Snow, Neon, and Asphalt - Guide to the Western Lands (WIP)
Jul 17, 2021 15:42:31 GMT -8
Koma and Juni like this
Post by Maxine on Jul 17, 2021 15:42:31 GMT -8
The Western Lands, though mostly known for the capital, Oolong City, are a grand region that expands an even greater land than the Central Lands. Ruled by the Pig Demon Duchies, it is a place of many contrasts and a wide variety of locales. But, it is most known for its architecture and culture – finely carved timber, sliding doors, tatami mats; humility, formality, and honour; all with a sense of humble artistry and colour. Though many areas of its cities have forgotten such things, that culture continues to seep into the land. While this makes it recognisable and unique, it has made the Western Lands at odds with the other territories – they may not be at war, but there is certainly a sense of exclusion to the land.
Culture:
As the Western Lands have clung to their history of samurai and lords, a deep sense of classism and factions runs through the community. Even in Oolong City, the world is divided into the clans, and each of those have their own tiers and traditions. It isn’t uncommon for someone to not be part of a clan, but it is expected that anyone in an echelon higher than ‘everyday person’ is going to be at least associated with one. Clans all have their politics and rivalries, so joining one will always be a polarising move. They tend to be centred around their original families, so marriage is the usual way to get a high position; and thus arranged marriages as political manoeuvres or rewards are quite common. Even the Clans that have outlived their originating families are expected to still carry their mantle, unless they separate to start a new one.
Within a clan or outside it, you are expected to hold those above you in great respect, while those below are granted only some civility – if they’re even that lucky. While many have taken on some of the attitudes of the Central Lands or South Lands in terms of appreciation for the lower classes, most of the Western Lands – and especially the upper echelons, unsurprisingly – have no time or care for ‘peasants’. Respect is expected, no matter the situation or conflict, and change is rarely tolerated. Formality is very important, and there is a great emphasis placed on subtle processes and artistry – though, in modern times, it has begun to erode in favour of practical politicking and conspiracy.
Outside its borders, the Western Lands are mostly known for its unique style, which leaks into just about everything. The food; from sushi artisans to the fast-food Burger Samurai; the clothes, from regal kimonos to designer brand streetwear; and the art; from short and gentle poetry to smooth calligraphy – all are staples of the land, and all vary in so many intricate ways across its regions. Even Oolong City has such care put into it if you strip away the asphalt and suits; just in its own subtle ways.
Politics and Law:
While the other developed lands have grown and adapted to their shift in modern leadership necessities and priorities, the Western Lands continues to cling to their disparate structure while dragging along the traditions of its early days. Technically, the ambition of the land is controlled by an oligarchy of the various dukes and duchesses; but the real leaders are the Grand Dukes or Duchesses who own the most important estates or families. This issue is fairly common knowledge, to the point that the title of duke or duchess does not hold much power anymore in spite of its original meaning.
The overall region is cut up into many duchies, led by their own noble families – but in modern times, everyone knows the seat of power is the rich and powerful in Oolong City. While most of the other duchies bicker over slices of land, even snatching a block in Oolong City is grounds for a turf war. Suffice to say, most of the rural rulers are not thrilled by this situation, but the pains of modernisation have left such deep scars in the land’s community.
Though the Grand Dukes and Duchesses call together sessions of parliament to decide the future and debate legislation, these sessions are usually mired by constant bad blood between the families and their individual ideals. It’s accepted that every clan has their own ulterior motives, and most progressive societal changes are more a side-effect of the system of utilitarianism rather than a goal.
However, the relatively lawless nature of the land means that most rules come down to the ruling parties of each area and their enforcement rather than the parliament – instead, it’s a place for inter-region ambitions or wrangling with rival clans. Most laws are decided by the ruling parties of each area, and how much they can enforce them.
