Saoleng

## Introduction

Saoleng is one of the three High Prefecti. It is also known as *Yellow Kingdom*, *Realm of the Middle, Guarded Kingdom, Land of the Brown River* or *Dominion of Wood and Water*. It is inhabited by the Yihanese and its capital Yihan sits close to the Dibet mountains.

## History

### Dark Ages

#### Geungaoi conflict

Malach and her forces had settled in the Xilian wetlands for several years already. There they fought an initial war against the Zygoa swarms known as the Geungaoi. They had managed to cleanse the Xilian realm of most of their forces. To be fully safe from the thread these large insectoids posed, Malach send her forces into the Dibet mountains. A large cave system streched arcoss these snowy mountains and it was filled with Zygoa. The first army that was send simply disappeared without any trace of victory or surivivors. The second fought for eight long weeks before the first and last survivors emerged from the tunnels. Atlast Malach send a far larger force and this time they where lead by one of her Xilian Eternals. Feilyd lead her men through the tunnels with grim resolve. They spend almost a year in the darkness before finally finding a tunnel that led them outside.

They found themselves in open grassland surrounded by forests and cherry trees. They had accidently found a passage through the Dibet mountains. Infront of them lay a wide and fertile land with strange creatures they had never seen before. They did not wish to return in the tunnels so they decided to stay and fortify this land. They soon found survivors of the first two expeditions that had settled in this land. Soon enough the began to claim this land under Malachs banner. Through constant war they managed to raise a protectet region similar to Xilian which became known as Yihan. From this point they began their expansion against the Geungaoi, slowly but constantly turning the tables.

They where to first do develop steam technology to fire spears or hot gas onto their enemies. These weapons proved most lethal agains their heart shells and vunerable lungs. This did not only spread across all of Xyrillia soon after, it was the begin for a technical revolution that would ease the production of metals and many of their large engines.

Although (...) ended the Geungaoi war, the people of Saoleng continued it for 30 more years under the vengeful supervision of Feilyd. It was atlast Malach herself that left her keep in Xilian and came to bring peace to Saoleng and the insectoid swarms under it.

#### Reign of the First Celestial Empire

What ensued where almost three thousand years of peace. Although the First Celestial Empire suffered from the war against Remujin and his Otogaoi hordes aswell as a few Geungaoi colonies; most of the large population lived on in peace and harmony. Slowly but constantly the humans drove back the wild woods and the spirits that ruled it. Malach and her priests bound them together, creating the phoenix-god *Hechaian*. Under the threefold supervision of Malach, Feilyd and Hechaian they urbanised the land, cut down most of the woods and tamed the wild brown river. They build great works like *Yihan, Xiang* or the river-city of *Kaipan*.

### Pratonian Invasion

After so many years of peace, Saoleng war more then unprepared for the return of war. It began with the return of Remujin and his accursed host in the east. They might had the manpower or ressources to fend of this terrible foe, but just as Feylid had assembled her forces something worse apperead on the horison. The Crab Sea turned red as the banners of Caldor appeared on the largest fleet Xyrillia had seen thus far. The Pratonians had come and Malach called upon all armies under her command. Without anything to protect the southern borders Remujin and his hordes where free to roam their lands. They pillaged and slaughtered their way up to Yihan itself, which they took with overwhelming force. Feylid fought against the Three Eyed God but he strook her down with his titanic blade. Yet her servants managed to preserve her mask before she would be destroyed for ever.

## Culture

### Martial Training

   Unlike the rest of the west, Saoleng values martial mastery and physical fitness very high, even in its nobility. It is not only seen as an important right for every citizen to bear arms, it is even outlawed not to. While a few weeks of military training per year are mandatory for every adult male in Saoleng, the nobiltiy takes it even further. Both men and women learn how to use swords and glaives. Duells are not only seen as a royal sport but also as a way to solve conflicts of honor between nobles. Trial by combat is almost as common in Saoleng as it is in the Kaianai. Yet the Yihanese value grace, discipline and order in their training above raw strength.

### Eunuchs

Eunuchs are highly esteemed in Saoleng as people who cast off their humanity to become objects of mental mastery. While they are trusted and serve in the highest ranks of soceity, most Yihanese will look down on them. Eunuchs are not allowed to fight or bear arms in Saoleng as they have entirely surrendered their physical potential.

### Food

Unlike the other High Prefecti, Saoleng values meat very high. While they still regard beasts of burden and farm animals as food for peasents, they enjoy venison. Hunting is a noble sport in Saoleng, similar to their Keshen neighbours. It is outlawed for commoners to harm animals of the wild as only those of royal blood are allowed to kill and eat them. Yet they do not consume meat as excessivly as their eastern neighbours.

