Lore
It is assumed that most of the planet is covered by deep, wild ocean. Only the land of the Twelve is known. Even when humans tried to venture out by boat, the few that did return somehow sane reported, that no matter how far they sailed without changing their course, they would encounter a fog wall or a storm and always automatically sail back to the mainland without even finding an island.
There are 12 sacred, immortal Trees. Each of them has a country built around it. The reason is, that it is the Tree of Life. Babies born to Humans and Demimals, grow on the tree within an egg. There is a small ritual of a pair wishing upon the tree and binding a ribbon to a branch. This is where their Baby will be born, be it Human or Demimal.
It is not known for how long exactly this continent is in existence. Records date back to thousands of year, for normal people - hundred thousands or even millions for immortals. But even during all this time, there has only been one instance of war in the continent. About a seventy-thousand years ago, a gruesome war that involved the whole continent ravages the lands. Only when every single King - all Kirins hat been wiped, the land fell silent.Plants refused to bloom, water ceased to flow. For years the weather was unpredictable. Famine and sickness plagued all humans, indiscriminate of status and origin. Only when twelve new born Kirins stepped foot into live, slowly the lands began to heal and live began to stabilize. Following the era of destruction and death, followed the era of rebirth, which lasted to this day.
Currently it is year RE70'642 (Rebirth Era). The path of cultivation is no tight secret, but a the same time it is also not well known. A lot of mortals don't know anything about it - stories treated as tales at most. All over the continent there are prominent families, which grew due to their long lasting line of cultivators. Cities were build, dedicated to them, selling all kinds of wondrous things.
One of the establishments for cultivators lies in the center. Protected by all kinds of barriers. Astera - the most prestigious academy for cultivators. It is said that it had survived the era of destruction and was founded long before that. There was no-one who grew up within spiritual circles who did not know of this academy, and almost all aimed to get enrolled. Even those who stumbled upon the path of cultivation later in life, sooner or later would be led to the academy.
Geology
Zhuemnya [Tzem-nee-ah] is a world full of nature. Everywhere are mountains touching the clouds and oceans reaching the horizon. While there is a big desert, void of most plants and water, the rest of the world is covered in healthy vegetations of all kinds.
What most people do not know is what lies below the sands, beyond the clouds and in the far horizons.
Continent
The continent is called Báilòng - white cage.The reason being that the whole continent is surrounded by a mysterious white fog, stretching to the heavens and blending with the clouds. No matter what, one is not able to break through the mist and would always and up going towards the land. There are no islands, only the mainland. Báilòng Continent has a somewhat circular shape and is aprox. 49'000 km in diameter. The whole area of sea included within the white fog is slightly over 50'000 km. Like a cake, the continent is split into twelve different countries and a neutral independent area in the center.Countries
Ryuu
More or less temperate Kingdom, Ryuu is divided in the middle by the Lake of the two laughing Kings. To the north of it are plains and fields and to the south are snowy forests and mountain ranges. The capital of the Kingdom is right between the two parts of the lake and signifies unity between the south and the north. Another big town is placed at the foot of the Tree Branch lake, right at the border of Cielei.
Trade
The home to the best craftsmen in the world Ryuu offers a wide variety of trade goods.
En
The White Kingdom, is the coldest known place on Zhuemnya. The lands to the south of the Lake of the two laughing Kings are covered in snow and ice. The south east is enclosed by monstrous mountain peaks. The capital of the Kingdom sits at the same peninsula as the capital of Ryuu and has no land connection to the rest of the country. Much like with Ryuu, the northern part of the country is covered in plains and fields. The main bulk of the population lives in the northern parts and the capital, but quite a few tribes dare to brave the harsh climate of the snowy plains and the inhospitable ranges of the mountains.
Trade
En specialises mainly in trading resources between itself and its neighbours. Due to the fact that the only land route to the capital is a connection to Ryuu, both countries trade heavily and have many cultural ties with each other.
- Food import, mainly from Kei.
- Export of furs, leather and various metals found in the mountain ranges
- Booming fish trade
Kei
Divided in the middle by the tail end of the Lake of the two laughing Kings Kei is one of the two biggest food producers in the world. Almost the whole north west of the country is covered with fields. The rest of the land is not as welcoming, with snowy mountain ranges at the border to En and temperate tundra areas at the north eastern end. The White Peaks are one of the highest mountain ranges in whole Zhuemnya and are the home to the renowned School of the Wind Masters. The capital is situated around the White Peaks at the eastern end of the lake.
