|
the IRon Dragon
|
|
|
Grand Cathay
Harmony Grand Cathay benefits from its rulers' mastery over the forces of Yin and Yang. The balance between these forces can be manipulated to empower the cities and armies of Cathayan factions. The Great Bastion The Great Bastion protects the northern border of Grand Cathay from the horrors of the Chaos Wastes, and symbolizes the mandate of the Dragon Emperor. It must be defended for the good of all. The Ivory Road The distant cities to the west will gladly part with their wealth for Cathayan treasures, but the trade routes are dangerous. Trade caravans can be dispatched along the Ivory Road, but they must be defended. |
|
|
Zhao Ming
The Iron Dragon +5 Recruit Rank for Alchemists +15 Armour for all melee units (Faction) Ruler of the Western Provinces +1 Caravans and +20% maximum cargo capacity -25% upkeep cost for Ogre mercenaries +10 Melee Attack and Defence for Ogre mercenaties (Faction) Lord of the Jade-Sworn +100% magic item drop chance -25% upkeep cost for all melee units (Lord's army) |
Prologue: The Western Provinces
How the cursed Tome came into my possession, and my soul into its, is a shameful tale that I will not recount here, but it put me on a desperate path in search of its secrets. Unwelcome in the lands of my birth, and with my own keen knowledge of the futility of finding one who would risk helping me in the learned institutions of Altdorf, I had first travelled to Myrmidens in hope of finding some outcast scholar of circumspect knowledge. Though that city of vagabonds offered me no answers, it was there that I first heard the tales of the Iron Dragon, from a large caravan that arrived in the city soon after myself from far off Cathay. The Cathayans, with appearances that were strange to my eye at the time, all agreed that their ruler was a wise master of the arcane arts, with a greater understanding of the winds of magic and the creation of attuned items than any here in the western realms. Furthermore, they described his realm as one not restrained by the ignorant fears of the Temples, and was certainly as far from the Order of the Silver Hammer as I could hope to flee. With no other leads to follow, I joined the next caravan destined for the dangerous journey across the mountains and wastes between to Grand Cathay, and arrived at the city of Shang Yang, disguised as an old vagabond. However, the Iron Dragon was not here, in his traditional seat, and I learned that this inscrutable ruler had withdrawn from most of his public duties and chosen to live a hermetic life to pursue his studies and research. In fact, it was clear that a different authority had replaced him in Shang Yang, calling themselves the Prophets of Jinshen: zealots of faith that did not seem to respect the Dragon Emperor and his children.
At the stronghold of Qiang, on the most western borders of Grand Cathay, where the land begins to rise into the Mountains of Mourn, I finally found the Iron Dragon, and my foreign appearance earned me enough attention to attend his court. There I dared to contradict the information presented by a trader who had returned from the west regarding the value of goods and the most profitable trade routes, and an audit of the man's ledgers proved the man to be lying, and in fact an agent of the Prophets in Shang-Yang. Summoned to a further audience, Lord Zhao Ming, demanded my services regarding acquisition of rare materials from the western lands, and in return he would grant my request to study the riddle of the Tome of Fates, assuring me that this artifact was not beyond his power. Though he did not deign to explain the current state of his realm to me, I eventually came to some understanding of this vast empire that was, in fact, larger than Sigmar's own, and fighting a similar war for its survival against incessant incursions of barbarians, orcs, and beastmen. The Dragon Emperor of Cathay had not been seen for centuries, sealed in meditation in the Forbidden City, and his scions governed his divided realm. Similarly, the Iron Dragon himself had withdrawn from society and chosen to study the arcane mysteries and applications of alchemy within the laboratories and forges of Qiang for many years. He claimed to be the Lord of the Western Provinces, but the people of his land were unsure if he even lived, and he had done nothing as his banners were thrown from the walls of Shang-Yang during riots incited by the Prophets of Jinshen. Though details would not be revealed to me, some unknown shame regarding a part played in the disappearance of his younger sister, had driven the Iron Dragon into self-exile and broken his already tenuous ties with his other siblings. As I came to see that Grand Cathay was the eastern counterpart, an estranged sister, of the Empire, the Tome showed me it also shared its ultimate fate: split asunder by war and overrun by the Ruinous Powers.
