Makami
Pronunciation: ma KA me
Makami is a large, arid nation covered in dry grasslands, shrublands, deserts, and mountains. It is a hot nation that sees very little rainfall throughout the year; most of the nation’s fresh water comes from the Gamun River. The local map covers around half of Makami’s total size. Makami is one of the two primary aggressors in the local war.
Makami is very religious; most groups in the country believe in a polytheistic view known as Hitheonity. Hitheonity is the idea that all things are divine in their own way; there are “spirits” for all emotions, concepts, materials, and energies. Hitheonity openly discusses the idea of Domains and Domain Bearers in a way most religions in the local area do not; they understand the concept behind worldly Domains and consider their bearers to be divine spirits in mortal form. The main difference between Hitheonity and its offshoots is that Hitheonity believes some spirits to be much more powerful than others, deeming certain spirits to be “Creator Spirits”. These spirits are considered the truest embodiments of the worldly domains.
The Creator Spirits are:
Hithean Shrines are places where deities are worshipped in Hitheonity. In order for a place to be properly considered a shrine, it must be dedicated to one of the Creator Spirits. It can also be dedicated to other smaller spirits, but the shrine must still show respect for one Creator Spirit to be a valid shrine. For example, a shrine dedicated to X must be totally exposed to the sky so that the sun and moon can shine down on the shrine.
Worship is mostly conducted on an individual basis, whenever someone feels the need to seek help from the spirits, offer thanks, or seek divine comfort or company. Offerings are used for all three, often consisting of coins and valuable items.
Ikija is the capital of Makami and is the largest city on the local map. It is built close to the Gamun river, surrounded by farmland. This area next to the river contains the most farmable soil in the entire nation; The shallow topsoil is extremely saturated with water despite the sandy texture of the soil and nature of the region. The city itself is massive, with large statues dedicated to the Creator Spirits decorating the fifteen districts of the city. The narrow roads of the city are often covered with colorful sheets and blankets and lined with paper lanterns, making the city seem lively at any time of day. Though they are far from the actual city, there are many port villages that claim to be a part of Ikija that facilitate a majority of river-based trade in the region.
Daichibasho is a mostly underground city located at the base of the Yōseiyama mountains. It is relatively small, but noteworthy for its architecture; it is the largest city on the local map that is designed specifically for ethnicities with sunlight sensitivities, like the drow elves and duergar dwarves.
Zensemu is a large city located on the edge of the Morinusi brushlands. It is built onto the mountainside and has many winding roads leading to different levels of the city. It is a hotspot for merchants traveling to and from Makami on foot, and therefore contains many inns and taverns to house traveling traders.
Hononakaba is a small city-shrine located on the edge of the Morinusi brushlands. It began as a simple shrine dedicated to Uzume, Creator Spirit of Beauty, but grew large enough to house residents and travelers and consider itself a city. It is known as both a very spiritual place and a festive place, nicknamed “the city of eternal dusk” for its constant lantern-light and bustling evening activity.
Hosuriku is a mid-sized city on the edge of the Ránshāo plains., It is a popular destination for those traveling to and from the westernmost parts of Makami not visible on the local map. The city is built around an oasis.
The Atsumonai desert is a large, hot desert located in the bottom left corner of the local map. It is also the most arid region on the local map. It is filled with desert-typical flora and fauna. The dunes throughout the region make road-paving nearly impossible, so most travelers hire guides to navigate and lead them through the desert safely.
The Silas forest is a large deciduous forest located in the lower-middle region of the local map. The area maintains average humidity and temperature despite its large size, only fluctuating in temperature when it begins to bleed into a different landform. This is largely due to its contact with the Gamun and Kidemónas rivers, as well as consistent rainfall flowing through Delaney Pass.
The Ránshāo plains is a small, arid grassland region located in the lower left corner of the local map. The area receives just enough rainfall to support grasses, but not much else. The grasslands are also at constant high risk for wildfires, which locals have to frequently watch for and put out. Otherwise, the region is generally calm and easy to traverse.
The Morinusi brushlands is an arid shrubland located to the west of the northern half of the Yōseiyama Mountain range. The brushlands are notorious for thorny undergrowth and swaths of dead brush where sections of the region didn’t receive enough rainfall to support the shrubbery. These sections of dead brush are extremely susceptible to wildfires; it is rare that a part of the Morinusi is not on fire.
The Gamun river is a fast-flowing river located in the bottom left of the local map. This river splits into the Kidemónas river and the Heltvan river, later recombining into the Ledis river. The river is fed by glacial runoff from the Yōseiyama Mountains. It is the region’s primary source of freshwater.
