Fantasy Fated Ties: Splintered Kingdoms [ Lore ]

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Fated Ties: Splintered Kingdoms​

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All canon lore can be found here!
Current Status: Work in Progress

 

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Timeline

618 HeThe current year. Qingan weeps: The time of the He has seemingly passed; fanatics and rebels rise up across the Empire to depose their cursed Emperor and re-attain the favour of the Gods. To the North, the Xuefeng mobilise their armies as their great coalition prepares to snap the He in twine and install a new Emperor. In the midlands, the Yu mobilise their armies and stand resolute aside Emperor Xinyi, his unbroken shield which promises to protect the realm and justly execute the his traitorous foes. In the East, the Jiang plot to seize their ancestral claim upon the Jade-Capped Throne as their own once more. All the while, the Sie watch with curious eyes in the South, withholding their allegiance in the interregnum until the initial whirlpool abates and the pieces are set. But the chaos of war forges heroes from the unknown; warlords many and ambitious seize their chance for divinity, rising up to claim the throne for themselves.

617 HeThe Redface Plague, cruel and unfaltering, originated in upper Qingan, spreading death and destruction in its wake. The bodies piled as sickness and hunger ravaged the world; even the conquering great Khagan Yesugei was not spared from the reaper's scythe. His people erected monuments and sang chants of blood—they offered the lives of great warriors and fine steeds—but the sickness could not be tamed. His realm fractured, his sons warring amidst the death to re-unite his great dominion. In the Empire, the people suffered. The plague had spread to encompass all of Qingan, ravaging crops, animals and people alike. For seven months did the sickness kill, but its end would not mark the end of Qingan's troubles. For the winter stocks were drained by the fragile nobility. The Emperor He An abandoned his common subjects and barricaded the Imperial Palace to protect himself, and nobles across the Empire had followed suit. Tens of thousands starved in the winter, and tens of thousands more took up sword and axe in their honour. In the opening of 618 it is announced that the Emperor, He An, has perished despite his cowardice, and his fourteen year–old son He Xinyi is to take over. As chaos and rebellion spread throughout the land, it becomes clear to many that the Mandate of Heaven, the divine right to rule for the Emperor, is lost.

613 HeFollowing the Steppe Wars, the victorious Khagan Yesugei looked southward to the succulent fruit of the Empire. With promises of riches and fame untold, the mighty Horse Lord mounted his powerful steed, the pitch-black Helfen, and led the unified Chandkh clans in the greatest invasion the He Empire has ever seen. Imperial forces rallied at the great fortress of Xiaopei, where the acclaimed Xuefeng Si and the peerless Gao Jun, now in his forty-ninth year, marched to cut off the horde at the Danxi Valley. The fertile valley lay at the forefront of Qingan, and through it ran the main route to the Imperial Province of Aishang and its Capital, Xinghua. There were other routes, but if the Khagan took his horses around, he would allow the empire to consolidate its armies, at which point he would be faced with an incredible force ten or more times more numerous than his own. Instead, the Khagan pressed on. But he had a trick up his sleeve. No mindless warlord was he: Yesugei understood the counter-cavalry tactics the He had used against his people in the past, and so he made preparations to counter them. Further, a significant portion of his forces were dismounted before the battle, having been trained in the ways of the infantryman.

In the He's eyes, it should've been a hopeless battle: Robbed of wide open ground to maneuver and of their cavalry, how could the nomadic horde hope to prevail? But Yesugei's mind was sharper than they knew, his followers loyal and well-organised. Scouts scaled the mountains and took the imperial sentries by night, fashioning flaming chunks of hay-tied rock to barrage the armies in the valley below alongside streams of arrow fire. The unusual opening of the battle unnerved the defending forces, as did the appearance of disciplined formations of infantry clad in iron. The ensuing battle was a decisive victory for the Chandkh, but one tempered by the news that Yesugei's eldest son and one of the mightiest warriors in the entire host, Gugun, had been cut down by some Southerner champion. Gao Jun had met him on the field of battle and slew him.

