Region 1 — Imperial City
Emperor Groa's Residence, Throne of the Nazare Blade Empire
Emperor Groa Aratat lounged like a spoiled jungle cat between two of his favourite concubines, a goblet of sapphire wine in one hand and a crispy, golden-brown chicken lap in the other — held not as food, but as a scepter of flirtation. He waved it near the lips of the concubine on his right, teasing her like a master fisherman reeling in a particularly giggly catch.
"Your aim is terrible, my lord," she laughed, snapping at the air like a crocodile with a sweet tooth.
"Aim?" Groa chuckled with the arrogance of a man who'd never needed good aim for anything in his life. "That was a warning shot."
She lunged again and she was quicker this time as she bit off a huge chunk of the meat just as a knock echoed through the chamber door.
Knock-knock.
The trio groaned in unison, rolling their eyes like children caught sneaking treats before dinner.
"Who dares interrupt? Do you have a death wish or something or you want to see divine retribution?" the concubine barked, licking her lips clean.
Silence....
"A ... a me...messenger, your ...your...your...Grace. Urgent message for the Emperor—from Prince Jaden," a voice called, with fearful stammering from outside the chamber.
At that name, Groa's amusement flickered into alarm. He straightened, the chicken lap forgotten and drooping like a broken sword. Prince Jaden's messages weren't just urgent—they were prophetic. The kind that made kings sweat and seers weep.
"Enter," Groa said, his voice suddenly colder and ten times more imperial.
The messenger slipped in and bowed deeply. "My lord… I bring grim tidings. The Scarlet Raven… has awakened, released and has been unleashed."
The chicken lap plummeted to the marble floor with a splat, ignored by all.
"You mean that insane Oradonian mage?" Groa's voice cracked like a twig under pressure. "The one from the old Oradonian mage legend of 150 years ago? The fire-wielding lunatic who reduced his fellow mages and his master to fondue and then went on a killing spree? That Scarlet Raven?"
"Yes, my lord. He has escaped the Quorin Depths of Region 29. Witnesses say that the main cause was due to the curse of Chief Priestess Sarzi Uno, the lethality of which caused the holding runes to be shattered and hence his release"
The emperor's pupils shrank. "Fetch me Reagent Adolph Li. And the Hand of the Emperor, Manuel Stunner. Now."
The messenger darted off like a man fleeing a thunderstorm, returning minutes later with two very alarmed men in crisp robes and deeply worried eyebrows.
Groa waved the messenger off with a flick of his ring-heavy hand. "You know why you're here," he said without preamble.
Adolph and Manuel nodded slowly, like soldiers being told their next mission involved tickling a dragon.
"My lord," said Manuel, adjusting his collar, "we're talking about a magical catastrophe wrapped in feathers. If we don't act fast, half the empire might be reduced to toasted crumbs in under two weeks."
Groa gulped but held his composure. Barely. "I know, that is why I want you two to figure something out fast and be quick, I have other things to attend to..." His eyes darted to the half naked concubine beside him.
"There might be one hope," Manuel continued, rubbing his chin. "According to legend, there's an arch mage who once defeated the Scarlet Raven. Amber Nois. She lived over 150 years ago… and arch mages tend to outlive normal cultivators, they age like fermented wine—they get stronger, but good luck finding the bottle."
"You mean Amber Nois? The one who according to legends once conjured an army of ice wolves to conquer the Requelm beast?" Groa's eyes sparkled.
"Yes, my lord. Finding her is one thing. Convincing her to leave retirement and save an empire ruled by a... well, passionate emperor, is another."
Emperor Groa looked at him with narrowed eyes but didn't dwell on that. The matter at hand, although pressing, he still needed to get back to his concubines. So more or less, Manuel Stunner was saved by the Emperor's libido.
"It's not entirely hopeless," Adolph said, stepping in. "If we can find a priestess, we can perform the Oradonian Summoning. They have the knowledge of the old Oradonian Order of mages. It's the only way to contact a mage of her calibre."
"Ha! If only!" Manuel snorted. "After Sarzi Uno died, the priestesses blamed you, my lord. They vanished like ghosts with good sense and swore never to serve the empire again."
Groa stiffened. The room felt hotter. "Manuel, do you want to perhaps lose your head or something..." He shifted his gaze back to his concubines and his anger seemed to evaporate.
"Your libido is proving more dangerous than the Raven herself," Manuel muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Adolph to hear. Adolph coughed to cover a laugh.
"And what could be so funny...?" Groa barked at Adolph Li.
"No...nothing my Lord...we were feeling sorry for the diseased chief Priestess..." Adolph Li spoke with his gaze bowed. He had to be careful not to step on thin ice otherwise, this situation might change and escalate in ways he won't be able to control or predict.
Groa scowled. "Enough! You have forty-eight hours. I don't care if you summon, bribe, or kidnap a priestess—just get me one. Now go. The empire's survival may depend on your success."
He waved them off and turned back toward his concubines with the exhausted air of a man who'd just handed off a burning torch and picked up a wine glass.
Here's an improved version of your passage with cleaner flow, sharper dialogue, and more vivid tone:
As the women giggled and curled back around the emperor like nothing had happened, Manuel exhaled deeply, shaking his head. He leaned toward Adolph and muttered, "This empire is gloriously doomed."
Adolph Li lowered his voice, eyes flicking toward the indulgent scene. "He's been on a rampage lately. Slept with all eight wives and eight concubines—just this past month. And now he's hinting at finding more. It's like he's under some kind of curse…"
"Maybe the chief priestess's curse," Manuel said coldly, no trace of sympathy in his voice. "I only hope the empire changes hands before he drags us all into the abyss."
With that, the two men turned and strode off into the shadows—off to chase ghosts and legends—while their emperor remained behind, laughing and teasing his court of silken distractions.