Travel Journal of Xuan Yingchao

#### **First Excerpt – Yari and the Great Dragon Pass**

It is tradition that every half-century, the Celestial Emperor sends representatives from their court to survey the lands that surround the great Suoxi Dan-Dio. I am privileged to have been selected for this task by our blessed Empress, and I have done a great deal to research the region that I am being sent to; the so-called Westrasi Sea. I find it curious that it is even compared to an ocean, considering that our maps depict it as being shorter than the Dan-Fo River that runs through our empire. Surely it would be more accurate to call it a particularly large lake.

I write this entry from a camp in the western foothill of the Wall of the World. While my companions are preparing to rest for the night, I consider it important to record my thoughts as I think them, rather than try to recall them in the distant future. Today, I shall write of the last days that I spent in my homeland and of the first steps that I took into this strange region.

I arrived at the city of Yari by aqueduct. The waters of the Dan-Fo can be somewhat treacherous and difficult to navigate, while the gentle and shallow channels made by Suoxi hands are ideal for narrowboats. As for the city itself, I found that there was nothing remarkable about it, other than the substantial military presence. They are stationed there in the event of an invasion from the other side of the Wall of the World, by the nation known as “Leixi-Airoxia.” They supposedly gave their country two names due to the two peoples that inhabit it, but I find such a concept to be absurd. We do not call our beloved empire Suoxi'Orde, simply because we have a small Tnz'ran population in the north.

My contingent, which consists of myself, four fellow dignitaries, a score of Crane adepts and a score of Tiger adepts, were given adequate quarters for the duration of our stay. We were never left wanting for sustenance and we were granted enough rice to keep our expedition fed for a month, and the slaves to carry it. In the event we run out of supplies, our divine Empress has granted me a chest of glass so that I might purchase rations from the Westrasi, though I dread to think of what they consider food. However, my research tells me that they do not use glass as currency, but rely on soft metals instead. Hopefully this shall not pose an issue.

In the morning that followed, we began our journey to the Wall of the World. We left behind the fertile fields of the empire and took our first steps up that winding path, and into the impassable mountains that protect us from the west. Very quickly, the air became cold and unpleasant to breathe. I was shocked when I discovered that the watchtowers that guard the passage are actually manned by soldiers. How can they stand months of that thin and frigid air at a time? Truly, they must be devoted to the safety of the Suoxi.

It took three days before we finally reached our destination. We bore witness to a great ravine, one of such immense size that it looked as though the Heaven-King himself had reached down and carved a great wound in the stone. On the other side of the gorge, I saw a mural hewn into the cliff face featuring a pair of winged lizards fighting each other, with fire pouring from their mouths. Shortly after, a companion of mine pointed out similar designs engraved into the mountain behind us, featuring a pair of majestic dragons locked in combat and seeking to strangle each other with their serpentine bodies. Of course, our art was undoubtedly superior to that of the westerners, no one with eyes could deny that.

Fortifications stood on either side of the ravine, built according to the designs of east and west respectively. We met with the captain of the garrison and reported our intention to cross. Thankfully, a messenger had been sent ahead of us to him of our wishes. He bade us wait and gave the order for the gorge to be bridged. A while later, we heard the keen cry of a suona from the top of a tower behind us, warbling like a songbird. It only took a moment after it had stopped before an answer came from the other side of the fissure. It was a deep, baleful noise, like the last roar of an animal dying in pain. Despite the ugliness of the sound, the message that it carried was clear.

Scores of slaves began to pull at pulleys and winches, goaded by the lash of a bamboo switch whenever they hesitated. Stone ground against stone, filling the pass with a deafening groan that simply did not stop. From each side of the gorge, thick plates of granite emerged from groves that had been dug into the rock ages ago. They seemed to rotate out of the earth, facing off to the side to begin with but gradually pointing towards the opposite side of the rift. Eventually the two slabs of stone came to a stop, joining in the middle and bridging the ravine. We had our passage across.

