Jen Shu, Divine Emperor of Eastrun

Jen Shu, known as the Conqueror, was a legendary figure of indomitable spirit and strategic brilliance in the annals of his chronicler and general, Bao Dan. Rising from humble origins, he forged an unyielding brotherhood among his Daizu companions, bound by loyalty and a creed of honor. He led them through relentless campaigns across the Sea of Grass, conquering tribes and cities, and facing formidable foes.

A master of warfare and diplomacy, Jen Shu offered parley to those who would accept his terms of peace, displaying both mercy and ruthless determination in equal measure. His victories spanned decades, marking him as a leader of unparalleled courage and resilience. Despite his martial prowess, Jen Shu's quest for an heir remained unfulfilled, siring only daughters despite his efforts with multiple wives and concubines.

Throughout his life, Jen Shu exemplified the ideals of honor, duty, and unity among his people. His legacy, etched in the tales of the Nine Companions and the conquests of the Golden Tribe, immortalizes him as a towering figure whose name resonates through the ages, a symbol of both conquest and the quest for enduring legacy.

The Oracle of Shu

The Oracle of Shu is not a person, but an animated statue. Tragically, the statue is self-aware and wishes it were a "real" person while being cursed with the knowledge that it is not actually so. It is gifted with a knowledge of the future.

The statue is a gilded plaster rendition of a bare-breasted woman in a turban-like headdress, and ceremonial skit. She is barefoot and sitting cross-legged on a drum, with her hands folded high, and modestly, upon her chest. The Oracle is much larger than a human female. If it were ever to stand (it doesn't) it would be nearly 25 feet tall. It continues to grow by accreting the gold coins brought to it by those seeking its advice. Regardless of the question asked or the service requested, the oracle will only ever treat with the same individual one time in a calendar year. The cost of the oracle's utterances is 13 pieces of gold.

The Oracle is located outside of the city limits and is set in the niche of an abandoned wall -- all that remains of an ancient temple, whose origins have been forgotten.

Temple of the Northern Frost

The Temple of the Northern Frost is located in Shu. It most notable feature is a series of crystal spires set on top of narrow wooden gables that have been built adjacent to each other. These gables sit on still larger and wider gables below them. There are eight of the larger ones to the side enclosing a courtyard in the center. In the center rear of the courtyard, a tower stands with a giant bell atop it. A stone stair rises approximately two stories to the lower gables. It has the appearance of being open to the world, but ascending the stair will reveal a corridor around the temple that leads to the iron doors inset with large crystals. As only the monks are allowed to enter, what occurs inside is not known. 

The monks of this school are known for their martial prowess but also for what seems to be an utter lack of emotion, and an almost fanatical search for knowledge and wisdom. The dye used by the Temple for their robes is a dull green tint.

The monks view regulation and discipline as the proper course between good and evil. They believe that the ultimate hope of the world rests upon a well-ordered approach to life and that things like good and evil are nothing more than unspent desires at either end of a meaningless spectrum. Bao Dan understood that a  prosperous kingdom was possible because of the Way of Order, not because of what that Way taught specifically, but only because it was a rule. Adopting and maintaining rules is the best emulation of Bao Dan.

A peculiarity of this order, and others like it, is their commitment to peace and diplomacy. They are frequently called upon to arbiter disputes between nobles and even Emperors. They have become diplomats of the highest order and are well-respected across all of Eastrun.

Temple of the Summer Fire

The Temple of the Summer Fire is located in Shu. It is a two-story red laquered pagoda with a reflecting pond in front of it. The rear of the temple is dominated by a massive iron statue of Jen Shu astride a horse.

The monks of this school are known for their martial prowess but also for their fabled inability to lie. They are often sought by noblemen in the training of their youth. A class of warrior known as the Jae Shi has its origins in this Temple, among others.  The dye used by the Temple for their robes makes a saffron orange color of their cast-off cloth.

The monks believe that order and discipline will improve the common good, that truth is of the highest value, followed by beauty and life. They know that laws may restrict freedoms, but they are also for the best and should be pursued so long as they conform to goodness. Following this Way of Order is the best emulation of Bao Dan for the good of all people.

A peculiarity of this order, and others like it, is their regard for the health and welfare of society. Their monks can often be found ministering to the sick and dispossessed, using their healing arts to treat those that the rest of society would leave abandoned on their steps.

Temple of Moon's Shadow

The Temple of Moon's Shadow is located in Shu. It is an octagonal gray stone tower rising six stories above the ground. The sides of it are covered in grasping vines.

The monks that reside there are known far and wide for their martial prowess, but also for their devotion to the dark arts of spying and assassination. The dye used by the Temple for their robes makes a grey color of their cast-off cloth.

The monks sell their services through the auspices of their Grandmaster and will undertake any mission he sends them on with fanatic devotion. They have been known to impersonate monks of other schools and do not consider this deception an ignoble act. Because of their devotion to the dark arts, the monks of this temple have been frequently called upon to eliminate various noblemen caught in acts of impropriety and shame.

