Taidon Shogunate
The Taidon Shogunate is a hierarchal society located in the northern region of Kherik. Taidon shares its southern border with the Colarian Theocracy and its eastern border with the Thorntairan Empire.
Government and Current Affairs: The Vesaryon Shogunate has lead Taidon for the past 300 years. The Shogun is in charge of all national military, economic, political, and diplomatic matters. Though with increasingly hostile incursions from the Colarian Theocracy, the Shogun has morphed into a military icon with the last three Shoguns perishing in battle. The current Shogun, Kanna Vesaryon, recently assumed the title after her father's death at the front. Though only 17, she has already earned the respect of many High Lords during her recent victory against a Colarian incursion at the border. However, due to her youth, she is underestimated by most of the government and, likely, the Colarian generals. One victory may not be enough to maintain control of her Shogunate. As the Shogun, she will have to balance increased military duties, along with the administrative work involved in governing a country.
The Taidon Shogunate has no standing army. Instead, each fiefdom trains their own house armies and contribute arms when the Shogun calls them to war. In return, the High Lords act as generals and members of the Shogun's cabinet. These High Lords are skilled warriors and magic users who measure their success by their tactical and magical might as well as their honor.
While Colarian encroachment along the Southern border has consumed much of Taidon's attention and resources, reports of monsters of all kinds appearing throught the country have increased. Some of these have long been thought extinct and their reappearance has troubled both leaders and citizens alike. In response, the Shogun Vesaryon has ordered some forces be redistributed to guard villages and train more able-bodied citizens. While this decision has drawn some criticism, she argued, "Colaria will have an easier time overtaking our home if our farms are uprooted and our culture destroyed by monsters. A hungry and forsaken army has no place on the battlefield. We must meet both forces with equal vigor."
Relations: Taidon has adversarial relations with the Colarion Theocracy due to their disagreement on whether or not magic should be used. The border between Taidon and Colaria hosts a frequent number of skirmishes between the two countries. Colarians are banned from entering Taidon and even diplomats are forced to meet on neutral soil. Both countries exist moments away from a full scale war.
Taidon enjoys good relations with the Thorntarian Empire. While Thorntaria refuses to trade arms with Taidon in order to avoid provoking Colaria, the two nations share plenty of goods and services. However, this relationship is not without disagreement as Taidon does not understand why Thorntaria allows Colaria's hatred of magic to dictate their use of magic.
Culture and Society: Northlanders are a very strict people. Their sense of honor and discipline drives their existence. According to Northlanders, a good person strives to be honorable and an honorable person must be disciplined enough to maintain honor. While there are some variations between different villages, the attributes of an honorable person are relatively standard. Each peroson must live according to the seven pillars: courage, loyalty, honesty, respect, justice, compassion, and integirty. No matter what class a person is, they must always strive to follow the seven pillars.
Magic is also a central part of Taidon society. Unlike Colarians, Northlanders embrace magic and its essence has become a central aspect of Taidon identity. Most Northlanders study various aspects of magic and work it in to their daily lives and struggle to be honorable. Many Northlanders will use thier magic to better their community or family. According to Northlanders, magic must be shared. Magic used for selfish reasons is generally seen as unhonorable and those who do so risk being branded as unhonorable and banishment from society.
Northlanders born with innate magical abilities are generally seen as future leaders and pushed towards leadership roles. More often than not, these Northlanders join the Don and become warriors. However, magic users of all kinds are praised throughout the country and most Northlanders find a way to incorporate magic into their lives. Some harness the magic of the land itself to serve their people. Others make pacts with gods or other entities to learn to fight or heal. Some devote themselves to the study of magic and have learned to blend magical abilities with combat prowess.
Noble Class: Ta'Shon
The noble class, known as Ta'Shon are functionally regional Lords. They maintain and operate large areas of land and govern the people who live and work within their borders. Like the noble classes of Airdan, the Ta'Shon train individual militaries to defend their borders from monsters and Colarian forces. Very rarely is there any inter Ta'Shon conflict that involves a full malitary. Most Ta'Shon conflict is settled by a single combat duel to the death. Although in practice, as soon as one party yeilds, the duel is over.
