Post by El Borak on Mar 13, 2024 12:47:20 GMT -5
Tongking
Gummint: Kingdom
Mythos: Chinsungese*
Leader: Kow Si-fan Ti
CAPITAL: Canton (Pop.: 495K)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Guilin: 60K
Haikow: 70K
Haiphong: 110K
Hanoi: 125K
Naning: 75K
Shantow: 55K
Zhanjiang: 130K
Loc.: Azir
Language: Chinese dialect
Pop.: 15,000,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: White lotus trimmed
gold, on a purple field.
Coinage: Ch'in Standard.
Companions: Prince ov Minh, nobs, officials, priests, etc.
Friends: Annam
Foes: Nanchao, Sung.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Fighting with Nanchao on border.
Intrigues: The southern portion ov the realm is restless && resentful
ov the recent change ov CAPITAL from Hanoi, && rumours have it a re-volt
is brewing w/ Annam's aid. If that is the case the alliance is broken,
Tongking will need help. Agents ov Nanchao are ready! Many palace
court intrigues.
Artifacts/Relics: The Crown has in its possession the Thunderbolt
Sword, the Jeweled Serpent, the Two Madness Bag, && the
Dragontiger Helms. Some small number ov minor items are also held
in Canton && elsewhere in the realm.
Alignment: Chaotic Evil <anti-paladins>
Thumbnail Sketches: Comprised ov territory covering over 200,000
sq. mi., this southernmost ov Chinsungese realms is the smallest,
but one of the richest due to its production && trading. The
western portion ov the realm is quite wild, && there can be found
mountain forests && rainforests where tigers, buffalo, && all sorts ov
large && small game abound. However, the kingdom is more notable
for its cities && trading than scenic beauties && hunting.
Canton, more properly Kwang-Chow Fu, the CAPITAL, is situated on
the Pearl River some 80 miles upstream from its mouth at the Sung
Sea. Passing through its bluffs which compress the river below the city
into what is called the Tiger Gate, one sails on to reach Canton. Traffic
is active, for the Pearl is navigable for some 300 miles beyond the
CAPITAL && is thus a major artery ov commerce. The course ov the river
runs straight through the walls ov Canton, guarded by upstream &&
downstream gates w/ considerable outworks. Although there are
many outlying suburbs around the city, so that its circumference is
possibly 10 || 12 miles, the actual heart ov the CAPITAL is walled.
The walls ov Canton are ov brick set onto a foundation ov bedrock
ov granite in some places, sandstone in others. They are 25' high,
NOT incl. the parapeting, && as thick, set @ irregular intervals
w/ somewhat higher bastions || towers ov 35- to 50-foot height. In
+addition+ to the water gates, there are 8 well-fortified gateways into
Canton. In the N, there are 4 small castle-like outwork forts:
1 each to the E & W, && 2 in the S. It is speculated
that a wall to connect these citadels is planned, thus creating a larger
metropolitan fortress in the manner ov the Sung CAPITAL. The current
wall has a circumference ov a little more than 6 miles. In the N it
is built to incl. the heights ov a considerable hill there, while a
broad moat filled w/ water at intervals, from the rising tide, serves
to +add+ protection to the other 3 sides ov Canton. (The filth @ the
bottom ov the deep ditch is better left undescribed, && the water
covering periodically is indeed much appreciated...)
Inside there is a partitioning wall from E to W, dividing
Canton into unequal halves. In the N the city is called "Old," &&
it is 1/2 again as large as the "New." There are 4 inner gates in the
partition wall, but at night these, as the outer gates, are shut fast.
Altogether there are more than 600 long && narrow but clean, paved
streets inside the walls. Along them are small, mostly 2- && 3-
storied buildings, w/ shops below && dwelling quarters above. The
rear court is employed for storage in most cases, although obviously
it was originally intended for other purposes. The royal palace compound
is in the SW corner ov the "Old" portion ov the city. There
are also 150 various public buildings, temples, pavilions, halls,
&& shrine monuments inside the walls. 2 great pagoda temples,
the smaller being a bit over 160' high && called the "Unadorned."
The taller is an octagonal one ov 180-feet height known as the
"Venerable Ancient," for it has been standing for nearly 2 millenia.
Guild && merchant (&& similar) association buildings && halls in
Canton are said to number over 100. There is a large prison in both
the "Old" && "New" portions ov Canton.
