The Celestial Empire of T'ien Ch'i is ancient. Since the founding of the Empire, peace has reigned and a Bureaucracy of great efficiency has evolved. Ministers and officials chosen by skill rather than birth govern the Empire. The Emperor and his family are considered divine, but are not involved in the administration. The cavalry of T'ien Ch'i is well known and the infantry is varied and versatile. The eunuchs who run the Bureaucracy are able to conscript troops for the defense of provinces as part of the taxes due to the Emperor. A magic tradition called The Way is practiced by hermits and scholars in the kingdom. Prominent Masters of the Way come to the Heavenly Gate in the capital to be ordained as Celestial Masters. These mage-priests can summon heavenly beings from the Celestial Sphere to serve the Empire.

"T'ien Ch'i is obviously influenced by China…. Chinese history is rich and there is plenty to draw upon. Daoism and its five elements, inner alchemy, and quest for longevity inspired the Masters of the Way as did the T'ien Shih—celestial master—of institutional Daoism convert into the Celestial Master of T'ien Ch'i. Heroes come in plenty in the Chinese tales and the Seven Immortals are all interesting figures. Sun Wukong and his friends are perhaps even more so. There is plenty of stuff to expand on should I or a merry modder find the time. Finally, T'ien Ch'i has been inspired by movies from Hong Kong, China, and Korea" – Illwinter

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Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
3 (Rare 4) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2	Heroes 11232 222 Summons 13150% 50% 25% (req. 2)	Cavalry Heavy Infantry Archers Crossbows Conscription	Fortune Teller Spring Power Alchemy Immortal Heroes	Standard Fortresses

Capitol Gems: 1112

Order Limit + 1
Misfortune Limit + 1

• Celestial Chastisement: (Evocation 5) 3
  A gem-less version of Control, inficts some damage and then takes control of the target. Only works against Magic Beings. A lot of good units are Magic Beings.

• Internal Alchemy: (Alteration 5) 21 and 10
  Reduces the caster's age by 15 years but has a chance to give the caster insanity. Your troop lineup is unlikely to get old unless hit with Decay, but it is occasionally useful if you luck into a strong indie with the given paths.
• Thousand Year Ginseng: (Construction 4) 1 and 4
  Commentary here.

• Sword of the Five Elements: (Construction 3) 11 and 22
  Grants the user Reinvigoration and a lot of Attack and Defense. Useful on a Mage to protect himself and reduce Fatigue; because of the low price, you could mass-produce them to give to all of your Communion mages. Other weapons have better DPS effects.
• Armor of the Five Elements: (Construction 3) 11 and 22
  Light but high-PROT armor that grants +4 HP plus minor resistance to Fire, Shock, Cold, and Magic. It's useful on thugs since the resistances it provides offer some survivability against a broad array of thug-killers (Incinerate, Lightning Bolt, Frozen Heart, Mind Burn, etc.).

• Chi Shoes: (Construction 3) 1 and 4
  Provides the wearer with an additional attack per round. This is useful on high-strength units who can already get around quickly; unfortunately, your Flying Mages aren't that strong, while your Strong commanders aren't that mobile (or can't wear shoes).
• Jade Armor: (Construction 7) 21 and 105
  Commentary here.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4) needs a level of empowerment to potentially make the unique The Ruby Eye and another level to make a Flame Helmet.

Both Celestial Master and Imperial Alchemist can have 2, but an 2 Celestial Master (1 in 5), with a Astral booster may make the unique Tome of High Power. Even with it, empowerment is needed climb higher.

3 Celestial Master (1 in 5) has an easy climb. With one easy to make Water booster can attempt the unique Orb of Atlantis. With Fire boosters, can make a Staff of Elemental Mastery.

Both Celestial Master and Imperial Alchemist can have 2. The 2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4) can attempt the unique The Tome of Gaia. With lots of boosters to get to 44, (and maybe an Air random instead of an Earth random because Air boosters are tough to get to), either can make a Staff of Elemental Mastery. Celestial Master has the right crosspaths for the unique Atlas of Creation.

2 Celestial Master (1 in 5) is the highest available. Celestial Masters have the right crosspaths for a Coin of Meteoritic Iron, the unique Tome of High Power, (both reasonably easy to get), the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur, and the unique Atlas of Creation, (much harder).

The hero, Lu Tung-Pin - Immortal, has 3. It has the crosspaths to make the unique Tome of High Power, but, considering that the easiest Air booster to get is the Tome of High Power, it isn't very helpful.

No recruitable access. The hero, Li T'ieh-Kuai - Master With The Iron Crutch, has 2.

14 (a 1 Celestial Master (1 in 5) with three Glamour boosters), can Summon Fay Prince in Cold for 1 or cast Faerie Court in Cold for a 1 in 2 chance of 2.

3 can cast Forest Troll Tribe for at least 1.

2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4) is the highest available and with an Earth booster, (or just use an 2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4)), can make the unique The Tome of Gaia. A (path>N1}} Celestial Master (1 in 5) with two Nature boosters can make a Moonvine Bracelet.

2 Celestial Master (1 in 5), with Earth Boots and a Gossamer Veil, can make a Mirage Crystal. A 1 Celestial Master, with three Glamour boosters and a Fire booster, may make the unique The Sword of Many Colors. (The third Glamour booster is the difficult one to get.) The Celestial Masters also have the right crosspaths for the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur, but getting all the needed boosters is rough.

2 can Contact Hull Jing for 3.

No national access. 5 can Awaken Treelord for a 1 in 3 chance of a stationary 1.

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Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia