Fushinara Ikaera

**Fushinara Ikaera, *Uras*** (Lar 3 - Tehare 17) was a tyrannical *Ura de Miran*, responsible for the Cien Cleanse, a culturally-based massacre that would effectively decimate the Miranen population on the Northern Continent.

## Biography

Fushinara was born in Lar 3, part of a rare set of twins born to Hange-Runec Ikaera III and Kitare Sjiin, *Ura de Miran*. From the moment of her birth, it was made clear that she was never expected to take the throne. While she was given roughly the same education as her twin sister, Kiden, she was never involved with the Council of Leaders or meetings that occurred with visiting community leaders.

Along with nonexistent exposure to legal matters, Fushinara lacked the interest in both reading and religion that her sister had. Instead, she preferred to spend her time playing games with the palace girls or focusing on her appearance. Disinterest from both of her parents contributed to her unbalanced upbringing, which combined with the availability of luxury within the Palace of Angels to giving her a demanding, spoiled outlook on both life and society.

In Lar 18, her twin sister vanished after a series of increasingly malicious incidents. Fushinara found herself facing the possibility of taking on the title of *Ura de Miran* without any formal preparation or training. Only 15 at the time, she had less than two years to gain the knowledge and perspective that would be necessary for success.

Dedicating herself to making an honest attempt, Fushinara requested assistance from both her father and the Order of Scripts to begin mastering the knowledge and skills she lacked. During her intensive studies, it became apparent to Hange-Runec that Fushinara was utterly unfit to take on the challenges of being the *Ura de Miran*. He launched a campaign with the Council of Leaders to remove her from the law of succession, citing her incompetence. His claim was further bolstered when they received word that Fushinara's intended-by-law had died elsewhere, and thus she would be unlikely to marry, making it likely that she would ever have children.

Despite both legal and mental challenges, Fushinara was appointed *Ura de Miran* on her 17th birthday, beginning the Tehare era. Once she was officially instated, Fushinara began to make dramatic changes to the way that the Miranen legal system functioned. The *gopari*, whose numbers had been greatly reduced since the days of her grandfather Ransir Sjiin, saw their numbers quadrupled. Digging into legislature that was technically valid but which hadn't been enforced for many years, she also placed a new focus on the way the law applied to common Miranen people. This process began the Cien Cleanse.

## The Cien Cleanse and Aftermath

Many of the changes that Fushinara made were clearly influenced by her upbringing, latent jealousy, and a misguided sense of purpose. Notably, she placed heavy restrictions on both current and former *majuyue* and *asheindae* of the Order of Scripts. New laws were put in place governing what they could wear and how they could wear it. Festivals, religious services, and even what services could be offered at Order shrines were heavily regulated.

Traditional Miranen law treated all criminals the same, regardless of the crime: convictions were punished with death. However, this harsh conviction system had never been rigidly followed, with crimes rarely punished through any means beyond public humiliation. Fushinara changed that, enforcing capital punishment for even the most minor offenses. Convicted individuals were either hung on a scaffold or beheaded by guillotine. Executions were carried out on the Palace grounds, typically within sight of her private quarters.

Acutely aware that she had enemies and that she would also likely be ousted if she were unable to produce an heir, Fushinara began to work at solidifying her hold on the throne. Despite attempts at arranging a marriage to a member of Miranen society, she was unsuccessful. When these attempts failed, she often disposed of everyone involved. If she could not (or did not wish to) have someone executed, she would have them imprisoned in the cells beneath the Palace of Angels. Her list of prisoners included at least two Aiaen diplomats and even her own father, who was thrown into the cells less than a month after she was raised to the throne.

Her efforts to maintain her own safety were hampered in Tehare 14 when an embassy of High Hangesu arrived, escorting a Lower Hangesu *mir*. The embassy requested asylum for the *mir*, and the Council of Leaders exerted what little control they had over Fushinara to impress that accommodating them would be the only wise choice. She gave in to the request against her own better judgment. She feared that this decision would open the possibilities of individuals outside of the Palace breaching its walls under a guise of diplomacy.

Her fears were correct. Her brother, Shiari Besensu-Ikaera, was able to leave the palace at will despite her attempts to police his behaviors. He became involved with the resistance that had been building among the Miranen people. Using the asylum claim as an excuse, he was able to secret people both into and away from the palace grounds. He was able to evacuate 23 prisoners that had been held below the palace with relative ease.

In Tehare 17, Fushinara was finally overthrown. Her personal physician, Fii Giriin, had poisoned her. She died a virtual prisoner in her own palace.