Determined to change my own fate, I risked sharing this knowledge with the Lord of the Western Provinces, he however insisted that the reign of the Dark Gods had been thwarted long ago by the Dragon Emperor. It was not until I learned that materials he lacked for his studies were available abroad, that I was able to rouse his interest in the wider world, for when his advisors explained that all power over the western trade routes was now held by the Prophets and the ogre tribes of the mountains, he immediately assembled his war council for the first time in decades. It's members, many of whom had never even met the Iron Dragon before, humbly briefed him on the neglected state of the Western Provinces and awaited his rage, but Lord Zhao Ming simply ordered them to ready for war. Over the next weeks I observed his atrophied emissaries return with word that none of the cities of the Western Provinces would answer Qiang's call, stating that the Iron Dragon was dead and Jinshen heeded only the Prophets now. Those sent to neighboring rulers brought only requests for money and soldiers from the stewards of those regions to combat an ongoing invasion of pirates and slavers, and a private response from the Storm Dragon of the Northern Provinces that infuriated Lord Zhao Ming for days. Southern Cathay, where the control of the Dragon Emperor was often stretched thin, was now divided between regional desert nomads and river warlords who rarely spared a thought for the wider concerns of the realm. I observed his generals drill the army of Qiang, which counted some proud elite soldiers and frightening engines of war in its number, but that number itself was woefully unimpressive. His administrators intended to bolster the army with mercenaries, but the Iron Dragon lacked gold outside of his laboratories, with taxation being diverted and controlled by the Prophets in Shang-Yang and Hanyu Port. Despite this bleak outlook, the Iron Dragon's servants in Qiang loyally carried out his tasks and I followed their example. I had been assigned a task to utilize my knowledge: assisting in the planning of large caravans destined for the western realms, just as I had first met in Myrmidens. Including procurement of the most profitable goods and the assignment of destinations, I offered my advice to the trade administrators, though to my understanding it seemed a waste to throw such an investment into the Dark Lands with small chance of seeing it return. My pessimism only increased when I was ordered to accompany the Iron Dragon to Hanyu Port, where he would demand the return of the city from the Prophets of Jinshin at the head of his small army. I foresaw my one hope throwing himself onto the spears of his enemies in his delusions of grandeur, but divination was yet the purview of the Tome alone. Instead, I witnessed the celestial power of Grand Cathay and came to understand how it had earned its place in the world.
As it would come to be known, the Ivory Wars began at Hanyu Port, the closest trading city to Qiang. Lord Zhao Ming's advisors explained that shipments of alchemical materials, including ivory, had become prohibitively expensive when the last western trade route had been completely cut off by the Goldtooth ogres, but trade had now become almost impossible when the warden of Hanyu Port gave they keys of the city to the Prophets of Jinshen in exchange for help against an army of mutant beastmen emerging from the desert. When we arrived at Hanyu Port, the gates were not opened for us, and the gate commander declared to Lord Zhao Ming that the Iron Dragon was dead and Hanyu Port answered to Shang-Yang, not Qiang. With noticeable fury, Lord Zhao Ming ordered his army to take the city by force, and I witnessed the power of the Hammers of Maufin and the bravery of the flying Sunpiercer Order for the first time as they attacked the city's walls. Then, to my utter amazement, I watched Lord Zhoa Ming himself transform into a giant creature: a flying dragon, metallic in appearnce, that gracefully swam through the air and joined his soldiers as they charged through the broken defences, breathing fire upon the heads of those who had denied his existence. The city was quickly taken, heralding the Iron Dragon's return to all of Grand Cathay.
