Suikoden VII

Chapter One: Part One

This is up late because I had to rewrite this chapter. 😭

As a reminder, both the Chizou Star and theatre polls will be closing this Saturday, 9/7, at 9:00 PM GMT. The results of both polls will be posted at the beginning of the next chapter, which should be posted on 9/8. If you cannot vote in the polls then feel free to vote in a comment and I will count it towards the final total. In the event of a tie I will utilize a randomizer to determine the winner. These are the polls:

Would you like to have plays in this story?

- Yes, with Nadir as the Star

- Yes, with Nāṭaka as the Star

- Yes, with the third member of the troupe as the Star

- Yes, with someone unrelated to the troupe as the Star

- No plays

—

Who would you like number 93, the Chizou Star (Cook) to be in this fanfic? (can make up to 3 selections)

- Lester (Suikoden I/II)

- Hai Yo (Suikoden II)

- Retso (Suikoden II/V)

- Mamie (Suikoden III)

- Yasaka (Suikoden VI)

- Yu Kum (Suikoden II)

- Goetsu (Suikoden II)

- Shiki (Suikoden II)

- Ryuki (Suikoden II)

- Bashok (Suikoden II)

- Ryuko (Suikoden II)

- Antonio (Suikoden I/II)

- Gyokuran (Suikoden II)

- Jinkai (Suikoden II)

- New Character

—

Chapter One: Part One

In Blutkrieger, the capital of Zelant, sits the fortress castle of Eisenblütig. The Reiser Family has ruled from Eisenblütig for generations on a steep hilltop overlooking a fortified city of three hundred thousand. Only a single narrow road led up to Eisenblütig. With 500 rooms on seven stories, it was one of the most fortified castles in the entire known world.

Beneath the confines of Eisenblütig is a dark and wet chamber known only as the Crypt. Dimly lit and musty, within the Crypt the Reiser Family has kept one of their most prized keepsakes; a snow-white sacrosuchus called Bhayankar. A fearsome creature known to be 10 meters long with a massive jaw and sharp teeth, it is not known how long the royal family has had Bhayankar. What is known is that he is fierce, and can eat a person with a single bite. Bhayankar is feared throughout all of Zelant, for it is believed that those who cross the Reiser Family have been fed to Bhayankar.

But there is also a tradition within the royal family. When a recognized heir is set to start their mandatory military service at thirteen, they are sent to the Crypt to face Bhayankar down. They must spend a minimum of ten minutes sharing a room with the fearsome sacrosuchus. It is felt that if an heir feels themselves worthy of leading Zelant, then being in Bhayankar's presence should not frighten them. After all, Bhayankar will be their biggest asset as either King or Queen.

King Franz stayed down in the Crypt for three hours with Bhayankar. It was the longest that any Reiser royal had ever been in the Crypt, and his achievement was celebrated throughout Zelant and even across the Western Continent. To spend ten minutes with Bhayankar was already harrowing, but three hours was unprecedented. It was believed this record would never be broken.