Realistic or Modern 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫 (Lore)

[RIPSaidCone]

• Tojiko Clan
• Iyo Clan
• Nakara Clan
• Yoshida Clan

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  The Tojiko Clan are masters of the ship. A necessity given their relative isolation from the rest of the country. Led by Great Lord Tojiko Hisahide, the Tojiko are the most autonomous of the four ruling clans, due to their distance from Sakaia. Having greater independence and authority over their lands and retainers, the Tojiko are unique in Nihanai as they are the only clan that does not require the Taishonate's approval to change tax rates, trade tariffs, or layout punishments on disloyal clans. In many regards they could even be considered an independent country on their own already. Conducting large amounts of trade with the Namsan Dynasty across the Orange Sea, despite the Taishonate's cold relationship with them. As much of a blessing as this is, it could also be considered a curse, as it has led to a divide, and point of contention between the Tojiko and the other three clans, all of whom desire their own independence to be increased. Even within the Tojiko lands themselves, there are many who dislike their disconnect from the larger islands, and some who even wish to make a return to them.
  
  Their current seat is Tojiko Castle, though their largest city is Furano, to the north, and their retainer clans are the Tadami, Maeda, Futaba, Mizuno, Toyako and Yachiyo. The Oeda Islands, which although are officially apart of the Tojiko's lands, are not actually ruled by any clan, and are instead a semi-autonomous region ruled by the Oeda, the indigenous peoples of the islands. They do still pay taxes to the Tojiko, but are not required to give manpower. The islands of Harufai and Waki are not controlled by any clan, but have instead been opened for use by all Tojiko retainers.
  
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  The Iyo Clan are masters of the sword. Led by Great Lord Iyo Toshisaba, the oldest brother among the four great lords, the Iyo pride themselves on their strict adherence to the Bushido code, and are generally considered to be the most powerful in regards to military might between the four ruling clans. Due to the close proximity of their clan seat, the bustling port city of Hozen, to the capital, the Iyo are often the Imperial Court's first choice when it comes to the suppression of rebels, which is usually convenient for the Iyo anyway as many rebels in the past have come from their own provinces. Typically consisting of disgruntled Hoka peoples from the Shikabe and Mori lands more often than not. However, despite their honorable nature and loyalty to the Taishonate. It has been rumored on several occasions in Sakaia that Great Lord Iyo is discontent with his family's status, believing their contributions to the stability of the country to be worthy of higher rewards. Regardless of whether or not that is true, the rumor has spread, and the Iyo are now watched with cautious eyes by members of the Court, something which the Iyo have seen as a great insult.
  
  Their current seat is Hozen, and their retainer clans are the Akai, Hidaka, Atsuma, Shikabe, Mori and Esashi. The Iyo have maintained a dispute with the Nakara over control of Shin Harufai, an island that lies in the Northern Strait, between Satsumi and Hokano. The island is known for its mineral deposits, and the small port villages along its coast which service ships travelling between the larger islands that surround it. The Iyo propose that the Esashi Clan, their retainers, take control of the island. While the Nakara propose that the Yuza Clan, their retainers, take control. The Taisho is yet to make a decision.
  
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  The Nakara clan are masters of the horse, which proves greatly useful for their most keen profession. Being the most commercially savvy of the four ruling clans, the Nakara are known for their respect for the merchant class, the safety of their trade routes, which are near-constantly patrolled, and their relations with the Yaban, the pale-skinned foreigners from the new world. Led by Great Lord Nakara Natsuke, they have the honor of presiding over the entirety of Sitsuha. Having been the first people in Nihanai to come into contact with the Yaban, through the port city of Hosokana near the start of their reign, the Nakara utilize firearms to a greater extent than the other clans. Likewise, they also worship an odd, new, Yaban religion, that was introduced to them by the many traders and dignitaries whom have come through their lands. Which has stirred a deal of tension with their southern neighbors, the Yoshida, who do generally not approve of the proliferation of a foreign faith in Nihanai. Regardless, the Nakara are the wealthiest of the ruling clans, and their clan seat, the city of Nakara, which established itself around their castle, is one of the busiest trading centers in the country. As it is the city in which most foreign goods go through in-order to reach the capital.
  
