World Tour: Shui Jintou, the Lonely Grove

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Pyrrhic Victory takes place in a vast world constantly at war. Yet across the war-torn lands exist those trying to survive each day. There are still natural gems of beauty scattered around the world, little pockets of untouched landscape rarely encountered but always treasured. Let us take a tour of the world Pyrrhic Victory is set in and see what remains when war is over.

During our tour we saw several ships anchored in the ports of Ilia, Beih’go Bao and Shuicheng, and saw many of the oldest and most impressive sights of Rupani

Welcome back everyone – now I know you must be wondering, what could best the marvels of Ilia or the impressiveness of Beih’go Bao? Well, I welcome you to my favourite part of the Kingdom, Shui Jintou. Shui Jintou, or the Lonely Grove, is a five century old grove of trees and plants which has remained untouched – be it by war or any other encroaching danger.

As even young Rupani know, when we die we are reincarnated; those that live bad lives reincarnate as a chou hong yu, but otherwise we reincarnate as a new person. Those of us that lived truly well in service of Rupani will remember our past lives, especially our Yundoh Lun’wui, our water casters. As we remember our past lives, we can relearn the skills, which is particularly important for Yundoh Lun’wui as they can quickly re-master even advanced techniques through their memories. However it isn’t uncommon for especially skilled soldiers to remaster the skill with their bow or sword.

Thusly then, our homeshrines are where we pay respect to our ancestors – every family household has a temple where we keep a token of memory for our ancestors. Usually we keep a lock of hair tied with a leather ribbon, but if we were unable to claim the body of the fallen then we use seaweed or hay instead. Of course, for those with Yundoh Lun’wui in our family, we keep those ancestors separate to pay special respect to these mighty ancestors. We typically keep a bowl of water by a Yundoh Lun’wui resting place within the shrine so that each Yundoh Lun’wui can still watercast from the afterlife.

Excuse me while I pay my respects to the fallen.

Thank you for waiting. Shui Jintou was once a memorial to a single fallen warrior, but has long since been a place to remember all of your fallen. I’ve had several close friends including my wife perish in wars with Slahor and Kosekya; I find it easier to remember fond memories of them when I sit in this beautiful grove. It is common for families to make a trip to Shui Jintou yearly to pay respects to fallen comrades, mothers, fathers, siblings, children – to remember them beyond the homeshrines.

Shui Jintou was originally to be the large blue leafed tree before you. Five hundred years ago, a mighty Yundoh Lun’wui died on that spot from dozens of wounds received while defending the King’s only daughter Jing’yi. Even the mightiest of casters cannot cheat death alas, for while he killed every single assailant he collapsed after the battle and never awoke. Shortly afterwards the King’s personal guard arrived and found the Jing’yi unharmed next to the fallen Yundoh Lun’wui. Around the two of them were more than two score Narsput warriors, dead. The King’s daughter was returned safely to the palace as her father declared war upon Narsput for this attack. A few years later the King stepped down and his replacement continued the war against Narsput. When the new King was killed in battle the old King’s daughter was elected and was the first King to finally crush the Narsput resistance; we’ve had peace since.

As for the fallen Yundoh Lun’wui? It was decided that in honour of his sacrifice and bravery in the face of such long odds, and in respect for his skill, that he would be buried where he fell. Upon his grave the King personally planted a seed from the Royal Gardens, the first ever occurrence of these beautiful trees being planted outside of the Royal Gardens. At the same time many soldiers whom had fought with him and family members planted other trees around his Lonely Grove creating what you see today. When the King’s daughter became King, she began a new tradition. Every year on the anniversary of the Yundoh Lun’wui’s death she would travel to the grove to pay her respects. Since her death, many Kings have respected the tradition and have continued to personally visit the tree and lay flowers upon the stone marking his grave. After many years the stone has shattered from the growth of the tree but the split pieces have wedged themselves, making the tree truly one with the fallen Watercaster.

