The Ruby Tide

Expedition

For centuries, Siabsungkoh’s merchant dynasties had thrived in isolation, controlling vast networks of trade in silk, spices, rare magical goods, and clandestine enterprises. Their economy was built not only on commerce but on intrigue, negotiation, and control. Unlike the Sensa Empire, which had structured trade with bureaucracy, Siabsungkoh’s success lay in fluid, unregulated mercantilism—where influence shifted as quickly as the tides.   Their return to the Radiant Citadel was not an accident—it was an opportunity.

Rediscovery of Siabsungkoh
By 1294 DR, the Radiant Citadel had fully embraced its role as an economic powerhouse. With the Sensa Empire’s structured financial systems (1264 DR) and Shankhabhumi’s thriving river trade (1259 DR), the Citadel had moved beyond mere survival—commerce was now its lifeblood.   But wealth breeds ambition.   The Citadel’s growing prosperity did not go unnoticed, and it was only a matter of time before another civilization emerged to claim its place within this expanding network.   Enter Siabsungkoh.   For centuries, Siabsungkoh’s merchant dynasties had thrived in isolation, controlling vast networks of trade in silk, spices, rare magical goods, and clandestine enterprises. Their economy was built not only on commerce but on intrigue, negotiation, and control. Unlike the Sensa Empire, which had structured trade with bureaucracy, Siabsungkoh’s success lay in fluid, unregulated mercantilism—where influence shifted as quickly as the tides.   Their return to the Radiant Citadel was not an accident—it was an opportunity.   The Secret Expedition & the Blood-Red Coin
While other civilizations were rediscovered through academic expeditions, historical records, or planar anomalies, Siabsungkoh found the Citadel on their own terms.   The legend begins with a single, enchanted ruby coin—a relic said to have been minted before the fall of the Citadel. It found its way into the hands of Duchess Satsirona, the undisputed leader of one of Siabsungkoh’s most powerful trade consortiums. The coin whispered secrets to those who held it, guiding them toward something lost but waiting to be claimed.   Duchess Satsirona, ever ambitious, launched a private expedition to uncover its origin, sailing through uncharted waters, deep jungles, and long-forgotten trade routes.   Her journey led to an astonishing discovery: a long-abandoned Siabsungkoh trading outpost, lost to time yet still bearing marks of the Radiant Citadel’s influence. From there, the trail led her directly to the Auroral Diamond’s glow, revealing the long-lost pathway back to the Citadel.   Upon their arrival, the Ruby Pangolin, their Dawn Incarnate, stirred from its centuries-long slumber, unfurling its crystalline scales as it emerged within the Preserve of the Ancestors.   Siabsungkoh had returned not as a seeker, but as a claimant—a power broker in a city primed for economic warfare.   Immediate Impact & Political Shifts
1. The Shadow of Sensa – A Rivalry is Born The moment Siabsungkoh integrated into the Citadel, it became an instant economic rival to the Sensa Empire.   Sensa’s economy was built on structure, regulation, and controlled investment. Siabsungkoh thrived on flexible, unpredictable commerce—where influence could be bought, stolen, or negotiated. Where Sensa established banks, Siabsungkoh founded private trade networks, favoring those willing to bypass bureaucratic oversight. This directly fueled the growing factional divide within the Speakers for the Ancestors, as the battle for economic dominance intensified.   2. The Rise of Mercantile Influence and Organized Crime
With wealth came less savory enterprises.   Smuggling, black-market trade, and illicit dealings flourished as Siabsungkoh’s merchants used their deep networks of influence to establish routes and contacts beyond the Citadel’s oversight. Their presence blurred the line between legitimate business and criminal syndicates, introducing a shadow economy that both enriched and destabilized the city. For the first time, corruption seeped into the Citadel’s economy, as certain Speakers and officials found their loyalties tested by gold, power, and whispered promises. This influence became impossible to ignore, forcing the Speakers to confront the reality that trade could no longer be entirely controlled.   Contributions & Lasting Changes
Creation of a Merchant-Driven Faction
Siabsungkoh’s arrival solidified the role of wealth and influence in governance, leading to the formal rise of economic factions within the Speakers. The debate over trade regulation vs. free market expansion became a permanent point of contention.   Expansion of Black-Market and Free Trade Sectors
Unofficial markets, private trade agreements, and hidden guilds flourished, challenging the structured economy previously dominated by Sensa. The Citadel’s underground economy became as influential as its legal one, further blurring lines of power.   Cultural Integration – The Art of Negotiation
Siabsungkoh’s diplomatic and mercantile traditions introduced a new political approach—one based on alliances, personal deals, and shifting loyalties. Their trade diplomacy skills became a model that later civilizations, like San Citlán and Umizu, would leverage.   Connections to Other Civilizations

• Sensa Empire (1264 DR): Immediate economic rival, fueling a trade war that reshaped the Citadel’s policies.
• Akharin Sangar (1250 DR): Initially opposed Siabsungkoh’s unregulated mercantile practices, creating further political divisions.
• San Citlán (1284 DR): Later, San Citlán’s artisans formed close trade ties with Siabsungkoh’s merchants, leading to joint ventures in art, culture, and underground economies.

• Siabsungkoh did not need to be found—they found the Radiant Citadel on their own, following a lost mercantile relic.
• The Ruby Pangolin awakened upon their arrival, symbolizing their return as a dominant trade power.
• They became an immediate economic rival to the Sensa Empire, fueling one of the Citadel’s greatest power struggles.
• Their arrival introduced corruption, smuggling, and a shadow economy, permanently altering the city’s political landscape.
• They established the foundation for future economic factions, where diplomacy, wealth, and crime blurred together.