Genso Suikoden: Rise of the 108 Stars of Heaven and Earth
By: Spooky Fyre
Disclaimer: The game Genso Suikoden belongs to Konami as do (most) the characters featured in this work. I am in no way profiting from this. Please don't sue I'm in debt as it is.
"Once there was a hero named Barbarossa, 17th Emperor of the Scarlet Moon Empire, often referred to as the "The Golden Emperor". It was he who led the Six Great Generals and their armies into battle against a declining Empire, defeating the usurper Geil Runger and ending his tyrannical rule. So began the benevolent and wise rule of the hero Barbarossa, the sun has risen over the Empire, aptly nicknamed the Golden Empire.
Now, years later the sun has begun to set on the Empire. An unknown force is manipulating the Emperor behind the scenes and now greed and corruption has overshadowed the once virtuous and peaceful nation.
The beginning of the end is drawing ever nearer, the 108 Stars of Destiny are poised to gather and when they do the Stars of Heaven and Earth will unleash a force so powerful that it will shake the very foundations of an Empire.
This is a story of revolution; this is the legend of the 108 Stars of Destiny, the legend of Suikoden."
Introduction from The Rise of the Republic
Chapter 1
The General's Son
A brown haired youth sat in an ornate, uncomfortable chair and stared at his reflection in the polished pink marble floor. Tir McDohl was used to luxury afforded to him because of his father's status but this was a tad overdone for him. General favored by the Emperor he may be, but even my father has simplistic taste, we live down right Spartan compared to this. Thank the True Runes. He sighed and fiddled with the ends of his green bandana while one foot tapped out a steady rhythm on the floor.
"What's the matter Tir, are you nervous?" A soothing baritone voice asked. That particular voice belonged to his father, one of the Six Great Generals of the Scarlet Moon Empire, Teo McDohl.
Tir glanced up and smiled a little before shaking his head.
"Don't worry, the audience will be finished quickly. Just be the way you always are." Teo absently smoothed the tunic underneath his armor as he smiled reassuringly at his son. "The Emperor is stern, but there's nothing to be afraid of."
His son nodded and brushed imaginary lint off his red and yellow outfit as he stood, stretching cramped muscles and winced at the pins and needles sensation in his butt and thighs. It doesn't surprise me really; we've been here four hours or so waiting for an audience. Jeesh, I hope things don't get done this slowly in all the government processes. I can't believe we've been waiting this long! Tir thought crabbily; don't these people have any manners?
A maid entered the room and stared at the general for a moment before clearing her throat and coughing delicately, interrupting Tir's silent fuming. "Sir McDohl and…" She glanced at Tir before quickly moving on, "his son Tir McDohl. The Emperor will see you now."
"Excellent!" Teo clapped Tir on the back, causing his son to stumble forward before he was able to regain his balance and right himself. "Come my son, you shall finally meet the Emperor."
The woman led the two into s glaringly ornate throne room and Tir noted that there was an abundance of precious metals and rare marble polished until it shone blindingly bright. His throne is made out of gold? What's the point to that? Tir would have shrugged if it weren't for the fact that he stood before the Emperor who was gazing at him with faint speculation in his dark eyes.
Tir thought that at one time he must have been a tall, muscular man but now gravity pulled at his face and gray streaked once dark hair but he was still an imposing man. He radiated charm and something else that Tir couldn't place but he found himself liking the older man, he bowed respectably along with his father and only straightened when the Emperor spoke.
"Welcome, Teo. How are things?" His voice was deep with a distinctive rumble to it that could and did strike fear in the hearts of his enemies when used on the battlefield.
"Much as they were when we fought together in the War of Succession, Your Highness."
Teo answered promptly, good humor lacing his voice.
Emperor Barbarosa chuckled, "Impressive words. Do you not agree, Windy?"
"Indeed, they are the words of a great general." Windy murmured.
