Game of Thrones: The Lands of Sun Tzu
As with all my stories on this blog.
All Images used in this story are taken from Google Images, I do not have copyright use for these images and if requested I shall happily remove them.
I do not intend to make any profit from this story as it is solely for the purpose of entertainment and enjoyment.
Being a relative fan of the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon TV series based on the Books by Geore.R.R.Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire and "House of the Dragon", I realised that a lot of it is focused on Western styled cultures, so even though I know that there are some cultures that are based on others from our own world. Note though that this more focused around the Shows rather than the books, so some spoilers.
I thought why not create a land in the Game of thrones world that is in effect a combination of different cultures not yet seen in the show and its spin offs. In this case when looking at a map of the Game of Thrones World, between the summer islands and Sothoryos, there is a landmass where this story lore is placed.
Also being a fan of actual history and having read the Art of War, I decided to have a bit of fun and name the combined nation after one of the greatest Generals the world has ever known, the man who practically and literally wrote the book on war.
The Empire of Sun Tzu:
Situated to the South East of Westeros, just West of main Sothoryos and South of Essos lies a land mass where different cultures have forged their home. The land today is known by the Empire that rules it, Sun Tzu and is regarded by many to be one of the most diverse lands in the known world.
Like Essos, the lands of Sun Tzu and its empire is a place of diversity, with a number of differing cultures and peoples living on a single great island. The exact ancestry of these different peoples is a question that has plagued scholars and Maesters for millennia, some believe that they may a long lost colony of Old Valyria, however this is not possible due to the Empires history.
Others believe that the Empire of Sun Tzu and its ancestors may instead have come from the vast and unexplored Sothoryos before time began. Others say that just as Westeros and Essos were once linked by the arm of Dorne before the waves of the ocean engulfed it, then the ancestors of the different peoples of Sun Tzu were stranded there in a similar fashion, crossing from Essos or Westeros before the oceans trapped them there.
Regardless as to they truly got to the Island that is now their home, the peoples of Sun Tzu all have similar tales, each unique to their culture. In total there are six cultural peoples and identities on Sun Tzu, like Westeros and Essos these differing cultures are bound by where they are.
In the North where the sun is strong and the ground fertile, there are the Ossa [pronounded Oh-ss-ah], mighty builders, along the North Eastern Coast where there are sheer cliffs and coves of rocks and reefs are the ocean going Erehe [pronounced eh-ra-hey]. In the East in a land of rolling hills, mountains and near endless jungles and rainforests are the Mayat [pronounced My-At], at the heart of the landscape in a region of nothing but mountain valleys, forests and high plateaus are the Icha [Pronounced Ee-ch-ah].
To the south, in the frigid cold where winters are strong and as fierce as they are in the North of Westeros, are the Ice dwelling Inu [pronounced Ee-noo], near to them in the frozen mountains are the primitive, Cave dwelling Toha [pronounced Toe-Har]. As a whole, these cultures forge the Empire of Sun Tzu, peoples who despite their many differences and countless wars of ancient days.
Though there are different cultures there is no single overarching individual nation that controls the Empire, although the Capitol city which is the largest city of the Empire and the Throne of the Emperor, are all within the ancestral lands of the Ossa and is mostly built in their methods and style. The Imperial Family are not bound to a single culture, this is bound by an ancient tradition going back to the founding of the Empire millennia ago.
By law and tradition, the Emperors children are bound to leave the Imperial city at the age of 14 to live and learn in a different culture. On the 13th name day of a prince or princess, they are brought into the Grand hall that is the Throne room, they get down on their knees in the middle of the hall, they are blind folded and then certain elders from each of five elders each place a single relic from their culture before the prince or princess.
[Though there are six cultures, the Toha have never taken part in the ceremony, as they prefer to stay on their own and are very rarely seen beyond their territorial borders. So the ceremony of the Prince or Princess tutelage goes on without them, though they continue to pledge their loyalty to the Imperial Throne.]
When told to do so, the Prince or Princess shall place a single hand down, whichever relic they place their hand upon is where they shall go the following year to begin their tutelage and fostering. If they place their hand onto the Mayat relic, then they shall go there to live the Mayat life and continue their education.
Then when the next child comes of age, the culture that was chosen last shall not place their relic down, so that the children of the Emperor shall become diverse and live different lives and learn different ways. This system has ensured that the Empire remained unified and despite some troubles through its history, wars, rebellions, strife and of course harsh winters.
The History of the Realms:
No on is quite certain when the lands of Sun Tzu became inhabited, there are stories and tales from the different Cultures, the Inu have no ancient writing to fall back on for information, only stories passed on through their oral histories, which claim that their people came to Sun Tzu by following a path of Solid ice that allowed them to cross the oceans.
The Mayat believe their ancestors may have come from the lands of Sothoryos due to how capable their people adapted to living and creating civilisation in a jungle, though this is speculation, their ancient tales say that once there were no oceans between lands but a horizon that never ended. The Ossa are just as unsure, there are some that believe that their ancestors like the people of Dorne in Westeros may be descended from the Rhoynar, though again there is no proof or evidence to speak of.
The Erehe are more certain in their origns, their elders say that in ages past their people once followed the stars in the night sky across the seas and oceans, until they came upon a single island that was paradise for them, but then one day a cataclysm forced them to leave their island home and flee, they came upon Sun Tzu and settled along its jagged, broken, rocky coasts.
The Ancient World:
The land of Sun Tzu was not always a single unified Empire as it is today, in the ages of old the different cultures of the land were caught like other parts of the world today, in an age of near constant conflict. At the time, the cultures were much more diverse and divided into more distinct characteristics, each one being different from the others, which brought upon an age of conflict.
The Mayat founded several small city states that vied for power, when they weren't sending raiding parties into the territories of their neighbours to obtain captives for enslavement or worse sacrifice to their gods. The Inu and Toha constantly squabbled over territory and access to the best hunting grounds, The Erehe clung to their coast and the oceans, all were desperate to preserve the identity.
Its unclear when exactly, but the founding of the Empire began to show during what the Northerners of Westeros call the Long Night, a winter that lasted an entire generation when the so called White Walkers came to bring death. The People of Sun Tzu have a tale similar to this, an age when winter clung strong and death walked the land and only when Six heroes united the different cultures and peoples of the land against the endless wave of cold and death.
It is said that these Six heroes founded the Empire as proof that through unity the people of Sun Tzu may never face destruction, the title of Emperor was created to serve as the Absolute ruler of the Empire and its people, the tradition of tutelage for the Emperors children was established for fairness and equality.
Over the centuries that followed, the Empire forged a new common identity and culture one that combined the different beliefs of the different peoples, but all of this without sacrificing the individual identity of each culture and each people.
This unity allowed the Empire to thrive and even challenge the might of a power far away.
First Words with Valryia:
Although some might expect the Empire of Sun Tzu and the Valryian Freehold to be bitter enemies from the very beginning, this is not the actual truth.
Trade was a key element of peace between the Sun Tzu peoples and the great Valryian freehold, trade which brought riches to both sides, with Ossa spices and Mayat fruits, like squash, Beans, Chilis and other crops, being a delicacy for the rich and powerful in Valryia and the fatty Whale meat and other sea foods being an ideal food for the mighty dragons that made Valryia the powerhouse it was. These trade routes were constantly patrolled and protected by the advanced and sophisticated Sun Tzu navy, ships and crews that are to this day regarded as remarkable and advanced for their capabilities.
Though for the Valryians, these marvellous ships were rarely ever seen, with some believing that this mighty navy was nothing more than a few ships less than ten. So it basically became the opinion that this mighty fleet was nothing more than a story meant to scare pirates and thieves, because most of the ships that entered Valryian ports were small constructs that resembled large canoes with a single large sail with paddles and oars and the crews, simple folk who wear the basic woven fabrics. And whenever Valyrian ships notably of the Velaryon family, entered a port on the North Coast of Sun Tzu, the same was only ever seen, ships made of wood with basic sails that were nothing more than two large canoes with a platform made of either wood or woven reeds.
To the Sun Tzu, these canoe sailors were the Erehe the finest seafarers of their people, but to the Valyrians they may have just looked at the Erehe as the entire "Empire of Sun Tzu", seeing them as a basic and primitive people.
And for a long time it is said that the Valyrians in their grandeur and hubris had looked down on the Sun Tzu to the point that the Valyrians deliberately and openly mocked their "primitive" trade partners even when the Erehe traders were within ear shot.
The Insult:
Its unclear when exactly, but what is certain is that the vast and unknown continent of Sothoryos, a landscape of extreme dangers became a place for the Valryians to dump their undesirables and criminals, those that were deemed to dangerous or threatening to the Powerful families in charge. The thinking being that by being dumped in penal colonies on the Islands around Sothoryos or even on it, they were would be more focused on every day survival to cause any kind of trouble and if they attempted to escape into wilderness and jungles of the interior.
It would be certain they would not survive.
At least until one day, when a ocean going canoe of the Erehe came upon the shores of north western Sothoryos, where Valryia had created a Penal colony harsher than any other. Here criminals and sometimes entire families are dumped onto the shores with the simplest tools and left to fend for themselves. The Erehe were not there by accident but had come to fish the waters for their journey home from markets in what is now known as Slavers bay.
When they saw people including women and children coming out onto the beaches pleading for help, the Erehe did so without a second thought. They took the people onboard and took them back to Sun Tzu, to them this was an act of mercy and compassion, but for Valyria this was a great insult for in their eyes, these backward, primitive people had interfered with the internal affairs of the Freehold and they could not accept it.
They demanded that the prisoners be returned to them so that they might be placed back on the islands for their crimes, the Empire was uncertain for this demand, but the insult for the Sun Tzu was when the Valyrians demanded that the sailors responsible be given to them that they might face True Valyrian justice. Though for the Sun Tzu, the idea of a penal colony for true criminals was understandable, but the thought of leaving women and children in such a place was considered immoral and outright absurd, the Ambassador for the Sun Tzu sent a message back to the Emperor who agreed with the opinion.
The Empire of Sun Tzu would not return the "criminals" to Valyria as they did not deem their crimes significant enough for banishment to Sothoryos, nor were they going to surrender their own people to a foreign justice. The Valyrians however were not pleased with this declaration and they promised that through fire and blood they shall teach these alleged primitives and bring them into Civilisation.
The Armies Amassed:
In response to the insult from the Sun Tzu, Valyria began making preparations, their intent to create a vast army and fleet that would launch an complete invasion of Sun Tzu with the aim of subjugating the peoples of the land just as they had most of Essos.
The Dragon Lords of Valryia remarked the pride they had in this great army they had amassed, legends say that they created one of the largest invasion forces ever known, some say that it was nearly 100,000 men at arms supported by near a hundred dragons and their riders that would dominate the skies and rain fire upon their enemies. Transporting this grand army would be a fleet of the best ships that Valryia had to offer, a fleet larger than any seen before, hopes were high, beyond the very skies, for everyone knew that surely such a "Primitive" people would stand no chance of defeating the might of the Valryian freehold and their dragons.
