Monogatari

Monogatari is a massive island-nation residing within the New World, laying center within the Yokai Isles, and known as the capital of an empire by a similar name, being the **Fable Empire**, an empire founded, expanded, and consolidated under the banner of the Spectre Pirates under Shouri Saigai.

Monogatari itself is home to around 3/4 of the entire Empire's population, and is an incredibly diverse area, divided into seven distinct territories, or **Strata**, each officially under the absolute authority of one of the **Eminences** appointed by Saigai herself, which, as a collective, are exclusively high-ranking members of her own crew. Saigai herself rules over the Seventh Stratum, Pakcha, and her word overrules any other within the Empire as a whole, meaning that the rule of the Eminences over their respective strata are more ceremonial of a title in reality, though when within their realms, Saigai's lax attitude towards their preferences of governmental style allows for much freedom and diversity within each of the Strata.

## Government & Philosophy

Monogatari is made up of Seven distinct regions, known as **"Strata"**, or an individual area being referred to as a "**Stratum."** Each respective Stratum can only be accessed via the Stratum before it, meaning that the First Stratum, **Atakcha**, is the port of entry for all who wish entry into the nation, with access to other Strata being organized so that the First Stratum has **Bridges** leading to the Second and Third Strata, then both the Second and Third Stratum both housing Bridges leading to the Fourth Stratum. The Fourth Stratum holds a Bridge leading to the Fifth, with the Fifth holding yet another that leads to the Sixth Stratum. The Seventh Stratum can be accessed by a **Gate** that lies at the center of the Sixth Stratum, and within Saigai's **Umbra Palace**, there lies a Bridge that leads to the **Twilight Garden.**

All Strata house one-way Bridges that lead to the First Stratum (the surface), however to arrive at any particular stratum from the surface, the above pathway must be followed. It should be noted that while Saigai maintains both the Seventh Stratum and authority over all other Strata, each other Eminence of a Stratum has control over only their own Stratum alone, with the exception of Shouri Kiki, the Vice-Captain of the Spectre Pirates, who also retains some level of authority over the crewmembers.

The Seven Stratums (Descending), and their respective Eminences are as follows:

**First Stratum: Atkcha**, **The Blessed Harbor -** ruled by Tsukiume Reiko

**Second Stratum: Vikcha, The Boundless Earth -** ruled by Yahan Yuna

**Third Stratum: Sukcha, The Frozen Glade -** ruled by Shouri Yomi

**Fourth Stratum: Talakcha, The Sky Kingdom -** ruled by Shouri Kurayami

**Fifth Stratum: Mahakcha, The Night City -** ruled by Shouri Aki

**Sixth Stratum: Rasakcha, The Dreamscape -** ruled by Shouri Kiki

**Seventh Stratum: Pakcha, The Starlit Citadel -** ruled by Shouri Saigai

Within each of the Strata, there are a multitude of individuals that work under the Eminences to deal with domestic and administrative matters to: assist the Eminences in their rule, maintain stability during times when the Eminences are away, and provide a group of people trained to potentially, one day, take the spot as Eminence or some other title of rule themselves in the event that an Eminence passes, or is otherwise indisposed from their position. Members of this group are known as the **Ayars**, and are split in population between members of the Spectre Pirates, and those native to the Stratum they assist in managing.

## Trivia

* Monogatari is the largest island in the world by population, and ranks the largest in size if combining the total land mass of all seven strata.
	+ If the strata are divided, Vikcha alone would remain the largest island in the world by total size, and second in population after Kurzhen.