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.

Light vignette, where the edges of an image or painting are made lighter than the center, is a less common technique than dark vignette but equally powerful. This effect creates a sense of openness, lightness, or surreality and has specific applications in photography and painting.

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.

This is the image without any "Vignette" effect.

This is the image with "Vignette" effect

Although the first one had 100% inner edge fade, I still wanted a little more darkness.

For this I created a new SHEET CONTOURS (SEA) and placed it on top, also with edge fade inner.

And this is the effect with double Vignette

Always remember to disable the restrict to the map border option when contouring so that the outer edge fade inner does not affect your image deliberately.

Tien Nong Chen – The City of Farmers

Tien Nong Chen and the surroundings towns is the kingdom’s agricultural jewel. With vast fields irrigated by rivers flowing down from the mountains, the city is the kingdom’s hub for grain, medicinal herbs, and rice production. Surrounded by small settlements such as An He (Silence River), Qing Gu (Clear Valley), and Feng Gu (Wind Valley), each of which plays a specialized role in the cultivation and gathering of vital resources.

To the north of the valley lie the logging settlements of Mu Feng (Wind of Trees) and Lin Shui (Water of Forest). The precious timber of the Ancient Forest is a coveted resource, but overexploitation angers the forest spirits, who occasionally manifest themselves in the form of storms or monsters. It is said that the leaders of these settlements hire mercenaries to sabotage each other, increasing instability in the northern region.

With its rich agricultural production and strategic position, this is a place of vital importance to the kingdom, but also a powder keg of political and social strife. For adventurers, the valley offers unparalleled riches and glory—at the cost of navigating betrayal, monsters, and ancient curses.

Local Beliefs

• The Curse of the River: The villagers of An He believe that the river that irrigates their land is protected by a guardian spirit. A farmer who tried to divert the river's course mysteriously disappeared.

• The Golden Rats of Qing Gu: A local legend tells of golden rats that appear during harvest nights. Capturing one would bring infinite wealth, but killing one would bring bad luck for seven generations.

• The Well of Lamentation: Between Tien Nong Cheng and Feng Gu lies an abandoned well. A site of suicides during times of famine, the well echoes with voices on stormy nights.

Recent Events

• Crop Sabotage: Recently, rice fields in Qing Gu were burned overnight. Farmers are suspicious of Feng Gu and have hired willing individuals to investigate and, if possible, retaliate.

• The Fury of the Forest: Angry spirits have begun attacking lumberjacks near Lin Shui. Local leaders are offering a reward to anyone who can appease them—or destroy them.

• A Secret Alliance: Intelligence suggests that An He is negotiating a pact with the northern timber settlements to secure privileges. Uncovering and exposing this alliance could change the balance of power in the valley.

• The Ghost Route: Traders report that an ancient, forgotten road deep within the valley has reappeared, shrouded in mist. Anyone who follows it disappears.