Some Dragon Lords boasted and jested that the Invasion would likely be over before could truly being, that the Freehold had challenged mighty empires before and easily defeated them, their ancestors had practically subjugated an entire continent, had built cities far grander than any will ever see. According to some stories, one Dragon Lord joked that he wouldn't need to take any warriors with him, that he should only be bringing servants and slaves due to how little fighting he expected to see.
Apparently Slave markets and not just those in Valyria, began selling off their "Merchandise" they had to make room for what everyone expected to be a huge wave of slaves coming in from far away lands. Some Slave merchants even started discussing how much they would pay for a slave and then how much they would be willing to sell.
No one knew what was truly coming.
The Invasion Sets forth:
Then the day came.
The Armada was prepared, the armies amassed, the Dragons fed and rested, their riders all ready for the long journey, the ships were loaded with all the supplies and weapons that would be needed to ensure a success. As the troops walked the planks onto their ship or hopped in and out of boats for those vessels that couldn't fit in the harbour due to how many ships had been docked for the invasion.
It is said that the crowds were larger than any before seen, people from across the entire city had come to see off the grand expedition to bring further glory to the Valyrian freehold. To much cheer and shouts of joy the ships finally set off, the dragon lords upon their mounts swooping down as the people cheered from hearing the dragons roar, war cries screaming from their Lords.
As the ships passed across the horizon and beyond sight, there was only silence for many weeks, for some this may be concerning, but for Valyria, it was thought to be good. Surely it means that the Invasion was going so well that no one needed to say anything and they will soon send word on their successes.
The Early Victories:
Months after the Armada had set sail, a single dragon came back from the horizon, they landed firmly and safely into the city and gave a rousing declaration, the rider, a known Dragon Lord, he detailed the victories that the Invasion had been enjoying. That the invasion had landed practically unopposed and had were readying themselves to press onwards into the interior, whilst the Dragon flew high above.
An act that would forever be known to the Sun Tzu as the Burning of the Mountains, which today are known for the ash that still lies across some of the Plateaus and the ruins that still stand at the top. For on that night it is said that people across Icha wept and screamed in terror and sadness at the sight of their fellow kin being burned alive and their heart of their culture being reduced to a smouldering ruin.
They explained that already the Dragon Lords had brought one of the peoples of Sun Tzu to their knees, he spoke of towns, cities and temples that were built on high plateaus in the heart of the Land, that the Dragons reduced them to ash and flame. Of how the Sun Tzu attempted to face their mighty fleet with simple Canoes and fishing boats, all of which were quickly crushed beneath the true strength of Valyrian warships.
Such were the cheers that echoed across the city, all from the news that the invasion was going so well. The Rider took rest, enjoyment of the cities delights, ensured his Dragon was properly fed with the finest available to offer and then returned to the skies, again with the cheers of the people below.
Yet again, the Dragon flew across the oceans and beyond the Horizon.
The Silence:
Except this time, rather than expectations of a final success being fulfilled, there was nothing but empty silence, no message by dragon or by ship came after the first news of victories. Some were afraid, that silence must be mean that ill tidings had befallen the Invasion, but those in power were still prideful, believing that silence was a good thing, for surely this meant that the Invasion was going well and did not need anything to complete their mission.
What they didn't know was the reason, if they only knew that across the horizon in the waters off the northern coast of Sun Tzu, their great and powerful fleet of warships both crafted of wood and their dreaded warships made of iron and steel.
In the hills that circled a protected cove where their armies had stepped ashore and established their camp, from these slopes and grasses they were forced to watch as their mighty navy, was caught unawares in the dead of night. It is said that through the night, people for miles around could read books and letters from the fires that illuminated the skies, fires that were the mighty and so called invincible Valyrian navy burning along with their crews.
And all without ever seeing their opponents, according to the stories, songs and tales, the Valyrians never saw the enemy in their midst as fire was sent by arrow and ballista. The only sight was shadows and silhouettes through the darkness and between the flames. According to some accounts, the only time that anyone saw the Sun Tzu Ships was as they were disappearing back into the darkness of the night from whence they had come.
It is said that sharks gorged for days on the corpses that floated in the shallow waters, whilst the gulls would enjoyed a feast that lasted for weeks, as burned, scarred and broken bodies that came onto the sandy beaches or were caught in the rocky coasts. For those who witnessed this night, it must have been clear, they were not going to get back home unless help came, according to some records from the Ossa and Mayat peoples, when the ships were burned and sank to the reefs beneath the waves. Most of the supplies of food, medicine and other necessities went with them, meaning that the grand stores that were meant to support the invasion were now all gone.
The Message:
After many months of silence, for the people in Valyria itself hope finally came from the horizon, flying low over the water again a single Dragon. Many were hopeful that like before their Dragon and its rider must be bringing news of victories and annihilation of the Freeholds enemies.
Yet when the Dragon reached the city, rather than landing properly, its smashed into the Quayside of the docks with a thunderous crash, breaking a piece of a nearby wall and much of the ground beneath as it landed. Those closest were said to hear it make one last final desperate gasp of its breath before going limp, its rider barely alive fell from its back onto the floor before being ushered away by guards.
For onlookers the sight was never before seen, a mighty Dragon, one of true size was laying dead in their own city, with large spear like arrows piercing its body and one embedded within its skull, its body showed scars of varying kinds, it wings tattered and torn with gashes and holes.
The rider, a known Dragon Lord was too in an extreme state of weakness, the man was said to be malnourished, suffering from a number injuries some were healing others were fresh. In his bed he detailed the disaster that had befallen the invasion, from his words came the truth, that the reason for the lack of news, was because the grand armada that had been used to bring the invasion force alongside all the supplies to the lands of the Sun Tzu Empire, had all been burned or sunk to the bottom of the seas.
The vast invasion army despite supposed successes in getting ashore, never managed to get far into the Interior, they detailed that when they had left to bring this message back to Valyria. The Invasion force had been pushed back to the coves where they had first landed, tens of thousands were already dead or were clinging to a fragment of land each day with the Sun Tzu armies pushing on all sides.
And their mighty dragon were either all dead or crippled with their wings shredded, they detailed that somehow, their enemy had some kind of weapons that hurled great spears that looked liked arrows into the skies in such number that Dragons, were either killed outright from the number of piercing giant arrows or were forced to the ground where the enemy were waiting.
It is said that in desperation in their voice, they begged and pleaded for the rulers of Valyria to send help, not reinforcements as some had expected but instead they pleaded that ships be sent to rescue the survivors before it was too late. With these final words, they gasped and choked, it was clear that only the drive to deliver their message had kept them alive and with it now passed on to those who needed to hear it, there was nothing for death to wait for.
The Weapons of War:
The Weapons they were speaking of, were devices that the greatest pride of the Su Tzu, due to the close proximity of their homeland to the inhospitable lands of Sothoryos. Although rare, it was not unheard of, for the dreaded Wyverns to cross the waters in search of new hunting grounds, Wyverns whilst similar in appearance to Dragons, are smaller and unable to produce the famed fiery breath, but they are just as dangerous and vicious.
The Empire of Sun Tzu as a whole created these special devices that could challenge the greatest strength of these beasts, their ability to fly. The devices they call "Eagles Bane" as it sends not one, not two, but over 12 long spears of iron built like arrows that fly far and swift, strong enough in fact to piece even dragons scales.
When released by the large bows, the "Talons" will spin rapidly and spread out like a wave presenting a swarm of spears at their targets, even if the talons do not truly kill the flying beast that is their target, they can still bring down a dragon in flite as the talons tear at their wings forcing them to the ground either by choice or by a crashing descent. Worse is that these Eagles are never alone, for where there is one, there is certain to be others, so if one is able to avoid the release of talons from one, then they will fall prey to another.
It was these weapons that gave the Empire of Sun Tzu the power to overcome that which gave the Valyrian Freehold their dominion over Essos, not just literally as their dragons were the Valyrians greatest weapon. But it was also a blow of the prestige and glory of Valyria, the greatest power in the world, which had conquered almost an entire continent and brought down the empires of old, forced countless other kingdoms to flee as the Rhoynar did or kneel to the power of the Dragon Lords.
Were just mortal men without their dragons.
And Mortal Men can be killed.
The Valyria:
Several weeks after the lone messenger had brought his final words of the disaster that was befalling the great invasion, hope seemed all lost. No other word had come from the invasion force, no other dragons, not even the smallest ship with news or word, some asked the Merchants that came into the harbour, if they had heard any news of the Invasion, rumour spread faster than ever before in the great city.
Some said that the Invasion was still holding out, trying desperately to hold out for help, some spoke of how the Survivors were trying to build ships to bring them home. Other more dreamful rumours, said that the Invasion had turned around and that the Valyrian armies were now winning once again. But all were without basis nor grain of truth, for by now word had spread from the high halls, of what had been happening since the first news of victories, most were less than hopeful of ever seeing their loved ones again.
Some noble families mourned the loss of their kin without ever receiving word of the true loss of their loved one, they just wished to grieve in peace, others refused to accept it and pressured the powers of Valyria to send another force, either to rescue their brethren or to avenge them.
But then one day, upon the horizon a single lone ship was seen, it was a Valyrian Warship, it entered the harbour unchallenged and unopposed, crowds of people came out to see, hoping that word had finally come of the Invasion force and their loved ones. When they piled into the streets however and saw, they gasped in shock and terror, for the banner flying above this Valyrian warship, was the Imperial Sigil of Sun Tzu.
Terror struck them, for surely this could not be so, when the ship stopped by the quay and lowered its gangplank, none could argue though when warriors not of Valyria stepped off, behind them a man and a woman, the man was well dressed and clearly of importance, whose hair was tied up and high into a single tail at the top of his head. The Woman was different, she what some would see as a simple woven dress in a darker creamish colour, her hair was long and dark going down her back, which itself was covered by a long cloak that was decorated in feathers. They walked down and declared that they had come as Ambassadors of the Empire of Sun Tzu to negotiate with the Valyrian Freehold to the ultimate goal of peace.
The rulers of Valyria ordered him escorted to a grand hall for a more formal ceremony.
The Gifts:
When the Ambassadors entered the Grand Hall for the ceremony they brought with them two enormous wagons, so large they required several oxen to pull them, they were covered in tarps so that non could see what was within, they claimed within were gifts to Valyria. Some had the dark assumption that the Sun Tzu had come to ask for a peace treaty on Valyrian terms hence the gifts as well as them arriving on a Valyrian ship. The Dragon lords made clear this assumption, declaring that in exchange for peace, the Sun Tzu Empire will pledge its fealty to the Valyrian Freehold, pay homage to Valyria now and forever more.
The two ambassadors however seemed perplexed until they made clear that what they meant by negotiating peace, was in fact on their terms. Many laughed at the idea that Valyria would bow to such a lowly people, the two ambassadors looked to one another and declared then that they shall give their gifts, they singled their escort of warriors.
The signal was then given for the other wagon, which had its tarp pulled back, then instead of opening it up, the Sun Tzu warriors heaved, pulled and pushed until the Wagon emptied its contents across the length of the Hall.
As the contents were spread far and wide, it is said that profanity, gasps of shock and screams of terror filled the air. For while some were shocked at the sight of a giant skull of a prized dragon, all were in fear at the sight of tens of thousands of human skulls filling the room before them.
