Standard Disclaimers Apply
Nemesis: Pandora's Box
Summary: Eons ago, the war between Suzaku's Demon and Seiryuu's Heart had nearly destroyed their world. Centuries later, in a new age of Chaos, History is all set to repeat herself as Suzaku's Demon and Seiryuu's Heart face each other again, blades drawn.
AN: This story is the sequel of my earlier fic 'Nemesis: Forgotten Anathema', picking up from where the previous one had been left off. In every successor there remains a shadow of its predecessor. The same can be said for my fic. However, the story in itself is pretty much stand-alone and it's not necessary to read the earlier fic to enjoy this one. So, please give it a try.
All right, now that I have bored you enough, let's move on to the next part, wherein I present a roll call.
Of course, if you already know the story or you are bored or you have no patience with reading unusually long ANs, feel free to go to the next chapter. That's where the real action starts. But I would ask you to be patient and read this bit 'cause I am not as good at smooth transition as I thought I was.
Ahem… Onward ho!
The Roll Call
Two utterly normal, confused teenagers who are not so normal anymore.
Lee: She is the fifteen year old granddaughter of Miaka and Taka. Upon being drawn into the world of the Four Gods she decided to don the mantle of the Priestess of Suzaku as her grandmother had done so many decades ago.
Present agenda:
Gathering her remaining sacred warriors, summoning the beast God and other such duties as expected of her as the Priestess of Suzaku.
Showing the world that she is neither weak, nor afraid of masked men in fancy capes.
Most importantly, to determine that amongst the two men who make her heart flutter, exactly who it is that truly holds her heart.
Yang: A smart, intelligent, top ranking student and granddaughter of Yui and Tetsuya, her close friendship with Lee reaffirms the age old maxim that opposites do attract. Drawn into the situation by Lee she is not so ecstatic about her inheritance, viewing it with a kind of weary resignation, considering it more of a hassle than an unexpected windfall.
Present agenda:
Finding Lee.
Returning to the normal, mundane and somewhat boring life they used to have and then, give and ace the Entrance exams.
Once inside the world of the Four Gods, avoiding hot, golden haired men.
Most importantly, staying alive.
Two rival, hard-headed monarchs
Hotohori: The Seventh Emperor of Konon, demon of Suzaku, son of the Emperor Hoshimaru, grandson of Emperor Boushin and great grandson of Emperor Saitehi, otherwise known as the legendary Suzaku seishi Hotohori. Struggling to bring peace and order to a land burning in the flames of war, he, like most of is countrymen was very happy when the Miko of the legends finally arrived.
Present agenda:
Protecting Lee, from her enemies and from Faraco's juvenile attempts at courtship.
Winning Lee's heart and her hand.
Regaining the title of the best swordsman in all the lands.
Most importantly, showing the Witch of Kutou that he was not a man to be trifled with.
Keeah: The Empress of Kutou, heart of Seiryuu, third ruler of the House of Ryuukenjutsushi, daughter of Emperor Kaminari and grand daughter of Emperor Reishi. Lord of a young nation, ravaged by war and internal conflict, she revived the drooping spirits of her nation by finding and releasing their Beast God, Seiryuu.
Present agenda:
Showing the world that the course of a war is not altered by the arrival of a mere Miko.
Keeping the unruly horse, called Kutou, under control.
Brushing up her already formidable arsenal of magic.
Most importantly, tormenting the demon of Konon.
A couple of powerful generals
Menesku: Son of the General Takemaru, star of Suzaku, he is Prince Hotohori's most trusted aide, friend and General of the royal army of Konon. Taciturn and practical to a fault, he knows that the arrival of the Miko alone shall not ensure Konon's victory over Kutou.
Present agenda:
Keeping Lee safe.
Ensuring that the law and order machinery of the state is kept well oiled and properly functional.
Keeping the Black Warrior in check.
Most importantly, keeping Lord Hotohori's more impulsive tendencies in check.
Black Warrior: The general of armies of Konon, an enigmatic, masked, elemental warrior, he is the Keeah's alter ego, a person she created to check Menesku's onslaught.
Present agenda:
Terrorize Konon.
Suraco: Golden haired and with eyes like colour of sapphires, the legendary illusion master with a shady past, he is one of Keeah's most trusted aide and the second in command of the armies of Kutou, leading the army in the absence of the Black Warrior.
