Yamatai

Yamatai is an island country located east of Elles and Chaldea.

# Yamakoku

In an alternative reimaging of the nation is Yamakoku (created by PvtZeta), a sovereign island nation located in the Chaldae Seas, the locale lies off the southern and eastern coast of the Warring States of Chaldae, and furthermore shares a sea-border north-east of Elles and north west to the Cloelian Imperium occupied Ateria.

The main island is a stratovolcanic archipelago that is known commonly as the home island, and is further made up of several dozen smaller islands around its immediate coastlines within reach of smaller boats and rafts.

Yamakoku as a nation had an incredibly advantageous position to start in it's rise compared to the rest of the world, while it's presence in the world is marked by mystery from the point of view of others due to it's policies of interaction with the outside world can be simply described as 'complete isolation'. Yet despite it's isolationist policy in regards to interaction, it has drawn considerable influenced by cultures all around the world foreign to it's own, and those cultures either were allowed to persist or were eventually integrated into Yamakoku culture.

Of current times (Year 98 AA) the nation boasts a huge population for it's land possessions, standing at approximately 20 million people currently residing within the Home Islands and in other parts of the world, with an estimation of 5 million people alone living in the City of Edo, the nation's first and only capitol.

## Government

Since it's inception, the nation had been ruled as an autocracy by an all powerful governing body with the 'Supreme Governor' as the head of State, the position of Supreme Governor is selected by their founding 'God' or as it was term more commonly known in their language, 'Kami-sama', whilst the rest of the government are appointed on a degree of merit but usually with familial or clan ties that encouraged favoritism and corruption.

As times changed with progression from it's dark era to the golden age, autocratic rulers struggle to maintain total control and was eventually succeeded by a more Meritocratic system, though it's candidate was still hand picked by their founding God and rarely lasted more than two generations of a singular clan, with it's terms of service unchanged from old.

## Military

Yamakoku as a nation had rarely experienced foreign wars as a result of the state-enforced isolationism, it's necessity for a military been on the rise and fall with the level of unrest in the nation and the increased presence of banditry and piracy, it was also common for the nation to raise a sizable force to combat rebellion and threats of separation even within the island nation.

As the nation opened it's option to venture into the wilds of the unstable world of the other continents, it had changed it's thousand's years policy of militia levies to adopt mandatory conscription, it being the only way some of the poorer and rural dwelling populace could contact the people within it's capitol, and upon completion are recognized as citizens who can enjoy the finer privilege's of living in Yamakoku's cities.

The main branches of services are separated and described as such:

### Recon Battalion

Soldiers in the Recon Battalion venture on expeditions to explore, map and interact with people and locales out of the borders of Yamakoku, bringing home information and tales of the lives of people living in the outside world, and usually the only source of immigration as they assist with recovery of people under direct threat

* Also provides the forces making up the Foreign Special Operations Groups (F-SOG) to specifically deal with external interests

### Militia Forces

These soldiers make up the bulk of the reserve forces serving exclusively within the borders of Yamakoku, serving as the national Gendarmerie which deals with local insurrections and law enforcement while active, and drilling while inactive.

It provides the bulk of the forces to it's coastal navy, and reinforces the Recon Battalions when needed.

* This service provides the manpower making up the Special Surveillance Service (SSS) to deal with internal strife

While peaceful and self defensive in nature, the military of Yamakoku have experience fighting small to large scale conflicts due to the constant appearance of pirates near it's countryside, or engaging in external conflicts fighting as mercenary forces for other nations, and it's technological advances mean that it's the only military so far to have adopted the use of an advanced form of ranged magi weaponry dubbed the 'Mana Lance' and it's artillery form in the 'Dragon Lance', comparable to flintlocks and artillery of the 19th century

## Technology

Leading the world by a wide margin is the technological powerhouse of Yamakoku. Protected by deep waters on all sides and constant intake of talent from foreign sources kept the nation's brightest minds safe to pursuit study, as long as they kept providing results.

Currently the nation is stuck just before the initiation of the industrial age, with many high skilled artisans resisting the adoption of streamlined factory production in favour of retaining the existing traditions, and with very little plans to export on a worldwide scale due to isolationist policies.

However, small scale adoption of industrialision was not prevented by individuals and the military complex of Yamakoku, most notably being able to standardize production of arms and munitions of improved quality and build, along with electric powered lamps and other small things that were serviceable only in the nation's capitol.