Contents
First Interlude: The Long Judgment
Overview
This interlude recounts King Eon II’s surrender to Shotar during the occupation, his abdication, captivity, and death by poison. Once reviled, Eon II is reappraised as having saved lives and covertly financed Green Bone resistance, which evolved into the One Mountain Society and the modern clans, reshaping Kekon’s legacy.
Summary
The interlude traces Kekon’s descent into crisis under King Eon II. Foreign powers entrenched themselves on the island, inflaming conflict with locals and among Green Bone clan families. Allegations of royal corruption and escalating incidents fractured clan unity just as Shotar invaded with a modern military against scattered jade warriors.
As brutal fighting threatened Janloon’s destruction, Shotarian commanders considered razing the capital to break Green Bone resistance. Advised to flee and continue the war in exile, King Eon II instead ordered the clans to retreat, surrendered, and abdicated. Shotar kept him in comfortable captivity, then arranged his death by poison under the guise of natural causes.
Condemned as a coward for generations, Eon II’s legacy was later reexamined. His capitulation likely saved millions and allowed surviving Green Bones to form the One Mountain Society, precursor to the modern clans. Evidence revealed he liquidated royal assets and covertly funneled funds to guerrillas via Lantern Men. Even as his grandnephew Ioan III later ruled as prince to distance the crown from him, Eon II’s quiet actions reshaped Kekon’s path from occupation to clan-led sovereignty.
Who Appears
- King Eon IILast king of Kekon; surrendered to Shotar, abdicated, died by poison; secretly funded Green Bone resistance.
- Shotarian military commandersInvading leaders who considered burning Janloon; oversaw occupation and concealed Eon II’s death by poison.
- Ioan IIIEon II’s grandnephew who later reigned as prince to distance the monarchy from Eon’s disgrace.
- Shotarian bodyguard-memoiristGuard who wrote about Eon II, depicting him as private, bookish, and softhearted.