The Throne Room stood at the very center of the palace complex, within the Royal District. It was a vast rectangular hall, defined by balance and symmetry. At one end rose a massive, gold-clad door, while at the other the hall terminated in a broad semi-circular apse, within which the throne was placed upon a raised platform.
The ceiling soared high above, broken only by narrow windows set near the top of the walls, allowing shafts of natural light to spill down into the chamber. Set discreetly between these windows were faceted crystal stones, embedded into the stonework. By day, they captured and diffused sunlight throughout the hall; by night, they could be awakened to emit a steady, gentle glow, eliminating the need for open flame near the throne.
Along the length of the hall, large single pillars stood at equal intervals on either side, supporting the structure. Inlaid within the pillars were veins of pale, polished crystal, bound into the stone during construction. These crystals served a dual purpose: they carried light evenly through the chamber and moderated the temperature, drawing away excess heat during the day and releasing stored warmth as the air cooled.
The walls and pillars alike were richly decorated with carved iconography—animals of strength and vigilance, alongside images of deities associated with rule, protection, and order. In several of these carvings, small crystal nodes were worked subtly into the eyes and symbols, lending them a faint, watchful sheen when the hall was lit.
The throne itself rested upon a three-tiered stone platform. It was carved from solid stone, its armrests shaped into lion heads, while a large sun emblem rose behind the seat, dominating the space. Slender crystal inlays traced the rays of the sun motif, amplifying both light and warmth around the throne. For comfort, the seat was laid with the finest cushions, woven from silk and threaded with gold.
Flanking the lower front of the platform stood two sculpted lions, their stone forms poised as if on eternal guard. Along the walls to either side of the throne, large reliefs depicted soldiers holding spear and shield, carved directly into the stone—silent reminders of the power that upheld the crown.
Set slightly lower on the same raised area were four additional chairs, arranged in two pairs. Like the throne, they were made of stone and richly carved, though smaller in stature, and fitted with fine cushions for comfort.
Beyond the raised platform, where the main floor of the hall began, rows of wooden seats lined both sides of the chamber. These were crafted from the finest timber and furnished with cushions, extending down the hall as far as the second-to-last pillar. Behind these seats lay open space, left deliberately clear to allow courtiers to stand or for additional seating to be arranged when the court was full
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Fewer than twenty men were present in the throne room, the King among them.
He sat upon the throne with the bearing of a warrior—broad-shouldered, powerfully built, his light-brown skin marked by discipline rather than indulgence. There was nothing soft about him. Even at rest, he looked capable of violence.
He was dressed in traditional royal attire, fashioned from the finest cloth and silk the land could provide, the garments sewn through with threads of gold. The richness of his clothing did not overwhelm him; instead, it seemed to serve as an extension of his authority.
Upon his head rested a turban adorned with jewels, a single large gem set at its center, catching the light and drawing the eye without excess.
HIs presence filled the chamber more surely then the throne itself.
"Let it be known that the gods have blessed me with a son.
However Mahadevi Savitri has been taken from us. Her rites and sacred duties shall be completed in full accordance with dharma.
Further more, I will take Devi Bhadra as my new Mahadevi."
The court erupted into murmurs as nobles and officials turned to one another, voices rising in quick, urgent exchanges. The King's announcement rippled through the hall, each man weighing its implications—alliances shifted, claims strengthened or threatened, fortunes recalculated in silence and speech alike.
Mahadevi Savitri had been a Rajkumari of the neighboring Kingdom of Ranga, a realm defeated and brought under the influence of Valangar a generation earlier. Though Ranga remained a vassal rather than a conquered province, the marriage between Savitri and the current King had been intended as the final step toward full annexation—blood binding what conquest had not.
Devi Bhadra, by contrast, came from a very different lineage. She was the daughter of the head of one of the premier merchant guilds, the House of Shetti Dhangupta. The family had married into the lower nobility four generations earlier, steadily consolidating wealth and influence, until it now stood among the most powerful houses within Valangar itself.
The murmurs swelled, then faltered, as one voice rose above the rest.
One of the men in the on the right side stood up and said. He looked old with grey hair and a face that showed his age along with the wisdom that it carried.
"Mahamantri Vasu, you may speak."
"With due respect, Your Majesty," Vasu said, bowing slightly and taking a deep breath before continuing. "Will not the Rangas oppose this? If Devi Bhadra is raised to Mahadevi so soon after the passing of Mahadevi Savitri, they may see it as provocation. The realm cannot afford another war—last year's harvests were poor, and trade has yet to recover from the previous conflict."
The king was silent for a moment before looking at the court and Vasu before replying.
"Your concerns are warranted Vasu. But with the birth of a son, the Rangas will be forced to calm down and bait for more time. As for Devi Bhadra elevation to Mahadevi--I will proceed."
The king took another moment of silence before continuing.
"Devi Bhadra'ss house, the Shetti Dhangupta commands the loyalty of many smaller guilds and merchants and the other large guilds listen and follow them to some extent. Devi Bhadra is already working to secure their full support. This will hasten what already is in motion. If they were to stand with the crown, the other will follow - or at the very least trade to start to recover."
"If that is what your Majesty's decides we shall abide by your will."
Mahamantri Vasu bowed and returned to his seat. Rajapurohit then rose, pressing his hand in respect.
"Your majesty." He said. "All the preparations for the funeral of Mahadevi Savitri are almost complete. The naming ceremony of the young prince shall follow in due course."
The Rajapurohit take a moment to think and continues.
"Archaka Ram humbly requests an audience at the temple, at the earliest possible hour."
The king after listening to this takes a moment to think before replying.
"Your efforts are appreciated. I shall pay a visit to the temple once my duties here are finished."
"We are grateful your majesty."
The Rajapurohit pressed his palms together once more before bowing and returned to his seat.
With the matters of urgent importance concluded, the fold clad doors of the throne room were opened, and several more men were admitted. With their arrival, the court settled into the routine affairs of governance—petitions were heard, reports delivered, and the daily administration of the kingdom carried out in measured order.
Once these discussions were complete, the court was formally dismissed. The King rose from the throne, departed with his guard, and made his way toward the temple.