Tir's eyes locked onto the woman and he frowned, he hadn't seen her standing there earlier when he had studied the huge room. She probably came down from the stairs when I was bowing to the Emperor, he reasoned to himself. Windy was tall and slender with long blonde hair tied into a high ponytail at the top of her hair. Tir had heard that she was the most beautiful woman in the Empire but as he gazed her he came to the conclusion that he didn't like her very much. It was something that glinted in her eyes when she observed people and the set to her mouth; she seemed almost cruel. Tir wondered about the validity of the rumors that said she was like Claudia, Barbarosa's deceased wife, who was known to be incredibly benevolent in nature.
"Teo," Barbarosa leaned forward and put all humor aside, addressing his General seriously, "I am sure you are aware of the troubling activity in the north. Would you be willing to travel there to protect the border?"
The elderly man in a scarlet robe stepped from his position behind the Emperor, "Our disputes with the United City-States of Jowston are complicated, but with General McDohl in charge, we can rest assured."
The Emperor's hand grasped the sheathed sword that rested across his lap and he caressed it lovingly, "My beloved sword Prakk has brought me luck on countless occasions. I would like you to have it." He stood from his seat and his open royal purple robe fell about him, obscuring the clothing beneath as he held out the sword.
Teo came forward, his movements oddly formally and somberly grasped the sword and gazed at his ruler, both of them holding Prakk, "Thank you, Your Highness. I, Teo, swear not to disappoint you."
Barbarosa released the sword, a small smile quirking the edges of his lips, "You have my blessings. Good luck, Teo."
Teo nodded and stepped back and the Emperor's shrewd gazed shifted to his son. "So you're Teo's boy Tir. Quite an impressive little countenance. Listen, Tir. Would you be willing to give the Empire a helping hand while your father is protecting that northern border?"
Tir paused thoughtfully before replying. He didn't really want to, if he said yes he was basically enrolling in the military. On the other hand, saying yes might promise him some adventure, although part of him wanted to just say no he knew couldn't afford to act the fool with his father right beside of him. "Yes Your Highness." He replied bowing formally. Apparently all those etiquette lessons weren't in vain after all.
"You already resemble your father. I shall look forward to seeing you grow into full adulthood." Emperor Barbarosa replied. He was impressed by the young man's seriousness but he glimpsed a glint of mischievousness in the boy's eyes that probably landed him in a bit of trouble now and again.
Teo placed a large hand on Tir's shoulder and addressed Barbarosa, "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness."
The scarlet robbed minister flipped open a folder and glanced at the writing scrawled upon the paper. "Commander Kraze of the Imperial Guard will be Master Tir's superior."
The older man frowned slightly but said nothing, just as well because Lady Windy chose that moment to speak. "What an attractive young man you are. Good luck to you, Tir."
A shiver rippled through Tir, Windy's words rang false and he imagined that she meant the opposite but surely it was just his imagination. Windy smiled at him warmly and bobbed her head in farewell.
"We had better be going, Your Highness." Teo spoke up regretfully.
Barbarosa nodded, "I'm relying on you, Teo. And Tir, I hope your efforts will surpass your father's."
Father and son bowed low before leaving the throne room. Once outside the two large double doors Tir stopped for a moment and gazed around him intently, committing the place and it's layout to memory, Tir knew that Ted would want all the details of the Imperial Palace.
Teo noticed that his son was no longer behind him and he looked back and beckoned to Tir, "Let's go." Tir nodded and the two proceeded down the stairs and onto the first floor. The palace was known for its uniqueness, the military offices were not located off the palace proper as they were in most other royal compounds. At the Gregminster palace the offices of the military officials were on the ground floor of the palace, right below the audience/throne-room of the Emperor. Teo stopped Tir just outside of one of the small offices.
"This is Kraze's room. You'll be reporting to him starting tomorrow. Go and introduce yourself." Teo instructed.
Tir's nodded and peeked into the room, noting the greasy, skinny man with a goatee sitting at a large oak desk before he stepped inside to greet his future commander.
