Palace of Origin

== Palace of Origin ==
The Palace of Origin is the Palace, and permanent home of the Nozerod, absolute monarch of Essotori, and the Ascendancy. The Palace is an important part of Essotori iconography, with thousands of paintings of the Palace available across the world as a form of propaganda. The Palace is inaccessible for the vast majority of the population, only official staff, and the Prime Minister, may come and go from the Palace. It's immense size allows the population of the Palace to never need to actually leave, so long as their employment continues. Many will however, make pilgrimage the base of the Palace, and prostrate themselves before it, as a sign of piety and penance.
Surrounding the Palace, is the Tranquil Zone. Ten miles where it is illegal to construct buildings, employ modern technology, and disturb the peace in anyway. Firearms are forbidden inside the Tranquil Zone, without expressed permission from the staff. Violating these rules is a serious offense. The presence of foreign rulers, teachers and diplomats in the Palace of Origin was a large factor in the Jade Restoration, though the rules of the Palace were also violated by the Loyalists, when they marched on the capital with weapons. 
The Palace's height and size is ever changing, an important money sink for the state, is the constant rennovation and improvement of the Palace. This rennovation is seen by the different architectural styles with each ruler, since Nozerod Universal Benevolence, who implemented the tradition of each ruler designing his own expansion. Nozerod Peaceful Tides, the last Nozerod, designed and lived in the peak, known as the Serene Sanctuary, while the Nozerod Glorious Jade has chosen to focus national resources on Essotori's foreign policy. 
There are nine hundred floors (2020), with the top five floors being off limits, reserved for the Nozerod, and their personal servants. The Serene Sanctuary contains the most luxurious living arrangements in the Ascendancy, the throne room, and the Nozerod's personal library. To enter the Serene Sanctuary is a distinguished honour. However, the Nozerod will generally spend their time between floors 800 - 810, as these are where ministers, and the Prime Minister himself will visit. It is also where the various Nzosis, the children of the Nozerod, will reside. Floor 812, known as the Mandate Hall, contains a throne, and a chamber for all ministers and cabinet officials to give speeches before the Nozerod. Between 700 - 799 is casually known as the Government Zone, where ministers, officials and the government business is conducted. It is the biggest continous block, build by the Nozerod Unquenched Wrath, incorporating some modern architectural styles. Below these sections, are more nebulous and confusing, adhoc sections that exist to feed the palace's occupants, house the army of servants, and conduct religious rituals. 
The Palace, if opened completely to the public, is estimated to host anywhere from 500k to 1 million inhabitants, though it's real number is classified, and most likely dramatically less. 
Category:Essotori
Category:Palaces
Category:Palace of Origin
Category:Essotori Culture