Fantasy Turmoil in The Land of Sugar [LORE]

[bluekirby]

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Turmoil in the Land of Sugar
暗殺

• Daitoryo
• The Land of Sugar

• 
  
  Legend has it that long ago, the continent of Daitōryō knew peace, and prospered under a unified banner of mutual wealth and benefit. Yet, all available recorded history illustrates only eras of dispute, subterfuge, and warfare. In a world plagued by constant conflict, even legends and tall tales can be of relief for those in poverty. Imagination, to believe in better times, to believe that perhaps one day, things may return to how elders say they were. A time before the Emperors split the continent into a multitude of Feudal lands, a time before each country wasn’t forced into a perpetual military upkeep simply for the sake of deterrence. A time when one was all and all were one, when Daitōryō was really home.
• 
  
  Many years ago, an Emperor whom's name has long since vanished under the weight of time divided the continent of Daitōryō, then known as “Endem”, into several territories which are now known as Feudal Lands. To keep things simple and orderly, each territory was named after its most prominent locality. Known for its abundance in sugar cane and exports in sweets, the Emperor named this small, rainy territory after it. The Land of Sugar is the smallest and poorest of all the lands. Its lack of strong military means it is constantly bullied by neighboring lands for cheap exports, and its conditions gradually dwindle due to constant rain and lack of funds for upkeep. It is a very metallic place, with tall, rusted buildings. What little arable land it has is used for the cultivation of sugarcane. Because of its small size, the land’s military focuses on individual excellence rather than abundant strength, meaning it is home to excellent, disciplined warriors.

• The Story So Far
• Warfare, Technology and Magic
• Military Information 1
• Military Information 2
• Random/Extra Info

• 
  Poverty and misery tend to rule the smaller lands. A cycle exists for those in power. Political neglect creates cheap benefits from those in poverty, and cheap benefits mean there is nothing else for victims to do except accept their neglect, or die of starvation. Many if not all Emperors in the line of succession adhere to such principles, to as to keep order and obedience within their continent. They rule in peace and greed from their palace at the center of Daitōryō, located in the Land of Gold. For decades, if not centuries, the Land of Sugar has been a primary victim of such a vicious cycle. The current Feudal Lord of Sugar, Grandmaster Harami, has recently taken up the position once more after his son perished of illness. Many citizens welcome the re-succesion, for Harami’s son was widely considered to be a weak ruler. Harami has received backlash nationally for his rebellious tendencies, which is why he is popularly liked by his citizens. Nevertheless, it is no secret that he is an ageing old man, and the rains of the land are not merciful to the elderly. Thus, many question why he elected to return to the throne with so little time left. You, however, will soon come to know why. Two weeks ago, Emperor Futomo of Daitōryō also succumbed to illness. Futomo was a strict and powerful ruler, widely adored by many of the stronger Lands. His younger brother, Futomaru, who happens to be next in line for the Imperial Throne, has followed closely in his footsteps. Many sages estimate Futomaru to be an even greater king than his brother was, surpassing him in both physical power and global appeal. This is grim news for the smaller Lands. In his waning days, Grandmaster Harami has decided that this is his last opportunity to make a change for the better. Where he and his son failed to bring peace to their beloved Land of Sugar, he now has nothing to lose. Fail or succeed, his death will come soon. By order of Feudal Lord of Sugar, you have been summoned for a maximum tier assignment.
• 
  This setting takes inspiration from various universes and historical elements. Feudal Japan, Naruto, and Avatar play a big role in inspiration, while others like Bleach also provide minor concepts.
  
  
  Each Land conscripts warriors for their military. These warriors wear a strict uniform in order to properly differentiate from each other when battling other lands. Common steel tools are used for warfare, like conventional swords, knives, and medieval artillery. Kunai, katanas, and shuriken are widely used all over. Combat is normally fast paced and explosive, with ranged and throwing weapons usually playing a big role. When not engaging in conventional physical combat, warriors of each Land rely on magic and spells for battle. Each warrior is host to a pool of mana, or chi- spiritual energy that is utilized to fuel spells and enhance movement and reflexes. This mana/chi can be used for multiple purposes, such as leaping large distances continuously with ease, walking on parallel surfaces or water, sticking to a surface, or to cast spells. Every magic spell requires a certain amount of spiritual energy, and exhausting your pool will result in fainting from exhaustion. An individual’s mana pool increases with age and experience. A seasoned warrior will never step into combat without a proper assortment of combat tools and a freshly replenished mana pool.
  
