Sheiley

## Introduction

Close to the Xilian realm, Sheiley lies in the heart of the Celestial Empire. It is also known as the *Red Kingdom, Land of the White River, Realm of the West* or *Dominion of Heavens*. They are the wealthiest and perhabs most influencial of Prefecti, being closely tied to the imperial court.

## History

#### Reign of the First Celestial Empire

What ensued where almost three thousand years of peace. Although the First Celestial Empire suffered from the war against Remujin and his Otogaoi hordes aswell as a few Geungaoi colonies; most of the large population lived on in peace and harmony. Slowly but constantly the humans drove back the wild woods and the spirits that ruled it. Malach and her priests bound them together, creating the dragon-god *Zoshor*. Under the supervision of Malach, Zoshor and the Eternals of Xilian they urbanised the land, cutting down almost all of the woods and tamed the white river.

## Culture

### The Aggrieved

It is common practice across the entire xyrillian west to offer those sentenaced to death to lose their minds instead of their lifes. A mage will clear their minds until they become willingly vessels of the commands of others, mindless servants that do anything they are told. These are known as the *Aggrieved*, servants to the people. They have no rights can be commanded to perform any desired task, no matter how difficult or humilitating.

In Sheiley this has become a very widespread form of punishment, often sentenced for the most harmless of crimes like stealing. For that reason every larger city has several Aggrieved, serving the population for their upcoming tasks. It is very common for outcasts or poor to take an Aggrieved as spouse or aid for their daily needs. This has created a form of slavery in Sheiley and many people undergo the process of cleansing their minds for economic reasons rather then justifiable ones. Many miners, crafters and wenches are Aggrieved aswell. The Ming nobility takes this practice even further. Almost all of their servants are Aggrieved and the mages train them to only obey the commands of specific nobles. Although they are more trustworthy and efficient then most servants, every noble keeps a few regular servants around for more complex tasks.

### Food

The diet of Sheileys royalty is mostly vegetarian. They do not wish to sully themselves with the meat of unclean beasts that live with peasents and lowborn scum. No nobles wishes to eat animals in the reach of their subjects, including the fish that is essential for regions close to coasts of rivers. While Sheileys wildlife has been driven almost extinct, they often import venison from other Prefecti. The favoured dish of most nobles is whale or dolphin however, as it is increadibly hard to catch and transport over long distances.

### Eunuchs

Eunuchs are an essential part of Sheiley and the Celestial Empire. Their castration symbolises the devotion to their chosen lord or lady rather then a their family, children or bloodline. Furthermore their minds are cleansed from the demands of flesh, making them far more rational and focussed on the task at hand. Most eunuchs hold high positions within the royal courts of Xyrillia. The highest position they can achieve is that of a supreme administrator, advisor or commander. The most esteemed eunuchs are castrated during their childhood and trained and educated their entire lifes to reach their chosen position. Most eunuchs have an increadible education, common knowledge and intelligence. Despite such highly esteemed posts there are many rulers who only accept eunuchs as servants for their wifes of men to ensure they stay loyal. A good example is the Ethyrions harem whose members are only allowed to speak or interact with eunuchs. The process of castration is enacted on both women and men in Xyrillia.

While eunuchs are an essential part of the imperial administration, they are held in even higher regard in Sheiley. Here eunuchs are the only ones who are allowed to take administrative positions, lead armies or become bureaucrats. The Ming believe that only eunuchs bring fourth the necessairy devotion to efficently fufill a task.

### Royalty

The royalty of Sheiley excels at depraved luxury and immeasurable wealth. It is proscribed to do administrative or physical work. The nobility of Sheiley is supposed to harvest to fruits of their subjects, raveling in the perfection of human existence they represent. The Dragonlord is the representant of all of Sheiley and chosen among the Grand Princes; these are among four rulers which represent a region of Sheiley while a Draconian represents a large city and the surrounding villages and towns. Most nobles live the lifes of philosophers, artisans or travelers. Only few of them participate in the actual politics and those that do mostly deal with their own esteem and the continuation of their bloodline.