The Ambassadors stated as a gift for the hope of an amicable peace between their two peoples, the Empire of Sun Tzu was returning the army they had sent to subjugate them. After much whispering, a request was given to the ambassadors, asking if the Valyrian rulers might have some time to discuss the matter properly before negotiations began. The Pair bowed their heads and with their entourage walked away.
But before truly leaving, they gave one more revelation, they showed a sword, a Valyrian sword, one that was known among the Dragon Lords, it belonged to the one who had been selected to lead the invasion. When asked what had happened to this lord, the ambassadors told the story of how.
"As he watched during the final battle, how his great and mighty army collapse, men scrambling in the wet mud or blood soaked sands before him, the wrecks of mighty warships among the oceans behind him, Dragons falling from the sky above him. This great leader removed his armour, drew his sword knelt down and drove the sword forth, your great leader had more courage to die than to fight, in the end he ran himself through."
The Peace:
In the days that followed, talks were held, arguments made, points taken and compromises set, until finally a full 2 years after the Valyrian had watched their mighty invasion force leave and cross the Horizon. A peace treaty was made, the terms of which were heavily in favour of the Sun Tzu Empire.
The Valyrian freehold swore to honour and respect the sovereignty of the Sun Tzu Empire, in exchange the Empire promised to return the prisoners of war that had been captured during the invasion. Valyria promised to pay reparations for the death and destruction brought upon the Icha people of Sun Tzu who suffered greatly from the brutal attacks by the Dragons on their Plateau temples and settlements. For the Sun Tzu this was an unconditional requirement for peace, for the death and destruction brought upon the Icha peoples that day had all but destroyed their culture and their way of life forcing them back into their past, where they were simple people.
The Empire demanded this compensation for the Icha so that they might start to rebuild their culture and their identity once again, begrudgingly Valyria agreed.
In the months that followed, the Valyrian freehold began seeing the true Sun Tzu navy, ships that they thought didn't exist, the warships that had only been seen in the shadows of fire, whose sails were black and the night sky, whose hulls were a mix of steel and wood, with Bowes like were sharp and pointed into rams.
The Ships came into the Harbour uncontested, for few wanted to do anything that could bring about more unwanted death and destruction, the Dragon Lords of Valyria made clear that any who dared interrupt the return of their brave warriors would be punishment severely. The First ships came to the quays and dropped their gang planks, as the prisoners came off one by one, amazement was fixated on the faces of those who watched, be they lord or peasant.
For the prisoners were presenting themselves in the garbs and clothes of the people of Sun Tzu, woven and crochet, shirts, skirts, short trousers and tunics. Some had their hair long and braided, but all had clearly been cared for, they all were clean and healthy, they had clearly been properly fed and looked after, none expected such treatment for prisoners. All has expected the warriors to be returning in the simplest rags, or the scraps of whatever they had been captured in, their bones visible from the lack of food, their hair matted and tangled, covered in their own filth.
Yet for some they could not care, for they were merely happy to see their loved ones returning home safely and in one piece. Cheers and cries of joy as well as sadness echoed through the streets of Valyria as people greeted those they thought lost, once all were off the ships safely, the Sun Tzu ships reformed and left the harbour just as swiftly as they had arrived.
In the generations that followed, the Valyrian Freehold would never again attempt any attack upon the Sun Tzu Empire.
The Fall of Valyria:
Of course according to some written records, the Valyrians were very much interested in getting revenge for the humiliation that they had endured because of some people who thought they could challenge the might of Valyria with some tricks and traps.
But the chance for these warmongers never came, for as the annals of history know as do most in the world, the end came for Old Valyria, it is said in the histories of the Sun Tzu that even they suffered the effects of the destruction. It is said that the horizon was so bright in the darkness of the night that some claim it could have resembled the dawn sun rising upon the horizon, the earth cracking and breaking sent waves of rumbles and thunder under the ground, even the Sun Tzu felt these effects, trees came crashing down, windows smashed and cracks showed in the earth itself.
In the weeks after the rumbles had ended, the Northern coastline of the Sun Tzu empire witnessed clouds thicker and darker than any before seen, some say that it was so thick and black that the Erehe could not use their traditional method of star light to navigate. The White of the moon was said to turn a bleak grey from the ash in the sky and it was not just Valyria that was destroyed, due to its proximity, Sun Tzu too faced tragedy. A city on the Northern coastline which was a hub of trade and commerce as it had been for generation was destroyed when a great wave came from the direction of Valyria and the glowing Horizon.
According to the histories, these weeks following the Doom of Valyria was hard upon those who lived closest, the ash is said to have made rivers undrinkable, grasslands shrank and decayed into rock, sand and dirt. Sickness spread from waters that once had been beautiful and clear were then discoloured and poisonous, fertile fields were spoiled leading to much famine. The Soil is said to have been covered in ash like a blanket stretching across the landscape.
It is said to have lasted for as long as two cycles of the moon. Some believed that the dark sorcery of Valyria had been called upon as an act of revenge by the Valyrian freehold upon the Sun Tzu and preparations were made to ready the Empire for another war, yet nothing came of it.
When it passed, 3 vessels ventured close to Valyria to investigate by the order of the Emperor, only to see a land broken and scarred, according to some records, its was the Sun Tzu who gave the name to the new "Smoking Sea", with other accounts saying the ships travelled into the heart of Valyria itself, the capitol of the grand empire, the seat of the power, the greatest city in the world.
When they arrived, they found nothing, no people walking the streets, no fish in the waters, no birds or dragons in the skies, not even insects buzzing around, some claimed they saw dragon bones charred and scorched, some turned to ash when touched. Others say they found the bodies of people huddled together in fear and terror forever frozen as if turned to stone.
The greatest Empire of the known world reduced to dust.
It took nearly an entire generation for the Sun Tzu empire to heal from the effects of the Doom, the sickness of the bad water that had been poisoned had brought much misery and sadness to the Northern regions of Sun Tzu, some say that it was so bad, that a healthy man could enjoy his breakfast with his family but Dinner with his ancestors in Paradise. The spoiled farmlands took longer to heal and become farmable once more, it is said that the lands still bare the scars of the Doom, when digging only a few inches one will find the blanket of Darkened soil from the time of the Doom.
The Friendship of the Targaryen's:
Following the fall of Valyria and the rise of the "Free Cities", the Sun Tzu Empire faced very little change, it continued to trade it goods, keep to itself and refrain from getting involved when it could be avoided. But now with no single great Empire to hold it back, the Sun Tzu began venturing further and further out into the seas, where they came to meet the Dornish and by extension the Kingdoms of Westeros.
With these Kingdoms, the Erehe became frequent visitors, notably the Kingdom of Dorne and the Reach, for they never ventured further beyond the City of Oldtown in the west or Gulltown in the east. But one of their closest trading partners was the sole survivors of the Valyrian Freehold, the last of the Dragon Lords, the Targaryens.
Trade between the Empire and the Targaryens of Dragonstone was a long and peaceful one, the Targaryen's enjoyed fruits and vegetables that were not around in Westeros as well as the unique meats of whales and seals, salted and smoked for their dragons to feast on. And in exchange the Targaryens sent back pieces of Dragon glass known to Maesters and scholars as Obsidian, something that was used in the Empire to accompany pieces of jewellery.
Yet through the centuries the Imperial Family of Sun Tzu and the Targaryens of the Iron Throne remained strong friends and key allies in terms of diplomacy and trade. However this friendship was tested a number of times, notably during the so called "Dance of the Dragons" when two factions of House Targaryen vied for the Iron Throne, the Imperial Family declared complete neutrality in the matter and even at times attempted to end the conflict peacefully by serving as mediums between the two sides of the conflict.
Though rumours are written that there was something else between the two, in a private journal of Aegon the 1st, apparently House Targaryen and the Imperial family of Sun Tzu swore to come to each others aid when the time came. Something that Aegon says.
"When the time comes, when the air grows cold and the might of winter comes, when the Song of Ice and Fire begins to take hold, we shall fly our Dragons high as they shall fly their talons to face it. And should the same befall them, then we shall readily go to uphold our oath just as they shall uphold theirs."
The Trade of Westeros:
Within the harbour of Kings Landing, it became a key trading point for merchants from Sun Tzu, sometimes in proper ships as well as the traditional Erehe Canoe ships. Often as either the direct port for unloading of cargo to merchants or as a stopping point on their journey to places like Braavos. It was a time of relative peace and prosperity for the Sun Tzu during this age, though they did engage in combatting pirates in the Stepstones between Dorne and Essos, to the point that the Empire supported the Targaryen effort against the so called Triarchy, which had been harassing their merchants.
The Reign of the Baratheon's:
But this age of peace and prosperity would have to come to an end, when during the reign of Aerys "The Mad King" Targaryen, a great rebellion ignited by the combined forces of three powerful families, The Stormlands under Robert Baratheon, the Vale under Jon Arryn and the North under Eddard Stark, together the three vowed to bring about the end of the Mad King and free Eddards sister and Roberts betrothed, Lyanna Stark.
Though Sun Tzu declared it would not involve itself in the conflict, several did go to Westeros to help the Targaryens in their fight, among them was the current Emperors brother in law who was a good friend to the Prince of the realm, Rhaegar Targaryen. He alongside several others fought for the loyalists during the rebellion with the Brother in law apparently dying during the battle of the Trident alongside Rhaegar.
In his mind, the Sun Tzu had aided his enemy and for that they were to face his judgement, but rather than through the might and power of Westeros's knights and armies, he instead had his master of coin force trade tariffs and taxes upon the Sun Tzu whenever they entered to trade in Westerosi harbours and ports. Though these were later lifted thanks to the council of Jon Arryn who held the position of Hand of the King, the insult had still been felt.
And it only got worse, when it became clearer and clearer to the Imperial family of Sun Tzu that the Iron Throne was no longer a good trading partner, rumour soon reached them via allies and friends in Essos and Westeros that the Crown was growing deeper and deeper into Debt. Sometimes the Crowns representative when delivering trade goods to the Red Keep handed promises of payment rather than actual coin,
Yet for the Imperial Family, their plans were already in motion, for in secret following the fall of the Targaryens and their exile, they have been working in complete secrecy to bring about a Targaryen Restoration, through the use of mediums and allies, they work to strengthen the Targaryen cause both within and without Westeros.
With certain allies in the right place they have begun moving to get the right family back on the Iron Throne, both as a way of ensuring the continued prosperity of their people but also as a way of Honouring their long time friendship with House Targaryen. It was they who introduced the infamous Master of Whispers, Lord Varys with the Pentos Merchant Illyrio both of whom sought the same goal, through them they managed to get the Targaryen children under proper protection and then get plans in motion to get them the army they needed to restore them to the Iron Throne.
The Realms:
By law and tradition, though the realms of the Sun Tzu Empire are joined under one crown and one rule, they are still each granted their own identity and their own culture, though exchanges are often, few ever take route. Excluding except within the Imperial Hearth, a small territory within the North that hosts the Imperial Capitol, but for most their lives continued similar to those of their ancestors, their culture changing little.
Each realm is determined by their region, with all honouring the borders of the others, borders that had been drawn many millennia ago when the six became one.
The Imperial Hearth:
Such can been seen in the structures throughout the hearth, a mixture of different buildings, the strong steps of the Icha, the canals of the Erehe and their boats, high towers and temples of the Mayat to comfortable homes both basic and extravagant. The combination of cultures doesn't just include the buildings and life of the Hearth but the people too, for within the Imperial Hearth, the people don a mix of different forms of clothing. A person may see a man walking in the basic boots of leather and animals skins of the Inu, but the colourful short tunics of the Icha.
Within the Hearth is the grand palace of the Emperor and the Imperial family as well as the Imperial Armoury, the largest in the Empire, where stores of weapons, armour and other supplies are forged, stored and warriors trained. A stronghold of the Imperial Army, which is in itself a combination of the different realms, their armour a mix of the people their hail from, the masked helms like those of the Ossa as well as their linked pieces of armour plating, the helms plumed a colourful tail with the colour declaring the rank of the person wearing it, the solid boots with grips upon the soles like those of the Inu hunters.
The Ossa:
This is due to limited rain falling in their lands, so water is precious, most of their cities are concentrated around large sources of fresh clean water, some were even built over underground sources of infinite comparison never once running dry. Known for their building and craftsmanship, the Ossa are renowned in parts of the world for their ability to construct in difficulty, for instance their ancient capitol was a city built upon a immense plateau atop steep cliffs.
They are often regarded as a people who enjoy simple things, their clothes are described as well made but not very colourful, most of their clothes are said to be a single colour, like that of sand. But they are known for their toughness, for many generations in ages past, the Ossa and Mayat were at each others throats as the latter often sent raiding parties in the formers lands to obtain captives for slavery or ritual sacrifice. One of many reasons that like the Icha further into the Interior, the largest and most defended cities of the Ossa are built high with the only entry being under the watch of archers or requiring acceptance of the cities lords.
[It is said that some believe that in ages past, the great builders of the world came to the Ossa to learn their building skill or ask for their help. Though unproven, some even jest that Brandon Stark, the famed Builder who constructed the Wall, asked for the aid of the Ossa. But it is true that Aegon the Conqueror asked for the aid of the Sun Tzu and specifically the Ossa in the building of Kings Landing,]
In the days of now however, the Ossa are still a tough people but one that are no longer clinging to the waters beneath their feet, with the Empire unified, the Ossa are now the protectors of the northern shore as well as the keepers of the largest harbours in Sun Tzu. Here ships from across the world come to trade either directly or as stopping points for ships on their journeys, these harbours are protected in ways not before seen. In Westeros, harbours are guarded by towers, fortifications and ships, but for the Ossa the defence lies hidden beneath the waves, for example at the grand harbour of Raka, two large fortresses sit on either side of the passage that ships must enter to reach the harbour itself.
Within these fortresses is a set of towers, one on each side, within are large wheels and cogs that are required for the defence of the water. When used through physical strength, the wheels are pushed and the cogs turned raising from the waters between the two sides a great wall fashioned from interwoven lines of metal links some larger than a man and as thick as the trunk of a tree, presenting an impenetrable barrier for any ship that cannot enter the harbour.
The Inu:
At the opposite side of the lands of Sun Tzu, where the strength of the sun is exceedingly weaker and more strained, where the world resembles the lands beyond the wall in Westeros, where Winter is more than just a season but a permanent fixture of the landscape, with snows falling regardless of it being winter or summer, where parts of the oceans are covered in a layer of ice thicker and stronger than stone.
A land that is said where not a seed will grow.
But the land is not impossible to live upon, for the Inu had done so for tens of thousands of years, living off the bounty of the frozen oceans, where swarms of shrimp and krill thrive feeding an abundance of fish which in turn feed large creatures they call Seal. Their dwellings may look simple but a built intricately to preserve heat, their homes are fashioned from shaped pieces of ice and snow that are placed upon one another to create a warm home for those who shall live within.
Within these homes, wood is rarely burned for heat and for cooking, rather the Inu use the fat from the beasts they hunt for wood is a scarce resource in the open snow plains and frozen oceans. Most of the tools they use be they carving, cutting, hunting and of course fighting are all mostly made from the bones of whales, seals as well as flint and stone. They fashion harpoons that are built for the purpose of hunting creatures of the seas and oceans, but also spears perfect for hunting the hair covered ox like creatures that roam the Snow fields.
The Inu are known as a hardy people for having to live in a frozen landscape for so long, some compare them to the Wildlings beyond the wall in Westeros, however unlike the Wildlings that are said to war among themselves, The Inu have never really warred with each other, though they live a tribal society with each village have a chieftain and never in their history have they truly had a king.
It is known that the Inu have in ages past a long standing Feud with the Toha, those who live in the mountains close to their home land.
Some would assume that they do not have the structure of farming, which is wrong, for the Inu have managed for millennia to perform a form of agriculture, not in the form of crops like grain or corn, but in something smaller than is easier to grow in the frigid land. The Inu are known to build villages near mountains where hotsprings have formed, where the waters are always hot and flowing even in the depths of winter, around these springs they "plant" a lichen plant that grows in the warmth of the mist from the springs. These Lichens are important for the Inu for not only is it used as kindling for their fire but also as a form of food, the lichen is said to have the taste of raw grains from wheat or barely.
The Icha:
No the Icha use man made plots of flat land on the mountain slopes to serve as their farms, this system apparently according to Maesters allows for effective farming in the landscape without draining the soil of fertility. In effect the towns, villages of the Icha are built like giant steps up the slopes of the valleys and have been for generations.
In the days before old Valyria, before the unification of Sun Tzu under a single Empire and single Ruler, the Icha were building their homes further up, atop giant plateaus that dotted the landscape, places that they made their strongholds, with large temples, stone structures accessible through long rope bridges or winding stairs carved into the rock of the Plateaus themselves.
This was due to them wishing to avoid the raiding parties of the Ancient Mayat that would lead incursions into their territory to get captives for slavery or ritual sacrifices, but high upon their plateaus the Icha could protect their people and their culture from outsiders. But this did not mean they were warriors, for millennia the Icha were hardened pacifists wishing to avoid fights when possible, it could be said in the history of their people, there has never been a proven murderer.
The livelihoods of the Icha are focused around their mountain valleys, in their farms they grow crops like Corn as well as something they call the Potato, a tuber of another plant which is very nutritious. Another major part of the Icha economy comes from the mountains themselves, the Icha homelands have often been compared to the Westerlands in Westeros, abundant in minerals like gold and silver as well as iron, copper and tin.
Besides farming they rear cattle, notably a strange creature that they call the Llama, which they herd for a variety of purposes, they serve as pack animals in the mountain valleys, as well as providing good wool for clothes, commonly a type of tunic that was easy to fashion, as well as for the obvious meat.
For generations the Icha were devoted to the belief of spiritual enlightenment, it was common for people in all walks of life to undertake steady breathing and calming meditations, it is said that some went so far as to detach themselves from the wider world that their spirit may be free from worldly concerns which would enable them to reach the Spiritual enlightenment they sought.
This partly changed when the Valyrians launched their invasions, the Dragons they commanded brought death and destruction upon the Icha, their plateau cities and temples were all but destroyed by Dragon fire, very few of those that lived in the temples and cities survived but their civilisation was shattered at the losses they suffered.
And since then they have been working generation after generation to slowly rebuild without losing the lessons learned and the identity of their people.
The Erehe :
A people spiritually, practically and literally tied to the seas and oceans of the world, the Erehe or "the seas people" are a people that live upon the broken and cracked islets and tropical islands off the north Western coastline of Sun Tzu where the waves are only held back by sand bars, coral reefs and rocky outcroppings.
The Erehe are very much a people that are tied to the seas and oceans around them, their very lives are connected to the seas, there are no cities or towns among the Erehe, every member of their tribe live in small villages that are built in protected coves, their huts built on raised platforms tucked closely against the secure cliffs or along the white sandy beaches of the islands where it meets the forests.
They are considered simple people by the outside world, for whilst many turned away from the small canoes and paddle boats in favour of larger ships with great sails.
They chose to remain with that which they have used for millennia, in fact the largest "ships" that the Erehe use are just two or more large canoes linked together with a solid platform and one or two sails. But that doesn't mean that they are incapable of long voyages, for most vessels bringing goods from Sun Tzu to foreign markets are the large canoe ships of the Erehe, they are described as fast, sleek and easy to maintain and control in the rough waters of the ocean.
Most of these vessels they use for the purpose of fishing and scrounging, the Erehe live on the plentiful waters around them, most of their diet consists very simple, fish, birds eggs, crustaceans, sea weeds and other things they are able to gather or catch from the coral reefs. Its from these oceans and seas that they also get that which they use to build their homes and clothes, fibres from sea weed as well as what they call the Coconut are used to create their tunics, dresses and cloaks, whilst the bones of animals that live in the waters like Sharks are used to make tools and even weapons.
One of the most famous weapons of the Erehe is a type of club, fashioned from hardwood and embedded with the sharp teeth of sharks to give a cutting edge. They are also known to use a type of hardened clay to make a simple form of armour for their warriors, which is decorated with flowers, feathers and other ornaments, often to the point that no two armours is the same.
Known for their careful watching of the stars, the Erehe are renowned for their skill as navigators, using the sun, moon and stars to find their ways regardless of where they go. It is said that one time whilst aboard a merchant ship from Braavos, an Erehe told the Captain they were going the wrong way, when asked how they knew, the Erehe motioned with one hand the horizon to the sun in the sky.
Their skill is so well known that the Erehe are often the only people from Sun Tzu that are met beyond the borders of the Empire, as they are the ones that are more likely to venture out into the seas and oceans.
The Mayat:
In the east closest the untamed lands of Sothoryos, are the Mayat, a people that have built their civilisation in the thick jungles and rainforests of the land.
The Mayat are believed to be descendants of an ancient civilisation that once inhabited Sothoryos, this is due to the similar appearance of their largest structures to ruins discovered in the depths of Sothoryos itself. These include large pyramid like structures built in levels like giant steps leading to the top, these pyramids serve as temples to their gods, with the highest points being where rituals are conducted.
They are carefully placed in their environment, for the jungles and rainforests of their homeland are not very fertile despite first look, so they use a careful and methodical system that serves to ensure that the areas where they have cut down the forest to produce open space for farms, never is depleted, enabling them to create complete cities.
The largest of which is, Tenoch, a huge city built in the heart of an immense lake with small islets at its centre, some of them are natural others are man-made. Access to the city is only capable either via canoe or by a set of four long man-made causeways that are only large enough for wagons and carts to move in single file.
In ancient times, the Mayat were very much a people of war, due to their ancient beliefs of sacrifice to please their gods, in the far off past, they would have sent out war parties to capture people for enslavement or for brutal ritual sacrifices. Though these days the Mayat have forgone the complete sacrifices in favour of blood letting through ritual ceremonies.
Though this doesn't mean that they are not capable warriors, they proved such when the Valyrians attempted to move into their jungles and rainforests when they invaded. Countless Valyrians fell to their spears, arrows, darts and war-clubs and all hardened by dragon glass sharper than even the finest blade, despite being as thin as glass.
