Gtsang Prefecture
The name Gtsang Prefecture is a bit misleading, for this autonomous state is a part of the Xha’en Hegemony in name only. Independently ruled for more than 15,000 years, the city of Duam and its surrounding lands are among the oldest continually-occupied realms in Akados. Its rulers pay a token tribute of 100 gold coins to Xha’ahan each year, and generally go about their business unmolested, sometimes providing sorcerous, scientific, or martial aid to the Hegemony.
The Prefecture is separated from the Hegemony by the treacherous Tsendarkar Mountains and are accessible only along a narrow and perilous path grandly known as the Heavenly Road (named for its nearness to the heavens rather than its heavenly qualities). A small ribbon of trade and travel stretches along the road, and traffic between the Prefecture and the Hegemony is infrequent but growing in significance. The Tsendakar Range harbors the legendary Udanishanti Temple, where both Xha’en and Gtsang students come to learn the way of the sword.
The people of Gtsang are not Xha’en — rather they are the descendants of Jaata colonists who first traveled here approximately 15,700 years ago. A small number of Xha’en live in the Prefecture, with most making a living as miners, shopkeepers, and subsistence farmers. Rumors persist that a handful of rakshasas also live here, carefully concealing their true identities with illusion and secretly running the Prefecture from the shadows.
History and People
Settled over 15 millennia in the past, the city-state of Duam is the second-oldest human settlement in Akados, surpassed only by Tros Zoas, built on the foundations of ancient Xantollan on Pontos Island in the Sinnar Sea. According to their most ancient tales, colonists from the land that is now Far Jaati on the distant continent of Libynos made the perilous voyage across the Great Ocean Ûthaf in relatively primitive ships, eventually landing in the Gtsang region 15,700 years ago. How they made such a long and difficult journey (or whether this is nothing more than a myth) is not known for certain, but the Gtsang themselves believe that they succeeded only with the blessings of Mithras Himself.
The hilly lands of Gtsang seemed perfect for the colonists — a fertile realm protected by the towering Tsendarkar Mountains to the south and adjacent to rich fishing waters. The main city of Duam was founded soon after landfall, and within a few generations the tiny colony began to grow.
The folk who settled Gtsang appear to have initially been a highly religious magiocracy founded on the principals of Mithraldism (see below) that emphasized spiritual learning combined with the absolute authority of the jaaduga, or mage-king. These early mage-kings were trained in the ways of Mithras by the priestly caste of Anahbi — many Jaaduga were themselves priests. In this fashion, a highly lawful and good society was founded in the new land.
For centuries, Gtsang remained hidden from the outside world and shunned contact with the ancestors of the Senge tribes who even then inhabited the lands south of the Tsendakar Range. These early years proved challenging for the new colony, for although it was blessed with cool summers and mild springs, the region proved treacherous in fall and winter as fierce storms swept down from the north and seasonal rains set rivers to flood. The hills and mountains contained other hazards, and for the first few generations the Gtsang were forced to deal with raids or outright invasion by fierce creatures such as yetis and frost giants. A warrior class emerged over these years as Mithraldic monks began to train in esoteric martial arts, and metalsmiths began to craft weapons intended solely for the defense of the nation.
The colonists found other friends in the region as well, for the Ankhura dwarves had inhabited the Tsendakar Range for generations. Though they were themselves an insular people, the dwarves made tentative contact with the humans and offered trade and possible diplomatic relations. A wary friendship began as Ankhuran smiths trained the Gtsang in the secrets of ironworking and the forging of steel, and the Gtsang provided a small amount of their precious crops in exchange.
For three millennia, the realm tottered on the edge of subsistence. But ever so slowly, Gtsang began to prosper through the sheer determination of its people and the strength of its community. It was nearly 12,000 years ago, well before the founding of the Xha’en Hegemony, that the Gtsang community faced its first true crisis.
Any society is bound to change over three millennia — those that do not are doomed to waste away and perish. The Gtsang were no different in this, moving away from the society of their founding colonists and evolving to live in a new and very different environment. The power of the mage-kings grew as the Anahbi began to lose influence. Originally, the Anahbi themselves selected the mage-king’s council, but as time passed, the mage-kings increasingly selected their own advisors, eventually shunning the priest class altogether. With the wise advice of the Anahbi gone, the Jaaduga grew more independent and began to seek council on spiritual planes, calling up ghosts, extraplanar entities, and even demons. In this fashion, the mage-kings began to move toward chaos and madness.
The end of the Jaaduga came when the Mage-King Lakhsa made a fearful bargain with the ogre mage Amnu-Paket, promising the monster any worldly reward in exchange for absolute wisdom. The bargain was predictably fixed — Lakhsha was driven mad by the knowledge he gained and Amnu-Paket demanded rulership of Gtsang as his price. Ascending the throne, he became known as the Red King.