To their credit, most of the border lands and developed areas have realised that keeping on good terms with the World Government is good for business, especially tourism. Thus, while there are plenty of areas any ordinary person should totally avoid, the major areas and tourist icons are fairly safe in spite of the land’s reputation.
Martial Arts and Military:
Across the Western Lands are just as many schools of martial arts as there are duchies, and there are also representatives of the global schools such as the Crane, Wolf, and Turtle. In most cases, the styles originating from the Western Lands are quite unique and often focus as much on artistry as practicality; with an emphasis on form. Many overlap in their techniques and focusses – so many are off-shoots of one-another, it can be hard for even a master to pin-point a particular style without personal experience with it. Some of the schools specialise in the land’s signature martial weapons, such as the katana, kanabo, or yumi; and there are still a few that use some unique but far less practical icons such as the kusari-gama and torinawa.
The military of the Western Lands are a particularly awkward organisation – rather than having any kind of centralised, shared force, the Duchies are expected to combine their individual militias into some sort of fighting group. Suffice to say, getting all the political groups to agree on anything is a rarity, and their training and preparation for such a circumstance is incidental at best. While there are rankings within each militia, members of these groups are called ‘samurai’ and generally treated with more respect than your average person – but, they are still far below any duke or duchess.
That said, it is considered a matter of honour for any duchy worthy of its land to send part of its militia to assist in the defence against the Northern Demon Kingdoms’ force, which constantly skirmish for land on the northern rim of the region. Militia sortied in this way tend to be in individual groups rather than working together, and it is considered a great service to the land to make great accomplishments in this ongoing war. Thus, talented martial artists are always in high demand, as it may just be the ticket for a duchy to go up in the world… assuming the samurai in question doesn’t end up claiming all the fame for their own family name, anyway.
Important Regions:
The seat of power and easily most well-known part of the Western Lands is the sprawling Oolong City; both the most prestigious and most backwater place in the region. It is a world constantly at-odds with itself: towering skyscrapers and sleepless businesses in Electric City, looming over the constant in-fighting and dark alleys of New Town, which are sealed off from the silent gardens and thin walls of Tea Heights. Just as someone can say they are from Oolong City and be a penniless punk bleeding themselves dry each day for a chance to join a clan, they can be a duke who spends every day having performers hired to come in and entertain them. All that said – it cannot be argued that it is the most modern place in the Western Lands, and for all its architecture and little touches, it is still the most influenced by the outside world. While it may be intimidating, those from the Central Lands and beyond will find it rather comprehensible.
In the centre of the region is the Tower of Korin, or the Tower of Kami, within the Korrin Reserve. This monument is considered a sacred site and duly watched over by the White Cat Clan and its allied duchies – though, no doubt many of the progressives among the parliament are far from fans of it, given its generous budget and strict rules on who may enter even the surrounding region, much less the tower itself. Many more magical sites dot the lands, and are often visited in pilgrimages from both Western Lands’ locals and those beyond as part of their studies of the supernatural arts. The demon lands of Baya Yaga's Domain and Kami's Territory are in this region, as well, and it is said that there are parts of the Western Lands that may reach into HFIL itself.
As one drifts further from Oolong City and its surrounding towns, the lands are much more rural, and some areas are outright untamed. Duchies offer hamlets of civilisation, but modern conveniences become more and more sparse the further south and west you go. Trains are the main manner of transportation, rather than planes or hover vehicles, and often traditional methods of living are preferred over modern ones due to the lack of infrastructure. This is also where many martial arts schools flourish – without guns being easily available, those who can fight with their bare hands or straightforward weapons are prized.
Very Important People:
The most important people are those who originated the region’s hierarchy – that would be Lord Oolong’s descendants; the Tea Clan; and Lord Yajirobe; Grand Duke of the White Cat Clan. The Tea Clan have continued on to be the rich and famous rulers-in-all-but-name of Oolong City, prizing their title and their estates above their countless rivals and subordinates. The White Cat Clan, on the other hand, have rallied around the Tower of Korin and the duchies’ military. To make matters worse for any rivals, there has been a marriage between the clans recently, leading to the Dandelion Clan headed by Koma and Juniper Tea… suffice to say, very few other clans are satisfied with this ploy to consolidate the power of the Grand Dukes.