Trade
Mainly a food producer and exporter. Renowned for its domesticated tundra elks, which are used for practically anything in Kei.Kou
Kou is almost completely covered in fields, its capital sitting at the coast of the Dragonfly Gorge. The majority of people in Kou are farmers nowadays, even though they first started as nomads drifting through the land, at some point they settled down and started trading food with other countries.
Trade
Mainly a food producer and exporter. No other country produces as big a variety of food as Kou. Also famous for its animal husbandry, especially the horses of Kou are treasured around the world.
Sou
Covered in forests with a couple of fields here and there with a small desert area behind the Dragonfly Gorge, Sou is a wild and tribalistic kingdom. The majority of people of Sou live in small villages, scattered in the forests. The tribes in the desert have a vastly different culture, due to them being separated by the gigantic lake. There is still contact between the tribes, but it doesn't happen that often that the gorge is being crossed by anyone else but the official delegations.
Trade
People of Sou mainly keep to themselves and don't trade with others that much. Though the country is renowned for the artisans who create the most wondrous magical treasures.
Sai
Sai is a warm Kingdom covered in dense vegetation in the south and sandy dry mountains in the north. The border with Cielei is the home to the famous Ten Thousand Jade Peaks, a mountain range wrapped by forests and plants, the birthplace of the Healer Guild. The capital is situated right at the edge of the mountain range, only a few hours away from Cielei.
Trade
The Healer Guild is renowned throughout the world not least due to the diversity of the flora and fauna of the kingdom. The majority of known medicinal herbs and plants grows and is being harvested, used and sold by the citizens of the country.
Ren
One of the three countries at the coast of the Phoenix Lake. Ren is mostly a sandy and rocky desert, with a couple of mountains here and there. The strips of the fertile soil are situated around the right wing of the Phoenix lake. With the largest one harboring the new capital of the kingdom. The old capital in the middle of the desert laying around in the shadows of the Desolate Highland was almost completely abandoned during the last great drought. The majority of the Han people now live around the lake. Only a couple of tribes still dares to live under the scorching sun of the desert.
Trade
The people of Han are renowned scholars and architects.
Hou
The Sea of Sand, Hou another country sitting at the lake of Phoenix, is mostly a desert. The only green spots are found directly at the lake coast and at the border to Cielei. The official capital of the kingdom lies under the ground in the middle of the desert, though there are bigger cities right around the greens spots at the Phoenix lake. The forest areas around the borders are home to the infamous clan of the Fox Spirits.
Trade
Hou are masters of the glass, clay and crystal trade, with the biggest workshops hidden under the sand. The beautiful and elegant designs of the glass manufactures are loved around the world. And some of them are sold for exorbitant sums. Also famous is the delicious wine and the skilled winemakers of Hou, though due to the limited fertile surface, there is never an abundance of wine, driving the prices for it even higher.
Shun
The country located at the left wing of the Phoenix lake is mostly covered with rocky, dry mountains, with a narrow green area around the coast. The capital, titled the Devil's Nest by people outside of Shun is located slightly above the tip of the lake. This incredible city coils itself around the peaks of the mountains and is certainly not a good place for people who are afraid of heights.
Trade
The Shun have build enormous mines in the mountain ranges, collecting minerals, metals, gemstones and gold. Which made them the biggest exporter of such materials. Especially the artisans of Ryuu are dependant on the raw resources of Shun.
Tai
Tai is a country with wildly differing climate. You have fields, forests and green patches to the east and dry, rocky mountains and desert areas to the west. The capital of the country, a huge temple city, is located in the green area around the coast of the Serpents Basin, spanning beautifully around the oval part of the lake. Another place of interest is the Celestial Pagoda at the isle on the Sleeping River. Since ancient times, Tai has always been troubled by all kinds of beasts and monsters, thus facilitating the rise of many exorcists clans around the country.
Trade
Tai do not anything remarkable in terms of artisanship are however known for their exorcists and the magical talismans, trinkets and potions created in the countless temples are traded around the world.
Kyou
The domain of the stone gods, Kyou is almost entirely covered with mountains. The southern and northern parts of the country are divided by the enormous Serpents Basin, with the only official route over the unruly lake, being across the narrowest part of the waters at the border to Tai, over the Seagrass Peninsula. Three cities grew along the route at the both coasts of the lane and the peninsula itself. Huge parts of those are built on the water of the lake itself, famed around the world as the Floating Towns of Kyou. The rest of the population lives in different villages, hidden in the depths of the mountain ranges.
