Gazetteer

Adventuring in the Dragon Empires

Since its founding, the Ruby Phoenix Tournament has been held in or near Hao Jin’s home city of Goka, the largest city on the continent of Tian Xia. This continent of diverse countries and regions is located on the opposite side of the world from Avistan and Garund. Yet for a land so distant from the Inner Sea region, Tian Xia shares a number of similarities with its global counterparts. Like the Inner Sea region, Tian Xia is made up of vast swaths of monster-riddled wilderness, a patchwork collection of mostly human nations of various political persuasions, and countless ruins, monuments, and treasure troves of bygone empires and long-lost civilizations.

Of course, Tian Xia is a whole continent, with its own unique multitude of histories, ecosystems, and cultural norms. Depending on where you are, humans might rub shoulders with kitsune and tengus, complex rituals might be used to summon powerful forces from the natural world or from one’s own soul, and any stone or bush at the side of the road could potentially hide a fiercely protective guardian spirit. Perhaps one of the greatest differences between Tian Xia and the rest of the world is that in Tian Xia, the primordial coiling creatures known as dragons are not only widely known, but interact with the people of the land on a regular basis. In some cases, dragons govern whole nations, leading many to use a common appellation for the continent overseas: the Dragon Empires.

Minata, the Wandering Isles

This year, the Ruby Phoenix Tournament’s organizers have chosen to host a first-of-its-kind prequalifying event for the tournament proper in Goka. This prequalifier will take place on a remote island called Bonmu—which the organizers have playfully dubbed “Danger Island” for just this event—where 32 teams will vie for 8 spots to take part in the tournament proper. Bonmu is just one small isle in a vast archipelago called Minata in eastern Tian Xia.

Like many of the surrounding islands, Bonmu was once part of a sprawling civilization called Taumata, a society where religion and communion with nature played prominent roles in everyday life. Although most vestiges of the fallen empire have been lost to the sands of time—and no one is sure exactly what caused Taumata to collapse—ruined Taumatan shrines and temples still dot certain areas on the island.

Competing teams aren’t the only danger on Bonmu; the remote tropical island is an ever-looming threat in its own right. Hostile flora and fauna—from poisonous plants to giant insects and even dinosaurs—combine with the natural elements to pose a challenge for even the hardiest outdoors enthusiasts. Although precise details are scarce in the lead-up to the prequalifier, it’s fair to expect that exploration, survival, and endurance will all play a prominent role in this stage of the tournament.

Goka, City of Wonders

For over 300 years, the Ruby Phoenix Tournament has been held in or around the bustling metropolis of Goka, the home city of Hao Jin and the most densely populated settlement in all of Tian Xia. Goka is not only the largest city in Tian Xia, but one of the largest cities in Golarion.

The City of Wonders more than lives up to its name as a vital trade hub and a cultural mixing pot for people from around the globe. It is also a storied locale in its own right, with a 4,000-year-long history rich with legends and folk stories, a legacy of self-governance that survived the oppressive but now-defunct rule of Imperial Lung Wa, and a unique culture of risk-taking, gambling, and self-improvement. In Goka, anyone can start anew or cement their legacy, find their calling or get lost forever, and make their fortunes or meet their demise. The city offers a variety of breathtaking wonders for people of all ages. In the Neverending Market, visitors can purchase several kinds of goods or sample a variety of foods. At the Icefang Aerie, crowds gather to watch drake coursers race overhead. Spellcrafters often perfect their experiments at the Five Pillars Academy in areas accessible to the public, and various performers deliver unparalleled operas in the Floating Lotus district.

Perhaps no spectacle draws more attention to Goka than the Ruby Phoenix Tournament, held once per decade. This year, with Hao Jin personally judging the competition, the grand arena will be situated near the Ruby Phoenix’s own personal home in Goka’s decadently appointed Cliffside Court district. The grand judge has gotten spectators, gamblers, and contestants more fired up than ever, leading to an unprecedented turnout for what is sure to be a tournament for the ages.