The Toha:
To some the Toha cannot even be truly called a realm, even among the Sun Tzu, they are looked on as a basic, simple, primitive people that are strange to look upon. Living near the Frozen South of the Inu, the Toha however live in the cold mountains where they build basic shelters within deep cavern networks.
The Toha are believed to be a separate human species, due to them being stocky and solidly built, the most striking feature is said to be a strong brow they have on their foreheads just above their eyes. They are also known for not being the most fluent in terms of speech, it is said that they are slow when it comes to producing certain words, though they are capable of intelligent conversations.
They are known for being introverted and prefer to stay away from others if it can be helped, though known for being shy, one account that to make a Toha a friend means having a friend for life. A very simple living people, the Toha live very much hand to mouth, living the hunter gather lifestyle of their ancestors for generations, though some are known to leave their homeland and live in the Imperial Hearth, they are a minority. If anything the Toha are not a people of number, it is estimated that there are fewer than 20,000 in total across their entire territory.
Primitive in their lives, the Toha wear clothes simply fashioned, sewn and knotted into warm clothes to keep out the cold, the tools they use from their hunting spears, war clubs to needles for clothes all are either crafted from wood, animal bone or flint and obsidian. And their use of animal bones aren't just for tools and weapons but also for armour, mostly its believed as a means of terror, making their enemies afraid of them.
Within the Sun Tzu Empire, they are not really inclusive, though a Old man or shaman in their case comes to continue their pledge of loyalty and fealty to the Empire, they are known to be openly involved with the outside world. But this does not mean that they are separate from the other cultures of the Empire, as an act of trust by the First Emperor, he decided that the Toha shall be the protectors of the Imperial Barrows, deep man-made caverns that shall and have served as the final resting places for Emperors and their Empresses.
And for thousands of years, the Toha have honoured their pledge and their loyalty, by ensuring that none dare to enter the barrows except by leave of the Emperor.
The Cultures:
The Combined Ideology and Faith:
Although the realms of Sun Tzu are distinct and defined by their individual customs and cultures, a single shared faith is at the heart of a common belief. Though each culture is distinct in their names of gods and the nature of the divine, a singular belief stands at the heart, the belief in the End and Renewal of the world.
The belief of the Sun Tzu faith is that at the beginning of time, the Gods whose names are truly unknowable created the universe and all that lay within. Except one day just as with all religions and faiths, the world and universe shall come to an end, yet the belief of Sun Tzu is that after the end, the Universe shall be reborn anew.
It is the faith of the Sun Tzu that at the end of time itself, the world and the universe shall be rebuilt in a new form which also links to their belief in the afterlife. For the Sun Tzu believe that when they die, their souls go onto a paradise where they shall live with their Ancestors until the end of time, after which the Gods shall call upon them to help them in rebuilding the world once again. When this is complete, the Gods shall bring them into a higher plain of existence or allow them to be reincarnated into the world they had just helped to rebuild.
And it is not just in terms of faith that the Sun Tzu show and share their culture, within the Imperial Hearth, all are shared and equal, from the construction of homes and temples and above all the structures of greatness that dominate the Imperial City, such as the Imperial Palace, built upon a raised step like the Icha, with the dominating placement of the Mayat, an imposing central tower like those of the Ossa, beautiful gardens to show the vibrancy of colour by the Erehe and from the Inu, expertly carved whale and dragon bones to decorate the entrance doors.
The Ossa Culture:
In terms of Culture the Ossa are as tough as their lands, in ages past the Ossa were not to dissimilar to Westeros, feudal lords and petty kings that constantly vied and squabbled for power, resources, territory and of course glory.
As their lands are often described similar to Dorne, hot with sand, dirt and rock, the Ossa are very conservative when it comes to water, they have a custom similar to "Guest Right" in Westeros, where upon welcoming a guest into their home, the host will gift a drink of water to their guests signifying trust but also protection. To violate this custom is considered the most disgusting crime an Ossa can undertake, according to some tales, when an Ossa lord hosted a banquet with his enemies, gifted water and then turned his guards on his guests. In response to this extreme act and the violation of such a sacred custom, it is said that nearly every city in the Ossa lands turned on this particular lord and marched on his fortress, even his closest allies marched on him, the point was clear, such taboos will never be accepted.
But the comparison of Dorne is very much a mistake, for whilst the coastlines are very much desolate of grass and plants, the interior is very different, with grasslands, patches of woodlands and forest. The Ossa call them the Savannahs, where despite the life that fills them, it is still very hot and dry, though pockets of water can be found away from the rivers and lakes, at places known to them as Aquifers. These are places were water collects underground and pushes up to the surface providing an endless supply of clean, fresh water.
The Economy of the Ossa is tied to the spices and vegetables they are known to farm, these include spices that are ground into powders, vegetables that like plant tubers. But also on active trade, for the port cities and harbours that all trade ships and merchantmen enter the Sun Tzu, all of them built and maintained by Ossa Builders and craftsmen. And not just the Harbours themselves, but the "elevators" and "cranes" that are used to help load and unload the cargos from the ships with ease.
The Ossa are known for their towers, practically they serve two roles, the first being like the towers in other parts of the world, working as defensive towers notably those along the walls of their high cities. But that is during times of war and conflict, in times of peace these towers are used to store foods for the people when times are harsh, notably during the winters.
Culturally, the Ossa are followers of a gathering of gods that according to their ancient scriptures are faceless for mortals who have yet to pass along into the next life, they do not even have true names for their gods. Instead they recognise them on what the duty of the God is, for instance the God of the Sun, Moon, Waters etc. But unlike other cultures that construct temples and places of worship, the Ossa believe that the Gods do not ask for true worship, that they worship the gods through their hard work and continued existence.
The Erehe Culture:
The culture of the Erehe is very much tied to the seas and oceans, for such are their very lives.
To the Erehe, the oceans are more than just their way of life, but their very identity, such is proof of how long they have relied on the seas and oceans around them for their lives and existence. Everything that they require comes from the seas and oceans or from the islands they build their villages, food, materials for tools and weapons, everything.
So it is understandable that the ocean is at the heart of their ancestral cultural beliefs and why most of their gods are often depicted as creatures from the sea. The greatest is a deity they call Daqu, a giant shark that protects the oceans from those that seek to do it harm, ensuring the continuation of life, another is Marama, goddess that takes on the form of a song bird whose songs are said to bring life to any islands she visits. There is Kerehoma a ruthless god who takes on the form of a great flying bird, whose wings cause gales of wind, whose call creates great storms. Pekama who takes on the form of a swarm of fireflies who takes the souls of the dead onto the next life.
But one of the most important beliefs of the Erehe is something that they call "Mana", they describe it to be the life force of the universe, that Mana flows in all things whether it is alive or not and when they die their Mana is taken by the goddess Pekama and transferred either into new life or returned to the wider universe. The belief of Mana is so important to the Erehe, that they treat items with great respect, from their weapons which they believe holds the Mana of the animals it was made from. For example, the Shark tooth club is said to possess the spiritual energy of the shark itself, giving it greater power and strength when used.
The Mayat Culture:
In age past, the Mayat were not a single people unified under single rule, though they were unified by customs, beliefs and language, they were once ruled by countless independent rulers, with each city having a lord who ruled the city and the surrounding villages as his own realm.
At the heart of the culture was the belief in the continuation of the universe, they believe that when the universe was created the Gods saturated it with their own life essence and that they gave up so much of their power to create life that they require blood sacrifices in order to maintain their power and ensure the continuation of life. Its for this reason that for thousands of years before the Sun Tzu Empire unified, that the Mayat were constantly fighting amongst themselves for captives not just to serve as slaves and labourers but also for ritual human sacrifices which sometimes included the heart being ripped from the body whilst the sacrifice was still alive.
Their gods are numerous and often depicted in elaborate fashion, some are shown as humans others more animalistic or fantastical, the most powerful of their gods are Quetzalcoatl is shown in the form of a large feathered serpent and Itzamná who is shown as a more human form and is renowned as a teacher who is said to have come to the world from the heavens and showed humans how to build, read and write after a time of great sorrow and death.
In regards of their writing, the Mayat have a system of extreme sophistication with various glyphs that are very intricate with some have multiple meanings at first glance until one sees the small difference between each variation.
Also of importance for the Mayat are the heavens themselves, for they are known as well respected and renowned astronomers, the masters of the skill are said to be able to accurately estimate the date of the next eclipse be it solar or lunar. They are also alleged to be able to accurately count the number of days until the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter and supposedly just how long the Winter shall be and of course how severe. All that they learn from the stars, moon and sun are carefully transcribed in their glyphs to the tiniest detail should they ever require a comparison in the future.
The Icha Culture:
For the Icha, the changing of the Ages has brought much trouble and discord for their people and their culture.
Before the times of old Valyria, Icha culture was very much focused around their mountain top cities and temples, constructed high up upon flat topped Plateaus that dotted their homelands. A number of these locations were inhabited by temples where priests conducted various forms of ceremonies and rituals, for in the ancient times, the Icha believed that only through enlightenment could one understand the Gods and such could only be done through the careful practice of meditation often for days at a time.
A key point to this was the removal of oneself from the wider world, specifically, those that wished to become the monks of the temples, they must give up all their worldly goods, even today the priest and monks of the Icha completely and utterly detach themselves from the concerns of the world that they might achieve spiritual enlightenment.
However sadly this was nearly destroyed when the Valryian lords upon their dragons burned and destroyed all of the Plateau top cities and temples leaving them all desolate, very few survived and countless artifacts and sacred writings were destroyed in the inferno that the Dragons unleashed upon them. Even now centuries after their victory in the war and the Doom of Valyria, the Icha are still trying to rebuild their ancestral homes, temples and cities.
The reason is because as with many cities, the Icha Plateau cities took centuries to build to the glory they once lived and there were many cities before their destruction. The Icha plan is to rebuild them one by one, without endangering the history behind them or any of the relics, writings or artifacts that survived the Dragon Fire.
Outside of this, the Icha culture is bound to the farms they have built along the valleys, similar in design to their newer cities and towns, they are built on man made platforms that enable to safe farming of the land without risking any problems of the soil losing its fertility.
The Toha Culture:
[side note: the image associated with this section contains some nudity, I apologise for any discomfort]
There is not much to discuss in regards of Toha culture, they live a hunter-gatherer life, though they are known to build shelters, mostly from large logs, branches and animal hides, they are more likely to take shelter within the many caves of their mountain valleys.
Though this does not mean they are without culture, though often looked on a primitive, the different clans of the Toha possess a culture of their own. These Clans are primarily family groups, often no more than 30 individuals all of whom are somewhat related, though clans are known to gather at times in different locations for various reasons, such as the gathering of the Barrows. Where the Toha come to aid in the burial of an Emperor or Empress within the Imperial Barrows alongside their ancestors, a duty the Toha take very serious, it is required for all Toha to gather for such a ceremony.
But for themselves, the Toha possess nameless spirits of the sky, stars, mountains and water, though it is claimed these spirits are powerful, they are weak against the singular ultimate spirit that can be compared to a Goddess. The Toha refer to her as the Stone Woman, a giant carving in a mountain side depicting a rotund, voluptuous, faceless woman, who they regard her as the mother of the Earth. They worship her as the one who gave life to the world as a whole and for as long as she stands, life shall continue, in honour of her, the Toha are known to place trinkets they have made from materials from the world, a circle of flowers, a necklace of flint, bone and leather and more.
