Dragon Emperor
Xen Yang, the Dragon Emperor is the ruler of the empire of Cathay, the largest nation in the world. He rules over a vast empire of many different peoples and cultures and his subjects number untold millions [1a][1b].
He and his wife, the equally revered Moon Empress spend their time in the Celestial City above Wei-Jin where they contemplate the destiny of the empire. They are immortal Dragons who can also take humanoid form. [8]
Family
The Emperor has nine children who rule the mortals, although four have been lost over the ages. [9]
- Li Dao, the Fire Dragon, Ruler of the Southern Provinces, he defends the border of Cathay with Ind and Khuresh. [9][10]
- Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon, ruler of the Northern Provinces and Commander of the Great Bastion. [8]
- Shen-Zoo, Bringer of Light and Hope.[11]
- Yin-Yin, the Sea Dragon, she rules the Eastern Provinces and is Admiral of the Grand Dragon Fleet. [9][10]
- Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, administrator and ruler of central Cathay. [9][10]
- Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, ruler of the Western Provinces and Lord of Shang-Yang. [8]
- The Spirit Dragon is rumoured to lie within the Dragon River. [10]
History
He and his Empress existed when the planet was colder, before even the Old Ones came and pulled it closer to the sun. [8]
In 1999 IC the Emperor and his wife vanished, leading to the Time of Darkness and Disharmony when their children fight amongst themselves and the Monkey King becomes Emperor [9] in 2377 IC. [11]
The Emperor and Empress return in 2380 IC and cast down the Monkey King. [9]
Old World information
Scholars outside Cathay understand that his full title is Celestial Dragon Emperor[1a][1b]; another of his titles seems to be Monkey King[2]. They understand that the Dragon Emperor is supposedly immortal [1a] and that some believe that he is an actual dragon in the form of a man [1b].
Known Emperors
- Emperor Xen Houng[4] ruled around - 2748 IC[3], shortly before the creation of the Great Maw.
- An unnamed Dragon Emperor unified the land of Cathay into a single empire in - 1800 IC[5]. He ordered the construction of the Great Bastion, a gigantic fortified wall, to protect his new empire against the marauding tribes of the Hung.
- Emperor Wu, of the Wu dynasty, was crowned in 1676 IC[*]. In reality, Wu simply means Magical lord.[9] In 1690 he sent a large fleet to invade and conquer the Southlands[6a][6b]. The invasion ended in utter failure. It was probably this same Emperor Wu who met a large Tilean expedition in 1699 [7]. In the end he hired its members to protect the western borders of his empire against the Hobgoblin hordes.
See also
Notes
*Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (5th Edition)[6a] reports that the Cathayan invasion of the Southlands was launched in 1690 IC, the fourteenth year of Emperor Wu's reign.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Rulebook (7th Edition)
- 2: Red Thirst (Short Story)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Ogre Kingdoms (8th Edition), pg. 22
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Ogre Kingdoms (6th Edition), pg. 8
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Warriors of Chaos (7th Edition), pg. 38
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Lizardmen (5th Edition)
- 7: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (4th Edition), pgs. 85, 92, 93
- 8: Total War Blog
- 9: Interview with Andy Hall, Warhammer 3's Lead Writer
- 10: Total war Blog Lore roundtable
- 11: Total War Warhammer III
