Akashiro Shogunate

The Akashiro Shogunate [アカシロシャルク] is a nation-state located on the continent of Halinn, in the south-west of Abexilas. It is ruled by the Akashiro family, the clan of the first Shōgun and Shigen-sha of Akashiro. Founded by Jirayu La’ir Akashiro nearly three millennia ago, the Akashiro Shogunate remains as one of the longest lasting states in the history of Abexilas as well as a cultural powerhouse. Tennyoku serves as the capital city of the Shogunate since the nation's founding.

Pre-Founding [≈2700 BU (Before Unification)]
Before the arrival of any foreign beings, the thick forests of Akashiro were inhabited by the native Kirumasa Clan, a species of serpent-elves able to live up to 350 years. Next to them, on the other side of the Tengaki mountain range, lived the Seuhi, a fox people native to parallel region of Seuku [Soijiro].

Creation of Akashiro [2700 BU]
Over two millennium ago, a blindfolded man came back from what the people call 'The Abyss' or 'Shinan' [シナン] with a sound mind. Arriving in the land of the Kirumasa, he quickly spread his teachings from the Shinan to the native people, as they became infinitely loyal to him, sparking the creation of the Tenshin religion. The blindfolded man became known as the Shigen-sha, meaning prophet from the abyss. This was due to him receiving a necklace blessed by both Dejelkhai and Ryula, engraved with his clan mon of Akashiro, as well as a message from the gods themselves saying: 'Travel to the region of the serpents, there you will find lush and plentiful lands. You will found a nation where both Xalli and Haicinar will live in harmony, and you shall see it strong and prosperous'. The Shigen-sha's rule allowed the land to prosper, with more clans forming over time. This monumental endeavor caused the birth of a nation, hailed as Akashiro, an absolute Shōgunate under the Shigen-sha with him receiving the title of Shōgun and ruled the nation for the years to come.

First Shōgun's Dynasty [2700 BU - 200 BU]
Little is known of the first Shōgun's rule due to many documents being destroyed during the following battles of the Muhō Jidai. However, the Shōgun was extremely popular among the people, being seen as a savior and undisputed leader, as Akashiro adopted isolationism and continued to develop and expand. Despite this, 2500 years after his foundation of the nation, the Shōgun succumbed to his old age, and with no children, an heir was needed.

Muhō Jidai (Age of Lawlessness) [200 BU - 0 AU]
With internal clan chaos of not finding an heir, the Akashiro Shogunate fell into a panic, with their authority over the nation weakening as other clans saw the opportunity to seize land and power for themselves. The noble clans broke away into their respective territories, plunging the nation into a 200 year long period of civil war known as the Muhō Jidai, meaning age of lawlessness. During this time, the Akashiro Clan was lead by Akira Akashiro and Tsukikage Akashiro, both nephews of the first Shōgun.

Post-Death of the Shigen-sha [200 BU - 199 BU]
News of the death of the first Shōgun and Shigen-sha reached the silent ears of the Hiragawa Clan, a major clan of humans who were led by an ambitious Daimyo. The Hiragawan Daimyo wanted control over the entirety of Akashiro, and therefore initiated a series of audacious attacks on the neighbouring provinces and villages, as he took control of the land under his clan's banner, moving slowly towards his final goal of capturing the capital city of Tennyoku. These attacks caused many clans to react, whether that be launching their own attacks on the original Shōgunate, siding with the Akashiro, or confining themselves to their own peaceful territories.


 * Akashiro Clan: The first Shogun’s family, original rulers of the nation
 * Kirumasa Clan: A clan of native serpent-elves infinitely loyal to the Akashiro
 * Hirasaka Clan: A clan of Xalli spiritualists that are extremely loyal to the first Shigen-sha and his family
 * Morimoto Clan: A neutral clan within the conflict, confined to their territories
 * Fujishina Clan: An opposing clan of Akashiro and other stand-alone clans
 * Hiragawa Clan: An opposing clan of Akashiro and other stand-alone clans
 * Kaguro Clan: An opposing clan of Akashiro and other stand-alone clans

