Celestial Imperium: Difference between revisions
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a realm in [[ | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' (also seen as '''Shaofeng Kingdom'''{{csb|EttRoG|168}} or '''Celestial Empire of Shao Feng''')<ref name=Dragon+25 /> is a realm in [[Central Oerik]]. | ||
Very little is known about the nation, and it has only appeared in very few official sources. | Very little is known about the nation, and it has only appeared in very few official sources. | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== Geography == | == Geography == | ||
===Borders=== | ===Borders=== | ||
The Celestial Imperium is bounded on both the east and west by titanic mountain ranges. Its southern border reaches to the [[Celestial Sea]]. Along the Imperiunm's northern border are the [[High Khanate|High]] and [[Low Khanate]]s, as well as [[Orcreich]] across the [[Wall of Tsian]. | The Celestial Imperium is bounded on both the east and west by titanic mountain ranges. Its southern border reaches to the [[Celestial Sea]]. Along the Imperiunm's northern border are the [[High Khanate|High]] and [[Low Khanate]]s, as well as [[Orcreich]] across the [[Wall of Tsian]]. | ||
== People == | |||
=== Notable individuals === | === Notable individuals === | ||
* Scholar [[Yeo]], also called "Venerable Prince"—a duplicitous and evil servant of [[Nerull]] who attempted to murder or capture [[Gord]] (in [[Night Arrant]]). | * '''Scholar [[Yeo]]''', also called "Venerable Prince"—a duplicitous and evil servant of [[Nerull]] who attempted to murder or capture [[Gord]] (in [[Night Arrant]]). | ||
* '''Kucera Kyrios''', an emperor of the Celestial Imperium c.[[398 CY]]. Took in [[Marek Polstar]] as an ambassador. Kyrios once planned to invade and conquer the Flanaess.{{cite dragon|253|44}} | |||
== Society and culture == | == Society and culture == | ||
| Line 55: | Line 57: | ||
== Creative origins == | == Creative origins == | ||
The nation was originally created by [[Gary Gygax]] and referred to in [[Night Arrant]] (1987) as the "Suhfang Kingdom". | The nation was originally created by [[Gary Gygax]] and was apocryphally referred to in [[Night Arrant]] (1987) as the "Suhfang Kingdom". | ||
It was next referred to as the "Far Western Shaofeng Kingdom" | Later, in ''[[dragmag|Dragon]]'' Annual #6 (1996), calls the area the "Celestial Imperium".{{cite dragon|A1|72-73}} | ||
It was next referred to by [[Erik Mona]] as the "Far Western Shaofeng Kingdom" in ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]'' (2007).{{csb|EttRoG|168}} Mona stated that ''Shaofeng'' was intended as a near homonym for ''Suhfang'', and that he purposefully made the name official in this source.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=ericmona |number=1100875903695908864 |date=27 February 2019 |title="I ... canonized that in ''Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk''."|access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> This name was used amongst fans and in fan-created content for years preceding this canonization, especially by Mona. | |||
The "Celestial Imperium" was made synonymous with "Shaofeng Kingdom" when the names were formally combined<ref name=Twitter>{{cite tweet|user=greyhawkonline|number=1100872725260836865 |date=27 February 2019 |title=WotC has canonized the full name of the Celestial Empire of Shao Feng|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> and it was finally called the "Celestial Empire of Shao Feng" (2020).<ref name=Dragon+25>{{cite web |author=John Roy|coauthors=Luke Gygax|title=Behind the Screen:Greyhawk |work=Dragon+ #25| url=https://dnd.dragonmag.com/2020/05/13/behind-the-screen-2/content.html#:~:text=The%20Celestial%20Empire%20of%20Shao%20Feng%20lies%20somewhere%20to%20the%20west%2C%20the%20route%20known%20only%20to%20Baklunish%20traders|publisher=[[WotC]] |date=13 May 2020 |quote=The Celestial Empire of Shao Feng lies somewhere to the west.|accessdate=1 December 2021 |}}</ref> saying "The Celestial Empire of Shao Feng lies somewhere to the west, the route known only to Baklunish traders," which is a reference to ''[[Return of the Eight]]'', alluding to the trade routes mentioned in the entry for [[Alhamazad]]. (see [[Celestial Imperium#Trade|''Trade'']] above). | |||
==Publication history== | ==Publication history== | ||
Latest revision as of 10:21, 28 May 2025
| Celestial Imperium | |
|---|---|
 The Celetial Imperium illustrated on the Sutherland map (1999). | |
| General information | |
| Other names: | Celestial Imperium of Shao Feng, the Shaofeng Kingdom, Suhfang Kingdom |
| Region: | Central Oerik |
Celestial Imperium (also seen as Shaofeng Kingdom[1] or Celestial Empire of Shao Feng)[2] is a realm in Central Oerik.
