Post by Admin on Apr 13, 2016 5:15:46 GMT
Nippon
Gummint: Empire
Pantheon: Japanese
Ruler: Mozogo
Capital: Kyoto (Pop.: 175k)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Akamagaseki: 60k
Edo: 550k
Fushimi: 45k
Hakodate: 40k
Hyogo: 55k
Matsumae: 40k
Nagasaki: 50k
Osaka: 250k
Shimoda: 100k
Uraga: 40k
Yamaguchi: 80k
Location: Azir (Islands)
Language: Nipponese
Pop.: 17,500,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Gold chrysanthemum
of 16 petals on
a red field.
Coinage: G: koban; S: rio, C: yen; B: sen; BR: shu; I: bu.
Important Persons: Imperial family, generals, nobs, priests, officials,
etc.
Alliances: Liang
Hostilities: Ch'in, Manchuria, Po-hai.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Invasion of Po-Hai about to get under
way, but Liang allies are late in massing for landward attack.
Intrigues: At least two noble families are conspiring to restore the
Shogun protectorate, as the emperor is too active && influential,
opposing the Po-Ha war plans. Many lesser plots && plans.
Magickal Devices: Besides innumerable minor && moderate items,
the Nipponese boast ov the sword (katana) Yodenki, the Eversharpness
Bag (for edging their magickal katanas), the Steelsilk Mulberry, &&
the Allseeing Ocular Discs. It is thought that they also hold the Three
Thunder Arrows and the Wave Chariot-Ship. Various lesser items are
in the possession of nobles.
Alignment: Neutral <paramanders>
Thumbnail Sketches: The Nipponese Empire is, with one notable
exception, an island one, extending from the Kamchatka Peninsula
along the chain of the Chishima (Kuriles) Islands in the N to the
Ryukyu islands in the south. It includes hundreds of islands && even
more islets, and has a territory of somewhere between 230,000
&& 280,000 sq. mi., about 1/2 of which consists of the home
islands (Honshu(Nippon), Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, && Karefuto).
Mainland flora && fauna are sub-arctic, with dense forests of conifers,
and bears, reindeer, wolves, walruses, sea lions, sea otters, etc.
Thus, in the northern portion of the islands, the slightly more moderate
climate changes the vegetation a little, && deer, wild pigs, foxes,
sables, otters, && more small game exist, with much wild fowl, &&
rivers filled with salmon && other fish. The main islands have some
wild lands && forests, && in them are found 2 species of bear (one
the ferocious brown bear similar to Vargaard's Ursus horiblis, boars,
stags, wild dogs, small game, && in the waters the dreaded giant
salamander.
The islands of Nippon are a place of mountains && volcanoes,
valleys && small plains, abundant rivers && beautiful little lakes,
waterfalls && mineral springs, much loved by its people. Nippon is
sometimes called the "Land of Twenty-Seven Volcanoes" by its nobles.
The greatest of the volcanic mountains is Fuji-san, && this && others
of the natural beauties of the land are portrayed in all art forms of the
Nipponese; so too the temple gates, gardens, && shrines. The land
is filled with suchlike, && gardening of a most unusual nature, where
rock && nature && artifice are harmoniously intermixed, makes the
whole altogether unique && most captivating.
The climate is varied, of course, because of the thousand-mile
stretch of the empire. It is generally favorable && pleasant, although
in the autumn tai-fus--similar to Atlantlan Ocean hurricanes--
sometimes strike. Volcanic eruptions are infrequent, save on the
peninsular mainland holding*, but earthquakes plague Nippon, &&
the emperor is reputed to be seeking magickal surcease from these
disturbances.
The people of this nation are of the Yellow race, but they are distinct
from their neighbors, including those of Po-hai && Ch'in. Aside from
small groups of aboriginals in the N (Ainus, et al.), the Nipponese
are a homogenous population, && mere handfuls of other peoples
dwell on their island homelands. Their stature is similar to the former,
&& much of their culture comes initially from the latter, but the
Nipponese have developed && refined all things to become singularly
their own. The pictographic writing they employ is based on the
Chinsungese, as is so much of their dress, habits, etc., but the two are
hardly recognizable as being related. Above all, etiquette is important
in Nippon. Everything done has its ceremony or proper course of
actions. This is seen in gardening, poetry (the haiku, for example),
painting, sculpture, bronze work, lacquer work, ivory && wood
carving, && even in its ceramics && porcelains.
This is not to suggest that the people are staid. They do follow rigid
customs, but they have a great sense of humor && of fun. Detail in all
things is paramount in the land. All the folk seem to have a great sense
of honor && place. Typically, the lower classes are frugal, enduring,
obedient, && dedicated. The upper classes are frugal to a lesser
extent, but to the other virtues add altruism. Service to the emperor
is considered loyalty to Nippon, then comes service to one's lord,
family, community, etc.