As we crossed, I couldn't help but wonder, could an army cross this bridge before it could be disassembled again? I suppose that the answer to that question doesn't matter, as I could see engines of war positioned on either side of the crevice, ready to bombard the platform at a moment's notice. Neither side could afford to posture, without the other destroying the bridge. It took us a little less than a minute to finish our journey from one side to the other and the moment that we arrived, we heard the ugly bellow of that western horn again. The musical song of the suona answered and immediately the bridge was disconnected, with the granite slabs retreating into the grooves that they had came from.

I was surprised when we were greeted by a hundred soldiers, led by a rather blunt fellow. It seemed as though the message that had been delivered to the captain of our garrison had also been passed on to the captain of theirs. Thankfully, I have spent the last six months studying both Lixwesktis and Sukwesktu, so I was able to comprehend the Westrasi's demands. Introducing himself as Sir Grubny, he saw fit to dictate the route that we shall take through Leixi-Airoxia, so that we might depart from his nation as swiftly as possible. Along with his soldiers, he shall accompany us for as long we remain in his country, “for our safety.” In truth, I imagine that whoever he answers to is suspicious of our expedition, and wishes to be rid of us as swiftly as possible.

As I write this, we have been travelling with Sir Grubny and his men for the past two days. He identifies himself as one of the Airoxian nobility and if his manners are indicative of anything, they seem like a rather caustic people. So far, he has seized every opportunity to accuse us of wrongdoing and though I have been able to pacify each confrontation by pandering to his ego, I can only imagine that his antics will continue. The Airoxians, and likely all Westrasi, are also rather unpleasant to look at. Their noses, ears and lips all seem to bulge while their eyes are sunken, their skin is pale and blemished, and their bodies are squat and broad.

From what I understand, Sir Grubny wishes to accompany us to a river known as Rzeka, where we shall continue downstream until we reach the city of Tharnux. From there, a boat will be provided to ferry us to another nation, the Kingdom of Euraxia. All of these names are foreign to me and so difficult to say, but I shall do my best to represent our beloved Empress with dignity and grace. I doubt that I will receive such civility in return, especially if the Airoxian's manners are anything to go by, but who knows? The Westrasi Sea may surprise me yet.

#### **Second Excerpt – The Airoxians**

I write this entry from the comfort of an Airoxian castle, though the quarters I have been given lack many of the luxuries that I am used to. During the past week, we have been forced to travel at such a reckless pace that I have had no time to write. To begin with, I thought that Sir Grubny's sole motivation was to be rid of us, but now I understand that he was also driven by prudence. After we had finished our descent from the Wall of the World, we began to pass signs of battle. Fertile fields had been trampled until all that was left was mud, and quaint farmhouses had been reduced to blackened skeletons. We even came across some of the deceased, which were given unmarked burials by our Airoxian escort.

I became worried that we had arrived at this country during a war, and I said as much to Sir Grubny. He laughed at my words, though there was not much mirth in the sound. He said that the only war that was going on was between the lords of Airoxia. I found this hard to believe. For what reason would a nation ever fight against itself? When I pressed Sir Grubny on the matter, he replied that it was the Airoxian way of testing their strength, to ensure that only the strongest among them ruled. In that moment, I found myself reminded of the Tnz'qran Ordes.

This insight into the culture of the Airoxians left me somewhat anxious when Sir Grubny led us to our current location, a castle known as Skalanamas. Its outer walls were battered and scorched, and one of them was even breached, all of which was evidence of a recent siege. Despite this, the occupants were in rather high spirits, most likely because they were one who had seized the fortress. I did not have much time to speak with them however, as Sir Grubny wished to introduce me to his lord and the new master of Skalanamas, Marquis Laudovas.