The Yōseiyama Mountains are a rugged mountain range with jagged peaks and karst formations, interspersed with deep gorges and ravines. This landscape is purely alpine, being cold year-round and the higher altitudes experiencing persistent snowfall throughout the year. The Yōseiyama Mountain range is much wider than the Kravkenrov mountain range, but the two ranges are otherwise nearly identical; common natural phenomena in the Yōseiyama Mountains include sky-rings and sundogs (rings of light around the sun) caused by the presence of ice crystals in the atmosphere. This region features most of the nation’s robust quarry industry, with iron, salt, and granite quarries marking the main settlements in this region.
Shōgatsu is the standard new years celebration for cultures who practice Hitheonity or Theopsism. The exact practice changes depending on the nation, or even the specific city, but the celebration usually lasts 3 days and consists of making pastry offerings for spirits and festivals with lots of bells.
The Fifteen Festivals, which offshoot religions call “the Five Great Festivals”, are all the festivals dedicated to the Creator Spirits. Each festival spans two or three days, and each is themed around the spirit themselves, their mythology, and the domain they represent. They are each named after the Creator Spirit being celebrated. Grand festivities are often held in and around shrines dedicated to the Creator Spirits.
Current State
Demographics
The three most populous races that inhabit Makami are humans (mainly urban and desert) at 60% of the population, dwarves (mainly mountain) at 12% of the population, and elves (mainly sun and moon) at 8% of the population. Around 10% of the population are fiends, primarily tieflings. There is also a significant drow elf and duergar dwarf population that lives within mountain caves.Trade and Relationships
Makami primarily deals in stone and mineral quarrying, luxury goods, paper, and weapons exports. Their luxury goods include worked glass, alcoholic beverages, and artificer gadgetry. They have a self-sufficient supply of animal products and grain (mainly rice), and import most other goods. Makami has good trade relations with Hiyami, Avra, and Diyuō due to their trade routes to other nations and strong social relations. Both Hiyami and Diyuō have excellent river access, and Avra touches Delaney pass; trade with these nations secures consistent land and water trade routes. Makami has good social relations with Hiyami, Avra, and Diyuō. All three nations have similar religious views to Makami, and both Hiyami and Avra more actively support Makami in the local war. Hiyami outright fights alongside Makami. Makami has bad relations with Addolorata, Ochny, Sambal, Berkorya, and Selvay. All of these nations have opposing religious beliefs to Makami. Addolorata is the main aggressor on the opposite side of the local war, and both Ochny and Sambal support Addolorata. Berkorya and Selvay disapprove of Makami’s expansionist nature and otherwise have no reason to get along with Makami. Makami is one of the few nations that are openly Hell-aligned in the war, acting as the primary local aggressor for Hell. Many citizens believe the war is real and actively participate. Citizens of Makami generally believe Hell to be a land of spirits, and Heaven as just another such land of spirits at odds with Hell.History
Makami is an old nation with extremely old history. Many religious scholars claim that the land was cleansed so that the original founders of Makami could inherit it, others claim that it was simply a collection of nomadic tribes in the region; its exact origins are unclear. The first groups that officially referred to themselves as Makami were a nomadic group of humans occupying the desert region of current day Makami. This group slowly grew in size by conquering other nomadic groups in the surrounding region, incorporating them into the massive nation. The ruler of this original tribe referred to himself as the Radiant Emperor and forced any tribe he conquered to bow to him. Eventually, these groups began to settle in the more stable parts of the region and more rigidly define the territory of modern day Makami. Makami is still a conquering nation, expanding its reach south and westward.Culture Overview
General Culture
Makami is most similar to Azuchi–Momoyama period Japan (AKA, 1550-1600 Japan. I went and looked up periods of Japan to be absolutely sure). They have a proud warrior culture and are extremely spiritual. They hold arcane ability very highly; wizards and sorcerers especially are considered superior occupations in Makami. They are an individualist society and are generally focused on personal ownership and achievement. Entertainment in Makami is mostly centered around contests and public games, feasts and festivals, and regional activities. Children are taught by their families and other local families. The two most common careers in Makami are mining one of the various quarriable resources the nation exports, or military work.Religion: Hitheonity
Pronounced: hi (like you’re saying “him”) the (like you're about to say "thesis") ON ity (like itty bitty)Makami is very religious; most groups in the country believe in a polytheistic view known as Hitheonity. Hitheonity is the idea that all things are divine in their own way; there are “spirits” for all emotions, concepts, materials, and energies. Hitheonity openly discusses the idea of Domains and Domain Bearers in a way most religions in the local area do not; they understand the concept behind worldly Domains and consider their bearers to be divine spirits in mortal form. The main difference between Hitheonity and its offshoots is that Hitheonity believes some spirits to be much more powerful than others, deeming certain spirits to be “Creator Spirits”. These spirits are considered the truest embodiments of the worldly domains.
