The Jade Empire, City of Kurashiki
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 8:22 pm
Kurashiki was, until recently, something of a backwater - oh, sure, it was one of the better launching points for trade expeditions through the southern deserts, but the tribes of barbarians and nomads never had that much to offer. Between that and trade along the coast and up the Kura river, it was never in any real danger of economic collapse... but it certainly wasn't prosperous, either.
This changed with the arrival of Amber's Iron Dragons, and the city is still adjusting to its new-found prosperity.
There are four primary factions in the city.
The Imperial Bureaucracy
Nominally "not a faction", the imperial bureaucracy contains a veritable army of scribes and magistrates, inspectors and alchemists. Also an actual army, in the form of the local militia, a primarily police-like force that wears shiny lacquered armor and is armed with spears and crossbows and a few (non-flammable) alchemical weapons.
Its leader is Captain Zhutan Erlun, a "Silver Empowered" - think mystic martial artist. Unlike the rest of Kurashiki's nobles, Erlun was originally a commoner, who raised himself to his position on raw personal talent. (Silver ranks above Gold, but below Bronze or Iron or Ascended.)
The Ivory Talon Clan / House Alishan
Prior to Amber's arrival, the Ivory Talon Clan were the pre-eminent power in the city, with the prestige of a noble house covering for a variety of quasi-legal or illegal activities; most notably, smuggling dragon bones out of the southern wastes to avoid the extreme taxes such things otherwise accrued.
The clan is lead by Lady Alishan Jianan, a ruthless four-tailed kitsune; persistent rumors claim she considers the poorer districts of Kurashiki to be her personal hunting grounds. Of her daughter, Lady Alishan Tainu, much less is known.
There are also two minor noble houses that owe fealty to House Alishan: Linxan and Khaozhu.
House Niazi
While House Niazi is, overall, one of the more powerful of the Jade Empire's noble houses, its local representative is... well... not. Lord Niazi Xan found himself not-technically-exiled from provinces closer to the Empire's heart, and spends most of his time in seclusion, studying alchemy. Lady Niazi Ying (his daughter) has, by contrast, made herself much better known - with her father simply not bothering, she's been running House Niazi affairs in Kurashiki, and jumped at the opportunities afforded by Amber's rail line. Despite a handful of setbacks (caused primarily by her inexperience), she's managed to pull House Niazi from being considered almost irrelevant in local affairs, up to actually being the second most influential faction (well, third, if you count the Imperial Bureaucracy.) This industriousness is, of course, not at all appreciated by House Alishan.
Amber
Amber's rail line, and the trade it brings, are significant factors. Of note, the Amber Embassy is the train station - and every bit of land along the White Line; Amber is entirely unwilling to allow the Jade Empire even technical ownership of any portion of its railroad. There are no nobility in local residence, though, just a mix of guards and rail workers. Oddly, there are relatively few examples of Amber citizens settling down to make permanent lives in Kurashiki; neither Amber nor the local bureaucracy seem inclined to facilitate such.
Amber's rangers are, of course, armed with their traditional light armor and rifles; they're also much better trained than the rank and file of the local militia.
This changed with the arrival of Amber's Iron Dragons, and the city is still adjusting to its new-found prosperity.
There are four primary factions in the city.
The Imperial Bureaucracy
Nominally "not a faction", the imperial bureaucracy contains a veritable army of scribes and magistrates, inspectors and alchemists. Also an actual army, in the form of the local militia, a primarily police-like force that wears shiny lacquered armor and is armed with spears and crossbows and a few (non-flammable) alchemical weapons.
Its leader is Captain Zhutan Erlun, a "Silver Empowered" - think mystic martial artist. Unlike the rest of Kurashiki's nobles, Erlun was originally a commoner, who raised himself to his position on raw personal talent. (Silver ranks above Gold, but below Bronze or Iron or Ascended.)
The Ivory Talon Clan / House Alishan
Prior to Amber's arrival, the Ivory Talon Clan were the pre-eminent power in the city, with the prestige of a noble house covering for a variety of quasi-legal or illegal activities; most notably, smuggling dragon bones out of the southern wastes to avoid the extreme taxes such things otherwise accrued.
The clan is lead by Lady Alishan Jianan, a ruthless four-tailed kitsune; persistent rumors claim she considers the poorer districts of Kurashiki to be her personal hunting grounds. Of her daughter, Lady Alishan Tainu, much less is known.
There are also two minor noble houses that owe fealty to House Alishan: Linxan and Khaozhu.
House Niazi
While House Niazi is, overall, one of the more powerful of the Jade Empire's noble houses, its local representative is... well... not. Lord Niazi Xan found himself not-technically-exiled from provinces closer to the Empire's heart, and spends most of his time in seclusion, studying alchemy. Lady Niazi Ying (his daughter) has, by contrast, made herself much better known - with her father simply not bothering, she's been running House Niazi affairs in Kurashiki, and jumped at the opportunities afforded by Amber's rail line. Despite a handful of setbacks (caused primarily by her inexperience), she's managed to pull House Niazi from being considered almost irrelevant in local affairs, up to actually being the second most influential faction (well, third, if you count the Imperial Bureaucracy.) This industriousness is, of course, not at all appreciated by House Alishan.
Amber
Amber's rail line, and the trade it brings, are significant factors. Of note, the Amber Embassy is the train station - and every bit of land along the White Line; Amber is entirely unwilling to allow the Jade Empire even technical ownership of any portion of its railroad. There are no nobility in local residence, though, just a mix of guards and rail workers. Oddly, there are relatively few examples of Amber citizens settling down to make permanent lives in Kurashiki; neither Amber nor the local bureaucracy seem inclined to facilitate such.
Amber's rangers are, of course, armed with their traditional light armor and rifles; they're also much better trained than the rank and file of the local militia.