Like his men, the marquis was in a good mood. In fact, he threw a banquet in honour of us, his foreign guests. I must admit, I have never seen this much meat in my life. Plates piled high with the roasted flesh of countless animals were laid across a long table, accompanied with bowls of spiced soup and broth. With forks and knives the servants of Laudovas gorged themselves, while my companions and I found it hard to stomach more than a few mouthfuls. Thankfully, the feast served as the perfect opportunity to speak with the marquis and learn more of his culture.

First, I asked why he had Sir Grubny hurry us along in such a fashion. Laudovas was a little too honest and admitted that he has little time to entertain foreigners, especially when he is in the middle of a struggle with a neighbouring lord. Hiding my indignation, I inquired about the nature of the conflict. His answer was a simple one, that his neighbour was incapable of protecting his land and that he sought to punish him for his weakness and inadequacy. Laudovas then told me that this war is far from over, that he seeks to seize what little territory his rival still holds, and that he will need all of the manpower that he can muster. For this reason, Sir Grubny will not take us to the city of Tharnux. Instead, he will only accompany us as far as the nearest port.

My feelings on this are mixed. On one hand, I am left feeling irrelevant and unimportant, as though the presence of the Suoxi means nothing to this lord of Airoxia. On the other, I will be glad once Sir Grubny has barked his last command and I never have to hear his voice again. Regardless, I had little choice in the matter and accepted the decision of the marquis. My compliance seemed to please Laudovas, and it became apparent that he revels in the authority that he has over others.

Whenever I inquired about the way of his people, it seemed as though the conversation always gravitated towards the subject of strength, that “only the mightiest shepherd has the right to lead the flock.” I asked if this meant that the king of the Commonwealth was the strongest lord among them, though I believe that this was a mistake. The mood of Laudovas immediately soured and he answered that though King Szyćak is strong, the Leixi are a weak people and that his loyalty shall only last for as long as the king lives. I tried to inquire further, but it seemed as though the marquis was finished with my question. We were dismissed to our quarters, and told to leave Skalanamas at first light. The reign of this Szyćak seems to be the source of some bitterness for Laudovas, and I cannot help but wonder why.

I suppose that so far, I have only learned about one half of this strange country. I still know so very little about the other, about these Leixi that Laudovas sneered about. Hopefully, an opportunity to learn more shall present itself when I arrive in the city of Tharnux. For the time being, all I can do is pray that they are somewhat more civilised than the Airoxians, and that they do not eat quite as much meat.

#### **Third Excerpt – The River Rzeka**

Three days ago, our expedition departed from the castle of Skalanamas with little ceremony. After our last conversation, The marquis was eager to be rid of me and I must admit, I was just as keen to have leave his company. Much like Sir Grubny and the other men who served him, Laudovas struck me as a rather vulgar man who was fixated with martial prowess. In other words, he was little more than a Tnz'qran warlord in Westrasi clothes.

Led by Sir Grubny, we travelled south towards the Rzeka, which splits the country of Leixi-Airoxia in two. By the time that we could see the river, the land around us had transformed. The rolling pastures populated by nothing but cattle and sheep were nowhere to be seen, and had been replaced by burgeoning fields sown with all manner of crops. Wherever we looked, the common folk were hard at work, though they could never be as industrious as the slaves of the Celestial Empire. After all, the agriculture of Suoxi Dan-Dio is without compare.

On more than one occasion, we were stopped by soldiers patrolling soldiers, who were as suspicious of Sir Grubny as they were of our expedition. Each time, the knight explained that he was charged with accompanying us to the nearest port by his lord, and we were allowed to depart. By that point, it was evident that we had arrived in the domain of the Leixi. Even then, they had struck me as far more civilised than the Airoxians that they share the country with.

I was further impressed by the Leixi when we arrived at the port town of Wybrupe. The streets of the settlement were clean despite the significant population of the settlement, and the common folk carried themselves in a suitably meek fashion. Most of the structures were made of stone as well as wood, though I found their style of construction to be rather unpleasant to behold. From what I have observed so far, the Westrasi do not have much taste when it comes to aesthetics of any sort. If I have to take a guess, it is that the appreciation of beauty is something unique to the Celestial Empire.

