Yamato

Yamato
Geographic Information
Alias(es)	Land of the Horde
Capital	Kageshima
Notable cities	Hyama, Oreinashi, Shipwreck Cove, Shippuu, Vulpengaard Keep
Region(s)	East in the Land of the Living Shares borders with: Aison (south) Libaterra (north)
Societal Information
Language(s)	Common, Bharata, Dwarven, Elvish, Infernal, Kitsune, Merrow, Shang, Yamatian
Race(s)	Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Demons, Kitsune, Merrows
Ethnic group(s)	Bharatas, Shang, Yamatians
Demonym(s)	Yamatian
Religion(s)	Hephaestus (until 1000 AE), Mardük, Tiamat
Faction(s)	Akai Tora, Blue Dragon, Clergy of Mardük, Clergy of Tiamat, Eastern Horde, Kitsune, Merrows, Northern Horde, Raikage, Southern Horde, Totenkopfs, Western Horde
Political Information
Government	Empire (1-1006 AE) Grand Duchy (since 1006 AE)
Grand Duchess	Nhrakate d'Zarnagon (since 1006 AE)
Notable leaders	Shogun Hiroshi Takamoto (Akai Tora) Emperor Nootaikok and Empress Nerrivik (merrows) Duke Malphas d'Xuvadon (Northern Horde) Duchess Nina Heeate L'andariel (Southern Horde) Duke Pazuzu (Western Horde) Duchess Vaetris L'andariel (Eastern Horde)
Historical Information
Age	Third Age

Yamato is a Third Age nation which shares borders with Libaterra in the north and Aison in the south. It was expansionistic and aggressive because the Landpoison was slowly contaminating the land, which forced the Yamatians to seek the fertile soils of other lands. This eventually led to the Yamatian Invasion and the following Great War. Yamato used to be an empire until the Cataclysm when demons took over the land and named it the Grand Duchy of Yamato which is currently divided between four rival demon hordes. The central capital of Yamato is Kageshima, the City of Shadows, which is ruled by Grand Duchess Nhrakate d'Zarnagon.

History

Origins

See: Ryuugumi, Miletos

The world changed after the Explosion which rearranged the old continents and began the Third Age. The old continent of Miletos suffered the most as various parts of it sunk in the ocean and the few bits that still remained turned into an archipelago in the eastern part of the world.

The Ryuugumi people, who had lived in Grandbell, found their homes lost in the Explosion. Not long after the catastrophe, there was a massive uprising against the "ethnically distinct" parts of Grandbell. The Ryuugumi, who had been viewed with suspicion ever since the actions of the Ryuugumi sorcerer Taro Ofuchi, were eventually expelled from their lands in Grandbell in the chaotic after years of the Explosion and were forced to sail away.

The survivors who made it to landfall on one of the lost and forsaken islands that had once been Miletos were the hardiest of the Ryuugumi, and the smartest. The strong must survive, and the Ryuugumi had done so, and been transformed by hardship into what they called the superior race: the Yamato. Some Ryuugumi, however, had remained behind in what was to become Remon to rebuild their once thriving civilization.

The Ryuugumi who sailed away to the archipelago which had once been Miletos quicky took over the islands and named them collectively as Yamato in honour of their ancestors. The people who settled down on the islands became known as Yamatians. Many warrior clans eventually grouped under the banner of the Ofuchi Clan and forced neighbouring Yamatian clans as well as the native peoples of the island to submit under them one by one over the following centuries.

Some families such as the Hyuga Clan were less than happy to see an Ofuchi on the throne but they decided to bide their time and serve the emperors for the time being, and their loyalty eventually gave them the position as Shoguns, the Emperor's right-hand men. Many Yamatian clans openly defied the Emperor's troops, however, and kept their respective islands secure and autonomous for the most part while the Ofuchi supporters spread over Tekaido, the central island.

A large group consisting of the Clergy of Mardük and Chaos Dwarves arrived at Yamato around this time and took over one of the mineral-rich islands. Vulpengaard Keep was built on that island, and the high clerics of the Distreyd Thanadar line became the most prominent force in Yamato apart from the Shogun's and the Emperor's clans.

