Koritsan Order
Structure
The Ninja of Koritsae utilize a simplistic structure, where a member can be one of three positions; Shinia, Asashin and Kaishi. Shinia are the few old Ninja who guide the Order, Asashin are the majority of the order and the members who most often are dispatched on missions, while the Kaishi are the trainees and are only sent on missions before they become Asashin. The entire order runs seniority within each rank as Minari (Apprentice), Tatsujin (Adept) and Masuta (Master), with Masuta Shinia being the most senior and the Minari Kaishi the most junior positions in the order.
Culture
The modern culture of the Order is dedicated towards service to Kharsharb, how to be the best possible Ninja for those you serve, with a dogmatic focus o traditional methods of assassination. Free thinking in terms of how to approach assassinations is strictly taboo, with blade and poison being the two primary methods, bow and dagger the secondary and garotte the final outlier (permitted but not preferential). Additionally, the Koritsan Ninja are not spies or saboteurs, they are killers through and through, meaning that they are not permitted to conduct espionage. Scouting targets and locations is permitted and encouraged, but anything beyond that scope (or what would aid in their mission) is forbidden.
'All Ninja are Kitsune, and all Kitsune are Ninja' is a guiding Axiom of the Order, one that dates back to the ancient and forgotten founding of the Order. While in the past prospective Ninja were selected only from within Koritsae, since their merging with Kharsharb the Order also selects recruits from particularly promising individuals that show an aptitude for the wet work of the Order. These individuals are then taken aside, placed in 'special training' exams that, if they pass, are offered a position in the Order, something few reject. Those who do have their memories altered, and forget everything about the Order. Once inducted into the Order an individual is guided through a ritual that alters them into a Kitsune, as 'All Ninja are Kitsune, and all Kitsune are Ninja'.
'All Ninja are Kitsune, and all Kitsune are Ninja' is a guiding Axiom of the Order, one that dates back to the ancient and forgotten founding of the Order. While in the past prospective Ninja were selected only from within Koritsae, since their merging with Kharsharb the Order also selects recruits from particularly promising individuals that show an aptitude for the wet work of the Order. These individuals are then taken aside, placed in 'special training' exams that, if they pass, are offered a position in the Order, something few reject. Those who do have their memories altered, and forget everything about the Order. Once inducted into the Order an individual is guided through a ritual that alters them into a Kitsune, as 'All Ninja are Kitsune, and all Kitsune are Ninja'.
Public Agenda
Publicly, Ninja do not exist, never have existed, and the Koritsan are just a simple people paying tribute to Kharsharb for protection. The Order has gone and will continue to go to great lengths to ensure that this narrative is the only one the public known.
Assets
- The Island of Koritsae
- Countless Ninja
- Elder Kass'obake
History
The Koritsan Order has a long and bloody history dating back to the Bloodplague, where the ancient Kitsune developed methods of stealthily killing the Kalkur while not drawing attention, allowing them to eliminate hordes without drawing them back to their hideouts. During this time not all Ninja were Kitsune, as the Order was comprised out of a number of hidden tribes, with only their warriors being Ninja, though over time as the ritual of conversion was discovered and perfected a shift towards Kitsune began. While only those who became Ninja were transformed, those who became too injured to fight or retired would then reproduce, causing a rise in the Kitsune population.
Sylph, various Elven subspecies, Orcs and even a few Human tribes that had somehow been driven south all allied themselves as one against the Arashien (Eternal Storm), bulking the Order's strength to a few thousand towards the end of the Bloodplague. At this time the Order were little more than a guerilla force, fighting only for survival and nothing more, though all across the world similar battles were taking place, and any greater ideals were not really considered until the enemy had been defeated. Once the Kalkur were eradicated from the Valley's the Order called home they would patrol the fringes of the Valley, scaring outsiders and eliminating threats.
