Po Li
| Po Li | |
|---|---|
| |
| (Nation) | |
| Land | Successor States |
| Alignment | Lawful neutral |
| Capital | Changdo |
| Ruler | The Oracular Council |
| Government | Theocracy |
| Adjective | Po Lian |
| Languages | Tien |
| Religions | The Eternal Emperor |
| Images of Po Li | |
Source: Dragon Empires Gazetteer, pg(s). 34 | |
Seat of the former capital of Lung Wa, the Successor State of Po Li is now a monotheistic theocracy run by a council of powerful oracles in Changdo who await the reincarnation of the Eternal Emperor.[1]
Geography
Po Li is located in the central part of Tian Xia, surrounded by Quain in the west, Lingshen in the north, Bachuan in the northeast, Hwanggot in the east, Dtang Ma in the southeast, and Nagajor in the southwest.[2] A significant stretch of Po Li's northern border is made up of the shores of the Sea of Ghosts.[3]
Government
Po Li is ruled by a group of powerful oracles devoted to the Eternal Emperor, known as the Oracular Council, that rules from Changdo, former capital of Lung Wa. The Oracular Council supports the Emperor's claim to reunite Lung Wa, but has yet to find an heir; the Emperor's Five Dragon Throne sits empty during all of their meetings. Some skeptics suggest that they are simply relishing in their tight control over Po Li, while the faithful believe that the Emperor has reincarnated and is ready to restore the empire. No one dares sit on the throne as the last person to do so was reduced to ashes by a lightning bolt, which is hinted to have been cast by a rival oracle.[1]
History
In 4606 AR, when Aroden died and Lung Wa collapsed, the religious faction in its government took control of the region around its capital, which became known as Po Li. Prior to the fall of Lung Wa, the faith in the Eternal Emperor was the only one tolerated in this region; traditional religions that worship the gods were banned, and their clerics were castigated as heretics.[1][4]
Inhabitants
Although most of former Lung Wa's territory has since returned to worship the gods, the faith in the Eternal Emperor persists in Po Li. Although the then-emperor died during Lung Wa's collapse, the people of Po Li believe that he will reincarnate soon to restore the empire. Newborn Po Lian children are sometimes offered to the oracles by their mothers, who claim that they have given birth to the emperor; most of the time they are simply dismissed, and only very few of them are taken to be raised among the oracles, where they become members of the Oracular Council or wandering heroes.[5] Recently, some citizens have come to believe that the emperor will only return when the colossal Eternal Emperor statue in Changdo, which has been under construction for more than three centuries, is completed.[1]
Po Li's main exports are holy relics. Real oracles and imposters alike claim that the items they sell are real relics from Lung Wa's emperors. The vast majority of them are no more than baubles, and their sellers risk the Oracular Council's wrath, but a few hold real magical power.[1]
Culture
The Oracular Council turns to many forms of divination to help them make decisions. The preferred method is the Path of Numbers.[6]
Religion
The only religion in Po Li is worship of the Eternal Emperor. All other religion is suppressed in the country, although the last one died when Lung Wa fell. Followers believe he will eventually be reincarnated, taking his rightful place on the Five Dragon Throne again.[5]
References
For additional resources, see the Meta page.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 James Jacobs, Dave Gross, Rob McCreary. (2011). Dragon Empires Gazetteer, p. 34. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-379-8
- ↑ James Jacobs, Dave Gross, Rob McCreary. (2011). Dragon Empires Gazetteer, p. 2. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-379-8
- ↑ James Jacobs, Dave Gross, Rob McCreary. (2011). Dragon Empires Gazetteer, p. 47. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-379-8
- ↑ James Jacobs, Dave Gross, Rob McCreary. (2011). Dragon Empires Gazetteer, p. 17. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-379-8
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tim Hitchcock and Colin McComb. (2011). Dragon Empires Primer, p. 16. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-386-6
- ↑ Jason Bulmahn et al. (2014). Occult Mysteries, p. 48. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-649-2
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