Kenji Ryu

**Kenji Ryu** (47 bsr - 39 asr) was Emperor of Flowering Throne, ruler of the Oyashiman Empire, from 34 bsr until his death. Kenji ruled through very tumultuous times, and is credited with maintaining Oyashiman independence following the Scientarian Revolution, though his desire to make religious war in the final year of his life resulted in the domination of his empire by the Scientarian Empress.

### Early Life

Kenji Ryu was born grandson of the emperor Komei, and became emperor when he was merely 13 years old. He grew up during the Scientific Revolution, and met with Alek and Adele Tellumnar when they spent time in Oyashima aiding the nation in modernization projects. He was heavily influenced by Alek in particular, who he respected as a wise and caring ruler.

### Scientarian Revolution

When the revolution hit in 1 asr, Kenji ignored pleas by the continental powers to get involved. Alek and Adele both requested his aid in their wars of consolidation, but he only agreed to a pact of non-aggression, instead focusing on consolidating further power in the islands. While his realm saw a great diminishment in reliance on arcane magic during his reign, it never disappeared like it did in the Scientarian controlled states. Despite his more easy going temperament, Alek sometimes threatened invasion, but Adele steadfastly fought against such attempts as they had too many enemies on the continent to involve themselves on the islands as well.

### The Silver Dragon Prophecy

In 33 asr, the oracle Sawako Sung at Kenji's court in Akihito gave a strange and worrying prophecy.

> *Hear your fate, O dwellers in lands of many isles;*
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> *Either your famed, great home must be sacked by Tellumnar’s sons,*
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> *Or, if that be not, the whole land of Oyashima*
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> *Shall mourn the death of a king of the house of Ryu,*
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> *For not the strength of Dragons or of Fiends shall hold him,*
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> *Strength against strength; for she has the power of Gods,*
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> *And will not be checked until one of these two he has consumed.*
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Horrified, they asked how they might forestall such an end for the emperor or the realm, which elicited the response:

> *Pray to the Dragoness of Silver. They will prove to be mighty allies of your empire.*
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> *They are present in Bacrian Lands, a seeker of Ugin, who will aid you.*
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In response, Kenji sent a trusted administrator, Kuno Waterun, to the lands near Bacria to search for this "Seeker of Ugin" and to only return when he had discovered this important person. It took until after his death for Kuno to find this seeker, and to return only after his Emperor had died.

### Oyashiman-Scientarian War

The peace lasted until 39 a.s.r., when events revolving around the reincarnation of the god Chishiki into a mortal body, and publicly revealed himself to the Oyashiman government. When a major public official and nephew to the Emperor, Asahi Ryu, was killed by Adele Tellumnar due to a conflict with the directors of the alcohol and drug company BL°. Seeing an opportunity, Chishiki was ordered to Sephora, and made the demands for Oyashiman territory in all the spice coast cities, and the death of Giovanni Maliavani. This demand was promptly declined, and the war began. Kenji was 86 at the time, and knew he was nearing his death, but believed providence was on their side and that they could not lose. The war concluded after Adele Tellumnar successfully gained godly powers from the Gern Heart of Skarlsboro, and killed the incarnation of Chishiki. When he saw the Scientarian navy entering Emperor's Bay, he collapsed and died, leaving the throne to his great grandson Hakon, now forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty.