will leave the matter in your hands General.'
'Yes my liege, it will be done'
...
'My Lord, the council merely asks that empire provide a small pittance.'
'A pittance you say, but in the form of human lives. I will not stand for this, tell your ancestral high priest that the empire can send support by way of gold, not blood.'
'Kekeke as you say, your highness. The council bids you pleasant dreams.'
...
'But your highness, many lives have already been lost! You must put a stop to this!'
'Father, I beg to speak.'
'You may.'
'I acknowledge Silas as heir to the throne.'
‘And why, my son, do you choose to surrender your claim to the throne?’
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‘Much blood has already been spilled for this ridiculous game we play. Blood holds power, father, and I shan’t see it splattered on the ground so that I can sit upon a glorified chair and wear a golden ring forged from the suffering of our people. If Silas craves the throne such that he’d sacrifice many lives, then let him have it.’
‘Very well, Prince Rinlith. I, Anak’tok Tycenies Willborn, true emperor of the Topri Empire, hereby declare that Prince Silas Willborn, now to be known as Anak’to, be heir to the throne.’
‘Thank you father, may you dream pleasant dreams.’
‘As to you, my son. May you dream pleasant dreams.’”
...
'It brings me great joy to know that you have survived the expedition to the Western Divide, Captain Daian.'
'It is my honor to serve you my Lord. The expedition has suffered twenty-two injured but able, thirty-nine injured and lame, and forty-three untimely deaths. Of the twenty-two, three were lieutenants and of the forty-three, one was a sergeant. Fortunately, no officers were taken from us.
'May their souls rest in the great realm of the Dreamer. Have you any nominations for the position that have been left bereft of its constituent?'
'I have deemed Private George of house Rintel sufficient and worthy to take the mantle of sergeant, sire.'
'House Rintel, a house of more than one lion. Very well, he shall be promoted. What of the fruits of the expedition?'
'We successfully surveyed two sectors of the ancient ruins and discovered a massive amount of relics. We believe we may have stumbled upon a merchant's quarters of some kind.'
'Excellent, and what of the books?'
'We have yet to discover a library or a repository of any sort, but we were able to find a manuscript detailing the manufacturing of some sort of sitting receptacle. Our scholars say it is called toylet. The manuscript seems to detail the creation of complex piping capable of moving vast amounts of water from one area to another.'
'An excellent discovery, captain. Reward each member of the expedition with an additional thirty silver pieces, Captain Daian shall be rewarded with an additional gold piece, and the families of the bereft and the lame shall be rewarded an additional fifteen pieces in addition to the thirty silver pieces.'
'If I may, your highness.'
'Speak, Elder Marsus.'
'I believe the children of the bereft and the sons of the lame should be rewarded with a scholarship to the imperial academy.'
'You are wise Elder Marsus, let it be made so.'
'Thank you, your highness'.
-Transcribed by Hajang, the Chronicler