The Three Seeds (イノド サニュシドゥラ) [199 BU - 50 BU]
The Hiragawa Clan, first launched its attack upon their neighbouring territory of Kaguro Province. Battles erupted across the nation as the rivalling clans vied for supremacy. Skirmishes broke out in the countryside and the various prefectures as the clan warlords sought to seize strategic strongholds and valuable resources, throughout the course of the decades. Over time, the Hiragawa Clan absorbed more and more territories, including that of the Kaguro Clan and part of the Fujishina Clan. Now 80 years into the war, the Daimyo then turned his attention towards the other side of the Tengaki mountain range, towards the neighbouring and peaceful nation of Seuku [Soijiro]. He lead his Hiragawan forces, trampling the lands and invaded, occupying it for decades to come. The conquering of these three territories, whether fully or partial, was named "The Three Seeds" or "Inodo Sanyu Shidura" [イノド サニュ シドゥラ].

The Kadono Battles (イノド カドノ テンクルラ) [50 BU - 20 BU]
During the events of Inodo Sanyu Shidura, the Akashiro Clan lost more and more control too, facing assaults from multiple various forces. Pivotal moments in the conflicts occurred across the outskirts of Akashiro territory, known as the Kadono battles, as they defended from the advancing Hiragawa and Fujishina Clan in decisive confrontations. Despite efforts over multiple years and supported by the formidable logistical and informational prowess of the Kirumasa, the Akashiro suffered crushing defeats, losing control of their most strategically important castles and outposts, with the opposing clans seizing the opportunities to consolidate their power and expand their influence.

The Siege of Tennyoku (イノド ゲンショ ノテンニョク) [20 BU - 15 BU]
After almost two centuries of continuous battles, the Akashiro Clan was cornered within the capital of Tennyoku, the city surrounded by Hiragawan forces as they commenced a final siege to at last claim the Shogunate under their own banner. During this time, Akashiro’s leader Akira, sought desperate solutions to quell the conflict. Therefore, like the first Shōgun before him, he ventured into the abyss, searching for divine reason and disappearing from the material world. The Siege of Tennyoku then saw the Akashiro, decisively led by Akira's younger brother Tsukikage, defend their ancestral stronghold against relentless assaults, creating a longstanding stalemate. Rumors spread of the emergence from the abyss of the second Shigen-sha within Tennyoku, revealed to be the former leader Akira. He claimed that the god Dejelkhai himself told him that the original Akashiro had the divine right to the throne and proved so by taking out the first Shigen-sha’s lost blessed necklace.

The Final Alliance [15 BU - 0 AU]
This revelation of a second Shigen-sha ignited hope among the war-weary populace as the news spread throughout all of the nation’s territories. Hearing of this and gaining confirmation by the evidence provided, the Fujishina Clan formed an alliance with the Akashiro, as the usurped Kaguro Clan also broke away from the Hiragawa. The creation of the alliance proved to be a turning point in the war, with the Siege of Tennyoku finally coming to an end. This alliance of clans then lead their forces against the Hiragawa, completely quelling their military and reclaiming the land, as well as liberating the nation of Seuku [Soijiro] after a rule of almost a century via the Seuku Campaign, led by Kyoujiro Kirumasa. The Hiragawa Clan then collapsed, with some members either joining other clans or fleeing to neighboring nations.

Reunification of Akashiro [0 AU - 50 AU]
Tsukikage Akashiro gave an inspirational speech and promised that those not satisfied under their leadership may leave and gain independence during his rule. After this, a period of reorganization occured, seeing a few clans leave, including the Kaguro Clan, sparking a reset of the Akashiren calendar to the year 0 AU. The Akashiro Clan reunified the nation under the original clan banner, Tsukikage is elevated to Shōgun of the realm, and Akashiro enters a peacetime era, restoring the Shogunate.

