Kouga

* Location
* Emblem

**Kouga** (黄牙 *Kōga*) is a region on the Tenzan Plateau, on the eastern continent. It is inhabited by the horse-riding **Kouga Clan** (黄牙一族 *Kōga Ichizoku*).

In the past, Kouga was known as the **Great Kouga Empire** (大黄牙帝国 *Dai Kōga Teikoku*). It had since crumbled, and only the small clan remained. The Kouga Clan agrees to become a part of the Kou Empire when approached by Hakuei Ren.

The number of Kouga clan members is around 100.

## Culture

### Food

The Kouga hunt local animals such as deer. They also drink horsemilk. During night, people gather together to eat, drink, play music, and have fun together.

### Dress

The Kouga dress in white robes that have black belts.

### Inhabitation

The Kouga are a horse-riding people. They live in a village comprised of yurts.

### Folklore

The Kouga know of the tale of magis. A long time ago, there were no countries and people lived under the mercy of the forces of nature. Then a young man appeared, who erased the natural disasters with his magic wand. He told the people to build a country and support the weak. He then raised a dungeon tower that anyone who wanted to become king should go there. Many never returned, but eventually one boy was able to clear the dungeon's trial and come out with riches and a strange power. He built a great country and the people started to respectfully call the young man who saved them "magi".

### Warfare

The concept of a proper "Kouga Warrior" is important to the Kouga. This includes an idea of honour as a warrior. The Kouga warriors ride horses and use sabres as their weapons. Each sword has a red tassel on the handle. Most of the time these men live, assist and fight alongside the horses. They protect the clan's territory by patrolling around the area. The Kouga are known as strong people who can't be killed with a knife.

## History

The Great Kouga Empire was founded by Chagan Khan, who possesed the "power comparable to that of a demon". They were close to conquering the entire world. However, the empire eventually grew weak and fell apart.

After the empire had crumbled, the clan managed to defend itself from invading countries for over a hundred years. They were still suffering from foregners who came and stole Kouga people as slaves. At some point, the Kou Empire had grown big enough to reach the borders of the Kouga region. Initially, the Kouga had full intent to fight the Kou off as well.

### Kouga Arc

The First Princess of the Kou Empire, Hakuei Ren, arrived at the Kouga village to propose the Kouga clan joining the Kou Empire. She told the Kouga that the Kou had the same aim as the Great Kouga Empire: to unite the world under one country. However, a Kou general called Ryosai starts insulting the Kouga. They don't want to be a part of an Empire where their way of life would be ridiculed, and they decline the offer.

A group of soldiers loyal to Ryosai kidnap all the Kouga women as slaves. The Kouga cavalry goes after them and saves the women. Regardless of the event, the Kouga do not wish to go to war. It was only after Ryosai and his men tried to assassinate the Kouga clan's leader, Chagan Shaman, that the Kouga turned against the Kou forces. Meanwhile, Ryosai lied to Hakuei that he was attacked by the Kouga. Hakuei refuses to attack the Kouga and decides to go to negotiate with them herself. She leaves the Kou forces to Ryosai. She is surprised as she arrives in Kouga, only to be faced with angry Kouga warriors who accuse her of killing their elder.

Hakuei assures that she only wants to know the truth of what happened, but she isn't convincing the angry Kouga members. Then, the wounded Chagan arrives and agrees that the Kouga should join the Kou Empire. She says this is to protect the clan that has long suffered from attacks and slave hunters. It was because of Aladdin's trust in Hakuei that Chagan is willing to let this happen, and Hakuei declares that the Kouga are now under Kou's protection. After this, Chagan passes away.

Regardless of this development, the war mongering Ryosai wanted to start a war and turned the soldiers against Hakuei, aiming to kill her and then slaughter the Kouga. Hakuei and Seishun defend themselves with their Metal Vessels, but quickly run out of magoi against the masses of soldiers. It were Aladdin and Ugo who save them and ultimately, together with Hakuei, defeat Ryosai.

After the conflict, the Kouga take Aladdin on horses to the closest marketplace. There, Aladdin joins a caravan that is on its way to the west, to Qishan. Aladdin tells Dorj, Toya, Boyan and Bator about a Kouga slave he had met in Qishan, Goltas, after realizing that Goltas had had a Kouga style curved sword. Dorj says that the Kouga have been separated many times due to slave hunting, and that Goltas was a member of their Kouga family and that he would pray for Goltas's soul. The Kouga give Aladdin Chagan's cane, and Aladdin leaves, promising that they would meet again one day.

### Magnostadt Arc

The Kouga end up becoming Hakuei's household members, giving her a 100+ member large household. They all go to Rakushou together for Emperor Koutoku's funeral.

### Kou Empire Arc

At some point in the past, Judar had raised the dungeon Belial in Kouga. He had sensed it was a very special djinn. On their mission to kill Gyokuen and conquer the Kou Empire, Judar takes Hakuryuu to Kouga first to conquer Belial.

During the Kou Civil War, Hakuei's army is on the side of Kouen's faction, protecting the northern Tenzan mountains. It was Hakuei, possessed by Arba, who let the Seven Seas Alliance through, making the war end up in Hakuryuu's victory.

### Final Arc

When all of the dungeon towers rise from the ground, Belial's dungeon rises in the middle of Kouga yurts, making people run away from it in surprise and shock. During the final battle against David and the magic to return the world to rukh, the Kouga warriors are there to fight against the angels from the Sacred Palace.

## Trivia

* Kouga is likely based on Mongolia.
	+ The founder of the Kouga Empire, Chagan Khan, could be a reference to the founder of the Mongol Empire, Ghengis Khan.
* "Kouga" 黄牙 means "yellow fang".
* On foot, it takes five years to reach Qishan in the west.
* According to Goltas, the Kouga and the Fanalis have common roots. Therefore, it is possible that the Kouga have something to do with the Red Lions.
* Both Goltas and Dorj are common Kouga names.

## References

1. ↑ Night 19, Page 1.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Night 18, Pages 7–8.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Night 19, Page 3.
4. ↑ Night 18, Page 15.
5. ↑ Night 20, Pages 7–9.
6. ↑ Night 20, Page 14.
7. ↑ Night 19, Page 8.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Night 19, Pages 9–10.
9. ↑ Night 18, Page 10.
10. ↑ Night 19, Page 14.
11. ↑ Nights 20–21.
12. ↑ Night 22, Pages 7–10.
13. ↑ Night 22, Pages 4–7.
14. ↑ Night 22, Page 18.
15. ↑ Night 23, Pages 2–3.
16. ↑ Night 23, Pages 4–9.
17. ↑ Night 23, Night 13.
18. ↑ Night 24, Page 4.
19. ↑ Night 24, Pages 8–16.
20. ↑ Night 2, Page 20.
21. ↑ Night 26, Pages 1–4.
22. ↑ Night 26, Pages 5–6.
23. ↑ Night 26, Page 4.
24. ↑ Night 26, Page 8.
25. ↑ Night 145, Nights 10–13.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Night 364, Page 14.
27. ↑ Night 243, Page 1.
28. ↑ Night 274, Page 6.
29. ↑ Night 368, Page 7.
30. ↑ Night 19, Page 7.
31. ↑ Night 18, Page 13.
32. ↑ Night 15, Page 11.
33. ↑ Night 26, Page 6.