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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arkhandus" data-source="post: 4851382" data-attributes="member: 13966">Setting Blurb: This Campaign's LocationEmpire of Rinkai TsukariA heretical land of conflict, diversity, instability, unusual traditions, and twisted honor.Empire of Rinkai TsukariCapitol: Shinden TenkagePopulation: approx. 5,800,000 (2,000,000 Humans; 650,000 Dark Elves; 35,000 Sea Elves; 127,000 Wood Elves; 430,000 Half-Elves; 122,000 Hill Dwarves; 48,000 Mountain Dwarves; 19,000 Mud Dwarves; 75,000 Surface Gnomes; 42,000 Deep Gnomes; 216,000 Halflings; 140,000 Orcs; 215,000 Half-Orcs; 189,000 Lizardfolk; 1,000 Nagans; 2,000 Hanara; 81,000 Ogres; 33,000 Half-Ogres; 305,000 Hobgoblins; 92,000 Bugbears; 820,000 Goblins; 14,000 Centuars; 19,000 Minotaurs; 7,000 Aranea; 4,000 Doppelgangers; 70,000 Ettercaps; 26,000 Giants; 15,000 Tieflings; 1,000 Aasimar; 2,000 various others)Government: Imperial, Semi-Independant City-StatesReligions: All; state religion is a heretical cult with only a small followingImports: Minimal, nothing significantExports: Minimal, nothing significantAlignment: Chaotic Neutral (Lawful Neutral government)The only nation found on the small Rusa continent in eastern Aerde, Rinkai Tsukari is a collection of disparate prefectures and city-states ruled by the Tennokage, or Shadow-Emperor, from the capitol city-state and fortress Shinden Tenkage.  This castle lies at the center of Rusa, carved from Mount Tsukari amid the Forest of Shadows.  Local legend has it that the lone mountain dropped there from the isle of the gods after Koith was challenged by Felicitas, who joked that sure, Koith was strong, but even he couldn't throw a mountain.  Supposedly, he proceeded to do just that to prove the trickster wrong.The holy mountain and its castle-city is forbidden to all but nobles of the Empire, and high-ranking priests.  From there, the nameless Tennokage rules with a light touch, his influence usually unnoticed as he apparently prefers to rule through fear and subtle machinations, not direct orders.  He is rarely seen or heard, and it's uncertain whether or not he's human or something else.  Meanwhile the nobles of each prefecture and city-state rule fairly independantly, so each part of the Empire is rather different and makes for an eclectic whole.  The Shadow Emperor nonetheless maintains a personal army, normally housed at the base of Mt. Tsukari, which maintains some degree of order and compliance by the noble lords.Life in Rinkai TsukariThe people of the Empire are referred to as Tsukari, and they are divided roughly into a peasant caste, the Heimin, a slave caste, the Hinin, a lesser noble caste, the Samura, and a ruling noble caste, the Kuge.  Race has little to do with caste, as there are noble families among most of the different races living in the Empire.  Life for the average citizen or slave is orderly and regimented, with a constant threat of danger.  While most cities, towns, and villages are safe most of the time, there are sporadic invasions and raids by other Tsukari prefectures or clans.  The country is in a state of constant conflict, as nobles and priests plot against their rivals and occasionally try to take over one another's land.  The Imperial Army keeps these conflicts from growing too large or lasting too long, but small skirmishes and raids occur frequently.Thus, Rinkai Tsukari is a militant state, ruled by a warrior nobility referred to as the Kuge and the Samurai, their soldiers.  Samurai are divided into noble houses that each serve a particular family of the Kuge, and append that family's name to their own.  Though traditions founded by the Shadow Emperor imply that Samurai are supposed to follow strict codes of honor, the reality is that he does little to enforce it, although his occasional retribution against dishonorable Samurai is terrible to behold.  Every prefecture has at least one ruin that used to be the home of a Samurai family that had caught the Tennokage's merciless attention, and has been left in ruins with the corpses of the entire family still inside.Kuge continue to plot against one another and make war, sometimes using clans of assassins or mercenaries to try and hide their involvement.  In the halls of the nobility, they forge alliances and peace treaties, but these often fall apart when a new leader arises in one Kuge family or another.  Each of their families is ruled by a patriarch or matriarch, depending on the traditions of their area, and this is mimicked by the Samurai families and some of the lesser castes.  Most individuals are born into their caste, but promotions come to those who serve well, and occasionally someone is adopted into a higher caste or enslaved by an opposing prefecture's leader, forced into the Hinin caste.  Each prefecture is governed by a Hatamato, which is simply whoever leads the noble family of that prefecture's capitol.Priests may be born into any caste, but join the Kannushi caste upon being accepted into the priesthood.  This is the most fractured caste, since each cult, temple, or monastery has its own traditions, leadership, and politics.  They are just collectively known as Kannushi, and treated with some degree of respect by members of all other castes, and no small amount of fear or awe depending on which sect each Kannushi belongs to.  Priests are dangerous, but many are also helpful to those who treat them respectfully.  Mages are similarly regarded, and considered to be of the Tsukai caste.  Most Tsukai are independantly trained by a master that took them on as an apprentice, but a few prefectures have small, exclusive Tsukai academies.  Some are sponsored by the local Kuge family, and some are restricted to Kuge or Kuge and Samurai, while others are run by independant Tsukai in business for themselves.  Each prefecture has some laws governing magic-use within its borders, but few Kuge or Samurai are willing to personally attempt enforcement of those laws.  Nonetheless, there is always a chance that a spellcaster will be punished if they disobey the local laws on acceptable magic-use.While magic is respected and feared by many in the Empire, the art of war is by far more commonly practiced and revered.  Every settlement in Rinkai Tsukari has at least one dojo where students can learn how to fight, though not all of these dojo are open to the public.  Samurai and Kuge families tend to have their own, exclusive dojo and martial arts styles, but peasants are allowed to train in other dojo.  Slaves are forbidden from teaching or being taught martial arts, although some already know a fighting style from before the time they were enslaved.  Most Kannushi are trained in a martial art at their monastery or temple, while Tsukai rarely bother with it.  Monks, called Budoka or Sohei depending on their affiliation (Sohei belong to recognized monasteries of priestly mercenaries, often dedicated to Brand or Beher), are very common in Rinkai Tsukari and usually belong to the Kannushi caste.  Any Kuge or Samurai who isn't a skilled warrior is liable to meet an early demise, slain in a duel or raid by other nobles, their mercenaries, or their assassins.  A few secret dojo are scattered across the Empire, where Shinobi, the professional spies and assassins of Rinkai Tsukari, train.  They are not a true caste, and are officially supposed to be executed on sight, but the Shadow Emperor has never taken any direct actions against them.PoliticsTo be finished later.ReligionTo be finished later.Regional HistoryTo be finished later.Important SitesTo be finished later.Major Geographical FeaturesTo be finished later.Plots and RumorsTo be finished later.Weather and ClimateTo be finished later.CalendarRinkai Tsukari uses the same calendar as the rest of Aerde, the founders having brought it overseas with them and thus already quite familiar with it.HolidaysNone.  Rinkai Tsukari has no recognized holidays, although some of the cults and temples within its borders do practice certain holidays or festivals as part of their religion.  Many farmers do, however, observe personal rites on the solstices and equinoxes, to appease any divinities that may blight their crops otherwise.</blockquote>

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