Bronze Palace
| Bronze Palace | |
|---|---|
| Usage | Palace |
| City | Azimir |
| Nation | Azir |
| World | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
The Bronze Palace is the seat of the government of Azir and the home of the Azish emperor, the Prime Aqasix.[1]
Location and Appearance[edit]
The Bronze Palace is located in Azimir, the capital of Azir. It lies a short distance away from the Grand Market in the city centre.[2]
The name is derived from the palace's distinctive appearance: everything within, from the plants and rocks to the buildings themselves, has been Soulcast into bronze.[1] This even includes trees, which serve a purely decorative purpose.[3]
A tall wall encircles the whole palace complex. Within, the Bronze Palace is comprised of a series of rounded, bulbous-looking buildings reminescent of giant rockbuds, coated in metal leaf.[2] Many of the buildings are topped by spires and have numerous windows on their upper floors. The main structure is the largest building in the palace and contains, among others, the viziers' chambers, the kitchens, and the Prime's living quarters.[1]
The areas between the buildings are flat, with roads wide enough for carriages to ride through. There are several different gardens there, including one of Soulcast plants and a sculpture garden. The latter serves as a meeting place for important officials to discuss state matters. Those officials, as well as visiting diplomats, travel between the various buildings by chull-pulled rickshaws.[1][2]
Within the main structure, illumination is provided by gemstone-filled metal lamps and chandeliers. The chambers of the palace are decorated in traditional Azish style, with rugs adorned with large patterns covering every surface. The corridors between them are wide and more than fifteen feet tall, with paintings hanging on the walls and blue and red carpets lying on the floors. In contrast, the passage leading directly to the Prime's bedroom is quite narrow, to prevent anyone sneaking by. However, there are small ornamental ledges near the ceiling, although they are too narrow to walk on without assistance. The corridors used by the servants are hidden from the palace's representative sections by false walls.[1]
A small, narrow outbuilding is located near the entrance to the central structure, containing a long table and a number of couches, which are decorated in patterns of orange and red. It serves as a waiting area for petitioners who are not allowed to meet with the Prime directly.[2]
History[edit]
The date of the Bronze Palace's construction is unknown. At some point, perhaps during its creation, the palace was Soulcast into bronze, as proof of Azir's wealth and prosperity.[2]
During the year 1173, the Palace saw numerous Primes assassinated on its grounds by the Assassin in White. It was during that time that Lift, Gawx and the rest of Huqin's crew attempted to rob the palace, leading to Gawx becoming the new Prime Aqasix after being killed by Nale and subsequently healed by Lift.[1]
Folllowing the arrival of the Everstorm, Dalinar Kholin visited the Bronze Palace to negotiate with Azir's leadership over whether or not the country would join the alliance with Urithiru. Though he was not allowed to meet with the Prime, the essays he brought with him were sufficient to convince the viziers.[2]