Further Reading:
Guide to Oolong City
The Tea Clan
The White Cat Clan and Affiliates
The Shinobu Clan and Affiliates
Culture:
As the Western Lands have clung to their history of samurai and lords, a deep sense of classism and factions runs through the community. Even in Oolong City, the world is divided into the clans, and each of those have their own tiers and traditions. It isn’t uncommon for someone to not be part of a clan, but it is expected that anyone in an echelon higher than ‘everyday person’ is going to be at least associated with one. Clans all have their politics and rivalries, so joining one will always be a polarising move. They tend to be centred around their original families, so marriage is the usual way to get a high position; and thus arranged marriages as political manoeuvres or rewards are quite common. Even the Clans that have outlived their originating families are expected to still carry their mantle, unless they separate to start a new one.
Within a clan or outside it, you are expected to hold those above you in great respect, while those below are granted only some civility – if they’re even that lucky. While many have taken on some of the attitudes of the Central Lands or South Lands in terms of appreciation for the lower classes, most of the Western Lands – and especially the upper echelons, unsurprisingly – have no time or care for ‘peasants’. Respect is expected, no matter the situation or conflict, and change is rarely tolerated. Formality is very important, and there is a great emphasis placed on subtle processes and artistry – though, in modern times, it has begun to erode in favour of practical politicking and conspiracy.
Outside its borders, the Western Lands are mostly known for its unique style, which leaks into just about everything. The food; from sushi artisans to the fast-food Burger Samurai; the clothes, from regal kimonos to designer brand streetwear; and the art; from short and gentle poetry to smooth calligraphy – all are staples of the land, and all vary in so many intricate ways across its regions. Even Oolong City has such care put into it if you strip away the asphalt and suits; just in its own subtle ways.
Politics and Law:
While the other developed lands have grown and adapted to their shift in modern leadership necessities and priorities, the Western Lands continues to cling to their disparate structure while dragging along the traditions of its early days. Technically, the ambition of the land is controlled by an oligarchy of the various dukes and duchesses; but the real leaders are the Grand Dukes or Duchesses who own the most important estates or families. This issue is fairly common knowledge, to the point that the title of duke or duchess does not hold much power anymore in spite of its original meaning.
The overall region is cut up into many duchies, led by their own noble families – but in modern times, everyone knows the seat of power is the rich and powerful in Oolong City. While most of the other duchies bicker over slices of land, even snatching a block in Oolong City is grounds for a turf war. Suffice to say, most of the rural rulers are not thrilled by this situation, but the pains of modernisation have left such deep scars in the land’s community.
Though the Grand Dukes and Duchesses call together sessions of parliament to decide the future and debate legislation, these sessions are usually mired by constant bad blood between the families and their individual ideals. It’s accepted that every clan has their own ulterior motives, and most progressive societal changes are more a side-effect of the system of utilitarianism rather than a goal.
However, the relatively lawless nature of the land means that most rules come down to the ruling parties of each area and their enforcement rather than the parliament – instead, it’s a place for inter-region ambitions or wrangling with rival clans. Most laws are decided by the ruling parties of each area, and how much they can enforce them.
To their credit, most of the border lands and developed areas have realised that keeping on good terms with the World Government is good for business, especially tourism. Thus, while there are plenty of areas any ordinary person should totally avoid, the major areas and tourist icons are fairly safe in spite of the land’s reputation.