A short journey through Wybrupe took us to the bank of the Rzeka, which is quite a broad river. I had difficulty seeing anything on the other side of its waters. A wharf waited for us at the water's edge, where many boats were moored. Using coin provided to him by his lord, Sir Grubny paid our passage on one of these vessels and bade us farewell, in his usual manner. I have no doubt that he was eager to return to Laudovas, so that he might assist him in battling other Airoxians. I will never understand such a barbaric way of life.

As for the boat that shall carry us to the city of Tharnux, it is a rather strange thing. It is long and slender like a narrowboat, yet it is of the same size as the junks that we use to sail the Dan-Fo. At the same time however, it uses oars for the purpose of propulsion as well as sails. Is this the sort of ship that is used to traverse the Westrasi Sea? It is not a particularly spacious vessel, and many of the expedition's guards have no choice other than to sleep on the floor beside the sailors.

As I write this entry, I sit at the ship's edge beneath the midday sun. I find pleasure in watching the fertile fields that surround the Rzeka pass us by, but I cannot help but wonder what Tharnux will be like. Who has more influence there, the war-like Airoxians or the diligent Leixi? In only a few days, I shall be able to find this out for myself.

#### **Fourth Excerpt – Tharnux and the Leixi**

After two more days of sailing down the Rzeka, we finally arrived at the city of Tharnux, the capital of the Leixi-Airoxian Commonwealth. As much as I enjoyed the sights during our journey, I was glad that I was able to walk more than ten steps without worrying about hitting a wall or falling into the water. As soon as we left the vessel, we were greeted by the sight of a city that made Wybrupe look insignificant. Behind every building, there always seemed to be a greater structure. This cycle ended in a pair of great citadels, which towered above everything else.

When I led the expedition away from the harbour, I was greeted by a company of soldiers clad in shining armour and wielding strange pole weapons. Their leader wasted no time in questioning me and to begin with, he was just as crass as Sir Grubny. As soon as I informed him that I was an envoy from the Celestial Empire and a representative of the Empress Dan Ning herself, his attitude changed. He immediately apologised for his caution and ordered a contingent of his soldiers to lead us to the Grazimas. The officer must have seen my bemusement, for he informed me that it was the name of the royal palace. Having spent most of the past two weeks sleeping in a tent or in the bowels of a ship, I was elated when I heard that.

As I was led through the city of Tharnux, I quickly came to the conclusion that it was dominated by the Leixi, rather than the Airoxian. The common folk were tireless, the streets were clean and I saw little sign of the strife and martial prowess that Grubny and Laudovas venerated. The expedition that I led was regarded with equal parts awe and suspicion as we approached as the Grazimas, but no one was openly hostile towards our presence.

When we arrived at the Grazimas, we were met by a representative of King Szyćak, a woman who called herself Gyvatya. The dress that she wore was so elaborate that I felt embarrassed by the fact that I hadn't been given the chance to change my own clothes. Despite this, she greeted us with a smile and disarming words, and led us on a tour through the royal palace. We were given the chance to admire vast corridors decorated with the portraits and sculptures of the previous monarchs, and to walk through grand halls of polished stone that were no doubt used for ceremony.

During this tour, she explained the history of the Leixi-Airoxian Commonwealth to us, though her perspective of past events was as important to me as the objective truth. Gyvatya placed a great deal of emphasis on the importance of order, from the days when the Leixi first united the disparate lords of Airoxia beneath their rule, to the recent “Purge of Chaos” when King Szyćak subdued the errant Airoxians. She spoke very highly of him and went out of her way to describe him as the one true king of the Westrasi Sea, who is destined to bring stability to the region. I had my doubts, but at the time, I admired her enthusiasm and her commitment to civilised society.

