The 6 Kingdoms

Overview

Set in a land inspired by ancient China.

A group of deadly and desperate assassins have been assembled to put an end to the ruthless Emperor Jin. Each character should have a strong motivation to carry out the mission (greed and revenge come to mind as examples). The character should be made such that it will be believable that someone assembling this team would approach them to join and that the character would accept. Each has been recruited into the group based on their motivation, and their excellence in a particular skill. A substantial reward is offered on successful completion of the mission that may be tailored to the characters desires, and startup money is promised for supplies. More than simple deadly killers will be needed to infiltrate the Forbidden City which houses the Jin Emperor.

The World

A map of the 6 kingdoms: [1]

Technology level is about –2000 BC China. Think before the bronze age. Tools were made of poor quality iron. You have horses, pottery, leathers, early metalworking. The wheel is well established. There is paper, and reading/writing skills are either common or not depending on what country you come from.

Magic is often talked about but never seen. “So and so had a bumper crop this year, he must be using magic.” There are fortune tellers and magicians for hire, most educated people consider them frauds. Uneducated people think there might be something to it.

The Six Kingodms

In the known lands there are six kingdoms. This is the state of affairs just prior to the closure of Shin borders and the War of Madness.

Shin
Most powerful is the land of Shin. Shin controls the vast majority of resources, is scientifically, artistically and economically superior to the other five kingdoms. It lies in the center of the six and for centuries has been an inspiration to all men. Historically, the Jin emporers, although reclusive and almost never seen, have been extremely benevolent both to their own people and to their neighbors. The emperor wields complete control over all aspects of Shin governance through the unmitigated devotion of the Shin people. Shin extends from the coast in the south to occupy the center of the six and borders four of the other lands. Ethnicity: 80% Asian, 10% Black, 7% Hispanic (excludes migrants), 3% White. Religion: Buddhist

Uusam
Uusam is the second most prosperous nation after Shin, and the second largest. It is bounded on the west by Shin, the north by Grundle and has extensive coastline on the east and south. Uusam is governed by democratically elected representatives, with a legislature and presidency. All children attend 10 years of government supported schooling. There are Universities of higher learning in major cities. Ethnicity: 80%Asian, 10%Black, 10% Hispanic (excludes migrants). Religion: Many

Huen-Rae
The kingdom of Huen-Rae to the East of Shin is bounded in the south by the southern sea, to the west by the great Olarka Mountains and to the north by the nomadic Mung Kingdom. The Huen-Rae are simple people, mediating trade across the Unpa Desert across the mountains and farming the Huen Valley made rich by periodic floods from the Rea river. These same floods that keep the soil fertile have also encouraged minimization of development and maintenance of a simple lifestyle. Dense forests also permit lucrative timber exports. Ethnicity: 80% black, 5% white, 15% Asian. Religion: Taoism (the universe in balance, yin-yang).

The Mung
The Mung, to the North-west are nomadic horseman. Their people are fierce and tribal warfare amongst the various Mung tribes is common to maintain control of prime grazing lands for their herds. The Mung frequently raid neighboring Huen-Rae, Shin and especially Konn. There are 12 tribes. Governance is present in the loose knit elders of the 12 tribes, who meet yearly. 2 of the Mung tribes (Hor and Muel) are known as honorable in that they rarely participate in raids of neighboring countries and are known to offer quick death to criminals rather than the slow torture that is metered out in other tribes. 100% White. Religion: Polytheistic.

Konn
Konn is the smallest and youngest kingdom, being founded during the 100 years war. It is small, but rich with resources mined from the mountains: gold, silver, copper, iron, diamonds and other gems. Konn is active in trade with all other countries (including the Mung). It is bounded to the north by the Mung, to the southwest by the Huen-Rae and to the southwest by Shin. Konn is bounded by walls or mountains on all sides to keep out maraudering Mung. The Konn elite army are known as the most disciplined, skilled and loyal armed forces in the 6 kingdoms. Konn is ruled by the Council of lords. 98% Asian, 1% Black, 1% Hispanic. Religion: None.

Grundle
Grundle is the shit hole of the six kingdoms. Once a mighty kingdom, frequent natural disasters, famine, and plague have resulted in mass migrations away from Grundle. Winters are harsh, summers hot, the seas are barren. Grundle is in the northeast. Its people are poor subsistence farmers. Many Grundelites are migrant workers to neighboring Uusam and Konn. Grundle is governed by a democratically elected government with a nominal monarchy. 100% Hispanic (yes, it’s Mexico). Religion: Monotheistic.

