Post by Horsie on Jan 5, 2015 1:25:17 GMT
The vast continent to the east of Vellastrom once was as divided and chaotic as Vellastrom is today. In this ancient time, the races warred and bickered incessantly while the land was plagued with lawlessness and instability.
To the ancient Chang, this was intolerable.
They saw a world without form or function, crying out for order and structure to be imposed. Sadly, they lacked the strength to make this desire for order a reality, and were even divided amongst themselves into different rival factions who were unable to find common ground. But then, came Liling, a woman of unrivalled ability. Her mind was sharp as flint, her will as hard as granite, and her designs as inexorable as the gears of a great device. It was she who was finally able to unify the Chang, which for most leaders would have been more than enough to cement their position in the history books. But Liling was unsatisfied.
The world around her was still disordered, and this was unacceptable to the Chang. She took the title of The White Empress (after the white stone from which the fortresses of her homeland were made) and set forth to conquer all the known world. Her armies crushed any who opposed them, advancing with a sense of divine purpose. But Liling was clever as well as powerful, she realised that simple force would not be enough to unify the land. While the proud Yulbax and wild Dol-Kim might be best subdued through military means, the cunning Gyo required careful negotiation and the fiercely independent Wu-Yao needed a considered, subtle approach to win their trust.
The White Empress' abilities were such that she was able to bring together all the races into a single vast nation, which was proclaimed to be The White Kingdom.
The Chang are at the heart of this great realm, they are the administrators and bureaucrats without whom the White Kingdom would soon collapse back into chaos. The Chang believe in order, seeing the universe itself as a divine drive towards order and structure that they must try to emulate on Harkovast.
They seek a clear, undisputed hierarchy, with each knowing their appointed place and their responsibilities that come with it.
The state religion of the White Kingdom is known as the Enlightened Path, and teaches that people are endlessly reincarnated in an endless cycle that they can escape through gaining understanding and ascending to godhood. Those that are believed to have ascended are then worshipped by mortal followers seeking to emulate their perfect example. The patron deity of the White Kingdom is the First White Empress, who the change believe achieved godhood on her death.
The White Kingdom has been ruled by an unbroken line of the First White Empress' descendants since its founding. Liling declared that "Her husband was the state" and said she would never marry anyone as this would suggest her affections were divided. She did, however, recognise the need for descendants to rule after her death and continue an orderly transfer of power in the future. For this reason, she took the most competent and physically fit warriors from her army as her lovers in order to produce strong children. Those that failed to please her were said to face harsh punishments!
Since then, it has been illegal for a White Emperor or Empress to marry, but they may take lovers in order to produce descendants. The powerful noble families of the Chang via for the opportunity for one of their lineage to be a royal consort, so that their descendants might sit on the throne. While technically there is no law to prevent a non-Chang being a consort, this has never been permitted as the Chang jealously guard the fact that the White Kingdom is ruled by one of their own, giving them ultimate authority.
The White Emperors and Empress' dwell in the Divine City, a vast metropolis of white stone. Rather than being a normal city, it houses the bureaucrats and clerks that are central to the order of the White Kingdom as well as the central palace. The rulers of the White Kingdom live isolated from the nation they rule, for they are considered too divine to dwell amongst normal people.
The White Guard are an elite army of eunuchs who protect the monarch and guard the divine city. As eunuchs, there is no chance of any inappropriate relations between them and the one they are supposed to be protecting. The White Guards control access to the nation's ruler, so have a great deal of political power. Many families would jump at the chance to have one of their sons join this order to gain the privileges and power that come with it.
The Chang consider rules and laws vital to life and so the legal structures of the White Kingdom are very sophisticated and well thought through. Other races may complain about the Chang as humourless or arrogant, but few would try to claim anyone else could run such a large nation so effectively.
The Chang also believe that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each race within the White Kingdom is an essential part of their Empire, bringing their own skills and perspectives. The Chang do not try to convert the other members of the White Kingdom to be more like them or attempt to suppress the other people's cultures. It is the role of the Chang to create cooperation and harmony between so many disparate groups. This idea of cooperation is codified into many of the White Kingdoms laws. For example, in times of war, each nation contributing troops to the effort must be represented in the commanders council of war.
The Chang have large forces of highly professional soldiers who form the core of the White Kingdom's vast military might.
The Chang, like most people in the White Kingdom, take the view that the outside world has little to offer them and have no desire to involve themselves in it.