Even away from the Stone Woman, the Toha are spiritual though in a more artistic fashion, in the Caves that are their homes, they are known, at least the Elders are known to decorate with simple paints the walls with the images of birds, animals and people. Its thought they do this both as a means of worship for the countless spirits of the world but also as a means of passing along information. Some of the paintings seen by Scholars have described seeing images that resemble dragons in the sky as well as beasts that are thought to be nothing more than myths and legends.
Though the Toha elders claim that they were not myths but have merely been lost to the passage of the moons [Time].
The Imperial Family:
[Note: These are the Imperial Family members during the course of the Game of Thrones]
By custom and tradition its considered a norm for the Ruling Imperial family to be rather large, this has come as part of the Imperial families tradition of being among the different cultures, so its rather common for their to be many princes and princesses each adopting a name from the culture that they are fostered and tutored, but for the family they are by their true born names.
Tian Zhan : Emperor under the Sky
In his case he chose a dagger forged from Dragon glass a relic of the Mayat, upon his arrival to the Mayat lands, he was asked what it was that he wished to be called for the duration of his tutelage. After much thought, he took on the name Bo'Ik, the Mayat word for Black, after the Dragon Glass dagger he chose at his ceremony.
After the passing of his father, Tian Zhan took the throne at the young age of 17 and has been described as a just and fair ruler over Sun Tzu. He has been described as being a ruler who looks to the future whilst learning of the past, that he might avoid repeating its failures, under his rule, Sun Tzu has become the heart of a trading empire stretching from Westeros to Qarth in the East and supposedly even further. This has brought an age of prosperity and plenty for the Sun Tzu Empire, with regarding it as a Golden Age that can only end with the onset of winter, which Tian Zhan is all too aware of, he has members of his court conducting careful management of resources such as food, ensuring that more than enough is safely stored and secured ready for when it is needed to be distributed to the people.
It is said that one of the many reasons of this time of prosperity is Tian Zhans willingness to hear the opinions of others, though it is his choice and his opinion that decides the fate of the Empire. He is known to discuss matters with those around him, from his advisors, his family, his friends, but most especially his Uncle and his Wife.
He and his Empress Consort were wedded by arrangement of their fathers, originally the Empress Consort was to wed, Emperor Tian Zhans older brother, but when he passed, Tian Zhan was then chosen to marry and of course bring into being the next generation of Imperial Heirs. Although very much a political marriage as is common across the world those of nobility or royalty, the pair did come to be affectionate towards one another, they have had a number of children and seen them undergo their proper ceremonies of tutelage. Though their methods of ensuring that their children are ready for their futures differ greatly.
Tian Zhan was more in favour of their children learning from experience and seeing the world so that they may learn how to survive for the better in an ever changing world. When he feels that a matter beyond the Borders of Sun Tzu is of no real danger or threat, he is in favour of sending one of his sons or daughters going to gain experience in diplomacy and negotiation as well as get experience of the wider world.
It is suspected that he is secretly the head of a group of individuals that seek to restore Targaryen Rule over the seven kingdoms, mostly through subterfuge and clandestine actions to bolster the Targaryen cause, all of this is done through allies, associates and mediums. These include "A Spider" in the Red Keep, a Prince of Dorne, a Pentos Merchant and several others.
When emissaries from Westeros by the orders of Jon Arryn, Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon sought to improve relations and restore trade, Emperor Tian Zhan accepted the proposal but wished to send a message to Robert Baratheon which was then repeated many years later following Roberts death.
This message both to Robert and then to his heir Joffery alongside Lord Tywin Lannister was clear in its writing.
"Your Iron throne is made of swords from Aegons Conquest, my Throne is made from the bones of Dragons that my ancestors defeated when Valyria attempted to subjugate us. Your ancestors bowed to three dragons, mine slew hundreds, whilst you bowed to your conquerors, we made them cower in fear and accept peace on our terms."
Maia: The Empress Consort
Born of an honourable and respected noble lineage from the Ossa, where she endured and thrived in the rigorous physical training that both sexes are required to undergo, specifically for those born into noble bloodlines. Though technically these are divided along gender lines, men training to hone their bodies to make themselves strong for their future labours and women undergoing the training and education to prepare them for motherhood.
Only Empress Consort Maia excelled in both.
Although very much a political marriage as is common across the world those of nobility or royalty, the pair did come to be affectionate towards one another, they have had a number of children and seen them undergo their proper ceremonies of tutelage. Though their methods of ensuring that their children are ready for their futures differ greatly.
Having known loss from family leaving Sun Tzu to get involved in the affairs of the world, when her own brother left the Empire to support the Targaryens during Roberts rebellion, during which he was killed alongside Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. She cried so much that her famed make up was utterly ruined, one of the few times for those who know who properly to break down in such emotion. Since then she has been determined to ensure that all of her children are strong and capable, but above all are kept well away from the affairs of the world unless it is absolutely necessary.
It is often joked behind closed doors, that Empress Maia is the true power of the throne, for apparently Emperor Tian Zhan is always willing to take her advice on matters as well as according to some rumours, "Letting her take the lead in bed". It is an element of humour among the immediate family, notably the children and their father the Emperor, that they are more afraid of her than him, for instance when one of the children got into trouble for pulling a practical joke.
The Emperor only asked how it went, but when he told said child that their mother was waiting for them, then the terrors came. But this shouldn't mean that she is a tyrant for her family, for they all know that it is out of care and love, they understand that she does not wish to lose anyone she cares for on such a deep level. Which is why they do not complain when she demands that regardless of where they are, all of her children boy and girl constantly train in every form of combat as well as train their minds rigorously.
Zhu Li: The Elder
Though in terms of royalty and nobility he was nothing more than a back up should anything happen to his older brother as well as serving as a bargaining chip to secure influence through political marriage. Zhu Li did not step back from duties as a member of the Imperial Family, he is known among the Empire as a pious and compassionate man who is rather fond of walking among the people, enjoying different cuisines in the markets and learning different ways.
As custom on his 13th name day he underwent the ceremony for his tutelage and fostering, in his case he went to the Icha but he didn't stop there. Even though he followed through with his training and education in the Icha homelands, when this was completed he began a "Pilgrimage" where he travelled through the different lands of Sun Tzu and then even further. It is said that he has visited all of the Free Cities and each of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros at least once, making him one of the most travelled persons in Sun Tzu.
During these travels he made friends across the world, from an associates in Braavos, a Merchant in Braavos, a "Spider" in the Red Keep, a powerful lady of the Reach, the Princes of Dorne and countless others.
Upon the ascension of his nephew, Emperor Tian Zhan, Zhu Li was chosen to be one of the closest advisors to the Imperial Throne due to his many travels which gives him a better understanding on what is going in the world as well as how a decision can be seen as well as reacted too. And when there is need of a respected diplomat and ambassador, despite his age, Zhu Li is not afraid of boarding a ship to once again see old friends, enjoy the foods and see the world.
A running joke among the Imperial Court is that he is very easily distracted by foods and teas and if any one is in trouble with him, simply bring him his favourite tea and he is more than likely to forgive you.
These days Zhu Li serves as the Ambassador to the Iron Throne on behalf of the Emperor, something he finds rather enjoyable as it allows him to travel again and see the sights, catch up with old friends and above all, as far as he is concerned, enjoy the delights of the markets. He is often accompanied by his grand-nephew, second Prince Kyu, who he is responsible for teaching in the arts of diplomacy and negotiation. Not that he minds, he actually is happy for the company.
Lu Dai: The Cloaked Book-keeper
The younger brother of the reigning Emperor, Lu Dai possess a tragic story, for at an early age he was discovered to possess a debilitating disease one that leaves horrendous scars and marks across most of the body. In most parts of the world, those with such a disease would be scorned or shepherded away that they may be given care far from the sight of the world.
But in Sun Tzu the disease is an mystery as to how one catches it, but it is known that those that have it are not dangerous or capable of passing it onto others, so for the most part they are treated kindly. Such was the case for Lord Lu Dai, though in his case the marks and scars upon his body are more evident and severe, so much so that to stay from people staring at him, he deigns to wear a soft silk and clothe robe with a long hood to hide his face from onlookers and upon his hands he wears stripes of silk rapped carefully around it as well as around the fingers that he might still use them.
These as well as his clothes are specially made by tailors within the Imperial Hearth with the aid of healers, for they are all fashioned specifically for him, that the clothes may not catch any of the scars, thus sparing him additional pain. A rarity among the history of Imperial Family, Lu Dai never underwent the Tutelage ceremony on his 13th name day, since his sickness made such impossible, so instead he remained in the Imperial Hearth where he became an avid scholar, mathematician and philosopher.
Such traits have made him known, in terms of Westeros and the Iron throne, Lu Dai holds a place similar to that of the Master of Coin, he oversees the Imperial finances, maintaining the meticulous book-keeping that ensures that the Realms of Sun Tzu are kept properly maintained and Economy kept in check. Some would say that this was a means of keeping him out of sight, but for Lu Dai he enjoys it, for it means that he very rarely has to go far and when he isn't busy he is free to continue his studies in philosophy with some of his books being known as far as Westeros.
Kamik and Tega: 1st Prince and 1st Princess
The oldest of the Imperial children, born on the same day only minutes apart, Prince Kamik and Princess Tega were praised upon their birth. As their father the Emperor puts it however, they are as much trouble growing up as they were for their mother in the womb.
For Kamik his life is carefully, methodically and structurally organised, for being the oldest of the Imperial children, notably the oldest son of the Emperor and his Empress makes him the 1st in line as heir to the Imperial Throne. Meaning that every effort has been made to ensure that when the time comes he is ready to take his fathers place and be crowned as the Emperor of Sun Tzu.
For Tega however, there is little danger of her life being controlled for the good of the Empire, if anything she sees her life already set in motion, she knows that sooner or later she will be expected to marry someone for the good of Sun Tzu and have babies. But since such dogma is not as enforced in the Empire as it is in other parts of the world, some say that for Princess Tega, she can live her life how she wants at least for a little while.
The pair of them since they were both born on the same day, underwent their Tutelage ceremonies together at the same time, since there was little wish to divide the twins as it is believed that to do so would be harmful to their souls. Incredibly they both placed their hand upon the Inu relic and as such both went south the following year to live among the Inu people and learn their culture and their ways.
Although they are growing up properly, it is said that the two often engage in petty squabbles and joke around with each other, specifically Tega getting back at her brother for being such a "hard headed, Sexist, nut brain". Though the two are known to get into arguments very often, it is very well known that the two cannot live without each other, they are tied together at birth and despite all the squabbles and troubles they might get themselves into between each other, they are firmly brother and sister and will always look out for one another.
Though this connection can be said to be limited for Kamik, for whilst Tega loves all of her younger siblings with them often writing each other to keep in touch with one another. Kamik is very judgemental of his younger brother Kyu, whilst Kamik is dead set on upholding the expectations he has of one day becoming Emperor and serving the realms of Sun Tzu, he dislikes the fact that Kyu is not honouring his duties as a member of the Imperial Family, seeing Kyu as a person who is too willing to forget who he is.
