Gezakt Union
Structure
Gezak Social Hierarchy
Shusho- Chancellor. Acts as a Prime Minister, dealing primarily with foriegn affairs and managing the appointments to the cabinet of ministers, and as such acts as a soft check to the Shogun’s power as they have control over dismissing the Shogun’s Ministers and appoints high level civilian government officials. Dictates all civilian matters and foriegn diplomacy.
Shogun- Warlord Regent of the Realm. Lord Commander of the Military. Appoints the military governors known as the Shugo. Head of military affairs.
Shugo- Provincial Lords, Governors, Generals, High Ministers
Daimyo- County Lords, Clan Lords, Senators.
Kuge- Municipal Lords, Mayors, Councilmen, Minor Nobles, Military and State Officers
Jito- Land stewards, Judges, manor managers, non-commissioned officers, constables.
Bushi- Soldiers
Noko- Peasants, Ranchers, Factory Workers, Miners, and Manual Laborers.
Shonin- Merchants, Artisans, Foreigners and White Collar Workers
History
The Blossom Wars
Before the Gezak Union formed into a singular nation, they were a myriad of similarly structured nation-states where militarized families ruled over territory. As these Clans increased their power, many got to the point where mere survival and defense were no longer the core focus and set their sights past their territory. At first this brought them into conflict with only minor settlements, raiders and natural dangers, but eventually the Clans began to look enviously at neighboring Clan's territory. Eventually the situation would deteriorate into a borderline free for all, where every Clan was at war with their neighbors, each ever seeking to take more control at the expense of the others. Collectively this time of strife is referred to as the Blossom Wars, as in this period the Clan system was born and Gezak was founded. The Early period and the Late period of the Blossom Wars are quite different from each other. In the Early Period, mere hundreds or even dozens of loosely organized fighters would struggle over tiny tracks of territory. An abandoned factory, a single road, a farmable field. These were the sort of gains men would willingly die for, so limited were their resources. By the end of the Late Period, entire armies would clash in pitched battles over years-long campaigns to control swaths of territory.
Formation of the Union
Were they alone in this struggle the Gezak may well have continued their war until one clan seized control of everything, but threats were rising on all sides. To the north and south powerful rivals rose and were taking advantage of the chaos to seize lands of their own. The Berokian Kingdoms set aside their squabbles to vassalize northern clans unable to defend multiple fronts and an even greater threat of the Xenyan Empire threatened to overrun the South. Representatives from every clan were sent to neutral ground to form a grand alliance. Their primary focus was the Xenyans, by far the greater and more aggressive of the two threats. To the north the border clans were given hostages from their neighboring clans to give them assurances that they would be safe from fellow Gezaks should they divert their forces to defense against the Berokians. The rest formed multi-clan armies to reinforce the south. Distrust and disorganization limited the effectiveness of their defense. Though they had slowed the Xenyan tide they were still losing ground. The clans were fighting the same enemy in the same areas, but made their own goals and strategies, some of which deliberately allowing their supposed allies to lose or awaiting reinforcement as part of a long term strategy to undermine their rival clans.
They all soon realized that this could not stand, their thinly veiled infighting would bring disaster, and none would rule if they were conquered. Their first step was to appoint a Supreme Commander of the defense. An election was called with all clan representatives assigned an equal vote. It was decided that the Daimyo of the Utarami would take command as his lands formed the current frontline at the time, and his clan had behaved honorably, supporting even less than reliable allies throughout the attempt of a unified conflict.
This decision led to a change of fortunes, turning the tide against the Xenyan hordes. Soon the debate shifted from how to survive, to how much to push their advantage. Hardliners wanted their counterattack to continue until the Xenyan Empire was destroyed or conquered in its entirety. Most saw this as infeasible, that soon enough they would overextend themselves and find the war once again turn against them. All however seemed to appreciate the strength of their combined arms and were loath to find themselves returning to the Blossom Wars. It was unanimously decided that the clans would unify under a single banner, and that their disputes would be shifted to the political arena. Yet the most powerful clans did not wish to forgo their ambitions to rule all of Gezak or forever bow to a single clan.
In the same vein that the Supreme Commander was decided, they created an electoral system for the clans to elect a regent known as the Shusho who would maintain his position for life or until 3/4ths of the electors voted him out of office. The position of Supreme Commander was also made a permanent position, renamed the Shogun, and the position would be held for 30 years, unless they were voted to step down. The Shogun would be in charge of all military affairs, save for the declaration of war which would be the domain of the Shusho. The Shusho would lead all other matters of state. As a separation of powers it was also decided that the same clan could not hold both positions at once.
