The Honorable House of Feng (Patrician House, Site Lore)

The Heraldry of the Patrician House of Feng (pronounced 'fung' for y'all keeping score at home). 






 
The Satrapy of Xiliang, Home to Feng Chao and others.






History:

The Patrician house of Feng was established over a hundred years ago, honoring the dragon-blooded Merchant and naval captain Feng Chao for his efforts as privateer in fighting anathema-led pirate fleets in the seas between the Imperial Isle and the scavenger lands. Using the wealth taken from many felled pirates, he was able to not only attain a satrapy in Xiliang, but pay off his dues to the Scarlet Empress for such wealth in full rather quickly--gaining his satrapy a fair amount of independence in exchange for rather small annual taxes.



Forty years ago, Chao realized that even his wealth and power could not sustain him forever--elixirs of life are hard for even a merchant satrap to afford--the againg merchant proceeded to announce the writing of his will and division of his estate. He has now retired, but acknowledges that he frequently changes the will, using a magic list to keep track of each heir on it. With seventy known family members, only some of them viewed as "legitimate" by either birth or exaltation, the competition for the house of Feng's wealth has been blown out of the water.


It is unknown which number will get what share of the wealth, or even how it is to be divided. However, Chao has said the top of the list gets the better prize. Whether or not the Satrapy is the better prize is a matter of debate. Because of the competition of the will of Feng Chao, the entire house is often at war with itself as much as with other houses. Partially because of this competition, and partially because of a lack of strategic marriages, the House of Feng, while powerful for a patrician house, is not formally affiliated with any of the Dynast houses. Chao seems to have his own plan in regards to this, but he has not been clear as to specifics, and has refused to publicly back any contender in the struggle for the throne since the disappearance of the Empress. However, as peace wears thin, he feels that it may not be in his control much longer.





Geography:


Xiliang is both the correct name for the moderately sized port city and the surrounding peninsula it is on, located on the southeast part of the Blessed Isle, about three days' sailing west of Noble. It is surrounded by rather dense jungle and tropical heat, and many prefer to sail to the main city of the region rather than walk or drive a cart.



Like most of the Blessed Isle, the area is fairly magically advanced, and in particular is known for its quality orchards and arborages. Xiliang is a region filled with imported eastern trees, supplanted with both magical and traditional farming methods. They are, in many ways, experts at the importation, sale, and breeding of trees, and Chao prides himself on having an expert knowledge of both good worksmanship and good stock in wood. Several of his family members are shipwrights, furniture-makers, and arborists. At the last major gala the Empress threw before her disappearance, Chao gave her a rather ornate puzzle-box made of twelve varieties of wood. It was not magical in nature, but he claimed it was as difficult as any first-age riddle. The Empress never commented on the gift, and its whereabouts are unaccounted for.



Xiliang has little in the way of military defenses compared to the rest of the isle, although the port does have an imperial naval base. Chao's manor is well-fortified against basic raids and has numerous anti-burglary measures, but is not designed for a prolonged siege. The city of Xiliang has few walls and dense forests, relying on natural defenses (and a general lack of strategic importance outside of wood-working) to prevent military conflict.


At the request of fearful elements among the townsfolk, a small militia was recently form to protect the area after word had arisen of bandits in neighboring satrapies. The peasant militia tends to wear armored buff-jackets and wield lumber axes into battle, with the exception of captains, who are given swords. They are led by whichever family members in the area wish to contribute towards the defense, as well as drilling from the "Lieutenant" Liang Shen, who is known for wielding a staff and wearing chain-mail in battle. 



Religion and gods:


Like most of the Blessed Isle, the Immaculate religion and local gods are in relative harmony in Xiliang. The only major god in the area is Sorben, a forest god living slightly to the north of Xiliang's chief roads. In exchange for rather typical offerings of wine and prayer as agreed upon by the Satrap and the various Dynast negotiators, he aids the people of Xiliang in raising and caring for the various trees, both foreign and local, to his jungle home. He is fond of seeing new species, and tends to be highly enthusiastic to welcome new members to his "family," as he likes to refer to the various arborages and orchards. He does not disagree with cutting trees down, provided there is now callous disregard for the wood used, and no attempts to eliminate a type of tree entirely. 


The other god of note, while a lesser god, is Gazo, a spirit who watches over the port and the waves. She has a small shrine near the Naval base, and incense is often burned there before a journey is undertaken. Gazo has little in the way or territory, but happily blesses any boat making an offering wit her mark, even if it may not do much good. Her form of a leaping catfish is the source for Feng's heraldry, and a symbol of Chao's communing with Gazo. Some also claim they have consorted, but that's idle gossip.