Shangdu

The Old Dragon

Located in the shadow of the Wall, Shangdu stands as a formidable stronghold, home to the last remnants of the Shyah, Rong, and Yue peoples under the rule of the dwindling Hishan government. Once the robust kernel and political heart of Hishan's proud military empire, it now styles itself as the guardian of the Yulai region. Members of the former Hishan government, clinging to power, maintain an iron grip over the city with their strict legalist policies, all under the watchful eye of Regent Jin Wu. Known as the 'Dragon of Shangdu' for his draconian policies and fearsome reputation, Jin Wu, celebrated for his military exploits before The Fall, is in truth a reclusive and potent sorcerer. He has devoted his unnaturally long life to centralizing and codifying the authority of the Hishan under a single, oppressive bureaucratic system.

The Clay Guardians

Despite the myriad soldiers and officials loyal to him, dissent brews within the bastion. This unrest is managed by mass-produced clay soldiers called Shouwei, which patrol the city enforcing Jin Wu’s stringent legalist code and serving as his omnipresent eyes and ears. Those who oppose him are banished to the mines and workshops beneath the city, amidst the ruins of ancient Yu'Xang and old Hishan, where new Shouwei are ceaselessly forged.
The Undermarket Below the city, within the vast workshops, the poorest citizens dwell among the remnants of old Yu'Xang. Here, lively open-pit markets and cramped workshops buzz with life, a stark contrast to the orderly and controlled surface above. Ironically, it is here, in the birthplace of the Shouwei clay, where dissent, dereliction of duty, and illicit activities thrive.  

The Shyah Officials

The Shyah: Predominantly occupying the city’s upper echelons of bureaucrats, dignitaries, and officials, the Shyah deeply revere their ancestors, believing that spirits of the deceased exert direct and daily influence over their lives. They value introspection and maintain a playful irreverence towards life's conditions, all within a strict and elaborate system of codified deference designed to ensure harmony and order. This blend of legalist and spiritual rituals fuels much of Shyah culture, where daily ancestral guidance is sandwiched between ritualized interactions to prevent potential conflict. They excel in ceremonial magic, and an unusually high number of Shyah own or record writings, focusing on bureaucratic documentation and family histories. Elders, often potent magic users, enforce ancient laws and customs to stave off the scrutiny of Shouwei and government officials.

The Honorbound Rong

The Rong: Hailing from the rural west, the Rong maintain a strong spirit of individuality despite Hishan's longstanding efforts to assimilate them into Shyah society. They see the spirit world as a reflection of nature itself, valuing valor, honor, and loyalty. They have embraced military service in Shangdu as part of their ancestral obligations. Consummate shamans, they frequently engage in spiritual practices to invoke protective spirits or seek guidance. Heavily militarized even before The Fall, they view the soulless Shouwei as a violation of their dignified existence, leading to frequent clashes with both the Shyah and the Shouwei.

The Free Yue

Once considered barbarians by the Shyah, the Yue are a diverse group from the southern jungles and coastal areas of Yulai. Their culture is a tapestry of customs and beliefs from hundreds of unique tribes, speaking a patois of dozens of languages from a time before the military campaigns of the Hishan and the Yu'Xang thinned their numbers. Despite centuries of attempts to stifle their culture, the Yue still cherish their deep connections to sea gods and nature spirits, often wearing intricate bronze charms to harness the ocean's power. Natural opponents of Shangdu's centralized bureaucracy, they value freedom and individuality, with many becoming adventurers, pirates, and explorers in pursuit of wealth beyond the city's confines.