Jia (Humans)

Jia is an immense continent and according to some, is the birthplace of human civilization if not humanity itself. The kingdoms of Nirva and Kin’u remain as testaments to a long lineage, though Syne, officially known as the Fallen Empire of Syne, was at one point the greatest human power on the continent, often capable of repelling aggressions from Moksha.

Syn
The Fallen Empire of Syne was once “The Eternal Empire of Syne,” known both for its longevity and that it seemed to stretch without end. The people of Syne originated in the Standing Valley, through which an immense river ran. Over time, they took to cultivate their land and an immense kingdom emerged. Over millennia dynasties rose and fell within it, always shaped and molded by a desire to combat the Djinn of Moksha.

But the Syn were not without an inherent flaw that came of their longevity: a sense of pride in their essentialized selves, which meant conquering nearby human tribes. Unlike on Syv Nova where the kingdoms worked with relative cooperation, the Syn forced many cultures under their influence while forcing them to take on their own characteristics.

The final Syn dynasty was the Ma Dynasty, which was then followed by the Yal (“Horselord”)Period.

Kyn
Once a tributary state to Syn, the Kingdom of Kin’u was peopled by those that were believed descended of the Land of Three Dragons, a mystical realm no longer seen on any map. The Kyn accepted a great deal of learning from the Syn in exchange for their service in their armies, though eventually the two split with the latter merely paying tribute without offering soldiers. For this reason, when the Cataclysm occurred in Syne, Kin’u was able to pick up its mantle and battle onward.

With the fall of Syne, Kin’u became the less a bulwark against the Moksha as Syne had been, but rather a series of winding mazes.

Nirvan
Much like the Dowei’i of Syv Augur, Nirvan were raised in the shadow of a non-human race, these the monstrous Djinn of Moksha. Initially utilized as a source of power for the Djinn, the Nirvans with the aid of the Syn managed to break their hold and established a colony to the south of Moksha. Since then they have fought to maintain their freedom, often utilizing magic in similar fashion to the Djinn. Because of this, they are extremely powerful though unpredictable spellcasters.

Syn
Syne is now ruled by the Yal, a coalition of centaur that married the final Ma princesses and carved out sections of the empire to rule through their brutal strength. These centaur, once employed against the Moksha, now maintain personal fiefs that they oversee with little regard for the citizens.

As Syne was a complex system of bureaucratic arrangements and appointments, following the emergence of the Horselords as the leaders of the realm, many institutions buckled under the weight. Widespread famine resulted, with a large number dying to either rioting or starvation. Pirates began to prey upon those that sought shelter along the coast, with some receiving welcome to Kin’u.

The Horselords organize themselves around a single Khagan (Supreme Ruler), though each Khan (Lord) is free to maintain his domain until such a time when he is called on for battle.

The current khagan is Mokri.

An elder Syn scholar named Master Suwei attempts to galvanize his people, but has met with little success.

Kyn
Kin’u modeled its cities and ruling class off the fallen Syne. Their ruler, the Emperor of All Heavens, rules from the city of Miyoshi. His role is to be the supreme authority on all matters, though his military is relegated to command under the shogun, who names generals to patrol various portions of the empire known as daimyo. These venerated generals are similar to military governors, though they also gain civil authority from the presence of a shugo, who reports back to the Emperor directly. Thus, there is always oversight within the kingdom.

Kin’u believe in great walled cities, organized from the northernmost position as that of importance and venturing down in rank toward the gate. Despite this, oddly, though all people in Kin’u are held by rank and protocol, they receive no negative criticism for their position in life so long as they work to ensure the prosperity of the empire.

Nirvan
The Nirvans are ruled by a rajah, who acts as the authority in all matters. Because Nirva is constantly under threat of invasion from the Djinn, the rajah is the greatest warrior in the realm but must also be trained as a scholar and priest.