The retreat of the Imperial force was harried and harassed by Yesugei's warriors at every turn. Xuefeng Si was a skilled general, but Yesugei sent him running at every turn. At word of the defeat, Emperor He An had rallied his personal guards and marched to the aid of Lord Xuefeng. It was in front of the Xuan River that the two forces met. Xuefeng Si wished to continue stalling the Chandkhs and call together the vassals, but Emperor An refused, confident in his forces and unwilling to display weakness by calling for aid. The Imperial Guard took up the centre, with the Emperor assuming effective command of the army. Perhaps the He Dynasty's forces could have prevailed in this battle. At several points, it seemed they might. But after four days of skirmish and battle, of being driven slowly further and further towards the river, Khagan Yesugei led his heavy lancers into a gap in the lines and sent the He running.

The Imperial Guard laid down their lives to get Emperor An safely across the bridge. Xuefeng Si formed a perimeter around the bridge, desperately pushing back assaults to allow more of the army to retreat, but he fell. A brave scion of another noble family rose to command the perimeter and held it for another crucial hour, but he too died, and the perimeter collapsed. Gao Jun held the bridge alone. None passed, but the routing army disappeared into the distance as he fought. Eventually, Yesugei felled him with an arrow to the eye, interrupting his spar with two of the host's champions. Yesugei could not spur his forces on past Gao Jun's body, so fearful were they of him. Instead, another crossing was found some miles down the river. Ever after, that bridge would be named for the man who held it.

Following this humiliating defeat, the Imperial Seat scrambled; they called on every warlord in the Empire to rush to the capital's defense, but how could they hope to outrun the swift horses of the horde? Yesugei's army reached Xinghua far before any warlord could arrive. Hopelessly outnumbered and with his life in peril, Emperor An formally surrendered to the Great Khagan, kissing his boots on the outskirts of the city and laying on the Khagan his own golden robes. He promised a stream of gold and valuables as long as the Khagan lived, in exchange for leaving in peace. To the Khagan's credit, he held to his word. For the next five years, commoner and noble alike would suffer under increased taxes and ruthless measures to meet the demands of this extortionate tribute.

592 - 594 He Known as the "Burning Years", the events of this great crisis were set in motion by a seemingly insignificant disagreement between the Emperor He Zang and a local Governor, a greatly renowned warrior, Tian Jin. The history of Tian Jin is dipped in darkness: originally a mercenary leader responsible for crushing the barbarian incursions in the Northwest Province, appointed by the Emperor out of fear of the man's unpredictability. Tales of his sadism in battle were the spark of the court, but a title would surely assure his loyalty. It didn't take long before Tian Jin began leveraging his cruelty as intimidation against rival courtiers, seemingly unconcerned for the Emperor's power. Tian Jun went so far as to strongarm He Zang's very own betrothed, the beautiful Jia Jia, from his grip. Any self-respecting Emperor would have dealt harshly with such treason, but He Zang was adamant the lion could be tamed. Jia Jia, however, still held affection for her promised catch: the Silk Emperor He Zang. There is another telling, however, which claims that Jia Jia did not love He Zang either, but was merely desperate to escape the depredations of Tian Jin. The truth is lost to time. Whilst He Zang plied Tian Jin with gold and rank, Jia Jia's advances on the love-stricken Emperor became more bold and direct. Tian Jin learned of this and forced himself upon Jia Jia, viciously carving his name into her back.

