Ryoshu

Subject: Ryoshu Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:54 pm

"As a seed nurtured, we grow. As smoke from fire, we rise."

Quote :: A land in its infancy compared to the vast history of the world, Ryoshu is the northernmost nation on the eastern continent, and a land of undiscovered wonder. Rising and falling as gently as the waters upon its shore, the landscape of Ryoshu is for the most part a temperate grassy steppe. The Mianjai mountain range harbors a wooded plain much higher than any other land within the nation, known as either Yangshi Forest or simply Yangshi, which provides a home for both the country's eccentric wildlife and the village of Shi Lian.

Its people are peaceful and have a long standing tradition of valuing every moment that life awards to them. Establishments such as temples dedicated to reflection and meditation, tea-houses and steam-filled baths can be found throughout Ryoshu, all a common part of life under the eastern sun, and even the smaller farming villages found scattered around the plains find a way to incorporate these traditions.

This is not to say, however, that there is never a busy moment. Ryoshu is home to vast, bustling markets that come alive during the middle of the day. Carts come and go in their hundreds, with countless small stalls and shops set up for any budding merchants to peddle their goods with a devious smile. The harbors of the country, too, are hives of activity, with the import of foreign goods a major if infrequent interest and the export of their own an equal priority. The nation primarily trades upon its own continent, finding the journey to the west often too expensive, risky or impractical to make as frequently as profitable trade would dictate. For this reason, luxuries from countries such as Aldinor or the embellished silk of Leoben are highly valued.

The source for many of Ryoshu's primary exports, the coastal city of Shenzhi is famous for its thriving fishing trade.

Quote :: Ryoshu's most developed cities and towns lie along the northern coast, with the exception of Shenzhi in the south, and the capital of Hejira some distance inland. Though densely populated, the cities are spread out over a much larger distance and a large priority is given to maintaining the wildlife wherever possible. Even the capital is home to large trees and foliage growing strong in and around the main streets, and most if not all buildings are elevated by way of platform some distance from the ground. It is not uncommon to see lesser species of monkey and colourful birds permeating cities, as they are often able to comfortably make a home and the law of the land names them protected.

The Nashika are a race of simian humanoids native to Ryoshu, possessing impressive strength and a wickedly sharp intellect.

Quote :: Ryoshu is home to a thriving population of humans known as the Ryoshin, who can be identified by their distinct facial features and jet black hair, and a native race known as the Nashika. First discovered by the ancient human settlers that first made land, the Nashika were a primitive species that at first presented a difficult obstacle to overcome. The humans destroyed much of the natural woodland that had once existed near the site of the capital city, making a rapid and destructive expansion inland, and it was this that the Nashika could not tolerate.

They occupied the south of the country, originating from a settlement deep within Yangshi that would later grow to become Shi Lian, and for the larger part of fourty years forced the human settlers to reside on the northern shores by way of attacks upon any pioneers attempting to venture further. There, the humans established a number of cities and towns as they could without infringing on the native lands that had been closed off to them, founding the cities that would become Hejira and Caotsu.

It would be many generations and numerous conflicts later, but co-operation was eventually achieved. North and south were unified, and the beginnings of a new culture and language began to emerge from a rapidly dissipating fog of doubt and distrust. The Nashika taught the humans much about their beliefs, and heard their vow that they would respect the lands they had chosen to colonise, whilst the humans in turn introduced their new found allies to the basic technologies they had brought from the western continent. It was in this way that a new era of peace dawned, one tired of the fighting that had occurred not only in Ryoshu but across the Divide in the western lands, too.

The Nashika grew to be wise, their natural flair for learning supplemented by the knowledge of the world beyond their own that the humans had brought with them. The two races would go on to found Shenzhi, the first city built by both civilisations, and would set in stone the defining look of both the nation's oriental architecture and the decorated wood furnishing they had mastered.

With monasteries dedicated to the worship of the four gods, the people of Ryoshu follow a common tetratheism.

Quote :: Unlike those of the western continent, Ryoshu's monasteries actively maintain a living within their walls. Up to fifty people are able to live and support one another whilst leading lifestyles dedicated to the virtues of their religion, with a monastery typically dedicated to one god at a time.