Shou Lung

Demography and Population

The majority of the population of Shou-Lung consists of Human. Dragonborn are the second most seen Species, followed by the Warforged and Elves. There is no mentiable Dwarven society in Shou-lung. Minorities in Shou-Lung are mostly Gnomes, Halflings, Drows, Tabaxi and all other Species known to be on Toril.

Military

Shou-Lung is an Empire with the Emporer not only at the top of the state but also at the top of the Military. The Imperialarmy is in size, manpower and range of versatility the biggest in Shou-Lung. It is entirely under control of the Emporer and his Generals. As the porvincial governers the Lords who fill this role have also an army as there dispossal. But these regional army are smaller in size and more revined to the region there located in. Some of the major cities which are big enough have a army on there own, but it act more like a citywatch, even though they are better founded and equiped than most of the citywatches in Faerûn. The protection of the maintraderoutes are under supervision of the imperialarmy. The other major routes are under the control of the regional governments.

Religion

The oldest Belief in Shou-Lung is that of Path of Enlightment, it is older than Shou-Lung but the date of origin is lost. Many Scholars, Priests and Clerics belief that could be around 10000BDR to 9000BDR. At the start spread by only oral teachings, the first mentioning in a Text is dated back to 7830BDR by Monks. Shortly is after the establishing of Shou-Lung it became the major beliefsystem in the Empire, alomgside the spiritualism which developed parallel over the time. Nowadays both exist in tandem and coalition in the Empire and the neighboring Empires of Tu-Lung and Tabot. Both are in practised followed on an everyday use which fits the most but always sincere. Ever since a long and devastating Battle with the last Primordial Coma the Cosmos Serpent Kyodai the Soul of Kara-Tur is sleeping under Otawara, Kyodai brought the Path of Enlightment to the Land and its Inhabitants.

Holidays

New Year is celebrated all over Kara-Tur, for over 3000 years now. It is usually tradition to go to a Shrine or temple during the Day and prey and thank the Gods or Spirits for a good year, and making offerings for the upcoming year. In the Evening you go with your familie or loved ones out to see the Fireworks, it celebrated through the whole City, there are stand with food and small gamestands and booth where you can buy small trinkets. Close to midnight begins the Fireworks which will last for a good half an hour. For young people it is festival where you go with your loved one and enjoy the Day and Night.

Emporer Birthday is celebrated in the second Month of the Year. The main Celebration is in Otawara where the Emporer resides, it almost as big as New Year. The whole City is in festivalmood, stands for Food and trinkets are allover the City, Restaurants and Inns and other Foodservices offer special Dishes in order to celebrate the Emporer. Other Line of works are closed in order to enjoy the Festival. In other parts of the Empire are also only the Restaurants and so on open. Many people travel to Otawara in order to celebrate and have a look at the Emporer when he is proceeding through the City. In the Evening is a fireworksshow in Otawara which is opened by the Emporer.

Hanami is celebrated when the first cherryblossoms are blooming. It is mostly at the end of the third Month. At first it was a honoring of Spirits who are residing in the cherrytrees. But nowadays it is gathering of Families and Friends on the first few days when the Blossoms are blooming. You see people all over the Cities making a Picknick under the Cherrytrees in the Parks and green areas of the city. Everyone is making special dishes to celebrate the day and the blooming, but also especially for young people to impress the loved ones. It is one of the favored holidays of young people to celebrate with the one you in love and show it to them.

Lanternfestival is celebrated in the end of summer. Although their are many regional differences in the festival, their are also common parts of it throughout the Empire. In some areas there is a konvoi moving through the town to shrine or temple with interesting lanterns in honoring the ancestors or local spirits along with the Gods. In other regions there will be a competion between shrines and temple or other local facilities in creating the best lantern or the best presentation of it. One thing almost every lanternfestival has in common is when it becomes dark that everyone gathers around to send a lantern flying in the air with prayers and thanks to the gods.

There are many other more Regional and local festivals in Shou-Lung, many are centered aroung the local shrine or temple. Most of them are to celebrate the founding of the shrine or temple or some historic event in connection with it. Some other festivals are for regional Heros who fought an epic battle nearby or slayed a demon haressing the town. You can also find even smaller festivals in cities and towns which are celebrating a new public building or new build bridge connecting the town.