Post-reunification [50 AU - Present Day]
As the colonizers, from lands far away, arrived on the lands of Abeshiro [Abexilas] the Akashiro Shogunate observed them with a watchful eye. Seeing them scramble to claim all the land they could and fight with each other over mere meters of land, some nations settled near the Shogunate. As they did so, the Shōgun, Tsukikage Akashiro, sent them an invitation to a regional meeting, in which he and his Daijō-kan discussed borders and boundaries with the new settlers, as well as friendships, potential trade routes and alliances. The Shōgun offered them Akashiren sake as they all shared stories with one and other, of the past and of lands not yet seen by the Shogunate. After which, they wrote up a treaty, with each neighbouring nation signing it, marking the creation of 'The Five Winds' Alliance.

General
The Akashiren culture is deeply rooted in the land of Akashiro, where its native inhabitants have cultivated a unique way of life mixed with the natural landscape. Comprised mainly of Xalli, Haicinar, and Kirusama serpent-folk, Akashiro's population has fostered a culture that embraces diversity, yet each community retains distinct characteristics reflective of their respective races.

Akashiro boasts several national symbols: the revered first Shigen-sha and their family crest as their national symbol, the Matori fish as the national fish of Akashiro, the Yoroko Green Peafowl as both national bird and animal, and the Cherry Blossom tree designated as the national flora. Akashiren Ramen, a spicy noodle dish, holds the status of national dish, with Akashiren Sake being the national drink.

Social customs in Akashiren society reflect reverence for tradition and respect for the spiritual realm. Akashiren people don't shake hands or hug when meeting, they often bow to each other instead, entering houses involves removing shoes and offering quick prayers to local spirits. Dining etiquette in Akashiro emphasizes silence while eating, utilizing chopsticks, and elevating dishes rather than bowing to consume food directly. Akashiren people prefer sitting on the floor, it is believed that this tradition of sitting on the floor has many health benefits and is also extremely proficient in space usage. The majority of Akashirens are members of noble clans, each with their own distinct role within Akashiren society; information can be found here: Akashiren Clans.

Religion
Religion plays a central role in Akashiren life, with all citizens adhering to the Tenshin faith, which is entrenched into the nation-identity itself. The religion gave way to a more stable relationship between the different races within Akashiro, especially the Xalli and Haicinar, however each did develop their own unique religious identity depending on their unique attributes. The Xalli are usually more drawn into nature, often protecting it, becoming close to nature spirits, and worshiping the goddess Ryula, while Haicinar are seen more drawn into the Abyss, usually dwelling into it the moment they have a chance to, most of them worship the god Dejalkhai.

Language
Through the ages, the Akashiren people have developed their own language unique to the Akashiren land. Praised for it's simplicity, the language is used in many literature feats such as great poetry and novels, the language uses an alphabet system and is one of the many languages in the South-Western language group.

Cuisine
As Akashiro sits in fertile land surrounded by icy mountains in the east, rivers and lakes to the south and west, and sea to the north and east. The Akashiren land contains flora and fauna unique to it and the surrounding areas, green shrub-plants like the Nanuwabi and Sasakura are heavily used in Akashiren cuisine, Nanuwabi and many other plants and roots are used to make many different sauces and spices in Akashiren cuisine. Usually used as dressing or topping for dishes or to add flavor to meals, an example is the unique spicy taste of Nanuwabi that is liked by many in Akashiro, many different plants are used to make desserts such as the fruits and the syrup that is tapped from the Todorotoki Maple trees.

Similarly, fauna of Akashiro is quite diverse and unique, with many species of birds, ranging from quills and pigeons to plovers and ducks are all used in many soups and stews, many are roasted as well or cooked with rice in some dishes, similar to everyone else, Akashiro does have a culture of eating cow and sheep cattle, as well as goats in the mountains.

Fish is also of utmost importance to Akashiren cuisine, dishes have a wild range from eating raw fish meat to roasted and cooked fish, to many different stews and soups. Akashiren people eat squid, shrimp and many other different sea creatures, however opposite to common fish found in the oceans and seas near Akashiro, Akashiren people prefer shrimp and squid cooked rather than eating them raw.

