Tienhaishi

Tienhaishi was one of the world's largest and most prosperous settlements for much of its history. Initially founded by independent nomads under the guardianship of Lady Tienhai, the city eventually fell under the Earth Kingdom's rule, but retained its own monarchy. The settlement was abandoned as a result of an agreement between Avatar Yangchen and the powerful spirit General Old Iron, after the latter had intended to wipe out its population.
== History ==
Tienhaishi was founded when nomadic humans arrived at what later became known as Yue Bay in the distant past. The local guardian spirit, Lady Tienhai, decided to allow the small tribe to stay and protect it from harm, including other spirits. In the course of several thousand years, the small village expanded into a powerful city-state with its own monarchy. By the time of Avatar Yangchen, Tienhaishi had become part of the Earth Kingdom and developed into the grandest city in the world. Fascinated by all the human activity, Lady Tienhai would yearly assume human form to travel the city's streets and marvel at its inhabitants' creations.
All changed, however, when Lady Tienhai fell in love with the city's crown prince during one of her visits. To stay with him, she assumed a mortal form and eventually died. This enraged General Old Iron, a powerful spirit who had long despised humanity. General Old Iron decided to destroy the settlement to "avenge" Tienhai, but his intentions were sensed by the city's fortunetellers. Warned of their impending doom, Lady Tienhai's widower – by then king – asked Avatar Yangchen for aid. When the spirit arrived, Yangchen attempted to reason with him to no avail. They fought a great battle, but neither could defeat the other, Eventually, the Avatar struck a deal with General Old Iron; as per this agreement, the city was abandoned. Scattered, small villages and other uninhabited wilderness areas were all that remained upon the land once belonging to Tienhaishi.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Republic City, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 7.
After the ruined city was evacuated, Yangchen stayed by the side of the residents of Tienhaishi and tried to find places for them to resettle, but few leaders wished to take them in. After people started to die of illness, Yangchen started playing the political game of the Earth Kingdom properly, using any tactic at her disposal to do what had to be done. She was able to place most of Tienhaishi's craftsmen by lying to two competing nobles about how badly the other wanted to be the patron of so many skilled others; in another case, she scared the spiritually inclined husband of a governor into threatening to leave her if she did not show kindness and open her territories. Eventually, the people of Tienhaishi were absorbed by the continent, some working on arable land; others reaching family of Ba Sing Se, though a few ended up in the shang cities, exploited by the corrupt mercantile governments.
=== Legacy ===
Centuries passed, and nature reclaimed the entire region, though a few small villages grew in its stead. Eventually, Cranefish Town was set up in the area, later developing into Republic City.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Quickstart, Version 1.0, 2021, p. 5.
== Government and customs ==
Tienhaishi was a monarchy. Its court traditionally relied on fortunetellers, a practice which was disdained by others in the Earth Kingdom as being overly superstitious.
== Layout ==
Tienhaishi built at the Mo Ce Sea's coast. Its center, including the royal palace, was located at a slope at a cliff. In its heyday, the city bustled with commercial activity, with street stands lining its roads.
The palace was a multi-story structure, and its throne room had a separate space specifically designed for fortunetellers to practice their craft.
== Trivia ==
* Tienhaishi means "city of Tienhai" or "Tienhai city" in Chinese.
== References ==
Category:A to Z
Category:Earth Kingdom
Category:Locations
Category:Settlements