Ashaqi Junquan

Flag of the Feng Dynasty

The Ashaqi Junquan(a shā qǐ jūn quán [Chinese Pinyin], aʂāːtɕʰǐː tɕʷīntɕʰʷǽn [IPA]) is a stagnant dynastic empire in North-Western Rovenell comprised predominantly of Assoti. Historically, it controlled much of the continent, although its presence in the modern day is pitiful. It serves as the home and only nation of the Assoti race.

The Junquan is ruled by an Emperor, Empress, or Sovereign. This leader has absolute power, and the position is hereditary. Each family of hereditary monarchs is referred to as a Dynasty, and the death or abdication of the last in line for the throne marks the end of one Dynasty and the start of a new one. There have been 12 Dynasties within the Junquan's history. Currently, the Feng Dynasty controls what remains of the Junquan.

"Ashaqi Junquan" in Tianyu translates to "Assoti Empire", and it is sometimes referred to as such by foreigners and citizens alike.

## Ancient History

Much of the Ashaqi Junquan's history blends into myths and legends, and the exact early history of the nation is lost to time. Following the collapse of the Jing Dynasty, much of the records possessed by the Junquan were destroyed or lost, and as such many large holes have opened up within the nation's history.

*Much of what is below is WIP*

### Early History

Early Assoti history dates back tens of thousands of years, though for much of that time the assoti lived in small nomadic tribes. The first record of a stationary tribe was only after an event known as the Great Migration, and the first city in Assoti history was founded after a large scale disaster known only as the Cataclysm.

#### Origins

The early ages of the Assoti tread the line between truth and fiction, often portraying history in a sensationalist way. These portrayals were passed down through Assoti families orally, slowly changing generation by generation until they were finally put to paper in the early Tian Dynasty. Although they are not particularly fantastic sources for accuracy, they are preserved regardless due to a lack of other options.

##### Rise from the Deserts

"Ashaqi" in Tianyu translates to "Sand Risers". Assoti legends say that long ago, the first of their kind hatched beneath the deserts south of a great rainforest, likely near the northern tip of the continent now known as Iremia. Burrowing from the sand, they followed their instincts, hunting and foraging what little food existed. Living either alone or in small groups led by a Mother, they remained in the deserts, hemmed in by the dense rainforests to the north and the great ocean to the south. Stories of the past seem to hint that early Assoti did not possess sapience, and instead were little more than wild animals.

##### Gift from the Sky

Ancient legends speak of a great rainfall thousands of years ago, which brought life to the deserts. In the rainfall, it is said that a flood engulfed the lower bounds of the desert, and the tides swept forth a magnificent flower upon a leaf which glimmered and shone in the darkness of the weeping skies. These legends then state that the Assoti were drawn from across the desert to this flower, which gifted them sapience and showed them a beautiful land to the north, inspiring them to head forth through the rainforests armed with new knowledge and skills to traverse it. Most legends state this flower to have been a lotus, although one refers to it as a peony.

##### Great Migration

Having been granted conscious of the self and a goal, the various tribes of Assoti travelled through the rainforests one after the other, learning and refining the creation and use of rudimentary tools, and making use of undergrowth for refuge and respite. It was also within this time that the Assoti first discovered fire, although they rarely used it due to how often it would flare out of control.

Following the completion of the Migration, the Assoti arrived in a vast open plain, where they settled for multiple millennia. Based on descriptions of the Migration, it is assumed that the event saw the exodus of almost all Assoti at the time from the continent of Iremia to that of Rovenell. The location of the "grand rainforest" also coincide with records from persistent Mesa civilisations.

The Great Migration was stated to have lasted 40 years by most sources, and it is generally considered to be the first great innovative period in Assoti history.

##### The First Village

An unknown amount of time after The Great Migration, three tribes of Assoti banded together for unknown reasons. As a result, the tribal conglomerate was now too large to remain nomadic, so they set up a permanent within the grasslands. Over time, the camp transitioned from tent shelters to more sturdy roofed dwellings made of dried plants tied with leafy cords, and a small circular structure of rocks was placed within the camp's center. Within this circle, the Assoti were able to burn fires for long periods of time without worry of it spreading, and through much experimenting discovered that they could cook the fruits they collected before eating it to create a wholly different taste.

