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CATHAY
By Mathias Eliasson 2
CATHAY
By Mathias Eliasson 2
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................ ........................ 4 THE EMPIRE OF THE CELESTIAL DRAGON............................................. ............................. ................ ....................... 6 Grand Cathay ............................................................... 7 The First Dynasty .................................. .................... 12 The Warring Kingdo ms ......................... .................... 16 The Three Empires .................................................... 17 The Imperial I mperial Dynasties .......................... .................... 20 Calendar of the Seven heavens .................................. 32 The Land of Cathay ............................... .................... 36
THE CELESTIAL HOST .............. ..................... 43 Army Special Rules ............................... .................... 44 Commanders .............................................................. 45 Wu Jen ....................................................................... 46 Strategist .................................................................... 47 Imperial Infantry ........................................................ 48 Chu Ko Nu ............................................. .................... 49 Dragon Lancers...................................... .................... 50 Steppe Archers ....................................... .................... 51 Hill Tribesmen T ribesmen ....................................... .................... 52 Monkey Warriors Warrior s ................................... .................... 53 Emperor's Guard ........................................................ 54 Swordsaints ................................................................ 55 Nightblades ................................................................ 56 Celestial Dragon Monks ........................ .................... 57 Wu Xia................................................... .................... 58 Bastion Chariots ........................................................ 59 Foo Statues ................................................................ 60
Compil Compiled, ed, Edite Edited d and Partly Written by: Mathias Eliasson
Terracotta Warriors .................................................... 61 Field Engineers .......................................................... 62 Stormhurler Ballista ................................................... 64 Dragon Cannon .................... ...................................... 65 Fire Arrow............................ ...................................... 66 Phoenix ...................................................................... 67 Brass Titans.......................... ...................................... 68 Celestial Dragons ................. ...................................... 69 Kirin ........................................................................... 70 Pixiu ........................................................................... 71 Xen huong ............................ ...................................... 72 Zhao Fei ..................................................................... 73 Tian Shi ...................................................................... 74 Huan Bei .............................. ...................................... 75 Chu-Ye Xian ........................ ...................................... 76 Cheng Long .......................... ...................................... 77 The Monkey King ...................................................... 78 Dalan-Tai ................................................................... 79 Lore of Ying of Ying and Yan .......... ...................................... 80 The Art of o f War ..................... ...................................... 81 Treasures of the Seven Heavens ............................... . 82
THE CATHAY ARMY LIST............................. 86 Lords .......................................................................... 87 Heroes .................................. ...................................... 90 Core Units ............................ ...................................... 92 Special Units ........................ ...................................... 94 Rare Units ............................ ...................................... 97
SUMMARY ...................... ........................................ 98
Dynast sty y War Warri rior orss 6 by K ei Cover Art: Dyna Entertainment
Legend of the the Five Rings, Rings, Age Age of Empires Empires III: III: The Asian Asian Dynasti Dynasti s, Chibi, Marc Simonetti, Simonetti, Jason Art: Dynasty Warriors series, Paizo Publishing, Legend Engle, Wang Kewei, Lin Wenjun, Wayne Rey olds, olds, Gius Giusepp eppee Rava Rava,, Adria Adrian n Smith Smith,, Peter Peter Dennis Dennis,, Duc Duc Truon Truong g H yen, fuckorange, ConanArt, S. Jung, fxevo, wanbao, azazel1944, Jun K, tsart68, eic, chrisnfy85, Luches, Luches, Ahyicodae, atomhawk, chuanzhong, c aosran, zzytudou, idrawgirls, idrawgirls, caps capsio iong ngma man8 n81, 1, phan phanta tast stes es,, hgja hgjart rt,, Pear PearlE lEde den, n, milkmom. Book Design: Mathias Eliasson. Original Material: Ke Kevin P. Boerwinkle, Boerwinkle, Nancy Berman, Roma Romain in d’H d’Hui uiss ssie ier, r, Jér Jérôm ômee Lar Larré ré,, Krist Kristof off, f, Jon Jonathan athan Gille Gillet, t, Florr Florrent ent,, Neko Neko,, Hank Hank Woon, Woon, Cassy Cassy Petric Petrich, h, Craig Craig Gu risco, Christian Templin Stuart Cresswell , rev larny, Stu Cresswell, Chris de la osa, Robert E. Waters, Stefan Barton-Ross, Barton-Ross, Damien Kennedy, Ga es-Workshop, WFRP: Children of the the Hor Horne ned d Rat, Rat, Hell Hell Dor Dor do, Paizo Publishing, B. Scot Hoover, Hoover, Richard Baker, Bouldergut, Stefan Wolf. Special Thanks To: Stefan Wolf, Wolf, and all all the players players that have have contribu contributed ted with with feedback feedback a d ideas.
This book is completely unofficial and in no way endorsed by Games Workshop Limit ed. The Chaos devices, devices, the Chaos Chaos logo, logo, Citadel Citadel,, Cita el Device, the Double-Headed/Imper Double-Headed/Imperial ial Eagle device, 'Eavy Metal,, Forge World, Games Workshop, Games ames Works orksho hop p log logo, o, Golde olden n Dem Demon on,, Gre Great at U clean One, the Hammer of Sigmar logo, Horned Rat logo, Keeper of Secrets, Khemri, Khorne, Lord of Change, Nurgle, Skaven, the Skaven symbol evices, Slaanesh, Slaanesh, Tomb Kings, Trio Trio of Warriors, Warriors, Twin Tailed Tailed Comet Logo, Tzeentch, Warhammer, Warhammer Online, Warhammer World logo, hite Dwarf, Dwarf, the White Dwarf Dwarf logo, logo, and all associated marks, name , races, race insignia, characters, vehicl vehicles, es, locati location ons, s, units, units, illus illustra tratio tions ns and and ima es from from the Warhammer Warhammer world world are either ®, TM and/or and/or © Copyright Games Workshop Ltd 20002013 2013,, var varia iabl bly y reg regis iste tere red d in in the the UK and and othe otherr co countries around around the world. Used Used without permission. permission. No challenge challenge t their status intended. All Rights Reserved to their respective owners.
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INTRODUCTION Welcome to Warhammer: Cathay, your indispensable guide to the mysterious realm of the east. This book provides all the information you’ll require to play with a Cathayan army in games of Warhammer.
WHY COLLECT CATHAY? Cathay, the Empire of the Celestial Dragon, is the greatest empire of the east, and indeed, the world. For thousands of years it has stood defiant in the face of Chaos from the north and Hobgoblins from the Dark Lands. The armies of Cathay are said to be innumerable, and draw exotic warriors from all across the realm, including fierce hill people, strange warrior monks and well-disciplined armies supported by heavily armoured warriors and or nate cannons. All this is presided over by the Emperor of Cathay, whose unfaltering leadership keeps Cathay the supreme state that it is.
HOW THIS BOOK WORKS Warhammer army books are split into sections, each of which deals with different aspects of the titular army. Warhammer: Cathay contains: •
Empire of the Celestial Dragon. This section introduces the Cathayans and their part in the Warhammer world. It includes their society and history. You will also find information on the land of Cathay, the Kingdom of the Dragon.
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The Celestial Host. Each and every troop type in the Cathayan army is examined here. You will find a full description of the unit, alongside the complete rules for any special abilities or options they possess. This section also includes the T reasures of the Seven Heavens – magical artefacts that are unique to the army – along with rules to use them in your games.
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Cathay Army List. The army list takes all of the characters, warriors, monsters and war machines from the Celestial Host section and arranges them so that you can choose an army for your games. Units are classed as characters (Lords or Heroes), Core, Special or Rare, and can be taken in different quantities depending on the size of the game you are playing.
FIND OUT MORE While Warhammer: Cathay contains everything you need to play the game with your army, there are other books and updates to be found. For the other books in the series and the latest rules updates, visit: www.warhammerarmiesproject.blogspot.com
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TH
EMPIRE F THE
CE ESTIAL D AGON Greatest of of t e empires of the east is Grand Cathay, a massive sprawling land encompas sing tall mountains, verdant plains an thick forests. It is a mighty empire made of many provinces, each ruled ruled by a powerful warlord, over all of which the Divine E peror rules. This Emperor, believed by s ome to be an actual Dragon in the form o a Man, rules over the largest largest nation in the world, with untold millions of subjects. For all it size and strength however, Cathay rem ains much of a mystery to the scholars o the Empire, even those that have travel ed there only having a vague idea a to its extent and power.
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Grand Cathay Cathay is a land of bamboo forests, steep cloudcovered mountains, terraced rice-fields, deserts, swamps, steppes and airy plateaus. Animals and plants are abundant. The Cathayan clans who founded their civilization naturally spread to the verdant south, in the basin between the two great ri vers Jade and Cheng. The basin is covered with rice paddies divided into rectangular plots. In mountainous or hilly areas the slopes are terraced with paddies, sometimes covering entire mountains. Cathay is in a unique position among the great nations of the world in that it is almost completely cut of f from its neighbours, while enjoying rich and fertile terrain. Its boundaries are formed by the Chaos wastes to the north, the inhospitable Mountains of Mourn to the west, the Sea of Cathay to the east and the Hinterlands of Khuresh to the south. Cathay is the largest and oldest cohesive human nation in the Warhammer World, with the longest continuous history of any human nation. However, it is not entirely ethnically so homogeneous. Unlike the Old World, which is divided along ethnic and national boundaries, Cathay is filled with hundreds of small family-clans. They dwell in cities, on farms, in mountains, and in nomadic tribes on the steppes. They operate independently but are still taxed and must send recruits to the local banner when the local Warlord or, in ti mes of direst need, the Emperor, marches to war. Occasionally one of these clans becomes powerful enough to become a threat to the Cathayan bureaucracy. The result is usually a war with the Cathayan forces of the area, eventual subjugation and tribute due to the Emperor for generations.
resemble trading caravans, but contain whole extended families. The nomads are fiercely independent of their citydwelling brothers. There are few civilised non-humans living in insular Cathay and the Emperor is content to see things stay that way. High Elves live on some carefully controlled and ostracised islands in the Far Sea. Contact with them is strictly forbid except for trade. Dwarfs are known, especially from the Kamalayan Mountains. However, but are regarded as strange and exotic. Ogres are r elatively prevalent, living near the Great Maw, their holy place and seat of their carnivorous god.
BUREACRACY From humble beginnings, Cathay’s mind-numbingly complex, and at times, baroque bureaucracy has developed as a direct result of the belief in an orderly, systematic approach to all things. On a more practical level, the empire is run by a solid central foundation comprising the various depart ments and ministries in the capital of Weijin, answering ultimately through a vast hierarchy to the Dragon Throne, a widespread and fairly well educated bureaucracy, self- governing provinces with a huge local peasantry. The Cathayan idea of dynastic empire is based on the concept of the Seven Heavens and the Supreme Mandate. When Emperor Yin Shi Zheng unified the warring provinces of Cathay into a single nation, his rule was signified by the first appearance of
THE CATHAYANS The Cathayans are uniformly darker of skin than men of the Empire and Bretonnia, though they are generally of the same height. The men are usually clean shaven and wear loose-fitting, brightly coloured clothes. A vest and skullcap are common, though in the southwestern part of Cathay, the forbidding Nomad Steppes, men favour the top knot, a long pony tail t ied with black silk. In public, women wear long dresses, white makeup and shawls that cover the hair. In the north the Cathayans are more conservative, women wearing even heavier clothing. The Cathayans are a deeply spiritual and superstitious people. One aspect of their belief system involves predestination: anything that happens does so because it was destiny. The difficult thing is to know what one’s destiny actually is. As a result, most Cathayans are quite content to leave things as they are. Outside the settled areas of northern Cathay, tribes of nomads wander the inhospitable stepped plateaus from watering hole to watering hole. These tribes and clans
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a divine emissary who bestowed upon him the narration of the heavenly laws. This narration was transcribed from the divine language by the would-be Emperor into stanzas of vario us lengths. These stanzas are known as the Laws of the Seven Heavens. They encompass a delineation of the role of Emperor and people, heaven and earth, history, and possible future prophecies. The text is the basis of the arduous exams all Cathayans wishing to entire the labyrinthine bureaucracy must pass. To be considered a truly illuminated Cathayan, it is necessary to fundamentally understand the Laws. To obtain any appointment to Imperial service, one must first pass the rigorous examinations. This requires a minimum of fifteen years study, although the truly wise may complete the conditions in just ten. Once the person has taken up the mantle of a legal adept it is then possible to apply for a position, which is usually allocated through appointment by an Imperial Magistrate. Obviously a high social standing is important, as the best appointments necessarily go to those of good breeding. Every magistrate and provincial Governor will have reporting to them a body of law enforcement officers. These officers range from local watchmen in the cities, to small armies of Grand Army charged with tracking down and eliminating bandits and chaos insurgencies. Generals of the Grand Army are viewed as trusted servants answerable only to the Dragon Throne, and act as their own petty walled fiefdoms within the provinces, complete with forces of standing Grand Army troops loyal to them. This creates a political tension between the power struggles of the provincially
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appointed Governors and the Weijin-appointed military leaders; with eagle-eyed impartial Magistrates keeping an eye on all of them should the constant wheeling and dealing escalate to direct hostilities. The general populace of Cathay does reach some teaching in the written word, enough to read and write. From there any who show proficiency in such matters can be allowed to receive further lessons, in calligraphy and art forms such as painting and poetry. At some point these pupils undertake written and oral exams in order to progress in the Emperor’s court. Those who fail may sit the exams at a later date or r eturn home and begin a career with one of the powerful merchant families. Those who followed a mercantile career path had compromised and conceded a life of worthwhile opportunity to earn coin. As to how the Dragon Throne maintains their armies and military positions, the peasants are not allowed to carry weapons of any kind by divine decree. In short, the people of Cathay possess no arms to defend themselves if they come under attack. This must make it easier to prevent an uprising against an unpopular sovereign, much like in Bretonnia.
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT Because of the influence of law in Cathay, crime is punished most severely. Those who lack social status are accorded few rights under the law, crimes they commit are regularly punished with either death or forced labour in the iron mines. Crimes committed by nobility are treated differently; if the crime is minor they will generally be fined, which is trivial, or publicly reprimanded, which is grim in the extreme and
sometimes fatal, given the Cathayan ducal prop ensity to fall on their ceremonial longswords if downcast in matters of personal honour. Crimes between provincial clans are usually resolved through duels or silent assassination by the terror-inducing silent order of the Nightblades. Although the latter is officially proscribed by the Dragon Throne, it is common in the case of feuds. Cathayan bureaucrats, especially magistrates, are charged with investigating and bringing to justice those suspected of committing a crime. Cathayan law differs to Old World law in that the accused is assumed guilty until he proves himself innocent, which tends to efficiently cut down the average trial time. The other strangely Cathayan twist is that according to legal tradition, the accused must confess before any sentence is passed. This condition often results in the judge using heinous methods of coercion to extract a “confession”. Cathayan water torture and its ilk are justifiably renowned throughout the entire world, such are the advances Cathay has made in the art of pain; scholars argue their thousand-year experience in the application of “enforced suggestion” rivals even the Dark Elves or Skaven.
SOCIETY The most important social unit is the family. Cathayans place great importance on a person’s position in the family and the interdependence of family members. The Cathayan family is usually an extended group of tens or hundreds of brothers, uncles, cousins, halfcousins, great- great aunts, and onwards. Everyone will have a very detailed knowledge of their own family members and their relationship to each other. These families live close together in the same town or village, or if it is a smaller family, even in t he same house. The eldest male, usually the father or grandfather, is
considered the patriarch of the family, makes the decisions and is respected by those younger. As old men became weak or doddering, their sons gradually take over, but younger Cathayans are still expected to treat their elders with respect. The military class, which produces lineages of officers to command the Grand Army, is not inclusive of all soldiers. Only those who are born of a military family or have been wedded to one are included in this class. In many cases these families will actually be members of the old nobility. As for common soldiery, they are made up of peasants and citizens.
BUSINESS AND TRADE The Cathayan economy is huge. It is comparable to that of the whole of the Old World. For centuries, the empire has been involved in various kinds of import and export and domestic trade both along established land routes such as the Old Spice Road, or upon river or sea routes. As mentioned earlier in the section concerning taxation, both the Emperor and local bureaucrats assess duty tax on most kinds of trade. This usually takes the form of a flat toll or a percentage of the goods value. Trade is the lifeblood of western Cathay. Cathayan merchants sail as far north as the great sea-ports Marienburg and Erengrad, and as far west as the lands Ulthuan and forbidding Lustria. Caravans peopled by the steppe nomad tr ibes make their way through the dangerous deserts and beyond. Most of the Cathayans trade originates in the Southlands, though. The Elves are very protective of their trade-routes, but the Cathayans have little competition in the Southlands, the area knowing little in the ways of civilisation and being easily exploited by ruthless traders. Cathay’s biggest export lies in silk. There is a valley to the north of Anlo where a huge spider lives. Everyday
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MYTHS AND LEGENDS Cathay has wealth of stories about it, yet it is mostly in keeping with the peasant population rather than the more civilized nobility. The founding of Cathay predates the nations of the Old World by a couple of millennia, even the founding of Khemri in what are now referred to as the Lands of the Dead to the distant south. According to legend, the lands themselves had been formed from the body of a goddess, who was struck down from the sky for looking for a place to put her people. Her body became the lush fields of millet and rice, the rivers from her milk, and her blood the people of Cathay. To this day, peasants still believe the goddess watches and nurtures her people.
villagers from nearby go in and chop down its fabulous webs, whilst trying to avoid the spider and its small broodlings. Every year hundreds of the natives die in this pursuit, but they bring back tons of the web and using their feet, pound it flat, then use a thing like a co mb to tease it into strips, before submerging it in a waterfall to get the shiny appearance and making it soft enough to use as a fabric. From that it is then dried out and either given to skilled tailors or sent to trading posts to sell to merchants across the whole world.
HONOUR Social interaction in Cathay is governed by the principle of honour. Each citizen holds responsibility for their reputation, their clan, and their social position. To act in a manner not befitting one’s status results in embarrassment or a loss of face. This should not be confused with morality. In fact, it is possible to be quite immoral yet have much honour! The key is not necessarily to be upstanding but rather to appear as such. Power, wealth and position mean nothing to a Cathayan if he is without honour. Honour is a measure of his worth in society, his dependability, his personal character, his trustworthiness. Without honour, soldiers of the Grand Army of Cathay lose hope and become conscripts, no better than slaves. They and their families can expect to be shunned, disrespected, insulted, even spat on. Honour is something every soldier earns on the battlefield, and can also be lost through cowardice. Breaking faith, treachery, un-avenged insults result in a loss of honour, while valiant deeds, self-sacrifice, mastery of skills, and keeping faith earn honour.
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Yet the goddess did not provide all and it is spoken that another deity brought the light of the heavens to Cathay so the people might enjoy its benefits. He set it high above the clouds, but it would slip from its place and roll to the west, forcing the god to go looking for it every day to return it to the sky. Eventually he fo und a way to keep the sun in place and walked off into the forests, only to be brought back to unsettle the sun once again when the God of the Hills found him and told him of grumblings he had heard in Cathay now that there was no night. So it was that the god left the forests and created the Home of the Gods in the Mountains of Mourn, where he could catch the sun at the close of each day and then carry it to the Eastern end of the world to start the day anew. The nature of these gods is different to that of t he Old World gods. Gods do not seem to take such an active interest in the well-being of their followers, some being little more than spirits of the major rivers or the winds. They also are not human in appearance. One among them is described as being the body of a tiger, with the tail of a rat and the head of a man and that isn’t even the most outré of them. Numerous legends also state that the gods dwell for the most part atop the highest peak in the Mountains of Mourn, where they can oversee the entirety of Cathay and thus the whole world. This mountain also holds the sky up, stopping it from drifting away and fro m crushing the world below. Since this home is above the sky, no mortals travelling through the Mountains of Mourn can ever reach it, though some magicians tell of younger gods that do come down from this high peak to dance atop some of the smaller peaks, with the light from their dancing witnessed by those who seek it. In recent years, these sightings had lessened to such an extent that the magicians now believe that the gods are retreating from mankind as they intrude upon their realms. Once a man can scale to the Home of the Gods, then it is believed that they will retreat fully from this world to their distant castle in the cold north. It should be noted that those wise in the magic arts dislike foreigners travelling so regularly through the Mountains of Mourn, fearing that such excursions are scaring the
gods away, bringing the Great Retreat closer to fruition. One of the most popular legends is the one of the once God of War who is now considered an outcast. This legend states that the god was once a beast of the forests and hills, attacking anyone who tried to tame him, until the Great Hunter took it upon himself to hunt and best the beast. For the longest of times, hunter and beast stalked each other across Cathay, occasionally fighting each other, until on the great plain where the Hung now hunt, t he two finally came to a conclusion. The hunter god won, but the beast wounded him mightily, leaving the Great Hunter weak. With the beast thought tamed, he brought it to the Home of the Gods and presented the tame God of War to the others, showing that it was possible for war to be civilised, but he was proved wrong, as the beast turned on him in the moment of triumph, mauling him to death and fleeing north in terror of the other god’s retribution, fleeing until he could regain his strength and return. For his braveness, the Great Hunter was transformed into a mighty willow tree (which is now standing in a square in the city of Nan-Gau). To this day, the image of the willow stands as an example of prowess and courage. As for the beast god, he gathered followers from amongst the rough tribesmen he found in the north and from ti me to time makes them attack Cathay to better prove his power. There are also numerous tales of Tzeentch, the God of Trickery whose wicked deeds would ultimately be undone by his own deceptive words and schemes, only to try again and again. Tales of seductive ghosts and shape-shifting manytailed foxes belong to Slaanesh and the Woman of Plague, who appears as a hideous old widow in perpetual mourning is analogous with Nurgle.
Emperor. His son refuted this decision and begged his father to reconsider, even going so far as to ride on his father’s back as the Emperor flew to the north bord er to fulfil the promise of his goddess. There, in the air, son fought with father, at first as a feeble man, but then he changed into a bright dragon and continued fighting. The Dragon Emperor could see that his son was strong enough to become the new Emperor, lacking only the power to overturn his decision to put another on the throne. All he could do was plead with his son to let him continue north, the better to protect Cathay in death. Seeing the nobility in his father’s action, the Emperor’s son begged the Goddess of the Moon to allow him to help and together father and son would lie across the border and become petrified by the light of the moon, their bodies stretching across the plains, from then Mountains of Mourn to the Bay of Chee in the east, forever to protect their beloved Cathay. Of course, those with any real knowledge of history would easily disregard this as nothing but a fanciful tale, as the Great Bastion was really built much later by the glorious Emperor Yin Shi Zheng. Dragons also play an important part in Cathay. Where most nations sees them as exemplifying the majestic wildness of nature, red in tooth and claw, unpolluted by Chaos, all wings and fire, the Cathayans sees dragons as the originators of their Empire and their saviours. They are noble servitors of their gods, messengers and paladins for their causes. Though the first Emperor and his heir are long dead, there remains the belief that the current Emperor on the Dragon Throne is still a dragon, able to transform his physical form into that of a dragon, the better to defeat the enemy Cathay faces.
The most commonly held belief was that of the creation of the Great Bastion by the very first Dragon Emperor. Apparently the first Emperor of Cathay was appointed by the goddess to form the first Dynasty. He was also a dragon, formed from the hair of the goddess, and therefore blessed in aspect and wise in measure. He could change into the form of a man at will and thus ruled well for many years. It was he who founded Weijin and personally built the Dragon Throne. For many years over the founding, the Emperor was forced time and again to face the followers of the reviled God of War in combat and as he grew older, grew more worried that he would not be able to protect his people in his dotage, or that his only heir, a feeble man unable to change into a dragon, would succeed him as Emperor. The Emperor was sent a dream by the Goddess of the Moon where if he would lie down across the northern border of Cathay as a dragon, his Goddess would change his body into stone and thus he would halt the beast children of the warring god for all time. He agreed and appointed another heir to be the next
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West of Weijin The mindless assault of the bone goliath forced Master Guo Liang to draw back and redress his iron fan. The weapon seemed ineffective against the raging monstrosity of bone whirling before him. Guo cursed himself. He knew better than to take on a liche's construct with such methods. But the day was cold, the evening even colder, and this beast had appeared before him like a dream, swirling through the morning haze like a dervish gone mad. The goliath's assault had surprised him, and that most of all, troubled the great Shu. No one, nothing, could ever surprise him. And the fact that this thing, this tower of clanging bone and dark plate, could catch him unawares and flat-footed, concerned Guo the most. Whoever controls it, Guo thought to himself as he ducked another thrust of the beast's mighty spear, knows who I am, what I carry, and why I've come. Guo Liang drew back a great inhalation of air, held it for a moment, then let fly a stream of fire through bared teeth. The flames splashed against the empty chest of the beast and leeched through its body, bursting through the seams of its steel armour. Flames coursed into its skull cavity, igniting its large, hollow eye sockets and scorching its bleach-white teeth. The goliath flailed madly, dropped its spear, and fell into the line of dead trees flanking the narrow path through the woods. The forest exploded into flame. Guo leaped forward and grabbed the discarded spear with both hands. It was twisted and crude (more like a dead tree trunk than a spear) and lacked the necessary balance for one as skilled as himself, but it would serve its purpose nonetheless. He raised it above his head and raced toward the mass of burning bone trying to right itself through piles of seared bark and branches. Guo screamed and drove the tip of the spear into the soft dirt on the side of the path. The spear bent but did not break and Guo vaulted himself up and over the fire. He could feel the heat singe the frayed edges of his red robe as he released his grip from the spear and flew, like a bird, through the air. He landed square upon the hard, toothy chin bone of the beast and heard a crack as the jaw, weak and brittle from the intoxicating heat of the fire, gave way and snapped in two. Some kind of mad, harrowing moan escaped the hollow mouth of the goliath. It was not the beast's words; it could not speak for it did not have lungs or a throat. But it seemed to understand that its jaw had been severed. An escape of hot breath came up through its charred mantle and washed across Guo's face, forcing him to leap to safety beneath the swipe of a huge skeletal hand. The beast rose out of the ash and flame, flailing with both arms now, twisting its jawless head back and forth as if it were trying to find its assailant through the billows of black smoke. Every loose strand of dry cloth, every leather strap hanging from the goliath's legs and arms was on fire. If the situation weren't so dire, Guo could almost appreciate the size, power, and relentless drive of his foe and the sheer determination of its master... wherever it may be. But now was not the time for reflection. Guo dodged another fist blow, leaped and grabbed hold of the goliath's wrist as the large curled fingers drew close. The rough bone of the beast's arm scorched Guo's bare hands. Pain shot through his arms. He was a Dragon Monk, true, and fire was as natural to him as breathing.
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But the fire roping through the goliath's lurching frame was too hot even for a grand master. I've overdone it again, Guo thought to himself with a frail smile. The goliath waved his arm violently to try to shake off his attacker, but Guo held firmly. He waited -- one, two, three shakes -- until his legs were close to the beast's neck. Then he let go, somersaulting through the air and landing solidly on the left clavicle where the armour had chipped away. Here the bone had been spared the flame. Guo held on tightly as if he were grasping the reins of a wild horse. The goliath thrashed to and fro, its sharp, razor-like fingers snapping over its shoulders to try to snatch Guo's robe. The goliath's skull rolled forward. Guo drew his fan and snapped it open. Now or never... With one swift motion, Guo drew the sharp edge of his weapon across the tender gap between neck bones. He could feel the fan cut through the dry, dead cord with a silent swick! The beast slowed, dropped its arms to its side, and wavered in place. Guo drew the fan back and made another cut, this time through the bone. The skull dropped forward again, but this time, it did not recover. Guo watched as his cuts grew larger, larger, until that final snap. The goliath's head tumbled off its shoulders and hit the ground with a deadening thump. The fight was over. The rest of the goliath dropped straight down, an eruption of bone, broken armour and black leather flying everywhere as Guo grabbed the limb of a nearby tree and flung himself away. He lighted gently upon the ground, turned and watched a huge, consuming flame sweep over the goliath's remains and reduced them to a pile of black soot. Guo smiled, breathed deeply, and waited until the final pop of heat escaped the heap and dissipated into the growing quiet. Somewhere in the forest where the trees were not burning, a crow sounded, its screech resounding through the dead forest like the howl of a lost soul. Was it the liche, Guo wondered, revealing its displeasure with the destruction of its toy? Maybe so, but Guo had other concerns at the moment. He found the path again and located his bedroll, which he had ditched into the weeds when the goliath had appeared. He checked it twice, rubbed away stray grass from its silk fabric and tucked it beneath his left arm. He then stuck his hand into the right pocket of his robe. The object, which he had sewn into the lining, was there and safe. He tapped his fingers across its tight surface and smiled. The liche had not prevailed in its attempt at recovering the object. Guo was grateful for that. At least until his next attempt. And there would be others... no doubt about it. This conflict was far from over. But now he turned his attention to the long walk before him. The day would take him out of the forest and into a flat land where the fortress monasteries of the monks resided. There he would take succour and bathe his sore feet. And then, gods willing, he would pass into the land of Cathay and greet the emperor.
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The First Dynasty The history of Cathay stretches back to the dawn of man’s ascent upon the Warhammer World. Though few records remain of this time today, learned Magistrates in the court of the Dragon Emperor traditionally ascribes the founding of their nation under the reign of the first Emperor Xen Huong, in ar ound 3000 IC. It was Xen Huong who united the tribes scattered across the land and forged a powerful and civilized nation. When he had pacified the frontiers and expanded the empire, he returned to his palace to rest but did not have long to enjoy the peace he had built: in the distant north lands a mighty Daemon Prince drew ready to defy him. It surrounded itself with an army composed of daemons and evil humans worshipping him – and there were many, cruel and with neither law nor reason, who refused the good government of Xen Huong.
the foe. Carving a path towards his adversary, he brandished his magic sword in challenge. The Daemon Prince charged towards him and the epic battle began. It is said that the duel lasted for hours without either of the adversaries gaining the advantage, until Xen Huong, exhausted from fighting, began to falter. The Daemon Prince cut him deep with its cruel blade, and Xen Huong fell. But just as he felt his life slipping away from him, the Goddess of the Moon appeared before his eyes. She had watched the battle, and was so taken by his bravery that she had to intervene to protect her champion. The Moon Goddess took one of her hairs and transformed it into a great Celestial Dragon, whose spirit merged with that of Xen Huong. With a mighty roar, he was reborn, stronger than ever before. He rose to his feet, and finding an opening, he struck a blow that sliced off his Daemon Princes’s head below the jaw. Upon the death of their leader, the hordes of Chaos dispersed, routing back the way they came.
Xen Huong gathered his faithful followers and made ready to face the Hordes of Chaos in battle. The two armies battled on the Great Plain of Zhuolu, north of the Chengtze River, and the forces of Chaos seemed to have the advantage. Xen Huong had no choice: he needed to defeat the Daemon Prince himself to break
Upon his victory, Xen Huong declared himself Celestial Dragon Emperor of Cathay, blessed by the Moon Goddess herself and possessing the power of the great Dragon, destined to rule the land and all its subjects. Bowing in awe of their great Emperor, Cathay was one, and its First Dynasty could begin in earnest.