The Creator Spirits are:
- Benzaiten: The Creator Spirit of Arcana is Benzaiten. She is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a deer mask.
- Uzume: The Creator Spirit of Beauty is Uzume. She is also referred to as the consort of Ōhirume. She is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a crow-like mask.
- Kisshōten: The Creator Spirit of Chaos is Kisshōten. She is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a mouse mask.
- Gion: The Creator Spirit of Death is Gion. She is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a spider-like mask.
- Ōkuninushi: The Creator Spirit of Forge is Ōkuninushi. He is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a camel mask.
- Nakisawame: The Creator Spirit of Grave is Nakisawame. She is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a scorpion-like mask.
- Omoikane: The Creator Spirit of Knowledge is Omoikane. He is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a vulture mask.
- Sukuna: The Creator Spirit of Life is Sukuna. He is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a tortoise mask.
- Ōhirume: The Creator Spirit of Light is Ōhirume. She is the most revered of all the Creator Spirits; the Radiant Emperors claim that Ōhirume is their divine matron and that she grants them the right to rule. She is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a hyena mask.
- Inari: The Creator Spirit of Nature is Inari. He is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a fennec fox mask.
- Koyane: The Creator Spirit of Order is Koyane. He is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a donkey mask.
- Ryūjin: The Creator Spirit of Tempest is Ryūjin. He is almost always depicted as some kind of sea serpent or dragon wearing a mask that accentuates his serpentine features.
- Mikoto: The Creator Spirit of Trickery is Mikoto. He is depicted as a humanoid figure who wears a rabbit mask, but is often also depicted as non-humanoids with rabbit masks for stories that involve him shapeshifting.
- Mikaboshi: The Creator Spirit of Twilight is Mikaboshi. This spirit is only ever depicted as an eleven-pointed star, or sometimes a floating dove mask with no visible body.
- Hachiman: The Creator Spirit of War is Hachiman. He is depicted as a heavily-robed humanoid wearing a caracal mask.
Hithean Shrines are places where deities are worshipped in Hitheonity. In order for a place to be properly considered a shrine, it must be dedicated to one of the Creator Spirits. It can also be dedicated to other smaller spirits, but the shrine must still show respect for one Creator Spirit to be a valid shrine. For example, a shrine dedicated to X must be totally exposed to the sky so that the sun and moon can shine down on the shrine.
Worship is mostly conducted on an individual basis, whenever someone feels the need to seek help from the spirits, offer thanks, or seek divine comfort or company. Offerings are used for all three, often consisting of coins and valuable items.
General Government
Makami is a feudal dictatorship, with the highest authority in the nation being the Radiant Emperor, a mage-king. This title is passed on in one of two ways: the most common way this title is passed on is when a noble with a significant following can challenge the Radiant Emperor to a duel to the death. If this noble wins, they are granted control over the nation as the new Radiant Emperor. The other way is when the current Radiant Emperor willingly hands the title off to someone new. The only real requirement for someone to become the next Radiant Emperor is significant spellcasting ability; the cultural belief is that magic is a gift granted to humanity by the Creator Spirits, so those who are capable of great feats of magic are the most worthy. Sorcerer Emperors in particular are considered signs of great fortune for the nation. The Radiant Emperor has absolute authority over the nation, and divides the land up into segments for their most loyal warriors to command.City Politics
Large territories in Makami are patrolled by noble nomadic warrior-clans dedicated to the Radiant Emperor. These warrior-clans oversee the legal processes of their lands. Beneath them are general noble landholders who govern individual cities and villages. There is a small middle-class made up of artisans, aristocrats, and guildsmen, though this only really exists in urban areas. The rest of Makami's citizenry are considered commoners.Major Cities
Ikija
Pronounced: ih (like “it”) KEY jaIkija is the capital of Makami and is the largest city on the local map. It is built close to the Gamun river, surrounded by farmland. This area next to the river contains the most farmable soil in the entire nation; The shallow topsoil is extremely saturated with water despite the sandy texture of the soil and nature of the region. The city itself is massive, with large statues dedicated to the Creator Spirits decorating the fifteen districts of the city. The narrow roads of the city are often covered with colorful sheets and blankets and lined with paper lanterns, making the city seem lively at any time of day. Though they are far from the actual city, there are many port villages that claim to be a part of Ikija that facilitate a majority of river-based trade in the region.
