"This burden is mine to bear. To offer guidance where it is most needed. To demand sacrifice. For I am ruler of the Northern Provinces. Sentinel of the Great Bastion! Supreme Matriarch of Nan-Gau. Master of the Storm Winds. Daughter of the Dragon Emperor!"
- —Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon[10]
Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon, also called the "Master of the Storm Winds" and serving as the Supreme Matriarch of Nan-Gau and Castellan of the Great Bastion, is the Cathayan Dragon who is the ruler of the Northern Provinces of Grand Cathay.[1][2][6][7]
The eldest living daughter of the Cathayan imperial family, Miao Ying is the favoured child of the Celestial Dragon Emperor, revered defender of the Great Bastion, and imperious majesty incarnate. Immense power and immense responsibility land on her shoulders, for the defence of the realm, the future of Grand Cathay, and much more still, is quite the burden to bear.[1][5][7][8]
Trusted above all others to guard the north, Miao Ying is Grand Cathay's staunchest, most steadfast champion. The Great Bastion is akin to the Storm Dragon's spine; it must remain steadfast and reinforced against every looming threat that lies beyond it, for it is the shield that protects Grand Cathay from the Ruinous Powers of the Northern Wastes, and while it stands strong, so too does Cathay prosper. Thus does Miao Ying stand vigilant against the armies of the Ruinous Powers; Order is the only true answer to Chaos, and so there must be order in all things, and from that order, harmony.[2][6][8]
Quick Answers
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History
Origins
Miao Ying in her true form as the Storm Dragon.
Miao Ying has ruled over the Northern Provinces of Grand Cathay for centuries. Like her Cathayan Dragon siblings in the imperial family, she was born to the Dragon Emperor Xen Yang and the Moon Empress Quai Yin. Like them, she was taught the art of shape-shifting and mastery of the Winds of Magic, her primal fury tempered so that she too could walk amongst Men, after which she would aid the betterment of the mortal subjects of the Cathayan Dragons' burgeoning empire. Eventually this period came to an end with the Great Catastrophe, when Chaos first entered the world of Mallus with the unexpected destruction of the Old Ones' Polar Gates.[2][11a]
Claiming the Northern Provinces and the Death of Shiyama
Through the long and tumultuous centuries that followed the Great Catastrophe, the Cathayan Dragons of the Celestial Empire battled the myriad Daemonic legions that assailed their lands, but Xen Yang knew that he and his kin could not resist the evils arrayed against them alone. Thus, the Celestial Dragon Emperor turned his attention towards the unification of the fractured tribes of Men that dwelt within his realm.[11b]
To aid his plans, the Dragon Emperor dispatched several of his children to the far corners of his realm, tasking each with earning the loyalty and respect of the Human tribes that dwelt in their given lands and unifying them into a single nation under his rule. Thus did Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon, travel north to live amongst the stalwart warriors of the city of Nan-Gau.[11b]
Banner of Miao Ying and the Northern Provinces army of Grand Cathay as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.
