<div align="center">(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/320x240q90/833/rzht.jpg)<br/><strong><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">revolving plot I</span></em></strong></div><br/><br/><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">There are two kingdoms which rule over our version of ancient China. During an age before gunpowder and technology, when the wiliest warrior could manipulate chi and borrow power from the elements to assist him or her in defeating their foes. Monks could banish demons back to the nether realm and there still <em>were</em> demons that plodded the soil. <br/><br/>The Kingdom of Xiao rules over the lusher lands of the East. Theirs was a kingdom of insight, philosophy, and fortitude. Because of Xiao's richer lands, it provides roughly 83% of the food consumed by the entire nation. This includes fish and all agricultural production. Because of this, Xiao's people are largely well fed. They are a people who appear to have an easier life and therefore their focus is not so much on physical strength. They tend to wield powerful chi magic more than elemental. Xiao has been ruled by four powerful clans who have rotated its rule between one another through marriage or birth for the last three hundred years.<br/><br/>The Kingdom of Song rules over the cruel, beautiful lands of the West. The rugged terrain, dry, hot climate and vast distances between water have made the kingdom one of steadfastness, stamina, and brawn. Song is no poor wasteland though, its tenacious peoples cultivate iron, copper, gemstones and spices that the eastern kingdom covets. Song's people do not starve, they carve a life from slaying creatures of the desert lands or through trade with the East. Because of the physically demanding elements of life in the Song Kingdom, their focus is primarily physical strength. They tend to wield powerful elemental magi more than chi. Song's rulers have long been a string of militant generals with armies to back their leadership up.<br/><br/>These two kingdoms have had a civil, but uneasy alliance. Each kingdom provides one another with comforts that the other wants and needs. There have been several instances throughout the existence of these dual realms where war has broken out between them, though the end result has always been the resumption of the alliance. There has not been outright conflict between Xiao and Song in 95 years.<br/><br/><em>This is what happened as most within the Xiao Empire know. <br/><br/>The four ruling clans of the Xiao Empire were Xiao, Zhou, Wu, and Lo. Ten years ago, the Xiao Clan had been ruling for 87 years consistently. Their reign had just been sealed for another generation by the birth of a son to Emperor Xiao Liu. The Emperor already had a nine year old daughter, but Xiao had not allowed an Empress to rule for one hundred and fifty years. The Houses of Zhou and Lo had grown some ambitious men, mean who enjoyed power and wanted their chance to rule the kingdom. But now with the birth of Xiao Liu's son, this would likely not happen in their lifetime.<br/><br/>It had to have been Lord Lo Huang that was the lasting rumor because he was said to have been the most power thirsty. But no one could know for sure. Two weeks prior, the crown princess had been sent off to visit her mother's sister, Lady Chin Ziyi. One of the Lo general's was sent down with her along with a contingent of men for her protection. But back home, one night, the two houses stormed the palace with the full force of their armies and murdered the entire royal family, including the newborn crown prince who was cast down on the stone steps leading from the palace. Citizens only had a vague idea of what was happening because they heard the pained, shrill cries of the empress, as she plead for the life of her son. In the southern lands, the general and his contingent drowned the princess and the members of her house, including the great Lady Chin Ziyi. <br/><br/>War between the four houses lasted nearly three years, resulting in the virtual annihilation of the four great clans. Peace did not occur even then as the smaller clans eventually began to fight over which should take over rule of the lands. It wasn't merely the clans that were impacted by the fighting, many civilians lost their lives and there was a large exodus from the grand city. Over the last few years, the Xiao kingdom has slipped further and further into disarray and lawlessness.<br/><br/>It has been ten years since the great houses fell and only recently has the Song Kingdom heard the first rumors of what has trespassed. The Xiao kingdom is an open door to whatever ruler is powerful enough to step up to the throne.</em></span></em>