Shikego

The Spirit Realm

Shikego is a land of ghosts and spirits, a water-locked chain of islands inhabited by a race of cultured, disciplined warriors and oathsworn peasants who are locked into their service. It is an enigmatic land, shrouded in mystery and whisperings of demonic influence.

Description
Shikego is a chain of three islands located off the southern coast of Rel'Thalla. The most isolated of the nations of the Shattered Earth, it was affected little by the Burning, and had little contact with the outside world until Rel'Thalla declared war upon it three years ago. Shikego's landscape is largely free of Constructs, and home to tropical forests and lush grasslands.

The capitol Shikegero is the heart of the realm. It is where the Emperor holds his seat in the Imperial Palace, which sits atop the slopes of the Golden Spire, a mountain around which the capitol is constructed. Each of the twelve Clans has a representative here in the Emperor's court, though no trade is allowed – mercantile dealings are considered unfit to be seen by the Emperor's eyes.

Culture
Shikegani have a strict hierarchical structure, with clearly defined classes separating the nobles, and workers, and the underclasses. The nobles are the rulers, the main body of the Twelve Clans, and make up the elite warriors, courtiers, and diplomats. Workers are considered valuable by all of the clans, and perform more tasks related to the sustenance of a Clan, such as farming, fishing, hunting, and cooking. The underclasses are the roles seen as necessary but unwelcome, and include soldiers, labourers, and most notably, merchants.

The Shikegani have a dim view of currency and merchants. They accept that coinage is necessary and that goods must be traded. But it is not something the nobility should ever need to be involved with; anything they need, they should be able to take, and honour dictates that they should give to those who need. This semi-socialist concept has led to strange discrepancies in Shikegani life, Where Clans wage subtle wars upon each other to test the honour of their opponents; anyone seen to be dishonourable is cast down. This has led to some Clans deliberately sending dozens of starving workers to the households of rival clans, knowing that feeding them will cost the Clan much of its food stock, but refusing to feed them will see them dishonoured.

Appearance
Although predominantly human, the noble classes of Shikegani often exhibit unusual physical traits. All Shikegani are of medium height, with weight varying considerably, and have golden skin, dark eyes and black hair. Those of the working and underclasses are not easily distinguishable from one another aside from their attire; workers wear silk shirts and loose trousers, whilst underclasses wear simple hemp jerkins and coarse pantaloons.

The nobility differ in both appearance and dress. They are generally taller, and often exhibit strange physical traits. Some have small horn-like protrusions from their skin, others have black-on-black eyes, discoloured skin, naturally sharpened teeth, and occasionally animalistic traits, usually linked to their Clan or family heritage. It's not uncommon to find Raptor Clan Shikegani with feathers instead of hair or with clawed feet; likewise there are Vrolg Clan Shikegani with a thin layer of fur or golden eyes, and Boliak Clan Shikegani with patches of scales and spiny growths from their skin.

Nobles wear silk kimono, often decorated with vibrant colours or exquisite imagery, usually depicting events in the history of their family or clan. They take to battle wearing lacquered armour, stylised after the emblem of their Clan.

Notable Locations
●       Shikegero

●       Kyotetsu

●       O-Genji

●       Ikamo

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Notable Inhabitants

 * Emperor Osano