He Zang's diplomatic efforts were shattered; the outraged Emperor took his personal retinue to apprehend the villain within the Imperial Court. Tian Jin made his move. His mercenary company, attack dogs hardened to be as barbaric and cruel as him, had infiltrated much of the Guard. Though the Imperial Palace was stocked with elite warriors of the He's finest, none could stand against Tian Jin's barbaric rage. He butchered hundreds alongside his traitorous warriors that day, beheading He Zang himself, and forcing Jia Jia to strip naked and carry the decapitated head mounted on a spike all through the streets of Xinghua. Bandits, brigands, criminals and murderers, every man with a dark lust or hatred for order flocked to his black banner. Tian Jin went from town to town looting, burning and pillaging, the warlords rallied armies to combat his rising threat but he was a cunning and tactical strategist, smashing army after army.

it wasn't until He Zang's close friend Yu Wuhan intervened, joined by the heroic Gao Jun, that Tian Jin's cruel rampage came to an end. Yu Wuhan, in a clever play of cat-and-mouse, cornered the ruthless killer in his own lands. Tian Jin's army was smashed by the superior mind and greater numbers amassed by the Yu Dynasty, but the real stories lay in the vicious clashing of Gao Jun and Tian Jin. Clashing like thundering gods they passed 60 bouts and 60 more; the ground where they fought was littered with shattered swords and snapped spears. Gao Jun almost claimed victory when he unhorsed the vile villain, Tian Jin's mount tiring while Gao Jun's unflagging mount, Arrow Hawk, kept its stamina. Gao Jun dismounted and the battle continued on foot. At last, Gao Jun thrust his mighty spear, Shark's Tooth, through Tian Jin's breast. Laughing, the villain launched himself down the spear's shaft and, with inhuman viciousness, gnawed off Gao Jun's ear. Gao Jun's sword flashed to take Tian Jin's head, but the Black-Bannered had taken his prize.

 

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[ history and battles ]​

 

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[ work in progress ] ​

 

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[ work in progress ]​

 

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work in progress​

Important Cities and Places

The Imperial Jewel: XingHua​

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The Port City: Panxing​

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The Fortress: Xiaopei​

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The Former Capital: Ancheon​

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The He Empire

Current Emperor: He Xinyi [ son of He An ]
Previous Emperors: He An and He Zhang [ no heirs ]
Imperial Province: Aishang
Imperial City | Jewel: Xinghua

 

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The Kingdom

The JiangHead of Household: Jiang Ming
Seat of Power: Ancheon
Capital City: Ancheon
Province | Region: Shanggu [ East ]
Known For: Realm Size - Strong Military - Imperial Claimant - Farmlands - Populous

The fertile, rolling farmlands and deep inland seas of the east are the domain of the Jiang, the previous sitters of the Jade-Capped Throne. Hundreds of years ago, the Empire was centred in the east of its current Seat of Power Aishang, with the western riverlands being the newest provinces added to the Empire scant decades ago. But the Jiang's reign, as all things, had a time of ending. The He were weak in the Imperial Court, but early exploitation of the rich riverlands and a mass collection of minerals harvested through quarries and mines, had given them rich and populous lands. Lord He Chen was ambitious and beloved by many nobles and officials, seeking the throne for his own family. When they marched on the Imperial Seat of Ancheon with an army three, Emperor Xue Yu opened the gates of Aishang, the Imperial Capital at the time, and welcomed He Chen into the city. Wisely, He Chen accepted Emperor Yu's abdication with grace, and saw fit to grant the Jiang privileges and great respect, turning Shanggu into the only kingdom of the Empire. But now, as the He falter, King Jiang Ming schemes in Ancheon seeking to reclaim what once belonged to his family so long ago. His realm is populous and fertile, and his supporters many. But all too many of them lack loyalty or substance, merely seeking to ride the Jiang's prestigious coattails.

 

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The Three Main Families

Yu Dynasty

Head of Household: Yu Wuhan
Seat of Power: Qiyuan
Capital City: Qiyuan
Province | Region: Gangsong [ Far South ]
Known For: Imperial Influence - Industry - Realm Size

Based in the far south, with a vast amount of industrial land and influence; Yu is renowned for its strong leadership and influential politics in court, they've amassed land and power throughout the last few decades by pandering to the Imperial Throne as hardcore loyalists, even with the Empire on the brink of collapse they still act as resolute defenders of the He. Yu Wuhan has always been a personal mentor to the young Emperor and had strong ties of friendship with his father, He An. As one of the few loyalists, the Empire has awarded the Yu with additional lands and titles since the decimation wrought by the Great Khagan and now the Yu Dynasty teeters on the edge of war; The Emperor's Shield stands resolute.

