Yamaryukoku [WIP]
Dec 26, 2016 1:15:50 GMT
Post by praiselasol on Dec 26, 2016 1:15:50 GMT
~YAMARYUKOKU~
Land of the Dragonriders of Yamatai
Land of the Dragonriders of Yamatai
NAME: Yamaryukoku (Yamaryu)
KINGDOM AT A GLANCE:
Islands of Yamaryukoku
To the far south of the main continent, sailing for twenty-sea-days due south of Perona, one will come across the vast archipelago of the Yamatai. Calling themselves the Land of the Yamatai Dragons (Yamaryukoku), the Yamajin, people of Yamaryu, were once divided into various Uji (Clans) that ruled the various islands of the archipelago. The islands were populated by drakes of all sorts that the people had tamed for centuries and used them as war mounts and island guardians.
Amateruryu-no-Okimi Pimiko, Empress Pimiko
Amateruryu-no-Okimi Pimiko (Conquest of Empress Pimiko)
But, at the end of this age a mysterious woman appeared with powerful control over the arcane arts. In the Yamajin-shoki (Chronicles of the Yamatai People), this sorceress is called Pimiko. It is said that she wielded the powers of an ancient sun dragon called Amateruryu and forged her own kingdom on one of the isles. But, her power grew and eventually along with her four sons she conquered all the islands of the archipelago forging a Kingdom of the Sun Dragon (Amateruryukoku). She would be given the title of Amateruryu-no-Okimi, Chief of the Sun Dragon which in common tongue can be translated as Empress/Emperor. She would become the first Empress and she would rule for a hundred years, before leaving this world forever on the back of the Amateruryu.
The Four Sons
The Empress Pimiko left her four sons to carry on her kingdom. This sons were: Jimmu, Nintoku, Osu and Yuryaku. Each of the four prince ruled the four largest islands of the Yamaryukoku archipelago.
Jimmu ruled Ishiyamajima (Stoney Mountain Island), Nintoku ruled Ryu-Oki-no-shima (Dragon Roost Island), Osu ruled Amakusajima (Heaven's Grass Island) and Yuryaku ruled Umeryushima (Sea Dragon Island). It was agreed upon that the four would rotate as Emperors, with one being Emperor and the rest taking official positions in the court. The home of the court would rotate as well with the Emperors. Over the centuries each of the families of the four sons of Pimiko would become the Four Great Clans (Yon-no-Dai Uji) - Jimmu would found the Ryuyama-clan, Nintoku would found the Dokuganryu-clan, Osu would found the Yamatakeru-clan and Yuryaku founded the Umekimi-clan.
Dokuganryu-no-Yoritimo, Dai-Ichi-no-Tenno (The Great First All Emperor Yoritomo)
Unification Under the Dokuganryu-Clan
The rotation would come to an end, when the 29th head of the Dokuganryu-clan, Dokuganryu-no-Yoritomo, refused to relinquish his turn during a campaign to conquer the peninsula Kingdom of Yan (east of The Free City of Elbion). The the other clans revolted and a great civil war was sparked. The Dokuganryu-Clan would use the full force of their dragon riders to devastating effect.
All of the heads of the other clans were killed, their daughters, widows married the Yoritomo's sixteen sons. Thus, the four clans were forged into one - the Yamaryu-Clan. However, the four clans still retain their presence but, officially they are considered Seshū Shinnōke (Lesser Barnches). The Four Clans still rule their home islands but as tribute, every year the eldest son of each Lesser Clan is sent to the Imperial Capital for a Pilgrimage, but, this is merely a formal hostage secession to keep the clans in line. Yoritimo became the first All Emperor, or Dai-Ichi-no-Tenno, the All Emperors who would follow would all have similar titles. But, only Yoritomo held the title of Dai Ichi (the Great First).
War of Succession, Dance of the Dragon Princes [Current]
When the 18th All Emperor, Dokuganryu-no-Tenno Shirikawa, passed on he created the perfect conditions for utter chaos, a chaos that the Yamaryukoku has yet to resolve. After his death he proclaimed that all his sons were legitimate heirs. This created a great war of succession. After three years of constant warfare the kingdom was divided into two opposing forces. These are the Summer Dragon Court and the Winter Dragon Court.
The Winter and Summer Dragon Princes
Islands of Yamaryukoku
To the far south of the main continent, sailing for twenty-sea-days due south of Perona, one will come across the vast archipelago of the Yamatai. Calling themselves the Land of the Yamatai Dragons (Yamaryukoku), the Yamajin, people of Yamaryu, were once divided into various Uji (Clans) that ruled the various islands of the archipelago. The islands were populated by drakes of all sorts that the people had tamed for centuries and used them as war mounts and island guardians.
Amateruryu-no-Okimi Pimiko, Empress Pimiko
Amateruryu-no-Okimi Pimiko (Conquest of Empress Pimiko)
But, at the end of this age a mysterious woman appeared with powerful control over the arcane arts. In the Yamajin-shoki (Chronicles of the Yamatai People), this sorceress is called Pimiko. It is said that she wielded the powers of an ancient sun dragon called Amateruryu and forged her own kingdom on one of the isles. But, her power grew and eventually along with her four sons she conquered all the islands of the archipelago forging a Kingdom of the Sun Dragon (Amateruryukoku). She would be given the title of Amateruryu-no-Okimi, Chief of the Sun Dragon which in common tongue can be translated as Empress/Emperor. She would become the first Empress and she would rule for a hundred years, before leaving this world forever on the back of the Amateruryu.