At first, the ogre mage’s rule proved a mixed blessing to Gtsang, for though he was a thoroughly evil being, Amnu-Paket realized that the power and security of his new domain depended on the health and welfare of “his” people. Utterly ruthless with his enemies, and demanding absolute obedience from his subjects, Amnu-Paket nevertheless led Gtsang, for a time, to unparalleled prosperity. Crops were plentiful, animals grew fat and productive, and peace (of a sort) ruled the land. Well-fed and content, the folk of Gtsang were willing to Overlook their supernatural monarch’s wicked tendencies and rationalize away conduct that they had, until recently, believed to be abhorrent.
Amnu-Paket shunned the former capital city of Duam and instead decreed the construction of a vast palace crafted from a single colossal emerald to be built upon the sheer walls of Mount Batekun, the tallest peak in the Tsendakar Range. This great structure, the Tu Chai Palace, served as the Red King’s home for the next five centuries as his grip on the land grew tighter.
Despite his initial attention to the welfare of the Gtsang, Amnu-Paket over time came to see humans as weak and inefficient. He began to hatch plans to replace the humans of Gtsang with evil creatures who would be more obedient and work harder in his name. Humans would survive, of course, but only as slaves to his dynasty. Dreams of empire and conquest began to grow in his inhuman mind, and both the offshore islands and The Plains south of the Tsendakar seemed ripe for absorption, along with legions of human slaves.
In all this time, the Anahbi priest caste had not been idle. As the Red King’s influence spread, the priests traveled the land, seeing to the needs of the people and forming alliances with the old warrior castes, disaffected sorcerers, and the martial monks of the few remaining monasteries. The dwarves of Ankhura, long distressed by the Red King’s presence, agreed to send both warriors and weapons.
Amnu-Paket’s intentions soon became clear to even the most loyal of his citizens. He had raised an army of hobgoblins and summoned several powerful rakshasa to serve as generals and advisors. It was only a matter of time before the humans of Gtsang were wholly supplanted in favor of more loyal (and coincidentally evil) creatures, and after five centuries the people of the land were ready to rebel. The priests had their own army, and now as the Red King’s wicked schemes were about to bear fruit, they struck.
War came to a land that had been at peace for three and a half millennia. Bands of martial warriors and elite fighters armed with dwarven steel weapons struck at hobgoblin commanders, depriving Amnu-Paket’s army of leadership, while secretly-trained peasants and those Gtsang who still followed the old warriors’ way took on the bulk of the Red King’s forces. Surprised by the sudden uprising, Amnu-Paket’s army retreated into the mountains, falling back on his fastness at the Tu Chai Palace.
The siege of the Red King’s palace lasted nearly three years and cost countless lives. In the end, unable to break Amnu-Paket’s defenses, the Anahbi and their arcane allies, including Ankhuran keepers of ancient and dangerous knowledge, risked a fearsome spell that, if unsuccessful, might curse the entire realm. Fortunately for them, the ritual was a success and cast a terrible curse on Amnu-Paket that burned him to ashes while transforming the once-fearsome Tu Chai Palace into a normal-sized emerald. Amnu-Paket’s ashes were placed in a small golden receptacle and (supposedly) safely stored in the magically shrunken palace. For many more generations, both the emerald and the ashes contained within were held safe in Duam, but were eventually lost, finding their way, it is said, into the hands of the Cult of Orcus and the lost city of Tsar.
With the fall of the Red King, the priests of Mithras sought to establish a new system of government that would avoid the mistakes of the past. Now Gtsang was overseen by the Svaame-Anahbi, or priest-lord, who was in turn overseen by a new council of Anahbi, whose approval was needed for all major decisions, who selected their own members, and who could not be replaced or disempowered. Once more, strict adherence to and training in the principles of Mithraldism was required of anyone who wished to participate in government, and the realm returned to its rigid but good-aligned nature.
Little changed in the realm for several more millennia, until at last the founding of the Xha’en Hegemony awakened Gtsang and brought it into direct contact with the outside world. Protected by the mountains and sea, and accessible overland only along the narrow and winding Heavenly Road, Gtsang had escaped notice for many ages, but as the Xha’en grew in power and the Hegemony spread its influence, the priest-lord and his advisors knew something had to be done.
War with the Hegemony was unthinkable — though the Xha’en would surely lose thousands attempting to force their way along the Heavenly Road, Gtsang was vulnerable to attack from the sea, and any conflict between the two states would be disastrous for both.
And so, in 2945 XC (1643 I.R.), the Priest-Lord Amaa, with the support of his council, agreed to join the Hegemony, at that time led by the ascendant Ophronya Dynasty, with its capital in the city of Rachar. The Ophronya were also aware of the difficulties involved in conquering the tiny state, and readily agreed to generous terms. The Gtsang were to continue to be self-governed and the priest-lord would have authority over the region. A small tribute of 100 gold pieces would be paid yearly, and the Gtsang would give the Hegemony favored status when negotiating trade and other agreements.