## Saoleng

The rich lands of *Saoleng* are a diverse mix of urbanised farmland, dense woods and misty hills and mountains. The land is supplied by the *Brown River* aswell as countless smaller streams running down from the surrounding mountains. Saoleng is known for its huge stalactite caves and underground lakes. It hosts large creatures, yet the greater beasts like lions, tigers and dragons have been hunted close to extinction in these lands. Only in the two mountain chains, *Golgat* and *Dibet*, mounting the land, still host creatures that can endanger trade routes or wanderers. The most notable creature is the large Ritian, a type of ratite unique to Saoleng which the Yihanese have domesticated and use as beasts of burden or mounts.

### Cities

**Yihan**

The infamous *City of Caves* lies is protected by the Yihanese Realm. Surrounded by giant walls, countless forts and guarded villages Yihan itself is already increadibly hard to reach. The city itself it fortified with three rings of stone and iron aswell as a large arsenal of steam weaponry. Yihan has most likely seen more warfare then any other place in Xyrillia. The large city is already imposing from the outside; yet the majority are defenses and towers. Between them lie large pools and moats fuelled by the chill rivers flowing down from the surrounding mountains. Over a million people live in Yihan, yet the majority inhabits the tenthousands of housings in the tunnels and caves Yihan is attached to. A guarded tunnel leads all across the mountains to the Xilian realm aswell as several smaller cities in Sheiley. The nobility itself resides in the restored ruins of the former temple of *Hechaian*.

**Wolung**

The sacred city of Wolung was but a small village for centuries. It rose to greatness when the priests of the Thrid Celestial Empire attempted to recreate the spirit of *Hechaian* as it lay in the very heart of the land. Since this day the farms and wooden houses made room for a temple rising high to the sky and twelve districts of stone hosting tenthousand inhabitants each. The cities streets are illuminated even at night by the bright fires of Hechaian as the watchful eye of the Phoenixgod moves over it.

**Xiang**

This city is perhabs the oldest in all of Saoleng, second only to Yihan. It has been rebuild countless times and both its history and its stones run deep into the sacred soil. Once in a while the ground is breached, revealing ancient chambers and houses burried and forgotten by time. Despite these mysteries the nearby river and trade with Sheiley have brought wealth to Xiang. It is the only other city in Saoleng that hosts more then a million inhabitants. Perhabs its most famous asset is the *Xiang Sho Academy*, the largest university in the entire south west of Xyrillia. It has gained a renown even outside of Xyrillia due to its studies about other worlds and the nature of spellcraft.

**Kaipan**

The River-city of Kaipan was one of the first to be build in Saoleng. Farmers found one of the giant sea-serpents that made it all the way up to the brown river. They freed it from the swamp it was trapped in and soon worshipped it as a god. Today they build a giant city and temple around this creature that lives to that very that and is worshipped as a local diety. Kaipan itself consist of a sheer endless grid of walkways and bridges aswell as the houses build on them. Almost eighty percent of the city are build across the river and mostly live from fishing and the surrounding farms while powering their huge mills and engines with the power of the brown river.

**Sidao**

Constructed according to the libary of Ozai, Sidaos archives are famed across all of Saoleng. They are not only the seat of the Prefectums bureaucracy and administration, safekeeping uncounted documents. It is not only the imperial policing that stores its files in Sidao, the archives host every piece of knowledge the administators and eunuchs deemed too dangerous to be publicly acessable. The rest of the city is rather small and mostly a hub for trade and transport as it is build at the shores of both the Orogani and Brown river.

**Gate of Sai**

This city was build after the Kaijin the conquerer launched a devastating attack into the heart of Saoleng through sailing around the wall of Caowei. The city was build on both sides of the Brown River and almost a third of it is build on stilts or pillars. Its gigantic bronze gates that span almost a kilometer are the landmark of this city. Next to being a vital defense against attacks from the sea or the east, the city has become a key location for trade across all of Saoleng.

**Wey**

Lying close to the *Jedao forest* Wey is essential in the production of timber and items made from wood. The entire river bank alongside the city is covered with large craftinghalls and wheels cutting logs empowered by the water. It also host an acadamy for carpenters famous across all of Xyrillia.

**Mushu**

This ancient city was build by the Pratonians. Although the majority of old town and its name have been lost, the ancient zikkurat still stands. The nobility of Mushu keeps many secrets, even from imperial inspectors. Rumors say that they guard tombs of sleeping Pratonians or chambers filled with Titanfire.

