The Scarlet Empire is what the unenlightened call Imperial Cathay. Its people, the HuaQuin believe that all us living are sharing the same dream from which will all will wake eventually. We are all single notes in the music of the heavens our lives may be called out again and again until the song ends. Each Hua-quin hold great faith in the Empress to intercede on their behalf before the judgement of the Five GodKings. In fact, Imperial Cathay itself is just the seat and earthly home of the Scarlet Empress. It is said that the Empress regularly holds court with the five kings “ Fuxi, Nüwa, Shennong, Suiren-shi, and even the Judge Huan-di himself.

Although the Imperial city is beyond crowded where merchants ply their trade from dusk to dawn of any given day “ no one claims residence of the city itself. Instead it is the belief that all who shelter within the city walls are but guests at the Empress’s table. Politeness and Calm is the first rule to show respect to their near divine host. Lawbreakers in this town are treated in the same way as you would treat some one who broke into your home on Christmas morning and defecated on your family’s dinner.

The common people of the Cathay are farmers, artisans and merchants, they are generally hard working, kindhearted, conservative folk. They simply wish to live peaceful lives, enjoy their traditions, and rarely question those who are their betters. An aristocracy of wealthy educated elites pride themselves on learning, government service (civil or military), and stewardship of the land. They form the core of the bureaucracy and officers in the military. Above the aristocracy there are the nobles, families related by birth or marriage to the royal family or occasionally those ennobled for meritorious service. Nobles tend to devote their time and wealth patronizing the arts and sciences, and manipulating foreign court politics.