The White Kingdom is, to them, the known world. Across the oceans are just a few outlying barbarians, certainly nothing of any great importance.
To the ancient Chang, this was intolerable.
They saw a world without form or function, crying out for order and structure to be imposed. Sadly, they lacked the strength to make this desire for order a reality, and were even divided amongst themselves into different rival factions who were unable to find common ground. But then, came Liling, a woman of unrivalled ability. Her mind was sharp as flint, her will as hard as granite, and her designs as inexorable as the gears of a great device. It was she who was finally able to unify the Chang, which for most leaders would have been more than enough to cement their position in the history books. But Liling was unsatisfied.
The world around her was still disordered, and this was unacceptable to the Chang. She took the title of The White Empress (after the white stone from which the fortresses of her homeland were made) and set forth to conquer all the known world. Her armies crushed any who opposed them, advancing with a sense of divine purpose. But Liling was clever as well as powerful, she realised that simple force would not be enough to unify the land. While the proud Yulbax and wild Dol-Kim might be best subdued through military means, the cunning Gyo required careful negotiation and the fiercely independent Wu-Yao needed a considered, subtle approach to win their trust.
The White Empress' abilities were such that she was able to bring together all the races into a single vast nation, which was proclaimed to be The White Kingdom.
The Chang are at the heart of this great realm, they are the administrators and bureaucrats without whom the White Kingdom would soon collapse back into chaos. The Chang believe in order, seeing the universe itself as a divine drive towards order and structure that they must try to emulate on Harkovast.
They seek a clear, undisputed hierarchy, with each knowing their appointed place and their responsibilities that come with it.
The state religion of the White Kingdom is known as the Enlightened Path, and teaches that people are endlessly reincarnated in an endless cycle that they can escape through gaining understanding and ascending to godhood. Those that are believed to have ascended are then worshipped by mortal followers seeking to emulate their perfect example. The patron deity of the White Kingdom is the First White Empress, who the change believe achieved godhood on her death.
The White Kingdom has been ruled by an unbroken line of the First White Empress' descendants since its founding. Liling declared that "Her husband was the state" and said she would never marry anyone as this would suggest her affections were divided. She did, however, recognise the need for descendants to rule after her death and continue an orderly transfer of power in the future. For this reason, she took the most competent and physically fit warriors from her army as her lovers in order to produce strong children. Those that failed to please her were said to face harsh punishments!
Since then, it has been illegal for a White Emperor or Empress to marry, but they may take lovers in order to produce descendants. The powerful noble families of the Chang via for the opportunity for one of their lineage to be a royal consort, so that their descendants might sit on the throne. While technically there is no law to prevent a non-Chang being a consort, this has never been permitted as the Chang jealously guard the fact that the White Kingdom is ruled by one of their own, giving them ultimate authority.
The White Emperors and Empress' dwell in the Divine City, a vast metropolis of white stone. Rather than being a normal city, it houses the bureaucrats and clerks that are central to the order of the White Kingdom as well as the central palace. The rulers of the White Kingdom live isolated from the nation they rule, for they are considered too divine to dwell amongst normal people.
The White Guard are an elite army of eunuchs who protect the monarch and guard the divine city. As eunuchs, there is no chance of any inappropriate relations between them and the one they are supposed to be protecting. The White Guards control access to the nation's ruler, so have a great deal of political power. Many families would jump at the chance to have one of their sons join this order to gain the privileges and power that come with it.
The Chang consider rules and laws vital to life and so the legal structures of the White Kingdom are very sophisticated and well thought through. Other races may complain about the Chang as humourless or arrogant, but few would try to claim anyone else could run such a large nation so effectively.
The Chang also believe that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each race within the White Kingdom is an essential part of their Empire, bringing their own skills and perspectives. The Chang do not try to convert the other members of the White Kingdom to be more like them or attempt to suppress the other people's cultures. It is the role of the Chang to create cooperation and harmony between so many disparate groups. This idea of cooperation is codified into many of the White Kingdoms laws. For example, in times of war, each nation contributing troops to the effort must be represented in the commanders council of war.
The Chang have large forces of highly professional soldiers who form the core of the White Kingdom's vast military might.
The Chang, like most people in the White Kingdom, take the view that the outside world has little to offer them and have no desire to involve themselves in it.
The White Kingdom is, to them, the known world. Across the oceans are just a few outlying barbarians, certainly nothing of any great importance.
