Iwagakure</CENTER>
<i>
</i>
::History::
A community set in tradition, the citizens are a proud and stoic people with a profound sense of independence, honor and oral tradition. They are not a cruel people although other cultures may see them as such because they believe that hardships and pain are divine quests set before them to overcome to become a better person, warrior, family figure and of course bring them closer to teleos, or better termed "completeness." Although the village of Iwagakure was always interrelated to the nation of Tsuchi no Kuni as a whole and specifically to Maruishi, the capital of Tsuchi no Kuni and physically the neighbor of Maruishi; they were always considered to be separate entities. The lands held by Iwagakure were the stones of the bluff overlooking the great sea. Maruishi sat on the top of the bluff, almost like an umbrella above Iwagakure. This space would have been unused if it was not for Iwagakure, it was steep, uneven and unsafe. There was no farm space so their residence immediately below the capital city held little consequence to the governing bodies of Maruishi or TSuchi no Kuni. In fact, Iwagakure and Maruishi enjoyed a symbiotic relationship where Iwagakure served as the military force and physical might of the Tsuchi no Kuni empire and in exchange the people of Iwagakure enjoyed compensation for the efforts many Iwagakurians saw as their sacred duty in order to reach teleos.
Due to the high risk of death and the value placed on large families, the ranks of Iwa youth grew exponentially over the years but their overall population remained stable. The violent nature of their vocation cut many Iwa lives short, their reproductive rate often was high but it often only kept up to their death rates. Certain traits seemed to be bred into the next generation as death, death seemed to cut short the lives of the gentler shinobi so their seed was never passed on. Neighboring cities, especially their closest neighbor grew uneasy with the climbing numbers of what they saw as vile, barbaric and violent people. With the recent discovery of antibiotics, a non-invasive treatment to a common cause of death after a near mortal injury, the life expectancy of the average shinobi increased by nearly a decade and with that an increased number of birthing years. With the culture of the Iwa being common knowledge, many speculated that the Iwa-nin would not remain inert forever.
The Iwa-nin were a pious people, but their dedication to old gods was abandoned generations ago in the rest of Tsuchi no Kuni. This difference in religion was a source of contempt between peoples. Rumors of Iwanins worshiping their "pagan devils," defiling their livestock and women became common tales. To say that all of the rumors were untrue would be a lie, but often the quantity and circumstances were greatly exaggerated or so it has been chronicled in Iwa historical texts. The denizens of Tsuchi no Kuni were a hypocritical people, despite the ire felt by the citizens of Tsuchi no Kuni they continued to employ the shinobi of Iwa on various missions that ranged from escorting goods to assassinating rivals. In addition, the proximity of the villages Maruishi and Iwagakure continued. Maruishi needed the frequent and sometimes immediate services of the Iwa-shinobi for tasks that ranged from emergencies such as fires to domestic disturbances and the maintenance of order in the civilian city.
Lying below even Iwagakure is the village of Arcadia. Home to a people alien and inhuman by conventional means, Arcadia always existed as a lost world of sorts. From the eerily pale to the deathly blackened, sporting hair and eye colors of every color of the rainbow, it would be easy to see why references to Arcadia in general tend to be lacking of a concrete manner. However for all of the mystery and lore surrounding them, the people of Arcadia have kept a more devout path than their Iwagakurian brethren and on occasion have had to remind those above about the mandate of heaven. Very mistrusting of those in Maruishi, natural born Arcadians did and still do on occasion visit the world above and from that many half-breeds entered the historical text but their primary trading and political ties lie and have always been with Iwagakure as they have a ceremonial council and no standing army of their own.
<CENTER>
::Geography::
Iwagakure has always been located on the face of the bluffs overlooking the great sea, in the gulf of Tsuchi no Kuni. The village of Iwagakure is said to have a view of 100 miles. Located immediately below the capital city Maruishi, Iwagakure is carved into the cliff face and deep into the terrain below the city of Maruishi. The only way to reach Iwagakure is a steep climb or a dramatic fall from the city above, one wrong step and a clumsy person could fall to their death on the rocks and crashing waves a few hundred feet below. Tall graceful towers that reach down several stories rather than up, the architecture is quite unique as the building look like they are upside down. Staircases wrap around the buildings, made of the same carved sandstone. Their water source is the sea and a waterfall that escapes from a river that bisects Maruishi and showers over the front of the village in the spring and in the summer is reduced to a trickle but enough water comes from between the stone in small collection pools to serve their purposes.