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BUILDING AN EMPIRE As the first Dragon Emperor, Xen Huong expanded and organized the early Empire. By inventing laws, the calendar, and money, he provided the Cathayans with the sense of unity they needed to be a people. It was under his reign that the first major ro ads were built to link towns and villages; as men learnt about each other and organized markets, so trade developed. His wife discovered silk, and the methods by which it is made and used. The start of the reign of Xen Huong marks the starting point of recorded history for the Cathayan, and he remains the model of the wise, prudent and well-loved sovereign. Among his greatest contributions to Cathay was the development of religion. Ancestor worship and sacrificial offerings to the gods were transformed into sacred rites, uniting the people in shared beliefs. The Emperor became the high priest of this new faith born of ancient tribal practices. It is also under Xen Huong that the first great projects by which man made the world his own began with the building of canals, the clearing of forests, the draining of marshes, and more. It is also said that Xen Huong led the rivers to the sea and flattened the plains underfoot so that the land could be cultivated. For a long time, Xen Huong enjoyed the favour of t he gods. For centuries he held the Mandate of Heaven, giving them the authority over the world and its inhabitants. Little by little, the Cathay changed from a rural civilization to an urban civilization. The first cities were founded, and housed an ever-growing population. Alongside communication networks grew industry, based on mining and bronze work, and there emerged an urban class of merchants and craftsmen who provided a link between the nobility and the peasantry. There emerged a class of priests in the service of the Emperor. These holy men became the crucial link between Heaven and the sovereign, transmitting messages from the gods to men, and prayers from men to the gods, and thereby ensuring the permanence of the dynasty. Eventually, the Dragon Emperor himself came to be treated as a god, and the state religions has been the worship of the Celestial Dragon ever since.
THE CREATION OF THE GREAT MAW Around -2750, the race known as Ogres whom had previously been on good terms with the Cathayans, even learning the secrets of fire and basic metalworking from them in return for manual labour, was on the move. Ogre raids into Cathay became prevalent, and many Cathayan peasants became the victims of their large appetites, with some Ogres even acquiring a preference for Cathayan flesh. With the peaceable relations eroding away, Xen Huong changed his opinion of the Ogres, taking a very dim view indeed of his hungry neighbours.
Though no one knows exactly what actually happened, it is popularly believed in Cathay that the catastrophe that followed was engineered by the Dragon Emperor's coven of astromancers as a way of keeping his land and people safe; for not too long after the children of Cathay began to go missing and bloodied bones littered the paddy fields, a light appeared in the sky. At first it was visible only at night, but with each passing day the object grew brighter until it shone like a second sun. At night the blazing orb grew more luminous, until it eclipsed the light of the twin moons. One fateful night, the comet slammed into the Ogre homelands in the west of Cathay with such force that it was felt half the world away. All life around the impact site was obliterated in an instant. Two-thirds of the Ogre population was extinguished as if smote by an angry god. Only those near the edge of the plains escaped immediate destruction. The raging firestor ms that followed the comet's fall incinerated everything for miles and distant witnesses said that it seemed as if beasts of living flame hunted the lands. The remaining ogres, without food or shelter, were forced to move westwards into the Mountains of Mourn, away from Cathay. Thus the population rejoiced, for no longer would the threat of hungry Ogres loom over them!
DEPARTURE OF XEN HUONG In -2473, Xen Huong left the realm of Cathay behind him, having ruled it for over 500 years. No one knows the reason for his departure, for he left without an heir or instructions on who was to lead in his stead. Some say he wanted the men of Cathay to make due on their own without his divine guidance, whereas others say that he transformed into a Celestial Dragon and flew away, returning to the side of the Moon Goddess who had once saved his life so many years ago. Now he too watches over Cathay as its eternal guardian, ready to come to its aid in its most dire ti me of need.
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The Warring Kingdoms With Xen Huong gone, Cathay was now leaderless. During his long lifetime, the Emperor had never fathered a son, and his departure came as a shock to the people who were depending of his guidance. Xen Huong's greatest generals, advisors and magistrates tried to choose one among them to lead, but no avail. Some declared that only a true son of the Dragon would be fit to rule, whereas others sought to take the power form themselves. Cathay become divided into seven smaller kingdoms, each led by one of Xen Huong's generals. Civil war became rampant, and thus the Warring Kingdoms period as officially at hand. Seeing the decline of the imperial dynasty, each of the seven powerful lands sought to become the center of a new Empire and thus dominate the whole of Cathay. And so it became necessary for each state to grow strong, to develop political, economic, and above all military power. The beginnings of ironwork enabled the states to engage in great projects such as the building of irrigation channels, the maintenance of roads, the clearance of forests and the draining of marshes. This led to the modernization of agriculture and trade, the building up of food reserves and a general increase in wealth. Great walls were built to guard against raids from warlike neighbors, both barbarian tribes and the other lands of Cathay.
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS And still the rulers of these great states did not feel secure. Their greatest fear was that their vassals would revolt or secede. It was at this time that attempts were made to distance the nobility from the halls of power by reforming the administration of the state. But it was from Yin, then the weakest of the states, that the true solution would come. A scholar named Shang Yang became minister of Yin and undertook a series of reforms inspired by Legalist philosophy in order to modernize the state, to enable it to become as strong as the other states, and above all to sow order and discipline. Shang Yang’s policies created an administration based on the centralization of power, the marginalization of the nobility, and the modernization of the army. In less than five years, Yin became the most powerful and most strictly governed of the Warring Kingdoms, and the others began to imitate its reforms so that they might not be left behind. The nobles lost their sinecures and were replaced in the administration by a professional class of salaried officials. This new bureaucracy allowed power to be centralized in the hands of the sovereign. The vassals were distanced from the government of the state. The serfs were freed and came to own the land they tilled and to pay taxes directly to their sovereign. Privileges
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and favors were abolished, and all men became equal under the law of the state.
COUNTLESS BATTLES Soon after the Legalist reforms, the sovereigns of the seven most powerful states of Cathay p roclaimed themselves Kings, thus marking the end of their feigned subjection to the Zhou Emperors. The Kings’ attention turned to the conquest of the other states and thus to a new model of war. From now on, all battles would be expansionist, and the ultimate goal of war would be the capture of enemy territor y, the overthrow of its ruler, and the building of E mpire. The ranks of armies were swelled with professional soldiers and conscripts, campaigns multiplied and battles became ever bloodier and bloodier. The structure of the armies was changed, the old chariot divisions being replaced by swifter, more flexible infantry and cavalry units. War became permanent and omnipresent. It started as military, and became political and economic. Alliances, allegiances and betrayals were the norm, and yesterday’s enemy became today’s ally, until things changed…
DOMINANCE OF YIN Amidst the chaos, one truth emerged. The kingdom of Yin remained the most powerful of all. Its military dominance was ensured by countless victories and protected it against the warlike designs of its neighbors, each too cautious to attack such a well-armed state alone. Potential alliances between the other states were broken even before they were formed, through the work of the Qin secret service. This eliminated the risk of a coalition rising to crush this insolent state. Yin captured the barbarian territories of the Steppe Nomads, and used the wealth hidden beneath their lands to create a genuine military-industrial complex and further strengthen its army, already the most feared in all Cathay. But it was Qin’s later actions that revealed its ambitions most clearly. The Yin armies overran the territory of the Zhou and brought an end to the dynasty. From that day forth, the goal of the Y in sovereigns was clear: to achieve the union of all things under Heaven by subjugating all the other states of Cathay. For several centuries, the Yin expanded their territory, swallowing up the lesser Kingdoms, until only three remained; Yin, Chu and Yu. While Yin was the largest kingdom, Chu and Yu were almost equal in strength. At this point, the King of Yin declared himself Emperor, which was followed by the other kings doing the same of their respective kingdoms. Thus the beginning of what was to be known as the Three Empires was a fact.
The Three Empires The kingdom of Yin to the north was at the time of the Three Empires lead by a weak ruler, only a puppet in the hands of his council, lead by Chancellor Tsao Tsao. The kingdoms of Chu in the west and Yu in t he east were fighting mostly between themselves at the Jade River. This gave Yin time to consolidate their power, and soon Chancellor Tsao T sao began expanding southwest. Weakened from the conflicts with Yu, the Western Emperor, called Liu Ming, quickly had to retreat with his forces. Tsao Tsao's mighty army swiftly conquered the southern province of Datai and the Battle of Changban was ignited when Tsao Tsao's cavalry began attacking the civilians who were on an exodus led by Liu Ming. During the battle, Liu Ming’s followers managed to hold off the enemy while buying time for the ci vilians to retreat, but at a great cost. Following the battle, Liu Ming’s chief advisor set forth on a diplomatic mission to the eastern kingdom to form an alliance between Liu Ming and the King of Yu by the name of Sun Huan to deal with Tsao T sao's invasion. Sun Huan was initially in the midst of a dilemma of whether to surrender or resist to T sao Tsao's forces, but was persuaded to join Liu Ming to defeat him.
the enemy in between their ranks, the allied forces quickly surrounded and destroyed them. T sao Tsao's vanguard army was defeated, but T sao showed no disappointment and proceeded to lead his main army to the riverbank directly opposite the allied main camp where they made camp. While the allied forces threw a banquet to celebrate their victory, the great Tzu-Sun, the allied forces Strategist, thought of a plan to infiltrate Tsao Tsao's camp on an espionage mission and maintain contact by sending messages via a pigeon. Meanwhile, Tsao Tsao’s army was seized with a plague of typhoid fever that killed a number of his troops. Tsao ordered the corpses to be sent on floating rafts to the allies’ camp, hoping to pass the plague on to his enemies. The allied army's morale was greatly affected when some unsuspecting soldiers let the plague in, and eventually a disheartened Liu Ming left with his forces while Tzu-Sun stayed behind to assist the Eastern Kingdom’s army. When Tsao Tsao heard that the alliance had collapsed he was overjoyed, feeling sure of an easy victory over the remaining forces of Yu. At the same time, his naval commanders proposed a new tactic of interlocking the battleships together with iron beams to minimize rocking when sailing on the river and reducing the chances of the troops falling seasick.
BATTLE OF THE BLOODY CLIFFS After the hasty formation of the alliance, the forces of Liu Ming and Sun Huan called for a meeting to formulate a plan to counter Tsao Tsao's army that was rapidly advancing towards the Bloody Cliffs from both land and water. The battle began with the allied forces using a force of light cavalry to lure Tsao Tsao's vanguard army into the formation laid down by the allied forces. By letting
Subsequently, Tzu-Sun made plans on how to eliminate Tsao Tsao's naval commanders, as well as producing one hundred thousand arrows for the army as quickly as possible. Tzu-Sun’s u sed an ingenious strategy of borrowing of arrows from the enemy by using straw boats to feign an attack on Tsao Tsao's fleet. Tsao Tsao's army, unable to see the boats through the fog lying over the water, responded by firing volley
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after volley at the sound of gongs from the allied ships, unknowing of the real motif behind the “attack”. Once the straw boats where covered with arrows, Tzu-Sun returned back to camp, successful in his mission. When Tsao Tsao found out that his naval commanders had basically donated the arrows to the enemy, he immediately ordered their execution. However, he soon realised his folly afterwards; but it was too late, and now he was without admirals to lead the fleet. In the Eastern Kingdom’s camp, scouts returned from Tsao Tsao's camp with a map of the enemy formation. Sun Huan and Tzu-Sun decided to attack Tsao Tsao's navy with fire, anticipating that a special climatic condition would soon cause the wind to shift and that the resulting South-East Wind would blow to their advantage. The battle began when the South-East Wind started blowing in the middle of the night and the Eastern Kingdom’s forces launched their full-scale attack on Tsao Tsao's navy, using fire ships to set his fleet on fire. Yet even with their strategic advantage, they were heavily outnumbered and suffered heavy casualties. However, as hope began to falter, Liu Ming’s forces returned to the aid of the eastern Kingdom and started attacking Tsao Tsao's forts on land. By dawn, Tsao's entire navy has been destroyed. The allied forces launched another offensive on Tsao's ground army, stationed in his forts, and succeeded in breaking through using the Tortoise formation despite suffering heavy casualties. Tsao Tsao was defeated but managed to escape back to Weijin, where he would raise a new army.
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INTERNAL STRUGGLE After the defeat of Tsao Tsao, relations between Liu Ming and Sun Huan gradually deteriorated. In accordance with Tzu-Sun's plans, Liu Ming led his troops into Shuang Hsi Province in the north and took it over from the kingdom of Yin. B y then, Liu Ming ruled a vast area of Cathay. Meanwhile, Sun Huan plotted to take Song Jiang Province after tiring of Liu Ming’s repeated refusals to hand the land over. He made peace with Tsao Tsao and become a vassal of Tsao with the title of “King of the East”. Sun Huan sent his troops to seize Song Jiang Province, as part of his secret agreement with Tsao Tsao. Liu Ming’s brother, ruler of Song Jiang, was caught off guard and lost the province before he knew it. He retreated to Nan Guang, where he was heavily surrounded by Liu Ming’s forces, while his army gradually decreased in size as many of his troops deserted or surrendered to the enemy. In desperation, he attempted to break out of the siege but failed and was captured in an ambush. He was executed on Sun Huan’s orders after refusing to renounce his loyalty to Liu Ming. As Liu Ming led a large army to attack Sun Huan to avenge his brother, Qin attempted to appease Liu by offering him the return of Song Jiang Province. Li u’s advisors, including Tzu-Sun, urged him to accept Huan’s tokens of peace, but Liu persisted in vengeance. After initial victories, a series of strategic mistakes due to the impetuosity of Liu lead to his cataclysmic defeat in the Battle of Xiaoping.
Liu Ming died from illness shortly after his defeat. In a final conversation between Liu on his deathbed and Tzu-Sun, Liu granted Zhan the authority to take the throne if his successor proved to be an inept ruler. Zhan refused and swore that he would remain faithful to the trust Liu Ming had placed in him. After Liu Ming’s death, Emperor Yin Shi Zheng attacked the Western Kingdom, but the cunning TzuSun managed to send the five armies retreating without any bloodshed. An envoy from Tzu-Sun subsequently persuaded Sun Huan to renew the former alliance with the Kingdom of Shu. One year later, Tzu-Sun personally led a campaign against the steppe nomad Ozuk Khan who had risen from the plains to threaten the Western Kingdom. Ozuk was defeated and captured seven times, but Tzu-Sun released him each time and allowed him to come back for another battle, in order to win Ozuk o ver. The seventh time, Ozuk refused to leave and decided to swear allegiance to the Kingdom of Shu forever. After pacifying the south, Tzu-Sun led the Western Kingdom’s army on five military expeditions to attack Tsao Tsao in order to end his reign and forge a Cathay based on the Western Kingdom of Shu. However, TzuSun's days were numbered as he suffered from illness, and his condition worsened under stress from the campaigns. Tzu-Sun mysteriously disappeared the night before the Battle of Wuzhang Plains while fighting a stalemate battle against Tsao Tsao, never to be seen again. Before his disappearance, Tzu-Sun ordered his tr usted generals to build a statue of himself and use it to scare away the enemy in order to buy time for the Western Kingdo m’s army to retreat safely.
RISE OF YIN SHI ZHENG Yin Shi Zheng, or Yao Zheng as he was known before becoming Emperor, began his career like any other soldier, but he would not settle for being a simple follower. He was a born leader, and this would soon show. He soon became a favourite of the Tsao Tsao, and was granted the position of commander.
Zheng also practised law to help Tsao Tsao manage his ruling seat, with a deep desire to plead cases for the poor and the undone. As an officer he was severe in observing discipline in his men. When leading troops in the field, he never tried to ingratiate himself with common soldiers by flattery, though this custom prevailed at that time. By instructing them with the same exactness a monk would use i n ceremonies, and punishing them with equal sternness when t hey transgressed the laws, Zheng rapidly rose through the ranks of the fledgling Yin military. After Tsao Tsao was found dead in his chambers, assassinated, Zheng quickly took the throne and made himself Emperor, supported by his soldiers. With his newly found position, he took himself the name Yin Shi Zheng, and declared his rule absolute. In the Western Kingdom, Liu Ming’s son continued to lead another nine campaigns against Yin Shi Zheng for a bitter three decades, but he failed to achieve any significant success. He was an incompetent leader and placed faith in treacherous officials, further leading to the decline of the Western Kingdom, and it was eventually conquered by Yin Shi Zheng. In the Eastern Kingdom, there was internal conflict among the nobles ever since the death of Sun Huan, with the two mightiest Warlords making attempts to usurp state power. Although stability was restored temporarily, the last ruler was a tyrant who did not make any efforts to strengthen his kingdom. The Eastern Kingdom, the last of the Three Empires, was eventually conquered by Yin Shi Zheng after a long period of struggle. And so the Three Empires period concluded after almost a century of civil strife. Yin Shi Zheng was the one and true ruler of Cathay, Son of Heaven and Celestial Dragon Emperor as dictated by the Mandate of Heaven. This was to be the beginning of the Yin Dynasty, which would be filled with a great economic, cultural and scientific expansion for Cathay, and the land would once and for all be united as one nation, even if civil war would still follow every now and then.
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The Imperial Dynasties THE YIN DYNASTY Yin Shi Zheng launched a successful campaign against the pillaging tribes north of the Changtze River in the winter of -1798, forcing them further into the windblasted Chaos Wastes and securing Cathay’s northern frontier. Upon Yin Shi Zheng's triumphant return to Weijin, his people erected scaffolds in the in the opera houses, the beautiful willow gardens, and in all other parts of the city where they could best behold the victory parade. All spectators were clad in red garments, and all the temples were open, full of garlands and perfumes. The ways were cleared and kept open by numerous officers who drove the crowd back from the main avenue. This procession lasted three days. On the first, colossal graven icons taken from the enemy, was drawn upon two hundred wagons. On the second the finest and richest living armour ripped from the very hides of the Chaos Warriors of the Hung. Helmets were thrown upon shields, coats of mail upon greaves; horse bows, saddles and quivers of arrows were strewn around, and through these there shone the points of naked and shattered daemonswords, intermixed with barbaric flails. After the armoury wagons followed three thousand soldiers who carried liberated gold coined with Yin Shi Zheng's image, in seven hundred vessels, each borne by four men. Then Yin Shi Zheng himself came, dressed in a cloak of red tiger pelt, interwoven with gold, and holding a white cherry blossom in his right hand. He was borne aloft upon his secret weapon against the Hung - a battle chariot, magnificently adorned. During the campaign, the light arrows employed by the Hung pattered like rain off the unyielding wall of heavy chariots, each pulled by four stout warhorses. Wielding long halberds
from the chariot platform was a full unit of elite Red Tigers, the cream of the Grand Army, Yin Shi Zheng's personal guard and sworn guardians of the northern border. Yin Shi Zheng, having gathered the assembly, declared that he would lead the people to everlasting against their enemies. But Yin Shi Zheng demanded absolute obedience, for if the people proposed to command their commander they would render the seat of Emperor meaningless. This warning was overlooked in an otherwise generous oration. Entirely did the people of Cathay believe in their Celestial Laws, and would gladly obey the virtues of the Emperor. With war chests brimming with gold, Yin Shi Zheng spent lavishly on building projects, including the first stretch of the Great Bastion directly to the north of Weijin, to guard against future incursions by Hung and daemon alike. This bastion extended over fifteen hundred miles and harnessed the greatest engineers available across Cathay to achieve its construction. Yin Shi Zheng also wrote a decree which led to the creation of the Grand Army, making military service mandatory for all males a certain age, thus ensuring Cathay would always have troops to rely on when needed. The nomads of the steppes, the tribes of the hills, and the monkey warriors of the Mountains of Heaven were all given a role within the army, being free fro m persecution and allowed to live as they had in their home regions. In return, they were expected to bring their warriors into battle when called upon, and were even given salaries for their service, a trade most justified.
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Later in his life, Yin Shi Zheng feared death and desperately sought the fabled elixir of life, which would supposedly allow him to live forever. He was obsessed with acquiring immortality and fell prey to many who offered him supposed elixirs. However, only one month later, Yin Shi Zheng was found dead in his palace bed, reportedly due to the medicine given to him which was, ironically, meant to make him immortal. So passed one of the greatest Dragon Emperors of Cathay, his great actions being immortalized in his Empire forever.
A Brief Respite When Emperor Yin Shi Zheng died, the Yin Dynasty remained but in a severely weakened condition, prey to assassinations and resistance from landed nobility who knew that the Grand Army posed no real threat to their political endeavours.
Weapons and armour were standardized, and the Grand Army became the greatest standing force in the world. Yin Shi Zheng distributed large forces and supply dumps in a great wheel spanning the country, furnishing his strongholds and commanderies with arms, money, and men fit for service. He had in his armoury weapons for three hundred thousand men; in granaries and in places of strength, eight million cubits of rice and as much gold as would defray the charge of maintaining one hundred thousand mercenary soldiers for ten years in defence of Cathay.
The Madness of the Emperor After these successes, it became obvious to Yin Shi Zheng that his view was the one true way, and with the fortitude of absolute power decided that if some discipline was good for the average Cathayan, more was better. Yin Shi Zheng, a believer in absolute power, instituted the Celestial Law as part of the Mandate of Heaven, making the worship of the Celestial Dragon the only allowed state religion in Cathay. He subsequently cracked down on old clan beliefs surrounding animal ancestors, shamans and witchcraft. He believed these folktales had led the first Cathayans down the perilous road to Chaos. This became a brutal inquisition driven by fanatical Magistrates. The Emperor issued an even more extreme order, directing every subject in the empire, under pain of branding and banishment, to send all literature he possessed to the nearest Imperial Magistrate to be put to the torch.
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Thanks to skilful negotiation and a desire for peace, the new Emperor, son of Yin Shi Zheng, was able to keep Cathay united, though he lacked his father's determination and military excellence. The first thing the Emperor did was to ensure the power of the Grand Army by making it t he completely subservient to the Emperor. Although the Warlords loathed giving up their personal militia they knew that they could not afford to pay for another civil war. The other major activity was to restore the land works around the Red River that had fallen into disrepair over the generations. During this time, Cathay was mostly at peace, apart from an earthquake in -1666 which resulted in parts of the Great Bastion collapsing, allowing Hung Raiders to spill into Cathay. These were fortunately defeated rather swiftly by the unified Cathay's mighty armies, and it would be a long time until the Hung would try to attack Cathay again.
THE TONG DYNASTY Control of Cathay eventually passed smoothly to the Tong, a branch of the Imperial family by marriage that brought Cathay to a level of glory unknown since the days of legends. These Emperors were patrons of the arts, wise statesmen, and clever soldiers who managed to keep the peace and increase the welfare of the land. They returned to an early bureaucratic form of government, but kept a tighter control on it than their predecessors had done. The judicial system was completely overhauled and for the first time, infractions were codified across the land, although the steppe nomads continued to use their own system of punishment when an Imperial circuit judge was not present. Peasants were finally able to own their land through legal documentation. Taxation was calculated per person rather than by land ownership, which enabled the government to calculate a relatively accurate census. Rice production was extended through Cathay, which improved the daily diet and health of the poor.
The Imperial Cavalry was expanded, mostly in the north where the nobility could afford horses. For the first time, a force was deployed that could approach parity with the steppe nomads although the nomads would never lose their superior edge in this type of combat. However, service in the cavalry carried benefits that many young nomads, especially second and third sons, found appealing. Envoys from the Phoenix King of Ulthuan landed in Cathay in 699, and trade between east and west was firmly established through the sea routes. The trade agreement was the first of its kind in the east, which would eventually be extended to many more nations of the World, including Nippon, Tilea and Araby.
The Dowager Empress The Tong Dynasty was graced by Empress Zhou Fanyi, the only woman to rule Cathay in her own right. Despite an ignominious beginning as a concubine, she rose to power as the Emperor’s official wife and upon his untimely death, became the wife of his eldest son (by another concubine). She took an active hand in running the government, especially commercial enterprises. She enthusiastically supported the development of the tea and salt industries, which proved very lucrative for the government and her own personal coffers. Much has been written about Empress Zhou Fanyi, not all of it flattering. The military r egarded her as a usurper of royal power and many bureaucrats were angered when she gave appointments to her relatives. Unfortunately, the poor were heavily taxed which
reduced the lustre of her fifteen year reign that ended, as so often happens, in civil strife and contention with the military.
TEN EMPERORS PERIOD Cathay was plunged yet again into civil war but it seems that the people had grown used to it, because they were able to survive and even be productive during the chaos. The tea trade grew, while the porcelain industry flourished on the east coasts of Cathay. Moveable type was invented which enabled pr inters to produce books that made the c lassics more accessible. This also gave rise to a short-lived experiment with paper money. Although there was a succession of self-declared emperors, most people regarded the local nobleman or civil governor as the authority in their region during this time. Once again, the various provinces turned inward, relying on their own infrastructure rather than whoever happened to lay claim to the Imperial seal that week.
Dark Elf Raids In the year 860, Dark Elf raiders from t he Black Ark Talon of Agony attacked the city-port of Han-Yi, 12,000 people ruthlessly butchered or carried away as slaves. The Emperor at the time was quick to react and stationed his army along the coast to ward off any attackers, but it was a fruitless idea as the Dark could easily outmanoeuvre them and there were not enough troops to keep the entire shore under control.
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The Cathayans had to engage the Dark Elves at sea and defeat them there. The Emperor sent out his fleet to battle against the Dark Elves, but to avail. The small Cathayan frigates where no match for the slick Dark Elf ships, who easily sank the Cathayan vessels with their bolt throwers. The situation called for desperate measures. Admiral Yi-Shin Chung, an eccentric at best, madman at worst, volunteered to find a plan to defeat the Dark Elves once and for all. The Emperor, out of ideas of his own, grud gingly accepted. For many months Yi-Shin Chung worked on his plan in the Bay of Chee Kun in secret, trying to devise a secret weapon. Meanwhile, the Dark E lves continued to raid Cathay’s eastern shore, thinking themselves undefeatable. Once the situation looked it bleakest, Admiral Yi-Shin Chung brought forth his creation; the turtle ship. A large, heavily armoured warship equipped with crude, yet effective, cannons on the sides and iron spikes all around it to keep the Corsairs from boarding it. This was topped off with the head of a Dragon carved in wood to symbolise the might of Cathay. The Emperor and his generals gaped in aw; never had such a thing been seen before. Admiral Yi-Shin Chung and a dozen turtle ships immediately sailed out from the bay Chee Kun to close up with the Dark Elf fleet. The E mperor sent his remaining fleet in support from the south to attack the Dark Elves from two fronts. As the fleet appeared, the Dark Elves simply laughed, as vanity had gripped them. They did not fear a simple
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dozen ships, no matter how many their allied frigates might have been. But they should have, and this would be their downfall. As the Cathayan frigates kept the Dark Elf ships busy, Admiral Yi-Shin Chung's turtle ships attacked the Black Ark itself. As the hatches on the sides of the ships opened, the Dark Elves stopped laughing. Simultaneously, the turtle ships opened fire on the Black Ark. Masonry flew everywhere, buildings collapsed and Dark Elves fell screaming overboard as the cannon balls rained upon them. When the overconfident Dark Elves on their attack ships saw this, they quickly turned around to assail the Cathayan turtle ships, but to no avail. The thick armour of the turtle ships was all but impregnable for the Dark Elf bolt throwers, and the Corsairs that tried to board the vessels were impaled on the spiky hull. After losing most of their warships, the Dark Elves signed their retreat, their Black Ark smoking and burning from the bombardment. But they did not get far, for only a few miles later, a sudden massive tidal wave appeared which sunk the Talon of Agony, sending it to the depths of the Far Sea. I t was truly a sign that the gods favoured the Cathayans. Since that day, Dark Elf raids has become very much rarer in Cathay, and the few raids that happen are over quickly as the Dark Elves are either fought off or quickly retreats by fear of facing the dreaded turtle ships. Admiral Yi-Shin Chung was promoted to Grand Admiral of Cathay, and a statue of him was raised in Han-Yi the next year, to commemorate his memory into eternity.
THE SUNG DYNASTY At the end of the Ten Emperors Perio d, General Chao Kwon Yin was so beloved by his troops that after he successfully subdued all of the warring factions, they demanded that he accept the Dragon Throne. Fortunately, General Chao was a religious man who observed the precepts of the Celestial Laws and led a moderate life, which enabled him to live well beyond middle age. In fact, during this dynasty, tribute and diplomacy replaced armed response to pr oblems. Like the Tong, the Sung dynasty’s encouragement of arts and sciences resulted in a dazzling array of inventions including gunpowder. The Cathayan Navy quickly developed into a force to be reckoned with as the first bao chuan set sail. Guided by a stern post rudder and navigated by charts and compasses, these huge treasure ships could carry 500 men. Practical applications of medical theory resulted in new discoveries and extended healthier lives. Scholarship flourished, but it was nothing compared to the magnificent development in the arts. The porcelain of this period remains almost unequalled. Certainly one of the most significant artistic contributions of this dynasty was a new form entertainment called jing ju or opera.
The Siege of the Great Bastion During the year 1310, a series of earthquakes caused part of the Great Bastion to collapse. A truly colossal invasion ensued as scores of the battle-hungry Kurgan tribes that roamed the steppes flooded into that rich and ancient empire. Hordes of Chaos Warriors battled legions of Terracotta Warriors attempting to shore up the Great Wall with their own clay bodies, mutated
War Mammoths gored and trampled whole regiments of one-horned Ogres, and in the skies above Daemon Princes duelled with bejewelled Gold Dragons. The Cathayans ultimately blunted the invasion, but not before the Chaos horde had carved a bloody path into the heartland of the orient. The Kurgan would go on to raid Cathay for fo ur years until there will finally put down on the b anks of the Changtze River with the help of the steppe nomads. The people of Cathay rejoiced as peace returned to the land - all, that is, except the nomads of the steppes. They were not happy about the tribute they had to pay despite their help in defeating the Kurgan hordes, and they were not happy about being regarded as barbarians by everyone else. The Grand Army was weak from fighting and the people complacent. It was time to make a move.
THE YAO DYNASTY Though the nomads controlled most of the Cathayan steppes they had never entered Weijin or ever been seen as real Cathayans. As far as they could tell, everyone in Cathay thought they were only good for breeding horses, providing archers, and paying tribute. Now they wanted a chance to prove they could do more. They swept north, overcoming the poorly defended cities, until they reached the gates of Weijin. They had achieved their objective, but as o ften happens, they found that having was not as satisfying as wanting. They did not need to speak Cathayan to know that they were despised. However, they were in power as the Yao Dynasty and they were going to rule Cathay no matter what.
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The steppe nomads are different from their fellow Cathayans. A very proud people, they trace their origins back to the original Yangshao tribe. They speak a dialect that is almost unintelligible to their citydwelling neighbours. Used to tribal laws and customs, they found Imperial bureaucracy utterly baffling and unnecessary. Most steppe nomads cannot read which puts them at a distinct disadvantage. While they are not as barbaric as the city people think, they certainly were not accustomed to bathing every day or to the elaborate grooming rituals that are customary among the people of Cathay. What ensued was a complete disaster. T he new rulers could not communicate directly with their officials so they required translators. The translators were perfectly happy to lie to their superiors about what was being said because they knew there was no way they would be caught. The steppe nomads might not be able to read, but they knew how to spend money. Granted they made improvements, especially in the canal system throughout Cathay, but for the most part they managed to run through the Imperial treasury in relatively short order. They were now masters of a domain that hated them. Meanwhile, back home on the steppes, conflicts threatened to dissolve the nomads into a loose and unfriendly congregation of warring tribes. The peasants were unhappy, the nobility was unhappy, the military was unhappy and the Yao emperors began to wish that they had never ridden south. An uprising, led by a peasant, brought the conflict to its height, screaming for Emperor’s head. It was definitely time to go ho me.
