Zhao Ming in his true Iron Dragon form.
The Cathayan Dragons are a family of immortal Dragons who existed in the world before the Old Ones arrived, and have ruled Cathay since.[1]
History
Grand Cathay is a massive and incredibly powerful empire situated in the east of the Warhammer World, beyond the Dark Lands, across the Mountains of Mourn and past the Great Maw. It covers a landmass larger than the Empire, Bretonnia, and many other nations combined. Vast cities pockmark the landscape, with huge populations watched over by the ruling Dragons – the Celestial Dragon Emperor, his consort the Moon Empress, and their children.[3]
The Celestial Dragon Emperor spends his time in the Celestial City above Wei-Jin, contemplating the destiny of the empire with his wife, the equally revered Moon Empress. They are older than most of the gods, for they existed when the planet was colder, before even the Old Ones came and pulled it closer to the sun.[1] They’re not gods, nor do they wish to be worshipped as such, but they are nevertheless so spectacularly powerful that they’re quite detached from the day-to-day running of their empire, which falls to their children to manage.[2] He learned how to take the form of a human to gather the tribes, and when Chaos began to sweep the world he defended his burgeoning empire.[3]
To the North lies the Great Bastion, constructed thousands of years past by the Dragon Emperor himself and imbued with much of his magic. A humongous wall that has stood for aeons against the ever-present threat of Chaos. In times gone by and for many millennia, Chaos has been the most serious threat to Grand Cathay. Had the Emperor and Moon Empress wished it, sheer force of numbers and powerful magics and artillery could have dominated much of the land to the west, but they have been content to rule and defend their already formidable nation.[3]
Harmony is the driving force behind Cathayan society. The teachings of the Dragon Emperor are such that everyone must work in concert with themselves and the land for the betterment of all and to find their natural place. This drives everything, from their magic lores of Yin and Yang to how the Dragons govern their people. Far from tyrants or aloof aristocrats, the Dragons act as teachers and wardens for the populace. They see little point in creating an imbalance between mortals and themselves when the ever-present threat of Chaos will happily destroy them all.[3]
Similarly, the Dragons are not treated as gods, nor do they demand worship. They are immensely powerful beings, rulers by magical and physical right rather than mysterious divinity. The iconography of the Dragons is common-place and ever-present throughout society, but because they are very real, very present, and very powerful rulers. They are treated by the people with the reverence such beings deserve and speaking ill of them, especially if you are not native to Grand Cathay, is a quick way to get yourself killed.[3]
The Dragons often move among the people in human form. While still evidently far beyond a commoner, they only transform to their draconic selves when there is need, embracing their heritage to lay waste to a battlefield and fly far above their forces. In war, the Harmony of the Cathayan way of life is ever-present, their forces acting in concert to lay waste to enemies with devastating precision and calm.[3]
Known Dragons of Cathay
- Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon - Ruler of the Northern Provinces, Commander of the Great Bastion, Master of the Storm Winds, Supreme Matriarch of Nan-Gau.[4]
Sources
- 1: Total War Blog - Total War: WARHAMMER III – An Introduction to Grand Cathay.
- 2: Warhammer Community - Watch Grand Cathay Come to Life in an Epic Collaboration for Total War: Warhammer III.
- 3: Total War Blog - The lore, lands, and history of Grand Cathay in Total War: WARHAMMER III.
- 4: Warhammer Community - Read the Official Background for Total War: Warhammer III’s Most Deadly Units.