With the people of Grand Cathay unified under his rule, Xen Yang entrusted the command of his armies to his daughter Shiyama, the Spirit Dragon, the eldest and most beloved of his children at the time. For all her courage and ferocity however, Shiyama's pride was her weakness, and it was this pride that caused her to ignore her father's warnings that Chaos could not be defeated by might alone. Instead, Shiyama mustered her armies and marched north, intent upon defeating the Ruinous Powers within their own twisted realm. But by some foul sorcery of the Ruinous Powers the Dragon was befuddled, made to believe her own soldiers were loathsome creatures of Chaos, and it was they who fled before her wrath and their lifeblood that dripped from her talons.[11c]
Total War: Warhammer III concept art for Miao Ying in her Cathayan Dragon form as the Storm Dragon.[1]
Even as Shiyama sped from the Realm of Chaos, the Ruinous Powers weaved powerful sorceries around the young Cathayan Dragon and her warriors, making her appear to her kin as a terrible lord of the Aethyr and granting her fleeing army the appearance of capering Daemons. Thus, as Shiyama neared the borders of her father's realm, Miao Ying believed a Daemonic legion descended upon Nan-Gau from the Chaos Wastes, and she wasted no time in mustering her might to meet the threat.[11c]
Miao Ying in her true Cathayan Dragon form as the Storm Dragon.[3]
Sensing the calamity unfolding, the Celestial Dragon raced to intervene, but could not hope to arrive in time. As Xen Yang descended upon the accursed battlefield from the heavens, he witnessed the warriors of Nan-Gau closing upon the wounded Shiyama, and saw first-hand the horror on the faces of his daughters as the ensorcellment faded, and the Storm Dragon realised that the twisted Daemon her soldiers had struck down was none other than her own sister.[11c]
Total War: Warhammer III concept art for Miao Ying in her Human form.[6]
Lacking the magic to restore Shiyama as she died in his arms begging forgiveness for her foolishness, Xen Yang bound her spirit to Grand Cathay and tasked her with ruling the Underworld of the Ten Courts of Shyish, while his consort, the Moon Empress Quai Yin, through her grief, used her Yin magic to obfuscate the memories of those who had witnessed Shiyama's demise and spread the legend of the Spirit Dragon.[11c][12c]
None in all Cathay would remember when Shiyama had walked amongst them in physical form, lest rumours of Shiyama's manipulation by the Ruinous Powers and her death at the hands of Cathayan soldiers destabilise the nation and allow Chaos to fester among its easily corrupted people. Even Miao Ying and her other siblings may not know the truth of their eldest sister's death.[11c][12c]
Chaos Banished
The banner of Miao Ying as depicted in Warhammer: The Old World.
With his firstborn daughter slain by the machinations of Chaos, Xen Yang, having always secretly known the futility of his efforts to protect his family and subjects from Chaos while the Ruinous Powers were growing in strength each year, set in motion plans to slay the great beasts of the Aethyr that rallied the Daemonic legions to constantly assault the mortals of the world of Mallus.[11c]
His preparations made, Xen Yang led the massed Human armies of Grand Cathay northwards. Battling hordes of Daemons that coalesced from the magic-infused air about them, the host advanced slowly through the hinterlands between reality and the Aethyr until, eventually, the Realm of Chaos lay before them.[11c]
Suddenly, a host of towering Daemon lords descended from the tortured heavens to challenge the Cathayan Dragons. Unperturbed, the Celestial Dragon Emperor and his children rose into the storm-wracked skies to meet the threat, revealing their true Draconic forms to the enemies arrayed against them.[11c]
One by one the greatest and most powerful Daemonic servants of the Dark Gods were laid low, torn asunder by the fury of the Cathayan Dragons. The ferocity of the Dragons and their mastery of the Winds of Magic proved too much for the Daemons arrayed against them, and the Dark Gods were forced to commit ever more of their legions to the battle. This fortunately coincided with the efforts of heroes from distant lands like the Elves of Ulthuan in the creation of the Great Vortex, and with their forces spread thin, Chaos was finally cast out from the mortal world, and the terrible wars of the Great Catastrophe brought to an end.[11c]
Outreach to the Old World
The heraldry of Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon, Supreme Matriarch of Nan-Gau and ruler of the Northern Provinces of Grand Cathay.[9]
