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He later aced his tests, but with great effort. They were more demanding than even he anticipated. In one history question they asked which event marked the end of the First Age, and the end of the Shogunate. The Great Contagion, an illness that swept across all of Creation more than 700 years ago and killed 9 out of 10 of everything, including animals, plants and even Exalts? Or the Balorian Crusade, when the Fair Folk invaded from beyond Creations rim to destroy all that exists? It was a trick question of course. The answer was both, back to back. Nothing less could bring the chosen of the Dragons to their knees. In another he had to give an extensive report on the four celestial directions beyond the Blessed Isle. Thankfully he studied that thoroughly, as House Mnemon has satrapies in all of them, so he must be familiar with it.
Each direction corresponds to one of the Five Elements, with the Blessed Isle at the center representing Earth. North is wind, East is wood, South is fire and West is water. The elements are what define the lands. As one moves further in any direction things get more and more aligned with said element, including the flora, fauna and the people living there.
The north is cold, rigid and harsh, so are its people. Though the word "barbarian" describes anyone not of The Realm the northern folk earn it more than most. They survive the harsh conditions by worshiping ancestors spirits and by prostrating themselves to animal totems. The weak are abandoned, including kids who don't pull their weight and the old who can no longer contribute. If they are lucky they get sent out into the wild to perish, if they are not or if it's a particularly harsh winter they get eaten. The northern folks strength would be admirable, if it stemmed from self improvement like in The Realm not from simply culling the weak. The Realm respects strength, but even the meekest may live there and are put to use.
The western regions are dominated by water, with precious little land to sustain and cultivate life. The people there are primitive, with their isolation sometimes birthing even more degenerate traditions than those found north. But a lot of them are also peaceful, given how they can't afford to wage wars. Due to there not being much of value worth extracting the Realm largely leaves these savages be.
In the south savannas turn to deserts, which turn to fields of volcanoes as one travels further away from the Blessed Isle. Those who live close to the inland sea live relatively normal lives, enriched by the bounty of rare southern goods. Gemstones and rare spices make the direction abundant in resources, despite the harsh climate. The Realm covets most of these goods but given the logistic nightmare of supplying troops with food and, more importantly, water means it's only the second most important direction to the Realm.
