BAOLEI

Baolei is a strong and ruthless nation. While under the constant threat of many foes, it remained standing and a force to be reckoned with. Its people are enduring and what once was an inhospitable land became a prosperous empire.

## BAOLEI

### Demography

* 52% Humans
* 12% Halflings
* 10% Dwarves
* 8% Tengus
* 7% Kitsunes
* 4% kobolds
* 3% Half-orcs
* 4% Others

## History

Baolei was likely the first civilization to appear on Suidae. They descend from the first tribes who started building permanent settlements in the Southern regions more than a thousand year ago. Spreading and colonizing a large part of the East of the Continent.

Soon, they started needing more space to expand and turned their gaze North. On the upper part of the region, the tribes had stayed nomadic and inorganized. Seize their lands for themselves wouldn't be so hard, so they chased them off. Claiming their land and making them retreat further North.

This enraged the Northern tribes who assembled to declare war on the birthing nation of Baolei. For centuries, they fought over the land. While casualties were on both sides, the superior resources and manufacturing of Baolei made victory impossible for the Northern men, who were loosing terrain each year. To make it worse for them, Baolei had become expert in fortification and built many fortresses and fortified positions where the barbarians could only crash uppon hopelessly.

After years of war, the victory of Baolei was almost undeniable. The men of the North were pushed back to the Desolation, an inhospitable land of frost and stone, while the nation had spread across hundreds of miles. However, this was short-lived. The nation had spread far and wide, but this lead to encounters with new foes. From the Mounts of Sorrow, raids of Drows started pouring upon the realm, pillaging, kidnapping and sapping defenses of many towns and villages. At the same time, the Western deforestation of the Verdant Jungle to acquire more arable land made them encounter many tribes of elves. These elves saw the destruction of their sacred land as a blasphemy and answers with sword and magic, plummeting and raising lots of western settlements.

Now attacked on all fronts, Baolei was stretched too far to answer all attacks and started crumbling upon itself. But as all seemed lost, a lone man appeared to the council of the nation. The figure promised them victory over all their aggressors, and in exchange, they would make him the emperor of Baolei. Struck by his strength and charms, the council accepted, and the man got to work. It took him only months to reclaim all the lost land and chase off the intruders. Displaying tactical genius and great powers, the enemies were fended off one by one, sometime battle didn't need to happen as their campement had been mysteriously drowned by a flood of acid during the night.

The drows were sent back to their holes in the mountains, the elves of the jungle slaughtered chased off and the Northern barbarians funneled away into the unwanted lands of the Desolation, a gigantic wall built at its entrance to prevent them from ever coming back. The mysterious man named Tianhuang got elevated as the emperor of Baolei, and his first decree was that as long as he reigned, he would be the God of these lands.

A great palace was erected in his name in the city of Xzheng, along the Shenyu River. This city became the capital and cultural center of the empire. People come from all over the country to pray and ask guidance to the supreme God Emperor.

## Culture

The nation of Baolei is very militarized. Every citizen is given the basics of fighting to defend themselves and protect their families at an early age. Many pursue additional instruction once adult to serve their nation. Perfection of the body is seen as a virtue, and while magic is tolerated, the way of the warrior is the most prized. This environment fosters a lot of great fighters and skilled combattants.

Honor and duty play a significant part in their daily life. Citizens are expected to honor their home and their ancestors. A person who fails this duty will be shamed and depending on the gravity may even be exiled or executed. A model citizen will usually defend their home to their last breath.

The god Emperor Tianhuang is the rightful ruler of these lands and any who disobey his sacred laws will be disgraced, or worse. He is both leader and god of the nation. Devotion to him is mandatory even for those who follow another deity, generally Wushu or Yishu.

Even so, the people of Baolei still enjoy the pleasures of life. Their cities are grandiose and beautiful, with architecture defying even the most prestigious places of Cielargent. Many people there become artisans, perfecting their craft all their life. Artistry, fashion and food are of delicate taste.

The drows of the mountains regularly raid Baolei settlements to pillage, murder and abduct. One the other side of the country, continued destruction of the Verdant Jungle to make towns and fields has enraged its elven inhabitants and the empire is at constant war with them. Because of this, every citizen is being endoctrinated from an early age to despise all elves. Everyone knows someone, or knows someone who knows someone who has been kidnapped in the cover of the night or their farm burnt to ashes by these abominable creatures and the simple sight of pointy ears is enough to put most on edge.

## Relations

There is a rivalry between Baolei and Cielargent. The two have never been in an open conflict, but tensions may rise from time to time.

Overall, Baolei prefers to deal with its own problems and rarely engages in politics with other nations. There is trade however, especially with Mahakal from which they get most of their magical wares.

The nation is in a constant conflict with the barbarians of the Desolation and the drows of the underdark.

## Landscape

Most if not all settlements in Baolei have two major characteristics: a walled exterior and a dedication to aesthetic. The people take good care of their homes, decorating it and making sure it is pleasing to the eye. Many houses are of elegant structure and garnished with bamboo, carved stone and flowers.

The people of Baolei have a deep respect toward nature. They think the land is alive and willingly provides them with the food and shelter they require if they give back in return. This relation really shows. The land is full of verdant forests and luxuriant vegetation. Inside cities and towns, entire parts are dedicated to gardens and parks. Citizens are expected to care for these places in their own free time.

Outisde the walls there are vast plains and green hills in the Northern part. While the Mounts of Sorrow and the extreme North are cold and dry, most of the country is leaning on the tropical climate. The territory ends within the Verdant Jungle at the East and the Merciless Swamps in the South. Both places are deemed too inhospitable to establish settlements, and the ones who do are few and far between.

## Locations

* Xzheng, the capital city
* The Verdant Jungle
* The Merciless Swamps
* The Mounts of Sorrow
* The Desolation
* Sai Yuan wall