Obakesato

General informations

Obakesato is a japanese inspired world; when crossing the portal, you'll arrive in Obakesato itself, the main village one can see there. It is organised around a small active district, comprising of a merchant street where you may buy things off the merchants or spend some time in an izakaya to try the local specialities. An inn and bathhouse can also be found in this district; leaving this are leads to residences, some bigger than others.

The next district is mostly related to religion; the people of obakesato are animists, with a big focus on worshipping the moon, considered the world maker. You will find a large garden with a small teahouse, an arena where yôkais may practice sumo wrestling or, if slighted, host a duel. Finally a big temple oversees it all, where people will often go to make offering to the many shrines found there of partake in festivals.

Eventually you will walk amongst rice paddies and, after crossing a river that seems to isolate the little town from the rest of the world, stumble upon a more wartorn area. The meadows, while generally peaceful, are the last barreer between peace and the battle field, which is where the clan's daimyo and the shogun agreed they'd take all their fight. From the meadow, you may also be able to reach any of the lord's castles, gorgeous looking structure which often function as tiny town of their own, providing housing for the samurais- though most of them still have to get provisions from Bakesato itself, as few merchants willingly agree to move out of the peaceful neutral zone.

History & Government

Nobody really knows how Obakesato came to be; the only real explanation offered was that the moon felt lonely and created earth, then invented the yôkais to entertain herself by observing them as they go about their dailylife. What is known is that out of necessity, the yôkais who first lived there came together to work the land and feed themselves, eventually growing their community enough to need a leader. A shogun was then selected,who'd passed the power down to his son until a recent struggle.

When no heir was born before the death of the last shogun, a war broke out, causing lots of death and a famine as everyone was too busy fighting to produce food.
A treaty was signed, allowing the clans to fight for the power- as long as they kept it to a specific area, and allowed the commons to live their lives and feed themselves unbothered. After more wars amongst the daimyos, a Tengu took over and became shogun.

However, now his son took over, the struggles are back, as the Kitsune and Kappa clans both contest his right to rule and started warring amongst themselves again- this time in the hope of having a definitive Shogun who wouldn't have to deal with the same unrest.

As it is right now, the Shogun officially rules over the Daimyos, powerful nobles who share the land; these daimyos can hire samurais to fight in their armies. Under them are the common people; farmers, merchants, priests alike are considered as commoners.

While the daimyo's closest associates are of the same species as them, other species can often join their side as samurais; rônins, masterless samurais, can also be hired by the common to help them if needed. Onis are especially known to make good samurais who will join the side that appeals to them the most.

Species

Tengu, Kitsune and Kappas consider themselves to be the leading class, as the shoguns and daimyos all are of these species.

Onis are often considered a little better than the other species, as they join in the wars; strong warriors often have a chance to raise in the ranks.

On the other hand, Tsukumogamis tend to be almost always commoners as few of them ever took arms (except weapons come to life).

Finally at the very bottom of society are Bakenekos- infamous for bringing bad luck and being malicious, they are often rejected by society and left to fend for themselves, or only given low jobs, as people are wary of them. It is fairly common for them to join arms with onis and create bands of bandits.