The Funeral of Ryuk Jackson

Ky-Truv's footsteps echoed heavily throughout the torch-lit halls of the Towers of Conquest. Upon reaching the entrance to the throne room, two Zo's Guard who clutched jagged ebony spears greeted him with stoic silence. The left, a Hobgoblin, opened his mouth to speak, likely to ask for the young Ky Master's credentials, but the right, a Lizardfolk, interrupted his peer with the slam of the butt of his spear against the stone floor. The command's echo dissipated and the thick wooden door to the throne room opened, revealing the inside. Ky-Truv was greeted with only looks at first; wide eyes from members of the Zo's court, their conversations dimmed to silence as the only sounds that survived Truv's entrance were those of his own feet crossing the distance between him and his superior.
Zo-Uul sat with no crown, but he always sat in his animated throne at the head of his table. The Zo sat in Golden Armor with White and Black robes that matched his wild black hair; limited strands of grey foreshadowing his age to come. The Zo's eyes rose from Grandmaster Ky-Lee who sat to his right, to the young robed Hobgoblin who made way towards him. A flicker of joy danced in the king's eyes.
Ky-Truv passed by Ga Generals, Xi Operatives, Trell Admirals, Ky Officers, and Vo Priests who all slightly bowed in reverence to the young Master until he reached his destination to the left of the Zo. Zo-Uul and Grandmaster Ky-Lee stood. Ky-Lee extended his hand to Ky-Truv and the two grabbed each other's forearms in greeting. They nodded at each other and let go, then Ky-Truv bowed to his king. Zo-Uul rejected the bow and extended his forearm to Ky-Truv who obliged. Foregoing tradition, Zo-Uul pulled Ky-Truv in and embraced his son for a moment.
When they parted, no words were exchanged between the two, all tenderness and joy in the reunion between father and son melted away as the subject at hand was all that remained. Ky-Truv reached in his cloak and produced the only keepsake he had from his mission to the Principality of Roses: a crown of sterling silver, the metal tarnished by the heat of flames.
Grandmaster Ky-Lee clenched his jaw, Uul stared at the crown for a moment, then exhaled. It felt as if he had held the breath for years.
Uul paused for a moment, then took the crown from Ky-Truv's hands, his eyes focusing to his court who watched intently. Some Trell and Ga nodded in reverence and poorly hidden elation. Uul knew they wouldn't understand. In all ways for the Hobgoblin Empire, this would be considered a victory. A Rose Prince had died.

Grandmaster Ky-Lee put a hand on Uul's shoulder, breaking his disturbed concentration. Uul met eyes with his partner, nodded in thanks, bowed to his constituents, and took his leave through the door behind him.
The warm mid-summer air of Gr-Molok hung thick and still as Uul walked out to a balcony and observed the view of thousands of twinkling torch lights that lit the homes of his capital city. He often thought about the past, but Uul knew that here, under his rule, the future is all that mattered. With Ryuk Jackson dead, war would be coming to Nirvania and Bayez now had all the reason in the world to return to lead his southern troops against the Hobgoblin Empire. This struck fear into Uul's heart, but the future was his to command, as it always was.

Uul raised the crown up and gazed at it, the moonlight glinted ever so slightly off the tarnished silver. Suddenly, a rare gust of wind passed by, lifting Uul's robes. Uul smiled, just faintly and softly said: