http://badposting.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Storyteller 2026-06-09T21:23:23Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.25.2 http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tepet_Jozan&diff=8727 2026-01-12T15:20:43Z

<p>Storyteller: feet</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;table style=&quot;float:right; border: 1px solid #000000; background-color:#80C0FF&quot; WIDTH=250 CELLPADDING=&quot;3&quot;&gt;<br /> &lt;CAPTION&gt;&lt;b&gt;Tepet Berel Jozan&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/CAPTION&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt;&lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;---PERSONAL---&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt;&lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Type&lt;/b&gt;: Dragonblooded&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt;&lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Gender&lt;/b&gt;: Male&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt;&lt;TD&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;---MYSTICAL---&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Aspect&lt;/b&gt;: Air&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;---LIFE---&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Birth&lt;/b&gt;: [[Lord's Crossing Dominion]]&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Residence&lt;/b&gt;: Tepet Wing, [[Imperial Palace]]&lt;/TD&gt; &lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;---SOCIAL---&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Parents&lt;/b&gt;: [[Tepet Berel]] (mother), [[Tepet Manshoon]] (father)&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Marital&lt;/b&gt;: Unbetrothed&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Associates&lt;/b&gt;: [[Ledaal Shinjo]] (Ally •)&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt; <br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt; &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;---ASSOCIATIONS---&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt;&lt;b&gt;Secondary School&lt;/b&gt;: none &lt;/TD&gt;&lt;/TR&gt;<br /> &lt;TR&gt; &lt;TD&gt; &lt;/TD&gt; &lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;<br /> <br /> [[File:Tepet jozan.jpg]]<br /> <br /> &lt;p&gt;The Realm’s best poet in generations, Jozan is sought eagerly for adding linguistic flourish to literary works or leading the way during spontaneous poetry composition salons. Many other artists, however, are wary of working with him due to his well-known flighty nature, a lack of seriousness that can doom any production seeking to keep a schedule.&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> Jozan rests uneasy within his own House, and is known to have a running dispute with his own elders. This may have manifested on the 6th Ascending Wood RY768, when an assassination attempt was carried out using firedust, though the poet survived the attempt.&lt;/p&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> As with most of the [[:Category:Ten Beauties of the Scarlet Dynasty|Ten Beauties]] his skills as a lover are renowned, [[Sesus Kimiasha|some among]] [[Mnemon Hidea|his partners]] stating particular praise for his foot massages. <br /> <br /> [[File:Tepet jozan ava.png]]<br /> <br /> [[File:Sound of music.png]]<br /> <br /> ''[[V'neef Kalla]], [[Tepet Kimiko]], and [[Tepet Jozan]] attend a musical salon, 24th Ascending Wood [[RY768]]''<br /> <br /> [[Category:Characters]] [[Category:Dragonblooded]] [[Category:Air Aspects]] [[Category:Dynasts]] [[Category:House Tepet]] [[Category:Artists of the Imperial City]] [[Category:Ten Beauties of the Scarlet Dynasty]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Dim_Sum&diff=8726 2025-10-25T14:55:14Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Dumplings and Buns */</p> <hr /> <div>Dynastic dining tends to focus on a large variety of smaller dishes, rather than one large main course, in a style known as ‘dim sum’. Dining is a political game of itself: what a host serves at a function reveals her political agenda: the value of ingredients shows the importance of the effort, while the choice to serve (or not to serve) the favourite foods of certain guests can show who the host is attempting to influence, and who they consider to be their enemies. Some dishes can be used as a form of coded language, though it must be noted the exact significance of certain dishes is rarely common knowledge, and is usually restricted to members of a specific scheme. Serving a guest at a dinner an '''empty plate''', at least, is a quite universal signal, tantamount to a declaration of war by the host. <br /> <br /> == Dumplings and Buns ==<br /> <br /> '''Shrimp dumplings:''' Tender, semi-translucent dough pleated in a distinctive half-moon shape around a shrimp filling and then steamed. Dynasts judge a teahouse by the quality of its shrimp dumplings.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pork dumplings''': Small, round steamed dumplings with a juicy, gingery pork filling peeking though the gathers of a thin wrapper. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Potstickers''': These steamed and pan-seared appetizers are heartier than most other dim sum dumplings. They have a thicker dough enclosing a filling of pork sometimes with shrimp as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chive dumplings:''' Flat and round, with a chewy dough thin enough to reveal a delicate green colour on top and seared to a crisp on the other side. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallop dumplings''': Flat and round, with a chewy dough seared to a crisp on the bottom, and thin enough on top to reveal the green tint of a cilantro-chive and scallop filing. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed buns with roast pork''': Soft, fluffy white rolls filled with morsels of sweet, red-glazed roast pork.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Baked buns with roast pork''': Roast pork enclosed in a yeasted dough and baked golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Curried beef crescents''': Miniature turnovers with extremely flaky dough and a curried beef filling reveals culinary influences from the South.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Varangian Pyramids''': A variation on the curried beef crescent originating amongst the [[Varang]] City-States, larger and more pyramidal than crescent in shape. The fillings used eschew beef in favour of curried legumes and mashed root vegetables. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Spring rolls''': These flaky-crisp, finger-length rolls were the inspiration behind larger and more oily egg rolls popular in the urban slums, River Province and the inner Threshold (egg rolls are seen as ‘low class’ in the Realm). A filling of pork, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts is rolled a thin wrapper and then fried until golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cold Spring rolls''': Rice paper wrappers are softened in warm water and then wrapped around vegetables and cooked meat or shrimp. The dish is considered a refreshing appetizer, and an ideal vehicle for enjoying sauces. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Peanut Dumplings:''' Stuffed with peanuts, garlic, chives, pork, dried shrimp, and/or mushrooms, using a thick dumpling wrapper made from glutinous rice flour. Usually served with a small dish of chili oil for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soup Dumplings:''' A difficult dish to make, requiring a skilled cook to master, soup dumplings use a fatty soup stock, usually pork lard with some combination of green onion, nori, miso paste, or horseradish. The stock is extremely fatty, and is allowed to congeal into a semi-solid mass before being scooped up and enfolded in a thin wheat flour wrapper. When the dumpling is then cooked and served, the fatty stock returns to liquid form, exploding in the mouth of the diner in a burst of flavour. Even a a tiny mistake in closing the wrapper, or a tear or weakness, will cause the stock to drain out during boiling. <br /> <br /> <br /> -- '''Embrace of Ten Thousand Glories:''' A variation on the soup dumpling, demanding even more skill and perfection than the base dish, the '''Embrace''' involves the preparation of numerous soup dumplings which are then enclosed in a larger dumpling wrapper itself filed with soup. The dumplings cook and steam within, and the result is cut open and unfolded to allow diners to spoon up a soup dumpling and surrounding soup. While the doughy top of the outer dumpling is almost always discarded, and the outer dumpling shell as well, scions of House Cathak are known to consume both by soaking the top in the soup and carefully slicing noodles of the outer shell as its contents are consumed. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bean Curd Rolls:''' Ingredients such as diced shrimp, leek, shredded chicken, bamboo shoots, small carrots, tofu, scallions, sesame oil, or bean sprouts, wrapped in a thin bean-curd skin and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Harpoon Dumplings:''' A dish where crab meat (the meat of [[Helmed Crab]]s is most favoured) is combined with soft cheese, garlic, and scallions and used to fill a dumpling which is then fried until crispy. They are typically served with [[Biting Sauce]] or a sauce of honey and [[Western Plum]]s for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Dance of Five Directions]]'''<br /> <br /> == Rice Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rice pearl balls:''' Rolling small spheres of seasoned ground pork in uncooked kernels of glutinous rice before steaming them creates these pearly rice “dumplings.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Lotus leaf rice:''' During steaming, the leaves of the lotus plant infuse their delicate flavor and aroma into a filling of glutinous rice studded with a variety of ingredients including chicken, roast pork, sausage, and black mushrooms. A preparation considered to be more appropriate for the [[Immaculate]] clergy includes only rice and lotus seeds scattered within, the seeds providing a crunch and more intense lotus flavour... perhaps surprisingly, the most discerning [[:Category:Chefs &amp; Gourmands|gourmands]] also favour this approach, for it allows the lotus to truly emerge as the hero of the dish.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Egg Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Egg Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Glutinous Rice]], that has been cooked, then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (bamboo shoots, peas, corn), green onion, and egg. There is a saying &quot;As refined as rice fried egg&quot;, a joke for the nouveau-riche habits of citizens and patricians who have riches without culture, referencing the tendency of wealthier households to include more egg in their fried rice, those without appreciation for the dish's nuances to sometimes go too far.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dark Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Dark Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Unbound Rice]], that has been cooked then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (peas, garlic, carrot, celery, onion, peppers), cured pork belly, sausage, and/or dried fruits (such as plums). Its dark colour comes from the ample use of dark soy sauce during preparation, making the resulting dish very dark brown in colour and quite salty.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chestnut Rice:''' Steamed [[Glutinous Rice]], with [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, chestnuts and sweet potato, sprinkled with radish sprouts and sesame seeds. A dish favoured in the Water and Earth seasons.<br /> <br /> == Meat Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed Meatballs''': Finely ground beef, shaped into balls and then steamed with preserved orange peel and served on top of a thin bean-curd skin. Some consider the dish to be a representation of House Cathak: respect for tradition through steaming, fire through the citrus, martial power (and Threshold cattle assets) through the beef, and purity of Immaculate faith through the bean curd.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Four Happy Balls:''' A set of four pork meatballs in a chicken and cabbage broth, derived from the larger dish known as the [[Lion's Head Meatball]]<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from honey, spices, soy sauce, and red wine. This gives them a distinctive red colour. Typically they are served over noodles or rice when the main course of a meal, or thin-sliced with bones removed as dim sum.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from black bean paste and rice wine.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minced Pork Rice''': Dish with origins amongst the patricians and Dynastic households of the Silk and Pearl Peninsula on the southwestern Blessed Isle. Pork belly is finely minced and fried with shallots in oil, then boiled in a sauce containing some mixture of sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, hot peppers, and aromatic spices. The dark brown meat sauce produced is served over rice, though this can sometimes be substituted for noodles or even thin-sliced vegetables. Sour pickled fruits and vegetables are a common accompaniment.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Pork Belly''': Dish using pork belly, the fattiest part of the pig. The belly is cubed and cooked slowly in a braising liquid until the fat and skin become gelatinous in texture and melt easily in the mouth, while the liquid becomes a thick, sweet and fairly sticky sauce. The braising liquid itself contains garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and wine or vinegar: use of red wine (a variation termed ‘Red-Braised Pork Belly') makes for a heavier, sweeter sauce, while use of rice wine leaves the flavour of pork fat more dominant, and rice vinegar is used for those wishing to counter some of the richness of the dish. Often mushrooms are added partway through the braising, and when served the dish is topped by diced leeks or scallion greens.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Succulent Squares of Swine''': Succulent Squares of Swine are a Shogunate-era variation of Red-Braised Pork Belly. The key to the dish is the method of cutting the pork belly: the pork must be cut into a cube shape, 3 inches to a side, the top half all fat and the bottom half all meat. The pork is first pan-fried to form a crust on top and bottom, then slow-cooked in its sauce for many hours. The resulting dish carries fragrant aromas of wine and is oily, but not greasy, in the mouth... this makes it popular amongst battle-worn officers and celebrating dilettantes seeking to counter excessive consumption of spirits. The dish draws its name from the Shogunate poet-official [[Kugawa Dongpo]], who was said to have declared it the greatest of pork dishes in a now-lost poem.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Beef Sashimi''': The cooking of any creature has an effect on its natural flavours, and so the best way to truly appreciate it is in its raw form. In the case of beef, the favoured preparation is thinly sliced strips of tenderloin, served with a sauce derived from citrus and seaweed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Gochei at Bright Summit#Blossom at Bright Summit|Blossom at Bright Summit]]''': An elaborate dish of thin-sliced boar meat arranged in the shape of rose petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Icy Lotus' Embrace]]''': A medicinal dish of stir-fried [[Snow Lotus]] and pork belly, typically served to relax tension after strenuous physical activities.<br /> <br /> == Poultry Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, boiled and very lightly spiced. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, first boiled, then braised in hot sesame-ginger oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Quails:''' Small birds, spiced then stuffed with small, sweet onions and roasted. Said to be a sensual dish… some say because of the sexual suggestions so often conveyed by Dynasts as they ‘finger’ out the onions at parties. [[Eagle Prefecture]] is considered source of the finest-flavoured [[Quail]]s, and this dish is a favourite of [[House Sesus]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Entombed Quail:''' Cups of puffed pastry, in which are placed quails stuffed with [[Truffles]] and butter or [[Paragon Cuisine|foie gras]]. The cups are topped with a 'lid' of pastry, giving the dish its name, and surrounded by a sticky sauce of figs sauteed in [[Wine]]. Though large as dim sum dishes go, an Entombed Quail is far from a meal in-of-itself, seeing the dish often appear as a 'centrepiece' for dim sum diners at smaller salons held by members of less [[Immaculate]]ly-inclined [[Great House]]s.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry''': A dish of the south-central Blessed Isle along the [[Caracal River]], said to have been developed to suit the palate of the Legion general [[Peleps Zuo]] of [[Arjuf]] to honour his victories against the rebels in the [[Unbroken Rushes Rebellion]], where he led the defense of the port city against the peasant hordes. Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry consists of cubed chicken, battered and fired for a crispy texture and then tossed in a sauce of sherry, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, and crushed hot peppers. The dish has some spice, but sweetness is by far the most dominant flavour, and some view it as excessive, making the dish far less popular in the rest of the [[Blessed Isle]] as it is in the South. It is also very popular in [[The Lap]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chicken Sashimi''': Thin slices of chicken breast, served raw with a sweetened soy sauce for dipping. As chicken is considered to be one of the lightest-flavoured poultry meats, this preparation is popular for letting diners appreciate the flavour of the bird without losing it to cooking or heavy sauces.<br /> <br /> == Seafood Dishes ==<br /> <br /> Seafood dishes in the Dynasty vary widely both by geographic region and (much more importantly) by season, and example dishes can be seen in [[Dynastic Seasonal Seafood]] . However, some dishes remain popular year-round as part of dim-sum meals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Barbequed Eel:''' Long eel fillets, oiled and grilled, then served with a tangy brown drizzle of spiced fish sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Squid:''' Small squid, hollowed out and stuffed with spinach, red pepper, and onion, before being quickly baked.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tempura:''' Fish, zucchini and sweet potatoes dipped in batter, then deep-fried until golden. Said to have roots amongst the Haslanti, where the deep-fried fish is eaten with equally fried white potatoes and ale, but this method is viewed as too ‘foreign’ or ‘uncultured’ amongst most Dynasts. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Smoked Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, skinned and smoked, served raw. Like most raw fish dishes, it is favoured by House Peleps.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, braised and served wrapped in kelp. Far more salty than the average Dynastic dish, more popular amongst those raised on the coast than inland. Said to represent the vastness of the open sea.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roast Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, roasted and served on a bed of spiced fruit.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riverfish in Sauce:''' A fresh-water fish, cooked soft in a herb broth and then served on the bone covered in cream sauce. The bones remain hard and inedible amidst the softness of the flavoured fish, which inspired a poem of Imperial consort Tepet in years past: “Outer Softness, seen and open to all. Hidden Strength within, opening to none.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Drunken Shrimp''': A raw seafood dish of river shrimp. The shrimp are eaten while still living, the creatures calmed by immersion in a ‘marinade’ of rice wine and honey. They are quickly tossed in a hot pan of pepper-infused oil for only the briefest moment, to perfect colour while not killing them too early, and then served, just beginning to return from stupor as they are eaten. Drunken Shrimp are eaten with the fingers, and traditionally diners are given small bowls to wash their hands once they are finished, containing green tea and slices of lemon.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Clouds Nestled in Oak''': A refined dish dating from the Shogunate, consisting of [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, stuffed with an airy mousse of whitefish (sometimes including scallop) and then deep fried. The stuffed mushrooms are served individually in a flavoured soy-based sauce, topped with grated daikon, green onion, and hot peppers. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sun-marked Tuna''': A dish known in less devout circles as Tuna Sol Invictus, this dish consists of red tuna wrapped in nori seaweed sheets, with a light crust of breadcrumbs, served with sour plum sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sunrise on the Mountain Lake''': A dish of the central Blessed Isle, using freshwater [[White Mussel]]s whose natural tough rubbery texture is softened by steaming in salted water and vinegar before they are grilled in-shell and tossed in a sweet chili sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Egg Dishes==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Hot Spring Egg''': A hot spring egg is a shell-poached egg slowly cooked in a hot water bath, typically the hot springs common among the mountains of the [[Blessed Isle]]. The resulting egg is removed from the shell and served, having taken on a unique texture where the yolk has solidified without losing its colour or texture while the whites have transformed to become almost custard-like. Typically Hot Spring Eggs are served in small bowls, floating in a miso or [[Dashi]] stock and often garnished with spring onions<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Egg''': Custard egg is a simple preparation of egg that is beaten with water and then steamed to create a smooth, silky texture that becomes almost gelatinous when it cools. This basic preparation can be presented in a number of ways: with sugar added and fruit or flower garnishes it serves as a dessert, while addition of shrimp or crab make for a more hearty dish. Such a preparation is known to have [[Shogunate]] roots, and remains popular in [[Lookshy]]. However, among the gourmands of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] the favoured preparation (sometimes referred to as 'Immaculate custard egg', though not within earshot of the [[Immaculate Order|Order]]'s monks) sees the custard presented in a small bowl, topped with a clarified broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Tofu Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dipped Agedofu:''' A dish of tofu bean curd, cut into triangles and deep-fried to crisp its outer skin. Served with a sauce made from mustard, soy sauce, &amp; spring onions, into which the trinagles are dipped using chopsticks. Dipped agedofu is a popular appetizer amongst the scions of House Cathak and House Mnemon. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soldier-in-the-Trees''': A dish of tofu bean curd, deep-fried to crisp its outside, placed in a bowl of noodles along with steamed broccoli and a sauce of leeks and miso paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == Vegetable Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed mushrooms:''' Mushroom caps filled with shrimp and bamboo shoots then steamed. The dish is sometimes called “a hundred flowers,” for the mounded caps resemble open blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallion Pancakes:''' A batter derived from mung beans, mixed with small onions and sometimes mixed with fish, chicken, or pickled cabbage, then fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roasted Root Vegetables :''' Roasted turnips, carrots, potatoes and yams. A low-class peasant food, often served to unwanted guests.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Greens and Oyster Sauce:''' A simple dish that is nevertheless incredibly popular, using steamed broccoli, kai-lan, or bok choi tossed in oyster sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glazed Eggplant:''' Slender eggplants, slit lengthwise and brushed with sweetened soy sauce, then grilled until tender, after which they are coated in a glaze of miso soybean paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Autumn Rain:''' A vegetarian dish more common amongst the religious than more extravagant Dynasts, Autumn Rain is also seen (simplified) on citizen and peasant tables. It consists of an assortment of vegetables, stewed in a broth of soy and ginger. Traditionally it is considered a warm and filling dish to be eaten on those days allocated by the [[Thousand Scales]] for rainy weather.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Simmered Embrace:''' A vegetarian dish often favoured by the devout, though the complexity of its preparation put it well within the standard of Dynastic dim sum. Cabbage, radish and fern leaves are shredded then wrapped in sheets of tofu skin and tied with edible ribbons of gourd, then simmered in a sweetened soy broth. The resulting wrap is sliced into rounds before serving. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kimchi:''' A staple dish of the Blessed Isle’s peasants, kimchi is made primarily of cabbage, fermented with anchovies, hot peppers, and salt, most often buried in clay jars where it will last for years. Dynastic kimchi is served as a side dish to accompany dim sum or balance out alcohol during drinking parties.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bouquet of Sextes Jylis''': This dish is not a set of specific ingredients but a preparation, rendering raw fruits and vegetables into something worthy of a Dynastic table. The ingredients are chosen based on season and colour (though carrot, cucumber, melon, papaya, and pineapple tend to be staples), and intricately carved into bite-sized flowers. This undertaking is time-consuming and demands significant knife skills, proof of a well-appointed kitchen.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Five Mountain Shoots]]''': Five seasonal shoots and herbs, enjoyed when they appear during the Wood season.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Toes in the Mountain Stream''': A salad dish associated with the Ascending months and the Wood Season, when fresh young leaves are in abundance, Toes in the Mountain Stream consists of flavourul leaves ([[Wasabi]] leaves, [[Perilla]] leaves, [[Mint]] leaves, or some combination thereof), and a dipping sauce of soy and sometimes citrus, scattered with sesame seeds. Diners simply lift a leaf with their chopsticks, dip lightly, and eat.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Ten Thousand Year Ginseng]]''': A medicinal dish of fermented ginseng in sauce, typically served at conclusion of athletics or [[Gateway]] competitions.<br /> <br /> ==Sweet Dishes==<br /> <br /> While the culinary traditions of the [[Shogunate Era]] looked down on sweets and desserts, favouring more savoury 'warrior' dishes of meat and rice (with sweetness incorporated as an element in many savory dishes), the kitchens of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] have embraced recipes old and new, ingredients from across Creation, to provide the Princes of the Earth with sweet nibbles served in the dim-sum manner. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Pears:''' Sweet pears, halved then filled with honey and dates and gently steamed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mango Pudding:''' A rich, sweet pudding made with fine cream and fresh fruit. The favour is quite strong, and is generally dismissed by many in the more conservative Great Houses as ‘uncultured’… the pudding would never be found near a [[House Tepet|Tepet]] party. However, it finds favour with the younger Houses, and the more hedonist Dynasts.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet &amp; Salty Balls:''' Steamed rice-dough balls filled with peanuts and chestnuts, sprinkled with honeyed coconut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sweet Balls in Wine]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Manju:''' A chewy dough filled with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds, and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heavenly Silk''': A dessert consisting of silky tofu served with a sweet ginger or jasmine flavored syrup.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sugared Jerky]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Chilled Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Longan Tofu''': Almond-flavoured tofu served with longan fruit, usually chilled. A dish for hot summer days.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Melanated Cream]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Baked Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Tart:''' Tender egg custard baked in a flaky crust, these delicate little sweets are a perfect ending with tea. Some high class restaurants put bird's nest on top of the custard, either natural or formed of spun sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Thousand-Layer Cake''': A dessert pastry made up of many layers of sweet egg dough.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pineapple Bun:''' A dessert bun which, contrary to expectation, contains no pineapple. The top of the pineapple bun is made of a dough which consists of sugar, eggs, flour, and lard. Baked to a golden-brown color, its checkered top resembles the epicarp of a pineapple, crunchy and quite sweet compared to the bread beneath. In some Threshold cities such as Nexus, the dish has been completely misinterpreted, and bakers stuff the buns with actual pineapple, something which sets Dynastic visitors laughing uproariously at the uncivilized idiocy of those outside the Center of Creation.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Moon Cakes''': See [[New Year Celebrations]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stamped Cookies''': A [[Stamped Cookie|sweet cookie, stamped]] with a [[Mon]] or other imagery.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Floss Bun''': A small, sweet bun, topped with a thin curled floss of sweetened meat, usually pork, though [[Beef]] and fish can also be used.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Finger Tart:''' Tiny tarts, on the scale of finger sweets, usually topped with icing and candied fruits or fresh berries. [[Brambleberry]] is the most favoured, with the most extravagant galas making use of the rare Pasiap's brambleberry. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Finger Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> These miniature desserts are well suited to be eaten with fingers or chopsticks, and are often found serving as a light breakfast or a finishing course at Dynastic tables, and can occasionally be wrapped and presented as gifts (most often for lovers or children). To ease handling, they are typically coated with candied sugar or hardened [[Chocolatl]]. The latter was at peak popularity centuries ago, in the wake of the [[Trade War]] with [[The Guild]], when the Dynasty found it fashionable to host 'chocolataire salons' featuring the bittersweet substance in every course, and while these are less common in the present day these 'bonbons', 'sweet truffles', and 'kisses' still remain popular in Dynastic desserts. <br /> <br /> <br /> Several varieties of these desserts were created to honour particular figures, the [[Scarlet Empress]] foremost amongst them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Poet's Embrace:''' A whole [[Cherry]], soaked in [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], coated in a midnight [[Chocolatl]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Violetta:''' [[Violet]] ganache surrounded with a midnight chocolatl, topped with candied violets. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pagoda at Midnight:''' A canopy of smooth [[Gianduja]] over a midnight chocolatl coated coffee ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Berries of the Wood:''' A sticky [[Strawberry]] syrup within a shell of midnight chocolatl. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Coins of Jade:''' Honey-walnut ganache coated in chocolatl and dusted in powdered [[Jade]]. Rather extravagant, though favoured by some wealthy Dynasts, particularly in [[House Ragara]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Desert Rose:''' Clusters of puffed [[Rice]] coated in chocolatl, topped with candied rose petals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dessert Basilisc:''' Named with reference to the [[Desert Basilisc|basiliscs of the Southern deserts]]. Sour Cherry coulis paired with a cinnamon flavoured dawn chocolatl and pistachio ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Agapi:''' Semi-sweet ganache with a puree of strawberries infused with pomegranate liqueur.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of Sion:''' Orange-vanilla ganache layered over a crisp wafer of nuts and zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bees' Nest:''' Dawn chocolatl ganache, filled with apple blossom [[Honey]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Velvet:''' Malted dawn ganache, dusted with powdered chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Diamond Princess:''' Blackcurrant coulis paired with a [[Cedar]] infused twilight ganache sealed with pine nut praline. A complex delicacy, favoured at the [[Crystal Palace]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cord of Wood:''' Twilight ganache with port-fused currants rolled in [[Maple]]-glazed walnuts and crushed maple flakes.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''The Chambermaid:''' [[Cinnamon]] butter truffle on a bed of [[Gianduja]], dusted with cinnamon sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Circus Act:''' [[Brambleberry]] coulis flavoured with anise and mint, within a vanilla ganache, shaped and coloured to resemble the large tents used by travelling performers in the [[Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tears of the Crocodile:''' A small square of wilight ganache infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], topped with walnut marzipan and a dried sour cherry.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heart of the Dragon:''' Whipped [[Brambleberry]] and basil coulis paired with a jasmine [[Tea]] ganache and rolled in a mix of wafers, roasted pecans, sesame and almonds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wood Dragon's Kiss:''' Black fig, freshly squeezed lemon juice and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolate and topped with a caramelized [[Heart Nut]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Embers:''' Swirled midnight and dawn ganache with a generous helping of heavily toasted chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Seven-Point School:''' Three layers: an almond and hazlenut [[Gianduja]], pureed dried apricots, and coconut cream, coated in twilight ganache and topped with a dried apricot infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|peach schnapps]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mines of Juche:''' A twilight ganache infused with hig quality black [[Tea]] topped with a thin layer of freshly made orange marmelade, usually formed into square shapes with a spiral of chocolatl or powdered jade circling atop it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Invictus:''' A dome over four layers: Vanilla caramel, lime zest mousse, coffee ganache, caramelized pecan [[Gianduja]]. The domes are most often brushed gold with a sunburst pattern. The [[Immaculate Order]] frowns on this dessert. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Imperial Purse:''' Green [[Tea]] and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolatl, most often prepared in the shape of ornate coinpurses. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Romance:''' A butter-rich dawn ganache infused with vanilla, often topped with green and red candied flower petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minister's Kiss:''' Mango caramel ganache with blueberry honey and lemon zest, often formed in the shape of a [[Thousand Scales]] bureaucrat's cap.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soulsteel Kiss:''' A complex dessert, with lavender ganache on a base of hazlenut and an [[Motonic Gastronomy|alchemical]] fizzing element. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gardens of Trung:''' A coconut ganache with grapefruit oil, commonly decorated with a flower of zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rubble of Meru:''' A browned butter truffle on a bed of cinnamon and ground chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Embrace of the Jungle:''' Orange ganache and a soft salted caramel with a sprinkle of chocolatl-covered crunchy sugar and Southwestern flower blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of the Sapphire Stele:''' Sweetened goats' cheese, surrounded by a coating of blue-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Promise of the West:''' Calamansi caramel paired with a pink peppercorn &amp; honey ganache on top of a base made from sesame and hazelnut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scarlet Mantle:''' Cherry jelly paired with a vanilla ganache infused slightly with [[Tonka Bean]], covered with red-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Release the Hounds:''' Clotted cream truffle infused with lemon zest, often decorated with chocolate hound's heads. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Wu Jian:''' Pink Grapefruit and pink peppercorn pate paired with a black [[Tea]] ganache. Most often prepared as halph-spheres decorated with additional drizzled chocolatl, one side left untouched and the other traced with curling lines.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riptide:''' Lime caramel layered over a salted ganache infused with agave liquor. Most often prepared shaped into a wave.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Perfect Season:''' Soft, salted caramel paired with a dark ganache infused with long green chili pepper.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Magistrate's Kiss:''' Double roasted coffee ganache over vanilla ganache layered over hazelnut and almond gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of the Wyld:''' Tangerine and Yuzu coulis paired with a cinnamon and allspice infused ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sidereal Motion:''' Ginger ganache layered with a lime-vanilla caramel.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Topaz Champion:''' Caramel deglazed with cream liqueur, a sprinkling of chocolatl crumble, topped with a ginger ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Coin of Chanos:''' Spiced cookie crunch layered with a dark coffee ganache and topped with a spiced orange and lemon marmalade. Often favoured by [[House Ragara]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Eagle's Kiss:''' Mandarin caramel ganache with powdered seaweed on a bed of hazelnut gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Vermillion Kiss:''' A light blood orange ganache infused with black [[Tea]], with a slight hint of rose oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Senator's Kiss:''' Twilight gooseberry ganache paired with a soft vanilla caramel, topped with roasted sesame seeds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Jorst's Kiss:''' Malted ganache with a liquid centre of reduced birch syrup. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Coast Beaches:''' A dawn chocolatl caramel with vanilla and the faintest hint of spearmint, paired with a wild strawberry and rhubarb jelly.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Melon Cherries:''' A lightly honeyed half-moon of melon, wrapped around a sour cherry.<br /> <br /> == Soup Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wonton Soup:''' Small dumplings filled with pork and spinach, sitting in a lightly flavoured vegetable broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Miso Soup:''' A soup made with miso soybean paste, flavoured with small pieces of parsley and chives. Considered to be a palette cleaner at the start and end of a meal.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Ivory Hot Springs''' – A hearty variation on miso soup, with a thicker broth and steamed daikon radish chunks.<br /> <br /> == Condiments ==<br /> <br /> '''Soy Sauce:''' Condiment. A sauce made from fermented soybeans, with a salty flavour. Used as a dipping sauce for many Dim Sum dishes. Often is mixed with other elements for this role, including crushed garlic, citrus juice, and horseradish paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Horseradish:''' Condiment, One of the [[Fivefold Flavours of the Enflamed Palate]]. Coming in a variety of flavours, the weakest being white (often used in peasant cooking) and the best being green. Sometimes powdered, but more often made into a paste. The heat of a horseradish is very intense, perhaps more so than the hot peppers of the South, but this heat is localized in the nasal cavities and fades much more quickly than the heat from peppers. Most Dynastic diners consider it the finest of the hot spices, having the great intensity needed to impart its unique flavour, but without lingering behind to spoil the food that follows.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Oyster Sauce:''' An expensive condiment made from boiling down oyster broth until it begins to caramelize, taking on a thick texture and rich brown colour. This process is very demanding and time consuming, and amongst those of middling income a cheaper version is created by artificially thickening with starch and colouring with soy sauce to produce a passable, if far less flavourful, version. It is often used to add flavour when tossing noodles before topping with meat and vegetables.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Bean Paste:''' Condiment made by a two-part fermenting and salting black soybeans. The process turns the beans black, soft, and mostly dry, with moisture added to create a smoother paste through addition of soy sauce and minced garlic. The flavor is sharp, pungent, and spicy in smell, with a taste that is salty and somewhat bitter and sweet.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Bean Paste:''' Condiment and filling made from pulverizing and cooking red adzuki beans with honey or sugar to sweeten. Used most often to stuff desserts such as Manju, sometimes it also appears as a dip for pastries or a topping for [[Melanated Cream]].<br /> <br /> == Beverages ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Grape Wine]]:''' An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented grapes, coming in an [[Wines of Creation|array of different vintages and varietals]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Rice Wine]]''' A catch-all term applied to a number of different rice liquors, fermented rice brewed or distilled. Typically stronger than its grape counterpart, various brewed versions are typical in the cups of commoners, while the distilled rice wines are consumed more by patricians or Dynasts. Generally rice wines are cheaper to produce (and thus to obtain) than grape wines, a reason for dismissing them in the most refined circles. In a protest against [[House V'neef]], [[House Peleps]] uses mostly rice wines at its functions (as they lie outside of the monopoly).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Plum Brandy]]''': Traditionally seen at private meetings rather than large social occasions. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Shochu]]:''' Typically serving a guest this peasant-class liquor is an effective way of delivering an insult. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Fruit Schnapps]]:''' Typically taken accompanying sweet desserts, or as either an aperif before the meal or a digestif at its conclusion. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Fruit Juices:''' Freshly squeezed juice, a beverage of the wealthy due to the amount of waste it produces. Common fruits are [[Tangerine]], [[Passion Fruit]], [[Pineapple]], [[Grape]], [[Plum]], and [[Melon]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sugarcane Juice:''' Common in the southern Blessed Isle but rare elsewhere, this sweet juice is produced from pressed [[Sugar Cane]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tea:''' [[Tea]] is a staple of life across the Blessed Isle, plant matter dried and then steeped in hot water. The tea plant gives the drink its name and the plant does the same to the drink, linguistically intertwined beyond unravelling, but many peasants without much true tea supplement with local leaves and berries more easily obtained.<br /> <br /> --- ''Green tea:'' Green tea is the simplest variety of tea, left unprocessed. It is served as standard with just about every meal or ceremony, and is said to aid digestion and clear the palette. <br /> <br /> --- ''Black tea:'' Black tea is fermented before baking, causing a less bitter flavour. It is primarily produced in Pangu, and is the standard tea of the Legions.<br /> <br /> --- ''Oolong tea:'' This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, undergoing only partial fermentation. It is said to have medicinal properties, speeding up healing and reducing appetite.<br /> <br /> --- ''Jasmine tea:'' Green tea scented with jasmine, a slightly more costly and more aromatic variant.<br /> <br /> --- ''Spice tea:'' A harmonious blend of hibiscus, cloves, lemon balm, other herbs and spices, naturally sweet, tart and spicy.<br /> <br /> --- ''Chrysanthemum tea:'' A sweet tea of Chrysanthemum blossoms and honeysuckle, one of the most costly teas in the Realm.<br /> <br /> --- ''Milk Tea:'' A sweet tea created using tea and sweetened condensed milk, very popular with children and soldiers.<br /> <br /> --- ''Pu-erh Tea:'' A black tea that has been heavily fermented and aged, sometimes for decades, imparting a black colour and a strong earthy flavour.<br /> <br /> --- ''25-Flavour Tea:'' A complex, bitter tea containing twenty-five different plants, the combination said to have medicinal benefits harmonizing one’s Essence with Creation. It includes mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle flower, bamboo leaf, peppermint, bloodgrass, blue giant hyssop, monkfruit, perilla leaf, beefsteak leaf, fermented soybean, lidded cleistocalyx flower, cacao leaf, holly leaf, and green tea leaf.<br /> <br /> --- ''Sky Between the Branches Tea:'' A particularly well-regarded variety of green tea, Sky Between The Branches consists of [[Tea]] harvested and dried within the first ten days each Ascending Wood, on the banks of [[Caracal River]] in [[Heroncrest Prefecture]]. The leaves are known for their tender silver tips, imparting a unique chestnut character to the tea.<br /> <br /> --- ''Silver Rain Above the Clouds Tea'' - Silver Rain Above the Clouds is a rare white tea, consisting of tender white buds harvested on high mountain slopes before they open, an opportunity lasting only two days every Season. With as much further processing avoided as possible, the tea retains its most delicate flavours, along with a sweet, lingering finish. <br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Inquiry'' - The Tea of Inquiry is a favourite of bureaucrats and scholars, its broad tea leaves mixed with toasted grains of rice to impart a strong wakefull effect and a robust, toasted flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Dancing Leaf Tea'' - A variety of green tea harvested in the northeastern [[Blessed Isle]], including [[Pangu]] Prefecture, the [[Pahua Basin]], and the [[White Coast]]. The tea is praiosed for its vibrant emerald hue, providing hints of sweetness and nuttiness to the palate, its twisting leaves seeming to dance in the cup as they steep. <br /> <br /> --- ''Pearls of Jasmine Tea'' - Pearls of Jasmine is a rare variety and preparation of green tea, harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Silk &amp; Pearl Peninsula]]. Young just-opening buds are harvested in the Ascending season and rolled tightly into round 'pearls', before being dried and scented with jamsine blossoms to produce a tea with floral flavour and aroma that can last through several steepings.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Integrity'' - A more common (though still rare and expensive) relative of Jasmine Pearls, hailing from the same region, The Tea of Integrity must be carefully prepared through taking harvested tea leaves and passing them through a jasmine flower eight times through the course of the night when the blossoms have opened. The tea carries hints of that jasmine, along with a clean, pure flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Spirit Strengthening Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Plains of Rusted Iron]], said to be the reason for its broad iron-coloured leaves. Its flavour and aroma provide freshness and hints of orchid, which the robust leaves continue to provide across several steepings. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Poetry Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea, whose large leaves impart a distinct flavour of peaches, with notes of honey and chestnut.<br /> <br /> --- ''Five Elements Tea'' - Classically known as 'Five Dragons' Tea'. Flat green tea leaves (Wood), Air dried, roasted (Fire), served in a ceramic cup (Earth) over which is poured Water. A popular tea during the [[Shogunate Era]], it conveys robust earthy and nutty flavours. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Abundance'' - A variety of Oolong tea grown on the upper slopes of the [[Dragon's Nest Mountains]], known for its milky taste with a hint of orchid, and fragrances of pineapple &amp; sweet cream.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Thoughts'' - A mild green tea harvested in [[Lord's Crossing Dominion]], which carries sweet earthy notes and a hint of cherry.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Gardens'' - A blend based on the Tea of Spring Thoughts, with which have been mixed dried rose petals and white tea buds to grant a sweeter, more floral flavour. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category: Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Cuisine]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Unsurpassable_Guard_of_House_Mnemon&diff=8725 2024-12-31T19:46:21Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>The Unsurpassable Guard of House Mnemon are a military formation serving within the Realm, funded and commanded by the Dynastic Great [[House Mnemon]]. While each of the Great Houses maintained House Guard to supplement [[:Category:Imperial Legions|Imperial Legion]] forces operating on the [[Blessed Isle]] and protect their interests in the satrapies, the House Guard of House Mnemon were particularly known for their Legion-like drill and heavier equipment, more [[Imperial Heavy Foot|heavy foot]] than typical slinger or horse auxiliaries. <br /> <br /> <br /> House Mnemon was permitted to maintain larger House forces in the Scarlet Prefecture than the other Houses, officially for defense of the [[Crystal Palace]], though some viewed the move as counterbalancing other Houses with greater influence amongst the Legions, where Mnemon reach was not significant. <br /> <br /> <br /> Soldiers of the Unsurpassable Guard of House Mnemon bear diamond-shaped shields painted with the mon of House Mnemon, and a distinctive pot helm with very narrow eye and mouth slit and a flared falange over the back of the neck, and are otherwise equipped as heavy infantry with reinforced breastplates, [[Spetum]] polearms, swords, and throwing needles. The Unsurpassable Guard have a sinister reputation, for it is known that demons are involved in their training, a fact underlined by their equipment: the Mnemon House Guard are armed and armoured not with steel, but with weapons of [[Firmin Ichor]], gleaming black and alien next to the mundane soldiers of Creation. Where it has seen battle, it has historically supplemented its lack of Dragonblooded, artillery, and true auxiliary archers &amp; cavalry through temporarily attached House Mnemon sorcerers and summoned demons. <br /> <br /> <br /> The Mnemon House Guard is organized according to the standard unit formations of the Realm: five soldiers to a Fang, five fangs to a Scale, and five scales to a Talon. They do not make use of wings, instead placing five talons in each Dragon, of which the Guard can field ten. Officers are likewise ranked scalelord, talonlord, and dragonlord, Fanglords are not officially appointed: each fang’s leader holds authority only temporarily at the whim of their scalelord, though this allows some meritocracy. Though it is only a rumour and not known as fact outside the upper echelons of the Crystal House, all officers of the Mnemon House Guard are all descendants of Princess [[Mnemon]] by blood. Scalelords and some talonlords are the illegitimate children of Mnemon Dynasts who cannot be acknowledged or adopted for political reasons... particularly [[Godblooded]] offspring from pairings with spirits and demons whose official existence would be problematic for a House that claims to be Immaculately devout. Mnemon believes no drop of her blood must be wasted, and every drop must serve, so such children receive reward and responsibility according to their usefulness, just like any other. Let the [[House Ledaal|Ledaals]] drown inauspicious babies and the [[House Peleps|Peleps]] set them against each other, the House of Crystal cares for all its children. <br /> <br /> <br /> A few talonlords and the dragonlords are Dynasts who bear the Mnemon name: the most senior have experience in the Imperial Legions, from where they retire to the luxury and power of the House Guard upper echelons as a reward for their continued loyalty to Mnemon. Dragonlords are always Exalts, while talonlords are most often unExalted Dynasts. There is no strategoi, nor senior commander over the Unsurpassable Guard... each Dragonlord answers to Mnemon herself. However, at the [[Grand Salon of Ascendant Ever-Victorious Heroism]] on the 23rd Ascending Wood [[RY768]] officer [[Mnemon Tobas]] asserted the title of 'Marshal' under the gze of Princess [[Mnemon]], indicating reforms in the Guard's chain of command whose extent and nature are unclear. <br /> <br /> <br /> The soldiers of the Mnemon House Guard have historically been slaves, raised in a manner reminiscent of the [[Silent Legion]], though without most of that forces’ mysterious sorceries and alchemical concoctions. However, since the disappearance of the Scarlet Empress, the Mnemon House Guard has been expanded in terms of equipment and troops, to the cost of the Imperial Legions and concern of several other Great Houses. The traditional five Dragons garrisoned in the [[Crystal Palace]] have been increased by an unclear number (many believing the rumour the garrison now stands at ten Dragons), with remaining Dragons dispersed to form the elite core of new formations made up of former Legion soldiers from the disbanded [[20th Imperial Legion]], [[21st Imperial Legion]], and [[22nd Imperial Legion]], the armouries of those Legions also coming under direct control of House Mnemon. It is unclear exactly how effective integration of former Legionnaires has been, but it is known that former Legion troops are being re-equipped with [[Firmin Ichor]] weaponry as troops similar to Legion medium infantry and skirmishers. After absorption reports were confirmed of several units being disbanded and purges amongst the officer corps to remove those whose loyalty to Mnemon was questioned. Additional troops have also been raised and significant heavy equipment added to Unsurpassable Guard armouries, stripped from the disbanded Legions. <br /> <br /> <br /> Estimates as to the strength and deployment of the Mnemon House Guard are unclear, but are likely in the vicinity of fifteen Dragons of heavy infantry, thirty dragons of medium infantry, and fifteen dragons of skirmishers, plus three fangs of warstriders and specialist scales of sorcerers or demons.<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Military Organisations of the Realm]] [[Category:House Guard]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Icy_Lotus%27_Embrace&diff=8724 2024-08-13T13:22:54Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;A stir-fried dish from the culinary traditions of the Scarlet Dynasty, consisting of pork belly, Snow Lotus root from Cherak, onions, and garlic. The fat of the be...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>A stir-fried dish from the culinary traditions of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]], consisting of pork belly, [[Snow Lotus]] root from [[Cherak]], onions, and garlic. The fat of the belly meat is rendered out with the lotus shredded by hand and then fried along with the rest of the ingredients, finished with soy sauce and salt. The dish is said to relax tense minds and bodies, and is thus most commonly served at the end of excercise or sparring sessions. <br /> <br /> <br /> Though traditional proportions and are most commonly seen (and occasional impoverished kitchens might substitute [[Lotus]] root for snow lotus), the highest tiers of Dynastic kitchens such as the [[House of Healing Repast]] will carefully balance each component to suit the specific essence flows and physical characteristics of each diner.<br /> <br /> <br /> While practical effects of the dish are typicaly negligible, consuming the version prepared by the House of Healing Repast restores 1 mote. <br /> <br /> <br /> SOURCE: HSR's Hand-Shredded Icy Lotus<br /> <br /> [[Category:Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Drugs &amp; Poisons]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Black_Jade_Jelly&diff=8723 2024-08-13T13:21:53Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;Black Jade Jelly A medicinal dish from the culinary traditions of the Scarlet Dynasty, said to reinvigorate tired body and mind. It is rarely seen at regular tables but...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>Black Jade Jelly <br /> <br /> A medicinal dish from the culinary traditions of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]], said to reinvigorate tired body and mind. It is rarely seen at regular tables but commonly served to Dynasts at the conclusion of [[Dynastic Duelling|duels]]. This so-called 'Black Jade Repast' sees varied interpretation across the Houses of the Dynasty, with some such as [[House Sesus]], [[House Cynis]], and [[House Ragara]] tending to ignore it in favour of richer meals for their victors, while others such as [[House Cathak]] and [[House Tepet]] favour it far more, the Tepets often seeing it served even if a duelist has suffered a loss. The dish also has a traditional place in the [[Imperial Legions]] where it is served to both duelists involved in a bout regardless of outcome, though restrictions on sourcing for Legion rations mean the version served is found somewhat lacking by those versed in the dish. <br /> <br /> <br /> The jelly itself is prepared by steeping ground [[Obsidian]] in water and then straining, before adding in gelatin extrated from the hides of [[Donkey]]s (the Imperial Legions substituting that of beef [[Cattle]]) and starch as well as rock sugar and a blend of herbs. This is set and then cubed for serving. <br /> <br /> <br /> Though traditional proportions are most commonly seen, the highest tiers of Dynastic kitchens such as the [[House of Healing Repast]] will carefully balance each component to suit the specific essence flows and physical characteristics of each diner, often using a small amount of real [[Black Jade]] to supplement the obsidian.<br /> <br /> <br /> Consuming a full serving of the dish restores 1 mote. The House of Healing Repast's version restores 2 motes. <br /> <br /> <br /> SOURCE: HSR's Obsidian Herbal Jelly<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Drugs &amp; Poisons]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Ten_Thousand_Year_Ginseng&diff=8722 2024-08-13T13:21:27Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;A dish from the culinary traditions of the Scarlet Dynasty, consisting of fermented ginseng that is julienned and tossed in a sauce of ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, Peri...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>A dish from the culinary traditions of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]], consisting of fermented ginseng that is julienned and tossed in a sauce of ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, [[Perilla]] oil, and chili oil. It is said to reinvigorate exhausted muscles and sharpen tired minds, and is a common dish served with tea at the conclusion of [[Gateway]], [[Kemari]], and [[Warudi]] tournaments. <br /> <br /> <br /> Though traditional proportions are most commonly seen, the highest tiers of Dynastic kitchens such as the [[House of Healing Repast]] will carefully balance each component to suit the specific essence flows and physical characteristics of each diner.<br /> <br /> <br /> While practical effects of the dish are typicaly negligible, consuming the version prepared by the House of Healing Repast restores 1 mote. <br /> <br /> <br /> SOURCE: HSR's Millennial Ginseng With Sauce<br /> <br /> [[Category:Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Drugs &amp; Poisons]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Dim_Sum&diff=8721 2024-08-13T13:19:13Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Meat Dishes */</p> <hr /> <div>Dynastic dining tends to focus on a large variety of smaller dishes, rather than one large main course, in a style known as ‘dim sum’. Dining is a political game of itself: what a host serves at a function reveals her political agenda: the value of ingredients shows the importance of the effort, while the choice to serve (or not to serve) the favourite foods of certain guests can show who the host is attempting to influence, and who they consider to be their enemies. Some dishes can be used as a form of coded language, though it must be noted the exact significance of certain dishes is rarely common knowledge, and is usually restricted to members of a specific scheme. Serving a guest at a dinner an '''empty plate''', at least, is a quite universal signal, tantamount to a declaration of war by the host. <br /> <br /> == Dumplings and Buns ==<br /> <br /> '''Shrimp dumplings:''' Tender, semi-translucent dough pleated in a distinctive half-moon shape around a shrimp filling and then steamed. Dynasts judge a teahouse by the quality of its shrimp dumplings.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pork dumplings''': Small, round steamed dumplings with a juicy, gingery pork filling peeking though the gathers of a thin wrapper. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Potstickers''': These steamed and pan-seared appetizers are heartier than most other dim sum dumplings. They have a thicker dough enclosing a filling of pork sometimes with shrimp as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chive dumplings:''' Flat and round, with a chewy dough thin enough to reveal a delicate green colour on top and seared to a crisp on the other side. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallop dumplings''': Flat and round, with a chewy dough seared to a crisp on the bottom, and thin enough on top to reveal the green tint of a cilantro-chive and scallop filing. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed buns with roast pork''': Soft, fluffy white rolls filled with morsels of sweet, red-glazed roast pork.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Baked buns with roast pork''': Roast pork enclosed in a yeasted dough and baked golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Curried beef crescents''': Miniature turnovers with extremely flaky dough and a curried beef filling reveals culinary influences from the South.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Varangian Pyramids''': A variation on the curried beef crescent originating amongst the [[Varang]] City-States, larger and more pyramidal than crescent in shape. The fillings used eschew beef in favour of curried legumes and mashed root vegetables. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Spring rolls''': These flaky-crisp, finger-length rolls were the inspiration behind larger and more oily egg rolls popular in the urban slums, River Province and the inner Threshold (egg rolls are seen as ‘low class’ in the Realm). A filling of pork, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts is rolled a thin wrapper and then fried until golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cold Spring rolls''': Rice paper wrappers are softened in warm water and then wrapped around vegetables and cooked meat or shrimp. The dish is considered a refreshing appetizer, and an ideal vehicle for enjoying sauces. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Peanut Dumplings:''' Stuffed with peanuts, garlic, chives, pork, dried shrimp, and/or mushrooms, using a thick dumpling wrapper made from glutinous rice flour. Usually served with a small dish of chili oil for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soup Dumplings:''' A difficult dish to make, requiring a skilled cook to master, soup dumplings use a fatty soup stock, usually pork lard with some combination of green onion, nori, miso paste, or horseradish. The stock is extremely fatty, and is allowed to congeal into a semi-solid mass before being scooped up and enfolded in a thin wheat flour wrapper. When the dumpling is then cooked and served, the fatty stock returns to liquid form, exploding in the mouth of the diner in a burst of flavour. Evena a tiny mistake in closing the wrapper, or a tear or weakness, will cause the stock to drain out during boiling. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bean Curd Rolls:''' Ingredients such as diced shrimp, leek, shredded chicken, bamboo shoots, small carrots, tofu, scallions, sesame oil, or bean sprouts, wrapped in a thin bean-curd skin and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Harpoon Dumplings:''' A dish where crab meat (the meat of [[Helmed Crab]]s is most favoured) is combined with soft cheese, garlic, and scallions and used to fill a dumpling which is then fried until crispy. They are typically served with [[Biting Sauce]] or a sauce of honey and [[Western Plum]]s for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Dance of Five Directions]]'''<br /> <br /> == Rice Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rice pearl balls:''' Rolling small spheres of seasoned ground pork in uncooked kernels of glutinous rice before steaming them creates these pearly rice “dumplings.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Lotus leaf rice:''' During steaming, the leaves of the lotus plant infuse their delicate flavor and aroma into a filling of glutinous rice studded with a variety of ingredients including chicken, roast pork, sausage, and black mushrooms. A preparation considered to be more appropriate for the [[Immaculate]] clergy includes only rice and lotus seeds scattered within, the seeds providing a crunch and more intense lotus flavour... perhaps surprisingly, the most discerning [[:Category:Chefs &amp; Gourmands|gourmands]] also favour this approach, for it allows the lotus to truly emerge as the hero of the dish.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Egg Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Egg Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Glutinous Rice]], that has been cooked, then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (bamboo shoots, peas, corn), green onion, and egg. There is a saying &quot;As refined as rice fried egg&quot;, a joke for the nouveau-riche habits of citizens and patricians who have riches without culture, referencing the tendency of wealthier households to include more egg in their fried rice, those without appreciation for the dish's nuances to sometimes go too far.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dark Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Dark Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Unbound Rice]], that has been cooked then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (peas, garlic, carrot, celery, onion, peppers), cured pork belly, sausage, and/or dried fruits (such as plums). Its dark colour comes from the ample use of dark soy sauce during preparation, making the resulting dish very dark brown in colour and quite salty.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chestnut Rice:''' Steamed [[Glutinous Rice]], with [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, chestnuts and sweet potato, sprinkled with radish sprouts and sesame seeds. A dish favoured in the Water and Earth seasons.<br /> <br /> == Meat Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed Meatballs''': Finely ground beef, shaped into balls and then steamed with preserved orange peel and served on top of a thin bean-curd skin. Some consider the dish to be a representation of House Cathak: respect for tradition through steaming, fire through the citrus, martial power (and Threshold cattle assets) through the beef, and purity of Immaculate faith through the bean curd.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Four Happy Balls:''' A set of four pork meatballs in a chicken and cabbage broth, derived from the larger dish known as the [[Lion's Head Meatball]]<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from honey, spices, soy sauce, and red wine. This gives them a distinctive red colour. Typically they are served over noodles or rice when the main course of a meal, or thin-sliced with bones removed as dim sum.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from black bean paste and rice wine.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minced Pork Rice''': Dish with origins amongst the patricians and Dynastic households of the Silk and Pearl Peninsula on the southwestern Blessed Isle. Pork belly is finely minced and fried with shallots in oil, then boiled in a sauce containing some mixture of sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, hot peppers, and aromatic spices. The dark brown meat sauce produced is served over rice, though this can sometimes be substituted for noodles or even thin-sliced vegetables. Sour pickled fruits and vegetables are a common accompaniment.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Pork Belly''': Dish using pork belly, the fattiest part of the pig. The belly is cubed and cooked slowly in a braising liquid until the fat and skin become gelatinous in texture and melt easily in the mouth, while the liquid becomes a thick, sweet and fairly sticky sauce. The braising liquid itself contains garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and wine or vinegar: use of red wine (a variation termed ‘Red-Braised Pork Belly') makes for a heavier, sweeter sauce, while use of rice wine leaves the flavour of pork fat more dominant, and rice vinegar is used for those wishing to counter some of the richness of the dish. Often mushrooms are added partway through the braising, and when served the dish is topped by diced leeks or scallion greens.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Succulent Squares of Swine''': Succulent Squares of Swine are a Shogunate-era variation of Red-Braised Pork Belly. The key to the dish is the method of cutting the pork belly: the pork must be cut into a cube shape, 3 inches to a side, the top half all fat and the bottom half all meat. The pork is first pan-fried to form a crust on top and bottom, then slow-cooked in its sauce for many hours. The resulting dish carries fragrant aromas of wine and is oily, but not greasy, in the mouth... this makes it popular amongst battle-worn officers and celebrating dilettantes seeking to counter excessive consumption of spirits. The dish draws its name from the Shogunate poet-official [[Kugawa Dongpo]], who was said to have declared it the greatest of pork dishes in a now-lost poem.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Beef Sashimi''': The cooking of any creature has an effect on its natural flavours, and so the best way to truly appreciate it is in its raw form. In the case of beef, the favoured preparation is thinly sliced strips of tenderloin, served with a sauce derived from citrus and seaweed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Gochei at Bright Summit#Blossom at Bright Summit|Blossom at Bright Summit]]''': An elaborate dish of thin-sliced boar meat arranged in the shape of rose petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Icy Lotus' Embrace]]''': A medicinal dish of stir-fried [[Snow Lotus]] and pork belly, typically served to relax tension after strenuous physical activities.<br /> <br /> == Poultry Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, boiled and very lightly spiced. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, first boiled, then braised in hot sesame-ginger oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Quails:''' Small birds, spiced then stuffed with small, sweet onions and roasted. Said to be a sensual dish… some say because of the sexual suggestions so often conveyed by Dynasts as they ‘finger’ out the onions at parties. [[Eagle Prefecture]] is considered source of the finest-flavoured [[Quail]]s, and this dish is a favourite of [[House Sesus]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Entombed Quail:''' Cups of puffed pastry, in which are placed quails stuffed with [[Truffles]] and butter or [[Paragon Cuisine|foie gras]]. The cups are topped with a 'lid' of pastry, giving the dish its name, and surrounded by a sticky sauce of figs sauteed in [[Wine]]. Though large as dim sum dishes go, an Entombed Quail is far from a meal in-of-itself, seeing the dish often appear as a 'centrepiece' for dim sum diners at smaller salons held by members of less [[Immaculate]]ly-inclined [[Great House]]s.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry''': A dish of the south-central Blessed Isle along the [[Caracal River]], said to have been developed to suit the palate of the Legion general [[Peleps Zuo]] of [[Arjuf]] to honour his victories against the rebels in the [[Unbroken Rushes Rebellion]], where he led the defense of the port city against the peasant hordes. Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry consists of cubed chicken, battered and fired for a crispy texture and then tossed in a sauce of sherry, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, and crushed hot peppers. The dish has some spice, but sweetness is by far the most dominant flavour, and some view it as excessive, making the dish far less popular in the rest of the [[Blessed Isle]] as it is in the South. It is also very popular in [[The Lap]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chicken Sashimi''': Thin slices of chicken breast, served raw with a sweetened soy sauce for dipping. As chicken is considered to be one of the lightest-flavoured poultry meats, this preparation is popular for letting diners appreciate the flavour of the bird without losing it to cooking or heavy sauces.<br /> <br /> == Seafood Dishes ==<br /> <br /> Seafood dishes in the Dynasty vary widely both by geographic region and (much more importantly) by season, and example dishes can be seen in [[Dynastic Seasonal Seafood]] . However, some dishes remain popular year-round as part of dim-sum meals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Barbequed Eel:''' Long eel fillets, oiled and grilled, then served with a tangy brown drizzle of spiced fish sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Squid:''' Small squid, hollowed out and stuffed with spinach, red pepper, and onion, before being quickly baked.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tempura:''' Fish, zucchini and sweet potatoes dipped in batter, then deep-fried until golden. Said to have roots amongst the Haslanti, where the deep-fried fish is eaten with equally fried white potatoes and ale, but this method is viewed as too ‘foreign’ or ‘uncultured’ amongst most Dynasts. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Smoked Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, skinned and smoked, served raw. Like most raw fish dishes, it is favoured by House Peleps.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, braised and served wrapped in kelp. Far more salty than the average Dynastic dish, more popular amongst those raised on the coast than inland. Said to represent the vastness of the open sea.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roast Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, roasted and served on a bed of spiced fruit.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riverfish in Sauce:''' A fresh-water fish, cooked soft in a herb broth and then served on the bone covered in cream sauce. The bones remain hard and inedible amidst the softness of the flavoured fish, which inspired a poem of Imperial consort Tepet in years past: “Outer Softness, seen and open to all. Hidden Strength within, opening to none.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Drunken Shrimp''': A raw seafood dish of river shrimp. The shrimp are eaten while still living, the creatures calmed by immersion in a ‘marinade’ of rice wine and honey. They are quickly tossed in a hot pan of pepper-infused oil for only the briefest moment, to perfect colour while not killing them too early, and then served, just beginning to return from stupor as they are eaten. Drunken Shrimp are eaten with the fingers, and traditionally diners are given small bowls to wash their hands once they are finished, containing green tea and slices of lemon.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Clouds Nestled in Oak''': A refined dish dating from the Shogunate, consisting of [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, stuffed with an airy mousse of whitefish (sometimes including scallop) and then deep fried. The stuffed mushrooms are served individually in a flavoured soy-based sauce, topped with grated daikon, green onion, and hot peppers. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sun-marked Tuna''': A dish known in less devout circles as Tuna Sol Invictus, this dish consists of red tuna wrapped in nori seaweed sheets, with a light crust of breadcrumbs, served with sour plum sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sunrise on the Mountain Lake''': A dish of the central Blessed Isle, using freshwater [[White Mussel]]s whose natural tough rubbery texture is softened by steaming in salted water and vinegar before they are grilled in-shell and tossed in a sweet chili sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Egg Dishes==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Hot Spring Egg''': A hot spring egg is a shell-poached egg slowly cooked in a hot water bath, typically the hot springs common among the mountains of the [[Blessed Isle]]. The resulting egg is removed from the shell and served, having taken on a unique texture where the yolk has solidified without losing its colour or texture while the whites have transformed to become almost custard-like. Typically Hot Spring Eggs are served in small bowls, floating in a miso or [[Dashi]] stock and often garnished with spring onions<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Egg''': Custard egg is a simple preparation of egg that is beaten with water and then steamed to create a smooth, silky texture that becomes almost gelatinous when it cools. This basic preparation can be presented in a number of ways: with sugar added and fruit or flower garnishes it serves as a dessert, while addition of shrimp or crab make for a more hearty dish. Such a preparation is known to have [[Shogunate]] roots, and remains popular in [[Lookshy]]. However, among the gourmands of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] the favoured preparation (sometimes referred to as 'Immaculate custard egg', though not within earshot of the [[Immaculate Order|Order]]'s monks) sees the custard presented in a small bowl, topped with a clarified broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Tofu Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dipped Agedofu:''' A dish of tofu bean curd, cut into triangles and deep-fried to crisp its outer skin. Served with a sauce made from mustard, soy sauce, &amp; spring onions, into which the trinagles are dipped using chopsticks. Dipped agedofu is a popular appetizer amongst the scions of House Cathak and House Mnemon. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soldier-in-the-Trees''': A dish of tofu bean curd, deep-fried to crisp its outside, placed in a bowl of noodles along with steamed broccoli and a sauce of leeks and miso paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == Vegetable Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed mushrooms:''' Mushroom caps filled with shrimp and bamboo shoots then steamed. The dish is sometimes called “a hundred flowers,” for the mounded caps resemble open blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallion Pancakes:''' A batter derived from mung beans, mixed with small onions and sometimes mixed with fish, chicken, or pickled cabbage, then fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roasted Root Vegetables :''' Roasted turnips, carrots, potatoes and yams. A low-class peasant food, often served to unwanted guests.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Greens and Oyster Sauce:''' A simple dish that is nevertheless incredibly popular, using steamed broccoli, kai-lan, or bok choi tossed in oyster sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glazed Eggplant:''' Slender eggplants, slit lengthwise and brushed with sweetened soy sauce, then grilled until tender, after which they are coated in a glaze of miso soybean paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Autumn Rain:''' A vegetarian dish more common amongst the religious than more extravagant Dynasts, Autumn Rain is also seen (simplified) on citizen and peasant tables. It consists of an assortment of vegetables, stewed in a broth of soy and ginger. Traditionally it is considered a warm and filling dish to be eaten on those days allocated by the [[Thousand Scales]] for rainy weather.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Simmered Embrace:''' A vegetarian dish often favoured by the devout, though the complexity of its preparation put it well within the standard of Dynastic dim sum. Cabbage, radish and fern leaves are shredded then wrapped in sheets of tofu skin and tied with edible ribbons of gourd, then simmered in a sweetened soy broth. The resulting wrap is sliced into rounds before serving. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kimchi:''' A staple dish of the Blessed Isle’s peasants, kimchi is made primarily of cabbage, fermented with anchovies, hot peppers, and salt, most often buried in clay jars where it will last for years. Dynastic kimchi is served as a side dish to accompany dim sum or balance out alcohol during drinking parties.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bouquet of Sextes Jylis''': This dish is not a set of specific ingredients but a preparation, rendering raw fruits and vegetables into something worthy of a Dynastic table. The ingredients are chosen based on season and colour (though carrot, cucumber, melon, papaya, and pineapple tend to be staples), and intricately carved into bite-sized flowers. This undertaking is time-consuming and demands significant knife skills, proof of a well-appointed kitchen.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Five Mountain Shoots]]''': Five seasonal shoots and herbs, enjoyed when they appear during the Wood season.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Toes in the Mountain Stream''': A salad dish associated with the Ascending months and the Wood Season, when fresh young leaves are in abundance, Toes in the Mountain Stream consists of flavourul leaves ([[Wasabi]] leaves, [[Perilla]] leaves, [[Mint]] leaves, or some combination thereof), and a dipping sauce of soy and sometimes citrus, scattered with sesame seeds. Diners simply lift a leaf with their chopsticks, dip lightly, and eat.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Ten Thousand Year Ginseng]]''': A medicinal dish of fermented ginseng in sauce, typically served at conclusion of athletics or [[Gateway]] competitions.<br /> <br /> ==Sweet Dishes==<br /> <br /> While the culinary traditions of the [[Shogunate Era]] looked down on sweets and desserts, favouring more savoury 'warrior' dishes of meat and rice (with sweetness incorporated as an element in many savory dishes), the kitchens of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] have embraced recipes old and new, ingredients from across Creation, to provide the Princes of the Earth with sweet nibbles served in the dim-sum manner. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Pears:''' Sweet pears, halved then filled with honey and dates and gently steamed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mango Pudding:''' A rich, sweet pudding made with fine cream and fresh fruit. The favour is quite strong, and is generally dismissed by many in the more conservative Great Houses as ‘uncultured’… the pudding would never be found near a [[House Tepet|Tepet]] party. However, it finds favour with the younger Houses, and the more hedonist Dynasts.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet &amp; Salty Balls:''' Steamed rice-dough balls filled with peanuts and chestnuts, sprinkled with honeyed coconut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sweet Balls in Wine]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Manju:''' A chewy dough filled with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds, and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heavenly Silk''': A dessert consisting of silky tofu served with a sweet ginger or jasmine flavored syrup.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sugared Jerky]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Chilled Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Longan Tofu''': Almond-flavoured tofu served with longan fruit, usually chilled. A dish for hot summer days.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Melanated Cream]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Baked Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Tart:''' Tender egg custard baked in a flaky crust, these delicate little sweets are a perfect ending with tea. Some high class restaurants put bird's nest on top of the custard, either natural or formed of spun sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Thousand-Layer Cake''': A dessert pastry made up of many layers of sweet egg dough.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pineapple Bun:''' A dessert bun which, contrary to expectation, contains no pineapple. The top of the pineapple bun is made of a dough which consists of sugar, eggs, flour, and lard. Baked to a golden-brown color, its checkered top resembles the epicarp of a pineapple, crunchy and quite sweet compared to the bread beneath. In some Threshold cities such as Nexus, the dish has been completely misinterpreted, and bakers stuff the buns with actual pineapple, something which sets Dynastic visitors laughing uproariously at the uncivilized idiocy of those outside the Center of Creation.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Moon Cakes''': See [[New Year Celebrations]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stamped Cookies''': A [[Stamped Cookie|sweet cookie, stamped]] with a [[Mon]] or other imagery.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Floss Bun''': A small, sweet bun, topped with a thin curled floss of sweetened meat, usually pork, though [[Beef]] and fish can also be used.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Finger Tart:''' Tiny tarts, on the scale of finger sweets, usually topped with icing and candied fruits or fresh berries. [[Brambleberry]] is the most favoured, with the most extravagant galas making use of the rare Pasiap's brambleberry. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Finger Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> These miniature desserts are well suited to be eaten with fingers or chopsticks, and are often found serving as a light breakfast or a finishing course at Dynastic tables, and can occasionally be wrapped and presented as gifts (most often for lovers or children). To ease handling, they are typically coated with candied sugar or hardened [[Chocolatl]]. The latter was at peak popularity centuries ago, in the wake of the [[Trade War]] with [[The Guild]], when the Dynasty found it fashionable to host 'chocolataire salons' featuring the bittersweet substance in every course, and while these are less common in the present day these 'bonbons', 'sweet truffles', and 'kisses' still remain popular in Dynastic desserts. <br /> <br /> <br /> Several varieties of these desserts were created to honour particular figures, the [[Scarlet Empress]] foremost amongst them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Poet's Embrace:''' A whole [[Cherry]], soaked in [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], coated in a midnight [[Chocolatl]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Violetta:''' [[Violet]] ganache surrounded with a midnight chocolatl, topped with candied violets. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pagoda at Midnight:''' A canopy of smooth [[Gianduja]] over a midnight chocolatl coated coffee ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Berries of the Wood:''' A sticky [[Strawberry]] syrup within a shell of midnight chocolatl. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Coins of Jade:''' Honey-walnut ganache coated in chocolatl and dusted in powdered [[Jade]]. Rather extravagant, though favoured by some wealthy Dynasts, particularly in [[House Ragara]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Desert Rose:''' Clusters of puffed [[Rice]] coated in chocolatl, topped with candied rose petals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dessert Basilisc:''' Named with reference to the [[Desert Basilisc|basiliscs of the Southern deserts]]. Sour Cherry coulis paired with a cinnamon flavoured dawn chocolatl and pistachio ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Agapi:''' Semi-sweet ganache with a puree of strawberries infused with pomegranate liqueur.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of Sion:''' Orange-vanilla ganache layered over a crisp wafer of nuts and zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bees' Nest:''' Dawn chocolatl ganache, filled with apple blossom [[Honey]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Velvet:''' Malted dawn ganache, dusted with powdered chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Diamond Princess:''' Blackcurrant coulis paired with a [[Cedar]] infused twilight ganache sealed with pine nut praline. A complex delicacy, favoured at the [[Crystal Palace]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cord of Wood:''' Twilight ganache with port-fused currants rolled in [[Maple]]-glazed walnuts and crushed maple flakes.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''The Chambermaid:''' [[Cinnamon]] butter truffle on a bed of [[Gianduja]], dusted with cinnamon sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Circus Act:''' [[Brambleberry]] coulis flavoured with anise and mint, within a vanilla ganache, shaped and coloured to resemble the large tents used by travelling performers in the [[Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tears of the Crocodile:''' A small square of wilight ganache infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], topped with walnut marzipan and a dried sour cherry.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heart of the Dragon:''' Whipped [[Brambleberry]] and basil coulis paired with a jasmine [[Tea]] ganache and rolled in a mix of wafers, roasted pecans, sesame and almonds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wood Dragon's Kiss:''' Black fig, freshly squeezed lemon juice and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolate and topped with a caramelized [[Heart Nut]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Embers:''' Swirled midnight and dawn ganache with a generous helping of heavily toasted chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Seven-Point School:''' Three layers: an almond and hazlenut [[Gianduja]], pureed dried apricots, and coconut cream, coated in twilight ganache and topped with a dried apricot infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|peach schnapps]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mines of Juche:''' A twilight ganache infused with hig quality black [[Tea]] topped with a thin layer of freshly made orange marmelade, usually formed into square shapes with a spiral of chocolatl or powdered jade circling atop it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Invictus:''' A dome over four layers: Vanilla caramel, lime zest mousse, coffee ganache, caramelized pecan [[Gianduja]]. The domes are most often brushed gold with a sunburst pattern. The [[Immaculate Order]] frowns on this dessert. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Imperial Purse:''' Green [[Tea]] and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolatl, most often prepared in the shape of ornate coinpurses. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Romance:''' A butter-rich dawn ganache infused with vanilla, often topped with green and red candied flower petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minister's Kiss:''' Mango caramel ganache with blueberry honey and lemon zest, often formed in the shape of a [[Thousand Scales]] bureaucrat's cap.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soulsteel Kiss:''' A complex dessert, with lavender ganache on a base of hazlenut and an [[Motonic Gastronomy|alchemical]] fizzing element. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gardens of Trung:''' A coconut ganache with grapefruit oil, commonly decorated with a flower of zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rubble of Meru:''' A browned butter truffle on a bed of cinnamon and ground chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Embrace of the Jungle:''' Orange ganache and a soft salted caramel with a sprinkle of chocolatl-covered crunchy sugar and Southwestern flower blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of the Sapphire Stele:''' Sweetened goats' cheese, surrounded by a coating of blue-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Promise of the West:''' Calamansi caramel paired with a pink peppercorn &amp; honey ganache on top of a base made from sesame and hazelnut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scarlet Mantle:''' Cherry jelly paired with a vanilla ganache infused slightly with [[Tonka Bean]], covered with red-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Release the Hounds:''' Clotted cream truffle infused with lemon zest, often decorated with chocolate hound's heads. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Wu Jian:''' Pink Grapefruit and pink peppercorn pate paired with a black [[Tea]] ganache. Most often prepared as halph-spheres decorated with additional drizzled chocolatl, one side left untouched and the other traced with curling lines.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riptide:''' Lime caramel layered over a salted ganache infused with agave liquor. Most often prepared shaped into a wave.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Perfect Season:''' Soft, salted caramel paired with a dark ganache infused with long green chili pepper.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Magistrate's Kiss:''' Double roasted coffee ganache over vanilla ganache layered over hazelnut and almond gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of the Wyld:''' Tangerine and Yuzu coulis paired with a cinnamon and allspice infused ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sidereal Motion:''' Ginger ganache layered with a lime-vanilla caramel.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Topaz Champion:''' Caramel deglazed with cream liqueur, a sprinkling of chocolatl crumble, topped with a ginger ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Coin of Chanos:''' Spiced cookie crunch layered with a dark coffee ganache and topped with a spiced orange and lemon marmalade. Often favoured by [[House Ragara]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Eagle's Kiss:''' Mandarin caramel ganache with powdered seaweed on a bed of hazelnut gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Vermillion Kiss:''' A light blood orange ganache infused with black [[Tea]], with a slight hint of rose oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Senator's Kiss:''' Twilight gooseberry ganache paired with a soft vanilla caramel, topped with roasted sesame seeds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Jorst's Kiss:''' Malted ganache with a liquid centre of reduced birch syrup. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Coast Beaches:''' A dawn chocolatl caramel with vanilla and the faintest hint of spearmint, paired with a wild strawberry and rhubarb jelly.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Melon Cherries:''' A lightly honeyed half-moon of melon, wrapped around a sour cherry.<br /> <br /> == Soup Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wonton Soup:''' Small dumplings filled with pork and spinach, sitting in a lightly flavoured vegetable broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Miso Soup:''' A soup made with miso soybean paste, flavoured with small pieces of parsley and chives. Considered to be a palette cleaner at the start and end of a meal.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Ivory Hot Springs''' – A hearty variation on miso soup, with a thicker broth and steamed daikon radish chunks.<br /> <br /> == Condiments ==<br /> <br /> '''Soy Sauce:''' Condiment. A sauce made from fermented soybeans, with a salty flavour. Used as a dipping sauce for many Dim Sum dishes. Often is mixed with other elements for this role, including crushed garlic, citrus juice, and horseradish paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Horseradish:''' Condiment, One of the [[Fivefold Flavours of the Enflamed Palate]]. Coming in a variety of flavours, the weakest being white (often used in peasant cooking) and the best being green. Sometimes powdered, but more often made into a paste. The heat of a horseradish is very intense, perhaps more so than the hot peppers of the South, but this heat is localized in the nasal cavities and fades much more quickly than the heat from peppers. Most Dynastic diners consider it the finest of the hot spices, having the great intensity needed to impart its unique flavour, but without lingering behind to spoil the food that follows.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Oyster Sauce:''' An expensive condiment made from boiling down oyster broth until it begins to caramelize, taking on a thick texture and rich brown colour. This process is very demanding and time consuming, and amongst those of middling income a cheaper version is created by artificially thickening with starch and colouring with soy sauce to produce a passable, if far less flavourful, version. It is often used to add flavour when tossing noodles before topping with meat and vegetables.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Bean Paste:''' Condiment made by a two-part fermenting and salting black soybeans. The process turns the beans black, soft, and mostly dry, with moisture added to create a smoother paste through addition of soy sauce and minced garlic. The flavor is sharp, pungent, and spicy in smell, with a taste that is salty and somewhat bitter and sweet.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Bean Paste:''' Condiment and filling made from pulverizing and cooking red adzuki beans with honey or sugar to sweeten. Used most often to stuff desserts such as Manju, sometimes it also appears as a dip for pastries or a topping for [[Melanated Cream]].<br /> <br /> == Beverages ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Grape Wine]]:''' An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented grapes, coming in an [[Wines of Creation|array of different vintages and varietals]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Rice Wine]]''' A catch-all term applied to a number of different rice liquors, fermented rice brewed or distilled. Typically stronger than its grape counterpart, various brewed versions are typical in the cups of commoners, while the distilled rice wines are consumed more by patricians or Dynasts. Generally rice wines are cheaper to produce (and thus to obtain) than grape wines, a reason for dismissing them in the most refined circles. In a protest against [[House V'neef]], [[House Peleps]] uses mostly rice wines at its functions (as they lie outside of the monopoly).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Plum Brandy]]''': Traditionally seen at private meetings rather than large social occasions. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Shochu]]:''' Typically serving a guest this peasant-class liquor is an effective way of delivering an insult. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Fruit Schnapps]]:''' Typically taken accompanying sweet desserts, or as either an aperif before the meal or a digestif at its conclusion. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Fruit Juices:''' Freshly squeezed juice, a beverage of the wealthy due to the amount of waste it produces. Common fruits are [[Tangerine]], [[Passion Fruit]], [[Pineapple]], [[Grape]], [[Plum]], and [[Melon]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sugarcane Juice:''' Common in the southern Blessed Isle but rare elsewhere, this sweet juice is produced from pressed [[Sugar Cane]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tea:''' [[Tea]] is a staple of life across the Blessed Isle, plant matter dried and then steeped in hot water. The tea plant gives the drink its name and the plant does the same to the drink, linguistically intertwined beyond unravelling, but many peasants without much true tea supplement with local leaves and berries more easily obtained.<br /> <br /> --- ''Green tea:'' Green tea is the simplest variety of tea, left unprocessed. It is served as standard with just about every meal or ceremony, and is said to aid digestion and clear the palette. <br /> <br /> --- ''Black tea:'' Black tea is fermented before baking, causing a less bitter flavour. It is primarily produced in Pangu, and is the standard tea of the Legions.<br /> <br /> --- ''Oolong tea:'' This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, undergoing only partial fermentation. It is said to have medicinal properties, speeding up healing and reducing appetite.<br /> <br /> --- ''Jasmine tea:'' Green tea scented with jasmine, a slightly more costly and more aromatic variant.<br /> <br /> --- ''Spice tea:'' A harmonious blend of hibiscus, cloves, lemon balm, other herbs and spices, naturally sweet, tart and spicy.<br /> <br /> --- ''Chrysanthemum tea:'' A sweet tea of Chrysanthemum blossoms and honeysuckle, one of the most costly teas in the Realm.<br /> <br /> --- ''Milk Tea:'' A sweet tea created using tea and sweetened condensed milk, very popular with children and soldiers.<br /> <br /> --- ''Pu-erh Tea:'' A black tea that has been heavily fermented and aged, sometimes for decades, imparting a black colour and a strong earthy flavour.<br /> <br /> --- ''25-Flavour Tea:'' A complex, bitter tea containing twenty-five different plants, the combination said to have medicinal benefits harmonizing one’s Essence with Creation. It includes mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle flower, bamboo leaf, peppermint, bloodgrass, blue giant hyssop, monkfruit, perilla leaf, beefsteak leaf, fermented soybean, lidded cleistocalyx flower, cacao leaf, holly leaf, and green tea leaf.<br /> <br /> --- ''Sky Between the Branches Tea:'' A particularly well-regarded variety of green tea, Sky Between The Branches consists of [[Tea]] harvested and dried within the first ten days each Ascending Wood, on the banks of [[Caracal River]] in [[Heroncrest Prefecture]]. The leaves are known for their tender silver tips, imparting a unique chestnut character to the tea.<br /> <br /> --- ''Silver Rain Above the Clouds Tea'' - Silver Rain Above the Clouds is a rare white tea, consisting of tender white buds harvested on high mountain slopes before they open, an opportunity lasting only two days every Season. With as much further processing avoided as possible, the tea retains its most delicate flavours, along with a sweet, lingering finish. <br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Inquiry'' - The Tea of Inquiry is a favourite of bureaucrats and scholars, its broad tea leaves mixed with toasted grains of rice to impart a strong wakefull effect and a robust, toasted flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Dancing Leaf Tea'' - A variety of green tea harvested in the northeastern [[Blessed Isle]], including [[Pangu]] Prefecture, the [[Pahua Basin]], and the [[White Coast]]. The tea is praiosed for its vibrant emerald hue, providing hints of sweetness and nuttiness to the palate, its twisting leaves seeming to dance in the cup as they steep. <br /> <br /> --- ''Pearls of Jasmine Tea'' - Pearls of Jasmine is a rare variety and preparation of green tea, harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Silk &amp; Pearl Peninsula]]. Young just-opening buds are harvested in the Ascending season and rolled tightly into round 'pearls', before being dried and scented with jamsine blossoms to produce a tea with floral flavour and aroma that can last through several steepings.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Integrity'' - A more common (though still rare and expensive) relative of Jasmine Pearls, hailing from the same region, The Tea of Integrity must be carefully prepared through taking harvested tea leaves and passing them through a jasmine flower eight times through the course of the night when the blossoms have opened. The tea carries hints of that jasmine, along with a clean, pure flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Spirit Strengthening Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Plains of Rusted Iron]], said to be the reason for its broad iron-coloured leaves. Its flavour and aroma provide freshness and hints of orchid, which the robust leaves continue to provide across several steepings. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Poetry Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea, whose large leaves impart a distinct flavour of peaches, with notes of honey and chestnut.<br /> <br /> --- ''Five Elements Tea'' - Classically known as 'Five Dragons' Tea'. Flat green tea leaves (Wood), Air dried, roasted (Fire), served in a ceramic cup (Earth) over which is poured Water. A popular tea during the [[Shogunate Era]], it conveys robust earthy and nutty flavours. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Abundance'' - A variety of Oolong tea grown on the upper slopes of the [[Dragon's Nest Mountains]], known for its milky taste with a hint of orchid, and fragrances of pineapple &amp; sweet cream.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Thoughts'' - A mild green tea harvested in [[Lord's Crossing Dominion]], which carries sweet earthy notes and a hint of cherry.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Gardens'' - A blend based on the Tea of Spring Thoughts, with which have been mixed dried rose petals and white tea buds to grant a sweeter, more floral flavour. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category: Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Cuisine]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Dim_Sum&diff=8720 2024-08-13T13:17:52Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Vegetable Dishes */</p> <hr /> <div>Dynastic dining tends to focus on a large variety of smaller dishes, rather than one large main course, in a style known as ‘dim sum’. Dining is a political game of itself: what a host serves at a function reveals her political agenda: the value of ingredients shows the importance of the effort, while the choice to serve (or not to serve) the favourite foods of certain guests can show who the host is attempting to influence, and who they consider to be their enemies. Some dishes can be used as a form of coded language, though it must be noted the exact significance of certain dishes is rarely common knowledge, and is usually restricted to members of a specific scheme. Serving a guest at a dinner an '''empty plate''', at least, is a quite universal signal, tantamount to a declaration of war by the host. <br /> <br /> == Dumplings and Buns ==<br /> <br /> '''Shrimp dumplings:''' Tender, semi-translucent dough pleated in a distinctive half-moon shape around a shrimp filling and then steamed. Dynasts judge a teahouse by the quality of its shrimp dumplings.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pork dumplings''': Small, round steamed dumplings with a juicy, gingery pork filling peeking though the gathers of a thin wrapper. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Potstickers''': These steamed and pan-seared appetizers are heartier than most other dim sum dumplings. They have a thicker dough enclosing a filling of pork sometimes with shrimp as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chive dumplings:''' Flat and round, with a chewy dough thin enough to reveal a delicate green colour on top and seared to a crisp on the other side. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallop dumplings''': Flat and round, with a chewy dough seared to a crisp on the bottom, and thin enough on top to reveal the green tint of a cilantro-chive and scallop filing. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed buns with roast pork''': Soft, fluffy white rolls filled with morsels of sweet, red-glazed roast pork.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Baked buns with roast pork''': Roast pork enclosed in a yeasted dough and baked golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Curried beef crescents''': Miniature turnovers with extremely flaky dough and a curried beef filling reveals culinary influences from the South.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Varangian Pyramids''': A variation on the curried beef crescent originating amongst the [[Varang]] City-States, larger and more pyramidal than crescent in shape. The fillings used eschew beef in favour of curried legumes and mashed root vegetables. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Spring rolls''': These flaky-crisp, finger-length rolls were the inspiration behind larger and more oily egg rolls popular in the urban slums, River Province and the inner Threshold (egg rolls are seen as ‘low class’ in the Realm). A filling of pork, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts is rolled a thin wrapper and then fried until golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cold Spring rolls''': Rice paper wrappers are softened in warm water and then wrapped around vegetables and cooked meat or shrimp. The dish is considered a refreshing appetizer, and an ideal vehicle for enjoying sauces. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Peanut Dumplings:''' Stuffed with peanuts, garlic, chives, pork, dried shrimp, and/or mushrooms, using a thick dumpling wrapper made from glutinous rice flour. Usually served with a small dish of chili oil for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soup Dumplings:''' A difficult dish to make, requiring a skilled cook to master, soup dumplings use a fatty soup stock, usually pork lard with some combination of green onion, nori, miso paste, or horseradish. The stock is extremely fatty, and is allowed to congeal into a semi-solid mass before being scooped up and enfolded in a thin wheat flour wrapper. When the dumpling is then cooked and served, the fatty stock returns to liquid form, exploding in the mouth of the diner in a burst of flavour. Evena a tiny mistake in closing the wrapper, or a tear or weakness, will cause the stock to drain out during boiling. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bean Curd Rolls:''' Ingredients such as diced shrimp, leek, shredded chicken, bamboo shoots, small carrots, tofu, scallions, sesame oil, or bean sprouts, wrapped in a thin bean-curd skin and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Harpoon Dumplings:''' A dish where crab meat (the meat of [[Helmed Crab]]s is most favoured) is combined with soft cheese, garlic, and scallions and used to fill a dumpling which is then fried until crispy. They are typically served with [[Biting Sauce]] or a sauce of honey and [[Western Plum]]s for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Dance of Five Directions]]'''<br /> <br /> == Rice Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rice pearl balls:''' Rolling small spheres of seasoned ground pork in uncooked kernels of glutinous rice before steaming them creates these pearly rice “dumplings.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Lotus leaf rice:''' During steaming, the leaves of the lotus plant infuse their delicate flavor and aroma into a filling of glutinous rice studded with a variety of ingredients including chicken, roast pork, sausage, and black mushrooms. A preparation considered to be more appropriate for the [[Immaculate]] clergy includes only rice and lotus seeds scattered within, the seeds providing a crunch and more intense lotus flavour... perhaps surprisingly, the most discerning [[:Category:Chefs &amp; Gourmands|gourmands]] also favour this approach, for it allows the lotus to truly emerge as the hero of the dish.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Egg Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Egg Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Glutinous Rice]], that has been cooked, then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (bamboo shoots, peas, corn), green onion, and egg. There is a saying &quot;As refined as rice fried egg&quot;, a joke for the nouveau-riche habits of citizens and patricians who have riches without culture, referencing the tendency of wealthier households to include more egg in their fried rice, those without appreciation for the dish's nuances to sometimes go too far.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dark Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Dark Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Unbound Rice]], that has been cooked then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (peas, garlic, carrot, celery, onion, peppers), cured pork belly, sausage, and/or dried fruits (such as plums). Its dark colour comes from the ample use of dark soy sauce during preparation, making the resulting dish very dark brown in colour and quite salty.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chestnut Rice:''' Steamed [[Glutinous Rice]], with [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, chestnuts and sweet potato, sprinkled with radish sprouts and sesame seeds. A dish favoured in the Water and Earth seasons.<br /> <br /> == Meat Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed Meatballs''': Finely ground beef, shaped into balls and then steamed with preserved orange peel and served on top of a thin bean-curd skin. Some consider the dish to be a representation of House Cathak: respect for tradition through steaming, fire through the citrus, martial power (and Threshold cattle assets) through the beef, and purity of Immaculate faith through the bean curd.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Four Happy Balls:''' A set of four pork meatballs in a chicken and cabbage broth, derived from the larger dish known as the [[Lion's Head Meatball]]<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from honey, spices, soy sauce, and red wine. This gives them a distinctive red colour. Typically they are served over noodles or rice when the main course of a meal, or thin-sliced with bones removed as dim sum.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from black bean paste and rice wine.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minced Pork Rice''': Dish with origins amongst the patricians and Dynastic households of the Silk and Pearl Peninsula on the southwestern Blessed Isle. Pork belly is finely minced and fried with shallots in oil, then boiled in a sauce containing some mixture of sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, hot peppers, and aromatic spices. The dark brown meat sauce produced is served over rice, though this can sometimes be substituted for noodles or even thin-sliced vegetables. Sour pickled fruits and vegetables are a common accompaniment.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Pork Belly''': Dish using pork belly, the fattiest part of the pig. The belly is cubed and cooked slowly in a braising liquid until the fat and skin become gelatinous in texture and melt easily in the mouth, while the liquid becomes a thick, sweet and fairly sticky sauce. The braising liquid itself contains garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and wine or vinegar: use of red wine (a variation termed ‘Red-Braised Pork Belly') makes for a heavier, sweeter sauce, while use of rice wine leaves the flavour of pork fat more dominant, and rice vinegar is used for those wishing to counter some of the richness of the dish. Often mushrooms are added partway through the braising, and when served the dish is topped by diced leeks or scallion greens.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Succulent Squares of Swine''': Succulent Squares of Swine are a Shogunate-era variation of Red-Braised Pork Belly. The key to the dish is the method of cutting the pork belly: the pork must be cut into a cube shape, 3 inches to a side, the top half all fat and the bottom half all meat. The pork is first pan-fried to form a crust on top and bottom, then slow-cooked in its sauce for many hours. The resulting dish carries fragrant aromas of wine and is oily, but not greasy, in the mouth... this makes it popular amongst battle-worn officers and celebrating dilettantes seeking to counter excessive consumption of spirits. The dish draws its name from the Shogunate poet-official [[Kugawa Dongpo]], who was said to have declared it the greatest of pork dishes in a now-lost poem.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Beef Sashimi''': The cooking of any creature has an effect on its natural flavours, and so the best way to truly appreciate it is in its raw form. In the case of beef, the favoured preparation is thinly sliced strips of tenderloin, served with a sauce derived from citrus and seaweed.<br /> <br /> '''[[Gochei at Bright Summit#Blossom at Bright Summit|Blossom at Bright Summit]]''': An elaborate dish of thin-sliced boar meat arranged in the shape of rose petals.<br /> <br /> == Poultry Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, boiled and very lightly spiced. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, first boiled, then braised in hot sesame-ginger oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Quails:''' Small birds, spiced then stuffed with small, sweet onions and roasted. Said to be a sensual dish… some say because of the sexual suggestions so often conveyed by Dynasts as they ‘finger’ out the onions at parties. [[Eagle Prefecture]] is considered source of the finest-flavoured [[Quail]]s, and this dish is a favourite of [[House Sesus]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Entombed Quail:''' Cups of puffed pastry, in which are placed quails stuffed with [[Truffles]] and butter or [[Paragon Cuisine|foie gras]]. The cups are topped with a 'lid' of pastry, giving the dish its name, and surrounded by a sticky sauce of figs sauteed in [[Wine]]. Though large as dim sum dishes go, an Entombed Quail is far from a meal in-of-itself, seeing the dish often appear as a 'centrepiece' for dim sum diners at smaller salons held by members of less [[Immaculate]]ly-inclined [[Great House]]s.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry''': A dish of the south-central Blessed Isle along the [[Caracal River]], said to have been developed to suit the palate of the Legion general [[Peleps Zuo]] of [[Arjuf]] to honour his victories against the rebels in the [[Unbroken Rushes Rebellion]], where he led the defense of the port city against the peasant hordes. Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry consists of cubed chicken, battered and fired for a crispy texture and then tossed in a sauce of sherry, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, and crushed hot peppers. The dish has some spice, but sweetness is by far the most dominant flavour, and some view it as excessive, making the dish far less popular in the rest of the [[Blessed Isle]] as it is in the South. It is also very popular in [[The Lap]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chicken Sashimi''': Thin slices of chicken breast, served raw with a sweetened soy sauce for dipping. As chicken is considered to be one of the lightest-flavoured poultry meats, this preparation is popular for letting diners appreciate the flavour of the bird without losing it to cooking or heavy sauces.<br /> <br /> == Seafood Dishes ==<br /> <br /> Seafood dishes in the Dynasty vary widely both by geographic region and (much more importantly) by season, and example dishes can be seen in [[Dynastic Seasonal Seafood]] . However, some dishes remain popular year-round as part of dim-sum meals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Barbequed Eel:''' Long eel fillets, oiled and grilled, then served with a tangy brown drizzle of spiced fish sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Squid:''' Small squid, hollowed out and stuffed with spinach, red pepper, and onion, before being quickly baked.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tempura:''' Fish, zucchini and sweet potatoes dipped in batter, then deep-fried until golden. Said to have roots amongst the Haslanti, where the deep-fried fish is eaten with equally fried white potatoes and ale, but this method is viewed as too ‘foreign’ or ‘uncultured’ amongst most Dynasts. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Smoked Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, skinned and smoked, served raw. Like most raw fish dishes, it is favoured by House Peleps.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, braised and served wrapped in kelp. Far more salty than the average Dynastic dish, more popular amongst those raised on the coast than inland. Said to represent the vastness of the open sea.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roast Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, roasted and served on a bed of spiced fruit.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riverfish in Sauce:''' A fresh-water fish, cooked soft in a herb broth and then served on the bone covered in cream sauce. The bones remain hard and inedible amidst the softness of the flavoured fish, which inspired a poem of Imperial consort Tepet in years past: “Outer Softness, seen and open to all. Hidden Strength within, opening to none.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Drunken Shrimp''': A raw seafood dish of river shrimp. The shrimp are eaten while still living, the creatures calmed by immersion in a ‘marinade’ of rice wine and honey. They are quickly tossed in a hot pan of pepper-infused oil for only the briefest moment, to perfect colour while not killing them too early, and then served, just beginning to return from stupor as they are eaten. Drunken Shrimp are eaten with the fingers, and traditionally diners are given small bowls to wash their hands once they are finished, containing green tea and slices of lemon.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Clouds Nestled in Oak''': A refined dish dating from the Shogunate, consisting of [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, stuffed with an airy mousse of whitefish (sometimes including scallop) and then deep fried. The stuffed mushrooms are served individually in a flavoured soy-based sauce, topped with grated daikon, green onion, and hot peppers. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sun-marked Tuna''': A dish known in less devout circles as Tuna Sol Invictus, this dish consists of red tuna wrapped in nori seaweed sheets, with a light crust of breadcrumbs, served with sour plum sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sunrise on the Mountain Lake''': A dish of the central Blessed Isle, using freshwater [[White Mussel]]s whose natural tough rubbery texture is softened by steaming in salted water and vinegar before they are grilled in-shell and tossed in a sweet chili sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Egg Dishes==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Hot Spring Egg''': A hot spring egg is a shell-poached egg slowly cooked in a hot water bath, typically the hot springs common among the mountains of the [[Blessed Isle]]. The resulting egg is removed from the shell and served, having taken on a unique texture where the yolk has solidified without losing its colour or texture while the whites have transformed to become almost custard-like. Typically Hot Spring Eggs are served in small bowls, floating in a miso or [[Dashi]] stock and often garnished with spring onions<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Egg''': Custard egg is a simple preparation of egg that is beaten with water and then steamed to create a smooth, silky texture that becomes almost gelatinous when it cools. This basic preparation can be presented in a number of ways: with sugar added and fruit or flower garnishes it serves as a dessert, while addition of shrimp or crab make for a more hearty dish. Such a preparation is known to have [[Shogunate]] roots, and remains popular in [[Lookshy]]. However, among the gourmands of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] the favoured preparation (sometimes referred to as 'Immaculate custard egg', though not within earshot of the [[Immaculate Order|Order]]'s monks) sees the custard presented in a small bowl, topped with a clarified broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Tofu Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dipped Agedofu:''' A dish of tofu bean curd, cut into triangles and deep-fried to crisp its outer skin. Served with a sauce made from mustard, soy sauce, &amp; spring onions, into which the trinagles are dipped using chopsticks. Dipped agedofu is a popular appetizer amongst the scions of House Cathak and House Mnemon. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soldier-in-the-Trees''': A dish of tofu bean curd, deep-fried to crisp its outside, placed in a bowl of noodles along with steamed broccoli and a sauce of leeks and miso paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == Vegetable Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed mushrooms:''' Mushroom caps filled with shrimp and bamboo shoots then steamed. The dish is sometimes called “a hundred flowers,” for the mounded caps resemble open blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallion Pancakes:''' A batter derived from mung beans, mixed with small onions and sometimes mixed with fish, chicken, or pickled cabbage, then fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roasted Root Vegetables :''' Roasted turnips, carrots, potatoes and yams. A low-class peasant food, often served to unwanted guests.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Greens and Oyster Sauce:''' A simple dish that is nevertheless incredibly popular, using steamed broccoli, kai-lan, or bok choi tossed in oyster sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glazed Eggplant:''' Slender eggplants, slit lengthwise and brushed with sweetened soy sauce, then grilled until tender, after which they are coated in a glaze of miso soybean paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Autumn Rain:''' A vegetarian dish more common amongst the religious than more extravagant Dynasts, Autumn Rain is also seen (simplified) on citizen and peasant tables. It consists of an assortment of vegetables, stewed in a broth of soy and ginger. Traditionally it is considered a warm and filling dish to be eaten on those days allocated by the [[Thousand Scales]] for rainy weather.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Simmered Embrace:''' A vegetarian dish often favoured by the devout, though the complexity of its preparation put it well within the standard of Dynastic dim sum. Cabbage, radish and fern leaves are shredded then wrapped in sheets of tofu skin and tied with edible ribbons of gourd, then simmered in a sweetened soy broth. The resulting wrap is sliced into rounds before serving. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kimchi:''' A staple dish of the Blessed Isle’s peasants, kimchi is made primarily of cabbage, fermented with anchovies, hot peppers, and salt, most often buried in clay jars where it will last for years. Dynastic kimchi is served as a side dish to accompany dim sum or balance out alcohol during drinking parties.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bouquet of Sextes Jylis''': This dish is not a set of specific ingredients but a preparation, rendering raw fruits and vegetables into something worthy of a Dynastic table. The ingredients are chosen based on season and colour (though carrot, cucumber, melon, papaya, and pineapple tend to be staples), and intricately carved into bite-sized flowers. This undertaking is time-consuming and demands significant knife skills, proof of a well-appointed kitchen.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Five Mountain Shoots]]''': Five seasonal shoots and herbs, enjoyed when they appear during the Wood season.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Toes in the Mountain Stream''': A salad dish associated with the Ascending months and the Wood Season, when fresh young leaves are in abundance, Toes in the Mountain Stream consists of flavourul leaves ([[Wasabi]] leaves, [[Perilla]] leaves, [[Mint]] leaves, or some combination thereof), and a dipping sauce of soy and sometimes citrus, scattered with sesame seeds. Diners simply lift a leaf with their chopsticks, dip lightly, and eat.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Ten Thousand Year Ginseng]]''': A medicinal dish of fermented ginseng in sauce, typically served at conclusion of athletics or [[Gateway]] competitions.<br /> <br /> ==Sweet Dishes==<br /> <br /> While the culinary traditions of the [[Shogunate Era]] looked down on sweets and desserts, favouring more savoury 'warrior' dishes of meat and rice (with sweetness incorporated as an element in many savory dishes), the kitchens of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] have embraced recipes old and new, ingredients from across Creation, to provide the Princes of the Earth with sweet nibbles served in the dim-sum manner. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Pears:''' Sweet pears, halved then filled with honey and dates and gently steamed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mango Pudding:''' A rich, sweet pudding made with fine cream and fresh fruit. The favour is quite strong, and is generally dismissed by many in the more conservative Great Houses as ‘uncultured’… the pudding would never be found near a [[House Tepet|Tepet]] party. However, it finds favour with the younger Houses, and the more hedonist Dynasts.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet &amp; Salty Balls:''' Steamed rice-dough balls filled with peanuts and chestnuts, sprinkled with honeyed coconut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sweet Balls in Wine]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Manju:''' A chewy dough filled with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds, and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heavenly Silk''': A dessert consisting of silky tofu served with a sweet ginger or jasmine flavored syrup.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sugared Jerky]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Chilled Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Longan Tofu''': Almond-flavoured tofu served with longan fruit, usually chilled. A dish for hot summer days.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Melanated Cream]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Baked Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Tart:''' Tender egg custard baked in a flaky crust, these delicate little sweets are a perfect ending with tea. Some high class restaurants put bird's nest on top of the custard, either natural or formed of spun sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Thousand-Layer Cake''': A dessert pastry made up of many layers of sweet egg dough.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pineapple Bun:''' A dessert bun which, contrary to expectation, contains no pineapple. The top of the pineapple bun is made of a dough which consists of sugar, eggs, flour, and lard. Baked to a golden-brown color, its checkered top resembles the epicarp of a pineapple, crunchy and quite sweet compared to the bread beneath. In some Threshold cities such as Nexus, the dish has been completely misinterpreted, and bakers stuff the buns with actual pineapple, something which sets Dynastic visitors laughing uproariously at the uncivilized idiocy of those outside the Center of Creation.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Moon Cakes''': See [[New Year Celebrations]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stamped Cookies''': A [[Stamped Cookie|sweet cookie, stamped]] with a [[Mon]] or other imagery.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Floss Bun''': A small, sweet bun, topped with a thin curled floss of sweetened meat, usually pork, though [[Beef]] and fish can also be used.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Finger Tart:''' Tiny tarts, on the scale of finger sweets, usually topped with icing and candied fruits or fresh berries. [[Brambleberry]] is the most favoured, with the most extravagant galas making use of the rare Pasiap's brambleberry. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Finger Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> These miniature desserts are well suited to be eaten with fingers or chopsticks, and are often found serving as a light breakfast or a finishing course at Dynastic tables, and can occasionally be wrapped and presented as gifts (most often for lovers or children). To ease handling, they are typically coated with candied sugar or hardened [[Chocolatl]]. The latter was at peak popularity centuries ago, in the wake of the [[Trade War]] with [[The Guild]], when the Dynasty found it fashionable to host 'chocolataire salons' featuring the bittersweet substance in every course, and while these are less common in the present day these 'bonbons', 'sweet truffles', and 'kisses' still remain popular in Dynastic desserts. <br /> <br /> <br /> Several varieties of these desserts were created to honour particular figures, the [[Scarlet Empress]] foremost amongst them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Poet's Embrace:''' A whole [[Cherry]], soaked in [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], coated in a midnight [[Chocolatl]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Violetta:''' [[Violet]] ganache surrounded with a midnight chocolatl, topped with candied violets. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pagoda at Midnight:''' A canopy of smooth [[Gianduja]] over a midnight chocolatl coated coffee ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Berries of the Wood:''' A sticky [[Strawberry]] syrup within a shell of midnight chocolatl. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Coins of Jade:''' Honey-walnut ganache coated in chocolatl and dusted in powdered [[Jade]]. Rather extravagant, though favoured by some wealthy Dynasts, particularly in [[House Ragara]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Desert Rose:''' Clusters of puffed [[Rice]] coated in chocolatl, topped with candied rose petals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dessert Basilisc:''' Named with reference to the [[Desert Basilisc|basiliscs of the Southern deserts]]. Sour Cherry coulis paired with a cinnamon flavoured dawn chocolatl and pistachio ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Agapi:''' Semi-sweet ganache with a puree of strawberries infused with pomegranate liqueur.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of Sion:''' Orange-vanilla ganache layered over a crisp wafer of nuts and zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bees' Nest:''' Dawn chocolatl ganache, filled with apple blossom [[Honey]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Velvet:''' Malted dawn ganache, dusted with powdered chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Diamond Princess:''' Blackcurrant coulis paired with a [[Cedar]] infused twilight ganache sealed with pine nut praline. A complex delicacy, favoured at the [[Crystal Palace]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cord of Wood:''' Twilight ganache with port-fused currants rolled in [[Maple]]-glazed walnuts and crushed maple flakes.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''The Chambermaid:''' [[Cinnamon]] butter truffle on a bed of [[Gianduja]], dusted with cinnamon sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Circus Act:''' [[Brambleberry]] coulis flavoured with anise and mint, within a vanilla ganache, shaped and coloured to resemble the large tents used by travelling performers in the [[Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tears of the Crocodile:''' A small square of wilight ganache infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], topped with walnut marzipan and a dried sour cherry.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heart of the Dragon:''' Whipped [[Brambleberry]] and basil coulis paired with a jasmine [[Tea]] ganache and rolled in a mix of wafers, roasted pecans, sesame and almonds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wood Dragon's Kiss:''' Black fig, freshly squeezed lemon juice and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolate and topped with a caramelized [[Heart Nut]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Embers:''' Swirled midnight and dawn ganache with a generous helping of heavily toasted chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Seven-Point School:''' Three layers: an almond and hazlenut [[Gianduja]], pureed dried apricots, and coconut cream, coated in twilight ganache and topped with a dried apricot infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|peach schnapps]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mines of Juche:''' A twilight ganache infused with hig quality black [[Tea]] topped with a thin layer of freshly made orange marmelade, usually formed into square shapes with a spiral of chocolatl or powdered jade circling atop it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Invictus:''' A dome over four layers: Vanilla caramel, lime zest mousse, coffee ganache, caramelized pecan [[Gianduja]]. The domes are most often brushed gold with a sunburst pattern. The [[Immaculate Order]] frowns on this dessert. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Imperial Purse:''' Green [[Tea]] and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolatl, most often prepared in the shape of ornate coinpurses. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Romance:''' A butter-rich dawn ganache infused with vanilla, often topped with green and red candied flower petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minister's Kiss:''' Mango caramel ganache with blueberry honey and lemon zest, often formed in the shape of a [[Thousand Scales]] bureaucrat's cap.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soulsteel Kiss:''' A complex dessert, with lavender ganache on a base of hazlenut and an [[Motonic Gastronomy|alchemical]] fizzing element. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gardens of Trung:''' A coconut ganache with grapefruit oil, commonly decorated with a flower of zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rubble of Meru:''' A browned butter truffle on a bed of cinnamon and ground chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Embrace of the Jungle:''' Orange ganache and a soft salted caramel with a sprinkle of chocolatl-covered crunchy sugar and Southwestern flower blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of the Sapphire Stele:''' Sweetened goats' cheese, surrounded by a coating of blue-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Promise of the West:''' Calamansi caramel paired with a pink peppercorn &amp; honey ganache on top of a base made from sesame and hazelnut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scarlet Mantle:''' Cherry jelly paired with a vanilla ganache infused slightly with [[Tonka Bean]], covered with red-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Release the Hounds:''' Clotted cream truffle infused with lemon zest, often decorated with chocolate hound's heads. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Wu Jian:''' Pink Grapefruit and pink peppercorn pate paired with a black [[Tea]] ganache. Most often prepared as halph-spheres decorated with additional drizzled chocolatl, one side left untouched and the other traced with curling lines.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riptide:''' Lime caramel layered over a salted ganache infused with agave liquor. Most often prepared shaped into a wave.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Perfect Season:''' Soft, salted caramel paired with a dark ganache infused with long green chili pepper.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Magistrate's Kiss:''' Double roasted coffee ganache over vanilla ganache layered over hazelnut and almond gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of the Wyld:''' Tangerine and Yuzu coulis paired with a cinnamon and allspice infused ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sidereal Motion:''' Ginger ganache layered with a lime-vanilla caramel.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Topaz Champion:''' Caramel deglazed with cream liqueur, a sprinkling of chocolatl crumble, topped with a ginger ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Coin of Chanos:''' Spiced cookie crunch layered with a dark coffee ganache and topped with a spiced orange and lemon marmalade. Often favoured by [[House Ragara]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Eagle's Kiss:''' Mandarin caramel ganache with powdered seaweed on a bed of hazelnut gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Vermillion Kiss:''' A light blood orange ganache infused with black [[Tea]], with a slight hint of rose oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Senator's Kiss:''' Twilight gooseberry ganache paired with a soft vanilla caramel, topped with roasted sesame seeds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Jorst's Kiss:''' Malted ganache with a liquid centre of reduced birch syrup. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Coast Beaches:''' A dawn chocolatl caramel with vanilla and the faintest hint of spearmint, paired with a wild strawberry and rhubarb jelly.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Melon Cherries:''' A lightly honeyed half-moon of melon, wrapped around a sour cherry.<br /> <br /> == Soup Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wonton Soup:''' Small dumplings filled with pork and spinach, sitting in a lightly flavoured vegetable broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Miso Soup:''' A soup made with miso soybean paste, flavoured with small pieces of parsley and chives. Considered to be a palette cleaner at the start and end of a meal.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Ivory Hot Springs''' – A hearty variation on miso soup, with a thicker broth and steamed daikon radish chunks.<br /> <br /> == Condiments ==<br /> <br /> '''Soy Sauce:''' Condiment. A sauce made from fermented soybeans, with a salty flavour. Used as a dipping sauce for many Dim Sum dishes. Often is mixed with other elements for this role, including crushed garlic, citrus juice, and horseradish paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Horseradish:''' Condiment, One of the [[Fivefold Flavours of the Enflamed Palate]]. Coming in a variety of flavours, the weakest being white (often used in peasant cooking) and the best being green. Sometimes powdered, but more often made into a paste. The heat of a horseradish is very intense, perhaps more so than the hot peppers of the South, but this heat is localized in the nasal cavities and fades much more quickly than the heat from peppers. Most Dynastic diners consider it the finest of the hot spices, having the great intensity needed to impart its unique flavour, but without lingering behind to spoil the food that follows.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Oyster Sauce:''' An expensive condiment made from boiling down oyster broth until it begins to caramelize, taking on a thick texture and rich brown colour. This process is very demanding and time consuming, and amongst those of middling income a cheaper version is created by artificially thickening with starch and colouring with soy sauce to produce a passable, if far less flavourful, version. It is often used to add flavour when tossing noodles before topping with meat and vegetables.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Bean Paste:''' Condiment made by a two-part fermenting and salting black soybeans. The process turns the beans black, soft, and mostly dry, with moisture added to create a smoother paste through addition of soy sauce and minced garlic. The flavor is sharp, pungent, and spicy in smell, with a taste that is salty and somewhat bitter and sweet.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Bean Paste:''' Condiment and filling made from pulverizing and cooking red adzuki beans with honey or sugar to sweeten. Used most often to stuff desserts such as Manju, sometimes it also appears as a dip for pastries or a topping for [[Melanated Cream]].<br /> <br /> == Beverages ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Grape Wine]]:''' An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented grapes, coming in an [[Wines of Creation|array of different vintages and varietals]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Rice Wine]]''' A catch-all term applied to a number of different rice liquors, fermented rice brewed or distilled. Typically stronger than its grape counterpart, various brewed versions are typical in the cups of commoners, while the distilled rice wines are consumed more by patricians or Dynasts. Generally rice wines are cheaper to produce (and thus to obtain) than grape wines, a reason for dismissing them in the most refined circles. In a protest against [[House V'neef]], [[House Peleps]] uses mostly rice wines at its functions (as they lie outside of the monopoly).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Plum Brandy]]''': Traditionally seen at private meetings rather than large social occasions. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Shochu]]:''' Typically serving a guest this peasant-class liquor is an effective way of delivering an insult. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Fruit Schnapps]]:''' Typically taken accompanying sweet desserts, or as either an aperif before the meal or a digestif at its conclusion. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Fruit Juices:''' Freshly squeezed juice, a beverage of the wealthy due to the amount of waste it produces. Common fruits are [[Tangerine]], [[Passion Fruit]], [[Pineapple]], [[Grape]], [[Plum]], and [[Melon]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sugarcane Juice:''' Common in the southern Blessed Isle but rare elsewhere, this sweet juice is produced from pressed [[Sugar Cane]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tea:''' [[Tea]] is a staple of life across the Blessed Isle, plant matter dried and then steeped in hot water. The tea plant gives the drink its name and the plant does the same to the drink, linguistically intertwined beyond unravelling, but many peasants without much true tea supplement with local leaves and berries more easily obtained.<br /> <br /> --- ''Green tea:'' Green tea is the simplest variety of tea, left unprocessed. It is served as standard with just about every meal or ceremony, and is said to aid digestion and clear the palette. <br /> <br /> --- ''Black tea:'' Black tea is fermented before baking, causing a less bitter flavour. It is primarily produced in Pangu, and is the standard tea of the Legions.<br /> <br /> --- ''Oolong tea:'' This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, undergoing only partial fermentation. It is said to have medicinal properties, speeding up healing and reducing appetite.<br /> <br /> --- ''Jasmine tea:'' Green tea scented with jasmine, a slightly more costly and more aromatic variant.<br /> <br /> --- ''Spice tea:'' A harmonious blend of hibiscus, cloves, lemon balm, other herbs and spices, naturally sweet, tart and spicy.<br /> <br /> --- ''Chrysanthemum tea:'' A sweet tea of Chrysanthemum blossoms and honeysuckle, one of the most costly teas in the Realm.<br /> <br /> --- ''Milk Tea:'' A sweet tea created using tea and sweetened condensed milk, very popular with children and soldiers.<br /> <br /> --- ''Pu-erh Tea:'' A black tea that has been heavily fermented and aged, sometimes for decades, imparting a black colour and a strong earthy flavour.<br /> <br /> --- ''25-Flavour Tea:'' A complex, bitter tea containing twenty-five different plants, the combination said to have medicinal benefits harmonizing one’s Essence with Creation. It includes mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle flower, bamboo leaf, peppermint, bloodgrass, blue giant hyssop, monkfruit, perilla leaf, beefsteak leaf, fermented soybean, lidded cleistocalyx flower, cacao leaf, holly leaf, and green tea leaf.<br /> <br /> --- ''Sky Between the Branches Tea:'' A particularly well-regarded variety of green tea, Sky Between The Branches consists of [[Tea]] harvested and dried within the first ten days each Ascending Wood, on the banks of [[Caracal River]] in [[Heroncrest Prefecture]]. The leaves are known for their tender silver tips, imparting a unique chestnut character to the tea.<br /> <br /> --- ''Silver Rain Above the Clouds Tea'' - Silver Rain Above the Clouds is a rare white tea, consisting of tender white buds harvested on high mountain slopes before they open, an opportunity lasting only two days every Season. With as much further processing avoided as possible, the tea retains its most delicate flavours, along with a sweet, lingering finish. <br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Inquiry'' - The Tea of Inquiry is a favourite of bureaucrats and scholars, its broad tea leaves mixed with toasted grains of rice to impart a strong wakefull effect and a robust, toasted flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Dancing Leaf Tea'' - A variety of green tea harvested in the northeastern [[Blessed Isle]], including [[Pangu]] Prefecture, the [[Pahua Basin]], and the [[White Coast]]. The tea is praiosed for its vibrant emerald hue, providing hints of sweetness and nuttiness to the palate, its twisting leaves seeming to dance in the cup as they steep. <br /> <br /> --- ''Pearls of Jasmine Tea'' - Pearls of Jasmine is a rare variety and preparation of green tea, harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Silk &amp; Pearl Peninsula]]. Young just-opening buds are harvested in the Ascending season and rolled tightly into round 'pearls', before being dried and scented with jamsine blossoms to produce a tea with floral flavour and aroma that can last through several steepings.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Integrity'' - A more common (though still rare and expensive) relative of Jasmine Pearls, hailing from the same region, The Tea of Integrity must be carefully prepared through taking harvested tea leaves and passing them through a jasmine flower eight times through the course of the night when the blossoms have opened. The tea carries hints of that jasmine, along with a clean, pure flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Spirit Strengthening Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Plains of Rusted Iron]], said to be the reason for its broad iron-coloured leaves. Its flavour and aroma provide freshness and hints of orchid, which the robust leaves continue to provide across several steepings. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Poetry Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea, whose large leaves impart a distinct flavour of peaches, with notes of honey and chestnut.<br /> <br /> --- ''Five Elements Tea'' - Classically known as 'Five Dragons' Tea'. Flat green tea leaves (Wood), Air dried, roasted (Fire), served in a ceramic cup (Earth) over which is poured Water. A popular tea during the [[Shogunate Era]], it conveys robust earthy and nutty flavours. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Abundance'' - A variety of Oolong tea grown on the upper slopes of the [[Dragon's Nest Mountains]], known for its milky taste with a hint of orchid, and fragrances of pineapple &amp; sweet cream.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Thoughts'' - A mild green tea harvested in [[Lord's Crossing Dominion]], which carries sweet earthy notes and a hint of cherry.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Gardens'' - A blend based on the Tea of Spring Thoughts, with which have been mixed dried rose petals and white tea buds to grant a sweeter, more floral flavour. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category: Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Cuisine]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Duelling&diff=8719 2024-08-13T12:40:49Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Cultural Aspects of Duels */</p> <hr /> <div>Duelling in the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] is a regular, if not constant, occurrence... as each Dynast is a Prince of the Earth, part of the [[:Category:Dragonblooded|Terrestrial host]] charged with defense and rulership of [[Creation]], wills are strong and martial tempers often hot. A duel can be the preferred and most public way for two Dynasts to settle a dispute: it is a quick and decisive end to a problem, which has as many rules of etiquette in it as every other part of Dynastic life. In realms across the Threshold, duels are given similar importance: the [[Delzahn]] value them as a sign of success and manhood, and while [[Lookshy]]an high command attempts regular crackdowns and official bans to prevent wasting military resources, duels between [[Seventh Legion]] officers continue (the lack of sanction pushing them towards more deadly outcomes). Some traditionalists hold this to be an abandonment of [[Shogunate]] culture, for both the Realm and Lookshy owe much of their dueling culture to the Shogunate... it is said that not a day went by without a duel in the court of the Shogun, and far more were to the death than in these present times.<br /> <br /> <br /> In general a duel works as follows: Someone challenges to a duel, another accepts the duel. The two agree on the terms of victory (i.e. first blood, death, etc), find a judge or official (in the Realm, an [[Imperial Magistrate]]) to serve as witness, have their duel, and then their issue is resolved. The person who is challenged sets the form the duel will take (i.e. [[Iaijutsu]], free combat, poetic composition, [[Gateway]], etc). The person who makes the challenge sets the time and place (i.e. next Venusday at noon, in [[Toribeno]]). It is common courtesy for both parties to select a method, time and place which is familiar or accessible to their opponent: attempting to win a duel by challenging a Legion officer to a test of mounted archery, or a Fire-aspect to a duel in an underwater [[Pelagiothorpe]] ruin, can see the offender snubbed more severely than a sorcerer within the Dynasty's social networks. HOWEVER, all Dynasts are expected to be skilled in certain basic areas, and to object to a duel in one of those common forms reflects negatively on the objector. [OOC: Reference the Dynastic ability point requirements for clues as to the activities in which all Dynasts are expected to have proficiency] <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Types of Duel==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Confrontation Duels''': These duels involve a direct clash... sword on sword, debate, and the like, where one party defeats another. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Contest Duels''': These duels involve a competition, to see which party can meet or exceed a common goal (most accurate arrow strike to a target, poem most praised by the audience, highest leap, etc).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sorcerous Duels''': While duels to the death between sorcerers are awesome to behold, they occur so infrequently as to be nigh irrelevant... sorcerous duels instead concentrate on displays of raw power, sorcerers attempting to outdo themselves in the size and spectacle of their spellcasting.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Champion Duels''': Some Dynasts choose to have champions fight on their behalf. For some (senior Senators nominating House juniors to deal with challenges issued by [[Young Turk]]s) this is not just acceptable but expected... certain opponents are simply not worthy of one's efforts. For others (a courtier nominating a martial peer as his champion) it is seen as a reflection of one's own deep failings. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Death Duels''': Duels to the death are rare in the Dynasty... the life of a Terrestrial ought not be wasted in such a manner, and letting conflicts become so severe reflects poorly on both parties. The standard time before a duel to the death is one year. This is so everyone involved has time to prepare, as well as to get all their affairs in order should they lose. If both parties agree, it can be fought in as short a period of time as one month... for a duel to the death to be issued for a shorter time reflects very poorly on the issuer... and the challenged Dynast if they accept! The [[Scarlet Empress]] (Regent) often discouraged death dueling by simply advising her Magistrates that they would all be 'otherwise engaged' and thus unable to serve as witnesses.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Iaijutsu]] Duels''': Duels of one strike. A highly traditional form practiced in the late [[Shogunate Era]], likely linked to the [[Drifting Clouds Style]] martial arts and currently popular amongst Dynasts of [[House Tepet]]. An [[Iaijutsu]] Duel is a test of speed and control: in one swift motion, a weapon is drawn and swung in a strike, stopping just short of the target. The duelist whose blow would have struck first is the victor. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gladiatorial Duels''': Arena matches are popular entertainment, though Dynasts rarely participate in such vulgar activities. Before combat, gladiators swear that neither of them care if they are killed, which even wooden swords can do, and that neither holds a personal grudge against the other, which is often false. Gladiatorial undertakings are rarely to the death across most of the Realm, though bloodsport has proven increasingly popular in the arenas at the [[Palace of Trees]] and [[Arjuf]].<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Cultural Aspects of Duels==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duel Veils''': Males in Delzahn culture traditionally wear veils, listing their accomplishments and duel victories. Dynasts with close connections to [[Chiaroscuro]] sometimes adopt this fashion into their own clothing. Duels are far more common in [[:Category:The South|the South]] than the Dynasty, especially duels to the death.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duels and Justice''': In a duel, triumph is everything. Whatever argument or accusation was on the table, the duel victor's side is given legal standing as correct, through a declaration of judgement by the [[Imperial Magistracy|Imperial Magistrate]] witnessing it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Superiority through Inferior Arms''': One method of embarrassing an opponent is by using a weapon inferior to theirs... an indirect assertion that they require you to have a handicap due to their lack of skill. The most basic method involves keeping a weapon confined to sheath or scabbard, though some Water-guided charms or [[:Category:Hearthstones|hearthstones]] [OOC: which convert lethal damage to bashing] are used for this purpose. A duelist who meets a live blade with a wooden training weapon is further proclaiming his skill, and if the opponent also switches to such a blade, some will keep the moral advantage by wielding a piece of firewood or a rough-hewn branch. Further proof of superiority is shown by warriors who chose no weapons at all, defending themselves only with their fans or belt ribbons. Using the technique of stopping just short of delivering a blow also demonstrates a duelist's superior skill while preserving his opponent.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Jade Repast''': By tradition a duel's victor is treated by their allies to a meal of [[Black Jade Jelly]] following their victory, a medicinal dish said to aid in recovery from physical and mental exertion. [[House Sesus|Some]] [[House Cynis|Dynastic]] [[House Ragara|Houses]] eschew the tradition in favour of more rich and celebratory meals, while [[House Tepet|others]] often prepare the dish to the loser as well as the victor in the exchange. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Realm Society]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Duelling&diff=8718 2024-08-13T12:40:28Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Cultural Aspects of Duels */</p> <hr /> <div>Duelling in the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] is a regular, if not constant, occurrence... as each Dynast is a Prince of the Earth, part of the [[:Category:Dragonblooded|Terrestrial host]] charged with defense and rulership of [[Creation]], wills are strong and martial tempers often hot. A duel can be the preferred and most public way for two Dynasts to settle a dispute: it is a quick and decisive end to a problem, which has as many rules of etiquette in it as every other part of Dynastic life. In realms across the Threshold, duels are given similar importance: the [[Delzahn]] value them as a sign of success and manhood, and while [[Lookshy]]an high command attempts regular crackdowns and official bans to prevent wasting military resources, duels between [[Seventh Legion]] officers continue (the lack of sanction pushing them towards more deadly outcomes). Some traditionalists hold this to be an abandonment of [[Shogunate]] culture, for both the Realm and Lookshy owe much of their dueling culture to the Shogunate... it is said that not a day went by without a duel in the court of the Shogun, and far more were to the death than in these present times.<br /> <br /> <br /> In general a duel works as follows: Someone challenges to a duel, another accepts the duel. The two agree on the terms of victory (i.e. first blood, death, etc), find a judge or official (in the Realm, an [[Imperial Magistrate]]) to serve as witness, have their duel, and then their issue is resolved. The person who is challenged sets the form the duel will take (i.e. [[Iaijutsu]], free combat, poetic composition, [[Gateway]], etc). The person who makes the challenge sets the time and place (i.e. next Venusday at noon, in [[Toribeno]]). It is common courtesy for both parties to select a method, time and place which is familiar or accessible to their opponent: attempting to win a duel by challenging a Legion officer to a test of mounted archery, or a Fire-aspect to a duel in an underwater [[Pelagiothorpe]] ruin, can see the offender snubbed more severely than a sorcerer within the Dynasty's social networks. HOWEVER, all Dynasts are expected to be skilled in certain basic areas, and to object to a duel in one of those common forms reflects negatively on the objector. [OOC: Reference the Dynastic ability point requirements for clues as to the activities in which all Dynasts are expected to have proficiency] <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Types of Duel==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Confrontation Duels''': These duels involve a direct clash... sword on sword, debate, and the like, where one party defeats another. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Contest Duels''': These duels involve a competition, to see which party can meet or exceed a common goal (most accurate arrow strike to a target, poem most praised by the audience, highest leap, etc).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sorcerous Duels''': While duels to the death between sorcerers are awesome to behold, they occur so infrequently as to be nigh irrelevant... sorcerous duels instead concentrate on displays of raw power, sorcerers attempting to outdo themselves in the size and spectacle of their spellcasting.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Champion Duels''': Some Dynasts choose to have champions fight on their behalf. For some (senior Senators nominating House juniors to deal with challenges issued by [[Young Turk]]s) this is not just acceptable but expected... certain opponents are simply not worthy of one's efforts. For others (a courtier nominating a martial peer as his champion) it is seen as a reflection of one's own deep failings. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Death Duels''': Duels to the death are rare in the Dynasty... the life of a Terrestrial ought not be wasted in such a manner, and letting conflicts become so severe reflects poorly on both parties. The standard time before a duel to the death is one year. This is so everyone involved has time to prepare, as well as to get all their affairs in order should they lose. If both parties agree, it can be fought in as short a period of time as one month... for a duel to the death to be issued for a shorter time reflects very poorly on the issuer... and the challenged Dynast if they accept! The [[Scarlet Empress]] (Regent) often discouraged death dueling by simply advising her Magistrates that they would all be 'otherwise engaged' and thus unable to serve as witnesses.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Iaijutsu]] Duels''': Duels of one strike. A highly traditional form practiced in the late [[Shogunate Era]], likely linked to the [[Drifting Clouds Style]] martial arts and currently popular amongst Dynasts of [[House Tepet]]. An [[Iaijutsu]] Duel is a test of speed and control: in one swift motion, a weapon is drawn and swung in a strike, stopping just short of the target. The duelist whose blow would have struck first is the victor. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gladiatorial Duels''': Arena matches are popular entertainment, though Dynasts rarely participate in such vulgar activities. Before combat, gladiators swear that neither of them care if they are killed, which even wooden swords can do, and that neither holds a personal grudge against the other, which is often false. Gladiatorial undertakings are rarely to the death across most of the Realm, though bloodsport has proven increasingly popular in the arenas at the [[Palace of Trees]] and [[Arjuf]].<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Cultural Aspects of Duels==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duel Veils''': Males in Delzahn culture traditionally wear veils, listing their accomplishments and duel victories. Dynasts with close connections to [[Chiaroscuro]] sometimes adopt this fashion into their own clothing. Duels are far more common in [[:Category:The South|the South]] than the Dynasty, especially duels to the death.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duels and Justice''': In a duel, triumph is everything. Whatever argument or accusation was on the table, the duel victor's side is given legal standing as correct, through a declaration of judgement by the [[Imperial Magistracy|Imperial Magistrate]] witnessing it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Superiority through Inferior Arms''': One method of embarrassing an opponent is by using a weapon inferior to theirs... an indirect assertion that they require you to have a handicap due to their lack of skill. The most basic method involves keeping a weapon confined to sheath or scabbard, though some Water-guided charms or [[:Category:Hearthstones|hearthstones]] [OOC: which convert lethal damage to bashing] are used for this purpose. A duelist who meets a live blade with a wooden training weapon is further proclaiming his skill, and if the opponent also switches to such a blade, some will keep the moral advantage by wielding a piece of firewood or a rough-hewn branch. Further proof of superiority is shown by warriors who chose no weapons at all, defending themselves only with their fans or belt ribbons. Using the technique of stopping just short of delivering a blow also demonstrates a duelist's superior skill while preserving his opponent.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Jade Repast''': By tradition a duel's victor is treated by their allies to a meal of [[Black Jade Jelly]] following their victory, a medicinal dish said to aid in recovery from physical and mental exertion. [[House Sesus|Some]] [[House Cynis|Dynastic]] [[House Ragara|Houses]] eschew the tradition in favour of more rich and celebratory meals, while [[House Tepet|others]] often prepare the dish to the loser as well as the victor in the exchange. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Realm Society]]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Duelling&diff=8717 2024-08-13T12:39:42Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Duelling in the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] is a regular, if not constant, occurrence... as each Dynast is a Prince of the Earth, part of the [[:Category:Dragonblooded|Terrestrial host]] charged with defense and rulership of [[Creation]], wills are strong and martial tempers often hot. A duel can be the preferred and most public way for two Dynasts to settle a dispute: it is a quick and decisive end to a problem, which has as many rules of etiquette in it as every other part of Dynastic life. In realms across the Threshold, duels are given similar importance: the [[Delzahn]] value them as a sign of success and manhood, and while [[Lookshy]]an high command attempts regular crackdowns and official bans to prevent wasting military resources, duels between [[Seventh Legion]] officers continue (the lack of sanction pushing them towards more deadly outcomes). Some traditionalists hold this to be an abandonment of [[Shogunate]] culture, for both the Realm and Lookshy owe much of their dueling culture to the Shogunate... it is said that not a day went by without a duel in the court of the Shogun, and far more were to the death than in these present times.<br /> <br /> <br /> In general a duel works as follows: Someone challenges to a duel, another accepts the duel. The two agree on the terms of victory (i.e. first blood, death, etc), find a judge or official (in the Realm, an [[Imperial Magistrate]]) to serve as witness, have their duel, and then their issue is resolved. The person who is challenged sets the form the duel will take (i.e. [[Iaijutsu]], free combat, poetic composition, [[Gateway]], etc). The person who makes the challenge sets the time and place (i.e. next Venusday at noon, in [[Toribeno]]). It is common courtesy for both parties to select a method, time and place which is familiar or accessible to their opponent: attempting to win a duel by challenging a Legion officer to a test of mounted archery, or a Fire-aspect to a duel in an underwater [[Pelagiothorpe]] ruin, can see the offender snubbed more severely than a sorcerer within the Dynasty's social networks. HOWEVER, all Dynasts are expected to be skilled in certain basic areas, and to object to a duel in one of those common forms reflects negatively on the objector. [OOC: Reference the Dynastic ability point requirements for clues as to the activities in which all Dynasts are expected to have proficiency] <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Types of Duel==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Confrontation Duels''': These duels involve a direct clash... sword on sword, debate, and the like, where one party defeats another. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Contest Duels''': These duels involve a competition, to see which party can meet or exceed a common goal (most accurate arrow strike to a target, poem most praised by the audience, highest leap, etc).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sorcerous Duels''': While duels to the death between sorcerers are awesome to behold, they occur so infrequently as to be nigh irrelevant... sorcerous duels instead concentrate on displays of raw power, sorcerers attempting to outdo themselves in the size and spectacle of their spellcasting.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Champion Duels''': Some Dynasts choose to have champions fight on their behalf. For some (senior Senators nominating House juniors to deal with challenges issued by [[Young Turk]]s) this is not just acceptable but expected... certain opponents are simply not worthy of one's efforts. For others (a courtier nominating a martial peer as his champion) it is seen as a reflection of one's own deep failings. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Death Duels''': Duels to the death are rare in the Dynasty... the life of a Terrestrial ought not be wasted in such a manner, and letting conflicts become so severe reflects poorly on both parties. The standard time before a duel to the death is one year. This is so everyone involved has time to prepare, as well as to get all their affairs in order should they lose. If both parties agree, it can be fought in as short a period of time as one month... for a duel to the death to be issued for a shorter time reflects very poorly on the issuer... and the challenged Dynast if they accept! The [[Scarlet Empress]] (Regent) often discouraged death dueling by simply advising her Magistrates that they would all be 'otherwise engaged' and thus unable to serve as witnesses.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Iaijutsu]] Duels''': Duels of one strike. A highly traditional form practiced in the late [[Shogunate Era]], likely linked to the [[Drifting Clouds Style]] martial arts and currently popular amongst Dynasts of [[House Tepet]]. An [[Iaijutsu]] Duel is a test of speed and control: in one swift motion, a weapon is drawn and swung in a strike, stopping just short of the target. The duelist whose blow would have struck first is the victor. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gladiatorial Duels''': Arena matches are popular entertainment, though Dynasts rarely participate in such vulgar activities. Before combat, gladiators swear that neither of them care if they are killed, which even wooden swords can do, and that neither holds a personal grudge against the other, which is often false. Gladiatorial undertakings are rarely to the death across most of the Realm, though bloodsport has proven increasingly popular in the arenas at the [[Palace of Trees]] and [[Arjuf]].<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Cultural Aspects of Duels==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duel Veils''': Males in Delzahn culture traditionally wear veils, listing their accomplishments and duel victories. Dynasts with close connections to [[Chiaroscuro]] sometimes adopt this fashion into their own clothing. Duels are far more common in [[:Category:The South|the South]] than the Dynasty, especially duels to the death.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duels and Justice''': In a duel, triumph is everything. Whatever argument or accusation was on the table, the duel victor's side is given legal standing as correct, through a declaration of judgement by the [[Imperial Magistrate]] witnessing it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Superiority through Inferior Arms''': One method of embarrassing an opponent is by using a weapon inferior to theirs... an indirect assertion that they require you to have a handicap due to their lack of skill. The most basic method involves keeping a weapon confined to sheath or scabbard, though some Water-guided charms or [[:Category:Hearthstones|hearthstones]] [OOC: which convert lethal damage to bashing] are used for this purpose. A duelist who meets a live blade with a wooden training weapon is further proclaiming his skill, and if the opponent also switches to such a blade, some will keep the moral advantage by wielding a piece of firewood or a rough-hewn branch. Further proof of superiority is shown by warriors who chose no weapons at all, defending themselves only with their fans or belt ribbons. Using the technique of stopping just short of delivering a blow also demonstrates a duelist's superior skill while preserving his opponent.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Jade Repast''': By tradition a duel's victor is treated by their allies to a meal of [[Black Jade Jelly]] following their victory, a medicinal dish said to aid in recovery from physical and mental exertion. [[House Sesus|Some]] [[House Cynis|Dynastic]] [[House Ragara|Houses]] eschew the tradition in favour of more rich and celebratory meals, while [[House Tepet|others]] often prepare the dish to the loser as well as the victor in the exchange. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Realm Society]]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Duelling&diff=8716 2024-08-13T12:38:16Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Duelling in the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] is a regular, if not constant, occurrence... as each Dynast is a Prince of the Earth, part of the [[:Category:Dragonblooded|Terrestrial host]] charged with defense and rulership of [[Creation]], wills are strong and martial tempers often hot. A duel can be the preferred and most public way for two Dynasts to settle a dispute: it is a quick and decisive end to a problem, which has as many rules of etiquette in it as every other part of Dynastic life. In realms across the Threshold, duels are given similar importance: the [[Delzahn]] value them as a sign of success and manhood, and while [[Lookshy]]an high command attempts regular crackdowns and official bans to prevent wasting military resources, duels between [[Seventh Legion]] officers continue (the lack of sanction pushing them towards more deadly outcomes). Some traditionalists hold this to be an abandonment of [[Shogunate]] culture, for both the Realm and Lookshy owe much of their dueling culture to the Shogunate... it is said that not a day went by without a duel in the court of the Shogun, and far more were to the death than in these present times.<br /> <br /> <br /> In general a duel works as follows: Someone challenges to a duel, another accepts the duel. The two agree on the terms of victory (i.e. first blood, death, etc), find a judge or official (in the Realm, an [[Imperial Magistrate]]) to serve as witness, have their duel, and then their issue is resolved. The person who is challenged sets the form the duel will take (i.e. [[Iaijutsu]], free combat, poetic composition, [[Gateway]], etc). The person who makes the challenge sets the time and place (i.e. next Venusday at noon, in [[Toribeno]]). It is common courtesy for both parties to select a method, time and place which is familiar or accessible to their opponent: attempting to win a duel by challenging a Legion officer to a test of mounted archery, or a Fire-aspect to a duel in an underwater [[Pelagiothorpe]] ruin, can see the offender snubbed more severely than a sorcerer within the Dynasty's social networks. HOWEVER, all Dynasts are expected to be skilled in certain basic areas, and to object to a duel in one of those common forms reflects negatively on the objector. [OOC: Reference the Dynastic ability point requirements for clues as to the activities in which all Dynasts are expected to have proficiency] <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;u&gt;Types of Duel&lt;/u&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Confrontation Duels''': These duels involve a direct clash... sword on sword, debate, and the like, where one party defeats another. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Contest Duels''': These duels involve a competition, to see which party can meet or exceed a common goal (most accurate arrow strike to a target, poem most praised by the audience, highest leap, etc).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sorcerous Duels''': While duels to the death between sorcerers are awesome to behold, they occur so infrequently as to be nigh irrelevant... sorcerous duels instead concentrate on displays of raw power, sorcerers attempting to outdo themselves in the size and spectacle of their spellcasting.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Champion Duels''': Some Dynasts choose to have champions fight on their behalf. For some (senior Senators nominating House juniors to deal with challenges issued by [[Young Turk]]s) this is not just acceptable but expected... certain opponents are simply not worthy of one's efforts. For others (a courtier nominating a martial peer as his champion) it is seen as a reflection of one's own deep failings. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Death Duels''': Duels to the death are rare in the Dynasty... the life of a Terrestrial ought not be wasted in such a manner, and letting conflicts become so severe reflects poorly on both parties. The standard time before a duel to the death is one year. This is so everyone involved has time to prepare, as well as to get all their affairs in order should they lose. If both parties agree, it can be fought in as short a period of time as one month... for a duel to the death to be issued for a shorter time reflects very poorly on the issuer... and the challenged Dynast if they accept! The [[Scarlet Empress]] (Regent) often discouraged death dueling by simply advising her Magistrates that they would all be 'otherwise engaged' and thus unable to serve as witnesses.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Iaijutsu]] Duels''': Duels of one strike. A highly traditional form practiced in the late [[Shogunate Era]], likely linked to the [[Drifting Clouds Style]] martial arts and currently popular amongst Dynasts of [[House Tepet]]. An [[Iaijutsu]] Duel is a test of speed and control: in one swift motion, a weapon is drawn and swung in a strike, stopping just short of the target. The duelist whose blow would have struck first is the victor. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gladiatorial Duels''': Arena matches are popular entertainment, though Dynasts rarely participate in such vulgar activities. Before combat, gladiators swear that neither of them care if they are killed, which even wooden swords can do, and that neither holds a personal grudge against the other, which is often false. Gladiatorial undertakings are rarely to the death across most of the Realm, though bloodsport has proven increasingly popular in the arenas at the [[Palace of Trees]] and [[Arjuf]].<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;u&gt;Cultural Aspects of Duels&lt;/u&gt; <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duel Veils''': Males in Delzahn culture traditionally wear veils, listing their accomplishments and duel victories. Dynasts with close connections to [[Chiaroscuro]] sometimes adopt this fashion into their own clothing. Duels are far more common in [[:Category:The South|the South]] than the Dynasty, especially duels to the death.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duels and Justice''': In a duel, triumph is everything. Whatever argument or accusation was on the table, the duel victor's side is given legal standing as correct, through a declaration of judgement by the [[Imperial Magistrate]] witnessing it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Superiority through Inferior Arms''': One method of embarrassing an opponent is by using a weapon inferior to theirs... an indirect assertion that they require you to have a handicap due to their lack of skill. The most basic method involves keeping a weapon confined to sheath or scabbard, though some Water-guided charms or [[:Category:Hearthstones|hearthstones]] [OOC: which convert lethal damage to bashing] are used for this purpose. A duelist who meets a live blade with a wooden training weapon is further proclaiming his skill, and if the opponent also switches to such a blade, some will keep the moral advantage by wielding a piece of firewood or a rough-hewn branch. Further proof of superiority is shown by warriors who chose no weapons at all, defending themselves only with their fans or belt ribbons. Using the technique of stopping just short of delivering a blow also demonstrates a duelist's superior skill while preserving his opponent.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Jade Repast''': By tradition a duel's victor is treated by their allies to a meal of [[Black Jade Jelly]] following their victory, a medicinal dish said to aid in recovery from physical and mental exertion. [[House Sesus|Some]][[House Cynis|Dynastic]] [[House Ragara|Houses]] eschew the tradition in favour of more rich and celebratory meals, while [[House Tepet|others]] often prepare the dish to the loser as well as the victor in the exchange. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Realm Society]]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Duelling&diff=8715 2024-08-13T12:37:13Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Duelling in the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] is a regular, if not constant, occurrence... as each Dynast is a Prince of the Earth, part of the [[:Category:Dragonblooded|Terrestrial host]] charged with defense and rulership of [[Creation]], wills are strong and martial tempers often hot. A duel can be the preferred and most public way for two Dynasts to settle a dispute: it is a quick and decisive end to a problem, which has as many rules of etiquette in it as every other part of Dynastic life. In realms across the Threshold, duels are given similar importance: the [[Delzahn]] value them as a sign of success and manhood, and while [[Lookshy]]an high command attempts regular crackdowns and official bans to prevent wasting military resources, duels between [[Seventh Legion]] officers continue (the lack of sanction pushing them towards more deadly outcomes). Some traditionalists hold this to be an abandonment of [[Shogunate]] culture, for both the Realm and Lookshy owe much of their dueling culture to the Shogunate... it is said that not a day went by without a duel in the court of the Shogun, and far more were to the death than in these present times.<br /> <br /> <br /> In general a duel works as follows: Someone challenges to a duel, another accepts the duel. The two agree on the terms of victory (i.e. first blood, death, etc), find a judge or official (in the Realm, an [[Imperial Magistrate]]) to serve as witness, have their duel, and then their issue is resolved. The person who is challenged sets the form the duel will take (i.e. [[Iaijutsu]], free combat, poetic composition, [[Gateway]], etc). The person who makes the challenge sets the time and place (i.e. next Venusday at noon, in [[Toribeno]]). It is common courtesy for both parties to select a method, time and place which is familiar or accessible to their opponent: attempting to win a duel by challenging a Legion officer to a test of mounted archery, or a Fire-aspect to a duel in an underwater [[Pelagiothorpe]] ruin, can see the offender snubbed more severely than a sorcerer within the Dynasty's social networks. HOWEVER, all Dynasts are expected to be skilled in certain basic areas, and to object to a duel in one of those common forms reflects negatively on the objector. [OOC: Reference the Dynastic ability point requirements for clues as to the activities in which all Dynasts are expected to have proficiency] <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;u&gt;Types of Duel&lt;/u&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Confrontation Duels''': These duels involve a direct clash... sword on sword, debate, and the like, where one party defeats another. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Contest Duels''': These duels involve a competition, to see which party can meet or exceed a common goal (most accurate arrow strike to a target, poem most praised by the audience, highest leap, etc).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sorcerous Duels''': While duels to the death between sorcerers are awesome to behold, they occur so infrequently as to be nigh irrelevant... sorcerous duels instead concentrate on displays of raw power, sorcerers attempting to outdo themselves in the size and spectacle of their spellcasting.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Champion Duels''': Some Dynasts choose to have champions fight on their behalf. For some (senior Senators nominating House juniors to deal with challenges issued by [[Young Turk]]s) this is not just acceptable but expected... certain opponents are simply not worthy of one's efforts. For others (a courtier nominating a martial peer as his champion) it is seen as a reflection of one's own deep failings. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Death Duels''': Duels to the death are rare in the Dynasty... the life of a Terrestrial ought not be wasted in such a manner, and letting conflicts become so severe reflects poorly on both parties. The standard time before a duel to the death is one year. This is so everyone involved has time to prepare, as well as to get all their affairs in order should they lose. If both parties agree, it can be fought in as short a period of time as one month... for a duel to the death to be issued for a shorter time reflects very poorly on the issuer... and the challenged Dynast if they accept! The [[Scarlet Empress]] (Regent) often discouraged death dueling by simply advising her Magistrates that they would all be 'otherwise engaged' and thus unable to serve as witnesses.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Iaijutsu]] Duels''': Duels of one strike. A highly traditional form practiced in the late [[Shogunate Era]], likely linked to the [[Drifting Clouds Style]] martial arts and currently popular amongst Dynasts of [[House Tepet]]. An [[Iaijutsu]] Duel is a test of speed and control: in one swift motion, a weapon is drawn and swung in a strike, stopping just short of the target. The duelist whose blow would have struck first is the victor. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gladiatorial Duels''': Arena matches are popular entertainment, though Dynasts rarely participate in such vulgar activities. Before combat, gladiators swear that neither of them care if they are killed, which even wooden swords can do, and that neither holds a personal grudge against the other, which is often false. Gladiatorial undertakings are rarely to the death across most of the Realm, though bloodsport has proven increasingly popular in the arenas at the [[Palace of Trees]] and [[Arjuf]].<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;u&gt;Cultural Aspects of Duels&lt;/u&gt; <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duel Veils''': Males in Delzahn culture traditionally wear veils, listing their accomplishments and duel victories. Dynasts with close connections to [[Chiaroscuro]] sometimes adopt this fashion into their own clothing. Duels are far more common in [[:Category:The South|the South]] than the Dynasty, especially duels to the death.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Duels and Justice''': In a duel, triumph is everything. Whatever argument or accusation was on the table, the duel victor's side is given legal standing as correct, through a declaration of judgement by the [[Imperial Magistrate]] witnessing it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Superiority through Inferior Arms''': One method of embarrassing an opponent is by using a weapon inferior to theirs... an indirect assertion that they require you to have a handicap due to their lack of skill. The most basic method involves keeping a weapon confined to sheath or scabbard, though some Water-guided charms or [[:Category:Hearthstones|hearthstones]] [OOC: which convert lethal damage to bashing] are used for this purpose. A duelist who meets a live blade with a wooden training weapon is further proclaiming his skill, and if the opponent also switches to such a blade, some will keep the moral advantage by wielding a piece of firewood or a rough-hewn branch. Further proof of superiority is shown by warriors who chose no weapons at all, defending themselves only with their fans or belt ribbons. Using the technique of stopping just short of delivering a blow also demonstrates a duelist's superior skill while preserving his opponent.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Jade Repast''': By tradition a duel's victor is treated by their allies to a meal of [[Black Jade Jelly]] following their victory, a medicinal dish said to aid in recovery from physical and mental exertion. [[House Sesus|Some]][[House Cynis|Dynastic]] [[House Ragara|Houses]] eschew the tradition in favour of more rich and celebratory meals, while [[House Cathak|others]] often prepare the dish to the loser as well as the victor in the exchange. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Realm Society]]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Underworld&diff=8714 2024-05-27T20:11:04Z

<p>Storyteller: Redirected page to Category:Underworld</p> <hr /> <div>#REDIRECT [[:Category:Underworld]]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Shadowland&diff=8713 2024-05-27T20:10:05Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>A Shadowland is an area where Creation (realm of the living) and the Underworld (realm of the dead) have been brought so close together as to overlap and occupy the same physical space.<br /> <br /> <br /> The creation of Shadowlands is little understood in the Age of Sorrows. They are born in locations which see intense amounts of abyssal, necrotic essence concentrated at a point in Creation, forcing that point into alignment with the Underworld. Sites of massacres, battles with high casualties, cities consumed by plague, or the places where great beings perished have all become shadowlands... but for every example where that occurred, there can be found one where near-identical circumstances failed to birth a shadowland at all. Much like the mysteries of Exaltation, no formula exists for shadowland creation, though over the centuries many have tried to understand the process. <br /> <br /> <br /> The geography of Creation and the Underworld are mirrors, and where a shadowland forms the two sides become one, neither Creation nor Underworld. The earth is grey, the living denizens afflicted with sickness and deathly pallor, the trees bare… but flowers DO bloom, birds peck for seeds amidst the ash and dust, newborn children suckle at their mothers’ breast. Death is everywhere, visible in the shape of the land and disturbing to the living… but life is everywhere as well, growing and blossoming, disturbing to the dead. In bridging two worlds, shadowlands are part of neither, and unnatural to both.<br /> <br /> <br /> In a shadowland, Creation and the Underworld wax and wane in influence with the passage of day and night, their connection to the outside worlds shifting over time. Anything passing over the border of a shadowland during the 13 hours of daylight moves into Creation. Anything passing over the border of a shadowland during the 12 hours of night emerges in the Underworld. This role as middle ground makes them a source of both opportunity and danger for those dwelling nearby: for ghosts, access to Creation allows them to extort worship and seize objects produced by the living. For the living, access to the Underworld is more demanding, but more lucrative: the Underworld possesses an abundance of precious [[Jade]]. Raiding between the Underworld and Creation is difficult, but those powerful beings who can accomplish such efforts are potent enough to devastate local civilian settlements, and so authorities on both sides often go to great lengths to block off or heal away encroaching shadowlands.<br /> <br /> <br /> The essence of a shadowland is a mix between that of Creation and the Underworld, not quite in alignment with either. As such, all beings halve their mote regeneration while in shadowlands (including gods, the Exalted ([[Abyssal Exalted|Abyssal]] or otherwise), ghosts, demons, enlightened mortals, etc). There are exceptions to this rule, though they are rarely seen: the Lunar Exalted, naturally aligned with the ebb and flow of essence, regain motes at normal rates in shadowlands; Ghostblooded, themselves melds of life and death in the same manner as shadowlands, regain motes at their normal rates in shadowlands; beings from Autochthonia (spirits, mortals, and [[Alchemical Exalted|Alchemical]] or [[Promethean Exalted]]), whose essence is in communion with that of a slowly dying Primordial world-body, regain motes at their normal rates in shadowlands.<br /> <br /> <br /> When exiting a shadowland, a being capable of expending a mote of essence may reflexively do so to cross into the world (Creation or the Underworld) to which they are aligned: for gods, living mortals, demons, and most Exalts this is Creation, while for ghosts and Abyssal Exalts this is the Underworld. Lunar Exalted may spend a mote to choose which of the two they wish to enter. Expending an additional mote allows a character to bring along their mount (this is not needed in the case of Familiars, who are able to follow the character to which they are bonded regardless of what world they have passed into). Beings whose connection is to neither, such as Autochthonians and Ghostblooded, may never spend a mote to make a selection, passing into whatever world is currently connected to the shadowland according to the cycle of day and night. The walking dead are a strange exception, for while they are a mixture of life and death their animation depends upon the life essence of Creation: they will naturally always cross into Creation unless subject to necromantic effects.<br /> <br /> <br /> Opinions on shadowlands vary massively across Creation and the Underworld. The prevalent view on both sides is that they are dangerous, and ought be avoided… more activist authorities holding that they must be contained and/or purified wherever possible. Yet there are those who find them useful or appealing: outlaws and outcasts, knowing that the world avoids such places, seek succour in shadowlands, as do those who require bases from which to assault from Underworld into Creation or vice-versa. Where ghosts and mortals interact closely in communities, shadowlands are also highly desirable, each giving up something in order to dwell in a shared society. <br /> <br /> <br /> Some amongst the Deathlords, such as the [[First and Forsaken Lion]], may believe that their Neverborn masters are chained to existence by the shadowlands which tie Creation to the Underworld, and severing these connections would see them slide into the Void at last. Others, such as the [[Silver Prince]], may take the opposite view: to cover all of Creation in a single all-encompassing shadowland would unleash the full power of the Void, destroying Creation (and the Neverborn) and leaving only the Underworld. Other Deathlords take positions in between or occasionally (such as with the [[Dowager of the Irreverent Vulgate in Unrent Veils]]) deem the matter entirely irrelevant. Because they tend to be the Underworld figures with the most interest in reaching hands out into Creation, many Deathlords will establish bases in shadowlands to better direct their efforts, though this is not without risks (as seen in the case of the [[Princess Magnificent with Lips of Coral and Robes of Black Feathers]]). Shadowlands are also of great import for those who seek to construct powerful Abyssal manses, as the geomancy to do so is nearly unknown elsewhere in Creation or the Underworld. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:Occult &amp; Metaphysics]] [[Category:Shadowlands]] [[Category:Underworld]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=True_Sijan&diff=8712 2024-05-27T20:08:22Z

<p>Storyteller: Redirected page to Under-Sijan</p> <hr /> <div>#REDIRECT [[Under-Sijan]]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:Underworld]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8711 2024-05-27T20:07:59Z

<p>Storyteller: /* True Sijan */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Trovis Disappearance|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered.<br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Embracing Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing.<br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southeast and northwest stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course.<br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Howls is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> [[True Sijan]], or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order.<br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8710 2024-05-23T20:19:33Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Embracing Canal */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Trovis Disappearance|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered.<br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Embracing Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing.<br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southeast and northwest stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course.<br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Howls is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8709 2024-05-23T20:18:38Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Grand Canal */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Trovis Disappearance|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered.<br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Embracing Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing.<br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Howls is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8708 2024-05-23T19:35:24Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Isle of Howls */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Trovis Disappearance|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered.<br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Howls is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8707 2024-05-23T19:34:51Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Isle of Visitation */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Trovis Disappearance|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered.<br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]].<br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=8706 2024-05-23T15:33:16Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>'''MediaWiki has been successfully installed.'''<br /> <br /> Consult the [//meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.<br /> <br /> == Getting started ==<br /> * [//www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]<br /> * [//www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]<br /> * [https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]<br /> * Dan is an Iselsi<br /> * Willow is a Nellens<br /> <br /> <br /> '''NEEDED WORK FROM THE STORYTELLER''': <br /> <br /> --- Pages for [[Nexus]] , [[Thorns]] , [[Caltia the Eternal]] , [[Greyfalls]] , [[Lookshy]] (and how its totally Metal Gear-meets-DPRK) , [[The Lap]] , [[The Guild]] (and its Lunar [[Crossroads Society]] connection), [[Haslanti League]] (and traditions of high-risk [[Iceboat]] piloting), [[Chiaroscuro‏‎]] , [[Varangia]] , [[Golden-Eyed Jorst]] , [[Sijan]] , [[Unconquered Sun]] , [[Icewalker]] , seasonal spirit-concubines and the transition from Terrestrial to Elemental harems, Aleval's magical mushrooms, as many Senators as possible because politics.<br /> <br /> --- {[[Thousand Scales]] ministries complete: 48%} ,<br /> <br /> --- {Mushrooms complete: 99%} .<br /> <br /> --- Get Wall Street out of our posting. <br /> <br /> '''NEEDED WORK FROM SCRIBS''': <br /> <br /> --- [[Sesus Septimus]]' crazy adventures in the [[Battle on the Wall of Ice]]<br /> <br /> --- Complete list of canon [[Weapons]] (for combat mechanics fix purposes)<br /> <br /> --- Various theological and erotic scrolls of the [[Immaculate Texts]]<br /> <br /> --- Craft guild that builds musical instruments<br /> <br /> --- '''[[A Property To Be Bought by Double Ransom]] (play)'''<br /> <br /> --- '''Editing of pages (particularly NPCs) to update with encounters and information learned through play (updating articles and/or Discussion pages for NPCs detailing interactions, sightings,, observations, etc).''' <br /> <br /> --- Assistance in putting pages into proper categories (class, type, aspect, House, etc... both into existing categories and new ones as appropriate).<br /> <br /> --- The many [[Yeddim]]s of Creation<br /> <br /> --- Eastern above-canopy biome<br /> <br /> <br /> '''NEEDED WORK FROM PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO THE ACTUAL WIKI FILES AND DIRECTORIES''': <br /> <br /> <br /> 1) A way to import/recreate the character template box in similar fashion to the official Exalted wiki as seen [http://wiki.white-wolf.com/exalted/index.php?title=Template:Character here]... of particular use would be having the template auto-convert stat numbers to display dots, and box background colouring (via use of hex codes based on type and aspect). Replicating some of the features there, like template for displaying circlemates and auto-linking to categories, is less vital. I think we MAY need the Scribunto extension (hah!) and maybe HTML tidy?<br /> <br /> 2) LocalSettings.php edits<br /> <br /> --- Enable linking to externally-hosted images<br /> <br /> --- Fix to sidebars (at least on my browsers, they end up pushed to the bottom of articles instead of on the side. They're coded based on Wikipedia, and that worked on the previous version of this wiki as well... is there a wiki setting that could cause issues, or is it a change I need to make in the sidebars themselves? <br /> <br /> 3) A way to recreate/import the Geographic Location Template seen on Wikipedia ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Geographic_location]), particularly useful for mapping out Imperial City wards and the prefectures of the Blessed Isle. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''FIXING EXALTED''':<br /> <br /> - Fixing Training and Ability-Specialty System: DONE (Specialty-based Ability training, see [[Training]] and [[Specialties]])<br /> <br /> - Fixing DB Elemental Craft Charm Void: DONE sort-of (by way of moving Elemental Empowerment from Sorcery to Charm).<br /> <br /> - Fixing Elemental Concentration Trance: DONE (by adding risk factors for people who Charm-away all concerns but reading).<br /> <br /> - Fixing Unsleeping Earth Meditation: DONE (by slight changes to remove some control ala ECT and preserve the original intent of sacrificing WP recovery)<br /> <br /> - Fixing Sorcery: See Below.<br /> <br /> --- Rebalancing and diversifying sorcerous spells: IN PROCESS (primarily using Limited Reagent's [https://docs.google.com/document/d/11I0xCPgAS3ZhxGvTlBoePOuaDqgpyWs13jVKhJ4c8hM/edit?hl=en_US&amp;pli=1# Book of the Emerald Circle].<br /> <br /> --- Expanding and clarifying the array of Necromantic &amp; [[:Category:Schools of Sorcery|Sorcerous Schools]] (including metaphysical outlooks and Absorptions): IN PROCESS<br /> <br /> --- Restructuring the systems for [[Thaumaturgy]]: IN PROCESS.<br /> <br /> - Fixing Martial Arts: IN PROCESS (by divorcing Martial Arts Styles from the Martial Arts Ability and into the actually-appropriate Abilities, and then getting rid of the aforementioned ability altogether because there is no legitimate reason not to call it [[Brawl (ability)|Brawl]]. Form Weapon adjustment also pending).<br /> <br /> --- Fixing Even Blade Style: DONE (by replacing it with slightly adapted version of [[Drifting Clouds Style]] by Bolo on [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?498398-Exalted-The-Even-Blade-Series-Melee-Expansions-CMA-and-rewritten-TMA/page2&amp;p=11663278#post11663278 RPG.net]. <br /> <br /> --- Fixing Immaculate Styles: IN PROCESS. Fire Dragon is completed. Enlightenment Charms completed. Staff as universal form weapon to be added.<br /> <br /> - Fixing and Clarifying Crafting: See Below <br /> <br /> --- Fixing and Clarifying the Craft Abilities: DONE (See [[Craft (Ability)]], its subordinate Crafts, and [[Esoteric Crafting]].<br /> <br /> --- Converting Crafting from a downtime-requiring process to an in-play time scale which can convert to downtime scale as needed: DONE (see [[Artifact Creation]]).<br /> <br /> --- Clarifying the role and mechanics of [[Maintenance and Repair]] for advanced artifacts: IN PROCESS (notes need compiling and editing).<br /> <br /> - Fixing Ticks &amp; Combat: IN PROCESS via Strength Rebalance, tick fix may be waiting on 3e (ticks are bad. The only people who like them are Final Fantasy scrubs who never actually play Exalted *badum-tsssh*)<br /> <br /> --- Fixing Grapple: DONE (see [[Grappling]], and a slight change in [[Charms (Fire): Dodge]] which turns a speedbump into pure gold).<br /> <br /> - Fixing [[Social Combat]]: IN PROCESS, with added diversity to comparative App ratings, but major work still to be done (goal to ensure working as the intended WP sink without bogging down casual conversations)<br /> <br /> - Fixing DEX/APP/WITS Dominance: is totally happening RIGHT THE FUCK NOW. [[Feats of Strength]] Rebalance, [[Weapons|Damage Rebalance]], Strength bonus rebalance in response to the aforementioned damage rebalance, Stamina-based [[Health Levels]], comparative APP diveristy in [[Social Combat]]. Wits is the least offensive due to the fact each Mental attribute applies to a different subset of actions, and may not need alteration.<br /> <br /> - [[:Category:Hearthstones|Hearthstone]] Rebalance: IN PROCESS. Taking stones out of the realm of straight dice-adders and totally-awesome-versus-totally-worthless-in-the-same-dot-rating, adding more situational effects and balancing drawbacks.<br /> <br /> - Fixing Virtues to make them more relevant and interesting: IN PROCESS by some scrib, what a terrible person.<br /> <br /> - Creating a system for the creation and effects of art (poems, plays, stories, paintings, etc): IN PROCESS<br /> <br /> - Creating a system for bureaucracy/commercial enterprises/organizational management/ actually having a mechanical presence that can combine realism, interest, and something for all these roll and Charm mechanics to work with: IN PROCESS<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''QUESTIONS AND REQUESTED PAGES''': What info do scribs need? List here, will see what can be done.</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Trovis_Disappearance&diff=8705 2024-05-23T15:25:54Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>The Trovis Disappearance is a mysterious historical event which took place in [[RY77]] in the city of [[Sijan]]. Since a few years earlier in [[RY75]] the [[Scarlet Empire]] had stationed a small garrison in the city on the Isle of Trovis, a talon drawn from the [[4th Imperial Legion]]. Official [[Imperial Legions]] records state that the garrison was withdrawn in RY77, but a discerning eye will note that the records do not state to where they withdrew, and the names of officers and soldiers from the talon never appear in records thereafter. <br /> <br /> The later defection of the 4th Legion's strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]] has caused some to whisper the talon at Trovis was an early defection, while the powerful presence of the dead within Sijan births theories the garrison might have been slain by some undead monstrosity, but to this day no certain answer has been found. <br /> <br /> Source: this is Exalted canon and now also a Star Rail reference.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Conflicts involving the Imperial Legions]] [[Category:Sijan]] [[Category:RY77]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8704 2024-05-23T15:22:59Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Age of Sorrows */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Trovis Disappearance|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered.<br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Trovis_Disappearance&diff=8703 2024-05-23T15:17:27Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;The Trovis Disappearance is a mysterious historical event which took place in RY77 in the city of Sijan. Since a few years earlier in RY75 the Scarlet Empire h...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>The Trovis Disappearance is a mysterious historical event which took place in [[RY77]] in the city of [[Sijan]]. Since a few years earlier in [[RY75]] the [[Scarlet Empire]] had stationed a small garrison in the city on the Isle of Trovis, a talon drawn from the [[4th Imperial Legion]]. Official [[Imperial Legions]] records state that the garrison was withdrawn in RY77, but a discerning eye will note that the records do not state to where they withdrew, and the names of officers and soldiers from the talon never appear in records thereafter. <br /> <br /> Source: this is Exalted canon and now also a Star Rail reference.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Conflicts involving the Imperial Legions]] [[Category:Sijan]] [[Category:RY77]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Food_Gondola&diff=8702 2024-05-23T15:09:04Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;Where settlements meet waterways, the waters become venues for transportation and commerce. Just as many city streets become host to Street Food of the Blessed Isle|food car...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>Where settlements meet waterways, the waters become venues for transportation and commerce. Just as many city streets become host to [[Street Food of the Blessed Isle|food carts]], so do waterways host boats serving similar purpose. This is particularly true in the city of [[Sijan]], where streets are nearly absent and canals ubiquitous. <br /> <br /> Food gondolas are long, shallow boats, well suited for operating along canals. Their exact layout can vary, with some merely presenting produce or prepared snacks, but many are mounted with coal-heated grills or spun meat spikes. The gondolas of Sijan serve [[Cuisine of the River Province|all manner of foods]], most commonly ful and [[Spun Wrap]]s heavily loaded with hot chilis. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8701 2024-05-23T15:08:44Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Geography */</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Mystery at Trovis|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered. <br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike.<br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Sijan&diff=8700 2024-05-23T14:57:03Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;Articles concerning the City of the Dead Sijan and its native institutions, in both Creation and the Underworld. Category:Geography Category...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>Articles concerning the [[City of the Dead]] [[Sijan]] and its native institutions, in both [[Creation]] and the [[Under-Sijan|Underworld]].<br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Funereal_Order_of_Righteous_Morticians_and_Embalmers&diff=8699 2024-05-23T14:54:11Z

<p>Storyteller: Redirected page to Morticians' Order</p> <hr /> <div>#REDIRECT [[Morticians' Order]]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=City_of_the_Dead&diff=8698 2024-05-23T14:53:39Z

<p>Storyteller: Redirected page to Sijan</p> <hr /> <div>#REDIRECT [[Sijan]]<br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8697 2024-05-23T14:52:33Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the [[Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Mystery at Trovis|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered. <br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike. <br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8696 2024-05-23T14:52:11Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the Funereal Order of [[Righteous Morticians and<br /> Embalmers]], more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Mystery at Trovis|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered. <br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike. <br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan&diff=8695 2024-05-23T14:51:34Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;Sijan, often known as the City of the Dead, is a metropolis located in the Scavenger Lands east of the River of Tears, west of the Avarice River, and south of...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>Sijan, often known as the [[City of the Dead]], is a metropolis located in the [[Scavenger Lands]] east of the [[River of Tears]], west of the [[Avarice River]], and south of the [[Black Chase]]. It is a city surrounded by vast fields of tombs, known for being home to the Funereal Order of Righteous Morticians and<br /> Embalmers, more commonly termed the [[Morticians' Order]], and as a place where the living and the dead coexist so those who have passed from life may recieve proper reverence.<br /> <br /> ==History==<br /> <br /> ===Prehistory===<br /> <br /> The history of Sijan is among the longest in Creation, the metropolis known now as 'Old Sijan' having arisen in the [[Prehistoric Era]] and grown to become home to millions of inhabitants, perhaps the largest of mortal cities during that era (though of course exceeded by the divine city of [[Meru]]). The city was stable and prosperous, and when the [[Primordial War]] erupted it did not side with the [[Incarnae]] and their [[Exalted]] against the [[Primordials]]. <br /> <br /> The official histories of the [[Solar Deliberative]] stated that a great battle was fought in Old Sijan against the Primordial known as [[Jheel-Khan]], Whose Laughter Turns the Skies to Blood, the Primordial's attacks and later death throes destroying the city, slaying its populace, the Primordial's body contaminating the land where it fell to eventually birth the [[Shadowland]] known as the [[Black Chase]]. Certainly some truths lay in such descriptions, but in the wake of Primordial defeat there were reprisals for those who had opposed the [[Most High]]. One way or another, at the end of the War no original inhabitant remained alive and no building still stood. <br /> <br /> ===First Age===<br /> <br /> With the [[First Age|dawn of Solar rule]] over [[Creation]], the ruins of Old Sijan were suffused with death, and measures were taken to stabilize the region. The new dangers and possibilities of the [[Underworld]] were little understood, and the Solar Deliberative quickly acted to repopulate the city so that knowledge might be gained. The first new inhabitants fared poorly among the ruins, but with time knowledge was gained and the rebuilt city emerged as a source of experts in funeral rites and quieting ghosts, who were sent across Creation to assist in such work. From this expertise was born the [[Morticians' Order]] which rules over Sijan in the present day. <br /> <br /> Among the First Age developments in Sijan was a grand public works project to establish a system of interconnected canals, arrayed in rings, which might serve as basic transportation, conveyance for funeral processions, and to link the [[River of Tears]] with the [[Avarice River]]. The islands between the rings and connecting channels were home to many structures, but the natural barriers meant construction tended to descend below, resulting in tunnels and warrens which themselves connected to the buried remnants of Old Sijan. <br /> <br /> ===Shogunate Era===<br /> <br /> Sijan existed as a neutral state through much of the [[Shogunate Era]], providing morticians to the Shogunate and to various daimyo throughout Creation. Faced with the [[Great Contagion]], the Morticians proved little more capable than any others of preventing disaster, and their neutrality meant local military forces were hardly ready to face the [[Fair Folk]]. Instead, Sijan burned all its bridges, leaving desperate refugees outside its outermost ring of canals and isolating each island from the rest. The dead from the Contagion were many, those from starvation and privation more still, and the Morticians' presence across wider Creation was minimal once recovery began following the rise of the [[Scarlet Empress]], for every Mortician was needed for service at home. <br /> <br /> ===Age of Sorrows===<br /> <br /> When the Scarlet Empress attempted to assert control over the [[Scavenger Lands]] in [[RY45]], Sijan declared its neutrality and this was accepted without objection by the Scarlet Empire. Thus Sijan's Morticians tended to the dead on all sides during the [[First Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. In [[RY75]], at outset of the [[Second Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]], the Scarlet Empress demanded Sijan accept the stationing of a token garrison and the request was accepted by the Morticians. The garrison, a single talon of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], held its post throughout the Second Invasion, but suddenly [[Mystery at Trovis|vanished without a trace]] in [[RY77]]. No replacement garrison was assigned by 4th Legion strategoi [[Vondy Beulen]], and Sijan remained neutral without military forces present through the [[Third Realm Invasion of the Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> In [[RY95]], Sijan was among the first powers to join the [[League of Many Rivers]]. When that alliance was reformed into the more militarized [[Confederation of Rivers]] Sijan joined as well, with the overt statement that while they would embrace and act according to its trade and regulatory demands they would never respect the mandatory military provisions of the alliance and would remain neutral in any conflict. At various times this has caused some tensions in the Confederation, but so far other member states have been content not to challenge their ostensible ally when it ignores ostensibly binding Confederation requirements. <br /> <br /> Despite its membership in the Confederation the [[Scarlet Empire]] continues to accept Sijan's claim of neutrality in the diplomatic sphere, but its trade and its Morticians still face a great deal of hostility due to opposition from the [[Immaculate Order]], which claims the role the Morticians wish to play in funerary rites on the [[Blessed Isle]] and in many other regions of Creation. Still, while the Immaculate faithful would never entertain such ideas, some members of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] are most willing to interact with the Morticians, on occasion even arranging lavish funerals and tombs to mark their passing. <br /> <br /> The rise of [[Mask of Winters]] and that Deathlord's conquest of [[Thorns]] has raised suspicions among Sijan's neighbours due to the city's clear connections with the dead. Such suspicions are hardly unjustified: Sijan maintains cordial relations with not just the Mask but other Deathlords as well, and the obvious question of why an Order ostensibly devoted to making the dead rest in peace would be friendly with lords of death leading armies of undead remains unanswered. <br /> <br /> ==Geography==<br /> <br /> Sijan is a circular city defined by numerous rings of canals and additional canals that connect them. While the islands between are home to courtyards and alleyways, it is the canals which serve as the city's streets. Most of the canals are not wide, suited for river boats and other smaller craft, but four are of width and depth sufficient to carry larger vessels, most often the black [[Funeral Galley]]s of the Morticians' Order as they bear mourning parties to the tombs or set out to travel the rivers of the Scavenger Lands. The islands between the canals are sometimes joined by bridges, across which passage is restricted to the dead, but most transit between them is restricted to ferry barges and gondolas, exclusive to either the living or the dead. The islands are almost entirely occupied by tombs and mausoleums on the surface, with residential and entertainment buried deeper below. Because each island is small, they are rarely home to significant industry or agriculture, and even in the sphere of commerce most traders eschew storefronts in favour of trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s. <br /> <br /> ===Grand Canal===<br /> <br /> The Grand Canal is one of the four deep canals, running in a straight line from the nearby Avarice River to the southeast, through the city and out towards the River of Tears in the northwest, passing through the Plains of the Dead with numerous docks and smaller branches allowing funeral processions to reach intended burial sites. Its straight course is interrupted at only one point, the very centre of the city, where it halts as it joins the Mourning Canal that circles the central Mortuary Isle. Vessels must turn along the Embracing for a spell before rejoining the Grand. <br /> <br /> Though it is not deep enough for most ocean vessels, many merchants prefer the Grand Canal to transiting between the two rivers where they join to the southwest. There, the [[Salt Marsh]] is prone to shift silt and stone into the Avarice on occasion, a risk requiring an observant pilot to keep a vessel sailing. <br /> <br /> ===Embracing Canal===<br /> <br /> The innermost of Sijan's deep canals, the Embracing Canal encircles the Mortuary Isle at the centre of the city, serving as the connection between the southwest and northeast stretches of the Grand Canal when that isle's presence blocks the Grand's course. <br /> <br /> ===Exchanging Canal===<br /> <br /> The Exchanging Canal is the middle of the three deep canals circling the city, connected twice to the Grand Canal. Its central location within the canal network makes it the favoured anchorage for Sijan's numerous trade barges and [[Food Gondola]]s when they rest before heading out on their routes. <br /> <br /> ===Expelling Canal=== <br /> <br /> The Expelling Canal is the outermost canal of Sijan, and one of the city's deep canals, connected twice to the Grand Canal. It serves as the outer boundary of the city proper, beyond which lie the Plains of the Dead. Eyes scanning either bank of the canal can marvel at the contrast, for on the islands of the inner bank lie tombs of those ancient or grand enough to earn place in the city proper, while on the outside lie simple markers for the thousands who perished there during the Contagion as they begged to be allowed entry. <br /> <br /> ===Mortuary Isle===<br /> <br /> The Mortuary Isle is the centre of Sijan, and the headquarters of the Morticians' Order. Its surface home to high towers and vast chambers housing the renowned libraries of Sijan (for which many academics throughout Creation thirst for access) and facilities for the preparation of corpses and grave goods as well as the coffins, sarcophagi, tombstones, and the like. The island is even home to a shipyard of not-insignificant size, for construction and repair of the Morticians' black funeral galleys.<br /> <br /> Beneath the surface can be found administrative offices for the Morticians and the municipal government, as well as facilities for housing and training the Morticians themselves. The libraries, known across Creation for the rare and esoteric knowledge they have accumulated, spiral deep. <br /> <br /> ====Libraries of Sijan====<br /> <br /> Located on the Mortuary Isle, the Libraries of Sijan are a vast collection of knowledge, both ancient and new. Their primary focus is on matters of death and the dead, though the years have seen many texts gathered concerning other subjects as well. <br /> <br /> The Morticians are protective of their libraries, but willing to accept visitors seeking out the knowledge within, so long as those visitors offer desirable contributions to the libraries in terms of further ancient tomes and the results of new research. <br /> <br /> ===Trovis Isle===<br /> <br /> Trovis Isle is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. Unlike almost all other islands in sijan its surface is not home to a tomb but to a fort, whose low walls and parapet surround a central courtyard and a stairway spiralling deep down to catacombs that once might have been a dormitory or barracks of Old Sijan. Once centuries ago it played host to a garrison of the [[4th Imperial Legion]], which vanished mysteriously in the [[Trovis Disappearance]]. Today it serves as base for a contingent of mercenaries from [[Lookshy]]'s [[Seventh Legion]], tasked with mundane security against organized bandits and raiders when they encroach upon Sijanese territory, as the Morticians' Order does not maintain military formations. For dealing with matters of the dead, the Morticians take care of such things themselves, while for individual graverobbers the dead are more than able to terminate unwelcome intrusions.<br /> <br /> To the frustration of the Lookshyan officers assigned to Trovis, perhaps the most common task assigned them by the Morticians is to hunt out flocks and nesting sites of [[Sijan Stork]]s which enter the Plains of the Dead in search of carrion. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Avarice===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Avarice is an island located at the southeastern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. It is the city's primary trade port, the place one is most likely to encounter foreign visitors and least likely to meet with the dead. The island's surface is not home to tombs but to warehouses, its depths to taverns and inns. The most prominent structure on the Isle is a factory of [[The Guild]], which plays a major role in commerce, as well as in banking... for those who come to plan funerals and find themselves desiring grander memorials than the purse can bear, Guild loans can most certainly be arranged. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Visitation===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Visitation is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. Its surface is home to some of the most grand of Sijan's mausoleums and museums, while below are facilities operated by the Morticians to host guests who have come to arrange funaral rites and burials. For the most high class or wealthy, the suites are generous if perhaps not as luxurious as one might expect elsewhere. For those of lesser importance the rooms are more austere but certainly not cramped or uncleanly. These facilities are provided free to guests making arrangements with the Morticians, though the food is only basic and many guests seek repasts from the [[Food Gondola]]s which hover near the bank well aware of the money to be made.<br /> <br /> Guests who wish finer facilities can seek out alternative housing, most commonly the [[Grand thereafter Hotel]] or the [[Inn of Memorable Life]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Emergence===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Emergence is an island located on the western bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the southeast of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Grand Thereafter Hotel]], operated by [[Blushing Spring]]. A rival with the Inn of Memorable Life for best inn of Sijan, the Grand Thereafter is the more costly of the two, but more conveniently located and known for almost-slavish devotion to the wishes of its clientele. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Ledaal]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to consult with its libraries. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Conclusion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Conclusion is an island located on the eastern bank of the Embracing Canal where it meets the Grand Canal at the northwest of inner Sijan. It is notable as location of the [[Inn of Memorable Life]], operated by [[Wandering Heron]]. A rival with the Grand Thereafter Hotel for best inn of Sijan, the Memorable Life is known for having the finer wine cellar and better food of the two, but its owner shows little restraint in confronting and berating clients who annoy him. <br /> <br /> The Isle's underground is also home to a manor controlled by the Dynastic [[House Cynis]] for hosting its members, who would typically visit the city to explore funeral arrangements. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Ash===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Ash is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's east bank. Its banks are home to docks for trading vessels, though not as extensive as those of the Isle of Avarice to the southeast. It recieves some trade, particularly from [[Linowa]] and [[Tien-Wo]], but it is also visited by local barges bearing cargoes of [[Black Ash]] wood from the Black Chase. While mausoleums cover the isle's surface, beneath can be found woodworking workshops and sawmills which process that wood, mostly to supply the needs of the Morticians but occasionally for export. The Isle's workshops also process other wood into forms required by the Morticians, including cedar from [[Miwoc]] and [[Belbac]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Chisels===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Chisels is located in northwest Sijan, on the outer bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found the workshops of numerous skilled stonecarvers working tombstones, urns, and components for tombs, primarily out of [[Marble]], [[Granite]], and [[Alabaster]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Feathers===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in southeast Sijan, on the inner bank of the Exchanging Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found workshops for craftspeople working with feathers, particularly those of the [[Sijan Stork]], transforming them into fans, grave goods, and bedding. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Howls===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Feathers is located in northwest Sijan, on the inner bank of the Expelling Canal. Beneath its surface mausoleums can be found breeding pens and training halls for [[Gravehounds]]. <br /> <br /> ===Isle of Devotion===<br /> <br /> The Isle of Devotion is an island located at the northwestern connection between the Grand Canal and the Expelling Canal, on the Grand's west bank. The Isle is in fact many small islets, linked by bridges and piers, for it serves as home port to the black galleys and gondolas of the Morticians' Order when they seek rest between their missions to maintain tombs in the Plains of the Dead or ply rivers far afield for their duties. <br /> <br /> ===Plains of the Dead===<br /> <br /> The Plains of the Dead are a vast canal-riddled expanse stretching out around Sijan, stretching westward to the Salt Marsh and north to the River of Tears and Black Chase. The westmost reaches of the Plains become swampy, home to the most impermanent forms of burial, while in the north the land supports grander constructions but the dangers of the Shadowland loom larger. The most valued placement for tombs is to the east where the plains stretch out along the north bank of the Avarice River: here the structures are observed not just by mourners and Morticians but by the ships sailing the river. The true number of the dead buried in the Plains may be beyond counting, and times of chaos mean even the Morticians' records are likely incomplete. In some places time has sunk tombs and seen new ones raised atop them, layer upon layer creating hills and valleys in the landscape. Yet each day thousands of Morticians set out into the Plains' canals to maintain the tombs in their charge, trimming weeds and cleaning stones, descending shafts to care for long-buried tombs as devotedly as for those standing on the surface. <br /> <br /> With its surrounding lands devoted to graves, Sijan produces almost no food of its own, relying entirely on imports from [[Linowa]] and the [[Confederation of Rivers]] to feed its populace. Those who argue that some sections of the Plains might be converted to agriculture are quickly dismissed. <br /> <br /> ===True Sijan===<br /> <br /> True Sijan, or [[Under-Sijan]], is the city's counterpart in the [[Underworld]]. It is a very different place than its counterpart in [[Creation]], and yet the two are fundamentally entwined. Not only due to the passage of the dead between them, but in administration as well, for both are controlled by the Morticians' Order. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Museums of Sijan===<br /> <br /> On several islands between canals, mausoleums which for one reason or another were never occupied have been repurposed as Museums of Sijan. These facilities house rare and beautiful works of art donated to the Morticians, and those loaned by the dead from among their grave goods, so they might be enjoyed by the public living and dead alike. <br /> <br /> ==Politics==<br /> <br /> Sijan is ruled by the Morticians' Order, of that there can be no doubt. As the Morticians' do not dedicate training to municipal administration, this rule is in large part assigned to the most junior apprentices under the disinterested eye of senior overseers, who in turn answer as does the whole of their order to the leadership in the Underworld. <br /> <br /> ==Military==<br /> <br /> Sijan does not have a standing army. Within the city a small constabulary maintains civil order under command of the Morticians, while more difficult tasks are handled by the Morticians themselves or their [[Black Watch]]. When organized military threats emerge such as large bandit gangs, the mercenary contingent from [[Lookshy]] is dispatched to end the threat. <br /> <br /> ==Culture==<br /> <br /> Sijanese culture is guided by the city's nature in many ways: life revolves around the raising and maintenance of memorials to the dead. Even for those not members of the Morticians, life focuses upon death and ritual. Sijan's inhabitants tend to not be farmers but craftspeople versed in carving and construction. Literacy is high as most find themselves called to recite chants and obituary recitations as part of funeral processions. Ritual prayer is common for that same reason, though little of it ascends towards the gods or [[Yu-shan]]... it is not that the divine is not recognized, but that priorities lie elsewhere. <br /> <br /> Sijanese cuisine follows that of the [[Cuisine of the River Province|wider River Province]], though the level of spice and heat tends to be quite high, with heavy employment of chilis in the city's favoured dishes. 'Ful', a dish of spiced lemon and beans, is a constant staple, and local [[Spun Wrap]]s invariably include a generous amount of chili paste. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Geography]] [[Category:River Province]] [[Category:Confederation of Rivers]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sijan_Stork&diff=8694 2024-05-23T14:45:56Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>==Description==<br /> <br /> <br /> The Sijan Stork is a very large, tall bird, reaching heights of over 5ft and weights of up to 20 lbs, with a wingspan of up to 12 ft. Females are smaller than males. Sijan Storks fly with the neck retracted like a heron, unlike their other stork relatives.