Coronation of the High Empress

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The Coronation of the High Empress is an initiation ceremony in which the current Empress is officially given the title and responsibilities of the new High Empress, replacing their predecessor.   The ceremony can also serve as the abdication of the previous High Empress, in which she officially renounces her title, granting it to her daughter in the same act.   In the event that the previous High Empress has passed, the new High Empress is considered to have begun their duties upon the passing, with their reign beginning at the same time. The coronation ceremony will usually take place once the period of mourning has passed, leaving potentially several weeks where there is no officially titled High Empress.   Since its inception, the ceremony has changed very little throughout history, only having minor adjustments to account for changes in governmental structure or relocation to new facilities.    

History

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Participants

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Many of the participants take a passive role, observing the ceremony and engaging only at the very beginning and very end. These passive participants are seated for the ceremony, starting from the seats closest to the podium and filling towards the back, based on priority.

Royal Family

The current High Empress, should she be alive, performs the coronation of her heir herself. In the event of her having passed, the head of the Royal Advisory Division will take her place, unless she had previously nominated someone else to fulfil the role. In this scenario, the body of the previous High Empress is present in order to complete parts of the ceremony.   Other members of the Siathan Royal Family are expected to be present, occupying the closest seats to the podium.

Division Representatives

Members from each Division of the government occupy the next seats, representing the branches of government that make up the Siathan Court. Traditionally, each one had an assigned seat equating to its importance, although this has been discarded recently as to place all of the Divisions on the same 'level' of importance.

Territory Representatives

Accounting for the vast majority of those in attendance, representatives of each territory under the Siathan Court's control are placed in the next seats, filling out towards the back of the building. A territory is generally considered any location large enough to have a Department under the Local Administration Division, requiring every city and the majority of settled planets to send a representative.

General Public

Seats that are still vacant after all the required individuals are provided for are then opened to the general public, with several of them chosen directly by the Royal Family, if desired. The rest are then allocated by chance, with all citizens of the Court eligible to be chosen. Chosen citizens have a limited window to reply, with their invitation being rescinded and given to someone else should they not wish to attend or otherwise fail to reply within time.   Transport, accommodation and living expenses are all covered by the Court for chosen citizens for the duration of the coronation's full celebrations, allowing them to be present regardless of their distance from Esian or their own financial status. Families are allowed to be brought with but may not attend the coronation unless they were also invited.

Service

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  The current High Empress or her representative takes to the lectern, reading from the Governing Authority of the Siathan Court, specifically the first two paragraphs of section three, outlining the role of High Empress, her authority and her obligations, as well as the requirements for inheriting the throne.   The names of all previous High Empresses are since read out, omitting their last name.       It is at this point that the new High Empress officially takes on the title and the previous one has abdicated the throne.   The previous Royal Guard are relieved of service, thus ending their watch over the previous High Empress, their roles now fulfilled by the Royal Guard of the new High Empress.  

Feast

Following the conclusion of the coronation, a feast in the style of a traditional Hunt Feast is held, allowing all attendees to dine until they are fully satisfied. Blades and scabbards are provided to each attendee for use in carving their own portions off the larger dishes, the scabbard sterilizing the blade between each use. Smaller dishes are picked individually. Drinks are poured by the attendees themselves directly from large containers such as barrels and kegs.   Tables for both sitting and standing are provided and drinks are