Centuries after the first defeat of Chaos, Grand Cathay risked becoming insular and isolationist. The great Human empire of Nehekhara, once an ally of Cathay, had been subjected to the brutal reign of Nagash, the shockingly evil necromantic magics he unleashed leading the Dragon Emperor to reject the fickleness of outsiders and seek to make his own realm self-sufficient.[11d]
To this end Xen Yang raised up the Great Bastion to protect the northern borders of Cathay from the incursions of the Chaos Wastes' inhabitants, but even that could not stop his melancholy at Nehekhara's ultimate fall. Furthermore, even the Celestial Dragon knew a moment of fear at the thought of having to face the Great Necromancer in battle, and devoted more of his time to studying the mortal world and mastering magic, retreating from the day-to-day administration of the Celestial Empire and leaving more aspects of rule to his children.[11d]
Ultimately, however, despite the Dragon Emperor's desire to focus only upon the needs of his empire, the people of Grand Cathay's thirst for travel and trade proved unquenchable. For Miao Ying's part, both she and her brother Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, eagerly traded technological and alchemical secrets with the Dwarfs of the Worlds Edge Mountains, met during Ming's explorations by Kongming Sky-junk into distant lands.[11d]
Later on, the Dragons would learn of a new empire rising in the distant west, founded by tribes of Men who lived beyond the Worlds Edge Mountains, united by the barbarian chieftain known as Sigmar. Tales reached Xen Yang of Sigmar forming a powerful alliance with the Dwarfs, and driving the Orc and Goblin tribes from his lands.[11d]
Impressed and curious in equal measure, and sensing the significance of Sigmar's reign, Xen Yang dispatched no less an ambassador than Miao Ying, commander of his vast armies, to the court of the first Emperor of Man, Sigmar Heldenhammer. The Storm Dragon travelled by ship to the west, pausing her journey to exchange pleasantries with the Asur Sea Lord of Ulthuan to learn more of the enigmatic barbarian chieftain who had unified the west. From there she dispatched messengers to the port of Marienburg to herald her coming, finally choosing to travel the last leg of her journey by Sky Lantern in order to make her arrival as momentous as possible.[11d]
Upon meeting Sigmar, Miao Ying was taken aback. She had expected to meet a gruff and warlike barbarian, but was instead presented to an intelligent and eloquent king who wore his authority with an easy grace. Impressed, the Storm Dragon gladly extended her father's friendship to the western emperor, offering wealth and knowledge in exchange for trade. Sigmar, keen to make powerful allies, accepted the Celestial Dragon's friendship, offering oaths of kinship to the eastern emperor.[11d]
Ever since the first meeting between Miao Ying and Sigmar, the Cathayan Dragons have had occasion to venture westwards in the company of grand armies. The visits of the Cathayan Dragons to western nations often herald great upheaval, times when they arrive in moments of great crisis to offer decisive support. Thus have the armies of the Celestial Dragon fought to defend the west many times, for though Xen Yang claims to view the custodianship of the west as a matter for the High Elves of Ulthuan and the Dwarfs of the Karaz Ankor, his fondness for the Human nations of the Old World like the Empire compels him and his children to intervene in times of direst need.[11e]
Since the first contact of Grand Cathay with the Empire of Man during the reign of Emperor Sigmar, the nations of Men that have since risen to prominence across the Old World have forged increasingly strong ties with the Far East and Cathay. Through trade, shared knowledge, and mutual advancement, bonds between the two Human great civilisations have deepened.[11e]
Driven by this flourishing commerce, migration between the Old World and Grand Cathay has become commonplace. As a result, many of the Old World's great cities -- metropolises such as Magritta, Marienburg, Erengrad, and Nuln -- now host substantial Cathayan quarters, home to merchants, mercenaries, artisans, and diplomats alike.[11e]
Impersonation at Nan-Li
"I trust you will forgive the trespass, as the Dragon Emperor will no doubt forgive the disaster that almost befell Nan-Li. A modest token of contrition to the Celestial Court will, I am sure, be more than sufficient. You are his favourite, after all."