It was at this time that Gtsang’s other great institution was formed. Martial artists and warriors from the Prefecture, the Hegemony, and the The Thousand Rocks formed the Udanishanti Temple (a compound Gtsang/Anari word that roughly translates to “service to heaven”) deep in the mountains where they would train legendary fighters who would help defend the entire region, incorporating martial traditions from all three nations. The temple remains to this day, well-hidden in the mountains and accessible only to those individuals who are truly dedicated to the art of the sword. The temple is the only location outside of the island of Anaros where a warrior can be trained in the ways of the Uarsinsi, the noble sword fighters of the Anari. Those trained in the temple serve all across western lands, for no student is turned away due to nationality, gender, or religion. Even a tiny handful of easterners from Castorhage, Bard’s Gate, Vast, Reme, and elsewhere are known to have received training there.
The entire region was thrown into confusion in 4523 XC (3221 I.R.) when settlers from the City-State of Castorhage settled on the island of Greater Bream and founded the outpost of Farthest Point. The Castorhagi had always been distant and relatively unknown to the Gtsang, though it was known that the Xha’en Hegemony traded with them. Now, as the new outpost grew and a Castorhagi trade delegation arrived in Duam, the Gtsang were forced to accept that these outsiders had established a foothold in the region and were unlikely to leave. To almost everyone’s surprise — not least the Gtsang themselves — the Anahbi agreed to trade with the Castorhagi, and goods began to flow between the Prefecture and the new colonies. Actual sea travel between Gtsang and the Breams began as well, with a few small, crude docking facilities being established in Gtsang fishing villages.
Today, the Anahbi still govern a peaceful and pastoral realm, though now the outside world is fully aware of the Prefecture’s existence. Its inaccessibility helps protect Gtsang, but more foreigners have appeared within its borders, including a small but growing number of Xha’en settlers and Castorhagi traders. Though the state is outwardly peaceful and tranquil, some disturbing rumors continue to be told, the most persistent of which is that the descendants of Amnu-Paket’s rakhshasas still exist, living as humans and keeping their true heritage a secret while plotting to return to power. The teachings of Mithras still guide the Gtsang, however, and despite their continuing allegiance to the Xha’en Hegemony, the region remains autonomous and largely free. How long before Gtsang’s isolation and independence are challenged in a changing world is anyone’s guess, however.
Religion
The original settlers in the region of Gtsang were members of the Mithraldic sect — devout followers of Mithras (also referred to as Mitros or Mithros). Believing that divine knowledge can be transferred from Mithras to his worshippers through a class of priestly teachers known as Anahbi, the Mithraldi favor intellect and spirituality over the supposed pleasures and temptations of the material world.
Mithraldism is an extremely old branch of the Mithraic faith and represents perhaps its most ancient and original version. While essentially a monotheistic faith, Mithraldism nevertheless venerates Mithras as a god of the sun served by three elemental entities that most incorrectly identify as “angels” or “demigods” — Miotes, the spirit who led humanity to learning and civilization; Myskes, the deliverer who rescued humans from the darkness of ignorance and superstition; and Neh, the messenger who delivers wisdom directly from the divine spirit of Mithras.
This complex faith requires considerable study and has many legends and sacred texts, though it lacks the various mystery cult aspects that are practiced by other peoples. Mithraldic priesthood demands years of patient study, and Anahbi are all highly learned in history, science, and philosophy. While officially sworn to non-violence, Mithraldic priests are allowed to use their martial skills to defend the innocent and protect the faith from its enemies.
Several monastic orders also exist, with monks who are devoted to separating themselves from worldly pleasures and beliefs, focusing on spiritual perfection and the contemplation of what is usually called the White Light of Mithras. Mithraldic monks share some elements with the warrior-monks of Xha’en, often wandering the land and tending to the sick and the poor. Many tales are told of simple monks who outwit demons, warlords, and monsters while using only their spiritual enlightenment and weaponless martial arts.
While the faith of Mithras continues to hold sway in Gtsang, several contending schools of faith also exist, with the ascetic Path of the Circle being the most prominent. Developed in Gtsang, then spread to the steppelands by the monk Bledja Ulgar and expanded upon by successive philosophers, this system is as much philosophy as faith, teaching as it does that an individual’s perception shapes reality. The so-called “gods” were originally thought of as simply beings who have attained an imperfect state of enlightenment called Falsana that grants limited immortality and the ability to perceive multiple realities simultaneously. Over the centuries, the path’s initial atheistic theology evolved (in part due to pragmatic concerns) to the point that the gods are revered but as enlightened teachers rather than deities. While this philosophy/religion is today confined mostly to the steppelands north of the Hegemony, it has also grown and flourished in the Prefecture, with several small monasteries established to teach new followers.
