The Shen

The Shen are a proud and noble people with a long-standing tradition of martial excellence. The majority of the Shen serve in various military functions around the land, from policing the human tribes for nomadic raiders to combating Jenisari pirates around the coasts. Some, however, have left their traditional house-brigade structures and joined the various mercenary and adventuring societies. With this move the secrets of guns have been slowly introduced to the other races over the last couple decades. Crossbreeds - Being romantically involved with someone of another race is a dishonorable action. Creating a half-breed is considered so dishonorable the child and it's parents are stripped of any rank and rights they may have and become slaves of the Emperor's house. Due to this attitude most mixed race couples leave Shen controlled areas if they find that a pregnancy is likely.

Society

Shen are born into military units. The entirety of the Shen race is conscripted into the army at birth, and serves the Emperor until they reach the age of eighteen. At this point they are given the option to continue their service or become a gaigin, a freeman who is no longer a member of the army. The first twelve years of life for a Shen, born in the Valley of Steel, is filled with intensive study and exposure to many different fields of work. On their thirteenth year, all Shen are required to take the governmental examinations. These detailed tests, which are given back-to-back over the course of a week, determine what line of work each child is best suited for. Once their tests are graded each child is assigned to a work detail for their “destined” task. They will work at these jobs until their eighteenth birthday, at which time they must make the Gaigin decision. Those Shen who choose to seek their own path are often viewed as less honorable than those who remain in service to the Emperor. The Ssetshin Dynasty has been in power over the Valley of Steel since before the Chaos Wars.
The Shen are one of the most austere and pragmatic races ever known. This is reflected in their art, as most, if not all, Shen art takes the form of instructional illustrations or stories. Valuing innovation and proper application of the Code of War over all other things, the Shen have a long history of stories which highlight honorable heroes who, through the application of intelligence and technological ingenuity, overcome great beasts and/or numbers. Most written works of the Shen deal with illustrating an industrial or martial practice. There is very little material produced by Shen that does not deal directly with passing on specific technical or martial information.

Military Ranks

There are a total of 17 ranks in the Shen military. There are 9 Command ranks and 9 Enlisted ranks. It is impossible to attain a Command rank before your 18th year, though choosing to continue your service does not guarantee a command rank promotion. Rank promotion is typically achieved by excellent performance in your postion and adherance to the Code of War. Finishing your governmental exams grants an automatic promotion from Nitohei to Ittohei. This is the only guaranteed promotion.
The Ranks are:

Enlisted Ranks			Command Ranks
Rank	Equivalent US Rank	Phonetic Pronunciation	Rank	Equivalent US Rank	Phonetic Pronunciation
Juni	Command Sergeant	June - eye	Taisho	General	Tie - show
Socho	First Sergeant	So - ko	Chujo	Lt. General	Chew - joe
Gunso	Staff Sergeant	Gun - so	Shosho	Major General	Show - show
Gocho	Sergeant	Go - ko	Taisa	Colonel	Tie - saw
Heicho	Corporal	High - ko	Chusa	Lt. Colonel	Chew - saw
Jotohei	Private First Class	Joe - toe - high	Shosa	Major	Show - saw
Ittohei	Private	It - toe - high	Taii	Captain	Tie
Nitohei	5-12 year olds	Knee - toe - high	Chui	Lieutenant	Chew - eye
Tegakakaru	Younger than 5	Tea - ga - ka - ka - rue	Shoi	2nd Lieutenant	Show - eye

All Nitohei and Tegakakaru are "adopted" by a given division and become the primary responsibility of the Jotohei and the Ittohei of that Division's various sections. The actual structure of the military is a complex matter. The smallest unit is the Clutch, which will typically include 4-6 people. Each Clutch will belong to a Section, which consists of 4-6 Clutches. Each Section is designated as Active or Support. No one below the rank of Ittohei is allowed in an Active Section. 4-6 Sections will make up a Platoon and 3-6 Platoons make a Company. A battalion will consist of 5-10 Companies. A Regiment is a collection of 4 battalions, and a Brigade is 3-6 Regiments. Finally the three Divisions of the Shen military are each made up of 4 Brigades.
The three divisions of the Shen military are the Home Guard, the Coastal Sheild, and the Outsliders. The Home Guard has the highest concentration of children and has the primary mission of protecting the Valley of Steel and the Shen outposts around the world, though they share this last duty with the Outsliders. The Coastal Shield function as the Shen navy and coast guard. It is their duty to protect the Shen empire from invasion by sea. The Outsliders are the most frequently met division by most natives of other lands. It is the Outsliders duty to keep the peace in lands that have contracted for that service, as well as protecting any Shen outposts or settlements outside of the Valley of Steel.