Ta'Shon families will often send a representative to the Shogun's court in order to maintain infulence in the capital. Some Ta'Shon families send multiple representatives. As a result, the Shogun's court is generally large since the practice is for the Shogun to accept all represntatives. However, past Shoguns have developed creative ways for dealing with the endless number of representative Ta'Shon families send to their court. The current Shogun has devised a system where the most desirable places in her court are filled by Ta'Shon representatives who have served her well themselves, or their families have been a vital ally. The more undesirable positions (which are just glorified servants) are given to new representatives who have yet to prove their worth, or representatives whose families have disapointed her.
Warrior Class: Don
The Don are the most popular class in Taidon society as they are considered to be the embodiment of honor. Don are expected to follow the seven pillars to perfection and most do so with enthusiasm. Becoming a Don is one of the most honorable things a Northlander can do in their life. However, it is not a calling all Northlanders can achieve since it requires years of rigorous training and apprenticeship.
All Northlanders are able to become a Don at any point in their life unless they are Unshadon. However, in the south, atoned Unshadon are able to become Don. Regardless, Don are trained by their Ta'Shon and are expected to remain loyal to their Ta'Shon, community, and country. All Dons are adept at various forms of combat and many are skilled with magic. Official training usually takes about five years in total. Most Dons elect to start training in their adolecentce; however, it is not unheard of for older or younger Northlanders to train. Due to the high standard, not all trainees are successful. While some find it shameful to fail, most Northlanders believe it is very courageous to fail and do not hold it against a failed Don.
Once a Northlander becomes a Don, they can serve their community in various ways. Most of which include protection and passing judgment. A Don has the authority to enforce the laws of the Ta'Shon and Shogun.
Working Class: A'Don
The A'Don make up the majority of Northlanders and can be equated to the average citizen of Taidon. Like other classes, they live by the Seven Pillars of Honor. A'Don are in a unique position becasue they have the ability to move up (or down) the hiearchy based on how they choose to live their life. A successful merchant can becom a Ta'Shon and a young warrior can become successful as a Don. However, most A'Don are content serving their community as a teacher, hunter, or merchant. An A'Don who breaks the Seven Pillars can, of course, be shunned and become Unshadon.
Unhonorables: Unshadon
The Unshadon are the people who have broken the code of honor. These people are shunned from soceity and forced to wander the country as nomads. Unshadon are a very controversial class in Taidon and how people treat them varies between reigon. Those who have been marked as Unshadon by their community are branded with a symbol of a broken sword on their right arm. All Unshadon are forbbidden from entering the community of bannishment. It is not uncommon to see an Unshadon beggar in the streets of Muneari. Although, nearly everyone ignores them. Some Unshadon embrace their brands of dishonor and form bands of theives that raid travelers and caravans across the highlands. However, most Unshadon live as nomads in the mountains and often form peacfull communities of thier own. Some leave Taidon altogether and search for a new life in Thorntaria or some other nation (althouh all Northlanders avoid Colaria).
However, some Northlanders have begun to rethink shunning Unshadon. Many younger Northlanders believe shunning the Unshadon is just as dishonorable and there should be a path of penance. The origin for this way of thinking originated in Southwest Taidon where most communities offer a path to redemption. Unshadon must go forth and complete a series of quests in order to be accepted back into society. While the quests differ for each Unshadon, their brands are all imbued with a magical property that mend the broken sword with gold once they attone for their banishment. Only then are they allowed to return home.
Recently, Shogun Vesaryon has embraced this new line of thinking, offering redemption to any Unshadon who wished to patrol the country and protect villages from monsters. She did not specify how long they would serve or what constitutes as atonement. Nonetheless, hundreds of Unshadon have answered her call and enlisted to fight monsters.
Government and Current Affairs: The Vesaryon Shogunate has lead Taidon for the past 300 years. The Shogun is in charge of all national military, economic, political, and diplomatic matters. Though with increasingly hostile incursions from the Colarian Theocracy, the Shogun has morphed into a military icon with the last three Shoguns perishing in battle. The current Shogun, Kanna Vesaryon, recently assumed the title after her father's death at the front. Though only 17, she has already earned the respect of many High Lords during her recent victory against a Colarian incursion at the border. However, due to her youth, she is underestimated by most of the government and, likely, the Colarian generals. One victory may not be enough to maintain control of her Shogunate. As the Shogun, she will have to balance increased military duties, along with the administrative work involved in governing a country.
The Taidon Shogunate has no standing army. Instead, each fiefdom trains their own house armies and contribute arms when the Shogun calls them to war. In return, the High Lords act as generals and members of the Shogun's cabinet. These High Lords are skilled warriors and magic users who measure their success by their tactical and magical might as well as their honor.
While Colarian encroachment along the Southern border has consumed much of Taidon's attention and resources, reports of monsters of all kinds appearing throught the country have increased. Some of these have long been thought extinct and their reappearance has troubled both leaders and citizens alike. In response, the Shogun Vesaryon has ordered some forces be redistributed to guard villages and train more able-bodied citizens. While this decision has drawn some criticism, she argued, "Colaria will have an easier time overtaking our home if our farms are uprooted and our culture destroyed by monsters. A hungry and forsaken army has no place on the battlefield. We must meet both forces with equal vigor."
Relations: Taidon has adversarial relations with the Colarion Theocracy due to their disagreement on whether or not magic should be used. The border between Taidon and Colaria hosts a frequent number of skirmishes between the two countries. Colarians are banned from entering Taidon and even diplomats are forced to meet on neutral soil. Both countries exist moments away from a full scale war.
Taidon enjoys good relations with the Thorntarian Empire. While Thorntaria refuses to trade arms with Taidon in order to avoid provoking Colaria, the two nations share plenty of goods and services. However, this relationship is not without disagreement as Taidon does not understand why Thorntaria allows Colaria's hatred of magic to dictate their use of magic.
Culture and Society: Northlanders are a very strict people. Their sense of honor and discipline drives their existence. According to Northlanders, a good person strives to be honorable and an honorable person must be disciplined enough to maintain honor. While there are some variations between different villages, the attributes of an honorable person are relatively standard. Each peroson must live according to the seven pillars: courage, loyalty, honesty, respect, justice, compassion, and integirty. No matter what class a person is, they must always strive to follow the seven pillars.
Magic is also a central part of Taidon society. Unlike Colarians, Northlanders embrace magic and its essence has become a central aspect of Taidon identity. Most Northlanders study various aspects of magic and work it in to their daily lives and struggle to be honorable. Many Northlanders will use thier magic to better their community or family. According to Northlanders, magic must be shared. Magic used for selfish reasons is generally seen as unhonorable and those who do so risk being branded as unhonorable and banishment from society.
Northlanders born with innate magical abilities are generally seen as future leaders and pushed towards leadership roles. More often than not, these Northlanders join the Don and become warriors. However, magic users of all kinds are praised throughout the country and most Northlanders find a way to incorporate magic into their lives. Some harness the magic of the land itself to serve their people. Others make pacts with gods or other entities to learn to fight or heal. Some devote themselves to the study of magic and have learned to blend magical abilities with combat prowess.
Noble Class: Ta'Shon
The noble class, known as Ta'Shon are functionally regional Lords. They maintain and operate large areas of land and govern the people who live and work within their borders. Like the noble classes of Airdan, the Ta'Shon train individual militaries to defend their borders from monsters and Colarian forces. Very rarely is there any inter Ta'Shon conflict that involves a full malitary. Most Ta'Shon conflict is settled by a single combat duel to the death. Although in practice, as soon as one party yeilds, the duel is over.
