Arima Itami

Arima Itami (pronunced Itami Arima in other cultures) was an Emperor of Hashin, leading the nation through the aftermath of the devastation caused by the Plague of the 5th Century and Hurricane Max.

## Early Life

Itami’s life is shrouded in mystery, born in Iwakita on Augona **470PR** to Emperor Arima Nakahiko and Empress Arima Haru though not much is recorded.

It is believed he spent most of his youth in Iwakita Palace, getting taught the values of the nation and leadership. As a future Emperor, he would have a significant amount of combat training.

When he was 18 he was married to Yamagata Inano, a member of a very rich noble family. They would have their first child, a daughter named Kinyo the following year in **489PR**. Along with two more sons, Taneuji and Kageki in **491PR** and **494PR** respectively.

He wasn’t publicly present during the worst time in Hashin, the nation affected horribly by the Plague of the 5th Century and Hurricane Max, causing their population and economy to dwindle.

## Reign

### Consolidation of Power

At the age of 36, Itami would be crowned Emperor, coming into public life after the death of his father. It is believed many internal disputes occurred, but using his own skill and influence, he managed to exile or kill many of his foes.

He was crowned on Marcu 10 **507PR** at a huge ceremony in Iwakita.

One of Itami’s first acts as Emperor was to announce a large festival for his coronation, coming out of the crowns pockets and increasing his popularity with the people who were uneasy with such an unknown figure.

During the festivals, he sent personal death squads out to ransack his opponents houses, forcing the families to flee or be silently executed in ‘strange circumstances’. To pay for the festivals he seized their properties and finances, making it known anyone who stood in his way would have the same fate.

#### Uprising in the North

Unfortunately for Itami, his acts radicalised many of the escaped nobles, using what wealth and influence they had to begin rallying troops in the North. With his newfound popularity with the people, Itami made a series of speeches demonizing the nobles, stating that they claimed the people of Iwakita were barbaric and uncivilised.

Manipulating the populace, he was able to raise his own army of loyal soldiers much quicker, adding the nation's military forces as well to help. Using some of the stolen wealth he was able to better equip his troops, stating he wished for none to die to this group of evil rebels.

The two armies met at the Battle of the Crossroads, resulting in a decisive victory for the Itami and the defeat of the rebelling forces. All the surviving rebellious nobles would commit suicide in order to regain their honour after the astounding defeat.

Now with no enemies he was free to rule the nation.

### Ilaka Alliance

In **510PR** Itami was approached by Argiris Kostides, King of Ilaka, about an alliance. Knowing it would greatly benefit his nation and help them grow after the devastating effects of the disasters only years prior, he would accept.

The two came to the agreement that Argiris would marry Kinyo. The alliance allowed them both to have easier networks of trade, letting Hashin get cheaper goods to rebuild. The couple had their first son, Nasos, in **511PR**.

### Foreign Affairs

Itami had a strict method when it came to foreign affairs, as he saw them all had potential opponents (including his allied Ilaka), he kept very close watch on what they were doing. However, he had not seen the Tallian Absorption of the Kingdom of Bethune coming, making him very concerned about his South-Western borders. After condemning the act he sent troops to their borders, building up fortresses in case of an overwhelming invasion force from the enemy. Ceremoniously he decided to end any alliances and treaties he had with Bethune.

In **532PR** Itami and King Zakaria of Gonarundu came to an agreement, the Gonarunduns ceding all lands south of the Sunai river. In exchange, Itami removed his spies from the Gonarundun Court during the reign of Zakaria.

#### Spy Network

It is believed that Itami was the first person that popularised spies in other governments, building a network of his own so he could gather whatever info he could and prepare. Since Hashin was so weak at the time, he needed this information as a tool to keep himself strong.

This was ramped up after Bethune was absorbed by Tamwull, and it is believed even some of their Senators were corrupted to the cause. The extent of the network even reached Aren.

### Domestic Policy

After it was boosted by the Ilaka Alliance and their trade, Itami made many overhauls to their agriculture system and cities, ensuring that if the Plague were ever to come back, the nation would not suffer like last time. Some of these overhauls included an extensive sewage and cleaning system, opening up many jobs for the urban poor. Others used the technology from other nations to help improve their own, revolutionising their agriculture and allowing it to become more productive.

Now that his economy was stable again, Itami increased his defensive structures, building a series of fortresses on his borders, believing that their weakness caused by the previous disasters makes them a very easy target. It would later move to the military, building up the Jeonsa as their prime fighting force rather than relying on raising the peasant troops.

As the Third Expedition was coming together in **525PR**, Itami gave acceptance, and even persuaded many of the guilds in his nation to go participate. Alongside, it was the Hashino that provided a lot of the supplies, contributing to nearly half the stalls and goods sold there. When the adventurers and merchants returned, they were welcomed with a series of festivals in the different cities and towns, mostly at Itami’s expense. This had the desired effect, drunk and full of glory, the adventurers and merchants spent a lot of their earned gold back in Hashin, rapidly improving their situation similar to a stimulus check.

## Illness and Death

In **535PR** was frequently removed from public life, later known to be an illness that kept hitting him at annoying times. Despite his elderly age, he was able to keep coming back, surrounding himself with some of the best doctors his nation could offer.

In **536PR** a stroke made him bedridden, forcing him to abdicate the throne in favour of his son Kageki, Taneuji dying in **529PR**.

Returning to secrecy, Itami would finally pass away on Deamber 11 **537PR**.

## Legacy

While Itami had not been able to claim any significant land, he had reformed Hashin and made it a powerhouse. The military reforms he made would have a lasting legacy, allowing them to fight evenly with the much bigger nation of Tamwull, and keep a threatening posture with Gonarundu.

Economically the nation was near collapse until his policies and schemes, promptly giving him the nickname ‘the Refounder of Hashin’ posthumously.

2 years after his death, the city of Iwakita would give him a statue in the Inner Forest, along with a specific tile on Aoyama Bridge.