Coronation of the Lapurisian Diarchs

A ceremony following the death of previous sovereigns in which the inheritors of the thrones are officially sealed to the Lapurisian Crowns and recognised by the Divine Sensorium within the Temple of the Strands. The ceremony has legal implications, such as granting the Diarchs the ability to declare war or claim new territory.

A new set of Diarchs cannot be sealed to the crowns whilst a Diarch of the previous seal lives. The Lapurisian Empire has experience periods of de facto monarchy, the most recent being the rule of Queen Phelorma 542 IE - 594IE following the death of her husband, King Averion in 585 IE. After a 3-month mourning period for the last sealed diarch the coronation occurs.

The Core elements of the ceremony have remained unchanged for millennia taking place within the Temple of Strands on the central planet of Wasiro and its significance is deeply ingrained in Lapurisian culture as it grants an intergalactic holiday.


During the ceremony the Diarchs are presented to the Divine Sensorium and shrouded in Bects to symbolise their legitimacy in the eyes of the Gods. The blessed Diarchs then swear an oath committing to The Divine Mission of Unity and to upholding the laws of the Imperial Parliament, vowing to defend the cultures of all within their Empire and ensure the Tenets of Welfare are maintained by the Lapurisian State.

History

Originating from ancient Centriscian crowning rites which utilised Bects to verify a ruler’s legitimacy, the sealing was first documented in the Book of the Bounds during the crowning of Queen Izip over 7000 years ago.

Queen Izip by Wombo AI & Melody Relody

As the Lapurisian Empire grew, the ceremony evolved to include an oath of cultural preservation and a more extensive guest list including representatives from every planet and parliamentary leaders from each Solar Set.
The great King Kalistos made the most significant changes, such as televising his coronation and including students from the Royal Lapurisian Academy of Higher Arts (RLAHA) and members of the First Royal Batallion. Despite the changes, Theoyspurian doctrine remains at the core with the Divine Sensorium playing a crucial role in confirming the new diarchs legitimacy.

Service

Procession

Marching from the Royal Wasirian Palace to the Temple of Strands, the procession consists of the Royal Party, the First Battalion and representatives from each Solar Set.

Royals and Representatives are transported in custom hovercarts decorated with flowers, flags and regalia from various regions of Lapurisia. Throughout the march the coronation choir - consisting of students from RLAHA and specially selected Theoyspurian acolytes - sing traditional songs of the Empire, they are joined by the crowds of the city and those watching the live coverage across Lapurisia.

Once inside the Temple, the procession descends down into the Atrium of Lapiros 3km below the city. Inside the grand crystallised cavern guests are seated in pews facing the ‘Divine Sensorium’, a garden enclosed in a small glass room within which Bects of the Temple reside.

Divine Sensorium by Melody Relody & Wombo AI

Divine Sensorium

The new Diarchs are presented in white robes, the fabric covering their arms and legs completely before they are smeared by temple clerics with a concoction of Wasirian Sugar Crystals and gemstone flakes suspended in a viscous healing oil. The pair are then sent into the Sensorium and flocked by the Bects of the Temple
As Bects are believed to be vehicles for the senses of the Gods, their flocking onto the Diarchs is seen as a blessing imbuing the rulers with a divine legitimacy to rule. A successful flocking is described as one with no Bect stings and great difficulty removing the flock. Outside the Sensorium, the festivities continue as the choir leads the Empire in a song of prayer. In the Atrium and throughout the screens across Lapurisia humanity unites.
With much skill, the clerics remove the flock and any oil off the Diarchs as they are helped into the ceremonial garments. These garments are a custom-made blend of fibres from across the Empire. Although each diarch may have a different style, dark fabric is always woven with golden threads depicting all the stars in the Empire glistening throughout the piece.
During the robing, the Bishop of the Strands reads aloud the contract between the Diarchs and the Citizens of Lapurisia. The Diarchs come forward and sign the contract which will be later displayed in the Temple for all visitors to see.

Oaths of Convergence

Reciting an Oath of Allegiance to the Divine Goal, the Diarch descended from the Ipenseer line embraces the doctrine of Theoyspurianism and the belief in the reunification of humanity. The Crown of Convergence is placed upon their head and the 13 Presidents of the Galaxies of Lapurisia swear an oath to defend and uphold the new ruler in their Divine Goal.
In law, this means that if the Crown of Convergence issues a Royal Decree and can argue its necessity for the Divine Goal it must be carried out across the galaxies of Lapurisia.

Oath of Citizens

Also reciting an Oath of Allegiance this Diarch swears to protect the citizens and cultures of Lapurisia. The Crown of Citizens often acts as a counterbalance to the Crown of Convergence and should be heeded by all in matters of state. The Crown of Citizens is placed on the Diarchs head and the 13 presidents of the Galaxies of Lapirisia swear an oath to defend and uphold the new Diarch in any Decrees relating to the welfare of their citizens.
In law, this means that the Crown of Citizens may veto any Decrees made by the other Diarch.

Oaths of the People

Following the presidents, the Ipenseer heirs and any descendants of the Crown of Citizens pledge to the new Diarchs as their rulers. Following this, the Commander in Chief of the Lapurisian Military and a representative of the Royal Academies swear fealty on behalf of the military and of the students of Lapurisia.
Throughout the Empire, many watch in large gatherings hosted in temples and schools where similar Oaths are made by community leaders. The coronation day is one of the few times the Empire takes a holiday together with only essential services running.

Coronation Ball

The Procession then begins its ascent up to the Royal Wasirian Palace waving to the crowds lining the city streets as the new Diarchs make their way to the Throne Room. Once seated each Diarch addresses the Empire, their speeches often reiterate their Oaths as well as their intentions for their reigns.
After the speeches, the coronation officially ends, however, many stay tuned into their screens to watch the coronation ball which occurs in the Throne Room that evening. The main procession and specially selected guests from the coronation ceremony are invited and across the Empire, many host Balls of their own to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in Lapurisian history.

The Crown of Convergence

The Crown of Convergence is a hereditary seat passed down the royal family through a system of primogeniture, wherein the eldest child of the sovereign shall always succeed the throne regardless of gender. We are currently in the Ipenseer Era, named for the current royal family founded by King Kalistos after the Great Praxian War nearly 600 years ago.

The Crown of Convergence is often viewed as the more “legitimate” diarch, due to its function within the divine mission and its ancient heritage tracing back to the days of monarchy within the Ancient Centrisician Solar Set.

The Crown of Citizens

Whilst it is not written into law that the Diarchs must be married it is often the case. Regardless of marital status, the Crown of Citizens is passed between the Noble Lapirotic Houses of the Centriscus galaxy in a de facto agreement between the Houses to cycle its possession.

As such, many Houses have sought to arrange marriages with the Ipenseer's in order to gain possession. In the past century, sentiments of public outrage around the positioning of the Crown of Citizens have been aired with some arguing that the Crown of Citizens should be open to all Lapurisian’s of Noble standing not just those descending from the Lapirotic Houses.

What is a Bect?

A Bect is a category of living organisms believed to channel the senses of the Gods. Whilst Bects come in many different sub-species from Terraformites to Hoverects the Bects found in the Temples of Theoyspurianism resemble the appearance of small beetles and come in a variety of colours. They are simply referred to as Bects with no subspecies title. All Temples of Theoyspuriainism have at least one Bect and some individuals even own their own Bect terrarium within their prayer altars at home.

Bects are portrayed as channelling the senses of the Gods, anything they see, hear, smell, taste and touch is transmitted back to the Gods as a window to check in on their creation. In addition, Bects are heavily connotated with ideas of omens and guidance due to their role in historical accounts.