The cover of The Capital Ablaze, depicting Arslan on his steed.
The Capital Ablaze (王都炎上 Ōto Enjō? ) is the first of sixteen volumes in The Heroic Legend of Arslan. It is followed by The Two Princes. The Capital Ablaze was released on 13 August 1986 in Japan.
Synopsis[]
It is the year 320 of the Parsian Era, and Arslan, the Crown Prince of Pars, has his maiden battle on the Fields of Atropatene at the age of 14; a battle fought between the Kingdom of Pars and the Empire of Lusitania. This battle, however, turns into a disaster for the Parsians, due to Marzbān Kharlan's betrayal and Lusitania's guest general Silvermask's tactics. Arslan's father King Andragoras III is captured, Ērān Vahriz is killed and many other generals lose their lives. Arslan flees with Marzbān Daryun to Mount Bashur, where a trusted and wise friend of Daryun and his page boy reside; Narsus and Elam. By promising to grant Narsus the position of Court Painter when Arslan becomes King of Pars, Arslan convinces Narsus to join him and Daryun in fighting back against Lusitania. Meanwhile, Ecbatana, the Royal Capital of Pars, is being besieged by Grand Inquisitor and Archpriest Bodin. To end Marzbān Shapur's suffering at the hands of Bodin, a mysterious archer shoots an arrow into his head from the city's walls. This archer is later revealed to be Gieve, a travelling musician. After receiving a reward for this act, he is tasked with leading the Queen to safety. However, during their journey through the underground waterways, Gieve discovers that he is actually escorting a substitute for the Queen, and the girl runs off on her own, encountering Silvermask and Kharlan, who kill her. Chasing after her, Gieve runs into Silvermask's troops and kills the soldiers, and then decides to stick around to steal some treasures from the palace before he goes. When the fire within the palace starts, Marzbān Sām engages Kharlan in a swordfight, but Silvermask cuts it short and pierces him from the back to the chest with a spear. Ecbatana is taken, and Emperor Innocentis VII refuses to execute Tahamine, determined to marry her. Gieve flees the city, encountering Farangis, a priestess, and, being enamoured by her beauty, follows her to Arslan, whose Camp they join, when Arslan's Camp finds Kharlan and his troops' burning villages. In an act of trickery, the soldiers flee and Kharlan is left alone. Daryun rushes to fight him and eventually kills him. While dying, Kharlan reveals that Andragoras and Tahamine still live. Narsus and Daryun then decide to slip into Ecbatana, where they encounter Silvermask, whom they fight and overpower. Silvermask, then, goes to Andragoras' cel and reveals his true identity; his being Hilmes, Osroes V's son and Andragoras' nephew, who was thought to be dead for sixteen years.
Chapters[]
- I - The Battle of Atropatene - Arslan experiences his maiden battle, which is fought between the Kingdom of Pars and the Empire of Lusitania. The battle is lost due to Kharlan's betrayal and Silvermask's tactics, and King Andragoras III is captured.
- II - Mount Bashur - Arslan and Daryun arrive at Mount Bashur, where Daryun's friend Narsus and his page boy Elam reside. Arslan gains Narsus' trust and recruits him to their party. Together they flee to a safe spot, after Kharlan's men break into Narsus' residence.
- III - The Capital Ablaze - Ecbatana is being besieged by Lusitanian forces. Gieve fires an arrow from the walls to end Shapur's suffering. In the underground waterways, Gieve encounters Silvermask's troops, which he kills and he goes back to the palace to steal some treasures. When the fire within the palace starts, Sām is angered by Kharlan's betrayal and decides to fight him, after which Silvermask pierces him with a spear.
- IV - Beasts and Beauties - In the aftermath of the siege, Emperor Innocentis is determined to marry Tahamine. Arslan decides to stop Kharlan from burning Parsian villages, during which Gieve and Farangis join Arslan's Camp and aid them. Kharlan is eventually killed by Daryun.
- V - Successor to the Throne - Narsus and Daryun slip into Ecbatana, encounter Silvermask, and fight and overpower him. Silvermask, then, goes to Andragoras' cel and reveals his true identity; his being Hilmes, Osroes V's son and Andragoras' nephew, who was thought to be dead for sixteen years.