The interior of Iwa homes is rather spartan, few homely pleasures are afforded even in the most luxurious of homes. A place to rest, eat, bathe and worship the Gods is all that is desired by most Iwa shinobi. Their altars found in their homes are used to pay respect to their ancestors are likely the most decorative piece in their domicile, made from various minerals and melted bits of cloth, metal or other item that held significance to an ancestor are molded into intricate patterns that would seem impossible for such a simple people to manufacture. These altars often had incenses burning at dawn and dusk. Their bed is made of feathers stored in a soft sack that is more comfortable than it looks with several animal-skin blankets of varying thicknesses and types that are used at different points during the year. Their eating area is a small clean space that looks like a traditional table at any Japanese home, only made of pure stone carved from the floor. Simple yet elegant in design. Most of their time is not spent at home, rather it is spent on the cliff side - their love for heights, jumping, falling or even flying in a limited capacity that is actually gliding are the entertainment pastimes of the Iwa people.
::Religion::
Iwagakurians pray to the Old Gods, once the Gods of all of Tsuchi no Kuni, may have lost their love for the ancient gods. The Circle of Five, represents the unbreakable cycle not only between the elements but also time, life, death, strength and ascension. The goal of a believer is to reach teleos, or better termed "completeness" which is a representation of physical and mental perfection. This is in part why battle and hardship is savored by many Iwagakurians because these challenges and hardships to overcome would make them stronger and more capable. By reaching teleos it is believed that they would ascend to god-like power, have control over the elements and time and be able to rewrite the fates of their loved ones and ancestors. Their religion is a central focus of their life, blame for limitations is often attributed to failures in past lives, the transgressions of ancestors or even the curses of rivals which takes the blame off of a current person's short-comings in the eyes of their peers but also makes life difficult for the individual. perceived slights, failures, shortcomings or lack of progression in one's life may cause their kin or future self in another life suffering.
::Burial Practices::
Since all things occur in cycles, upon death the body must be returned to the elements for the spirit to remain free. This occurs when the body is returned to all of the elements: fire, earth, wind, water and lightning. This is accomplished by lighting a funeral pyre where the fire takes back what is theirs, the air takes the smoke which is theirs. The ashes are then thrown into the water on a stormy night where the water takes back what belongs to it, the sea floor would be the earth that which the body returns. The storm is needed so that the soul can find its way into the heavens, it is said that the soul rides a lightning bolt giving back -- the final spark of energy that tied the soul to earth is represented by lightning. Many families claim to see their loved one in the distance riding a distant bolt of lightning back to the heavens. Because of this death is not necessarily something to be feared although it is something to be avoided because the family line must be maintained and be strong so that a person could be returned from the spirit world to live again and try to reach teleos in their next life.
Failure to burn the body and to follow these practices to believed to have dire consequences. The soul would be bound to the earth for as long as the elements have not been returned as this world and the spirit realm world remains out of balance. Some souls become vengeful and would take out their displeasure on family members, causing sickness, infertility or bad luck. It is also said to be a grave insult to refuse burial rites to anyone, even criminals. Human puppetry and the paths of a rikudou sennin are considered to be taboo and the worst perversions a person can do. Those caught doing such would be sentenced to their most heinous form of death "athanatos" which equates to death without death -- most similar to the paths of a rikudou sennin but never used in battle. This is believed to be a way to prevent the worst offenders from reincarnating.
::Marriage Practices::
Marriage between Iwa shinobi differs from that of civilized nations because the concept is more than welcomed. Even with the harshness of society, family is one of the biggest and most valued forms of life. Marriage is most sacred, and having children with another binds the two that have conjoined permanently. Even something as simple as a kiss could bind two souls together. However, it goes for any gender. As sexuality and expression are again, open and embraced. Love of life is something to be duly noted with Iwagakurians. However, in rare cases sometimes natives have been known to take multiple partners and bonds. "One cannot have too many bonds~"
::Birthing Practices::
The women of Iwagakure prefer to give birth alone in silence as to give reverence to the 'Gods'. Sometimes the father of the child is present and maybe a family Shaman, but no others. They do trust shamans which are in many ways similar medical practitioners that are said to be capable of communicating with the spirit world and use potions and various herbal remedies to treat ailments. In cases where birthing is complicated they may seek the assistance of a shaman. The placenta is "buried" like a dead body is -- through fire, smoke, sea, mud and lightning. The placenta is the body the soul was carried in and it needs to be returned so that the woman remains fertile and can continue to bear children.
