Characters
In an effort to preserve spoilers, these are very brief. If you’d like to know more, expanded biographies are in the works; the links below are a beginning.
Royalty & Military
Emperor “En” – Current Emperor of Chihang. Full name unknown. This is a precautionary measure, as the current Emperor always has some 50 extra names tacked on to his original one. His nanny called him En, and you will, too. Approaching his 80th birthday.
Prince Hsieh Li Lung-chi Heng – The only legitimate son of the current Emperor. Known as “Hu” to his friends. Approaching his middle years, without a throne.
Empress Peng – The Prince’s mother.
Emperor Hsieh Hito Lung-chi – En’s father, Prince’s grandfather.
Major General Chi’ung Futono – Prince’s second in command, patron of Yan Hua, who calls him Fu-fu.
Honored Master Unon – Spiritual advisor to the royal family. Also very old. Frequently visits Mitsuya.
The Women’s Quarters
A 3-story building inside the Southern courtyard of the Imperial Palace. It was built by Emperor Hito after an overabundance of mistresses running about ‘like expensive children’ lead him to seek a solution to the problem. In its center is a private garden. Along the ground floor are rooms and suites that the men and women meet in at set times. All the women in the WQ are concubines.
Consorts are noble women placed in the Women’s Quarters to serve noble men. They almost always become attached to a single man outside the WQ, who become known as their ‘patrons.’
Master Jun – The man in charge of managing the Women’s Quarters. A eunuch. (This was a redundant measure, as he was never attracted to women to begin with. Irony. Hence, he is resentful toward most of the girls.)
Instructess – Born of a consort, raised to be a consort, now teaches and disciplines the current consort. Is rather old, and has no illusions about her looks.
Mei Ba – Plump consort, favorite of the Emperor. Self-conscious about her weight, although it seems to be the only thing that keeps her in her position.
Yan Hua – Consort, considered something of a lightweight. Favorite of Major General Chi’ung Fu. Often gets up early to meet him before he goes to train.
Lun Lo – Consort, considered snotty and rude. A distant cousin of the magistrate of Kuroma’s province.
Fen Hono – A very ‘gifted’ healer who resides in the Women’s Quarters by choice.
Asana – A graceful young woman brought for training at the same time as Kuroma.
Mitsuya – Concubine from the border between Chihang and Bharet.
Kyoncho – Of noble birth, shamed after an indiscretion that no one will mention. Now resides separately from the rest.
Beyond the Palace
Kuroma – Young woman from the province of Honhwa. Singled out by the Prince and brought to the palace.
Hu – Kuroma’s brother who was wounded in the fight between their village and another’s.
Master Astronomer Keino Fen Wo – Sky-watcher and diviner. Income from the Emperor and other nobles interested in their fortunes. A very clever man of somewhat noble lineage. Resides in Honhwa.