### Quey Ryu

Quey Ryu, *Heavenly Balance*, is an idealised state all imperials strive to realize. Quey Ryu is the state in which the *heavens above*, the *darkness below* and the *realm of earth* in its midst must be for harmony to come fourth. It is a state demanded by the gods and the goal of every noble, eunuch and peasent across the Prefecti of Xyrillia to uphold and defend. Part of the Quey Ryu are the imperials laws which must be enforced in every Prefecti.

Every region in Xyrillia has a different interpretation of what Quey Ryu must look like. Yet Sheiley has by far the most developed vision with concrete demands that must be upheld. The first of them is the trinity of rulership. Each of the three pillars of leadership must be present and equally powerful. The eunuchs are the first pillar and must administer and controll the fates; the priesthood as the second pillar must determine the will of heavens and maintain balance through the Path of the Mind and the Path of the Spirits; the nobility as the last pillar must be the representatives of their people and harvest the fruits of their labour. Other aspects include peace amongst neighbours, the laws of the Celestial Empire and equality of race and sex.

## Sheiley

### Cities

The west of Xyrillia has a unique form of architecture. Lacquer is very prominent in Xyrillia in general as its used to make materials harder, water resistent and visibly pleasing. Yet the paint makers of Sheiley are renowned as the best of the world, mixing bright colors with minerals, salts and biological components they can make wood as hard as iron while sterilising it and coloring it in exotic patterns. The houses in Sheiley are mostly build from wood, bamboo and clay; yet through lacquering it they become durable. Even the houses of peasents are a bright sight to behold, should the lacquer been applied correctly. Wealthier houses decorated with paintings of increadibly strong color and detail. Dedicated halls are painted and laqcuered in specific styles to display their purpose. Factories and craftinghalls are painted with images of workers, farmers and wide farmland doing their daily deeds. Armories and barracks display historic battles and legendary warriors on their walls and pillars. Brothels show exotic beauties and carnal imageries to foretaste of the pleasures within. Bathouses are painted with the images of kaianic hot springs and calm oceans. Shops dedicated to pleasentries often display divine gardens and growing trees. The most impressive buildings are the temples however. They combine the sacred alphabet of Xyrillia with unbelievably detailed artworks displaying the incomprehensable beauty of the heavens.

**Shaotai**

The royal city of Shaotai is perhabs the richest in all of Xyrillia. Wealthy from every Prefectum flows into its streets, making luxury and beauty a ubiquitous sight in every alley. It is also known as the *city of dragons* of the *city of the twin towers.* Shaotai is small compared to other cities, yet on such small scale they have amassed more riches then any other place in Xyrillia, let alone holy Xilian itself. Every stone in Shaotai is painnted and its walls are decorated with golden dragons that have eyes of white jade and fangs of Leyriel. Most of its population is enleveled and wealthy and every third inhabitant can trace its blood back on a distant noble. The majority of the city is only accessable for Ming, let alone mercenaries and travelers that bought a temporary pass or ambassadors from other Prefecti. Only its sixt district is acessable for outlanders and dedicated to trade and the purchase of all luxury goods the city needs. In the core of every other district lies a small garden with silk pavillions and ponds of sacred water blooming with fish. The largest garden surrounds the central palace and is filled with exotic life from countless worlds aswell as the rarest plants and animals one can find in Xyrillia. The most impresse of these are the Shaotai drakes, a breed of dragons that escaped xyrillian spears and is keept as guardians and pets. They are under the permanent controll of a mage and wear golden jewelry embellished with Ley-Stones. These dragons are smaller and weaker then their wild cousins, yet they tower even above Giondar and are a dreadful sight in battle. They attack in order to defend Sheiley or accompany its masters on their travels. The palace itself dwarves any other in the entire dimension exept the palace of Xilian. The main palace is of Pratonian construction but has been modernised to serve the royalties needs. Between the palace rise two mausoleums, that of empress *Jai Shei* and her son emperor *Jai Song*, both exact counterparts. Here the god Zoshor, also known as the dragongod, resides. At day he rests in the tomb of the mother and at night in that of the son. The god itself speaks to the priests assembled in the giant tombs and under their powers the strongest of Cotians are animated and set out to protect the city. The Dragonfire cotians, made from black jade, are the main guards of the city and chase after any fell being or criminal they sense with ther spiritual powers.