The Four Sons
The Empress Pimiko left her four sons to carry on her kingdom. This sons were: Jimmu, Nintoku, Osu and Yuryaku. Each of the four prince ruled the four largest islands of the Yamaryukoku archipelago.
Jimmu ruled Ishiyamajima (Stoney Mountain Island), Nintoku ruled Ryu-Oki-no-shima (Dragon Roost Island), Osu ruled Amakusajima (Heaven's Grass Island) and Yuryaku ruled Umeryushima (Sea Dragon Island). It was agreed upon that the four would rotate as Emperors, with one being Emperor and the rest taking official positions in the court. The home of the court would rotate as well with the Emperors. Over the centuries each of the families of the four sons of Pimiko would become the Four Great Clans (Yon-no-Dai Uji) - Jimmu would found the Ryuyama-clan, Nintoku would found the Dokuganryu-clan, Osu would found the Yamatakeru-clan and Yuryaku founded the Umekimi-clan.
Dokuganryu-no-Yoritimo, Dai-Ichi-no-Tenno (The Great First All Emperor Yoritomo)
Unification Under the Dokuganryu-Clan
The rotation would come to an end, when the 29th head of the Dokuganryu-clan, Dokuganryu-no-Yoritomo, refused to relinquish his turn during a campaign to conquer the peninsula Kingdom of Yan (east of The Free City of Elbion). The the other clans revolted and a great civil war was sparked. The Dokuganryu-Clan would use the full force of their dragon riders to devastating effect.
All of the heads of the other clans were killed, their daughters, widows married the Yoritomo's sixteen sons. Thus, the four clans were forged into one - the Yamaryu-Clan. However, the four clans still retain their presence but, officially they are considered Seshū Shinnōke (Lesser Barnches). The Four Clans still rule their home islands but as tribute, every year the eldest son of each Lesser Clan is sent to the Imperial Capital for a Pilgrimage, but, this is merely a formal hostage secession to keep the clans in line. Yoritimo became the first All Emperor, or Dai-Ichi-no-Tenno, the All Emperors who would follow would all have similar titles. But, only Yoritomo held the title of Dai Ichi (the Great First).
War of Succession, Dance of the Dragon Princes [Current]
When the 18th All Emperor, Dokuganryu-no-Tenno Shirikawa, passed on he created the perfect conditions for utter chaos, a chaos that the Yamaryukoku has yet to resolve. After his death he proclaimed that all his sons were legitimate heirs. This created a great war of succession. After three years of constant warfare the kingdom was divided into two opposing forces. These are the Summer Dragon Court and the Winter Dragon Court.
The Winter and Summer Dragon Princes
MORE SOON....
SIZE AND LOCATION:
Series of islands in a large archipelago off the coast of the continent to the far south of Perona, twenty-sea-days away. There are more than twenty-four islands in the archipelago, the four largest ones (kingdoms in their rights by size) are Ishiyamajima (Largest), Ryu-Oki-no-shima (Second), Amakusajima (Third) and Umeryushima (Fourth).
Series of islands in a large archipelago off the coast of the continent to the far south of Perona, twenty-sea-days away. There are more than twenty-four islands in the archipelago, the four largest ones (kingdoms in their rights by size) are Ishiyamajima (Largest), Ryu-Oki-no-shima (Second), Amakusajima (Third) and Umeryushima (Fourth).
Four Great Islands in Detail
ISHIYAMAJIMA, ISLAND OF STONE AND EARTH
RYU-OKI-no-SHIMA, ISLAND OF THE DRAGONS AND SUN DRAGON THRONE
AMAKUSAJIMA, ISLAND OF BEAUTY
UMERYUSHIMA, ISLAND OF THE SEA DRAGON
RYU-OKI-no-SHIMA, ISLAND OF THE DRAGONS AND SUN DRAGON THRONE
AMAKUSAJIMA, ISLAND OF BEAUTY
UMERYUSHIMA, ISLAND OF THE SEA DRAGON
WEALTH:
STABILITY: (Low, medium, high. Are there major issues causing unrest?)
DANGER TO TRAVELERS: (Low, medium, high.)
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: (The realm doesn't have to be a kingdom per se. Is it ruled by popular vote? By a guild? By a council or small group? By an ancient sorceress? Do they rule from a city, a fortress?)
FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION: (Dictatorial king? Atmosphere of fear? Relaxed little halfling towns? Is anything unusual illegal or permitted?)
COMMON SPECIES: (Vampires and their human thralls? Nymphs, sprites? An old alliance of humans and dwarves? Multicultural/cosmopolitan? Please give proportions and some idea of whether different species live together in peace.)
MILITARY FOCUS: (Mountain guerrillas? Seafaring conquerors? Doughty militias? Steel-clad legions? Magical defenses? Steppe raiders?)
TECHNOLOGY: (Stone Age? Bronze Age? Medieval? Early Renaissance? Medieval is the average and Early Renaissance is the maximum. Note that even the most advanced nations would not have access to any but the very crudest cannons.)
PLAYER CONTROLLED: (Yes or No. Do you intend to control this kingdom actively, or are you just making it as a setting?)