Kraze looked up, his naturally narrow eyes becoming slits as he gazed at the only son of the great Teo McDohl. Little punk probably hasn't ever had to lift a hand for anything in his life, Kraze thought contemptuously. "Heh. So you're Teo's boy. What's your name?"
"Tir," the dark haired youth replied, "sir." He added, sounding as if it were an afterthought. Tir had already decided he didn't like the greasy, gaudy man. His red, blue, purple, and yellow outfit seemed that he wanted to be noticed and his goatee and hair was greased until it shone. As vain and selfish as you can get, Tir thought.
Little punk. Kraze thought disdainfully. "I couldn't care less if you're the son of a great general. You'll get no special treatment here, understand?" Tir had opened his mouth to reply when Kraze rushed right over him, "Now go on home. Work begins tomorrow. Report here first thing in the morning."
Tir nodded but didn't salute, turned and left the room, not even bothering to back out like you were suppose to in the presence of an officer superior to you. His father was waiting for him outside of Kraze's office, his arms crossed and a frown marring his face as he leaned against the wall.
"Did you introduce yourself?" The general asked as Tir rejoined him and the two started out of the palace. "I must admit I'm quite surprised that you've been assigned to such a weakling, but…" Teo admitted as they stepped off the palace grounds and into the city of Gregminster. "Well, let's get going. Gremio must be worried sick."
'Sometimes it feels as if I've got two fathers, Tir thought ruefully. It was amazing how Gremio acted toward Tir, so protective and sort of motherly. If Teo hadn't told Tir he would have never known that Gremio had served in the Army.
"Ah, home sweet home." Teo said blissfully, startling Tir out of his thoughts. Boots clicked on the polished stone floor and echoed in the small foyer, a door slammed, and then Gremio was dashing toward them from the hallway.
"Welcome home, Young Master. H-h-how did it go? Was everything okay? Were you nervous in front of the Emperor? I was so worried. But I guess everything went fine."
"You shouldn't worry so much Gremio." Teo told the younger man.
Gremio turned startled eyes on the general, "Oh! Master Teo…I didn't notice you at all."
Teo laughed and rubbed the back of head, "Didn't notice me? Good grief. The only one you seem to care about it Tir."
The blonde, scarred man look properly abashed, "Sorry Master Teo." He turned to Tir, "By the way Young Master, Ted is here to congratulate you." A rank, burnt smell wafted into the foyer from the direction of the kitchen. "Oh my god! The stew! The stew!" What was once a delicious culinary creation was probably nothing more then a brown sludge by now, Gremio rushed through the door to the kitchen beyond in a blind panic. What is it with him and cooking? Tir wondered idly.
Teo coughed, "Well Tir, I trust you can take care of things here. I have an, uh, appointment with Sonya. I'll see you later tonight." His father slipped out the door and it closed with a soft click.
Tir smiled slightly, it was funny how his father still got flustered on the subject of Sonya, another one of the Six Great Generals. It wasn't as if Tir didn't know of their relationship, their affair had been going on for a good two years. Besides you can't go wrong with someone who treats you as nicely as Sonya treats me. With a glance around the now empty foyer Tir began heading up to his room just as Ted came bursting through the door.
"I head the news, Tir! You met the Emperor, didn't you? Tell me all about it, please. Let's go up to your room, okay? Tell me all about the Emperor right now!"
Tir laughed and followed his friend up to his corner room on the second floor. He was lucky, his father was a general and a noble, which made Tir a noble, and it also made them wealthy. His father owned a spacious two-story house near the palace, right off the Gregminster proper that held the famous gold water fountain of a woman pouring water into the large pool of clear water. It was said that the figure of the woman was modeled after Claudia, Barbarosa's dead Empress. And while their house wasn't lavish and was decorated simply, it had one of the best views in the city. From Tir's room you could see the fountain, from Gremio's you could see the practically the whole city, and from Teo's room you could see inside the palace grounds. Pahn and Cleo's rooms were on the ground floor so their views weren't as spectacular but they were still nice to behold.