Slowly, the camp grew into what could be considered a village, with a path being cleared through the brush to a nearby stream for fresh water. Soon, other Assoti tribes began settling lands and developing villages of their own, and thus the ages of migration came to an end. Unfortunately, the names and intricacies of these village settlements have been lost to time, and almost no physical evidence of their existence remains in the present day.

##### Intermediate Era

There is a period of uncertainty between the creation of the first villages and the event known as the Cataclysm, although an educated guess places the time at around one thousand years. Assoti settlements of the time were depicted as thriving family groups, with children kept safe within a larger hut while adults took shifts to rest, forage, and stay on the lookout for potential threats. This system was supposedly sustainable; Assoti groups would follow a foraging path resembling a flower, allowing harvested parts of the land to replenish.

##### Cataclysm

Differing recounts provide varying information on what caused the Cataclysm, but its effects leave a mark on history that remains fresh to this day. Although records are inconsistent, all detail a deadly wave of fire and smoke that swept from the southern deserts up through the rainforests and grasslands, reducing lush wildernesses to ash and soot.

The flames ravaged the landscape, destroying all greenery and plant matter it came in contact with, be it the towering trees of the rainforest or the humble residencies of the Assoti. The fires were reportedly so ferocious that they destroyed almost all life in the rainforests and rendered it uninhabitable, driving the Assoti race to near-extinction as a result. The survivors of the disaster, led by a young Mother known only to history as the Jade Lady, fled north into the jungles. Slowly, the fires burned out, and as the smoke cleared what was once a flourishing region of the world was left as a wasteland.

#### Yu Dynasty

Although it was not truly dynastic yet, the Yu Dynasty is often considered to be the first of many, as well as the founder of the Junquan. Its history does not encompass a great amount of time or cover grand leaps in Assoti culture or innovation like other dynasties, but it holds its place in antiquity as the humble beginnings of a grand empire.

##### The Jade Lady

Following the events of the Cataclysm and subsequent endangerment of the Assoti race, an Assoti Mother known only to historians as the Jade Lady united the survivors of the disaster and organised an exodus to the northwest where the jungles still grew exuberantly. The large ragtag collection of Assoti traversed the thick wilderness as a group, with each member of the group contributing to the cause where they could. One historical source states that the survivors numbered at three hundred with 4 Mothers including the Lady herself, although the accuracy of such claims cannot be confirmed nor denied.

##### Establishment of Tangshi

After weeks of travel, the Assoti reached a roaring estuary, where water so clear as to see the land beneath as though looking through glass flowed downhill at high enough speeds to foam when the river's height changed. Having no way to cross it, they ended their journey, setting up a new town similar to what they had done before the Cataclysm struck.

Under the Jade Lady's leadership, the Assoti began to recover what had been lost. The settlement began to thrive as the race fell back into old rhythms. Denizens of the town began to refer to it as "Tangshui Shi"(lit: sugar water town), in reference to the sweetness and cleanliness of the water from the river. Eventually this was shortened down to Tangshi, and the name stuck.

The town of Tangshi would continue to expand, and over the next few dynasties it would grow from a humble town to a thriving metropolis, and a heart of the ancient world. By truly uniting the Assoti peoples under one banner for the first time, the Jade Lady's actions paved the way for the creation of the Junquan, and allowed for the nation to exist the way we know it today.

##### Creation of the Junquan

Following the death of the Jade Lady approximately 70 years after the establishment of Tangshi, Lingling Yu, her eldest daughter, assumed leadership of the town. She continued her mother's legacy, but was notably not content with the small size of the community. Late into her rule, she declared that one day, the Assoti people shall possess the entire jungle and live in it harmoniously. The people, moved by her words, began to see themselves less as a connected town but a small part of something much greater later down the line.

Thus, Lingling proclaimed herself as the First Empress of Ashaqi, and announced that effective immediately, the city of Tangshi would become the heart of a new empire, or Junquan, which would master the land and establish itself as the center of the world. However, as she began to create plans to set up new towns and expand Tangshi, she died mysteriously, leaving the newly created throne vacant.

#### Que Dynasty

Following the death of Lingling Yu, a power vacuum was formed within the young Junquan which needed to be filled. Unsure of how to solve the issue, a small council was formed featuring 2 members of every family. After much deliberation, the council adjourned with a solution: Lady Que would become the new Empress and Matron of the Junquan on account of being the eldest Mother. Lady Que however did not desire to take the throne, and so assigned her own eldest daughter, Xingxi, to the position instead.

