Hijiri
The Most Serene Teikonic State of Hijiri, commonly referred to as simply Hijiri, is a nation in southern Asmarea, due south from the Holy City of Hymnis. An ancient feudal nation with millennia of history, Hijiri is known for its honorable warriors, well-crafted weaponry, untouchable divine ruler, and enchanting natural beauty. Its current ruler is Imagawa Tenno - "Tenno" being the title rather than a name.
History
The history of Hijiri dates back as long as history has been kept. According to texts that are as much history as legend, the first Tenno was a divine warrior named Kamuyai, born to Raisuzu, a demigod aspect of Amano. Raisuzu went mad after the Rend, since as a demigod, his mind was split between the now-severed physical and divine realms. Kamuyai was then ordered by Amano himself to assemble the regional lords under his command, and slay Raisuzu before he could garner enough mad power to bring about the destruction of the world. Kamuyai did as instructed and waged an epic battle against his sire, lasting "six turns of the moon"[1]. Kamuyai personally decapitated Raisuzu in view of all the lords, and used the magic remaining in the demigod's head to forge a trio of blades, which represent the three sides of Raisuzu: the divine channeled into Harunai-giri, the sun channeled into Jemeri-giri, and the madness channeled into Onishi-giri. Kamuyai then assumed the position of the divine ruler of the lands, and according to the texts, his line of descendants remains unbroken to this day. Hijiri appears in ancient Hymnian texts as 'Teikonic Hijiri', a land to the south ruled by a 'sun emperor'. These early records mostly pertain to warring feudal lords, as well as enthronements of new tennos. Near the end of this era, a century-long war was fought by Hijiri against the ancient kingdom of Makelegar, culminating in the latter's defeat and total destruction. The town of Highden was built upon the Makelegarian ruins centuries later. During the era of exchange, when the peoples from other continents met and exchanged goods, warriors from the reclusive state of Hijiri began traveling the wide world, serving lords and noble causes. They and their impressive weaponry brought the Teikonic State into view on the world stage. Foreigners began seeking out Hijiri, yet were often seen as invaders or defilers, and cut down by warriors in service of their feudal lords. This reputation quickly spread, and as such, the state remained highly isolated, never once sending or receiving diplomats from any other polity. Roughly four hundred years ago, three feudal lords from the northern borderlands were summoned by Yamata Tenno, who had grown transfixed by word of foreign lands and their copious treasures. He ordered them to facilitate trade with other peoples to satiate this teikonic curiosity. After he was explained that this would necessitate the presence of foreigners in the state, even in the capital, the Tenno took time to deliberate. After a year, he announced that he yet wanted to see his curiosity sated, and gave the order to open the state's borders. Since then, outsiders have been allowed to venture inside the magical reclusive state, albeit under near-constant supervision of Hijirin warriors - and never allowed to approach the Sunbed, the Tenno's palace. Hijiri's main economic export is Hijirin weaponry, which is in very high regard around the world.Geography
The domain of the Teikonic State is located along the eastern coast of a region known as Dasyllis, a mountainous forested land stretching from the western sea to the central gulf that the Asmarean continent is wrapped around. Parts of these forests are made largely of cypress, cedar, and cherry trees; the southern ends of the Hijirin domain however largely consists of flatter forests made of bamboo plants. Due to the high amounts of natural magic present in Asmarea, the nature here too is prone to stark differences and changes, and many magical plants and creatures can be found lurking among the trees and mountains. The area around the Sunbed, the palace of the Tenno, is renowned for its natural beauty. The enchanting natural vistas, created by the flora, waterfalls, and cliffsides, draw in artists from around the world, hoping to capture them on canvas. The castle itself is built on an isolated plateau, and can only be accessed by way of the immense and eye-catching Tatsunomiyo Bridge, crossing the gap between the plateau and the nearest cliff. This bridge, built of the dark red wood of the cherry trees that populate the area, is a marvel in and of itself - and is guarded by the Hijirin warriors and the Shinobi, like the Sunbed itself.Politics and society
Hijiri is ruled by the Tenno, a local term roughly translating to "divine ruler". The Tenno rules for life, and all local lords have to swear their fealty to the Tenno upon their or his accession. The Tenno of Hijiri is considered untouchable and unassailable: there exist no methods for their deposition, any visitors to the Sunbed must surrender all weapons and wear antimagic charms, and any attack on the Tenno, be it physical, verbal, or otherwise, is grounds for execution. In everyday rule, however, the Tenno practically does little of note, remaining within the Sunbed and leaving it only for ceremonies or on exceedingly rare occasions. It is instead the nineteen local lords who govern their respective territories, albeit in name of the Tenno. Most of these lords are harsh and stern rulers, placing great emphasis on honor and law. Hijirin society puts a lot of emphasis on honor and respect. Even when one dislikes the person they are speaking with, they should always treat them with respect and dignity. There exist a great many unwritten social rules within the Teikonic State, and violating them is seen as a great insult. Therefore, those of foreign lands often find Hijirin difficult to communicate with, and diplomacy is virtually a non-factor. At the accession of the Tenno, the only foreigners invited are the High Chancellor of the Divinium, and the High Priest of Amano, should they not be the same person. Hijiri is home to elves, air genasi, feikin, tortles, and kitsune: the last of these also play an important role in local traditions and rituals, and are therefore often placed in religious, spiritual, and magical functions in Hijirin society. Humans and the half-elves they create have been appearing in recent times, but are still rare and often regarded with suspicion. It has been widely understood that firbolg live among the Hijirin mountains, as creatures matching their descriptions are plentiful in local lore. However, they do not seem to be an integral part of the local culture, and seem to live separate lives. Many divines are worshipped, as a spread of worship across multiple divines is seen as not only respectful, but also as a method of securing one's good favor with all the divines as a collective. However, three deities stand above the others in these lands. Mielikki is revered as a guardian of the forests and the travelers within the wilds. Sune is the patron of home and family in Hijiri, and is the focus of many rites and rituals concerning courtship and fertility. Most importantly, Amano is seen as the high divine and the father of the nation, as according to the legends, the Tenno can trace their lineage back to the sun god directly. Within Hijiri, Amano's most common association is with the sun itself, rather than with the domain of time, which he represents in other places that venerate him, such as the Sovranty of the Wendrough.Most Serene Teikonic State of Hijiri
Ruler
Imagawa Tenno
Capital
The Sunbed
Armed Forces
Hijirin Warriors & Shinobi
Demonym
Hijirin
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