Category:Ch'in

=Overview= In the lands of tightly kept traditions and exotic beauty Ch'in is a patriarchal nation with modest ideals if compared to the openness and freedoms from those in Terre d'Ange. Under hereditary rule in the Xing Dynasty, named so due to the ruling family’s surname, the Emperor of Ch'in is hailed as the "Son of Heaven" with thousands of attendants at his disposal, catering to his every whim. Supreme Leader and chosen by their "God", he is recognized as the ruler of "All Under Heaven" for the very words uttered through the Emperor's lips are etched as law and must be strictly adhered to. Equality and fairness has no place within the Emperor's court. Although he may be titled and revered as the Son of Heaven it is the Emperor's countless advisors that truly wield the power behind the golden throne.

For the last sixty years, Emperor Xing has ruled Ch'in shortly after the passing of his father, Emperor Hu, at the age of eight. Under the guidance of his advisors Ch'in has been constructed into their vision of greatness. Xing, unfortunately, had become an easily manipulated pawn and a squander of wealth as his greed far surpassed the practically of his kingdom's needs, leading to increasingly high levels of poverty and a broader segregation within the noble hierarchy.

With conflicts on the rise as the needs of the greedy Emperor are fueled by heavy taxation upon the nobility a covert assemblage of noble Ch'in Houses has orchestrated efforts to unseat the Emperor Xing. Lead by Shen Jiansu, the Sons of Rebirth seek to restore Ch'in to its idolized and formal glory.

=Culture= Men have the dominate role in Ch'in where as women are considered the subservient creatures. In the lands of colorful fashions and ethereal landscapes the Ch'in have a personified perception of beauty and it is one that remains ever dedicated to their way of life. There is significant unbalanced scale of power with the haves on one side and the have nots on the other. The middle class is near non-existent as the poor are kept poor with profound intentions. Wisdom is a prized virtue among the Ch'in for they take great pride in knowledge, understanding the world as well as the laws of nature.

People of Interest
Emperor Shen Xing The current ruling monarch of Ch'in, has one wife and dozens of concubines. Xing has 14 children, 23 grand children, and 4 great grand children where all of his lineage reside within the Imperial Palace.

Tian Ming Ch'in Envoy/Ambassador to Terre d'Ange Shen Jiansu Leader of the Sons of Rebirth, a noble rebel faction posing a threat to Emperor Xing For as long as anyone could remember, and chronically document, the feud between House Jiansu and House Xing has been ever present over who should rule Ch'in. House Jiansu was unseated a little over two hundred years ago and that embarrassment has never been forgotten. While all members of House Jiansu have been barred from entering the Imperial City some say they are still quite active, manipulating events behind the curtains in their favor.

Government
There is one government and the Emperor is the supreme ruler for as long as he may live. Policies change, laws are established as his countless advisers may attempt to sway the Emperor's opinion over matters. He is the judge, the jury and the commanding executioner.

Religion
The Ch'in beliefs are heavily focused around spirits and elements. Mythical creatures are known to exist and have a profound effect on every day lives. Ancestors are often sought after for guidance and some claim that travel to the spirit world is possible. In an effort to create a balance of the mind, body and spirit they understand that two natures must exist: for every positive there a negative, every right has a wrong for one cannot be without the other. In Ch'in the Emperor is the chosen Son of Heaven and has the closest relationship with the overseeing deity from above. He is both a cruel and compassionate God and like many beliefs, has countless of children that seek to repair, moderate or create chaos.

Slavery
Under Emperor Xing’s rule slavery still exists. Captured civilians from wars waged may be inducted into a noble’s house as servants or sold to foreign trade partners. Their treatment could vary depending on the owner, however all servants/slaves had food, clothing, and were paid (although very little) for their services rendered. Slaves always have the option of buying out their freedom from their overseer although these debt prices were usually set at an extremely high price as a deterrent against losing valuable labor. It was rare to allow the house servants to read and write as they were generally inducted into the house to perform tasks of heavy labor. People in Ch’in who were classified as slaves were considered beneath the common Ch’in citizens, who may also own slaves if they were so fortunate.

=Geography=

=Allies and Enemies= Terre d'Ange is considered an ally with the Ch'in as they have held a solid trade relationship with the nation over the last forty years.

The Tartar, a large group of barbaric clansmen, resided on the outskirts of Ch'in, occasionally raiding the far villages and an overall tradition of historic nuisance for the Ch'in Empire. Countless wars have been waged against the Tartar and for some times decades the Ch'in people will live in peace as the Tartar tribesmen seek to rebuild their armies. The last war against their greatest enemy was five years ago, since then no one has any knowledge as to what these barbarians are plotting.

=Resources=