Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy

Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy is a 2017 Chinese television series adapted from the novel of the same name written by Jin Hezai, who also wrote Legend of Winged Tribe, and directed by Cao Dun. It is part of the Novoland series, a media franchise depicting the fictional universe with a known world of three continents and nine provinces divided into the prosperous Eastern Land of Zhongzhou and the nomadic Eight Tribes in Hanzhou.
It stars Huang Xuan, Shawn Dou, Zhou Yiwei, Xu Lu, Janice Man and Zhang Jianing. The series airs on iQiyi, Tencent and Youku starting November 21, 2017. The series was a hit among international fans due to its high standard of production, impressive storyline and exceptional performance. The series currently has a 6.8 rating on Douban.

Synopsis

The series is set in the fictional world of Novoland and tells the story of loyalty, friendship, enmity and romance between the young descendants during the twilight years of the Duan Dynasty. The Duan Dynasty has been ruled by the royal Muyun Clan for more than 300 years, assisted by the Muru Clan and its powerful army in controlling Zhongzhou and suppressing the eight nomadic tribes in Hanzhou.
Our three young male protagonists find their lives and fates intertwined in historical intrigue, political turmoil, and the worlds of magical beings.
With the birth of the sixth prince of the Duan Dynasty, he is prophesied to "bring chaos to the world when he holds the Emperor's sword". Though a prince and son of Emperor Ming, Muyun Sheng lived a lonely and isolated childhood accompanied only by a personal attendant Lan Yu Er. Growing up a kind-hearted young man, he is shunned by others and seen as dangerous due to the prophecy and for being half-human and half-spirit. His life changes when Muru Hanjiang is assigned as his companion in the palace and the two becomes friends. Hanjiang encourages the prince to find out about the disappearance of his mother, a beautiful Mei spirit who became Emperor Ming's Consort Yinrong. With the discovery of the truth and inheritance of a magical orb, the Muyun Pearl left behind by his mother, the young prince begins his journey in the treacherous Duan court, and becomes a master painter while discovering the world of magical arts. He eventually falls in love with a Mei spirit woman residing in the orb, whom he names Pan Xi. He does not believe in prophecies and uses his own will to suppress his dark side to prevent calamity.
Muru Hanjiang, the youngest son of General Muru Shuo, is also plagued by a prophecy where he will usurp the Duan Dynasty and become future Emperor. In a display of loyalty to the Duan Dynasty, the General abandons him at a temple. He grows up as Hanjiang and becomes a resilient young man well trained in martial arts. He incidentally saves the young Su Yuning and sends her back to the Novoland Inn, but gets mistaken as a thief and thrown in the inn's dungeon to work as a fighter slave for the entertainment of the rich and powerful. He meets and befriends a young Shuofeng Heye, who is originally from the Hanzhou nomadic tribes and sold into slavery. Without realizing the sins of the past generation, the two new friends work together to survive. Hanjiang makes it to the Muru mansion but discovers that his hero, General Muru, is the cold-hearted father that abandoned him. In despair, he willingly stabs himself in the chest at the General's request to kill himself. He survives and for his loyalty, is spared and assigned as the sixth prince's companion. He reunites and falls in love with Su Yuning, who is prophesied to be the future Empress of Duan and destined to marry a prince from the Muyun Clan. He does not care for the prophecy and eventually leaves the palace to join the army, leaving behind a dear friend and young love whom he will meet again.
Shuofeng Heye was the heir to the Chieftain of the Northern Hanzhou Shuofeng Clan. Under his father's leadership, the tribe finally wins over fertile land from the Suqin tribe and looks forward to a better life, but catastrophe struck. Heye's parents and almost the entire tribe was massacred by the Muru Army for unintentionally harboring a runaway convict of Duan. The surviving children were enslaved, brought to Zhongzhou to becomes a fighter. It is here where he befriends Hanjiang and meets the woman who buys over his slave contract and eventually becomes the love of his life, Muyun Yanshuang, Princess Jing of Duan. The three young men meets in a twist of fate to discover the sins inherited from their parents. Heye eventually returns to Hanzhou and finds new family and reunite with old ones. Driven by vengeance and a desire for a better life for the people of Hanzhou, he pursues his destiny to be the "Tie Qin" to unite the eight nomadic tribes to revolt against Duan.
The series also depicts the intertwined fates of the past generation: the love triangle in the royal Muyun Clan between Emperor Ming, Consort Yinrong, and Empress Nanku ; the rivalry amongst the Princes Muyun Han, Muyun Lu, Muyun Hege ; the hidden agendas of the Wanzhou Muyun Clan, led by the conniving father-son duo Muyun Luan, and Muyun De with the help of the mysterious Mo Yu Chen ; the people seeking to reinstate the fallen Sheng Dynasty, Princess Ji Yuncong, and Long Jinhuan.
Pain and sorrows of past wounds now manifest in the new generation. Can they escape from the storm of prophecies?