Another important part of Akashiren cuisine is the drinks made from local produce, Many juices, wines and beers are often made from the many fruits and vegetation that is present in Akashiro, for example Odamasuki, a spicy heavy wine crafted from a mixture of indigenous flowers. However, the prized drink of the nation is Akashiren sake. Drinking sake is an act of purification, and it is used to bring people and gods together, playing a major role in wedding ceremonies and formal conferences.

Gardens and Art
Gardening is considered one of the arts of the Akashiren people, Akashiren gardens are wide-spread across Akashiro, many local flower and plant species are used with each having it's own meaning and representation. Rocks, plants and water are the unifying elements in nature and are therefore of paramount importance in Akashiren gardens. Rock reflects strength, stability and endurance, the placement of these and other stones in the garden enhances the feeling of safety and security one needs in order to relax. An Akashiren's garden is a reflection of one's state of mind, promoting a sense of emotional stability and inner peace. Another common practice is flower arranging, in which an Akashiren carefully selects blossoms, greenery and other flora, and places them in compositional harmony to create a balance between the different flowers and elements, conveying a specific feeling or emotion to an observer.

Other Akashiren arts consist of music, painting and drawing. Akashiren music is usually calm-sounding and often imitates the sounds found in nature. Painting and drawing are also a large part of Akashiren culture, as depicting the beauty of nature or the spiritual world is highly praised, artists usually draw on a long sheet of paper that is folded for transporting, the illustrations are usually hanged on empty walls around guest and sitting rooms.

Fashion
Akashiren citizens usually wear lose clothing made of multiple garments of different colors, many symbols are embroidered into the garments each containing its own symbolism and meaning, usually made from silk cultivated in many silkworm farms across Akashiro.

Government & Politics
The Akashiro Shogunate, officially, is a feudal dynastic non-hereditary military dictatorship headed by the Shōgun. While the Shōgun serves as both a head of state and head of government, an official post for head of government exists under the Shikken, despite their ability to exercise power being entirely subservient to the Shōgun. The trifecta of chief governance is completed with the addition of the Ōgosho, who, despite not serving as a head of state or government, is a major position that is critical in the management of the state and its affairs. Senior leadership is accompanied by the upper government, comprised of the esteemed Daijō-kan, which is key in the management of the state's most important affairs. The lower government, made up of the Rōjū and the Mandokoro, are councils comprised of regional leaders to determine internal affairs.

Shogunate & Domains
The Akashiro Shogunate is divided into numerous provincial levels and prefectures. The Shogunate operates under the Bakufu system, a feudal political system established during the rule of the first Shigen-sha. The Shūto were the domains headed by Kushaku. All of the states below the level of Shūto pledge allegiance not only to the Shōgun, but also to their local Kushaku. The bakufu system splits feudal power between the Shogunate in Tennyoku and the Kushaku with domains throughout Akashiro. The Shōgun and members of the senior government all fall under the class of Kushaku: feudal lords with their own bureaucracies, policies, and territories. Provinces have a slight degree of sovereignty and are allowed an independent administration of the Shūto in exchange for loyalty to the Shōgun, who is responsible for foreign relations, national security, coinage, weights, measures, and transportation.

Todofuken
Todofuken are hereditary territories bestowed upon those who run cities, and meet all the requirements, allowing them mild autonomy in their region. They are the smallest feudal denomination in the nation. The requirements for a Todofuken are as follows:


 * Minimum 8 player count in their settlement.
 * Minimum 15k in land balance.
 * Readily apparent development of their settlement.
 * Charter from the Shōgun, or the Shikken.

Once these requirements are fulfilled, Todofuken receive the benefits of:


 * A designation of land comprising the town and it's surrounding areas.
 * Be granted an appointment as a Shishaku (Viscount/Viscountess).
 * The ability to raise their own local militia with oversight from the Imperial Army.
 * The ability to create localized laws that apply within their city and todofuken, as long as they do not contradict overarching imperial laws.
 * The ability to construct new infrastructural projects within the border of their todofuken without direct oversight from the Minister of Infrastructure.
 * A designated spot in the Ikko-Ikki (Civilian Council), which the Viscount/Viscountess can choose to personally represent or elect a representative from their Todofuken to represent their own needs and ambitions.
 * A charter from the Shōgun or Shikken, allowing for one additional town to be created in their Todofuken if they so desire.

