The Yokugan Marquisate

Beyond the Midlands and past the Serpents Spine mountain range lies the lands of Yokugan, a realm of towering cliffs, thick bamboo forests, ancient shrines, and a connection to the spiritual realms of the Yokai and Oni. The realms of Yokugan, literally translated into The Phantom Shore, is a place of warring clans, portals to far off realms, and ancient spirits that dwell within the wild lands of Yokugan. The peoples of Yokugan vary greatly with clans from all walks of life, each holding dominion over their own particular province within the land. Though the realm is not truly united, the clans and their leaders--the titles of which vary between the clans--all respect if not outright heed, the advice given to them by The Marquis, a spiritual entity said to be the voice of the Kami and the greater divine beings of the realm given mortal form.

History

While the Phantom Shore has had its spiritual connection since the beginning, the realm that we know of as The Yokugan Marquisate first took root during the Divergence; as the primogeniture's dispersed from the planet, the seeds of life that they left behind were cared for by the spirits of the phantom shores, tended to and risen to a greater state of being, these seeds grew into twelve great clans headed by a kami patron that served as a guide and protector of the people. During these early years a great mist enveloped the land, holding all clans within its boundaries, this mist, known as The Kami's Wall protected the clans from the devastation that followed the Astral Divergence. Though it ultimately saved the lives of those within, along with the ancient portals and temples of Yokugan, this entrapment, or perhaps something more instilled a sense of madness within the clans.
War surged throughout the phantom shores, the blood of the clans filled the realm with a corruption that ran deep, fueling the portals and leylines with a power that had yet been anchored to the realm. A connection to the Shadowlands. This corruption began to snake its way into the minds of the populace, transforming the people into crazed and murderous monsters, while transforming the peaceful Yokai into barbaric Oni. During this time, now known as the Nise chi-ki or the Era of False Blood, much of the natural land was damaged, torn free from its earthen embrace creating jungle-like mountains of floating rock, vines, waterfalls and ruined temples that were once pristine holds of the kami. This era lasted for one-thousand years until at last heroes from each of the clans banded together as one, aided by the kami--Shizeru, and a curious entity known as The Marque--they defeated the Oni, repaired the broken bonds of the clans, and restored balance to the realm.
With the end of the Nise chi-ki, the clans, though many still harboring grievances against one another vowed to never again embrace the corruption of the shadowlands, they requested of the Marque to guide them in this journey, to which all clans agreed, thus forming the Marquisate of Yokugan.
Though today only eight major clans exist, with the remnants of those lost either splintering into lesser clans, having disappeared into the shadowlands or spirit world, or having been utterly destroyed during the Wrath of Dahak. The remaining eight clans--Crane, Dragon, Fox, Monkey, Phoenix, Rat, Scorpion, and Tiger--each formed by a patron kami, now hold governance of their respective realms within the phantom shores. The four lost clans of Yokugan are the Jorogumo, Ki'rin, Snake, and Tortoise clans.

Geography

The phantom shore is a land deeply tied to the spirit world, a thin veil allows the spirits of both the shadowlands and spirit world to pass through as if passing through an open window. Though this connection has done much, the natural beauty of the realm is beyond reproach with towering cliffs, white and black sand beaches, grassy fields, vast forests, and towering mountain-like floating rock formations thickened with vines and flowing pools of water that form into a flowing waterfalls that descend upon the land below.
The natural resources of The Yokugan Marquisate include fine silk, jade, and wonders of otherworldly design.

Government

The Yokugan Marquisate is not ruled by any one figure in the traditional extent, instead it is controlled by eight major clans, each holding dominion over their particular province, though the clan heads all pay respects and heed the advice of the spritual leader of the realm, The Marque. This entity having existed within the realm for a millennium at least, has guided the clan Shogun--Jūnzhǔ--Eoraha--Khan since the founding of the marquisate.
The people of the phantom shore are ruled by a noble class, supreme, leader, or council of elders, though all pay homage to the Marque, this has not stopped the warnings given by the Marque being ignored in recent years.

Structure

Royalty

The Yokugaji clans each hold their own specific traditions and governance structure though many follow along with a traditional dynasty monarchy. Some have their ruler chosen or marked at birth by a spiritual entity, some hold true to a council of elders that mark the birth of a new ruler. In the end the overall rank system and privileges in the clans remains similar if not the same with varying titles.

Ranks and Privileges

The noble titles conferred upon Yokugaji citizenry maintain a specific function within the governance of the state. While the meanings and grandeur of these titles may change over generations, the current government recognizes the following noble titles in hierarchy from greatest to least.