Cast

;Clans in Zhongzhou
;The Muyun and Muru Clans signed a pact of trust 300 years ago after taking over Zhongzhou from the Sheng Dynasty. Both vowed to defend each other's status and glory as the ruling royal clan and military clan of the Duan Dynasty.
;Muyun Clan
Invaded Zhongzhou and overthrew the Sheng Dynasty with the Muru Clan 300 years ago. The current royal family of the Duan Dynasty who has ruled Zhongzhou and subjugated Hanzhou from the capital, Tian Qi. Infighting amongst Clan members and the Duan court led to bloodshed and two attempted coups to install Muyun Hege as the new Emperor of Duan.
;Muru Clan
Invaded Zhongzhou and overthrew the Sheng Dynasty with the Muyun Clan 300 years ago. The aides of the current royal family and entrusted with great military power, the Muru Army commands great fear amongst the Hanzhou Tribes. The Muru Clan suffers from political machinations in the war with the Helan Tribe and subsequent second coup. Despite years of meritorious service, the clan is eliminated under the rule of Muyun Hege - the army is disbanded, men are exiled to the land of the Titans to build a new city, and women and the young are beheaded.

Actor	Character	Introduction
Cao Weiyu	Muru Shuo	Great General of Duan and trusted aide of Emperor Ming. Father to Muru Hanshan, Hanchuan, and Hanjiang He is known for his loyalty and allegiance toward the royal family and righteous personality even in times of war. To avoid suspicion by the emperor, he often treats Hanjiang callously, but loves him deeply. At the end of the series, he refuses to rebel against Muyun Hege in the second coup and leads the remaining male Muru clan members into exile at the land of the Titans.
Wang Yinan	Muyun Yan	The Emperor's younger sister and Muru Shuo's wife. A gentle woman and mother to Muru Hanshan, Hanchuan and Hanjiang. She kills herself in an attempt to plead Muru Shuo to spare an adult Hanjiang's life.
Qu Gaowei	Muru Hanshan	Eldest son of Muru Shuo and Muyun Yan and older brother to Hanchuan and Hanjiang. Unlike his father, he is willing to use despicable means to win wars and defend the honour of the Muru Army. During the war with the Helan Tribe, he is captured, branded as a slave, and sent back to the capital to humiliate the Muru Army and Duan Dynasty. At the end of the series, he went into exile with the remaining male Muru clan members at the land of the Titans.
Zhang Junming	Muru Hanchuan	Second son of Muru Shuo and Muyun Yan and older brother to Hanjiang. Despite blaming Hanjiang for their mother's death, he still rushes to save him when the latter is accused of treason in the second coup. At the end of the series, he went into exile with the remaining male Muru clan members at the land of the Titans. He is hurt and left crippled and dispirited after witnessing the beheading of his wife and children.
Shawn Dou Shi Yunpeng	Muru Hanjiang	Third son of Muru Shuo and Muyun Yan. Trusted confidant of Muyun Sheng. Due to a prophecy that has declared him as a future monarch, his father abandoned him since young. He grows into a resilient young man with a strong personality. He falls in love with Su Yuning and protects her throughout the series. He yearns for freedom, but at the same time is dedicated to protecting the peace of the world and Muyun Sheng. Framed for the regicide of Emperor Ming in the second coup. At the end of the series, he went into exile with the remaining male Muru clan members at the land of the Titans.
Zhang Yao	Muru Ping	General Muru Shuo's sister, Muyun Luan's wife and Muyun De's mother. See Muyun Clan.

;Nanku Clan
A powerful clan with ministers in court and a clanswoman as Empress, the clan was eventually banished after the first coup failed.