THE LING DYNASTY The road back to stability was not an easy one, but fortunately Hong Ling, the man who led the revolt, was extremely practical. He knew that the source of Cathay’s power came from the land. As the first Ling Emperor, he focused his
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efforts on laws to improve the peasants’ lives. He reduced the land tax and made sure that granaries throughout the nation were well stocked in anticipation of famine. He ordered that all bridges had to be inspected and repaired regularly. He encouraged farming and barter to strengthen self-supporting communities. He was far less concerned with luxury trade goods and had absolutely no interest in pursuing foreign trade. Emperor Hong Ling, as befits his name, built up the military, restoring it as an honourable profession. He knew that one day the steppe nomads would grow restless again and he wanted to be sure that they would not be able to make incursions beyond their own borders. During this Dynasty the great cultural contribution to literature was the novel, highly accessible, printed stories with woodcut illustrations and chapters. No vels were especially popular among the middle class. The government underwent a reduction designed to prevent it from gaining enough power to usurp the Emperor. With the office of Prime Minister eradicated, the Emperor had to take on far more work, which meant that he had to get some help. Rather than appoint autonomous officials, he appointed a staff of personal assistants and secretaries. This may have increased his level of comfort, but created something of a bureaucratic nightmare because everyone had to get his personal approval before they could take action. The Yao Emperors had ransacked the treasury and Cathay was for all intents and purposes broke. Individual kingdoms had their own treasuries and they paid tribute, but there was no way the army was in a position to invade any of them to get more money. The Emperor tried printing paper money but soon found out about the disastrous effects of inflation when the qian dropped to 1/70th of its value in coin.
Resumption of minting stabilized the economy and gave people jobs. Realizing that the sea could provide another source of wealth, the navy was ordered to continue building the bao chuan, which far surpassed anything that the Old World had afloat on the seas. As any Cathayan knows, fortunes rise and fall. The personal assistants clustered around the Emperors began to regard themselves as the true source of power and they isolated the rulers from the people. This suited the landed nobles very well because they could build up their power unmolested. With no wars to fight, the Grand Army grew bored and jealous of the Grand Navy. Politics in Weijin became as convoluted as a spider web, and just as sticky. Children were put on the throne so administrators could rule through them. Courtiers dabbled in all sorts of colourless, odourless poisons to do away with rivals. Corruption was rampant and the nation’s infrastructure began to crumble.
THE WU DYNASTY The Wu family has always been one of the most powerful throughout the nation’s long history. They have consistently provided Cathay with generals, statesmen, and rulers whose vision has lifted the land out of chaos and turmoil. Once again, as the Ling Dynasty began to rot from inside, the Wu family saw an opportunity to save Cathay and elevate themselves to the Imperial rank at the same time. They believed in the quest for the jing hueng, which meant that they had no tolerance for waste, corruption, or impiety. Soon the personal assistants and secretaries and toadies were gone from Weijin. Examinations were required for civil service and woe betide the person found cheating or buying the answers. External relations with Nippon were strengthened, and internal relations re-established with every state province, including the nomads of the steppe. Both the Grand Army and Navy underwent a thorough reorganization that streamlined the chain of command and instilled responsibility as far down the ranks to the level of an unit stationed at a border outpost. I n the interest of restoring public works, taxes were lightened and the money collected was used within the region rather than shipped to Weijin for the E mperor’s pleasure.
Voyage of Yin-Tuan The Wu Dynasty also saw the first, and so far only, planned Cathayan expansion out of their land. In 1690, Emperor Wu dispatched a huge invasion fleet consisting of 1000 war junks and 100 000 men to conquer the southlands. The Cathayans knew that the Southlands were divided between three realms: Araby, the Undead and a vague and mysterious race of 'LizardDaemons'. Emperor Wu's invasion was intended to capture the Southlands and secure the spice trade, motivated by intense rivalry with Araby. The Catlutyans though, had not reckoned upon encountering a powerful and flourishing Lizardman realm. Yin-Tuan, captain of one of the great war junks of the ill-fated invasion fleet, was blown off course by a typhoon that scattered the fleet shortly after it put to sea. After having crossed the isthmus of Lustria, which he at first mistook for the Southlands, He built a ne w ship with which he sailed to the Southlands. There he got captured by the lizard daemons but managed to escape before being sacrificed. Fleeing east, he eventually came upon the remnants of the Emperor's fleet, which had been wrecked while at anchor by a second terrible typhoon. The survivors had marched inland and disappeared. Yin-Tuan was the only survivor of that mighty expedition to be found alive. When he returned to Cathay he received into the presence of the Emperor himself to give his account. The Emperor ordered that it should be recorded for posterity and rewarded YinTuan with command of the Palace Guard. Years later as an aged sage living in retirement in the monastery of Mount Li, he wrote down an account of the adventure which has survived as a classic of Cathayan literature.
The Great Emperor Wu became Emperor in 1676, when he was approximately thirty years old. During his reign, Cathay would have its second golden age, with a large increase in trade across the entire world starting with the arrival of the Tilean merchants Ricco and Robbio in 1699. When they returned to Tilea with news of the great Empire of Cathay, trade caravans and ships from Estalia, Bretonnia, the Empire and even Norsca set out to take their share of the profits. With the increase in trade, the coffers of Cathay's Imperial Treasury were brimming with gold. The Wu Dynasty would be one of the longest and most successful Dynasties of Cathay's history, and for many years, the land was at peace.
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The Return of the Dragon In the year 2301 during what would be the last of t he Wu Dynasty, Bloodlord Azaroth of t he Red Mansion had carved a union between great champions of all four Chaos Gods. A military genius despite his unquenchable thirst for blood, Azaroth realised that the only a united chaos would create a new reign of the Daemon-Kings on the eastern continent. With his innumerable Chaos hordes, he attacked the Great Bastion. Wave after wave of Hung marauders and Chaos Warriors supported by mutated troll monstrosities, eventually wore down numbers and r esolute defiance of the Imperial troops. It took the construction of the Diabolus of Khorne deep in the great furnaces of the Red Mansion to crack the metres-thick Obsidian Gate of the Great Bastion. The Diabolus, a moving castle belching fire and brimstone, battered against the gate with pig-iron rams the size of giant tortoises. The Diabolus was so intricately worked with foul runic scriptures of Khorne that it overcame the magical wards woven into the Bastion by the Wu Jen, who fell screaming, blood pouring from their mouths, as their minds were ripped asunder from the life-giving blue wind of magic. Once the wards were broken, the floodgates opened for chaos sorcerers and greater daemons to open warp portals on the far side of the wall. Legions of d aemons poured through the gaps. Against an army of chaos a mere physical barrier was no obstacle. Despite being unified at the time, the Cathayans stood little chance against the Daemons. After a year of siege along the length of the Great Bastion, a year in which it could be said that the entire empire of Cathay was under siege, the Great Bastion finally fell. Once inside the wall, the Bloodlord’s forces found
themselves restricted on the Long Road, defended by the Grand Army, as rice paddies and irrigation ditches to either side hindered cross country movement. Many Cathayan commanderies were ready to surrender, as they saw no hope of winning. But when news of the live burial of two hundred thousand innocent Cathayan peasants reached the provinces, all this changed. To the surviving Cathayan Warlords, Azaroth was a cruel madman who would not let them live even if they surrendered unconditionally. As a result, they decided to hold their ground until the ver y end. Azaroth’s forces thus faced fierce resistance all the way from the desperate Cathayan troops. But the chaos sorcerers responded in kind –there were eruptions of tentacles, rains of blood and flocks of screaming Furies so dense they blocked out the sun. Mutations appeared in frightening numbers, many of them forming Beastmen herds that wreaked havoc in the land. When Azaroth was close to an attack on Weijin, Cathay was held in the grip of chaos. There, Azaroth decided to take command of the central force of Chaos Warriors against the heart of Cathay itself – the Imperial Palace and the Dragon Throne. The day of the battle is remembered as being in midwinter, the defenders manning the outer walls of Weijin being lashed with rain and lightning strikes – both natural and of foul black sorcerous power. Emperor Meng walked among the defenders with a group of peasants, including women and children. He introduced them to each and every Grand Army soldier, saying simply, “These people feed you. Fight for them.”
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The wet weather hampered the shooting of the Cathayans, who found it difficult to fire and reload their arms at the advancing horde. Even so, Grand Army missile troops took a hideous toll on the advancing army, packed Fire Arrows blasting massive gaps in the chaos marauders as they sought to protect their own chaos champions. With a rumbling that shook the earth Azaroth revealed his secret weapon, which had been hidden from sight with the twisting magic of Tzeentch. The Diabolus emerged from a shadowy cloak of darkness, and standing astride it was Bloodlord Azaroth. The chaos general had been horrifically gifted by the chaos gods and had metamorphosed into a full Daemon Prince of Khorne, with thick black bat wings, brass armour and the snout of a swine. His very presence caused a wave of frenzy to sweep through his troops, who threw up scaling ladders to the walls, as Hellcannons belched their fiery payloads and smashed great chunks out of Weijin’s stony defences. The Emperor watched proceedings from his command pavilion on an elevated platform within the Imperial Palace, and saw that the Grand Army simply would not hold against such a grievous force of hate. He fell to his knees and prayed to the Celestial Dragon for the strength to protect his people as the Diabolus crashed aside the gates of the city and broke through. And his prayers were answered. With a dazzling light, the sky was torn open, and from it appeared the spirit form of a great golden Celestial Dragon, shining more brightly than the sun itself. Xen Huong had returned.
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The Dragon asked Meng: "What would you sacrifice to protect you subjects?" "Anything and everything!" exclaimed the Emperor. "So be it!" the Dragon replied, before infusing its spirit into the Emperor's mortal shell, taking over his body. With eyes radiating light, Xen Huong drew the Phoenix Talon and strode down through his people, who all turned to gaze upon the new, yet familiar Emperor, who went to face the fiendish engine and Azaroth, Prince of Khorne. Howling bestially, Azaroth leaped from the Diabolus and the two mighty leaders faced each other. The Diabolus opened itself and disgorged hundreds o f chaos warriors who set about decimating the scores of spearmen who stood in their way. Suddenly there was a pause in the battle, the wind and rain swirled with flashpowder and the unnatural fires of the Diabolus, which seemed to shake slightly, before exploding in a blast of brass shrapnel and brimstone. Stalking through the ruins of Khorne’s machine was a mighty Brass Titan, the mighty statue's sword carving through the dense metal. Behind the great invention, in silent unison, marched rank upon rank of Terracotta Warriors, who had been awoken from their centuriesold sleep to come to Cathay’s final aid. Chaos warrior and impassive statue met, neither flinching, yet the blades of the warriors were turned aside. Xen Huong saw his opportunity to strike, deflected a blow from Azaroth, and reversing his blade in a cunning manoeuvre, the Phoenix Talon flashed backwards and upwards to pierce Azaroth through the chin and into the brain. The spitted Daemon Prince fell with a howl from beyond as the chaos gods watched their champion expire.
With a roar, the man who was once known as Emperor Meng, infused with the spirit of Xen Huong, was no more. Where there was a man now stood the great Celestial Dragon, as legends had spoken. T he army of Chaos forces was routed and fallen upon by the remnants of the Grand Army, and none made it from the field of battle alive. The men of Cathay bowed on the battlefield before the Emperor, who looked out from his visage with wise eyes. Cathay was saved, and the Celestial Dragon had finally returned to rule them. All hail the His Most Excellent Majesty, Celestial Dragon Emperor of the Imperial Palace of Cathay, Son of Heaven and Divine Leader, immortal in his wisdom and mighty in his wrath!
WAR WITH NIPPON In the year 2355, the newly united Nippon invaded Cathay with the purpose of securing the trade routes to the Old World. This came as a surprise to the Cathayans, for the Nipponese had been fighting amongst themselves for centuries until now. The Cathayan defences in Han Kuo and on the eastern coast were quickly overrun, and the Nipponese forces fortified the cities. The Emperor begun to mobilize his forces to deal with the invading forces, but the well trained Nipponese warriors defeated the Cathayans time and time again on the battlefield. They were forced to resort to guerrilla tactics and ambush the Nipponese armies on the march. This proved to be a successful tactic, as the ranked armoured warriors of Nippon had great difficulties pursuing the Cathayans into the forests. The war would go on for another 120 years, with the Cathayans unable to commit their entire forces due to recent attacks from the Hung and Hobgoblins.
The Nipponese started to take heavy casualties, and the war began to shift in favour the Cathayans. The final battle of Xenyong would seal the defeat for the Nipponese forces, where the Cathayan army lured their largest army with their leader into a valley and surrounded them. On a cue, the Cathayans unleashed their Fire Arrows on the Nipponese, firing straight into their ranks. Thousands of Nipponese warriors fell to the massed Cathayan fire, unable to attack their higher position, and as their morale began to falter, the Cathayans signalled the attack. The Cathayan stormed down the hills from three sides, with their cavalry attacking the Nipponese from the rear. Only a handful of warriors survived and managed to retreat back to the coast. Xen Huong himself cut down the Nipponese Shogun, and his head was sent in a weaved basket to the self-appointed Nipponese governor of Fu Chow. The coast cities soon fell to the Cathayans, and the remaining enemy forces retreated back to Nippon. Today, there is great enmity between the two nations, with the Nipponese Shogun surely plotting against Cathay. But should Nippon think of invading Cathay again, they will be ready for it.
PRESENT CATHAY In the present era, since the Dragon Throne has been reclaimed, Cathay is prosperous, with trade routes opening all over the world. The provinces are united, the peasants gladly toil the earth for their beloved Emperor, and the monasteries have fortified their positions of power. Cathay is united under one sovereign, with the Warlords having clear boundaries between their realms. Cathay has reached a pinnacle in power, and wishes to expand t he realm have increased among the Imperial Court. Whether the armies of Cathay will march upon the lands of the west or not, only time will tell.
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Calendar of the Seven heavens c-3000
-2750
-2473
-1880
FIRST DYNASTY First Dynasty rises in Cathay, consolidating victory over local warlords. Xen Huong becomes the very first Celestial Dragon Emperor after defeating a mighty Daemon Prince.
Faced with the threat from the expanding Ogres, the Dragon Emperor’s Astromancers supposedly summon a titanic meteorite to stop them. This results in the creation of the Great Maw. WARRING KINGDOMS PERIOD The First Emperor Xen Huong departs Cathay. The time of the Warring Kingdoms begin, with many years of civil war to come.
The Three Empires. Yin, Shu and Yu fight between themselves, each trying to take control of Cathay.
-1852
The Battle of the Bloody Cliffs. Tsao Tsao is defeated by the combined forces of the kingdoms of Shu and Yu.
-1827
Tzu-Sun writes his famous collection of military tactics and strategies known as "The Art of War".
-1800
-1798
YIN DYNASTY Emperor Yin Shi Zheng units the entire civilisation of Grand Cathay in a great task that is to change the destiny of his nation forever.
Yin Shi Zheng forces the Hung tribes further north, securing the northern frontier. Construction of the Great Bastion begins.
-1777
Imperial Palace completed in Weijin.
-1702
The Great Bastion, also known as the Dragon's Spine is completed in under a century - an impenetrable fortress wall, a quarter of a mile high, that spans league upon league across the border of Cathay. In this way Cathay protects itself from Chaos Invasion.
-1666
establish its stronghold in far Cathay. -1200
The cult of Chi'an Chi (known to the mortals of the Old World as Tzeentch) gains favour amongst the aristocracy of Beichai in far Cathay.
-998
Orcs use the Silver Road to attack Cathay, aided by Hobgoblin allies. The Grand Army responds and they slaughter the Orc horde near Shang-Yang.
-589 -339
The Battle of Halyim Pass. Cathayans face the combined armies of the Maharajahs of Ind. Cathayan victory insures loyalty from Ind.
-87
Dark Elf ships start raiding the coasts of Cathay.
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Hobgoblins of Khemur Khan are united and attempt to assault the Great Bastion, but are routed by the first Terracotta army.
78
Wu Jen begins the magical enhancing of the Great Bastion in response to a predicted attack.
104
The invasion of Cathay by the traitorous forces of the rulers of Ind is crushed by Emperor Tsu Tong before his own tragic death in battle.
271
A series of earthquakes ravage Cathay.
572
Gunpowder is discovered in Cathay by alchemists searching for the Elixir of Life. It is quickly applied in the use of warfare, and over the centuries, much of Cathay's army would rely on its use in battle.
699
Representatives of the Phoenix King of the High Elves arrive in Cathay. Trade between east and west begins to flourish.
763
Dowager Empress Zhou Fanyi assumes the Imperial Seal of Cathay after her husband’s sudden death. To this day she is the only woman to rule Cathay.
The World Edge Mountains are riven by earthquakes. Portions of the Great Bastion collapse, allowing rampaging northern tribes to spill into Cathay. 778
-1400
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Lord Viskrin instructs Clan Eshin to
TONG DYNASTY Han Kuo is annexed by Cathay.
TEN EMPERORS PERIOD Civil war breaks out after the reign of the Dowager Empress. A total of ten
different Emperors succeed each other during this time. 860
948
The Black Ark Talon of Agony is overturned and sunk by a gigantic magical tidal wave off the coast of Cathay after being driven off by Admiral Yi-Shin Chung.
The first Brass Titan is created, and subsequently slays its master.
1103
Laithikir Fellheart and begins a century of merciless raids around Cathay and Nippon. With her charts, other Dark Elf fleets maraud with much success along the rich coasts of Ind and Cathay.
1155
Arabian dhows challenge Cathayan vessels for access to the spice routes.
1247
Tilean explorer Marco Polare reaches Cathay. Word of his discovery would never reach the Old World.
1310
The Siege of the Great Bastion. A series of earthquakes caused part of the Great Bastion of Cathay to collapse. Kurgan tribes spill into Cathay before being driven back.
1443
1444
1509
C1550
1676
SUNG DYNASTY The Wu Jen discover the secrets of reanimating the Terracotta Warriors, bolstering Cathay's armies.
1043
1318
1642
Empire Chao Ling is found poisoned by the Empress, who plot to take over the throne with her son. They are both executed for treason. WU DYNASTY The Great Emperor Wu ascends the Dragon Throne. Cathay enjoys its second golden age and flourishes, with a population reaching into the excess of twenty million.
1690
As a result of the developing trade rivalry between the Araby and Cathay, Emperor Wu orders an expedition to the Southlands to secure the sources of the Arabian spice trade. Yin-Tuan makes an epic journey across Lustria and the Southlands. He narrowly escapes sacrifice in Zlatlan. Over 1000 war junks and 100,000 troops are wrecked when hit by a pair of typhoons.
1699
Emperor Wu receives the first Old Worlders in Cathay, the Tilean explorers Ricco and Robbio, as guest in the Imperial Court. Trade routes between the Old World and Cathay are established.
2302
CELESTIAL DRAGON DYNASTY Xen Huong returns to Cathay and defeats Azaroth the Bloodlord's Chaos hordes in the Siege of Weijin.
2349
Don Diego Estragon arrives in Cathay, where he acquires the Cursed Chest, a box that holds treasures so valuable that they could feed a nation for a year if only the curse could be lifted.
The steppe nomads denounce the Imperial rule and return home to the steppes after peasant revolt.
2355
Nipponese armies invade Imperial Cathay. Start of 120 year war between the two great Empires.
LING DYNASTY Hong Ling becomes Emperor. Cathay goes through a great economic depression, but is eventually restored. Foreign trade suffer greatly during this time. Cathay's military is rebuilt to its former strength.
2475
Battle of Xenyong. Xen Huong personally beheads the Nipponese Shogun. Cathayan forces drive the Nipponese back across the Far Sea.
2517
The Hobgoblins of the Dark Lands ride east and assault Shang-Yang, but are driven back by Zhao Fei. Rumour says this is only a taste of what is to come.
2521present
The Hung are once again on the move, with the forces of Chaos stirring in the north. Whispers of peasant uprisings under a mysterious Zheng Liao, supposedly a sorcerer of Chi'an Chi, spread across Cathay. Xen Huong gathers his armies in wait for what is to come.
YAO DYNASTY The steppe nomads overthrow the Sung dynasty. The Imperial Treasury is soon bankrupt.
Emperor Jin-Xi becomes puppet-ruler of Cathay at the age of three, with the Imperial Advisor holding the strings. Pirates from Nippon begin raiding Cathayan traders and their home ports. Animosity between the two nations increases, with many minor skirmishes between them to follow.
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A Soft Shoe on a Hard Road He bid the caravan farewell and watched them disappear into the morning haze of the Silk Road. He would have liked to accompany them even further into the borderlands, for that was where he was going. They needed his protection too: wealthy, lazy merchants from the land beyond the Ogre Kingdoms and The Mountains of Mourn. They had done well to get this far with few losses: An old man who had taken a fever, a young girl who had wandered too close to the edge of a rocky crag, and had fallen to her death. This eastern land of dizzying heights and cold, wasteful warpstone deserts, was not for the faint of heart. And yet they kept coming, to find fame and fortune in the realm of the Dragon Throne. The Emperor's host would welcome them warmly, he knew, and trade riches until their bellies and wagons swelled with exotic gifts of glittering silk and gold... if they made it that far. Yes, he wanted to follow them all the way to Weijin. The Emperor waited. But something caught his attention, here at a crossroad. To the east, the Silk Road wound away into the horizon. To the north, a smaller, less worn path led into a mountain, as stark and as sharp a spire of rock as he'd ever seen. Funny, he thought, but I don't remember this mountain ever being here before. But afterall, the world was a vast place, and as many roads as he had travelled, he, Master Guo, had to admit that he hadn ’t traversed them all. This path, and this mountain, had missed his scrutiny. It would no longer. He walked for many hours while the sun baked the air. From time to time, Master Guo sipped water from a skin
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generously offered him by the merchants as partial pay for his services. Though he did not need as much refreshment as a common person, even a skilled and disciplined dragon monk felt the weight of world from time to time. His feet and ankles were sore, and even though he had dispatched, quickly, a bone goliath and a pack of feral orcs threatening the merchants, he needed rest. He needed a bath and a warm meal without the constant chore of picking grubs and weevils from his stale bread and sour meat. He crested the top of a hill. His eyes grew large. Before him lay a ravine, a huge, vacuous scrape that dipped sharply at his feet. There had been no warning of its imminence. The open space just appeared like in a dream. Master Guo stopped abruptly and looked with amazement across the gap. He blinked several times, and the space changed, reformed, turning simple rock into complex cobblestone, walls of tightly pressed ramparts, brilliantly arched doorways protected by iron and thick, black wood that could sustain the rush of a thousand mad Hung or the roar of a dozen cannon. The structure now dominated the space, and the little path before him wound into the ravine and disappeared through a mighty portcullis flanked by a pair a heavily armoured men of thin stature and cool disposition. Though he was several hundred yards away from them, Master Guo knew who they were, and a great smile spread across his face. My brethren, he thought to himself, as he found his feet carrying him forward, down the slope and into the waiting arms of the monastery.
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The Land of Cathay Cathay is the largest realm in the world; its kingdom covers more land than even that of the combined nations of the Old World together. Cathay’s boundless countryside sweeps along verdant golden fields and sparkling rivers to the great heights of steep, snowcapped mountains and down to the burning sands of inhospitable deserts. Vast expanses of wild, unexplored regions border most sides of this mighty empire, with the Kingdoms of Ind and Hinterlands of Khuresh to the South and the Far Sea to the east. To the north hovers the Eastern, a harsh steppe wilderness where the tribes of the Hung live. Eastern Cathay’s coast is dominated by b road plains and plateaus. Countless islands dot the rocky, windswept coastline. Central Cathay houses vast tracts of bamboo forests and rice paddies while Cathay’s southern landscape is comprised mostly of thick forests sitting upon seemingly endless waves of rolling hills. Western Cathay is the location of the Warpstone Desert, where none by the Skaven can live. Cathay’s forests mostly comprise maple, larch, o ak, and birch, but in the South bamboo, laurel, magnolia, and ginkgo are also common. Southern Cathay has more vegetation than any other region, including alpine grasses and mountain flowers in the hills and mountains.
THE GREAT RIVERS There are three great rivers flowing through Cathay, these being the Changtze River, the Jade River and the Red River. They all flow from west to east, fertilizing the earth before ending in the Far Sea. Countless villages and farmlands follow these rivers throughout
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Cathay, while small riverboats traffic merchandise along their slow-moving waters. The Changtze runs from near Weijin to the bay of Chee Kun on Cathay's eastern border. The river is considered sacred, for it was here the very first Emperor Xen Huong rose as the Celestial Dragon Emperor over 5000 years ago. Nowadays it is mostly used for ceremonial festivities, the most popular being during the Cathayan New Year where thousands of paper lanterns are lit and sent down the river before they reach the sea. This is meant as an offering to the people's ancestors, as well the earlier Emperors. The Red River have had a bloodied history, for it was the sight of the Battle of the Bloody Cliff, the greatest battle of the Warring Kingdoms period. It is said that the river ran red with the blood of the dead for a whole week after the battle. The Red River was, not surprisingly, named after this event, and it has kept ever since. At certain times of the year, the waters will turn red (due do a weather phenomenon according to some, a ghastly reminder of the battle according to others). Today, the Red River is one of the most important transport routes in delivering trade goods arriving by the Silk Road from the west. Goods are usually packed in Wanbao before being sent down the river to all the major cities lying along it, before culminating in the great harbour city of Fu Chow near its delta. The Jade River is so called for their sparkling green water that flows through the south of Cathay. Unlike
the Red River whose goods are sent downstream, most of the goods passing through the Jade River comes from Khuresh, Ind and Nippon as well as trade ships from Ulthuan, Araby and a few ones from the Empire, Marienburg and Bretonnia. Originating from Mount Rui An in the land of the Celestial Dragon Monks, many Cathayan peasants believes the waters of the Jade River are blessed, and seek to travel to its source. They say that whoever drinks from it will be cured of all diseases, and as such many elderly attempt to make the journey there. Unfortunately, the road is long and difficult, and many who tries perishes on the way. This rarely dissuades people from trying though.
THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS Cathay is surrounded by huge mountain ranges to the west, acting as a natural border. The most famous of these are the Kamalayans and the Mountains of Heaven. From the Kamalayans the Celestials Dragons co me, usually slumbering in great caves around its peaks. The terrain is all but impassable on foot, though that does not stop some of the most dedicated of worshippers to from attempting to meet the Celestial Dragons in person. None known have returned so far... Here storms are rampant, especially around mount Yangming, the tallest mountain in Cathay. A Celestial Dragon Monk once claimed to have climbed long ago, leaving a piece of his cloth tied to a stick to prove it. Unfortunately, no one else has managed to climb to the top to confirm this to be true. The Mountains of Heaven to the south west of Cathay are inhabited by many strange creatures, but the
strangest of them is perhaps t he so-called Monkey Warriors who live around the base of the mountains in the great forests that grow there. They prefer to b e left alone, but when evil in the northern provinces awakens, the Monkey Warriors will fight along with men to protect their forest home from destruction. T he monkey warriors have long proved trustful allies in battle as long as the Cathayans respect their borders. In the mountains themselves, the monasteries of the Celestial Dragon Monks rise above the clouds. Commoners are not allowed here, though this is not really a rule that is so much reinforced by the monks themselves as it is by the actual terrain, for the roads are steep and jagged, and one small misstep can often be the difference between life and death. For the monks, this is of little hindrance, as their training allows them to practically run along these small roads without pause. Their monasteries are completely selfsufficient, and so the monks never have to worry about supplies or food; they only ever leave their well protected homes when going to battle.
WEIJIN, SEAT OF THE DRAGON THRONE Less than a thousand miles south of the Great Bastion is Weijin. Here lies the Seat of the Dragon Throne, home of his divine Emperor and the Imperial court of Grand Cathay. Indeed the whole city is entrusted to the running of Cathay and its sole purpose is to serve the Celestial Emperor. All food has to be imported into Weijin. More than a hundred tons of food each week is required to feed the bureaucrats and staff. Weijin is a hub of traffic and merchandise, the profits placed in the Imperial Treasury beneath the Imperial Palace. Merchandise from across all of Cathay can be found in the city’s many markets and the city is the centre for both import and export of goods travelling overland or by river. Because of this, there is a constant flow of traffic coming in and out of Weijin; so much in fact that the gates of the city never close. The br oad cobblestone streets are lined with inns and taverns, cake shops, smithies, tea shops, pawnbrokers, gem dealers, cobblers, and shops of every other notable vocation, all among large homes, temples, and pagodas, while musicians, storytellers, acrobats, and jugglers ply their trade amidst pick pockets and panhandlers. Despite its high population, the city never feels packed with people or overcrowded, even though many people visit it daily. The streets are wide, the buildings tall and spacious, and even the gathering customers in front of the countless shops and inns never hinder the traffic. The Imperial Palace sits dead centre in the city. Surrounded by a fifty foot high stone wall, the p alace grounds house dozens of buildings and hundreds of rooms. The palace’s many stone courtyards a nd the Imperial Gardens are decorated with statues o f tortoises, lions, horses, and other animals, car ved from stone, jade, marble, and even d iamonds.
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Leading up the central keep is the Never-ending Stair, consisting of over two thousand steps reaching one hundred and fifty feet above the ground. Brass Titans and the Emperor’s Guard stand guard before it, ever vigilant. At the top if the stair is the central buildi ng of the palace containing the Dragon Throne. Here the Celestial Dragon Emperor sits, surrounded by his most trusted guards and hundreds of scribes who writes down every single word ever muttered by their divine Emperor. No one is allowed into the Imperial Palace without a specific from either the Emperor himself or by going through a rigorous screening process by the magistrates of the Imperial Court. Even if allowed to see the Emperor, none may approach him closer than 100 feet, always sitting beneath him on a pillow during the visit.
THE GREAT BASTION To the north Cathay itself halts at the Great Bastion, built many centuries before to protect this foreign Empire from any raids led by the nomadic Hung tribes that roam the Eastern Steppes. This nearly endless wall runs the length of the northern border for thousands of miles and stands at least five men in height at its lowest point and rises over the tops of any hills or mountains in its way, and is so large as to require a garrison tens of thousands strong. Even so, the Great Bastion is no defence against every Hung raid, and the northern provinces of Cathay live in constant terror of these barbaric marauders. The building of the massive The Great Bastion can be viewed as the outstanding example of Cathayan civilization or as a tribute to historical folly. Standing over one hundred feet tall and wide enough for three chariots in some places it is unlike anything in the Old World.
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First begun under Emperor Yin Shi Zheng, it was originally designed to be a barrier against the barbaric tribes that lived in the North. Supplying the hard labour necessary for the wall was a simple process of rounding up prisoners and peasant workers. Less than a century later, it was completed.
NAN-GAU At the far western end of the Great Bastion lies NanGau, the city that contains many of the military personnel of Cathay. These are primarily used to patrol the borders of their empire, walking the entire distance of the Great Bastion as part of their patrols and it would be they who would capture any foreigners who took it upon themselves to try and slip deeper into Cathay without a divine decree granted by the Imperial Court. The greatest commanders of the Dragon Emperor’s army are stationed here, travelling to Weijin only to make reports concerning military development or to log any events the army has experienced, unless he needs to mobilise a large force to contain an enemy whereupon the chief commander will i mmediately convene with the Emperor himself. The greatest reason for maintaining a large army in this area is that a preponderance of monsters populates the area and, if kept unchecked, could rampage through the area. Nan-Gau is also the greatest f oundry in Cathay. Thousands of weapons and armour are made here every day for the never-ending army of the Celestial Dragon Emperor. Hundreds of cannons and bolt throwers are forged here, and the most famous of Cathayan engineers and alchemists dwell in Nan-Gau, always seeking to improve the creations of the Imperial War Machine.