At the stronghold of Qiang, on the most western borders of Grand Cathay, where the land begins to rise into the Mountains of Mourn, I finally found the Iron Dragon, and my foreign appearance earned me enough attention to attend his court. There I dared to contradict the information presented by a trader who had returned from the west regarding the value of goods and the most profitable trade routes, and an audit of the man's ledgers proved the man to be lying, and in fact an agent of the Prophets in Shang-Yang. Summoned to a further audience, Lord Zhao Ming, demanded my services regarding acquisition of rare materials from the western lands, and in return he would grant my request to study the riddle of the Tome of Fates, assuring me that this artifact was not beyond his power. Though he did not deign to explain the current state of his realm to me, I eventually came to some understanding of this vast empire that was, in fact, larger than Sigmar's own, and fighting a similar war for its survival against incessant incursions of barbarians, orcs, and beastmen. The Dragon Emperor of Cathay had not been seen for centuries, sealed in meditation in the Forbidden City, and his scions governed his divided realm. Similarly, the Iron Dragon himself had withdrawn from society and chosen to study the arcane mysteries and applications of alchemy within the laboratories and forges of Qiang for many years. He claimed to be the Lord of the Western Provinces, but the people of his land were unsure if he even lived, and he had done nothing as his banners were thrown from the walls of Shang-Yang during riots incited by the Prophets of Jinshen. Though details would not be revealed to me, some unknown shame regarding a part played in the disappearance of his younger sister, had driven the Iron Dragon into self-exile and broken his already tenuous ties with his other siblings. As I came to see that Grand Cathay was the eastern counterpart, an estranged sister, of the Empire, the Tome showed me it also shared its ultimate fate: split asunder by war and overrun by the Ruinous Powers.
Determined to change my own fate, I risked sharing this knowledge with the Lord of the Western Provinces, he however insisted that the reign of the Dark Gods had been thwarted long ago by the Dragon Emperor. It was not until I learned that materials he lacked for his studies were available abroad, that I was able to rouse his interest in the wider world, for when his advisors explained that all power over the western trade routes was now held by the Prophets and the ogre tribes of the mountains, he immediately assembled his war council for the first time in decades. It's members, many of whom had never even met the Iron Dragon before, humbly briefed him on the neglected state of the Western Provinces and awaited his rage, but Lord Zhao Ming simply ordered them to ready for war. Over the next weeks I observed his atrophied emissaries return with word that none of the cities of the Western Provinces would answer Qiang's call, stating that the Iron Dragon was dead and Jinshen heeded only the Prophets now. Those sent to neighboring rulers brought only requests for money and soldiers from the stewards of those regions to combat an ongoing invasion of pirates and slavers, and a private response from the Storm Dragon of the Northern Provinces that infuriated Lord Zhao Ming for days. Southern Cathay, where the control of the Dragon Emperor was often stretched thin, was now divided between regional desert nomads and river warlords who rarely spared a thought for the wider concerns of the realm. I observed his generals drill the army of Qiang, which counted some proud elite soldiers and frightening engines of war in its number, but that number itself was woefully unimpressive. His administrators intended to bolster the army with mercenaries, but the Iron Dragon lacked gold outside of his laboratories, with taxation being diverted and controlled by the Prophets in Shang-Yang and Hanyu Port. Despite this bleak outlook, the Iron Dragon's servants in Qiang loyally carried out his tasks and I followed their example. I had been assigned a task to utilize my knowledge: assisting in the planning of large caravans destined for the western realms, just as I had first met in Myrmidens. Including procurement of the most profitable goods and the assignment of destinations, I offered my advice to the trade administrators, though to my understanding it seemed a waste to throw such an investment into the Dark Lands with small chance of seeing it return. My pessimism only increased when I was ordered to accompany the Iron Dragon to Hanyu Port, where he would demand the return of the city from the Prophets of Jinshin at the head of his small army. I foresaw my one hope throwing himself onto the spears of his enemies in his delusions of grandeur, but divination was yet the purview of the Tome alone. Instead, I witnessed the celestial power of Grand Cathay and came to understand how it had earned its place in the world.
