Avanthar

## **Avanthár, The Golden Tower**

   **Capital City of Tsolyánu**

Large Town; Population: 75,000 (50,000 - 100,000)

*Source: A Tekumel primer. (2016).*

> A is also for Avanthar, the tower of living marble, carved from the heart of a river-bend mountain over millennia to become the Golden Tower of the Seal Emperor of Tsolyanu.
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> Once the new Emperor enters the great palace, he never leaves again, but his word is law across the Empire of the Petal Throne.
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source: https://www.tekumel.com/eoasw5\_06.html

> **The Eye**: Can you tell me more about the bureaucracy at Avanthar?
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> **MARB**: There are several versions of the Chancery at Avanthar. The first deals with the public business of the Imperium. (This was the branch run by Lord Chaimira hiSsanmiren.) A massive collation of reports, edicts and letters goes in and out each day.
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> The second branch is the Court of Purple Robes, situated off the great Throne Room with speaking tubes connecting it with the Golden Tower. This branch advises the Emperor on matters of high policy—politics, foreign relations, etc. There are special links with some of the higher echelons of the Omnipotent Azure Legion. (The exact number of members of the Court of Purple Robes is unknown, but estimated at over thirty.)
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> The Omnipotent Azure Legion’s intelligence-gathering arm is similarly confused. Those under Lord Chaimira form a massive network of spies. Those linked to the Court of Purple Robes counter real threats to Imperial security.
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## The Blue Room on Avanthar and the Golden Tower

> On the Kolumel: the region around Avanthar is one of the most carefully protected, magically impenetrable places on Tekumel. This probably dates from the Latter Times but may have been enhanced by the Engsvanyali. As far as I know, it has only been penetrated by interplanar travellers a VERY few times in history, and then usually by mistake from planes that were not known or which were thought not to impinge on Avanthar. The ancient planetary defenses from before the Time of Darkness are also said to be still operative, sleeping in caverns on the mountaintop. I think they did fire a couple of times in my recollection.
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> The Emperor has access to the Hall of the Petal Throne, where he can speak to his subjects. A very few high officers of the Omnipotent Azure Legion also are allowed to speak to him from within specially designed private rooms, where he can see them but they cannot see him. The OAL also brings concubines and wives into the Golden Tower for his delectation; these are kept closely watched and segregated, but they may actually touch his sacred person, when he wishes.
> *-Barker. The Blue Room Vol8#225.*
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> I only recall one party that flew over Avanthar in an aircar. The effect was rather like a ring of blazing light that rose swiftly from the citadel and enveloped the car. Apparently it was not set to instant destruction because the car continued to limp on southward and crashed in the Bay of *Jakalla! Apparently the weapons are either automatic or else can be set to repel invaders with different degrees of intensity.
> -Barker. The Blue Room Vol8#231.*
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Source: "Tekumel Lineages, Clans, and Notes 2" Tekume Yahoo group

> Aureate Gates of Sublime Visitation: Antechamber of the Hall of the Petal Throne itself. The lower panels of the walls of the Hall of the Petal Throne are lined with reliefs of Nágotai, the 18th Aspect of Karakán, who guides statesmen, plans strategy, and protects worshipers against the power of the Dark.
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> Petal Throne has very strange abilities.
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> Hall of Eminent Remembering: In Avanthár and is filled with collossi statues of noble emperors, heroic generals, and stern ecclesiastics.
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> Ceremony of “Rejoicing Before the Seal.”
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> Eridla river flows on the western flank of Avanthár while the Thrika river flows on the eastern, and on the eastern side is the water gate. Thi'íka and Eridla rivers join at Avanthár to form the Mssúma river.
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> The Gallery of Adorations: The location of the singers who perform 24/7/365 the Paean of Exalted Glory to the Emperor.
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> The Imperial Court has artful semi-nudity.
> Zoological gardens of Avanthár have Zrné that eat from the caretaker's hand.
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