  
  Magic in Daitōryō is a wide spectrum. Spells of each and every kind exist, from elemental attacks to summoning, enchanting, and soul manipulation. In order to cast a spell, one must simply speak its incantation, which is more often than not just the literal name of the spell. Some spells may require more complex procedures, such as weaving a certain hand motion or utilizing a scroll. I have decided not to create a complex system detailing what kind of spells are and aren’t available. As roleplayers, I trust you will all use magic reasonably and come up with awesome magic spells to keep things spicy and interesting, while also relying on your common knowledge and experience of magic to also keep things familiar. This is to say that you are allowed to basically come up with any spell that you may want to utilize, but you should also keep core concepts in mind. So, go shoot some fireballs, or become invisible and enter the shadow realm! As for technology, rudimentary use of electricity exists. Lightbulbs and hospital monitors are a thing, but that’s about it. Most buildings are made of wood, cement, scrap metal, etc. Electronic devices are not very common, and are mostly used for practical purposes. For example: radios, hospital terminals, lightbulbs, etc. Feel free to ask any questions about what does and doesn’t exist, but as a general footnote, everyday things like cars and laptops do not exist. Guns do not exist, except for artillery cannons. More powerful Feudal Lands have access to beautiful architectural work and higher tiers of military weaponry as well as technology.
  
  In Daitōryō, there is such a thing as heaven and hell. Demons and the undead do exist, as well as angels and other holy beings. Not much is known about these two realms. The only way to interact with a being from another realm is to summon them using a magic spell. Any being that is not from Daitōryō that is summoned MUST be dispelled or defeated, or it will remain in Daitōryō. There are no paranormal beings in Daitōryō that exist naturally, but you may rarely find a stray one that was never dispelled.
  
  Combat will for the most part be run by the DM, which is myself. There will be instances where you will be able to initiate combat while at other times you may be ambushed. I will control the adversaries we face. Combat scenarios will be entirely dependent upon the actions your characters take, with teamwork being instrumental in many of the fights we will encounter. If necessary, I may roll a dice from time to time.
• 
  Although this roleplay is not all about combat and delves into other themes, there is important information that you need to know as a soldier of the Land of Sugar.
  
  In order to stay alive, each Land must conscript warriors out if its people. For the Land of Sugar, military costs are the largest factors of the annual budget. Although there is not enough money to support a particularly strong military, the Land of Sugar takes pride in what little defenses it has and works under the philosophy of maximum efficiency. What we lack in numbers is made up for with exceptional hard work and warriors who are more gifted than your average Joe from another Land.
• 
  
  • The Feudal Military Anyone who has not been drafted into a division or simply hasn’t chosen one is considered to be a normal member of the military. These are your everyday grunts who work their ass off in defense of the land. They are the backbone of any land’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Despite the simplicity of it, it home to some of the Land’s most revered soldiers. They also often work alongside some of the other divisions for police work. The Feudal Military handles everything from petty skirmishes at our borders, to overseeing imports and escorting the delivery of exports. It is also responsible for protecting our vital Sugar Refineries.
  • Internal Affairs Brigade The name is rather ironic considering the broad spectrum of duties that this division covers. It is composed of special black operatives who are tasked with getting their hands dirty when the time comes for it. This division handles anything from detective work to search and rescue, foreign assassinations, capturing prisoners of war, spying, and everything along those lines. Despite the name of the division, operatives of this branch are often sent to carry out missions against other Feudal lands. It is not known who belongs to this division, as members will usually never speak about it, while all records regarding the brigade are kept confidential. The Internal Affairs Brigade concerns itself with rooting out traitors and conspiracy as well, and may sometimes work alongside The Feudal Military for police work. This division is responsible for protecting the Feudal Hall.
  • Specialist Brigade These folks are commonly summoned for anything that scientifically challenges the military. Specialists are called upon as counter measures to enemy unconventional warfare. This division is composed of healers, excorcists, scientists, and other soldiers with unique abilities. Specialists are often very powerful at their respective branch of arcane practice, although most specialists are healers for the military. The Hospital commonly works alongside this division and relies on it for protection.
  • The League of Engineers: Once a very powerful entity of the public sector and mostly responsible for much of the Land's infrastructure, the League of Engineers was later subsidized and absorbed into the military as a result of growing conflicts with neighboring Lands. These are the feudal land’s top brains that are in charge of handling everything from artillery, state of the art military weapons, and keeping the army fresh with top grade weapons and armor as well as constantly push the boundaries of conventional warfare through experimental blacksmithing, enchanting, and so on. They are furthermore in charge of keeping the streets cleand and sanitized, clearing mud after rain, repairing architecture, and expanding as well as construction.
  • The Martial Direction Corps These are the top dogs. Their combat skills don’t exactly have to be masterful, rather this division is home to the smartest tacticians and leaders in each Feudal Land. This division is in charge of handling war time strategies, defensive procedures, attacks on other lands, and anything of the sort. Those in the MDC are at the top of the food chain and are in charge of administrating the military as well as the rest of the divisions. This division may work alongside other divisions for local police work, and is in charge of protecting Fort Miyuki.
  The military is further structured into different ranks.
  ​
  • Cadet: Cadets are those who have been freshly conscripted (or volunteered) into the military and are currently undergoing their training at The Academy (Fort Miyuki). Most cadets are young, as conscription begins during the late teens-, but there is no age limit to registering for the military. Moreover, most if not all cadets are comparably weak to the average soldier as they undergo their two-year training in order to graduate as a fully fledged defender of their land.
  • Warrior: When a cadet graduates from their training, they are officially recognized as a Warrior. Warriors make up the bulk of a Land's army. A good warrior knows how to handle themself in combat, and is proficient in perhaps multiple forms of combat. Warriors know how to efficiently tap into their mana pool to unleash devastating spells against their opponents.
  • Master: Warriors who have spent a long time honing their craft and have become particularly powerful may eventually be recognized as Masters. Masters are incredibly powerful individuals who are greatly specialized in their proficiencies and have complete control of their spiritual energy and mana pool. Masters are responsible for teaching the next generation and ensuring that the military is progressing smoothly. It is not uncommon for a Master to take up personal disciples, namely cadets or young warriors who they see potential in.\
  • Captain: Like Masters, Captains have been distinguished for their powerful skills of combat. Those that are recognized as captains have demonstrated a great deal of leadership qualities which has made them eligible for the prestigious position. Masters and Captains are usually regarded to be of the same status, but Captains are tasked with leading and inspiring rather than teaching. Most squads will have a Captain at the helm.
  • Grandmaster: Grandmasters have spent decades perfecting themselves and are among the most powerful elites of the continent. Grandmasters are usually busy with very important leadership or political positions and are normally appointed as heads of divisions. Some smaller nations have very few or no Grandmasters, such as the Land of Sugar which only has 1.
  When the National Rules of Warfare were lettered down long ago, it was unanimously decided that each Land would be granted a specific uniform and banner to represent their military during times of war. This was established so that each Land may be able to easily identify who is who in combat and proceed honorably. In Daitoryo, there is an inexplicable sense of patriotism in representing your uniform, so much so to the point that it is nationally forbidden to be on duty without wearing your uniform. If ever that were to happen, whoever is caught must make sure that nobody lives to tell the tale, for fear that there will be national repercussions for his or her respective Land.
  
