Liushu

Liushu is a small mountain village tucked deep within the Spiritwood in the province of Shanzou. The village was founded to provide labor and raw materials for the construction of the nearby Jiangshu Monastery.

Demographics

Liushu is a small town of 304 inhabitants, primarily Human of Xin descent (274). There are small numbers of Owlin (5), Dragonborn (13), and Kobolds (12), almost all born outside of Liushu. About half of the human population are children. Nearly all of the Owlin, Dragonborn, and Kobolds are adults.

Government

Liushu is led by Magistrate Shen Heh, a dragonborn administrator appointed to lead the town in 4829. The Magistrate reports to the local Dragon Lord, who in turn answers to Valamthrax, Great Dragon Lord of Shanzou.

Industry & Trade

The Spiritwood is home to many rare species of trees, many of which are enchanted by fey magic. In particular, many of the trees near Liushu are especially useful for the creation of high-quality paper for use in magic tomes and scrolls. Many of the other hardwoods are useful in construction and other carpentry, including bowmaking and furniture making. The small industry in Liushu produces this paper and wood items, but exports are limited due to a current lack of trade infrastructure for the remote town.
The forest also provides other benefits, including small game for hunting and herbs and mushrooms for alchemy. The town grows a limited amount of rice in terraces and fish from the river and lake supplement the main diet.

Infrastructure

Liushu is divided into three sections - North, Central, and South. North Liushu is the most recently built. It is centered around the new Merchant Exchange. Central Liushu is home to many businesses, including Mama Bao's, Treesparrow Rest, Cerulean Teahouse, and Second Best. It is also home to the Magistrate's Manor. South Liushu is home to many of the residences, farms, and other "rural" businesses.
Central and South Liushu are connected with the Dawn Bridge. At the Bridge sits the Eternal Lantern, an enchanted relic which protects and blesses the town. The main road runs east out of South Liushu eventually connecting to other towns. This road passes through the Eastern Gate, a checkpoint on the edge of town. The Gate is protected by a guardian statue in the shape of a spider, nicknamed Ugly Cute. From Central Liushu, a road runs northwest up into the mountains to the Monastery.

History

In the year 3951 IC, the hero Jiayi Jiang defeated a powerful demon lord, but at the cost of her own life. Out of her grave grew a mighty plum tree, known as the Tree of Wisdom. It became a place for pilgramage for followers of Kotala, but the site was lost after a time.
The Tree of Wisdom was rediscovered by the monk Hui Zhi, who decided to build a monastery at the site. Construction of the Jiangshu Monastery started in earnest in 4748 IC. The construction workers formed a small settlement a few miles from the monastery, named Liushu after the nearby Great Willow Tree. Construction of the monastery was completed in 4754 IC.
In the following years, the town of Liushu continued to provide labor and supplies for the Jiangshu Monastery and lodging for occasional pilgrims. While the town remained small, it prospered.
In 4800 IC, Hui Zhi died, in a moment of grief for the town. Following her death, the remaining monks became elusive and unapproachable.
From 4801 IC to 4805 IC, the Sun Rebellion raged in the southern provinces of the Xin Empire. Many of the nearby settlements in the Spiritwood provided aid to the rebels. The fighting reached a peak with the slaying of the Great Dragon Lord who ruled the province. However, the Rebellion was ultimately crushed. The Dragon Lord Valamthrax seized control of the province. Reprisals against settlements that aided the rebels were swift and merciless, with entire neighboring villages being eliminated. The forests became haunted by the spirits of the fallen.
In 4811 IC, an ambitious and sacriligious merchant company, little more than looters, arrived in Liushu. They quickly became enthralled with the idea of looting the presumably abandoned Jiangshu Monastery and cutting down the Tree of Wisdom at its center. Despite the objections of the villagers, the company went to the Jiangshu Monastery, only to return a few nights later as undead monsters. The following battle became known as the Night of Broken Blades. Afterwards, the Jiangshu Monastery was regarded as an evil and cursed place, avoided by all villagers.
In 4829 IC, a new magistrate was dispatched to govern the town, along with a small complement of soldiers. Magistrate Shen Heh was talented in both the blade and spellcraft, and proved to be a capable and honorable administrator. He worked with the townsfolk on infrastructure repairs and worked to bring new investments to the town. In 4833 IC, a trio of Absyunic cultists, led by Hongrui Fan, fled to the region near Liushu after acts of treason, and the three were killed by the Magistrate and the soldiers in a fire at the abandoned Canary Inn.