- Shamans: These are spiritually-guided medics. Rather than relying on their chakra, they rely on the powers bestowed onto them by the spirit world. Energy is always finite in supply and as such it is still in all ways identical to Medics as represented mechanically on NC in terms of chakra, only these people refer to it as spiritual energies.
::Medical Practices::
Medical nin are uncommon mostly, but modern medicine is still practiced, though in many ways shunned but definitely not outlawed. Iwa-nin are wary of medics or those that profess an understanding of the workings of the human body because their research of the human anatomy and physiology is limited. Dissecting a human body would be disrespectful of the dead and would possibly slow their transition into the other world if something was misplaced. Similarly with surgery, the parts removed need to be returned to the elements in their entirety to ensure that they would not be trapped in this world. These concerns among others have limited the advances of medicine in Iwagakure, but they do put their faith in shamans who pray to the Old Gods for favors, perform sacrifices, have visions of the spirit world and use various herbs and remedies to treat a variety of ailments. To say that the efforts of shamans is entirely ineffective would be inaccurate but the death rate of infants and small children is worse in Iwa in comparison to any other part of the known world likely due to the lack of medical care the children receive short of chants and roots. Though with all that being said, if everything a Shaman can do fails to work, normally a practitioner of modern Medicine will be brought in to help with ailments and sicknesses.
::Government Structure::
Iwagakure is led by the Tsuchikage. The title of Tsuchikage is most often bestowed upon the strongest person in the village at the time of the previous Tsuchikage's passing. While the physical strength of a Tsuchikage wanes in age, it is believed that they remain one of the most capable fighters in the village up until the point of their death. For the most part it is often one of the children of the Tsuchikage that takes on the role of Kageship since the Tuschikage often takes the most powerful woman he can find in the village and makes her his own. Occasionally the Tsuchikage role is held by a woman as none are barred from the role and in one case a thirteen year old prodigy became the Kage. The passage of kageship is determined by combat the night after the death of the former Tsuchikage. All interested participants are allowed to join but combat is considered to be dangerous, although death is not encouraged it is not outright discouraged. Many shinobis take the head of their rivals as trophies that they perform the burial rites on after their coronation.
The advisers (Sennin) of the Tsuchikage have the greatest authority in the village. Often the Kage is known for their brawn rather than their brain, the advisers on the other hand, are often the weakest but also most intelligent of their people. Their role is often laughable by a community that respects strength, but often these wise men have skills of their own. There are 3 Sennin: one is a religious leader - often skilled in shamanism and often the cause of great miracles (often the result of medical jutsu or genjutsu). Another is a tactician - a person who has shown an uncanny ability to evade attacks by those significantly stronger than him/her and complete missions without the use of brawn. Though a leader of shinobi colloquially referred to as "The Guardians", most would call this Sennin the Spy Sennin for their ability to discover and learn information that nobody else can to later use against them. Finally a delegate - a representative of Iwagakure that is versed in foreign ways enough to communicate between Iwagakure and the various villages of Tsuchi no Kuni. Although this final person is not a powerful person in regards to jutsus or unsavory techniques, they understand the intricacies of cultures entirely foreign to those of Iwagakure. This role is often a role that a person is groomed for from youth, often an attractive young boy or girl who shows little promise in the shinobi arts. Their authority is often greatest because their word often sways the ambition of the Tsuchikage.
Important shinobi aside, there is also a small true council made up mostly of village elders considered too old and feeble to fight any longer. Their experience is considered to still be of use as the mind typically goes long after the body has withered away. They have no actual power in Iwagakure but are often found congregating near the Temple of the Circle of Five. They often answer questions, give opinions on best-practices and bore others with long stories that often start with "when I was your age..." Foreign diplomats also on occasion help to fill out the village council.
::Naming Scheme::
As the village has only a limited number of members and unions are made from within their ranks, surnames were not considered necessary. The surname of a person is often replaced with the rank they hold so their surname may change several times throughout their life. No person shares a given name with another, this is how lineage is understood and maintained. For example, a person by the name of Gin could be named Genin Gin, Chuunin Gin and Jounin Gin formally, but as it would be a common moniker most shortened their names to simply Gin. In this culture, using someone's given name is not a sign of rudeness but rather a sign of respect because it identifies a person as an individual. The only people that expect formal use of their name are those in the highest ranking positions such as Sennin and the Kage.
Maruishi
::History::
Maruishi is considered to be the capital of Tsuchi no Kuni, home of the Daimyō, and their family. This village is considered to be the social and economic hub of the country. They have little to do with their immediate neighbors the Iwagakurian shinobi, an ancient somewhat barbaric race of people that live only for battle. They serve as civil servants in jobs that range from breaking up civilian disputes, guarding relevant artifacts, facilities or homes of prominent people to various tasks found unpleasant or too dangerous for the average Maruishian. Their way of life is simple, average in fact.
The founders of Maruishi were travelers from far away lands not defined by the borders known today. They came to Tsuchi no Kuni in search of freedom from oppression. Although the sand of time may have forgotten the oppressive force, some speculate that it was not an oppressive force but rather a fearsome force and that the lineage of the civilian people of Tsuchi no Kuni same a common line with the people of Iwagakure. The fallacy could easily explained as a cover due to their proud ancient lineage and love for combat and it is hard for many to believe that two unrelated peoples could coexist in the same land for generations without mixing blood. It is considered vile for Iwa to mate outside of their blood, the introduction of weakness would not only doom their soul but the soul of all those related by blood in some manner. Similarly, in Maruishi as well as the rest of the country, pedigree is important -- knowing where you came from as well as your ancestors and your ancestors ancestors spoke volumes for your value as a person and what potential you would have in society. There was no obvious caste system in Marusihi, but there was an unspoken one. A toilet-cleaner would bear like-minded and skilled people who would in turn continue their domestic lineage just as a doctor would have several children and most would become doctors as well. Much of this is not due to the genetic potential of the offspring (although some argue nature as being wholly responsible), but rather the limited opportunities afforded some and the grand doors opened to others because of the ties of their kin.
The village itself survives off of fishing from the gulf and farming in the hilly regions that surround the village. Due to the generous supply of minerals and stone, Maruishi has a beautiful array of sculptures and jewelry, their most profitable export. Ties to lands external to Tsuchi no Kuni has only occurred over the past few months and limited to non-shinobi lands for the sake of trade. This sudden change in thought after thousands of years of isolation is not yet fully understood, but it is assumed that the Daimyō's thirst for knowledge has caused this change in policy. This is an unpopular notion for many people, not limited to the city of Maruishi or even Iwagakure. Oppression is a terrible thought for a fiercely independent people but even more terrifying still is the possibility that they fled something so strong they had no choice.
::Geography::
Maruishi is located on the top of a bluff overlooking the great sea, located in the gulf of Tsuchi no Kuni. Immediately adjacent and below is the city of Iwagakure, a hidden shinobi village that serves as a protective force to the people of Maruishi. The architecture of Maruishi is boxy and bright. Banners, advertisements and even colored adobe structures are common. Many buildings are built on stilts despite there being no water besides a small creek that bisects the city because the area below is reserved for storefronts and walking spaces for various patrons. Greenery dots the area, mostly trees are in some way assisting the support of a housing structure. Vegetable gardens can be seen on the rooftops of many urban homes. Homes of artists are painfully obvious because of the statues, intricate carvings found on the exterior as well as the bright colors often infused into the abode of their walls.
The land that surrounds Maruishi's immediate vicinity is hilly and mostly farmland. Some forests dot the area but they are often burned away to make space for farming. The horizon is mountainous, rugged and beautiful.
::Flora and Fauna::
Plants -- The plant life of high cliffs of Iwagakure is almost absent, less the rare Highlands Daisy, but the forests that blanket the valley as well as any stable portion of the mountain offer a variety of plant and animal life.
- Highlands Daisy: A simple little flower, buttercup yellow with a black center, it has tiny leaves and a vine-like stalk. It grows in little bunches that dangle over rocks. It has no actual use, although it is edible it has no actual taste. Some people like to make daisy chains with them and give them to their friends during childhood as a token of friendship but otherwise these flowers are utterly useless.