As the Nirvans believe strongly in reincarnation as a means of escaping struggle, they routinely attempt to perform good deeds despite their difficult situations. As a result, Nirvana are known to be some of the most generous hosts about, even when they have little to offer.

Syn
Once, the Syne military was the largest and most expansive of all human kingdoms, supported by tributary states and its impressive population. But as the war with the Djinn continued onward, they began divesting themselves of personal engagement and leaving it to outsiders, primarily the centaurs.

Syne technology was leagues ahead of other nations, particularly in ranged combat. However, following the fall much technology has been lost. Horsemanship is the prominent feature of those still serving in the military, though they have a very strong polearm tradition as well.

Kyn
The Kyn have always been considered thoroughly invested in perfection over all other qualities. For that reason, they have developed numerous schools of particular practice over their thousands of years of existence, but have developed relatively little in terms of massed military engagement.

Protected by the Sea of Dragons, their navy is of enough strength to discourage corsairs. They have an impressive horseback archery tradition and their swordsmanship is second to none, but they lack in siege warfare training as they view the concept of a siege inartful.

However, and most important of all, is their creation of the hengeyokai to serve in their proxy wars. These demi-humans, a fusion of kami and men, are often utilized in many functions of society, though initially only for frontline endeavors. The majority of their military functions have fallen to the hengeyokai, with Kyn citizens in turn working on more life-affirming pursuits.

Nirvan
Nirvan military protocol is broken into three branches: cavalry, artillery, and naval support. Though their dervishes are famed for their dexterity, these three branches are what are most often utilized against the djinn. The artillery corps, in particular, gained a considerable amount of knowledge from the Syn. Resultant, they have strapped artillery pieces to elephants and use them as siege breakers and general shock troops.

The Nirvan navy fights off pirates as best it can, though some of its more daring captains find themselves as pirates in a matter of years.

Syn
Syn was known to revere ancestral spirits, though the Great Slumbering Dragon, Qinlong, was the overarching patriarch of their wide pantheon.

Kyn
In general, Kyn worship local deities known as kami. Kami are nearly infinite in number and shape, so reverence is shown to nature in the place of any particular idea in many ways. However, they did borrow shrine building from Syn. An attempt at planting western religion was vigorously destroyed by the Emperor of All Heavens and the shogun in a rare moment of absolute agreement.

Nirvan
Nirvans do not believe that any being is deserving of worship more than any other, as all are trapped within the same cycle and seeking salvation. That said, there are those that do take on regional gods, but their pantheon is so large that some simply see all gods as one “god” that is to be worshipped.

Potentially because

Syn
The Eternal Kingdom of Syne was the connecting point for numerous cultures throughout history. Through its tributary state of Kin’u it was able to open negotiations with Syv Nova, while silk and spices were traded from Moksha to Syv Augur. This stretching position, naturally, led it to have many rivalries though the lasting one was between the Djinn and the Syn.

The Eternal Empire fell half a century before the Dread Tumult and historians believe it was the absence of their traditional enemy that permitted some Djinn to join the Tumult’s army.

Syne also greatly aided the Nirvans in their independence, seeking to further upset the balance of power in the region in their favor. Now, treasure hunters and archeologists brave the dangers of the Fallen Empire to seek wealth in coin or collections of lost knowledge.

Kyn
Kin’u has been the most amenable to the western nations of any Jian kingdom. Though they strongly oppose exchanges in religion, they took up the position of being the primary traders of silks and fine goods, particularly jade.

Their creation of the hengeyokai is seen as a potentially damning decision, likening them to the Djinn and their creation of the Sylph. However, it should be noted that the Kin’u do not hold the hengeyokai as contemptuous slaves.

Nirvan
Nirvans have expanded navigation considerably at sea. As one of the forces keeping the Djinn from extending their power, they have always been eager to find new allies and make friends where they might. Unfortunately, this has led them to joining in nefarious bands without much understanding of their actions until they are too late.