FU CHOW Fu-Chow is an undisclosed port city at the end of the Red River, and is for the greater part inhabited by fishermen and merchants. When the Elven representatives for the Phoenix King came to Cathay, they landed in Fu Chow, and even today the city can clearly see signs of Elven influence throughout. The High Elven trade quarter is located here, and it is the only city in which any Cathayan is able to see this ancient noble people in larger numbers. Fu-Chow is the only place in Cathay except for ShangYang that tolerates the presence of outsiders, for it was at this port that a number of ships have traded through previously. This port is less used for foreign trade compared to the land-locked post as ocean-going vessels encounter greater difficulty in reaching Cathay than by way of the overland route. Encounters with pirates, sea monsters, grim weather and the perilous storms sweeping across the coasts off of Nippon to the south-east of Cathay, threaten the long voyage. As such, most of the ships are of Elven origin. Certainly ships from Araby, Remas, L’Anguille and Marienburg dock on occasion, but their crews are usually fatigued, depressed and malnourished from t he arduous voyage, and few are willing to make the journey more than once. Fu Chow has had to endure much from Dark Elf r aids, tsunamis and storms, but now Fu Chow has an immensely strong fleet with which to fight off any Dark Elf ships. Among these are Yu-Shun Ching's famous turtle ships that fought off a Black Arc long ago, and have kept doing so ever since.
Since the arrival of the Tileans, the city is no w a large trading stop, and the only part of Cathay that outsiders are allowed to see. T ilean mercenaries are very common here, and valued warriors in the service of Emperor. These troops are used to help defend the western frontier against the wrath of Hobgobla Khan, and make sure as many caravans as possible make it into the city unharmed.
XIANBEI The second largest concentration of military power is to the south, where Cathay borders Khuresh, a wild land of mountains, deserts, jungles and marshes. Not totally uncivilised, Khuresh represents a large threat to Cathay as a number of dispossessed elements of Cathayan society have congregated in the northern part of the Hinterlands seeking ways to overthrow the Emperor. There is also the threat of ratmen who seem to mass periodically in the area. Here the military maintains a separate command to that of its northern counterpart, for it would take a month of hard riding for a man to go from one military outpost to the other. The commander of this station is still subordinate to the northernmost provinces but it is seen as a way of promotion, for the southern command is usually the prime candidate for promotion into the role of their northern superior. Only the most severe censure can prevent this ascension, but has happened more than a few times in the past. The southern outpost is also responsible for maintaining the trade route of the Spice Road through to Ind and making sure that merchants stick to it and finally reach their stop over.
SHANG-YANG Shang-Yang is the most western city in Cathay, and it is also the economical capital of Cathay, since the opening of the Silk Road by the Tileans Ricco and Robbio. The city of Shang-Yang is the final destination for the caravans which depart from the Old World in the hope to see the Empire of the Celestial Dragon. The great bronze gates from Shang-Yang which close off the pass are the strongest in all of whole Cathay, and thousands of Hobgoblins have crushed their skulls on these mighty doors. The city of Shang-Yang was built in the war against the Hobgoblins to guard the pass, which is the only passage through the Mountains of Mourn to Cathay. When the Tilean brothers, Ricco and Robbio, arrived in Shang-Yang in 1699 they had not been permitted to enter the Empire of Cathay because, as the Cathayans had politely explained, they were hairy and uncouth barbarians. However, Emperor Wu had been intrigued by these strangers. He had been delighted with the return of the lost banner of his Palace Guard and was gratified to receive the submission and tribute of the entire land of Tilea. The Emperor agreed to hire the entire expedition as soldiers having been i mpressed by a mock battle in which the mercenaries had held off a small part of the Cathayan army.
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THE SILK ROAD The Silk Road winds its way like a glittering pro mise across the wastes between the Old World and the Far East. Trading caravans go along this route very rarely and only a few reach their destination. Starting as the Old Dwarf Road in the Empire before becoming the Silver Road after the pass through the World's Edge Mountains, the Silk Road still forms the most secure method of land travel from the West to the East. The pass through the World’s Edge is reasonably safe, but from then on the true perils begin. P assing through the Dark Lands, caravans must be weary of Hobgoblins and Chaos Dwarf slavers as well as attacks from Orcs and Goblins. The Silver Road then splits into two distinct paths; the Ivory Road which passes through the Mountains of Mourn to the east, and the Spice Route past Pigbarter and along the coast of the Sea of Storms which eventually leads to the Kingdoms of Ind. Once of the Ivory Road, the caravans still face danger in the form of the Ogre Kingdoms. To circumvent this, Ogres are often hired as mercenaries and caravan guards. For what better way to protect oneself than hiring those that might attack you to fight for you instead? When the lucky few to ever reach Cathay find themselves on the eastern slopes of the Mountains of Mourn and the gates of Shang-Yang, they have finally reached the land they seek. All that remains then is to trade their wares and make the journey home...
YUANJIN Situated at the foot of the Mountains of Heaven, Yuanjin derives its wealth from the iron and silver ore in the mountains. These tunnels stretch for countless miles, opening into vast caverns and if stories are to be believed, systems of tunnels more ancient than man. From the mountains, thousands of small streams feed water to the Jade River, the lake the city is built around. The Jade River has the largest lake in all of
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western Cathay, not only due to it being almost a mile and a half across, but it is said to be virtually bottomless. The deeper down one gets, the wider the lake becomes. It is customary for newlywed couples to cast a golden trinket into the lake for luck. Whispered rumours tell of more sinister rites and sacrifices made to appease the dark gods there as well... The city of Yuanjin is nearly always shrouded in the shadows of the great Mountains of Heaven. Only at dawn and dusk does sunlight fall on the city, for a brief time bathing it in a red light. The cit y is famed for its many festivals and celebrations, as though its citizens try to forget the grip of shadow that lies over the city. Even so, the place is much cooler and more comfortable to live in than any other Cathayan city.'
HAN KUO This maritime province is situated on the near the Bay of Chee Kun and the Chaos Wastes of the north. The climate is cold and the planting season is short. The Red Mansion is close, so raids from Chaos warbands are relatively common, so natives of northern the northern provinces are tough, literal minded people. In past Cathayan Dynasties, incursions of Chaos have never been much of a serious threat, as the gods of Chaos seemed to turn most of their attention to the Old World nations. However, within the present Dynasty they have becoming more and more frequent; terrorizing the border provinces to the north and the south. Two large enclaves are situated at the northern Red Mansion. Villages in this pr ovince are usually enclosed by a stout wall to repel these raids as well as to serve as corrals for the sheep and horses that are commonly herded here. The Emperor of the Dragon Throne claims the whole Cathayan peninsula as belonging to Cathay. This claim is hardly realistic. Most of the land is covered by hot deserts and dry shrub land. The population lies largely in the coastal cities or the towns and villages surrounding them.
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THE CE ESTIAL OST The discipline and honour of the Grand Army is lege dary across Cathay, and for a soldier to e called up to the elite of the elite, the imp assive Emperor’s Guard, is the highest hon our one of lowborn birth can aspire to. The Grand Army is trained to the same rigid te nets laid down by Emperor Yin Shi Zhe g during the first Celestial Dynasty, because these have proven effective time and again, down the centuries, against vastly different foes. The arm es of Cathay are said to be innumera le, and draw exotic warriors from all acr ss the realm, including fierce hill people strange warrior monks and well-disci plined armies supported by heavily ar oured warriors and ornate cannons. In this sec ion you section you will find details for all the different troops, heroes, monsters, and war machines used by a Catha an army. It provides the backgrou nd, imagery, characteristics profiles, an rules necessary to use all the elements o the army, from Core Units to pecial Characters.
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Army Special Rules This section of the book describes all the different units used in a Cathayan army, along with any rules necessary to use them in your games of Warhammer. Where a model has a special rule that is explained in the Warhammer rulebook, only the name of t hat rule is given. If a model has a special rule that is unique to it, that rule is detailed alongside its description. However, there are a number of commonly recurring ‘army special rules’ that apply to several Cathayan units, and these are detailed here.
GLORY FOR THE DRAGON EMPEROR
General Lu Wai Zheng prostrated himself before his sovereign. Behind him, the bureaucrats of the Ministry of War moved dozens of clay figures across the large map of the Zhongguo, rolled out on the dark lacquered floor. The Emperor rose from his throne and descended several steps, passing before the grand officer without even looEmperor at him. “You will command this attack, General Lu, and you will bring me, besides victory, the head of this foul felon. ”
Cathay believes itself to be the largest and most advanced nation of all men and Cathay and its citizens take pride in themselves and their victorious armies. Fully devoted to their Emperor, the soldiers literally throw themselves at the foe, gladly sacrificing themselves for the glory that is Cathay.
deemed auspicious. General Fong, my old pupil...”
All models with this rule have the Fight in E xtra Ranks special rule, even on turns that they charge.
“...is a traitor! ” howled the Emperor in a voice deformed with fury. “What right has he to raise
AUXILIARIES Cathay is the greatest realm in the Warhammer world, and as such, there are plenty of different tribes and cultures residing within its borders. These different tribes are often recruited into Cathay’s armies as auxiliary troops, acting as scouts, vanguards, and ambushers.
Units with the Auxiliaries special rule do not cause Panic to friendly units without it. You may not i nclude more units with the Auxiliaries special rule than you have other Core Units in your army.
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“Majesty,” said the military man as he straightened. “I fear that this battle has not been
his armies against me? I want him dead, here, before the month is out! ”
“But, Majesty, the people are not ready for war,
and he is favoured. Fong knows the terrain very well, he grew up there.
I beg you, let me send ambassadors to him; he is your faithful subject, and if he went against your orders it must be because he thought it was his duty toward you.” “That ’s enough. What Emperor would I be if
the chief of my armies constantly questioned my orders? Everything under heaven shall one day be in my hands, and you shall be there for that day, Lu Wai Zheng. Until then, I want you to punish this man, who doubted me and breeds doubts in my underlings. Go and obey. ” Old Lu Wai Zheng rose, painfully, weighed down by the task he had to carry out. He knew Fong well; Fong had been his pupil for many years. To conquer him on his home ground would take nothing less than a miracle, particularly when this talented man fought for a just cause. He knew how to inspire loyalty in his men... No, Lu Wai Zheng could not help but think that this would only bring about the fall of his sovereign, a sovereign ignorant of the realities of the Zhongguo and yet to whom he had nevertheless sworn fealty. His heart heavy, the general gave his courier instructions to prepare marching orders for the army. In a few days the fate of the Empire would be decided.
Commanders among the troops, and in Cathay at least this is not far from the truth. However, onerous discipline and constant stress create their fair share of problems, negligible for the most part, but which can be exploited by an intelligent enemy. Even if Cathay’s officers are well-trained, they are unfortunately not all equal, and the legalist education system often prefers to teach them the solution to a problem rather than the ability to analyse, adapt and innovate. As a result, with very few exceptions, they will usually choose the optimal option in a combat situation, with the chosen strategy being successful if predictable, but lacking genius when facing a talented, unpredictable general capable of improvisation. By the same logic, the heads of different units are trained to think of their men as interchangeable and faceless, and act directly against individuality and personal initiative. As such, they can command in any situation, but are not able to exploit their soldiers’ skills or expect them to react should something unexpected happen. M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 6 5 4 4 3 6 4 9 4 5 5 4 4 2 5 3 8
Warlord Duizhu The Warlords have ruled Cathay throughout its entire history, forming small kingdoms for themselves and dividing the land between them. A very successful Warlord might conquer others and expand his own territory, increasing his status and power in Cathay. The most successful Warlord ever was Yin Shi Zheng who united the Warring Kingdoms and became Emperor of a unified Cathay. Since then, the other Warlords have somewhat lost their independence, now owing allegiance to t he Dragon Emperor. They still control their own territor y and armies, but are oath bound to the Emperor and cannot seek to expand their borders by attacking their neighbours. Like their men, the officers of the Cathayan armies are, overall, well trained in the art of war and they maintain an iron discipline in their regiments. Any lapses in discipline are severely punished out of combat, and often in an extreme fashion on the battlefield. All fear such punishments, but they permit the diverse units to maintain cohesion and manoeuvrability that is exceptional for units comprised of enlisted men. As the majority of the nine ranks of officers (especially the lower ranks) were themselves soldiers promoted for their skill, they generally know when and how to get the best out of their men, who see in them the hope for a better future and higher rank. This is particularly true for those of low social rank who have chosen the army to escape their situation, aspiring to a better life. The idea that the army is a harsh mistress who nevertheless knows how to reward the deserving is widespread
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Character). THE DRUM AND GONG One reason the Grand Army of Cathay is famed across the world is the rigorous discipline that pervades the common soldiery. This is partially due to the Cathayans’ sense of honour and duty, but mainly due to the pounding of the drum and gong t hat accompanies an army to battle. These are used to send out signals, most often orders to move. Thus, despite the vast area covered by thousands of men locked in combat, the army is capable of coordinating its actions. Although everything may seem confused on the field of battle, visual and auditory signals can assure coherence between any army’s commanders and thus the success of its operations.
Drum and Gong Drummer
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 5 2 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
TROOP TYPE: War Machine. SPECIAL RULES: Drum and Gong: While the drum and gong is played, all friendly units within 12” that tie in close combat (cumulative with normal musicians) counts as winning by one, and fleeing units may re-roll failed rally tests. The Drum and Gong is worth 100 additional Victory Points if captured, just like the Battle Standard.
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Wu Jen Neither peasant nor noble, the Wu Jen typically stands outside the traditional hierarchies of Cathay - their learning and personal power demand respect, but the Wu Jen’s lack of family standing and social graces sometimes make it difficult for the wealthy and powerful to accept their talents and skills. When venturing through Cathay, the Wu Jen often find themselves forced to deal with a general distrust from the populace. For the most part, the common folk do their best to stay out of a Wu Jen's way. At the same time, their strangeness can sometimes make it easier for Wu Jen to acquire patronage and positions as advisors to the Warlords and the Emperor, since those nobles' preconceived notion of arcane magic causes them to see Wu Jen as shrouded in an air of exotic mystery and prestige. Though few nobles care to sully their standing by consorting with Wu Jen and their uncouth ways, exceptional Wu Jen sometimes prove themselves sufficiently to emerge as magistrates under the Emperors and the Warlords. Some Wu Jen, in fact, have acquired tremendous political power b y standing next to the throne of a figurehead Emperor who chooses not to contradict their dictates. The Wu Jen are rather reclusive in their behaviour, often locking themselves into their dormitories for days in silent prayer and meditation, purifying their bodies and minds in order to contact the various natural and supernatural powers of the world. From these entities they learn their spells-magical means to control the invisible forces of the world. They are masters of elemental magic, and the greatest astromancers in the world, except for the Slann. They study the stars and the heavens, and focus on the aspect of the Ying and Yan, the balance of all that exist. T he power they possess to unleash at the foes of Cathay is truly awe-inspiring. Wu Jen crave magical power in a world where no organized colleges of wizardry exist. Their thirst drives them to seek out others like themselves, hermits, recluses, or exiles who have gained the secrets they seek. Nearly all Wu Jen are trained by a single mentor in this fashion, outcast from proper society and set apart by their fearsome supernatural powers.
Wu Jen Lord Wu Jen
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 8 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 7
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Character). MAGIC: A Wu Jen is a Wizard that uses spells from the Lore of Fire, Lore of Metal, Lore of the Heavens, or Lore of Ying and Yan.
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The sorcerer Pang Jun remarked, " Though I myself have no talent in these matters, I once perused certain divine texts for tracking the movements of the heavens. These spells could be used to call forth the winds and rains. When my Lord Commander wants a southeast wind, he should build a tower, the Platform of the Eleven Celestial Bodies, on that hill to the south. It should be nine cubits high, with three levels, and surrounded by one hundred and twenty men holding the banners bearing the correct sigils. On the platform I will perform the necessary incantations to borrow three days and three nights of southeast winds to assist your endeavours against the hobgoblins. What say you?"
Strategist Although Tzu-Sun’s The Art of War was written more than 3500 years before present-day Cathay, it is arguably the most important work on military strategy ever written by a member of any race, even the immortal and wise High Elves. An attentive Cathayan general learns timeless principles, the words pragmatic and universally applicable to any situation that requires absolute victory. Equally important, a military strategist can learn to avoid disasters. Tzu-Sun had a Yin Yang quality to his mind, sharp and deep, that he used to master strategy. To Cathayans, the Art of War is priceless, more precious than green jade, a gift fit for the Emperor. The bundle of bamboo on which the work was painted, was intended by Tzu-Sun only for his personal use, as they were based on the ideas, concepts and techniques on strategy that Tzu-Sun had tested and found to be effective. He set out a ranking criterion for the perfor mance of Warlords utilising his strategies. Those who scored the worst were the ones who had their armies scaling walls of cities in order to win over an enemy. T he best: those who won battles without even firing an arrow. A popular proverb states: “When thunder breaks, it is too late to block your ears.” Initiative, the element of surprise and the rapidity of troop movements constitute
three essential parameters in the strategic approach to war. Understanding enemy plans and countering t heir strategies is another basic aspect of military operations. In fact, no matter how well prepared, the victorious general is always the one who can profit from the slightest opportunity. Warfare is not a predetermined thing; rapidly taking advantage of every situation that arises shows the true skill and character of the commanding general. In doing so he does not lay the weight of the battle entirely on his subordinates’ shoulders. Initiative remains a major element of any strategic victory. It is important to bring the adversary to the terrain that the general has chosen, and to occupy it first in order to deploy his army to his best advantage and not that of his adversary. Even today, the Cathayans highly rely on the Art of War as their primary source for military tactics. Some people have even turned this into a trade; learned scholars thoroughly study it and add new tactics to it yearly. These Strategists are often hired by the Warlords to acts as military advisors on the battlefield. Strategists are trained to identify the tiniest weaknesses in an enemy army and exploit them. At the same time, they have to mask their own weaknesses and take full advantage of their strengths. The Strategists train the troops and make the battle plans, and execute them with outmost precision. While any general is trained in the Art of War, no one is as accustomed to it as Cathay’s S trategists, military geniuses bar none.
Strategist
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 7
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Character).
War is a matter of vital importance to the state: a matter of life or death. The road either to survival or to ruin. Hence it is imperative that it be studied thoroughly. Therefore appraise it in terms of the five fundamental factors and make comparisons of the various conditions of the antagonistic sides in order to ascertain the results of a war. The first of these factors is politics; the second weather; the third terrain; the fourth the commander; and the fifth doctrine. - The Art of War 47
Imperial Infantry The Imperial Infantry consists of common men who would otherwise be working the rice paddies, who throw in their lots for a chance to see the world. The vast majority of soldiers are recruited by the Ministry of War using conscription, with every healthy man from the age of fifteen serving for a period of two years. Afterwards they join the reserves and serve in protecting their local region. Each owes one month of service every year, and remains mobilised until the age of sixty. This system permits him to maintain sufficient military ability to ensure the security of the state. This is the pragmatic Cathayan approach to recruitment, which is to turn your enemy into your ally through subservience. Professional soldiers can also be found serving Warlords as mercenaries, protecting t heir provincial courts, or swelling the ranks of their private armies. Most of the ranks of the Imperial Infantry however, are men of low birth who have chosen the way of the soldier to escape a mundane agricultural e xistence and advance themselves in the world. Recruited especially for their skills and physical ability, these soldiers owe their advancement to their skill as warriors, and often become low-ranking officers. Whether proudly volunteering to serve their ruler, or forcibly conscripted into the army of the state,
Zhang Dong ducked under the incoming blow of one of the many by-riding wolf riders. He had been out here for just a few hours, patrolling this section of barren land, barely in sight of one of the many watchtowers of the Great Bastion, when a horde of vicious Hobgoblins had appeared. Zhang Dong remembered the enthusiasm when he volunteered to join the Imperial Army. Back then, when the draft master visited his village, he thought that he could catch a glimpse of the world and return home as a rich man with plenty of stories for his children. After only three months of training, he and his comrades found themselves as part of the huge force garrisoned in the Great Bastion. Now his comrades were scattered or dead, their shield wall crashed by the ferocious charge. Death was all around Zhang Dong. Already he had managed to dispatch two of the enemies, but his small victory seemed futile in the face of the endless wave of riders, pressing towards the Great Bastion. Suddenly hearing cries of joy, he turned around to see a cloud of dust arising from behind them. Reinforcements! Though he doubted that they would arrive in time. A hit from behind sent him to his knees. Looking down, he saw a spear tip protruding from his chest. Maybe it would have been wiser to stay home and toil in the fields. At least then he would live to see his children.
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opportunities to gain battle experience are frequent, and the banners of the Imperial regiments have seen plenty of action. The soldier’s life is dangerous, but also rich with excitement for a warrior whose courage is equal to his skill. Valour and victory in battle are handsomely rewarded, and many a simple soldier has risen from the rank and file to attain the higher reaches of the military hierarchy. Some have even become generals. The Imperial Infantry are far from the most skilled troops in the field, most merely being pressed into service with little to no formal training to help t hem on their way. Still, this matters little to the Cathayan nobility; for there are always more able bodied men to take their place should they fall in battle – something that is to be expected. Armed with a poleaxe, swords, bows, shields and some simple lacquer armour, these men make up the main force of Cathay’s armies – and what the lack in prowess they more than make up for in numbers.
Infantryman Sergeant
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 2 6
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Glory for the Dragon Emperor.
Chu Ko Nu The Chu Ko Nu, named afte the weapon they wield, are the common missile troo s in the Cathay army. The Chu Ko Nu repeating cr ssbow is known for its simple design and incredible rate of fire, as it holds a magazine of tens bolts with steel tips, which it shoots in rapid succession, but suffers from lesser range than bows. Still, the amount of bolts unleashed by the weapon more than enough makes up for it, darkening the sky with missiles. Regiments of these units accompany the Imperial Infantry, supporting the battle line.
Tian Fang picked up and shouldered his crossbow. The sergeants had given orders to move out, for a sentinel on the closest watchtower h d spotted a fight between a patrol and a horde of obgoblins. They were already closing in towards the Great Bastion, cutting down any fleeing me bers of the Cathayan patrol crossing their way. He moved in line and as soon as the unit took up battle formation, they fell into an even trot and passed unde one of the huge gates in the Great Basti on. After a few minutes the soldiers were able to hear the sounds of battle: the clash of sw rds and the painful screams of the dying – mostl Cathayan soldiers. Tian Fang thought himself lu ky, not to be in the unit assigned with the patrol an he secretly hoped that the Hobgoblins would ret eat upon the arrival of his detachment. Though he felt pity for the poor members of the patrol, he also f lt quite safe this close to the Great Basti on. Suddenly came the command to fan o t and form a battle formation. The Hobgoblins we e closing in. Tian Fang took up his position in th third row, behind two lines infantry equipped with shields and spears, the first one crouching. He lo ked around him but saw no familiar faces. After ch ecking on the bowstring and his supply of bolts, he focused on the incoming Hobgoblins. Upon the orde r to fire, the first volley of bolts crashed into them, taking down a few dozen, but they were still coming. The second volley was released and the Chu Ko Nu now fidgeted nervously to reload their weapons. A ter the third volley there was no time left for the further use of the crossbows and Tian Fang drew is sword. Moments before the impact he realized - he might not return to the safety of the Great astion again.
Stories of the Chu Ko Nu da e back to Cathay’s second dynasty, when legend has it t hat Emperor Yin Shi Zheng used the weapon to shoot sharks for sport. Many generals of the court, accom anying him when sailing out to go after his passion, were impressed by the rapid fire rate and the simple design the weapon displayed. Soon the Chu Ko Nu appear d in the private forces of the Warlords, leading to renewed conflicts over territories and resources until the emperor put an end to the disputes. Realizing the p tential behind his favourite weapon, he set up decree that at least one fifth of the Imperial Army should be equipped with this weapon. The troops wielding these cr ssbows in battle have proven worthy throughout many battles. Stationed on the Great Bastion, the hail o bolts released by them has more often than not stop ed a full blown Hobgoblin or Hung charge. The Chu Ko Nu has and will continue to prove its value in the battles Cathay h s to fight, the simple design and its effectively outweighing the limited range of its bolts.
Chu Ko Nu Marksman
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 2 4 3 3 1 3 2 6
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Glor
for the Dragon
Emperor.
CATHAYAN REPEAT R CROSSBOW A personal weapon, its high rate of fire and lack of precision means it is primarily a defensive weapon, most often used in sieges wh n it can be placed on a rampart. A handle is turned o fire the bolts; a reservoir of ten bolts is locked on top of the bow, which can be fired in about twenty econds. The soldier cranks the handle backward to reset it. Its limited range makes it only useful for close combat. Range: 16”
Strength: 3
Special Rules: Multiple Shots (3)
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Dragon Lancers Even though Cathay have great plains and access to plenty of good horses, cavalry have never played much of a large part in their military. Still, that does not mean their cavalry is absent, for riding a horse into battle is both a sign of rank and wealth, as well as a useful element in war. The Dragon Lancers are the heavy cavalry on the Cathay army, fulfilling the role of shock troops against lighter enemy units. Equipped with halberds with a shortened haft and crescent blade, they are also useful in prolonged combat. They wear heavy armour with a leather breastplate, shoulder protectors and thigh protection added. Horses often wear a short barding covering the neck, back and flanks; a leather mask often protects the mount’s face. Units are trained to charge enemy lines in close ra nks and take advantage of their speed to increase their impact. While not being as powerful as the knights of the Old World, they fulfil their own role in the Cathay army, taking out smaller units of enemy infantry, skirmishers and archers, before moving into position to flank the enemy battle line to support the infantry. Most of the Dragon Lancers are nobles, but one can also reach this position through prolonged service in the army. To become a Dragon Lancer is a great honour to the Cathayans. The Cathayans made use of black powder long before the people of The Empire and some even claim long before the dwarfs found a usage to this volatile mass. At first being used only for entertaining and spectacle for both the nobles and the commoners as fireworks and other minor tricks using it, the black powder eventually found its way into the Cathayan warfare. Starting from big siege engines as canons and various rockets, it ended up as a small, one-use projectile for the Cathayan cavalry after many tries. The Dragon Lancers are trained especially in the use of this deadly weapons, which on the same time possess a certain threat for the rider, for it is not error proof and malfunctions can happen any time, as with all black powder weapons. After successfully completing the regular training, Dragon Lancer novices must learn how to properly use a fire lance. The amount of powder, velocity, distance, angle, point of firing and maintaining a fire lance are vital to the imperative to the successful usage – and thus to the surviving of the future Lancer. A badly cleaned or prepared Fire Lance might not fire of at all shortly before the impact or, worse, detonate right in the hands of its wielder, leading to injuries, burns, a crippled mount or even death. If known how to be used correctly, the Dragon Lancers pose a decent threat on the battlefield which should not be ignored. Although their fire lances have only one
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shot, the Lancers themselves are far from defenceless. Heavily armoured and skilled in complex manoeuvres and tactics, they oftentimes take great efforts to outflank an enemy unit to suddenly appear on its side or back, adding a devastating edge to their already deadly weaponry. After the charge and the blasts, they still have their halberds to cut Cathay's foes down to pieces.
Dragon Lancer Fire Lancer Warhorse
M WS BS S T 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 8 3 0 3 3
W 1 1 1
I 3 3 3
A Ld 1 8 2 8 1 5
TROOP TYPE: Cavalry. SPECIAL RULES: Glory for the Dragon Emperor.
FIRE LANCE The fire lance is a black powder weapon that fires a small projectile just before entering combat. These deadly one-shot weapons give the wielder an edge versus hand to hand combatants.
One use only. In the beginning of the first ro und of combat, the unit may choose to use their fire lances. When doing so, all Dragon Lancers that may fight gains an extra Strength 4 Armour Piercing attack, in addition to their normal attacks.
Steppe Archers For centuries, especially during the Warring Kingdoms period when no unified empire of Cathay stood to confront the enemy, the steppe nomads were usually seen down the tip of a blade as enemies, not as partners. This all changed though when Emperor Yin Shi Zheng unified Cathay. He was the first to recognize their use on the field as allies rather than foes, and offered them land and gold in return for their services. From then on, the Steppe Archers would often show up in the armies of Cathay as mercenaries, filling the roles of scouts and light cavalry, peppering their foes with arrows from horseback. Most renowned and most emulated of their skills is the parting shot. The Steppe Archers would feign retreat; then, while at a full gallop, lie back to shoot at the pursuing enemy. The manoeuvre requires superb equestrian skills, since the rider's hands were occupied with his bow, leaving only pressure from his legs to guide his horse. The typical employment of horse archers in battle is as fast cavalry capable of moving swiftly to avoid close combat, or to deliver a r apid blow to the flanks or rear of the foe. The Steppe Archers are masters of galloping around their enemies and encircling them; they prefer ambushes to frontal assaults, separating then destroying isolated units. T hey are among the best human cavalry in the world, with the possible exception of their distant northern cousins, the barbarian Ungols of icy Kislev. The foundation of the Steppe Archers way of war is a direct extension of their nomadic lifestyle, honed to a razor’s edge by their Great Khan, his generals, and his successors. Enemies become increasingly frustrated at their inability to bring the Steppe Archers to battle, because a target never presents itself. The legacy of the Great Khan lives on in the manner the Steppe Archers go to battle as auxiliaries to the Grand Army of Cathay. From time to time, warbands split off from the centres of civilisation and range outside the Khanates. These rampaging bands are usually led by some younger glory-seeking Khan, and some of them find their way into the armies of Cathay. Far from home, the Steppe Archers are nothing if not pragmatic, and when allowed safe passage in return for service in a Grand Army General’s armies, they seldom refuse. They are absolutely merciless and have no problems being cut off from their parent tribe, as they go to war with numerous steeds, can sleep in the saddle, and live off the land. Their manoeuvrability is almost infallible, having everywhere to flee to, and being able to attack anywhere. Clad in light armour, horse archers ride and fight independently of cumbersome supply lines, collecting
valuable reconnaissance information as they disrupt enemy positions and sow seeds of panic. They are unparalleled horseman, and masters of the bow. When not trading goods made in their portable settlements, these nomads reserve the right to inflict a choke hold on all trade moving across the steppes. The Steppe Archers are masters at moving quickly around their enemies, surrounding them, and cutting them down with withering fire from bows. As such, these highly manoeuvrable and resilient warriors are much sought after as mercenaries in the standing armies of Cathay. They prefer to wear down their enemy by quick volleys of skilfully placed arrows, while adeptly avoiding getting pinned down in melee combat. Many merchants, caravan masters, and local rulers have been forced to acknowledge the threat that these nomad tribes represent, and many Steppe Archers are themselves employed to guard the very caravans that they once raided.
Steppe Archer Bahdur Warhorse
M WS BS 4 3 4 4 3 5 8 3 0
S 3 3 3
T 3 3 3
W 1 1 1
I 3 3 3
A Ld 1 7 1 7 1 5
TROOP TYPE: Cavalry. SPECIAL RULES: Auxiliaries, Fast Cavalry. 51
ill Tribesmen While being cheap soldiers t maintain, their lack of discipline can be quite a nuisance to the Cathayan Warlords, often charging int the fray of battle instead of moving into a flanking position and disobeying orders. For this reason they are very rarely relied upon, and are mostly used as scree ers for the main force, drawing enemy missile fire t them and thereby protecting more important tr ops. Due to their way of life - na ely ripping each day from life's teeth, as they would tell any stranger - and due to their nature, Hill Tribesmen end to scavenge the enemy and their allied troop after a battle before venturing home if their loot roves satisfying enough. With the mass of soldiers av ilable in Cathay and the huge amount of equipment needed, the Cathayan Warlords will generally not tolerate such behaviour, and should the bandits be ca ght plundering, they will be arrested and forced to sta d trial – usually resulting in having a hand chopped of or be hanged, even if they were allies in battle just a few hours before. While these sanctions are re arded as necessary and rightful punishment by the c mmon Cathayans, most of them tend to forget that li ing a life high up in the mountains outside the secure walls of the cities inevitably leads to such acts f desperation to supply their tribes with materials vital for their survival.
