Seven hundred years ago House Cyzin rose to power in Xulao, crushing the other regional houses and uniting the land under their rule for the first time. They claimed the title of Empress of Xulao and went on to subjugate neighboring lands and create a reign that lasted six hundred years. The empire endured invasions, insurrection and famine, becoming a pillar of Xulao civilization. Sadly, Xulao under House Cyzin never industrialized as the other nations had, and the Xulao Empire was eventually restrained by expanding colonial powers, and forced to give away privileges and much of its land. After the Xingyi riots the Irodians finally invaded. They quickly crushed the outdated Cyzin army and killed every Cyzin they could lay their hands on. Thus began seventy years of colonial exploitation and oppression as Xulao’s resources were plundered by foreigners and its people treated as foreigners in their own land. From the earliest days there were those who resisted the occupation, and as time went on the resistance movements fractured, each seeking an ideology and vision that could motivate the people of Xulao to rise up against their oppressors. The Monarchist movement advocated a return to the model of imperial governance the Cyzin had ruled over in the past, with a new Empress and imperial house. The Theocratic, or Hunan, movement argued that since the Cyzin were gone it was the duty of the priesthood to step in and govern Xulao. A small democratic movement demanded the right to self-determination and freely elected leaders. Finally, the Syndicalist movement borrowed language from their northern brethren. These rebel groups fought each other almost as much as the invaders, and for many years were little more than an annoyance. The rise of Syndintern in the north changed things by providing weapons, supplies, and propaganda to the Syndicalist movement, which allowed them to largely crush the democratic movement and graduate to a large and dangerous insurgency. But then, 5 years ago, the Monarchists made a fortuitous discovery. One of the serving women who had been in the Cyzin palace during the slaughter had escaped with a Cyzin child. The woman had fled to a temple hidden in the hinterland mountains and raised the baby. That child’s great-granddaughter was recognized and a squad of partisans secured to temple and convinced the young child (whose mother had died of malaria) to come with them. The results were almost instantaneous. The name of Cyzin was almost synonymous with the golden age of Hulao’s power, and the existence of a legitimate, direct heir to the ancient house gave the monarchist faction enormous credibility. The Hulan faction of priests immediately joined the monarchists, and after a pirated radio announcement the entire country broke out into rebellion. Now with enough members and credibility to truly fight the Irodians, the monarchists waged a brutal guerrilla war against their occupiers. Irodia, distracted by its own war in the north, found itself unable to divert troops to stop the rebellion in the south. After 4 years of warfare the monarchists have forced the Irodians out of most of Xulao’s hinterland and captured the traditional capital of Xingyi during the Battle of Open Lands. The Irodian army was drawn out in a massive feint, at which point a contingent of veteran guerillas stormed Xingyi, slaughtering soldiers in their bunks, killing several high-ranking generals, and leaving the Irodian army deep in hostile territory without supply lines. With the imperial city captured the young Cyzin Ao was then crowned at the Imperial Palace and the Cyzin Federation of Xulao declared, with many of the old monarchist leaders taking up government positions. As of yet the new nation has no international recognition, almost no industry, rival Syndicalist rebels who refuse to lay down their arms, and the threat of a colonialist foothold still stubbornly holding onto the coast. But the people are now united under the ancient House Cyzin, and the time is ripe for Xulao to step up and take its place among the nations.

Black = de jure borders of Hulao Blue = extent of current Federation control

Although war and strife have injured Xulao’s economy, its agricultural output is still world renowned. Rice can be planted and harvested in great quantities year-round, and can be supplemented with vegetables, onions and fruit. Xulao produces enough foodstuff to feed itself and still export enormous amounts around the world. Tea provides the primary cash crop and is also grown and exported in great amounts. Jute and cotton are produced and exported in lesser amounts. Xulao has significant deposits of coal and phosphates, and some bauxite, manganese, copper and iron. Aside from several coal mines and a phosphate factory founded by the Irodians during their occupation, most of these resources have seen relatively little exploitation, and would be difficult to access. Xulao imports almost all of its industrial goods and military supplies and ran under a notable trade deficit as an Irodian colony. The new government refuses to honor the deficit accrued under occupation, but will face its own challenges avoiding the same predicament in the future.

Matriarchy- Xulao is traditionally matriarchal. Family lineage is traced through the female line and women are far more likely to be educated than men. Male children and husbands are regarded as labor, while women are the heads of households and take on the roles of intellectual or religious leadership. Polyandry, the keeping of multiple husbands, was made illegal under the Irodian occupation but continued to be practiced and has now been restored to legality. Clothing Xulao clothing tends to involve long, loose clothing with vivid colors and patterns in contrast to the usual heavy cloaks and pants of the colonial powers. Attempts to "civilize" dress styles largely failed outside of restricted urban circles. Clothing for men tends to be simpler and more straightforward, while a woman's is more elaborate and formal. Long hair, clean feet and unmarred features are generally considered signs of wealth and luxury. Religion Xulao religion is a mixture of ancestor worship, place-spirits and a pantheon of polytheistic gods. Zhao Cek, god of order, is patron of House Cyzin, and all citizens are required to at least pay homage to him. Aside from that religion is relatively tolerant, with temples to various gods populating peaks and valleys across the land. Elaborate religious festivals and ceremonies in honor of the gods are common. Followers of the ancient Ahao Diha make up about fifteen percent of the population and act as the second largest minority. The Irodians have also left several hundred thousand converts in their wake after years of occupation, while the Syndicalist movement is explicitly atheist.

Rather than force seasoned guerrilla fighters to forgo the tactics they’re comfortable with, chancellor Zhan Arika has wisely formed most of the new army out of relatively inexperienced troops, placing veteran soldiers in officer and trainer positions. The core veterans of the movement have been spun off into the Federation Scouts, who are meant to be an “elite” guerrilla corps. The army has plenty of eager recruits and skilled officers, most with some combat experience, but it lacks the heavy weapons necessary to become a true, national fighting force. Aside from captured Irodian artillery and armor the army currently makes due almost exclusively with small arms, with the best equipment going to the Scouts.

Xulao does not, as of yet, have a state navy. In its heyday the old Cyzin Empire maintained a great navy of wooden warships, but those are long rotted or sunk. Nowadays the only naval presence the Federation has is a number of simple river boats and one Irodian destroyer captured in port.

Xulao’s current air-force consists of three squadrons (42 planes now, down from 60 purchased) of old Chevron biplanes purchased on the second-hand market. They are inferior to the more modern monoplanes used by other nations, but were cheap to purchase and easy to maintain.