Long Live the Empress

By the end of Mirrors, the news of Koben's complete and emphatic victory in Reluir is all over the Empire like wildfire. Patriotic feeling runs at a feverish high - after a long period of uneventful and often uneasy peace, the people of Koben now have the taste of triumph against an enemy on their tongues. It's especially sweet in this time of uncertainty... sweet enough that it feels like a turning point for Empress Renata. All of the posturing about Droste and reviving ancient roots is now justified. This is the stuff of legends made real. 

Riding high on the wave, the palace announces a victory parade on the 18th Thawing. Not all forces can return yet but their victory is now firm enough that it's possible to host a grand celebration as regiments swap in and out of duty. Highly ranked officers and representatives of those remaining in Reluir are called back to take part too - even if they can only stay the day before returning to the front lines. All regiments will march in their finest dress uniforms from the city gates to the Imperial palace. There, each will present a display before the Empress and she will bestow honours on the greatest and bravest. Imperial colours fly from every window and words buzz in anticipation of the rare spectacle. Long live the Koben Empire, and long live her Empress!

At least, this is what those who have no relation to Reluir are free to feel. With the swell of national pride comes an undercurrent of disdain for dark elves. Most people have some kind of dark elvish acquaintance so it starts slowly - but after all the recent bluster about King Bracslaw and the evil of Reluir, a shift takes root. With every passing day it seems just a little more suspicious that a dark elf looks troubled when a soldier walks by, just a little more likely that a dark elf who spoke curtly did so out of spite, and just a little more threatening that a dark elf demurs at jokes about Relans. What worries are voiced in the palace fall on deaf ears - the official position is that national unity is more important to maintain; the back room chatter is that what the Empress means by this is her own wave of popularity.

Features: Koben flags flying from windows, toy swords and soldiers flying off shelves, street beautification efforts before the big march, returned soldiers looking for entertainment of many kinds