An excerpt from Ban Zhao’s Histories of the Western Hinterlands:
The earthquake which occurred late in the year 114 greatly obstructed travel through the Iron Gate Pass, obliging travellers to search elsewhere for passage. The winter deterred efforts to clear the way for travel, and even in the budding of the following year travellers still found the way difficult…
An excerpt from a caravan leader’s letter to his employer:
…our delays were unavoidable, owing to the extra precautions we were obliged to take because of the many bandits on the road between Niya and Miran. Though the royal patrols assure us of our safety, they cannot even protect their own wells from these uncivilized jackals. I must ask you to send further payment…
An excerpt from a poem transcribed from memory by Cai Wenji. Originally composed by an anonymous poet, on the occasion of seeing the army patrols in the countryside south of Dukan in 115:
“Viridian fluttering below
Bright wending lines,
The waving banners
doubled in marsh-water.”
An excerpt from The Anglo-American Cyclopaedia, volume XXVIII:
Kucina was a noted source of frankincense. Local poets often employed the olibanum trees as a metaphor for the city.
All of the players should have their contact lists by now. If you have not received it, please check your spam folder (and add your contacts to your address book). If you still don’t have it, email me at towerofcallisto@gmail.com and I’ll resend it.
An excerpt from The Anglo-American Cyclopaedia, volume XLV:
Traditionally, the Oasis Kingdoms considered men unsuited to the artistic and intellectual pursuits. Though this was subject to some regional and individual variation, the members of the artistic and intellectual classes were most commonly women.
From the Annals of the Oasis Kingdoms…
In budding season of the 115th year, the country of Kucha mourned the death of its ruler, Queen Fadya. Following the precepts of the laws of Kucha, she was succeeded by her daughter, Queen Shayn.
You can (and are encouraged to) change your website user account name to reflect your character name, either completely or as Jane “Empress Theodora” Doe or something like that.
If you’re using an email address just for this game, I also recommend putting your character name in the sending field in your email headers: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/change-your-name-in-gmail-yahoo-mail-and-outlook-com/ so its easier for everyone to keep track of. (Also helps if you’re using a pseudonym in general).
Nineteen centuries ago:
With the melting of the snows, the rivers rise, the summer routes become passable again, and caravans make their unhurried ways along the trading roads.
The game begins…