Points of interest

Notable people in Liushu include:
Magistrate Shen Heh: Magistrate Shen Heh is a red dragonborn appointed to lead the town in 6348. He is highly capable, both as a warrior and an administrator, and he uses magical implements including scrolls and talismans. He is generally regarded as fair and honorable. However, there are rumors about past misdeeds - for such a talented leader to be stationed in this remote village suggests a fall from grace. His residence, the Magistrate's Manor, is located in central Liushu, with the manor complex doubling as his primary workplace and a shrine to the Dragon God.
"Quartermaster" Ban Hua, Merchant: Hua is an Owlin merchant leading recent investments in Liushu, with plans to expand the lumber industry for export. Hua served as a master logistician for the Imperial Army during the Rebellion, earning him the nickname "Quartermaster". Many respect him for his efficient and smart work, but very few love him due to his cold manner. He arrived in Liushu with a team of nearly two dozen workers, including a dozen kobolds, two dragonborn guards, and several skilled human craftsmen. He can primarily be found in the new Merchant Exchange complex in northeast Liushu.
"Grandfather" Mingwei Shou, Elder: "Grandfather" Mingwei Shou has lived in the village since it's founding, when he came to the town as a child. His parents were carpenters who worked on the construction of the Monastery and the first buildings in Liushu. "Grandfather" Mingwei had a successful career as a carpenter himself before retiring. He and his wife had seven children, twenty three grandchildren. and thirty great grandchildren, with an additional great grandchild and great great grandchild expected before the end of the year. "Grandfather" Mingwei looks forward to his 99th birthday later this year, but despite his age retains all of his wit and wisdom. As the town elder, he is respected by many of the villagers even though he has no formal title, and he is often respectfully called "Grandfather" even by those who aren't related to him. He lives in the large Shou Family Estate in south Liushu.
Kaiguang Shou, Stablemaster: Kaiguang Shou manages the Liushu Stables, with his son Zi Xin Shou acting as farmhand. Kaiguang is Mingwei Shou's grandson and Ningqi Shou is his cousin. The Stables primarily care for pigs and goats, with only a couple horses on hand, as the mountainous terrain makes the use of large animals difficult.
Tian Zhe Hong, Blacksmith: Tian Zhe Hong is a blacksmith who runs the smithy "Second Best". Blessed with talent as a blacksmith, Tian Zhe believed himself to be the best swordsmith in Shanzou and challenged a master swordsmith to create the best blade. Despite creating a truly impressive piece, he was forced to recognize defeat. Afterwards, he decided to further practice his craft without distractions here in Liushu. He named the smithy "Second Best" to remind himself to be humble. He produces many mundane, day to day items for the townspeople, but he continues to practice the art of weaponsmithing, further honing his craft to perfection. He is quite handsome and considered to be one of the town's most eligible bachelors.
Daqiao Zhang, Apothecary: Daqiao Zhang is an Owlin doctor and apothecary, known to place the care of her patients above any profit. She has taken a human apprentice in spite of traditional roles. Her clinic, Hand of Spring, is small but contains treatment rooms and sells medical remedies to the populace. The clinic contains a shrine to Kotala as Daqiao is a devout follower. The clinic is about a mile outside of town, located next to a sacred hot spring said to have healing properties.
Shùmei, Great Willow: The Great Willow tree crowns a pillar-like mountain near Liushu. Reaching the tree's grove requires a difficult ascent up a narrow cliff pathway. The Great Willow is home to a dryad, called Shumei. The dryad prefers her privacy, but the townspeople will occasionally ask for blessings in exchange for offerings.
Huiying Wei, Priestess of Daikitsu: When she was just an infant, Huiying's family home came under attack during the Night of Broken Blades. Her parents hid baby Huiying at an old shrine in the woods, where she was defended through the night by a group of foxes. In the morning, she was rescued by other villagers, and the foxes vanished. Fang believes she owes a debt of gratitude to the Lady of Foxes, and she repays her debt by managing a small shrine in south Liushu.
Dongmei Shou, Hunting Lodge: Dongmei is a great-granddaughter of "Grandfather" Mingwei Shou. She has established herself as a promising young hunter at the local lodge. She is skilled with a bow as well as traps, snares, and tracking.
Ningqi Shou, Treesparrow's Rest: Ningqi owns Treesparrow's Rest, the local General Store, in central Liushu. She and her family live in a home behind the main store.
Guo Yao, Cloud Paper House: Guo Yao is the elder overseer of the Cloud Paper House. His parents were some of the first settlers here and he has been born and raised in the village. Guo has faced significant tragedy in his life, including the untimely deaths of his younger brother and parents, although he does not speak of it anymore, focusing on his work. The Cloud Paper House produces paper from enchanted trees, an essential component for the creation of magical scrolls and tomes. The Cloud Paper House employs several people and stands to expand rapidly as the Merchant Exchange is completed.
Jin Su, local wizard: Jin Su is an owlin scholar and mage who came to Liushu to study the Spiritwood and the fey monsters that dwell within. Jin built a wooden tower on the edge of town to conduct their research.
"Mama Bao" Yuming Ma: Yuming operates a small steamed bun shop in central Liushu. She inherited the shop from her grandfather, who was one of the first settlers in the village. The bao shop is considered a tradition in Liushu.
Linwen Duan, Teahouse Owner: Lin Duan owns the Cerulean Teahouse in central Liushu, alongside his wife Shufen. The Teahouse is one of the primary locations to relax and socialize in Liushu. Moreover, there are a few guest rooms to rent alongside the main building.
Yan Wang, Tea Server: Yan's parents died in a tragic work accident when she was a child. The Duan family helped Yan greatly after the accident. Since the accident, Yan has been quiet and rarely speaks. She now works as a tea server at the Cerulean Teahouse.

