Greetings to all of you with avid interest for Khitai, I`m Mario Crispi, a historian from Bak who did came to Khitai searching for its culture and spiritual knowledge... Meanwhile, I managed to write a few notes about this kingdom, notes that may uncover some of the vast khitaian secrets to you people in the south.
I will tell you more about this amazing lands, yes I will, but first lets introduce you to Khiai, using the words of Tellius Tolken, from his "A Brief Overlook at Near World":

"Khitaians are the humans that lives at the distant north, at lands covered by snow and tundra. They are a mysterious civilization, with their own culture, honor and education. Their weird weapons and armor are rarely found at the south lands, but they are very famous between the warriors. One few examples are the Katana and the Shuriken… Tough they are rare to find at the south lands, the ones who travels the huge distance are very respected by their courage. Khitaians spoke a totally different tongue and apparently never loose their accents while talking in Torak (world common). The most famous of the Khitaians must be his king Maw-Tutso-ju, that is believed to be the richest man in the world."

Its not a easy task to travel from Dardeeh to Khitai, just because between the country and the kingdom, miles and miles of dangers and unknown monsters awaits the rangers... For me it was no easier, though I did came with a division of soldiers from Bak, nearly half of them died in the journey. I really recommend you to think twice before daring to make this travel, but if you really want to do it, equip yourself! This lands are known as The Savage Lands, and among its legendary sites are the J`llahou, the city of the lizardmen, and Hok'tush'ran', the cold desert that is a prison of gods... Time of The Journey: 12 to 18 months by walking (1/3 by horse) at the first time, 7 to 11 months by walking (1/3 by horse) for the subsequent times (or if anyone from your party actually did it already). There are no known maps for the Savage Lands, but with the aid of a rare one, the time could drop to 75% of total.

Known monsters: Here is a list of some of the dangers that awaits the rangers along the way... Aarakocra*, Ankheg, Arcane (legendary), Basilisk, Behir, Bulette, Bullywug* (common), Catoblepas, Cockatrice, Dinosaur (rare ones near the mountains of The Wall) , Deep Dragon (near The Wall), Dragonne, Duergar Dwarf* (near The Wall), Skriaxit (composite elemental), Galeb Duhr (near The Wall), Giants (actually common to find near The Wall!), Gibberling, Spriggan Gnome*, Grell (legendary), Grimlock, Grippli, Caveman (near The Wall), Kenku* (common), Kuo-Toa*, Leech, Lizard Man* (common, though the rumors of their huge city are treated as legends), Locathah, Mongrelman, Muckdweller, Merrow Ogre, Peryton (near The Wall), Roc (near The Wall), Sahuagin, Tabaxi*, Tasloi*, Titan (legendary), Yuan-ti (psionics are legendary).
* Suggested races for possible PCs from The Savage Lands.

All monsters are described on the Monstrous Manual (you can buy it at our Library)

Since immemorial times, the kingdom of Khitai has been plagued by ferocious battles between the monarchy, which believe it has been chosen by Alkh and Mah, the first gods of Khitai, to be the power above all their lands, and the shadow clans, whose believe in the god Odda, and want to take the monarchy down to bring anarchy and chaos, together with liberty, to Khitai.
But all khitaians seen to accept the controlling but wise power of the king, instead of the dangers of an anarchy being ruled by the crime lords of their people. So, I will introduce you to the monarchy of Khitai, and describe the four Royal Cities, the greatest cities of all their cold lands...

The King: During the eternal struggle between the monarchy and the criminal shadow clans of Khitai, Maw-Tutso-ju found himself in the highest position of king at the tenre age of 15 years, after the murder of his father, the king Fyunna-Tutso-ju, by the master assassin Hia-Kunn-fu. During 9 years, he ruled the northern kingdom the better he could, and now he`s a young, but wise, king of Khitai. The common folks of Khitai loves him to the death, and the shadow clans want a meet between him and death...

City of Daí-Khai

The center of the monarchy, Daí-Khai is the greatest city of all Khitai, having the king`s palace and famous gardens inside its walls, Daí-Khai is a beautiful and secure place. Being settled alongside the Ankai River a long time ago, Daí-Khai suffers extremely cold temperatures, and warm times are rare, but very productive...
Actually, the lands besides the river are very fertile, but can only be productive for small parts of the cold years of Khitai, and so during this times their folks work as hard as they can. Daí-Khai also make trades with the other Royal Cities, and it was the ancient kings who built the roads which connects to Mir-Khai and Urk-Hai.
One of the shadow clans best strategies to battle the monarchy is to attack the caravans which brings food and trades from one big city to another, so the king`s army is always watching for this precious caravans. There are about 25,000 khitaians living in Daí-Khai, some of them are monks who came from the Yin Mountains...

City of Mir-Khai

Settled beside the Yang Mountains, Mir-Khai is a city who lives for mining its precious metals, particularly the Cion. This is a metal that can only be found here, and its very good to build their Katanas and Samurai Armors (treat as a rare +2 non-magical weapon or armor)
Mir-Khai inhabitants are very devoted to the military arts, and inside this city lives the most famous samurais of all Khitai, whose serves the king against the shadow clans... There are also very good weapon and armor smiths, specialized on making the most deadly weapons you will ever see.
They do also have farms near the city, but their land aren`t so fertile as at Daí-Khai. General Yinn, an experienced warrior, is the man in charge of Mir-Khai while the king is not there... About 8,500 khitaians do live by there. There are also about 400 duergar dwarves who often came from the mountain caves to visit Mir-Khai.

City of Nakhat

Built by the ronins (fallen warriors who lost their honor) who came from the other cities, the once roguish city of Nakhat is now accepted by the king as a Royal City too, mostly because of the great work of Hia-Jutso-do, a very brave warrior who managed to transform Nakhat into a honorable city, sending all their rogues and criminals to the Nakhat forest.
The problem is that this rogues aren`t satisfied with that, and they even built small camps inside the forest, to make the life of Hia-Jutso-do as harder as they can... Some say that this rogues are even aided by the shadow clans, who want to control this city of ronins.
But all khitaians inside Nakhat work hard to regain their lost honor, and they are also very loyal to the man who showed them the correct path once again. Being very alike Pravokia somehow, Nakhat lives from the trades of their rare herbs and small farms. There`re also a good fishing commerce being settled. About 4,000 khitaians live there, including the rumors of some Kenku families who came from Khun-po Mountains and the savage lands.

City of Urk-Hai

To the east of Daí-Khai, inside the Haiyai Hills, there`s the city of Urk-Hai. Being the Royal City most close to the shadow clans territory, Urk-Hai holds a great number of solders, and is a very secure city, with two rows of giant stone walls, and some of the best weapons that Khitai could produce, such as the catapults and war chariots...
General Hiak is the man in charge of Urk-Hai, the great warrior he is. Many battles takes place between the monarchy and the shadow clans just to the north of Urk-Hai, near the Fing-po River, and if you have not a big reason to came to this city, I suggest you to stay away from it.
The inhabitants of Urk-Hai are very stressed with its situation of constant battles, and from time to time the king send new troops to replace the warriors who are about to get mad with all that... Besides it, Urk-Hai generates a great amount of fishing trade, there are also some farms to the south of it. Just about 5,000 khitaians dare to live here.

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