**Canjan**

The Strait of Sanchai is the gate to the heart of Xyrillia and Canjan is its protector. The gigantic city houses over 2 million people and is among the largest in the entire dimension. Its main purpose is to serve as a blockade against naval attacks who threaten Sheiley and it excells at this task. In the east the city is connected to the wall of Saoleng which is guarded by thousands and patrolled day and night. To its west lie the Sidaian swamps which stretch over a hundread kilometers in any direction and are almost impossible to traverse on anything that is not a Goindar. On the waterside it is protected by three naval walls which lead to Canjans giant bronze gates, even larger then those at the Gate of Sai in Saoleng. Behind these walls lies the *City of Wonders*. It is possibly the largest trade city in all of Xyrillia, being the only port of Sheileys north. Yet it is not only enriched by the profitable trade with Ilishai and Osho but also the only city in Sheiley that allows traders from other worlds to peddle their goods. Foreign wonders, exotic spices and animals are sold on Canjans large street markets while cartels and black markets fester in the sewers. Canjan is well known for its golden alleys and wealthy districts housing the richest merachants and foreign ambassadors, yet it is its poor and overrun fisher districts, crowded with thugs, smugglers and thieves that make up the vast majority of Canjan, stretching across uncounted miles in washed out or scraped of colors.

**Dragonhold**

The city of Dragonhold was build around the giant tomb of Emperor *Jan Jei the Wise.* Inside this towering complex with its hulking spire almost touching the clouds, the mumified body of the former Ethyrion can be visited as it has become an object of worship. The influencial priesthood uses his tomb to conjure the somme of the most potent of spirits all of Sheiley has to offer into befitting Cotians. It is also the seat of the Celestial *Fengley*. Around the mausoleum strechtes a large city that consists of thousands of houses, factories and crafting halls. Dragonhold is not only regarded sacred but also a city of labour and industry, mass-producing weapons, armor and equipment. Its man factory lies close to the white river and is a foundry that produces canons and Ji-blades. Despite the military aspect of Dragonhold the city is renowned for its paint makers producing the most exotic colors and stronges lacquer in all of Xyrillia.

**Cora**
The city was build upon the ruins of a pratonian burial temple. It was flooded and buried long time ago and when settlers moved to the sight they had forgotten what lay underneath the mud. They found the location on anicent maps yet the only merit of the place seemed to be its natural clay and stone aswell as its key position. After the city had developed, builders stumbled upon the ruins under their feet. Inside they found gigantic temples and burial halls containing the corpses and sleeping bodies of over one hundread Pratonians. Although the city has expanded way into the underground and into most of these ruins, the central tombs are sealed and guarded day and night by a watch of *Immortal Guardians* from Xilian and Vulu Kai from Nawanga.

**Woeford**
It was at this ford that the Pratonian armies, lead by Vvind, bested the Xyrillian legions for the first time and where able to sweep into Xyrillias heart. The battlefield was forgotten and rediscovered during the reign of the Third Celestial Empire. The ancient weaponry and metals burried under the muddy waters and surrounding wetlands proved to be far more numerous then originally estimated. Woeford became one of the main hubs for industry and foundries. It produces every third weapon used by the Imperial Army aswell as countless tools used for agriculture and construction. Although they have already melted down every weapon they could find, the surrounding swamps and flat lands proved to be rich in iron and silver, supplying Woefords industry with a constant stream of metal.

