Eight Hands of the Empress

To become the Nine Skies empress, a tsukaite must either defeat the previous monarch in a duel or prove herself worthier than her. Empresses in fear persecuted tsukaites, killing every in sight. Bloodshed lasted for centuries until Empress Keiko’s ascension. She viewed the old system as archaic and wasteful. Keiko granted each newborn tsukaite a high nobility status, education and various positions. The eight exceptional and most trusted tsukaites become the Eight Hands of the Empress. Each Hand governs their respective Sky and those below it, while only Keiko controls the Ninth Sky.

It should be noted that higher Hands don’t directly command the lower ones. E.g. The Second and First Hands have equal influence over the First Sky and Land. A Hand can’t change her number. If the Hand dies or steps down, a new tsukaite is appointed.

No Nine Skies Bahhraym can dye hair black without Empress Keiko’s permission. The black colour symbolises Keiko claiming the throne by defeating Black Grdzneuli Rabizu. Only the Empress and her sister dye their hair completely black, while the Hands stain one-eighth. The First Hand colours the tips of her hair. As the number goes up, the black dye gets closer to the roots.

Current Eight Hands of the Empress

The First Hand – Akkara

Age – 162 years

She ensures that hunted and harvested goods from the Land reach the Skies. Akkara also patrols the borders and frequently fights the invaders. Her face is disfigured after confronting the Northern Dividing Archipelago's commander-in-chief Mir’Hyun.

The Second Hand – Tsuna

Age – 206 years

Tsuna is responsible for recruiting tsukaites born in the lower Skies. She also monitors sheep farming, high-quality wool production and export to the Flying Islands or other kingdoms. Tsuna watches over the most prominent archery academy and personally trains recruits.

The Third Hand – Maki

Age – 303 years

Maki shares most responsibilities with Tsuna. She looks after the largest medical academy in the Nine Skies and keeps connections with flying islands to acquire new scientific findings from all over Ayonerra.

The Fourth Hand – Tulao

Age – 82 years

Tulao examines every tsukaite who graduated from the academy. After additional training, she weighs their knowledge, skills, talents, strengths and interests to determine their future positions.

The Fifth Hand – Aimi

Age – 27 years

Aimi earned her title by being a swordsmanship prodigy. She goes toe to toe with Keiko herself. Aimi governs the Fifth Sky Academy and trains tsukaites in physical combat and sword fighting without magic.

The Sixth Hand – Ru

Age – 120 years

Ru takes care of the empire’s finances and ensures that all the goods from lower Skies and the Land are efficiently distributed. Even after sustaining heavy injuries from her fight with Sugiramun, Ru continues serving Keiko as diligently as before.

The Seventh Hand – Karui

Age – 235 years

Karui cares for Nine Skies’ cultural heritage. Especially surviving works of art, music, history, folklore, traditions and language after bahhrayms emigrated from Amaarion.

The Eighth Hand – Suzume

Age – 191 years

Suzume monitors the Tsukaite Academy, ensuring students are given the necessary education. She governs observatories filled with impressive telescopes and takes note of every new star. The Eighth Sky has the most thorough star maps available on Ayonerra, detailing each known star’s location and the magic they grant.