Martial Arts and Military:
Across the Western Lands are just as many schools of martial arts as there are duchies, and there are also representatives of the global schools such as the Crane, Wolf, and Turtle. In most cases, the styles originating from the Western Lands are quite unique and often focus as much on artistry as practicality; with an emphasis on form. Many overlap in their techniques and focusses – so many are off-shoots of one-another, it can be hard for even a master to pin-point a particular style without personal experience with it. Some of the schools specialise in the land’s signature martial weapons, such as the katana, kanabo, or yumi; and there are still a few that use some unique but far less practical icons such as the kusari-gama and torinawa.
The military of the Western Lands are a particularly awkward organisation – rather than having any kind of centralised, shared force, the Duchies are expected to combine their individual militias into some sort of fighting group. Suffice to say, getting all the political groups to agree on anything is a rarity, and their training and preparation for such a circumstance is incidental at best. While there are rankings within each militia, members of these groups are called ‘samurai’ and generally treated with more respect than your average person – but, they are still far below any duke or duchess.
That said, it is considered a matter of honour for any duchy worthy of its land to send part of its militia to assist in the defence against the Northern Demon Kingdoms’ force, which constantly skirmish for land on the northern rim of the region. Militia sortied in this way tend to be in individual groups rather than working together, and it is considered a great service to the land to make great accomplishments in this ongoing war. Thus, talented martial artists are always in high demand, as it may just be the ticket for a duchy to go up in the world… assuming the samurai in question doesn’t end up claiming all the fame for their own family name, anyway.
Important Regions:
The seat of power and easily most well-known part of the Western Lands is the sprawling Oolong City; both the most prestigious and most backwater place in the region. It is a world constantly at-odds with itself: towering skyscrapers and sleepless businesses in Electric City, looming over the constant in-fighting and dark alleys of New Town, which are sealed off from the silent gardens and thin walls of Tea Heights. Just as someone can say they are from Oolong City and be a penniless punk bleeding themselves dry each day for a chance to join a clan, they can be a duke who spends every day having performers hired to come in and entertain them. All that said – it cannot be argued that it is the most modern place in the Western Lands, and for all its architecture and little touches, it is still the most influenced by the outside world. While it may be intimidating, those from the Central Lands and beyond will find it rather comprehensible.
In the centre of the region is the Tower of Korin, or the Tower of Kami, within the Korrin Reserve. This monument is considered a sacred site and duly watched over by the White Cat Clan and its allied duchies – though, no doubt many of the progressives among the parliament are far from fans of it, given its generous budget and strict rules on who may enter even the surrounding region, much less the tower itself. Many more magical sites dot the lands, and are often visited in pilgrimages from both Western Lands’ locals and those beyond as part of their studies of the supernatural arts. The demon lands of Baya Yaga's Domain and Kami's Territory are in this region, as well, and it is said that there are parts of the Western Lands that may reach into HFIL itself.
As one drifts further from Oolong City and its surrounding towns, the lands are much more rural, and some areas are outright untamed. Duchies offer hamlets of civilisation, but modern conveniences become more and more sparse the further south and west you go. Trains are the main manner of transportation, rather than planes or hover vehicles, and often traditional methods of living are preferred over modern ones due to the lack of infrastructure. This is also where many martial arts schools flourish – without guns being easily available, those who can fight with their bare hands or straightforward weapons are prized.
Very Important People:
The most important people are those who originated the region’s hierarchy – that would be Lord Oolong’s descendants; the Tea Clan; and Lord Yajirobe; Grand Duke of the White Cat Clan. The Tea Clan have continued on to be the rich and famous rulers-in-all-but-name of Oolong City, prizing their title and their estates above their countless rivals and subordinates. The White Cat Clan, on the other hand, have rallied around the Tower of Korin and the duchies’ military. To make matters worse for any rivals, there has been a marriage between the clans recently, leading to the Dandelion Clan headed by Koma and Juniper Tea… suffice to say, very few other clans are satisfied with this ploy to consolidate the power of the Grand Dukes.
Further Reading:
Guide to Oolong City
The Tea Clan
The White Cat Clan and Affiliates
The Shinobu Clan and Affiliates