Far to the east, beyond the Bone Mountains, and North of the Jade Sea, is the Golden Empire
of Yi Ti, a territory once described as the land of a thousand gods and a hundred princes,
ruled by one god-emperor? This large and ancient territory, borders the plains of the Jogos
Nhai and the Bleeding Sea* to the North, the Mountains of Morn to the East, the Shadow
Lands and Jade Sea to the South, and the Bone Mountains as well as the Great Sand Sea to
the West. While the exact origins of the Golden Empire
are unknown with much of their history shrouded in myth and legend, stories say that before
Yi Ti, there was the Great Empire of the Dawn. Founded by a deity known as the God-on-Earth,
son of the Lion of Night and Maiden Made of Light. This mythical figure ruled for ten
thousand years, before passing the crown to his eldest son, who would come to be known
as the Pearl Emperor. Though the Great Empire would remain dominant for many more years,
they would grow more corrupt and violent with each succeeding generation, leading to their
eventual downfall under the reign of the Amethyst Empress, who was betrayed by her brother crowning
himself the Bloodstone Emperor. Legends say he practiced the dark arts, took a tiger-woman
as his wife, ate the flesh of men, and worshipped a black stone fallen from the sky. According
to tradition, his corruption caused the Maiden Made of Light to turn her back to world. Leading
to the Long Night, when the Lion of Night came forth to punish the realms of men for
their wickedness. The Demon armies of their vengeful god caused
great devastation, until a hero emerged, wielding the sword Lightbringer, to lead the armies
of men, driving the demons back and restoring light to the world.
Legends say the Five Forts of Yi Ti, massive black stone military fortresses, each able
to house 10 000 soldiers, were built by the Pearl Emperor, to protect the Empire from
the Demon armies of the Lion of Night. However others believe it was built for the Long Night
specifically, and others still believe the smooth black stone suggests Valyrian origins
or a connection to other oily blackstone constructions around the world, such as the seastone chair
of the Iron Islands, the Hightower foundation of Old Town, the buildings of Asshai, the
buildings of the ruined city of Yeen in Sothoryos, and many others.
When at last the Long Night ended, the Great Empire of the Dawn was no more. Having suffered
under such terrible devastation for so many years, the Empire collapsed and would come
to be replaced by the Golden Empire of Yi Ti.
For thousands of years, Yi Ti would thrive as a superpower of the Far East, ruled by
a series of Dynastic God Emperors, such as Mengo Quen, the 3rd Jade Green Emperor, also
called the Glittering God, who had everything in his palace, including floors, walls and
even chamber pots crafted from Gold. Or the Nine Eunich, known as the Pearl White Emperors,
who allowed themselves to be castrated upon ascending to the throne, so they might devote
themselves entirely to the Empire. The Eunich Emperors gave Yi Ti 130 years of peace and
prosperity, and built one of the greatest road systems in the world.
There was also Har Loi, the First Grey Emperor, whose throne was a saddle, because he spent
his entire reign riding from one battle to another.
Eleven Dynastic families would come to rule Yi Ti, often engaging in civil war to attain
power. On at least four occasions, the Empire was so devastated by internal power struggles,
Yi Ti would fracture into hundreds of petty kingdoms, sometimes for decades, until a new
Emperor could once again unite them. One method of inspiring loyalty and comradery
among the YiTish, was their near constant state of war with the Jogos Nhai Raiders of
the North. These largely nomadic, zorse riding warriors
often raided their Northern cities, prompting Emperor’s to send Armies beyond their borders,
to bring the Nomads into submission. Yet the gorilla style tactics of the Riders, coupled
with their knowledge of the terrain, often led to disaster for Imperial forces.
The most prominent example, would be the 43rd Scarlet Emperor, Lo Bu, who raised an army
of 300 000 warriors, travelling North to slaughter the enemy. They sparred no one as the army
rampaged across the plains of the Jogos Nhai. Some say a million Jogos Nhai were killed
in the purge, yet even so, they could not be defeated. Instead of continuing to fight
back against their Empire, the Jogos Nhai scattered and refused to engage them. As a
result, Emperor Lo Bu split has grand army into 13 separate forces, sending them in every
direction to complete the genocide against their enemy.
However this would prove their undoing, as a warrior woman known to history as Jhatter
Zhai would unite the remnant of the Jogos Nhai clans, and over the course of 2 years,
isolated each of the 13 armies, cutting off their food and water supplies, and using the
terrain to trap them in hostile areas, destroying each of the armies one by one, until finally
attacking Emperor Lo Bu’s personal host, slaughtering every man. Jhatter Zhai would
then dip the Emperor’s skull in Gold, using it as her drinking cup, and passing it on
through the generations to future leaders of the Jogos Nhai.
Currently the Azure Dynasty rules under Emperor Bu Gai of the city of Yin. However, in modern
times the power of the Emperor has waned, and while the many princes of the Empire are
nominally his subjects, the Emperor has no practical authority outside of his city of
Residence. In addition, Bu Gai’s power has been challenged by 2 rival claimants to the
throne. General Pol Qo, has declared himself the 1st Orange Emperor, and is currently holding
Trader Town as his capital, while a sorcerer Lord, calling himself the 69th Yellow Emperor,
has formed a government in exile, taking over the far Eastern city of Carcosa.
To the south of the great Empire, is the Island of Leng, home to the native Lengii, a beautiful
tall race with large yellow eyes. They ruled the island for many years, worshipping the
Old Ones, subterranean gods who sometimes instructed them to massacre all foreigners
on the island. As a result of their massacres, the 6th Sea Green Emperor Jar Har, invaded
and colonized the island. Over time the Lengii migrated to the southern third of the island,
while migrants inhabit the northern 2/3rds. Roughly 400 years ago, the people of Leng
rebelled against the Golden Empire, and declared their independence. To preserve peace, the
YiTish returned power to the God Empress of the Lengii, Khiara the Great, who established
a tradition of taking 2 husbands, one of YiTish descent and the other of native Lengii.
Over the many years, Westerosi travelers such as Corlys Velaryon who visited Yi Ti acquiring
great wealth during his voyages that would make House Velaryon the richest House in Westeros
for a time. And Lomas Longstrider, who travelled to Yi Ti and Leng, marvelling at the advanced
culture and returning to Westeros with fanciful tales, recounting the many strange and wondrous
things they encountered during his journey.