Unbeating Heart of the Empire

**The Unbeating Heart of the Empire** is a magically infused sentient throne of the Emperor of Amyr. The throne contains great magical abilities that allow the Emperor of Amyr to reach nigh lichdom and utilize powerful divine magic making him immune to the effects of ageing and disease. The Unbeating Heart is one of the oldest structures known on Moro, with it being constructed over 30,000 years ago during the Age of Dragons by the god of madness Anatal. The Unbeating Heart of the Empire is one of Anatal's earliest and most famous constructions having been created entirely from fragments of the moon Hadaar.

Every Emperor of Amyr, upon their succession to the throne, undergoes a ritual to bind their soul completely to the Unbeating Heart allowing them to rule without fear of ageing or growing weak. Thus, as a result, no concurrent Emperor of Amyr has ever died of old age or disease whilst serving as Emperor. Every Emperor as a result has either been assassinated, died in battle or forcibly removed from the Unbeating Heart, severing their soul in the process.

The Unbeating Heart of the Empire, allows the Emperor to gain incredible divine magical abilities akin to that of a master 9th-level spellcaster. Although it comes at a great cost. The source of the Unbeating Heart's powers must be fed, and a source must be found, and the Emperor's magical source is the lifeforce of his very Empire. The souls of those faithful who reside in the Amyrian Empire feed the powers of the Throne allowing the Emperor to perform great magical feats. Whenever the Emperor channels his magic, the Throne seeks fodder for the Imperial Throne in the form of souls. Casting meek spells requires only a handful of deaths, whilst casting greater spells such as resurrection can require the Emperor to claim upwards of 1,000 souls. It is believed the Emperor can, if he so desired, go beyond 9th level spells but the last time such a feat was attempted by Emperor Mavros the Black it resulted in The Dreadlands being created and hundreds upon thousands of Amyrians being unwillingly claimed by the Unbeating Heart to constitute the shadowy plague. To maintain the Emperor's youth is a constant and ongoing cost on the Unbeating Heart requiring over 50,000 souls every year just to maintain his pseudo-lichdom.

Throughout the Empire twice a year during the 1st of Nimtar and again during the 30th of Yrrn citizens all throughout the Empire are required to restate their oaths to the Empire, which serves to remind the citizens of their dedication to the Empire but also to designate those who say the words to be marked for potential instruments to power the Unbeating Heart. When the time comes when someone is violently taken by the throne, wherever they may be, ploughing fields, hunting, having a conversation with a loved one, giving a speech or simply relaxing their flesh is instantly scorched in a holy radiance whilst their soul is immediately exhausted from their withered flesh. Individuals who died to fuel the Unbeating Heart are seen as dying a righteous death and as a worthy way to serve the Empire. Amyrians refer to those who died in this manner as dying of an ' Imperial rapture'.

### "My flesh for the Empire, my heart for the Emperor, my soul for the Throne!"

- Oath to the Unbeating Heart

Not everyone is required to take the Oath to the Unbeating Heart and thus are safe from the Imperial Rapture. Some of those who are exempt include; priests, soldiers, master craftsmen, Arbiters and their families, powerful merchants and traders and wizards or those with extraordinary magical abilities.