Tang Mai

Tang Mai
Dtang Ma

(Nation)

Alignment

Neutral

Capital

Ramparassad

Ruler

Kamraten Khemkhaeng

Government

Feudal confederacy

Adjective

Tang Mai

Languages

Tang, Nagaji, Tien

Religions

Hei Feng, Nalinivati, Pharasma, Yamatsumi

Images of Tang Mai

Source: Dragon Empires Gazetteer, pg(s). 22

Conquered by Imperial Lung Wa only 20 years before its ultimate collapse, Tang Mai, also referred to as Dtang Ma, is a nation in southern Tian Xia ruled by a confederation of five powerful sorcerers.

History

Tang Mai was founded in 3223 AR by five sisters, each of whom was a powerful sorcerer but also who drew their power from a different source: the fey, the stars, storms, and music. This tradition of rulership has continued ever since, although the kingdom has not always remained independent. In 4432 AR, the empire of Lung Wa began the first of its conquest attempts, which not only failed but indirectly resulted in the death of Lung Wa's emperor at the time. In 4480 AR, Lung Wa marched again and incited the Seven Year War, which ended in 4487 AR with Tang Mai finally surrendering to Lung Wa's conquering forces. In 4599 AR, the volcano Mount Pho-Yim exploded and devastated the country; many blamed Lung Wa's influence for this destructive event.

In 4606 AR, the death of Aroden caused global catastrophes that precipitated the fall of Lung Wa, which then split into sixteen feuding Successor States.

Geography

Tang Mai is located south of the centre of the continent of Tian Xia, running parallel to a long inlet from the Okaiyo Ocean that separates it from the kingdom of Hwanggot to its north. Tang Mai stretches much further east to west than it does north to south, essentially occupying the land between the Kullan Dei Mountains to the south and the Okaiyo Ocean. To its east and south-east lies the Empire of the Dragons, Xa Hoi; while to its south-west and west sits Nagajor, the vast kingdom of the nagas. To the north, Tang Mai shares a small land border with the Successor State of Po Li. The capital city of Tang Mai, Ramparassad, sits to the south of the nation in the shadow of Mount Pho-Yim.

Government

Before the coming of Imperial Lung Wa, Tang Mai had been ruled over by a council of five powerful sorcerers for over a millennia. After the fall of Lung Wa, it took some time for the former sorcerous bloodlines to rise to power. The council of sorcerers is each tied to one of the four traditions of sorcerous power:

• Magic from the storms, currently known as the Lord of Bats.
• Magic from the fey, currently known as the Lady of Flowers.
• Magic from music, currently known as the Sister Minivet.
• Magic from the stars, currently known as the Walker of the Autumn Moon.

A fifth sorcerer, known as the kamraten, then rules above these four, sitting on the Cinnamon Throne in the capital of Ramparassad. The Cinnamon Throne grants powers to this ruler that combines the powers of the four traditions mentioned above. The council members were originally picked via a secret process that took place in the depths of the catacombs below Ramparassad. Every ten years, one of the sorcerers is selected to become the kamraten, the lord of the kingdom. When this happens, the former kamraten returns to their previous role as a sorcerer lord of one of the provinces.

Inhabitants

Students of sorcery study at the Indraracha Institute of Tang Mai.

The people of Tang Mai are a human ethnicity known as the Tian-Tang, a people renowned for their subtle sense of humour and an open and honest character. The people of Tang Mai believe that magic is the best means of maintaining peace and fostering knowledge. The many rare substances found in its jungles lead to many alchemists adventuring in the country.

Religion

The most commonly worshipped deities within Tang Mai are Hei Feng, the Duke of Thunder; Nalinivati, the Queen of Nagas who is also sometimes known as the Serpent's Kiss; Pharasma, the Mother of Souls; and Yamatsumi, the Mountain Lord.

References

Paizo referred to Tang Mai as Dtang Ma until the publication of Tian Xia Days and the Tian Xia World Guide. See also Meta:Tang Mai.

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