• Shogun--Jūnzhǔ--Eoraha--Khan: A clans ruler, though the title varies, they are all in effect of the same social class as one another, though referred hereafter as Shogun, this title is given once to each of the eight surviving major clans of Yokugan. The shogun acts as leader to the clan's province, governing the land, enacting laws, and ensuring the vassal clans beneath them remain loyal.
• Daimyo--Zhǔ--Oba--Noyon: The clan lord is a leader of a vassal clan or governor of a large swath of land beneath a clans ruler. A clan lord, refered to hereafter as Daimyo, the clan Daimyo rules as a governing body within Yokugan, they lead their clan or their province, governing over the lands of holds of their people at the request of their clan Shogun, their lands cover a sizable portion of the realm with numerous villages, or a large city. Daimyo who do not govern over a realms land often serve as advisors to the Shogun.
• Shugo--Daifu--Hyeonhu--Taishi: Oversees a portion of a province, typically a couple of small villages and their connecting roads.
• Kuge--Shi--Hanja--Beis: A ruler of a specific land. Kuge often report to Shugo, though occasionally they report to their Daimyo or even the Shogun.
• Shichō: Typically serves as mayor and justice for a community, such as a village or a neighborhood within a larger city. This position is chosen by the people of a community. A shichō usually report to a clans Kuge or Shugo.

Religion

The Yokugan Marquisate are directly tied to the spirit world and to the shadowlands. Because of this they hold a great reverence to the spirits, many shrines have been lain out to the various kami, yokai and oni, though this has not changed their dedication to the divine, nor to their patron The Marque. Through this spiritual connection they hold strong to the Yokugan pantheon, though some are looked upon disfavorably or outright feared, all are payed their respect. The greatest of all these divine beings in the pantheon's eyes would be that of Shizuru, her temples dot many of the cities, though the mightiest is that of the Ise Taiyō, a vast temple ground found deep within the forest of spirits of Dragon prefecture.
Though Shizuru holds prominance this does not overshadow the improtance of the other divine beings, nor of the kami. Daikitsu patron of the Kitsune. Fumeiyoshi patron of graves. General Susumu patron of personal honor. Hei Feng patron of storms. Irori patron of knowledge. Kofusachi patron of discovery. Lady Jingxi patron of art. Lady Nanbyo patron of calamity. Lao Shu Po patron of the ratfolk and thieves. Qi Zhong patron of medicine and magic. Sun Wukong patron of the vanaran people and travel. Tsukiyo patron of the moon and spirits. Yaezhing patron of death and punishment. Yamatsumi patron of earth and winter.
Though the Yokugaji favor these deities, they still hold favor to the spirits, praying to them, wishing them well and offering them thanks for the protection they give to the land, in hopes that the realm will remain peaceful and safe from the shadowlands corruption.

Through Peace, Prosperity.

Founding Date

1,281 A.D

Type

Geopolitical, Marquisate

Capital

Takanobe

Alternative Names

Yokugan

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Trained

Demonym

Yokugaji

Leader

The Marque

Government System

Monarchy, Theocratic

Power Structure

Semi-autonomous area

Economic System

Market economy

Currency

The Yokugan Marquisate use an array of coins, all minted with the symbology of the Marque, along with the symbol of the particular clan whose land it was minted in. Most are made from zinc or silver, with the more valuable coins being made from jade, depending on the value of that coin. The lands use the Yen (cp), the Sen (sp), the Koban (gp), and the Ryo (pp).

Official Languages

• Common
• Shadowlands
• Spirit Tongue
• Sqree
• Sylvan
• Tengu
• Vanaran

Neighboring Nations

• The Golden Marches
• The Republic of Alentus

Related Species

• Aarakocra
• Aasimar
• Aerval
• Arboren
• Argalborn
• Changeling
• Death Elf
• Dhampir
• Dragonborn
• Ettercap
• Genasi
• Goblin
• Grippli
• Guvan
• Half-Elf
• Half-Orc
• Human
• Hydran
• Kitsune
• Life Elf
• Lutin
• Marmosa
• Moon Elf
• Myconid
• Nagaji
• Novus
• Orc
• Pipiri
• Quetzalti
• Ratfolk
• Spriggan
• Stone Dwarf
• Sun Elf
• Tabaxi
• Tengu
• Tiefling
• Tortle
• Vah-Shir
• Vanara
• Whipple
• Yuan-Ti