Ted pulled his friend inside the corner room that overlooked the fountain and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Please let me join your entourage. I owe so much to Master Teo, who adopted me when I was an orphan, and I want to return the favor okay?"
Tir stared at his friend in shock; he wants to come with me? "Hmm, I don't know…"
Ted shook him a little, "Please, I want to work for the Imperial Guard too. Oh please…"
Tir suppressed is smile as he replied, "I'm still not so sure..."
Ted began to look a little desperate, "Oh, come on. I thought we were friends."
"…"
Ted blinked and understanding dawned in his eyes, "Hey stop giving me a hard time. You're really going to let me join you right? I know what's on your mind."
"Of course I'll let you come Ted." Tir grinned as Ted clapped his hands together exuberantly.
"Great! I knew you were a good friend! Now for more important matters! What kind of man was the Emperor? And tell me about Windy, the Court Magician. Was she beautiful? Come on, tell me everything!"
Tir sighed and relayed everything that had happened that day and he was glad he noted all the details of the palace because Ted wanted to know everything about the palace and the people there. Including the color of the floor.
After Tir had finished Ted nodded thoughtfully, "I see. I am sure I would like to see Windy in person. Hey Tir I really don't know how to tell you this, but… um… Say Tir there's something I want to tell you. Can you keep a secret? Can you promise not to tell anyone what I'm about to tell you?"
Tir paused at the intense tone of Ted's voice; he sounded older and sort of weary. "Yes--"
"Young Master! Ted! Supper is ready!" Gremio called from the dinning room, which was just across the hall from Tir's room. An odd place for a dining room if you ask me, Tir thought for the billionth time.
Ted scratched the back of head and shook it slowly, " Hey, it's time to eat. Let's go, Tir. We can talk some other time."
"Alright." Tir agreed good-naturedly and the two boys left Tir's room for the dining room; inside the candles were lit to provide illumination in the dying sunlight and the table was set with the 'good china', and a lacy white table cloth was spread across the cherry wood table. The formal setting meant that tomorrow Teo McDohl would leave, not only Teo but Tir as well. The two boys sat in their places, Teo, Gremio, Pahn, and Cleo were already seated and the meal was served.
Teo tapped his spoon against his wine glass, "Are the glasses filled?" Everybody nodded an affirmative. "Attention, everybody. Tomorrow morning, I must travel north. Tir will be responsible for the household in my absence. I'd like you all to give him your support."
The two men and one woman all nodded their heads in agreement. "Gremio."
"Y-y-yes sir?"
"You've taken care of Tir since he was a baby. Thanks to your efforts he's grown into a fine youth. I'm grateful to you."
Gremio ducked his head to hiding the blush staining his cheeks behind the curtain of his blonde hair, "But sir, I…this is my job, an-and besides, serving Young Master is a pleasure for me too."
Teo smiled, his stern face softening, "I'm glad to hear it. I hope you continue to watch over him. Cleo, Pahn, I'm counting on you two as well to help and protect Tir."
Cleo nodded gravely, her headpiece jiggling slightly with the movement, "Yes Master Teo."
"Of course, Sir. Leave it to us." Pahn raised his large fist enthusiastically.
Teo turned to Ted and gazed at the slight boy with dirty blonde hair, "And Ted, I hope you'll always be a good friend to Tir."
"I'd do so even if you said otherwise, Sir. Right Tir?" Ted grinned at Tir who smiled back, nodding his head in agreement.
The general picked up his glass and gazed around the table at his family, "Enough talk. Let's eat before the food gets cold. Let's raise our glasses." He raised his glass high in salute, "To my son. To the empire."
It was the early hours of the morning, pre-dawn to be exact, and the subdued light gave everything it touched an eerie ethereal look, including the face a particular sleeping boy. His trademark green bandana was gone from his head and his face was smoothed out, all expression wiped away by the vestiges of sleep. Two men stood above the small twin sized bed and looked down at Tir McDohl's calm and peaceful face.
"It looks like I won't be seeing your face for a while Tir." The taller of the two men said quietly.