<br /> <br /> <br /> The Sijan Stork is unmistakable due to its size, bare head and neck, and purple-tinted feathers (black on the back, white on the underparts). It has a huge bill, a pink gular sac at its throat, a neck ruff, and purple-black legs and wings. The sexes are alike, but the young bird is browner and has a smaller bill. Full maturity is not reached for up to four years.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Habitat &amp; Range==<br /> <br /> <br /> Sijan Storks take their name from the area of their range where they are best known, around [[Sijan]] in the Scavenger Lands. Here, storks can be found in the swamps to the West and along the length of the Avarice river, even venturing into the nearby shadowlands with only minimal trepidation. <br /> <br /> <br /> A seperate population of Sijan Storks is found a great distance to the south, where they can be found in southern [[Harborhead]] and across the [[Varangia|Varang City-States]].<br /> <br /> ==Behavior==<br /> <br /> <br /> Like most storks, the marabou is gregarious and a colonial breeder, build ing a tree nest in which two or three eggs are laid. It is not very vocal, but indulges in bill-rattling courtship displays. The throat sac is also used to make various noises at that time.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Diet==<br /> <br /> <br /> The Sijan Stork is a scavenger, and the naked head and neck are adaptations to this livelihood, as it is with the [[Vulture]]s with which the stork often feeds. In both cases, a feathered head would become rapidly clotted with blood and other substances when the bird's head was inside a large corpse, and the bare head is easier to keep clean.<br /> <br /> <br /> This large and powerful bird eats mainly carrion, scraps and feces but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter it can swallow. It occasionally eats other birds including doves and the chicks from any nest it can reach. During the breeding season, adults scale back on carrion and take mostly small, live prey since nestlings need this kind of food to survive. Common prey at this time may consist of fish, frogs, insects, eggs, small mammals and reptiles. Though known to eat putrid and seemingly inedible foods, these storks may sometimes wash food in water to remove soil. When feeding on carrion, Sijan Storks frequently follow [[Vulture]]s, which are better equipped with hooked bills for tearing through carrion meat and may wait for the vultures to cast aside a piece, steal a piece of meat directly from the vulture or wait until the vultures are done.<br /> <br /> ==Cultural Significance==<br /> <br /> <br /> Sijan Stork feathers are used in a variety of applications: larger feathers are employed in the creation of fans, while down is frequently used in the trimming of various items of clothing and hats. In either case, the feathers take well to dyes.<br /> <br /> <br /> Due to their range and purple tint, Sijan Storks are sometimes referred to as Mortician Storks. They cause a great deal of trouble for the tomb city of Sijan, as they frequently move from neighbouring swamps to seek food amongst the tombs of the empty surface of Sijan. Military patrols are often employed to suppress stork incursions disrupting the sanctity of the burial sites, and these culls are the source of the bulk of Creation's Sijan Stork feathers, which are transported to other River Province cities such as [[Nexus]] for processing. While dyed feathers are dominant elsewhere, some within Sijan itself prefer undyed purple-white feathers as personal fans or grave goods.<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Fauna]] [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Sijan]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=8693 2024-05-21T19:16:04Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>'''MediaWiki has been successfully installed.'''<br /> <br /> Consult the [//meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents User's Guide] for information on using the wiki software.<br /> <br /> == Getting started ==<br /> * [//www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]<br /> * [//www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]<br /> * [https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]<br /> * Dan is an Iselsi<br /> * Willow is a Nellens<br /> <br /> <br /> '''NEEDED WORK FROM THE STORYTELLER''': <br /> <br /> --- Pages for [[Nexus]] , [[Thorns]] , [[Caltia the Eternal]] , [[Greyfalls]] , [[Lookshy]] (and how its totally Metal Gear-meets-DPRK) , [[The Lap]] , [[The Guild]] (and its Lunar [[Crossroads Society]] connection), [[Haslanti League]] (and traditions of high-risk [[Iceboat]] piloting), [[Chiaroscuro‏‎]] , [[Varangia]] , [[Golden-Eyed Jorst]] , [[Sijan]] , [[Unconquered Sun]] , [[Icewalker]] , seasonal spirit-concubines and the transition from Terrestrial to Elemental harems, Aleval's magical mushrooms, as many Senators as possible because politics, canal city food gondolas.<br /> <br /> --- {[[Thousand Scales]] ministries complete: 48%} ,<br /> <br /> --- {Mushrooms complete: 99%} .<br /> <br /> --- Get Wall Street out of our posting. <br /> <br /> '''NEEDED WORK FROM SCRIBS''': <br /> <br /> --- [[Sesus Septimus]]' crazy adventures in the [[Battle on the Wall of Ice]]<br /> <br /> --- Complete list of canon [[Weapons]] (for combat mechanics fix purposes)<br /> <br /> --- Various theological and erotic scrolls of the [[Immaculate Texts]]<br /> <br /> --- Craft guild that builds musical instruments<br /> <br /> --- '''[[A Property To Be Bought by Double Ransom]] (play)'''<br /> <br /> --- '''Editing of pages (particularly NPCs) to update with encounters and information learned through play (updating articles and/or Discussion pages for NPCs detailing interactions, sightings,, observations, etc).''' <br /> <br /> --- Assistance in putting pages into proper categories (class, type, aspect, House, etc... both into existing categories and new ones as appropriate).<br /> <br /> --- The many [[Yeddim]]s of Creation<br /> <br /> --- Eastern above-canopy biome<br /> <br /> <br /> '''NEEDED WORK FROM PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO THE ACTUAL WIKI FILES AND DIRECTORIES''': <br /> <br /> <br /> 1) A way to import/recreate the character template box in similar fashion to the official Exalted wiki as seen [http://wiki.white-wolf.com/exalted/index.php?title=Template:Character here]... of particular use would be having the template auto-convert stat numbers to display dots, and box background colouring (via use of hex codes based on type and aspect). Replicating some of the features there, like template for displaying circlemates and auto-linking to categories, is less vital. I think we MAY need the Scribunto extension (hah!) and maybe HTML tidy?<br /> <br /> 2) LocalSettings.php edits<br /> <br /> --- Enable linking to externally-hosted images<br /> <br /> --- Fix to sidebars (at least on my browsers, they end up pushed to the bottom of articles instead of on the side. They're coded based on Wikipedia, and that worked on the previous version of this wiki as well... is there a wiki setting that could cause issues, or is it a change I need to make in the sidebars themselves? <br /> <br /> 3) A way to recreate/import the Geographic Location Template seen on Wikipedia ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Geographic_location]), particularly useful for mapping out Imperial City wards and the prefectures of the Blessed Isle. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''FIXING EXALTED''':<br /> <br /> - Fixing Training and Ability-Specialty System: DONE (Specialty-based Ability training, see [[Training]] and [[Specialties]])<br /> <br /> - Fixing DB Elemental Craft Charm Void: DONE sort-of (by way of moving Elemental Empowerment from Sorcery to Charm).<br /> <br /> - Fixing Elemental Concentration Trance: DONE (by adding risk factors for people who Charm-away all concerns but reading).<br /> <br /> - Fixing Unsleeping Earth Meditation: DONE (by slight changes to remove some control ala ECT and preserve the original intent of sacrificing WP recovery)<br /> <br /> - Fixing Sorcery: See Below.<br /> <br /> --- Rebalancing and diversifying sorcerous spells: IN PROCESS (primarily using Limited Reagent's [https://docs.google.com/document/d/11I0xCPgAS3ZhxGvTlBoePOuaDqgpyWs13jVKhJ4c8hM/edit?hl=en_US&amp;pli=1# Book of the Emerald Circle].<br /> <br /> --- Expanding and clarifying the array of Necromantic &amp; [[:Category:Schools of Sorcery|Sorcerous Schools]] (including metaphysical outlooks and Absorptions): IN PROCESS<br /> <br /> --- Restructuring the systems for [[Thaumaturgy]]: IN PROCESS.<br /> <br /> - Fixing Martial Arts: IN PROCESS (by divorcing Martial Arts Styles from the Martial Arts Ability and into the actually-appropriate Abilities, and then getting rid of the aforementioned ability altogether because there is no legitimate reason not to call it [[Brawl (ability)|Brawl]]. Form Weapon adjustment also pending).<br /> <br /> --- Fixing Even Blade Style: DONE (by replacing it with slightly adapted version of [[Drifting Clouds Style]] by Bolo on [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?498398-Exalted-The-Even-Blade-Series-Melee-Expansions-CMA-and-rewritten-TMA/page2&amp;p=11663278#post11663278 RPG.net]. <br /> <br /> --- Fixing Immaculate Styles: IN PROCESS. Fire Dragon is completed. Enlightenment Charms completed. Staff as universal form weapon to be added.<br /> <br /> - Fixing and Clarifying Crafting: See Below <br /> <br /> --- Fixing and Clarifying the Craft Abilities: DONE (See [[Craft (Ability)]], its subordinate Crafts, and [[Esoteric Crafting]].<br /> <br /> --- Converting Crafting from a downtime-requiring process to an in-play time scale which can convert to downtime scale as needed: DONE (see [[Artifact Creation]]).<br /> <br /> --- Clarifying the role and mechanics of [[Maintenance and Repair]] for advanced artifacts: IN PROCESS (notes need compiling and editing).<br /> <br /> - Fixing Ticks &amp; Combat: IN PROCESS via Strength Rebalance, tick fix may be waiting on 3e (ticks are bad. The only people who like them are Final Fantasy scrubs who never actually play Exalted *badum-tsssh*)<br /> <br /> --- Fixing Grapple: DONE (see [[Grappling]], and a slight change in [[Charms (Fire): Dodge]] which turns a speedbump into pure gold).<br /> <br /> - Fixing [[Social Combat]]: IN PROCESS, with added diversity to comparative App ratings, but major work still to be done (goal to ensure working as the intended WP sink without bogging down casual conversations)<br /> <br /> - Fixing DEX/APP/WITS Dominance: is totally happening RIGHT THE FUCK NOW. [[Feats of Strength]] Rebalance, [[Weapons|Damage Rebalance]], Strength bonus rebalance in response to the aforementioned damage rebalance, Stamina-based [[Health Levels]], comparative APP diveristy in [[Social Combat]]. Wits is the least offensive due to the fact each Mental attribute applies to a different subset of actions, and may not need alteration.<br /> <br /> - [[:Category:Hearthstones|Hearthstone]] Rebalance: IN PROCESS. Taking stones out of the realm of straight dice-adders and totally-awesome-versus-totally-worthless-in-the-same-dot-rating, adding more situational effects and balancing drawbacks.<br /> <br /> - Fixing Virtues to make them more relevant and interesting: IN PROCESS by some scrib, what a terrible person.<br /> <br /> - Creating a system for the creation and effects of art (poems, plays, stories, paintings, etc): IN PROCESS<br /> <br /> - Creating a system for bureaucracy/commercial enterprises/organizational management/ actually having a mechanical presence that can combine realism, interest, and something for all these roll and Charm mechanics to work with: IN PROCESS<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''QUESTIONS AND REQUESTED PAGES''': What info do scribs need? List here, will see what can be done.</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Red_Jade&diff=8692 2024-05-04T18:54:37Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>==Description==<br /> Red Jade can vary widely in coulour from the more fiery orange shades oft found in deserts to the bright reds of active volcanos to the deeper crimsons deep beneath cooled lava flows. It tends to be sharp and jagged, and warm to the touch. <br /> <br /> ==Sources==<br /> Red Jade commonly occurs in areas of intense heat, such as deserts or volcanos. Extraction can be difficult, not due to particular depth but to environment: sometimes Red Jade can be harvested by sifting vast quantities of particular desert sand, but more often one must mine towards the hearts of volcanos to find it, bringing risks both from the natural heat of such places and the local [[Volcano God|spirits]] whose ire might be raised. <br /> <br /> ==Applications==<br /> In artifice, red jade is used for artifacts that work with fire, for boosting reflexes, for inflicting pain, and for those bolstering [[Athletics (Ability)]], [[Dodge (Ability)]], [[Melee (Ability)]], [[Presence (Ability)]], or [[Socialize (Ability)]].<br /> <br /> ==Magical Material Bonus==<br /> Weapons forged primarily of red jade strike with the searing heat of fire (sometimes producing literal flame), granting +3 to DMG.<br /> <br /> Armour forged primarily from red jade have no Fatigue value, and environmental hazards suffered by the wearer are at -2 DMG (-3 for Fire-associated hazards such as heat).<br /> <br /> [[Category:Magical Materials]] [[Category:Jade]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Perfected_Division&diff=8691 2024-05-04T18:53:48Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Perfected Division is a [[Red Jade]] [[Grimcleaver]] forged in the [[Shogunate Era]]. Its unusual design forgoes the single or double axe blade typical of grimcleavers, instead mounting a total of eight blades joined to the shaft at a central point, where can be found the weapon's single hearthstone socket. Its particular construction and essence flows are said to grant its strikes unerring accuracy.<br /> <br /> Perfected Division is currently wielded by an officer of the [[Seventh Legion]], who takes great joy in using it to perfectly divide large [[Cuisine of the River Province|River flatbreads]] when dining with his comrades. <br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable sortable&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! Name !! Speed !! Accuracy !! Damage !! Defense !! Rate !! Attune !! Cost !! Minimums !! [[Weapon Tags]]<br /> |-<br /> | Perfected Division || 5 || +2 || +9L/2 || +0 || 2 || 5 || 2 || Str 2 || Overwhelming (2) ||<br /> |}<br /> <br /> Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wmLmhyPDsNo <br /> <br /> [[Category:Artifacts]] [[Category:Artifact Weapons]] [[Category:2-dot Artifacts]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Red_Jade&diff=8690 2024-05-04T18:51:50Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>==Description==<br /> Red Jade can vary widely in coulour from the more fiery orange shades oft found in deserts to the bright reds of active volcanos to the deeper crimsons deep beneath cooled lava flows. It tends to be sharp and jagged, and warm to the touch. <br /> <br /> ==Sources==<br /> Red Jade commonly occurs in areas of intense heat, such as deserts or volcanos. Extraction can be difficult, not due to particular depth but to environment: sometimes Red Jade can be harvested by sifting vast quantities of particular desert sand, but more often one must mine towards the hearts of volcanos to find it, bringing risks both from the natural heat of such places and the local [[Volcano God|spirits]] whose ire might be raised. <br /> <br /> ==Applications==<br /> White Jade is the standard jade used in the currency of the Scarlet Empire. In artifice, it is used for artifacts that work with fire, for boosting reflexes, for inflicting pain, and for those bolstering [[Athletics (Ability)]], [[Dodge (Ability)]], [[Melee (Ability)]], [[Presence (Ability)]], or [[Socialize (Ability)]].<br /> <br /> ==Magical Material Bonus==<br /> Weapons forged primarily of red jade strike with the searing heat of fire (sometimes producing literal flame), granting +3 to DMG.<br /> <br /> Armour forged primarily from red jade have no Fatigue value, and environmental hazards suffered by the wearer are at -2 DMG (-3 for Fire-associated hazards such as heat).<br /> <br /> [[Category:Magical Materials]] [[Category:Jade]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Perfected_Division&diff=8689 2024-05-04T15:18:12Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;Perfected Division is a Red Jade Grimcleaver forged in the Shogunate Era. Its unusual design forgoes the single or double axe blade typical of grimcleavers, instea...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>Perfected Division is a [[Red Jade]] [[Grimcleaver]] forged in the [[Shogunate Era]]. Its unusual design forgoes the single or double axe blade typical of grimcleavers, instead mounting a total of eight blades joined to the shaft at a central point, where can be found the weapon's single hearthstone socket. Its particular construction and essence flows are said to grant its strikes unerring accuracy.<br /> <br /> Perfected Division is currently wielded by an officer of the [[Seventh Legion]], who takes great joy in using it to perfectly divide large [[Cuisine of the River Province|River flatbreads]] when dining with his comrades. <br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable sortable&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! Name !! Speed !! Accuracy !! Damage !! Defense !! Rate !! Attune !! Cost !! Minimums !! [[Weapon Tags]]<br /> |-<br /> | Perfected Division || 5 || +2 || +6L/2 || +0 || 2 || 5 || 2 || Str 2 || Overwhelming (2) ||<br /> |}<br /> <br /> Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wmLmhyPDsNo <br /> <br /> [[Category:Artifacts]] [[Category:Artifact Weapons]] [[Category:2-dot Artifacts]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:Helmed_Crab.png&diff=8688 2024-05-04T14:58:58Z

<p>Storyteller: Helmed Crab, ship-sinking crustacean of the West.</p> <hr /> <div>[[Helmed Crab]], ship-sinking crustacean of the West.</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Helmed_Crab&diff=8687 2024-05-04T14:57:10Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;File:Helmed_Crab.png The helmed crab is a large crustacean native to the waters of the West. Though not approaching the great crabs such as the Battle Crab in size, b...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>[[File:Helmed_Crab.png]]<br /> <br /> The helmed crab is a large crustacean native to the waters of the West. Though not approaching the great crabs such as the [[Battle Crab]] in size, being perhaps a yard in breadth, it nevertheless represents a common and much-despised threat to Western seafarers. <br /> <br /> The crabs are not particularly capable combatants one-on-one, but their particular approach to feeding is the source of this danger. Their shells are thick, heavily reinforced along the top, and their claws flare out at the bottom, their strength not in crushing but in pushing. A cast of helmed crabs hunts by waiting on the ocean floor for a large creature such as a [[Sunner]], [[Rinopagos]], or [[:Category:Whales|whale]] to pass overhead, launching themselves at full force towards it. The injured creature or its carcass then settles and the crabs can eat their fill. <br /> <br /> The risk these crabs present is that their upward leaps strike with incredible potence, sufficient to damage and even break through the hulls of ships. When reports of helmed crabs in the vicinity of ports reach harbourmasters in [[:Category:The West|the West]] action will be immediately taken to find divers so the encroaching crabs can be exterminated. <br /> <br /> The strength and thickness of the helmed crab's shell gives it value among the Western peoples, who make use of it as a cooking vessel or as a heavy shield for combat when steel cannot be used for such purposes. The inhabitants of the island of [[Langon]] are particularly known for their skill in crafting such shells. While the flesh of helmed crabs is considered bland on its own and thus not favoured by [[:Category:Chefs &amp; Gourmands|Creation's gourmands]] for most dishes, its mildness and martial associations make it the preferred crustacean for use in [[Dynastic Dim Sum|Harpoon Dumplings]]. <br /> <br /> [[Category:Fauna]] [[Category:Aquatic Creatures]] [[Category:Crustaceans]] [[Category:Seafood]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Langon&diff=8686 2024-05-04T14:42:22Z

<p>Storyteller: Created page with &quot;An island in the Western Threshold, northeast of The Neck, Langon is somewhat isolated despite a good harbour in position close to major trade currents from Wu Jian an...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>An island in the Western Threshold, northeast of [[The Neck]], Langon is somewhat isolated despite a good harbour in position close to major trade currents from [[Wu Jian]] and the fine quality of local craftsmanship. The source of those crafts is also the reason the harbour has never been developed into a trade port: the waters surrounding the island are home to abundant [[Helmed Crab]]s. The inhabitants of Langon are experts at taking the hard shells of the creatures and transforming them into large shallow cooking vessels for stir-frying, and into shields easily capable of deflecting steel, as well as numerous other objects, all polished with a distinctive local pattern that many outsiders find has great artistic merit. <br /> <br /> Alas, the large numbers of helmed crabs in the surrounding waters mean ships attempting to approach run grave risks. Most trade is instead conducted by divers from Langon swimming out to ships anchored away from shore, limiting the amount of goods available for trading. Though this means no merchant holds will fill or empty at Langon, the resulting rarity adds even more value to the few crafts which leave the islend for markets elsewhere.<br /> <br /> [[Category:The West]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Dim_Sum&diff=8685 2024-05-04T14:39:13Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Dumplings and Buns */</p> <hr /> <div>Dynastic dining tends to focus on a large variety of smaller dishes, rather than one large main course, in a style known as ‘dim sum’. Dining is a political game of itself: what a host serves at a function reveals her political agenda: the value of ingredients shows the importance of the effort, while the choice to serve (or not to serve) the favourite foods of certain guests can show who the host is attempting to influence, and who they consider to be their enemies. Some dishes can be used as a form of coded language, though it must be noted the exact significance of certain dishes is rarely common knowledge, and is usually restricted to members of a specific scheme. Serving a guest at a dinner an '''empty plate''', at least, is a quite universal signal, tantamount to a declaration of war by the host. <br /> <br /> == Dumplings and Buns ==<br /> <br /> '''Shrimp dumplings:''' Tender, semi-translucent dough pleated in a distinctive half-moon shape around a shrimp filling and then steamed. Dynasts judge a teahouse by the quality of its shrimp dumplings.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pork dumplings''': Small, round steamed dumplings with a juicy, gingery pork filling peeking though the gathers of a thin wrapper. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Potstickers''': These steamed and pan-seared appetizers are heartier than most other dim sum dumplings. They have a thicker dough enclosing a filling of pork sometimes with shrimp as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chive dumplings:''' Flat and round, with a chewy dough thin enough to reveal a delicate green colour on top and seared to a crisp on the other side. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallop dumplings''': Flat and round, with a chewy dough seared to a crisp on the bottom, and thin enough on top to reveal the green tint of a cilantro-chive and scallop filing. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed buns with roast pork''': Soft, fluffy white rolls filled with morsels of sweet, red-glazed roast pork.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Baked buns with roast pork''': Roast pork enclosed in a yeasted dough and baked golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Curried beef crescents''': Miniature turnovers with extremely flaky dough and a curried beef filling reveals culinary influences from the South.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Varangian Pyramids''': A variation on the curried beef crescent originating amongst the [[Varang]] City-States, larger and more pyramidal than crescent in shape. The fillings used eschew beef in favour of curried legumes and mashed root vegetables. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Spring rolls''': These flaky-crisp, finger-length rolls were the inspiration behind larger and more oily egg rolls popular in the urban slums, River Province and the inner Threshold (egg rolls are seen as ‘low class’ in the Realm). A filling of pork, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts is rolled a thin wrapper and then fried until golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cold Spring rolls''': Rice paper wrappers are softened in warm water and then wrapped around vegetables and cooked meat or shrimp. The dish is considered a refreshing appetizer, and an ideal vehicle for enjoying sauces. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Peanut Dumplings:''' Stuffed with peanuts, garlic, chives, pork, dried shrimp, and/or mushrooms, using a thick dumpling wrapper made from glutinous rice flour. Usually served with a small dish of chili oil for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soup Dumplings:''' A difficult dish to make, requiring a skilled cook to master, soup dumplings use a fatty soup stock, usually pork lard with some combination of green onion, nori, miso paste, or horseradish. The stock is extremely fatty, and is allowed to congeal into a semi-solid mass before being scooped up and enfolded in a thin wheat flour wrapper. When the dumpling is then cooked and served, the fatty stock returns to liquid form, exploding in the mouth of the diner in a burst of flavour. Evena a tiny mistake in closing the wrapper, or a tear or weakness, will cause the stock to drain out during boiling. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bean Curd Rolls:''' Ingredients such as diced shrimp, leek, shredded chicken, bamboo shoots, small carrots, tofu, scallions, sesame oil, or bean sprouts, wrapped in a thin bean-curd skin and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Harpoon Dumplings:''' A dish where crab meat (the meat of [[Helmed Crab]]s is most favoured) is combined with soft cheese, garlic, and scallions and used to fill a dumpling which is then fried until crispy. They are typically served with [[Biting Sauce]] or a sauce of honey and [[Western Plum]]s for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Dance of Five Directions]]'''<br /> <br /> == Rice Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rice pearl balls:''' Rolling small spheres of seasoned ground pork in uncooked kernels of glutinous rice before steaming them creates these pearly rice “dumplings.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Lotus leaf rice:''' During steaming, the leaves of the lotus plant infuse their delicate flavor and aroma into a filling of glutinous rice studded with a variety of ingredients including chicken, roast pork, sausage, and black mushrooms. A preparation considered to be more appropriate for the [[Immaculate]] clergy includes only rice and lotus seeds scattered within, the seeds providing a crunch and more intense lotus flavour... perhaps surprisingly, the most discerning [[:Category:Chefs &amp; Gourmands|gourmands]] also favour this approach, for it allows the lotus to truly emerge as the hero of the dish.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Egg Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Egg Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Glutinous Rice]], that has been cooked, then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (bamboo shoots, peas, corn), green onion, and egg. There is a saying &quot;As refined as rice fried egg&quot;, a joke for the nouveau-riche habits of citizens and patricians who have riches without culture, referencing the tendency of wealthier households to include more egg in their fried rice, those without appreciation for the dish's nuances to sometimes go too far.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dark Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Dark Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Unbound Rice]], that has been cooked then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (peas, garlic, carrot, celery, onion, peppers), cured pork belly, sausage, and/or dried fruits (such as plums). Its dark colour comes from the ample use of dark soy sauce during preparation, making the resulting dish very dark brown in colour and quite salty.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chestnut Rice:''' Steamed [[Glutinous Rice]], with [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, chestnuts and sweet potato, sprinkled with radish sprouts and sesame seeds. A dish favoured in the Water and Earth seasons.<br /> <br /> == Meat Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed Meatballs''': Finely ground beef, shaped into balls and then steamed with preserved orange peel and served on top of a thin bean-curd skin. Some consider the dish to be a representation of House Cathak: respect for tradition through steaming, fire through the citrus, martial power (and Threshold cattle assets) through the beef, and purity of Immaculate faith through the bean curd.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Four Happy Balls:''' A set of four pork meatballs in a chicken and cabbage broth, derived from the larger dish known as the [[Lion's Head Meatball]]<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from honey, spices, soy sauce, and red wine. This gives them a distinctive red colour. Typically they are served over noodles or rice when the main course of a meal, or thin-sliced with bones removed as dim sum.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from black bean paste and rice wine.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minced Pork Rice''': Dish with origins amongst the patricians and Dynastic households of the Silk and Pearl Peninsula on the southwestern Blessed Isle. Pork belly is finely minced and fried with shallots in oil, then boiled in a sauce containing some mixture of sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, hot peppers, and aromatic spices. The dark brown meat sauce produced is served over rice, though this can sometimes be substituted for noodles or even thin-sliced vegetables. Sour pickled fruits and vegetables are a common accompaniment.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Pork Belly''': Dish using pork belly, the fattiest part of the pig. The belly is cubed and cooked slowly in a braising liquid until the fat and skin become gelatinous in texture and melt easily in the mouth, while the liquid becomes a thick, sweet and fairly sticky sauce. The braising liquid itself contains garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and wine or vinegar: use of red wine (a variation termed ‘Red-Braised Pork Belly') makes for a heavier, sweeter sauce, while use of rice wine leaves the flavour of pork fat more dominant, and rice vinegar is used for those wishing to counter some of the richness of the dish. Often mushrooms are added partway through the braising, and when served the dish is topped by diced leeks or scallion greens.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Succulent Squares of Swine''': Succulent Squares of Swine are a Shogunate-era variation of Red-Braised Pork Belly. The key to the dish is the method of cutting the pork belly: the pork must be cut into a cube shape, 3 inches to a side, the top half all fat and the bottom half all meat. The pork is first pan-fried to form a crust on top and bottom, then slow-cooked in its sauce for many hours. The resulting dish carries fragrant aromas of wine and is oily, but not greasy, in the mouth... this makes it popular amongst battle-worn officers and celebrating dilettantes seeking to counter excessive consumption of spirits. The dish draws its name from the Shogunate poet-official [[Kugawa Dongpo]], who was said to have declared it the greatest of pork dishes in a now-lost poem.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Beef Sashimi''': The cooking of any creature has an effect on its natural flavours, and so the best way to truly appreciate it is in its raw form. In the case of beef, the favoured preparation is thinly sliced strips of tenderloin, served with a sauce derived from citrus and seaweed.<br /> <br /> '''[[Gochei at Bright Summit#Blossom at Bright Summit|Blossom at Bright Summit]]''': An elaborate dish of thin-sliced boar meat arranged in the shape of rose petals.<br /> <br /> == Poultry Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, boiled and very lightly spiced. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, first boiled, then braised in hot sesame-ginger oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Quails:''' Small birds, spiced then stuffed with small, sweet onions and roasted. Said to be a sensual dish… some say because of the sexual suggestions so often conveyed by Dynasts as they ‘finger’ out the onions at parties. [[Eagle Prefecture]] is considered source of the finest-flavoured [[Quail]]s, and this dish is a favourite of [[House Sesus]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Entombed Quail:''' Cups of puffed pastry, in which are placed quails stuffed with [[Truffles]] and butter or [[Paragon Cuisine|foie gras]]. The cups are topped with a 'lid' of pastry, giving the dish its name, and surrounded by a sticky sauce of figs sauteed in [[Wine]]. Though large as dim sum dishes go, an Entombed Quail is far from a meal in-of-itself, seeing the dish often appear as a 'centrepiece' for dim sum diners at smaller salons held by members of less [[Immaculate]]ly-inclined [[Great House]]s.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry''': A dish of the south-central Blessed Isle along the [[Caracal River]], said to have been developed to suit the palate of the Legion general [[Peleps Zuo]] of [[Arjuf]] to honour his victories against the rebels in the [[Unbroken Rushes Rebellion]], where he led the defense of the port city against the peasant hordes. Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry consists of cubed chicken, battered and fired for a crispy texture and then tossed in a sauce of sherry, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, and crushed hot peppers. The dish has some spice, but sweetness is by far the most dominant flavour, and some view it as excessive, making the dish far less popular in the rest of the [[Blessed Isle]] as it is in the South. It is also very popular in [[The Lap]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chicken Sashimi''': Thin slices of chicken breast, served raw with a sweetened soy sauce for dipping. As chicken is considered to be one of the lightest-flavoured poultry meats, this preparation is popular for letting diners appreciate the flavour of the bird without losing it to cooking or heavy sauces.<br /> <br /> == Seafood Dishes ==<br /> <br /> Seafood dishes in the Dynasty vary widely both by geographic region and (much more importantly) by season, and example dishes can be seen in [[Dynastic Seasonal Seafood]] . However, some dishes remain popular year-round as part of dim-sum meals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Barbequed Eel:''' Long eel fillets, oiled and grilled, then served with a tangy brown drizzle of spiced fish sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Squid:''' Small squid, hollowed out and stuffed with spinach, red pepper, and onion, before being quickly baked.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tempura:''' Fish, zucchini and sweet potatoes dipped in batter, then deep-fried until golden. Said to have roots amongst the Haslanti, where the deep-fried fish is eaten with equally fried white potatoes and ale, but this method is viewed as too ‘foreign’ or ‘uncultured’ amongst most Dynasts. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Smoked Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, skinned and smoked, served raw. Like most raw fish dishes, it is favoured by House Peleps.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, braised and served wrapped in kelp. Far more salty than the average Dynastic dish, more popular amongst those raised on the coast than inland. Said to represent the vastness of the open sea.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roast Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, roasted and served on a bed of spiced fruit.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riverfish in Sauce:''' A fresh-water fish, cooked soft in a herb broth and then served on the bone covered in cream sauce. The bones remain hard and inedible amidst the softness of the flavoured fish, which inspired a poem of Imperial consort Tepet in years past: “Outer Softness, seen and open to all. Hidden Strength within, opening to none.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Drunken Shrimp''': A raw seafood dish of river shrimp. The shrimp are eaten while still living, the creatures calmed by immersion in a ‘marinade’ of rice wine and honey. They are quickly tossed in a hot pan of pepper-infused oil for only the briefest moment, to perfect colour while not killing them too early, and then served, just beginning to return from stupor as they are eaten. Drunken Shrimp are eaten with the fingers, and traditionally diners are given small bowls to wash their hands once they are finished, containing green tea and slices of lemon.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Clouds Nestled in Oak''': A refined dish dating from the Shogunate, consisting of [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, stuffed with an airy mousse of whitefish (sometimes including scallop) and then deep fried. The stuffed mushrooms are served individually in a flavoured soy-based sauce, topped with grated daikon, green onion, and hot peppers. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sun-marked Tuna''': A dish known in less devout circles as Tuna Sol Invictus, this dish consists of red tuna wrapped in nori seaweed sheets, with a light crust of breadcrumbs, served with sour plum sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sunrise on the Mountain Lake''': A dish of the central Blessed Isle, using freshwater [[White Mussel]]s whose natural tough rubbery texture is softened by steaming in salted water and vinegar before they are grilled in-shell and tossed in a sweet chili sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Egg Dishes==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Hot Spring Egg''': A hot spring egg is a shell-poached egg slowly cooked in a hot water bath, typically the hot springs common among the mountains of the [[Blessed Isle]]. The resulting egg is removed from the shell and served, having taken on a unique texture where the yolk has solidified without losing its colour or texture while the whites have transformed to become almost custard-like. Typically Hot Spring Eggs are served in small bowls, floating in a miso or [[Dashi]] stock and often garnished with spring onions<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Egg''': Custard egg is a simple preparation of egg that is beaten with water and then steamed to create a smooth, silky texture that becomes almost gelatinous when it cools. This basic preparation can be presented in a number of ways: with sugar added and fruit or flower garnishes it serves as a dessert, while addition of shrimp or crab make for a more hearty dish. Such a preparation is known to have [[Shogunate]] roots, and remains popular in [[Lookshy]]. However, among the gourmands of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] the favoured preparation (sometimes referred to as 'Immaculate custard egg', though not within earshot of the [[Immaculate Order|Order]]'s monks) sees the custard presented in a small bowl, topped with a clarified broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Tofu Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dipped Agedofu:''' A dish of tofu bean curd, cut into triangles and deep-fried to crisp its outer skin. Served with a sauce made from mustard, soy sauce, &amp; spring onions, into which the trinagles are dipped using chopsticks. Dipped agedofu is a popular appetizer amongst the scions of House Cathak and House Mnemon. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soldier-in-the-Trees''': A dish of tofu bean curd, deep-fried to crisp its outside, placed in a bowl of noodles along with steamed broccoli and a sauce of leeks and miso paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == Vegetable Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed mushrooms:''' Mushroom caps filled with shrimp and bamboo shoots then steamed. The dish is sometimes called “a hundred flowers,” for the mounded caps resemble open blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallion Pancakes:''' A batter derived from mung beans, mixed with small onions and sometimes mixed with fish, chicken, or pickled cabbage, then fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roasted Root Vegetables :''' Roasted turnips, carrots, potatoes and yams. A low-class peasant food, often served to unwanted guests.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Greens and Oyster Sauce:''' A simple dish that is nevertheless incredibly popular, using steamed broccoli, kai-lan, or bok choi tossed in oyster sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glazed Eggplant:''' Slender eggplants, slit lengthwise and brushed with sweetened soy sauce, then grilled until tender, after which they are coated in a glaze of miso soybean paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Autumn Rain:''' A vegetarian dish more common amongst the religious than more extravagant Dynasts, Autumn Rain is also seen (simplified) on citizen and peasant tables. It consists of an assortment of vegetables, stewed in a broth of soy and ginger. Traditionally it is considered a warm and filling dish to be eaten on those days allocated by the [[Thousand Scales]] for rainy weather.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Simmered Embrace:''' A vegetarian dish often favoured by the devout, though the complexity of its preparation put it well within the standard of Dynastic dim sum. Cabbage, radish and fern leaves are shredded then wrapped in sheets of tofu skin and tied with edible ribbons of gourd, then simmered in a sweetened soy broth. The resulting wrap is sliced into rounds before serving. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kimchi:''' A staple dish of the Blessed Isle’s peasants, kimchi is made primarily of cabbage, fermented with anchovies, hot peppers, and salt, most often buried in clay jars where it will last for years. Dynastic kimchi is served as a side dish to accompany dim sum or balance out alcohol during drinking parties.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bouquet of Sextes Jylis''': This dish is not a set of specific ingredients but a preparation, rendering raw fruits and vegetables into something worthy of a Dynastic table. The ingredients are chosen based on season and colour (though carrot, cucumber, melon, papaya, and pineapple tend to be staples), and intricately carved into bite-sized flowers. This undertaking is time-consuming and demands significant knife skills, proof of a well-appointed kitchen.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Five Mountain Shoots]]''': Five seasonal shoots and herbs, enjoyed when they appear during the Wood season.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Toes in the Mountain Stream''': A salad dish associated with the Ascending months and the Wood Season, when fresh young leaves are in abundance, Toes in the Mountain Stream consists of flavourul leaves ([[Wasabi]] leaves, [[Perilla]] leaves, [[Mint]] leaves, or some combination thereof), and a dipping sauce of soy and sometimes citrus, scattered with sesame seeds. Diners simply lift a leaf with their chopsticks, dip lightly, and eat.<br /> <br /> ==Sweet Dishes==<br /> <br /> While the culinary traditions of the [[Shogunate Era]] looked down on sweets and desserts, favouring more savoury 'warrior' dishes of meat and rice (with sweetness incorporated as an element in many savory dishes), the kitchens of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] have embraced recipes old and new, ingredients from across Creation, to provide the Princes of the Earth with sweet nibbles served in the dim-sum manner. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Pears:''' Sweet pears, halved then filled with honey and dates and gently steamed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mango Pudding:''' A rich, sweet pudding made with fine cream and fresh fruit. The favour is quite strong, and is generally dismissed by many in the more conservative Great Houses as ‘uncultured’… the pudding would never be found near a [[House Tepet|Tepet]] party. However, it finds favour with the younger Houses, and the more hedonist Dynasts.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet &amp; Salty Balls:''' Steamed rice-dough balls filled with peanuts and chestnuts, sprinkled with honeyed coconut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sweet Balls in Wine]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Manju:''' A chewy dough filled with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds, and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heavenly Silk''': A dessert consisting of silky tofu served with a sweet ginger or jasmine flavored syrup.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sugared Jerky]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Chilled Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Longan Tofu''': Almond-flavoured tofu served with longan fruit, usually chilled. A dish for hot summer days.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Melanated Cream]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Baked Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Tart:''' Tender egg custard baked in a flaky crust, these delicate little sweets are a perfect ending with tea. Some high class restaurants put bird's nest on top of the custard, either natural or formed of spun sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Thousand-Layer Cake''': A dessert pastry made up of many layers of sweet egg dough.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pineapple Bun:''' A dessert bun which, contrary to expectation, contains no pineapple. The top of the pineapple bun is made of a dough which consists of sugar, eggs, flour, and lard. Baked to a golden-brown color, its checkered top resembles the epicarp of a pineapple, crunchy and quite sweet compared to the bread beneath. In some Threshold cities such as Nexus, the dish has been completely misinterpreted, and bakers stuff the buns with actual pineapple, something which sets Dynastic visitors laughing uproariously at the uncivilized idiocy of those outside the Center of Creation.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Moon Cakes''': See [[New Year Celebrations]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stamped Cookies''': A [[Stamped Cookie|sweet cookie, stamped]] with a [[Mon]] or other imagery.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Floss Bun''': A small, sweet bun, topped with a thin curled floss of sweetened meat, usually pork, though [[Beef]] and fish can also be used.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Finger Tart:''' Tiny tarts, on the scale of finger sweets, usually topped with icing and candied fruits or fresh berries. [[Brambleberry]] is the most favoured, with the most extravagant galas making use of the rare Pasiap's brambleberry. