>>5639268The wilting is getting out of hand, but bellies remain mostly filled for now. It was a wise decision to get those melons growing when they did, Ariaios muses between satisfactorily loud munches.
The fact that the nation is ever so slightly nearly reaching bankruptcy is, to her mind, a non issue. If it gets really bad she can open up some new gold mines or something. Money has never been much of a concern to the Empress, everyone around her loves it though, almost as much as they love her.
The chains of the maiden, for their part, have departed the skies of the empire, replaced with the supple young man. Ariaios knows a few of those she could stand to visit, her own boys are growing up keen and healthy, but that dashing rugged prince of hers, one of Havasads line, keeps her eyes off them and on him whenever her gaze starts to wander.
As life slowly gets worse for the average Dorran, Ariaios decides she’s really worked hard enough recently. It’s time to kick back, relax and enjoy being Empress for a little bit, the earth mother temple will sort out this plague, and then everyone will be back in the party mood again.
Action 1: Complete the temples
“Funds need to be raised for this somehow, sell a few more of the orphanage girls as concubines to nobles with fat pockets, they won’t mind. Start a… start a raffle? I could list one of your girls as a prize, the shy one. I’m joking, it was funny, don’t give me that look. Oh! Horse races, that’s sure to be popular, I bet people would pay to see that. I know I would…”
“Shannah, are you listening? Write all these ideas down, these are good ideas you know. I’ll sell you if you don’t stop being so grumpy. I only slapped you once you know, are you still going on about that? You’re so dramatic.”
-Court excerpt from within the Temple of Ariaios, circa Tyrn 13
Action 2: Biomancy: Muscle
Ariaios has decided that a revisiting to the Homunculus project is long overdue.
It has so far been, to put it bluntly, a failure. Experiments were achieved, proofs of concept made, sure. But nothing actually changed, the homunculi of old were not reforged in the fleshpits of the eldest Samya.
That is to change, Ariaios gives a direct edict that House Marai must produce results within four Tyrns, for them to be unveiled and displayed at the crescent moon festival before summers end.
To this end the Samya work in earnest. First, the riddle of muscle must be truly understood, not slapped upon a bone framework. Ariaios demands sinewous limbs that flex and snap into action, muscles grouped according to each specific function and sown into place, capable of firing for hours upon hours without knowing fatigue.
By Tyrns end the Samya will know that they have gathered all of the fundamental knowledge required to assemble proper homunculi, elite servants of the throne. What remains from here is to assemble the places of learning, and complete the work, such that the changes may stick.