Hill Tribesmen are nomadic raiders that plague the trade routes and border settlements of Cathay. They are a tough and enduring people, skilled in battle against their foes, but also experienced in battling their hostile environments. In Cathay, the tribesmen of the mountains form bands of warriors that raid settlements and caravans along major trade routes. They are found in the highlands of Cathay, where they live in small colonies outside of society and have established smaller fiefdoms for themse lves. They live off the land, hunting and trading furs, and are sometimes hired as guides or to guard c aravans. The Emperor leaves them be and allow them to sort out their own affairs as long as they do not bother in his or those of his servants. Hill Tribesmen are fierce and capable arriors, proud and quick to anger if offended. The armies of Cathay often contain many of these tribesmen. hey are recruited as auxiliaries in support of the main battle line, and are often the first troops sent i to battle to deal with enemy archers and lightly ar oured troops. Treated with blatant disrespect from the Cathayan aristocracy, Hill Tribesmen still perfor an important role in the army, often lying in ambush or encircling enemy positions. They usually move ahead of the main force, disrupting the opposing army's tr ops with their javelins and harassing attacks.
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Tribesman Chieftain
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 2 6
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Auxiliaries, Ambushers, Frenzy.
By the decrees of Imper al Law, as stated in the Tome of Punishments a d penned down by the divine Emperor himse f, the Immortal Xen Huong, Keeper of Balance between the forces of Ying and Yan, entitle with the Mandate of Heaven, Guardian of Cathay, scourge of the green- skinned raiders and the wild men from the north, beacon of light and hope a gainst the dark forces of the other planes and the ne and rightful ruler of the whole world and the realms beyond, you are hereby impeached of hav ng robbed his Highness of the armour and weapons granted by his benevolence to his sub rdinates, so that they might aid him in his une ding quest of bringing peace to this world, is an therefore sentenced to death. The sentence shall e executed with the first light of the next day, so that the criminal might one last time see the kindness of His Greatness shine upon him and so t at his treachery might follow him in his pit ful life after death! - Common field trial
Monkey Warriors The Monkey Warriors from the Mountains of Heaven are among the more curious creatures of Cathay. Like the Beastmen of the Old World, they too are a spawn of Chaos. Whether they group together for similar reasons as more common beast herds, these monkeymen do seem more benevolent than their Old World counterparts, depicted more as tricksters and conmen than blood-thirsty marauders. These forest denizens are able to fight using all four limbs, meaning these ape warriors have an unusual style of fighting. As dextrous as they are deadly, more movement is involved, using and interacting with the surrounding environment for any advantage it offers. It is a style that has been copied by the Dragon Monks, making for a more agile blend of blows from fists and feet.
Some sorta Beastmen, was told they live in the south, but one time I seen 'em I was helping escort a caravan to Shanglang, or whatevah that place was called. Passed through this forest of stuff, Cathayan folk call it boobam or somethin', and we could see 'em hopping from tree to tree, pointin ’ down at us and talkin' that foreign gibber. I tells you, I ain't never been so pleased to see daylight than I was when we left that forest. – ALBIOUS WAXFORTH, BODYGUARD “
”
If reported sightings of green apes in these parts are anything to go by then the creatures prefer to live in tight packs high up in the bamboo canopies. These lie predominantly in the southern region, with patches across the centre of Cathay leading sparsely up to more northerly aspects. Whether the forests provide better protection or they congregate here because it is in their nature, rumours suggest that these could be monkeys that are mutating into men!
These young looking warriors train hard in the mountains and sometimes come down to join a battle if called upon. Many Monkey Warriors look younger than they actually are due to their tough training in t he mountains, they have been able to maintain their youth through the years, many even older than the average human! They are very youthful though, they say that monkey warriors are trained from birth and remain trapped in one time period of their life even though many years have passed by. They are tricksters and enjoy fooling around even on the field of combat. T hey brandish heavy long staffs and are able dodge many enemy blows with ease while a musing themselves with pranks and jokes. Many people think that Monkey Warriors are immortal and that is why they are the way they are, many times they have looked death in the eyes and laughed in its face! Monkey Warriors are sometimes hired into the armies of Cathay, for they possess common knowledge just like any other man, yet only a few of t hem understands the human language. Whenever they go to battle it is mostly for food or equipment to bring to their tree colonies that they do not have the materials to make for themselves. On the battlefield they run around the enemy troops, harassing them with poisoned darts from their blowpipes and being a general nuisance. While being rather weak physically, their speed and agility makes them well-suited for skirmish operations in wooded terrain, where they can easily disappear and hide before ambushing their unaware foes from the canopy.
Monkey Warrior Monkey Chief
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 3 3 3 2 1 5 1 6 5 3 3 3 2 1 5 2 6
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Auxiliaries, Skirmishers, Forest Striders, Obstacle Striders.
QUARTERSTAFF These long wooden staffs are used almost exclusively by the Monkey Warriors to parry enemy blows.
Requires two hands. A Quarterstaff gives the Monkey Warriors the Parry special rule.
BLOWPIPE These hollow bamboo pipes are used to fire small darts filled with lethal poison, able to kill even the toughest of foes. Range: 12”
Strength: 3
Special Rules: Multiple Shots (2), Poisoned Attacks
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Emperor's Guard To protect himself from enemy Warlords seeking to kill him and claim the throne for themselves, Emperor Yin Shi Zheng created the Emperor’s Guard, who dedicated themselves to a life of eternal vigilance and hardship in the pursuit of military excellence. The Emperor’s Guard are first and foremost warriors, who live and die by their blades. The prime duty in his life is to serve and protect the Emperor in all things, and to never let an enemy set foot in the I mperial Palace. However, the code of the Emperor’s Guard is hard and unrelenting. An Emperor’s Guard must be willing to accept his own death at any moment. There is no failure for an Emperor’s Guard when protecting his Emperor, his only choices are to defend or die. If the Emperor’s Guard accepts these choices, he cannot fail since death is not failure – it is t he ultimate service to his Emperor. The Citadel of the Emperor’s Guard in the I mperial Palace is devised to support the strength of the Emperor’s Guard and develop training grounds outside the normal army regiments. The Citadel only offered places to young elite warriors and children of noble birth, and the children of the intakes are brought up according to the ancient traditions of the Emperor’s Guard. Despite the life of hardship, there is fierce competition between young men and warriors to enter the Citadel of the Emperor’s Guard, and join the most disciplined fighting force in the civilised world. The Emperor’s Guard were initially just a small force dedicated to the defence of the Emperor, even at the cost of their own lives, but over the years, they have developed from a single fighting unit to a Cathayan institution, where every boy grows up with aspirations to join the noble and chivalric fighting order. Their unique bladed weapon, the glaive or “reclining moon blade”, is their badge of office, and they often sport tiger pelts over their armour. They have many great admirers, for their versatility in battle have proved the Emperor’s Guard triumphant for many years over threats from the Chaos Wastes, the western domains of the Ogres, and the Red Mansion, where the Emperor’s Guard are often the only survivors in close encounters with the daemonic legions. In a sense, the Emperor’s Guard is a symbol of the resilience of the emerging empire of Cathay - if they should fall, then Cathay would also fall into ruin.
Emperor’s Guard Castellan
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 4 3 3 3 1 4 1 8 4 4 3 3 3 1 4 2 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Glory for the Dragon Emperor, Stubborn.
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Be the metal. The armour is your body. Your arm starts to move. You concentrate all of yourself into handling your weapon. Your powerful blows are delivered without any wasted or random movement. If you must die, then you will take at least your opponent with you. Be the land. You don't know hunger, exhaustion, or deprivation. You only know service to the Emperor. Elsewhere the seasons come and go, dynasties rise and fall, yet you have never left your post. Always be vigilant. Your opponent underestimates you greatly when he believes he has surprised you. Be the water. You do not change the principles that I have set out, you simply bend yourself to t he task. If you despise the enemy, it is merely because he ignores the will of our great people. Any force our enemies bring to bear will be returned by you and your compatriots multiplied a thousand fold. Be the fire. You and the other Guards shall take the field of battle only at your Divine Emperor's request. Learn to contemplate his anger rather than your own. You will feel his ire rise through the ground to you when enemies attempt to invade or destroy the harmony of Ying and Yan. If we take the initiative to attack, the momentum of our Emperor's anger and our peoples' will shall unite in you. - The Training of an Emperor's Guard
Swordsaints He will then sleep next to others his own age under the sky in the central square of the monastery, further strengthening him against hardship. Finally, after his tests to become a fully fledged Swordsaint succeed, he will be given his own quarters and personal heraldry. It is this independence yet reliance on both peers and masters that give Swordsaints their beliefs and effectiveness as a fighting unit. After a prolonged and rigorous training, a Swordsaint may rise to become Blademaster within their order. To gain his mastery, the applicant must display his skill by defeating three of his peers simultaneously in combat, and be judged by his superiors. Only through this may he attain the instruction necessary, and become blessed with the responsibility of the training of others, or the responsibility of coordinating units of Swordsaints on the battlefield.
If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. To Swordsaints, the sword is more than a weapon – it is an ally, a friend, a spirit companion. Viewing combat as art, a deadly dance, Swordsaints are prone to singing in battle. Swordsaints tap powerful magical energy through a combination of martial prowess and magical study, gaining phenomenal acrobatic ability.
The Swordsaints are the best soldiers in all of Cathay, unsurpassed fighters with the blade, bested only by the Elves. They are the image of the true warrior to the common folk of Cathay, as they are generally the most visible in battle, regiments of Swordsaints forming rallying points for the Imperial Infantry that make up the majority of the Cathayan battle line, and the Swordsaints themselves take to this reverence well. It is not entirely uncommon to see a Swordsaint leading units of commoners or teaching them some simple techniques and skills before a battle. Over the millennia, the Swordsaints have created fortresses and training monasteries in every corner of Cathay, where they train day and night to perfect their art. Those that are to become Swordsaints are given to the Order by their parents at a very young ago and ar e expected to train from the moment they join. In their junior years they receive tuition and care by their master in return for their aid in performing simple maintenance and cleaning of their master’s armour and weaponry, valuable experience for when they are given their own equipment for battle. As the young Swordsaint ages, his training will become longer and harder and he will, when the time is judged right, be given his own armour and weaponry and become independent.
Swordsaints bolster the Imperial Infantry in battle, regiments of heavily armoured warriors standing side by side with the common soldiers of Cathay, giving them both a focal point for their devotion and an unflinching anvil upon which the endless warriors of Cathay can smash their foes. Some put this down to nobility and honour, yet it could hardly be so, for they are warriors first and only.
Swordsaint Blademaster
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 5 3 4 3 1 4 2 8 4 5 3 4 3 1 4 3 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Glory for the Dragon Emperor, Killing Blow.
CATHAYAN LONGSWORD The Cathayan longsword is a deadly crown jewel in the hands of a skilled fighter. Gold alone is never enough to acquire such a weapon. Cathayan longswords are heirlooms and highly coveted. The few still smithed are gifted only in reward for some heroic deed that is done in the kingdoms of the east.
All attacks made by a Cathayan Longsword have the Armour Piercing and Parry special rules.
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Nightblades Nightblades are assassins, arsonists, saboteurs and spies rolled into one. Clad in black so t at only their eyes are seen, and with their ability to despatch targets ruthlessly and silently, a Nightblade is oth feared and despised – but a necessary evil in Catha y. Nightblades are serve directly under the Emperor, carrying out tasks which the Emperor’s Guard are unable o, such as secretly gaining access to another lord's castle for assassination, committing acts of arson, or intelligence gathering. The skills and training of a Nightblade o beyond any warrior of the Old World. They are masters of armed and unarmed combat, concealment and disguise, and psychology and science. Unlike the soli tary assassins of the Old World, the Nightblades oper te in a guild located in Weijin, and a request of services made by the Emperor will result in one or more ightblade being dispatched to complete the task. The Nightblades have become synony ous with darkness and fear since they began deal ing death for the Emperor, acting as his secret bodyg ard and removing political opponents. Using su terfuge and terror as their weapons, they go unseen until the time is right to strike, often leaving only corpses as a testament to their passage. Most often their forces will form patrol or scouting forces along the borders of Cathay, halting or alerting the populace to incursions. The battle garb of the Nightblades varies, but is inevitably dark-grey, deep green, midni ht blue or black robes. Their blades are often lacq ered black so as not to glint in the darkness as they approach their foes, and their armour is glossy black o dun. When they appear on the field of battle, they attack where the enemy is weakest, without warning, ov rcoming positions with bitter speed and ruthless ess. Occasionally a Nightblades will be tasked with the destruction of the enemy commander a d, equipped with the deadliest weapons of the east; t hey more often than not easily accomplish that task. The Nightblades are extraordinarily dedicated to their art, they emphasize personal skill above else. Duels, sometimes lethal, are common among ightblade novices attempting to prove their worth to their masters. Even the older, wiser Shadow trider will often resolve conflicts with combat. The Nightblades have been observed to train for over sixteen hours a day - a feat that would soon kill a normal man. It is only their mastery of the body and mind that allows such feats of endurance and creates such utterly dedicated warriors. When they appear on the battlefield it is usually in small strike teams, moving with dead silence and striking the enemy when they least exp ct it.
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Nightblade Shadow Strider
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 8 5 4 4 3 3 1 5 2 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Glor
for the Dragon Emperor, Skirmishers, Scouts, Poisoned Attacks.
Faithful Sabre was finishin his inspection of the ramparts when he discovere d a sentry sleeping on top of one of the towers. He kicked the sentry in the ribs and the man jumped, giving a cry of pain. “Miserable dog! ” roared F st of Bronze ’s lieutenant. “I should flay you alive. I suggest you try to die
tomorrow at your post in v liantly defending this town, or I ’ll send you to th Hells myself! ”
The cringing soldier return d to his post, nursing his bruised side. Faithful Sabre left immedi tely for the small building near the gate that served as his headquarters. This militia was worthless.... By chance, the defences were still solid and the wor s that had taken place since his arrival had reinfor ed them. There was nothing for it, but to hope that it would give them enough time for General Y n to break the enemy army – and to come to Yux ing ’s aid.
Celes ial Dragon Mo ks lives and culture. They leave their humanity behind as infants and, as the few survi ors of combat with the monks have described it, to attle with the Celestial Dragon Monks is to battle with death itself. The Dragons Monks are often not content with mere training and actively seek out battle. Whenever they leave the mountain monastery they usually enter the service of the Cathayan Army, where they get to test their mettle against the enemies of the Celestial Empire. Wherever battle is t be found, there the Celestial Dragons go. Howe er, should the call to defend their monastery ever reach them; their return is swift, for they can run for days upon end faster than even the greatest athletes of ilea. In some rare situations, a Celestial Dragon Monk has taken some mighty warrior under his wing and taught him a few of the secrets of th eir order, recognizing the potential for the chosen warrior to achieve enlightenment, but these cas s are rare and, for the most part, the Celestial Drag ns Monks remain distant and cold to the world, existi g only to battle.
The Celestial Dragons Monks are the most alien of the warriors of Cathay, for as they ascend t rough their training they leave all that makes them uman behindanger, pain, hatred and every other human emotion is forfeit, the Celestial Dragons are incomprehensible to the normal man. While the monks of th dragon do not use any forms of armament or armour other than their fists and feet, this reliance on simplicity allows them to focus on their Chi, their inner life force. Celestial Dragons manipulate it, harnessing it to eal wounds, strengthen blows and increase their spe d until they are merely blurs of death. The Celestial Dragons are by far the m st distant from the populace, aloof and concerned only with their own amelioration and ability to battle, the ultimate warriors performing the ultimate art. Strangely, the Celestial Dragons have been known for some of he most heroic and selfless actions in Cathayan history , saving several Emperors and Empresses from certain death at the cost of their own lives and defending towns against overwhelming odds. Mystical but highly aggressive, these le endary warriors practise enlightenment throug violence, and through strict meditation and training s me have even mastered the ability to breath fire and r n across water without even breaking its surface. The monks of the Celestial Dragon beli ve in spiritual enlightenment and ascension to the spirit world in finest fashion can only be attained thro gh perfection as a warrior. This quest to be the greate t fighter possible drives them and infuses every spect of their
Dragon Monk Enlightened One
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 5 4 4 4 1 5 2 8 5 5 4 4 4 1 5 3 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Glor
for the Dragon Emperor, Skirmishers, Im une to Psychology, Striders, Breath Weapon ( trength 3, Flaming Attack, Enlightened One only). Martial Arts Fighting Styles: At the start of each round of combat in which a ragon Monk fights, they must choose one of the follo ing Fighting Styles to perform. They may not use t e same Fighting Style in two consecutive turns of the same combat engagement. •
Black Tiger: Pouncing on their target at great speed, the Dragon Monks gains + 1 Attack.
•
White Crane: Moving as fast as the wind, the Dragon Monks gains the lways Strikes First special rule.
•
Fanged Snake: Biting with the lethality of the viper, The Dragon Monks gains the Killing Blow special rule.
•
Great Dragon: Striking with the power of the dragon, the Dragon Monks gains +1 Strength.
•
Praying Mantis: Adaptin a defensive stance, The Dragon Monks gains a 5+ Ward Save.
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Wu Xia various causes with the belief that the courts of law and their government are dysfunctional and corrupt. Wu Xia believe these differences can only be resolved by force. Many Wu Xia have great disregard for authority. They are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the goals of their cause. This can, of course, lead to adventure as they meet opposition to what they fight or, often in the form of powerful institutions. Despite their disregard for wealth, most Wu Xia realize that to accomplish the goals of their cause they will need money. To obtain what they need, they will go on adventures. Some see the injustice of the government and want to do something about it. They choose to bring forth the power of justice, freedom, or the outrage of their ancestors on these problems. They all seek to change the world using their chosen cause. Others see the will of death across the land and seek to avert it or take up its cause.
Whether out of choice or out of desperation, Wu Xia have become a respected figures in the world of martial arts, and have devoted their lives to mastering it. Whether following a tradition, or a personal quest for glory and discovery, they travel the roads of Cathay, selling their fighting skills. But they will only fight for a just cause. For in the words of their code, “the strong warrior defeats his enemies with his weapon, but only the great warrior fights with his heart.” Most Wu Xia aspire to the ideals of righteousness, honour, justice, individualism, courage, loyalty, altruism, truthfulness, disregard for wealth, and a desire for glory. The Wu Xia is a non-conformist who fights for what he believes is a just cause. They are honourable to a fault, their word is inviolable, and their reputations are more important than life itself. Moreover, they are warriors who do not hesitate to use their skills in the defence of their beliefs. However, many Wu Xia are more dogmatic than altruistic. They are champions for any cause to which they pledge their loyalty, be it benevolent or otherwise. Despite the fact that many of their beliefs are popular with the people and races in the land of Cathay, the role of the Wu Xia is seen an aspect of counterculture. The individualism of the Wu Xia is directly at odds with certain traditional conventions of Cathayan philosophy, since the Wu Xia fight in the name of their
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The Wu Xia ride upon mystical beasts known as Jin Shan - giant frogs or toads of great po wer - that they capture as tadpoles from the Great Pond of Cathay. Once fully grown, they become loyal mounts to their riders. As strange a sight as they may be, the Jin Shan should not be underestimated. Able to jump high into the air, they can quickly surprise the foe and attack them without warning.
Wu Xia Wandering Force Jin Shan
M WS BS S T 4 4 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 6 4 0 4 4
W 1 1 3
I 4 4 4
A Ld 1 8 2 8 2 5
TROOP TYPE: Monstrous Cavalry. SPECIAL RULES: Glory for the Dragon Emperor, Fear, River Strider, Poisoned Attacks (Jin Shan only). Great Leap: Jin Shan may jump with their rider o ver many obstacles, and even enemy units. Jin Shan Cavalry can move up to 6" over any obstacle or terrain feature less than 4" in height or enemy units that are not Large Targets, even when charging.
RECLINING MOON LANCE These long-shafted ornamented weapons consists of two blades, one spear tip for stabbing, and one sword blade for slashing, making them high versatile in combat.
Requires two hands. A model armed with a reclining moon lance gains +2 to his Strength when charging, and +1 Strength at other times.
Bastion Chariots Though Cathayans of all states have much in common, nothing is more common than their skill in the arts o f war. One devastating weapon employed across the plains of Cathay by all five kingdoms is the war chariot. The chariot is more than just a machine of war; to the Cathayan, it is the symbol of both po wer and prestige on the battlefield. I ndeed, no vassal may command more war chariots than his liege. The typical war chariot has two wheels, is pulled by two horses The Bastion Chariots of Cathay are among the heaviest in the world, using four mounts instead of the nor mal two, and having a larger platform allowing for more soldiers to fight from it. It is usually manned by the charioteer, an archer, and sometimes a third man holding a handful of throwing spears, plus a sword or battleaxe. It is often constructed from wood, leather, and sometimes bronze or other precious minerals and elements. Cathay's chariots present a unique spectacle on the battlefield. As well as being painted red and covered in flags snapping in the wind, each chariot is personalised by its officer and charioteer. Painted shields, lacquered wood ornaments representing the faces of demons or animals, shocks of horsehair or coloured plumes often decorate the chariot and yoke shaft. Horses are also
attired for battle in richly decorated barding. Bronze spikes fixed to the wheels, just in front of the yoke shaft and sometimes even on the horses’ barding, give the whole vehicle an impressive appearance. To ride into battle on one of Cathay’s Bastion Chariots is a great honour, usually reserved to nobles, but some soldiers rising in the ranks of the army may also receive this privilege. Some Warlords ride to war in one of these chariots, a stoic example of the grandeur that is Cathay. The Emperor himself has the grandest chariot in all the land, a resplendent construction decorated with gold and jade, glistening in the sunlight. The Bastion Chariots move swiftly across the battlefield, smashing against enemy formations in force. Those that are not crushed beneath the hooves of the horses or the scythed wheels of the chariot are soon impaled on the spears of the crew.
Bastion Chariot Charioteer Warhorse
M WS BS 4 3 8 3 0
S 5 3 3
T W I A Ld 5 5 - - - - 3 1 8 - - 3 1 -
TROOP TYPE: Chariot.
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Foo Statues Foo Statues are some of the strangest defenders of Cathay. They are magical constructs, chiselled and set from enchanted stone and stand immobile guarding temple grounds from intruders. On closer inspection these avatars seem indistinguishable from a normal statue, but they suddenly spring into life when certain strictures have been violated on the temple grounds. The Wu Jen long ago learnt the art of animating them in times of need and since then have perfected the enchantments required to do so. Heavy weathering on the majority of these constructs indicates they may come from an ancient time and that any such magic harnessed during their creation was lost or remains undiscovered.
General Lu Wai Zheng spurred his horse and rode quickly down the long line of his soldiers. His mounted escort, surprised by this sudden change of pace, was unable to catch up with him until he slowed at the top of a small grassy hillock, almost six hundred yards ahead of his army. The old general struck his saddle in anger. Damned Fong, he had manoeuvred well. For three days, scouts reported enemy troop movements almost thirty li from here. Nonsense! Lu Wai Zheng had hoped to surprise his old pupil, but he was the one in the trap. How stupid! The shallow, narrow valley ahead of him was barely large enough for him to deploy his army. A stream in a ditch cut it in half. His chariots would find it hard to deploy their strength here. The equivalent of two brigades faced him and his army, perfectly aligned, well rested and ready for battle. The road to victory would lead him straight through those lines. What now? Retreat, or attempt to reorganise his army, which would leave his disorganised troops open to a devastating attack. Damned Fong. Well played! The officers had stopped the army ’s advance, which waited, weapons in hand, for new orders. Lu Wai Zheng lifted his commander ’s staff – the sign of his command. Immediately, his staff officers came forward and observed the situation. After a quick discussion, they brought forward the musicians and standard- bearers. Messengers left to address the heads of the different brigades. The drums and horns resounded, the flags snapped in the wind. The army, acting on new orders, crossed the battlefield to take up position. 60
Fanciful tales of hidden shrines, their priests butchered by defilers, now lie concealed in ruin. Ruins watched over by ever vigilant guardians who shall resist all attempts to settle them back into quiet stone, warding off those who dare to unravel the mystery. A Foo Statue has a large, blunt head with wide-set, bulging eyes. Their bodies appear leonine, with thick fur and large padded feet. Coloration ranges from golden to black, though some rare Foo Statues range from white to any other colour. While possessing the durability and strength o f stone, they move with startling agility and could almost be mistaken for real animals if it weren’t for their grotesque, Daemonic faces of the statues and the creepers and mould trailing from their legs. In battle they fight like their living counterparts, charging and pouncing with surprising speed and crushing the skulls of their foe with the inevitability of stone. When the armies of Cathay go to war, it is not uncommon to see these arcane constructions loping with disturbing grace alongside the marching soldiers.
Foo Statue
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 7 4 0 5 5 3 3 3 8
TROOP TYPE: Monstrous Beasts. SPECIAL RULES: Fear, Immune to Psychology, Scaly Skin (3+), Magic Resistance (1).
Terr cotta Warrior A legend in Cathay says that a Dragon mperor pleaded with the God of Conflicts, for an unstoppable army to beat the hobgoblins to the west. Knowing that the strength of Cathay alone would be enough to best any foe, the god dug a wide trench and sed all the earth and clay he removed to construct n army numbering one hundred thousand Terracotta Warriors for the Dragon Emperor. The Emperor as most pleased and set this army on the Hobgo lins and was even more pleased when they utterly cr shed them. With the hobgoblins gone, the army stopped moving and nothing could be done to make the move again. The Dragon Emperor was disappointed by this and demanded that life be returned to the T rracotta Warriors. The God of Conflicts was outraged, so he ordered the soldiers to tear the Dragon mperor limb from limb and bear away pieces of the orpse, each going forth to find a quiet place to rest. From then on they would protect the body of the Dra on Emperor and only have life once again to face a threat with the might to crush Grand Cathay. The Terracotta Warriors then stood qui t, unmoving for centuries, until the Wu Jen managed to solve the magical secrets of bringing them back t life. Unfortunately, this requires a huge amount of effort from the Wu Jens side, and they can therefore only control smaller groups of them at a time. Once awoken, they will follow orders just like any oth r soldier, except that their morale is unfaltering, aking them perfect warriors. However, due to the magic required to keep them alive, they are prone to beco e inanimate when weakened. Still, as long as they a e moving, they are a welcome unit if the Cathayan arm , being the most disciplined warriors the world will ever see. A terracotta soldier is crafted from clay and fired into ceramic, and is usually sculpted to rese ble an armoured human soldier. Terra-cotta soldiers are often created to guard the tomb of powerful r lers, standing in silent ranks to guard their liege even after his or her death. These soldiers stand vigil for centuries, animating only to defend the tomb and its riches from tomb robbers. Terracotta soldiers are ty ically painted with coloured lacquer, though this decoration is often worn away from use or faded with age. Unlike most constructs, a terra-cotta soldier carries within its form a spark of intelligence. his is hardly enough to grant the construct the ability to speak or otherwise engage in free will, but it is enough for it to carry out more complex tactics than most constructs are capable of. Stories of farmers digging up soldiers of red clay are abound to this day, usually followed by tales of fleeing peasants as the construct fights to prote t the decayed body part it keeps vigil over.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld Terracotta Warrior 4 3 2 4 4 1 2 1 10
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Magi
Resistance (1),
Unbreakable, Unstable.
General Lu Wai Zheng stretched his aching back. From his horse, he watched his troops march – sixteen thousand men, mostly foot soldiers. He knew in advance that they had crushing numerical superiority. The spies were certain about that. General Fong cou d count on only four or five thousand men; conscripts for the most part. However, the old general did not underestimate the strength of the rebels, fighting for a cause tha they believed in, and led by a peerless s trategist. The ranks of the infantry for ming the rear guard finally passed them, soon followe by the supply carts. The perfection of a marching ar y still fascinated him: the fluid lines, the raised spears, the tramp of boots on the paved road... everything had een done to help ensure his plan ’s success. His sovereign had not spared any expense and he Minister of War had relayed his orders. Now, the perfectly formed and equipped units h aded towards their destiny. Riders in front, thirty chariot , crossbowmen and infantry in iron helmets organised the selves into five operational divisions. The old general revised in his mind the plan he had form ulated. Lu Wai Zheng considere his chances of success. Everything rested on two cr cial elements; his principal force would bear down on F ong ’s capital while another acted as a diversion to the east. Would it be enough to trick his old pupil? In his eart, he doubted it.
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Field Engineers The Cathayans have long been known for their extensive knowledge in creating spectacular engines of war using simple means, and were the first humans to master the use of gunpowder, long before the men of the Empire. Field Engineers are men specialised in building and maintaining these war machines, and despite the risk involved, often gladly take to the field of battle in order to try out their latest creations on the foes of Cathay.
SPECIAL RULES: Close Support: Field Engineers can be taken as support to other units of friendly non-skirmishing Infantry units. As long as they remain within 3" of one of these units, they have a 4+ Ward save against enemy spells and missile attacks, and may Stand & Shoot against enemies charging their parent unit using the normal rules. They are otherwise completely normal units for the purposes of Movement and for determining Victory Points. All units of Field Engineers must deploy at the same time, just like War Machines. Unlike other War Machines, the Dragon's Breath and Hand Mortar may march. A destroyed, fleeing or broken unit of Field Engineers never causes Panic tests in frie ndly units.
Sky Rockets The Cathayans are generally credited with the invention of the explosive called gunpowder. They use it extensively to power rockets, both for entertainment and military use. Although they never developed the inaccurate design, rockets can be used with great effect against enemies. Rockets are noisy, smelly, and spew fire while travelling at high velocity. They damage anything they hit and do collateral damage if they carry an explosive charge. M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Sky Rocketeer
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Skirmishers. Sky Rockets: Sky Rockets fire using the following profile: Range
Strength
8-24"
5
Special Rules Slow to Fire
Each Hit from a Sky Rocket is multiplied into D3 Hits. On the To Hit roll of a 1, something has gone wrong with the firing mechanism. Roll a D6; on the roll of a 1, resolve the Hit against the unit itself.
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Fire bomb Throwers Fire bombs are made from earthenware pots that are filled with gunpowder and then lit by a fuse. As the fuse burns down, the thrower swings the bomb by an attached rope and then releases it at the right moment, hopefully hurling it at the enemy to explode. The resulting blast can be terrible as the pot shatters. These grenades are effective when used as fire support in a field battle. M WS BS S T W I A Ld 3 3 3 1 3 1 7 Fire Bomb Thrower 4 3
TROOP TYPE: Infantry. SPECIAL RULES: Skirmishers. Fire Bombs: Fire Bomb Throwers fire using the following profile: Range
Strength
8"
4
Special Rules Quick to Fire, Flaming Attacks
No armour saves are allowed against wounds caused by Fire Bombs.
