Cathay

Cathay (also known as 'The Kingdom of the Dragon' and the 'Empire of the Celestial Dragon') is described as an enormous empire, ruled over by a divine Emperor. According to what lore is available, merchants from the Old World occasionally travel to Cathay upon the Silk Road: a perilous journey due to the hordes of the Hobgobla-Khan who roam the steppes along the Ivory Road west of Cathay. Ogres, who also pose a threat to merchants and travellers, hail from the Mountains of Mourn to the north-west of Cathay with some even going to Cathay to find employment as mercenaries. In the north of Cathay is the dreaded Chaos Wastes.

The Skaven Clan Eshin spent many years in Cathay and Nippon learning the ways of Ninjitsu. The Skaven troop types Night Runners and Gutter Runners are martial art apprentices that graduate to become Skaven Assassins.

Other facts about Cathay

 * Merchants who trade in Cathay often return with silks, gold, porcelain vases, and magical artifacts and items.
 * There are great temples where mystics study the heavens and monks study martial arts. Although Cathay also has many gods, few are mentioned by name or description.
 * The most famous such mystics are the Vimtose monks, who follow the Orange Simca.
 * Gunpowder is known in Cathay and employed, among others, in warfare.
 * Strange creatures abound, from serpentine dragons and tribes of monkey warriors living in the Mountains of Heaven to gigantic, living stone dogs that guard the holy temples of the empire.
 * Cathay is at constant war with the armies of the Grand Khanate of the Hobgoblins.
 * Tzeentch worshipment is legal in Cathay, albeit in less extreme forms as the Norsemen.
 * The only date associated with Cathay is in the year c 1699 when 'Emperor Wu' of Cathay received the Tileans Ricco and Robbio, mirroring the journey of Marco Polo.