**Azul**

The overflown city of Azul is the hub for southern trade. It exchanges goods with Saoleng, Caowei, the Mangrove Coast and the Kaianai aswell as being the center for expeditions of Yokura. While the cities core and stone palace and wealthy and of unmatched beauty, the majority of the city rundown, dirty and overgrown. For most tribesmen of the Mangrove Coast it is the gate to civilisation and while the lords of Azul wont allow them passage into Sheiley itself, they can not stop them from settling around Azul itself as it is surrounded by their territoriy. This way the cities heart is surrounded by an ocean of wooden houses and huts streatching beyond the land and far into the waters on rickety bridges and planks, held together by large stilts. These houses, either build over to waters or simply swiming in it, often block Azuls great ports. The cities guards destroys them without any respite to make way for large trade ships.

**Wolung**

The former garrison of Wulong quickly developed into a large city as more and more guards began to settle there and move their families to the southern wall of Sheiley. Without a proper thread to face for the last hundreads of years, the cities garrison has been reduced to a minimum and its falls are in a terrible state. What blooms is the trade with Saoleng however, as this city is the main gate between the two regions. It grew quite wealthy on the tribute they demand for travelers and merchants. What started as mere bribery for smugglers who wished to use the land rather then the sea route to reach Sheiley has now developed into an official custom. While the imperial administration forbids this practice and still upholds the ambition to use Wolung as a garrison, no one has ever taken an action against the wealthy publicans ruling the city.

**Tigergate**

This giant bastion has grown into a city due to the countless soldiers that decided to settle there due to being stationed too long inside of its walls. Both Saoleng and **Sheiley** fought for controll over this key position. Jan Jei the wise finally decided that the city would remain neutral and both sides had to contribute half of its garrison. Tigergate is extremly large and build on the westside of the *Wall of the East*. Multiple houses stack over each other being build into the stone. Below there are slum-like houses hosting milita and peasents that farm the nearby land.

### Mausoleums

When an Ethyrion dies, his body will be brought to a mausoleum, a giant tomb. Their bodies are mumified with sacred parchments, decorated with jewelry and Leyriel and preserved with special operations and sterilizing pastures. While an Etyhrion is the living connection between the three realms, the *Heavens above*, the *Darkness below* and the *Realm of Earth* in its midst, his corpse functions as an anchor between the middle realm and the heavens. It is believed that once every Mausolem is destroyed, the *realm of earth* will loose its connection to the heavens and cast into eternal darkness. Their burial places are sacred places, worshipped by thousands. Every Mausoleum consists of a hulking outer temple that hosts the priesthood taking care of the Ethyrions corpse and the riches he amassed in life which are now stored with his corpse; and the central spire. It is increadibly high and designed to be as close to the divine heavens above, forging an symbolic connection with the earth. On the base of the spire lies the mumified body of the Ethyrion. These Mausoleums are so costly to build that constructions usually starts decades before the Ethyrions death, while he takes an active role in its planning and design.

According to tradition most emperors build their Mausoleum close to the place they where born. For that reason Sheiley is filled with countless of these sacred tombs as most emperors are either born there or prefer to erect their tomb closeby where its cheaper and easier to administer.

A Mausoleum is usually in the hands of the priesthood and far away from cilisation, surrounded by defenses and large fields to supply the tombs inhabitants and visitors.

While the tomb is a symbolic anchor between earth and the heavens, it is also a beacon for the spirits which are empowered by the worship surrounding these spires. Only in the tomb of an Ethyrion can the sacred Cotians be animated and spirits bound to them.

## Economy

###  Major trade goods

* Tools and equipment
* Weapons (Spears, Blades, Shields)
* Armor (Paper, Lai, Steel, Platinum)
* Laqucer
* Luxury Goods
* Ley Stones
* Food

### Minor trade goods

* Canons
* Crossbows

### Agricultural products

* Rice
* *Lyse*
* Cottages
* Leek
* Soy
* Legumes

## Armies

Sheiley mainly relies on the Imperial Army and the first and second brigade for its protection. It only keeps few troopes of its own and most are simply trained to enforce the imperial ranks.

