South of Alderamin, the lands of Horogi gradate from grand mountain ranges replete with ore to wild plains and terraced rice paddies. Steep, sheer cliffs overlooking the ocean has made it difficult for sea-bound voyagers to reach this disorderly nation, and the monsters that roam the land and air are often spiritual in nature, specters and apparitions manifested from millennia-long grudges sparked by war. Though most buildings are traditional in nature, with talisman magic substituting for proper magitech in villages and towns, there has been a gradual trickling down of technology from their northern neighbour; a network of railways connects the fortified city-states to their vassal-villages, and some of the richest ore merchants have begun to populate the skies with their airships, to the chagrin of the serpentine dragons inhabiting rainclouds and thunderheads.
Inhabitants of Horogi have their faith built upon a mixture of animistic, ancestral, and solar faiths. All things in the universe have a soul, and thus, all things are meant to die. To fear an inevitable death is dishonorable, though the act of saving a life that could be saved is not. The most valorous of warriors become one with the Sun, their brilliance fueling that life-giving light, while cowards seep into the soil, becoming food for the basest of creations. Passing oneβs weapons onto a student is perhaps the highest form of respect you can offer unto the new generation, but for one to return their weapon to their creator indicates an intense disapproval of the craftsmanship of the artisan.
The most important belief, however, is that of the Divine Mandate, of the heavenly power that shall be granted upon the one to unify all the people of Horogi, giving them the wisdom and power to bring forth an era of prosperity unlike any other. It is for that purpose that Horogi is still at war, for all people seek to either immortalize themselves as the ruling clan of this nation, or to take advantage of this continued state of affairs and profit off the endless conflict.
Five City-States rise above the rest in terms of power and influence, to whom players can vow allegiance to. Though roughly equal in power, their military power extends only so far; the majority of villages that populate Horogi defend and maintain their own systems of law, while bandits run rampant down ancient highways, their pillaging and robberies left largely unchecked.
The Ryoku-Jo clan inhabits the northernmost City-State, nestled in-between the grand Niman Peaks. Heavily fortified with great walls and arcane artillery imported from Alderamin, the Ryoku-Ju are the most technologically-advanced City-State in Horogi, with foundries constantly burning and mines that dig deep into the earth. Their steelbound warriors stand at the gates, proud and unyielding, and their chainsaw katanas roar with ferocity to match the cry of dragons.
The San-Li clan stakes their claim upon western Horogi, their City-State spread out around the Three Widows Fall, where snowmelt from the Niman Peaks funnels down, providing fresh water for agriculture, as well as religious significance for pilgrim villagers. Valuing martial arts rather than martial ability, their blade masters are reputed for having such skill as to slice through the reflection of the moon without disturbing the waters.
The Tato-Ie clan lives upon the foot of the Jinto Mountain Range, three-fourths of their City-State dug into the mountainside while the other one-fourth serves as a wall of towers and buildings. Once a vassal-city of Ryoku-Jo many centuries ago, they splintered off from that clan due to disgust towards their reliance upon Alderaminβs technologies, and now, their smiths and miners hammer away at the same ore veins that Ryoku-Jo does, bringing them into conflict constantly.
The Mora-Sho clan set themselves upon the southeastern Plains of Repentance, where fields of blood lilies grow as far as the eye can see. Once the most powerful clan in Horogi, the emergence of a Mythical Anomaly, as well as the subsequent invasion from Tato-Ie, lead to massive casualties and territory loss. Though they have managed to defend their City-State for now, through the invocations of their Dead Soldiers, the blood lilies continue to choke the life out of their soil, making recovery difficult.
The Gakui-Re clan, in southwest Horogi, is a loose organization of former bandits and mountain men who, rather than possessing a single, fortified City-State, rove across their lands in a nomadic band, offering protection services to unaffiliated farming villages while raiding the territories of other clans. A dashing group of vagabonds lead by the elusive King of Brigands, they have no real bloodline or heritage, but similarly have no qualms with taking in allies wherever they want. The Tato-Ie clan and the San-Li clan formally recognizes them, the Ryoku-Ju sees them as a glorified group of bandits, and the Mora-Sho withhold their opinion.
In the center of Horogi, upon the Goldspun Hills, lies Nyu-Taro, a City-State that holds representatives from all five clans. New players spawn here, and may use the surrounding lands to adventure freely, leveling themselves up and learning more of the nation theyβve established themselves in. From there, they may either pledge allegiance to one of the clans, or strike off on their own, as a vagrant who, depending on their reputation, may continue to be pursued by the five clans.
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