Hsan

The continent has a history of being unified by a single large nation, which is currently the case. Hsan does possess other states as well, although they’re smaller and live under the shadow of the Grand Dynasty. However, the last few emperors of the Grand Dynasty have been very underwhelming and the empire is slowly stagnating and rotting from the inside. Rebellions are starting to get more common and some of the empire’s vassal lords are not paying their taxes as they should. Meanwhile, the smaller states that live in the Grand Dynasty’s shadow have been more open about trading with Altazia and are rolling out new technologies and mage academies received by their trading partners. Blasphemous voices have started to whisper if it might not be the time for the current Grand Dynasty to fall and a new one to rise from its ashes.^[2]

Hsan has two main forms of magic. The first one is the Ikosian casting system, which they have imported during the height of Ikosian Empire. Since contact with Altazia and Miasina has been sparse since then, and because Hsan mages have never been as numerous or as supported by their states as mages on other two continents, Hsan mages are a somewhat worse than their counterparts in Altazia and Miasina. Their training methods lag in effectiveness, and their spellcasting necessarily suffers accordingly. This is being rapidly corrected now that Altazia merchants are making a big push in the area, outside the Grand Dynasty territory, at least.^[2]

The second form has not been expanded upon yet within the story, but is known to be different from the one used in Altazia and Miasina.^[3] Many wild stories about exotic Hsanic spellcasters are told by mages, although little is confirmed and the place is a mystery to the outside world aside from a couple of port towns.

Hsanic mages are more focused on specialized long-term shaping regimens that give them non-structured magical abilities. This gives them a handful of really flexible abilities, but they can’t pick up new spells as easily as Altazian mages do.^[4]

Hsan is behind the rest of the human world in regards to tech, though it’s possible to get a hold of advanced tech through imports. Some people are trying to set up native workshops/factories, but this is still in the nascent stages.^[5]

• Xvim Chao has hsanic heritage.^[6]
• A small Hsanic delegation arrives for Cyoria's summer festival dance at the end of the month.