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The Story of Hayun Village – The Village on the Bone Mountain

On the rugged shores of the eastern sea, where the winds salt the air and the waves beat relentlessly, stands Hayun Village, a peculiar and solitary village built on a living foundation: a hill composed of shells, bones of sea animals and the remains of daily life. This pile of materials is not only the foundation of the village; it is the story of generations of survival and adaptation.

The Origin of Hayun

It is said that Hayun’s ancestors arrived on these shores centuries ago, guided by a dream of safe land and protection from the beasts of the sea and the marauders of the neighboring lands. Finding solid ground, they began to deposit the remains of their catch – shells of molluscs, fish bones and shells of crustaceans – mixed with bones from hunting and ashes from fires. Over time, these materials, compacted with mortar made of sand and limestone, formed an artificial elevation.

The Building Process

The construction of this structure was not just a byproduct of daily life, but a ritual. Each family, at the end of the day, would take their leftovers to the top of the mound and carefully spread the materials. Larger bones were broken into smaller fragments to fill the gaps, and shells were used to reinforce the edges. Each season, a layer of mortar was applied to protect the structure from wind and rain.

The inhabitants began to build their homes on this raised ground, using timber and sloping roofs to withstand storms. Thus, generation after generation, Hayun grew upward, creating a “mountain” made of past and present life.

Defense and Isolation

Over the years, the elevation gave the village a strategic advantage. Access to the top was restricted to two ladders, easily removable in case of danger. Stories tell of pirates who tried to invade the village, only to find an impassable path and be driven back with spears and nets filled with sharp stones.

Life in Hayun

Today, Hayun is home to just over 160 people, all deeply connected to the structure that sustains them. Small shrines dedicated to sea deities dot the village, many of them made from ancient fragments found on the mountain, such as dolphin skulls and giant seashells.

The inhabitants are proud of their heritage and believe that this sacred elevation that is slowly growing is more than stone and bone; it is a spiritual guardian. On stormy nights, the elders say that they can hear the murmurs of their ancestors mixed with the howling of the wind, protecting them from unseen dangers.

The Rituals of the Living Mountain

Every year, a festival is held to honor the mountain made of shells and bones. During the event, each family offers their best shells and bones to the mountain, in gratitude and in renewal of the protection it offers. A bonfire is lit at the highest point, and chants echo, asking for the seas to be generous and the storms to be merciful.

An Ever-Growing Mountain

Hayun never stops growing. For the villagers, it is both a testament to their past and a reminder of their unbreakable connection to the sea. Each layer added is a new page in the village’s generations-old story, a story that will continue to be written as long as the winds blow and the sea brings sustenance.

Hayun Village Highlights

The Netmaker – Lao Ning: Lao Ning, with calloused fingers and keen eyes, creates the nets that are the basis of the village’s survival. Sitting in his wooden hut, he weaves plant fibers by hand, reinforcing each knot with almost ritualistic precision. His nets are renowned for their durability, and fishermen say that without them, no sea can bear fruit.

The Healer – Mei Yu: Mei Yu, a serene and respected figure, lives in a hut decorated with dried sea plants and jars of ointments. Using local herbs, crushed shells, and fish oil, she heals wounds and treats the village’s illnesses. His knowledge has been passed down through generations, and many believe his hands carry the blessing of sea deities.

The Storyteller – Uncle Shen: Uncle Shen is the heart of the village on stormy nights. Sitting by the communal fire, he tells tales of sea monsters and ancient seafarers, blending fact with mythology. His stories not only entertain, but also teach lessons about courage and respect for the sea.

The Carpenter – Jian Rong: Jian Rong, the village builder, transforms driftwood and driftwood into houses and boats. His skill is vital to the community, and each piece he creates bears his signature: a small wave-shaped carving, symbolizing harmony with the sea.