As it would come to be known, the Ivory Wars began at Hanyu Port, the closest trading city to Qiang. Lord Zhao Ming's advisors explained that shipments of alchemical materials, including ivory, had become prohibitively expensive when the last western trade route had been completely cut off by the Goldtooth ogres, but trade had now become almost impossible when the warden of Hanyu Port gave they keys of the city to the Prophets of Jinshen in exchange for help against an army of mutant beastmen emerging from the desert. When we arrived at Hanyu Port, the gates were not opened for us, and the gate commander declared to Lord Zhao Ming that the Iron Dragon was dead and Hanyu Port answered to Shang-Yang, not Qiang. With noticeable fury, Lord Zhao Ming ordered his army to take the city by force, and I witnessed the power of the Hammers of Maufin and the bravery of the flying Sunpiercer Order for the first time as they attacked the city's walls. Then, to my utter amazement, I watched Lord Zhoa Ming himself transform into a giant creature: a flying dragon, metallic in appearnce, that gracefully swam through the air and joined his soldiers as they charged through the broken defences, breathing fire upon the heads of those who had denied his existence. The city was quickly taken, heralding the Iron Dragon's return to all of Grand Cathay.
The Army of Qiang
Commmand
The Iron Dragon - Lord Zhao Ming
Alchemist - Zhiyuan the Mandarin
Commmand
The Iron Dragon - Lord Zhao Ming
Alchemist - Zhiyuan the Mandarin
|
Celestial Retinues
1 Great Longma Riders - The Sunpiercer Order 1 Celestial Dragon Guard - The Iron Claws of Qiang |
Warriors of Jade and Steel
3 Jade Warriors - The Scorched Shields, The Dragon's Scales, The Swords of Haili 1 Jade Warrior Crossbowmen - The Sunset Guard |
Levies and Mercenaries
1 Fire Rain Rocket Battery - The Hammers of Maufin 2 Peasant Long Spearmen - The White Turbans, The Black Turbans 1 Peasant Archers - The Banner of the Feather |
Conflicts
|
The War for Jinshen
The Western Provinces: The Army of Qiang Adversaries: The Prophets of Jinshen, Clan Krizzor Allies: None Results: The Western Provinces reclaimed Hanyu Port, Xen Wu, Shang-Yang, Tai Tzu, and the Shrine of the Alchemist. The Prophets of Jinshen and Clan Krizzor were destroyed. Major battles of the War for Jinshen The Siege of Hanyu Port - Lord Zhao Ming defeated Lord Magistrate Zhiyuan Tao of the Prophets of Jinshen The Battle of Xen Wu - Lord Zhao Ming defeated Chieftain Aratt of Clan Krizzor The Siege of Shang-Yang - Lord Zhao Ming defeated Celestial General Sheng Ye of the Prophets of Jinshen |
|
|
The Curseling's Invasions
The Western Provinces: The Army of Qiang Adversaries: The Puppets of Misrule, the Yusak, the Kurgan Allies: The Northern Provinces, the Imperial Wardens Results: The Northern Provinces and the Imperial Wardens form alliances with the Western Provinces. The Dragon Gate was granted to the Northern Provinces. Major battles of the Curseling's 1st Invasion The Battle of the Dragon Gate - Lord Zhao Ming defeated Vilitch the Curseling of the Puppets of Misrule The Battle of the Dragon's Crossroad - Lord Yuanshan Fu of the Imperial Wardens and Lord Zhao Ming defeated Chieftain Aslog Elfslayer of the Kurgan Major battles of the Curseling's 2nd Invasion The Battle of Turtle Gate - Feng the Lion defeated Torvald the Glutton |
|
|
The Shadow Hunt