Slavery is unknown in Nippon, but 60% of the people are of
what can only be considered serf status, && another 20% or
more are of peasant class. A new, small middle class exists, being
comprised of artisans, a few large landowners, officials, && proprietors-
merchants. The aristocracy consists of warrior families
(samurai), nobles, && the imperial family at the pinnacle. Once
"warrior" was synonymous with "educated," but today it is recognized that
the 2 are often contradictory, albeit not necessarily so if the former has
mental facilities as great as physical prowess. In this regard, the scholar is
expected to stand somewhere high in the freeman class soon.
The educated Nipponese are ardent in their pursuit of the games of "go"
&& shogi, their national variety of chess (&& one to which this writer must
grant a marked superiority over most forms of that game). Most of the
people, though, are confined to toil && simpler pastimes && entertainments.
Fully 65% of the populace cultivate the land or fish.
Major crops are rice, barley, wheat, millet, beans, buckwheat,
tea, rapeseed (for oil), sugar cane, cotton, hemp, tobacco, indigo,
sweet potatoes, && potatoes. Many sorts of vegetables are grown in
this land, incl. huge varieties of radishes which weigh pounds.
Mulberry for silk is a major undertaking. Fruit includes many sorts of
berries && orchards of peach, plum, cherry, && orange. Livestock
consists of swine, poultry, sheep, goats, && cattle in small numbers.
Horses are of poor sort, most unfit for cavalry use in any form, && the
emperor is seeking to improve the stock of horses in the land by
importation of larger ones from the Hindic lands. Fishing is important
to this island people. The seas yield all manner of fish, crustaceans,
&& mollusks, && these are a major part of the diet of all classes in
Nippon. The northern waters yield marine mammals, while the peninsular
holdings of the empire bring huge harvests of salmon.
Copper is quite abundant in the isles of Nippon, && is also taken
from the mainland peninsula (Kamchatka) where amber, mercury,
iron, sulphur, && ochre is also pursued. Other yields are coal, lead,
tin, silver, gold, manganese, antimony, && naphtha. Mining for jade
(jadite), opal, topaz, rock crystal, && agate produces some results.
From the southern seas Nippon gains pearls && precious coral.
* Strange reports of a wide, volcanically heated peninsular heartland
valley filled with lush vegetation, fantastic beasts, && many
precious minerals, the whole ruled by a people of most exotic sort,
must be mentioned in passing, for this can only be a tall tale told to
amuse && astound credulous listeners.
Gummint: Empire
Pantheon: Japanese
Ruler: Mozogo
Capital: Kyoto (Pop.: 175k)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Akamagaseki: 60k
Edo: 550k
Fushimi: 45k
Hakodate: 40k
Hyogo: 55k
Matsumae: 40k
Nagasaki: 50k
Osaka: 250k
Shimoda: 100k
Uraga: 40k
Yamaguchi: 80k
Location: Azir (Islands)
Language: Nipponese
Pop.: 17,500,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Gold chrysanthemum
of 16 petals on
a red field.
Coinage: G: koban; S: rio, C: yen; B: sen; BR: shu; I: bu.
Important Persons: Imperial family, generals, nobs, priests, officials,
etc.
Alliances: Liang
Hostilities: Ch'in, Manchuria, Po-hai.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Invasion of Po-Hai about to get under
way, but Liang allies are late in massing for landward attack.
Intrigues: At least two noble families are conspiring to restore the
Shogun protectorate, as the emperor is too active && influential,
opposing the Po-Ha war plans. Many lesser plots && plans.
Magickal Devices: Besides innumerable minor && moderate items,
the Nipponese boast ov the sword (katana) Yodenki, the Eversharpness
Bag (for edging their magickal katanas), the Steelsilk Mulberry, &&
the Allseeing Ocular Discs. It is thought that they also hold the Three
Thunder Arrows and the Wave Chariot-Ship. Various lesser items are
in the possession of nobles.
Alignment: Neutral <paramanders>
Thumbnail Sketches: The Nipponese Empire is, with one notable
exception, an island one, extending from the Kamchatka Peninsula
along the chain of the Chishima (Kuriles) Islands in the N to the
Ryukyu islands in the south. It includes hundreds of islands && even
more islets, and has a territory of somewhere between 230,000
&& 280,000 sq. mi., about 1/2 of which consists of the home
islands (Honshu(Nippon), Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, && Karefuto).
Mainland flora && fauna are sub-arctic, with dense forests of conifers,
and bears, reindeer, wolves, walruses, sea lions, sea otters, etc.
Thus, in the northern portion of the islands, the slightly more moderate
climate changes the vegetation a little, && deer, wild pigs, foxes,
sables, otters, && more small game exist, with much wild fowl, &&
rivers filled with salmon && other fish. The main islands have some
wild lands && forests, && in them are found 2 species of bear (one
the ferocious brown bear similar to Vargaard's Ursus horiblis, boars,
stags, wild dogs, small game, && in the waters the dreaded giant
salamander.
