East Asia/Shu Han

**Shu Han** is a nation bordered to the north by Ravka and to the west by Kerch, which it is connected to via land bridges. To Ravka's government, the Shu are known for their scientific advancements and inhumane treatment of Grisha.

## Contents

* 1History
* 2Geography
	+ 2.1Climate
* 3Settlements
* 4Demographics
* 5Known inhabitants
* 6Language
* 7Culture
	+ 7.1Religion
* 8Government
	+ 8.1Known rulers
* 9Military
* 10Etymology
* 11Trivia
* 12References

## History

Shu Han has been at war with its northern neighbor Ravka for centuries. Before the Taban queens, a cruel and incompetent king ruled Shu Han, and he commanded many wars. However, the troops were depleted and the country was left vulnerable. The king sent Sankt Kho's newly made clockwork soldiers to claim territory and destroy cities, until they became overly destructive and were defeated by Sankta Neyar. The king fled the country, and since then, Shu Han has been ruled by queens.

Shu Han dissects and experiments on Grisha in search of the source of their power, some even believing the source to be a Grisha's spleen.*[citation needed]* The scientist Bo Yul-Bayur created the drug *jurda parem*, but feared the Shu government's use of the drug and attempted to seek asylum in neighboring Kerch. By dosing Materialki with *parem*, the Shu government combined Grisha steel and ruthenium to human bone to create human weapons known as *khergud* to capture more Grisha for experimentation. The *khergud* program was created by Queen Makhi Kir-Taban along with her adviser and physician, Minister Yerwei. The recruitment of soldiers to become *khergud* was called the Iron Heart Program.

## Geography

The Sikurzoi is a large mountain range that borders Shu Han to the north. It prevents Ravkan armies from mounting an attack. The southwest region is composed of plateaus, forests, and plains,*[citation needed]* and is bordered by the sea with rocky coasts. In the outskirts of Ahmrat Jen is the valley of Khem Aba, known for its farming and ranching. It also features several canyons.

### Climate

Shu Han resides in a state of perpetual summer. Even when its northern neighbor Ravka is in winter, Shu Han remains warm and sunny.

## Settlements

* Ahmrat Jen - the capital city and home to the Shu royal family, as well as a monastery of assassins.
* Bhez Ju - a port city which appears to hold laboratories used to produce *jurda parem*.
* Koba - a city next to a swamp near the border between Ravka and Shu Han where Grisha are sold to mercenaries or Shu scientists/mediks.
* Paar - a city affected by the blight.
* Kobu - a city where one of Makhi's laboratories was located before it was closed by her grandmother.
* Nehlu - one of the larger towns in Shu Han, home to Mayu Kir-Kaat and her twin Reyem Yul-Kaat.

## Demographics

People of Shu descent have a common trait of straight black hair and yellow-gold eyes.

Twins are common among the Shu. The word for "twin" in Shu is *kebben*, which also can mean "close kin" or "someone bound to your heart."

## Known inhabitants

* Ehri Kir-Taban
* Makhi Kir-Taban
* Mayu Kir-Kaat
* Kuwei Yul-Bo (formerly)
* Bo Yul-Bayur †
* Botkin Yul-Erdene † (formerly)
* Minister Yerwei
* Akeni Kir-Taban
* Minister Zihun
* Minister Nagh
* Kheru Kir-Taban
* Yenye Kir-Taban
* Jhem Kir-Taban
* Reyem Yul-Kaat
* Keyen Kir-Taban †
* Leyti Kir-Taban

## Culture

The color blue is traditionally worn as a sign of mourning. The Shu seem to value the color green, as well as falcon imagery, taken from the original Taban queens who tamed falcons from the mountains of the Sikurzoi. The original Taban queens were called the *Taban yenok-yun*, “the storm that stayed”.

### Religion

Though a religion has yet to be specified, the Darkling references having seen temples in Ahmrat Jen. The Six Soldiers, the sacred protectors of Shu Han, may feature in Shu religion. Sankta Neyar is one of the Six Soldiers; her temple is located in Ahmrat Jen.

## Government

The Shu are ruled by the Taban family, one of which is Nikolai's fiancee, Ehri Kir-Taban. She is beloved by the people of Shu Han. It is a matriarchal monarchy, meaning power is usually passed to the eldest daughter, although the reigning queen can make an exception, as seen with Keyen Kir-Taban bypassing her oldest daughter, Makhi, to name Ehri her heir. The current queen is Leyti Kir-Taban after she rescinded her granddaughter's blessing and claimed the throne after she learned about Makhi's plans and the Iron Heart Program.

### Known rulers

* Queen Taban
* Leyti Kir-Taban
* Keyen Kir-Taban
* Makhi Kir-Taban
* Ehri Kir-Taban

## Etymology

Shu Han is the name of one of the Chinese states of the Three Kingdoms period.

## Trivia

* Shu Han is based on Mongolia and China.
* Shu surnames are not family names; rather, surnames are derived from one of the parents' given names (e.g. Bo Yul-Bayur's son, Kuwei, does not receive his father surname, Yul-Bayur ("son of Bayur" in the Shu language), but Yul-Bo, "son of Bo.") The only exception is the royal family who are named after the first queen, Taban.
* There are legends of dragons in Shu Han.
* The names Bayur and Bataar are common Mongolian names, while Kuwei seems to be Chinese.*[citation needed]*