Built atop a First Age city bearing the same name, Wu-Jian’s narrow maze of dead-end alleys, teetering houses, and rickety rope bridges is confusing and hostile. Yet, starry-eyed sailors flock here — they dream of settling the gateway island, only to find land at a premium and themselves relegated to the slums, or seek passage further West to be stranded by overpriced berths and unscrupulous captains. The locals pay them no heed and no pity — they have their own struggles to contend with.

Geography

Organizations

The Realm

Nissar Vedan - Ruler - Its ruler, Nissar Vedan, belongs to a cadet house that broke the reign of the Lords Criminal and installed itself as Wu-Jian’s governing authority with House Peleps’ assistance, yet the downfall of the city’s crime princes has merely left Vedan to contend with countless smaller gangs and syndicates.

Sesus Nemoia - Satrap - Meanwhile, satrap Sesus Nemoia cultivates influence with local gangs to circumvent Vedan and House Nissar, as well as the drunkard garrison commander Tepet Berel Alun. Nemoia is unaccountable to anyone but the Empress, and the latter hasn’t been an issue for five years. House Sesus has inquired if Nemoia would — hypothetically speaking — back a play for the throne, but she’s politely postponed the conversation. Nemoia is loyal to her house, and Wu-Jian would be invaluable in moving troops and resources from the Western Archipelago to the Blessed Isle, but she needs more assurance than mere hypotheticals. Sesus Nemoia is very laissez-faire: As long as trade flows unhindered and respect is paid — at least nominally — to the Immaculate Philosophy, citizens and Dynasts are free to do as they will. Nemoia does come down on fights between scions or sailors of House Peleps and V’neef, both of whom use Wu-Jian as a steady harbor, but she can be bribed to turn a blind eye. Meanwhile she fills the empire’s coffers, and her own pockets, with gains both well and ill-gotten.

Tepet Berel Alun - Garrison Commander - Drunkard garrison commander.

Thirteen Schools

The so-called Thirteen Schools, underground martial arts societies whose initiates swear mighty oaths of obedience to their masters, have existed in some form or another for centuries. Some ancient and some newly fledged, all thrive in the vacuum left by Nemoia’s hands-off reign, and they’ve never been more powerful. Some protect the downtrodden against thugs and thieves. Others form criminal gangs controlling their domain through violence and intimidation. Each school claims a corner of Wu-Jian as its own and, capricious as the ocean, forms alliances and enmities at a dazzling pace. When members of opposing schools meet, citizens scatter — Wu-Jian’s rickety buildings are no match for the fists of a martial artist.

Other

Sources

Exalted 3e Core - pages prologue, 103
The Realm - pages 172-175