Reign of Emperor A'latl

Political event

C. -3,340 → C. -3,260

Following the Ascension of Tahos, the gathered kings and elders of thee Golden Table were faced with a crisis: Tahos had never produced an heir nor left a will, and Takanda refused the throne; the Kingdom of Zicotl needed her watchful presence. Never had anyone considered succession.
Several elders, as well as Shaman-King A'latl of Ban'zol, and Xalaxos, sorcerer-queen of K'jatar and younger sister to Takanda, claimed the throne, some on the basis of skill in war or politics, while others claimed secret promises from Tahos that they were his heir. The arguments grew and the threat of civil war loomed large until a vote was suggested. Determined to avoid civil war, A'latl, Takanda, and the elders agreed and retired to deliberate, much to Xalaxos' chagrin. After three days passed amidst promises, threats, and a great many exchanges of gold, A'latl was announced as the new Emperor, and Takanda reluctantly took his hand as her new husband.

Vauldis, the Deceiver and Xalaxos' Betrayal

A council of advisors were chosen by the new Emperor. One such advisor to A'latl was a shaman by the name of Vauldis, and Takanda felt a growing suspicion towards him, while the tense relationship between A'latl and Takanda eventually warmed into friendship and then love.
The Reign of A'latl was marked by strife and conflict. Queen Xalaxos and her kingdom in the northeast grew dissatisfied with A'latl's rule. In secret, the devious Vauldis became her eyes and ears for A'latl's council. Whispering by her side, he reasoned that her kingdom's shamans and magic enabled the construction of Tac'Tahos. Without the extensive trading networks her kingdom built, the Dynasty would be nothing. It was she who should have been chosen to rule.
Piece by piece, Vauldis wove distrust between the kingdoms. He nursed darkness in Xalaxos' heart and warned A'latl of that same growing darkness. He advised Al'atl on matters of magic to combat Xalaxos and introduced the Emperor to soul magic; Necromancy. With time, Al'atl was able to summon ancestral spirits for council and reunion, resurrect the dead, and perform great feats of blood magic. He used his powers to reunite couples after tragic losses and healed otherwise fatal wounds. However, this would all come at a price. Be it the temporary lending of a soul, or the bargaining of something else valuable, Al'atl was always true and honest to his word.

Ancestor Worship & the Sacredness of Death

Al'atl's practices were embraced as a widespread staple of Tahosian culture. Death was not something to fear, merely the beginning of a new journey. Under the reign of Emperor Al'atl, ancestor worship became widespread and Tahosians revered their elders both in life and in death. Ancestor's Eve became a staple holiday of the Dynasty, and in return for monuments built in his image, Al'atl would travel the lands to bring back the souls of the past for one night a year.
Takanda voiced concerns over his descent into necromancy. Al'atl reasoned that without death, life has no room to grow and flourish. Death was part of the natural cycle. Takanda saw this reasoning and reluctantly agreed. Together, they were said to be manifestations of life and death itself, and their union grew closer.
However, in the shadows, Vauldis played Al'atl like a puppet. While Al'atl consulted with the spirits of his ancestors in private, Vauldis manipulated them. Through the spirits, Vauldis told him that Xalaxos planned the downfall of Tec'Tahos, and to march on K'jatar and put an end to Xalaxos' plot. Takanda urged for peace and she attempted to talk sense to her sister. She indeed planned to wipe out Tec'Tahos, and though she was inspired to do so by Vauldis' silver tongue, she never divulged such revelations. The devious shaman taught the Queen how to excel and empower her magic with cataclysmic potential through sacrificial blood rituals. This, he said, would protect her from Al'atl's dark magic. Her subjects worshipped her as a herald of destructive forces.
Takanda continued to visit her sister and urge reason, but tensions continued to escalate until Takanda was struck and injured by Xalaxos, sparking the Tahosian Civil war.