Sohouma

### **Information**

Traders talk about the west as if it were another world. The moment they step on its border they feel like reaching new lands even though they are clearly on the same continent. The main reason for this is first related to the natural geography of Souhoma whose natural surroundings are not only covered by big patches of forest, but also irregular mountainous terrain, and isolated spaces of green grass. The second reason is that they do not see the necessity of building roads to ease the traveling of caravans, merchants, or other pathfinders since they believe everyone should be strong enough to cover the territory on their own two feet (or simply by the means of their own devices).  Besides those considerations, a cultural factor also influences this peculiar state of isolation, the Asakami are reserved and avoid mingling with other cultures. When foreigners come, they keep on a special inn or camp for them to stay, but they are never let into the community, they respect the customs and traditions of other people if they are from afar. And the final factor comes with winter, contrary to other places in the world, winter is a season with extremely cold winds and blizzards. These environmental hazards keep moving from one place to another, making the territory impassable. As a result of the above situations, people Souhoma and the neighboring towns are well-developed and self-sufficient for most resources since that is the way they have learned to always live. The clan presents a particular contrast between the traditional practices of archery, nature-inspired buildings, and living off the land, to another culture based on industrious working and early adoption of industrialization. Now, the clan keeps a pact with the neighbor domain of Greydale so they can have access to the Redstone, the only known element combustible enough to fuel their airships.

### Important Places

#### **Souhoma City – The Gathering of the Elite**

The capital is the main prefecture of Souhoma. Here the government directed by The First Monarch settles with the Ancient Families and the Flight Masters, groups that control most political aspects of the kingdom. Only high-blood, revered masters, high-ranking military, and their servants are allowed in. Foreigners who desire entrance must declare their intention, pay a considerable stipend, and leave arms at the gate. The place is a series of castles located on mounds with extensive territories for gardens, homes for servitude, and special business interests such as workshops, horse ranches, or crops. The use of rock stockades makes the walls highly irregular, having moats to keep attackers off the bay and a series of interlocked with defensive towers Highly guarded by vigilant archers and assisting spearmen, it is difficult to stroll about the place without being watched, unless you are one of the typical locals. Diplomatic ambassadors and landlords are the most common sight when it comes to foreigners when they are permitted passage.

#### **Isolated Greenland and Iwasharu Keep – Suburbs**

Up to the north, the Greenland extends for several kilometers in the north and featuring an impressive arrange of beautiful houses adorned with natural themes. This town feels a deep connection with nature, being it extremely advocate on keeping everything clean and tidy. One of the most renowned traditions is planting 5 trees per each one taken, keeping their forest thick and lush. It is protected by a close-by fort called the Inawasharu. Keep, different from other castles in the capital area, this is designed to have easy access to the suburbs so soldiers may come in fast to help civilians and they can find refuge within the wooden walls. The keep is famous for training traditional Asakami archer, also known as Wind Taming. The Grandmaster Archer and the Fiver Zephyrs always reside in this fort until they are needed or decide to travel to test into a trial. To access such training, you must be a local or have the grace of the capital for having born as an Asakami, served the monarch, or demonstrated superior benefit for the whole family. It is known that the archers are the spine of the army, always taking advantage in battle through hit and run methods.

#### **Okataru – Shopping District**

There is a prefecture dedicated to trading near the main castle. It is a free trade market were high-class and merchants collide to do many sorts of exchanges. Trading in the haggling of the old ways, shopping from big local markets, fighting with money for the best items in the auction houses and constant competitions, such as archery, horse-riding, boat-sailing, pachinko, and other types of games. It is well-known that below the elite, the inhabitants of Okataru belong to rich merchants, important military officers, expert financiers, and engineers. The structure is a mixture of the typical nature-inspired buildings but modified to serve the commercial spirit of the place, so sales, offers, and other signs indicating shops to go are present. And at night, many-colored fires and lights are set off and you can see Okataru by night where different, more exclusive items are sold because it is at night that it becomes live. Music, laughter, and people dancing are part of the evening's shows at the display.

#### **Tetsu Town – Shipyard**

Seen as the heart of a new era in the always old-fashioned Souhoma, there is the prefecture simply called Tetsu (iron) for how the landscape is dominated by metallic industries dedicated to the building of airships and refining of Redstone and other chemicals. For the common eye, it looks like a labyrinth of mechanized manufacturing that one would say works on its own because there is little presence of people, besides occasional engineers or mechanics that do routes around the machinery. But beyond the steel chimneys and non-stop sound of machinery, the shipyard contains the Airship Station and a huge pub of export/import, inns for foreigners, mechanic workshops, and diplomatic embassy. Nowadays this hub of activity is called The Tea House, inspired by the first local inn dedicated to serving tourists coming from abroad, and later one grew into a much bigger area filled with the needs of the outlanders.

#### **Kami Woodlands – Witches Prison**

Vast are the forests of Souhoma. So big indeed that there is space for all sorts of things imaginable. On one side it is like a forest fairyland with trees surrounded by overgrowth. It is lush, green, and beautiful, full of wildlife and it is respected by the locals. The tradition is to plant four trees for anyone taken by this forest. Many consider this forest sacred and religious people tend to go in looking for guidance. Nevertheless, that does not stop illegal loggers who find unguarded spots and install clandestine encampments to extract woods for ship making. On the other side, the secret to everyone but the Thorn Keepers, there is a special place called the Witch’s Enclosure which is a portal only surrounded by ritually enhanced trees that keep several black wizards, warlords, and witched trapped in a pocket dimension: the dark side of the Kami Woodlands, the Akuma Deadlands who is a dark mirror version of the forest itself. Only the Thorn Keepers are allowed to get in and when they do it, occasionally, when chaos reigns on the other side, archers or adventurers are sent in raids to placate any development of the dark powers.

#### **Pilgrim’s Mounds – Where evil fell.**

The mounds are a mountainous composition of ever iced slopes, pathways blocked by winter snow, and a story that shall never be forgotten. This is the cold hell where the megalith was erected and where the dead body of evil still resides. The monument warns us all that there be a greater monster known to man. And in its carved epitaph, it says: “The Old Great Crimson Dragon lays for eternity here, or at least that we hope”. Ominous as this mountain range could be, the mound became a common passage for the followers of many religions that need to see where the dragon ended so they complete their instruction as a priest. The idea is to always remember the evil that once plagued the overworld and to be always ready to fight if it ever raises again. Some say that day may come again, but if only people forget.