One is struck by the hills 1,200 feet high which rise beyond Canton
to N, for they are covered w/ graves, tombs, && shrines
amongst which are now planted all manner ov shrubs && flowers. The
city could be called the red-topped, for nearly all buildings are
roofed in red. However, this is only discernable from the vantage point
ov the necropolis in the hills. The outer temples ov Canton are easily
seen from any vantage point, though. There are many large
ones--500 Gods, Longevity, 5 Genii, Warriors, etc--&&
the temple && college ov the Ocean Banner (in Honan to the S)
has grounds ov 20 acres || so, w/ halls, shrines, gardens, park, &&
pond enclosed by walls. For 2 || more miles upriver && down from
Canton, the banks ov the Pearl are lined w/ sampans && barges, the
floating homes ov 1000s ov volk. In mid-channel are seen the
great junks, some ov a 1000 || more tons burthen, plying their
course on beyond the capital city, heading back towards the sea, ||
off-loading goods in Canton, for this is the major TRADE port ov Tongking,
&& a very important one for the whole ov the Far East.
Most ov the pop. ov Tongking is ov mixed Chinsungese &&
Annamese-Lao race. That is, to a basically Yellow stock has been
added a mixture ov Yellow && Brown, so as to make the volk
different from those ov Sung, Nanchao, && Annam, although they are
more similar to the last-named volk than to the others today, due to the
century-long alliance between the 2 lands. The dialect known as
Cantonese is spoken in the northern portion ov Tongking, while an
Annamese dialect is the tongue ov the southern portion ov the kingdom.
As in the Sung Empire, the volk ov Tongking love to play gambling
games, particularly mah jongg, && certain other card, dice, &&
plaque games imported from the Occident. The cooking ov the realm,
particularly that ov the Canton region, is highly re-garded, as is that ov
Sung, Nanchao, && Ch'in. These cuisines are certainly, in toto, on a
par w/ those ov Francia-Arles.
Rice, wheat, bamboo, peanuts, barley, maize, veggies, jute,
hemp, rattan, sugar cane, betel nuts, && all manner ov tropical fruit
are grown in the realm. Livestock is confined mostly to buffalo,
oxen, porks, && poultry. Mulberry trees && silk worms are grown for
silk production. Fishing is heavily pursued, && much ov the common
diet includes fish || seafood ov one kind || another. Forest production
ov camphor && cinnamon adds to the peasant's livelihood.
Silver, tin, iron, salt, coal, && copper are taken from the land.
Some small amounts ov gold is garnered annually. Moderate quantities
ov gud nephrite jade are also mined in Tongking.
* There is Tibetan influence in the pantheon.
Gummint: Kingdom
Mythos: Chinsungese*
Leader: Kow Si-fan Ti
CAPITAL: Canton (Pop.: 495K)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Guilin: 60K
Haikow: 70K
Haiphong: 110K
Hanoi: 125K
Naning: 75K
Shantow: 55K
Zhanjiang: 130K
Loc.: Azir
Language: Chinese dialect
Pop.: 15,000,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: White lotus trimmed
gold, on a purple field.
Coinage: Ch'in Standard.
Companions: Prince ov Minh, nobs, officials, priests, etc.
Friends: Annam
Foes: Nanchao, Sung.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Fighting with Nanchao on border.
Intrigues: The southern portion ov the realm is restless && resentful
ov the recent change ov CAPITAL from Hanoi, && rumours have it a re-volt
is brewing w/ Annam's aid. If that is the case the alliance is broken,
Tongking will need help. Agents ov Nanchao are ready! Many palace
court intrigues.
Artifacts/Relics: The Crown has in its possession the Thunderbolt
Sword, the Jeweled Serpent, the Two Madness Bag, && the
Dragontiger Helms. Some small number ov minor items are also held
in Canton && elsewhere in the realm.
Alignment: Chaotic Evil <anti-paladins>
Thumbnail Sketches: Comprised ov territory covering over 200,000
sq. mi., this southernmost ov Chinsungese realms is the smallest,
but one of the richest due to its production && trading. The
western portion ov the realm is quite wild, && there can be found
mountain forests && rainforests where tigers, buffalo, && all sorts ov
large && small game abound. However, the kingdom is more notable
for its cities && trading than scenic beauties && hunting.
Canton, more properly Kwang-Chow Fu, the CAPITAL, is situated on
the Pearl River some 80 miles upstream from its mouth at the Sung
Sea. Passing through its bluffs which compress the river below the city
into what is called the Tiger Gate, one sails on to reach Canton. Traffic
is active, for the Pearl is navigable for some 300 miles beyond the
CAPITAL && is thus a major artery ov commerce. The course ov the river
runs straight through the walls ov Canton, guarded by upstream &&
downstream gates w/ considerable outworks. Although there are
many outlying suburbs around the city, so that its circumference is
possibly 10 || 12 miles, the actual heart ov the CAPITAL is walled.