- —Yuan Bo , the Jade Dragon, to his sister Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon.[12]
Sketch of Miao Ying in her Human form displaying her mastery over the magical Storm Winds as depicted in Warhammer: The Old World.[6]
During the Dragon Emperor's absence from Grand Cathay, Miao Ying was busy defending the Great Bastion from the ever-belligerent Hung barbarians past the Snake Gate. During this time, the city of Nan-Li in the Northern Provinces had been infiltrated by Chaos Cultists through the use of sorcery. Garrisons were left empty, guns uncrewed and unsupplied, calls for aid unsent, and the countryside unwatched, all while a large army of Daemons of the Chaos God Tzeentch, known as Chi'an Chi in Grand Cathay, marched on the city.[12]
This lack of responsiveness alerted Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, who was troubled not by the expected Daemons, but by the fact the Storm Dragon herself could be present in a city so woefully unprepared. Coming straight from the Gunpowder Road, as befit the urgency of his journey, he found Miao Ying, the ruler of the Northern Provinces, was strangely indifferent. Yuan Bo, noticing this and several other odd behaviours from his older sister, eventually tricked what was actually a shapeshifted Herald of Tzeentch, the infamous Changeling, into revealing itself.[12]
Yuan Bo made a small, insolent hand gesture towards an inferior rank of Cathayan servant, a form of disrespect his true sister would never have tolerated from him, but which her impostor ignored. When The Jade Dragon made clear that the Changeling's ruse had been penetrated, the Daemon abandoned Miao Ying's form and fled the scene. Though it pained him to do so, the battle of Nan-Li was the imminent threat, and Yuan Bo would not allow himself to be led astray by the Daemon's mockery and threats of future mischief. Joining the hastily assembled defenders, he aided them in successfully fending off the forces of Chi'an Chi.[12]
A vengeful Miao Ying arrived in Nan-Li five days after the battle's end, and was, to greatly understate it, profoundly displeased with the manner in which her mortal officials had conducted affairs in her stead. Her first demand, on passing through the gates of a trembling Nan-Li, was for the head of her first minister. A flurry of such demands was swift to follow, with no branch of the city's bureaucracy obscure enough to be spared her wrath. Her spree would have no doubt extended to agents of the Celestial Court too, had Yuan Bo not been there to temper her wrath. Only when there were enough heads on spikes to ameliorate her unhappiness, some two days after her return, did she reluctantly accept the invitation of the Jade Dragon to join him on the former battlefield.[12]
As the two Cathayan Dragons walked side-by-side through the flooded rice paddy, Miao Ying as oblivious to the sea of peasants burying their faces in the mud before her as she was to their ruined finery, expressed disappointment in how long it took Yuan Bo to realise she had been impersonated, but was soon artfully silenced when the Jade Dragon pointed out what had almost become of Nan-Li if not for his presence.[12]
The Storm Dragon accepted her younger brother's request for a "modest token of contrition" to the Celestial Court, bowing her head to him even as her face was splattered with the blood of a Chaos Warrior just executed before her. She had not troubled herself to wipe it away; mending and cleaning were, after all, Human affairs.[12]
Personality
"My siblings resent me, thinking me favoured for I am the eldest. They envy my station. They are wrong! I am cursed with responsibility, the ultimate responsibility...Should I fail and the Bastion falls, then Cathay is doomed and they will be jealous of nothing but a wasteland!"
- —Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon[8]
Miao Ying in a more peaceful moment as depicted in Total War: Warhammer III.
Cold and aloof even by the standards of a Dragon, Mino Ying has stoically undertaken the most solemn of duties -- rule over the Northern Provinces -- for many centuries, ever since the defence of the northern border was entrusted to her by the Celestial Dragon Emperor himself. She is possessed of a wrathful hatred towards the forces of Chaos, whether mortal or Daemon, and is known for her unrelenting fervour in the defence of Grand Cathay against the marauding tribes of the north. Haughty and cold, as slow to wrath as she was to affection, it was said of Miao Ying that only the Celestial Dragon Emperor, her father, had the power to make her smile.[11g][11h]