Despite their abilities, however, the Order could not keep the hordes of scared outsiders from overrunning the Valley's and taking their homes, though they could defend their people as the Order searched for a new home. Eventually scouts would come across Koritsae, entirely abandoned and free for the taking, which the Order would direct their kinsmen to do. Not all of the scattered Order would come to Koritsae, with some of the fragments eventually evolving in the Samurai, though most would arrive on the island, which they would defend with their lives. Time and time again they would have to, against various marauders, the Kalurai and, eventually, their own people.
In 580 LS a growing movement amongst the Ninja towards free thinking freedoms began to cause a schism in the Order, eventually leading to the Kagenos (Shadow War), a period where factions of Ninja would fight in the shadows for what they believed in. This violence would spiral out of control as non-combatant would be drawn in, leaving thousands of civilians dead for only being related to or even being associated with a combatant. After a particularly brutal massacre eight Masuta Shinia would decided that enough was enough and take matters into their own hands, striking at the leadership of various factions. Using the ancient Ways of the Ninja these Shinia would use a show of force to bring many Ninja back into the fold, while also eliminating the malcontents. Eventually, when they dominated what remained of the Order, a simple offer was made; return to the fold now, or never return to this island. Join or Exile. An unknown number chose exile, as in the Order's own texts, this number has been purposefully left out of the records.
The modern Order stands around a thousand strong, though many of them are withheld on Koritsae for special deployments and protection. For the few that are dispatched to Kharsharb to serve, each Ninja is permitted to choose who they serve within the city, though must abide by the tenets of the Order, and never strike down another Koritsan Ninja. Those traitors of the aberrant Orders are free game, however, and Ninja are highly encouraged to strike first and ask questions later.
Sylph, various Elven subspecies, Orcs and even a few Human tribes that had somehow been driven south all allied themselves as one against the Arashien (Eternal Storm), bulking the Order's strength to a few thousand towards the end of the Bloodplague. At this time the Order were little more than a guerilla force, fighting only for survival and nothing more, though all across the world similar battles were taking place, and any greater ideals were not really considered until the enemy had been defeated. Once the Kalkur were eradicated from the Valley's the Order called home they would patrol the fringes of the Valley, scaring outsiders and eliminating threats.
Despite their abilities, however, the Order could not keep the hordes of scared outsiders from overrunning the Valley's and taking their homes, though they could defend their people as the Order searched for a new home. Eventually scouts would come across Koritsae, entirely abandoned and free for the taking, which the Order would direct their kinsmen to do. Not all of the scattered Order would come to Koritsae, with some of the fragments eventually evolving in the Samurai, though most would arrive on the island, which they would defend with their lives. Time and time again they would have to, against various marauders, the Kalurai and, eventually, their own people.
In 580 LS a growing movement amongst the Ninja towards free thinking freedoms began to cause a schism in the Order, eventually leading to the Kagenos (Shadow War), a period where factions of Ninja would fight in the shadows for what they believed in. This violence would spiral out of control as non-combatant would be drawn in, leaving thousands of civilians dead for only being related to or even being associated with a combatant. After a particularly brutal massacre eight Masuta Shinia would decided that enough was enough and take matters into their own hands, striking at the leadership of various factions. Using the ancient Ways of the Ninja these Shinia would use a show of force to bring many Ninja back into the fold, while also eliminating the malcontents. Eventually, when they dominated what remained of the Order, a simple offer was made; return to the fold now, or never return to this island. Join or Exile. An unknown number chose exile, as in the Order's own texts, this number has been purposefully left out of the records.
The modern Order stands around a thousand strong, though many of them are withheld on Koritsae for special deployments and protection. For the few that are dispatched to Kharsharb to serve, each Ninja is permitted to choose who they serve within the city, though must abide by the tenets of the Order, and never strike down another Koritsan Ninja. Those traitors of the aberrant Orders are free game, however, and Ninja are highly encouraged to strike first and ask questions later.
In the Light we Fall, in the Shadows we Rise
Type
Guild, Assassins
Alternative Names
The True Order, The First Ninjas
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Kortisan
Parent Organization
Location
Controlled Territories
Related Species
Related Plots
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