The most amazing thing about the grove however is that every year upon the same day in the spring, all of the trees in the grove bloom. Likewise, all of the leaves on the trees change colour upon the same day in the autumn – as you can see now.

Artwork By: Patryk Kowalik

World Tour: Beih’go Bao, the Impenetrable Sea Fortress

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During the tour we saw several ships anchored in the Shuicheng port, you can find them at: Shuicheng Tour. We more recently saw the Capital city of Rupani, Ilia.

Welcome my friends to the edge of the Nation: Beih’go Bao.

Beih’go Bao is the largest shipyard in the world, it is easily larger than Chengshi, Shuicheng and even Ilia. Beih’go Bao’s by far larger than any ports built by any other nation. In-fact, Beih’go Bao is large enough able to dock the entire Rupani Navy if we so chose. No merchant ships are allowed to dock at Beih’go Bao as the shipyards are used to construct many of our largest ships such as the Shijin class artillery ships you saw earlier in this Tour.

Now, I can’t say too much about the defences here (we can’t have other nations using that against us), but as you can see from here, the Bao has several trebuchets upon tall towers which which can launch projectiles at incoming enemy fleets. The tallest building, the lighthouse, functions as both a guide for ally ship and as a watchtower as the tall tower gives the guards a high vantage point allowing them to see incoming ships up to a day before they arrive. This gives the defenders of the Bao a long time to prepare for their guests. Besides the trebuchets, the Bao has several smaller mangonels, archer towers and fortified gates. It would take a massive army to breach this fortress.

Of course, there is also the fleet itself. The more than two score Yi’feng scoutcraft live up to their namesake and stalk the waters, keeping an eye out for any pirates or enemy fleets. The tiny ships slip away from enemies and can sail through the roughest and shallowest terrain with easy. In less than an hour our Duyunshu transports are brimming with soldiers ready to board enemy craft: perfect for capturing rogue merchant vessels or capital ships. As I mentioned, our Shijin artillery ships are constructed and docked here and their fire power matches that of the garrison when they turn their mangonels towards the enemy! We can’t complete a naval defence without the many Jianjing ramming ships which can form a blockade of sharp points and firebombs, easily ramming through fleets! Fortunately there are no more Jianjings living in the area, so the waters are safe for our own fleet.

Never once has an enemy fleet come close to the shores of Beih’go Bao, the defences are simply too mighty. But, many ask: what if they did? Well, the Bao holds a garrison of elite soldiers whom can man the gates and towers, dropping hot oil on invaders. With a complement of Watercasters to dash enemy ships against the rocks and sink their ships there is simply no retreat for invaders. Once an enemy fleet has landed the garrison archers which shot flaming arrows at the incoming ships can take up positions inside the walls, peppering the enemy soldiers with arrows as they try to breach the two gates. What happens if they manage to break down both gates of our island fortress of might? Well, that isn’t going to happen – not even the Prevluda could do it! But let’s just say that there is a surprise in store for anyone that does manage to breach the outer and inner gates and attack the inner keep to try and capture the Bao.

What is the point of all this power? Well, Beih’go Bao is both our northern defence and our major military port and shipyard. Many of our Generals and Commanders are also trained here in the academy and eventually take command of ships or land armies. Most importantly of course is that Beih’go Bao prevents any invaders from reaching Ilia from the north. With the Yao Feng Divide to the far east of Ilia and rocky cliffs the north, the only way to Ilia through the northern waters is to pass Beih’go Bao over the water. Of course, just in case we have more Baos, outposts and armies to the north to stop any sneaky enemies from marching in peace. This means that Ilia is completely safe from invaders, so if you’d like to find a place to live in peace, you can’t go wrong with Ilia; it is the best city in the world after all.

Several people have wondered about the name Beih’go – which essentially means Nose in the Rupani language. Well have you seen a map? Beih’go Bao is placed right at the nose of the Hau Chau Wan. Here, take a look – doesn’t the land look like a face, with the Hau Chau Wan the gaping mouth, an eye and then Beih’go Bao is on the tip of the nose?