Distreyd Era

Unification

Things remained calm for the next few hundred years except for a few small skirmishes as the Yamatian lords' power bases grew. During the reign of Emperor Takeshi Ofuchi in 1000 AE things began to change, however. The latest Shogun, Masamori Hyuga, was ambitious and began to openly move against the emperor. He gathered many dissidents and rebellious clans together and attacked Kageshima, the Yamatian capital. This First Battle of Kageshima ended in Emperor Ofuchi's death and the surrender of the loyalist forces.

Masamori became the de facto leader of Yamato but kept the title of Shogun. He met with Distreyd Thanadar XII, the newest high cleric of Mardük, soon after the coup, and the two joined forces albeit with plans to use one another to further their separate goals. They began the Unification of Yamato and either bribed, negotiated or forced other Yamatian clans to submit under one banner. The glory years of the Yamato Empire had begun with Shogun Masamori Hyuga and High Cleric Distreyd Thanadar XII as its leaders.

Expansion

The Shogun soon realized that having Yamato under his control was not enough. A mysterious Landpoison had been affecting the Yamatian soil and made it infertile. The Shogun had two choices: either remain in Yamato and let the Landpoison slowly starve his people to death or expand his territories to claim more fertile land for his people. He chose the latter option, and he and Distreyd sent their forces to conquer the neighbouring kingdoms in what became known as the Yamatian Invasion. Unbeknownst to the Shogun the Landpoison had partially been caused by Distreyd XII's ancestor, Distreyd Thanadar I, and that Distreyd XII was manipulating the Shogun with the Landpoison to further his own dark goals.

The Yamatian Invasion took the other kingdoms by surprise, and the blitzkrieg tactics of Yamato and the Clergy of Mardük were a success. One kingdom after another fell under the Yamatian yoke, and Yamatians and dark clerics placed bakufus to govern their new provinces. Soon only Aison remained unconquered. It was then that the Shogun mysteriously fell ill and Distreyd XII became the de facto leader of the Yamato Empire. Some whispered that Distreyd XII had deliberately poisoned the Shogun to take over but no one could ever prove it one way or another. This change of power did not hinder Yamatian expansionism, however, as the Yamatian forces launced an attack on Aison and took over most of it.

Great War

Although Yamato and the Clergy of Mardük were content, they had underestimated the will of heroes. Soon a resistance force was formed in Remon and it grew daily. This force became known as the Grand Alliance and it began a successful campaign to liberate the kingdoms. This war between the Alliance and Yamato became known as the Great War.

Eventually the Grand Alliance's forces had liberated the other kingdoms and launched a counterattack on the Yamatian heartlands. Distreyd XII's sudden death, the Shogun's illness, and the general arrogance of other Yamatian commanders allowed the Alliance to reach the gates of Kageshima in 1006 AE after three rough war years. The Second Battle of Kageshima began with the Alliance soon gaining an upper hand.

Before the Alliance could properly conquer the weakened Yamatian forces left in Kageshima, the dark god Mardük arrived to lend the Yamatiand and dark clerics a hand. He opened up a portal to the Demon Realm, and countless demons poured out to fight in his name.

However, the sudden arrival of the Godslayer, a terrible beast, turned the tide as it devoured Mardük and the god Cardia. With Mardük gone, no one could close the portal anymore and the demons went on a mindless rampage, killing everyone in sight. The two gods' deaths caused the Cataclysm, making continents move. The Alliance quickly fled from Yamato, leaving Yamatians to deal with the rampaging demons.

Godslayer Era

Despite valiant resistance, Yamato was eventually overrun by demons. Kageshima remained as the capital but was now under demonic occupation. The land was divided between four major demon hordes which enslaved the Yamatian populace. The former empire became known as the Grand Duchy of Yamato, ruled by the demonic Grand Duchess and the four Dukes and Duchesses of the four demonic hordes.

The demons remained in power for 11 years but the Second Battle of Vulpengaard Keep changed the status quo a bit when a group of heroes manage to rob the demons from their regenerative powers with the help of magic. Demons still largely outnumber Yamatians but various freedom fighters such as the Akai Tora, Black Hunters and Blue Dragon pirates continue to harrass the demons while hoping to liberate Yamato and its people from demonic oppression someday.

