Kingdom of Gaoyan

The Kingdom of Gaoyan, also known as Cin is meritocratic oligarchy-monarchy located in the South Abyss, on the island of Cin Meire. It has a population of roughly 36.6 million, of which a third live in its capital, the City of Shanmei. Other major cities include Lhuiming, Mingyi, Rhinan and Gantyi.

It has two overseas holdings, both in the South Abyss, the unincorporated island territory of Jongsu and the dependent colony of the Vassalage of Jiandu. It is a highly-developed country, with only 13% of its population in poverty and a 78% literacy rate. It has a relatively high average life-expectancy of 73 years, and an economy that ranks 5th highest in the world.

### History

The island of Cin Meire was likely the home of the first Fei who rose out of the sea. Cuilan Keep, the oldest structure on the island is thought to have been constructed between 403 and 407. Following the Construction of the Nursery in 467, many towns and cities began to spring up, and a loose confederation of cities formed, called the Fei Confederation. After a large number of Samarits crossed the Core into the South Abyss, it sparked the First Fei-Samarit Conflict, and consecutive Fei-Samarit conflicts stemmed from this first war. In 561, the Fei Confederation reformed into the Fei Realms to strengthen ties between the islands in the face of rising international conflicts. Finally, in 592, the Fei Realms annexed the three Samarit Dynasties of Maunlyn, Cambrasi and Faumamea to much international backlash. There would never again be a Samarit state.

The War of the Stars and Sea Serpeants in 656 marked the beginning of the end for the Fei Realms, and it was the Signing of the Great Alliance by the Dinai States, spearheaded by a revenge-driven Empress Celestine that put an end to the Fei Realms. The Devastation of the South Abyss marked the first real use of Celestinian warfare, with mass-killings of Fei and the burning of significant cultural and religious sites to demoralise the Fei Realms. Eventually the Fei Realms were annexed into the newly-formed Red Citadel Concord in 684. After the Concordan Civil War, the Red Citadel Concord, now Nuev Concordt relinquished most of the South Abyss, with only Wangdai and Tahbei remaining as colonies of Aurynth and Midtérre Lumiera respectively. This led into the Council of Cin Meire, in which the new political map of the South Abyss would be drawn. The Kingdom of Gaoyan would be formed as a result, and also gained control of the island of Rai Ning and Jian Du.

### Culture

#### Languages

There are 3 national languages in Gaoyan, one being a dialect. Meirese, Abyssan and Eir-taui. Eir-taui is an offshoot dialect of Meirese spoken by Samarit immigrants, combining vowel structures of the Sama language as well as carrying over consonants, whilst changing the latinised form to be more similar to Meirese than Sama. Eir-taui is similar to Cantonese and Hokkien, whilst Meirese is comparable to Chinese.

#### Literature

Famous Cin texts include The Eight Prophets inside the Sun, written in 582 by Anle Bistan, a religious text that set the foundation for modern Hanbei Thought. However, the identity of the author is contested, as some scholars argue that the text may have been written in 499, and by a different author of Samarit origin. Moreover, records concerning where the author resided are unclear, as censuses from the time indicate he lived in a town called Gaminhan, but the only town called Gaminhan on record was in the North Abyss.

Other famous Cin texts are more modern pieces such as Red Hour by Yueyini, written in 701 about the adventures of a woman who can turn into a Eig through the power of the moon, but also contains criticisms of certain styles of parenting and the ever-lasting trauma that evolves from terrible parenting. Also, On Raising Horses by Weixi Daie author, written in 669, which was a guidebook about raising and riding horses, written in Poetic Form Two. The 1400 page poem is not just about raising horses, but contains a discourse about the rise of industry and how an overreliance on industry threatens the natural world, echoing his earlier works on the same issue. On Raising Horses is considered to be the quintessential epic, full of poetic flourishes and a constant rhythm.

#### Fashion

Modern Cin fashion - simplistic, bold, powerful

Medieval Cin fashion - complex, delicate, precise

Ancient Cin fashion - reverent, quiet, beautiful

#### Food

Cin cuisine and how it is prepared and presented is a very important part of Cin culture. Cooking and gifting food to someone is a sign of love and respect within Gaoyan as well as most of the South Abyss. Because of the Cin diaspora and Gaoyanese influence outside of the country, Cin cuisine, table manners and the meanings of food have become mainstays in every corner of the world. Fragrance, taste and meaning are the three most important aspects of Cin cuisine, having all three fulfilled is considered to be a lucky charm.

Fragrance is how good the food smells, the scent and the seasoning used. Taste is the general taste of the food, as well as the ingredients used. Finally, meaning refers to specific beliefs attributed to dishes or ingredients, for example, fish is seen as good luck to consume, whilst vegetables and meat are seen as bringing good health and knowledge respectively. Famous dishes and recipes include Steamed Yan Pork, made by steaming Yan pork belly, and Cooked Liaeni with soy sauce, made by cooking the cabbage Liaeni and introducing soy sauce progressively whilst cooking it. Other staple foods include red and orange rice, fried chicken rolls on a stick, sticky rice biscuits, and yellow noodles.

Table manners include greeting elders at a table before eating a meal, drinking soup from the bowl directly to show one's like of the food, and on certain holidays, eating under the moon. Food is such an important part of Cin culture because as the saying goes, 'food is the way to the heart'. By cooking a meal for someone, you are telling them that you appreciate them and that you love them. Offering food is also a way of greeting, and asking if someone has eaten yet or has been eating well is a way to express concern and love. In fact, the common greeting in Meirese and Abyssan as a whole is not 'how are you?' or even 'hello', it is 'have you eaten yet?'

### Government

Gaoyan is the leading power in the South Abyss region, and one of the Eight Swords of Volas. Gaoyan's monarch legally has no power, but holds considerable influence. A meritocratic oligarchy has allowed the country to excel scientifically and culturally, as only the best are selected for a role in the government. The main legislature, the Rós, is made up of the 15 Tui Nais, made up of the highest-scorers in the country, and the 5 Mian Nais, made up of advisors to the King. The Rós makes all the decisions, and the monarch is the executor.

#### Foreign Relations

Gaoyan is part of the Tianjia Accords, a defensive alliance of itself, the Holy Cities of Qu Niao and Tabonne Lumiere. It is also part of the South Abyss Entente with Midtérre Lumiera and Aurynth. During the Yinyu Civil War, it sided with the Imperate of Yinyu, but after its leader went insane and threatened the King, Gaoyan switched sides and began supporting the South Yinyu insurgents.

### Infrastructure

Gaoyan is connected by its national rail service, Teiywe Gaoyan (TWG), whose steam trains run the length and breadth of the island. TWG operate 6 national routes, 3 service routes and 7 cargo routes that utilise a point-to-point model, mostly from each of the six major cities on the island. TransAir also runs airship flights in and out of the South Abyss, as well as to other islands.