Xidao

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Xidao

(Nation)

Alignment

Neutral

Capital

Yashabaru

Ruler

High Matriarch Urakadussi

Government

Matriarchy of loosely affiliated city states

Adjective

Xidao

Languages

Thalassic, Tien

Religions

Hei Feng, Nalinivati, Qi Zhong, various demigods

Source: Dragon Empires Gazetteer, pg(s). 44 (1E)
Tian Xia World Guide, pg(s). 254–263 (2E)

This article covers the political confederation. For the body of water it is named after, see Xidao Gulf.

The Tian Xia confederation of Xidao is an underwater alliance located beneath of waves of the Xidao Gulf, which separates Minkai from the mainland. It is composed of 50 unique city-states united by the ongoing threat of undead emerging from the Aya-Maru trench.

History

During the Age of Dragons, people in Xidao venerated sea dragons as guardians and honored them by building temples and opulent palaces. Most of these structures still exist in modern times. When war started between the developing city-states, the sea dragons intervened to mediate peace and have acted as impartial arbiters several times in Xidao's history. Legends suggest the some sea dragons also used their human forms to guide Xidao's society at times, and that Xidao's peoples respected other sea dragons as nobles or served under their rulership.

Some time after Earthfall in -5293 AR, the then-valley-sized Aya-Maru, once used to send bodies for eternal rest in the underworld and avoided by the superstitious or otherwise ignored, suddenly grew to divide the Xidao Gulf between east and west and spewed waves of undead creatures every year. The many states of underwater peoples in the Gulf united as the army of undead grew and were joined by the Gulf's restless dead, eventually leading to the formal formation of the confederation of Xidao.

Recent history

As of 4724 AR the phenomenal force causing the Aya-Maru to generate undead creatures is unknown, as no official scouts sent to investigate the trench's depths have returned in a living state. Despite relative peace with surface nations, Xidao has long warred with the hostile creatures in the Aya-Maru trench, particularly frequent raids by its fractured tribes of merrows and sahuagin and rare appearances from krakens.

Since Xidao united against the Aya-Maru threat, many sea dragons still live in Xidao but keep to themselves and their private agendas, particularly the conflicts between themselves and the underworld dragons to the south. A line of sea dragons claiming descent from those who helped rule Xidao still resides near Uruuknus, however, and sometimes engage in diplomacy or attempts to influence its government.

Except for Mewru and Uruuknus, sea dragon worship subsequently decreased in favor of worship of other deities such as Hei Feng, and the loss of respect and worship has angered some sea dragons. In recent years, the sea dragon Luong Phung, mourning the poorly understood death of her only child through the actions of a human sailor, has created and sustained the whirling storms known as Xidao's Tempest that roam with her across the Gulf. Using her chaos as a rallying point small, but strong and vocal group of young headstrong sea dragons have created thick areas of whirlpools and typhoons on important trade routes in the Xidao Gulf in order to extort tribute and worship in the species’ past.

Geography

Xidao exists almost entirely underwater, with the exception of stone trade spires built on small reefs and atolls that reach the surface. It encompasses all of the Xidao Gulf except for the 3-mile-deep Aya-Maru trench, which stretches from north to south and splits the Xidao Gulf into east and west.

Cities in Eastern Xidao are mostly built in shallow and clear waters, can be seen from above water, and provide greater accessibility to sea trade. Their inhabitants follow a typical urban schedule divided into day and night. Cities in Western Xidao are much deeper underwater, and their waters darken further from their closer proximity to the Aya-Maru. Light shines upon them for only a few hours during midday, with constant activity regardless of the diurnal cycle.

Also included are the wai-gaa, clods of mud dislodged from the gulf's floor by gases that surface and become temporary floating islands. Some wai-gaa include parts of ancient structures, while others bear undead shipwreck victims and strange creatures. Wai-gaa are prone to sinking as quickly as they arise and with little warning, dragging any explorers on their surface with them into the gulf's depths.

Inhabitants

Luong Phung, sea dragon of Xidao.

Xidao's primary inhabitants are athamarus, but there are also populations of cecaelias and tritons. Each dwell in small city-states allied for mutual protection, and trade with air breathers through their many trade spires.