Like the monks of other temples, they are absolutely lawful with regard to their life devotion. They respect discipline and regulation but view things such as life and beauty as meaningless abstractions. It is the desire of these monks to impose order and keep discipline, especially as regards loyalty to the Ong Dynasty. They view Tan Ong IV as the Emperor of Shu and are utterly devoted to whatever will see his line continue. Following the example of Bao Dan means that one often has to be merciless, in order to assure that the dynasty prospers.

A peculiarity of this order, and others like it, is that they have no concern for politics outside of their own city/state. Individual monks have been called upon to act in other city/states and kingdoms across Erenth. When they are hired to do so, they follow three strictures:

A monk will only practice the dark arts under the auspices of a recognized Grandmaster.

A monk will never identify one who is working the dark arts. 

A monk will not prevent one who is working the dark arts.

The Vicenary Ports of Eastrun

The Ports of Eastrun

Susa (Shu)

Lahara (Laster Shores)

Fah Tawaj (Free City)

The Vicenary Ports Pact upon the Seven Seas

In the estimation of the seafarers, the ideas of  kingdom and border and fealty are overrated. To them, all that matters is the fulfillment of contracts. The movement of cargo and passengers from one port of call to the next is the highest law. Piracy is the greatest breach of it. Between the various port cities is where fortunes are won and lost, one nautical mile at a time. The only governance such men tend to recognize are the ruling authorities of the various ports.

To promote trade and to establish a common set of rules, the Vicenary Ports Pact was negotiated between twenty recognized cities the world over. The Pact creates a loose confederation between the cities and establishes a charter to govern their agreed upon Law of the Sea. The Pact provides a means to pay tariffs that are due inland. It also establishes a way to insure cargo, to certify bills of lading, and a way to negotiate fees with the guilds. The Vicenary Ports Pact also establishes a small navy (and a corps of marines) which can be augmented with privateers. The latter type will operate under letters of authority to conduct reprisals, if necessary.

This system of governance is influenced heavily by the Satrapies of Southrun, from which it draws both its inspiration and its reverence for free trade. Not surprisingly the Seaman's Argot (the thieves cant of the sea) is influenced heavily by the Dahlese language of Southrun. All documents, charters, and licensing is written in the Argot.

The Pact is administered by the Vicegerents (representatives from each of the ports) who are headquartered in Sabaha and act from high atop the Ivory Tower. There the twenty men and their various undersecretaries administer the Pact and command the Vicenary Navy and Marines.

Each port has a local authority vested in the Viceroy whose job it is to receive a bills of lading and to grant a clean bill of health to ships, and his Vice-admiral whose job it is to command the local fleet of the navy and the company of marines, and his Vicereine, whose job it is to dedicate ships.

Imperial City of Shu

Shu is located in the Land of Eastrun.

The final city/state founded by Venerable Jen Shu as it is written in the holy book of Bao Dan. It was named for his second consort and mother of sixteen children. The largest and grandest of the three Eastrun cities, it was built on the ruins of a great seafaring culture which would not bow before the Golden Tribe or its Khan. Thus dispossessed of their land the Haykana became known as gypsies of the Sea, the Hayao.

Shu boasts an impressive network of irrigation canals and breeding ponds from which its residents draw its staples and chief exports. Carp, turtles, squid, and shrimp supplement join the agricultural offerings of wheat, millet, sorghum, and beans along with cucumbers, oranges, lemons, peaches and apricots. Almost all dishes in Shu contain noodles which is as common as bread is in the Kingdoms of Westrun.


Its Emperess Dowager is Mai Nhu Ong.

Its Emperor is Tan Ong VI, a boy of ten.

The Coin Barns of the Oxmen

The common name for those buildings in use by the most popular banking system in Erenth, the Coin Barns are administered by a peculiar society in league with Church in Westrun, and are under the protection of the famed Oxmen. The Coin Barns are the clearing houses for most writs the world over. They charge a 1% fee for those transactions.

Deposits and withdrawals can be made at locations in

• Peakshadow
• Wanderhalt
• Bolden
• Menea
• Treft
• Laketon
• Watersedge
• Balduren
• and Rath in Westrun;
• Old Darios in the Free Provinces;
• Byza and Tradepost (Sabaha) in Southrun;
• and the Imperial City of Shu in Eastrun.

The Coin Barns will take any deposit of any coinage. Withdrawals can be made at any location, but they are not allowed until a 90 day waiting period has elapsed. After that initial waiting period, amounts can be withdrawn on any Firesday, after notice has been given on the previous Moonsday.

For some, the greatest service that the Coin Barns offer is to vouchsafe (by the honor of the Oxmen) the average size of their depositors accounts per annum. Far from being seen as a breach of privacy, this actually allows nobility and other institutions to determine how credit worthy their potential customers and trade partners are.