Cathay
From Lexicanum
Cathay, also known as Imperial Cathay, the Kingdom of the Dragon, or as the Empire of the Celestial Dragon, is an enormous empire, located in the far east beyond the Mountains of Mourn.
It seems to be ruled by an Emperor. Around 1690 IC in the 14th year of a certain Emperor Wu of Cathay, member of the Wu dynasty, a massive invasion fleet was organized to conquer and colonise the Southlands.
The fleet was victim of two typhoons, one shortly after the departure the second one shortly after arriving. The survivors marched inland but no one managed to return. Yin-tuan, whose ship had crossed the Great Ocean, eventually brought news of the complete loss.
Yin-tuan managed to survive because of a tatoo of the Imperial Dragon made in an opium house of Fu-Chow.
Adventurous merchants from the Old World occasionally travel the Silk Road to reach Cathay. This is a very perilous journey due to the hordes of Hobgobla-Khan who roam the steppes along the Ivory Road west of Cathay.
The rulers of the Ogre Kingdoms, located in the Mountains of Mourn, extract a suitable tribute from the passing caravans. Some Ogres go to Cathay to sell their services as mercenaries.
An easier and quicker way is the spice route through the Sea, around the Southlands.
Strange creatures abound, from serpentine dragons and tribes of monkey warriors living in the Mountains of Heaven to gigantic stone dogs who guard the holy temples of the empire.
Cathay is at constant war with the armies of the Grand Khanate of the Hobgoblins
Sources
- Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen, 5th Edition, Stillman, N. 1997. Nottingham: Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1-872372-56-2
- Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War, Stillman, N., Pirinen, T., Wigley, J. 1998. Nottingham: Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1-872372-02-3
