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Qi'Tien

Qi'Tien is the capital of the Qi Empire, and a testament to its strength, wealth and implacable bureaucracy. Qi'Tien sits on the Yuanzhi Plains at the heart of the Inner Empire. It was settled by the Qi people before the start of known history, likely because of its proximity to multiple fresh water sources and because of the innate fertility of the surrounding flood plains. As agriculture became increasingly organised and the Qi population there grew, it ultimately became the heart of the small Qi Kingdom. The Imperial capital today bears little resemblance to that which was at the heart of the Qi Kingdom. The surrounding land has been extensively drained and redirected to create a series of canals spanning the capital, including the grand Naxian Channel which links to the wider Imperial canal network. The heart of the city is dominated by the Palace of Six Skies - the Imperial Palace - and an extensive series of gardens and palace infrastructure, all designed to support the rule of the Emperor. Beyond that is the High Ring, where most of the nobility and most powerful merchants live; and then the wider city, which sprawls almost endlessly in all directions across the plains. Though the city bears strong outer walls, these no longer demarcate the city's true boundaries, as thousands flock ever inwards towards the seat of power in the Empire.