Yandi Shennongshi

Yandi Shennongshi, God of agriculture and medicine, rules the southern direction, the summer season, and the element of fire. He was once two different Gods — Yandi the Flame Emperor, and Shennong the Divine Farmer — but Huangdi merged their offices under a single Mantle for administrative reasons. Yandi once ruled nearly half the World, but he warred with his half-brother Huangdi and lost. Huangdi was merciful to Yandi Shennongshi, though. Recognizing his genius, Huangdi assigned him to Shennong’s office, and eventually to Shennong’s Mantle. The success of this interaction set an important precedent for the Shén: Defeated enemies, if shown mercy, can be rehabilitated and become productive members of society.

The son of draconic parents, Shennong himself has a dragon’s head and a human’s body. By age three, he knew everything there was to know about agriculture, invented various farm implements, and taught the first humans the secrets of cultivation. His exhaustive surveys of wild plants revealed the staple crops called the Five Grains (rice, two varieties of millet, beans, and wheat) and gave rise to Chinese medicine via his catalogue of plants’ flavors and qualities, which nearly got him killed over and over as he tasted poisonous plants.

Yandi Shennongshi’s Scions tend towards interdisciplinary excellence, but they are rarely far from the land. Their father encourages them to look towards the needs of not only their fellow Shén and Scions, but also the common folk in the background. Don’t just stop an attacking Titan: Convince that Titan that gainful employment with their Pantheon would be a better way to spend their time. Don’t just feed the hungry: Revolutionize a nation’s farming infrastructure. Don’t just heal the sick: Cure cancer, and not just one of the cool cancers. After all, If Huangdi could take a chance on Yandi Shennongshi….