Gremio glanced at his master out of the corner of his eye, "Shall I wake him up?"
Teo shook his head, "No, let him sleep. It's not as if we'll never meet again." He turned away from his son and walked to the door and opened it, "Gremio, you'll take good care of him won't you?"
The other man's eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled, "I will Master Teo."
He nodded and slipped out of the door, Gremio at his heels.
Tir frowned in his sleep and turned, burrowing deeper into his blankets and pillow, attempting to shut out the sound of the door opening and somebody moving about in his room. He knew without of a shadow a doubt that it was Gremio, who at the moment was probably attempting to straighten up his small room.
With a frustrated sigh Tir sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes and climbed out of the warm, comfortable bed. He glared at Gremio's back and watched as the older man straightened.
"Oh, did I wake you up?" The older man questioned worriedly.
Tir glared at Gremio a few seconds longer before he sighed and shook his head.
"Good morning Young Master. Master Teo departed while you were sleeping. You're such a late sleeper. Today you start working as a member of the Imperial forces. We must prepare to visit Commander Kraze." Gremio said cheerfully as he threw open the shutters.
Kraze…Stupid Kraze...stupid, stupid Kraze. Tir grumbled to himself as he brushed his hair into place before tying his bandana back to place. "Uh Gremio?"
"Yes Young Master?"
"I'd like to get dressed…"
Red bled into the man's face, "Oh yes! Of course! Sorry Young Master." He quickly backed out of the room and shut the door behind him.
Tir shook his head before quickly climbing into his yellow pants, boots, and pulling on his white undershirt. He opened the door and stepped out while he was still wrapping his red outer tunic around his torso and belting it. Gremio stood outside and handed Tir his gloves as the two headed down the stairs.
In the foyer stood Pahn and Cleo. Pahn busied himself by leaning against the wall talking to Cleo, "—so the next time we have a day off…Hey, here he comes. You're late, Young Master and it's only your first day on the job. I'm so excited! Whether it's battling bandits on Mt. Seifu or monsters on Lake Toran, Pahn here's your man."
"Calm down, will you? All you ever think about is fighting. Our job is to protect the Young Master." Cleo said irritably.
"I know, I know. Now let's be on our way to the palace."
Where's Ted? Tir wondered as he opened the front door.
"Hey wait for me Tir!" A voice called from the stairs. Ted came tearing down the stairs as if the very hounds of hell were on his heels. He stopped before Tir, panting and trying to catch his breath, "How can you leave me behind? You know you'll be lonely without me, right Tir?"
The party of four left the mansion and headed toward the palace, weaving through the cobblestone streets of Gregminster until they came to the great iron-wrote gates of Emperor's palace.
"Here we are Young Master." Gremio smiled back at his charge, "Aren't you excited?"
Tir grumbled a reply but it was Ted who actually answered for the grumpy young man, "Tir's to tired to be excited. It's still to early for him."
Gremio laughed briefly as they continued on into the palace and up the stairs to the first floor. A half a minute later they found themselves at Kraze's office and they all filed inside to stand in the small, cramped room.
"Heh. So it's Teo's boy? You're late!" Kraze snarled at them before he even looked up from the papers strewn about his desk. "You can't be pampered all your life, you know. Now for your first assignment, listen carefully, because I'll only tell you once. Northwest of Gregminster lies the Magician's Island, Leknaat the Seer lives there. She has been commissioned to look into the stars. Go there and bring me her results. Are you listening? Tell me where Magician's Island is."
Tir had been glaring at his 'Commander' from under his bangs but abruptly dropped the glare and gave Kraze a brilliant, charming smile, "I'm sorry, I don't understand. Will you please repeat your instructions? It would help if you properly articulate your words this time around." He watched as Kraze's face flushed than took on a brilliant scarlet hue.
"Don't think you can treat me like a fool just because you're the son of a great general!" The greasy man spat viciously.
"It's somewhere northeast of Gregminster is it not?" Gremio cut in with a smile, attempting to ease the tension between his young master and his commander.
