In the Valley of the Wei arose the Shensi Kingdom, governed by the Princes of the Han. Their city was built upon the plateu known as the Loess, and dominates the Plain of Honan. The city and the people date from a time before recorded history. They have grown to rule over many other provinces and states ruled by lesser princes, and the Han have taken the title of Emperor. They now rule over a large Empire in the southern part of what is known as Cathay. They have a long border with the Ming Empire to the north, and with the Champa to the southwest. To the west they are bordered by many nomadic barbarian tribes. They have trade and diplomatic dealings with Nippon, the Ming, Champa, the High Elves by sea, and several other nations.

Much of their borders are contested with their neighbours, and there have been many border wars over the centuries. They have developed a noble caste of mounted warriors and they have developed a chivalrous martial code that is followed by this noble caste. When they go to war, the highest ranking nobles fight from mighty war chariots, pulled by four horses and trapped out in trappings of silver, gold, and jade. The lesser nobles fight as superb heavy cavalry. Their shields are painted in brilliant colours and the varnish of their armour glitters in the sunshine, while at the vanguard, rear guard, and flanks float hundreds of standards depicting the symbolic animals of the four cardinal directions - the Red Bird of the South; the Black Tortoise of the North; the White Tiger of the West; and the Green Dragon of the East. The nobles conform to a strict code of courtesy, even in warfare. The vanquished are spared if they are not foul Chaos Spawn, and if they have given proof of their bravery, and if they are courteous in their address and demeanor. Fame is gained by acts of generosity as much as it is by acts of courage.

The people of Cathay worship many gods, but they have one unified priesthood. The priesthood is responsible for the day to day running of the temples and the ordered worship of the gods. They have many priestly orders from the presiding priests, who lead and control worship, to the lowly wandering priest, whose job it is to bring the gods to the peasants of the outlying and remote villages.

The presiding priests are also the leaders of the priesthood, and are bureaucrats, besides just leading services. The priests are also teachers, and provide schools for the upper class and noble children.

There are also militant priestly chapters who fight to protect the temple boundaries and the temple lands. These militant priests sometimes go to war alongside the armies of the Han.

The major gods are:

Shang-ti, also known as Yu-Huang-Shang-Ti, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, he is the giver of life, and the vitalizing power of Earth, the bestower of the Mandate of Heaven, the Supreme Judge, the Forgiver, and the Saviour of Mankind, the personification of Heaven itself. He is the head of the Celestial Bureaucracy, all other deities rule through his grace and authority. His word is law among all gods, goddesses, and lesser beings. he is the Final Arbitrator. He appears as an aged man with a bald head and a long white beard.

Omens come from Shang-ti only when the Emperor has lost his Mandate from Heaven. In such times the Emperor is besieged by natural disasters such as plagues, floods, and earthquakes, and only the abdication of the Emperor and the apointing of an Emperor who is acceptable to Shang-ti can reverse these disasters.

Only the Emperor is allowed to worship Shang-ti, although lesser nobility and peasants are allowed to make offerings to him once a year.

Kuan-ti, also known as Huan-ti, is the god of Good Fortune and War. Instead of making war, however, he tries to prevent it whenever possible. He is a great scholar and Protector of the people, though he can be merciless and unforgiving when in pursuit of his duties. When war is unavoidable between two earthly powers, it is his task to adjudicate the dispute and determine who is deserving of victory. In his true form, he appears as a large muscular man with green armour and red skin.

Yen-Wang-Yeh is the god of Death, Chief Judge of the Ten Law Courts of the Afterworld, and King of the Eighteen Hells. When a dead man's soul reaches the first court of the afterworld, Yen-Wang-Yeh determines whether the man should be rewarded, passed directly to the Wheel of Transmigration (reincarnation), or passed on to the lower courts for punishment. In his true form, Yen-Wang-Yeh resembles a yellow-robed warrior with ebony skin.

Fu-Hsing is the god of Happiness, who sees to it that each man recieves his share of Joy. Fu-Hsing is a small, cheerful man with a ready smile.