Bai Cipu

**Bai Cipu** is a predominantly Evin city located on the island of Qiu, part of the larger Gemstone Islands. Bai Cipu is an ancient city founded during the rule of the Second Evin Empire and often served as a commercial hub. While many Evin cities were destroyed during or shortly after the War of Two Suns, Bai Cipu remained thanks to the cooperative nature of its inhabitants, who did not mind the rise of Humans as the dominant force over the Gemstone Islands.

In the present day, Bai Cipu is situated in the territory of the Hexad Empire. Its Marquis, Utakh, is an outspoken supporter of Liang Nadai and the Monarchist alliance as a whole. Bai Cipu provides troops, resources, and, most famously, facilities to build and repair airships in the ongoing Gemstone Wars.

## History

Founded during the rule of the Second Evin Empire, Bai Cipu was largely overshadowed by other Evin settlements nearby for much of its early existence. However, as more prominent cities such as Bai Qhollea, Bai Matong, and Bai Tou all changed hands repeatedly or were destroyed outright throughout the course of the War of Two Suns, Bai Cipu became more prominent as a relative beacon of stability in a sea of chaos.

Following the collapse of the Fourth Evin Empire and the ushering in of the Two Hundred Years of Chaos, Bai Cipu gained direct control over its surroundings and eventually became a Warlord seat. One such Warlord, Kerraw, ruled during the 740s BW, while the city was booming. Besides legitimate business, Bai Cipu also acted as a smuggler's dream, with one smuggler by the name of Atah running a particularly prominent operation. This infuriated Kerraw, who moved against Atah in 740 BW to oust the smuggler from his city, yet, Atah's connections proved powerful, and Kerraw was ousted itself.

Atah, now the city's Warlord, would rapidly expand Bai Cipu's influence across the Gemstone Islands. Reflecting Atah's views, the city became a headquarters for the growing Golden Sky Movement and drew in defectors from both the Guidaozhen and Laidaozhen. In just a few years, people from further away than ever before looked to Bai Cipu for guidance as the city became the first thing resembling a centralised government of the Gemstone Islands for well over two centuries. Prodded on by his followers, Atah somewhat unceremoniously took the title of Skylord and founded the Fifth Evin Empire in the city, causing Bai Cipu to reach a new height in prominence. Estimates place the population of the city at some 75,000 while it served as the capital of the Gemstone Islands.

While the Fifth Evin Empire was relatively short-lived, collapsing in 708 BW under Skylord Rinkoth – only nine years after Atah's death from illness – the city was spared from the destruction inflicted upon many other cities. Rinkoth and what remained of the Empire's military faced defeat outside the city, meaning that there was no garrison left to defend it and, thus, no reason to raze the city. Bai Cipu came under joint Guidaozhen and Laidaozhen occupation, yet, as their fragile ceasefire shattered, the Guidaozhen were driven out of the city and the Laidaozhen remained in control until the end of the War of Two Suns.

The Laidaozhen-founded Sixth Evin Empire de facto owned the city yet lacked the authority to rule over most of its territorial holdings, Bai Cipu included. During this time, Bai Cipu continued to function as a trading hub and drew in a decently large Human and Harpy population. This made it one of very few Evin cities that sprawled out over both the ground and higher altitudes. This also made the city more easy to integrate into the Human Qiu Dynasty and following Dynasties.

Since then, Bai Cipu has been largely left alone, only being thrust onto the forefront in recent years. Notably, the city was one of very few able to fend off Fühlgartian invaders during the Fühlgartian-Qiuan War, with the Battle of Bai Cipu being a stinging defeat for Fühlgartian air forces. The city became a de facto independent settlement as the Gemstone Wars raged around it, with no Warlords or rulers trying to attack it. However, more recently, Bai Cipu has exited its isolation to firmly pledge its support to Liang Nadai and the Hexad Empire, including the larger Monarchist alliance.

The city's Marquis, an Evin by the name of Utakh, provides much-needed aerial forces for the Empire. The building and repairing of airships is a large commodity, yet the Avian forces that can be fielded by the city are an often overlooked yet critical resource in the war in the skies. Besides these military services, Bai Cipu continues its trading operations and its bankers have also contributed greatly to the Nadai Clan's coffers. It can be argued, then, that Bai Cipu is experiencing something of a resurgence under the Hexad Empire, reaching heights it experienced under Skylord Atah in the past.

## Locations

* Bai Cipu Aeroport
* Bai Cipu Skykeep

## Notable People

* Skylord Atah (759-719 BW)
* Skylord Rinkoth (752-708 BW)
* Utakh, Marquis of Bai Cipu (1215 AW-)