Ta'Shon families will often send a representative to the Shogun's court in order to maintain infulence in the capital. Some Ta'Shon families send multiple representatives. As a result, the Shogun's court is generally large since the practice is for the Shogun to accept all represntatives. However, past Shoguns have developed creative ways for dealing with the endless number of representative Ta'Shon families send to their court. The current Shogun has devised a system where the most desirable places in her court are filled by Ta'Shon representatives who have served her well themselves, or their families have been a vital ally. The more undesirable positions (which are just glorified servants) are given to new representatives who have yet to prove their worth, or representatives whose families have disapointed her.
Warrior Class: Don
The Don are the most popular class in Taidon society as they are considered to be the embodiment of honor. Don are expected to follow the seven pillars to perfection and most do so with enthusiasm. Becoming a Don is one of the most honorable things a Northlander can do in their life. However, it is not a calling all Northlanders can achieve since it requires years of rigorous training and apprenticeship.
All Northlanders are able to become a Don at any point in their life unless they are Unshadon. However, in the south, atoned Unshadon are able to become Don. Regardless, Don are trained by their Ta'Shon and are expected to remain loyal to their Ta'Shon, community, and country. All Dons are adept at various forms of combat and many are skilled with magic. Official training usually takes about five years in total. Most Dons elect to start training in their adolecentce; however, it is not unheard of for older or younger Northlanders to train. Due to the high standard, not all trainees are successful. While some find it shameful to fail, most Northlanders believe it is very courageous to fail and do not hold it against a failed Don.
Once a Northlander becomes a Don, they can serve their community in various ways. Most of which include protection and passing judgment. A Don has the authority to enforce the laws of the Ta'Shon and Shogun.
Working Class: A'Don
The A'Don make up the majority of Northlanders and can be equated to the average citizen of Taidon. Like other classes, they live by the Seven Pillars of Honor. A'Don are in a unique position becasue they have the ability to move up (or down) the hiearchy based on how they choose to live their life. A successful merchant can becom a Ta'Shon and a young warrior can become successful as a Don. However, most A'Don are content serving their community as a teacher, hunter, or merchant. An A'Don who breaks the Seven Pillars can, of course, be shunned and become Unshadon.
Unhonorables: Unshadon
The Unshadon are the people who have broken the code of honor. These people are shunned from soceity and forced to wander the country as nomads. Unshadon are a very controversial class in Taidon and how people treat them varies between reigon. Those who have been marked as Unshadon by their community are branded with a symbol of a broken sword on their right arm. All Unshadon are forbbidden from entering the community of bannishment. It is not uncommon to see an Unshadon beggar in the streets of Muneari. Although, nearly everyone ignores them. Some Unshadon embrace their brands of dishonor and form bands of theives that raid travelers and caravans across the highlands. However, most Unshadon live as nomads in the mountains and often form peacfull communities of thier own. Some leave Taidon altogether and search for a new life in Thorntaria or some other nation (althouh all Northlanders avoid Colaria).
However, some Northlanders have begun to rethink shunning Unshadon. Many younger Northlanders believe shunning the Unshadon is just as dishonorable and there should be a path of penance. The origin for this way of thinking originated in Southwest Taidon where most communities offer a path to redemption. Unshadon must go forth and complete a series of quests in order to be accepted back into society. While the quests differ for each Unshadon, their brands are all imbued with a magical property that mend the broken sword with gold once they attone for their banishment. Only then are they allowed to return home.
Recently, Shogun Vesaryon has embraced this new line of thinking, offering redemption to any Unshadon who wished to patrol the country and protect villages from monsters. She did not specify how long they would serve or what constitutes as atonement. Nonetheless, hundreds of Unshadon have answered her call and enlisted to fight monsters.
Demography and Population
- 30% | Elf
- 26% | Human
- 12% | Half-Elf
- 9% | Goliath
- 7% | Metallic Dragonborn
- 7% | Other
- 5% | Dwarf
- 4% | Half-Orc
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