Senkurai

Disciples of Bushido

The Senkurai originate from the eastern lands of Erenel, where discipline, honor, and perfection define their way of life. Living under the watchful rule of the Empress, they embrace Bushido, a code that dictates their morals, duties, and societal roles.

The Senkurai are a people of rigid structure, where every action, from combat to calligraphy, is performed with precision and discipline. Their lives are bound by the Bushido, an intricate code of ethics that dictates sincerity, frugality, loyalty, and combat mastery. The way of Bushido is not simply a philosophy, it is an expectation upheld by all Senkurai from the lowest commoner to the highest noble.
Nestled beyond the Iron Cage Summit in the eastern reaches of Erenel, Senkurai society is highly stratified, with nobility holding absolute authority over the lower classes. Those of lower status are expected to serve without question, while the noble caste enforces strict discipline over themselves and those beneath them. This adherence to structure has created a civilization of exceptional artisans, warriors, and scholars, all striving for perfection in their respective crafts. However, failure to uphold Bushido is met with severe consequences. Those who fall into disgrace often give their life force willingly to the Empress as atonement, an act that has prolonged her life for centuries.
Physically, the Senkurai are shorter and leaner than most human ethnicities. They tend to have pale to yellowish-bronze skin, straight black hair, and dark eyes. Their meticulous grooming habits reflect their emphasis on discipline and aesthetic perfection.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Asami, Estuko, Kasumi, Rei, Yasuko

Masculine names

Akio, Fumio, Hiroki, Kioshi, Toshio

Family names

Chien, Huang, Kao, Mei, Wan

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Shinsei

The Senkurai speak Shinsei. Precise and formal, it emphasizes structure and clarity, ensuring that words are never wasted. Public speech follows strict etiquette, with different levels of politeness depending on social status and context. A noble addressing a warrior, a commoner speaking to a merchant, and a warrior delivering a challenge each use distinct variations of the language.
Writing in Shinsei is considered an art form, with calligraphy being a highly respected skill. Poetic verse is woven into everyday communication, from the issuing of commands to formal greetings. Senkurai proverbs and idioms often reference Bushido, reflecting their cultural ideals of duty, honor, and sacrifice.

Notable Senkurai Sayings

"A blade without purpose is no better than a twig."

"One thousand days of training for one moment of perfection."

"The Empress sees all. The unworthy are already forgotten."

"Silence is the breath of wisdom."

Culture and cultural heritage

Every Senkurai follows the path of Bushido, a strict moral and ethical code enforced by the Empress. This doctrine governs all aspects of their lives, instilling a sense of discipline and duty. The Bushido code includes sincerity, frugality, loyalty, combat mastery, and absolute honor. Such unwavering adherence to this philosophy has enriched Senkurai society, ensuring a well-disciplined military, an efficient workforce, and a people willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
A fundamental aspect of Senkurai culture is the belief that one’s failures and dishonor can be cleansed through self sacrifice. Those who feel they have failed to uphold their duty willingly surrender their life force to the Empress, sustaining her seemingly eternal rule. This deep reverence for the Empress solidifies her status as the spiritual and political heart of Senkurai civilization.

Common Etiquette rules

Senkurai etiquette is rigid and carefully observed, with strict expectations governing public behavior. It is frowned upon to express emotions such as anger, joy, or affection openly. Instead, emotions are reserved for private moments shared with close family and confidants. Public restraint is seen as a sign of strength, while excessive emotional expression is considered a mark of weakness.
Additionally, hierarchy dictates all interactions. Those of lower caste must bow deeply to their superiors, while nobles acknowledge commoners with minimal gestures. Every movement, from the way one speaks to how one serves tea, is performed with calculated precision to display respect and refinement.

Common Dress code

Senkurai fashion reflects their devotion to discipline and elegance. They wear flowing, ornate robes designed with intricate patterns, ensuring that even their clothing embodies the principles of order and refinement. High-ranking nobles favor elaborate silks embroidered with symbols of their lineage, while commoners wear simpler garments made of finely woven cotton.
Geta, a type of elevated wooden sandal, is the most common footwear among the Senkurai. Originally designed for practicality, it has evolved into a fashion statement, symbolizing social class and refinement. To maintain modesty, Senkurai garments often cover much of the body, leaving little exposed skin visible.

Art & Architecture

Art and craftsmanship are revered in Senkurai culture, with the same discipline applied to combat as to artistic expression. Woodblock paintings, poetry, and meticulously crafted calligraphy serve as testaments to their pursuit of beauty and excellence. Their architecture follows similar principles. Symmetry, balance, and simplicity define Senkurai structures, with sweeping roofs, intricate wooden carvings, and harmonious natural elements blending into their cities.
Gardens hold a special place in Senkurai culture, designed with careful attention to form and philosophy. These serene landscapes reflect the natural balance of the world and provide places for meditation, poetry, and quiet reflection.

Foods & Cuisine

Senkurai cuisine is simple yet refined, with great emphasis on fresh ingredients and careful preparation.

Garden Tea

A calming herbal tea brewed from flowers grown in Senkurai temple gardens. Used for meditation, it is said to clear the mind and sharpen focus before important decisions.

Imperial Rice Bowl

A staple dish consisting of steamed rice topped with thinly sliced fish, pickled vegetables, and a light soy glaze. It is prepared with meticulous care, ensuring each component is perfectly arranged.

Lotus Blossom Dumplings

Delicate dumplings filled with seasoned mushrooms, minced meat, and lotus root, symbolizing purity and resilience. These dumplings are often served during festivals and ceremonies honoring the Empress.

Searing Ember Noodles

A spicy noodle soup made with seared beef, fragrant chili broth, and crisp greens. Warriors often eat this dish before battle, believing its heat stokes the flames of courage.

Encompassed species

• Human

Related Locations

• Northeastern Lyrathil

Relations with Others

The Senkurai are a people of discipline, honor, and unwavering loyalty to their Empress. Their strict adherence to Bushido shapes every facet of their lives, and their diplomacy with other cultures.

The Senkurai respect Ahn' Kalin scholars but question their pragmatism, seeing them as little more than dreamers.

The warlike Caelian are seen as undisciplined and lacking refinement. However, Senkurai warriors admire their battlefield prowess, and mutual respect exists between elite fighters of both cultures.

The Senkurai find Garuthian’ philosophical musings intriguing but ultimately impractical. They appreciate their commitment to tradition but view them as too loose in structure.

The Senkurai find the Krovashi carefree nature difficult to relate to, often seeing them as too undisciplined and opportunistic. Meanwhile, the Krovashi admire Senkurai craftsmanship and martial prowess but find their strict adherence to tradition limiting.

The structured and noble society of the Thalorian finds common ground with the Senkurai. Both cultures value hierarchy and order, though the Senkurai see Thalorian reliance on diplomacy as a weakness.

by Forrest Imel

The Empress

The Empress is the undisputed ruler of the Senkurai, an enigmatic figure whose reign has stretched for centuries, sustained by the life force of her devoted subjects. Though few have seen her in recent years, those who have claim she possesses an ethereal presence, her ageless form untouched by time, her eyes holding the weight of countless generations.
The ritual of surrendering life essence to the Empress is an event of solemn reverence, performed only by those who have been deemed unworthy by their own failure or dishonor. In the heart of the Imperial Palace, the disgraced kneel before the Empress, their heads bowed in submission. As they speak their final words of atonement, a radiant glow emanates from their bodies, their very essence drawn forth like threads of golden light, weaving into the Empress and vanishing into her being. What remains is an empty husk, crumbling to dust, a reminder that service to the Empress transcends even death itself.

Combat and Warfare

The Senkurai military is a disciplined force, known for its mastery of precision and strategy. Their warriors follow strict training regimens, specializing in martial arts, swordplay, and mounted combat. Bushido’s emphasis on honor in battle means that cowardice is met with severe consequences, and even in defeat, a warrior is expected to meet death with dignity rather than surrender.
Dueling is a common method of settling disputes among the warrior class. These duels, known as Rite of Blades, follow strict ceremonial rules, often ending in first blood rather than death. However, a dishonored warrior may challenge their opponent to a Final Blade, a duel to the death meant to restore their lost honor.