The Story of Shu Guang Xiong – The Village of Dawn

Situated on a rough sea coast and buffeted by incessant winds, Shu Guang Xiong (The Village of Dawn) is the largest settlement in the domain’s austere northern coastal region. Despite its relative insignificance, the village is a testament to resilience amidst harsh conditions: semi-arid lands, sparse vegetation, and the weight of the ancient Dragon’s curse, which is said to be the cause of the frequent storms that batter the coast.

Geography and Context

The village serves as the main link between the coast and the northern part of the domain. A trade route connects Shu Guang Xiong with lands further north, allowing for the exchange of rare spices, ceramics, and textiles. However, the village relies heavily on manufactured goods brought from the capital and larger cities such as Yun Jiang Cheng and Bai He Xiang. Local livelihoods are sustained by fishing, shellfish gathering, and careful exploration of underground water sources. The neighboring villages of Lanyue and Haiwei share this arid landscape, but none can match Shu Guang Xiong in size or importance.

The Curse of the Dragon and the Serpent of the Misty Seas

It is said that centuries ago, a dragon was killed in an epic duel by an ancient general. With its dying breaths, the dragon cursed the entire region, bringing fierce winds and frequent storms.

However, local fishermen tell another story: from the curse emerged something even more terrifying—a colossal serpent known as Hai Mang (Sea Serpent). As huge as a mountain range, Hai Mang lives hidden in the dark depths of the sea. Its body, covered in bright blue scales, is only seen during the most intense storms, when it emerges from the dense clouds and mist that surround the region.

The locals believe that Hai Mang is the vengeful spirit of the dead dragon, a form reborn to perpetuate its fury. The serpent is blamed for shipwrecks and mysterious disappearances. Superstitious fishermen avoid going out to sea when the sky is covered in low clouds, fearing the creature’s glowing eyes and deafening roar.

The Famous Fengyin Dong Cave

Located in a hilly region between Shu Guang Xiang and Haiwei, this Fengyin Dong, or “Windsong Cave,” is a legendary landmark in the region. The sea winds that pass through the cave create an eerie, melodic sound that many associate with the serpent’s lament. Explorers say that ancient inscriptions on the cave walls tell stories of a sea entity worshipped as a guardian or destroyer.

In addition to its mystique, the cave attracts traders and curious visitors in search of “Dragon Tears,” small crystals said to have magical properties. Some claim that these stones are formed from the scales that Hai Mang lost during his ascents.

Life in this Region

The inhabitants of this area are shaped by the adversity of nature and the dark legends that surround the region; they are long-suffering, strong and deeply superstitious. The wooden houses, reinforced against the incessant winds and storms, shelter families who cling to ancient beliefs to survive.

Along the coast, small shrines dot the roads and beaches, each one a tribute to the sea deities and the feared serpent Hai Mang. These altars are rustic constructions, made from the bones of sea animals, such as whale ribs, the skulls of large fish and giant shells. Amidst these elements hang faded cloth flags, inscribed with prayers and protective symbols.

Offerings to the Gods of the Sea and Hai Mang

Offerings are a common and almost obligatory practice in the villages. Residents place personal items on the altars, such as simple jewelry, precious tools or even food, despite its scarcity. The bones of small animals, set with beads or pieces of metal, are also common, symbolizing sacrifice to the sea beast.

In darker times, when particularly violent storms hit the coast or when boats disappear at sea, desperation leads to human sacrifice. It is said that the village elders, in the name of protecting the rest of the community, secretly choose a villager, usually someone lonely or already seriously ill, to be taken to the beach under the pretext of seeking Hai Mang’s forgiveness. The chosen ones are tied to a rock by the sea during high tide, in the hope that the serpent will accept their lives as payment for its fury.

The Rituals

The rituals, performed before storms or major sea expeditions, are times of unity and awe. The community gathers around the largest altars at dusk, when the sky is tinged with orange and purple colors, reflecting the village’s name, Dawn Village.

Elders lead the ceremonies, chanting guttural chants in an archaic language believed to have been inherited from the region's earliest inhabitants. They light incense and lanterns made from local herbs.