"Heh. At least you can understand what I'm saying." Kraze swung his attention to Gremio who raised his eyebrows mildly and made a noncommittal noise at the back of throat. Kraze spat onto to dull floor, "Here are the rest of your instructions. There is no boat to Magician's Island, but I've arranged for a Dragon Knight from the Knight's of the Dragon's Den to take you there. You'll find him in front of the Royal Menagerie. The dragon will transport you to the island. By the way, Leknaat the Seer is the younger sister of Court Magician Windy, so you'd better behave yourself."
What does he think we're going to do? Molest her? Tir thought angrily as they stepped back into the hallway and proceeded back outside into the palace proper. It'd be smarter for people to worry about him rather than us.
Pahn stopped and slapped his fist into his open palm, "Jeez, I was looking forward to your first job, and it turns out to be an errand. As if we were kids. I was hoping for something really exciting…"
"Take it easy Pahn. Besides, the astrological results are very important for the Empire. It's not such a bad assignment." Cleo said soothingly.
Gremio smiled as if he were glad it was such a trivial assignment. "You're right. And this job won't be so dangerous…Oh, I don't mean to imply you're not reliable Young Master, but…"
Tir shook his head and waved his hand, "Don't worr--"
"Hey Tir, we get to ride a dragon and meet a real Dragon Knight! Dragon Knights are really cool, so come on, let's get going!" Ted babbled as he grabbed Tir's arm and dragged him off to the left, toward the menagerie. Standing in the large open space was a black dragon whose scales glistened in the morning sun and a young boy around fourteen with short brown hair that fell over his winged circlet and onto his forehead. By his dress the group guessed he was a low ranking Dragon Knight, he wore only simple black pants that reached to mid calves and a dark purple shirt.
The boy turned and spotted the group five, "Are you the Imperial Guard? I'm Futch, apprentice Dragon Knight, this is my dragon Black. Hey Black, introduce yourself."
The huge dragon reared on his hind legs, stretching his wings and neck out and made a trumpeting noise not unlike that elephant would make.
Futch patted Black's shoulder affectionately, "Isn't he cute? So you'll be going to Magician's Island. Black will take you there in no time."
Ted stared at Futch with oblivious doubt, "You're a Dragon Knight? You're just a punk."
The younger boy flushed with anger, "What did you say? You're just a punk yourself!"
"I'm a punk? I happen to be three hundred years--"
Gremio grabbed Ted by the back of his shirt as he sprang toward Futch angrily. "All right, that's enough. Let's be on our way."
"Let go of me Gremio! He called me a punk!" Ted cried as he struggled wildly in the blonde man's gripe.
Cleo rubbed the bridge of her nose warily, "Oh boy, this is going to be some trip."
Pahn sighed and grabbed Ted's arm and forced it back down to his side, "Take it easy Ted. Futch let's get going."
"Okay, okay. Everyone climb onboard the basket on Black's back." Futch replied, turning his back on Ted, making the older boy all the more furious.
It was no easy feat getting five people into the small basket on the dragon's back but after they had all wedged themselves in Futch looked back at the them from his saddle, flashed them a grin and gave a thumbs up. "Are you ready? Hold on tight, or you'll fall off." He glanced at Ted pointedly, "Not that I'd mind if one of you did fall off."
"Hey!" Ted cried indignantly as he struggled to reach the young Dragon Knight in an attempt to wrap his hands around his skinny little neck.
"Watch it! Quit fighting in the basket!" Cleo reprimanded him sharply.
Ted 'humped' and turned his head toward Tir and muttered, "Big calved idiot…"
His friend chuckled and shook his head. "Be nice." He murmured back to him.
Futch gave his dragon a slap on the neck and pumped his fist in the air, "Okay Black, let's go!"
With those simple the words Black threw himself into the air and they were gone, disappearing into the pale blue morning sky. They were off to Magician's Island to see the Seer Leknaat, sister to the Lady Windy.
A/N: Slightly revised on June 1, 2005.