Jade Empire

**Races**: Any

**Territories**: Yù(Jade) Forest, Huángdì de lǐwù(Emperor's Gift), Fēngbào(Storm) Jungle

**Capital**: Huángjiā City

**Leader**: Tensin Aikyo

**Primary Language**: Imperial

## General Information

The empire occupying the lands East of the Four Kingdoms. Often considered one of the most powerful nations in the world. It is considered the homeland of martial arts giving birth to majority of the strongest martial artists ever. It is a land of fierce internal competition that allows talented individuals to flourish and develop even in times of piece, and rich tradition ranging back millennia.

The Empire is led by an Emperor and supported by a group known as the Three Royal Clans, and the 9 Noble Clans.

The Royal Clans have some of the most power in the Empire bar the Emperor and each serves a function.

Led by the King of Blades is the Kita Clan, which is the foremost Clan on swordsmanship and considered the pinnacle of anyone who seeks to become a Samurai, the equivalent of a Knight of the Empire.

Led by the King of Mist is the Himura Clan, this clan is mysterious and its territory is cloaked in mist so only those permitted within may enter, otherwise intruders go missing or simply get lost and emerge back out. This clan produces the hidden blades of the empire, and the King himself operates the ninjas who function as the spies and intelligence organization under the Emperor.

Led by the Queen of Fists is the Matsumuga Clan. A loud and rambunctious Clan that has little interest in political games or the affairs of state, they are a clan purely dedicated to the martial arts. While they may not participate in the typical fashion they represent the empire on the competition stage, anything related to Martial Arts they attend and typically...win.

## Culture

There is a large emphasis on status within the Empire, following the hierarchy of the classes and showing proper respect to those of equal or greater station. Typically all meetings though between people of a status higher than common are held in polite manners. The Empire engages in complicated political games where one must be careful of their words unless they have the absolute power to act inappropriately, with the Matsumuga Clan being a fine example of those who do such. Arranged marriages, political gifts, favors, and so on it's all done.

Beyond this though the Empire's people place great focus on loyalty to the Empire itself and working for its benefit, an almost obscene level of patriotism is found in its people where it's considered acceptable to place yourself in indentured servitude if you cannot find proper employment, so you can at least aid the empire in exchange for food and shelter. There is also an attitude of imperialism in the nation where they believe everything beyond their borders belongs to the Empire by right, and they just don't know it yet.

## Lore

An old empire that came to exist alongside its counterpart to the west during the fall of the Elven Empire, ever since its founding it has maintained strained to hostile relationship with its neighbor dreaming of expansion for ages. Despite the many conflicts its never managed to maintain a lasting expansion much to the frustration of its rulers. (WIP)

## Lineage

Families within the Jade Empire are complex affairs, especially the higher up the social ladder you get. Internal structures can get vastly complicated and with good reason, especially for older families. Typically though the structure of a Clan, which is what families are referred to as, has a Matriarch or a Patriarch which is the ruler by blood of the Clan. The ruler may have multiple spouses or concubines with each child being capable of inheriting the position of Master, though typically it is the first born male child exceptions can happen based on Clan tradition or the maneuvering of forces within and without the Clan. Alongside all of this is typically a group of Elders, who are obviously the oldest members of the clan with much internal political power and sometimes has past leaders in their ranks. It's also not uncommon for there to be branch families with their own structures that answer to the main branch, and all have a support structure of servants and warriors from outside of the family.