Actor	Character	Introduction
Jiang Qinqin	Nanku Mingyi	Empress of Duan, wife of Emperor Ming and Muyun Hege's mother. See Muyun Clan.
Yanko Kouji	Nanku Qi	Empress Nanku's older brother. A court minister and father of Nanku Yueli. The mastermind in the first coup for Muyun Hege to ascend to the throne, even to the extent of committing the regicide of Emperor Ming. Eventually executed and causes the entire Nanku Clan to be punished when the plan goes awry.
Wan Qian Ma Zehan	Nanku Yueli	Empress Nanku's niece and Nanku Qi's daughter. Groomed to be the next Empress, she yearns for a royal destiny like her aunt. She is jealous of Su Yuning's royal destiny and attempts to kill the latter many times. Unscrupulous and prone to flying into a murderous rage, she was set to become Muyun Hege's wife in the first coup. But the plan goes awry and women of the Nanku Clan were banished to serve as court courtesans. She is rescued by Muyun De and attempts to reverse her destiny through employing her feminine charms on Muyun Luan, Muyun Hege, and Qin Yu Feng. At the end of the series, she is abandoned at the altar by Muyun Hege after he ascends to the throne in the second coup. However, she is able to escape punishment by faking her death and evading capture from the Muru Army. She is saved by Qin Yu Feng and pretends to have lost her memories and previous personality, becoming a sweet little fool.

;Nomadic Tribes in Hanzhou
;At the start of the series, the eight nomadic tribes were competing and killing one another, unable to fight against persecution by the Duan court and Muru Army. It is later revealed that the tribes were united 300 years ago, but cursed by a prophet from Duan to suffer from in-fighting and never to pose a threat to Zhongzhou ever again.
;Shuofeng Tribe
The leader of the nomadic tribes in Hanzhou before the rise of the Duan Dynasty 300 years ago, the Tie Qin was from Shuofeng and wields the legendary sword. The Duan Dynasty's Muyun and Muru Clans were later revealed to be of nomadic lineage and rose from the sub-branches of the Shuofeng Tribe. During the start of the series, they were living in harsh conditions and eventually annihilated by the Muru Army.

Actor	Character	Introduction
Jiang Yi	Shuofeng Da	Shuofeng Heye's father. The late Chieftain of the Northern Hanzhou Shuofeng Tribe. Due to the harsh living conditions, he attempts to move the clan to the lands of the Suqin Tribe. Killed early in the series by the Muru Army for unintentionally harboring an escaped convict from Duan.
Li Nian	Longke Danzhu	Shuofeng Da's wife and Shuofeng Heye's mother. Killed early in the series by the Muru Army for unintentionally harboring an escaped convict from Duan.
Zhou Yiwei Zheng Wei	Shuofeng Heye	Shuofeng Da and Longke Danzhu's son, heir of the Northern Hanzhou Shuofeng Clan. Husband to the deceased Jin Zhuhai, and in love with Muyun Yanshuang He grows from a vindictive and revengeful boy into a brave and insightful ruler, who seeks to unify the nomadic tribes and finally give them a home of their own. To achieve this goal, he is willing to give up the glory and the legendary sword of the "Tie Qin" to serve under the stronger Helan Tieyuan and his tribe. At the end of the series, the Helan tribe is defeated and nearly annihilated in the war with Duan, but he survives with the Helan siblings.
Chen Bingqiang Cao Yingrui	Shuofeng Suhe	A young shaman born by a father from the Shuofeng Clan and mother from the cursed Dan Yao tribe that is skilled in the magical arts. As the first male descendant of his maternal tribe in 300 years, he is bestowed with powers that others do not have - the art of spiritual navigation and prayer of blessings. He is prophesied to be the greatest of his clan and to help the "Tie Qin" united Novoland. He guides Shuofeng Heye in retrieving the legendary sword of the "Tie Qin". He falls in love with Heshu Hongling.

;Helan Tribe
Annihilated by the Muru Army at the start of the series, sibling Helan Tieyuan and Helan Tieduo were able to rebuild the tribe with the help of someone in Duan.