Hand Mortar Hand mortars are portable artillery pieces mounted on small wagons that are brought into battle. Firing a hollow shell packed with gunpowder and metal splinters that send shards of sharp metal in every direction upon impact, these lightweight versions of the Imperial Mortars can be devastating against enemy infantry. M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 5 2 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Mortar Field Engineer
TROOP TYPE: War Machine. SPECIAL RULES: Mortar Shell: Hand Mortars fire using the following profile, following all the rules for Stone Throwers:
DRAGON’S BREATH The Cathayan Dragon’s Breath is a siege weapon that fires a continuous stream of flame, incinerating enemy infantry from short range. They called it the “Dragon’s Breath” after the Celestial Dragon that is so famed across the land, and the similarities of the two “breathing” fire. It was the first use of gunpowder in Cathayan warfare, before it was imbued with enough saltpeter to explode. The Dragon’s Breath is most commonly mounted on a two-wheeled pushcart, allowing it to be used on the battlefield to deter to enemy attacks by projecting a shield of flame for advancing soldiers.
Dragon's Breath Field Engineer
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 5 2 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
TROOP TYPE: War Machine. SPECIAL RULES: Dragon's Breath: The Dragon's Breath fire using the following profile: Range -
Strength 3
Special Rules Flaming Attacks, Breath Weapon
Unlike normal Breath Weapons, the Dragon's Breath can be fired every turn, but may not be used in close combat. Each time the Dragon's Breath is fired, roll a D6. On a 1, something has gone wrong. Roll another D6 and consult the Black Powder War Machine Misfire chart in the Warhammer rulebook.
Range
Strength
8-24"
2
Special Rules Armour Piercing, Slow to Fire
If a Misfire is rolled, roll a D6 and consult the Black Powder War Machine Misfire chart.
Colonel Gu Ji was enraged. These damned archers were in their element in this situation. Nothing was blocking their line of sight and his men were dropping like flies. He had quickly realised that they were not dealing with simple citizen militia or fearful peasants. Mercenaries! Veterans of many battles, of that he had no doubt. “What is the chief engineer doing? Do I have to fetch him myself? ” Gu Ji snarled. A rotund man bounded across the guarded perimeter and bowed respectfully to the colonel. “This siege is not proceeding very auspiciously, master engineer. Find something that will level the p laying field, Yuxing must fall before tonight. ” “Tonight, colonel? ” gasped the specialist. “But that would be impossible, it would take me days to build a tower or... ” “Who ’s talking about a tower, fool! We have ten times their manpower. I want ladders to scale these palisades and barricades to protect my archers so they can get close enough to cover our next assault.” The little man relaxed a little, but a nervous tic made him blink unsteadily. “Ah, well that ’s another matter. Give me two hours. The wood in that forest looks promising...” “Spare me the technical details and put your men to work immediately,” Gu Ji snapped. “You have an hour.” “Very well, colonel. Perhaps you might also like a ram? Even roughly carved from a trunk it should be enough to break down those flimsy gates and open the town.” “Good idea.” The colonel scratched his chin. “And while you ’re there, make sure the fire pots are ready to use. I would like to keep from destroying the town, but if it is necessary, I ’ll turn it to ashes and pass over the ruins. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than a burning town under a starfilled sky, master engineer? ” Colonel Gu Ji began to laugh raucously.
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Stormhurler Ballista The Stormhurler Ballista is basically a larger version of the Chu Ko Nu, fielding a lot more destructive power. It can fire a huge amount of arro ws in a single volley, covering the sky with bolts, killing everything within range. It is mounted on a fixed chassis and placed atop ramparts. As tall as a man, it can launch three-foot long bronze bolts two hundred yards or more. A hoist allows it to be lifted or lowered. Wheels help it manoeuvre, and at least two soldiers are needed to work it. The Cathayan armies also use these on the battlefield. There are many versions, some lined up one next to the other, others in a fan-shape. This war machine can sow carnage among enemy ranks. However, precision is sacrificed in return for a higher rate of fire: after medium range the bolts tend to disperse. Usually, this weapon can fire several bolts, all set off together with the aid of a bronze catch. Several of these weapons can be placed side by side and tied to a single release catch with a cord connecting one to the other, giving it a still higher rate of fire. It saw its first major use under the Warring Kingdoms Period when Emperor Yin Shi Zheng had hundreds of these war machines manufactured for his ca mpaign to unify Cathay. The most remembered and feared
64
moment was when he used ten batteries of Stormhurler Ballistas to assault the city of Hsijing. Not a single soldier of his army was killed during the siege; they used the Stormhurler Ballista to bombard the city from afar for several hours, firing straight through the walls of the building and killing everyone above ground. The few survivors that managed to take shelter in cellars immediately surrendered when his army reached the city gates. M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 7 3 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Ballista Crew
TROOP TYPE: War Machine. SPECIAL RULES: Stormhurler Bolts: The Ballista fires using the following profile: Range
Strength
36"
4
Special Rules Multiple Shots (8), Armour Piercing, Slow to Fire
The Stormhurler Ballista ignores penalties for firing Multiple Shots.
Dragon Cannon The first weapons were crude, and more often than not exploding in the faces of the crew operating them, but over the centuries they managed to both stabilize them and making them both more accurate and destructive. In later years, the Cathayan engineers have constructed more effective ways to their war machines. While the Dragon Cannon is smaller than the ones of the Empire, it has a special type of ammunition not yet discovered in the Old World. Dragon Cannons fire extremely volatile ammunition, cannonballs with an outer layer packed with gunpowder that explode on impact. Surrounding the cannonball is a thin metal shell packed with gunpowder. When the cannonball hits its target, the shell breaks and the spark it creates sets the gunpowder within on fire, making in very effective against infantry and monsters alike.
Dragon Cannon Crew
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 7 3 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
TROOP TYPE: War Machine (Cannon). Neither in Cathay nor in the Old World can scholars approach with certitude the origins of alchemy, but the evidences in Cathay appear to be slightly older. The discovery of alchemy eventually led to the invention of gunpowder. The Cathayans wasted little time in applying it to warfare, and soon the first cannons could be seen.
The three thousand odd troops sent by General Lu Wai Zheng to take Fong ’s army from behind met no resistance until Yuxing. The maps indicated that this was nothing but a small and poorly defended town, yet the officers scouting ahead had discovered a wall, once damaged, was now repaired and topped with a heavy log palisade. A freshly dug moat made access to the walls dangerous, and a good hundred soldiers guarded the walls themselves. The main gate had also been reinforced recently. Beams and stocks of wood stopped any direct access. Colonel Gu Ji, who commanded this detachment, was stunned. The walled town's entire population must have been mobilised day and night to improve the defences to this extent. Although rapidly built, the defences would make any attack take time: this was a privilege that the young officer did not have. His superior ’s orders were clear: meet as quickly as possible at the rendezvous, harass the enemy troops attempting to divide them and, most of all, gain control of the walled town of Yuxing to ensure supplies. But here, faced with the town, Gu Ji
SPECIAL RULES: Explosive Ammunition: When the cannon ball lands before the bounce, it causes D6 Strength 3 Flaming hits on any unit it touches. Roll the bounce afterwards as normal.
was plunged into doubt. He could not simply ignore it and leave this poisoned thorn behind them, but General Lu Wai Zheng needed him to be at the rendezvous before tomorrow. Gu Ji looked closer at the defences he was facing. The enemy archers were well protected. The walls were probably no more than four yards high, but that was not counting the muddy moat. The roads leading to the gates would not allow for more than a dozen men. In fact, his only advantage was in the small numbers in the garrison: it could not effectively defend several assaults at once. He made his decision, even if it meant slowing down his unit. “Deploy the troops into four assault groups. Establish
a security perimeter and rejoin me with your officers immediately for new orders. ”
The day promised to be bloody, but Gu Ji was already dreaming of the loot this victory would bring him. 65
Fire Arrow For ages past in Cathay, fireworks have been used frequently in for celebrations. The grand fireworks that displays when a new emperor is crowned rival anything that magic can do. The Cathayans were the first civilized nation in the world to develop and use explosives. Even today, their use of various kinds of rockets, fireworks and cannons rivals that of the Old World nations. Because of this long history Cathayan artillery is perhaps the most feared in the Warhammer World. They are masters of rocketry, and take their lethal Fire Arrows onto the field in great numbers. The earliest documentation of Cathayan fireworks dates back to the Yang Dynasty, where they were first used to frighten away evil spirits with their loud sound, and also to accompany prayers for happiness and prosperity.
The Fire Arrow consists of a two-wheeled cart carrying a launch pad or board, filled with holes into which the ammunition is inserted. This consists of about two hundred small rockets attached to long sticks, which are then ignited and fired. The rockets explode on impacts, dealing massive damage. Many are the foes that have been slain by an artillery barrage from these fearsome weapons.
Eventually, the art and science of the firework developed into an independent profession of its own. Cathayan pyrotechnicians are still well respected for their knowledge and skill in mounting dazzling displays of light and sound. Fireworks may have also led to the use of military rockets in Cathay, but their true origins are shrouded in mystery. Exactly when the first flights of rockets occurred is contested. Some say that the first recorded use of a rocket in battle was by the Wu Dynasty Grand Army against the Hobgoblin hordes. There were reports of Fire Arrows that could be heard for miles when they fired, causing devastation for the size of a house.
Fire Arrows: The Fire Arrow fires using the following profile:
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M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 7 3 - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Fire Arrow Crew
TROOP TYPE: War Machine. SPECIAL RULES:
Range
Strength
12-48"
3
Special Rules Slow to Fire
Roll the Artillery Dice and multiply the result by 3. This is the number of rockets fired. Roll to hit as normal, ignoring penalties for long range and multiple shots. If the artillery dice shows a misfire, roll a D6 and consult the Black Powder War Machine Misfire chart in the Warhammer rulebook.
Phoenix It has a 500 to 1,000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young Phoenix or Phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. The Phoenix rarely interfere in the wars of Cathay, but in times when the great flame itself is in danger, or its future is at stake, the Phoenix will fly forth fr om the peak of Rui An like fiery comets to bring death to the foes of Cathay. The people of Cathay view sightings of a Phoenix as an omen of good to come and protection against evil. The Phoenix is heavily featured in Cathayan art and craft as a symbol of hope and virtue. Scholars have theorized that, coming from the Great Flame, a beacon which Chaos cannot penetrate, the Phoenix are the antithesis of all Chaos and its creatures, though there is nothing other than speculation on this subject, as even to the Emperor and the Wu Jen the Phoenix are aloof and majestic.
Phoenix Few creatures come as close to epitomizing the ideals of good and righteousness as phoenixes. Resplendent birds with the ability to set their bodies ablaze at will and resurrect themselves after being slain, phoenixes compete with even the mightiest beings in their acts of virtue. In Cathay, the phoenix is seen as a symbol of virtue, healing, strength, and eternal life. While phoenixes rarely dwell in or near settlements, the beings are known far and wide for their acts of benevolence and vast stores of wisdom. Some pilgrims trek hundreds of miles through harsh deserts and barren hills merely to solicit a phoenix’s rare and ancient knowledge, always given freely and with courtesy. The Phoenixes are the guardians of the Great Flame of Mount Rui An, beings of awesome magical power and unsurpassed grace and beauty. Even bigger than the great eagles of Ulthuan, a Phoenix also have the ability to create a massive aura of flame around themselves in the shape of a far greater bird, appearing to be many feet larger in size when roused to anger. While even the greatest celestial must occasionally tur n its attention to its home plane, the phoenix remains a vigilant guardian of the Great Flame and a crusader against those who would seek to spread cruelty and malice. All the while, the benevolent creatures encourage the sowing of knowledge and wisdom, seeing education as a means to end such evils as famine and war.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 2 5 0 4 5 5 5 4 9
TROOP TYPE: Monster. SPECIAL RULES: Flaming Attacks, Fly, Immune to Psychology, Terror. Emberstorm: During the Movement phase, instead of moving normally or declaring a charge, the Phoenix may declare an Emberstorm attack. Draw a straight line up to 18” in length. Each model in the way of this line (determined as for a bouncing cannonball) suffers a Strength 5 Flaming hit. After these hits are resolved, place the Phoenix at the lines’ end point. If this leaves the Phoenix in contact with an enemy unit, then place the Phoenix in combat with the unit, using the line along which it moved to determine which facing of the enemy unit the Phoenix is attacking. If the Phoenix ends an Emberstorm attack in combat with an enemy unit then it is treated as having charged that unit. Plumage of Flames: All non-magical attacks suffer a -1 penalty To Wound the Phoenix, and in addition, models that begin the Close Combat phase in base contact with the Phoenix take a single Strength 4 Flaming hit that counts towards combat resolution. The Phoenix itself is immune to all Flaming Attacks. Fiery Rebirth: If the Phoenix is slain, roll a D6. On a result of a 4+, the Phoenix remains in play with a single wound, and every model in base contact suffers a Strength 5 Flaming hit.
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Brass Titans Implacable automatons forged of elemental fire and brass, Brass Titans stand sentinel over the palaces and temples of Cathay. Unquestionably loyal, they follow orders literally and explicitly, and so make perfect guardians for the Grand Empire. Brass Titans are forged from the purest copper and zinc found in the mountains of Cathay to make an incredibly strong brass alloy, with an inner core of molten lava. Brass Titans are normally cast to resemble huge, fearsome elemental beings, clad in shining armour. Brass Titans are typically found guarding the treasuries of the larger temples and palaces. The largest number of these golems, however, is found within the city of Weijin. The Dragon Emperor is known to have an entire cadre of Brass Titans protecting his palace, and it is a mark of status among the nobles to own one of the powerful constructs.
Face to face, banners unfurled in the morning wind, the two armies watched and swore at each other. The already hot sun burned armour and weapons, which were waved with furious threats. Suddenly the first line of foot soldiers opened up. Silence fell almost immediately in the dusty plain. A strong and robust warrior strode forward from the ranks with a massive mace balanced almost casually over his shoulder. Even at the distance his enemies from Yan recognised him: Fuo Ling, bearer of the legendary Groaning Hammer. A fearful murmur crossed the lines of Yan warriors, suddenly interrupted by an incongruous laugh. A small muscular man came forward from the Yan ranks, with a naked torso, a whip in one hand and a dagger in the other. The many tattoos covering his arms and shoulders allow the troops to immediately identify him. Fuo Ling also recognises him. It ’s that greedy mercenary that he swore to slay so many times: Jin Gen, the Snake of Guzhu. Both men meet each other ’s eyes and then, slowly, approach one another, no noise disturbing the moment. Each soldier knowing that, on this day, they must fight for his life and his king. But none feel that they rival the might emanating from these two heroes. Who knows if his fate is to be determined today by the result of the duel about to take place? 68
The first Brass Titan was created over 1500 years ago by a great Wu Jen who was obsessed with the alchemical binds between the elements and metal. After researching for a way to combine the two, he succeeded in creating what would be the first of many of these mighty beings. Unfortunately, it would also become his undoing, as he was unable to control it and was slain by his own creation. Later, his finding would be discovered by the Imperial Court, which duly set out to recreate his great innovation. Over the years, the art of constructing these beings have been perfected, allowing them to take orders more clearly and be built to immense sizes. The towering brass statues stand attention, holding a gigantic curved sword in their clenched fists. Heat emanates from the shining metal and the pungent smell of sulphur fills the air. Without warning, the statues come to life, stepping into a fighting stance with a thunderous crash that shakes the ground. Towering over the soldiers of Cathay, the Brass Titans march to war; each step a small earthquake and every swing of the blade able to massacre whole scores of troops.
Brass Titan
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 6 4 0 6 6 6 1 5 10
TROOP TYPE: Monster. SPECIAL RULES: Terror, Large Target, Magic Resistance (2), Unbreakable, Unstable. Clean Sweep: In addition to his normal attacks, the Brass Titan may make a special attack. If this attack Hits, it inflicts 1 automatic Strength 6 hit on all models in base contact. Armoured Construct: Brass Titans have a 3+ armour save.
Celestial Dragons The dragons of Cathay are often actively involved with the ebb and flow of the human society. Indeed, it is truly the dragons who rule, and they are fundamentally tied to the success and failure of destiny itself. Dragons, to the Cathayan, are the living embodiment of wisdom and divinity. Cathayans view dragons with terror and awe, but unlike those in the Old World, they also regard them with a deep reverence that borders on worship. Throughout the land, the Celestial Dragons are intrinsically involved in life – even the gods themselves often appear as dragons, prompting many to believe that any dragon may be a deity. Certainly, the Celestial Dragons seem to work hand in hand with fate and destiny, but whether they are destiny’s agents and heralds or are in fact physical manifestations of divine beings is unknown to mortals – and this may indeed be unknown even to dragons themselves. The extent and nature of a Celestial Dragon’s involvement with society can vary from being a fundamental part to being nonexistent if different regions. Regardless, Celestial Dragons tend to be more active in times of great upheaval – although they can be slow to react to such changes.
Lu Pei started when the leather-armoured officer called his name. As he was standing, mouth open, the soldier glanced severely at him and repeated his name a little louder. This time, Lu Pei managed to clear his throat and announce his presence in a strangled voice. The officer frowned and the young boy heard the murmurs of the other adolescents in the court of the Daliang Military Academy. He knew he should feel honoured to be here, and that he owed it to his uncle, the famous general Lu Wai Zheng, nicknamed Iron-Arse by his men for his ability to stay on horseback for days on end when on campaign. However, Lu Pei did not feel very lucky on this grey and misty morning in the capital of the most powerful state in the Zhongguo. When the officer had finished calling out fifteen young recruits, he slipped the rolls of bamboo under his arm and started on a welcoming speech without much enthusiasm, words learned by heart and spoken too often. Then, in a loud and imperious voice, he ordered the young men inside the prestigious military academy. Lu Pei shivered, his legs refusing to obey him. The adolescent following him, a robust young man with square shoulders gave him a push from behind. The frail Lu Pei tripped on a paving stone and nearly fell over. A mad laugh crackled around the group, followed by a frown from the officer. Lu Pei suspected it was as much emotion as the man was capable of expressing. He, however, knew very well the emotion now growing inside him – fear. Slowly, he approached the large vaulted arch marking the entrance of the fort where he was going to spend the next four years of his life. It resembled a gaping red and black mouth ready to swallow him. That ’s exactly what it is, thought Lu Pei. An inhuman monster about to swallow me, digest me and turn me into someone else. An officer devoted to the monarchy of Wei. In a few years, I too will be unable to express myself except with my eyebrows. Oddly, this thought made him smile.
The Celestial Dragons of Cathay are quite assuredly the most prominent image of the land, being their symbol as a nation. The Celestial Dragon is revered as a secret creature, worshipped by peasant and noble alike. The Dragons themselves are indeed potent beings, and powerful allies to the Cathayans. They soar high across the battlefields and cities of Cathay, content with the high position they possess in the Cathayan hierarchy. They live high up in the Kamalayan Mountains, where they sleep in great caves. Cathayans often seek to make a pilgrimage to their resting places, bringing offerings and gifts to the Dragons. The Celestial Dragons differ from the other Dragons of the world, being more wyrm-like and having a wild mane of hair. The greatest difference though, is their lack of wings. Instead, the Celestial Dragons magically soar through the air, graciously floating on the clouds. Unlike the Dragons of the Old World, the Celestial Dragons possess their own magic, which both allows them to fly without wings. They can also communicate though telepathy, and often offer potent advice to the armies of Cathay.
Celestial Dragon
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 6 6 0 6 6 6 3 5 9
TROOP TYPE: Monster. SPECIAL RULES: Fly, Terror, Large Target, Scaly Skin (3+), Breath Weapon (Strength 4).
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Kirin The Kirin are a race of noble aerial creatures that roams the sky in search of good deeds to reward or malefactors to punish. The Kirin’s coat is covered with luminous golden scales like a sunrise on a clear morning; the thick mane and tail are a darker gold. The horn and hooves are gold tinged with pink. The eyes are a deep violet, and it has a beautiful melodious voice. The Kirin speak their own language. Being telepathic, they are able to mentally or verbally converse with virtually any living thing. The Kirin rarely set hoof on solid ground, and onl y the males ever do so. No encounter with a female Kirin has ever been recorded, although it is certain such beings exist. Likewise no young Kirin has ever been encountered, thus details of their reproduction are unknown and the Kirin themselves are reticent about these top ics. The Kirin come to the aid of the Cathayans if asked properly or if such they are faced with a po werful, extremely evil being. The Kirin believe in self-improvement, and do not casually come to a Cathayans aid except in the most dire of circumstances. When they do so though, they serve as very potent mounts for the Warlords and Duizhu of Cathay, soaring across the battlefield to smite their unholy foes. The noble Kirin roam the sky, their feet rarely touching
soil. They have a stag’s graceful body and cloven hooves, a pair of backward-facing horns, and a thick mane and tail ranging from golden to brilliant reds or purples in the hues of the setting sun. Their hide resembles that of a dragon, the scales gleaming ebon or iridescent green. Rare in the extreme, Kirin seldom meddle openly in worldly affairs, preferring a subtle hand in overturning the schemes of wicked spirits such as hags and oni. The blood of young Kirin runs hot, however, and such spirited youths may serve as mounts for cavaliers and paladins of clever wit and untarnished moral quality. The wisest and most powerful Kirin are known as emperor Kirin, having earned this title through the respect of their peers and the strength of their powers. They resemble standard Kirin, except their hooves give off sparks as they gallop through the air.
Kirin
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 9 4 0 4 4 3 5 2 8
TROOP TYPE: Monstrous Beast. SPECIAL RULES: Fly, Magical Attacks. Impale Attack: The Kirin attacks with +1 Strength when it charges into combat.
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Tzu-Sun felt the weight of his age a little more every day. So many victories won and still he could not win this latest war. During his final days, he no longer left his room and only his last few disciples came to visit him. They shared the thoughts of their old master and spent a few hours playing him at Go, his favourite game. His body was failing, but his spirit was still sharp. One cold morning, fever gripped Tzu-Sun. The doctors recognised that there was nothing that they could do. Then a man presented himself on foot in front of the master ’s house. He was humbly dressed and carried only a Go board. He asked that they bring a message to Tzu-Sun. No one knows what this was, but the master demanded that the man be brought in immediately. Then the servants h ad to leave, and the two men were alone. The man was in fact a powerful demon, a general of the infernal armies. Nonetheless, he admired Tzu-Sun and his military thinking and wanted to meet him before his death, and had therefore taken human form. He also had a proposition for him. “Venerable master, play Go against me, it will be the most
important game of your life. If you lose, you forfeit your soul to me and I will make you my high officer for all eternity. If not, I will give you immortality.”
Tzu-Sun never had so much to lose and so much to gain. He could not refuse such a challenge. The game lasted seven days, during which he took only soup and water before sending the servant away as quickly as possible. He played the greatest game of his life, and the demon was as good as his word. However, the minions of the Hells have their own way of granting their wishes: when the demon left the palace, the disciples of Tzu-Sun found their master dead in his bed. On the low table was a beautiful wooden Go board, set with pieces of the purest jade.
Pixiu The Pixiu is a celestial lion, said to be the ninth son o f a dragon, possessing the body of a lion, the head of a dragon, the paws of a kilin and the wings of an eagle. According to legend, it once served the gods in hunting down demons and halting the spread of Chaos. Then it made a mistake, breaking one of the laws of the Celestial Realm and was punished by the Dragon Emperor who banished the Pixiu, and it has since suffered a curse which has stopped it from feeding on anything other than gold. However, its hatred for daemons did not slumber long, and it has continued hunting them tirelessly to destroy them and absorb their essence, which it transforms into gold, precious stones and many other riches. The Pixiu now lives mostly in the mountains but is drawn to places infested by Chaos, often caused by the daemons it loves to devour. According to an ancient text, the Pixiu is condemned to wander forever on the earth, seeking gold to eat and demons of all kinds to destroy. Although the tales speak of the Pixiu as a unique being, it is more likel y that it is one of a race of celestial creatures, several examples of which live in our world. All the legends agree on the Pixiu’s ferocity and warlike bravery, to the extent that the term “pixiu” is used to refer to an army.
Some tales tell of Warlords with few scruples, which capture a Pixiu and bring it daemons every day for it to devour them and vomit forth gold and j ewels. When battle calls, they take their Pixiu as a mount, for these mighty beasts are able to take on the toughest of foe.
Pixiu
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 7 5 0 5 5 5 4 4 7
TROOP TYPE: Monster. SPECIAL RULES: Fly, Terror, Large Target Hatred (Daemons of Chaos).
On hearing the noise from the court, Colonel Wai left his post on the second floor of the Daliang governor ’s palace, and walked to the low window and glanced outside. Four soldiers escorted two unfortunates in rags, shoulders slumped and covered in chains. Two spies caught the day before when they tried to break into the military command offices. Colonel Wai knew what would happen to them: a long agony at the hands of the torturers, experts in suffering. They had refused to talk up to now. As he was in charge of counter-espionage in the region, the officer had no doubt that one at least was in the pay of General Fong. The other, a traitor named Song Ya, served as his guide. Or so it seemed. The group of soldiers stopped in front of an iron-reinforced door. A cart filled with supplies blocked the gate leading out to the rest of the city. Colonel Wai allowed himself a small smile. After that everything happened very quickly. Song Ya straightened suddenly and threw his chains around the neck of one of the guards. He hurled the man against the wall, and before the other could react he struck another gaoler with his improvised weapon. His companion was at first surprised, then, seizing this unexpected opportunity, shoved another guard away before racing towards the open gate. Song Ya dispatched the fourth guard without difficulty before joining the Fong spy. The alarm was already ringing, but the guards at the gate could not close it with the cart in the way. In the chaos, Colonel Wai saw the two escape onto the twisting roads. Song Ya knew the town very well; they would be hard to find. The door opened behind him and his aide-de-camp, a young and ambitious officer, came to join him at the window. “Everything is working as planned, colonel. The patrols have received orders to not show too much zeal.” “Excellent. This time tomorrow Song Ya and his companion will have left Daliang territory. Let this spy rejoin his friends – and then we wait for news from our own.” “They say you trained Song Ya yourself, colonel.” “Indeed, when I was just a mere training officer. A perfect recruit: intelligent, loyal, without fault. We have just given him a clear path into the heart of the enemy ’s camp. I have no doubt the information we will gain from him will exceed all of our expectations. ”
The colonel smiled again; the smile of a predator released into a flock of helpless sheep.
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Xen huong Celestial Dragon E peror, Son of Heaven, Divine Leader of Cathay Xen Huong has been the reigning Celestial Dragon Emperor of Cathay for close to 300 yea rs ever since his return to the mortal realm. He is said to be immortal, for he does not seem to age at all, bless d by the ancestor gods and the Great Celestial Dragon itself. It was Xen Huong who defeated the Hordes of Chaos during the Great War against Chaos in 302 by possessing the body of the former Emp ror Meng, who sacrificed himself for Cathay. With the power bestowed upon him by the Great Celestial Dragon and the Moon Goddess, Xen Huong was able to take Azaroth Bloodlord head on in single co mbat. By slaying the Daemon Prince of Khorne l ading the forces of Chaos into battle, they scatter d before his might, and Cathay was saved. Under Xen Huong's reign, Cathay has b lossomed. While the land still has suffered from w ar, the spirit of Cathay is unbroken and every threat so far has been dispersed. As a warrior, he is the strongest in all of Cathay, due to the power of the Celesti l Dragon flowing through his veins. He is a skilled bureaucrat and politician, and is generally loved b his people. He has given the tribes of Cathay more rights in the land, ensuring their continued loyalty, and has increased the size of the fleet, making it safer for more trade ships to travel to and from Cathay . If ever Cathay has reached its pinnacle it would be under the second reign of Xen Huong.
Xen Huong Dragon Form
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 7 5 5 5 4 6 5 10 6 7 0 7 6 7 4 6 10
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Special Character), Monster (Dragon Form).
SPECIAL RULES: Emperor of Cathay: Xen Huong must be the army’s General. Units may use his Inspiring Pr sence special rule if they are within 18” rather than the normal 12”. In addition, the Emperor and unit he is ith is Immune to Psychology. Dragon Form: Xen Huong may choos to turn into his Dragon Form using the profile above at the start of any Cathayan phase. In addition, he gains the all Special Rules associated with normal Celestial ragons. If he changes into his True Form, he may not join any units, and cannot use Magic Weapons. e may change back into his human form at the start of any other subsequent Cathayan phase. Any wounds lost earlier in the battle will not be regained upon changing forms.
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MAGIC ITEMS: Phoenix Talon (Magic We pon) This ancient longsword has een the traditional armament of the Dragon Em peror of Cathay for over a thousand years. Forged in a Phoenix emberstorm and cooled with blessed water, t is blade has never known any obstacle to hinder its gr ceful but deadly swing. In battle it becomes a brand of ire, weaving incandescent arcs through air and flesh alike, emboldening the allies of its bearer with its glory.
This sword gives the wielder +2 Attacks. Any armour saves taken against wounds rom this weapon are reduced by an additional -2. Imperial Dragon Seal (Talisman) The Imperial Dragon Seal w s given to the very first Emperor by the Great Celestial Dragon as a means of securing his power as the Son of Heaven. Carved from the finest jade centuries ago in the form of a dragon, this seal has always been in the possession of the Emperor of Cathay ever since.
The Imperial Seal gives Xen Huong the Regeneration (4+) special rule. In addition, he is at -1 to hit in bo th close combat and against sh oting.
Zhao Fei The Blue Dragon, Lord of War, Grand General of Cathay Zhao Fei holds the highest ranking position possible of a warrior of Cathay. As the Grand General, it is he that is the first to lead the Emperor’s armies against the enemies of Cathay. Born as a simple warrior, he enlisted in the Grand Army and quickly rose through the ranks, showing both skill as a fighter and a tactician. He was soon commandeering his own force, leading it from victory to victory against chaos warbands. In 2217, it was he who formed the defence against the innumerable hordes of Hobgobla-Khan. Zhao Fei sent his soldiers with the present Grand General, to attack the Hobgoblin army and to destroy their supplies. However, the Grand General’s army did not show up on time, so Zhao Fei along with a few hundred men went from Shang-Yang looking for them. The main Hobgoblin force was marching at that time, and Zhao Fei ran into their vanguard. Not soon after the two sides commenced to engage in battle, the main Hobgoblin force arrived. The situation became very perilous for Zhao Fei, as he and his men were greatly outnumbered. He decided to attack the frontline of the Hobgoblin army. The Hobgoblins were surprised by the attack and momentarily dispersed. However, they soon regrouped and surrounded Zhao Fei. He fought his way out towards Shang-Yang. The Hobgoblin army pursued Zhao Fei to the city. Upon entering the Shang-Yang, he ordered all banners to be dropped and hidden, all drums to be silenced, and the gates to be left open completely. Thinking that the Cathayans had retreated in panic, the Hobgoblins rushed towards the main gate. Zhao Fei picked his moment to close the trap. He ordered his drummers to beat their instruments as loudly as they could, and his archers to rain down arrows on the Hobgoblins as they advanced, and to use firebombs against the ones passing through the gate. The pile of Hobgoblin corpses was so high that their comrades could use them to climb over the wall without ladders. Zhao Fei’s forces were just about to be overrun, when a horn sounded in the east. The Grand General’s army had arrived. The Cathayan Grand army flanked the stunned Hobgoblin army, which was completely routed and fled in panic back to the Dark Lands. Zhao Fei lost almost his entire army that day, but Shang-Yang was held. After that bloody battle, he was made Grand General of Cathay, replacing his former superior who was killed in the battle. While still young, Zhao Fei has proven time and time again his potency as a military commander. He is so far undefeated, and any army led by him is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Zhao Fei Warhorse
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 7 5 4 4 3 6 4 9 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
TROOP TYPE: Cavalry (Special Character). SPECIAL RULES: Grand General: Zhao Fei must be the army’s General unless Xen Huong is also in the same army. All friendly units within 12” of him may re-roll failed Panic tests.