Tega however understands that their brother is free spirited just as their own mothers lost brother and that he must find his own path, just as the Inu elders have taught her. So whenever the family is together, she does what she can to try and get them to remember the good times they had growing up, get them to remember they are family first and the Imperial family second.
Kyu: 2nd Prince
Prince Kyu is very easily recognised due to a large birth mark he possesses upon his face, covering much of the left side above the cheek and across his eye. Rather than hide it however, he wears it proudly, claiming "It gives me character".
Second born son of the Emperor and Empress, Prince Kyu is in terms of Westeros, the "Spare" the second in line for the Imperial throne only after his brother Kamik. This means that his upbringing is not as strict or focused, though he still undergoes the rigours demanded by their mother, Kyu hasn't been put through the structured education of his older brother.As far as he is concerned this means that he has a little more freedom in his education and his life, though it is known that Lyu is rather distant when it comes to his family, preferring very much to be alone. When he was a boy, rather than attending his lessons with a assigned teacher, he would instead go to the Imperial library, grab a book and then sit somewhere in the gardens and relax. The masters who tutored the children in the blade and the bow also found him infuriating as he would use his own style of fighting one that went against how a warrior was supposed to behave.
For instance during a mock fight with wooden swords against his brother Kamik, rather than following what they were both taught, Kyu instead through the sword away and jumped his brother and hit him with his fists. Enraged, Kyu was ordered away, Kamik has never let this be forgotten, when asked why he did that, he explained "In a battle, one will not be treated fairly, so why should I fight fairly". Prince Kyu is often described by members of the family as someone who doesn't care, as far as he is concerned, why should he, his brother is the one with all the expectations, he only exists "to be the spare".
During his tutelage ceremony, Kyu placed his hand on the Mayat relic and for a number of years, learned their ways and their culture as it tradition, but when it came time for the Imperial family to gather for special occasions, ceremonies or other reasons, unless it was truly important, Kyu never returned to the Imperial Hearth. Instead he would send a letter, then he would travel around Sun Tzu learning from all the different cultures, he has visited each of the six cultures at least once until he came of age.
To try and make him a little more responsible, Prince Kyu was sent to learn from his grand-uncle in Westeros, where eventually its thought he will become Ambassador or perhaps for some minds, "Make the boy grow up and become a man". Kyu doesn't care why, as far as he is concerned it gets him away from home and away from those that judge him like his brother.
Despite this, he remembers where he comes from and has upon his belt wherever he goes small tokens from Sun Tzu and all the cultures, a short string that is tied to his belt that hangs down to a point half way down his right leg.
The string has items each of the six cultures of Sun Tzu, gifts he said that were given to him by their people, a Jade bead from the Mayat, a small ring of crafted stone from the Ossa, a miniature whale bone harpoon from the Inu, three shark teeth from the Erehe, an arrow head of flint from the Toha and a small silver band from the Icha. These as a whole are of great importance to him as they are not just valuable in the literal sense but in emotional attachment for to him it allows Kyu to remember who he is.
Lina: 2nd Princess
Princess Lina was like all of the children, put through the tutelage ceremony for her future education and in her case, she and her mother were happy with where fate deigned she would go, for during the ceremony her hand fell upon the Ossa Relic. So when not within the Imperial Hearth she stays with family in the Ossa lands learning their ways and their culture, something she is very happy with and it lets her strengthen her mind and her body.
Some look upon her as cold and unyielding which to an extent she is, but for certain members of her family she is soft and outspoken when the times call for it. She is never afraid to give her opinion of a matter or situation and often its the most honest words in the room, some find it improper for a woman to speak so openly, because sometimes these words can be regarded as insulting or impolite, but Lina doesn't care, as far as she is concerned "They needed to be said"
Despite her distaste for books and reading, she is a constant writing companion to her brother Kyu in Westeros, with the pair writing letters so that they may stay in touch mostly in the form of keeping each other up to date on the goings on in the world as well as back home.
This makes her one of the few people back in Sun Tzu that Prince Kyu remains in contact with back in Sun Tzu.
Advisors of the Realms:
Since the Sun Tzu Empire is so diverse as is the Imperial family it is common for the Emperor to have a number of advisors and speakers who serve to as the name suggests advise him on matters from the point of view of the culture from which they hail. They also easily compared to serve in similar fashion to the Wardens of Westeros under the Iron Throne, they practically lord over the lands and ensure the continuation of law and order on behalf of the Emperor.
Amaruq: The Chief of the Inu
The village that he leads sits closest to the ice and snow valleys that are the only path into the territory of the Inu by land, though one can go by sea it is far more perilous due to the ice drifts. His duties are clear, to guard the Inu peoples and uphold the laws of the Empire, gather the tribute for the Imperial Hearth and protect the region from any troubles that may or may not come forth.
By tradition the Chieftain of the Inu tribe is usually related to the Imperial family by blood or marriage, such is the case of Chief Amaruq, in his case he is wedded to the sister of the Emperor ensuring the continued fealty and loyalty of the Inu to the Empire.
As a pure blooded Inu and the most powerful of their chiefs, Amaruq is very much a respected leader and since he watches over the only trade routes for the few goods that the Inu are able to exchange in markets, this brings him in Inu terms wealthy. As the Chieftain of the Inu he also possesses the responsibility of watching over those the Imperial bloodline who are destined to undergo their tutelage among the Inu tribes.
So in the case of Amaruq he, his wife Atanina and their children are the custodians and guardians of the Imperial heirs, since Kamik and his sister Tega are undergoing their tutelage among the Inu, tradition demands they stay with their Aunt and Uncle for the duration of their stay. Something that Amaruq is proud of, since he very rarely leaves Inu lands and so doesn't see the extended family of his beloved wife.
Atanina: Speaker of the Toha
When she was young as with all Imperial children, Atanina underwent a tutelage within another realm, for her, she was destined to be among the Inu tribes. Since she was never to inherit the throne or any sufficient title, Atanina remained in the Inu lands learning their ways and then in her spare time learning the language and culture of the neighbouring Toha. When she became old enough she even spent time with them, experience their lives for herself, she became respected among the Toha for this willingness to see them as more than just cave dwelling barbarians.
Such was the respect that when her brother became Emperor, he personally requested that she take on the title and duties of the Speaker. This is an important duty within the Sun Tzu as the Speaker of the Toha is expected to listen to the needs of the Toha and aid them when problems arise as well as to discuss and mediate troubles between them and the Inu as and when they become hazardous.
A very outspoken woman, Atanina is always willing to make sure her voice is heard especially when she feels that no one is really listening. When she learned that her oldest Nephew and Niece were to join her in the Inu lands for their tutelage, she swore to her brother and sister in law that she would watch over them and ensure that they were both kept safe.
Katashige: Ship Master
The uncle of the reigning Emperor, Katashige is the master of ships for the Empire of Sun Tzu, a position of honour among the Sun Tzu.
Despite his age, Lord Katashige remains firmly a man who seeks to uphold his duty and ensure that the Empires navy remains strong and ready for any threat that may show itself at sea. He took the position upon the ascension of his brother as Emperor, at first he was uncertain of his experience to the duties, but quickly showed his skill in naval command and leadership.
Even today he is regarded as among the greatest naval commanders of the world, he has led his ships against all manner of pirates that dared to attack Sun Tzu merchant ships and Erehe canoes, apparently according to some tales, when the City of Volantis refused to pay a debt they owed to the Empire, he led his fleet to the city and declared that unless they paid, he'd blockade the harbour and deny any ship permission to enter or leave.
Yet his greatest honour is to be the Captain of the Valyria, the metal warship that was taken centuries ago from the Valyrian freehold when they attempted to subjugate the Sun Tzu. This ship is the Emperors personal ship and the flagship of the Empire, whenever the Emperor is to journey to another land, he is to go across the seas aboard the Valyria in the care of Lord Katashige.
Outside of official duties, Lord Katashige is very much a man who is interested into the methods of the Erehe for travelling across the seas and oceans, he studies their techniques of "Star Sight" and "Water passage". Alongside these interests, he is also an avid drawer of maps and charts, from his many voyages both on the Valyria or normal Sun Tzu warships, he has created his own collection of maps and charts which are drawn down to the finest detail and according to some, have hidden secrets within them.
Secrets that can only be revealed to those who know how.
Mahora: Speaker of Erehe
Such the duty of Mahora, who is the current Speaker of the Erehe, being rather young for the duty, he still considers it a great honour to speak the words of his people and ensure that they are heard by the Emperor and the other members of the Imperial Court.
Many find it honourable at times that despite being a Speaker within the Imperial Court, he often requests permission of the Emperor to return home to the Erehe lands, that he may speak with Village elders and chiefs or to take part in the ceremonies of the Erehe beliefs. He does this because there are times that he is afraid that since he so young for the role, that he might forget who he is and become more akin to the Imperial Heartland over honouring his heritage among the Erehe.
The Emperor always honours these requests, in fact it is because of Mahora that he asked for all of his advisors and confidants to often visit their people that they may remember where they come from as well as who they speak for.
Merela: Speaker of Ossa
As the story goes, she openly challenged anyone who thought they could do the job better to a wrestling match, if anyone bested her then that person would become the Speaker of the Ossa. Many accepted the challenge and after 52 wrestling matches within the Imperial city, she was the only one left standing, after which she joked that if anyone was interested they could try again with a drinking competition.
Some accepted and again she was the last one standing, apparently as the story goes in the family, despite being the declared the winner and the new Speaker of the Ossa, she wasn't able to fulfil her duties for a few days and when she could, she was asked that people don't shout.
Since this victory, she has maintained her tough and determined spirit as Speaker, she is never afraid to speak her mind when it comes to matters and is not afraid to break decorum when she feels that the need arises. Though some might find it disrespectful to speak in such a manner before the Emperor, it is always forgiven as the Ossa are known to never mince words.
Outside of her duties as Speaker, she is known to be as tough as her Empress Sister, so much so that she was actually asked to be the physical trainer of the Imperial children, teaching them to strengthen their bodies and hone their muscles for the tough times.
Montezuma: Lord of the Sun
Since he lives within the Mayat lands and is very much a Mayat himself both because he was raised among their ways and his mother being a full blooded Mayat, Montezuma very rarely leaves the Mayat lands which are his home and when he does it is usually to visit the Imperial Heartland to speak with the Emperor and pass along his opinions on matters or present a request from the Mayat Peoples.
Despite his loyalty to the Mayat people, he is among those who are dead set against the old ways, the belief in human sacrifices to appease the gods and preserve the balance of life. In fact as Lord of the Sun he is among those who are expected to give blood sacrifice in the temples as a means of preserving the world and appeasing the gods through the giving of his own blood. Whenever he learns of people returning to the old ways and conducting sacrifices, he ensures that the laws set down by his forefathers and the Empire are upheld to the fullest.
Outside of this however, he is known to be a lover of art and an absolute patron to it, in his spare time he likes to walk the streets of Tikalochtitlan the capitol city of the Mayat and the heart of their culture, here he would around and look upon the different pieces of art in the city.
