Geography and Culture

Geography



The Land of Dragons is a rich land, the soil is fertile (if you know where to go), many areas are filled with rice fields. Other grains are also grown, as well as many other types of food and animals raised in small farms. Precious jewels and gold are easily found and sent to the capital, to be made into many ornate items. The land is also rich in bamboo, which is a commodity that is used for a great many things. There is also trade in spices and silks, sent to many parts of the land, in return for other goods.



Capital



The capital is known as Chang'an, and it is where the Imperial Palace sits. Sometimes called the Forbidden City, it is the seat of the Emperor and the council. The city is a bustling hive of activity, it never stops. On the outskirts of the city lie the poorer houses, where many people live in one house, working together in family businesses. The closer to the Palace you go, the better the quality of life. Of course, with so many people living together in a small area, there is a constant noise and the smells of many people mingling together. Spices, street vendors with their woks and wares, and animals awaiting market, all make up the bustle of the city. The Palace is surrounded by an wall, with four gates. The North and South gates are the largest by far. They are big stone gates with ornate carvings of animal totems, associated with protection and prosperity. The gates themselves are very heavy, thick wood and metal gates. To close them, a team of 12 men is needed. The gates are so wide that 15 horses can pass through, side by side. Either side of the gates, sit guard towers with watchful guards. The gates are topped with red tiled traditional rooftops, making for a very secure entrance into the city. The East and West gates are much smaller, and as such, only have one guard tower. Only 5 or 6 men on horses can pass through at the same time, and that would be a squeeze.

Entering this part of the city, brings you into what is known as Imperial Square. This is a wide open square that is cobbled. It is at the front of the palace and hosts many of the large gatherings, as it's such a large area. The area is kept clear of vendors and stalls, to allow for the army to use it if needed. Directly ahead of the North gate is the palace. It is a great structure, set atop large foundations. To get into the Palace, you must climb many steps to reach it. However, only the Emperor and trusted advisers ever get inside the Palace itself.



Surrounding Countryside



The rest of the Land of Dragons is very simple in comparison to the capital. There are clusters of small rural communities in villages. Most of these are set in small valleys and at the feet of mountains, where the most fertile soil lies. High up in the mountains themselves, are temples and monasteries where monks train and worship. There are some temples further down, but they tend to be smaller, more like shrines. Dotted about the landscape are small shrines to honor the ancestors and the spirits of the land. The lands themselves consist of mountains and valleys for the most part, though there are one or two rolling plains between valleys. There is a desert at the far end of the land, though it is not known whether this part of the land has any inhabitants. The climate is temperate, with varied seasons. The winter often sees a blanket of snow fall across the entirety of the land, making life just that bit harder. Spring is a beautiful time of the year as the cherry trees come out in their full, vibrant blossoms, showering the land with color. Summer sees the wet monsoon season descend upon the land, covering the fertile ground in heavy rains. The autumn turns the land into a vibrant land of color, ranging from deep golds, to pale yellows.



Culture



The culture of the Land of Dragons is steeped in mysticism and traditional values. People honor their families, and family life is the most important thing to them. Each home has a shrine to their ancestors, where they will pray for guidance and give thanks for their prosperity. People value honor and honorable deeds very highly. Simply honoring ones family, is often enough to show your worth to those around you. Many people help their neighbors and work together as a community, showing solidarity with one another. Those who do not pull their weight and perform honorably, are often shunned and quickly find themselves without a place in the community.

Most people live simply, working at crafts. Many people work on the farms and in the fields, gathering the harvest and feeding the people. Others work at crafting clothing from simple materials such as wool. Some work with natural resources such as metal and wood, making weapons in times of war, making furniture in times of peace. There are many other skills that are in the culture; pottery making, basket weaving, tile making, silk weaving and so on. These commodities are traded between people, instead of a general currency, though there is a currency in use. The currency is the copper coin, which is a copper circular coin with a square cut out of the center. It is used in many situations, where bartering is not always convenient. It tends to be used more in the capital.

The people pray not only to ancestors, but also to divine spirits. Many temples are set up to worship many spirits and/or deities. Beliefs that follow similar paths to Buddhism and Taoism are widely practiced within the Land of Dragons. In addition to these beliefs, people pray to the individual deities and spirits for guidance. There is a wide pantheon of spirits and deities, ranging from animal spirits, to spirits of fallen warriors. Each spirit has a range of things that he, she or even it, stand for. Some stand for the things in nature like the seasons, or individual elements. Others are deities of motherhood, or of protection. As such, there is a large choice when needing to pray for guidance and for help. Sometimes, these deities and spirits can grant powerful favors to those who are honorable.



A mention should be given to the belief in the five elements, as it forms a core belief overall. The five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Water and Metal. Each generates the next, and they have opposites. This core belief in the elements makes up a large part of the daily life and traditions of the people in the Land of Dragons.



Clothing



Clothes are very simple for most people. Men wear simple loose fitting woolen pants. At the bottom of the pants they usually wrap material around their ankles, leading down to their shoes. Depending on what type of work they do, depends on how their attire differs on top. Poor people wear long plain tops in wool, that fasten on the shoulder. Blacksmiths often wear short sleeves and leather aprons, while merchants tend to wear slightly fancier clothing. Usually wearing finer materials such as satin and cotton, they wear cross collar satin shirts, with patterns and designs on them. Women wear modest clothing, with the traditional clothing being loose fitting skirts and blouses. Women's clothing is more layered than men's, to protect their modesty. They often wear loose pants beneath the skirts, and delicate slippers or clogs. The Cheongsam has become more popular in recent years, as a more formal dress for women to wear. Everyone has a set of formal clothing, for feast days and celebration days. These clothes are often embroidered with fancy leaf designs and patterns, the material itself often starting out with a pattern as well. Dragons feature heavily on clothing as well as flowers, making very intricate designs on more formal clothing. Hairstyles vary, though men tend to have their hair long and braided. Women also have long hair, but it tends to be pulled up into intricate hairstyles, piled up on the head.