Artwork By: Patryk Kowalik and Cedric Cunanan

World Tour: Ilia, Capital of Rupani

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During the tour we saw several ships anchored in the Shuicheng port, you can find them at: Shuicheng Tour.

Alas, we arrive at the best city in the world! Ilia, the capital of Rupani, the seat of power and home to King Jingyi and Queen Zhou. Ilia is twice the size of her little sibling Sui Hingdaih, and larger than every other city outside of Kosekya (but their fortress cities are cheating). Ilia is a massive ocean-side city that can easily dock two hundred ships, both mercantile and military, although there are not many ships in this portion of the docks today. The city rests on the western side of the Rupani lands and is guarded by the might of Beih’go Bao to the north and Chengshi to the south. And for any would be invaders we have more than enough of a home navy and militia to repel you! The capital has multiple levels due to the rolling hills upon which the city was built. The hill we are on now overlooks the western and middle of the city, although it spans out of sight past the buildings to our left. There are several other hills which hold various important parts of the city as well.

Gaze upon the Royal Palace, for all that is important happens there! The Royal Palace shimmers with the blue of the sky and ocean as they are our most important symbols, and towers above all else in the city. The tallest spire of the Royal Palace rises thirty two floors, and from base to roof is nearly six hundred and fifty handlengths tall! The other spires are not quite as tall, but are equally as important. The spire in the middle, the Da Fanzou Tah, is the realm of the current King and Queen. Both live within the main building and can observe their domain from the heights of the spire while working with ministers and Fraehalders, the General and Commanders on the lower levels. The Da Fanzou Tah is also where the King and Queen hold audiences. I’ve only once had the opportunity to have an audience with King Jingyi, and she is as beautiful as she is wise. The King and her husband Queen Zhou have brought much prosperity to Rupani with the trade between Rupani and Wajanderu, with the schools and monuments setup between the two nations lands.

The other two spires, Guo Tah and Nu Tah house the remains of past Kings and Queens respectively. Every turn of the moons, the King and Queen visit the spires to honour past Kings and Queens, gaining strength and wisdom from the dead. The ancestors of the King and Queen remain at their family’s ancestral home, including any children whom die while their parents are ruling. Anyone that serves as King or Queen can be placed within Guo Tah or Nu Tah, even if they were not ruling during their death.

Behind the palace lies a great green hill, and behind that rests the military centres of Ilia. Here is where Commanders are trained to lead armies, and the children of Fraehalders are taught the ways of war and governing so that they may defend the land the King gifted to their family. The best horses from across Rupani, and occasionally from other nations, are brought to our corral in order to breed the finest horses our nation has. These horses are gifted upon commission to Commanders and Generals, and the very best is reserved the King and Queen and their children. Occasionally one of the prized horses is purchased by a particularly wealthy Fraehalder with the permission of the King. It is truly an honour to have a horse of your family selected for breeding by the royal horse breeders, and it is common for a soldier that acquires the offspring of one of these prize horses to visit the family with gifts of thanks from the horse’s maiden battle.

See the brown coloured houses? That is the poor district, the least safe part of town. Those that live in the poor district tend to be down on their luck merchants whom cannot afford to pay taxes to the city. The strict rules of the poor district mostly prevent crime, but there are always dissidents in that district. The buildings are brown as the citizens are forbidden from painting the temporary houses, and also because few citizens wish to live there long enough to call any house a home. As people regain financial stability, they typically move to the middle district again. Houses in the poor district are small, especially for families, and afford no room for ancestor rooms. Thus, there are dedicated buildings where remains are kept for many families, and up to fifty families will honour their families together while they live in the poor district. Some houses have multiple tiers with one family living on each floor – often these houses are inhabited by an extended family, such as the married child living on the second floor with their children and spouse while the rest of the family lives on the first floor. The poor district has its own docks as well, to keep them from getting in the way of those that are making ends meet. Those that make no effort to improve their station are encouraged to leave and seek out a town that will take them in.

