Qinchao — The Iron Lotus

The largest city in Chen Province is Qinchao, often called The Iron Lotus for the way its beauty rises from stark, unforgiving terrain. Built along the rocky banks of the River Yulan, Qinchao thrives amidst jagged hills veined with iron, copper, and rarer ores that have fed its smelters and guilds for centuries. Massive foundries line the outskirts, belching steam and sparks, while caravans heavy with raw stone or refined ingots trundle through its fortified gates.

Yet within those sturdy walls, Qinchao is far from a grim industrial sprawl. Grand halls of lacquered timber and intricate ironwork stand beside vibrant markets where jewelers, weapon-smiths, and alchemists display their dazzling crafts. Shrines dedicated to spirits of metal and flame are draped in prayer slips and coils of incense, their courtyards echoing with chants for prosperity and protection.

As the cultural and political heart of Chen, Qinchao also serves as a meeting ground for the ambitious. Delegates from mining consortia, martial academies like Highcano, and far-flung merchant houses gather here to negotiate contracts or secure apprenticeships. Its famed dueling arenas draw hopefuls from across the empire, each eager to prove themselves beneath the towering banners of the city’s great clans.

In Qinchao, the promise of fortune and renown burns bright — but so too does the risk of rivalry, betrayal, and the consuming fires of ambition.