Non-Player Characters

Lady Spider - Weaver of Fate

According to legend, Lady Spider created all people and attached to each a silken thread which she weaves into the fabric of creation. Lady Spider has been seen in two forms. She has appeared as either a woman wearing white sitting in a drawing room in Victorian England or as a huge spider with a shiny purple carapace.

Master Mason - Qin Xianlin (Han)

The Master Mason is now dead. He was wrapped in gigantic spider silk the night of Pagbu's celebration at the village of Chogyal. This master artisan, and the key to the completion of the decorative stone work of the pleasure dome, is dead and his genius cannot be easily replaced.

Accountant - Xiang Xiao (Han)

Xiao's life is rules by two often competing principles: honour and cowardice. Xiao will always do the honourable thing. There is simply no way that he can lie, cheat or steal. He has been conditioned this way in the service of the court since birth. On the other hand, he is deathly afraid or ... well, death. And pain and fear. He cannot stand up to these emotions.

Scribe (Record Keeper) - Gurban Jun (Mongol)

The responsibility of his position as official annalist or record keeper for the summer palace project weights heavily on Jun. He feels the Khan's eyes exemining in hindsight his every action. Every incident and happening must recorded accurately for posterity. Jun takes this responsibility very seriously. That is why he may lose his temper or lash out with his sword, knife and any other weapon to hand if his records are threatened.

Planting Supervisor - Jiao Shiyin (Han)

Shiyin's greed and his love of coins and the trappings of wealth is the cause of his disgrace at court. His position on the project is both the punishment of exile and a chance to redeem himself. He knows that his actions are being watched and reported on. This has not stopped him coveting the growing wealth and richness of the summer palace.

Structural Supervisor - Zhe Zhaoji (Han)

No one can figure the way Zhaoji approaches his work. His mind seems to work in a fundamentally different manner to everyone else. All who know him call him, at best, eccentric. None, however, can fault the quality or brilliance of his work. And despite his eccentricity, he is known as a careful and cautious man.

Foreman - Dorban Qin (Mongol)

Qin disgraced himself by taking weapons from the militia stores to 'motivate' the village labourers. He was sentenced by Commander Sung Il Tran to be the slave of the village headman for the remainder of the project. He was eaten by the villagers and (unknowningly) by the five worthies at Pagbu's celebration.

Village Neadman - Tsongba (Tribesman)

Tsongba is a leader. He shows this in everything he does, in the way he commands respect from the villagers, in the way he smiles all the time as if he knows something that no one else knows. Perhaps he does. The benefits of leadership includes the women. Tsongba expects women to be his as a function of his position of vhief of the village.

Woodwork Supervisor - Zhi Loushan (Han)

Loushan's obvious and ever-present arrogance makes him a pain to deal with. Only the fact that he is a creative genius allows others on the Great Khan's project to put up with him telling them how he can do their job better then they. Every one wonders whether he has been exiled here or been rewarded with this appointment.

Chief Draper - Shi Fengui (Han)

Fengui is driven to work with cloth. Some believe that he has been cursed and that his interest in and need to work with fabric is the symptom of this. Certainly, he feels compelled to decorate. Perhaps this is nothing more than a harmless eccentricity. But just maybe the rumours in the market place are accutate.

Chief Potter - Xian Wanliu (Han)

Wanliu is not a great potter himself but with his extensive knowledge of ceramics and his ability to manage people make him the perfect person to lead the team of structural and decorativge potters on the project. Wanliu is cautious and never leaps without looking first. His strength is a sure touch with people.

Master Chef - Taban Zhejin (Mongol)

The finger of blame in any poisoning, a common Mongol method of sons in a hurry to gain their inheritance, points first to the chef. This has made Zhejin cautious. He tastes every meal and dish himself, not trusting subordinates with his life. Perhaps his caution is closer to cowardice than simple prudence.

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