Chai

Chai is a country in Southern Magnamund, on the southern coast of the mainland. It is part of the Mythenish grouping nations, alongside Bhanar, Vaduzhan and Mhytan. It has a difficult terrain, with swamps, mountains and dense forests, which serves well as natural defenses against enemies, but means that Agarashi hide in its terrain, and have stalked the country for millennia.

History

Chai was formerly part of the Vaduzhan Empire, which also included Bhanar, Vadhuzan and Mhytan. During the Great Civil War, all four nations eventually broke away from each other to become independent nations.

Millennia later, in MS 5085, Chai was plunged into war. Grand Master had stolen the Claw of Naar from Autarch Sejanoz and was looking for a refuge until it could be brought to the Elder Magi for safeguarding. They entered Chai through Fort Jhung. However, this only served to provoke Sejanoz, who began a full invasion of Chai in order to recover the Claw. The strongholds of the west quickly fell, as did several coastal cities to the south. Although he initially refused to leave, Khea-khan Xo-lin eventually agreed to escape to Lissan. Grand Master accompanied them to Tazhan, pursued by the forces of Autarch Sejanoz, and was eventually confronted face-to-face. Using the Arrow of Atonement, Grand Master finally slew Autarch Sejanoz, sending his forces into disarray, and allowing Xo-Lin to rally his country.

In MS 5102, the Elder Magi discovered that the Claw of Naar was but one half of a powerful weapon: Combined with the Eye of Agarash, it could be used to create a combined power several hundredfold individually. The Eye of Agarash, itself an inert gem, had unwittingly been sat into the Grand Throne of the Khea-khans. Grand Master was once again sent to Chai to take the Eye and bring it to the Elder Magi for safety. Grand Master was pursued by Zashnor, a powerful Nadziran, who had managed to steal the Claw of Naar, and sought to combine the two artifacts. Zashnor's attack was accompanied by a new horde of Agarashi and Darkspawn. Grand Master was successful in thwarting Zashnor, destroying him for good, and bringing both artifacts into safekeeping.

After the destruction of Zashnor, Chai began to rebuild. The following season, however, the waters of the western Tkukoma River were poisoned, spreading famile north of Hi'joi. Aquatic fauna began to mutate, and the remnants of the Agarashi who survived began to rise again.

Geography

Chai is located on the southern coast of Magnamund. It overlooks the Chai Sea, a bay shared by Bhanar, Vaduzhan and Mhytan, collectively called the Mythenish group of nations. The south-eastern part of Chai leads to the Mythenian Sea. It is bordered to the east by Lissan and to the north by the Doomlands of Naaros. Its proximity to Naaros made it one of the most afflicted by the Age of Eternal Night.

Chai's terrain is difficult, full of swamps, mountains and dense forests. This gave it strong natural defenses, but meant that Agarashi could hide and stalk within, and have plagued Chai for millennia. A particular form of Agarashi, the Chagarashi, is named after Chai, which roamed its coasts.

Culture

The majority of Chai people are highly interested in astrology.

Government and politics

Chai is ruled by a Khea-khan, who rules in its capital Pensei. The title of Khea-khan is inherited from parent to child, as a monarchy.

The current Khea-khan of Chai is Lao Tin, who inherited the title from his father Zha-zhing, who died around MS 5102, prior to the events of The Storms of Chai.

Known rulers of Chai

• Xo-lin (during MS 5085–between MS 5085 and MS 5102)
• Zha-zhing (some time before MS 5102–around MS 5102)
• Lao Tin (MS 5102–present)

In the gamebooks

Chai is first visited in Vampirium, as Grand Master escapes to Chai with the Claw of Naar while pursued by Autarch Sejanoz. The Autarch invades Chai in an attempt to retake the Claw in The Hunger of Sejanoz. Grand Master escorts the Chai imperial family East across Chai as they flee the invading Bhanarians. In The Storms of Chai, Grand Master traverses Chai again, dealing with the Claw of Naar and its missing half, the Eye of Agarash.

In The Dusk of Eternal Night, Grand Master returns to Chai, to secure the Heart of Agarash, stored in the Crypt of Agarash in the High Tkukoma Vale. Optionally, some brief lore can be found about Chai and the greater Vaduzhan Empire if the player chooses to investigate Otavai.

Design

Chai appears to have been designed to mimic Imperial China in design, with names and cultural customs similar in nature. "Chai" is an word of Indian origin, meaning "[spiced] tea", pronounced "cha" in various ways in multiple Chinese languages.