Po: Watcher of the skies
When Master Po was young, like his siblings, he underwent the tutelage ceremony to determine where he would spend his formative years and undertake his studies, in his case his hand fell upon the Icha relic, which was a tool meant for the creation of traditional Icha Tattoos, those that were used by the ancient monks of the temples in the days before the Valyrian invasion.
Upon his arrival in the Icha homelands, he was amazed at the culture and their history, after he finished his tutelage he stayed behind and continued to help in the learning and studying of the ancient beliefs and culture of the Icha. In fact after a while he began to practice the traditional meditations and exercises that were conducted by the monks in the temples, eventually he was invited to be gifted his own traditional tattoos to mark him as a true monk of their people and their beliefs, feeling honoured he accepted.
Since then he has remained in the temples of the Icha, helping to piece together the lost fragments of their culture and history, he finds it rather insulting whenever people question why it is that he is so fixated on the past. To him the past is a teacher, by learning from it they can preserve what needs to be known else, the lesson will be forgotten and the punishments may be severe.
Legend and Tales:
Being such an ancient people with a range of different beliefs, there are of course as will peoples and cultures across the world, going to be legends and stories that are passed down from generation to generation, some of these legends and tales are just such, stories.
But others are considered warnings from history.
The Cold Ones:
It is said that during those days, a great enemy walked the lands of Sun Tzu, coming from someplace across the frozen seas to the South, they called this enemy, the Cold Ones, on account of the winter cold being as bleak and fierce whenever they approach, as well as how the Cold Ones never seemed to care for the cold and seemed to welcome it.
According to the tales, the Cold Ones were led by a warrior queen who commanded them and could charm the souls of the dead to rise again and fight for their new masters. Hundreds of thousands are said to have died, only to rise again under the service of the Ice Queen, it is unknown for how long this great war went on, some stories of the Sun Tzu say that the war lasted near a hundred years, with the phrase "Some were born before the cold and witnessed them come, they fought and died, a second generation was born to the cold, they fought and died, a third generation was born to the cold, they fought and saw Spring Return".
It is said that the war against the Cold Ones only turned in favour of the cultures of Sun Tzu when a group of legendary heroes unified the peoples of the land and drove the Cold Ones back to the frozen seas in the south. From whence they have never returned.
The Shamans of the different Cultures in Sun Tzu describe that they bare a warning from their ancestors, that one day the Cold Ones will return, and when they do, death shall cover the land once again.
The Six Heroes:
In the annals of the Sun Tzu histories, during the time of endless winter, when the Cold Ones led their armies of the awaken dead. The Sun Tzu peoples of all cultures were utterly crippled by the constant waves of death, the Cold Ones marched nearly unopposed, but one day as the annals says, six great warriors arose from obscurity and rallied their peoples into a single grand alliance to challenge the Cold Ones.
The names of the Six Heroes sadly have long been lost to history, they are known only as the parents of the Sun Tzu and the protectors of the land. According to the tales, a single great warrior from each culture rose and came together to form the alliance to fight the Cold Ones, each led their own people in this alliance and together through sheer determination finally managed to drive the Cold Ones back from whence they came.
When the war was won and spring returned, the histories say that this was the founding of what would one day become the Empire, as each of the six heroes married, had children and these children married amongst themselves and this led to the cultures slowly coming together and finally forming the Empire of Sun Tzu.
But to this day, the legend of the Six Heroes remains a common tale told in inns, taverns, in great halls, in songs, among families, as if they happened only yesterday. For the Sun Tzu, the Six Heroes are a promise that they shall fight together and as their ancestors swore to the Six Heroes, should the Cold Ones ever return, they shall come together again and fight as one people.
The Black Riders:
It is common within Sun Tzu that when a family member dies, rather than praying to the Gods, they pass prays to the Black Riders, asking them to take their loved ones peacefully into the next world and guide them to the Heavens where they shall wait until the end of days. According to the tales and annals of history, the Black Riders are not seen by Mortal eyes, for they exist only in the world between worlds and so are never seen by the living, only by the dead.
Except in certain situations, for it is believed by the Sun Tzu, that when the Black Riders are seen, it is an omen of ill times approaching, because if they are able to be seen by the living then it means that a time of much death and suffering is close and they are preparing to retrieve the souls of those soon to die.
Such times have been carefully recorded in the combined histories of Sun Tzu, throughout the long history the Black Riders have only been seen a total of three times. The first was before the arrival of the Great Winter and the Cold Ones, second was before the Doom of Valyria and third is only in recent times, around the same time when Maesters in Westeros marked the passing of a single red comet in the sky.
The Doom:
Most if not all know of Valyria, the mighty empire and its dragon lords, of how they built a city so advanced, so great that none know how long it may be before we learn how to build cities like them again, of how for thousands of years, the Valyrians were the best at almost everything. And of course most if not all know of the doom that brought about their end.
"They held each other close and turned their backs upon the end, the Hills that split asunder and the black that ate the skies.
The Flames that shot so high and hot that even dragons burned, would never be the final sights that fell upon their eyes. A fly upon a wall, the waves, the sea wind, whipped and churned, the city of a thousand years and all that men had learned, the Doom consumed it all alike.
And neither of them turned."
Yet the Sun Tzu have legends of their own from the Doom of Valyria, for they have within their annals, tales and ballads from those that saw it all with their own eyes. How they speak of how the light from the fires that burned dragons in the skies, were so bright and hot that some mistook it for the dawn on the horizon, of how the earth beneath their feet shook and cracked, of waves higher and stronger than any seen before or since, of how clouds blocked out the sun and poisoned water in the north for months in the aftermath.
The Valyrians turned their backs on the end, but the Sun Tzu watched with open eyes.
The Tall Ones:
Among the people in Sun Tzu if not most of the world there are tales of incredibly tall beings, monsters or people, in Westeros they are known as Giants and are believed to be only Myth in the South and are thought extinct in the North. To the Sun Tzu these beings are known colloquially as the "Tall Ones" and depending on the culture describing them, the characteristics differ slightly or greatly.
In the Ossa, there are tales of the Tall Ones being sophisticated and civilised, capable of making tools and weapons and even in some tales being helpers in the creation of their most ancient cities. For the Mayat the tales say the Tall Ones were honest people who were very shy and tended to keep to themselves within the Jungles and forests of the land. Such was similar for the Icha who describe them as timid beings who tried to avoid people whenever they could, wishing to stay secluded in their own family groups
In the mountains and frozen wilderness of the South, the Inu and Toha describe them slightly differently, according to their oral histories, the Tall ones were more barbaric and were not afraid of a fight whenever such a chance came. Their stories detail of how in far ancient times, the Tall ones would raid and attack their villages and camps to steal things such as food and animal pelts, using large crudely made clubs as weapons.
Yet despite these differences all of the Sun Tzu cultures detail clearly that the Tall Ones vanished from the land an untold number of generations ago, some believe that the Tall Ones grew tired of the land and went off somewhere to find a new homeland, with some saying that the Tall Ones went across the seas to Sothoryos and then beyond, others speak of the Tall Ones fighting alongside the Sun Tzu against the Cold Ones and during the course of the war and were either wiped out during the war or died out later due to their losses. The mystery remains, yet the stories continue on with many believing that maybe just maybe somewhere in the world the Tall Ones remain continuing to live as their ancestors did.
The Ones in the Deep:
According to certain myths and legends, notably from the Inu, Icha, Mayat and Ossa, there are apparently dreaded creatures that lurk in the depths of the worlds oceans and seas, in darkness where not even the greatest sea monsters dare to venture. According to the tales, the Ones in the Deep are the heirs of people who used extreme and forsaken acts of Dark Sorcery and blood magics, as punishment, the gods sank their land and drove them to the very bottom of the seas where they were to remain for all eternity.
Yet according to the myth, they endured, they changed and became as beasts, their bodies altered and they lost all semblance of their humanity, becoming worse than the beasts of seas. As the legend goes, the Ones in the Deep rarely come up to the surface, preferring to stay in the dark depths until night fall, when they come to hunt wayward sea farers, either by pulling them from their ships one by one, or by swarming the vessel with numbers, tearing the flesh of those onboard whilst still alive. When the sun arises again, they retreat back into the depths, for another day.
Belief in the One in the Deep remains strong in some parts of Sun Tzu, its why ships often have good watches as well as torches blazing at all hours of the night. Because it is said that the only thing those in the Deep fear is light, for having lived in darkness for so long has left them terrified of the light.
One story says that the Ones in the Deep are now the current inhabitants of the channels, canals and waterways that now cross the ruined remains of Old Valyria. " There they dwell" it is said, "In waters deep and cold among the submerged ruins of a once great empire, now reduced to a distant memory, an empire now submerged and belonging to them, the ones who dwell in the Deep"
The Water Dancers:
Not all tales of the oceans and seas are ones of fear and terror among the Sun Tzu, for those who live upon the water, there are not great monsters and vicious beasts within the waters, but instead a people lost to time, who have become one with the oceans and seas, to the Erehe, they are the Water Dancers.
To the Erehe, the Water dancers are described as beings that possess the bodies of humans but tails like those of dolphins and whales, they live in the seas and oceans of the world and are said to travel alongside the whales and dolphins as they travel and often share in their spoils. To the Erehe, the Water Dancers are said to be the descendants of a divergence of their ancestors, those that chose to stay to the land became the Erehe and those that chose to go into the water became the Dancers.
They are said to be sentient in all regards and are not in anyway beast or monster, " Intelligent they are" it is said, "They use tools fashioned from the bones of all manner of creatures in the seas and oceans, the barb of a stingray shall become the tip of a harpoon, shells and seaweed is transformed into necklaces and ornaments" They got their name from the dancers they are said to perform, the Erehe on the high seas observe Dolphins jump and dance in the waves and it is claimed that the Dancers do the same, leaping from the water waving their arms and twisting their bodies around as if they are dancing with one another.
For the Maestars of the citadel, there is no truth to these stories, though there is a strange matter that confuses even them, for their is a unique place among the Erehe. Where the fisher men do not go out into the shallow reefs aboard their canoes with nets to fish the waters, no instead they approach the shallows until the waters reach their knees. There they wait until Dolphins come into the shallows driving schools of fish ahead of them, the fishermen approach and encircle both fish and Dolphin with their long nets.
Without fear, the Dolphins steady their movements and make slowly and calmly towards the nets furthest from the shore, the Fishermen do not wait nor waver, they lower the nets and allow the dolphins to pass over, they then raise the nets again and push to the shore ensnaring the fish within their nets as they go. The Dolphins stay close behind and then hold just as the waters become shallower and shallower, as the fishermen drag their nets onto the shore, the Dolphins raise their heads from the water and wait, then together the fishermen take the best fish from their nets, the fattest and largest and together throw the now dead fish back into the water into the waiting mouths of the Dolphins. They share the fish they caught together through co-operation and through co-operation share the spoils of equal work.
When asked by a Maester how this practice began, the Erehe chiefs say "It has been this way for generations, none know how or when it began".
When queried how the Erehe taught the Dolphins to do what they have done, to be like hunting dogs on land, herding the fish like the dogs herd boar and deer for their masters. The Erehe found it insulting that the Maester in question compared Dolphins to dogs, but when they answered they spoke clearly "We did not teach them, they taught us, just as they learned from those who dance alongside them".
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