Shangti

Description
East of the Vast lies the land of Shangti. They are ruled by a single emperor that united the land by conquering it. There are still lands like the island nations that have yielded but seek to find independence wherever they can, biding their time in order to rebel and break free. The Shangti are a noble people. They believe in hierarchy and self-sacrifice for their superiors. They are bound by duty and honor more so then their western counterparts. Their lands are filled with wonders not the least of which is the Temple of Light, a monastery of warrior-monks.

Geography
Next to Shamir, Shangti occupies the largest area in the Eastern Kingdoms. Considering much of Shamir is desert, it is the largest usable area of any nation in the Eastern Kingdoms. The kingdom Shangti has a variety of terrain with impossibly steep mountains and lush forests in the north and south as well as extremely fertile lands across the entire country. This rich agricultural capability has helped Shangti become an economically strong country. Shangti also has a few large rivers that run through the country and few large lakes as well.

Government
The Shangti government is a royal monarchy with the current Emperor, Shan Yu, being the fifth generation to be king. He is a stern and unforgiving ruler with almost god-like status. He is surrounded by a royal cabinet with advisors, known as Buzhangs, entrusted with conferring with the Emperor and managing each area in his name.

Economy
Shangti has been blessed with a variety of resources from rice and crops to minerals and precious metals. Fishing and livestock also are in an abundance. The rice and crops are mostly grown in the central region of the country while the minerals and precious metals are mined to the north and south. This has brought a lot of trade to and through Shangti. The one thorn in the side of the nation is the rich eatheryl deposit in the mountains just to the north of Shangti in Kalmyran territory.

Defenses
Shangti has a very large army due to their large population. They are well trained and considered a very competent force. The Shangti have a moderately sized army but with coastline both to the north and south there are logistical challenges controlling them as a single entity. It is considered a widely known weakness in the Shangti defenses.

The Temple of Light
Located high in the Zhang Xao mountains, the Temple of Light is a monastic order dedicated to two things: 1) internal enlightenment and 2) the pursuit of martial arts. This seemingly dichotomous pursuit of martial mastery and peaceful enlightenment confounds some but the monks believe that mastery over oneself is the first step to enlightenment.

Yulan
The capital of Shangti, Yulan is a shining example of what the Shangti can do with their resources. A massive city, Yulan is home to the royal family and the royal court.