Deep in the jungle the large, stepped pyramid towered over the bustling city of Sseth-Yeg below. Within the pyramid various snakelike beings walked and slithered around conducting day to day business within the palace of her majesty, queen of the Yuan. On the top levels of the palace those most loyal to her majesty maneuvered to gain her favor while discrediting their competitors. Merchants and noble houses alike brought gifts to the great snake queen in the hopes of being granted privileged trade contracts, lands, magic, or other means to the power they sought so that they could rise among the yuan or so that their enemies would fall.
One by one each noble house and each merchant caravan presented a gift to the queen, for this was the way of things in Sseth-Yeg. Every year on tithe day, the noble houses and merchant caravans were required to send a representative bearing an offering to her majesty. In exchange, they were granted the right to continue operating within the city.
One noble family brought forth a diminutive gnome, captured and transported all the way from Cyngar as an exotic snack for her majesty. A caravan master presented three orcs to the queen for the gladiatorial pits. Yet another presented a small jar of dust said to be garnered from a pair of wings cut from a living fae, dried, and crumbled into a magical powder. Some presented gold and gems, others presented scrolls and magical tomes. None held back, each one offering a priceless gift.
If the offering was found to be lacking, the punishment was swift and painful. Most often those who tried to withhold what her majesty was due found themselves in the gladiator sand pits fighting for survival or strapped to the blood altars and sacrificed for the glory of the queen. No matter what the result of the offering, her majesty always profited.
Below the palace the city streets bustled with activity and commerce. Merchant hawkers called out to passersby offering various goods and services. Food, spices, pets, weapons, pleasures of the flesh, magical inks and powders, tattoos to ward off your deepest fears or to keep you safe out in the jungle. Everything is for sale within the markets of Sseth-Yeg and much of what is for sale here cannot be purchased anywhere else in the world.
This is the power of the Yuan. The strength of commerce and the willingness to deal in anything. The serpent guard, the queen’s personal army roams the streets and keeps the peace, most of the time and for a price. For those with enough money and a grudge it is not unheard of for the serpents to avoid certain areas at specific times or perhaps to single out specific individuals and find reason to bring them in for questioning. It is rare that those taken for questioning are seen again. Occasionally, those with enough money or influence could resurface absolved of any crimes.
As night falls on the city, many of the merchants pack up and make their way home. Others simply swap out what they are selling and where once a fruit stand sold melons now an apothecary sells poisons. Where a relaxing massage is offered during the day, assassination services become available. Everyone who knows anything about the city understands that the daytime market is just a thin veil used to hide what this city is truly about, pleasure, profit, and revenge.
Every hour, on the hour starting with sunset, a piercing scream is heard echoing over the city as the queen’s hemomancers collect magical power from those the serpent guard have rounded up, those who have made poor offerings to the queen, those who can not pay what is required, or those who have simply angered the wrong person; criminals one and all in the eyes of the great serpent queen. To end up on the altars of the hemomancers is proof that you do not belong in Sseth-Yeg, and being in Sseth-Yeg when you do not belong is a crime as surely as murder is. Life is cheap in the jungles of Yuan, even more so in Sseth-Yeg, but for those with questionable morals and the savvy to navigate its nuance, wealth, luxury, power, and pleasure awaits them.
Around the city, large stone walls and the watchful eyes of the serpent guard keep the jungle at bay. Several gates allow obvious access into the city, each one heavily guarded by soldiers and who knows exactly what else. Under cover of darkness, hidden doorways into or out of the city became available, for a price. Always for a price.
As the night deepens around the city the noises from the nearby jungle increase. Monstrous roars, blood curdling screams, and a cacophony of other noises mark the dangers of the jungle at night.
From the city and into the jungle merchant paths are visible. Well kept roads with outposts spaced roughly 12 hours travel apart snake through the trees. Those who travel the roads know to reach an outpost before nightfall or risk the wrath of the jungle. Those who risk that wrath are rarely heard from again.
Even with its dangers there are those among the Yuan who know the jungle and know it well. They use those skills to harvest the bounty of the jungle bringing it back to Sseth-Yeg for sale or, having accepted a contract, to acquire the specialties of the jungle for a powerful noble house or wealthy merchant caravan.
Occasionally these jungle guides can be hired to take adventurous groups into the jungle. Perhaps they desire the adrenaline rush of hunting a thunder lizard or a gigantic gnash tooth. Perhaps they seek the curative powers of the many rare jungle flowers. Perhaps they are looking for the ancient ruins said to reside in the jungle from ancient times rumored to be filled with treasure, knowledge or ancient magics. Regardless of the many reasons, without a guide they almost never return. Occasionally even those with a guide fail to return, but more often than not those who hire a guide return. Sometimes successful in their endeavor, always with stories to tell.
For the jungle guide, it is ordinary day to day most of the time. Occasionally, they will stumble upon something new and unique. For those they take into the jungle, it is the experience of a lifetime.