  Their current seat is Nakara, and their retainer clans are the Ikeda, Fujisaki, Imabetsu, Otobe, Kamakunai, Teshikaga, Roku, Takko, Murata, Kikonai, Watari, Osato, Kosaka, Yuza and Yamanobe. In recent years a dispute has flaired between two of their retainers, the Kamakunai and Teshikaga. Both of whom lay claim to the island of Suruga. As during the Mizu Rebellion, the Kamakunai, who stood with the Coalition, expanded their territory, and seized much of the coastline, and the island itself from the Teshikaga, who had remained neutral. While the Nakara themselves receive criticism from the other ruling clans, and even the taisho for their embrace of foreign customs. With several of their retainers being disgruntled in-particular.
  
  
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  The Yoshida Clan are masters of the bow, and no living man's arrows fly truer than those of the Yoshida. Disciplined in the faith of Kiritsu, the Yoshida are led by Great Lord Yoshida Sakuma, a deeply religious man who, when given authority by his brother over Kyusai, took the opportunity to spread his faith further, and turn the region into a sanctuary, which it now has become, its population having bloated since the Yoshida took power as the faithful from across Nihanai make the pilgrimage to their lands. Likely the most popular clan of the four among their subjects, the Yoshida are kind and benevolent rulers, and living standards across their provinces have taken a steep rise in the decades following the Mizu Rebellion. Having built hundreds of temples and shrines across Kyusai, the Yoshida more often than not tend to avoid the politics and bickering of the other three clans, only intervening whenever their sanctuary's peace or prosperity is threatened. As such, they have no particular favor with the Taisho, and rumor has it that certain members of the Imperial Court have been attempting to persuade him into choosing another clan to oversee the region.
  
  Their current seat is Yoshida Castle, although unlike other clans, much of the actual governance and running of their provinces is not conducted here, but rather in the major city of Saito, in lands belonging to the Okatori Clan, one of their most loyal retainers. Yoshida Castle standing as more a spiritual and symbolic seat of the clan's power. Lately, the Yoshida have had to levy troops to defend temples and shrines in their northernmost provinces, many of which have seen sporadic attacks from those disillusioned with the Kiritsu faith.
  
  

 

[RIPSaidCone]

• Kōki Calendar
• Art of war
• Feudal society

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  The Kōki calendar is the official time measurement system of Nihanai. Adopted in 0KI, at the time of the Mayeda Restoration, the Kōki calendar was created by an intellectual at the University of Akachi by the name of Kōki Hori, shortly after the Restoration, at the command of the First Taisho, who had given the task to the entire intellectual class of the country to create a new, more accurate calendar to mark his rise to power.
  
  Like several foreign calendars that have been encountered, the Kōki calendar has a seven day week, with the days named after elements of the earth, which follows as such:
  
  Kusa
  Iwa
  Yōgan
  Sora
  Ame
  Yuki
  Niji
  
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  For months, the Kōki is a lunar calendar, and consists of twelve months total, with three hundred and fifty four days in a year.
  
  Month of Frost
  Month of Change
  Month of Life
  Month of Giving
  Month of Rice
  Month of Warmth
  Month of Water
  Month of Leaves
  Month of Time
  Month of Prayer
  Month of Work
  Month of Affection
  
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  Throughout the year of course, there are numerous celebrations and festivals, with some stretching back thousands of years, and most, centuries.
  
  New Year's Day: Held on the 1st day of the Month of Frost, it is held to herald the coming of the new year. This, along with the Taisho's birthday and the Festival of Change are unique as they all heavily emphasize the use of fireworks.
  
  Coming of Age Day: Held on the 10th day of the Month of Frost, it is held to celebrate all those who have reached the age of twenty within the past year.
  
  Farmer's Day: Held on the 1st day of the Month of Rice, it is often more of a casual celebration between smaller communities for planting their rice fields.
  
  Day of Joy: Celebrated by the Kiritsu faith, it is held on the 20th day of the Month of Warmth, and is meant to entertain the spirits and their devotees for the summer. Many exciting festivals are held across the country, and especially in the Kyusai region. Where entire cities will attend the celebrating. A more subdued version of these festivals can also be found in the Kiritsu temples during this time, as the Day of Joy itself caters to the less devoted masses.
  
