Yarexoka

== Introduction ==
The government that has ruled over Sovan for many centuries is different in many aspects from other nations. 
Most importantly, the idea of nation and nationality doesn't exist within yarexokan culture, this is why the word Yarexoka, meaning mandate, is used to describe our state.
The current ruling clan is the Aerestu Clan, their banner includes the blooming tree sigil of the Aeretsu clan and the gold and black combination, typical of ruling clans.
The curent clans present within yarexokan borders are: Aerestu,Achamane,Aroncho,Hana,Zaneliyu
== Guverment info ==
Yarekonte | Guarantor - Leader of the nation and leader of the High Council,his job centers around making sure the ancient pact made between the Clans of Sovan remain intact
Yamattekae | High Council-The highest institution within the Yarexoka, it is made up by a council of all clan leaders.The function of the High Council is deciding the priorities of the nation and dealing with complex geopolitical affairs.
Konnixaku yan Uke | Office of War-made up by a council of War Lords(Dakexaku) who advise the council on any conflict that is past the escalation point. They are led by a shogun who is the general of the yarexokan nation
Konnixaku yan Mirexu | Office of Interior -This Office is made up by lords, Mikoju, and adivsors, Darexu, they take care of administrating the lands of the Yarexoka.They also have the ability to ask funding for certain initiatives. Additionally they take care of directing recruiters and organising events.
Economic Commission - a guverment owned mega corp in charge of internal and external trade.
== Culture ==
=== Mythology ===
Xachunatte, translated to the topic of Archons, is the collection of the religious practices and beliefs carried out by the people residing within Sovan. The religion is based on 3 types of beings, the Xachun (Archons), the Sumatten (Spirits) and the Dalemun (Curses). 
Xachun The first beings to have existed, they are made by pure unbound Kofu (see the philosophy tab for more info). There are three Archons and each reigns on a certain realm. Inasumi is the Archon of Sea and Sky, Oriseimu is the Archon of Infinity and Time and Satojamo is the Archon of Earth and Nature. It is thought that the three Archons came together to create the world as we know it today, giving up part of their Kofu so that Dale (matter) could form the basic particles that make up our world.SumattenThese beings were made by the Archons in order to maintain control over their respective realm. There are Spirits for most aspects of our world, for example a Spirit of waves or a Spirit of reason. Spirits interact with people whenever the latter write down a contract and pray to it, there are also other ways in which these interactions can happen (see the magic tab) They also work as mediums between the people and the Archons in case they can not satisfy the prayers of the people on their own.DalemunThe negative beings of Xachunatte, they are made up by fully corrupt and unpure Kofu. The cult of these beings together with making contracts with them is prohibited and considered heretical behaviour. They represent change and crisis. For example there is a Curse of plagues and one of drought. Curses grow in power the more people fear them. It is thought that Curses are challenges that followers must endure and overcome in order to purify their Kofu. However, this must be done without abandoning cultural values, otherwise it would be considered as submitting to change and as such heresy.Larukosu yan Xokatte lan Koimukora yan Kofu (the art of contracts and manipulation of essence) shortened to Koimukora Kofuna (manipulation of essence) is what a foreigner would call the magical practices typical of the martial clans within Sovan. This art consists in carefully using Kofu outside of ones body. This is done in three ways.
Xokatte, the most ancient and basic form, it consists in pacts with Sumatte, these pacts do not grant powers to who has proposed the pact, they work as seals of protection or good luck. These contracts are parchments or engravings of special characters, the most common way to establish one of these contracts is a complex practice. One must first craft the contract, then they may pray to it three times, after the third prayer they must abide to the condition they had stated in the contract and if the Sumatte that has been named in the contract is satisfied the contract may become a working seal.
Koimukora yan Kofu, the most rare form, it consists in a inheritable blessing that was given to a few members of the Martial Clans during the Warring Clans Period. This blessing is not inherited directly, it manifests itself every few generations within the same bloodline of inheritance. The powers granted by this form range from being able to see Dalemun to being able to imbue objects with seals and lastly being able to imbue their own body with seals. The last practice is done by tattooing over ones skin marks in order to create a contract on their own body. This range of powers is gathered within grades, the higher grade the more rare it is. The grade of ones blessing does not depend from who they have inherited it from. There is also a special grade which consists of the capital blessings: The Nine Eyes, allowing one to see weak points in everything that carries Kofu, increasing ones sight to the point of being able to see through things up to a certain range and lastly improving their reflexes. The Nine Tails, allowing one to unbound Kofu from Dale with their strikes as well as damaging curses directly. The Nine Ears, allowing one to hear everything that has Kofu within them, being able to make sense of anything they hear and lastly being able to hear ones thoughts if they are touching.
Xokatte lan Dalemun, the only unacceptable form, it consists in forging contracts with curses, this practice developed during the Warring Clans Period and has since then been condemned as heresy. The process to forge these contracts is different from the one which uses Sumatten. One must carve the characters in their own body using a blade and it is not guaranteed that the contract will be established, in most of the cases the user will be killed by the Dalemu itself. These contracts range from being able to converse with Dalemun to being able to be lent some of the Dalemu's powers and being able to imbue the Dalemu itself within a weapon or object. The more powerful the contract is the more draining it will be on the user's body.
=== Society ===
Inheritance-As Sovan society is greatly influenced by Natte, its philosophical elements have a great influence on many aspects of common life.An example can be seen in the way inheritance works most of the time, it uses an ultimogeniture system.The reasoning behind it is quite simple, as time passes the amount of unbound Kofu within a person grows.This means the older a person gets the more Kofu their children will receive, meaning they will be closer to the spirits.The family has an important role after the birth of the heir as they are tasked with helping the heir record experiences and teachings on their unbound Kofu.In nobility not only the amount of unbound Kofu of one of the parents matters, but so does the education.Promising great education is used by lower nobility or Art members to convince the higher nobility to marry with them.
Naming Conventions-Names in Sovan society are composed by either two or three elements, depending on if the person is part of a Clan or not.These elements consist of a first name, the name of your bloodline, the name of your clan (if the individual is part of one).Bloodlines are similar to what we define families, as such bloodline names are the Sovan equivalent of surnames. Given the cult of eternity that has always followed Sovan society even people that aren't part of Clans have bloodline names.This begun in the early Temoku Maseru when clans begun to form, people that weren't directly related to the Clans were given bloodline names connected to their profession.This allowed people to keep track of their family lines and it also reminded them of their position within the society of those times.With time Sovatale evolved and as such those bloodline names aren't directly translated to professions anymore.Meanwhile, the bloodline names used within Clans have always been traced to abstract concepts and even today a link to said concepts is noticeable.The bloodline name that is inherited is usually the most prestigious one or the one agreed upon by the couple that gave birth to the child.For non nobles the bloodline name that is inherited is usually the mother's.
Structure-There are two castes within Sovan society, Kaetome yan Maserun (Clan Members, Everyone except the base of the pyramid) and Kaetome yan Larukosun (Arts Members).A Clan Member can not become an Art Member, however an Art Member can become a Clan Member through marriage.Another less common way is ranking up within the military which results in being made honorary Clan Members, usually this is followed by a marriage though.
Kaetomen yan Maserun make up about 15% of the entire population, this is split between the clans.Kaetomen yan Larukosun make up the remaining 85%, the Larukosun are basically guilds for each profession for each clan (Clothing Art of the Otomun for example).
Starting from the bottom Yarexokan society works like this:
Kaetomen yan Larukosun generate wealth through their professions, they receive authority from being loyal to the Yarekonotemu and they receive status from being loyal to the Clans and exchanging wealth with them. In addition they also grant wealth to their Mikojun.
Makorun consist of various clan members that either cover the position of soldiers below a Mikoju, functionaries or administrators of Arts. They grant authority to their Mikoju in exchange of wealth and loyalty and they receive authority and status from their clan.
Chasutomun are sorcerers, they are members of the clans that were blessed by the Archons.
Mikojun are the governors of various settlements (before they were appointed they were Chasutomun) as well as the head priest of their settlement. They are highly educated in matters of state craft thanks to their clans, from which they gain status. They gain wealth from the Art Members that work on their land, which is meant to be invested in their settlement. They gain their authority from the Makorun and the Archons.
Xagemun are the Heads of the three Clans, Otomun, Achame and Zaneliyu. Their task is to preserve the eternity of their respective lands and of their clan as a whole. They gain wealth and status from their members while they are granted authority in exchange for loyalty to the Yarekonotemu.