Poison Vine: An invasive plant that grows in the underbrush. It is a plan green plant with leaves that look like grape leaves and no blooms. Any skin contact with this vine leads to severe itching that lasts for about 2 weeks. Sometimes used as a cruel prank, this plant is usually avoided or burned whenever possible because it also chokes out other forms of plant life that wish to grow there.
Pink Berries: Yummy berries that are hot pink in color, they are a popular treat because of their natural sweetness. Used to make jams, dried to be savored during the winter and eaten as it, these berries are a treasured commodity for inhabitants of this area. Some purposeful farming of this plant occurs on various difficult to reach cliff areas with some level of stability as some shinobi like to have a secret stash.
Cliffrose: Although not edible and not usually found on cliffs, this is a rose that enjoys higher elevations. These roses come in a variety of colors, even black. Although the most common is red or white, other rose colors exist as well but they are quite rare. Meanings have been attached to some rose colors, but the meanings are inconsistent. Although it has a strange smell that is not bad but certainly not a food-smell, when cooked a cliffrose is edible and goes well with white-breasted hawk meat.
Wranwon: Not a weed, rather a powerful and important herb used by shamans in their various practices. It is an herb that burns, the smoke is used to discern the future and fate of an interested party. It has tiny purple flowers that look like little balloons and pale green almost frosty-appearing leaves.
Everythingspice: The name really describes it, it is a spice that goes well in just about every dish. It has a very sweet flavor, most likely because this "spice" is 75% sugar and 25% something else. In any case, there is not a person in Iwagakue that dislikes the taste of this spice. The plant is found near water sources such as ponds and rivers and resembles bamboo reeds but in general these reeds never get ticker than a person's thumb.
Rocklands Pine: Tall evergreens indigenous to the area, their branches has a weeping willow quality and grow to be both quite tall and quite wide but their growth is quite slow. The wood is a hardwood that is not very good for burning without adequate kindling but does make for study, long-lasting pieces of furniture, dishes and even ladders. These trees carpet much of the high elevation regions.
Scarlet Bean: An Iwa staple, these beans are highly nutritious and plentiful in the nitrogen-rich soil of Tsuchi no Kuni. They are used for a variety of dishes and ground to make many baked products with a bean-flour. The leaves are very easily noticed because of their scarlet hue despite being small in size.
- White-breasted Hawk: A predatory bird that mostly focuses on small game such as rodents or smaller birds. These creatures are possible to tame, but they are considered to be "dirty" animals because of indifference to living or dead meals of often vermin but also other large fallen prey as well. They are ornery creatures that often nest on the cliffs. Their eggs are rather large and quite delicious as is their meat.
Phoenix: Fire birds of mythology, these birds are said to dwell here although first hand accounts are limited. Said to be immortal and capable of rising again from the ashes, the phoenix is a celebrated figure in the Circle of Five as the child of the God of fire (Eiennohi). These birds are destructive, powerful and fierce. Their wrath is feared by many but their existence is questioned by most civilized people.
Nang: Similar mythologies have placed these creatures throughout the world, a race of sentient beings with the upper body of a man or a woman and the lower body of a fish. While various cultures give differing descriptions, in Tsuchi no Kuni these creatures are considered similar to sirens. They lull hapless travelers into their clutches with their beautiful voice and then drown them. If these creatures are real or myth is another thing entirely as there has been no verified sightings of these creatures but it is assumed that they prefer large bodies of water, most likely the sea. Some weary travelers have even claimed to have been saved by a kind Nang, but many of these stories are considered the ramblings of a delirious traveler.
Naga: Serpent-like creatures, these creatures are considered sacred by many Iwa people, they are considered to be the representation of the eternal earth and some feel that the Naga were once humans that have failed in their past lives and have been reincarnated as Naga. Lore suggests that the Naga in its later years is an intelligent creature capable of great and powerful things and because of that it is prudent to stay on good terms with the Naga. Those that don't subscribe to this belief often learn that Naga taste a lot like chicken. For the most part the Naga get no longer than 1.5 feet, but there are rumors or accounts of ancient Nagas that are over 100 feet long that can devour a man whole.
