Centuries ago, the mighty Shen Dynasty was overthrown in a brutal uprising—a period marked by bloodshed and death that finally came to an end with the war. Since then, the land had been divided into three equal realms by three siblings of the Zhao bloodline. Each nation wields its own established power, yet all three united to forge a single treaty to preserve peace: the Tianxiu Decree, also known as the Decree of the Heavens Embroidery—a divine peace, stitched together by fate.
To this day, the Zhao Dynasty endures. Each empire was now being ruled over by the three distant relatives of the original siblings. Yet over many decades, unspoken tension between the three empires has been established due to envy, betrayal, and a brewing mistrust that has festered over the past years, which led to some believing another war was only a matter of time.
The Crimson Fang Empire is located in the mountains of the land. Its culture is deeply rooted in combat arts and oaths. They value personal honor above all and seek to grow only stronger from their struggles as a nation. Empress Zhao Ying, the legendary general, rules with a firm hand. She is both respected and feared as she carries herself in a way her people admire. She takes great pride in her elite warriors and national morals, values that keep corruption and injustice to a minimum within her borders. While they considered withdrawing from the Tianxiu Decree due to mistrusting the Blue Lotus Empire's intentions, they reluctantly agreed to uphold the treaty. As a consequence of the high altitude in their region, which causes cold winters and dry summers, they heavily rely on imports from other nations.
In contrast, the Verdant Cloud Empire thrives in fertile lowlands where they live up to strong ancestral ties and communal values. Emperor Zhao Yuren, a ruler of wisdom and humility, had been guided and trained by the respected Tortoise council, which consists of three village elders who are believed to hold ancient wisdom. They have strong spiritual connections and are rich in agricultural land, which enables them to export food and herbal medicine. Yet, they lack a strong military, and as a result, hold little significance in political power compared to the other empires.
The third empire, established a few months after the land had been divided by the three siblings, was the Blue Lotus Empire. It is now known for its elegance and prosperity. From all nations, this one is the most influential. It has the most modern and lavish architecture, advanced cities, roads, and bustling trade ports. Emperor Zhao Zhiwei, a highly educated and refined man, kept the traditions of the old dynasty intact while reshaping its core through economics and diplomacy. Yet, unlike the neighbouring empires, the worlds of commoners and nobles clash as they face a harsh class division that is only perceptible to the poor.
But that isn't the only problem the Empire faces as of late; it's rumored that their crown prince has been plagued by a mysterious illness since birth, cursed by evil spirits due to the speculated corruption the nation hides within its walls.
A divine warning. A sweet testimony of a downfall.