The Seonese Kingdoms
Children of the Spirits, fighting against old gods
Structure
Sorrceror Kings and Queens are the rulers of each of the provinces, numbering 5 large provinces in total. Under them are the Yangban, which include military and government officials, members of the Rulers court, scholars, and descendants of rich families. Then there are the Joongin, who are skilled goverment officals that do alot of the hard work of the Yangban. The Sangmin are the common people who work and toil and own small businesses in order to support their lords. Then finally are the Cheonmin who are the lowest class of peoples who work jobs considered "unclean" such as bathhouse cleaners, butchers, mercenaries, thieves, and so on and so fourth.
Culture
The funeral rites of the Seonese, as described in the Garye books such as the Gukjo-ore-ui, strictly prescribed the construction of tombs for the members of the elite ruling class of Seon. First a burial pit was excavated and a mixture of water, lime, sand, and soil were spread on the bottom and the lateral walls. The lime mixture was allowed to harden to a near-concrete consistency. The body of the deceased was placed in at least one and often two wooden coffins, and the entire burial covered with another layer of the lime mixture, also allowed to harden. Finally, an earthen mound was built over the top. For the lower class, a grave would be dug like normal but a procession of priests wielding incense and Gravesweed lower the coffin in the grave, then as its buried they chant a prayer to Cheja to watch over the body so that it wont come back to haunt them in undeath, and throw flowers over the dirt once the grave is filled back in.
The culture of Seon is both divided and united. Though the provinces due regularly fight amongst one another, the people of Seon are united through their faiths in the spirits of the world and their outlook on life. Life is something to be learned from and understood, and as such the scholars and learned men and women of Seon are some of the greatest in the world. Astronomy is one of the most popular fields of study, with the Seonese inventing great spheres to help understand the positioning of the astral bodies of the solar system and the cosmos as a whole. Medicine, philosophy, and historical literature are also fields of intense study, and the Seonese have mastered many of these fields.
Another aspect of Seonese culture is martial power. Dueling as seen in Kantō flourishes here, though most of the fighting styles of the Seonese practice less on finding harmony in ones soul and more practical skills and fighting. Despite this, the Seonese have made fighting into an artform in and of itself, and one of the most popular figures in Seonese is the weibeu kal, or "wave sword". Occupying a similar cultural position as the ronin of Kantō, the weibeu kal are wandering sword masters (mostly female) and look for either wrongs to right, or to achieve their own selfish gains. It is a stunning sight to see two weibeu kal warriors fight each other in duels that can last days as neither side is willing to give up ground.
Respect for the spirits of the world is paramount to the Seonese. One must bow before entering a home lest the spirits of the home bring misfortune on one's soul. Harmony is also paramount to the Seonese, leading to some parallels with some faiths of Orliea, and even Iadith. As such, maintaining balance in all things is considered something that while it may be hard to achieve, should at least be strived for nonetheless. It is believed that this belief in harmony actually arose from the highly magical nature of Seon, with many strange arcane pillars existing on the island. Many monasteries are built around these pillars, as they also tend to attract spirits to roam nearby. As such, Seonese people strive for both a metaphorical and literal arcane harmony with the world.
History
None are quite sure of the origins of the Seonese people, with scholars arguing where their origins lie. The Seonese hold that they are the children of the spirits of the land, carried across the endless seas to their new home. So their only real hint as to their origins lies in their creation myth. Legend tells that long ago, there was nothing that existed, save for a massive well of infinite spiritual energy. There, two gods were born, Yulreo and Mako. Mako wept, for he was saddened that he lived in a plain of infinite nothing, and would die of despair. Saddened by the loss of his twin, Yulreo would use Mako’s body to form the cosmos using it and the well of infinite spirit energy in the hopes to revive him. It did not work, but it did create all of existence and the heavens, so Yulreo set to work making all the nations of the world. He created all forms of life, but he loved the original Seonese the most, and made them many gods to care for them.