In the initial election this led to the question of how to handle situations such as the Utarami holding the position of Shogun. It was decided that prior to the election of the Shusho that their Daimyo must step down before their Clan could submit a candidate for Shusho. They had little interest in civilian affairs and did not want the position, yet they also did not want so much power to fall into the hands of another Daimyo. Instead they used their current position to negotiate additional terms. The Utarami Daimyo instead stepped down as Daimyo of his clan, appointing a successor. Setting this precedent it was decided that nobody could be both Daimyo and either Shogun or Shusho. Henceforth, a Daimyo would either need to officially relinquish their position or nominate another candidate for these positions. When a new Shusho or Shogun was needed, the clan that held the alternate position would either have to forfeit their current role or not be allowed to submit a nominee. Should both positions be available at the same time, the position of Shusho would be decided before the Shogun.
Over time this trend evolved to include all Imperial positions, as Shusho and Shoguns were prone to appointing their clan officials into dual roles. Despite officially stepping down as Daimyo this allowed them to maintain control of their clan and led to the Imperial Office being indistinguishable from the clan in control at the time. This caused widespread corruption, with the Imperial governance using their position to enrich their Clan at the expense of the others.
Kazegemu Wars
Despite the Unification, peace and stability did not reign supreme. War between the Clan Houses persists throughout Gezakt Union in ebbs and flows. These conflicts however did greatly reduce in reach and size, however, with full scale invasions against rival Clans resulting in a crackdown by either the Shogun or the Shusho forcing peace through military intervention. Clan rivalries largely consist of influence warfare, attempting to fortify their own authority in a region or undermine their rivals. This may consist of getting their Bushi elected to offices or hostile takeovers of industry. These hostile takeovers may include literal hostilities, with warriors wiping out the security forces of a facility and taking control themselves as often as they involve more subversive methods, such as buying out the land from under a rival or using their government positions to break their official licenses. However it’s done these Clan Wars are done discreetly so as not to draw the attention of the central government. A city may be taken over block by block over yearsMilitary
Technically Commander-in-Chief of the entire Federal Military. The Shusho retains the sole authority to declare war or a national state of emergency. Once war is declared the Shogun
Formally in control of the Federal Navy and Federal Guard. Although in times of war operational control is ceded to the Shogun, officially the Shusho is the senior most officer and the Shogun is not technically a part of either branch. In peacetime these branches act as law enforcement agencies; securing supply lines, policing Federal Jurisdictions and arbitrating higher level civil disputes. Provincial and municipal law enforcement are mostly autonomous but also fall under the oversight of the Federal Guard and therefore the Shusho.
The Shogun is elected by the Daimyo and ratified by the National Diet so long as 50%+1 approve the appointment. The Shogun serves one 30 year term and cannot be elected a second time. Their primary responsibility is Supreme Commander of the Military but their position gives them supremacy over other matters of state security, such as regulating international trade, immigration, and state infrastructure. While technically there is a separation of control between the Shogun and Shusho over different segments of the military, in practice the Shogun is the top authority on all military matters during times of open war.
Kaihei Gundan: Marine Corps
While it's technically a subdivision of the Federal Navy, the Kaihei operate autonomously. The Kaihei are known to be the Shusho's most loyal soldiers. Standard terms of service are 2 or 4 years depending on how far into the Shusho's term as it is a codified expectation that the Kaihei serve the Shusho and the Shusho alone.
Kuki Shiji: Air Command
Technically another subdivision of the Navy but hotly contested even into modernity. The Shusho who established the Kuki Shiji did so without authorization of the Diet. Instead he simply had his Kaihei use their engineers to build "Air Ships" and though the Shogun of the time challenged him to attempt to wrest control of the new unit. However the Shusho was crafty enough to convince the Diet to retroactively authorize the formation of an new branch of the military, although with a stipulation that unlike the rest of the Navy, the Kuki Shiji would fall totally under the Shotgun's command in times of war.