Very little is known about the nation, and it has only appeared in very few official sources.
It is called a "a place virtually unknown to the Flanaess, but a veritable wonder amongst all lands".[3]
History
A vast nation peopled with a hard-working peasantry .
Geography
Borders
The Celestial Imperium is bounded on both the east and west by titanic mountain ranges. Its southern border reaches to the Celestial Sea. Along the Imperiunm's northern border are the High and Low Khanates, as well as Orcreich across the Wall of Tsian.
People
Notable individuals
- Scholar Yeo, also called "Venerable Prince"—a duplicitous and evil servant of Nerull who attempted to murder or capture Gord (in Night Arrant).
- Kucera Kyrios, an emperor of the Celestial Imperium c.398 CY. Took in Marek Polstar as an ambassador. Kyrios once planned to invade and conquer the Flanaess.[4]
Society and culture
Magic
The traditions of the Celestial Imperium include a different conception of the Elements—there being five instead of four.
"...there are five elements and five imperial Dragons that are born and dwell within them, visiting the world conglomerate only when they so choose—or are summoned..... Golden is the color of the Fire Dragon, green that of Water, while blue is certainly of Air. The imperial Dragon of silvery hue is of Metal, and the one of violet shade is associated with Wood.""[5]
Government
The government of the Imperium is simply referred to as "being ruled by a complex bureaucracy".
Trade
Though there is limited trade with western nations, there are a few rare connections by which exotic goods from the West might make it to the Flanaess.
"Alhamazad has ties to sorcerers far to the west, across the Dry Steppes and beyond the Dramidj Ocean. He has hinted that he would like someone to visit one of these distant in his stead, as he is infirm these days; the path would follow known caravan routes into lands with a strong [Asian] flavor"."[6]
Travel
Creative origins
The nation was originally created by Gary Gygax and was apocryphally referred to in Night Arrant (1987) as the "Suhfang Kingdom".
Later, in Dragon Annual #6 (1996), calls the area the "Celestial Imperium".[7]
It was next referred to by Erik Mona as the "Far Western Shaofeng Kingdom" in Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007).[1] Mona stated that Shaofeng was intended as a near homonym for Suhfang, and that he purposefully made the name official in this source.[8] This name was used amongst fans and in fan-created content for years preceding this canonization, especially by Mona.
The "Celestial Imperium" was made synonymous with "Shaofeng Kingdom" when the names were formally combined[9] and it was finally called the "Celestial Empire of Shao Feng" (2020).[2] saying "The Celestial Empire of Shao Feng lies somewhere to the west, the route known only to Baklunish traders," which is a reference to Return of the Eight, alluding to the trade routes mentioned in the entry for Alhamazad. (see Trade above).
Publication history
External links
Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.
References
Citations
- ↑ a b Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.168.
- ↑ a b John Roy; Luke Gygax. Behind the Screen:Greyhawk. Dragon+ #25. WotC, 13 May 2020. Retrieved on 1 December 2021. "The Celestial Empire of Shao Feng lies somewhere to the west."
- ↑ Night Arrant—Gord the Rogue novel (1986), p.179.
- ↑ Dragon #253 (Nov 1998), p.44.
- ↑ Night Arrant—Gord the Rogue novel (1986), p.187.
- ↑ Return of the Eight (1998), p.62.
- ↑ Dragon #A1 (Annual #1 1996), p.72-73.
- ↑ @ericmona. "I ... canonized that in Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk.".
- ↑ @greyhawkonline. WotC has canonized the full name of the Celestial Empire of Shao Feng.
Bibliography
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celestial Imperium | Kingdom | Dragon magazine #253 | 44 | |
| Celestial Imperium | Kingdom | Dragon magazine #AN1 | 72, 73 | |
| Suhfang Kingdom | Kingdom | Night Arrant | 179, 187 | |
| Suhfang, Imperial Dragons of | People Group | Night Arrant | 180 |