WHEN
It’s the 11th century. It’s the High Middle Ages in Europe and they’re about to kick off the Crusades. Meanwhile, China is experiencing a golden age roughly analogous to The Renaissance.
WHERE
Kaifeng, the Imperial Capital of the Song Dynasty. Kaifeng is the commercial, cultural, and scientific center of its time. Think Victorian London or modern day New York City.
WHAT
The Bureau of Infernal Affairs is a small office under the Ministry of Public Works. The Bureau is tasked with defending the empire from supernatural threats…but there aren’t any. The Bureau is actually a dumping ground where misfits, troublemakers, and incompetents are placed to be ignored and forgotten.
WHY
The Song Dynasty is a largely untapped setting that will feel remarkably familiar to modern readers.