The Western Provinces: The Army of Shang-Yang, The Army of Zhanshi Adversaries: Clan Eshin Allies: The Northern Provinces, The Jade Custodians Results: The Western Provinces annexed Xing Po, the Village of the Moon, and the Jade Mountain. Celestial General Ming Fan and the Jade Custodians bowed to Lord Zhao Ming, submitting the Celestial Monastery and the city of Shang-Wu to his command. Clan Eshin was destroyed. Major Battles of the Shadow Hunt The Battle of Tai Tzu - Astromancer Shenji Duanmu is defeated by Deathmaster Snikch The Siege of Shang-Yang - General Feng the Lion defeats Deathmaster Snikch The Battle of Xing Po - General Feng the Lion defeats Enginseer Boilrer the Dominator The Battle of the Village of the Moon - General Feng the Lion and General Ming Fan the Custodian defeat Deathmaster Snikch |
|
|
The Liberation of the East
The Western Provinces: The Army of Shang-Yang, The Army of Zhanshi Adversaries: The Blessed Dread, the Slaughterhorn Tribe Allies: The Celestial Loyalists, the Eastern River Lords Results: The Celestial Loyalists form an alliance with the Western Provinces. The Western Provinces annexed Zhanshi. The Western Provinces liberated Chimai, the City of the Shugengan, Haichai, Zu Zhi, amd Fu-Chow for the Celestial Loyalists. The Blessed Dread and the Slaughterhorn Tribe were destroyed. Major Battles of the Liberation of the East The Battle of Zhanshi - Feng the Lion and Ming Fan the Custodian defeat Lokhir Fellheart The Battle of the City of the Shugengan - Ming Fan the Custodian defeats Lokhir Fellheart The Battle of Chimai - Feng the Lion defeats Dreadlord Byre'chull Wrathbringer The Siege of Haichai - Ming Fan the Custodian defeats Singal The Siege of Fu-Chow - Ming Fan the Custodian defeats Lokhir Fellheart The Battle of Zhanshi - Ming Fan defeats Wunsru of the Slaughterhorn Tribe |
|
|
Securing the Ivory Road
The Western Provinces: The Army of Qiang, The Army of Shang-Wu Adversaries: The Goldtooth Allies: The Crossed Clubs, The Lazarghs Results: The Western Provinces granted the Maw Gate, Grimtop, Great Hall of Greasus, Karak Krakaten, and the Valley of the Horns to the Lazarghs Tribe. The Goldtooth and the Crossed Clubs were destroyed. Miao the White Crane was killed in battle. Major Battles of the 1st Ivory Road Campaign The Assault of the Maw Gate - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Tyrant Grukk The Assault of the Great Hall of Greasus - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Tyrant Skamp The Siege of Shang-Yang - Longyuan of Jiagu defeats Taian Si Major Battles of the 2nd Ivory Road Campaign The Battle of Grimtop - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Greasus Goldtooth The Battle of the Great Hall of Greasus - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Greasus Goldtooth and Tyrant Chungus |
|
|
The Conquest of the Pass
The Western Provinces: The Army of Qiang, The Army of the Ivory Road Adversaries: The Caravan of Blue Roses, Poxmakers of Nurgle Allies: The Lazarghs Results: The Western Provinces conquered Gnobbly Gorge, Shambletown, and Skrap Towers Major Battles of the Conquest of the Pass The 1st Battle of Gnobbly Gorge - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Morath von Senkehof The 2nd Battle of Gnobbly Gorge - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Ku'gath Plaguefather The 3rd Battle of Gnobbly Gorge - Lord Zhao Ming defeats Helman Ghorst |
|