  Festival of Water: Held on the 18th day of the Month of Water, it is one of the larger, more exciting celebrations. When the temperature is at its hottest, crowds will drink, play with, splash on one another, and celebrate their water. It is generally considered a celebration of life, as water is vital to maintaining it.
  
  Festival of Change: Held on the 21st day of the Month of Leaves, this part of the year is known for its large celebrations. It has a dual purpose in that it is celebrated by the masses as a seasonal event, while it is also attended by those who practice Kiritsu, as it is seen as an important tradition to uphold in warding off angry spirits for the following year.
  
  Elder's Day: Held on the 15th day of the Month of Time, it is a familial holiday where one can take the day off from work, and spend time with their elders. Many wealthier families may travel great distances ahead of time to visit their parents or grandparents, though most live intergenerationally. Making such a holiday easy to attend. It has been popular recently for people to take their elders to see dramas reenacting heroic epics or other historical stories from the time when they were young.
  
  Taisho's Birthday: Held whenever the current Taisho's birthday is, but currently held on the 27th day of the Month of Work, it is mostly held in major cities and castles belonging to clans, and is often not celebrated in rural communities.
  
  Day of Blessing: Another dual-purpose day, practiced by those who belong to Kiritsu and the general population, it is held on the 31st day of the Month of Affection and is used by the faithful to atone for their mistakes of the year, and to celebrate the spirits afterwards in-order to please them for the winter, until the Day of Joy comes. Those not in the Kiritsu faith take the day to reflect on their lives, and exchange gifts with loved ones.
  
  
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  Warfare, and the art of combat is as intrinsic to the culture of the Nihanese people as the cultivation of rice, or the Kiritsu faith. Entire class structures have been established around it, almost every era is defined by its wars, and the fate of entire clans can be made or snapped upon the back of a war's outcome.
  
  At the front of current warfare are the samurai, the noble warrior class that though once existed simply as bodyguards of the Great Lords of the land, now serve as a kind of medium between the nobility of the upper classes, and the hard labor and devotion of the common folk. A system of hereditary military nobility, samurai are for the most part descended from noble families, having inherited the title from one of their parents before them. However a child is not required legally to remain a samurai, and many times they will often have their title taken from them by their family if they cannot live up to the standards of what a samurai should be.
  
  A samurai can utilize any kind or number of weapons of his or her choosing, with the exception of horses, which are reserved for 'higher samurai' such as those promoted by their lords for exceptional actions in battle, or simply by remaining loyal when needed. However this trend has begun to change in recent years due to a practical requirement for larger numbers of cavalry in the armies fielded by lords. Samurai despite what commoners think is not a title that can be carried throughout life, but is rather a social status. The heir of a Great Lord may have all of the traits required to be a samurai, may look like a samurai, may have the fighting skills of a samurai, and may even legally be a samurai. But as he is the heir to a clan, he is not socially considered a samurai. As samurai are ultimately servants, not leaders. The highest ranking samurai in society will often be the second children of lords as such.
  
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  Meanwhile, the backbone of warfare firmly belongs to the ashigaru. A form of light infantry widely utilized throughout Nihanai, and levied from the common population of villages and towns by samurai on behalf of the lords whom own the land, ashigaru form the majority of any army.
  
  Given the most basic training and equipment, they are known for their cost effectiveness and utility, and incredibly large numbers of ashigaru can be fielded by even the least noteworthy of lords. Although they are known to be rowdy troops due to their common birth, and in lacking the refined warrior code of the samurai, have a tendency to loot and burn during campaigns. This does come with a positive however, as many troops are often content to be paid simply through what they steal from enemy towns during a siege.
  
  Currently most ashigaru fight with naginatas, yaris or swords. But many lords will take the time before a campaign to raise portions of their ashigaru to be archers, or in recent years even wield muskets, as firearms become more prevalent in Nihanese markets. Cavalry however is still seen by many as an exclusive right to the samurai class.
  