Actor	Character	Introduction
You Daqing	Helan Dao	The late Chieftain of the Hanzhou Helan Tribe.
Cai Lu Di Xiaoguang	Helan Tieyuan	Helan Duo's son and Helan Tieduo's older brother. Chieftain of the Hanzhou Helan Tribe. Shuofeng Heye's childhood friend who rebuilt and leads the Helan Tribe with the help of someone from Duan. A pompous and vicious man who employs violent methods in establishing and expanding his power. Declares himself the "Tie Qin", Ruler of Novoland and begins a war with Duan with the support of Shuofeng Heye, the Suqin Tribe, and the Dan Yao Tribe. The tribe is defeated and nearly annihilated in the war, but he survives with his sister and Shuofeng Heye.
Gao Ye	Suqin Ziyan	Cheftian of the Suqin Tribe and wife of Helan Tieyuan. She holds a deep grudge against Shuofeng Heye, whose tribesmen massacred hers in childhood, leaving her the sole survivor. After marrying Tieyuan, she schemes but fails to eliminate Shuofeng Heye. At the end of the series, she is captured by the Muru Army after the Helan Tribe loses the war. Her and her unborn child are enslaved and bestowed upon power of the dark arts by the God of Chaos. In exchange, he takes away her goodness, but saves her from captivity and promises misery upon her enemies.
Wang Sisi Chen Qianyang	Helan Tieduo	Helan Duo's daughter and Helan Tieyuan's younger sister. Shuofeng Heye's childhood friend who is in love with him. Separated at childhood, she is reunited with Heye when he is married to his first wife, Jin Zhuhai. In a jealous rage, she asks her brother, Helan Tieyuan to get rid of Zhuhai. For her ruthless schemes, Heye swears he will never fall for her. Despite this, she betrays her brother to support him in his journey of becoming "Tie Qin", Ruler of Novoland. The tribe is defeated and nearly annihilated in the war, but she survives with her brother and Shuofeng Heye.

;Others
;People in Duan court

Actor	Character	Introduction
Xu Lu Eleanor Lee	Su Yuning	Daughter of a eunuch. During the palace selection, she was prophesied to be the future Empress of Duan and incurs the wrath of Nanku Yueli, who bullies and attempts to murder her multiple times. She develops feelings for Muru Hanjiang, who saves her multiple times before and after she enters the palace. Surviving the latest attempt on her life, she returns home and is sent away by her father to live with Su Zhen to keep her safe. At Yi Shui village, she meets Muru Hanjiang and Muyun Lu, who were in danger and escaped to Yi Shui village while looking for a national treasure. Surviving an ambush by Ji Yuncong and the Tian Luo Hall, the trio eventually returns to the capital where Yuning is forced to marry Muyun Sheng when he becomes Crown Prince. With all parties unhappy with the marriage, Muru Hanjiang kidnaps Yuning and sends her back to Yi Shui village to live quietly and away from political intrigue. At the end of the series, she escapes the Duan prison and seeks to reunite with Muru Hanjiang, who was banished to the land of the Titans with the Muru Clan.
Song Yunhao	Lingge Qing	Prophet of Duan and leader of the Huangji Jingtian Sect. He prophesied the destinies of Muyun Sheng and Su Yuning. The Sect harbors a deep secret related to the barbaric invasion 300 years ago - their leader had sacrificed his life to curse the Tie Qin sword, cursing the eight nomadic tribes to suffer from in-fighting and never to pose a threat to Zhongzhou ever again
Su Guotao	Gu Songzhi	Court Minister Gu.
	Xue Huo	Court Minister Xue. Plays an important role in the second coup for Muyun Hege to ascend as Emperor and install his daughter as the new Empress.
Liu Bo	Jin Bingyi	Emperor Ming's Head Eunuch. Killed on Empress Nanku's orders for witnessing an argument between the latter and Emperor Ming.
Wang Gang	Wu Ruyi	Empress Nanku's trusted Head Eunuch who is willing to give up his life for the empress.
Sun Zhenglin	Mu Yuan	Muyun Luan's assistant.
Feng Xinyi	Yu Xinji	General Long Kui, Muyun Han's loyal assistant. Originally a general of the Muru Clan assigned to guard Muyun Sheng outside the palace, he saves Emperor Ming in the first coup and is granted the title Long Kui. At the end of the series, he leads the Muru Army into the palace after the second coup and successfully removed Muyun Hege from the throne during the latter's coronation.
He Dujuan	Lan Yu'er	Muyun Sheng's personal attendant. Having accompanied Muyun Sheng since childhood, she leaves him to follow Muyun De as her love for the former remains unrequited. Despite Muyun De's often callous treatment of her feelings towards him, she maintains her kind and caring nature, especially towards Muyun Sheng. She takes over Qin Yufeng as the new Head shopkeeper of the Novoland Inn.
Yu Haoming	Gu Songtuo	Lieutenant general of the Muyun Silver Armor Army.
Zhang Yanyan	Su Zhen	Su Yuning's etiquette teacher who cares deeply for her. Addressed as Su Momo by Yuning, she settles down in the idyllic Yi Shui village after the disappearance of the former during the palace selection. She is hurt and eventually dies while trying to save Yuning from Princess Ji and the Tian Luo Hall.
	Lin Xiu Man	Personal attendant to Consort Yinrong. She is bounded to Empresses Nanku to keep the events a secret through the Duan Xin poison and continues to keep Yinrong alive in the palace under the Empress' orders. She eventually reveals to Muyun Sheng the truth about Yinrong's disappearance - when forced by Muyun Luan to make a choice between his Kingdom or protecting the love of his life, Muyun Qin chose his kingdom and stabs Yinrong - and activates the poison. She also safekeeps the Muyun Pearl and passes it to Muyun Sheng before dying.