The walls ov Canton are ov brick set onto a foundation ov bedrock
ov granite in some places, sandstone in others. They are 25' high,
NOT incl. the parapeting, && as thick, set @ irregular intervals
w/ somewhat higher bastions || towers ov 35- to 50-foot height. In
+addition+ to the water gates, there are 8 well-fortified gateways into
Canton. In the N, there are 4 small castle-like outwork forts:
1 each to the E & W, && 2 in the S. It is speculated
that a wall to connect these citadels is planned, thus creating a larger
metropolitan fortress in the manner ov the Sung CAPITAL. The current
wall has a circumference ov a little more than 6 miles. In the N it
is built to incl. the heights ov a considerable hill there, while a
broad moat filled w/ water at intervals, from the rising tide, serves
to +add+ protection to the other 3 sides ov Canton. (The filth @ the
bottom ov the deep ditch is better left undescribed, && the water
covering periodically is indeed much appreciated...)
Inside there is a partitioning wall from E to W, dividing
Canton into unequal halves. In the N the city is called "Old," &&
it is 1/2 again as large as the "New." There are 4 inner gates in the
partition wall, but at night these, as the outer gates, are shut fast.
Altogether there are more than 600 long && narrow but clean, paved
streets inside the walls. Along them are small, mostly 2- && 3-
storied buildings, w/ shops below && dwelling quarters above. The
rear court is employed for storage in most cases, although obviously
it was originally intended for other purposes. The royal palace compound
is in the SW corner ov the "Old" portion ov the city. There
are also 150 various public buildings, temples, pavilions, halls,
&& shrine monuments inside the walls. 2 great pagoda temples,
the smaller being a bit over 160' high && called the "Unadorned."
The taller is an octagonal one ov 180-feet height known as the
"Venerable Ancient," for it has been standing for nearly 2 millenia.
Guild && merchant (&& similar) association buildings && halls in
Canton are said to number over 100. There is a large prison in both
the "Old" && "New" portions ov Canton.
One is struck by the hills 1,200 feet high which rise beyond Canton
to N, for they are covered w/ graves, tombs, && shrines
amongst which are now planted all manner ov shrubs && flowers. The
city could be called the red-topped, for nearly all buildings are
roofed in red. However, this is only discernable from the vantage point
ov the necropolis in the hills. The outer temples ov Canton are easily
seen from any vantage point, though. There are many large
ones--500 Gods, Longevity, 5 Genii, Warriors, etc--&&
the temple && college ov the Ocean Banner (in Honan to the S)
has grounds ov 20 acres || so, w/ halls, shrines, gardens, park, &&
pond enclosed by walls. For 2 || more miles upriver && down from
Canton, the banks ov the Pearl are lined w/ sampans && barges, the
floating homes ov 1000s ov volk. In mid-channel are seen the
great junks, some ov a 1000 || more tons burthen, plying their
course on beyond the capital city, heading back towards the sea, ||
off-loading goods in Canton, for this is the major TRADE port ov Tongking,
&& a very important one for the whole ov the Far East.
Most ov the pop. ov Tongking is ov mixed Chinsungese &&
Annamese-Lao race. That is, to a basically Yellow stock has been
added a mixture ov Yellow && Brown, so as to make the volk
different from those ov Sung, Nanchao, && Annam, although they are
more similar to the last-named volk than to the others today, due to the
century-long alliance between the 2 lands. The dialect known as
Cantonese is spoken in the northern portion ov Tongking, while an
Annamese dialect is the tongue ov the southern portion ov the kingdom.
As in the Sung Empire, the volk ov Tongking love to play gambling
games, particularly mah jongg, && certain other card, dice, &&
plaque games imported from the Occident. The cooking ov the realm,
particularly that ov the Canton region, is highly re-garded, as is that ov
Sung, Nanchao, && Ch'in. These cuisines are certainly, in toto, on a
par w/ those ov Francia-Arles.
Rice, wheat, bamboo, peanuts, barley, maize, veggies, jute,
hemp, rattan, sugar cane, betel nuts, && all manner ov tropical fruit
are grown in the realm. Livestock is confined mostly to buffalo,
oxen, porks, && poultry. Mulberry trees && silk worms are grown for
silk production. Fishing is heavily pursued, && much ov the common
diet includes fish || seafood ov one kind || another. Forest production
ov camphor && cinnamon adds to the peasant's livelihood.
Silver, tin, iron, salt, coal, && copper are taken from the land.
Some small amounts ov gold is garnered annually. Moderate quantities
ov gud nephrite jade are also mined in Tongking.
* There is Tibetan influence in the pantheon.