Cities of the 6 Kingdoms

The Lands Beyond

To the east lies the great ocean. A seafaring race, the Crag trades peacefully from across the world. The Crag are humanoid, but unlike the men of the six kingdoms they have extraordinarily large right arms/hand and small left arms/hand. The right arms are incredibly strong while the left posess fine dexterity. Stereotypically jovial and usually drunk.

To the west lies the unpassable desert. Not so impassible, there is active trade with an advanced race, the Solarans, from across the continent. These humanoids are short, broad and have necks so thick they span from shoulder to shoulder, with a head as wide mounted atop their mountainous necks. They are haughty, snobs that seem rigid and emotionless to the people of the six kingdoms.

Sociology

Women hold a lower societal place than men in Shin, Konn, Uusam and especially Grundle. Rare and extraordinary women do gain status. In Mung and Huen Rae women are equal to men. In Mung there is no division between what men and women do, both fight, care for children, cook, forage, etc. In Huen Rae there is division: the men do the heavy labor of harvesting crops, tilling the land, while women do the planting, tending. Both tasks are equal in status/prestige. Governing councils are typically equally representative with men and women

Imperial march of the Jin Dynasty

The Jin Emporers
Emporer Jin I, Jin Rai Ming, rose to power at the end of the 100 years war. The war was hard on Shin, and the government and economy were in shambles. Rae Ming was supported by the regional Lords, who pledged their fealty to him in support of ending the war. Rae Ming called the conference of kings that led to the Great Truce. Rae Ming oversaw the rebuilding of Shin. He was an emporer of the people, and traveled the land to all corners of his country. His benevolence and the ensuing prosperity made him adored by the Shin people, and is the basis for the longevity of his dynasty. As Rae Ming grew older, he became more reclusive. Mung raids on Konn and Shin resumed and there were several failed assassination attempts. Rae Ming commissions the Forbidden City, and secludes himself. However, his popularity never falters as his writings are disseminated throughout Shin.

Emperor Jin XXVI.
Emporer Jin XXVI, Jin Mae Tien, is the current emperor. He assumed the throne in 785 ND upon the death of his father. In the tradition of the 24 Jin emporers before him, he lives in the Forbidden City, and has never stepped foot outside its walls. Although his subjects have never seen Jin Mae Tien, they know his heart and his benevolence as they have known that of his anscestors: through their written teachings. Most of the Jin Emperors have been philosophers and Jin Mae Tien is no exception. He had been more prolific than his predecessors, issuing weekly addresses to the people. He personally writes 30 foot tall scrolls, one for each major city in Shin, that are displayed prominently in the city square. Copies are made for distribution to smaller towns and villages. Every Monday at the workdays end a new scroll was unveiled, and large crowds gather to take in their emperors wisdom.

This was the state of affairs up until 795 ND, when the borders of Shin abruptly closed. Current news from Shin is delivered by spies or rumor.

The March of Jin Mae Tein: The War of Madness.

In 795 ND, Emporer Jin orders the borders of Shin closed to all trade and travel, the sole exception being food imports from Huen-Rae. Five years later, Shin attacks Huen-Rae in an unprovoked suprise invasion. The weak Huen-Rae are instantly subjugated. 9 months later, the Shin army appears on the borders of Konn and war is declared. Konn is not so easily subjugated, having superior defenses in mountainous terrain honed from generations of defending against Mung raids.

However, the Konn are outnumbered and after four months are losing a war of attrition. It is easy for the Konn to muster allies; Uusam, Mung and Grundle can see the inevitable march of the Shin if they aquire the riches of Konn. Mung riders are permitted within Konn for the first time in centuies, and a joint army from Uusam and Grundle (although the Grundle army is suprisingly small) marches from the east. Against such combinded forces, the Shin armies are crushed. The remaining forces retreat south into Shin in tatters. Suddenly, the Mung turn on their Konn allies, and with superior numbers inside the Zhang Wall, they annialate the Konn elite. Unwilling to stand by such trechery, the Uusam and Grundle turn on the Mung and significant losses are taken on all sides, but the Mung retain control of Konn. As Uusam and Grundle regroup, another army marches from the south. The Shin return with redoubled force and drive all armies from Konn, seizing the land and its riches. Afterwards, it is speculated that only a small fraction of the Shin army participated as a feint in the initial battle. The main force must have been held in reserve to take advantage of inevitable infighting between the allies. This was five years ago. An uneasy truce has persisted, but again the Shin armies amass, now on the eastern border with Uusam.

