Editing Sho (section)

==== Founding ====
The history of the Sho is intertwined with their mythology. For more information on the Sho creation story, see [[Sho#Religions and Beliefs|Religions and Beliefs]]. The legendary founder of the Sho Nation was [[Shou-Jen Rian]]. According to their beliefs, after dishonoring the [[Dragon of Power]], Shou-Jen Rian and his kinsmen were driven west and south by the Dragon, who burned their crops and destroyed their villages.<ref name=ShouJenVer1>2001/11 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM CD Lore/Ispar Texts/Sho Heritage/The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii (Version 1)|The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii (Version 1)]]</ref><ref name=ShouJenVer2>2001/11 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM CD Lore/Ispar Texts/Sho Heritage/The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii (Version 2)|The Shou-Jen and the Founding of Ryuujii (Version 2)]]</ref> The people were driven southwest for years, all the way to the sea.<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/> There, the Shou-Jen family established a kingdom and named it after the Dragon (Ryujii) to placate the Elder.<ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Sho]]</ref> However, six families instead sailed across the sea and founded their own kingdoms upon islands named after the Firebird (Iiwah) and the Unicorn (Chiran-tou).<ref name=ShouJenVer1/><ref name=ShouJenVer2/><ref name=ZogblasterShoIntro/>
<br><br>While the dates of the founding of the Sho Nation are unknown, we can some assumptions. The first is that the [[Ryu Jou Gai]], the Order of the Dragon Temple, was founded ''after'' the founding of Ryujii since the Ryu Jou Gai is based at the Dragon Temple in the Sho homelands.<ref name=ZogblasterShoFactions>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[Zogblaster Archive/Heritage Groups/Sho/Sho Factions]]</ref> In Leafcull, 10 PY (1286 RC) the Ryu Jou Gai was said to have been founded over one thousand years ago, giving us an approximate date of 286 RC for the Order's founding. Thus, one can assume that the events of the founding of the Sho Nation took place at some point prior to that.
<br><br>Given that this is a fantasy setting, it is entirely possible that the Sho creation story and their Elder spirits are real beings and the story of Shou-Jen Rian is true. However, if interpreting their mythology from a more secular point of view, it is possible that the Dragon destroying their crops and home and driving them to the sea is a metaphor for a stronger nation expanding their territory by claiming the old Sho homelands. If the Sho Nation was founded some time prior to 286 RC, the [[Roulea|Roulean Empire]] could certainly be the rival nation. Another idea, presented on [http://ac.warcry.com/content/lore/ispar/sho Warcry's Crossroads of Dereth's Sho introduction article] is that the Dragon was a metaphor for volcanic activity.