The Gates of Heaven
A Tales of the City (book #6) guide for Thayathorn
The Story So Far
Once upon a time (well, about two thousand years ago), Amasaki was the beating heart of Imperial Kell. The biggest city in the world. The seat of power, faith, and bureaucracy. People called it the Gateway to Heaven — and for a while, that wasn’t far from the truth.
But nothing lasts forever.
When the war with the City States Confederation — the so-called Kellish Adventure — broke out, the Empire began to crumble. First the ports fell, then the coastal cities, and before anyone could blink, the once-invincible Imperial authority collapsed like a badly built sandcastle.
The City States’ armies swept inland with terrifying speed… until they didn’t. Kell is vast, endless even, and the Confederation soon ran out of steam, supplies, and patience. Their final push brought them to Amasaki — the Jewel of Kell — where they declared victory.
Except it wasn’t really victory. The Empire still stands in Tenmai, rebuilding and plotting revenge. The City States occupy Amasaki, but they’re stretched too thin, facing a seemingly endless enemy and surrounded by citizens who fear Imperial retribution more than they trust “northern freedom.”
Everyone knows what’s coming. The storm hasn’t broken yet — but it will.
A City Unveiled
Welcome to Amasaki, a city too big to truly map, too complex to ever really understand, and too fascinating not to explore.
Your guide is Tu Pan Toh, a humble monk of The Teacher (that’s Yular, for those who know their Thayathorn lore). Tu Pan is your window into a living, breathing city balanced precariously between occupation, faith, and rebellion.
Inside you’ll find:
- A sweeping look at Amasaki’s history and the surrounding region.
- The city’s unique culture and society, where ancient ritual meets modern chaos.
- An introduction to The Clouds — Amasaki’s world-famous monastic sodalities.
- A whirlwind tour through the surface districts, each with its own mood and madness.
- A descent into the city’s three subterranean worlds, where things get darker and stranger.
- The politics, organisations, and powers that shape life above and below ground.
- And a roll call of characters, influencers, and story-makers — the souls who breathe life into Amasaki.
It’s a guidebook, a setting, and a story seed all in one. Whether you’re running a campaign, building your own world, or just here for the lore — this is your gateway into Thayathorn.
Where to Get It
The Gates of Heaven – Amasaki is just £12:
- Print Edition — via our Print-on-Demand partner Lulu.com
No paywalls. No collector’s price tags. Just a solid book packed with imagination, ready to drop into your game.
So, step through The Gates of Heaven. Meet the monks, the merchants, the schemers, and the lost souls of Amasaki — and see for yourself why no one ever truly leaves this city unchanged.
Disclaimer
We have intentionally listed this book as explicit, you should be 18 years or older. You will be asked verify this with your date of birth when buying it.
Why?
Thayathorn is a fantasy world – full of magic, mystery, and more than its fair share of terrible people with terrible opinions. It draws heavily on the messier corners of our own history, which means you’ll come across amoung other things examples of racism, sexism, classism, religious fanaticism & sectarianism, and just about every other grim “ism” you can think of.
If you find that sort of thing upsetting, you’re not wrong and you might not want to buy this book, we suggest going to do something nicer; hug a tree or make the world a nicer place etc. No judgement. Honestly, we’d rather you be happy than angrily composing a complaint.
This setting is not a reflection of the author’s personal values (we’re actually quite lovely), nor is it an attempt to glorify unpleasantness. It’s just that telling stories about complex, broken worlds often means showing complex, broken people. If that’s your kind of thing – brilliant. Dive in.
If not, lets part ways with respect and affection.