Jigoku Gado: Hell Guard
The Hell Guard. The Elite Bodyguard Unit and Praetorian Guard of the Shogun. A collection of demons who have sworn fealty to the Gezak Nation and serve as the personal fighting force of the Shogun. Back in the foundation of the Union, the Rozichari conceded a majority of their demonic forces to the control of the Office of the Shogun, creating the framework in which demons are summoned and employed. Of their many reasons, the primary purpose of this was to ensure that whoever held the Title of Shogun would have the power to enforce and protect their office, thereby the Shogun could never truly be the puppet for another or even his own Clan nor an empty title. No matter how he got into office or how weak his power going in, the Shogun's will would be fire, brimstone and to oppose it is to battle Hell. However, this power is not absolute. The demons are ritualistically bound to the laws of Gezak itself, and certain abuses of office will free them from their bonds to the sitting Shogun. Although it is difficult by design to cross this line, the knowledge that a Shogun can lose control of his elite force acts as a deterrent to tyranny. The Jigoku Gado are as much a knife to the throat to the Shogun himself as they are to the Shogun's enemies, all but ensuring that they keep playing by the same rules. At least in the light of day.
Sora Gado: Sky Guard
The Sky Guard was made in a direct response to the Shusho's formation of the Air Command. The Shogun went before the Diet to present his case, his primary and closing argument being that the original intention of having the Shogun and the Shusho command the Army and Navy respectively was to make an equal balance of power in order to prevent civil war. As such, the Shusho taking it upon himself to create a brand new branch of the military upset that balance, and so the Shogun required an equal force to restore that balance of power, thus ensuring peace both then and for future relations between the two heads of state.
Ryukihei: Dragoons
Mounted Infantry that act like traditional cavalry. Most commonly the Ryukihei are rapid response units that use mounts and single-occupant transport vehicles to travel to combat zones where they dismount to engage. There are however support units that specialize in mounted and light vehicle combat. Calvarymen that fight mounted take after a more knightley ethos and are the most respected by the Samurai.
Soko Gundan: Armored Corps
Artillery and heavy armored vehicles. The Soko Gundan are reserved for large scale combat operations during times of open war. Unlike other military units they are not authorized to engage in peacetime operations beyond training exercises to both conserve resources and to maintain secrecy as to their operational strength. In exercises they project an aura of weakness, only allowing crews to operate the most primitive and run down equipment, as they train in live fire exercises and don't want to damage their best vehicles. Additionally they operate on the philosophy of making do. They train their crews with the worst so they can excel when given access to the best, or so the accepted logic dictates.
Meiji Gundan: Mage Corps
When the first Shogun was given command of the Hell Guard it was universally agreed that such a potentially destructive force required another force to keep it in check. Though the Meiji obey the Shogun's orders, they are also the knife at the Shogun's neck. They have standing orders to neutralize the Shogun if he becomes corrupted by his demons and neutralize any demonic forces if they go rogue or are used unjustly. The Shogun is required to be monitored by a Mage at all times
Technological Level
The Gezakt Union is a largely re-industrialized society capable of manufacturing on a large scale, but combustion and firearms technology produced on an artisan level.
Religion
Seijism
The Gezak primarily worship a trinity of gods; Subarashi Henkasu, Amatinushi and Ishizuchi, respectively Evolution, Industry and Technology. These are considered to be the greatest of the kami, the spirit of the Gezak nation itself. Although spiritual, Seijism is not purely theistic nor uniform in its practices. At its core Seijism is the veneration of the ideals that make Gezak’s people strong and is interpreted differently community by community and person to person. Yet despite the individualized nature of these beliefs, the central value of Seijism is “benign harmony” among its people, and the individual is subordinate to the larger social unit, on a micro level meaning the family, but scaling up to the local community and the nation as a whole. That which contributes to social harmony is considered good, that which disrupts is evil. Additionally, core to the Seijin Faith is the conflict between purity and corruption. While the religion lacks a codified set of rules regarding their ethics and morals, what all accepted forms of Seijism value are honesty, sincerity, integrity and cleanliness, each considered an aspect of what constitutes purity, and all that diminishes these values is corrupt.
Ancestor worship also plays a critical role in Seijism, with reverence for the spirits of one’s own house often taking precedence above all else. In many ways even the central national identity is an aspect of this ancestral worship, with Seijists considering the Gezak nation to be an extension of their family rather than the converse of the family being an extension of the Gezak nation. Commonly, and particularly in the most powerful houses, prosperity of the family has supremacy over all other virtues. To continue the family, to raise its standing and to provide for all its needs is the holiest act. So long as the family remains a cohesive unit generation to generation the Seijist can consider their religious duties fulfilled. To most the family is the supreme spiritual entity, and the truest form of immortality. As such most anything can be justified in service to the family.