Those with jobs and money live in the middle district. This is also where the market and all trading occurs. The citizens here paint their houses a bright crimson, to contrast with the blue of the Royal Palace. Most merchant ships dock here, and goods often travel along the wide roads of the markets, with vendors displaying their wares to all passersby, enticing them into buying anything from trinkets to food to clothing or weapons. This is also where you will find an inn and tavern if you want to sleep in a bed for the night. With plenty of warehouse space, large family homes, and small bazaars, the middle district is always busy and full of people. Just be sure to stay off the market roads during the turn of the moons, the celebrations fill the streets to the brim!

Be sure to take a break at one of the taverns. I recommend the Swift Current, which has local ale that is so strong it is barely legal! Before we leave there will be time to visit the market roads and bazaars, so this is a great time to pick up souvenirs for your family!

Artwork By: Patryk Kowalik

Map of Rupani

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The world of Pyrrhic Victory has changed quite as we created new nations. Conceptually the land was once round with nations occupying equal shares of land around the continent. Alas, not every nation is as interested in land, nor powerful enough to protect it. The nation of Rupani has dominated the entire left half of the continent, holding onto it with a strong navy to defend the coast and a nigh impenetrable mountain preventing armies from invading by land.

On the southern half of Rupani lands is the Wu’kay Yu – deadly swampland. The swamps are full of large insects, poisonous spiders and deadly reptiles. The nation of Rupani started in this land and the toughness of ancestors is still seen today. Shuicheng was the first city they created after leaving the swamps. In the middle of the Wu’kay Yu is the Gai Focao – a deadly area where no one ever returns and little is known. There are also three forts within the swamps, partially for punishment for soldiers but also to ensure Slahor soldiers don’t sneak north while providing backup for Shuicheng and Chengshi.

The far north of the land is the Ngahn Laahng, tundra wherein little lives. The frigid land has only the city of Romik at its edge, with Mah Bao watching over the road. While this part of the land is more open to invaders, the landscape itself is barren of most life and hard for an army to march through. Occasional raiders might sneak down but rarely in any sort of large groups.

Between the swamps and tundra lie the plains called the Pihng Deih – these plains are the heart of the nation. Most of the food that Rupani eat, as well as their livestock, are grown in this part of the nation. For the most part the plains are flat and empty of danger – with small foxes being the most common worry. Most of the cities of Rupani, including their Capital Ilia and the little Capital Sui Hingdaih are here, as well as the Lonely Grove Shui Jintou.

To the east of Rupani land is the Yao Feng Divide which prevents large armies from crossing unseen and has its own challenges. To the north, west and south of Rupani lie the various seas of the world. With Rupani natural nautical mastery, they are difficult to attack by sea. The Rupani nation has the most powerful navy in the known world with Yundoh Lunwui (Casters able to manipulate water) able to give them even more of an edge with their long tradition of shipbuilding.

We’ll be going over the story behind the other landmarks on the map in the future, such as Gai Focao – the swamp of death where no one who enters returns, and Shui Jintou, the lonely grove which was born from the sacrifice of a great hero.

Stay tuned for more info on the Rupani lands and the rest of the world! We’ll be posting the map with our future tours in order to help you locate where it takes place.

Be sure to check back in on Friday for the next part the tour – we travel to Ilia, capital of Rupani. You can keep up to date with us on our twitter or facebook as well.

World Tour: Sights of Shuicheng – Rupani Ramming Ship

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The first part of the tour showed us Shuicheng, the very first city which the Rupani nation built when they migrated out of the swamps. The tour of Shuicheng began here, and you can see the rest of the sights of Shuicheng at https://merakigames.ca/category/world-tour/shuicheng/.

Welcome back, hopefully everyone has had their fill of touring the Chu’shi Mae? We have time to see one more ship before this caravan moves on. Quick show of hands, the ramming ship just pulling into the south end of the dock, or the scouting ship on the north end?

