Fantasy Warring Kingdoms Lore

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Classes​

Samurai - Katana

Type: Physical, Offensive

Weapon: Katana, Tsurugi, or Wakizashi

Samurai warriors who tend to use katanas and the slightly shorter swords are very agile and deadly. Though this leads to lower defenses, for lighter armor is needed to main their quicker speeds. Some even use a sword in each hand, but this style of battle is very difficult to master.

Samurai - Tachi

Type: Physical, Defensive

Weapon: Tachi, Uchigatana, Yari, or Odachi

These samurai are just as deadly as the shorter sword users. Don’t mistaken their heavy armor and bulky wear to hold them to a disadvantage. With the heavier armor and longer blade does come slower movements, but one swing from these samurai’s could mean death for their enemies.

Ninja

Type: Physical, Offensive

Weapon: Chokuto, Tsurugi, Kodachi, Tanto, Shurikens, Kama and/or Kusarigama

Most ninjas tend to be swords for hire, but a few occasional ninjas find common ground with a master and serve them. They wear even lighter gear than the katana using samurais, but it makes them even more mobile than the great samurai. They also usually use shorter weapons, allowing very quick and fatal strikes against the enemy.

Cavalier

Type: Physical, Defensive

Weapon: Jian, Qiang, Dao, Fu, Naginata, or Ji

Cavalier are the powerhouse on the open battlefield. They can slaughter man enemies while situated on a fast moving horse. But because they are stationed on top of horse, it makes them a larger target, forcing them to wear more heavy armor. They use much longer weapons than any other class so that they have long close range reach than any other type of warrior.

Archer

Type: Physical, Offensive

Weapon: Gong, Nu, and/or Dao

Deadly long ranged fighters that can take down many enemies before they even reach them. While being a force from afar, if archers are caught in close ranged combat, many are unable to defend for themselves. Which gives reason why many archers are guarded by soldiers. Though many are trained to use a Dao for close ranged combat when the time is needed so they are never completely helpless.

Charm User

Type: Magic, Offensive

Weapon: Paper Charm (Ofuda), Physical Charm (i.e. Omamori), Enchanted Instrument (Ancient Chinese or Japanese Instrument), or Staff

The Charm User can be a force from both close range and from afar. While paper charms can be written by almost anyone, the ability to use them are something few have. Casting these spells, using the enchanted instrument or physical charm requires energy from the user. Many can’t stand the unusual drainage of energy, making charm users relatively rare. Physical conditions can affect how much energy a charm user has to be used to cast their weapons. Drainage of energy makes the user physically weaker for certain amount of time depending on how much energy was drained.

Martial Artist

Type: Physical, Offensive/Defensive

Weapon: Staff, Tekko, Three Section Cudgel, or Western Zhou Rounded Axe

Masters of hand to hand combat, not many can stand a chance against these masters of martial arts. While weapons aren’t necessary for these hand to hand fighters, some are used to hold even greater advantages against their enemies. While martial artist and monks are commonly mixed together, martial artists are more connected to their bodies physically while monks are connected more spiritually.

Monk

Type: Magic, Defensive

Weapon: Physical Charm, Elemental Magic, Spiritual Magic, or Wooden Staff

Monks are also renowned for their non weaponed fighting ability, but they possess spiritual power which enhances their battle style like weapons do with martial artists. Each monk's spiritual power is different from another, while some are more connected to their inner element, some are more connected to their spiritual animal. Most elementally talented monks usually possess only one major element, though some do have more than one. To have more than one inner element to describe someone is rare, they do exist. Monks do not have to shave their heads if they don’t want to, its not required.

 

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● Ryujin Dynasty ●​

The Ryujin Dynasty is located on the northwestern side of the continent. It’s most known for its bizarre natural landscapes. There are many natural arcs and giant chasms that formed over the centuries. The views of the lush green plants and trees and absolutely breathtaking from afar. Many freshwater rivers start from within the Ryujin Dynasty and branch out to the other dynasties or reach out to the oceans. Crops flourish in the rich soil of the land, and trade is always bustling with the surplus of supplies. The Ryujin Dynasty is the wealthiest of the three, from the many life necessities that are grown and created there.

