World of Crystals

Literally, the "World of Crystals," in the ancient tongue of the Hai-Xsian people.

Map of Ching-Shih-Chieh (as reckoned by Xsian mapmakers)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6489/ancientxsiafv8.jpg

• Note: Xsian cartographers always made their maps with East at the top.

Legend of the Crystals

The Xsian named their world for the four Elemental Crystals, aquired in legend by the Celestial Emperor Shang-Ti during the Lunar War. These Crystals contained powerful elemental magics of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Originally, the Crystals had been kept by Shang-Ti in the Tower of Babil in the Lo-Xsian province, but were removed in the Middle Doh by His Brilliance, Doh Chi'iel Tien Wa Xsia Kung, Who Swam with Turtles and Ruled All Under Heaven and given as gifts to his most favored provincial lords: the Water Crystal went to the Magister of Maho-Kuni, the Fire Crystal to the Cavalry General of Damkia, the Air Crystal to the Grand Abbot of Fa-Bul. The Earth Crystal, however, remained in the Hai-Xsia province, under the care of the highest-ranked member of the Doh Emperor's court, the Chief Minister of Agriculture. Here the Crystal's energies were used to ensure plentiful harvests in the Imperial Province, keeping all peoples of the Empire always well-fed.

Dark Crystals?

Later accounts said that Shang-Ti had actually taken eight Crystals during the Lunar War, four of which were shared (showing Shang-Ti's magnanimity and virtue) with one of the Lords of the People Below (presumably the Dwarven god Ilmarinen Heaven-Hammer). These were the Dark Crystals, whose elements were those of Magma, Ash, Smoke and Salt -- each a negative reflection of one of the Crystals that remained on the surface world under the care of the Xsian peoples.