Xuefeng Dynasty

Head of Household: Xuefeng Zan
Seat of Power: Xiaopei
Capital City: Xiaopei
Province | Region: Suxiang [ Northwestern ]
Known for: Military - Coalition - Military Society

Xuefeng has always danced on the pinnacle of might among the warlords, based in the northwestern provinces, their militarised society in response to nomadic raids has always seen the pressure of defence fall on them. Though the north has many warlords with this duty, Xuefeng is the mightiest and thus shoulders the most responsibility, as the Sie are charged with the Seas, so too are Xuefeng the guardians of the biggest stretch of the northern frontiers. A powerful faction, with many great fortresses and a sprawling castle-city known as Xiaopei as the seat of their power, Xuefeng was formerly the strongest force in Suxiang Province, however, the utter decimation of their forces at the hands of the great Khagan and the following plague saw their fortunes and numbers dwindled, a fortunate occasion for the Emperor, as the capitulation of Emperor Xinyi caused an outrage, Xuefeng Zan and other northern frontier guardians were quick to renounce allegiance to the Empire and many of the smaller warlords followed Xuefeng in a coalition to oppose the Empire

Sie Dynasty

Head of Household: Sie Zhuan
Seat of Power: Sinyeong
Capital City: Sinyeong
Province | Region: Qinzou
Known For: Navy - Trade - Whaling

A sprawling network of interconnected trade and tariffs, the Sie is perhaps the most self-made among the Warlords, rising through depravity from nought but a small fishing village - their brave settlers and sailors took to the pirate-ridden seemingly inhospitable islands of the south, the mighty Sie Xui, a normal fishermen with an ambition for glory, is held a hero for his colonization of the isles - using nothing but raw wit and trickery he was able to take his common whalers and villagers from encampment to encampment, luring the bandit strongholds out into vast fields of traps. After a month of mysteriously violent murders, the bandits fled the isles for fear of a curse - and a sprawling network of new villages sprung up. In the years since the surrounding more disconnected isles have been brought into the fold at the Imperial Throne's behest; naming Sie, perhaps fittingly, Guardians of the Sea.

 

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Important Characters

Gao Jun, a famed retainer of the He Dynasty, born from no special background, a minor title retained by a minor noble, but rose to importance through his prodigious ability with a spear. It was said that Gao Jun could break an infantry formation singlehandedly, and that the mountains themselves quaked in fear of his wrath. Though he had no head for the politics of the Jade Palace and only the advice of wiser heads for tactics, his combative ability rocketed him to importance in the Imperial Court. He would frequently be attached to armies, with a division of elite troops to accompany him, obliterating all who stood against him with divine fury befitting a man-made God.

When he found love among the nobility and proposed marriage, none would gainsay him. And when he retired from court to spend time with his family, none dared speak against the move. Two children he had. Each grew up on the tales of their father, and each desired to be as him. Both put everything they were into their study, but it is said that none could equal him among the warriors of the world. For who could match the Warrior Peerless Below Heaven?

But Fate would conspire against his peace, for the Great Khagan Yesugei had set his sights on the Empire's wealth. Gao Jun answered his Emperor's call. At the Battle of Danxi Valley, Gao Jun slew the Khagan's eldest son, said to be unstoppable with a lance. When the Imperial forces were routed against the Xuan River, Gao Jun held the bridge alone to cover his Emperor's retreat. Thousands of Chandkhs fell to his spear, dozens of Chankh heroes, great warriors all. But even Gao Jun was human. He fought until his body was so sapped of vitality that his spear barely stayed in his hand, but even still he fell. Yesugei's army dared not pass the bridge, even under the eye of their Khagan, and to this day it is said that any force that passes that bridge will suffer great misfortune, as the manifest might of Gao Jun curses their steps.

