Simone bat Erasmus
| Simone bat Erasmus | |
 | |
| Full name | Simone bat Erasmus |
|---|---|
| Physical information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Female |
| Hair color and style | Black hair |
| Eye color | Jingdaoese Ink Blue |
| Skin color | Light |
| Biographical information | |
| Father | Julius of Nan |
| Mother | Elizabeth bat Erasmus |
| Date of birth | 1737 AN (age: 21) |
| Place of birth | Daocheng, Zhijin Province |
| Date of death | / |
| Residence(s) | Heavenly Palace, Zhijin Province |
| Nationality | Jingdaoese |
| Allegiance(s) | Imperial Household |
| Occupation | Heavenly Light |
Simone bat Erasmus, named after the Kaiming Emperor, is the Heavenly Light of Jingdao, herself known as the Qishou Emperor based on the fact that she gained power by charging the Imperial Guan Palace on horseback in II.1758 with a katana drawn, challenging anyone to stop her. Her birthname Simone is derived from the birthname of the Kaiming Emperor, Simon.
Since 1758, recognized as Duchess of Jingdao by the Imperial Government of Shireroth.
Youth and ascension of the throne
Simone bat Erasmus was born in IV.1737 as grand daughter of the Xinshi Emperor and daughter of Elizabeth bat Erasmus, who was herself the daughter of the Xinshi Emperor. Her father was Julius of Nan, duke of Outer Antya, making her heir to that title as well. She was raised in the Imperial Household with the idea that her future role as a Heavenly Light was purely ceremonial and a religious service to the people of Jingdao. In 1749, when she was 12, she spent a summer taking care of the Mausolea of the Heavenly Light on Catavia. Here she learned about rumours that the Xinshi Emperor had never fought a dolstier and was thus not worthy of the throne. When she returned to the Imperial Palace in the fall of 1749 she discussed this with her mother, who told her that the custom of emperors fighting dolstiers had been abolished for generations. From that point onwards Simone began training more with her katana and riding horseback, so that she could restore this tradition one day. From her 18th birthday she worked as a priestess of the Cult of Germania, in this function she travelled to the Lanzerwald Republic in 1755 where she met Herodias Blutwasser, heir of the other line of rulers that descended from the Ci Emperor and she was inspired by this even younger woman who had restored the title of Princess of Walstadt and Light to herself. Herodias inspired Simone to make her own claim to the throne, after performing the rituals that an emperor would have done in the days of the Six Islands. So the two girls travelled together to Catavia again, where they asked the local high priestesses of the Mausolea for help. In a secret and at night, the priestesses brought a young and strong dolstier into the amphitheatre where Simone was waiting, riding her black horse and holding nothing but a katana. The dolstier charged at the young woman who fled, the dolstier running after her. Her initial strategy was to run away from the dolstier until it would get tired, but Simone noticed that her horse was getting tired earlier than the dolstier, so after 10 rounds around the amphitheatre she pulled the reins and turned her horse around, holding her katana in front of her she charged towards the dolstier and sliced its head off in one smooth movement. As the blood covered both her and her horse, she put some on her finger, tasted it and proclaimed that victory tasted sweet. The priestesses applauded and swore loyalty to the princess.
In the winter of 1755 to 1756, Simone was invited to Erlgau to have an audience with the Erlkönig. It was a special honour as the Erlkönig hadn't had a visitor since a very long time, the last person who he had invited for a traditional tea ceremony had been the Chidao Emperor, for the Xinshi Emperor he had nothing but disdain. But Simone was brought in as an old friend. The two did not speak, as that was not customary in a traditional tea ceremony between equals.
From 1756 to 1758, Simone would spend her summer holidays in Driftwood in Shirerithian Alrig. From the contacts she acquired here she learned in early 1758 that the ducal government had discussed giving away Shirerithian Alrig to the Lanzerwald Republic so it could reunite Alrig. Surprised, she called Herodias Blutwasser to ask her if the story was true, Herodias refused to comment on the issue, saying that it was a very delicate matter under active consideration, and that she wouldn't comment on the Six Islands either. This was all that Simone needed to hear, she took the train to Daocheng and went to the stables to get her horse and then to the armoury to get her sword. She jumped on her horse, unsheathed her sword and charged at the palace walls. The guards were surprised when they saw her, but they recognised her and opened the gates for her. As she was galloping through the palace terrain, she shouted that she would behead anyone who would get in her way. Finally she arrived at the throne room of the Xinshi Emperor and she shouted that the emperor should step outside. Guards brought the emperor to her and Simone scolded her, telling her that she had brought shame upon herself by not fighting the dolstier and having such a meek attitude while parts of the empire were given away. The emperor mumbled something and Simone had enough, she tied the Xinshi Emperor to her horse and gave her horse the spurs, the body of the emperor hanging behind it, she raced over the cobbles of Daocheng, shouting to anyone who would listen that Jingdao had a new Heavenly Light and that the days of weakness were over.