**Tigergate**

This giant bastion has grown into a city due to the countless soldiers that decided to settle there due to being stationed too long inside of its walls. Both Saoleng and Sheiley fought for controll over this key position. Jan Jei the wise finally decided that the city would remain neutral and both sides had to contribute half of its garrison. Tigergate is extremly large and build on the westside of the *Wall of the East*. Multiple houses stack over each other being build into the stone. Below there are slum like houses hosting milita and peasents that farm the nearby land.

**Eastwatch**

This city is build into the walls of the Wall of the East. Around fourty kilometers in lenght it increases its diameter to up to 20 meters in thickness. Inside are several halls, rooms and apartment. It hosts almost tenthousand people, most of them soldiers and farmers. They guard Saolengs dangerous northeast.

## Economy

### Major trade goods

* White Jade
* Wood
* Tools
* Weapons (Crossbows, Spears, Blades, Shields)
* Armor (Paper, Lai)
* Furniture
* Kettles

### Minor trade goods

* Green Jade
* Canons
* Woodworks
* Lacquer
* Meat (Buffalo, Ratite, Sheep, Horse)
* Taster birds
* Ley Stones

### Agricultural products

* Rice
* *Lyse*
* Fish
* Meat (Buffalo, Ratite, Sheep, Horse)
* Leek
* Soy

## Armies

Saoleng hosts the largest independant army of all Prefecti. Due to its violent history it does not like to rely on the armies of the west. Their fighting style is based on heavy spear walls and light Ritian riders.

### Specialist Units

The armies of Saoleng march in yellow and orange. Similar to their eastern neighbours in the Kaianai, they mark their rank with feathers. The feathers of pigeons mark simple infantry, those of Ritians cavalry, those of cranes gunners and artillerymen and peacock feathers commanders and generals.

#### Infantry

**Saoleng Militia-** Those who wish to protect their homelands but distrust the Imperial Army join the Saoleng Militia. These men are mostly of low birth and undergo only very little training. Clad in paper armor and yellow robes they guard walls, cities or passes with spears, axes and their large shields.

**Bastionguard-** These brave soldiers serve almost exclusivly at the Walls of Saoleng. Each of them is armed with a spear, a shield and a small crossbow. Bastionguards are clad in Lai-Armor enforced with steel plates. Higher ranked members are armed with matchlock weaponry.

**Waywatchers-** Waywatchers used to be Scouts and criminals forced to serve in the first line. Since (...) they have became masters of stealth and Guerilla warfare. Waywatchers are trained by Aniter mercenaries exclusivly, most of them Haquid. Armed with poisoned crossbows and long knifes they stalk the terrain unseen. Waywatchers do not only fight but also serve as undercover agents roaming the streets and cities in disguise.

**Phoenix Cotians-** The Cotians of Saoleng are made from moonstone and silver, two materials strongly associated with the country. The insides of these large statues are filled with blessed and dried earth from both Yihan and Wolung. The spirits of Saoleng are particullarly fierce and agressive and animate their cotians with unmatched speed and ferocity. Armed with silver and steel glaives and Yi-spears they are amongst the most dreaded of Cotians. The moonstone is grinded into feathers and their heads into that of peacocks. The populace decorated them with candles, feathers and jewelry in times of peace.

#### Cavalry

**Ritian Riders**

**Waywatcher Outriders**

**Phoenixfeather Dragoons**

**Lionmanes-** Lionmanes are among the elite of cavalry in Xyrillia. They wear steel lamellea armor lacquered in white and gold. Their characteristic helmets are decorated with the manes of lions and their shoulders with their pelts. Lionmanes are armed with large two handed blades or glaives.

**Hellkettle Warwagon-** The Hellkettle is a large boiler connected with a pipe and (...). It is filled with water or corrosive fluids which are heated. Regulated by a valve, hot steam can be unleashed upon those in range. This deadly devise is placed upon a warwagon drawn by horses. It rushes alongside the flanks and backs of enemy formations and discharges its deadly steam. It is hot enough to incinerate skin and especially effective against Zygoa whose liquid insides begin to boil when hit with it.

#### Artillery

**Hellkettle cannon-** Although gunpowder has replaced steampowered weapons across all of Xyrillia, Saoleng still produces this outdated type of weaponry. Connected with a boiler, large spears are loaded into a cannon barrel and fired through the pressure caused by redirected steam. It is especially effective against impaling horses or Geungaoi.

**Hellkettle Mortar-** This larger variant fires cannon balls or explosives across large distances. Although modern variants are powered by gunpowder there still exist many older variants.

### Command

**Phoenixfeather Captain-** Nobles of Saoleng do not only serve as commanders from enleved pavillions, there are many that ride on the tip of their formation and fight in the middle of the fray. Phoenixfeather Captains are among such nobles, leading from the front rather then the back. They are regarded as heroes by the lower soldiers and as reckless but admirable warriors by their enlifted brethren.