Koyo-Kuni Shugonate
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Koyo-Kuni Shugonate is the home of the ‘Easterner’ diaspora on the continent of Aevos. While far from their native home-lands of Ai-Zho, the Oyashiman, Oni, Li-ren and Hou-Zi each call Koyo-Kuni their home away from home and work to provide themselves a space within the boiling pot of cultures and people in Aevos. It is a land of adventure and wonder, a land of heroes who pride themselves on their honor and fighting spirit. The capital of Koyo-Kuni is Sakuragakure, known in common as “The Village Hidden Amongst the Cherry Blossoms” and home of the Oyashimans on Aevos.
The government is operated under a stratocracy with a heavy emphasis on the militarization of the state and the defense of the “Sakura Mori” or the Cherry Blossom Forests the state calls home. Currently they have been in a long standing war against the Demon Lich Daimyo Gashadokuro who resides in a fortress in the “Norowareta Mori” or the Cursed Forests on the western border of Koyo-Kuni. While welcoming of trade and positive interactions with foreigners, the capital Sakuragakure is strictly resided by the Oyashiman people as a cultural reservation to protect their traditions and way of life with many foreigners opting to reside in the Nichi-Jin temple within the Oyashiman heartlands to study the proliferating philosophy of the Kaninokyō.
History
The Founding and Fall of Tetsugawa (118 SA - 129 SA)
In the years preceding the founding of the Iron River Village on the southern banks of the River Reden shared with the then Duchy of Minitz, three warrior monks forsook their temple vows and dub themselves the Legendary Sanbushi to reunite their estranged diaspora that was divided since the fall of the Jade State of Yong Ping by reconquering their peoples’ land. Within the ruins of Yong Ping however resided a gargantuan raptor beast known colloquially as the Bold Blue (Gojira to the Oyashimans) that made its nest within its walls. A year-long hunt ensued with multiple parties planning separately or banding together to take down the beast. It was the Oyashimans, Reinmarens and the Númenedain whom would ultimately slay the titanic beast but the old home of the Oyashi was left tainted by the use of blood magicks and uninhabitable.
During their stay within Minitz, a pact was made with the King of Aaun Charles Alstion to partition land to the Oyashi to serve as a cultural reserve where all that would be expected of the Oyashimans are to fight for the Kingdom of Aaun. The first Shugo and one of the Legendary Sanbushi, Ugokoyama Danzen, would establish his seat of power within a walking shiro known as Ugokoyama Castle - a literal moving mountain upon behemoth mechanical legs. A small village was built around the shiro and the scattered folk of Oyashima began to congregate. Peace did not last long though. It was a mere two years after settling the middle of the nation that the Kingdom of Aaun was plunged into a civil war between the Duchy of Adria and the crown. Honoring their vows, the samurai of the village answered the call to arms for the King of Aaun and fought in the Battle of Rolly’s Hill where high casualties were sustained. The oni Takemura would saved war captain Kato Oijin from an early end during the fight and aided the samurai and surviving militiamen back to Minitz after the defeat. As a result of the battle though, the Kingdom of Aaun would surrender large swathes of land to the now independent Adria including the lands of Tetsugawa, beginning five years of occupation. Although the Oyashi and Adrians were not at personal odds with one another, the occupying governor Justinian Basrid was swiftly turned away by the Tetsugawans under threat of murder. Duke Johannes van Aert would settle the dispute between the Oyashi and the Adrians however with the emergence of the Mori surface invasions that the Oyashi would be granted their freedom after the Mori were defeated or they lost their lands. And as a result of the Battle of Tetsugawa’s loss, the Oyashimans were scattered once more awaiting a time to reconvene and begin anew. Shugo Ugokoyama Danzen would resign from the role of governance after Tetsugawa’s fall, handing off responsibility to War Captain Kato Oijin.
The Founding of Sakuragakure (132 SA)
During the descendant migration to Aevos, the Oyashi and the Dark Elves would foster a pact to settle a land filled with cherry blossoms together. Immediately upon the establishment of a new village, Shugo Kato Oijin sought to cultivate the Oyashi into a powerful vassal force within Ashen Realm of Nor’Asath to safeguard the Cherry Blossom Forests for the yokai and monsters that inhabited the Cursed Forests on the border they guarded. While life was difficult at first from constant yokai incursions, the samurai of Sakuragakure (known colloquially at the Rising Sun Templars) fostered a militaristic culture bolstered by oni to clamp down firstly upon rogue elements within the state fostering darkspawn beginning the Yokai Wars where mobs of rice farmer peasants and samurai would attack any suspected monstrosities be they out in the open or in disguise.
The First Yokai War (137 SA - 143 SA actively, stalemate is ongoing.)