Daichibasho
Pronounced: DIE chi BAA showDaichibasho is a mostly underground city located at the base of the Yōseiyama mountains. It is relatively small, but noteworthy for its architecture; it is the largest city on the local map that is designed specifically for ethnicities with sunlight sensitivities, like the drow elves and duergar dwarves.
Zensemu
Pronounced: ZEN say mooZensemu is a large city located on the edge of the Morinusi brushlands. It is built onto the mountainside and has many winding roads leading to different levels of the city. It is a hotspot for merchants traveling to and from Makami on foot, and therefore contains many inns and taverns to house traveling traders.
Hononakaba
Pronounced: HON (like “honk”) oh NAH ka (like “karate”) booHononakaba is a small city-shrine located on the edge of the Morinusi brushlands. It began as a simple shrine dedicated to Uzume, Creator Spirit of Beauty, but grew large enough to house residents and travelers and consider itself a city. It is known as both a very spiritual place and a festive place, nicknamed “the city of eternal dusk” for its constant lantern-light and bustling evening activity.
Hosuriku
Pronounced: hoh SURREY (like the bikes) cooHosuriku is a mid-sized city on the edge of the Ránshāo plains., It is a popular destination for those traveling to and from the westernmost parts of Makami not visible on the local map. The city is built around an oasis.
Notable Geography
Atsuimonai Desert
Pronounced: at SUEY MOE nigh (like “your time is nigh”)The Atsumonai desert is a large, hot desert located in the bottom left corner of the local map. It is also the most arid region on the local map. It is filled with desert-typical flora and fauna. The dunes throughout the region make road-paving nearly impossible, so most travelers hire guides to navigate and lead them through the desert safely.
Silas Forest
Pronounced: SIGH lus (like “lust” without the t)The Silas forest is a large deciduous forest located in the lower-middle region of the local map. The area maintains average humidity and temperature despite its large size, only fluctuating in temperature when it begins to bleed into a different landform. This is largely due to its contact with the Gamun and Kidemónas rivers, as well as consistent rainfall flowing through Delaney Pass.
Ránshāo Plains
Pronounced: rawn SHAOW (like you’re saying “shower” or “shadow”)The Ránshāo plains is a small, arid grassland region located in the lower left corner of the local map. The area receives just enough rainfall to support grasses, but not much else. The grasslands are also at constant high risk for wildfires, which locals have to frequently watch for and put out. Otherwise, the region is generally calm and easy to traverse.
Morinusi Brushland
Pronounced: MORE ih (like “it”) NOOSE eThe Morinusi brushlands is an arid shrubland located to the west of the northern half of the Yōseiyama Mountain range. The brushlands are notorious for thorny undergrowth and swaths of dead brush where sections of the region didn’t receive enough rainfall to support the shrubbery. These sections of dead brush are extremely susceptible to wildfires; it is rare that a part of the Morinusi is not on fire.
Gamun River
Pronounced: GAH mun (like “mundane”)The Gamun river is a fast-flowing river located in the bottom left of the local map. This river splits into the Kidemónas river and the Heltvan river, later recombining into the Ledis river. The river is fed by glacial runoff from the Yōseiyama Mountains. It is the region’s primary source of freshwater.
Yōseiyama Mountains
Pronounced: YO say YAH maThe Yōseiyama Mountains are a rugged mountain range with jagged peaks and karst formations, interspersed with deep gorges and ravines. This landscape is purely alpine, being cold year-round and the higher altitudes experiencing persistent snowfall throughout the year. The Yōseiyama Mountain range is much wider than the Kravkenrov mountain range, but the two ranges are otherwise nearly identical; common natural phenomena in the Yōseiyama Mountains include sky-rings and sundogs (rings of light around the sun) caused by the presence of ice crystals in the atmosphere. This region features most of the nation’s robust quarry industry, with iron, salt, and granite quarries marking the main settlements in this region.
Major Holidays
Shōgatsu
Pronounced: SHOW got sueShōgatsu is the standard new years celebration for cultures who practice Hitheonity or Theopsism. The exact practice changes depending on the nation, or even the specific city, but the celebration usually lasts 3 days and consists of making pastry offerings for spirits and festivals with lots of bells.
The Fifteen Festivals
Pronounced: self-explanatoryThe Fifteen Festivals, which offshoot religions call “the Five Great Festivals”, are all the festivals dedicated to the Creator Spirits. Each festival spans two or three days, and each is themed around the spirit themselves, their mythology, and the domain they represent. They are each named after the Creator Spirit being celebrated. Grand festivities are often held in and around shrines dedicated to the Creator Spirits.
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