Kang
The Realm of Heaven
The Divine Mandate of Kang is a massive pan-racial realm located in the northeastern part of the continent. It is ruled by a pure aasimar dynasty, whose goals and motivations methodically change with each new ruler.
Structure
The Divine Mandate is a theocratic realm, where the heads of state are recognised Avatars by the Heavenly Conduits. These are kalashtar temple-monks who live in high-rise monasteries in Riwenjing itself, and who conduct closely-guarded ceremonies and rituals to determine future Avatars. Each Avatar is expected to adhere to a philosophical cyclical pattern of behaviour, the Celestial Eras, which go from Strife to War, and then to Peace and afterwards Enlightenment. After Enlightenment, the cycle restarts again. The Mandate is currently in a Celestial Era of War led by the Striking Avatar. When a new Avatar ascends, all of their siblings and other close family members are expelled or recruited for lifetime military service. As each generation can number up to 50 or so individuals, this is quite the scene.
Organisationally, the Divine Mandate is divided into Protectorates that correspond to the realm's many races. They are generally autonomous, and maintain their own government, and in some cases, foreign policy. The common connection is to the capital area, called Skygarden, which is populated by the humanoid kalashtar and an artificial race called the Warforged. Delegations from the Protectorates are a frequent sight in Skygarden, which has evolved into a commercial powerhouse of its own, with wares ranging from orcish weapons to tabaxi platters.
History
The Kang dynasty itself traces its beginnings to the first century after the Age of Dragons. During that time a prominent warrior-philosopher known as Sol "the Ascended" conquered the region that is now known as Skygarden, which was split between several petty magnates, and was thus the first to re-establish a wider system of government during a chaotic period. He was a prolific writer, and successive generations eventually adapted these into a massive treatise which constitutes the current system of government of the Mandate.
After Sol's death at the end of the century, there was a struggle between pretenders, a time which is considered to be the first Era of Strife, during which the first Avatar of the Kang dynasty prevailed. Following the unification, the succeeding Avatar sought to ensure the dominance of the dynasty by initiating a number of wars of subjugation against its loosely-organised neighbours. This was the first Era of War. This Avatar died in battle, and their successor spent their entire reign clarifying the relationship between the capital and its new subjects by granting them favourable terms such as general autonomy. This was the first Era of Peace. Upon the death of the peace-making Avatar, the next one began applying Sol's philosophy into a framework that predicted absolute stability and the eternal continuity of the Kang dynasty: the Celestial Eras. The first Avatar of Enlightenment also declared that the Kang possessed a Divine Mandate to rule in perpetuity, and that only pure aasimar could ever be born as Avatars.
Today the dynasty is exclusively aasimar, as a result of millenia of neglect towards its human offspring. There are a number of other aasimar families who live in the inner palace-city of Riwenjing, as a way to guarantee some genetic diversity.After Sol's death at the end of the century, there was a struggle between pretenders, a time which is considered to be the first Era of Strife, during which the first Avatar of the Kang dynasty prevailed. Following the unification, the succeeding Avatar sought to ensure the dominance of the dynasty by initiating a number of wars of subjugation against its loosely-organised neighbours. This was the first Era of War. This Avatar died in battle, and their successor spent their entire reign clarifying the relationship between the capital and its new subjects by granting them favourable terms such as general autonomy. This was the first Era of Peace. Upon the death of the peace-making Avatar, the next one began applying Sol's philosophy into a framework that predicted absolute stability and the eternal continuity of the Kang dynasty: the Celestial Eras. The first Avatar of Enlightenment also declared that the Kang possessed a Divine Mandate to rule in perpetuity, and that only pure aasimar could ever be born as Avatars.
Territories
The centrally-located capital region of Skygarden is where the Kang dynasty itself resides, alongside a number of aasimar families, as well as the Warforged and the kalashtar. It is called 'Renjian leyuan' in Riwenese. The autonomous Protectorates number nine, and they are:
- the Redsabres: western border territory, orcish;
- Vrozun: northwestern realm, elven;
- Katarkarai: southwestern realm, leonin;
- Kitsunara: eastern realm, kitsune;
- N'ray: southeastern realm, catfolk/tabaxi;
- Chacdrya: northeastern realm, human, genasi and vanara;
- Rawa-rawa Jungles: far eastern realm, grippli;
- Beaktribes of Omuchi: far northeastern border territories, tengu & aarakocra;
- Tennuzlan: eastern border territory, lizardfolk;
These divisions are a simplification as the Protectorates are organised differently. They lack clearly-defined borders, and cross-border movement, trade, and other interactions between them further exemplifies this. The one thing that unites them is that they all have some form of agreed-upon authority that represents their race in the deliberative Celestial Circle.
Military
The Seat of Heaven of the Kang dynasty has no standing army, instead raising its military when needed from its Protectorates. These temporary armies are called Jun Banners. There are however, a few aasimar-only bodyguard units who always stand ready: the Spears of Heaven. These are normally comprehended by Kang family members.
Four Eras - one Cycle.
The Kang last forever.
Founding Date
57 AM
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Power Structure
Semi-autonomous area
Legislative Body
Celestial Circle
Executive Body
Seat of Heaven
Neighboring Nations