Lady Ayako of the Watanabe Clan had been discovered to be a dark magic wielder by Nor’asath authorities and was reported to Shugo Kato Oijin and the authorities of Sakuragakure. After the posting of a banishment on Watanabe Ayako, an assassination attempt was made on Shugo Kato Oijin by Watanabe Ayako in an act of vengeance that while ultimately unsuccessful, the wanted individual was able to escape from. News would reach the samurai that Watanabe Ayako’s location was in the village of Lumbridge located in the frozen wastes of the Ailmere. Secluded and hidden by the ever winter mountain peaks, a full on invasion was believed to be futile by the Sakuragakure militia. To compensate for this, small warbands were sent into the Xionist village of Lumbridge to attack its masked citizenry believing them to be dark magic cultists. What the warband came across in their first assault was otherworldly - a being of multiple voices and dark, shadowy ichor like tendrils that leaped between shadows who would come to be known as the Gravelord Melandrach, the spectral ruler of these lands. While he escaped, a great deal of cultists had been dealt death or injury in the multiple raids upon the village by the Sakuragakure militia. One notable warrior, an aspiring samurai-oni named Takemura would earn the rank of captain for his battle prowess and leadership upon his ascension to samurai. An on and off punitive campaign ensued back and forth between the two villages. Sakuragakure would call upon its allies, also blessed by Machiman from the Kingdom of Numendil, to aid them in their punitive campaign. After great tragedies were dealt to the village of Lumbridge, Watanabe Ayako was banished from the village of Lumbridge in the year 143 SA and allowed back to the village of Sakuragakure for rehabilitation. While attempts were made to reach the Dark Lord Melandrach to meet for terms, the elusive creature seemed to have disappeared and the village of Lumbridge left barren as a result of the war.
The War of the Poppies (148 SA - 154 SA)
After multiple perceived transgressions at the hand of Lurinites by the villagers of Sakuragakure during their famine, a fresh warband was reorganized by Shugo Kato and War Captain Takemura to begin a punitive campaign against the Serene State of Lurin around the year 148. It was in the year 151 with the murder of a Princess of the Lurinite state was an official response penned threatening total annihilation of the Oyashi village and the burning of their sakura trees leading to the escalation of violence on the village of Sakuragakure’s side. The capture of Shugo Kato at the hands of the Order of Deadmen and the Lurinite side’s proclaimed disassociation from the Deadmen allowed for peace talks to commence with the deputy Shugodai Ugokoyama Atsuko taking command of Sakuragakure’s forces. As peace talks came slowly and the Shugo was rescued, violence began once more with further raids upon the Lurinite State and its holdings. It was not until the year 154 that the Treaty of Sakuragakure was signed, ceasing the fighting between both parties with a decisive victory for Sakuragakure meeting its objectives.
The Founding of the Koyo-Kuni Shugonate (172 SA)
The Village of Sakuragakure had expanded its land claims becoming an economic and military powerhouse within the four decades of sharing the Cherry Blossom Forests with the Dark Elves of Nor-Velyth. Such could not be said for the dark elves whose government had been spiraling into disarray for what the Oyashi perceived as multiple regimes. It was upon the capital of Nor-Velyth’s destruction from a space rock that the Oyashi was given the reins of sovereignty over the broken state and reform it anew in the year 172. The Koyo-Kuni Shugonate moved the administrative capital of the realm to Sakuragakure and expanded the samurai’s reign over the entirety of the former Ashen state. Shugo Kato Oijin offered its former vassals the ability to either swear fealty to the new state or depart the lands with the Rah’tumans and the Hazum Hill Giants of Mugmar’s Circle accepting the rule of the samurai stratocracy.
Currently, the new Shugonate seeks to gather the other people of Ai-Zho into the new ‘Easterner’ state in hopes of creating a home for their diasporas away from Cathant and Oyashima internally while it wages three campaigns upon the The An-Gho, the Demon Lich Daimyo Gashadokuro and the nation of Ravenswood.
Culture and society
The predominant culture of Koyo-Kuni is Oyashi with a significant Oyashiman and Oni culture founded within the Flower-Capital Sakuragakure and the heartlands of the Shugonate. Cousin Ai-Zho cultures such as the Li-ren and the beast folk Hou-zi also comprise the significantly growing cultures within Koyo-Kuni.
The Oyashimans are a combative people, many of which are passionate about their ideals and dreams, often taking actions to the extreme if pushed against a wall. A history of the diaspora’s ill handling amidst descendants has left the people incredibly xenophobic to foreign ideas or foreigners wishing to settle in the capital though a few have garnered the friendship of the Oyashi through the trials of hardship and battle. While not necessarily a war-mongering people, the belief of an eye for an eye and retribution is prevalent to the Oyashi idea of retaining one’s honor and self respect.
