The Giving of the Throne

The Giving of the Throne is a unique Setican ritual that occurs at the end of a ruler's reign and the transition of power becomes necessary. Unlike in the Old World, where the hereditary transition comes at the time of death of their rulers, Setican rulers do not spend their lives as Emperors but choose when they end their reign.The start of ritual begins when the Setican Emperor decides that he/she feels they can no longer serve the Setican people in good faith and their time has come. They begin by informing their advisors and consorts of their plan, normally done a year in advance to ensure that plenty of time is given. This is also done in the case that the Emperor feels he may not live long enough to ensure his activity in the transition.After this, regional Lord Magistrates arrive at the capital, sometimes in secret or sometimes blatantly depending on if the Emperor has made the decision publicly. When gathered, the Emperor and the Lord Magistrates begin the lengthy process of going through legal procedures such as Will & Testament, certain operations and building projects they want after they are gone, rules and regulations on how they wish to be buried, etc. After this, the Lord Magistrates begin to gather his chosen heirs and will complete a whole interview process to see how great a ruler the next person will be. Finally, the Magistrates gather one last time to vote on the heir. Once this process is done, advisors and public figures begin to prepare the heir for his role as emperor, going through rules and law, as well as training them in etiquette and good manners. They teach them global events and current conflicts. During this time, the Emperor is setting his final laws, policies, and more to ensure that he gets as much as he can completed. Finally, a date is set.If the announcement has not been made yet, it is officially made here and the people of Setica begin to make their own preparations. Unlike in the Old World, where the transition of power is seen as a morbid and deathly affair, the transition or "Giving of the Throne" is a spectacule of brightly colored banners and parades. Shopkeeps set up stalls to sell figurines and such of the emperor or heir. People wear golden armbands and some even dye their hair blonde to celebrate.The ceremony is held, not at Stormbridge Castle, but in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Freedom, where all the people surround to watch. The ceremony is short, with the Emperor embuing the heir with the wisdom and insight of their reign as well as informing them of what they expect, the standard they have set, and the force they will be leading. Once the previous emperor finishes, he will speak the Great Oath of Setica while adorning the heir with a crown, then the Titan Star, and then granting them a scepter before kneeling before the now emperor. The former emperor can now fill a number of roles, from advisor, to public figure, to [the most common one] settling out in the countryside to be away from everything and live the rest of their lives in peace.