  The uniform of the Land of Sugar is a very basic design made for mobility. Having long since adopted a system of guerilla tactics for combat, soldiers of this land must be quick and agile. Equipped with a nifty black jumpsuit and a lightweight grey flak jacket for protection, the uniform offers the right amount of protection for the vital organs while keeping the extremities free. Sleeves are optional for all limbs, and other than the jumpsuit and the jacket, soldiers are free to adorn themselves in whatever apparel they wish. Black raincoats are a common feature in the Land of Sugar, while others choose to wear armbands or hats carrying a small sigil of their respective military division. Straw hats, bandanas, scarves, and all other sorts of cool gear are also common.​
  
  
  
  
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• 
  
  • Due to a constant updraft from the Land of Clouds, rain is a common occurrence in the Land of Sugar. It rains at least 5 times a week here, making it impossible to practice horticulture or cultivate crops. Raising cattle is also very hard to do, because there is no mass vegetation for them to graze on, and pneumonia is a common illness for animals because of all the rain. As a result the citizens of this Land resort to growing Sugar cane, which can grow in well tended mud just as well as it could in sand or soil. Around 75% of the land’s citizens works in a sugar cane plantation or refinery, although this consensus excludes military personnel from the population pool.
  
  
  • Black Sorcery: Magic or spells which are forbidden to use or even practice. As a general consensus, Black spells are considered too taboo, powerful, or inhumane to use. Spells of this type are most generally associated with black or demonic aspects, but there is no specific description that black sorcery has to fit. Even some types of holy magic are forbidden by this rule. The use of black sorcery is forbidden and punishable by a life of imprisonment, chi neutering, or death. (Unsanctioned chi neutering is also forbidden.) Users of black sorcery must make sure that their victim does not live to tell the tale, and that any observers keep their mouth shut.
  Division Leaders:
  
  
  • Chief of the Specialist Division: Berdhardt Werdner. A morbidly obese, middle aged man with a godly talent for medicine and science. Although he doesn’t have the looks, his brains landed him a solid spot among the high tiers of the specialists, and he now leads proudly.
  • Chief of Internal Affairs: Harami Toro
  • Chief of the Martial Direction Corps: Vacant, Harami Toro and the council act as regents.
  • Chief of the Feudal Military: The Feudal Council
  • Chief of the Engineers: Milana Gort. A very geeky looking woman with big glasses and brown hairs. She’s slightly crazy if not an utter genius when it comes to military innovation and artillery.
  Random jargon, slang, other stuff:
  
  • Hailer: a summoner. this is used more west of the land of gold.
  • Slayer: A veteran warrior
  • Spellslinger: powerful magic user
  • Sugarite: Referring to anybody who is from The Land of Sugar - eg: "He's a Sugarite" - "The Sugarite woman"
  • Skriff: slang for a sword or knife
  • Senbon: Throwing needle
  • Zeeth: A chewing gum which gives the user a slight buzz but is highly addictive. Very common among warrios.