Common activities amongst the Oyashimans are tests of mettle through spars and duels, local gambling and adventuring. The trades Koyo-Kuni has been best known for are its prolific use of alchemy from incredible prosthetics and powerful siege equipment to its prolific weapons trafficking to various peoples of Aevos. A special tree known as Haganeki or the Iron Sakura also grows within Koyo-Kuni and is crafted by local craftsmen to make iron strength blunt wooden weapons to arm the citizens with self defense.
Despite perceived xenophobia, the Oyashi themselves are a diverse people made primarily up of Humans, Oni, Yosei and beastfolk with a scattered minority of Jumoko, or those afflicted by the touch of the yokai (cursed children).
Politics & Succession
The title of Shugo is inherited by the heir-apparent Shugodai or deputy governor of the state with the position requiring one to be a recognized samurai or onna-musha. Samurai are chosen from amidst the recognized clans of Sakura-Gakure to undergo training and apprenticeship in order to be groomed to rule amidst the ‘warrior class’ after serving a proficient career amidst the citizen’s militia (the ashigaru). The body of the Samurai council is commonly referred to as the stratocracy which hosts public and private council meetings headed by the Shugo to discuss the course of the nation and plan their military campaigns. The stratocracy prides itself on its transparency with its citizens and the strengthening of its communities to fight back against any who would wish to threaten the harmony of the state.
Army
The Stratocracy operates a centralized military force within the Flower Capital Sakura-Gakure and the Oyashi heartlands composed of the Samurai and Onna-Musha, the Ashigaru and the Sohei Battle-Monks. Often foreigners who have been inspired by the samurai or wish to aid their various causes pledge themselves to the Volunteer Brigade. While vassals are not expected to maintain a standing military force, all citizens of the Koyo-Kuni Shugonate may be conscripted for the defense of the country.
Demographics
The Koyo-Kuni Shugonate is predominantly composed of Oyashimans primarily of human ancestry with notable populations of Yosei (Oyashi Elves) and Oni (Oyashi Orks) within the Flower Capital of Sakura-Gakure. Significant populations of Li-ren humans and elves as well as the beast-folk Hou-zi and Musin also call the cherry blossom forests home and make preparations to settle beneath the protection of the samurai.
Despite the Shugonate professing itself as a nation for the Easterners of Ai-Zho, former vassals of the Nor-Velyth state have been welcomed to remain in the transition of power with notable populations of Sun Elves and their converts known as the Rah’tumans and the Men of Hazum Hill Giants that reside on the eastern frontier of the nation in Mugmar’s Circle.
Clans
Clan Kato 加藤
It is a belief amongst the members of Clan Kato to excel in all passions and ambitions with full body, mind and spirit. The family holds an impoverished past as fishermen in the homeland backwater province of the Kusari Isles, Clan Kato has found its success through art and innovation be it through engineering projects, progressive art or the fine katana forged at the smithy. The name Kato means ‘increasing wisteria’ carrying blessings of prosperity onto those bearing its name.
The Current Head of the Clan is Shugo Kato Oijin.
Clan Honma 本間
Meaning to be true or real, Clan Honma claims roots from the yokai infested lands of Ihon with experience in militia defenses of devastated Ihon villages ravaged by demons from the coinciding Inferi Crisis that took place in Oyashima. Many of Clan Honma are members of the Ashigaru Survey Corps who employ their knowledge towards fighting the Demon Lich Daimyo Gashadokuro. In trade Clan Honma cultivates rice and poppy flowers in the rural Oyashiman heartlands of Koyo-Kuni
The Current Head of the Clan is Honma Monjaro.
Clan Ugokoyama 動山
Clan Ugokoyama, or Moving Mountain, was the name bestowed upon the mighty Walking Fortress that had once nurtured the progenitors of this clan. Though the physical structure has since been lost to time, those of Ugokoyama have inherited the will of their birthright, and thus now seek to be impervious under the sun. Those of Ugokoyama have since ascended as both spiritualists and warriors, for it is in mastery of both body and soul that they might become as the heavens. In cleaving through the impediments of the world, the Ugokoyama dream of reaching heights befitting their namesake.
The Current Head of the Clan is Ugokoyama Danzen.
Clan Watanabe 渡辺
Clan Watanabe is a family with roots in the Imperial capital of Yamatai’s outer layer as the head of a minor crime syndicate etching out its survival in the dog eat dog world of the capital slums. The clan would eventually make its roots within the Jade State of Yong Ping where it developed under-handed shinobi tactics to benefit the defense of the state. Now settled in Koyo-Kuni, Clan Watanabe gathers intelligence and performs espionage on behalf of the village. The clan’s name means ‘crossing boundaries’, blessing its bearers to pass through borders.
The Current Head of the Clan is Watanabe Akemi.