Trade and Commerce
Though the region is largely self-sufficient, the Gtsang Prefecture maintains some trade relations with the Ankhuran dwarves and exchanges local produce and cattle for fish with the The Thousand Rocks. Trade with the Xha’en has grown slowly since Gtsang’s union with the Hegemony, with caravans making their way along the treacherous Heavenly Road along with a trickle of Xha’en settlers who have established farms and small communities within the Prefecture.
When the cunning Castorhagi established their colonies on the Bream Islands 300 years ago, they immediately began to cement their position in hopes of heading off any Hegemony interference. A trade delegation to the Prefecture yielded results with surprising swiftness, and goods began to flow between the two regions, a situation that continues today.
Loyalties and Diplomacy
The Gtsang people’s primary loyalty is to their nation and to the teachings of Mithras, but they are pragmatic enough to know that they are now part of a larger state in the form of the Xha’en Hegemony. While in most cases diplomatic duties have been taken up by the officials of the Hegemony, the Gtsang maintain good relations with the Ankhuran dwarves and the Thousand Islanders. Relations with the Bream Island colonies are a bit trickier, as the presence of the Castorhagi is a bit of a tender subject with the Xha’en and other locals. While full diplomatic relations with Castorhage have not been established, a small but robust flow of trade continues between Gtsang and the Breams.
Along with their token tribute of 100 gold pieces a year, the Gtsang are also obligated to offer favorable trade agreements with the Hegemony, and also send martial artists and spellcasters to help the Xha’en. Warriors and monks trained at the Udanishanti Temple serve throughout the region, acting as soldiers, military advisors, and even diplomats for the Gtsang, the Hegemony, and the The Thousand Rocks. In general, the Prefecture’s agreements with the Xha’en have been beneficial to both states, and remain in place, even after long centuries.
Government
Upon its founding, Gtsang was governed by the principles of Mithras and led by a benevolent Jaaduga, or mage-king, trained and advised by the Anahbi priests. Though successful for many years, the system eventually fell into decline, with the power of the priests reduced systematically over three millennia until at last the Mage-King Lakhsa ceded power to the ogre mage Amnu-Paket. After the wicked Red King was overthrown and destroyed by an army of Anahbi-led rebels, a new system was created by the victorious priests. Now, a Svaame-Anahbi or Priest-Lord ruled the land with assistance from Mithraldic clerics and Gtsang arcanists.
This theocratic system weathered many challenges over the subsequent millennia and endures today with few changes. This is largely due to the Gtsang’s lawful nature, and with the government’s flexibility — new Svaame-Anahbi are selected by the priests and wizards of the advisory council and rule with their consent. Incompetent or incapacitated Priest-Lords may be removed and replaced, and if no suitable candidates are found, the council can rule as a group.
Military
Gtsang has no standing military, but in times of crisis can call up a large number of warrior-priests and monks, trained peasant infantry, and mages. These groups can be further reinforced by Anari Uarsinsi warriors from the The Thousand Rocks and armored dwarf soldiers from Ankhura who have maintained a close relationship to the Gtsang. Fortunately, the Gtsang have not faced any external threat in millennia, and today can also rely upon the Xha’en Hegemony for defense.
Wilderness and Adventure
Most of Gtsang Prefecture north of Tsendakar Range is cultivated, hilly land, settled continuously for millennia. From the lower slopes of the Tsendakars rises the pale marble wonder that is the ancient city of Duam, a labyrinth of streets and buildings of unbelievable age, full to overflowing with the collected wisdom of centuries. Only a handful of outsiders has ever visited Duam or the Prefecture beyond it, and those that do come for knowledge and enlightenment.
The wild mountains hold the greatest dangers, as they are still home to some of Gtsang’s most ancient enemies — wild yeti and tribes of frost giants. Legend holds that some of the Red King’s fierce hobgoblin warriors survived their master’s destruction and live on in the jagged crags of the Tsendakars.
<5>Kamatkhan
Hidden deep in the Tsendarkar Mountains, this narrow valley supports a tiny village and monastery where over six centuries ago the aged Gtsang monk Qataz developed a philosophy that rejected the gods and proclaimed the individual as the ultimate arbiter of reality and spiritual enlightenment. These teachings he shared with the monk Bledja Ulgar to create what is today known as the Path of the Circle. This faith/philosophy is still practiced in the Gtsang Prefecture but made the most significant inroads in The Haunted Steppes and its environs, where Bledja journeyed to spread his new way of thought and faith. The Path that is practiced today differs somewhat from Qataz and Bledja’s original vision, in that the gods continue to be revered, though not as supreme beings, and respect for existing institutions is encouraged (a pragmatic political concession that has allowed the Path its continued existence).
Region
Gtsang Prefecture
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