MAGIC ITEMS: The Serpent Spear (Magic Weapon) An expertly crafted spear, whose grip is tightly wrapped in wyrmhide. The primal essence of a slain dragon still rages inside its ancient frame, from its gold capped pommel to its razor edged spade-headed tip. Wickedly sharp, this weapon can thrust through whole ranks of enemies.
Spear. The Serpent Spear adds +1 Strength to Zhao Fei’s Attacks. Instead of attacking normally, he may make a special attack. If this attack hits, resolve it the same manner as a hit from a Bolt Thrower. Dragon Plate Armour (Magic Armour) This suit of armour, fashioned from hardest steel and reinforced with dragon scales gives its wearer unmatched resilience.
The Dragon Plate gives Zhao Fei a 4+ Armour Save and a 5+ Ward Save.
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Tian Shi Master of the Heavens, Sage of the Stars, Grand Astromancer After working as a judge in the Imperial Court and tending to various provinces as advisor to the governing Warlords, Tian Shi eventually become as an astromancer at the Imperial Court, calculating and foretelling important events. Through his accurate calculations and observations he soon outdid his fellow astromancer too. The prophecies of Tian Shi always happened as he foretold them and soon he was uplifted by the Emperor to be one of his personal advisors. The accuracy of his divinations has led to the rumours that stalk his back, rumours of Tian Shi having made forbidden pacts to achieve this level of mastery. Should Tian Shi be aware of them, he strictly sticks to his upbringing, neither denying nor acknowledging them, always keeping his honour without disgracing the accusators.
Tian Shi
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Special Character). MAGIC: Tian Shi is a Level 4 Wizard that uses spells from the Lore of the Heavens.
SPECIAL RULES: Loremaster. Tian Shi is the greatest astromancer in all of Cathay, and perhaps the rest of the world too; a talent which has enabled him to become one of the Emperor's must trusted advisors. Through disciplined study and constant training he has reached a level of proficiency in the art of astrology and bending the powers of the stars to his will, which is unmatched by anyone in Cathay. Every member of the Imperial Palace shows him the respect he rightfully deserves. Being born into an aristocratic family, it was clear from the moment of his birth that Tian Shi would eventually serve as one of the many Magistrates in the Imperial Palace, as his father has done before him and his grandfather before his father. Raised by traditions and teachings centuries old and highly valued in Cathay, Tian Shi learned at a very young age to see his existence and actions as a way to enhance the greater good of all people and blend into the Cathayan community, rather than seeking to enrich himself but to act to the best of a greater good. He meticulously studied the teachings and traditions under the watchful eye of his father and adapted them, becoming an icon of politeness, fairness and correctitude. Passing all his exams for the job and life of a magister with excellence, he moved through the different tenures, exceeding his peers in each and every one of them.
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Grand Astromancer: Tian Shi may re-roll one Po wer dice on each casting attempt.
MAGIC ITEMS: Staff of Overwhelming Thunder (Arcane Item) This staff was first wielded by the mighty Wu Jen, Jiang Li, who fought the Daemons in the years just before the Great War Against Chaos. Jiang Li lost the staff in a battle with a powerful Daemon, and was unable to retrieve it before retreating. It was believed to have been lost forever until it turned up in the hands of a merchant many years later, and was brought back to the Imperial Court.
This staff allows Tian Shi to re-roll the number of Hits caused by Uranon's Thunderbolt and Chain Lightning. Celestial Robe (Arcane Item) The Celestial Robe is an elegant silk robe, dyed yellow and blue, and embroidered with many artistic designs. It allows whoever wears it to channel the winds of magic like no other.
The Cathayan Robe generates D3 Power Dice in the Magic Phase. Once per battle, the bearer may elect to cast a single spell automatically without a ny Power dice. After this ability is used however, the Robe has no further effect and will not generate an additional D3 Power dice for the remainder of the battle.
Huan Bei Beautiful Beard, Captain of the Emperor's Guard Originally a soldier in the Imperial Infantry, Huan joined the Emperor's Guard following the tragic death of his brother who died in battle against Hung raiders. Blaming himself for his brother's death for being unable to protect him, he became the determined guardian of his beloved Emperor, hoping to make amends in the eyes of his ancestors. His incredible determination and skill with the blade caused him rose through the ranks until he eventually became the Captain of his force, and allowed to greet the Emperor personally. The two of them soon became good friends, and often discuss all things b etween Heaven and Earth between them. As the Captain of the Emperor's Guard, Huan Bei serves the Celestial Dragon Emperor with a loyalty that is without equal in all of Cathay. He regards him not only as the ruler of the Empire but also as if he was his own brother. He advises him on all matters including ways to handle the Grand Empire with a firm but delicate hand. He is quoted as saying “A prince does not forsake kinsmen, nor offend great vassals by neglect. He will not discard an old servant, unless he has great cause. He asks perfection of no man.”
Not only is Huan Bei a student of history and warfare, he is also a philosopher whose interest in divination methods led him to write learned commentaries on the Art of War. His work is held in high r egard by many military leaders throughout the Cathay, including the Grand Strategist himself. His personal library is one of the great wonders of the land, and he is well-versed in the Art of War. Although more accustomed to protecting the Emperor and assuring peace in the city, he is also skilled at commanding troops in the heat of battle. Huan Bei naturally takes his role to heart and does his duty with a great deal of skill. His guard serves him with utmost dedication, for he is a fair and genial master. His most prized possession is the Green Dragon Glaive, a mighty halberd that he swings with great grace and precision, striking all around him. In battle, he leads the Emperor's finest into the fray, a testament to the glory that is Cathay.
Huan Bei
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 6 5 4 4 2 5 3 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Special Character). SPECIAL RULES: Stubborn. Captain of the Emperor's Guard: Huan Bei must be accompanied by a unit of Emperor's Guard, and he may not leave this unit voluntarily. As long as he remains in it, he and his unit may re-roll failed Br eak Tests, and always test of 3D6, discarding the highest result. In addition, units of Emperor's Guard may be taken as a Core instead of Special.
MAGIC ITEMS: Green Dragon Glaive (Magic Weapon) This bronze pointed glaive was made in the ancient Kingdom of Lu. It is said that the soldier who carried it, impressed by the sermons of Kong Fu Zi, decided to desert in order to become the bodyguard of the master philosopher. This man, whose name is lost to history, accompanied the learned man in all his wandering throughout the Kingdoms of that time. He kept himself apart, an imperturbable yet protective statue, and legend has it that he defended his master against many enemies, both natural and supernatural. Now carried by the Captain of the Emperor’s Guard, this glaive carries an enchantment that allows the wielder to spar the most powerful of foes.
Halberd. Each successful Hit in close co mbat is multiplied into D3 Hits, and all attacks have the Armour Piercing special rule. In addition, enemies suffer -1 To Hit Huan Bei in close combat.
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Chu-Ye Xian The Sleeping Dragon, Master of Tactics, Grand Imperial Strategist Chu-Ye Xian currently holds the title of Grand Imperial Strategist, a title earned through his tremendous knowledge of tactics and strategies listed in the Art of War as well as by his keen sense for logistics and ability to quickly adapt and work out new plans in the midst of battle. He is literally a master of the Art of War, being able to provide the e mperor with advices ranging from the training of soldiers over deployment and ambush routes, to battle formations and movements on the battlefield. This expertise has rightfully earned him his current title and position at court, a tenure which nobody before him has achieved. Chu-Ye Xian showed his talent at a young age, and during a series of bandit raids on his native town, it was he who believed to recognize a pattern in the way the bandits attacked. Thus, he went to the garrison leader and predicted the next raid, exactly foretelling how many men would strike and from which directions. The whole garrison and town laughed at the young boy, who thought to have more experience in battle than the most hardened veteran. But as soon as the next bandit war party descended upon the town, Chu-Ye Xian's words proved true. Amazed, the commander in charge sent message to the imperial Court, telling the generals there of the extraordinary talent the little boy possessed. Chu-Ye Xian was summoned to the capital city, to the headquarters of the Grand Army. He was given a few easy battle samples from the Art of War in order to test his abilities.
Almost instantly solving the plans laid out before him, the generals and strategists grew curious. After many days of testing and discussing various strategies against different foes in different terrain, he was deemed worthy enough to be taught the Art of War. I t didn't take Chu-Ye Xian long to add his own thoughts and experience to this impressive compendium and shortly after he was enlisted to serve the Emperor as his personal advisor in any matter regarding the business of war.
Chu-Ye Xian
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 4 3 3 2 4 1 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Special Character). SPECIAL RULES: Grand Imperial Strategist: Chu-Ye Xian may use any Stratagems up to 24" rather than 12". I n addition, he may re-roll failed Stratagem rolls.
MAGIC ITEMS: Lotus Needle (Magic Weapon) A slender repeater crossbow designed by Chu-Ye Xian himself, the lotus needle fires darts that are coated in the most lethal venoms of the east, enchanted for even further lethality.
Cathayan Repeater Crossbow. All shots fired with this crossbow are Poisoned. Phoenix Feather Fan (Talisman) This elaborate and magnificent fan is made of radiantly beautiful Phoenix feathers. When waved in a certain manner, it causes the enemy to lose focus and be slowed down.
At the beginning of the Close Combat phase select one enemy in base to base combat with the bearer. The victim loses 1 Attack and is subject to the Always Strikes Last special rule for the duration of the turn. Pi-pa of Everlasting Repose (Enchanted Item) This Pi-Pa is said to have been fashioned by the Cathayan concubine for the first Emperor. When the strings of this mandolin-like instrument are plucked by an experienced musician all listeners are lulled into a deep sleep.
The Pi-Pa may be played in the Shooting phase. When it is played, one enemy unit or character within 18” must make a Leadership test. If failed, they will fall into a deep sleep and may do nothing for their entire next turn. Undead, Deamons and units in Close Combat are immune to the effects.
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Cheng Long Grand Master of the Celestial Dragon Monks A loner, Cheng Long can be found wandering the Cathay, meditating or fighting the different opponents that dwell therein, be they terrible creatures of Chaos or the ferocious hobgoblin wolf riders; he sees them all as a way of bettering his arts. Some whisper that Cheng seeks to face an opponent who will prove a better fighter than he and, until t hat day, will continue his wanderings, whether he lives another hundred years or achieves the highest reaches of enlightenment.
Cheng Long
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 7 7 4 4 2 6 4 9
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Special Character) SPECIAL RULES: Immune to Psychology, Strider. Martial Arts Fighting Styles: Cheng Long uses the same Martial Arts as the other Celestial Dragon Monks, but as their Grandmaster, he has mastered these arts beyond anything otherwise humanly possible. Instead of the effects from the Martial Arts used by the normal Celestial Dragon Monks, Cheng Long uses the following special rules:
Although the populace of Cathay knows the name Cheng Long, very few of them have ever seen him. Rumoured to be both a hundred years of age and a Grand Master of the martial arts, he is also given supernatural aspects, such as the abilities of flight and the spitting of fire on those he calls foe. His legend says that a former disciple, Xiao Lin, once tried to assassinate him as Cheng Long lay sleeping. Still asleep, he fought his student, only awakening when a knife sliced of half his left moustache (a grave outrage, for a Cathayan elder’s beard represents his wisdom and experience). Angered, Cheng immediately killed Xiao Lin, yet still he keeps his moustache trimmed short; the better to remind him that even the best can be found wanting and caught off-guard, that no matter how good you become, you can always be better. He singlehandedly held the east gate of the town Hanchung for several days against marauding Beastmen, and it was he who defeated the foul sorcerer known to the Cathayans as the Despoiler of Earth. Nowadays Cheng Long has reached an age i n which most people would stay at home and would try to enjoy their last days among friends and family – the grandmaster although can be found in the midst of a battle, standing tall and stoic upon a mountain of fallen foes.
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Black Tiger: Cheng Long gains +D3 Attacks.
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White Crane: Cheng Long gains the Always Strikes First special rule and +1 To Hit in close combat.
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Fanged Snake: Cheng Long gains the Heroic Killing Blow special rule.
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Great Dragon: Cheng Long gains +2 Strength.
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Praying Mantis: Cheng Long gains a 4+ Ward save.
Grandmaster: Cheng Long is highly honoured by his fellow brothers and the people of Cathay. He is a symbol of virtue and wherever he fights odds are turned and battles won. A unit of Celestial Dragon Monks joined by Cheng Long becomes Unbreakable. However, he must always accept challenges when possible, and may not be the army's General. Way of the Dragon: Being one of the most perfectly trained mystic Dragon Monks, Cheng Long spits fire upon his enemies. He has a Strength 4 Breath Weapon that is a Flaming Attack. With the Elegance of a Feather: Cheng Long’s moves appear supernatural to his enemies, as if he was flying. He may make a Fly move up to 10 " in the Movement phase.
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The Monkey King The Great Trickster Being born as a common Monkey Warrior, the Monkey King earned the respect of his tribe by discovering the Water-Curtain Cave behind a large waterfall and the clan made it their new home. The other monkeys honoured him as their king. He soon realized that despite his power over the monkeys, he was not beyond mortality. Determined to find immortality, he travelled inwards to the civilized lands, where he found and became the disciple of a Celestial Dragon Monk, from whom he was able to acquire human speech and manners. The Dragon Monk was initially reluctant to take him because he was not human; but the Monkey King's determination and perseverance impressed the monk. Soon, the Monkey King’s eagerness and intelligence made him one of the favourite disciples of the Dragon Monk, whose guidance and training taught t he monkey a number of martial arts and even cloud-travelling. The Monkey King became proud of his abilities, and began boasting to the other disciples. The Dragon Monk was not happy with this, and cast him out of his temple. In search of a weapon worthy of himself, the Monkey King travelled around Cathay, when he finally found what he was looking for in the possession of the Chi'an Chi Sorcerer Dien Ch’ing. From him, the Monkey King decided to acquire the Ideal Golden-bound Cudgel, which could change its size, multiply itself, and fight according to the whim of its master. Upon the Monkey King’s approach, the Cudgel started to glow, signifying that it had found its true master. Its
versatility meant that the Monkey King could wield it as a staff and keep it inside his ear as a sewing needle. When Dien Ch’ing found out he had been tricked by the Monkey King, he was outraged, and still seeks revenge to this day. The Monkey King still travels Cathay searching for immortality, sometimes joining the armies of Cathay in his search. While being downright annoying to everyone in his environment, his potency in combat should not be underestimated. M WS BS S T W I A Ld The Monkey King 5 5 5 4 3 2 7 3 8
TROOP TYPE: Infantry (Special Character). SPECIAL RULES: Martial Arts Fighting Styles, Strider, Fly. Trickster: The Monkey King is a notorious trickster, and as such no one in Cathay fully trusts him. He may never be the army’s General, and he may only join units of Monkey Warriors. In addition, he uses vicious taunts and insults to trick the enemy into attacking him, drawing them out of their secure positions. Enemies within charge distance from him counts as being subject to the Berserk Rage special rule, unless they are Immune to Psychology.
MAGIC ITEMS: Ideal Golden-bound Cudgel (Magic Weapon) An iron rod whose size changes as-one-wishes, which the Monkey King obtained from the undersea palace of Ao Guang. It is immensely heavy, only able to be carried by the Monkey King himself. When it is not in use, he shrinks it down to the size of a sewing needle and keeps it behind his ear.
Quarterstaff. The Ideal Golden-bound Cudgel adds +2 Strength to the Monkey King’s attacks. Hair of the Monkey King (Enchanted Item) The Monkey king is able to rip a single hair from his head, and transform it into a clone of himself.
One use only. At the start of the close combat phase, the Monkey King may make a clone of himself. This doubles his number of Attacks and gives him a 4+ Ward save until the start of his text turn.
From this day forth, I will fight for good and truth and peace and honesty and, uh... all that stuff! With the power of the Dragon Monks, I will bring honour to my people and peace to my city, for I am... the handsome Monkey King! 78
Dalan-Tai The Outrider, Khan of the Steppe Nomads A skilled warrior, Dalan-Tai can both ride and shoot extremely well. Even though he is not the best archer among his men, he is extremely competitive and enjoys participating in challenge matches whenever he can. He is a genial host who enjoys good drink, good food and a good joke, usually at someone else’s expense. He is passionate about everything but especially about his beloved horse and his children. Dalan-Tai trains his sons and his daughters to be fierce warriors in the true steppe nomad tradition. He will not tolerate internecine warfare of any kind, whether it is among his women or his tribe. When dealing with those who are not steppe nomads, he lends the appearance of a simple man of the plains. The truth is that he is far cleverer.
Dalan-Tai Warhorse
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 5 6 4 4 2 5 3 8 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5
TROOP TYPE: Cavalry (Special Character). SPECIAL RULES: Fast Cavalry.
As the proud leader of the fierce steppe nomads, DalanTai sits astride the horse he loves more than any of his wives, looking out across the windswept plains and wonders what the future will bring. A hard-faced man, he is accustomed to the difficult life of the steppes, a life that no silk-covered Cathayan nobleman could withstand for a week, let alone a day. Winter lasts longer on the steppes than a nywhere else except the mountains and the fierce winds blow constantly, exchanging icy blasts for furnace-hot gales when the all too brief summer is at its height. Those who rise to the ranks of leader among the steppe nomads are special men who claim a heritage that rings with names whose vitality flies out of the mouth like a warrior’s swift silk tasselled spear. T he steppe nomads regard themselves as the true people of the land and have little or no regard for anyone else. Dalan-Tai is typical of his countrymen. Of medium height compared to other Cathayans, he has small dark almond shaped eyes angled above wide high cheekbones. Slender but wiry, he walks with a slightly bow-legged gait, a testament to having been strapped to a horse as a young boy and learning to ride b efore he could walk. When he is on horseback, he wears his long dark hair in a braid beginning at the cro wn of his head, but prefers to let it loose when he is relaxing in his ger among his wives and concubines.
Outrider: Dalai-Tai and any unit of Steppe Archers that he joins, may re-roll failed dangerous terrain tests, as well as any rolls to flee and pursue. In addition, when fleeing from a charge, they may make a Stand & Shoot reaction before moving by sacrificing their Swiftstride special rule during the move. However, as a tribesman, Dalan-Tai may never be the army’s General.
MAGIC ITEMS: Dragontooth Bow (Magic Weapon) The origin of this object is lost in the mists of time. Its ancient craftsmanship leads to the conclusion that it was made at the height of the Xia dynasty, no doubt by a hunter rather than by a warrior. This intricately carved ivory bow fires arrows of enchanted Thornwood which pass through flesh and armour as if it were not there.
Bow. All shots fired by this bow are resolved at Strength 5, and no armour saves may be taken against wounds caused by it.
"All who surrender will be spared; whoever does not surrender but oppose with struggle and dissension, shall be annihilated." 79
Lore o Ying and Yan
Equilibrium: When rolling for his spells, the wizard always gains both the Ying and Ya version of each spell. In order to maintain the balance of the sacred energies that is the ying and yan, e ery other spell successfully cast must be from the ther energy type or the wizard suffers a Miscast on the roll of any double.
YING SPELLS
YAN S ELLS
ANCESTOR’S COURAGE (Signature spell) Cast on 8+ The wizard calls upon the strong will of the an estors to fill the hearts of the soldiers, inspiring them to stand ast in the heat of battle.
WARRIOR INCARNATE (Sig ature spell) Cast on 8+ The wizard injects the troops with true Yan power, exhilarating their minds and turns them into bloodthirsty berserkers.
Ancestor’s Courage is an augment spell with range of 12”. Until the start of the caster’s next Magic phase, the chosen unit is Stubborn and Immune to Psychology.
1. SAPPING OF WILL Cast on 5+ The wizards drains the will force of the enemy, making them slower and lose focus. Remains in Play. Sapping of Will is a hex spell with a range of 18”. All models in the targeted unit are s ubject to the Always Strikes Last special rule and suffer -1 to their eapon Skill. 2. ABSORBING CHILL Cast on 6+ The wizard causes an unnatural cool to fall upon his allies, making them extremely resilient against enemy blows. Absorbing Chill is an augment spell with a ra ge 18”. Enemies attacking the target unit suffer -1 to Wound until the start of the caster's next Magic phase.
3. BLAZING PHOENIX Cast on 7+ The wizard emits a shining bright light from him, radiating the inner fire of the Phoenix. Blazing Phoenix is a direct damage spell whi h is cast upon the wizard himself. All enemy units within 8” take D6 Flaming Strength 4 hits.
4. BEREAVEMENT OF LIFE Cast on 9+ The wizard seeps away at the life force of his enemies, draining them like a leech until death finds them. Bereavement is a magic missile with a range of 24" that causes 3D6 hits. Each hit causes a Wound with no ar our save allowed on the roll of a natural 6.
5. SHROUD OF DARKNESS Cast on 10+ The wizard causes a dark shroud fall across the eyes of his enemies, making them unable to see their su rr undings. Shroud of Darkness is a hex spell with a range of 18". The target unit will have its line of sight limited to 8". Th y cannot declare charges, cast spells or shoot at targets outside this range.
6. EARTH ERUPTION Cast on 12+ The wizard opens the ground underneath his f es, and creates great walls of earth and stone to smash at the from all sides. Earth Eruption is a direct damage spell. Place the small template anywhere within 18” of the caster. M dels partially covered take a Strength 4 hit. Models wholly covered must pass an Initiative test or be removed as casualties, ith no saves allowed.
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Warrior Incarnate is an augment spell with a range of 12”. Until the start of the caster’s next Magi phase, the chosen unit is subject to Frenzy and Hatred.
1. STRENGTH OF THE HEA ENS Cast on 5+ The wizard summons the power o the heavens to bless his allies with great strength to best the foe in combat. Remains in Play. Strength of the eavens is an augment spell with a range of 12”. All models in the target unit gains +1 to their Strength and Magical Attack s. 2. FLAMES OF AZURE Cast on 6+ The wizard summons azure colou ed flames around his allies, making their swords burn with sa red fire and set enemies alight. Flames of Azure is an augment s ell with a range 18”. Until the start of the caster's next Magic phase, the target unit gains the Flaming Attacks special rule, and all enemy models in base contact suffer a Flaming Strength 3 hit at the start of the close combat phase, which counts toward combat resolution.
3. CALL OF THE DRAGON Cast on 7+ The wizard calls upon the power f the Celestial Dragon, and unleashes the true fire within. Call of the Dragon is a direct da age spell which is cast upon the wizard himself. The Wizard may make a Flaming Breath Attack at Strength 4.
4. RESURGENCE FROM DEATH Cast on 9+ The wizards revitalizes those wounded in battle, and allows them to fight once more. Resurgence from Death is an aug ent spell with a range of 12”. The t argeted u nit gai ns t he Reg en ration (5+) special rule until the start of the caster's next Magic phase.
5. PATH OF LIGHT Cast on 10+ Summoning a road of shining light, the wizard allows his comrades to travel at lightning speed. Path of Light is an augment spell with a range of 12”. The targeted unit immediately moves D6" forward as if were the Remaining Moves sub-phase.
6. METEOR RAIN Cast on 12+ Call upon the full force of Yang, t e sky opens, and meteors from th e heavens fa ll up on his fo es, scorching and burning anyone underneath. Meteor Rain is a direct damage spell. Place a marker anywhere within 24” of the caster and roll 3D6. The result is the diameter in inches that will be struck by th Meteor Rain. Any unit within that radius takes 2D6 Strength 4 hits.
The Art of War The Art of War contains many military tactics and secrets sacred to Cathay. The learned Strategist uses these to help ensure victory for the armies of Cathay. On this page you find Stratagems that can be bought for your Strategists. You cannot buy multiplies of the same Stratagem for a single Strategist, but different Strategists in the army can have the same Stratagems if you wish. You can freely combine Stratagems providing you do not exceed the points total allowed in the army list. In order to use a Stratagem, pick a friendly unit with the Glory for the Dragon Emperor rule within 12” and roll a D6. On a 2+, the unit gains t he effect as described in the chosen Stratagem. On a 1, the unit has misheard the order and the Stratagem has no effect this turn. You may only use each Stratagem once per turn. The Swift Cat 30 points Extensively trained in quickly changing formation without pause, the soldiers quickly form up to face their foes.
Activate in Remaining Moves phase. The unit may Reform without suffering movement penalties this turn. The Cunning Fox 30 points Using his wit and cunning, the Strategist quickly orders some troops to relocate, presenting the enemy with a wholly new battle line to face.
Activate after deployment. One unit may re-deploy up to 6” away from it placed position. It must still deploy within the allowed deployment zone as normal. The Sleeping Crocodile 25 points The Strategist plans for his foes to reach a false sense of calm, believing they will easily best the formation. Then, as they run in for the kill, the crocodile opens its jaws and attack!
If charged in the flank, the unit may refor m to face the enemy to the front as a Charge Reaction, provided that they are not already in combat. The Stinging Scorpion 25 points The Strategist instructs the troops on how to better hold their formation, striking simultaneously like a unified force.
Activate in the Close Combat phase. If the unit charged this turn, they receive +1 to hit this close combat phase. Any characters in the unit are unaffected. The Stoic Porcupine 25 points Turning to face all directions, the formation is an impregnable castle for the enemy to attack.
Activate as Charge Reaction. The unit has no flanks or rear while in this formation. However, they may only receive up to 1 in rank bonus. The Rain of Death 20 points The soldiers run straight forward towards the enemy, never stopping to aim unleashing their volleys on the move. Arrows rain over the enemy, their shafts darkening the sky.
Activate in Shooting phase. The unit may fire even if they have marched this turn. The Swooping Hawk 20 points Having assembled the army, the Strategist makes sure to quickly seize the initiative in the battle.
Activate after deployment. The Cathayan player may add +1 to the roll of deciding whether to go first. The Running Rabbit 20 points The soldier plan for their allies to make a feigned route, cheerfully rousing their “fleeing” comrades on, just before readying to set the trap...
Activate in Movement phase. Until the start of its next turn, the unit ignores panic caused by friendly units fleeing through them, as well as friendly units breaking from combat. The Blinding Light 15 points The Strategist orders to cover the backs of the shields with shining metal before the battle, using the rays of the sun to blind the sight of their foes.
Activate as Charge Reaction. Imperial Infantry with shields only. Any enemy unit charging the unit with the Blinding Light lose all charging bonuses in the ensuing combat phase. The Impregnable Tortoise 15 points Using their shield to form a “shell” around them, the soldiers become almost impervious to missiles.
Activate in Remaining Moves phase. Imperial I nfantry only. If the unit is equipped with shields, it may for m the Tortoise formation as a reform. The unit adds +2 to their armour saves against missile attacks, but may not march. Upon entering combat, they immediately break the formation. The All-seeing Eagle 15 points Having scouted out the perfect location to face the foe, the Strategist plans to set his trap.
Activate before deployment. The Cathayan player may add +1 to the roll of choosing sides.
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Treasure of the Seven H avens This section contains the rules and background for some of the most iconic and powerful magical artefacts used by the Cathayans. These may be used in addition to the magic items found in the Warh mmer rulebook.
BLADES OF GAN JIANG AND MO Y E
65 points
JADE SWORD OF FENG WU
40 points
Magic Weapon
Magic Weapon
A long time ago, during the height of its powers, the Kingdom of Wu was at war with its nei hbour Yue. The King, He Lu, seeing his armies lose bat le after battle, asked the great blacksmith, Gan Jiang, to make him a sword to rival the steel of Yue. Gan Jia g and his wife, Mo Ye, began to search for the finest ore and brought back iron extracted from the sacred Five Peaks. Using his astrological knowledge, Gan Jiang alculated the best time to forge the sword and began the work. However, in spite of all his efforts, he c uld not melt the necessary ore, so Mo Ye cut her hair and fingernails and threw them in the forge. The ore melted and Gan Jiang was able to forge a swo d of superb quality, which he named after the mate ial it was forged. He gave the male sword to the ing who learned later that the blacksmith had ke pt the female sword. He became exceedingly angry a d Gan Jiang was executed, but his wife was able to f ee with the sword, which she gave much later to her son so that he could avenge his father by killing the K ng.
The Jade Sword of Feng Wu is a beautiful and ornate goose feather sword carved rom one piece of solid jade. It is exceptionally light, weighing only two pounds. The sword once bel nged to a Swordsaint of considerable skill named Fe g Wu. Feng Wu’s exploits carried him across all of Cathay, where he battled many creatures and explore many places. They say that some of its wielders skil is incorporated into his blade, making its new owner as adept at fighting as he was.
Paired weapon. The wielder gains +1 T Hit and To Wound. In addition, enemies must re-roll successful armour saves and Ward saves.
Cathayan longsword. The wielder gains the Always Strikes First special rule and +1 to his Weapon Skill.
IMPERIAL DRAGON ARM UR
55 points
Magic Armour Forged by Cathayan master smiths, this dark green, full-body armour was made rom the scales of the great dragon, Shuou, after its deat . It is emblazed with the image of a Celestial, whose uby set eyes almost seem to have a life of their own. T e armour flickers with everlasting flame, woven fro magical fibres that have been consecrated in the great fire itself; it turns the bearer into a walking beaco . Flames lick out from his body, melting incoming blo s or turning them aside.
Heavy armour. Enemies atta king the wearer suffer -1 To Wound. In addition, the first unsaved wound suffered is automatically dis ounted. Furthermore, the wearer has a 2+ Ward save against Flaming Attacks.
FIST OF IRON
50 points
Magic Armour Fist of Iron is a protection for the forearm, forged from a piece of iron and decorate with bronze designs. It was worn by many princes i ancient times, in the Yin and Zhou dynasties, and ca e to acquire a reputation that made it an extremely co eted object for its qualities and because of the exploits of the old time heroes who wore it. Differen t legends exist about this object and the accounts of the great battles across the Zhongguo all mention it. Fist of Iron was, so it would seem, worn by all the great enerals in history, among whom were Bai Qi, the butc er of Qin, and even Sun Bin, the grandson of Tzu-Su .
The Fist of Iron gives the wearer a 6+ armour save that may be combined with other armour as normal. In addition, the wearer gains +1 Strength for each point of rank bonus his unit has.
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JADE DRAGON TOKEN
35 points
GONG OF TSAO TSAO
40 points
Talisman
Enchanted Item
Occasionally the Dragon Emperor will be so pleased with the exploits of his warriors that he may grant one a token of his favour, a symbol that the Emperor is with them. These items are not idle, for they low with magical light and inspire all near them to even greater feats of valour. The Jade Dragon is a si x-inch tall statue of a Cathayan dragon carved fro green jade. The statue is old and worn, marking its great age. The Jade Dragon houses a powerful spirit o unknown origin, though many believe it the spirit of an ancient, long-dead dragon. Since the spirit refuses to speak of itself, the truth may forever be a myster .
The Gong of Tsao Tsao rese bles a bronze gong with the relief of a Celestial Drag on etched upon it. In ages past, Tsao Tsao was a might Warlord during the Three Empires period. Lege ds say that Tsao Tsao used the gong to level entire cities during his short reign of terror. It is believed that the Gong of Tsao Tsao was taken by Yin Shi Z eng after Tsao Tsao’s death, but these rumours have never been confirmed. When struck, the gong emits a large shockwave that will cause structures, beasts and men alike to tremble before its power.
The character gains the Regeneration (5+) special rule. In addition, he gains a 3+ Ward save against spells.
BRUSH OF 1000 YEARS
One use only. Bound Spell, ower level 5. When cast, all enemy war machines, chariots and units in buildings within 12" takes D6 Strength 6 hits, and other unit types have to take a Panic te t.
