Raisu Palace
Raisu Palace is a location in Drowned Kaineng. Historically, it used to be the seat of the reigning Emperor of Cantha and the imperial family, but after Old Kaineng was destroyed by the Zhaitan Disaster, what is left of the palace is now a ruin overrun by the Risen, full of angry spirits and evil magics.[1] However, the Ministry of Archives has set their sights on the palace with hopes of restoring it as a memorial, as the current ruler, Empress Ihn, has no intentions of using the palace again due to its problematic history.[2]
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Kaineng Tah ordered the construction of Raisu Palace as a worthy seat of power at the northern coastline after he had been crowned as the first Emperor of Cantha in 0 CC (510 BE). It would not be finished until some time after his death in 46 CC (464 BE).[3] The palace included the Imperial Sanctum, a small island with a large residence and neighboring retreats separated from the rest of the palace with a circular wall and a bridge. Only the emperor, his family, and his most trusted guards could access the sanctum.[4]
When Emperor Singtah ordered the elimination of an entire town that had, in his view, refused to pay proper fealty to their emperor, the peasants whom he had oppressed for years decided they had had enough. Though the histories do not say exactly how, rebels infiltrated Raisu Palace, possibly with the help of traitorous soldiers who had also been ill-treated by Singtah, and burned it to the ground in 1204 CC (694 AE).
The emperor's son, Senvho, ascended to the throne soon after, but did not enact widely expected revenge on the peasants who had burned his father alive. Instead, Senvho displayed uncanny wisdom by decrying Singtah's most egregious abuses of power. After this noble beginning, however, Senvho became obsessed with rebuilding Raisu Palace. It took over eighty years to finish construction on the elaborate new structure, but once completed, it was considered the one great achievement of his reign. Senvho is said to have breathed his last after taking his place on the new throne.[3]
Guild Wars Factions[edit]
Interim years[edit]
During the rise of the Ministry of Purity under Minister Reiko Murakami, Canthan peasants gossiped that some Shiro'ken supposedly lingered on and continued attacking Raisu Palace despite Shiro Tagachi being long gone.[5]
When the Elder Dragon Zhaitan's awakening made Orr rise from the Sea of Sorrows in 1219 AE (1729 CC), the resulting tidal wave swept over northern Cantha and drowned and destroyed much of Kaineng City. Emperor Kyobok and most of his family, royal guards and servants as well as two Kurzick ambassadors were found dead amidst the rubble based on the report of a rescue team headed by Minister Zal and Jimin who had managed to breach into the throne room. Increased Risen activity in the ruins prevented the pair from investigating further.[6][7][8]
Long after being killed by Ministry of Purity, Nika continued her watch as a ghost amidst the ruins of what would become known as Old Kaineng. She took note that the remains of Raisu Palace had a foreboding aura of corruption around it, filled with angry spirits and evil magics.[1]
End of Dragons[edit]
White Falcon, one of the covert Purist ringleaders,[9] ordered an agent codenamed Red Orchid to investigate the ruins of Old Kaineng in 1335 AE (1845 CC). He believed that the Risen corruption could be traced back to a singular point potentially found within Raisu Palace. White Falcon hoped that the Purists could find a way into the palace, wield the corruption for their own uses and release its source into the rest of New Kaineng City to tear Empress Ihn's regime apart so the Purists could then take over what remained and rebuild Cantha in their image.[10]
References[edit]
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The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Raisu Palace. |
- ^ a b Nika
- <Character name>: What are you doing here? In the ruins?
- Nika: Watching Raisu Palace. I worry about whatever dwells within... I feel it. The corruption. I will never stop protecting the empire. Even in death.
- <Character name>: Raisu Palace?
- Nika: The former home of the royal family. It was mostly destroyed during the Zhaitan Disaster... But some ruins remain. I wouldn't recommend getting too close, though.
- <Character name>: Why not?
- Nika: It's filled with angry spirits and evil magics that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy.
- ^ Mi-Rae
- Mi-Rae: In addition to the Old Kaineng restoration project, the Ministry of Archives has set their sights on Raisu Palace.
- Mi-Rae: If it can be reclaimed from the Risen, Minister Preeda has expressed interest in turning the ruins into a memorial.
- Mi-Rae: Empress Ihn has no intention of restoring the palace for her own use, given its problematic history.
- ^ a b An Empire Divided: A Selected History of Mysterious Cantha for the Traveling Scholar
- ^ Imperial Sanctum outpost description
- ^ Winds of Change encounters: Encounter 5 - Lingering Shiro'ken
- Canthan Peasant: Good riddance to the Afflicted, I say. Now if someone would do something about those lingering Shiro'ken!
- Canthan Peasant: Ha! Like the Ministry of Purity would do anything about them. The Shiro'ken still attack the palace and the Ministry seems content to leave it to the Imperial Guards.
- Canthan Peasant: Watch your tone! The Ministry is working for the good of us all.
- Canthan Peasant: Maybe you need to learn a thing or two about how the world works. Sometimes doing good for others is really doing good for yourself.
- ^ Research Log 1282: Casualties in the Zhaitan Disaster
- ^ New Kaineng Zoning Record 0013
- ^ New Kaineng Zoning Record 0024
- ^ In the Name of the Law
- Detective Rama: The East Precinct's been trying to identify a Purist ringleader hidden in Kaineng, to no avail.
- Detective Rama: They only know a codename: "White Falcon."
- Detective Rama: Min's been working at it for months. We might be able to help expedite her case. Meet me at the docks. And bring a skiff. [...]
- Min: After you two left, I finally solved the Purist case, and... I, well...didn't want you to be alone with Li...
- ^ Orders from White Falcon