Foreign Relations

The Empires of Shou-lung und Tu-lung in kara-Tur has a fairly good relation to the Kingdoms and States of Faerûn and to Zahkara, although the distances between the Empires is several hundred Miles, there is a good interaction in trade and culture. Shou-Lung also has a mostly econnomical relationship with the Drowempire in the Underdark of Kara-tu, but in the last few hundred years the political exchange has increased.

Agriculture & Industry

The Agriculture is as diverse as it is in Faerûn, but here the main product is rice instead of grain. The next products are soybean, barley, rapeseed, corn and peanuts. These products have a long history here not only in Shou-Lung but in all of Kara-Tur. Also to mentioned is Perilla and Wasabi as Herbs and seasoning to many dishes. As for Fruits there are the Yuzu to mentioned for its sour taste, Satsuma a semi-seedless citrus fruit a winterseason fruit, and Momo a peachlike fruit known for its juicy, rich sweet flavor.
When it comes to meat - Shou-Lung is known for its wagyu-beef because of its well rounded flavor, because of its strict quality controls. But other then that the main resource is Fish. Fishing is since the beginning a major factor not only as a industry but also as a main source for meat, the coastal areas are filled various fishes. To mention some - Thunafish, Yellowtail, red sea beam, also scampi, scallops and pulpo.
As for beverages Shou-Lung has some in stock. For example the well -known Sake a ricebased-drink. But also popular is Honkaku-Shochu with its varietry of flavors, and awamori a former regional product but increasing popularity. Besides this there are also Beer and wine with long tradition and history to it.

Blacksmith

The Industry of Shou-Lung is also vast and broad. The probably most known part is the steel-industry with its traditional way to produce swords and knifes and sorts with the tamahagane-steel. But this steel is not traded with other countries or empires. Also the amount you can buy as an outsider is limited. Besides Steel other minerals are also mined and refined there for traded. Known is Jade for jewelery also gold and silver for this purpose. Wood is product with traditon to it. Some of the most precious furniture are produced here with the most delicate pattern. Also to this date a majority of houses is build entirly out of wood.
In terms of refined or producesd products, Shou-Lung has a wide range. From the mentioned Furniture and procesed Steel there are also goods like fabrics for clothes especially silk and very smooth wool.

Trade & Transport

For trading the use of carriages are common as anywhere else. There are also traderoutes across the Sea, Shou-Lung has therefore a wide range of cargoships and fairly large tradefleet.

Education

From the age of 4 to 10 children need to attend a primary school provided by the government. After this they can attend a secondary school for 5 more years, but this cames with a cost for books, teacher, etc., so only families with the necessary income can afford that. But there are a lot of ways to get scholarships for that.

Infrastructure

Shou-Lung the vast and big Empire it is, was always concerned about the infrastructre between and in the citys and towns. And even it is that big the roads are fairly good in shape ven when they are just countryroads. The Main traderouts between the major citys, the neighboring countries and even with Faerûn are very well maintained. As an evergrowing Empire Infrastructure is a main issue that needs to be dealt with, therefor is a whole ministry on it. But not only Landroutes fall into it - also the searoutes are supervised by the ministry.

Founding Date

-5460DR

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Capital

Otawara

Alternative Names

Receiver of the Dragon

Training Level

Professional

Demonym

shou

Ruling Organization

Clan Fujiwara

Head of State

The Emporer

Head of Government

The Emporer

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Market economy

Currency

The Drake

1Platin = 10Gold

1Gold = 10Silber

1Silber = 10Copper

Legislative Body

The legislative is under control of the Emporer with his cabinett of ministers and governers. Governers and ministers alike can bring in new proposals for laws, after a vote within the cabinett the ultimate decision makes the Emporer.

Judicial Body

The judicial Body is the Emporers Court divided in different sections and order.
The different section representing the type of crime.

Murder and assault in handled by the section of security.

Economiccrimes like taxevasion, thiefery and the likes are in the section of Economy and Trade.

The different orders are determand on what level the crime was comitted.

municipal

regional

state

Executive Body

The executive Body is mostly provided by the army of the state and province. Big cities like Otawara or Sokenzan have there own Citysecurityforce similar in structure to the army.

Controlled Territories

• Miren
• Otawara

Related Species

• Dragonborn
• Human
• Tabaxi
• Warforged / Sentinels

Friendly, Open Borders, Trade

Tu Lung

85

Shou Lung

85

Non-Aggression, Semi-open Border, Trade

Shou Lung

75

Yauntyrr Dynasty

65