Overview

'I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams…'
- Rebel Prince Jiang Ma, the night before the fall of the Purple Rebellion

West of the Empire lies the Empty Desert. Scorching by day, freezing by night, it is barren, unforgiving and vast; nothing of value has ever been discovered within it, indeed besides sand and bones nothing has been found within it at all.

When the First Emperor led his world conquering legions to the west they marched for three nights across the expanse. As his men rose upon the fourth night he declared 'We have seen all that this place has to offer, we have claimed everything of worth. Heed well the lesson this land teaches: our home is a paradise on earth, full of everything men desire. If ever you think the gods unkind then imagine that this were your birthplace!” This said the order was given for the armies to begin the journey home.

Little thought was given to the West since then; not even criminals would flee to that land for a swift death by execution was preferable to the torturous end nature would grant.

Ten years ago a strange ship, fully twice the size of the Imperial flagship was spotted off the Southern coast, and after interdiction by the Navy it was discovered to be manned by an exotic people claiming to be from the far west. Despite their vessel's bulk they claimed to be humble traders, seeking new markets for the people of the Ankytherine Republic

All along the edge of the Empty Desert may be found small shantytowns. Here hunted criminals have fled, seeking to evade the reach of the Empire, believing that they will be the ones to cross the sands and find new lives in distant lands. Often it takes but a single glance at the endless dunes to kill that dream. Impoverished and desperate these ragged people are a hazard to any traveller, but few travel these lands anyhow.

Of the those from the far West little is known. Simple observation suggests that the majority of these foreigners are amiable imbeciles, they stumble through the Foreign District wearing vacant-eyed smiles and barking at each other in their cacophonous tongue. Their leaders seem a breed apart, boasting wits that might almost allow them roles as a junior bureaucrat and a mastery of manners that would not disgrace a peasant of Chi'in.
It is speculated that almost no dyes are available in the West since they almost uniformly wear plain white garments called 'tunics'. Those of rank seem to possess the sole coloured clothes- long sashes which they hang from their shoulders.

Almost all knowledge of this Western city comes from their trade delegates and the reliability of these representatives have been questioned by many in the Empire. Imperial agents have however been able to confirm the following:

• The people of the Republic are divided into a ruling Patrician class and subservient Plebians.
• The Republic possesses the ability to assemble complex mechanisms far outstripping the works of even the finest Imperial smiths. The toys and curios that they have gifted the Emperor are a marvel that have so far defied any attempt at reproduction.
• The merchant fleets of the Republic's trade houses rival the Imperial Navy for numbers and their ships are universally of a size to inspire envy in a naval officer.
• The people of the Republic place great stock on astrological divinations and utilise them in almost every walk of life.

All that is known of distant Karnos is that it exists somewhere in the West and that from it the Republic gains the mysterious metal that lies at the heart of all its mechanisms.

Said to lie three weeks travel into the Empty Desert the existence has of the Fool's Oasis has been the subject of seventeen Imperial Denunciations, each in the wake of the tragic loss of another expedition that set out to master the wasteland.

Still the rumours persist of a pool of water so pure that a single drop would satisfy a lifetime's thirst.

The first Patrician to pay homage to the Emperor, Archimedes has served as a representative to the Imperial Court since his arrival ten years ago. He has made little secret of his desire to see stronger trade links formed between the Empire and his own House of Kleitos, and is known to have developed strong ties within the Mercantile Guild for the day when the restrictions on Ankytherine goods are finally relaxed.

The delegate from the House of Pelagius arrived in the Empire but a few short weeks ago, and her vessel was in disrepair after fending off an apparent assault by pirates. Not yet out of her teenage years it is unclear why she would be sent on such a prestigious and important assignment.

A famed warrior and master of Black Scorpion Style. He disappeared into the desert some years ago in order to discipline his chi amidst the perfect solitude of the dunes.