Tourism

Liushu hosts several important festivals through the year, including the First Long Night, Feast of the Kami, New Year Festival, and the Reenactment Festival.

• The Re-enactment Festival is held on the final night of Spring to ward off ghosts and harmful spirits. During the night, the villagers "re-enact" the kidnapping of several villagers by ghosts. The abductees are bundled up and carried into the forest by villagers dressed as ghosts, while others mourn. In the morning, the abductees return to the village.
• The First Long Night is celebrated in the days surrounding the Autumn Equinox, marking the approach of winter. A communal festival is held on the Equinox itself. Various games and activities are played while traditional dishes, including noodles and sweets, are available. Outside of the festival, families engage in acts of charity and friendship to rebuild community connections. They also remember their ancestors, including by cleaning graves and tending to family shrines.
• The Feast of the Kami is held at the end of Fall, near the start of winter. Friendly spirits are welcomed into the town and offered a feast, including tea, food, and entertainment, in exchange for their ongoing blessing.
• The Claylight Festival is held on the winter solstice. Villagers build clay lanterns on the side of the road, lighting them at dusk and using their heat to cook a communal meal.
• The New Year Festival is held for several days early in Spring, marking the end of winter and the start of a new year. Celebratory decorations are put up across the town, and households host large dinners full of rich foods for their extended families. Offerings are made to bless a prosperous new year.

Many of these holidays are celebrated across large areas of the Xin Empire, with regional differences. However, the Re-enactment Festival is a local festival unique to the Spiritwood.

Geography

20 miles to the northwest lies Jiangshu Monastery. The road to the Monastery is known as the Pilgrim's Path. In the final portions of the road, there are a series of shrines.The journey through the rugged mountains can be difficult and slow - pilgrims would often rest for the night at one of the shrines.
The nearest settlement is Qingshan, which lies about 20 miles to the east. Trade leaving Liushu passes through Qingshan. The core of the town is a fortification built during the Sun Rebellion but since abandoned. Qingshan lies alongside a large mountain lake which provides fresh water and fish for the town.
Roads lead north and south from Liushu to the ruins of villages abandoned for decades.
The highest peak in the area is Jade Silk Mountain, whose rocky heights lie nearly a half mile above the surrounding lands.
A number of places near the town of Liushu are said to be haunted. The nearby lake is said to be haunted by a dangerous spirit known as the Drowned Girl, who lures innocents into a watery death. Strangle tales are told about the ruins of the Canary Inn.

Founding Date

4748 IC

Type

Village

Population

304

Location under

Spiritwood

Owner/Ruler

Valamthrax

Owning Organization

Empire of Xin