Southern Terrain Map, Three Routes South!

Southern reaches of the kingdom, northern Purple Grass County, the small city of Oto—today's El Puente Alto. A low stone wall less than two meters high simply circled around it, forming this tiny city a li square, with a population of no more than one or two thousand. Though it was called a small city, it had almost no military function; perhaps "township" would be a more fitting description. There were no large buildings in the city, only a newly built temple to the Main God, a modest trade market, and some ordinary houses where traveling merchants could rest.

During the Western Expedition, the five thousand southern-route reinforcements of Marshal Ixtli, the "End Moon," had passed through Oto City on their way to the Royal Capital battlefield in the lake region. They had forcibly requisitioned grain and fodder here once, and executed the local lord. After the Western Expedition, Oto City had become territory directly under the kingdom, as well as the dividing line between the royal central government's control and local control. North from here, the peasants had all been registered into households, folded into civilian and military colonies; south from here lay broad swaths of noble fiefs and autonomous tribal villages. Of course, this tacit dividing line would soon disappear.

Above Oto City, the Black Wolf banner flew high, while outside the city stretched continuous military camps and patrolling warriors. King Xolotl was currently stationed here with seven thousand soldiers of the Imperial Guard Legion, waiting for the southern nobles to arrive. He had not lodged in the cramped city, but rested instead in the great camp outside it.

In truth, as long as he left the Royal Capital, Xolotl habitually lived in the austere military camps, keeping company with the plain warriors, just as the eastern Roman