The key criticism of Seijism is that without a codified set of ethics its core values of family and social harmony mean that almost any action can be justified so long as it serves these purposes. Its practitioners see it differently however, insisting that their beliefs are fluid and adaptable to changing times. The concept of Subarashi Henkashu stipulates that all things must change to survive, be it creatures, people, nations or even values. Despite this there is not an unlimited tolerance for delving into impure acts, a society utterly lacking in honesty, sincerity, integrity and cleanliness would be by its very nature disharmonious, a realm of distrust and barbarity. In this regard the righteousness of the Seijin Faith ebbs and flows like the tides, periods of rampant immorality give way to revitalization of ideals of purity. In turn when demands of purity becomes tyrannical, stifling, or unsuited for survival, a more utilitarian mindset develops, one in which acceptance of “impure actions” grows, until such time that they become endemic and calls for reform become overwhelming.
Many believe that eventually an equilibrium will be achieved where Seijist society maintains a proper balance in perpetuity. A more popular perspective maintains that this cycle is the natural order, that the shift from purity and impurity is the balance of the cosmic order, and is to be embraced. A sizable minority reject this mindset entirely, believing that it is a failure of man to stand against corruption in all its forms, and these sects usually have their own concrete set of ethics they believe must be adopted by all. A small but usually powerful minority all but reject the notion of purity as anything more than a facade useful for maintaining the social order. These sects instead prioritize family above all else, specifically their family. These sects almost entirely exist within the upper echelons of more underhanded Kurans that have taken a philosophical outlook to how they conduct themselves, or at least exploit a spiritual underpinning to motivate their servants. Such an interpretation is known as “Divine Hypocrisy,” a set of beliefs that seeks an illusion of purity that maintains a social harmony that allows them to attain and hold power. These sects are near uniformly secretive cabals and are in active conspiracies to take control of the state.
Main Schools of Worship
Bushiism: The Warrior's Code. Faith that there's a correct martial path through life's difficulties.
Noko-Seijism: Idealizes the farmer-builder archetype but seeks a life of tranquility and simplicity in all things.
Shoninism: A mindset that all of life should abide by the rules of fair trade in all dealings both commercial and philosophic.
Jitoism: Holds that the family is the core of sovereignty, and that sovereignty is the divine right to live one's life in their land.
Kugo-Seijism: "What's for the good of the realm is good for the man." In its general sense Kugo-Seijism refers to the belief that good governance is sacred.Infrastructure
Most of the Gezakt Union is proudly agrarian and their country populations live primitively in comparison to the Clan Houses and major cities. Major cities have water purification and plumbing as a baseline, with many able to produce electricity. Outside the cities infrastructure consists mainly of an advanced road network that is patrolled by both the Clan Houses and Federal Military to keep beasts and bandits from harassing travelers. Several Old World railroads have been restored in the heartlands and Clan Houses compete for the rights to build or restore new rail lines.
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Demonym
Gezakt
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Legislative Body
The Federal Diet
The Federal Diet is a parliamentary organization split into the Lower and Upper Houses, respectively known as the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. Laws are proposed in the House of Representatives and if they should pass a vote in the Lower House they will be submitted to the House of Councilors for a second round of voting.
Executive Body
Shusho
The Shusho is elected by a popular vote and retains the position for 5 years before it is contested in a new vote. A Shusho has no term limits and can serve indefinitely. To be eligible to become Shusho the candidate cannot be a Daimyo or serving in the military, they must be a civilian. Additionally, they must be a Governor or a member of the National Diet. Shusho must be nominated and seconded by other members of the Diet. Once nominated they are put on the ballot and all citizens of the Union have a chance to vote. Only a simple majority is required to be elected but it requires both branches of the Diet to remove the Shusho from office.
The Shusho has supremacy over civilian matters, law enforcement and foreign relations. Though the Shusho has a great deal of authority to enact policy within these realms, he must abide by the legal framework set by the Diet and various relevant government bodies. One area where the Shusho has nigh-unlimited authority is in setting the curriculum for Education, as all public education institutions must abide by the Shusho’s requirements.
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Ceasefire
The Gezakt Union was forged in war with the Xenyan Empire, the invasion of the Gezakt south forcing the Clans to unite against a greater threat. For decades the Southern border was in flux before a ceasefire informally began, with each side simply holding ground for a sustained amount of time. Periodically one side or the other will break the unofficial peace and attempt to seize territory, but in the end the borders tend to revert to where they started.
Few are aware that over the years the Truce between the two civilizations has resulted in secret pacts between the Xen and the Gezakt regarding refugees, restrictions on targeting trade, and temporary non-aggression pacts.
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