Eastern Xidao is more diverse with athamaru, merfolk, cecaelia, luting, and some grindylow, while the western is majority athamarus, while adaros, cecaelias, and lutings are not uncommon especaly in the major cities of Pobashabla and Mewru.

Languages

Athamarus are Tian Xia's primary speakers of Thalassic, and those who trade with Xidao often learn it. Likewise, some of Xidao's residents speak Tien.

Religions

Temples to Shelyn, Daikitsu, and Abadar are common in the east, while Hei Feng has a following in every western settlement in addition to Nalinivati, General Susumu, and folk heroes. Inhabitants also worship Qi Zhong, a god of magic, and various demigods. Officials in Western Xidao deny the rumored existence of fringe cults that are believed to worship dark powers at the bottom of Aya-Maru.

Members of dragon cults in Uruuknus worship and claim to be descendants of sea dragons. These cults wield significant influence in Uruuknus on behalf of sea dragons who demand to be worshiped once more as deities and have funded the construction of several new dragon temples in the city. Rumors have also linked the family of High Matriarch Urakadussi, leader of its Grand Council, to these cults.

Government

Urakadussi, High Matriarch of Xidao.

Xidao is comprised of many autonomous city-states, all of which are parties to a mutual defense treaty. While the nation has no formal head of state, the ruler of Yashabaru traditionally commands its citizens' respect. The current ruler, High Matriarch Urakadussi, could likely command most of the nation into battle if necessary.

Foreign relations

Yixing founded Bachuan in 589 AR with the purpose of controlling trade with Xidao. Shu, Yixing successor empire, also used Bachuan as a critical trading point between Xidao and the other nations of Minkai, and Minata. The western coast of Minkai is prosperous from trade because of its accesses to Xidao and the Path of Aganhei

Since, the Feather and Starlight Rebellion in 4606 AR, the first year of the Age of Succession, the Kwanlai Ootoyan clans declared independence and over through the Lung Wa administrators.. Capturing of the coastal capital of Hisuikarasu, which contained the Xidao embassy, along with embassy for other nation allowed for an alliance. Given the hostility of Wanshou, and uneasy peace (exept Tianjing) plus barrier of the Kimu Mountains with its other neighbors, leaving Xidao as its only true ally, and over their gulf, Minkai as a important trade partner. Over centuries this alliance, Fish-based snakes have become more affordable and popular in in the impoverished nation of Kwanlai.

The Oni controlled nation of Chu Ye, taking it over also since 4606 AR, has continued it's diplomatic presence now to attract tourist. The Oni are focussed on the east, with Xidao containing both allies and enemies.

Known as the Season of Torrent, the tremendous typhoon that struck Wanshou in 4611 AR, causing a year of catastrophic flooding, dredged the elder kraken Zhanagorr from the depths of Xidao, and Xidao has since considered the kraken-ruled nation to be particularly threatening, wary of its desire to grow its boarders, having launch two failed invasion on its ally nation, Kwanlai, which they could have used it to steal control of the sea from Xidao. Although Wanshou had a heathy trade economy with other coastal nations, the citizens of the nation hold a grudge against other nation for how their ancestors drowned during the Season of Torrent, and growing distrust of Zhanagorr's most fanatic devotees, has turned Wanshou isolationist.

In 4612 AR A storm destroys the pirate fleet that sacked Zetang before it returns to Zo Piaobo, and the debris is carried by ocean currents until it eventually becomes a haunted artificial reef near Kangshur Island later known as the Graveyard of Kipaku. Although magic protects the mainland of Tianjing, it is a hazard to other nations, including Xidao, as they long petitioned to have it removed

Some of Xidao's neighbors consider its control of the Xidao Gulf a threat. In 4710 AR, the relationship between Xidao and neighboring Minkai was strained by a large increase in the number of unexplained disappearances of ships sailing across the Xidao Gulf. However, Xidao enjoys a healthy trading relationship with Kwanlai, which also considers Wanshou an enemy.

Economy

Xidao trades in art, including coral, jewelry, and pearls; seafood; and treasures retrieved from the seafloor. It also trades with surface dwellers for valuables such as ceramics, gold, and glass, metal tools and weapons, and vegetables. The nation has a flourshing economy economy from sea trade through the gulf.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.