 

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Hierarchy of Government

Province: A province is overseen by an Inspector, who has no direct legislative powers but the ear of the Imperial Court and a number of privileges. They have advisory and inspection duties, inspecting and advising the Prefects while reporting and recommending to the Imperial Court. However, in times of crisis an Inspector may invoke emergency powers, granting themselves the authority to arrest Prefects, gather the armies of the prefectures and duchies under them to combat a threat, or a number of other acts. There are ten Provinces in the Empire, including the Imperial Province overseen directly by the Imperial Court. On the death or gross failure of an Inspector, another Inspector is appointed from the bureaucracy.

Kingdom: There is only one kingdom, belonging to the Jiang. Its ruler is titled 'King', and it is about the same as a province in size. It is run similarly to a province as well, but there are a number of posts that are appointed by the Imperial Court directly, to avoid the King having too much independence. On the death of the King, the title stays within their family. The eldest living male child inherits. If none, then the eldest living female child. If none, then the process repeats for their children's children (eldest son's eldest son > eldest child's second son ... youngest daughter's youngest daughter), and then for the King's siblings, and finally their sibling's children. If there's none in all of that then something's really fucked and the Imperial Court gets involved. This is the same succession that the Imperial Family uses, and all Land Dukes.

Prefecture: A prefecture is overseen by a Prefect. A Prefect has direct administrative and limited legislative powers. They are an appointed role, and as such can be replaced at any time with a simple appointment of another official on the current Prefect's death. There are normally seven prefectures or duchies in a province, with the exact balance varying but never favouring duchies. The Imperial Province, however, has nine, due to the greater importance of the Court compared to an Inspector.

Duchy: A duchy is overseen by a Land Duke, a dynastic position inherited by family on death, contrary to a Prefect's appointed replacement. A duchy is technically ruled by the Imperial Emissary, but the Land Duke having appointment powers over most low-level and some high-level posts in court means he's largely in control. Land Duke is also different from a Prefect in that a Prefect gets a fixed wage from the Imperial Court, while the Land Duke takes a portion of the tax revenue from his duchy. A duchy is always part of a province, with the Land Duke suborned to an Inspector. Land Dukes are sometimes also referred to as 'warlords', referring to the increased military demands imposed upon duchies. That is, duchies are required to submit almost none of their revenue as tax, but are required to maintain a strong standing military and to give the Imperial Court use of three-fifths of their levy.

Governorate: A governorate is ruled by a Governor, a role equivalent to a Prefect for a prefecture, simply with narrower powers and lower rank. There are normally four governorates in a prefecture, though a few have five or six due to increased importance.

Regardless of rank and authority, all civil servants and nobles are sworn first and foremost to their Emperor, and every one is technically a direct vassal of him.

 

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Religion

The mainland worships the Dragon Texts which is based on Thirteen Dragons. The Dragon Texts carry an aspect of life and existence and are considered holy books. These texts do not preach what is right and what is wrong but are guidelines and steps into the path of life you desire as this religion is based on the idea that you should choose your own path.

There are thirteen sections which are devoted to a dragon. Listed below are the sections that make up the dragon text:

-War
-Rulership
-Nature
-Faith
-Asceticism
-Justice
-Peace
-Charity
-Kindness
-Learning
-Duty
-Honour
-Resolve

In essence, the Dragon texts are considered educational books on the various dragons and what they entail. The person will choose their own dragon based on experience and synergy. Each of the Thirteen Dragons would be a path someone would walk down. As a person develops, they find a Dragon whose ideals and tenets resonate most strongly with them, and depending on their piety they could go anywhere from taking it as their patron to dedicating themselves to the path of that Dragon.

On the other hand, a heretical offshoot exists where the people believe the Thirteen Dragons are all aspects of a single divine dragon rather than separate. The concept that one could only walk down one path and imitate one Dragon would be the reason why the Jade Dragon, the Dragon-In-One, would be so reviled because thinking one can walk in the footsteps of all Thirteen is the height of impious hubris.

Lastly, in the south, Shintoism from Kumanai is still practised.