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[indent]Azumato State claims the northernmost region of what used to be the Ibaraki prefecture, a mountainous territory that largely depends on imported agricultural goods from nearby states in order to sustain its populace. Due to its general inability to be self-sustaining beyond the fish that can be harvested off the coast, it would be considered undesirable, if not for the recent construction of the Koyama Dam, which provides water both for household usage as well as industry, of which neighbouring flatlands require much of. As such, Azumato State, as it currently is, only recently came to being after a bloody affair seven months prior, between the [b]Un-Ga Han-Dan Ikka[/b] and the [b]Tatsumori-Kai[/b], where the former was forced to pledge fealty to the latter after the assassination of their then-clan head, Kanehira Nasu. The Tatsumori-Kai, of course, was only interested in Azumato State for its dam and its defensible position in the mountains. Thus, beyond leaving an elite detachment of sorcerers to ensure that the vassal-lineages did not consider revolt, they returned southwards to their throne of power in Mount Tsukuba.

As it stands, Azumato State is home to a four individual forces, most of which are subservient to varying degrees to the Tatsumori-Kai.

The [b]Tatsumori-Kai[/b], of course, are a regional powerhouse that can be traced back to a bloodline association with the legendary blacksmith, Sanjo Munechika. Though only a small detachment of the Tatsumori-Kai remained to oversee the comings and goings of the Azumato State, they are undoubtedly peerless swordsmen and sorcerers, possessing blades craft of consecrated steel. While the patriarch and heirs of the Tatsumori-Kai possess the Iron Quill Technique, this particular detachment of the Tatsumori-Kai are known to utilize the Vile Exchange Technique instead, a self-sacrificial curse that applies the same wound upon the caster's body onto their target. Despite such a dark nature, they abide strictly by the directives of the Patriarch in how Azumato State must be run.

The [b]Un-Ga Han-Dan Ikka[/b], on the other hand, had held Azumato State all the way from the start until their recent ousting by the Tatsumori-Kai. Well-respected by the local citizenry despite their roughshod nature, they were a motley gang of hooligans that had been drawn in by the charisma of their now-deceased clan head, Kanehira Nasu. Without his presence, various factions have popped up within the family, everyone having different ideas of how they should approach their new position beneath the Tatsumori-Kai. Some lash out at those that had supported the creation of the Koyama Dam. Others curry favour, trying to integrate into the Tatsumori-Kai even to the point of relinquishing the extensively gaudy outfits that once was the trademark of the Un-Ga Han-Dan. Without a unifying leader, they are no more than attack dogs let loose. But they are many. And they are [i]hungry[/i].

The [b]Stone Blossom Orchard[/b] are the guard dogs of the Tatsumori-Kai. Cultivators of physical strength and mass, they trace their own origins back to the stable of the famed rikishi Raiden Tameemon, possessing a fine-tuned understanding of how one could amplify their physical capabilities with spirit energy. Their presence serves as the main form of deterrent within Azumato State, but they are also actively recruiting promising citizens to join them, all for the purpose of bolstering their forces to expand northwards, pushing into former Fukushima. Around Azumato State, they deal mostly in racketeering and smuggling, driving trucks to-and-fro. Little thought is given to the Un-Gan Han-Dan, who used to be the ones that profited off those two tasks less than a year ago.

The [b]Tien Tao Meng[/b] are foreigners to Azumato State, having slipped in via fishing vessels to establish a foothold for the mainland triad that they represent, as well as simply viewing the current situation in Japan as an opportunity to gain crucial combat experience. Dressed in plainclothes, they pose as day laborers or administrative staff, even as they quietly make the moves to 'merge' with various businesses within Azumato State. But of course, they consider themselves to be legitimate businessmen, here to make peace and keep profits going, even if they need to execute some people along the way.
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Merry Boxing-mas, y'all. Will maybe do a separate write-up for the particulars on Sorcery and then bust out the CS template. In the meanwhile, if ya got questions or ideas you wanna hit me with, feel free to bump the threaddddd.