Ramming ship it is! This is the Zhujing – one of our newer versions of the Jianjing class ramming ship. For those not from Rupani, the jianjing is a large sea whale which stalks the deeper reaches of the Zitan Morai. While their pods don’t tend to come too close to our shores, it is quite common for them to smash ships to timbers if they stray too far. When Rupani first moved to the coast the jianjing were uncommonly aggressive and were hunted and killed in self defense. Alas, as their numbers dwindled they became even more territorial and aggressive and are likely to smash any wood, boat or otherwise which they find floating in their waters. The jianjing is deadly by all measures – nearly as large as the Chu’shi Mae and with a long horn in the center of it’s head – the beast can smash most ships to pieces, or drag them with it into the depths while skewered on their horn.

Why do I tell you all this? Well, the Zhujing is inspired by these masters of the waves! What better inspiration than a whale that can destroy even our mighty ships when riled up?

Rupani Ramming Ship - Pyrrhic Victory - Meraki Games

The Zhujing has a thick hull in the front to allow it to bash into approaching enemy ships, often splintering and floundering ships in a single hit. Like her namesake, the Zhujing has a jianjing horn attached to her hull to skewer an enemy ship, holding them in place if need be, or withdrawing and leaving a wide hole in the hold. As if that wasn’t deadly enough the Zhujing has a pair of oil pots on her prow, allowing her to ram the enemy and leave them ready for flaming arrows from the archers on her deck.

The Zhujing is significantly smaller than the last two ships as she needs to be swift in the current. Unfortunately this means a real jianjing would shatter her pretty easily, but enemy ships don’t stand a chance. The Zhujing works perfectly against nigh any enemy ship. Of course, this doesn’t include the Kosekyan navy – with their cheap floating shipwrecks, they can easily waste a few to take out a Jianjing class ship without being bothered or slowed.

Artwork By: Cedric Cunanan

World Tour: Sights of Shuicheng – Rupani Artillery Ship

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Look far over there, at the other end of the docks. See the massive rowboat? It’s hard to tell from here, but she is even larger than the Xunsu’yu. Come, Driver, take the caravan closer so we can all take a look. This is a wonderful and fortunate day for us all indeed!

Rupani Artillery Ship - Pyrrhic Victory - Meraki Games

Look in awe upon the famous Chu’shi Mae, the oldest Artillery ship still in service. This relic has shattered and battered more enemy fortifications and ships than any ship in the Navy’s history, although it seems she has all of her spoils of war below deck at the moment. With no less than four Yundoh Lun’wui on board to guide and manoeuvre the ship, the Chu’shi Mae can bombard enemies and escape before the stones land. The Chu’shi Mae has no sails but she does have many soldiers and slaves manning the oars – between them and the Yundoh Lun’wui the ship glides quickly forward and is rather manoeuvrable for her size.

She has the deadliest stone throwers our shipcrafters and siegemasters can attach to a ship. The Chu’shi Mae hauls three mangonels and at least thirty shots a piece in order to quickly bombard an enemy ship or position. Each mangonel can be aimed and fired independently to maximize the area under siege. Not even the lunatic pirates or Kosekyan navy would dare sail directly into a hail of stones from the Chu’shi Mae and her sister ships.

Artwork By: Cedric Cunanan

World Tour: Sights of Shuicheng – Rupani Infantry Ship

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Rupani Infantry Ship - Pyrrhic Victory - Meraki Games

Welcome back, it seems everyone is accounted for. I can see from your faces that some of you made a trip to Z’in Seafood like I suggested to receive a proper Rupani welcome! Excellent, be sure to bring friends and family and show them how delightfully tasty the Open-Faced Fish Sandwich is, hmm?

I see some of you are eyeing the ship behind me – that is the Xunsu’yu. She is a ship of our unstoppable Rupani Navy! Unfortunately we can’t get a tour of the inside of the ship, a security measure for which I’m sure you understand. The Xunsu’yu is an infantry transport, and as you can see she has both oars and sails. Both the sails and oars are necessary to give her the speed and maneuverability necessary to catch enemy ships or to quickly dock at a port for a seaside invasion.