The Army of Qiang
Command
The Iron Dragon - Lord Zhao Ming
Alchemist - Yan the Red Crane
Command
The Iron Dragon - Lord Zhao Ming
Alchemist - Yan the Red Crane
|
Celestial Retinues
1 Great Longma Riders - The Sunpiercer Order 1 Celestial Dragon Guard - The Iron Claws of Qiang 1 Celestial Dragon Crossbowmen - The Grace of Quai Yin 1 Jet Lion - The Spirit-Eater of Waiwei 1 Onyx Crowmen - The Empress Crowmen |
Warriors of Jade and Steel
2 Jade Warriors - The Scorched Shields, The Dragon's Scales 2 Jade Warriors (halberds) - The Wardens of the Seal, The Teeth of Jinshen 2 Jade Warrior Crossbowmen - The Sunset Guard, The Greenhelms of Hanyu 1 Jade Lancers - The Wardens of the Pass |
Levies and Mercenaries
2 Iron Hail Gunners - Baoli Firebreathers, Baoli Shadechasers 1 Fire Rain Rocket Battery - The Hammers of Maufin 1 Sky Lantern - The Flame of Wisdom 1 Ogre Bulls - The Charred Mallets 1 Ogre Bulls (dual weapons) - The Ironbound |
The Army of Shang-Yang
Command
Celestial General - Feng the Lion
Alchemist - Zhiyuan the Mandarin
Command
Celestial General - Feng the Lion
Alchemist - Zhiyuan the Mandarin
|
Celestial Retinues
1 Terracotta Sentinenl 1 Onyx Crowmen |
Warriors of Jade and Steel
3 Jade Warriors 1 Jade Warrior Crossbowmen (shields) 1 Crane Gunners |
Levies and Mercenaries
1 Iron Hail Gunners 2 Peasent Spearmen 4 Peasant Archers 1 Peasant Horsemen 2 Grand Cannon |
The Army of Zhanshi
Command
Celestial General - Ming Fan the Custodian
Gate Master - Muzhi the Calligrapher
Astromancer - Dingguo the Oraclewa
Command
Celestial General - Ming Fan the Custodian
Gate Master - Muzhi the Calligrapher
Astromancer - Dingguo the Oraclewa
|
Celestial Retinues
1 Zhangu War Drum 2 Onyx Crowmen 1 Jade Lion |
Warriors of Jade and Steel
3 Jade Warriors 3 Jade Warrior Crossbowmen |
Levies and Mercenaries
2 Peasant Spearmen 1 Peasant Archers |
The Army of Shang-Wu
Command
Lord Magistrate - Longyuan of Jiagu
Alchemist - Baifeng of the Golden House
Command
Lord Magistrate - Longyuan of Jiagu
Alchemist - Baifeng of the Golden House
|
Celestial Retinues
None |
Warriors of Jade and Steel
2 Jade Warriors 1 Jade Lancers |
Levies and Mercenaries
2 Peasant Spearmen 3 Peasant Archers 1 Peasant Horsemen 1 Sky Lantern |
The Army of the Ivory Road
Command
The Dragon-Blooded Shugengan Lord - Zihui of the Tian Temple
Gate Masters - Qing Wei the Owl of Hanyu, Zhengde the Eighth Seal
Command
The Dragon-Blooded Shugengan Lord - Zihui of the Tian Temple
Gate Masters - Qing Wei the Owl of Hanyu, Zhengde the Eighth Seal
|
Celestial Retinues
1 Zhangu War Drum 1 Onyx Crowmen |
Warriors of Jade and Steel
1 Jade Warriors 2 Jade Warriors (halberds) 1 Jade Warrior Crossbowmen |
Levies and Mercenaries
3 Peasant Spearmen 3 Peasant Archers 2 Peasant Horsemen |
Epilogue: Skrag the Slaughterer
With the Western Provinces revitalized and secured, an eruption of a the mutant ratmen clan of the Eshin purged from the Mountains of the Moon, the eastern cities liberated from the grip of The Blessed Dread's slavers, and the Great Bastion reinforced, I encouraged Lord Zhao Ming's interest in connecting with the western realms of my birth. While ambitious merchants of Grand Cathay were well known to brave the dangerous roads west in large well-armed caravans, the Iron Dragon wished to spread the order and harmony of Cathay across these wastes and envisaged a guarded trade route with prosperous cities all along it.
