The Woodlands
| Expert | |||
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| Capital | n/a | ||
| Largest city | n/a | ||
| Government | rule by intellectuals | ||
| Settlement |
-- BT | ||
| Official Language(s) | Sagii | ||
| Official Religion | No official religion. | ||
| Currency | barter system (see background) | ||
| Original creator is pd Rydia. Open to development from other RPers. | |||
Contents
Briefly
The wooded and hilly area in the south of Igala --which is cradled on either side by the tapering Shuman Mountains and below by the ocean--is occupied by a race called usagijin. While lacking a centralized government, one can easily still say the usagijin of this area form a nation. Together, the tribes's collective territory has been dubbed The Woodlands (La Forét in their native language of Sagii).
Whilst usagijin as a whole are aggressive and territorial, these traits are counterbalanced by a culturally indoctrinated sense of honor. They also hold a great respect for hierarchy, and tribal leaders normally discourage fighting between tribes--partially out of a desire to uphold their sense of honor, and partially to avoid conflict and the potential to be ousted. However, if suffering an injust indignity--or an action perceived as such--usagijin are liable to settle the matter with their fists and feet.
Education--currently a highly respected pursuit--remains the responsibility of a child's family. Some families hire out tutors, but such a priviledge is normally reserved either for gifted children, and/or children with rich families.
As herbivores, usagijin base their diet on plants, grain, and some dairy. Dairy products are kept only by the richest of the rich, however, as they have to be imported and kept fresh through magic (usagijin do not herd animals). Because of the low calorie nature of their preferred foods, usagijin supplement their meals with sauces and sugary treats. Meals are taken 4 times a day.
History
At one point in time all the tribes of The Woodlands were united under a single government. The head of this centralized government was a singularly ambitious usagijin of the self-proclaimed name Guerrier Noble, who used excessively militant means to unite and rule the usagijin. Upon his death, a studious but shrewd usagijin named Librae Llhomet lead a revolt against Guerrier's aspiring successor, successfully overthrowing the militant regime and instating a rule by intellectuals. This government soon dissolved, however, and the usagijin reverted to individual tribes; nonetheless, its influence on the usagijin was dramatic. Even today, almost all usagijin follow Librae's example of rule by intellectual.
Today: current events
Most tribes, as stated, are ruled by intellectuals. The actual structure of this varies from tribe to tribe, as does the definition of "intellectual." In some tribes, good sense and the quality of study determines the matter; in others, the amount of study; and in some, intelligence is a fascinatingly inheritable quality.
Tribes ruled through any other manner are generally frowned upon by most usagijin. Usagijin normally shun the world outside of The Woodlands, largely due to this bias. However, some of the elite of the intellectuals feel that 'study abroad' --i.e. wandering around in other nations to learn what one can--is an essential factor of training for aspiring rulers and scholars.
Every usagijin raised in your typical manner is trained in unarmed fighting to some degree, either formally (by a tutor, as is usual for children perceived as gifted) or informally (through socialization). Fighting tournaments occur regularly, as does friendly (or not-so-friendly) sparring amongst acquaintances. Armed fighting is frowned upon as dishonorable or "cheap," as is offensive magic.
Miscellany
MUSH description
The <Wo>odlands(#416Rn):
At the very south of Igala, the Shumans encircle The Woodlands--the hilly and wooded area known to be usagijin tribeland. Lacking a centralized government, usagijin generally rely on barter with each other and in their rare dealings with other nations. The usagijin are an herbivorous race who engage in four meals a day. The native language is Sagii and while quick to learn other languages, they prefer to deal with those capable of speaking their own.
Most tribes subscribe to a variation of 'rule by intellectuals.' The actual structure varies from tribe to tribe, as does the definition of "intellectual." In some tribes, good sense and the quality of study determines the matter; in others, the amount of study; and in some, intelligence is a fascinatingly inheritable quality. However, tribes blatantly ruled through deviant means are frowned upon, mocked, and, in extreme cases, shunned.
Despite the growing number of elite who are beginning to consider "study abroad" an essential facet to an aspiring young ruler's education, this is still a minority opinion. The outside world is generally considered of little consequence to The Woodlands until usagijin territory is encroached upon. Intellectual leanings or no, usagijin are fiercely territorial and have an aggressive nature which will be put to immediate and effective use against threatening outsiders. While few tribes have official links with another, it is by no means completely unknown for the tribes to band together when necessary, working in a loose confederation to repel outside threats.
Usagijin living in The Woodlands value not only education, but also respect for the hierarchy within the tribe. Education as a whole is the responsibility of the family of a child, however the tribe's code of honor will be taught to a child not from the family alone but from the entire tribe--forcefully when need be. Every typical, and most atypical, usagijin is trained in unarmed fighting to some degree, and are presented frequent opportunities to work out their aggressive tendencies in productive and/or satisfying ways; intra- and inter-tribe fighting tournaments occur regularly, as do friendly (and not-so-friendly) sparring matches amongst acquaintances.
Obvious exits: Shumans Branch Southeast <shSE> Shumans Branch Southwest <shSW> Shumans Spine South <shS>
Money Matters
Lacking a centralized government, usagijin generally rely on barter; however, some coinage left over from Guerrier's regime, as well as some from other nations, is still passed around. Coinage, as both a rarity and novelty, is normally treated to have slightly greater value than they receive in other nations. However, trade with outside nations is nonetheless kept to a minimum, so outside nations cannot take advantage of this situation very well.