For all her apparent aloofness and celestial majesty however, Miao Ying is not without her more identifiably Human concerns and behaviours, specifically those of an eldest daughter trying to prove her worth to her father against jealous siblings. Because of the power she wields, the weight of duty she carries, and her vaunted position as the Commander of the Great Bastion, Miao Ying is largely -- and perhaps correctly -- perceived as the favourite of the Dragon Emperor by her many siblings. The Storm Dragon doesn't help matters by lording her power and position of authority as protector of the Great Bastion over her siblings, often preferring to stand apart from them when they all gather together.[6][8][11g][13]
Though Miao Ying's arrogance is earned, it is nonetheless a weakness that makes her duties more difficult. She is too proud to welcome help, and it is unlike her to be too considerate a hostess even for her siblings. Her younger brother Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, is a far more gregarious character than her, and gets especially offended by Ying's aloofness during family gatherings.[7][8][12a][12b]
Her vaunted position also means that Miao Ying's father entrusts her with important tasks, some of which can put her at odds with her siblings, especially if she is required to deal with Chaos incursions within the Celestial Empire itself. Even amongst the Cathayan peasants, Ying's animosity towards the Eastern Provinces ruled by the Iron Dragon is the basis of a hundred legends.[7][8][12a][12b]
Abilities
Miao Ying believes herself to be the strongest Cathayan Dragon sibling; at the very least she is one of the most powerful of the Dragon Emperor's children, and she is arguably the most powerful Dragon alive today in the Known World, save for her father Xen Yang and mother Quai Yin.[1][5][7][8][13]
As an immortal Cathayan Dragon who can take on Human form, the Storm Dragon is an incredibly powerful combatant, an amazing wizard, and a natural leader of Men, as cool a tactician and powerful a magic-user as any High Elf, but able to go toe-to-toe with a Greater Daemon when in Dragon form.[1][5][7]
Indeed, Miao Ying's mere presence is truly awe-inspiring. As such a powerful and ancient being, she emits an aura of command and majesty. When she brings battle with shock and awe, not only do some weaker creatures find themselves unable to mount a competent defence, but even great heroes struggle to resist her aura.[8][11g][13]
Even the mightiest of foes can end up falling silent before her, their challenges dying on their lips even while those of Miao Ying herself simply cannot be refused. This aura only grows stronger when the enemy faces Miao Ying in her Draconic form, and to look into her eyes and see the disdain of a Dragon, even in Human form, is to know despair.[8][11g][13]
As with her siblings, Miao Ying is a powerful wizard, moreso when in Human form. Through long centuries of study and practice with the Elemental Winds of Yang and Yin, Miao Ying's mastery of the Storm Winds, more commonly known as Ghyran or the Lore of Life among the High Elves of Ulthuan and the magisters of the Colleges of Magic in the western Empire, has become sublime. It is within her power to harness the wrath of the storm, making elements thought uncontrollable do her bidding, both to crush her enemies and, when in Human form, protect herself and others.[8][11h]
With a quick gesture the Storm Dragon can let fly her fury and summon forth lightning from the skies to strike at her foes, but her mastery of storms also grants her exceptional use of the Lore of Life's power to bestow resilience and regeneration. Thus, when she brings Ghyran to bear, there is no rest in the midst of battle, only the seething storm of relentless aggression.[8][11h]
Yet there comes a time when only a true Dragon can defend Grand Cathay, when, often at the most opportune moment, the Supreme Matriarch of Nan-Gau sheds her Human appearance to reveal her true form, unveiling a unique threat beyond that of her siblings. For indeed, what weapons can hope to pierce the rigid scales of such a monstrous and majestic beast as the Storm Dragon? Her every movement is imbued with predatory swiftness and grace, and in a rampage of talon and teeth she can carve through the heart of any foe. From the epicentre of the raging tempest of her righteousness, Miao Ying strikes with effortless ease, sweeping the foe away like so many leaves on the wind. And it is unlike Miao Ying to abstain from battle.[8][13]
Yet, for all her Draconic might, arcane power and earned arrogance, Miao Ying faces a difficult task in the defence of Grand Cathay's northern borders. As commander of the armies of the Great Bastion, Miao Ying rules over northern Cathay from her seat of power, capital city, and unconquerable home of Nan-Gau, the "City of Smoke," and has held this position for centuries after first being given the honour and entrusted responsibility to defend the Northern Provinces by the Celestial Dragon. Her armies are almost constantly at war against the multitude of threats from the Chaos Wastes, be they rampaging hordes of Hobgoblins, marauding tribes of barbarian Northmen, or the black armoured hosts of the Ruinous Powers.[8][11h][13]