Technology

The main objective of the Shen Empire is to maintain military and technological superiority to the other races. To this end, not only are units of Shen used all over the known world for military enforcement, but also Shen scholars and researchers are constantly at work, trying to develop the latest weapon or technological marvel. It is this thirst for advancement that lead to the development of the pistol. In the last 20 years since its development, more and more Shen troops are being trained in the use of this powerful weapon. One of the most closely guarded secrets in the world is how the Shen gunsmiths construct the colored "slugs" that function as ammunition for the guns. The few that have been captured by other races or purchased off the black market have simply exploded after being tampered with, often with deadly results for the would-be investigators. Surprisingly this has not slowed the demand for these new weapons among the other races, even with the outlandish prices charged by the Shen gunsmiths.
It is also this never-ending building of industry that has lead to the destruction of most of the arable land in the Valley of Steel. Some 230 years ago Shen developed the skill of strip mining. This destructive practice has destroyed the wetlands and forest that once filled the Valley. While there are still a few areas of protected farmland, the majority of the Valley of Steel has been stripped of its surface vegetation in the ceaseless quest for metals.

Race Relations

The government treats all races that make their home in the Valley of Steel equally and fairly. This is why there are no towns in the Valley of Steel that are exclusively of one race. People of other races who seek to settle in the Valley of Steel must petition the magistrates in the capital city of Onkta, who will place them in a village that is in need of the skills they can provide, and/or that is lacking in representation of their race. Non-Shen children born in the Valley of Steel are not required to be placed with a military unit, however it is still the common practice. The majority of non-Shen that resides in the Valley of Steel is not there willingly however, because they exist as slaves. The most common punishment for breaking the law or violating the Code of Law is a period of slavery, this applies to Shen and non-Shen equally. Slaves are also bought and sold in open market in the larger towns in the Valley.

The Code of War

All Shen are trained from birth to uphold the Code of War. This code of conduct is the linchpin of Shen society and worldview. Seven Lights define the Code of War: Politeness, Courage, Benevolence, Justice, Loyalty, Veracity, and Honor. Each of the first six Lights are governed and tempered by the seventh.
True honor involves benevolence and politeness towards all people, the courage to do what is right, and loyalty to all who have helped us, justice but not revenge, and veracity without causing harm. Six points of the Code of War are inherent in the concept of honor and without honor these other six are meaningless. Imagine veracity without honor: one can be too truthful and cause great damage. Courage without honor can lead us to harm others or ourselves unnecessarily. Loyalty without honor can lead us to follow blindly those who are harmful to us or to others. Honor is clearly the hardest of the seven codes to define and yet it is the most essential. To be honorable, one must decide what is the "right thing to do" and then do it. To be honorable one must demonstrate politeness, courage, benevolence, justice, loyalty, and veracity- The Code of War.

Shen Cities

While there are numerous small villages and towns all over the Valley the three largest cities are Onkta, Shelin, and Miika.
Onkta – This is the capital city of the Valley of Steel, and home of the Emperor, Lein Ssetshin. All major roads in the Valley of Steel lead eventually to Onkta. This walled city covers a large expanse and is the base of operations for most of the major mining companies in the world, as well as numerous other small manufacturing concerns. Onkta also contains the Celestial Ziggurat. This monstrous building houses the leadership of the Shen military.
Shelin – One of the largest seaports in the world, this metropolis is second only to the Great Bazaar in the amount of commerce that travels through. This city also is home to the Chirurgery of Shattered Dreams. This Totekai citadel houses the largest number of Necromancers anywhere in the world, next to the Home of Lost Souls in the Forest of Learning. There is a standing army of over 500 Shen that constantly guard it.
Miika – One of the Twin Trade Cities of Deepwell, it is a common stopover for most major trade caravans. It is also the primary gateway from the Valley to the homelands of the other races.
Smoking Wall – This large gate was constructed over 175 years ago across the largest path into the Living Forest. This gate was erected as part of the peace treaty between the Illuthians and the Shen. According to the treaty no armed force of either race is permitted to cross the border into the others lands. To help enforce this point, both races constructed massive gates on each end of the pass.

Racial Makeup

The Shen must have a distinctive pattern of red markings on the face, throat, and/or head. This pattern can be detailed with black but at no more that a 75% red to 25% black ratio.