Ethyrion (old lore)

Introduction
The Ethyrion is the leader of all of Xyrillia and the head of the Celestial Empire. Chosen by the gods this divine ruler is granted great power in mind, flesh and voice. Millions heed his command as the Ethyrion is worshipped as a god across his lands.

General
The Ethyrion or Quihuen is the leader of all Xyrillia. Quihuen can be directly translated to Celestial Chosen, other variants are Emperor, Enlifted Mind or'' Ruler of all. ''He rules the Celestial Throne in Xilian and is seen as a speaker of all eight gods of Xyrillia. The Ethyrion has absolute authority on every living man or women in his empire, the grand command of the Imperial Army and they loyality of every ruler across the Prefecti.

Coronation
The Ethyrion is chosen by the gods of Xyrillia. How they choose their next speaker varies differently. Sometimes they grant a chosen noble a vision, sometimes one of their children or even a god himself speaks to a chosen subject and sometimes one is simply guided by ambition and deemed worthy. Once they heed the call of their gods, the chosen one may attempt to enter Imperial Palace. Once they find their way to the noble chambers, chosen priests will bring the chosen one to the peak of the palace. There, high above the clouds, he approaches the Divine Chamber. Should the jade gates open, they are officially declared worthy. No one knows what awaits the chosen one high up in the chamber as no other mortal is allowed to even glimpse at its insides.

During the coronation, the gods of Xyrillia will leave their high temples and fly to ancient Xilian. There on the starclad nightsky they dance and enlighten the sky while one after another begins to circle the imperial spire before reaching its peak and bestowing its blessing upon the new emperor of Xyrillia. This spectacle consumes several hours and is bright enough to be seen all across the Xilian realm and sometimes even further. It has become rare in modern times that all eight gods of Xyrillia bestow their blessings upon a new Ethyrion. It is usually considered enough if three of the gods appear.

After the gods have disappeared, they newly crowned Ethyrion will come down the tenthousand steps of the imperial spire and present himself infront of Xilians nobility. All shall bear witness to their ascended body that has grown in size and strength while the blessings have erased every scar, wound or contamination on their skin. This is the only time it is allowed to lay ones eyes upon the Ethyrion without permission. Then the new Ethyrion will be dressed in the official red and golden robes of the Celestial Throne and granted the cepter of Xilian, his official insignia. From then the Ethyrion rules by the Mandate Celestial which was layed upon their shoulders on this night.

The full coronation is only completed after the Ethyrion has visited every Prefect in the Celestial Empire. On his travels they may never use magic but travel across as many cities and villages as possible.

Powers
The blessings of the gods of Xyrillia grant the Ethyrion irregular size and strength. They are resistent to aging, poisioning and all natural plagues. Although Ethyrions clearly show signs of aging, it is not known if they can die of old age. Most emperors known today either died an unnatural death or simply disappeared. The oldest known Ethyrion was Jan Jai the Wise who was crowned at the age of 45 and died 200 years later due to an infection with the Mooncraze.

Despite that all Ethyrions show enhanced magical powers and a limited form of foresight. They can not communicate with all spirits whose god blessed them, but all of them have to heed their command. It is impossible for a spirit born in Xyrillia to harm the Ethyrion.

Rights
The Ethyrion is generally regarded a elevated and divine being. Most woship them either as gods or the voice of heaven. Looking at or speaking to an Ethyrion without permission is regarded a mortal sin that is often punished with death. Insulting of disagreeing with the Ethyrion is seen as a sign of severe disrespect and mostly verboten. Furthermore it is important to always provide the Ethyrion with as much comfort as possible, even during travels or on the battlefield. They must always be surronded by atleast two servants offering food and drinks, a musician or storyteller and atleast two members of their harem. The Ethyrians harem always consists of 50 men and 50 women. Alteast a thrid of them must have been born in the Xilian realm; then there must be atleast four who come from each Prefectum of the Celestial Empire and 35 exotical beauties from other dimensions. Futhermore a Ethyrion has the right to sleep with every man or women they desire, even when they are already married. Although their title is not hereditary, their children and bastards are always nobles of high birth who will end up in high regard and worship due to their connection with the heavens themselves.

Mausoleums
When an Ethyrion dies, his body will be brought to a mausoleum, a giant tomb. Their bodies are mumified with sacred parchments, decorated with jewelry and Leyriel and preserved with special operations and sterilizing pastures. While an Etyhrion is the living connection between the three realms, the Heavens above, the Darkness below and the Realm of Earth in its midst, his corpse functions as an anchor between the middle realm and the heavens. It is believed that once every Mausolem is destroyed, the realm of earth will loose its connection to the heavens and cast into eternal darkness. Their burial places are sacred places, worshipped by thousands. Every Mausoleum consists of a hulking outer temple that hosts the priesthood taking care of the Ethyrions corpse and the riches he amassed in life which are now stored with his corpse; and the central spire. It is increadibly high and designed to be as close to the divine heavens above, forging an symbolic connection with the earth. On the base of the spire lies the mumified body of the Ethyrion. These Mausoleums are so costly to build that constructions usually starts decades before the Ethyrions death, while he takes an active role in its planning and design.

A Mausoleum is usually in the hands of the priesthood and far away from cilisation, surrounded by defenses and large fields to supply the tombs inhabitants and visitors.

While the tomb is a symbolic anchor between earth and the heavens, it is also a beacon for the spirits which are empowered by the worship surrounding these spires. Only in the tomb of an Ethyrion can the sacred Cotians be animated and spirits bound to them.