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Yu Shi Gu – The Jade Stone Valley

Situated east of the Great River, Yu Shi Gu is the main city of the eastern region and a place of contradictory beauty, where fertile fields and lush hills hide the scars of a bloody past. Its fertile soil produces abundant crops, and the city benefits from the famous Lianguang Jade Mine, located in the heart of the forest, a natural resource that sustains both the local economy and the greed of nobles and merchants.

A Bloodstained Past

During the conquest of the region, Yu Shi Gu was a symbol of resistance. Its noble family, the Liangs, were revered by the population for their wisdom and generosity. When Ji Wenzhao led his troops to subdue the city, he encountered fierce opposition that delayed his campaign for months. Furious at the delay, Wenzhao ordered the summary execution of the entire Liang family after his victory, turning the family's former palace into ruins as a grim reminder of his power.

The disciplinary massacres that followed were brutal. Hundreds of peasants and artisans were killed or enslaved, and the survivors bore the burden of a deep-seated hatred for the crown for generations. Even today, the city maintains a tense relationship with Tiang Long Du, marked by mistrust and occasional revolts.

A Valley of Riches and Intrigue

Despite its tragic past, Yu Shi Gu has prospered thanks to its productive agriculture and the Lianguang Jade Mine. The stone extracted from the mine is renowned for its purity and shimmering greenish color, considered the best in the region. However, the mine is also a source of tension and suffering: directly controlled by emissaries of the Tiang Long Du crown, the site operates under a regime of brutal oppression.

Local workers and slaves captured in regional conflicts are forced to work in unsanitary conditions, often without seeing the light of day for weeks. The mine is a maze of narrow, poorly ventilated tunnels, where toxic gases from the depths cause respiratory illnesses, and constant cave-ins claim lives without warning. Armed overseers keep a tight watch, punishing any attempts to slow down with floggings or summary executions.

The forest surrounding the mine offers no solace. Those who attempt to escape face an equally grim fate: those who are not devoured by mysterious beasts or killed by jade smugglers end up lost forever, enveloped by enigmatic whispers that many attribute to the vengeful spirit of Liang Heshan. The belief that the last Liang patriarch protects the jade reinforces widespread fear, and some workers claim that shadows with glowing eyes watch them from the depths as they extract the stones.

The entire city lives in the shadow of this oppressive system. Jade from Yu Shi Gu is the basis for the luxuries and ornaments of Tiang Long Du's elite, but the price is paid in blood and suffering. For many, the mine is not a source of wealth, but a dead-end abyss, fueling murmurs of revolt and legends of imminent revenge against their oppressors.

Challenges and Legends

. The Ghosts of the Liang Palace: The ruins of the palace are avoided by locals, who believe that the spirits of the Liang still roam there, lamenting the injustice suffered. Residents say they hear ancient chants and see shadows dancing on the warmest nights.

. The Lianguang Mine Forest: The forest surrounding the jade mine is rich in animal life, but also in danger. It is said that dark creatures – a mix of man and beast – lurk along the paths, luring the unwary with whispers that imitate human voices.

. The Curse of Liang Heshan: Locals believe that the death of any local noble is the work of the curse cast by the last leader of the Liang. As a result, few nobles from Tiang Long Du dare visit Yu Shi Gu, preferring to send representatives instead.

. The River Smugglers: The region's jade is so valuable that it attracts smugglers who use the Great River to secretly transport the stone, either for their own profit or to finance local rebel groups.

Current Events

• The Mystery of the Missing: Mine workers are disappearing at an alarming rate. Could they be bandits, forest creatures, or something more sinister?

• The Liang Relic: The Liang family's jade amulet, lost on the night of the massacre, is said to bestow great power upon its possessor. Daring explorers search the ruins for the artifact, facing ghosts and ancient traps.

• Rebels on the River: An insurgent group plans to steal a shipment of jade destined for the Tiang Long Du court. The mission is to infiltrate the city and decide whether to aid or detain the rebels.