﻿Yarekonotemu is the guarantor, sometimes shortened by the people to just Yarenu (king). Their function is to uphold the pact between the clans and maintain the eternity of the Sovan culture. They gain authority through the loyalty of the various classes and they receive wealth from the clans. Their status is given by the historical events during the Warring Clans Period as well as their title as guarantor of the pact between clans.
Races-Sovanian
Average height for males: 1.8 meters 
Average height for females: 1.7 meters 
Bodies tend to be quite slender but they result to be stronger than humans
Fox like ears of various sizes 
Pale skin tone
Line/Circle black patterns on the skin
White/Black hair
Diamond shaped pupils (fox like)
Red/Orange/Golden iris (rarer cases include blue and purple)
White/Black sclera 
Can see in the dark with about the same ability of a fox
Can hear with about the same ability of a fox (loud noises are bothering to them)
Can smell with about the same ability of a fox
Can not sweat (as such in an endurance contest with humans they'd loose)
They have good reflexes
They have an high endurance to cold climates (way better than humans)
They have a low endurance to hot climates (way worse than humans)
They have dark red blood
=== History ===
==== Timeline ====
Temoku Kaetomen
-3900 many aspects of Sovanjaten begin to develop, the cult of Sumatten as well as the cult of eternity are born
-1800 Agriculture begins to develop
Temoku Xogumen
-1500 Clans begin to form, with a head that claims divine heritage
-1400 The tradition of burning bodies after funerals is recorded for the first time
-1200 Vases containing the ashes of the dead result to be covered in written characters
-950 The mythology of the external nomadic tribes is incorporated as the Dalemun
-700 External tribes push closer to the Clans, cultural exchange begins
-650 Agriculture advances greatly, settlements enlarge and Xachun are introduced within the mythology
-525 External tribes begin the invasions
-501 A Clan falls to the external tribes
Temoku Chojii
-499 The first Chojii Yarekonotemu is nominated as the Clans sign the Pact
-473 The external tribes are destroyed/incorporated, Clans gain more land
-464 The Toku is forced upon Clans as universal coin
-343 The Chojii Clan is dethroned by the Sekuretu Clan 
Temoku Sekuretu
-340 The first Sekuretu Yarekonotemu is crowned
-260 Clans are granted more autonomy by an amendment of the Pact
-250 The Sekuretu Clan is declining
-214 The last Sekuretu Yarekonotemu appoints a council of the Heads of the most powerful Clans
-205 The Kiumine Clan is removed from the council by the Yarekonotemu, under the demand of the Takemiru Clan
-200 The assasination of the Sekuretu Yarekonotemu is carried out by the Takemiru clan
Temoku Xogunen Uzikonotemun
-199 The Pact is suspended and as such Clans result fully independent, the Takemiru declare war on the Kiumine as they accuse them of the murder of the Yarekonotemu
-197 The War between the two Clans excalates as many other try to gain profit from the instability of the Sovan society
-162 Pacts with Curses become common use in warfare between Clans
-157 The Martial Clans have begun protecting people who seek to escape the war
-130 The Martial Clans have been recorded banishing curses or killing people who had a pact with one
-107 The first Chasutomu are discovered and they are sent on missions against Curses and people that hold pacts with Curses
-106 The Martial Clans begin to openly fight the other Clans until they either surrender or fall
-43 The Nine Ears holder is born
-34 The Nine Tails holder is born
-25 The Nine Eyes holder is born
-12 All Clans have submitted to the Martial Clans or have been destroyed
-1 The tournament between the three Martial Clans begins
Temoku Otomun
0 Crowning of the first Otomun Yarekonotemu
33 The Kanvu yan Orisiyu is written down for the first time
87 Seito of the Otomun Clan is appointed Yarekonotemu (start of the server)
98 Dissapearence of the Otomun Yaramake
101 Dissapearence of the last known Otomun alongside memebers of clan achamane and zaneliyu
Temoku Aerestu
102 The great council of Korfu
103 Crowning of Zayoro Aeresu
105 Clan aroncho colonises Ironh and is elevated to a clan
==== Temokuna yan Mase Uzikonotemu ====
The warring clans period (temokuna yan mase uzikonotemu) is thought to be the bloodiest period in our history up to this day.Our land had always been controlled by local lords allied together to defend from foreign enemies, it was a sacred treaty that everyone respected.This alliance was up-held by a figure, the Yarekonotemu (Guarantor), the head of an ancient clan, named Sekuretu. The main clans often tried to manipulate the weakening Yarekonotemu, as his clan grew weaker by the season.The clans arranged marriages to keep the figure of the Yarekonotemu alive and with it the ancient clan.This status quo between the various clans did not last for long, one stormy night the Yarekonotemu was murdered together with his wife and only son.The treaty that had been held up by the figure of the Yarekonotemu for centuries had been broken as an heir couldn't be identified by sunbreak.The Sekuretu clan had united with many clans in our land, leaving their blood in many family trees meaning all could push forward an heir to take the position.Banners were raised and armies gathered, it had begun. For the following decades war ravaged throughout our lands, crisis followed one another, and with that the fear of people grew.Curses became stronger and manifested themselves more often, like true monsters, yet no one could see them, they could only feel their aura.The seals and other artefacts people had made to plead for the protection of their homes were useless, it was almost as spirits were too afraid to fight the curses.And the ambitious clans that wished to establish one of their members as the new Yarekonotemu stopped relying on the spirits. They instead looked to the curses, wishing to establish pacts to gain more power and convince them to strike their opponents, the curses agreed.These pacts sparked fights between curses themselves, causing new levels of destruction.