Once the tour and the telling of history was complete, Gyvatya led us to a hall where she had a demonstration arranged for us. When we arrived we beheld half a dozen men, one of whom was sat before a large wooden box decorated with a series of painted toggles, while the others held similar boxes of a smaller size in their arms. Once we had seated ourselves, we discovered that these men were musicians and their boxes were actually instruments. We were treated to hours of elegant and soulful music, though it was a touch too melancholic for my taste and by the end, it had grown quite tiresome. Despite that, I will always wonder how the performers were able to coax music out of those chests.

By the time that the musicians had played their last, it was close to evening and Gyvatya informed us that it was time for us to eat. She must have been arranging the meal with servants, while we were occupied with the performance. When we arrived at the chamber where the food was laid out, we discovered tables covered with all sorts of Leixi delicacies. Though I admire the effort that was put into the banquet, I must confess that I do not consider Commonwealth cuisine to be very palatable.

Much like the feast at the castle of Skalanamas, spiced broth was an important component of the meal. Almost every vegetable and fish on the table had been preserved in vinegar, which left them rather damp and sour. As for the meat, it had either been stewed with the pickled vegetables or ground down, encased in skin and smoked. I found myself rather overwhelmed by the combined smoke, spice and sourness of the food on display, but if there was any particular dish that I enjoyed, it was a certain sweet that I ate at the end. It was a rather dense sort of cake that had been spiced with ginger, and was very moreish.

Once the meal was concluded, we were each given rooms of our own to retire to. The furniture found within was rather finely crafted, and the fabric in particular was luxuriously soft. Perhaps even too soft, as the plushness of the cushions and the mattress made it rather difficult to find any sleep in the bed that I was given. I felt smothered, trapped in a cloying and gentle embrace that was as suffocating as it was meant to be pleasant. In hindsight, perhaps this is an appropriate metaphor for Leixi hospitality.

The following three days were repeats of the first, though each of them had something unique about it. In addition to stirring music and cuisine of debatable quality, we were treated to a walk through the royal gardens, having our portraits painted by the king's artists and observance of a religious ceremony. In particular, the ceremony was rather interesting, as it gave me some insight into the deity that the Westrasi worship. They give it two names, Gloria and Etalia, which are typically spoken as one. Despite this duality, the idol and the religion both seem to have a single-minded focus on the importance of civilisation, law and order.

At times, I tried to speak with the diplomat that was assigned to us in greater depth, but Gyvatya was always rather dismissive. Every time I tried to mention the ways of the Suoxi, she expressed little interest and always found a way to change the topic back to the Commonwealth. For a while, I simply assumed that she was focused on the task that she had been assigned. It was after the religious ceremony that I revealed the truth, when Gyvatya approached with a rather unusual prospect. She suggested that if I truly enjoyed my stay and that I found Tharnux to be more welcoming than my homeland, then I was welcome to remain in the Grazimas, as a permanent guest of King Szyćak.

At that moment, I was struck by realisation. Every smile that I had been given was one of condescension. This hospitality was not simply a gesture of politeness, but an attempt to prove the cultural superiority of the Leixi. The ultimate goal? To have me remain in their home, evidence that their culture is magnificent enough to have me abandon the Celestial Empire for them. Suddenly, I recognised that the Leixi are as arrogant and conceited as the Airoxians are war-like. They are obsessed with proving that their nation is greater than any other. It is something that they will never be able to prove, for no country is equal to the Suoxi Dan-Dio.

I write this entry from a vessel that I have chartered, that shall take us from Tharnux to LaBaton, the capital of the Kingdom of Euraxia. When I announced our departure to Gyvatya, she seemed somewhat deflated and lost a great deal of interest in our expedition. She knew that she had failed in her efforts to seduce us. We were dismissed from the Grazimas without much fanfare, though I was allowed to take a small case of those spiced cakes with me. I only hope that any hospitality that I find in this new nation will be more genuine than the “generosity” of the Leixi.

[story over for now because author threw a tantrum]