Draconic Protectorate of Minzao (Min-zao)

After the Great Deluge engulfed most of the land with water, the territory once sheltered by the marvel of masonry known as the Endless Wall as since shifted. The mountains to the East separating the Chientzu and Daiju regions have since crumbled, with the Minzao Sea now instead.

What remains of the Endless Wall, lies to the West, dividing the Minzao Empire from the tribes of the Ghobi region.

The Minzao Empire has existed for almost as long as there have been humans in the area. Under the tutelage of the enigmatic dragon known as Shen Long they have learned the arcane arts and perfected it. Indeed most of the Chientzu region is under the control of this nation, making it one of the bigger ones in the human nations.

Overseeing the Great Empire is the Shen Long, the mighty but elusive dragon, though it is rarely seen nowadays. In his stead, A council of mages oversees the various sub regions of the empire.

After the latest Kaastian Civil War, that saw the once great Ben Yahia Duchy abuse from magical sources and being replaced by the house Da Gama, the Minzao decided that it would be better to teach the human nations the basics of arcane magic, creating basic academies throughout the human realms.

Their anti-magic state police, known as the Arcane Hounds, is more active then ever before, now spreading wide and their appearance being not as rare as before. Though changes were made to their archaic system. Expert counter mages now help the magic absorving humans, making them work as a more technical corps throughout the realms.

Even with the spread of the arcane arts throughout the continent, truth is that the Minzao continue to be the true masters of it, so their arcane teachings and mastery continue to be an export highly valuable.

Besides their expert mages, Minzao still employ some of the most resistant war animals in the realm. With it's mounts known to be has hard as rocks. Meanwhile, they are still known for their increased familiarity with crossbows which they employ with deadly effect among their soldiers.

Minzao are a tall race, usually between 1.80m or 2.00m tall. They are thin and slender, preferring to use silk robes as clothes. While in battle they use heavily linked armor.

Main Hub

Daijing

On the shoreline of the Gulf of Daojien, the city of Daijing prospers. With it's watery grottoes serving as the perfect home for the elusive Shen Long. Whose deeper watery tunnels he fills with illusions of sunken palace halls and treasures.

The city is ancient and known as the birthplace of the arcane practices of the human realms. It's streets are wide, filled with squares that allow merchants to do their trade. The Yellow Square is the main square of the city, located after a long set of white stairs and in it you can find the Palace of the Council, overlooking most the city.

The city has a district with several temples and pagodas dedicated to Shen Long, each temple trying to focus on a particular aspect of the elusive dragon, while the pagodas harbor the more monastic monks and their ascetic style. The Minzao commoners flock from all over the empire to the district, where they pray for their wishes to be heard by the mighty dragon.

The docks district is not as impressive as it's neighbors, nonetheless it is an important district, with several inns harboring traveling foreigners.

Draconic Empire of Minzao Traits

Eastern Restrictions

Characters with this trait can only use Eastern Weaponry and Armor, and may not use shields. They can use normal simple weapons, firearms, bows and crossbows, if they are proficient with it.

Masters of the Arcane

+1+⅕ their level to Spellcraft skill checks and Arcane spells DC.

Characters with this trait can counter spell with any spell of the same level.

Whispers of the Dragon

+1+⅕ their level to diplomacy checks.

Characters with this trait can use all knowledge checks untrained.

Draconic Resistance

Characters with this trait choose a type of energy at level 1. They get Resistance 1 against this type of energy. this bonus increases every 4 levels, to a max of Resistance 5 at level 16.

Armored Companions

Animal companions and/or familiars, that belong to characters with this trait, get +1+⅕ to their level to natural AC.

Bolt Action Arsenal

Characters with this trait get Rapid Reload as a bonus feat at level 1.

They can start the game with a battered version of any crossbow, worth 20gp to a vendor. If they do so, deduct it's value from their total amount.

Bolt Action Experts

Proficiency with all crossbows. +1 to attack and damage rolls with weapons from the crossbow family. This bonus increases by 1 every 5 levels.