Nisahn

Nisahnese Landscape

## Background

Nisahn is a lush fertile country full of vegetation and crops. It maintains a peace with its neighboring countries but historically has had to defend itself from Shangti expansion from time to time. Often allying itself with Haesan, its southern neighbor, the three countries maintain a delicate peace. The Nisahnites are a fiercely disciplined people who value martial skill and servitude to one's lord. The nobility rule with a heavy hand and there is constant hostilities both overt and covert amongst the feudal lords. The nation is ruled by an Emperor who is the 5th generation ruler of Nisahn. His rule is absolute and the Nisahnites believe he and his rule to be divine.

## Geography

The terrain of Nisahn is mostly flat with lush fields of green. Rice grows in great abundance as does wheat and other grains. Fruits and vegetables also grow with great ease in Nisahn. The eastern coastline is relatively flat with many ports.

## Government

Nisahn is ruled by a sovereign emperor, Arako Shiyu. He is believed to be divine in his rule in that the Nisahnite people worship him as a god. They believe he is actually descendant from the ancient gods that once create Nisahn and its people. Nisahn has a strict caste system with the aristocracy having absolute control over the country. The masses are divided into their own four classes but not by wealth or capital as they are in most countries but by their perceived moral purity and intrinsic value to society. As an example, peasants are a level above artisans because peasants actually produce food and necessities while artisans produce non-essential items. The various region are ruled by feudal lords who all serve the emperor.

## Economy

Nisahn's main exports include textiles, spices, sugar, silk, pottery, charcoal, seasonings and spices, tofu, gold, and silver. It is a fairly fertile land but Nisahn is known for what they produce from these resources rather than the resources themselves. Nisahn silk is of very high quality and there are often debates about Nisahnese vs Shangtese silk. Nisahnese swordsmiths, as a group, are considered the best in the Eastern Kingdoms. The swords they make for the shingiri are prized possessions that are passed down from generation to generation. Only Haesanese swords are considered even close to being their equals.

## Defenses

Nisahn has a strong and disciplined army and, with a long coastline, a competent navy. Although the regular army is made of professional soldiers they are commanded during wartime by a noble warrior class known as the shingiri. In peacetime, they serve the various feudal lords or the emperor himself. During times of war, they are commissioned by the emperor to serve as officers and commanders in the army. They are trained at a very young age in the ways of combat and art. They are educated warriors whose exploits are spoken of throughout the Eastern Kingdoms. They are live to serve their lord and will die on command if necessary. Their devotion to their lord has been described as fanatical.

Although not a government group per se, Nisahn is also home to the sakai. Sakai is the collective term used to describe the family clans that serve as spies and assassins for the various feudal lords and the emperor. Literally translated sakai means "one who is hidden" in Nisahnese. They are mercenaries and grouped by family clans that mostly run along the foothills of the northern border. Sakai are highly trained in the art of espionage, subterfuge, and assassination. They have been used by the nobles to fight the secret battles in quests for land and power for generations.

## Notable Locations

### Bamboo Groves

Bamboo is fairly common throughout the Eastern Kingdoms but it seems especially plentiful in Nisahn. Numerous bamboo groves populate central Nisahn and often made travel very difficult because of how fast and thick the bamboo would grow. The government invested a lot of effort into creating a complex and fairly modern road system that gave easy passage through these lush forests of bamboo. It is something unique to Nisahn.

### Fish Markets

With an abundant coastline, the Nisahnites consume a great deal of seafood, mainly fish. Most countries in the Eastern Kingdoms (with the exception Jungti and Daos) eat very little red meat but the Nisahnites eat the least red meat. This means that fish and seafood are staples and almost every town has a fish market. Great care is taken to transport the seafood inland in tanks of water to keep them as fresh as possible. These fish markets are often the center of a larger market or a social hub for people to gather.