Shang Mu is one of the three major kingdoms of Avalice, and is ruled by Mayor Zao, whose propaganda covers the streets.
History[]
Pre-Freedom Planet[]
Shang Mu first began as a modest port city, but thanks to Zao's administration, the city grew into a sprawling metropolis. There are strong implications that Zao had gained his position of power through means that are considered less-than-democratic, such as bribery or rigging the election. However, his cleverness may be the reason why Shang Mu has grown into the most advanced nation on Avalice.
Freedom Planet[]
During the events of Freedom Planet, Shang Mu is met with an energy crisis, in which Zao becomes desperate to avert in order to preserve his city's power and assure his chances for re-election. He starts by hiring Spade, a member of the Red Scarves, to steal the Kingdom Stone, only to be framed for the recent murder of Shuigang's King, followed by an attack on Shang Mu by the Sky Battalion. Shortly after, Zao is met by Team Lilac, who had been sent by the Royal Magister to act as a neutral party and negotiate for the Kingdom Stone's return. Following their dinner at City Hall, Zao provides them with his last airship for their journey, secretly using them as bait for a possible attack. Eventually, Shang Mu's energy crisis was resolved by the Kingdom Stone's transformation into a crystalline vortex. To celebrate the occasion, as well as the victory over Lord Brevon, Zao hosts another dinner at City Hall and invites Team Lilac, along with Lady Neera and General Gong.
Freedom Planet 2[]
In the 3 years after Brevon's defeat, Shang Mu became far more advanced, as if becoming a futuristic city that makes the rest of Avalice look like the Stone Age. It also fell under the protection of Captain Kalaw, the Red Wing of Justice who also the became the reigning champion of the city's Battlesphere.
Enter the Battlesphere![]
Team Lilac travels to Shang Mu to compete in the Battlesphere in an attempt to recruit the Arena's Champion, Captain Kalaw, in their mission to defend Shang Tu, but Carol was more interested in winning the Grand Prize. They win the Beginner's Gauntlet and Battlebot Battle Royale with ease, but had to fight each other in the Hero Battle Royale, so only one of them can face the Champion. Captain Kalaw soon appears to meet the Chosen Heroine, who asks for his help in protecting Shang Tu. The Champion was willing to accept her offer, but first challenged the Heroine to a race, to which they win. Later on, Team Lilac is gathered to receive the Grand Prize from Mayor Zao. But, to Carol's disappointment, the Grand Prize was a set of five coupons for a free dinner at Shang Mu City Hall. Lilac is quick to receive the prize before Carol could make a scene. Meanwhile, Kalaw is making contact with Merga, informing her that Shang Tu's fighters are strong, but is confident he can handle them at full strength.
Opera Hostage Crisis[]
Later on, Team Lilac returns to Shang Mu after Mayor Zao is kidnapped and held hostage at the Globe Opera. Earlier, they were contacted by Merga, the ringleader of the kidnapping who demanded Pangu, who she says is a vital component to a machine called Bakunawa. Upon arrival at the Opera, they meet up with Captain Kalaw and they give him Pangu, who is really Syntax, who they took from Serpentine following their recent encounter in the Snowfields of Shuigang, and had been painted in Pangu's colors to use as decoy to fool Merga. After fighting off two Beast Mechs, Team Lilac arrived at the meeting point in the central Auditorium, and they are shocked to discover that Kalaw, along with Carol's sister Corazon and the tarsier who would later be called Aaa, were all working for Merga. To make matters worse, Merga also reveals that she knew ahead of time about the decoy Pangu. While Zao is still turned over to the Team safely and unharmed, Merga orders her cohorts to attack Team Lilac. They start attacking with a third Beast Mech, then proceed to combine all three mechs into the BFF-2000. But even this wasn't enough to stop Team Lilac as the combined Mech is destroyed and Kalaw, Cory & Aaa become subdued. Realizing the hostage crisis was a trap, the Team leaves the Globe Opera to quickly return to Shang Tu to save the Magister, all while inadvertently leaving Zao tied up.
Refuge at City Hall[]
In the aftermath of Merga's invasion and Askal's betrayal, Team Lilac, General Gong and the Royal Magister roam the streets of Shang Tu. Just then, Lilac remembered that she still had the free dinner coupons from the Battlesphere and suggests they head for Shang Mu, to which they all agree. Later on, they arrive at City Hall, where they were greeted by Mayor Zao and his +5 Security system. After explanations are made, Zao allowed the group to stay within the library. From there, the Magister confirms to Lilac that what Merga said was true: the Earth Dragons did in fact wiped out the Water Dragons. This didn't sit well for Lilac, especially when the Magister started to judge her by her past actions. Before their argument could escalate to a climax, Gong manages to break it up, and Lilac storms out of the library, leaving their friends in shock by what they heard.
Soon after, the group sat down with Zao, ready to eat dinner, albeit with Lilac's lack of an appetite. As they ate, the Magister talks about Merga, how she haild from the island nation of Parusa and how his ancestors used the Kingdom Stone to seal Merga in a crystal prison in order to win the Dragon War. Learning of this, Neera concluded that Lord Brevon was responsible for freeing Merga, since his actions years ago resulted in the Stone shattering. They then try to figure out what Bakunawa and Pangu's connection to it, and Zao offered the use of his library for answers about the Dragon War. Carol then decided that she wanted to head out to find her sister, but everyone was against it, as Corazon's allegiance to Merga had made her their enemy, not boding to the wildcat well. Later that night, as everyone slept, Carol sneaks out on her own to find her sister.
The following morning, Carol's leaving to be noticed by Milla, and Lilac knew well that she went out looking for Corazon. Neera then becomes furious and declares Carol a traitor for deserting them, and with Shang Tu's downfall and the betrayals of Askal and Kalaw, her anger was already at a boiling point. Fortunately, Milla manages to calm her down, ensuring her that she can find Carol. They all decide to go after Carol, with Zao even offering to take them to Parusa with Airship, wanting to help them, but Gong implies that the Mayor wanted to find a new Battlesphere Champion. So, while the Magister searches the library for answers about Merga, Team Lilac and Zao set off to Parusa, in pursuit of Carol.
Notable Locations[]
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Citizens[]
Trivia[]
- The name "Shang Mu" comes from Chinese (上木), meaning "Up", "Top", or "Upper" and "Wood" or "Forest", so perhaps a loose translation could be "On Wood" or "On the Forest".
- One of Zao's posters reads "YOU can do it | Vote for proposal 32".
- A poster seen in Fortune Night shows a cameo image of Neige the Cat (labeled as "雪猫" or "Snow Cat"), a character of R-no71, who did character art for Freedom Planet.
- It seems likely that red is the national color of Shang Mu.
- The buildings and cultures of Shang Mu resembles that of China and Japan.
Gallery[]