His first challenge would be to subjugate the Ogre Kingdoms in the mountains above Qiang, which would demand tribute or plunder from all passing caravans. The Goldtooth tribe was the dominant power along the Ivory Road and demanded exorbitant tributes for safe passage, and so the Western Provinces met with rival tribes, brokered alliances, and marched to war with them against Greasus Goldtooth and his numerous armies. Greasus was unable to crack the Army of Qiang, and half his realm was lost and his famous Great Hall plundered by the end of the first campaign. A second campaign followed after a brief peace, that saw the Goldtooth tribe entirely supplanted by the Iron Dragon’s allies, the Ogre Kingdom of the Lazarghs.
With the Ivory Road held by a puppet, the caravans of Cathay could reach all the way to the Darklands from Shang-Yang in relative safety for the first time in the memory of the celestial archives, but the Western Provinces would push farther. Before any conquest of the Darklands, the Iron Dragon sent his armies to secure Gnoblar Country, a lawess route through the southern foothills of the Mountains of Mourn where caravans were attacked by undead and demons. The conquest of the pass indeed brought me to face both such horrors, and the Iron Dragon banished the great demon Kul’Gath before my eyes as its horrifying minions threw themselves against the spears of the Western Provinces. However, I would only hear about the further successes and failures of Lord Zhao Ming much later and from a far away, for the foul scent of the demons had not yet even left my nose, when I was taken by what at first seemed like a simple raiding band of Ogres. Though I had hoped to negotiate my release in return for some promised favor from the lord whom I was in service to, I was told that I now had a new master, who had heard I could interpret prophecies and read the strands of fate. And so I was delivered, prodded forward by vicious looking gnoblars, to a massive mutilated ogre, stirring a hot cauldron with a giant cleaver that replaced his right hand. An armored ogre bull by his side, introduced him as Skrag, the Slaughterer, the Ever-Famished, the Gore-Taker, and the Prophet of the Maw.
His first challenge would be to subjugate the Ogre Kingdoms in the mountains above Qiang, which would demand tribute or plunder from all passing caravans. The Goldtooth tribe was the dominant power along the Ivory Road and demanded exorbitant tributes for safe passage, and so the Western Provinces met with rival tribes, brokered alliances, and marched to war with them against Greasus Goldtooth and his numerous armies. Greasus was unable to crack the Army of Qiang, and half his realm was lost and his famous Great Hall plundered by the end of the first campaign. A second campaign followed after a brief peace, that saw the Goldtooth tribe entirely supplanted by the Iron Dragon’s allies, the Ogre Kingdom of the Lazarghs.
With the Ivory Road held by a puppet, the caravans of Cathay could reach all the way to the Darklands from Shang-Yang in relative safety for the first time in the memory of the celestial archives, but the Western Provinces would push farther. Before any conquest of the Darklands, the Iron Dragon sent his armies to secure Gnoblar Country, a lawess route through the southern foothills of the Mountains of Mourn where caravans were attacked by undead and demons. The conquest of the pass indeed brought me to face both such horrors, and the Iron Dragon banished the great demon Kul’Gath before my eyes as its horrifying minions threw themselves against the spears of the Western Provinces. However, I would only hear about the further successes and failures of Lord Zhao Ming much later and from a far away, for the foul scent of the demons had not yet even left my nose, when I was taken by what at first seemed like a simple raiding band of Ogres. Though I had hoped to negotiate my release in return for some promised favor from the lord whom I was in service to, I was told that I now had a new master, who had heard I could interpret prophecies and read the strands of fate. And so I was delivered, prodded forward by vicious looking gnoblars, to a massive mutilated ogre, stirring a hot cauldron with a giant cleaver that replaced his right hand. An armored ogre bull by his side, introduced him as Skrag, the Slaughterer, the Ever-Famished, the Gore-Taker, and the Prophet of the Maw.