Trade
Much like Shun, Kyou is a country with abundance of different precious minerals, gemstones and metals. The jewelers of Kyou count among the best in the world, especially ornaments and jewelry made with emeralds and jade from the kingdom are being traded throughout Zhuemnya. Other than that, there is also quite a big fish industry.
Han
Han is not unlike Kyou, though the mountain ranges of Han are not as high and imposing. There are also more fields and forests in the seventh Kingdom. The capital of Han resides in the vast green plains in the south, three days away from the border to Cielei. It is a very divided Kingdom, with many different schools, sects and movements constantly fighting for power. Meeting a group of bandits is not a rare occasion, especially in the wilder regions of the land. Due to the constant fighting and competition Han do count among the finest martial artists in all lands.
Trade
The people of Han excel at woodworking and their finely crafted furniture is admired and wanted by many. Other than that the martial artists of Han are well known and often hired as mercenaries or guards.
Cielei
The Pillar of Heaven and Earth, the mythical lands of Cielei are the gateway between the mortal world and the heavenly realm. The holy place where all the roads lead and everything congregates, Cielei has the authority over the 12 Kingdoms. Though the kingdoms are mostly left to themselves and only in very dire situations does Cielei directly interfere with the affairs of the world. The whole country consists of overgrown mountains, with the highest mountain, Mt. Cielei harboring the Astera school, a place for everyone of the 12 kingdoms to learn and cultivate their powers. The students of the school are often send to mediate between the countries, look over conflicts and help those in need.
Creatures
Humans
The most common of intelligent creatures are normal humans.
Demimals
Sometimes newborns look like animals. These are uncommon and often rejected by society. They look like an animal in human posture and are later on able to take on a fully human appearance.
Animals
Of course normal animals live in this world. Such as bears, sheep and mice.
Beasts
All mythical beings are called “Beasts”, regardless of their form and nature. It not only includes Mythical Beasts such as Dragons and Unicorns, but also things like Demons, Ghosts, Fairies and Spirits. All beast are almost never sighted by normal humans, unless there is some unnatural occurrence or disturbance.
Immortals
No matter if Human, Demimals or Animals. All are able to ascend to Immortals through Cultivation and Tribulations.
Immortals are ranked as following, representing their Cultivation: Immortal, High Immortal, Deity, God, High God, Omni God
Regime
Human Realm
Usually there is one magistrate assigned for each bigger town and villages surrounding it. Some villages have their own Village Chief or Village Elder acting as a Leader. At the top of each country there are two very important persons coming in a set. One is the King or Queen and the other is their Soulbound. They do not need to be Cultivators let alone Immortals. These are Special Soulbounds and high tier mystical beasts which can even assume human form. They choose their master und thus make them the next king of its respective country.
Immortal Realm
Immortals usually do not interfere in mundane business and while knowing of gods they are too low ranking to be of concern for them. Thus immortals dedicate themselves to cultivation and compete with each other in order to be able to join the ranks of the gods.
All Immortal are part of some kind of organization. Be it a sect, faction or clan. Their respective hierarchy may differ but there is always one person acting as the supreme leader of each group. Leaders are usually High Immortals but sometimes even lower Deities who like to mingle with Humans and Immortals.
Realm of Gods
The highest realm is divided into two regions: the lower Realm or “Hidden Realm” and the upper Realm usually referred to as “Heavens”.
Deity
These are local gods, usually worshiped as local village guardians or similar things. While being worshiped by humans they usually are mere servants of gods. Not only Immortals who were once human can Ascend to the rank of Deity, but also Animals. They then have the unique trait of being a Beast Deity and are have a transformation ability by default. Most commonly known are the fox clan and monkey clan. Each beast clan has their own regime while Human Ascended Deities build one full community of their own.
God
Sometimes they are also referred to as Subgod. While they are generally worshiped as a themed god such as “God of Flower” or “God of Cloud” they do belong to the main god circle. Gods are way more powerful than Deities and exclusively live in the upper or lower realm of Gods.
High God
There are only a Handful of High Gods and are considered the “main god family”. It includes famous and popular gods with titles such as “God of War”, “God of Death” and “God of Love”.
Omni God
The most powerful and most of the times oldest gods are the Omni Gods. These Gods act as a leader of all and are called High King and Heavenly King in the lower and upper realm respectively. Presently there are 3 Omni Gods. The previous heavenly King who now lives in retirement and his two sons each reigning one of the godly realms.