• Tian Tenku
  • The capital of Ryujin Dynasty, known to be the most beautiful city at night. The assortment of lanterns makes it feel like it’s always the lantern festival in the city. Which during the lantern festival many people come from all around the continent to watch their famous show. No other celebration of the lantern festival in the continent can out do the one in Tian Tenku. The celebration goes on for a full week of festive activities. The Ruler’s estate sits in the center of the city. It’s the most elaborately decorated building in the city, it’s impossible to miss.
• Xinzhou
  • The biggest city in Ryujin other than the capital. All festivals are most famous here other than the lantern festival which instead takes place in Tian Tenku. The city is actually very close to the capital, it’s only a thirty minute ride on horseback. Most of the city’s revenue comes from the festivals that take place in the city. The city is also known for its unique architecture with its fancy buildings. The living costs in city is very expensive, therefore most of the inhabitants are that of nobility and the rich.
• Trade Towns
  • Being the most economically professed of the three dynasties, there are numerous small trade cities littered around. Traveling merchants constantly visit these towns to trade and sell their goods. People sometimes come to Ryujin specifically just to go to trade towns to find exclusive items the traveling merchants bring. Though there is a lot of petty thieves and pickpockets. The estate has slowly been providing more soldiers to keep the thievery on the low, but no one can be too careful. But the recent cases of theft have been on the decline from what it was.
• The Great Temple
  • The Great Temple is a vigorous school for those who want to harness their naturally born magic ability. Pupils are pushed to their limit everyday, they are not allowed to rest until they’ve reached their limit. Because of how harsh the teaching is, many people may quit and go to smaller temples to learn to harness their magic. Those who do graduate from the teachings become some of the most elite magic users there a land. Regardless everyone who has the have the talent still come to the temple at a chance of becoming renowned.
• Gaoshu Shinrin
  • A very thick forest in between most of the border of Ogawa Chi and Ryujin. It functions as an excellent barrier for both dynasties from attacks from each other. It’s very difficult to pass large armies through the forestry, forcing most to funnel through the part of the border that isn’t covered by the forest. Though the forest isn’t impossible to pass through, it simply requires far more time and supplies to get through. There are many animals that live in the forest, making an excellent place for leisure hunting.

 

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● Shu Dynasty ●​

The Shy Dynasty is located on the northeastern side of the continent. It filled with mountain ranges and rocky terrain. This may be the only place that has cooler weather and snow all year around. Though there are lower altitude areas where snow will melt yearly and plants will begin to grow, and this is where most people in the Shu Dynasty hold residence to. Not many crops grow very well through the tough soil of the mountains, which leave it heavily reliant on trade. There are lots of mines located in the Shu Dynasty from its mineral filled earth, such as iron, coal, silver and gold. But only so much can be mined, before resources begin to fall low and new mines are needed. While there are plenty of resources in the earth, it's difficult to find the clusters in which the valuable metals are located.

• Sasumi Liang
  • The capital of the Shu Dynasty is deep within the treeline of the mountains. It rests on a outcropping of one of the snowy mountains. The trees around the city have been cleared so it gives the effect that the capital is in fact on top of an actual mountain. The city is actually quite warm for a place quite high up in the mountains, it's shielded by much of the blizzard in the winter from the mountains around it. Thus the city can prosper with its warmer temperatures and allow people to live there all year, even in the winter season. Many mines are near the capital which make it the center of mineral processing. There are many skilled blacksmiths in the city, which attracts many swordsmen. The Liu estate is situated deep in the city, closer to the mountain, making it a hard spot to directly attack without destroying the rest of the city.
• Hidden Villages
  • As the name suggests, these are villages hidden throughout the treeline of the mountain ranges in the Shu Dynasty. These villages inhabit those of the ninja clan, allowing them to live their lives in secrecy. They do go out to town and purchase goods in they are in shortage in the homes, but its not like anyone could tell. Villages usually inhabit from anywhere between 5 to 20 families. While most work as hired hands, some do work for royal families. Though if they work for any family other than the Shu Dynasty, they are weeded out by the ruler’s own ninjas. They would have to move their homes to the land of their masters, since understandably having rival kingdom’s ninja clan on their own territories would be dangerous.
• Temples and Monasteries
  • Many reside in the high mountains for more peaceful meditation and less distractions for inspiring students. It's also said that these higher altitudes increases the ease of reaching inner clarity and honing charms. Therefore many aspiring monks come to the mountains to find a monastery willing to accept them. While for charm users it's only a saying as the most famous charm casters are still from The Great Temple in the Ryujin Dynasty. Monks technically don’t strive to join armies and fight in battles. They learn to harness their spiritual power as a higher understanding, therefore monks usually then go wandering across the continent spreading their learnings. Though if a monk’s inner calling tells them to to fight in battle, then they do. Those are mostly special exceptions.
• Treeline Towns
  • Towns are littered across the vast treeline of the mountain range. There are far more towns and cities located on the actual continent than in the mountains. Regardless, these towns are usually inhabitants to miners that go up to Sasumi Liang for their work. Most are concentrated in the treelines near the capital. Life in these towns can be fairly uneventful as the Shu capital doesn’t celebrate festivals as its main focus is processing of the mines. Most of people from these towns will travel down the mountain and spend festivities in the cities on the sea level.
• Samurai Academy
  • Famous samurai have been born from the blood and sweat of this academy. While there may be plenty of samurai academy in the other dynasties, this particular one up in the mountains of the Shu Dynasty is said to have the most success. Many renowned sword wielders who did not choose to swear allegiance to a ruler become mentors at this place. With the harsh conditions of its location, stronger and more skilled warriors are created. On top of the extensive training, there is a trial period for each student in which mentors will determine if the student is worthy or not. The academy is very selective in the people they will take in as pupils.