Kuni
Kuni are large territories that are given to Todofuken who prove themselves worthy of a more prestigious title and position. The requirements for a Kuni are as follow:


 * The capital of the Todofuken has exceeded a population of 20.
 * The Todofuken has at least two active settlements, one being the capital.
 * They have an armoury to supply at least 10 militiamen.
 * They have a minimum militia of three men, who are somewhat competent in the arts of combat.
 * They have been granted a charter from the Shogun or Shikken.

As Kuni are the second largest feudal denomination in the nation, the benefits Kuni receive are greater than those of Todofuken, and are as follows:


 * A much larger designation of land.
 * Be granted an appointment of Hakushaku.
 * Be granted an appointment of Daimyo of Akashiro.
 * Be granted an appointment of Knight of Akashiro.
 * A designated spot in the Imperial Council, which the Hakushaku must represent, unless stated otherwise by the Shōgun or Shikken.
 * A designated spot in the Ikko-Ikki, which the hakushaku must choose a representative to send.
 * The ability to raise their own Kuni Guard (separate designation from the Imperial Army, but with minimal oversight).
 * The ability to create localized laws that apply within their kuni (no imperial contradictions). A charter from the Shogun or Shikken to set up cities as the Kuni seems fit (no imperial contradictions).

Shūto
Shūto are very large territories that are given to kuni who prove themselves worthy of a more prestigious title and position than kuni. The requirements for Shūto are as follow:


 * The capital of the Kuni must exceed a population of 50.
 * Must have at least 3 active settlements within the Kuni.
 * They have an armoury which can supply 30 soldiers.
 * They have been granted a charter from the Shōgun himself.

A Shūto is a very large designation of land. Those granted a Shūto are given an appointment of Kushaku, as well as an appointment of Rōjū of Akashiro. A Kushaku is also provided with:


 * A designated spot in the highest form of government.
 * Three designated spots in the Ikko-Ikki, which the Kushaku must choose who to represent.
 * Granted a spot as an Advisor in the Imperial Army.
 * A designated Ministerial role.

Military Hierarchy

 * Gensui • 元帥 ― The Gensui is a General of the Shogunate's Imperial Military, and is a person who is generally well-versed in how combat and wars function on Stoneworks. They're expected to contribute largely to the armoury of the nation, and help upkeep the balance. The Shōgun has direct command over the Gensui, and they often work together in order to upkeep the peace, or to plan battles.
 * Samurai • 侍 ― A Samurai is an honourable warrior of the Akashiro Shogunate, and each Samurai is granted a katana which is specialized for them, with detailed lore of it's origin and the spirit which resides in it. The Samurai class is made up of skilled and brave warriors who show competence in understanding combat. Only people who primarily focus on the Akashiro Shogunate may be granted the Samurai rank.
 * Konida-tai • 小仁田隊 ― The Konida-tai is the Logisitical Corps of the Akashiro Shogunate, and many of them are efficient resource gatherers or enchanters who provide their craft in service to the Akashiro Imperial Military. They often provide materials such as diamonds, war brews, enchanted gear, etc. They are considered low-ranking military, but many of them have earned massive respect and honourable titles for their work in the Corps.
 * Ashigaru • 足軽 ― The Ashigaru are the common foot soldiers of the Akashiro Shogunate, and they can be both low to medium skilled PVPers who have a primary focus on Akashiro, or they may also be highly skilled PVPers that do not necessarily consider the Akashiro Shogunate as their primary nation. They are expected to partake in trainings to get better, and the highly skilled PVPers are expected to uphold loyalty whenever it is feasible.

Tennyoku
The capital of Akashiro, Tennyoku is a historic city with fortress walls surrounding it and was founded by Jirayu La’ir Akashiro, the first Shōgun, in 2700 BU. Tennyoku is located in the north of the nation, amidst the dense forests. The city served as the commanding location of the Akashiro Clan during the Muhō Jidai.