Alakâmkút

The Alakâmkút, or Kin-slaying, was an old Tuuquan tradition that determined the successor of a dead emperor. Upon the death of the emperor, each of his sons, the imperial princes, would fight to the death. The last man standing was then crowned the new emperor. The Alakâmkút was a very popular tradition, in keeping with the militant and ruthless image of the Tuuquan emperors.

Traditions
Each of the emperor's sons would be educated in preparation for the Alakâmkút from childhood. This included stringent training in many forms of combat. Sons who did not want to participate in the Alakâmkút, or those with physical disabilities that prevented them from participating, were sent away in disgrace and officially disinherited. Emotional reservations about the practice were uncommon as the imperial princes were accustomed to the concept at an early age.

Upon the death of the emperor, each of his sons would be summoned by a herald and brought to the capital of the empire. There they would stay for a week and train for the fight, which took place in the evening. The afternoon before the fight, the sons would be allowed a last private meal together. Although details of this event were confined to the royal household, there have been several accounts from servants that have survived the ages. During the meal, the Alakâmkút was not discussed; the brothers were simply content to enjoy one another's company. Following the meal, they would say a traditional prayer to Mú and head out to an arena set up specifically for the event. The Alakâmkút was a public spectacle, watched by those from all walks of life.

It was believed that the spirits of the new emperor's brothers would inhabit his body and guide him through his reign. As such, most of the felled princes would be proclaimed tanú (with a few exceptions made - any prince who showed cowardice or hesitation in the arena would be denied this status).