The Northern Horde has recently begun a campaign to conquer Libaterra. After the Battle of Vanna, the horde now controls Vanna and the entire desert region of Southern Libaterra which was formerly owned by the Sultanate of Karaganda. The horde is currently gathering its forces to move north and invade the territories of the Magicracy of Alent next.

Geography

See: Yamato Map (Distreyd Era), World Map (Godslayer Era)

Yamato shares borders with Libaterra in the north and Aison in the south.

Its climate changes from warm to cold thanks to the winds from the seas. The landscape is rather harsh because of the demon influence, but there are nevertheless some untouched forests, mountains and rivers which have kept some of Yamato's nature intact as the land is slowly healing itself. The archipelago is rich with minerals and has various beautiful yet treacherous reefs for sailors to navigate.

Demographics

11 years after the Cataclysm, Yamato's main population consists of humans and demons. However, other races can also be found, most notably elves and dwarves who are spread throughout the land but also the kitsune who dwell solely in Kitsune Mori.

Human cultures are mainly divided between Yamatian, Shang and Bharata clans but the latter two are a minority compared to the more populous Yamatians. Demons also have several clans in the land, both aping and differentiating themselves from human clans.

Geopolitics

After the Cataclysm, Yamato has been taken over by four rival demon hordes, each ruled by a Duke or a Duchess. Central power lies in Kageshima and on the throne of the Grand Duchess who nevertheless has little to no authority over the other demons and is merely seen as a sort of mediator figure.

Despite the demons' dominion over Yamato, several resistance forces have formed throughout the land although they wage a desperate guerrilla war against the superior demon forces.

Yamato's centre of power still lies in Kageshima, located in the heart of the land, although it has lost much of its influence as the four demon hordes' power has grown rapidly over the years since the Cataclysm.

Demon Hordes

Eastern Horde

Leader: Duchess Vaetris L'andariel, the Deceiver

Dreadlord/lady: n/a

The Eastern Horde consists of primarily female demons and their willful male slaves who are led by Duchess Vaetris L'andariel in the Duchy of Eastern Yamato. They focus on quick and agile combat and use deception and their intoxicating pheromones as their weapons. The horde's capital is Shippuu.

Northern Horde

Leader: Duke Malphas d'Xuvadon, the Devourer

Dreadlord: Count Ronove Thanadar

The Northern Horde consists of bloodthirsty demon warriors as well as several human, dwarven and elven traitors who are led by Duke Malphas d'Xuvadon in the Duchy of Northern Yamato. The horde had no fixed capital as its forces were constantly on the move. They moved north to Libaterra in 1017 AE and participated in the Battle of Vanna during which they took over Vanna and Tronin Desert. Vanna is currently acting as the horde's base of operations while they prepare their forces to move north to the fertile Heartlands.

The horde also has a sizable following among the remnants of the Clergy of Mardük and Chaos Dwarves.

Southern Horde

Leader: Duchess Nina Heeate L'andariel, the Defiler

Dreadlord/lady: n/a

The Southern Horde consists of various demon mages who are led by Duchess Nina Heeate L'andariel in the Duchy of Southern Yamato. The horde's capital is Hyama. Since 1017 AE, it has come under the influence of the Eastern Horde after Vaetris's sister Nina from the East took over.

Western Horde

Leader: Duke Pazuzu, the Diviner

Dreadlady: Countess Naamah

The Western Horde consists of various demons, ranging from warriors to mages and merchants as well as various Yamatian traitors who are led by Duke Pazuzu in the Duchy of Western Yamato. The horde's capital is Oreinashi. It is among the wealthiest hordes in Yamato as many of its demons prefer to live in luxury and use slaves to build extravagant palaces.

Non-Demon Territories

The following territories aren't under demon rule, and they operate independently from one another:

Kitsune Mori

Faction: Kitsune

Leader(s): Unknown

Kitsune Mori, located in the forest south of Shippuu, is populated by kitsune, mysterious fox demons, who rarely venture outside their labyrinthine home. Little is known of this race and the mysterious forest they dwell in other than that they're no allies of current demon overlords of Yamato. Despite wielding demonic magic, they don't seem to be directly related to any of the demon breeds as far as academics are concerned. Thus kitsune leadership and numbers remain unknown even to this day.