As the Xunsu’yu carries no weapons, archers on board shoot arrows at enemy ships while soldiers leap from the deck onto enemy ships. With almost a dozen hatches for infantry to charge up on deck, our soldiers can remain safely away from enemy arrows until the time they’re needed. As our soldiers are adept in the water, there is little fear of them drowning even if they miss the ship or the enemy ship sinks – but we try to capture enemy ships if possible. If nothing else, the supplies help lengthen a campaign and the ship can be modified into something closer to a proper Rupani vessel. If an enemy ship is simply too big to capture, or it is a Kosekyan vessel, then we simply use flaming arrows from as far away as possible. I’m not allowed to tell you how big the Xunsu’yu is, but I can say that there are no rivals in any other nation except Kosekya.

Before we leave Shuicheng, we shall tour some of the other ships in the Navy; we should be able to find at least one of the four main ships in the port somewhere.

Artwork By: Cedric Cunanan

World Tour: First stop, Shuicheng!

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During the tour we saw several ships anchored in the Shuicheng port, you can find them at: https://merakigames.ca/category/world-tour/shuicheng/.

Welcome, welcome, to the first complimentary continental tour! This tour is brought to you by the esteemed and world renowned Guild of Master Explorers: The Lost and Found. My name is Tsai Shan, and I’ll be your host and guide on this tour.

Now, many tourists wonder if this tour is safe. After all, we will be wandering across the frigid Mount Xue’feng, meandering through the deadly swamps in the heartland of the Rupani nation, forging ahead in the sweltering heat of the Slahor deserts and even paying a visit to the isolated Narsput and Kosekyan nations! Let me assure you, we’ve taken every possible precaution to keep you safe and (mostly) alive until you return home. As I’m sure you all know, I am an expert Watercaster and that alone should give you all the assurances you need. We have also hired the strongest warriors from Slahor and the most adept soldiers from Rupani to protect this caravan from bandits. To keep us safe from the elements we have survival experts and guides all the way from the Wajanderu Searching Wind Caste and trackers from Narsput (whom I’m assured have been tamed).

First we’ll start in civilized Rupani lands, where all good stories start. The Rupani nation first formed from tribes living within the Wu’kay Yu – a hundred mile wide swamp on the western half of the continent. We of Rupani are a hardy group of people! We were easily able to survive the harsh climate, deadly bug and animals and rapidly changing landscape. But don’t sit down anywhere, you’ll probably sit on a spider or stinger; both would kill you. Oh, stay out of the water too, as the eels will cook you, or something will eat you. Actually, just stay in the caravan and don’t move until we leave the swamp.

At the edge of the heartland swamps is the city of Shuicheng. Shuicheng is our largest port-city with large swaths of open coastline for even the largest warship to dock for repairs. Shuicheng has enough dockspace for a hundred Rupani warships, or twice that many civilian crafts. The old port is one of our oldest cities, having been the first city formed after Rupani fought their way out of the Wu’kay Yu. The grand city of Shuicheng has lasted more than five hundred years, and will easily last another five hundred. Please ignore the damaged buildings and the wrecked ships; some visiting nations don’t clean up after themselves when they stay and their shoddy craftsmanship falls apart rather quickly.

If you’d like to go for a walk, I’d recommend visiting Z’in Seafood, freshly caught mubidak prepared by the famous Chef Z’in in enough ways to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. But be sure if it is your first visit to our fair land to try the Open-Faced Fish Sandwich; it is certain to whet your appetite! I am instructed to advise you to stay away from the southern docks, there have been some unsavoury individuals lurking and working in the area and you’d not wish to be caught up in their snares.

For myself, I’m staying with the Caravan, be back soon as we continue our tour of the grand nation of Rupani!

Artwork By: Patryk Kowalik