 

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● Ogawa Chi Dynasty ●​

The Ogawa Chi Dynasty is located on the southern side of the continent. While all the dynasties are touching some part of the ocean, the Ogawa Chi Dynasty’s waters hold the most amount of life. There is plenty of fish and other creatures in the warm salty ocean waters for people to catch. There are plenty of freshwater rivers and lakes where crops such as rice can be grown. Because of its many vast rivers lakes, and ocean shores, much of the natural waterways have been incorporated into the architecture. Beautiful landscapes have been created by the many waterways, making it most toured dynasty among the two others.

• Lan Joku Cheng
  • The capital of the Ogawa Chi Dynasty, known for being built into a waterfall. It took years to actually finish creating the place, but the beauty that it holds makes up for it. People from all over come to see the capital, this is especially common traveling area for foreigners. Most people seen in the city will in fact be travelers. The city is relatively small compared to the other capitals, as the waterfall could only support so many. Therefore city taxes and living expense in this city is also very high, most inhabitants are the rich and the nobility. The ruler’s estate is built up furthest in the waterfall, making it the most noticeable architecture from afar.
• Lake-top Villages
  • With so many waterways and lakes, quite a few villages are build on top water. Most of the villagers will be rice farmers as they simply grow rice in the water they live on.
• Martial Artist Dojo
  • Known as the first ever Martial Artist Dojo, the best Martial Artists in history came from here.
• Sakura Huayuan
  • In the Spring when the cherry blossoms bloom, it's the most beautiful place in the world.
• Port Cities
  • Lots of foreign trade occurs here in the port cities. Much like the trade towns in the Ryujin dynasty, they cities live off trade.

 

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● Magic ●​

Magic (charm users) is hereditary. The more “pure” a line of charm users are, the higher chance of being granted the gift to use magic. Those who are gifted with the magical ability all start in the same boat, meaning no one has a head start from the other at birth. What determines the skill of a charms user is the amount of time spent honing the ability. Natural born users are more offensive and effective that those who spend ages meditating to just grasp a tiny sliver to the magic ability. Rather than the extensive realm of magic, monks can only tap into what is known as spiritual power. Technically speaking, the magic monks harness through meditation and self enlightenment is not magic. It is instead, simply unlocking the power of one’s self; every person has the ability to achieve this ability. Spiritual power is much more localized, turing into their spiritual animal or enhancing the object in their hand with elemental ability. Both forms of “magic” require energy from the user, charm users will use up their energy much quicker than monks. Given, charm users have more of an extensive usage to their abilities than a monk does, therefore when casting spells they take up more energy. Magic is not something that can be swung around and constantly cast. As rapidly using up one’s magical energy will render them unable to continue fighting and force them to rest. If either monk or charms user goes beyond their body’s limit, they will shorten their life little by little, on top of that it’s extremely painful and exhausting. Magic for a charm user is not something that is used impulsively, it’s used strategically and meticulously. For a monk, it’s used in dire situations in battle when their martial arts isn’t enough.

 

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● Mythology ●​

When the world was created, two entities inhabited the world: the entity of good and the entity of evil. The two entities clashed for many many millennia, completely unable to out par the other. During this battle, the fighting created the mountains ranges of the Shu Dynasty, the chasms and arches of the Ryujin Dynasty, and the many rivers of the Ogawa Chi Dynasty. They would eventually strike each other, both becoming wounded and bled. The blood would mix together and from the celestial blood sprung life and prosperity over the battle ridden land. At that point the two acknowledged the necessity of both their existence for life to exist. The two stopped fighting and legend holds that the entities now live amongst humans, pretending to be one of them. From this monks meditate to reach a higher level of balance between good and evil in their hearts. When one finally achieves this balance, they can then tap into their spiritual power. People like to say if someone is more good or bad natured by heart, they have more blood of the corresponding entity in their body.

 

[mikyuu]

● Festivals ●​

((Keep in mind these festivals are only use the concept from chinese and japanese culture, these aren’t the actual dates of the actual festivals))​

New Years Festival, February 5th: Celebrates winter's end and the beginning of spring. The festival lasts a week long, people are given the week to spend time with family and friends.


Lantern Festival, February 11th: Occurs at the end of New Years Festival. The lantern festival takes place on the very last day of the week long celebration of the New Years Festival. During this time many people confess their love to those they find dear.


Mid-Autumn Festival, October 1st: Celebrates the years harvest and to the moon as a symbol of rejuvenation. People eat mooncakes during this festival and give thanks to the entity of good.


Fireworks Festival, July 30th: Gives thanks to the entity of evil and his initiating step for peace between the entity of good. This usually is a form of friendly competition between nearby towns and cities on who gives the best firework show. The friendly competition symbolizes the nonviolent process that good and evil finally came to terms with each other.


The New Emperor’s Festival, March 3rd: Every 35 years the head of the throne is “officially” passed down to the family’s heir. Of course there are natural complications where the ruler will die early and be forced to unofficially give the throne to the heir. Then when the next festival comes, the heir is then officially recognized by the three dynasties. This is a celebration that takes place in Xinzhou and all the royal families attend.