When Yuan Shu Gonglu, the 'prodigy' of Runan, comes into possession of the Imperial Seal after the Sacking of Luoyang, his conclusion is, by his standards, logical; He is the new Emperor.

To to this end, he founds the 'Zhong Dynasty', sets up his capital in Shouchun and demands homage from all powerful men in the empire. Needless to say, he encounters...criticism.

Drunk with power and surrounded by sycophants who praise his every word and deed, far too late does Yuan Shu learn the first rule of declaring yourself Emperor; make sure all your enemies are dead first!

Yuan Shu's rise to Imperial headship is even contested under his own roof. Concerned advisers and officers are ignored and vilified for trying to dissuade him as the insidious 'Order of Gonglu' is founded by a group of strange cultists declaring that the 'Dragon King from the Great Dephs' has taken Yuan Shu as an avatar and all 'heretics' must be purged from China for a new empire to be secued. Meanwhile opportunists of every variety, even as lowly as bandits and common criminals, flock to Yuan Shu to pay tribute, this new Emperor granting them the means to do as they please to whomever they wish.

A motley plethora of those blinded by loyalty or guided by avarice, this 'Zhong Dynasty' spells a grim future for China if it ever prevails.

(From Left To Right)

(Top Row)

Ji Ling, He Man

(Upper-Middle Row)

Huang Zi'ai, Feng Shunying, Yuan Shu, Zhang Jiong, Feng Fang

(Lower-Middle Row)

Chen Zi, Zhang Xun, Chang Nu, Yang Hong

(Bottom Row)

Jin Xuan, Jin Shang, Qiao Rui, Han Yin, He Yi

Before you ask, yes, there was a man named 'He Man' in the Three Kingdoms. Although, it's pronounced 'Her-Mahn'.

Please no Masters Of The Universe jokes, every 3K forum is flooded with those already, every damn time he gets brought up.

I went a bit all-out with the character designs here.

Feng Fang, I actually based off the appearance of the late Frank Vincent, an actor who appeared in the Martin Scorsese films and The Sopranos. The reason being his vibe is very similar to that of a Mafia Boss. Appearing very affable and generous but, behind closed doors, vicious as they come.

Zhang Jiong, I tried to look as though he came from Innsmouth. If it wasn't apparent, there are Lovecraftian themes behind the Order of Gonglu and the 'Dragon King from the Great Depths'. What does that remind you of?

...

Yes I can have Lovecraft themes in Ancient China! Lovecraft goes well with anything!

As to He Yi and He Man, bandits come a penny-a-dozen in the Three Kingdoms so I was looking for a way to individualise them. And recently I was reading a Pathfinder book with the Ogres and it got me thinking...

I know! Cannibal Inbreds! That's what this story needs right?

...

Time will tell if this train of thought reaches its course. But I hope you like the illustration regardless.