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Finger Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> These miniature desserts are well suited to be eaten with fingers or chopsticks, and are often found serving as a light breakfast or a finishing course at Dynastic tables, and can occasionally be wrapped and presented as gifts (most often for lovers or children). To ease handling, they are typically coated with candied sugar or hardened [[Chocolatl]]. The latter was at peak popularity centuries ago, in the wake of the [[Trade War]] with [[The Guild]], when the Dynasty found it fashionable to host 'chocolataire salons' featuring the bittersweet substance in every course, and while these are less common in the present day these 'bonbons', 'sweet truffles', and 'kisses' still remain popular in Dynastic desserts. <br /> <br /> <br /> Several varieties of these desserts were created to honour particular figures, the [[Scarlet Empress]] foremost amongst them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Poet's Embrace:''' A whole [[Cherry]], soaked in [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], coated in a midnight [[Chocolatl]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Violetta:''' [[Violet]] ganache surrounded with a midnight chocolatl, topped with candied violets. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pagoda at Midnight:''' A canopy of smooth [[Gianduja]] over a midnight chocolatl coated coffee ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Berries of the Wood:''' A sticky [[Strawberry]] syrup within a shell of midnight chocolatl. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Coins of Jade:''' Honey-walnut ganache coated in chocolatl and dusted in powdered [[Jade]]. Rather extravagant, though favoured by some wealthy Dynasts, particularly in [[House Ragara]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Desert Rose:''' Clusters of puffed [[Rice]] coated in chocolatl, topped with candied rose petals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dessert Basilisc:''' Named with reference to the [[Desert Basilisc|basiliscs of the Southern deserts]]. Sour Cherry coulis paired with a cinnamon flavoured dawn chocolatl and pistachio ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Agapi:''' Semi-sweet ganache with a puree of strawberries infused with pomegranate liqueur.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of Sion:''' Orange-vanilla ganache layered over a crisp wafer of nuts and zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bees' Nest:''' Dawn chocolatl ganache, filled with apple blossom [[Honey]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Velvet:''' Malted dawn ganache, dusted with powdered chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Diamond Princess:''' Blackcurrant coulis paired with a [[Cedar]] infused twilight ganache sealed with pine nut praline. A complex delicacy, favoured at the [[Crystal Palace]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cord of Wood:''' Twilight ganache with port-fused currants rolled in [[Maple]]-glazed walnuts and crushed maple flakes.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''The Chambermaid:''' [[Cinnamon]] butter truffle on a bed of [[Gianduja]], dusted with cinnamon sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Circus Act:''' [[Brambleberry]] coulis flavoured with anise and mint, within a vanilla ganache, shaped and coloured to resemble the large tents used by travelling performers in the [[Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tears of the Crocodile:''' A small square of wilight ganache infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], topped with walnut marzipan and a dried sour cherry.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heart of the Dragon:''' Whipped [[Brambleberry]] and basil coulis paired with a jasmine [[Tea]] ganache and rolled in a mix of wafers, roasted pecans, sesame and almonds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wood Dragon's Kiss:''' Black fig, freshly squeezed lemon juice and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolate and topped with a caramelized [[Heart Nut]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Embers:''' Swirled midnight and dawn ganache with a generous helping of heavily toasted chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Seven-Point School:''' Three layers: an almond and hazlenut [[Gianduja]], pureed dried apricots, and coconut cream, coated in twilight ganache and topped with a dried apricot infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|peach schnapps]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mines of Juche:''' A twilight ganache infused with hig quality black [[Tea]] topped with a thin layer of freshly made orange marmelade, usually formed into square shapes with a spiral of chocolatl or powdered jade circling atop it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Invictus:''' A dome over four layers: Vanilla caramel, lime zest mousse, coffee ganache, caramelized pecan [[Gianduja]]. The domes are most often brushed gold with a sunburst pattern. The [[Immaculate Order]] frowns on this dessert. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Imperial Purse:''' Green [[Tea]] and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolatl, most often prepared in the shape of ornate coinpurses. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Romance:''' A butter-rich dawn ganache infused with vanilla, often topped with green and red candied flower petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minister's Kiss:''' Mango caramel ganache with blueberry honey and lemon zest, often formed in the shape of a [[Thousand Scales]] bureaucrat's cap.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soulsteel Kiss:''' A complex dessert, with lavender ganache on a base of hazlenut and an [[Motonic Gastronomy|alchemical]] fizzing element. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gardens of Trung:''' A coconut ganache with grapefruit oil, commonly decorated with a flower of zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rubble of Meru:''' A browned butter truffle on a bed of cinnamon and ground chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Embrace of the Jungle:''' Orange ganache and a soft salted caramel with a sprinkle of chocolatl-covered crunchy sugar and Southwestern flower blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of the Sapphire Stele:''' Sweetened goats' cheese, surrounded by a coating of blue-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Promise of the West:''' Calamansi caramel paired with a pink peppercorn &amp; honey ganache on top of a base made from sesame and hazelnut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scarlet Mantle:''' Cherry jelly paired with a vanilla ganache infused slightly with [[Tonka Bean]], covered with red-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Release the Hounds:''' Clotted cream truffle infused with lemon zest, often decorated with chocolate hound's heads. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Wu Jian:''' Pink Grapefruit and pink peppercorn pate paired with a black [[Tea]] ganache. Most often prepared as halph-spheres decorated with additional drizzled chocolatl, one side left untouched and the other traced with curling lines.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riptide:''' Lime caramel layered over a salted ganache infused with agave liquor. Most often prepared shaped into a wave.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Perfect Season:''' Soft, salted caramel paired with a dark ganache infused with long green chili pepper.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Magistrate's Kiss:''' Double roasted coffee ganache over vanilla ganache layered over hazelnut and almond gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of the Wyld:''' Tangerine and Yuzu coulis paired with a cinnamon and allspice infused ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sidereal Motion:''' Ginger ganache layered with a lime-vanilla caramel.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Topaz Champion:''' Caramel deglazed with cream liqueur, a sprinkling of chocolatl crumble, topped with a ginger ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Coin of Chanos:''' Spiced cookie crunch layered with a dark coffee ganache and topped with a spiced orange and lemon marmalade. Often favoured by [[House Ragara]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Eagle's Kiss:''' Mandarin caramel ganache with powdered seaweed on a bed of hazelnut gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Vermillion Kiss:''' A light blood orange ganache infused with black [[Tea]], with a slight hint of rose oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Senator's Kiss:''' Twilight gooseberry ganache paired with a soft vanilla caramel, topped with roasted sesame seeds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Jorst's Kiss:''' Malted ganache with a liquid centre of reduced birch syrup. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Coast Beaches:''' A dawn chocolatl caramel with vanilla and the faintest hint of spearmint, paired with a wild strawberry and rhubarb jelly.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Melon Cherries:''' A lightly honeyed half-moon of melon, wrapped around a sour cherry.<br /> <br /> == Soup Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wonton Soup:''' Small dumplings filled with pork and spinach, sitting in a lightly flavoured vegetable broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Miso Soup:''' A soup made with miso soybean paste, flavoured with small pieces of parsley and chives. Considered to be a palette cleaner at the start and end of a meal.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Ivory Hot Springs''' – A hearty variation on miso soup, with a thicker broth and steamed daikon radish chunks.<br /> <br /> == Condiments ==<br /> <br /> '''Soy Sauce:''' Condiment. A sauce made from fermented soybeans, with a salty flavour. Used as a dipping sauce for many Dim Sum dishes. Often is mixed with other elements for this role, including crushed garlic, citrus juice, and horseradish paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Horseradish:''' Condiment, One of the [[Fivefold Flavours of the Enflamed Palate]]. Coming in a variety of flavours, the weakest being white (often used in peasant cooking) and the best being green. Sometimes powdered, but more often made into a paste. The heat of a horseradish is very intense, perhaps more so than the hot peppers of the South, but this heat is localized in the nasal cavities and fades much more quickly than the heat from peppers. Most Dynastic diners consider it the finest of the hot spices, having the great intensity needed to impart its unique flavour, but without lingering behind to spoil the food that follows.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Oyster Sauce:''' An expensive condiment made from boiling down oyster broth until it begins to caramelize, taking on a thick texture and rich brown colour. This process is very demanding and time consuming, and amongst those of middling income a cheaper version is created by artificially thickening with starch and colouring with soy sauce to produce a passable, if far less flavourful, version. It is often used to add flavour when tossing noodles before topping with meat and vegetables.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Bean Paste:''' Condiment made by a two-part fermenting and salting black soybeans. The process turns the beans black, soft, and mostly dry, with moisture added to create a smoother paste through addition of soy sauce and minced garlic. The flavor is sharp, pungent, and spicy in smell, with a taste that is salty and somewhat bitter and sweet.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Bean Paste:''' Condiment and filling made from pulverizing and cooking red adzuki beans with honey or sugar to sweeten. Used most often to stuff desserts such as Manju, sometimes it also appears as a dip for pastries or a topping for [[Melanated Cream]].<br /> <br /> == Beverages ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Grape Wine]]:''' An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented grapes, coming in an [[Wines of Creation|array of different vintages and varietals]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Rice Wine]]''' A catch-all term applied to a number of different rice liquors, fermented rice brewed or distilled. Typically stronger than its grape counterpart, various brewed versions are typical in the cups of commoners, while the distilled rice wines are consumed more by patricians or Dynasts. Generally rice wines are cheaper to produce (and thus to obtain) than grape wines, a reason for dismissing them in the most refined circles. In a protest against [[House V'neef]], [[House Peleps]] uses mostly rice wines at its functions (as they lie outside of the monopoly).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Plum Brandy]]''': Traditionally seen at private meetings rather than large social occasions. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Shochu]]:''' Typically serving a guest this peasant-class liquor is an effective way of delivering an insult. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Fruit Schnapps]]:''' Typically taken accompanying sweet desserts, or as either an aperif before the meal or a digestif at its conclusion. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Fruit Juices:''' Freshly squeezed juice, a beverage of the wealthy due to the amount of waste it produces. Common fruits are [[Tangerine]], [[Passion Fruit]], [[Pineapple]], [[Grape]], [[Plum]], and [[Melon]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sugarcane Juice:''' Common in the southern Blessed Isle but rare elsewhere, this sweet juice is produced from pressed [[Sugar Cane]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tea:''' [[Tea]] is a staple of life across the Blessed Isle, plant matter dried and then steeped in hot water. The tea plant gives the drink its name and the plant does the same to the drink, linguistically intertwined beyond unravelling, but many peasants without much true tea supplement with local leaves and berries more easily obtained.<br /> <br /> --- ''Green tea:'' Green tea is the simplest variety of tea, left unprocessed. It is served as standard with just about every meal or ceremony, and is said to aid digestion and clear the palette. <br /> <br /> --- ''Black tea:'' Black tea is fermented before baking, causing a less bitter flavour. It is primarily produced in Pangu, and is the standard tea of the Legions.<br /> <br /> --- ''Oolong tea:'' This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, undergoing only partial fermentation. It is said to have medicinal properties, speeding up healing and reducing appetite.<br /> <br /> --- ''Jasmine tea:'' Green tea scented with jasmine, a slightly more costly and more aromatic variant.<br /> <br /> --- ''Spice tea:'' A harmonious blend of hibiscus, cloves, lemon balm, other herbs and spices, naturally sweet, tart and spicy.<br /> <br /> --- ''Chrysanthemum tea:'' A sweet tea of Chrysanthemum blossoms and honeysuckle, one of the most costly teas in the Realm.<br /> <br /> --- ''Milk Tea:'' A sweet tea created using tea and sweetened condensed milk, very popular with children and soldiers.<br /> <br /> --- ''Pu-erh Tea:'' A black tea that has been heavily fermented and aged, sometimes for decades, imparting a black colour and a strong earthy flavour.<br /> <br /> --- ''25-Flavour Tea:'' A complex, bitter tea containing twenty-five different plants, the combination said to have medicinal benefits harmonizing one’s Essence with Creation. It includes mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle flower, bamboo leaf, peppermint, bloodgrass, blue giant hyssop, monkfruit, perilla leaf, beefsteak leaf, fermented soybean, lidded cleistocalyx flower, cacao leaf, holly leaf, and green tea leaf.<br /> <br /> --- ''Sky Between the Branches Tea:'' A particularly well-regarded variety of green tea, Sky Between The Branches consists of [[Tea]] harvested and dried within the first ten days each Ascending Wood, on the banks of [[Caracal River]] in [[Heroncrest Prefecture]]. The leaves are known for their tender silver tips, imparting a unique chestnut character to the tea.<br /> <br /> --- ''Silver Rain Above the Clouds Tea'' - Silver Rain Above the Clouds is a rare white tea, consisting of tender white buds harvested on high mountain slopes before they open, an opportunity lasting only two days every Season. With as much further processing avoided as possible, the tea retains its most delicate flavours, along with a sweet, lingering finish. <br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Inquiry'' - The Tea of Inquiry is a favourite of bureaucrats and scholars, its broad tea leaves mixed with toasted grains of rice to impart a strong wakefull effect and a robust, toasted flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Dancing Leaf Tea'' - A variety of green tea harvested in the northeastern [[Blessed Isle]], including [[Pangu]] Prefecture, the [[Pahua Basin]], and the [[White Coast]]. The tea is praiosed for its vibrant emerald hue, providing hints of sweetness and nuttiness to the palate, its twisting leaves seeming to dance in the cup as they steep. <br /> <br /> --- ''Pearls of Jasmine Tea'' - Pearls of Jasmine is a rare variety and preparation of green tea, harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Silk &amp; Pearl Peninsula]]. Young just-opening buds are harvested in the Ascending season and rolled tightly into round 'pearls', before being dried and scented with jamsine blossoms to produce a tea with floral flavour and aroma that can last through several steepings.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Integrity'' - A more common (though still rare and expensive) relative of Jasmine Pearls, hailing from the same region, The Tea of Integrity must be carefully prepared through taking harvested tea leaves and passing them through a jasmine flower eight times through the course of the night when the blossoms have opened. The tea carries hints of that jasmine, along with a clean, pure flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Spirit Strengthening Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Plains of Rusted Iron]], said to be the reason for its broad iron-coloured leaves. Its flavour and aroma provide freshness and hints of orchid, which the robust leaves continue to provide across several steepings. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Poetry Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea, whose large leaves impart a distinct flavour of peaches, with notes of honey and chestnut.<br /> <br /> --- ''Five Elements Tea'' - Classically known as 'Five Dragons' Tea'. Flat green tea leaves (Wood), Air dried, roasted (Fire), served in a ceramic cup (Earth) over which is poured Water. A popular tea during the [[Shogunate Era]], it conveys robust earthy and nutty flavours. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Abundance'' - A variety of Oolong tea grown on the upper slopes of the [[Dragon's Nest Mountains]], known for its milky taste with a hint of orchid, and fragrances of pineapple &amp; sweet cream.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Thoughts'' - A mild green tea harvested in [[Lord's Crossing Dominion]], which carries sweet earthy notes and a hint of cherry.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Gardens'' - A blend based on the Tea of Spring Thoughts, with which have been mixed dried rose petals and white tea buds to grant a sweeter, more floral flavour. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category: Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Cuisine]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dynastic_Dim_Sum&diff=8684 2024-05-04T14:38:22Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Dumplings and Buns */</p> <hr /> <div>Dynastic dining tends to focus on a large variety of smaller dishes, rather than one large main course, in a style known as ‘dim sum’. Dining is a political game of itself: what a host serves at a function reveals her political agenda: the value of ingredients shows the importance of the effort, while the choice to serve (or not to serve) the favourite foods of certain guests can show who the host is attempting to influence, and who they consider to be their enemies. Some dishes can be used as a form of coded language, though it must be noted the exact significance of certain dishes is rarely common knowledge, and is usually restricted to members of a specific scheme. Serving a guest at a dinner an '''empty plate''', at least, is a quite universal signal, tantamount to a declaration of war by the host. <br /> <br /> == Dumplings and Buns ==<br /> <br /> '''Shrimp dumplings:''' Tender, semi-translucent dough pleated in a distinctive half-moon shape around a shrimp filling and then steamed. Dynasts judge a teahouse by the quality of its shrimp dumplings.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pork dumplings''': Small, round steamed dumplings with a juicy, gingery pork filling peeking though the gathers of a thin wrapper. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Potstickers''': These steamed and pan-seared appetizers are heartier than most other dim sum dumplings. They have a thicker dough enclosing a filling of pork sometimes with shrimp as well.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chive dumplings:''' Flat and round, with a chewy dough thin enough to reveal a delicate green colour on top and seared to a crisp on the other side. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallop dumplings''': Flat and round, with a chewy dough seared to a crisp on the bottom, and thin enough on top to reveal the green tint of a cilantro-chive and scallop filing. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed buns with roast pork''': Soft, fluffy white rolls filled with morsels of sweet, red-glazed roast pork.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Baked buns with roast pork''': Roast pork enclosed in a yeasted dough and baked golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Curried beef crescents''': Miniature turnovers with extremely flaky dough and a curried beef filling reveals culinary influences from the South.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Varangian Pyramids''': A variation on the curried beef crescent originating amongst the [[Varang]] City-States, larger and more pyramidal than crescent in shape. The fillings used eschew beef in favour of curried legumes and mashed root vegetables. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Spring rolls''': These flaky-crisp, finger-length rolls were the inspiration behind larger and more oily egg rolls popular in the urban slums, River Province and the inner Threshold (egg rolls are seen as ‘low class’ in the Realm). A filling of pork, shrimp, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts is rolled a thin wrapper and then fried until golden brown.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cold Spring rolls''': Rice paper wrappers are softened in warm water and then wrapped around vegetables and cooked meat or shrimp. The dish is considered a refreshing appetizer, and an ideal vehicle for enjoying sauces. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Peanut Dumplings:''' Stuffed with peanuts, garlic, chives, pork, dried shrimp, and/or mushrooms, using a thick dumpling wrapper made from glutinous rice flour. Usually served with a small dish of chili oil for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soup Dumplings:''' A difficult dish to make, requiring a skilled cook to master, soup dumplings use a fatty soup stock, usually pork lard with some combination of green onion, nori, miso paste, or horseradish. The stock is extremely fatty, and is allowed to congeal into a semi-solid mass before being scooped up and enfolded in a thin wheat flour wrapper. When the dumpling is then cooked and served, the fatty stock returns to liquid form, exploding in the mouth of the diner in a burst of flavour. Evena a tiny mistake in closing the wrapper, or a tear or weakness, will cause the stock to drain out during boiling. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bean Curd Rolls:''' Ingredients such as diced shrimp, leek, shredded chicken, bamboo shoots, small carrots, tofu, scallions, sesame oil, or bean sprouts, wrapped in a thin bean-curd skin and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Harpoon Dumplings:''' A dish where crab meat (the meat of [[Helmed Crab]]s is most favoured) is combined with soft cheese, garlic, and scallions and used to fill a dumpling which is then fried until crispy. They are typically served with [[Biting Sauce]] or a sauce of honey and [[Western Plums]] for dipping.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Dance of Five Directions]]'''<br /> <br /> == Rice Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rice pearl balls:''' Rolling small spheres of seasoned ground pork in uncooked kernels of glutinous rice before steaming them creates these pearly rice “dumplings.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Lotus leaf rice:''' During steaming, the leaves of the lotus plant infuse their delicate flavor and aroma into a filling of glutinous rice studded with a variety of ingredients including chicken, roast pork, sausage, and black mushrooms. A preparation considered to be more appropriate for the [[Immaculate]] clergy includes only rice and lotus seeds scattered within, the seeds providing a crunch and more intense lotus flavour... perhaps surprisingly, the most discerning [[:Category:Chefs &amp; Gourmands|gourmands]] also favour this approach, for it allows the lotus to truly emerge as the hero of the dish.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Egg Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Egg Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Glutinous Rice]], that has been cooked, then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (bamboo shoots, peas, corn), green onion, and egg. There is a saying &quot;As refined as rice fried egg&quot;, a joke for the nouveau-riche habits of citizens and patricians who have riches without culture, referencing the tendency of wealthier households to include more egg in their fried rice, those without appreciation for the dish's nuances to sometimes go too far.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dark Fried Rice:''' Fried Rice is a staple of Blessed Isle cuisine, served in small bowls as part of dim sum dining or as penultimate dish in many banquets. Dark Fried Rice is made primarily with [[Unbound Rice]], that has been cooked then allowed to cool. This is fried along with vegetables (peas, garlic, carrot, celery, onion, peppers), cured pork belly, sausage, and/or dried fruits (such as plums). Its dark colour comes from the ample use of dark soy sauce during preparation, making the resulting dish very dark brown in colour and quite salty.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chestnut Rice:''' Steamed [[Glutinous Rice]], with [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, chestnuts and sweet potato, sprinkled with radish sprouts and sesame seeds. A dish favoured in the Water and Earth seasons.<br /> <br /> == Meat Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Steamed Meatballs''': Finely ground beef, shaped into balls and then steamed with preserved orange peel and served on top of a thin bean-curd skin. Some consider the dish to be a representation of House Cathak: respect for tradition through steaming, fire through the citrus, martial power (and Threshold cattle assets) through the beef, and purity of Immaculate faith through the bean curd.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Four Happy Balls:''' A set of four pork meatballs in a chicken and cabbage broth, derived from the larger dish known as the [[Lion's Head Meatball]]<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from honey, spices, soy sauce, and red wine. This gives them a distinctive red colour. Typically they are served over noodles or rice when the main course of a meal, or thin-sliced with bones removed as dim sum.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Ribs''': Pork ribs, hooked and cooked hanging in a large oven after being slathered in a paste made from black bean paste and rice wine.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minced Pork Rice''': Dish with origins amongst the patricians and Dynastic households of the Silk and Pearl Peninsula on the southwestern Blessed Isle. Pork belly is finely minced and fried with shallots in oil, then boiled in a sauce containing some mixture of sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, hot peppers, and aromatic spices. The dark brown meat sauce produced is served over rice, though this can sometimes be substituted for noodles or even thin-sliced vegetables. Sour pickled fruits and vegetables are a common accompaniment.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Pork Belly''': Dish using pork belly, the fattiest part of the pig. The belly is cubed and cooked slowly in a braising liquid until the fat and skin become gelatinous in texture and melt easily in the mouth, while the liquid becomes a thick, sweet and fairly sticky sauce. The braising liquid itself contains garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and wine or vinegar: use of red wine (a variation termed ‘Red-Braised Pork Belly') makes for a heavier, sweeter sauce, while use of rice wine leaves the flavour of pork fat more dominant, and rice vinegar is used for those wishing to counter some of the richness of the dish. Often mushrooms are added partway through the braising, and when served the dish is topped by diced leeks or scallion greens.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Succulent Squares of Swine''': Succulent Squares of Swine are a Shogunate-era variation of Red-Braised Pork Belly. The key to the dish is the method of cutting the pork belly: the pork must be cut into a cube shape, 3 inches to a side, the top half all fat and the bottom half all meat. The pork is first pan-fried to form a crust on top and bottom, then slow-cooked in its sauce for many hours. The resulting dish carries fragrant aromas of wine and is oily, but not greasy, in the mouth... this makes it popular amongst battle-worn officers and celebrating dilettantes seeking to counter excessive consumption of spirits. The dish draws its name from the Shogunate poet-official [[Kugawa Dongpo]], who was said to have declared it the greatest of pork dishes in a now-lost poem.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Beef Sashimi''': The cooking of any creature has an effect on its natural flavours, and so the best way to truly appreciate it is in its raw form. In the case of beef, the favoured preparation is thinly sliced strips of tenderloin, served with a sauce derived from citrus and seaweed.<br /> <br /> '''[[Gochei at Bright Summit#Blossom at Bright Summit|Blossom at Bright Summit]]''': An elaborate dish of thin-sliced boar meat arranged in the shape of rose petals.<br /> <br /> == Poultry Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, boiled and very lightly spiced. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Chicken Feet:''' A delicacy amongst Dynasts, these severed chicken feet are served whole, first boiled, then braised in hot sesame-ginger oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Quails:''' Small birds, spiced then stuffed with small, sweet onions and roasted. Said to be a sensual dish… some say because of the sexual suggestions so often conveyed by Dynasts as they ‘finger’ out the onions at parties. [[Eagle Prefecture]] is considered source of the finest-flavoured [[Quail]]s, and this dish is a favourite of [[House Sesus]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Entombed Quail:''' Cups of puffed pastry, in which are placed quails stuffed with [[Truffles]] and butter or [[Paragon Cuisine|foie gras]]. The cups are topped with a 'lid' of pastry, giving the dish its name, and surrounded by a sticky sauce of figs sauteed in [[Wine]]. Though large as dim sum dishes go, an Entombed Quail is far from a meal in-of-itself, seeing the dish often appear as a 'centrepiece' for dim sum diners at smaller salons held by members of less [[Immaculate]]ly-inclined [[Great House]]s.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry''': A dish of the south-central Blessed Isle along the [[Caracal River]], said to have been developed to suit the palate of the Legion general [[Peleps Zuo]] of [[Arjuf]] to honour his victories against the rebels in the [[Unbroken Rushes Rebellion]], where he led the defense of the port city against the peasant hordes. Strategoi Zuo’s Sweet Poultry consists of cubed chicken, battered and fired for a crispy texture and then tossed in a sauce of sherry, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, and crushed hot peppers. The dish has some spice, but sweetness is by far the most dominant flavour, and some view it as excessive, making the dish far less popular in the rest of the [[Blessed Isle]] as it is in the South. It is also very popular in [[The Lap]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Chicken Sashimi''': Thin slices of chicken breast, served raw with a sweetened soy sauce for dipping. As chicken is considered to be one of the lightest-flavoured poultry meats, this preparation is popular for letting diners appreciate the flavour of the bird without losing it to cooking or heavy sauces.<br /> <br /> == Seafood Dishes ==<br /> <br /> Seafood dishes in the Dynasty vary widely both by geographic region and (much more importantly) by season, and example dishes can be seen in [[Dynastic Seasonal Seafood]] . However, some dishes remain popular year-round as part of dim-sum meals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Barbequed Eel:''' Long eel fillets, oiled and grilled, then served with a tangy brown drizzle of spiced fish sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Squid:''' Small squid, hollowed out and stuffed with spinach, red pepper, and onion, before being quickly baked.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tempura:''' Fish, zucchini and sweet potatoes dipped in batter, then deep-fried until golden. Said to have roots amongst the Haslanti, where the deep-fried fish is eaten with equally fried white potatoes and ale, but this method is viewed as too ‘foreign’ or ‘uncultured’ amongst most Dynasts. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Smoked Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, skinned and smoked, served raw. Like most raw fish dishes, it is favoured by House Peleps.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Braised Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, braised and served wrapped in kelp. Far more salty than the average Dynastic dish, more popular amongst those raised on the coast than inland. Said to represent the vastness of the open sea.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roast Seafish:''' A salt-water fish, roasted and served on a bed of spiced fruit.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riverfish in Sauce:''' A fresh-water fish, cooked soft in a herb broth and then served on the bone covered in cream sauce. The bones remain hard and inedible amidst the softness of the flavoured fish, which inspired a poem of Imperial consort Tepet in years past: “Outer Softness, seen and open to all. Hidden Strength within, opening to none.”<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Drunken Shrimp''': A raw seafood dish of river shrimp. The shrimp are eaten while still living, the creatures calmed by immersion in a ‘marinade’ of rice wine and honey. They are quickly tossed in a hot pan of pepper-infused oil for only the briefest moment, to perfect colour while not killing them too early, and then served, just beginning to return from stupor as they are eaten. Drunken Shrimp are eaten with the fingers, and traditionally diners are given small bowls to wash their hands once they are finished, containing green tea and slices of lemon.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Clouds Nestled in Oak''': A refined dish dating from the Shogunate, consisting of [[Oakwood Mushroom]]s, stuffed with an airy mousse of whitefish (sometimes including scallop) and then deep fried. The stuffed mushrooms are served individually in a flavoured soy-based sauce, topped with grated daikon, green onion, and hot peppers. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sun-marked Tuna''': A dish known in less devout circles as Tuna Sol Invictus, this dish consists of red tuna wrapped in nori seaweed sheets, with a light crust of breadcrumbs, served with sour plum sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sunrise on the Mountain Lake''': A dish of the central Blessed Isle, using freshwater [[White Mussel]]s whose natural tough rubbery texture is softened by steaming in salted water and vinegar before they are grilled in-shell and tossed in a sweet chili sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Egg Dishes==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Hot Spring Egg''': A hot spring egg is a shell-poached egg slowly cooked in a hot water bath, typically the hot springs common among the mountains of the [[Blessed Isle]]. The resulting egg is removed from the shell and served, having taken on a unique texture where the yolk has solidified without losing its colour or texture while the whites have transformed to become almost custard-like. Typically Hot Spring Eggs are served in small bowls, floating in a miso or [[Dashi]] stock and often garnished with spring onions<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Egg''': Custard egg is a simple preparation of egg that is beaten with water and then steamed to create a smooth, silky texture that becomes almost gelatinous when it cools. This basic preparation can be presented in a number of ways: with sugar added and fruit or flower garnishes it serves as a dessert, while addition of shrimp or crab make for a more hearty dish. Such a preparation is known to have [[Shogunate]] roots, and remains popular in [[Lookshy]]. However, among the gourmands of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] the favoured preparation (sometimes referred to as 'Immaculate custard egg', though not within earshot of the [[Immaculate Order|Order]]'s monks) sees the custard presented in a small bowl, topped with a clarified broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Tofu Dishes == <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dipped Agedofu:''' A dish of tofu bean curd, cut into triangles and deep-fried to crisp its outer skin. Served with a sauce made from mustard, soy sauce, &amp; spring onions, into which the trinagles are dipped using chopsticks. Dipped agedofu is a popular appetizer amongst the scions of House Cathak and House Mnemon. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soldier-in-the-Trees''': A dish of tofu bean curd, deep-fried to crisp its outside, placed in a bowl of noodles along with steamed broccoli and a sauce of leeks and miso paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == Vegetable Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed mushrooms:''' Mushroom caps filled with shrimp and bamboo shoots then steamed. The dish is sometimes called “a hundred flowers,” for the mounded caps resemble open blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scallion Pancakes:''' A batter derived from mung beans, mixed with small onions and sometimes mixed with fish, chicken, or pickled cabbage, then fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Roasted Root Vegetables :''' Roasted turnips, carrots, potatoes and yams. A low-class peasant food, often served to unwanted guests.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Greens and Oyster Sauce:''' A simple dish that is nevertheless incredibly popular, using steamed broccoli, kai-lan, or bok choi tossed in oyster sauce.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glazed Eggplant:''' Slender eggplants, slit lengthwise and brushed with sweetened soy sauce, then grilled until tender, after which they are coated in a glaze of miso soybean paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Autumn Rain:''' A vegetarian dish more common amongst the religious than more extravagant Dynasts, Autumn Rain is also seen (simplified) on citizen and peasant tables. It consists of an assortment of vegetables, stewed in a broth of soy and ginger. Traditionally it is considered a warm and filling dish to be eaten on those days allocated by the [[Thousand Scales]] for rainy weather.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Simmered Embrace:''' A vegetarian dish often favoured by the devout, though the complexity of its preparation put it well within the standard of Dynastic dim sum. Cabbage, radish and fern leaves are shredded then wrapped in sheets of tofu skin and tied with edible ribbons of gourd, then simmered in a sweetened soy broth. The resulting wrap is sliced into rounds before serving. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kimchi:''' A staple dish of the Blessed Isle’s peasants, kimchi is made primarily of cabbage, fermented with anchovies, hot peppers, and salt, most often buried in clay jars where it will last for years. Dynastic kimchi is served as a side dish to accompany dim sum or balance out alcohol during drinking parties.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bouquet of Sextes Jylis''': This dish is not a set of specific ingredients but a preparation, rendering raw fruits and vegetables into something worthy of a Dynastic table. The ingredients are chosen based on season and colour (though carrot, cucumber, melon, papaya, and pineapple tend to be staples), and intricately carved into bite-sized flowers. This undertaking is time-consuming and demands significant knife skills, proof of a well-appointed kitchen.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Five Mountain Shoots]]''': Five seasonal shoots and herbs, enjoyed when they appear during the Wood season.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Toes in the Mountain Stream''': A salad dish associated with the Ascending months and the Wood Season, when fresh young leaves are in abundance, Toes in the Mountain Stream consists of flavourul leaves ([[Wasabi]] leaves, [[Perilla]] leaves, [[Mint]] leaves, or some combination thereof), and a dipping sauce of soy and sometimes citrus, scattered with sesame seeds. Diners simply lift a leaf with their chopsticks, dip lightly, and eat.<br /> <br /> ==Sweet Dishes==<br /> <br /> While the culinary traditions of the [[Shogunate Era]] looked down on sweets and desserts, favouring more savoury 'warrior' dishes of meat and rice (with sweetness incorporated as an element in many savory dishes), the kitchens of the [[Scarlet Dynasty]] have embraced recipes old and new, ingredients from across Creation, to provide the Princes of the Earth with sweet nibbles served in the dim-sum manner. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stuffed Pears:''' Sweet pears, halved then filled with honey and dates and gently steamed.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mango Pudding:''' A rich, sweet pudding made with fine cream and fresh fruit. The favour is quite strong, and is generally dismissed by many in the more conservative Great Houses as ‘uncultured’… the pudding would never be found near a [[House Tepet|Tepet]] party. However, it finds favour with the younger Houses, and the more hedonist Dynasts.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet &amp; Salty Balls:''' Steamed rice-dough balls filled with peanuts and chestnuts, sprinkled with honeyed coconut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sweet Balls in Wine]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Manju:''' A chewy dough filled with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds, and either steamed or deep fried.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heavenly Silk''': A dessert consisting of silky tofu served with a sweet ginger or jasmine flavored syrup.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Sugared Jerky]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Chilled Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Longan Tofu''': Almond-flavoured tofu served with longan fruit, usually chilled. A dish for hot summer days.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Melanated Cream]]'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Baked Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Custard Tart:''' Tender egg custard baked in a flaky crust, these delicate little sweets are a perfect ending with tea. Some high class restaurants put bird's nest on top of the custard, either natural or formed of spun sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Thousand-Layer Cake''': A dessert pastry made up of many layers of sweet egg dough.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pineapple Bun:''' A dessert bun which, contrary to expectation, contains no pineapple. The top of the pineapple bun is made of a dough which consists of sugar, eggs, flour, and lard. Baked to a golden-brown color, its checkered top resembles the epicarp of a pineapple, crunchy and quite sweet compared to the bread beneath. In some Threshold cities such as Nexus, the dish has been completely misinterpreted, and bakers stuff the buns with actual pineapple, something which sets Dynastic visitors laughing uproariously at the uncivilized idiocy of those outside the Center of Creation.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Moon Cakes''': See [[New Year Celebrations]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Stamped Cookies''': A [[Stamped Cookie|sweet cookie, stamped]] with a [[Mon]] or other imagery.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Floss Bun''': A small, sweet bun, topped with a thin curled floss of sweetened meat, usually pork, though [[Beef]] and fish can also be used.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Finger Tart:''' Tiny tarts, on the scale of finger sweets, usually topped with icing and candied fruits or fresh berries. [[Brambleberry]] is the most favoured, with the most extravagant galas making use of the rare Pasiap's brambleberry. <br /> <br /> <br /> ===Finger Sweets===<br /> <br /> <br /> These miniature desserts are well suited to be eaten with fingers or chopsticks, and are often found serving as a light breakfast or a finishing course at Dynastic tables, and can occasionally be wrapped and presented as gifts (most often for lovers or children). To ease handling, they are typically coated with candied sugar or hardened [[Chocolatl]]. The latter was at peak popularity centuries ago, in the wake of the [[Trade War]] with [[The Guild]], when the Dynasty found it fashionable to host 'chocolataire salons' featuring the bittersweet substance in every course, and while these are less common in the present day these 'bonbons', 'sweet truffles', and 'kisses' still remain popular in Dynastic desserts. <br /> <br /> <br /> Several varieties of these desserts were created to honour particular figures, the [[Scarlet Empress]] foremost amongst them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Poet's Embrace:''' A whole [[Cherry]], soaked in [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], coated in a midnight [[Chocolatl]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Violetta:''' [[Violet]] ganache surrounded with a midnight chocolatl, topped with candied violets. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pagoda at Midnight:''' A canopy of smooth [[Gianduja]] over a midnight chocolatl coated coffee ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Berries of the Wood:''' A sticky [[Strawberry]] syrup within a shell of midnight chocolatl. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Coins of Jade:''' Honey-walnut ganache coated in chocolatl and dusted in powdered [[Jade]]. Rather extravagant, though favoured by some wealthy Dynasts, particularly in [[House Ragara]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Desert Rose:''' Clusters of puffed [[Rice]] coated in chocolatl, topped with candied rose petals. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Dessert Basilisc:''' Named with reference to the [[Desert Basilisc|basiliscs of the Southern deserts]]. Sour Cherry coulis paired with a cinnamon flavoured dawn chocolatl and pistachio ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Agapi:''' Semi-sweet ganache with a puree of strawberries infused with pomegranate liqueur.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of Sion:''' Orange-vanilla ganache layered over a crisp wafer of nuts and zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Bees' Nest:''' Dawn chocolatl ganache, filled with apple blossom [[Honey]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Velvet:''' Malted dawn ganache, dusted with powdered chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Diamond Princess:''' Blackcurrant coulis paired with a [[Cedar]] infused twilight ganache sealed with pine nut praline. A complex delicacy, favoured at the [[Crystal Palace]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Cord of Wood:''' Twilight ganache with port-fused currants rolled in [[Maple]]-glazed walnuts and crushed maple flakes.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''The Chambermaid:''' [[Cinnamon]] butter truffle on a bed of [[Gianduja]], dusted with cinnamon sugar.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Circus Act:''' [[Brambleberry]] coulis flavoured with anise and mint, within a vanilla ganache, shaped and coloured to resemble the large tents used by travelling performers in the [[Scavenger Lands]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tears of the Crocodile:''' A small square of wilight ganache infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|cherry schnapps]], topped with walnut marzipan and a dried sour cherry.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Heart of the Dragon:''' Whipped [[Brambleberry]] and basil coulis paired with a jasmine [[Tea]] ganache and rolled in a mix of wafers, roasted pecans, sesame and almonds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wood Dragon's Kiss:''' Black fig, freshly squeezed lemon juice and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolate and topped with a caramelized [[Heart Nut]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sweet Embers:''' Swirled midnight and dawn ganache with a generous helping of heavily toasted chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Seven-Point School:''' Three layers: an almond and hazlenut [[Gianduja]], pureed dried apricots, and coconut cream, coated in twilight ganache and topped with a dried apricot infused with [[Fruit Schnapps|peach schnapps]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Mines of Juche:''' A twilight ganache infused with hig quality black [[Tea]] topped with a thin layer of freshly made orange marmelade, usually formed into square shapes with a spiral of chocolatl or powdered jade circling atop it. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Invictus:''' A dome over four layers: Vanilla caramel, lime zest mousse, coffee ganache, caramelized pecan [[Gianduja]]. The domes are most often brushed gold with a sunburst pattern. The [[Immaculate Order]] frowns on this dessert. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Imperial Purse:''' Green [[Tea]] and vanilla, coated in dawn chocolatl, most often prepared in the shape of ornate coinpurses. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Romance:''' A butter-rich dawn ganache infused with vanilla, often topped with green and red candied flower petals.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Minister's Kiss:''' Mango caramel ganache with blueberry honey and lemon zest, often formed in the shape of a [[Thousand Scales]] bureaucrat's cap.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Soulsteel Kiss:''' A complex dessert, with lavender ganache on a base of hazlenut and an [[Motonic Gastronomy|alchemical]] fizzing element. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Gardens of Trung:''' A coconut ganache with grapefruit oil, commonly decorated with a flower of zenith chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rubble of Meru:''' A browned butter truffle on a bed of cinnamon and ground chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Embrace of the Jungle:''' Orange ganache and a soft salted caramel with a sprinkle of chocolatl-covered crunchy sugar and Southwestern flower blossoms.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Glimpse of the Sapphire Stele:''' Sweetened goats' cheese, surrounded by a coating of blue-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Promise of the West:''' Calamansi caramel paired with a pink peppercorn &amp; honey ganache on top of a base made from sesame and hazelnut.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Scarlet Mantle:''' Cherry jelly paired with a vanilla ganache infused slightly with [[Tonka Bean]], covered with red-tinted midnight chocolatl.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Release the Hounds:''' Clotted cream truffle infused with lemon zest, often decorated with chocolate hound's heads. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of Wu Jian:''' Pink Grapefruit and pink peppercorn pate paired with a black [[Tea]] ganache. Most often prepared as halph-spheres decorated with additional drizzled chocolatl, one side left untouched and the other traced with curling lines.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Riptide:''' Lime caramel layered over a salted ganache infused with agave liquor. Most often prepared shaped into a wave.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Perfect Season:''' Soft, salted caramel paired with a dark ganache infused with long green chili pepper.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Magistrate's Kiss:''' Double roasted coffee ganache over vanilla ganache layered over hazelnut and almond gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Kiss of the Wyld:''' Tangerine and Yuzu coulis paired with a cinnamon and allspice infused ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sidereal Motion:''' Ginger ganache layered with a lime-vanilla caramel.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Topaz Champion:''' Caramel deglazed with cream liqueur, a sprinkling of chocolatl crumble, topped with a ginger ganache.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Coin of Chanos:''' Spiced cookie crunch layered with a dark coffee ganache and topped with a spiced orange and lemon marmalade. Often favoured by [[House Ragara]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Eagle's Kiss:''' Mandarin caramel ganache with powdered seaweed on a bed of hazelnut gianduja.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Vermillion Kiss:''' A light blood orange ganache infused with black [[Tea]], with a slight hint of rose oil.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Senator's Kiss:''' Twilight gooseberry ganache paired with a soft vanilla caramel, topped with roasted sesame seeds.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Jorst's Kiss:''' Malted ganache with a liquid centre of reduced birch syrup. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''White Coast Beaches:''' A dawn chocolatl caramel with vanilla and the faintest hint of spearmint, paired with a wild strawberry and rhubarb jelly.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Melon Cherries:''' A lightly honeyed half-moon of melon, wrapped around a sour cherry.<br /> <br /> == Soup Dishes ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Wonton Soup:''' Small dumplings filled with pork and spinach, sitting in a lightly flavoured vegetable broth.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Miso Soup:''' A soup made with miso soybean paste, flavoured with small pieces of parsley and chives. Considered to be a palette cleaner at the start and end of a meal.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Ivory Hot Springs''' – A hearty variation on miso soup, with a thicker broth and steamed daikon radish chunks.<br /> <br /> == Condiments ==<br /> <br /> '''Soy Sauce:''' Condiment. A sauce made from fermented soybeans, with a salty flavour. Used as a dipping sauce for many Dim Sum dishes. Often is mixed with other elements for this role, including crushed garlic, citrus juice, and horseradish paste. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Horseradish:''' Condiment, One of the [[Fivefold Flavours of the Enflamed Palate]]. Coming in a variety of flavours, the weakest being white (often used in peasant cooking) and the best being green. Sometimes powdered, but more often made into a paste. The heat of a horseradish is very intense, perhaps more so than the hot peppers of the South, but this heat is localized in the nasal cavities and fades much more quickly than the heat from peppers. Most Dynastic diners consider it the finest of the hot spices, having the great intensity needed to impart its unique flavour, but without lingering behind to spoil the food that follows.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Oyster Sauce:''' An expensive condiment made from boiling down oyster broth until it begins to caramelize, taking on a thick texture and rich brown colour. This process is very demanding and time consuming, and amongst those of middling income a cheaper version is created by artificially thickening with starch and colouring with soy sauce to produce a passable, if far less flavourful, version. It is often used to add flavour when tossing noodles before topping with meat and vegetables.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Black Bean Paste:''' Condiment made by a two-part fermenting and salting black soybeans. The process turns the beans black, soft, and mostly dry, with moisture added to create a smoother paste through addition of soy sauce and minced garlic. The flavor is sharp, pungent, and spicy in smell, with a taste that is salty and somewhat bitter and sweet.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Red Bean Paste:''' Condiment and filling made from pulverizing and cooking red adzuki beans with honey or sugar to sweeten. Used most often to stuff desserts such as Manju, sometimes it also appears as a dip for pastries or a topping for [[Melanated Cream]].<br /> <br /> == Beverages ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Grape Wine]]:''' An alcoholic beverage derived from fermented grapes, coming in an [[Wines of Creation|array of different vintages and varietals]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Rice Wine]]''' A catch-all term applied to a number of different rice liquors, fermented rice brewed or distilled. Typically stronger than its grape counterpart, various brewed versions are typical in the cups of commoners, while the distilled rice wines are consumed more by patricians or Dynasts. Generally rice wines are cheaper to produce (and thus to obtain) than grape wines, a reason for dismissing them in the most refined circles. In a protest against [[House V'neef]], [[House Peleps]] uses mostly rice wines at its functions (as they lie outside of the monopoly).<br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Plum Brandy]]''': Traditionally seen at private meetings rather than large social occasions. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Shochu]]:''' Typically serving a guest this peasant-class liquor is an effective way of delivering an insult. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''[[Fruit Schnapps]]:''' Typically taken accompanying sweet desserts, or as either an aperif before the meal or a digestif at its conclusion. <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Fruit Juices:''' Freshly squeezed juice, a beverage of the wealthy due to the amount of waste it produces. Common fruits are [[Tangerine]], [[Passion Fruit]], [[Pineapple]], [[Grape]], [[Plum]], and [[Melon]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Sugarcane Juice:''' Common in the southern Blessed Isle but rare elsewhere, this sweet juice is produced from pressed [[Sugar Cane]].<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tea:''' [[Tea]] is a staple of life across the Blessed Isle, plant matter dried and then steeped in hot water. The tea plant gives the drink its name and the plant does the same to the drink, linguistically intertwined beyond unravelling, but many peasants without much true tea supplement with local leaves and berries more easily obtained.<br /> <br /> --- ''Green tea:'' Green tea is the simplest variety of tea, left unprocessed. It is served as standard with just about every meal or ceremony, and is said to aid digestion and clear the palette. <br /> <br /> --- ''Black tea:'' Black tea is fermented before baking, causing a less bitter flavour. It is primarily produced in Pangu, and is the standard tea of the Legions.<br /> <br /> --- ''Oolong tea:'' This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, undergoing only partial fermentation. It is said to have medicinal properties, speeding up healing and reducing appetite.<br /> <br /> --- ''Jasmine tea:'' Green tea scented with jasmine, a slightly more costly and more aromatic variant.<br /> <br /> --- ''Spice tea:'' A harmonious blend of hibiscus, cloves, lemon balm, other herbs and spices, naturally sweet, tart and spicy.<br /> <br /> --- ''Chrysanthemum tea:'' A sweet tea of Chrysanthemum blossoms and honeysuckle, one of the most costly teas in the Realm.<br /> <br /> --- ''Milk Tea:'' A sweet tea created using tea and sweetened condensed milk, very popular with children and soldiers.<br /> <br /> --- ''Pu-erh Tea:'' A black tea that has been heavily fermented and aged, sometimes for decades, imparting a black colour and a strong earthy flavour.<br /> <br /> --- ''25-Flavour Tea:'' A complex, bitter tea containing twenty-five different plants, the combination said to have medicinal benefits harmonizing one’s Essence with Creation. It includes mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle flower, bamboo leaf, peppermint, bloodgrass, blue giant hyssop, monkfruit, perilla leaf, beefsteak leaf, fermented soybean, lidded cleistocalyx flower, cacao leaf, holly leaf, and green tea leaf.<br /> <br /> --- ''Sky Between the Branches Tea:'' A particularly well-regarded variety of green tea, Sky Between The Branches consists of [[Tea]] harvested and dried within the first ten days each Ascending Wood, on the banks of [[Caracal River]] in [[Heroncrest Prefecture]]. The leaves are known for their tender silver tips, imparting a unique chestnut character to the tea.<br /> <br /> --- ''Silver Rain Above the Clouds Tea'' - Silver Rain Above the Clouds is a rare white tea, consisting of tender white buds harvested on high mountain slopes before they open, an opportunity lasting only two days every Season. With as much further processing avoided as possible, the tea retains its most delicate flavours, along with a sweet, lingering finish. <br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Inquiry'' - The Tea of Inquiry is a favourite of bureaucrats and scholars, its broad tea leaves mixed with toasted grains of rice to impart a strong wakefull effect and a robust, toasted flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Dancing Leaf Tea'' - A variety of green tea harvested in the northeastern [[Blessed Isle]], including [[Pangu]] Prefecture, the [[Pahua Basin]], and the [[White Coast]]. The tea is praiosed for its vibrant emerald hue, providing hints of sweetness and nuttiness to the palate, its twisting leaves seeming to dance in the cup as they steep. <br /> <br /> --- ''Pearls of Jasmine Tea'' - Pearls of Jasmine is a rare variety and preparation of green tea, harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Silk &amp; Pearl Peninsula]]. Young just-opening buds are harvested in the Ascending season and rolled tightly into round 'pearls', before being dried and scented with jamsine blossoms to produce a tea with floral flavour and aroma that can last through several steepings.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Integrity'' - A more common (though still rare and expensive) relative of Jasmine Pearls, hailing from the same region, The Tea of Integrity must be carefully prepared through taking harvested tea leaves and passing them through a jasmine flower eight times through the course of the night when the blossoms have opened. The tea carries hints of that jasmine, along with a clean, pure flavour. <br /> <br /> --- ''Spirit Strengthening Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea harvested on the [[Blessed Isle]]'s [[Plains of Rusted Iron]], said to be the reason for its broad iron-coloured leaves. Its flavour and aroma provide freshness and hints of orchid, which the robust leaves continue to provide across several steepings. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Poetry Tea'' - A rare variety of Oolong tea, whose large leaves impart a distinct flavour of peaches, with notes of honey and chestnut.<br /> <br /> --- ''Five Elements Tea'' - Classically known as 'Five Dragons' Tea'. Flat green tea leaves (Wood), Air dried, roasted (Fire), served in a ceramic cup (Earth) over which is poured Water. A popular tea during the [[Shogunate Era]], it conveys robust earthy and nutty flavours. <br /> <br /> --- ''Cup of Abundance'' - A variety of Oolong tea grown on the upper slopes of the [[Dragon's Nest Mountains]], known for its milky taste with a hint of orchid, and fragrances of pineapple &amp; sweet cream.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Thoughts'' - A mild green tea harvested in [[Lord's Crossing Dominion]], which carries sweet earthy notes and a hint of cherry.<br /> <br /> --- ''Tea of Spring Gardens'' - A blend based on the Tea of Spring Thoughts, with which have been mixed dried rose petals and white tea buds to grant a sweeter, more floral flavour. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category: Food &amp; Drink]] [[Category:Cuisine]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Warudi&diff=8683 2023-07-28T20:17:37Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>Warudi is a popular team sport amongst school-aged Dynasts, melding camaraderie and competition into a single activity which bolsters both strategic thinking and physical prowess.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Field:''' Warudi is played on a pentagonal field of stone, dirt, or grass. An arch is centered on each side, stretching ten feet post-to-post. A semi circle is marked extending in front of the arch, ten feet at its furthest point, known as the 'manse'. In the centre of the field is a pentagram within a circle, one point directed towards the centre of each arch.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Players:''' Players are divided into five teams, of any number of players (usually six). Each team is given a colour at the start of the match: White, Blue, Black, Red, or Green. Players wear tabards in their given colour, and defend the manse of that same colour.<br /> Each team may have only five players on the field at any one time, and each of these must wear cloth belts of either red (for Blade players) or white (for Shield players) to mark their position.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Rules:''' At the beginning of a match, the head referee stands in the centre of the field. Balls are placed at each point of the central pentagram, coloured to correspond to the closest arch, with a sixth yellow ball held by the referee. All of the Shields on a team must stand within a foot of their arch, and all of the Blades must stand a foot outside the line marking the edge of their 'manse'. To begin the game, the referee throws the yellow ball up into the air and begins to leave the field. As soon as he steps out of the central circle, the players are free to move.<br /> The goal of Warudi is to score points by tossing a ball through the arch of the appropriate colour... the yellow ball may be thrown through any arch, and a team does not score points for throwing a ball through its own arch.<br /> <br /> Blades are the offensive players of a team. They are not allowed to enter their own 'manse', nor are they allowed to touch their team colour with their hands (this applies to everything 'of that colour' in play: balls, arches, and members of the team bearing that colour).<br /> <br /> Shields are the defensive players of a team. They are not allowed to leave their own 'manse', nor are they allowed to touch any colour but their team colour* or the yellow ball with their hands.<br /> <br /> Players are not allowed to use tools or weapons, and all are barehanded and barefoot. Charms are sometimes allowed by prior agreement. Players are permitted to grapple, tackle, beat upon, trip, punch, kick (and so on) members of other teams in order to obtain the ball, within the restrictions imposed by their position.<br /> <br /> A game of Warudi lasts until one team has scored five points... depending on skill, this can take quite some time.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Referees and Penalties:''' Warudi has six referees... on behind each net to validate points, and one to hand out penalties for rules violations. The standard penalty is for the offending player to be removed from the game.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Strategies:'''<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Water Formation:'' Standard, adaptable formation. Three Blades, two Shields... if the defense is troubled, on or more Blades fall back to provide forward defense tackling.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Wood Formation:'' Two Blades, three Shields. Slightly more rigid than Water formation, this formation begins slowly and defensively in the early game, with passive Blades often assisting defense, blossoming into offensives once the other teams have become tired.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Earth Formation:'' One Blade, four Shields. An entirely defensive formation, where the Blade moves quickly to secure as many balls as he can, throwing them into his team's 'manse', where the Shields guard the balls and seek to break opponents who attempt to retrieve them.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Air Formation:'' Four Blades, one Shield. While many assume this formation is associated with Air because of its offensive power, the true credit rests with the single Shield: to defend his arch, he must flow like a breeze, leaping and bounding from place to place to block incursions while his teammates concentrate on scoring points.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Fire Formation:'' Five Blades. This is a formation of pure offense, leaving the arch unguarded. The goal of a team in Fire formation is to score five points before the other teams are able to take advantage of their defensive weakness... they must strike fast and in a flurry.<br /> <br /> ---<br /> <br /> '''System:''' The game starts with each each character takes a Join Battle action to determine initiative, and each Blade chooses a ball and dashes for it... where actions are simultaneous, opposed Strength + Athletics rolls determine who comes away with contested balls.<br /> <br /> Each player has a Warudi Defence Value, which is (Dex + Athletics + Essence)/2.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Throw Ball Action:'' A character can throw or kick the ball at an arch or to someone else. This is a Speed 5/-1 DV action rolling Dex + Thrown + appropriate specialty, difficulty = (see below) + combined Warudi Defence Value of all blockers.<br /> <br /> If targeting another player, the receiver rolls Wits + Athletics, needing only one success to catch the ball.<br /> <br /> --Throw Difficulties--<br /> <br /> Centre to Centre: 1<br /> <br /> Centre to Field: 1<br /> <br /> Centre to 'Manse': 2<br /> <br /> Centre to Arch: 3<br /> <br /> Field to Field (same Arch): 1<br /> <br /> Field to Field (adjacent Arch): 2<br /> <br /> Field to Field (opposite Arch): 3<br /> <br /> Field to 'Manse' (same Arch): 1<br /> <br /> Field to Arch (same Arch): 2<br /> <br /> 'Manse' to Arch: 1<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Intercept Action:'' Speed 5/-2 DV. A character may stay immobile in one area, and may roll Wits + Athletics the next time a ball is thrown in or through that area, making the throw an opposed roll. If the interceptor wins, he now holds the ball (but may not act until he reaches the proper tick).<br /> <br /> <br /> ''Block Action:'' Speed 5/-2 DV. A character may shadow a specific opponent. Whenever that opponent throws a ball, or has a ball thrown to her, add the blocker's WDV to the difficulty. Cumulative.<br /> <br /> If a character attempts to put a ball through the arch, he counts the Shields at that arch as if they were blocking him, unless they are immobilized (often, supporting Blades will seek to clinch enemy Shields prior to a score attempt).<br /> <br /> Source: While it has been expanded and contorted so very very much over the years, at its core this is a Where's Waldo reference.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Games &amp; Contests]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foe-Crushing_Generator_of_Lamentations&diff=8682 2023-05-15T18:42:42Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div> '''Type:''' Artifact Articulated Plate<br /> <br /> '''Rating:''' ••••, + First Age [[Fivefold Harmonic Adapter]] ••<br /> <br /> '''Magical Material:''' [[Soulsteel]]<br /> <br /> '''Attuned:''' [[Sesus Septimus]]<br /> <br /> '''Attunement Cost:''' 6 motes.<br /> <br /> '''Soak:''' 14L/16B<br /> <br /> '''Hardness:''' 9L/9B<br /> <br /> '''Mobility:''' -2<br /> <br /> '''Fatigue:''' 1<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Foe-Crushing Generator of Lamentations is a suit of articulated armor plate forged of black [[Soulsteel]]. The shoulder pauldrons are several curved layers of plate, spiked to dispel Essence buildup and lobstered for ease of movement. The full helmet has a pair of small antlers for a crest, and a white [[Jade]] visor sculpted to depict a fearsome grinning skull visage.<br /> <br /> <br /> This sinister looking shell, also known as the '''Lamentor Armor''', has a long and storied history. The white jade faceplate, called the Skullgrin Visor, originally belonged to another suit of armor dating back to the Shogunate. Carved from the bones of the earth itself, Meru jade, into the guise of a wicked skeletal warrior by artificers of a bygone age, the rest of the original was suit was lost during the [[Balorian Crusade]], along with its matching black jade [[Grimscythe]] the [[Upright Reaper of Conscience]].<br /> <br /> <br /> The rest of the armour is commonly thought to be the younger piece by the Dragonblooded that have borne it, but it is likely in fact far older, its soulsteel manufacture marking it as beyond the normal craftsmanship of the Dragonblooded. Ancient texts in the libraries of the [[Heptagram]] speak of armour crafted in the times of the [[Anathema]], by an artificer under the alias of Uxas, whose descriptions align with those of the Lamentor Armour, though it is uncertain if the connection between the two has been made in the [[Age of Sorrows]]. Those versed in artifice, and those experienced in attunement, surely recognize the Magical Material for what it is, but to those less aware its dark metal might well be taken for black [[Jade Steel]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> The helm's faceplate was recovered by the exiled [[Halta]]n outcaste '''[[Malakos Rage-of-Ruin]]''' when he adventured as Sworn Brother of [[Sesus Chenow]] during their youth. It was joined to damaged soulsteel armour looted by Chenow himself in his ventures through ancient ruins, and Malakos wore the suit by order of Chenow through many battles and ventures alongside the son of Sesus, until he was welcomed into the Dynasty through marriage to one of Chenow's innumerable children. That line held the armour until it failed to produce an Exalted heir to take it up, when it was reclaimed by the main line of Chenow. A few decades ago, many thought it would be granted to Chenow's grandson [[Sesus Lahore]], but it did not join him when he embarked to search for adventure in the Northeast.<br /> <br /> <br /> Though it has likely never been studied, one experienced in such things might say that the white jade of the faceplate softens the whispers of the souls forged into the soulsteel, the moans and wails less prominent unless one finds reason to give them attention. <br /> <br /> <br /> The armor is currently in the property of [[Sesus Septimus]], and served him well in his [[Campaign against the Anathema-Voivode|campaigns in the northeast]]. It was granted to him as a wedding present by the Chenow branch upon his marriage to [[Ledaal Kitsume]]... perhaps a barbed gift for a low-bred Dragonblooded with little essence to his name. And yet, Septimus saw no more troubles donning nor attuning than with a suit of jade, for his bride-to-be and her mentor [[Ledaal Mercurio]], who affixed to it a [[Fivefold Harmonic Adapter]] of [[First Age]] manufacture to allow the armour resonance with the essence of a Dragonblood. That this device is not a natural part of the armour, and that it was smuggled unregulated by the laws of the Realm or strictures of the [[Immaculate Order]], remains unknown to its current bearer. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Artifacts]] [[Category:Artifact Armour]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foe-Crushing_Generator_of_Lamentations&diff=8681 2023-05-15T18:37:49Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div> '''Type:''' Artifact Articulated Plate<br /> <br /> '''Rating:''' ••••, + First Age [[Fivefold Harmonic Adapter]] ••<br /> <br /> '''Magical Material:''' [[Soulsteel]]<br /> <br /> '''Attuned:''' [[Sesus Septimus]]<br /> <br /> '''Attunement Cost:''' 6 motes.<br /> <br /> '''Soak:''' 14L/16B<br /> <br /> '''Hardness:''' 9L/9B<br /> <br /> '''Mobility:''' -2<br /> <br /> '''Fatigue:''' 1<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Foe-Crushing Generator of Lamentations is a suit of articulated armor plate forged of black [[Soulsteel]]. The shoulder pauldrons are several curved layers of plate, spiked to dispel Essence buildup and lobstered for ease of movement. The full helmet has a pair of small antlers for a crest, and a white [[Jade]] visor sculpted to depict a fearsome grinning skull visage.<br /> <br /> <br /> This sinister looking shell, also known as the '''Lamentor Armor''', has a long and storied history. The white jade faceplate, called the Skullgrin Visor, originally belonged to another suit of armor dating back to the Shogunate. Carved from the bones of the earth itself, Meru jade, into the guise of a wicked skeletal warrior by artificers of a bygone age, the rest of the original was suit was lost during the [[Balorian Crusade]], along with its matching black jade [[Grimscythe]] the [[Upright Reaper of Conscience]].<br /> <br /> <br /> The rest of the armour is commonly thought to be the younger piece by the Dragonblooded that have borne it, but it is likely in fact far older, its soulsteel manufacture marking it as beyond the normal craftsmanship of the Dragonblooded. Ancient texts in the libraries of the [[Heptagram]] speak of armour crafted in the times of the [[Anathema]], by an artificer under the alias of Uxas, whose descriptions align with those of the Lamentor Armour, though it is uncertain if the connection between the two has been made in the [[Age of Sorrows]]. Those versed in artifice, and those experienced in attunement, surely recognize the Magical Material for what it is, but to those less aware its dark metal might well be taken for black [[Jade Steel]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> The helm's faceplate was recovered by the exiled [[Halta]]n outcaste '''[[Malakos Rage-of-Ruin]]''' when he adventured as Sworn Brother of [[Sesus Chenow]] during their youth. It was joined to damaged soulsteel armour looted by Chenow himself in his ventures through ancient ruins, and Malakos wore the suit by order of Chenow through many battles and ventures alongside the son of Sesus, until he was welcomed into the Dynasty through marriage to one of Chenow's innumerable children. That line held the armour until it failed to produce an Exalted heir to take it up, when it was reclaimed by the main line of Chenow. A few decades ago, many thought it would be granted to Chenow's grandson [[Sesus Lahore]], but it did not join him when he embarked to search for adventure in the Northeast.<br /> <br /> <br /> Though it has likely never been studied, one experienced in such things might say that the white jade of the faceplate softens the whispers of the souls forged into the soulsteel, the moans and wails less prominent unless one finds reason to give them attention. <br /> <br /> <br /> The armor is currently in the property of [[Sesus Septimus]], and served him well in his [[Campaign against the Anathema-Voivode|campaigns in the northeast]]. It was granted to him as a wedding present by the Chenow branch upon his marriage to [[Ledaal Kitsume]]... perhaps a barbed gift for a low-bred Dragonblooded with little essence to his name. And yet, Septimus saw no more troubles dawning nor attuning than with a suit of jade, for his bride-to-be and her mentor [[Ledaal Mercurio]], who affixed to it a [[Fivefold Harmonic Adapter]] of [[First Age]] manufacture to allow the armour resonance with the essence of a Dragonblood. That this device is not a natural part of the armour, and that it was smuggled unregulated by the laws of the Realm or strictures of the [[Immaculate Order]], remains unknown to its current bearer. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Artifacts]] [[Category:Artifact Armour]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foe-Crushing_Generator_of_Lamentations&diff=8680 2023-05-15T18:37:25Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div> '''Type:''' Artifact Articulated Plate<br /> <br /> '''Rating:''' ••••, + First Age [[Fivefold Harmonic Adapter]] ••<br /> <br /> '''Magical Material:''' [[Soulsteel]]<br /> <br /> '''Attuned:''' [[Sesus Septimus]]<br /> <br /> '''Attunement Cost:''' 6 motes.<br /> <br /> '''Soak:''' 14L/16B<br /> <br /> '''Hardness:''' 9L/9B<br /> <br /> '''Mobility:''' -2<br /> <br /> '''Fatigue:''' 1<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Foe-Crushing Generator of Lamentations is a suit of articulated armor plate forged of black [[Soulsteel]]. The shoulder pauldrons are several curved layers of plate, spiked to dispel Essence buildup and lobstered for ease of movement. The full helmet has a pair of small antlers for a crest, and a white [[Jade]] visor sculpted to depict a fearsome grinning skull visage.<br /> <br /> <br /> This sinister looking shell, also known as the '''Lamentor Armor''', has a long and storied history. The white jade faceplate, called the Skullgrin Visor, originally belonged to another suit of armor dating back to the Shogunate. Carved from the bones of the earth itself, Meru jade, into the guise of a wicked skeletal warrior by artificers of a bygone age, the rest of the original was suit was lost during the [[Balorian Crusade]], along with its matching black jade [[Grimscythe]] the [[Upright Reaper of Conscience]].<br /> <br /> <br /> The rest of the armour is commonly thought to be the younger piece by the Dragonblooded that have borne it, but it is likely in fact far older, its soulsteel manufacture marking it as beyond the normal craftsmanship of the Dragonblooded. Ancient texts in the libraries of the [[Heptagram]] speak of armour crafted in the times of the [[Anathema]], by an artificer under the alias of Uxas, whose descriptions align with those of the Lamentor Armour, though it is uncertain if the connection between the two has been made in the [[Age of Sorrows]]. Those versed in artifice, and those experienced in attunement, surely recognize the Magical Material for what it is, but to those less aware its dark metal might well be taken for black [[Jade Steel]]. <br /> <br /> <br /> The helm's faceplate was recovered by the exiled [[Halta]]n outcaste '''[[Malakos Rage-of-Ruin]]''' when he adventured as Sworn Brother of [[Sesus Chenow]] during their youth. It was joined to damaged soulsteel armour looted by Chenow himself in his ventures through ancient ruins, and Malakos wore the suit by order of Chenow through many battles and ventures alongside the son of Sesus, until he was welcomed into the Dynasty through marriage to one of Chenow's innumerable children. That line held the armour until it failed to produce an Exalted heir to take it up, when it was reclaimed by the main line of Chenow. A few decades ago, many thought it would be granted to Chenow's grandson [[Sesus Lahore]], but it did not join him when he embarked to search for adventure in the Northeast.<br /> <br /> <br /> Though it has likely never been studied, one experienced in such things might say that the white jade of the faceplate softens the whispers of the souls forged into the soulsteel, the moans and wails less prominent unless one finds reason to give them attention. <br /> <br /> <br /> The armor is currently in the property of [[Sesus Septimus]], and served him well in his [[Campaign against the Anathema-Voivode|campaigns in the northeast]]. It was granted to him as a wedding present by the Chenow branch upon his marriage to [[Ledaal Kitsume]]... perhaps a barbed gift for a low-bred Dragonblooded with little essence to his name. And yet, Septimus saw no more troubles dawning nor attuning than with a suit of jade, for his bride-to-be and her mentor [[Ledaal Mercurio]], who affixed to it a [[Fivefold Harmonic Adapter]] of [[First Age]] manufacture to allow the armour resonance with the essence of a Dragonblood. That this device is not a natural part of the armour, and that it was smuggled unregulated by the laws of the Realm or strictures of the [[Immaculate Order]], remains unknown to its current bearer. <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Artifacts]] [[Category:Artifact Armour]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sesus_Septimus&diff=8679 2023-05-15T18:35:00Z

<p>Storyteller: /* Possessions */</p> <hr /> <div>== Overview ==<br /> <br /> '''''&quot;I tried fun once, it was awful.&quot;'''''<br /> <br /> '''Name''': Sesus Chenow Septimus<br /> <br /> '''Age''': 25<br /> <br /> '''Aspect''': Wood<br /> <br /> '''Concept''': Honourable hero in a Realm that isn't.<br /> <br /> '''Anima''': Maelstrom of Autumn Leaves <br /> <br /> '''Motivation''': &quot;Lead the 4th Legion To Victory&quot;<br /> <br /> '''Intimacies''': [[Ledaal Kitsume]] (true love 3), [[Ledaal Primus]] (paternal love 3), 4th Legion (lead to victory 3), House Sesus (loyalty 3), [[Tepet Sorae]] (comrade 3), [[Sesus Zhoutai]] (brother in arms 3), [[Gahar'ai]] (cherished pet 3), the Realm (duty 3), [[Cathak Okubo]] (avenge 3) <br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> == Attributes ==<br /> <br /> &lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 33%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Physical'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Strength ●●●●o&lt;br&gt; <br /> Dexterity ●●●●o&lt;br&gt; <br /> Stamina ●●ooo&lt;br&gt; <br /> &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 33%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Social'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Charisma ●●●oo&lt;br&gt;<br /> Manipulation ●●ooo&lt;br&gt;<br /> Appearance ●●●●o&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 33%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Mental'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Perception ●●ooo&lt;br&gt;<br /> Intelligence ●●ooo&lt;br&gt;<br /> Wits ●●●oo&lt;/div&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> == Abilities ==<br /> <br /> &lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 20%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Air'''&lt;br&gt; <br /> Linguistics ●●●&lt;br&gt; <br /> Lore ●●&lt;br&gt; <br /> Occult ●&lt;br&gt; <br /> Stealth ●&lt;br&gt; <br /> Thrown 0&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 20%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Water'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Bureaucracy ●&lt;br&gt;<br /> Investigation ●&lt;br&gt;<br /> Larceny 0&lt;br&gt;<br /> [[Brawl (ability)|Brawl]] ●●●&lt;br&gt;<br /> Sail 0&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 20%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Earth'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Awareness ●&lt;br&gt;<br /> [[Craft (Ability)|Craft]] 0&lt;br&gt;<br /> Integrity ●●&lt;br&gt;<br /> Resistance ●&lt;br&gt;<br /> War ●●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 20%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Fire'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Athletics ●&lt;br&gt;<br /> Dodge 0 &lt;br&gt;<br /> Melee ●●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> Presence ●●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> Socialize ●●●&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;float: left; width: 20%&quot;&gt;<br /> '''Wood'''&lt;br&gt;<br /> Archery ●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> [[Medicine (Ability)|Medicine]] ●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> Performance ●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> Ride ●●●(X)&lt;br&gt;<br /> Survival ●●(X)&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Specialties''' &lt;br&gt;<br /> Melee: Direlance 1&lt;br&gt;<br /> Ride: [[Simhata]] 2&lt;br&gt;<br /> War: Cavalry 3&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Languages''' &lt;br&gt;<br /> High Realm &lt;br&gt;<br /> Low Realm &lt;br&gt;<br /> Skytongue &lt;br&gt;<br /> Riverspeak &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> == Virtues ==<br /> <br /> '''Compassion''' ●●● (1 channel used)&lt;br&gt;<br /> '''Conviction''' ●●● (1 channel used)&lt;br&gt;<br /> '''Temperance''' ●●● (1 channel used)&lt;br&gt;<br /> '''Valor''' ●●● (1 channel used)&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> '''Willpower:''' 7 - 7/7 WP Points&lt;br&gt;<br /> &lt;br&gt;<br /> '''Limit:''' 7 (the madness is lifting...)&lt;br/&gt;<br /> <br /> == Backgrounds ==<br /> <br /> <br /> Resources 3<br /> <br /> Backing 3 (Winglord of the 4th Imperial Legion, 1st Dragon 2nd Wing)<br /> <br /> Connections 1 (Imperial Legions-Cathak Caiji)<br /> <br /> Connections 1 (House Sesus-Sesus Kenruyo)<br /> <br /> Allies 2 ([[Ledaal Kitsume]], [[Sesus Zhoutai]])<br /> <br /> Manse 2 (Stone of Humble Glory, Sentinel's Stone)<br /> <br /> Artifact 3 (Direlance, Articulated Plate, Hearthstone Amulet)<br /> <br /> Command 3<br /> <br /> Familiar 3 ([[Gahar'ai]])<br /> <br /> Reputation 3<br /> <br /> Henchmen 2 (Cynis Fandral, Peleps Hogun, Sesus Volstagg)<br /> <br /> Retainers 1 (Dutiful Blade, Fried Dumpling)<br /> <br /> Mentor 2 (Sesus Dochao)<br /> <br /> == Flaws ==<br /> <br /> <br /> Code of Honour 3<br /> <br /> Oathbound 3 (Resources)<br /> <br /> == Possessions ==<br /> <br /> '''Equipment'''<br /> <br /> Wedding Ring<br /> <br /> Burgundy Legion Uniform<br /> <br /> '''Artifacts'''<br /> <br /> [[Foe-Crushing Generator of Lamentations]] - (Artifact 4+2) A suit of fearsome black jade Articulated Plate, gifted to Septimus by his Chenow relatives upon his wedding to [[Ledaal Kitsume]].<br /> <br /> '''[[Heartsbane]]''' - (Artifact 2) A wedding gift from Ledaal Mercurio, a wicked Direlance of green jade, meticulously forged to look like a single branch of wood, complete with intricate knots, whorls, and a bark pattern providing a sure grip. It's razor-sharp blade features a deceptively minimalist design, as if an axe blade was hastily used to carve an edge into a living bough.<br /> <br /> '''The [[Matrix of Perfected Leadership]]''' - (Artifact 1) A Hearthstone Amulet of white jade, supposedly crafted by the mountain folk using ore from the base of the Imperial Mountain itself. Gifted to Septimus by his parents upon his Exaltation, it was the only remaining piece of their ancestral panapoly that had not be reappropriated by their house.<br /> <br /> '''Manses &amp; Hearthstones'''<br /> <br /> '''The [[Sentinel's Stone]]''' - Hearthstone from [[Sentinel’s Hearth]]. Narrow black streaks run through this spherical, smoky-white stone. At night, the streaks seem to move in a slow circle. The stone grants a +1 bonus to all Awareness rolls, increasing to +3 if the bearer specifically stands watch. Set in Heartsbane.<br /> <br /> '''[[Stone of Humble Glory]]''' - This faceted pentagonal jewel shines like a silvery mirror. It grants a bonus equal to the average of the bearer’s Conviction and Temperance (round up) to any Social roll where he tells the truth without exaggeration or deliberate deception. Set in the Matrix of Perfected Leadership.<br /> <br /> == Charms ==<br /> <br /> <br /> 1st Melee Excellency<br /> <br /> 1st Ride Excellency<br /> <br /> 1st War Excellency<br /> <br /> Wind-Carrier Words Technique<br /> <br /> Dragon-Graced Weapon<br /> <br /> Glowing Coal Radiance<br /> <br /> Great Heart Companion<br /> <br /> <br /> Essence: 2<br /> <br /> Personal (Committed): 7/7 (0)<br /> <br /> Peripheral (Committed): 6/18 (12)<br /> <br /> == Personal Information ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Birthplace:''' Blood and Iron, [[Eagle Prefecture]] &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Age of Exaltation:''' 15&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Primary School:''' [[Academy for Cultivation of Youthful Talents]] &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Secondary School:''' [[House of Bells]] &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Current Dwelling:''' [[Sentinel’s Hearth]], [[Scarlet Prefecture]]&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Tendencies &amp; Preferences''' &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Favourite Food:''' [[Battle Crab]]&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Favourite Beverage:''' Black Tea, spiced [[Rum]]&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Most Disliked Tastes/Scents:''' Leeks&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Sexual Preference:''' [[Ledaal Kitsume]] <br /> <br /> '''Favoured Immaculate temple:''' Temple of He who hath Strewn much Grass &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Preferred Entertainment:''' Training drills, hot tubs &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Favoured Music/Instrument:''' Marching songs &lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Preferred Reading Material:''' War stories of the Scarlet Empire&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Preferred Combat Art:''' The joust, wielding a direlance from atop a simhata&lt;br&gt;<br /> <br /> '''Secret Favorite Taste:''' Blood, belonging to an exalt in particular<br /> <br /> '''Most Disliked Anything Ever:''' Decadence!<br /> <br /> == History ==<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Family'''<br /> <br /> Sesus Chenow Rokuko (mother) <br /> <br /> Cathak Garel Gracchus (father)<br /> <br /> Ledaal Cycel Kitsume (wife)<br /> <br /> Ledaal Cycel Primus (The Boy)<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Player Characters]] [[Category:Dynasts]] [[Category:House Sesus]] [[Category:Graduates of the House of Bells]] [[Category:Wood Aspects]]</div>

Storyteller http://badposting.com/wiki/index.php?title=Biting_Sauce&diff=8678 2023-03-24T15:14:44Z

<p>Storyteller: </p> <hr /> <div>A bright orange-red dipping sauce of numerous red peppers (of both sweet and hot varieties), scallions, and a touch of radish, ground down into a paste then loosened with oil. Biting Sauce offers a burst of initial heat, followed by sweetness, and is used by Dynastic chefs as accompaniment to a number of dishes, including bread, dumplings, fried foods, and [[Western School Cuisine]] sashimi. <br /> <br /> <br /> Biting Sauce is one of the sauces featured in the [[Dance of Five Directions]].<br /> <br /> <br /> [[Category:Food &amp; Drink]]</div>

Storyteller