The Game

The political maneuvering that determines the next Claimer to the Crown of Awane.

The Game: Seijutsu, The Living Art

The Game is built upon gaining power, eikyō, and increasing your rank within Awanese society. There are five different powers with Awane that you can increase to improve your rank. When you first enter Awane, you are considered Wakaranai, or Unknown. This means all of your Powers are at -. You gain a rating after your first interaction with someone who cares enough to talk about you. Your interactions with others will either increase or decrease your ratings and thus your overall rank. Below is a table outlining the rankings:

Awane Ranks

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Title	Translation	Rank
Wakaranai	Unknown	-
Tsuihō	Outcast	0
Mushi Shita	Derelict	2
Hitohira	Ingrate	4
Fukai	Unpleasant	6
Ippan	Common	8
Kōhei	Fair	10
Rippana	Respectable	12
Kiwadatta	Distinguished	14
Kizoku	Noble	16
Yūmeijin	Celebrity	18
Densetsu	Legendary	20
Bikuta	Victor	25

The winner of The Game has the title Bikuta and is crowned Emperor, Emperess, or some other title they deem suitable. To increase your rank, you increase your power. Your power can be increased by different interactions with the Awanese people including; doing favors, completing tasks, coercion, performances, or crafting works of art. The Game is the fight for influence and power with Awane. Players can discredit others and decrease their power. The Empress or Emperor is the person in Awane with the most influence.
To become the next ruler of Awane, a player may challenge the current ruler. For one week, the city erupts into chaos as stages are set up for the challenger and the ruler. On these stages, speeches, performances, and other shows of power or displayed. The challenger and the ruler are given feathers as tokens of approval from the citizens. The next ruler is decided by how long of a cloak they make from the feathers. The current Empress has the longest cloak every created by a ruler of Awane. After the cloaks are measured and a winner found, the winner is paraded around the spiralling canals of Awane to the Palace where they are Crowned and become the ruler of Awane.

First Impressions

Upon the first time you enter Awane, you are considered a Wakaranai, an Outsider. It is not that you have NO power, but that people don’t know you yet. After your first meaningful interaction with someone, you will be given a rank. First impressions are important! The first interaction will determine what this first person thinks of you, and the very first opinion Awane will hear about you. Minor interactions that don’t create an impression on people will not cause any change to your power or rank. Rank and The Five Types of Power: Eikyō There are five different types of Power in Awane. Each Power type is on a seperate scale, but the interactions among people can affect more than one power. Your total power determines Eikyo, your Rank. In other words, it determines the amount of influence you have. The five Power types are Authoritative (Kengen), Expert (Jukutatsu), Societal (Shakai), Fear (Osore), and Celebrity (Iwatta).

Authoritative Power: Kengen

This power is based on your connection to authority. Authoritative Power is given to you by other governments or people with influence or power of their own. While respected and followed, Authoritative Power can weaken when the source of the power is weakened. For example, if you are a minister in a city, but your city insults Awane, then your power will be weakened. You can increase the amount of Authoritative Power you have by being elevated to a higher position of authority or your source increases in power. Authoritative Power is considered the weakest power because the source of it is not you, but another person or entity that can withdraw that power at anytime.

Expert Power: Jukutatsu

Considered the strongest power, Expert Power is gained by showing mastery or superior knowledge in a field or craft. Your Expert Power grows as more people come to you seeking information, advice, or your creations. Expert power is decreased if caught lying, deceiving others, or your creations are not what you say they are. To increase your Expert Power, you must create, craft, or gain knowledge that others demand.

Societal Power: Shakai

Societal Power is the power of being the neighbor or citizen everyone wants to have on their side. This power is gained by being a beneficial part of society. It is increased by being kind, helpful, polite, or generous. However, it can be removed by being rude, taking advantage of others, being a menace, committing crime, or destroying property.

Fear Power: Osore

This power is insidious but recognized as a way to gain influence. Osore is gained by making people fear you; either what you know, what you are capable of, and what lengths you are willing to go to gain influence. Fear power is increased through the use of coercion, blackmail, sabotage, damaging rumours, displays of strength or violence, and cold hearted manipulations. This power can be undermined, however, if your threats are found to be empty and you are made a fool of by others. Osore is incredibly powerful but fragile at the same time; it can be destroyed with a single misstep.

Celebrity Power: Iwatta

The only power that is given by the people of Awane at large. It is an indirect power but can be the most influential. After all, it is Iwatta that ultimately decides who wears the Crown. This power is gained through the general mood and feeling of Awanese towards you. Celebrity Power is most often rewarded for large or public feats, valor, or service towards others. It is increased through positive public opinion, and generally gollows the trends of the other powers. Celebrity Power is decreased by alienating the public at large.

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