Present agenda:
Protecting Kutou, from enemies that are outside and especially from those that are inside.
Ensuring that law and order is maintained.
Keeping Menesku in check.
Most importantly, persuading the princess to abandon any suicidal missions she may have in mind.
Some loyal friends.
Sotisku: Barring Suraco, he is the only other person who has Keeah's trust and ranks amongst her closest confidantes. The flame haired orphan is also the royal doctor of Kutou, with some claiming that his skill may be at par with the legendary Suzaku seishi Mitsukake.
Present agenda:
Being the voice of reason in the infamous triad of Kutou.
Opposing Suraco by principle.
Improving healing techniques.
Most importantly, aiding Suraco in persuading the Princess to abandon any suicidal missions she usually has in mind.
Faraco: This golden haired shape-shifter, the willow of Suzaku was the first person who had met and befriended Lee. Once hunted throughout Konon for being the brother of a traitor, his life turned around when he met Lee.
Present agenda:
Protecting Lee with his life.
Winning her heart.
Chulivey: A sorceress, the wings of Suzaku, graduate of Konon School of Magic, founded by the legendary Suzaku seishi Chichiri, she has trained hard to take her place at the side of the Suzaku no Miko, protecting her and Konon. However, the mysterious disappearance of her friend Aoki, put in her possession a scroll, which she fears may endanger the lives of her friends as it had once endangered hers.
Present agenda:
Protecting Lee.
Finding out the reason behind Aoki's disappearance and solving the mystery of the scroll.
Most importantly, help Menesku and Hotohori perform the necessary damage control after the news of Seiryuu being released reached Konon.
Liang: A bandit from Mount Reikaku, an Earth Demon, descendant of the Suzaku seishi Tasuki, he had come to Nobu with the ambition of becoming a Pirate. His chance meeting with Hotohori however changed the course of his action and his life.
Present agenda:
Protecting Lee.
Beating Menesku in a game of chance and explaining to Hotohori exactly why women are trouble.
Learning to swim.
Most importantly, avoiding court meetings.
Taasha: A feline bast berserker from the far away land of Ubasti, he has come to the land that his people call the Eastern Earth in search of the artisans who were, according to legends, capable of fixing an artefact which is very sacred to his people, the Mirror of Bastet. Even though he failed to accomplish his task, when he met Keeah, he found another thing he had been searching for a long time, his pack.
Present agenda:
Protecting his pack.
Finding out what caused his people to abandon their place in the Eastern earth and search for a new home.
Most importantly, adapting to his new home.
A few miscellaneous characters
Lady Saori: Keeah's grandmother, Emperor Reishi's wife. For a while after the death of Keeah's father, it was her subtle fingers that guided the young Empress through the initial phase of her rule.
Zori: Known as the Shadow in the dark world of mercenaries and as the beautiful Lady Mydozori Kirichio in the fragrant royal seraglio in the inner palace Konon, she is a woman of questionable morals and huge ambitions, determined to achieve them no matter what the cost.
Mioko; Loyal to the royal house of Kutou, this enigmatic woman's contacts and influence in the dark underbelly of society is far reaching, making her one of the most effective double agents in Kutou's arsenal.
Izuke: The Prince of Nobu, he is the uncrowned king of mercenaries and thieves in the Four lands. A witty rogue with non-existent morals, he aims to spread his influence beyond the world of Nobu and into the murky royal corridors of Konon and Kutou.
Lao Shin: A legendary but eccentric healer of Hokkan, it is rumoured that his skill could even resurrect the dead.
Sairi: A sadistic feline who lurks in the ruined city of Tur. Though her appearance is like that one of Taasha's tribe, nothing much is known about her past.
Shizimi: The man who led Hotohori to Fa Sang safely through the treacherous waters of the Ku Youg Sea only to betray him on reaching there. Nothing much is known of him other than the fact that he is a swordsman of extraordinary calibre, having made mockery of some of lands finest warriors.
Kinta: All that is known about him is the fact that he belongs to a race called the Forgers and twice he helped out Keeah and Hotohori when they were in a tight spot, the first time in the island of Fa Sang and the second time in the Old City.
And finally
A Mysterious Hooded Man: An enigmatic and somewhat malevolent being, his agenda is still unclear.
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