;Magical beings
In addition to Humankind, they form the six intelligent races of Novoland: Spirits, Snow Wolves, Merfolks, Titans, Winged People, and Dwarves.
;People in Zhongzhou

Actor	Character	Introduction
Zhao Wei	Mo Yu Chen	Teacher of the dark magical arts and godfather to Muyun De. Has an obsession with Muyun Sheng, and Panxi, and the powers they hold as magical beings. A mysterious man from Chen Yue Sect who is skilled in dark magical arts. His is in cahoots with Muyun De to fulfill his ultimate goal to cause chaos in the world.
Kan Qingzi	Ji Yuncong	Princess Ji of the fallen Sheng Dynasty who harbors a dream of rebuilding her country. Though she admires Muyun Sheng, she hopes to eliminate the Muyun Clan for usurping her family's throne. She lives in an underground palace and saves Su Yuning after she is pushed off a cliff by Nanku Yueli. Though she uses Yuning in her schemes later in the series, she considers Yuning her only friend.
Du Yuming	Long Jinhuan	Head of Tian Luo Hall. Leader of a group of skilled assassins once thought to have been eliminated by the Duan court. He assists Princess Ji and reveals himself as a spirit-human being like Muyun Sheng. Though a ruthless killer, he shows kindness towards the underdogs of society and longs for a safe land for Spirits who are persecuted by humankind. At the end of the series, he promises Muyun Sheng a way to bring Panxi back to life as a physical being with human form - the two embark on a journey to a faraway land.

;People in Hanzhou

Actor	Character	Introduction
Re Yizha	Jin Zhuhai	A daughter of a Muru warrior and nomad woman and Shuofeng Heye's former and deceased wife. She is framed by Helan Tieyuan for infidelity. Though Heye trusts and loves her, she kills herself after being sullied.
Wang Jianxin	Jin Ji / Muru Jinji	Father of Jin Zhuhai. Originally named Muru Jijin, he defected from the Muru Army to marry a nomad woman. He dies from a wolf attack while guarding his daughter's corpse in the desert. His death causes Shuofeng Heye to lose his newfound family and return to the Helan Tribe.
Li Xinai	Heshu Hongling	Daughter of Heshu Zhuozhuo and cursed by an unknown entity with the ability to turn people into snow wolves. A young female descendant of the Heshu Tribe residing in the Black Forest. She was kidnapped at four years old and given the power to turn children into Snow Wolves. She was cursed with the appearance of an old witch in red robe and to control the Snow Wolves. She takes a liking to Shoufeng Suhe who managed to lift the curse placed on her and the Snow Wolf Tribe. Separated from her father, Heshuo Zhuozhuo at a young age, they reunite for a short while before he is killed by the Muru Army.
Sun Liang	Heshu Zhuozhuo	Father of Heshu Hongling and enslaved by the Muru Army as a horse rearer. As a descendant of the Heshu Tribe and like Hongling, he is able to communicate with animals and have a keen sense of affinity with all living beings on earth. He hopes for the return of the Tie Qin so he can stop working for the enemy. After reuniting with Hongling during the war with Helan Tribe, he is killed for releasing all the Muru Army's war horses.
Ji Huanbo	Longke Kun	Fiercest slave hunter of the Longke Tribe.
Han Pujun	Agebu	A barbarian businessman who owns many slaves.