The Archons recognised the state of the mortal world and decided to act, they bestowed a specific blessing upon three clans.These clans were unlike the others, they spent their time honouring traditions and they had never tried to manipulate the figure of the Yarekonotemu.These were the Zaneliyu, Achamane and Otomun  clans, also known as the martial clans for their practice of meditating arts that resulted useful in combat.A few members of each clan were granted the following blessings.To sense the aura of curses from afar.Recognise the people that had pacts with the curses.Imbue seals with the Archon's blessing, keeping curses away from their lands.Each clan was also given a characteristic blessing, inherited by blood, every few generations.The Zaneliyu recieved the Nine Tails, being able to strike more and harder than any other could, the strikes of their martial arts being able to banish curses and able to break the pacts established with the curses, this made them masters of fighting curses.The Achamane recieved the NineEars, being able to hear more than any other could, letting them make sense of the words of curses and hearing sounds far away, this made them masters of intrigue.The Otomun recieved the Nine Eyes, being able to see more than any other could, they could see the monstrous appearance of curses clearly and see weak points on any one, making them experts in scouting the lands and identifying ways to defeat curses.The members of the martial clans that received such blessings were called Chasutomu (sorcerers).They served their clans and the Archons roaming our lands and fighting the ambitious clans that had established pacts with the curses.Eventually only these three clans remained, the others either submitted to them or were exterminated.
Yet a Yarekonotemu still had to chosen, as such the three martial clans decided to establish a tournament that entailed various aspects of state craft.The tournament lasted a year and in winter, the last section begun.The three clans had gathered the same amount of points in the previous sections so this last challenge would declare the winner.Each clan had a  member alive with their respective inherited blessing by the time winter came, and as such it was decided that the last challenge would be a fight.The three members gathered in the same arena and soon the fight begun, many believed the Zaneliyu would win with their blessing made for fighting.And that would have been the case if their fighter hadn't been to proud and turned his back from the bleeding Otomun to celebrate the killing of the Achamane.The Otomun rose to their feet and struck the Zaneliyu with their knife, their opponent fell to the ground soon after, dead.Their blessing had allowed them to see a clear weak point on the back of their opponent, and as when the Zaneliyu turned they struck as quick as a fox.They were crowned Yarekonotemu by night fall, the same night the previous Yarekonotemu  was killed on, reminding the people of the eternal nature of the title.
==== Temoku Aerestu ====
After in the woods of yarexoka the last blood of the Otomun clan dissapeared as well as members of achamane and zaneliyu, a great council was called, the than 45 year old Zayoro Aeresu called all the clans of the mandate into a great council to decide who the next yaramake will be. Many options were trown but the option with the most arguments was Zayoro himself. He was related to the last yaramke and used to manage the realm for him before that.Furthermore after the great fire of Tojeva destroyed the old city most of the populace found comfort living in Korufu and as sutch Korufu boasted a higher population than Tojeva, a sign that clan Aerestu were capable to rule.
The coronation of Zayoro Aeresu came year later, a coronation unlike the old ones where outside visitors were allowed.At his coronation a number of decrees were placed in order.The laws of old that valued honour were to be enforced, the economic commision to be formed and most notably Yarexoka is to open itself for outisiders finaly.The construction of the great Aerestian palace was also started that day.