The Serpent Empress
The mysterious Venshen peoples of Lu Ven were led to their new homeland by a powerful empress. This woman was said to be calm, collected, and an incredibly powerful sorceress. While her exact resting place is unknown, there is a stone obelisk which acts as a grave marker for her on the south shore of Empress Lake.
Summary
Hundreds of years ago, the Venshen came from the sea to settle Lu Ven. Their original homeland is now long forgotten and lost to history, but their empress led the settlers into prosperity for almost 50 years.
Upon her death, the entirety of the Venshen peoples mourned her loss, and a massive standing stone obelisk was erected on the shore of a crystal clear lake. From that day forward, this place was known as Empress lake, and while it is not confirmed, many believe the empress' tomb is somewhere beneath the obelisk or possibly even the lake itself.
Upon her death, the entirety of the Venshen peoples mourned her loss, and a massive standing stone obelisk was erected on the shore of a crystal clear lake. From that day forward, this place was known as Empress lake, and while it is not confirmed, many believe the empress' tomb is somewhere beneath the obelisk or possibly even the lake itself.
Historical Basis
The people of Lu Ven, specifically the Ven Regality, hold their near mythological past in utmost regard. They see themselves as a people who have lost the glory of their heroic and magical beginning and seek to reclaim their historical glory. Despite this, they hold a powerful and nearly in-congruent belief that their culture remains better than all others; seeing themselves as the dominant peoples of Hijr.
Spread
The story of the Empress Lake, and the ancient empress supposedly buried there is known to almost everyone living on Lu Ven, even within the nations neighboring the Ven Regality.
However, outside of this continent, the tale is not wide spread and barely spoken of.
However, outside of this continent, the tale is not wide spread and barely spoken of.
Variations & Mutation
In one version of this tale, a version not appreciated by the noble families of the Ven Regality, the Empress was actually a snake-woman hybrid, a monster that her peoples killed and sealed away beneath the obelisk on the lake shore.
In another version, the Empress was a practitioner of dark magics, and claimed to speak on behalf of an evil snake spirit. This version of the tale, like the one before it, is not recieved kindly in the Ven Regality.
Anyone caught speaking such "Inglorious and slanderous" versions of the tale within the Ven regality will likely face legal ramifications.
In another version, the Empress was a practitioner of dark magics, and claimed to speak on behalf of an evil snake spirit. This version of the tale, like the one before it, is not recieved kindly in the Ven Regality.
Anyone caught speaking such "Inglorious and slanderous" versions of the tale within the Ven regality will likely face legal ramifications.
In Literature
There are many written works in Lu Ven that at least mention the Empress, though they tend to be vague historical references, as she died long before the current cultures of Lu Ven had evolved into their current states.
In Art
Frescoes, mosaics, and carvings of the Empress are widespread in the Ven Regality. She, along with wine and serpents seem to be the main cultural touchstones shared with the people of Lu Ven.
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