Shoudu

The national capital of Dabgach is Shoudu in the southernmost reaches of the centre lowlands. It is a city of immense size, sitting along the mighty Red River and home to the God-King of Dabgach.



The palace at the centre of the city is surrounded by high walls and features elegant balconies and lattice-work inners; courtiers reside within its halls as well as the royal family. Members of the Royal Guard are stationed within the palace itself while the elite Dragon Guard are employed throughout the city. The Great Hall deep within the palace is a circular audience chamber accessed through enormous jade doors. At the far end, under an enormous banner displaying the golden fist of the God-Kings, are doors that lead to a corridor decorated with the portraits of previous god-kings and –queens, the oldest of which date back over a thousand years. Passageways branching off this corridor lead to the God-King’s personal chamber and other secure rooms.



By ancient tradition, anyone may petition the king in cases of great injustice (essentially a case which local magistrates and regional prefects have been unable to resolve). In practice this involves joining a lengthy queue and waiting for a week or more to meet with a dignitary who decides if the case should be brought before the king.