However, not all would go happily, as it is said a Sorcerer of terrible power did kill Yulreo, and then began to corrupt the remaining gods. Only the goddess of death, Cheja, managed to escape, but the other corrupted gods would terrorize and try to kill the Seonese. The Seonese would take to great boats, and escape their original home, finally arriving in what is now the continent of Seon. It is said the many spirits of the world, including the Kantonese Elemental Dragons, helped them escape, and since then they have made the sprawling fields and waves of Seon their home.
The Story does not end there, not by a long shot. For the Seonese did not stand idly by as they were hunted by the evil sorcerer known only as Draven, and would lure his armies upon their great boats to the island. It is said that the Seonese would summon the great Dragon Turtles of the seas, and would kill the dreaded Draven and his fleet, forever cast down into the hateful waves. However, the corrupted gods of the old Seonese were still there, and the Seonese still needed a way to fight them. That was when the Seonese discovered the powers that lie within the spirt realm. Spirits inhabit all forms of life, and so the animistic Seonese religion was born, as shamans would tap into the bounty of power in the spirt world. THey became more and more important until the shamans and wizard lords ruled over the nation.
Then came the Time of Dark Winds. Happening roughly around the same time as the Weeping Lands of Orliea formed, suddenly the realm was hit with tides of demonic creatures, horrible ghosts and corrupted spirits. The dead stirred and zombie hordes began to roam the land. This would keep happening until under the watchful gaze of the Sorcerer Kings, they formed the great armies of the Seonese people, and the powerful Hwarang warriors. This instilled the scholarly society with a militaristic styling, and so they used this new found knowledge in warfare to drive back the dark monsters. It was then that they discovered Cheja was alive, but captured. Using all the powers of the spirts of the land, they freed Cheja, though she was forever cursed to once in a while bring about great ruin in a tide of death. However victory had been won over the Time of Dark Winds.
In the year 2500EC, the Kantōnese would invade the land, and thus the Gampani War would be waged as samurai clashed with Seonese swordmasters. The fighting would be fierce and destructive, but eventually the Seonese were beaten back after they had conquered much of the Seonese’s land. However, this event showed that the Seonese needed to improve to survive foreign invasion, and so they would refine their spiritual and arcane arts, and turn their once floundering navy into the envy of much of the world. Thus they exist to this day, though some of the sorcerer kingdoms do feud and fight with each other, the Seonese at least are loosely united, and will defend their home by any means to keep the spirits in balance.
Demography and Population
Humans, elves, and kitsune make up a majority of the inhabitants of the island, but due to prosperous trade you are bound to find at least a few of nearly every race in the lands of Seon. There is also a unique hybrid of hobgoblins and humans, resulting in what's known as a Dokkaebi. They all have bright red skin, but can vary in appearance, some with 4 or 6 arms and others with just 2, and most of their faces mostly resemble their human ancestry more then their goblin ancestry. It is said they bring good luck and help protect against evil spirits
Religion
Largely, the people of Seon embrace an animistic religion known as Mugyo. They believe that spirits inhabit all things, and that a multitude of gods watch over them and must be prayed and respected to avoid their wrath. As such, shamans and sorcerers who tap into arcane power (which the Seonese believe is a reflection of the spirt realms power) are considered highly important to the Seonese as well as priests.
However the Cult of Cheja is the only remaining old faith to survive the test of time, and watch over the dead and seek to prayer and appease her to stall her terrible wrath, for when she is enraged the dead walk the earth and the spirits go mad. Worshipping any of the other old gods is forbidden, for they are corrupted and bring nothing but death and destruction and chaos to the world. However, some dreaded and profane cults worshipping the old gods remain, and regularly cause problems in Seon
Foreign Relations
Seon is a rather isolationist nation by trade, but for the most part does not entirely have a bone to pick with any nation specifically. However due to being invaded by foriegn powers in the past, they prefer to be careful when dealing with outsiders, but by no means are vindictive or hateful. Seon has made itself known as a great trade nation, and its sailors are famed for being able to get trade speedily across the oceans of the world
Agriculture & Industry
Seon is an agricultural powerhouse, and so are known for having fields upon fields of farms and crops growing.
Trade & Transport
Seon is a trade powerhouse, and so regularly makes trips to Nilush and Orliea, while also trading with Tajir for lucrative deals.
"Descendants of Spirits!"
Maps
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Seon