Desperate Times

With the added mineral resources of the Konn Mountains and unlimited food supplied by the Huen-Rae valley, the new Shin armies will be unstoppable. Uusam cannot trust the Mung in another alliance (at least not all of them, some few honorable Mung tribes remain). A desperate plan arises. Uusam (with what help Grundle can provide) resolves to kill the insane emporer Jin May Tien. If he is not stopped, the once six kingdoms will be reduced to one vast Shin empire. A band of warriors is assembled. Each has his own reason for wanting emporer Jin dead, whether it be personal vendetta, patriotic duty, liberation of their Konn or Huen-Rae homeland, just plain old in it for the money, or something else.

Timeline

-123 NZ (nian zheng = year of war) The hundred year war begins with the assassination of king Wa Shin of Uusam. Although the culprits are never apprehended, blame is placed on Shin due to ongoing border and trade disputes. War breaks out between Shin and Uusam in the fallout.

-115 NZ The Shin/Uusam war rages on. Seeing an opportunity for gain, Grundle invades northern Uusam while the Mung invade northern Shin.

-110 NZ The four countries war on. Because Huen Rae trades actively with Shin, they are accused of collaboration and the Mung declare war on Huen Rae.

-75 NZ Shin people in the Konn Mountains grow tired of the war and secede from Shin. Shin declares civil war, unsuccessfully attempting to regain control of the rich Konn Mountains. Meanwhile, war with the Mung and Uusam rage at an impasse. Grundle gains ground on Uusam, pushing armies from teh south border of Grundle (which was Beuch at the time) to within 50 miles of Wa Sin, the Uusam capitol. Mung raiders decimate Huen Rae towns and villages.

-50 NZ The Time of Suffering. In Grundle, a major earthquake destroys the capital several other major cities. This devastates the Grundle economy and cripples supply lines to their armies besieging the Uusam capitol. Uusam rallies and routs the Grundle armies, taking control of the southern half of Grundle all the way up to the Jia River (the current border).

0 ND (nian dan = year of peace) the great truce was signed. Spearheaded by the Shin Emporer Jin I, the great truce ends the 100 year war. The borders of the 6 kingdoms were set.

47 ND The Mung begin to raid the rich lands of Konn, and northern Shin. Konn develops elite defenders. Meanwhile, Shin and Uusam have become fast partners in trade. Significant economic and political ties develop.

97 ND In Konn, exports of minerals and gems increase and the country becomes wealthy.

107 ND Tired of tyrannical rule, the people of Uusam overthrow their monarchy and establish democracy.

160 ND Democracy gradually adopted in Grundle. A nominal monarchy remains, but retains no power.

369 ND The Da Hai peninsula is transferred from Uusam to Shin in a peaceful exchange. The Da Hai people voted to petition the central government for secession to Shin based on social and economic ties. Because the request was well grounded, a generous monetary settlement was arranged between Shin and Uusam, and the Da Hai was transferred to Shin. This momentous occasion was a marker of the now longstanding goodwill between Shin and Uusam. Nevertheless, trade disputes and other minor nonviolent conflicts continue.

400 ND Mung raids on Konn increase in frequency and organization. In 455, the Zhang Wall is completed. Raids entirely rebuked and come to an end.

275-400 ND The Generation Bridge is constructed across Huang Canyon. It is a marvel of engineering, taking advantage of the narrowest gap in the canyon. Some 500 feet long, made of solid stone, the Generation Bridge stands with towers 100 feet high while its support posts reach to the very bottom of the canyon. So named because it was initially estimated to take one generation to build, it was sometimes called the five generation bridge. Completion opened a new era of trade between Shin and Uusam.

785 ND The 26th Jin Emporer (Jin Mae Tien) assumes the throne upon the death of his father, Jin the Generous. This new emperor is even more beloved by the people.

795 ND The Shin borders abruptly close to trade except for food imports from Huen Rae. No explanation is given and foreign ambassadors are ejected from the Shin Jin, the capital city. Outside Shin, there is speculation that Jin Mae Tien has gone mad.

800 ND The War of Madness. Shin go to war with Huen Rae and easily overrun the country. The motivation for the war is unclear to Uusam, Konn, Grundle and the Mung. For all known time, including the 100 year war, Huen-Rae and Shin have been fast partners in trade with Shin the dominant power. Huen-Rae is a fertile land that had supported food production for much of Shin, but this relationship had seemed stable.

801 ND Shin go to war with Konn. Again the motivations are unclear as long standing trade was established between Konn and Shin. , are driven back by Konn, Mung, Grundle and Uusam. Mung betray the Konn and wipe out their armed forces. Shin attack with unexpected strength and drive Mung out of Konn.

803 ND Shin forces massing on the west bank of the Huang river. Massive Shin navy constructed. Uusam is responding in kind. Most believe that in a war, Uusam will ultimately fall.

803 ND Band of warriors assembled in Beuch, Uusam. The start of our campaign.