### Units

**Mindless Ones-** The first line of attack is usually made up by criminals who lost the right to their mind. Chosen mages will give them a set of clear orders that will force them into a certain directions with their weapons made ready. Although they fight in a rather clumsy and predictable manner, they do not flee or surrender, knowing neither pain nor fear. Without a will of their own they fight and die under the command of the lords they betrayed.

**Sheiley Pikemen-** Those which exceed during their early recruitment training may take the role of Sheiley Pikemen. They are by far the most effective unit both on expenses and effectivness. Pikemen wear heavy steel armor and are armed with Ji-pikes. These increadibly long weapons can block off arrows when held up straight like a forest of spearshafts. When used enemies are kept on a safe distance aswell as being effective against all types of enemies including cavalry. During battle the first row of warriors kneels down, holding their pikes in an almost horizontal line. The second row holds their spears on head-height while the thirds moves them down, ready to reinforce gaps in the spearwall. Should enemies come close enough so that some soliders may not be able to use their pikes any more they may switch to their secondary smallswords.

**Lion and Leopard Guard-** They are the most elite infantry Sheiley brings fourth. They are fiercly loyal mostly serve as bodyguards for royals or their enforces on the battlefield. Each of them is clad in lamellar platinum armor and armed with match-lock glaives. Similar to the weaponry of Xilians Immortal Guardians, their weapons can fire armor piercing shots before engaging into brutal close combat. As a secondary weapon they are armed with a short sword and a dagger. Their armor is so thick and protective it even withstands most explosives and gunfire while still being relativly mobile. The biggest danger on the battlefield for such an infanterist is the heat that accumulates in their armor.

**Warriors of Heaven-** These elites mostly consist of Vulu Kai or warriors which excell during their training. They are clad in steel or platinum and armed with the mightiest weapons. On their helmets sits a large Ley-Stone which allows a mage to controll them on the battlefield. They move like mindless puppets, yet only the most skilled mindshifters animate them to make full use of their martial prowess. They outmatch most enemies and their brutal strength and fearless resolve makes them almost unbeatable. They will die without a choice and sacrificed if necessairy. It is a great honor to be chosen such a warrior, as it is commonly believed that the gods themselves guide a warriors movement and guide them to victory, massivly boosting the moral of surrounding companions.

**Dragonfire Cotians-** These statues are made from steel and jade. Animated by sacred spirits they rage across the battlefield, armed with two Ji-axes or a ironoak-warbow. Their armor is impenetrable as the only real way to harm them is to attack the spirit in their inside with magical means. Dragonfire Cotians are the smallest and weakest among their kin, yet they are increadibly numerous and their weaponry is far better quality then that of any other. Since Sheiley has the most sacred tombs they can raise the most Cotians, allwoing them to be fielded in large quantities. Yet the Shaotai Cotains, made from black jade, are far stronger then their kin across the wider lands. They are few and can only be created in Sheileys captial, yet they are stronger, faster and more resilient then any other Cotian let alone the Triceblessed of Xilian. Shaotai Cotians weild two swords, each the size of a man.

**Divine Pavillion**- On the battlefield xyrillian nobles have many ways to move, be it on horseback or a chariot. Yet the most desirable way is the divine pavillon. It is build like a giant crab with countless legs made from marmor, jade or metal and has a large pavillion made from the palest wood and the most delicate silk on its back. It is a common way of traveling for a noble as it fits multiple seats and places for guards or servants to stand. In times of battles these constructs, animated by sacred spirits, are also of common use. The outer shell is almost impenetrable and the Cotian moves without tiring, crushing opponents under its sharp legs. On its back sits a general surrounded by its elite bodyguard, either armed with Longglaives or crossbows.