##### Differentiation of Leadership

Following Lady Que's choice to hand the throne to her daughter, the council was reformed to decide how secession and inheritance would work in the future. Reportedly, it took them one full year's worth of discussion to come to a solution. At the year's end, they emerged with a single document, named the "*Bao Shen Xingtiao*"(Divine Creed of Preservation), which, paraphrased, stated the following:

The Matron

* In the absence of a Matron, a council must be formed to decide which family Mother inherits the title.
* When a new Matron is designated, records are to denote that a transition of power has occurred; the selection of each Matron marks the start of a new era in the Junquan's history. This is referred to as a Dynasty.
* Once the Matron has been chosen, her eldest daughter shall be crowned the Empress.

The Empress

* The Empress has ultimate authority over the Junquan and is expected t o guide it to prosperity.
* The Empress is to be respected in an authoritative way; interactions with an Empress must be formal and practical.
* The Empress has the power to abdicate and secede her position to the next eldest daughter. Should she be the last in line, she may not secede until a suitable replacement is found.
* Should the Empress die, the position shall be granted to the next eldest daughter.

The High Advisor

* The eldest son of the Matron is to act as the Advisor to the Empress, assisting her in decision making and offering alternative perspectives where requested.
* The Advisor has the authority to make minor changes in order to maintain the prosperity of the Junquan, although any drastic actions must be decreed by the Empress.
* Should the Advisor die or abdicate, the next eldest son shall inherit the position. The High Advisor is also able to console the other sons of the Matron for assistance if so desired.

##### Early Agriculture

As the council discussed the future of the Junquan, Empress Xingxi had already began to make drastic changes to the Junquan. Being wary of the growth of the nation and concerns of scarcity, she ordered any able and willing citizen to experiment with methods to alleviate the issue. This effort would not bear fruit until four years later, when a humble gatherer learned of a vital part of plant reproduction: seeds. He discovered that when buried in the ground and provided with water, seeds would sprout into young plants of the same species as that from which the seed came from. He reported his findings to the crown and was subsequently rewarded with immortality through enshrinement in history. Unfortunately, following the collapse of the Junquan at the hands of the Xia Dynasty, this Assoti's name and other accomplishments are lost to time.

Following his discovery, many others began to experiment with the technique. Eventually, a breakthrough discovery revealed that looser dirt allowed for better seed growth, and a tool was created to prepare the land for the sowing of seeds; the tilling hoe. These were created with long blunted stones tied with plant string to a stick in order to facilitate easier use, and they formed the first of many designs for hoes and other tilling devices.

And so the first forms of agriculture in the Junquan were developed, and the surrounds of Tangshi were cleared of wilderness to allow for large plots of land to be tilled and used for farming purposes. Early farms were used mainly to grow root vegetables such as carrots, although the rice plant, whose grains would expand and soften when heated in water, was also cultivated.

## Modern History and Present

While the Feng dynasty was in hiding, A couple dozen Siobhlúan migrated north as the jungles of Iremia were destroyed to make room for urbanization. They founded the town of Gartícd and vowed to live in harmony with nature. Being influenced by Sioblhuan culture and the failures of the past male rulers of the nation. Empress Yanay Feng introduced many legislation taking away rights of males.

### Xinfei Secession

A few months after the Feng Dynasty took control, a group called the Katzuo family, moved in to an island close to the national capital and joined the nation. Not even a full month later they sued for independence, citing the fact that the nation's sexism hampered their development. Despite them knowing this when they agreed to join the nation, Yanay granted them independance, and they went on to form the Xinfei Shogunate

### Zhen Annexation

Upon Yanay Feng discovering the Celestial Mandate of Zhen, she became infatuated by their culture, eventually marrying their emperor and unifying the nation.

## Culture

Due to Siobhlúan and Assoti having females of each species larger than their male counterparts. and the nation leadership being exclusively female, Males are seen as weak, small, petite and fragile and often take up roles as housekeeping and cooking while women have the "more important jobs"

## Non-Canon Information

* Tianyu is a language based almost entirely on real world Mandarin Chinese, simply because constructing a language takes time and effort and is hard to get right.
* The Ashaqi Junquan was officially founded on the 12th of May, 2022, although the idea for the nation was first discussed on the 05/05/2022. The nation was unofficially established the day after, although it was yet to have a land claim.