Hue

Hue is a remote island lying just off the southern tip of Yavanna.
It is sometimes called the “hermit kingdom” due to its self-imposed isolation
from the rest of the world.

## Geography

Hue is a large island, roughly the size of New Zealand. It has a stunning mountain range called the Jade Gates to the north. There are many smaller outlying islands as well.

## History

Originally Hue’s capitol was just a nameless
fishing village. Under the Pearl Emperors the island flourished,
dictating trade and occasionally fighting trade wars with Yavanna, Amaranth,
and Tiberium. It closed its ports after a ship full of plague
victims ran aground on its shores; sickness burned through the country like
wildfire. Shortly afterwards the Tiberians occupied its harbor, though they
were not permitted ashore. Afterwards foreigners were shunned, forbidden
from setting foot on Hue’s shores. Even castaways were slain on sight. Those
who touched or even spoke to outsiders were labelled as “untouchables” and
banished. These exiles became the country’s merchants,
sailors, pirates, mercenaries, diplomats, and settlers. Over time they settled
outlying islands, establishing a prosperous colonial empire. These colonies
have always ruled themselves and are home to merchants, sailors, pirates,
mercenaries, diplomats, and fugitives.

## Technology & Trade

Ink, dyes, ricepaper, silksteel, spider-silk,
firelocks, bonepowder, paper armor, raised contour maps, quicksilver

## Culture

Considers all foreigners barbarians

Live in workshop towns, stilted fishing
villages, terraced hamlets, and many-storied wooden cities.

The reason behind its isolation is quite simple.
Only a few centuries ago plague burned through the country like wildfire. The
sickness spread after a slave ship ran aground, disgorging thousands of plague
victims. This happened shortly after Hue closed its ports to the world. It also
led to the country adopting strict laws regarding hygiene and the disposal of
bodies. Consequently there are more doctors and bathhouses in Hue than anywhere
else, the dead are cremated, and suicide by immolation is preferred. There is
also a huge feral cat population.

Men and women shave their heads/bodies,
smooth-skinned, scalp-locks

Forbidden cities

Highly ritualized, many invisible layers of
courtesy, avoid touching strangers

### Language

Hard, clipped dialect, slight variations in
pitch and tone carry completely different meanings, stilted, formal, and often
poetic; exiles speak Loan, a conglomeration of loan words and languages; dotcode
alphabet

## Military

The only nation that can arm even its peasant
levies with guns – it invented and perfected firelocks, bombs, cannons, and
flamethrowers. Its gunsmiths have no equal. Melee combat is considered
barbaric. These elegant firelocks are still primitive and cumbersome, accurate
only up to 100 meters, and unreliable in damp weather. Coupled with its constant vigilance against
foreigners Hue is practically unassailable – the Tiberians fought a bloody
amphibious war, hopping between islands until they reached Hue, and left
thousands dead on the beach (War of Red Tides).

Paper armor; hundreds of layers glued together,
painted, lacquered, as good as waxed leather; silk-steel cloaks; snarling, hook-nosed
iron masks; bannerpoles

## Government

The country is ruled by a divine emperor –
however, the day to day governing of the island is done by an inscrutable army
of civil servants, ministers, and prefects.