Merrow Depths

Faction: Merrows

Leader(s): Emperor Nootaikok and Empress Nerrivik

Merrow Depths is an area deep in the Yamatian ocean which is populated by merrows, an aquatic race. These merfolk are ruled from the grand underwater city of Adlivun by a royal couple generally referred to as the Emperor and Empress of Depths. Merrows have stayed in the safety of the ocean for generations, and their existence is heavily debated even among experienced sailors, some of whom claim to have seen glimpses of "mermaids" during voyages.

Shipwreck Cove

Faction: Blue Dragon

Leader(s): Pirate King Kuro Tori

The Blue Dragon pirates, led by Pirate King Kuro Tori, live in the Shipwreck Cove which is presently located betwixt Oreinashi and Kageshima. The pirates relocated there after the Cataclysm destroyed their other hideout. They mainly oppose the Western Horde...not out of altruism but because the horde's navy hinders their pirating business. The Cove is in a secret location in a calvera, which makes it hard even for demons to find and which is why it has remained safe from invasion so far. It is a home for thieves and cutthroats and has many treacherous reefs which have sunk many inexperienced and even experienced sailors over the years.

Vulpengaard Keep

Factions: Akai Tora and Forgotten

Leader(s): Shogun Hiroshi Takamoto and High Cleric Alathor

Vulpengaard Keep, located in Southern Yamato betwixt Hyama and New Molson, was once the headquarters of the Clergy of Mardük but fell to demon hands after the Cataclysm. The Akai Tora and the Forgotten took over the keep after the Second Battle of Vulpengaard Keep and now use it as their base of operations against the demon hordes.

The Akai Tora, led by Shogun Hiroshi Takamoto, consists of former Yamatian imperialists and other guerrilla forces of the region who wish to liberate Yamato from demons and perhaps even restore Yamato to its former imperial glory. The Forgotten, led by High Cleric Alathor, are a splinter group from the Clergy of Mardük who have remained true to the god Mardük's original teachings and believe that the current Clergy of Mardük has lots its way. The Akai Tora and the Forgotten have joined forces because they believe they can benefit from each other and because they share the same goal: liberate Yamato from demons.

Others

Other demon-opposing factions also appear in Yamato albeit in no fixed location. The most notable ones are the Black Hunters, an organization based in New Molson in Aison who regularly venture into Southern Yamato to save non-demon prisoners and slaughter demon patrols. The Black Hunters are led by Commander Yousei Kaizoku.

Relations

Yamato grew increasingly hostile over the years until the Yamatian Invasion when the Empire invaded the other kingdoms Aison, Libaterra, Maar Sul, Scundia and Remon. This eventually led to the Great War which ended up ravaging Yamato. The demons' invasion of the empire's land and the enslavement of the populace further changed the balance of power.

After the Cataclysm, things have remained the same for the most part. Yamato is now seen as an even more dangerous place than before thanks to its new demon overlords. Demons are interested in conquering the other kingdoms, and the Northern Horde has made the first move by invading Southern Libaterra in 1017 AE.

Notable Yamatians

Original

• Distreyd Thanadar
• Hiroshi Takamoto
• Hyuga Clan
• Kuro Tori
• Ofuchi Clan
• Samachi Nomura
• Seishuu Kazejin
• Yousei Kaizoku

Demons

• Hepnaz L'invrad
• Leraje Thanadar
• Malphas d'Xuvadon
• Naamah
• Nhrakate d'Zarnagon
• Nina Heeate L'andariel
• Pazuzu
• Ronove Thanadar
• Seven Sisters
• Vaetris L'andariel

See also

• Demon
• Gate of Darkness
• Kageshima
• Landpoison of Yamato
• Ryuugumi
• Unification of Yamato
• Vulpengaard Keep
• World Map (Godslayer Era)
• Yamatian Invasion
• Yamato Map (Distreyd Era)