Ryushu Island

Ryushu is an island in the Raikougan with importance second only to Kamejima, which contains the nation's capital. The island lies in the southeastern point of the nation, with it being one of the closest to the neighboring “nation” of splint. Its terrain is made up of many mountains, leaving only a small portion for farming and forcing its population to rely on fish.

Due to its more than capable ports from their fishing industry and location, Ryushu finds itself to be home to many of the Raikougans most important military centers and training grounds. Most of the military of the Raikougan will spend time there to train.

The island is often considered one of the most dangerous in the Raikougan due to the presence of the Bloodhawks. The presence of this group has shaped much of the island's society, and there are many towns that no longer find themselves on any map due to their raids.

This city, on Ryushu Island, features a bustling fishmongers' trade as well as a fortified garrison. Many Shogunate soldiers train and rest here, due to its position near the center of the Archipelago. It is said by some that Youtai is as close to a second Kyousei that Raikougan can have. Overlooking Youtai is the grand estate of the Kentarō family.

Walled City and the most southern point of the military based cities, it now lies destroyed and abandoned after the carnage of the Kasha. It used to be the home to the famous Kasai family, well renowned in history as some of the best smiths who forged weapons for the Raiden family. Rumor has it that Toyeto was built more underground than aboveground, with treasures untold buried in the undertown rubble.

Moderately sized town in the northern point of the island, holds significant cultural value as it was the capital of the island under Dahabi rule many thousands of years prior, with a few structures from said time still intact. It is without a doubt the oldest of all the towns in the island, holding an expansive history. Today, it is predominantly focused on forms of art, music, and more creative fields.

Town located in the north east of the island, it was formed from survivors of the Bloodhawks' raids. Being as such, the people of this town hold a deep grudge, and push themselves in training beyond that of the rest of the Raikougan. The strongest warriors of the nation come from this town.

Three farming towns located in the north eastern portion of the island. These towns often find themselves at the mercy of raids from the Bloodhawks, but what is most important to them is what comes after. After the raids, where they often flee to other towns, they mostly return, rebuild, and continue living. The most valued part of this subculture that came about due to this instability is endurance and willpower.

Town located in the southernmost end of the island. What was once a small fishing village was changed forever with a sudden influx of refugees from Splint during their war with Ley'Ork. The locals accepted them with open arms. Soon after, the Fist of God destroyed much of Ruefang and isolated the Raikougan from the world. This led to the Sakai of today’s culture being a mix between the Raikougan and Splint, as well as it being one of the few places in the Raikougan with a presence of scholarly magic - as many of the refugees from Splint were mages.

A town located within the mountains closer to the center of the island, these people have been mostly isolated from the outside world. Their main export are the ores that naturally appear there, and they were some of the most angry about being exploited by Ruefang during the Ars Machina Incident. However, these people are mostly peaceful, and due to their location, have never once been attacked by the Bloodhawks.

Three towns located within the northwest that extend southward. These towns are heavily military based, constantly housing troops from the Shogunate military. Troops from through the Raikougan often train here, making these towns highly relevant to military matters. Additionally, after the destruction in Juuken, Warlord Kentarō set up factories in these towns, leading to a boom in industry and population after refugees fled the destruction to here.

Both the name and location of this village are unknown and do not exist on any map, but is rumored to be located within the mountains of Ryushu. This organization of spies and talented assassins is closely partnered with the Raikougan’s government, as they provide their services to them quite often.

Two fishing towns south of Toyeto, who mostly fend for themselves since the fall of their stronghold.

The current warlords of the island, the Kentarōs are a blended family of halflings and draconic lizards, formed from the union of Kentarō Ryuji and June, a Ley'Orkian immigrant. They are well known for being skilled fighters, with many Kentarō scions joining the military or training in the magical arts. This skill has been needed, however: after the decline of the Raiden family, the Kentarōs found the duty of fending off the Blood Hawks on their shoulders.

This family has suffered significant loss due to their position. During the fall of Toyeto in 10035, Kentarō Oza, the brother to Kentarō Ryuji, fell to the hands of the 17th Kasha. This event changed Ryuji’s priorities of defense to become relegated to only the island's most important cities. Then, as of 10081, Kentarō Ryuji was killed by the pirate Ryosuke.