As well as external enemies, Miao Ying must also constantly wrestle with the many mortal lords of Nan-Gau, who show perhaps less deference to her than do the ruling classes in other Cathayan cities. This is because the capital city of the Northern Provinces is home to countless forges and workshops that furnish the armies of Cathay with weapons and provide wondrous war machines for the defence of the Great Bastion, making Miao Ying somewhat reliant upon a cantankerous group of nobles and artisans.[7][11h][13]
So, the lords of Nan-Gau are powerful, granted more independence than most, and have occasionally even dared to challenge the Storm Dragon's authority, though she has swiftly reminded them of their true station. Outwardly the nobles of Nan-Gau and the Northern Provinces work together, but behind the closed doors of their palaces they delight in scheming amongst themselves and against Miao Ying, doing so constantly and inevitably drawing her attention from enemies beyond the wall. And as the predations of Chaos grow, the defences of the Great Bastion strain. [7][11h][13]
Despite these many challenges, Miao Ying does not truly fight alone, and indeed she has followers who seek her favour. Being so close to the nation's northern border, despite it being so well-protected, has ensured that the warriors of Nan-Gau are always in a state of readiness, each soldier focusing on honing their own skills or practicing together in formation to ensure their manoeuvres never falter on the battlefield.[11f][11h][13]
Their stoic approach to their duty is born from the great reverence they have for Miao Ying and how she has approached her own duty to protect the northern reaches of her father's realm; a responsibility she has held for many mortal lifetimes and will hold for many more to come. The hatred she holds for Chaos and the fervour with which she defends Cathay both are passed on to those mortals who fight beneath her banners.[11f][11h]
Moreover, the forges of Nan-Gau produce war engines, such as Grand Cannons and Fire Rain Rocket Batteries, that serve chiefly to fight alongside the armies of Nan-Gau and defenders of the Great Bastion. Miao Ying easily fields the weapons of Nan-Gau, the forces under her direct command fire at truly imposing range, and when defending the Great Bastion, they immediately follow up their last missile volleys with another.[8][11f]
These armies of the Storm Dragon are further supported from the air by Sky Lanterns, airborne firing platforms and devastating weapons of war which provide a unique perspective of the battlefield. These allow the flow of battle to be observed and the forces of Nan-Gau to be better directed by expert strategists and Lord Magistrates, leaders trained by none other than Miao Ying herself.[8][11f]
Wargear
- Celestial Forged Armour - Created in the armouries of the Cathayan capital city at Wei-Jin, these forms of heavy armour are made from the meteoric ore of Kunlan.[11g][11i]
- Storm Wind Coronal - A gift from Miao Ying's father the Dragon Emperor, the Storm Wind Coronal is said to be a magical locus, allowing Ying to wield the Storm Winds of Ghyran with ease.[8]
- Vambraces of Yin - Created by the expert artisans of the artificer city of Nan-Gau and imbued with dark Yin magic, these vambraces grant the Dragon Emperor's eldest daughter formidable arcane protection from physical and magical attacks alike.[8]
Miniatures
Videos
Trivia
In Mandarin Chinese, the Storm Dragon's name, Miao Ying (妙影) is written with the characters 妙 (Miào - "Wondrous; excellent; fine and subtle") and 影 (Yǐng - "Shadow"), which can be translated as "Wondrous Shadow."[4]
Sources
- 1: Total War Blog - Total War: Warhammer III - An Introduction to Grand Cathay
- 2: Total War: WARHAMMER III Website - The Game: Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon
- 3: Warhammer Community - Watch Grand Cathay Come to Life in an Epic Collaboration for Total War: Warhammer III
- 4: Reddit - Chinese names of the new Cathay Legendary Lords and Chaos Gods + their meaning
- 5: Total War Blog - The lore, lands, and history of Grand Cathay in Total War: WARHAMMER III
- 6: Warhammer Community - Read the Official Background for Total War: Warhammer III's Most Deadly Units
- 7: Total War Blog - Who is Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon?
- 8: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
- 9: Warhammer Community - Old World Almanack – The iconography of an eternal empire
- 10: The Dawn of Grand Cathay | Total War: WARHAMMER III
- 11: Arcane Journal: Armies of Grand Cathay (Warhammer: The Old World)
- 12: Master of the Meteor Wind (Short Story) by David Guymer
- 13: Total War Blog - TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER III GRAND CATHAY ROSTER REVEAL