Mitsudai

Mitsudai is a country in the Windrose world. It is the setting of the show Daisuisen. It borders Raoji to the west and is near the island of Slag. It is also notable for being developed by Christian primarily, instead of by Jay and Siv.

#### History

In the very distant past, an unknown civilization settled in northern Mitsudai, and established several settlements. The ruins of two of these settlements would become the cities of Silent Voice and Golden Beaches in the modern era.

Later on, but still in the distant past, in the southwest of what would become Mitsudai, a handful of kingdoms were founded, including the kingdom of Kankō. These kingdoms founded the core of what would develop into the cultures of both Raoji and Mitsudai. At an unknown point in time, Gods began appearing in Mitsudai and Raoji, forming monasteries and cults, as well as becoming the leaders of some settlements. Older Mitsudaian gods such as the Toad God, the Silver God, and the Blood God appeared around this time.

Around five hundred years ago, the Raojian God War began, and as some Raojian gods were ousted from their thrones, they fled into Mitsudai. The Raojians, in turn, did not give up chase, and the war was poised to spill into Mitsudai. By the efforts of the Blood God, as well as the Clay God of the city of Falling Leaves, who gave up autonomous form to turn themself into a massive wall, the Raojian advance was stopped. As the God War came to a close, the Empire of Raoji defined its borders, and the remaining territories to the east, including Kankō, various settlements established by refugee gods, and the settlements of older gods, were all grouped into the concept of "Mitsudai". Younger Mitsudaian gods such as the Wolf God and the Cat God appeared around this time.

Raoji attempted to invade Mitsudai multiple times following the God War, but eventually Mitsudai was granted protection by Lancea. This was enough of a threat to force the Raojians to back off from further invasions in the immediate future.

#### Geography and Ecology

Mitsudai is a smaller country compared to its neighbors, but it possesses a mild amount of climate diversity nonetheless. The temperature is generally on the warmer side of things, with the only places known to receive regular snowfall being the higher central mountains. The north and central regions of Mitsudai are temperate and heavily forested, which eventually gives way to the vast plainsland in the southern central regions. To the west, where Kankō rules, the climate becomes more tropical. Mitsudai has a variety of swamps and marshland towards the western regions, one of which is the domain of the Toad God.

There are four large lakes in Mitsudai, one of which is populated by Gaalinese immigrants who live in, under, and around the lake in a settlement called Evig Farvel. The other three lakes form a somewhat vertical line in the center of the country. The city of Mizuna sits near the central lake, as well as along a river that leads towards the sea, making it an important breadbasket for the rest of the country.

Territory in Mitsudai can roughly be subdivided into six or so parts. The first three (or four) are the Four Cities in the north. This group consists of the cities of Falling Leaves, Ocean Veins, and Golden Beaches. Silent Voice is sometimes included in the group, but it does not possess nearly as much political power as its sibling cities. The former three cities possess large amounts of political power in northern Mitsudai, and do much of the international trading, even with nations as far as Windrose. Following that is the Kingdom of Kankō, which controls almost the entire western portion of the country. Finally, in between the Four Cities is the vast remaining territory of northern Mitsudai, which consists of innumerable small villages, monasteries, other settlements. These various groups in Mitsudai are heavily decentralized and get into disputes with each other almost as much as they get into disputes with the Raojians.

#### Political Structure

Mitsudai is less of a unified state and more of a collection of various domains that are solely defined by their state of not being a part of Raoji. The country does not maintain a central government, with settlements mostly being under the rule and protection of whatever god has claimed the region. Two notable exceptions to this are Falling Leaves, which, following the transformation of the Clay God, is now ruled by the city's military, although the Clay God is still heavily worshipped and is even able to grant Godly Blessings to an extent. The other exception is the city of Golden Beaches, which is ruled by a triad of noble families trained in the art of Summoning. The leading philosophies and ideologies of Golden Beaches reject the divinity of the gods entirely, seeing them more as extremely powerful Familiars. There are also likely a handful of small settlements in central Mitsudai who do not have a godly ruler. It is also unknown if there is a god who ultimately rules Kankō.

Kankō is unique among the territories of Mitsudai. Its size affords it a bustling bureaucracy and a more direct role in the governance of a larger amount of territories than the Four Cities to the north. However, it does not possess much external political power, which stops it from influencing much of the politics outside of its borders.

Centralization notwithstanding, the various gods of Mitsudai, as well as some human rulers on occasion, meet periodically in different locations to convene the Hidden Court. The Hidden Court is Mitsudai's closest thing to a government, in which the various rulers meet to discuss current events and discuss policy. The Court does not seem to have any actual power to influence policy, however, and seems to mostly act as a stage for rulers to speak their minds.

#### Culture

Mitsudai's decentralized nature and storied history grant it a wide amount of cultural diversity. The cultures of some settlements are heavily tied to their ruling god, such as Ocean Veins. The city is ruled by the Peacock Goddess, who is the goddess of craftwork, and as such, many of Ocean Veins's citizens dedicate their lives to a particular craft as a form of worship. Other settlements, such as the village of Ayatori, or the "Cat's Cradle", is less tied to their god, who takes a much more lax approach to governance. Generally, the aesthetics of culture in Mitsudai are heavily Japan-inspired, with recognizably Japanese clothing, architecture, and some names.

Religion in Mitsudai is primarily henotheist, with settlements worshipping their ruling god, but still respecting the authority of the gods of other lands, at least customarily. Notably, Mushin Village worships a wide variety of gods at once.

##### Godslayers

Mitsudai is famous for its tradition of Godslayers, powerful warriors who fight to kill the various gods that dwell in Mitsudai. The existence of these Godslayers is part of the reason that the Hidden Court makes so much of an effort to remain secretive. The Godslayers themselves do not possess much of a unified culture, with each Godslayer having their own unique talents and fighting style. The only constant is that one can only become a Godslayer if they actually slay a god.

#### Notable Magical Phenomena

##### Eighth Folds

Magic has certain unique properties in Mitsudai that make it easier to create Folds, or pocket dimensions. In other regions, such as Windrose, Mages can only create Folds that reach two or three layers deep. A "layer" of a Fold is essentially another Fold created within that Fold, a process that can be repeated up to an astounding eight times within Mitsudai, if the creator of the Folds has enough magic. Many weaker gods, fearing Godslayers or their godly rivals, hide deep within Folds that are difficult to enter and escape. By creating a Fold, these cowardly gods can also use their magic to have more ease of control over the landscape, giving them another layer of defense against any would-be Godslayers.

##### Core Spirits

While existing somewhat in other lands, Mitsudai is famous for possessing the most Core Spirits per capita than anywhere else in the world. Core Spirits are mysterious magical entities that are said to have no will of their own, but instead respond to the will of others, and then use magic to enact that will. For example, if there are many people nearby wishing for fire, an unattuned Core Spirit might become a Core Spirit of Fire, and then begin magically spewing flame. Core Spirits can become dangerous because of this, and as such Mitsudai has many Core Spirit Stabilizers, who make it their life's work to hunt down and subdue Core Spirits through a variety of means. Kankō specifically is known for having a state-mandated organization of Core Spirit stabilizers, hired directly by the government.

#### Notable Mitsudaians

* Suisen
* Kokuten
* Kou
* The Audience
* Ryoko Yoshinaga
* The Blood God
* Hiyori
* Iruru Mujo
* Momozawa the Terrible
* Tadao
* Tenjō
* Thaos
* Oro the Immortal
* Sun Jeba
* The Silver God
* Sola