The current leader is Kentarō Ryou, a draconic halfling and adventurer. He took over in name after the death of his father, Ryuji, but many of the family's affairs are being run by June until Ryou is ready to take on the responsibility of rulership.

Please consult Seth Eaton (@repeat__) for matters pertaining to the Kentarōs.

Beginning their significance in around 8560 SF as a response to the Bloodhawks, the Raiden family were notable protectors of Ryushu island in the Raikougan. Their prominence came from their “Lightning and Thunder” style of combat, giving them an uncanny ability to adapt and swap battle tactics.

Their fall from grace came from a duel over the warlordship between the Kentaros. The head of the Raiden family of the time, Raiden Noboru, was defeated in a duel with both Kentaro Ryuji and Kentaro Oza. His defeat at the time came as a shock to many.

The Raiden family of today are clothiers and tailors, and they own a reputable business in the heart of Youtai.

Please consult David Erb (@name6092) for matters pertaining to the Raidens.

Originally smiths of Azuma, this family of elves were some of the original creators of the town of Toyeto. It was there that their prominence in the field of metalworking began, as they would work one of the most potent forges in the world. This would propel them into a significant position in politics within Toyeto being a part of the town's industrial union.

Many of the works this family made would end up being used by the Raiden family, as the two families signed an agreement with one another. This agreement continued on until the fall of the Raiden family from prominence and the exchanging of the title of warlord to the Kentaro family. For reasons unknown, around the same time the Kasai family began to have fire elemental children, effectively ending the elven bloodline.

With the fall of Toyeto, much beyond this is unknown about them. The last known surviving member of the family, Kasai Niko, was last seen after the fall of Toyeto, and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since.

Please consult Juno Beckwith (@blueski4774) for matters pertaining to the Kasais.

The cultural leaders of Sakai, they were once nobles of splint that fled during the Splint-Ley’Orkian war and found themselves on Ryushu. With the fist of god incident making leaving impossible, they forged a new life as they rebuilt their status in their new environment. They now manage the city, making themselves one of the more prominent figures of the island.

The current head of the family is Robles Gabriel.

The leaders of Jinsei, this family's history dates back to the beginning of the Bloodhawks where they were some of the few survivors of one of their raids. Ever since then, they have had a deep grudge against the Bloodhawks, as they would eventually be one of the few to start the town of Jinsei.

This family has no sense of lineage, as they readily adopt talented children who were orphaned due to bloodhawk raids. This not only means that their family consists of all races, but that they will always be strong.

The culture of Ryushu is generally the same as the rest of the Raikougan, but there are several subcultures that are present on the island that make life in several of its towns quite different.

The towns that lie in the northwest of Ryushu are often housing and supporting large military forces, to the point where they have been ingrained into their culture. This region is considered the safest in the island, as there have been no successful attacks here since the time of the Kasha.

Additionally, with major populations of Juuken moving here, the cultural differences between the two islands have begun to clash. Many of those that lived in this region before the war scoff at the thought that a life in industry could possibly be compared in value to that in military service. This sentiment has increased tension in the area with consequences that are yet to be seen.

The farming villages in this area lack the protection that much of the other lands have, leaving them free to be attacked by the Bloodhawks. The people of this region have accepted this fact, and the survivors of raids will often return back to their destroyed homes and begin rebuilding without despair.

The people of Jinsei cannot forgive the Bloodhawks. This town is far more dedicated to fighting than the rest of the Raikougan. The people here push themselves in martial and military training far beyond what would be expected of the average citizen, and many from Jinsei find themselves in service to the Shogunate military or working as mercenaries.

Being that much of the population are refugees from splint, the cultures of this region began to merge. Within this town, one can see buildings of these two distinct cultures siting side by side, sometimes with a few made up of a mixture.

Several cultural holidays and beliefs from splint made their way over, such as the La Migración, where they celebrate the migration of butterflies which are considered sacred. Some holidays have been altered in some ways, such as the previous one appearing in a different season as the migration of butterflies in the Raikougan takes place at a different time.

Residing in the mountains, these people have not lived under fear of raids or attacks from the outside world. Because of this, they are much more peaceful, and unlike the rest of the Raikougan, training the young to fight is optional and typically up to the parents discretion.