Carnasaur: A giant earth-toned lizard that is at the top of the food chain in Tsuchi no Kuni. Although most stand about 20 feet in height, some stand as tall as thirty when fully grown. These are very aggressive carnivorous creatures that breathe lightning. They are rare despite having no natural predator because of their low reproductive rate and aggression even between their own kind. Mothers often devour their young shortly after they hatch which adds to the dwindling numbers. While calling for the extinction of a creature is frowned upon, this creature is known to be real and to be an aggressive threat and as such it is the general consensus that these creatures need to be destroyed whenever the opportunity arises.
Albino Fox: Small, cute and at the bottom of the food chain in Tsuchi no Kuni, these unfortunate creatures are the beloved pet of many Iwa youth and can be found in the wild with astonishing frequency. They are curious and playful creatures that are not excessively bright. They are no larger than an average house cat and a common meal for even the White-breasted hawks in the region.
::Religion::
The people of Maruishi have not prayed to the old Gods in at least 10 generations. They do not believe in the Circle of Five or the balance of elements. They only have faith in the skill and knowledge of their brightest and finest. They do not believe in any God and they believe that anyone who has reach such power is only a strong person who in their great power has become deluded with illusions of grandeur. There is an explanation for everything, even the most unusual, vexing or supernatural-appearing phenomena. The failure to discover the genesis of such things does not prove the existence of said phenomena, only highlights a limitation in the sciences and understanding of the people of Maruishi. If there is any God to name, it would be that of progress. They, like the people of Iwagakure are also fiercely independent. The symbiotic relationship they presently enjoy with the shinobi community is actually a liability to most learned men and women who feel that a society with such values cannot remain inert forever.
::Burial Practices::
Things can be learned in life and after death. Autopsies are an expectation. The people of Maruishi want to understand their own biology, the causes of their illnesses and death. After an autopsy is performed, for sentimental reasons the remains are often returned to the family. Families do a variety of things with the body, but most commonly they attempt to preserve the remains. Since through science all things are possible, it is the greatest ambition of some scholars to determine immortality or perhaps even raise the dead. For this reason, many families preserve the body in the form it was in life to the best of their ability and go to great lengths to embalm teir loved ones. It is their hope that one day that can bring back their loved one through the efforts of science. This difference in culture shows the drastic cultural divide Maruishi and Iwagakure suffer from. in Iwagakure, there is an attempt to return the body in every way possible back to the elements, but in Maruishi the very opposite occurs and the people of Maruishi go to great lengths to maintain the body in its entirety after a greater understanding of metabolic processes is learned.
::Medical Practices::
Medical practitioners are used commonly in Maruishi. Their skill in medical sciences is unparalleled due to their intimate knowledge of the human body. Labor and delivery, preoperative processes and mortuary sciences being among their specialties.
::Government Structure::
The role of Daimyō is a position determined by birthright, the first-born child has the position. The only exception to this rule is when the child is incapable of acting as Daimyō' for whatever reason, such as youth, disability etc. If the limiting factor is a life-long condition, such as disability that effects their ability to rule, the Daimyō position is passed on to the next younger sibling. If there is no younger sibling left, the role would be passed on to the next younger brother or sister in accordance with the rules of succession. The Daimyō' is a figure-head in most respects, although their word is absolute, most of the decisions of the Daimyō' are deferred to their advisers. The advisers were an elected body of individuals. Their reason for their position varied, be it political connections or intellect or even military prowess. The election was held bi-annually in January and July where 5 people are elected to the position or in many cases re-elected. Every person in the village is considered to be a potential candidate, so sometimes the running can get messy.
::Naming Scheme::
Family names are important. Family ties often determine the potential of a person. For this reason, people of high status especially are more likely to announce (or expect to have announced) their lineage. Naming is often done in accordance to their family - famous or members of high prestige often have variant names bestowed upon their children, their children's children or even their children's children's children. For example, the cousin of the Daimyō might name their child after the Daimyo in given name, maintain the family surname and possibly even have a hyphenation of another name involved if their family is especially well-bred.
List of Important Figures:
List of Important Figures:
- Tsuchikage: Kazehi Ryu
- Medical Sennin: Ii Hissori
- ANBU Sennin: -
- Main Branch Sennin: -
- Foreign Diplomats
- Fire Country Representative: Senju Kazuki
- Mist Country Representative: -