65 points STANDARD OF GRAND C ATHAY
Arcane Item
100 points
Magic Standard The Brush of 1000 Years resembles a r gular, nondescript calligraphy brush, old and worn from use. It was created long ago by a scholar and Wu Jen named Wei Zu, This ancient, wooden-h ndled brush is always in the possession of the eldest a visor in all of Cathay. This most often happens to be t e personal assistant to the Emperor. Its graceful a d elegant usage causes the winds of magic to bo to the whim of its owner. Such is not without a heavy t xation, however, as few mortals can withstand this.
Every time the bearer succeeds in casti g a spell from the Lore of Yin and Yang and rolls any double, he may choose to make a Leadership test at his own, unmodified Leadership. If this test is successful, the spell counts as having been cast with Ir esistible Force If the test fails, the spell counts as havi g been miscast.
CIU DAN'S WHITE ORB
30 points
A huge tapestry standard de icated to the famous victories of the Cathayan E pire, this banner has a history dating back almost fi e thousand years to when it was flown as the battle sta dard of Yin Shi Zheng during his campaign to unify Cathay. Embroidered with the imagery of a great elestial Dragon across the Ying and Yan, and wove from the feathers of a great Phoenix and further enchanted by the Wu Jen, this standard inspires warriors to stand on in the face of overwhelming odds, and enemies approaching the banner will find themselves set ablaze by sacred fire.
All friendly units within 12” are immune to Panic, and the bearer and any unit he joins becomes Stubborn. In addition, any enemy models in base contact with the unit carrying the banner takes a Flaming Strength 3 hit at the start of the close combat phase, which counts towards the unit's combat resolution.
Arcane Item Ciu Dan crafted this staff for himself w en he was already a well-established scholar, but e performed even more legendary deeds afterwards, serving the Emperor directly as an investigator an advisor. The staff has a white orb on top, and the legend tells that has special powers that are a gift of the dragon Tiet. The shaft of the staff is charred, but it is impossible to remove the burned wood to see if there is an unburned core underneath or if the staff is indeed composed of coal. Legend tells that Ciu Dan once be t his life on a piece of advice given to the Emperor. T e Emperor’s decision resulted in a catastrophe, and Ciu Dan’s life was forfeit, but his staff remains to this day. It allows the bearer to focus more easily, but if h s concentration is broken, he will pay a heavy price for it indeed.
The bearer gets +D3 to cast and +1 to channel dice. However, if the bearer miscasts, roll 3D6 and pick the lowest two dice.
SKY BANNER OF THE LOFTY HEAVENS
50 points
Magic Standard It is said that this standard as woven on the cloud looms of the celestials, and at one time served as a divine garment for them in t e form of a robe. Its cerulean fabric is unmatche for its sheer craftsmanship and unearthly detail. It depicts a mighty Phoenix soaring though the eavens with the land of Cathay beneath its wings. This banner holds the secret power of celestial flight which it can bestow upon those worthy of its blessing, taking the glorious warriors of Cathay across the pale sky i to the fray against their enemies.
One use only. This banner may be activated in the beginning of any Cathayan ovement phase. The bearer of this banner and the unit he is with counts as having the Fly special rule f r the remainder of the turn.
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Muun'hokoi, sitting atop his huge barded war-wolf, having some difficulties from keeping the giant beast from charging into the melee, glanced nervously around. The leader of the raiding Hobgoblin party was pleased how the events turned out for him. Of course, his soldiers were too undisciplined to exact his perfectly, at least in his opinion, planned ambush. They had charged the Cathayans as soon as they were close enough to stop the Hobgoblins from squabbling among themselves. Frustrated, even though he knew that his warriors would behave like that, Muun'hokoi had watched the battle unfold. His raiders were about to finish the last remnants of the first patrol they had engaged and the greater part of his warriors was diminishing the ranks of the second one sent as reinforcement. An evil grin passed the Hobgoblin leader's face, as he remembered how the Duizhu of the first patrol was pierced by multiple arrows, all the while trying to set up something resembling a battle formation. All in all, the raid has gone well, even with the unsuspected reinforcements on the Cathayan side. But something was out of order and Muun'hokoi threw his shaman a questioning look. O'yun kneeled beside his chief, following the battle between the hobgoblins and the two Cathayan patrols. He was as pleased as Muun'hokoi but much more worried. The shaman had sensed the subtle shift in the air long before his leader had grown worried. A mighty magical presence was near but until yet there were no clues to its whereabouts. O'yun firmly gripped the pendant dangling around his meagre throat, ready to throw it to the ground in order to summon one of the deadly Deathworms. Deathworms were giant beasts, slumbering and travelling mostly underground in the vast steppes north of Cathay, only erupting from the ground to feast on some unlucky caravans, Hobgoblins or anything else which would fit into their cavern-like mouth. The Hobgoblin shamans had long ago learned how to tame and call these beasts into battle. O'yun was ready to summon one of these beasts as soon as the coming danger would prove too much for Muun'hokoi's soldiers. Meanwhile the huge hobgoblin force had dispatched all humans and set into motion towards the Great Bastion. War Wagons and Rhinox were brought into position to cover the defenders on the wall with a deadly hail of arrows and bolts. Muun'hokoi and O'yun also steered their giant wolves towards the hobgoblin mass to gain a better view and issue commands when all of a sudden the huge wood and iron gates of the Great Bastion swung open. Muun'hokoi and the army screamed with joy, thinking that more foolish humans would come outside to oppose his soldiers. But O'yun froze in the saddle, terror-stricken, for he knew what would step out of the gates before the new enemy was sight. With an earth-shaking stride, a giant humanoid, clad in brass armour and wielding a huge blade stepped out of the shadows beneath the huge clay arch. Muun'hokoi first thought of a giant, like the specimen that sometimes emerged from the northern Chaos Wastes or the Mountains of Mourn to roam the wide steppes. His army, completely oblivious to the doom that would soon descend over them, charged towards 84
the immobile colossus, consumed by bloodlust and the easy kill of the earlier kills. Screaming battle cries and firing arrows and bolts, they reached the brass titan and started to ride in circles around him, continuing firing. Silent, with arrows and bolts harmlessly bouncing of the brass armour, the titan started to take a step forward, swinging his giant sword in a wide arc. Plunging through wolves, wood, Hobgoblins and Rhinox alike, the frenzied charge of the Hobgoblins came to a sudden halt and turned into a wild flight, away from the Great Bastion and the brass titan towards the vast expanses of the steppe. Followed by the brass titan, the horde rushed past Muun'hokoi and O'yun, both paralyzed by the shock off how rapidly their assault had turned into a defeat. Finally O'yun managed to tear free from the paralyzing grip of fear and quickly threw his charm to the ground, mentally sending the Deathworm the command to attack. The ground erupted beneath the Brass Titan's feet, sending the giant tumbling back. The cries of joy from the Great Bastion fell abruptly silent, as they saw what crawled forth from the hole. With jaws big enough to swallow even the brass titan, the Deathworm emerged. A tackle sent the already off-balance titan to the ground and the worm immediately started to devour him. Shouts of anger and frustration came from the Cathayans and screams of joy from the hobgoblins. Turning their mounts, the horde rushed back, resuming their previous tactic, circling the epic clash between the worm and the titan, constantly firing but keeping a careful distance between themselves and the two ravaging giants. The double assault began to take its toll on the titan, with the Deathworm tearing big chunks out of its armour, weakening his magical energy and slowly but surely dooming the titan into immobility. O'yun rejoiced at his wise plan to take the pendant to battle, now being completely sure that the Hobgoblins would emerge victorious at the end of the day. Muun'hokoi shared similar thought, when the earth suddenly was shaken again. Their eyes wide in horror, the two leaders watched as a second and third brass titan stepped out of the gate, with the later taking up a defensive position at the gate and the other one advancing towards his fallen brother. The Hobgoblin horde started to flee but many, being caught up in their battle frenzy, were crushed underfoot and spitted in halves. The Deathworm however remained oblivious to its surroundings, its simple mind locked on the kill. Muun'hokoi and O'yun watched as the second brass titan lifted the worm from the first titan and threw it across the plains. Too stupid to see the danger, the Deathworm charged back towards the new threat, only to be struck by the titan's mighty blade. The worm was no weak creature though, and continued the assault on the titan, with the titan again and again grabbing it, throwing it and slashing at it. For the two hobgoblin leaders the outcome of the battle was clear. They turned their mounts and with a last look over the shoulder, they joined the drastically diminished horde and fled back into the steppes.
85
HE C THAY RMY IST The armies of Cathay are the largest and most lorious in the entire world, always holding off t he forces of greenskin nomads and Chaos r iders that would seek to assail them. As comman er of the Cathayan army, it is by your dedi ation to the Emperor and your leadership t hat the soldiers of Cathay will do battle to in glory for the Divine Dragon Emperor. This sectio of the book helps your turn your collecti n of Cathayan miniatures into an army o brave warriors, ready for a tabletop bat le. At the back of this section, you will als find a summary page, which lists every u it’s characteristics profile, for quick an easy reference during your ga mes of Warhammer.
86
USING THE ARMY LIST
UNIT CATEGORIES
The army list is used alongside the 'Choosing an Army' section of the Warhammer rulebook to ick a force ready for battle. Over the following pages you will find an entry for each of the models in your army. These entries give you all of the gaming infor ation that you need to shape your collection of models into the units that will form your army. Amongst other things, they will tell you what your models are equi ped with, what options are available to them, and their points costs.
As described in the Warhammer rulebook, the units in the army list are organised i to five categories: Lords, Heroes, Core Units, Special nits and Rare Units.
ARMY LIST ENTRIE Each army list entry contain all the information you need to choose and field that unit at a glance, using the following format:
IMPERIAL INFANTRY Profile Infantryman Sergeant Unit Size: 20+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour • Shield
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 2 6 Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor
1.
Name. The name by which the unit or character is identified.
2.
Profiles. The characteristic profiles for the model(s) in each unit are provided as a reminder. Where several profiles are required these are also given, even if they are optional (such as unit champions).
3.
5 points per model
4.
Options: • One Infantryman may be upgraded to a Serg ant......................10 points • One Infantryman may be upgraded to a musi cian......................10 points • One Infantryman may be upgraded to a stan ard bearer............ 10 points • The entire unit may be armed with one of th following: - Poleaxe*....................................................................1 point per model *Poleaxes can be used as either halberds r spears. - Replace shields with bows......................... ................1 point per model - Replace shields with crossbows................. ..............3 points per model
Points value. Every miniature in the Warhammer range costs an amount of points that reflects how effective it is on the battlefield For example, a Man-at-Arms costs 6 points, whilst the powerful fay Enchantress costs a whopping 485 points!
5.
Unit Size. This specifies the minimum size for each unit, which is the smallest number of models needed to form that unit. In some cases units also have a maximum size, or can even comprise just a single model.
6.
Equipment. This is a list of the standard weapons and armour for that unit. The cost of these items is included in the basic points value.
Troop Type. Each entry specifies the troop type of its models (e.g. 'infantry, monstrous cavalry' and so on).
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
7.
Sp cial Rules. Many troops ha e special rules that are ful y described earlier in this bo k or in the Warhammer rulebook. The names of these rules are listed here as a re inder.
8.
O tions. This is a list of optional weapons and ar our; mounts, magic items an other upgrades for units or haracters, including the points cost for each pa ticular option. Many unit entries include the option to up rade a unit member to a ch mpion, standard bearer or usician. Some units may ca ry a magic standard or take magic items at a further points cost.
87
Lords XEN HUONG Profile Xen Huong Dragon Form Magic: • Xen Huong is a Level 2 Wizard. He uses spells from the Lore of Fire or Heavens.
450 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 7 5 5 5 4 6 5 10 6 7 0 7 6 7 4 6 10 Equipme t: • Phoenix Talon • Imperial Dragon Seal • Heavy a rmour
Troop Type Infantry (Special Character) Monster (Spe ial Character)
Special Rules: • Emperor of Cathay • Dragon Form
ZHAO FEI Profile Zhao Fei Warhorse Equipment: • Serpent Spear • Dragon Plate Armour
210 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 7 5 4 4 3 6 4 9 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5 Special Rules: • Grand eneral
Troop Type Cavalry (Special Character) -
Options: • May have Stratagems up to a total of.......................... 50 points
Mount: • Barded Warhorse
TIAN SHI Profile Tian Shi Magic: • Tian Shi is a Level 4 Wizard. He uses spells from the Lore of Heavens.
88
340 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 8 Equipme t: • Hand weapon • Staff of Overwhelming Thunder • Celestial Robe
Troop Type Infantry (Special Character)
Special Rules: • Loremaster • Grand Astromancer
Lords WARLORD Profile Warlord
90 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 6 5 4 4 3 6 4 9
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
Troop Ty e Infantry (Character)
Options: • May be armed with one of the following: - Spear.................................................................................3 points - Halberd.............................................................................6 points - Additional hand weapon....................... ............................3 points - Great weapon........................................ ............................6 points - Cathayan longsword............................. ..........................12 points • May wear heavy armour........................... ...........................4 points • May be mounted on one of the following : - Warhorse.........................................................................18 points • May be upgraded to have barding.... ............................ 6 points - Kirin................................................................................50 points - Pixiu..............................................................................150 points - Bastion Chariot (replacing one of the crew).................120 points • May take magic items up to a total of...... ........................100 points
WU JEN LORD Profile Wu Jen Lord Magic: • A Wu Jen Lord is a Level 3 Wizard. He may use spells from the Lore of Fire, Metal, Heavens, Light, Life or Ying and Yan.
165 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 8 Equipme t: • Hand we apon
Troop Ty e Infantry (Character)
Options: • May be upgraded to a Level 4 Wizard..... ..........................35 points • May take magic items up to a total of...... ........................100 points
DRUM AND GONG Profile Drum and Gong Drummer
25 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 5 2 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Troop Type War Machine -
Note: You may only include a Drum an Gong if your army includes a Warlord. Unit Size: 1
Crew: 2 Drummer
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
S ecial Rules: • Drum and Gong
89
Heroes HUAN BEI
180 points
Profile Huan Bei Equipment: • Green Dragon Glaive • Heavy armour
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 6 5 4 4 2 5 3 8 Special Rules: • Stubborn • Captain of the Emperor's Guard
Troop Type Infantry (Special Character)
Options: - May be mounted on a Warhorse...................................................................12 points
CHU-YE XIAN
80 points
Profile Chu-Ye Xian Equipment: • Hand weapon • Lotus Needle • Phoenix Feather Fan • Pi-pa of Everlasting Repose
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 4 3 3 2 4 1 8 Special Rules: • Grand Strategist
Troop Type Infantry (Special Character)
Options: • May have Stratagems up to a total of........................ 125 points
CHENG LONG
215 points
Profile Cheng Long
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 7 7 4 4 2 6 4 9
Equipment: • Fists and feet
Troop Type Infantry (Special Character)
Speci l Rules: • Im une to Psychology • Stri er • Mar tial Arts Fighting Styles • Gra dmaster • Wa of the Dragon • Wit the Elegance of a Feather
THE MONKEY KING Profile The Monkey King
165 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 5 5 4 3 2 7 3 8
Equipment: • Ideal Golden-bound Cudgel • Hair of the Monkey King
Troop Type Infantry (Special Character)
Speci l Rules: • Stri er • Fly • Mar tial Arts Fighting Styles • Trickster
DALAN-TAI
110 points
Profile Dalan-Tai Warhorse Equipment: • Hand weapon • Dragontooth Bow • Light armour
90
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 5 6 4 4 2 5 3 8 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5 Mount: Warhorse
•
Special Rules: • Fast Cavalry • Outrider
Troop Type Cavalry (Special Character) -
Heroes DUIZHU
50 points
Profile Duizhu
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 5 5 4 4 2 5 3 8
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
ARMY BATTLE STANDARD One Duizhu in the army may carry the Battle Standard for +25 points. The Duizhu carrying the Battle Standard can have a magic ba ner (no points limit) but if he carries a magi banner he cannot carry any other magic items. A Duizhu carrying the Battle Standard can never be the army's General.
Troop Ty e Infantry (Character)
Options: • May be armed with one of the following : - Spear................................................................................2 points - Halberd............................................................................4 points - Additional hand weapon...................... ............................2 points - Great weapon....................................... ............................4 points - Cathayan longsword............................ ............................8 points • May wear heavy armour......................... ............................2 points • May be mounted on one of the followin : - Warhorse.......................................................................12 points • May be upgraded to have barding.... ............................ 4 points - Kirin...............................................................................50 points - Bastion Chariot (replacing one of the rew)...............120 points • May take magic items up to a total of..... ..........................50 points
WU JEN
65 points
Profile Wu Jen Magic: • A Wu Jen Lord is a Level 1 Wizard. He may use spells from the Lore of Fire, Metal, Heavens, Light, Life or Ying and Yan.
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 7 Equipme t: • Hand we apon
Troop Ty e Infantry (Character)
Options: • May be upgraded to a Level 2 Wizard..... ..........................35 points • May take magic items up to a total of...... ..........................50 points
STRATEGIST Profile Strategist Equipment: • Hand weapon
20 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 7
Troop Ty e Infantry (Character)
Options: • May have Stratagems up to a total of...... .........................75 points
CHARACTER MOUNTS Profile Warhorse Kirin Pixiu
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1 5 9 4 0 4 4 3 5 2 8 7 4 0 5 5 5 4 4 7
Troop Ty e Warbeast Monstrous Beast Monster
Special Rules: • Kirin: Fly, Magical Attacks, Impale ttacks • Pixiu: Fly, Terror, Large Target, Hatr d (Daemons of Chaos)
91
Core Units IMPERIAL INFANTRY Profile Infantryman Sergeant Unit Size: 20+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour • Shield
5 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 2 6
Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Infantryman may be upgraded to a Serg ant......................10 points • One Infantryman may be upgraded to a musi cian......................10 points • One Infantryman may be upgraded to a stan ard bearer............ 10 points • The entire unit may be armed with one of th following: - Poleaxe*....................................................................1 point per model *Poleaxes can be used as either halberds r spears. - Replace shields with bows......................... ................1 point per model - Replace shields with crossbows................. ..............3 points per model
CHU KO NU
7 points per model
Profile Chu Ko Nu Marksman Unit Size: 10+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Cathayan repeater crossbow
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 2 6 Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Chu Ko Nu may be upgraded to a Mark sman....................10 points • One Chu Ko Nu may be upgraded to a musi ian.......................10 points • One Chu Ko Nu may be upgraded to a standard bearer............. 10 points • The entire unit may wear light armour.......... ..............½ point per model
DRAGON LANCERS Profile Dragon Lancer Fire Lancer Warhorse Unit Size: 5+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Halberd • Heavy armour
92
16 points per model M WS BS S T W I A 4 4 3 3 3 1 3 1 4 4 3 3 3 1 3 2 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1
Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor
Ld 8 8 5
Troop Type Cavalry Cavalry -
Options: • One Dragon Lancer may be upgraded to a Fire Lancer..........10 points • One Dragon Lancer may be upgraded to a m usician...............10 points • One Dragon Lancer may be upgraded to a st ndard bearer....10 points - One unit of Dragon Lancers with a standard bearer may carry a magic standard worth p to...................25 points • The entire unit may be armed with any of th following: - Replace halberds with flails....................... ................................... free - Fire lances................................................... ..........3 points per model - Bows......................................................................2 points per model • The entire unit may wear barding.................. ...........2 points per model
Core Units STEPPE ARCHERS Profile Steppe Archer Bahdur Warhorse Unit Size: 5+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Bow • Light armour
14 points per model M WS BS S T W I A 4 3 4 3 3 1 3 1 4 3 5 3 3 1 3 2 8 3 0 3 3 1 3 1
Special Rules: • Auxiliaries • Fast Cavalry
Ld 7 7 5
Troop Type Cavalry Cavalry -
Options: • One Steppe Archer may be upgraded to a Bah ur.....................10 points • One Steppe Archer may be upgraded to a musi cian................... 10 points • One Steppe Archer may be upgraded to a stan ard bearer........10 points • The entire unit may be armed with spears........ ............1 point per model
HILL TRIBESMEN Profile Tribesman Chieftain Unit Size: 10+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Javelin
5 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 6 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 2 6
Special Rules: • Auxiliaries • Frenzy • Ambushers
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Tribesman may be upgraded to a Chieft ain........................10 points • One Tribesman may be upgraded to a musici an........................ 10 points • One Tribesman may be upgraded to a standard bearer..............10 points • The entire unit may be armed with one of th following: - Spears........................................................................1 point per model - Additional hand weapons........................... ...............1 point per model • The entire unit may be armed with shields.... ...............1 point per model • The entire unit may skirmish......................... ..................................... free
MONKEY WARRIORS Profile Monkey Warrior Monkey Chief Unit Size: 8+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Quarterstaff • Blowpipe
7 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 3 3 3 2 1 5 1 6 5 3 3 3 2 1 5 2 6
Special Rules: • Auxiliaries • Skirmishers • Obstacle Strider • Forest Strider
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Monkey Warrior may be upgraded to a Monkey Chief...... 10 points
93
pecial Units EMPEROR'S GUARD Profile Emperor's Guard Castellan Unit Size: 10+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Halberd • Heavy armour
11 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 4 3 3 3 1 4 1 8 4 4 3 3 3 1 4 2 8
Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor • Stubborn
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Emperor's Guard may be upgraded to a Castellan..............10 points • One Emperor's Guard may be upgraded to a musician..............10 points • One Emperor's Guard may be upgraded to a standard bearer.... 10 points - A unit of Emperor's Guard with a standard bearer may carry a magic standard worth p to......................50 points
SWORDSAINTS Profile Swordsaint Blademaster Unit Size: 10+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Cathayan longsword • Heavy armour
14 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 5 3 4 3 1 4 2 8 4 5 3 4 3 1 4 3 8
Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor • Killing Blow
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Swordsaint may be upgraded to a Blade master..................10 points • One Swordsaint may be upgraded to a music ian........................10 points • One Swordsaint may be upgraded to a stand rd bearer.............10 points - A unit of Swordsaints with a standard bearer may carry a magic standard worth p to......................50 points
NIGHTBLADES Profile Nightblade Shadow Strider Unit Size: 5+ Equipment: • Two hand weapons • Light armour
11 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 8 5 4 4 3 3 1 5 2 8
Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor • Skirmishers • Scouts • Poisoned Attacks
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Nightblade may be upgraded to a Shadow Strider.............10 points • The entire unit may be armed with throwing weapons.................................. ...............1 point per model
CELESTIAL DRAGON MONKS Profile Dragon Monk Enlightened One Unit Size: 5+ Equipment: • Fists and feet
94
17 points per model
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 5 5 5 4 4 1 5 2 8 5 5 5 4 4 1 5 3 8 Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor • Immune to Psychology • Skirmishers • Striders • Breath Weapon ( nlightened One only) • Martial Arts Fighting Styles
Troop Type Infantry Infantry
Options: • One Dragon Monk may be upgraded to an Enlightened One..... .............................30 points
pecial Units WU XIA
42 points per model
Profile Wu Xia Wandering Force Jin Shan Unit Size: 3+ Equipment: • Hand weapon • Reclining Moon Lance • Heavy armour
M WS BS S T W I A 4 4 3 4 3 1 4 1 4 4 3 4 3 1 4 2 6 4 0 4 4 3 4 2 Special Rules: • Glory for the Dragon Emperor • Fear • River Strider • Poisoned Attacks (Jin Shan only) • Great Leap
Ld 8 8 5
Troop Type Monstrous Cavalry Monstrous Cavalry -
Options: • One Wu Xia may be upgraded to a Wanderi g Force................ 10 points • One Wu Xia may be upgraded to a musician ............................. 10 points • One Wu Xia may be upgraded to a standard bearer...................10 points - A unit of Wu Xia with a standard bearer may carry a magic standard worth up to.... .............................50 points
BASTION CHARIOT
125 points per model
Profile Bastion Chariot Charioteer Warhorse Unit Size: 1 Crew: 3 Charioteers Drawn by: 4 warhorses
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - 5 5 5 - - 4 3 3 - - 4 1 8 8 3 0 3 - - 3 1 -
Troop Type Chariot (Arm ur save 3+) -
Equip ent: • Hand weapon • Spear • Bow • Scythes
FOO STATUES
65 points per model
Profile Foo Statue Unit Size: 3+ Equipment: • Teeth and claws
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 7 4 0 5 5 3 3 3 8 Special • Fear • Immu • Scaly • Magic
Troop Type Monstrous Beast
ules:
e to Psychology kin (3+) Resistance (1)
TERRACOTTA WARRIORS Profile Terracotta Warrior Unit Size: 10+ Equipment: • Two hand weapons
9 points per model M WS BS S T W I A Ld 4 3 2 4 4 1 2 1 10
Troop Type Infantry
Special Rul s: • Unbreaka le • Unstable • Magic Re istance (1)
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pecial Units FIELD ENGINEERS Profile Dragon's Breath/Hand Mortar Field Engineer
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 5 2 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Troop Type War Machine Infantry
Note: You may take 1-2 units of Field Engineers as a single Special choice. Unit Size: 2 Field Engineers
Special Rules: • Skirmishers • Close Support
Options: • The unit must be equipped with one of the foll owing: - Sky Rockets................................................... ..........................40 points - Fire Bombs..............................................................................20 points - Dragon's Breath............................................. ..........................50 points - Hand Mortar.................................................. ..........................50 points
STORMHURLER BALLIST
75 points
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
Profile Stormhurler Ballista Crew Unit Size: 1
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M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 7 3 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7 Crew: 3 Crewmen
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
Troop Type War Machine S ecial Rules: • Stormhurler Bolts
Rare Units FIRE ARROW
100 points
Profile Fire Arrow Crew
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 7 3 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Unit Size: 1
Crew: 3 Crewmen
Troop Type War Machine -
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
S ecial Rules: • Fire Arrows
DRAGON CANNON
125 points
Profile Dragon Cannon Crew
M WS BS S T W I A Ld - - 7 3 - - 4 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 7
Unit Size: 1
Crew: 3 Crewmen
Troop Type War Machine -
Equipment: • Hand weapon • Light armour
S ecial Rules: • Explosive Ammunition
PHOENIX
200 points
Profile Phoenix
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 2 5 0 4 5 5 5 4 9
Unit Size: 1
Equipm nt: • Beak a nd claws
Troop Type Monster
Special Rules: • Flaming Attacks • Fly • Immune to Psychology • Terror
• • •
BRASS TITAN
265 points
Profile Brass Titan Unit Size: 1
M WS BS S T W I A Ld 6 4 0 6 6 6 1 5 10 Equipm nt: • Huge blade
Special Rules: • Terror • Large Target • Unbreakable • Unstable
Troop Type Monster
• • •
CELESTIAL DRAGON Profile Celestial Dragon Unit Size: 1
Emberstorm Plumage of Flames Fiery Rebirth
320 points M WS BS S T W I A Ld 6 6 0 6 6 6 3 5 9
Equipment: • Claws and fangs
Magic Resistance (2) Clean Sweep Armoured Construct
Special Rules: • Terror • Large Target • Fly • Breath Weapon
Troop Type Monster
Options: • May be upgraded to a Level 1 Wizard*...... 50 points
*A Celestial Dragon us s spells from the Lore of Fire or Heavens.
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SUMMARY LORDS
M
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Type
Page
RARE UNITS
M
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Type
Page
Tian Shi
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
1
8
In
74
Brass Titan
6
4
0
6
6
6
1
5
10
Mo
68
Warlord
4
6
5
4
4
3
6
4
9
In
45
Celestial Dragon
6
6
0
6
6
6
3
5
9
Mo
69
Wu Jen Lord
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
1
8
In
46
Dragon Cannon
-
-
-
-
7
3
-
-
-
WM
65
Xen Huong
4
7
5
5
5
4
6
5
10
In
72
- Crew
4
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
7
-
- Dragon Form
6
7
0
7
6
7
4
6
10
Mo
Zhao Fei
4
7
5
4
4
3
6
4
9
Ca
- Warhorse
8
3
0
3
3
1
3
1
5
-
HEROES
M
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Type
Page
5
7
5
4
4
2
6
4
9
In
77
Chu-Ye Xian
4
3
4
3
3
2
4
1
8
In
76
Pixiu
Dalan-Tai
3
5
6
4
4
2
5
3
8
Ca
79
Warhorse
- Warhorse
8
3
0
3
3
1
3
1
5
-
Duizhu
4
5
5
4
4
2
5
3
8
In
45
Huan Bei
4
6
5
4
4
2
5
3
8
In
75
The Monkey King
5
5
5
4
3
2
7
3
8
In
78
Strategist
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
1
8
In
47
Wu Jen
4
5
5
4
4
2
5
3
8
In
46
CORE UNITS
M
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Type
Page
Chu Ko Nu
4
2
3
3
3
1
3
1
6
In
49
- Marksman
4
2
4
3
3
1
3
1
6
In
Dragon Lancer
4
4
3
3
3
1
3
1
8
Ca
Cheng Long
- Fire Lancer
4
4
3
3
3
1
3
2
8
Ca
- Warhorse
8
3
0
3
3
1
3
1
5
-
Hill Tribesman
4
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
6
In
- Chieftain
4
3
3
3
3
1
3
2
6
In
Imperial Infantry
4
2
3
3
3
1
3
1
6
In
- Sergeant
4
2
3
3
3
1
3
2
6
In
Monkey Warrior
5
3
3
3
2
1
5
1
7
In
- Chief
5
3
3
3
2
1
5
2
7
In
Steppe Archer
4
3
4
3
3
1
3
1
7
Ca
73
50
52
48
53
51
- Bahdur
4
3
5
3
3
1
3
1
7
Ca
- Warhorse
8
3
0
3
3
1
3
1
5
-
SPECIAL UNITS
M
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Type
Page 59
Bastion Chariot
-
-
-
5
5
5
-
-
-
Ch
- Charioteer
-
4
3
4
-
-
3
1
8
-
- Warhorse
-
3
0
3
-
-
3
1
-
-
Dragon Monk
5
5
5
4
4
1
5
2
8
In
- Enlightened One
5
5
5
4
4
1
5
3
8
In
Emperor's Guard
4
4
3
3
3
1
4
1
8
In
- Castellan
4
4
3
3
3
1
4
2
8
In
Field Engineer
4
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
7
In
- War Machine
-
-
-
-
5
2
-
-
-
WM
57
54
62
Foo Statue
7
4
0
5
5
3
3
3
8
MB
60
Nightblade
5
4
4
3
3
1
5
1
8
In
56
- Shadow Strider
5
4
4
3
3
1
5
2
8
In
Stormhurler Ballista
-
-
-
-
7
3
-
-
-
WM
- Crew
4
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
7
-
Swordsaint
4
5
3
4
3
1
4
2
8
In
- Blademaster
4
5
3
4
3
1
4
3
8
In
Terracotta Warrior
4
3
2
4
4
1
2
1
10
In
61
Wu Xia
4
4
3
4
3
1
4
1
8
MC
58
- Wandering Force
4
4
3
4
3
1
4
2
8
MC
- Jin Shan
4
4
0
4
4
3
4
2
5
-
98
64
55
Fire Arrow
-
-
-
-
7
3
-
-
-
WM
- Crew
4
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
7
-
66
Phoenix
2
5
0
4
5
5
5
4
9
-
67
MOUNTS
M
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Type
Page
Kirin
9
4
0
4
4
3
4
2
8
MB
70
7
4
0
5
5
5
4
4
7
Mo
71
8
3
0
3
3
1
3
1
5
WB
var.
Troop Type Key: In = Infantry, WB = War Beast , Ca = Cavalry, MI = Monstrous Infantry, MB = Monstrous Beast , MC = Monstrous Cavalry, Mo = Monster , Ch = Chariot , Sw = Swarms, Un = Unique, WM = War Machine.