  Tojiko, Iyo, Nakara and Yoshida ashigaru depicted below: (Made by me)
  
  
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  "All Nihanai Under One Roof" A popular phrase used by almost every taisho in history. Though one would have to be thick-headed to believe that it was ever true. The Imperial Court tends to believe that their homeland is a kingdom, and that the taisho, the head of state. However it would be more accurate to describe it as some form of confederation, if a modernized description were to be given. Without the support of the ruling clans, the Imperial Court, and by extension the taisho himself cannot exercise their authority beyond the Kansu region. Likewise, without the legitimacy provided by the Imperial Court, the ruling clans would only ever be seen as warlords, and the realm would shatter.
  
  So what is the Imperial Court?
  
  "A cabal of scheming traitors and opportunistic fools", a lord might tell you. Established by the first taisho at the beginning of his reign almost six hundred years ago, the Imperial Court has served as the country's administrative heart for as long as there has been a 'unified' Nihanai. Having broken the mold of bringing only clan members and their friends into the fold of governance, the Imperial Court was designed to be a neutral ground from which the running of the country was to be conducted through. A collection of intellectuals, lawyers, accountants, merchants, samurai, priests, diplomats, farmers and representatives from each of the Province Courts which function in the same manner. The Imperial Court serves as both an advisory council to the taisho, an administrative body, and a pseudo-democratic organ to allow educated folk and those with important status in sectors of society and the economy to express their opinions on decisions and practices.
  
  Having started its history with little true power, over the course of its existence, various reformations have gradually increased both its influence and legitimate power across the country. To the point where now it is considered to be an equal to the taisho in regards to influence, though not respect. With the support of the Imperial Court, a ruling clan can depose of an unpopular taisho, however a popular taisho can most certainly exercise the same level of power over the Imperial Court. As legally, he is still the one with the ability to pick and remove its members as he pleases. Due to the size of the Court, more often than not he will simply choose a certain few individuals, and will allow those individuals, typically highly respected in their fields, choose the rest. Currently there is over five hundred members of the Court, many of which will form their own groups within the Court to push specific agendas to the front of the taisho's attention.
  
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  Below the Taisho, Great Lords, and Imperial Court in the social hierarchy of governance, are the Lords, Ladies and Province Courts of the land. Subservient to their Great Lords, who are in turn subservient to the Taisho, the Lords and Ladies of Nihanai are in-charge of the day to day running of the country, and in times of need, in-charge of ensuring their Great Lord's orders are carried out. The grease in the wheels of the realm, these retainer clans often have incredibly long and proud histories, as those that stay under the radar last longer than clans that rise to prominence rapidly. Depending on the location, smaller clans will often specialize in a certain field, whether that be their gold mines, metal forging, artistry, ship building, education or the training of cavalry. Each contributing to the greater whole that is the domain of their Great Lord. Retainers are always looking to curry favor with their Great Lord, and will regularly attend feasts with his family, marry children together and provide tributes on occasion. As like the relationship between a Great Lord and the Taisho, a Great Lord is in-charge of which lands a Lord can control.
  
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  Beneath the Lords and Ladies sit the samurai. Who vary greatly in importance and social status, lower samurai will be respected soldiers who have earned their status and favor with their lord, usually being paid very well and being given residence and special treatment in the town outside of their lord's castle. Higher samurai will be that and more, being given entire villages or towns to oversee and protect on behalf of their lord, being invited to feasts with their lord and when in his presence, charged with protecting his life above all else, they are given residence in the barracks of their lord's castle, and some will even receive their own large estates to live in, such as those who oversee villages for their lord. Higher samurai will regularly be seen leading troops during battles, and accompanying their lord on important visits.
  
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  At the bottom sit the common folk, the merchants, craftsmen, farmers, fishers and peasants. Whether it be working in the field of their family's farm, or selling precious metals at a shop in the center of a great city. Nihanese societal hierarchies place no particular emphasis on which common occupations outrank one another. However that does not mean those differences in respect do not exist. A lord or samurai will be more impressed with a miner, or farmer than a merchant or craftsman. As the former two occupations are seen as the providers of the latter two, and that without the former, the latter would not exist. Marriages between commoners of differing occupations is frequent, and though those with better paying occupations is preferred by families for obvious reasons, there is no significant social stigma surrounding 'lower' work.