The islands of Nippon are a place of mountains && volcanoes,
valleys && small plains, abundant rivers && beautiful little lakes,
waterfalls && mineral springs, much loved by its people. Nippon is
sometimes called the "Land of Twenty-Seven Volcanoes" by its nobles.
The greatest of the volcanic mountains is Fuji-san, && this && others
of the natural beauties of the land are portrayed in all art forms of the
Nipponese; so too the temple gates, gardens, && shrines. The land
is filled with suchlike, && gardening of a most unusual nature, where
rock && nature && artifice are harmoniously intermixed, makes the
whole altogether unique && most captivating.
The climate is varied, of course, because of the thousand-mile
stretch of the empire. It is generally favorable && pleasant, although
in the autumn tai-fus--similar to Atlantlan Ocean hurricanes--
sometimes strike. Volcanic eruptions are infrequent, save on the
peninsular mainland holding*, but earthquakes plague Nippon, &&
the emperor is reputed to be seeking magickal surcease from these
disturbances.
The people of this nation are of the Yellow race, but they are distinct
from their neighbors, including those of Po-hai && Ch'in. Aside from
small groups of aboriginals in the N (Ainus, et al.), the Nipponese
are a homogenous population, && mere handfuls of other peoples
dwell on their island homelands. Their stature is similar to the former,
&& much of their culture comes initially from the latter, but the
Nipponese have developed && refined all things to become singularly
their own. The pictographic writing they employ is based on the
Chinsungese, as is so much of their dress, habits, etc., but the two are
hardly recognizable as being related. Above all, etiquette is important
in Nippon. Everything done has its ceremony or proper course of
actions. This is seen in gardening, poetry (the haiku, for example),
painting, sculpture, bronze work, lacquer work, ivory && wood
carving, && even in its ceramics && porcelains.
This is not to suggest that the people are staid. They do follow rigid
customs, but they have a great sense of humor && of fun. Detail in all
things is paramount in the land. All the folk seem to have a great sense
of honor && place. Typically, the lower classes are frugal, enduring,
obedient, && dedicated. The upper classes are frugal to a lesser
extent, but to the other virtues add altruism. Service to the emperor
is considered loyalty to Nippon, then comes service to one's lord,
family, community, etc.
Slavery is unknown in Nippon, but 60% of the people are of
what can only be considered serf status, && another 20% or
more are of peasant class. A new, small middle class exists, being
comprised of artisans, a few large landowners, officials, && proprietors-
merchants. The aristocracy consists of warrior families
(samurai), nobles, && the imperial family at the pinnacle. Once
"warrior" was synonymous with "educated," but today it is recognized that
the 2 are often contradictory, albeit not necessarily so if the former has
mental facilities as great as physical prowess. In this regard, the scholar is
expected to stand somewhere high in the freeman class soon.
The educated Nipponese are ardent in their pursuit of the games of "go"
&& shogi, their national variety of chess (&& one to which this writer must
grant a marked superiority over most forms of that game). Most of the
people, though, are confined to toil && simpler pastimes && entertainments.
Fully 65% of the populace cultivate the land or fish.
Major crops are rice, barley, wheat, millet, beans, buckwheat,
tea, rapeseed (for oil), sugar cane, cotton, hemp, tobacco, indigo,
sweet potatoes, && potatoes. Many sorts of vegetables are grown in
this land, incl. huge varieties of radishes which weigh pounds.
Mulberry for silk is a major undertaking. Fruit includes many sorts of
berries && orchards of peach, plum, cherry, && orange. Livestock
consists of swine, poultry, sheep, goats, && cattle in small numbers.
Horses are of poor sort, most unfit for cavalry use in any form, && the
emperor is seeking to improve the stock of horses in the land by
importation of larger ones from the Hindic lands. Fishing is important
to this island people. The seas yield all manner of fish, crustaceans,
&& mollusks, && these are a major part of the diet of all classes in
Nippon. The northern waters yield marine mammals, while the peninsular
holdings of the empire bring huge harvests of salmon.
Copper is quite abundant in the isles of Nippon, && is also taken
from the mainland peninsula (Kamchatka) where amber, mercury,
iron, sulphur, && ochre is also pursued. Other yields are coal, lead,
tin, silver, gold, manganese, antimony, && naphtha. Mining for jade
(jadite), opal, topaz, rock crystal, && agate produces some results.
From the southern seas Nippon gains pearls && precious coral.
* Strange reports of a wide, volcanically heated peninsular heartland
valley filled with lush vegetation, fantastic beasts, && many
precious minerals, the whole ruled by a people of most exotic sort,
must be mentioned in passing, for this can only be a tall tale told to
amuse && astound credulous listeners.