Bushido

Bushido is an ethical, behavioural and disciplinary set of rules that originated in Iron Country.

The virtues of bushido are quite simple and open to interpretation. They are normally taught in dojos or families that hail from Iron country and are, or were, associated with their military or the Samurai clans.

Parent figures send their kids that they have deemed healthy to dojos to be taught this martial discipline from a very young age, so their minds are ready for the harsh reality of war and the dangers of the world. It is common that some families teach one or more of their kids this idealism in order to have some available and capable soldiers, either to then send them to be recruited into armies to provide them with a flow of sustainment with their wages or with hopes of bringing glory and fame to their family.

**Bushido virtues**

***1-  “The art of war”***

The basis of the first virtue is the *“Martial variety”* of a Bushido practitioner. They shall learn as many disciplines as they can to adapt to most combat situations. Traditionally, Bushido practitioners begin learning archery and taijutsu, then the handling of smaller blades like Kunai and daggers, advanced levels include swordsmanship and bojutsu (combat with spears and/or staffs). It is compulsory that you practice using wooden versions of your weapons, as the blade and iron of a weapon shouldn’t be revealed until it’s really a situation of life or death. It is normal that you specialize in a singular path, but it’s important that you learn to handle yourself for most scenarios.

***2- Honesty***

A practitioner of bushido should be honest as a soldier. Secrets and scheming make an army a band of honorless warriors of fortune. A true warrior should speak truthfully and clearly about their feelings even if the truth hurts.

***3- Loyalty***

Ties in with honesty. If a warrior differs from the ways of their army or superiors, they should respectfully retire from campaigning. Mutiny and betrayal are antics reserved to the lowest of the scum of society. If you ever break a pact of loyalty and turn your blade against your own comrades, you will live your life as an honorless individual and shouldn’t be ever trusted again.

***4- “Your body is a temple”***

A follower of Bushido shouldn’t live a life of excesses and vices. This kind of life will result in their physique and concentration in a battle being compromised. Maintaining a healthy diet, staying away from unhealthy habits and keeping your body fit for good combat performance is key. Someone with self-destructive habits is someone that you should keep your distance away from, as they represent a bad example.

***5- Honor the fallen and the worthy***

A duel or spar shouldn’t be taken lightly. Challenges are taken by heart and risk losing honour if not dealt with personally to prove their point. Discussions or disagreements are encouraged to be resolved through “honourable duels”, sometimes to the death if the stakes are too high. One must honour any warrior, follower of bushido or not, if they are a worthy opponent, even more, if they lose their lives in battle, as they died in a warrior’s way.

Beware, fighting and sparring should be taken seriously, and a follower of bushido needs to be self-contained and to only perform combat when honour is at stake or is part of their duty. Also, challenging and duelling wounded or clearly novice warriors is a dishonourable action unless it’s in the context of training.

***6- Honor the blade that protects you***

Weapons should be handled with care and maintained, as they are a representation of their wielder’s soul. You should mind their state and always treat them with the utmost respect. You should never reveal your iron or blades in public unless it’s a situation of combat, and you should always keep at least a single weapon on you at all times as a warrior should always be prepared to engage in combat and not be caught off guard.

When receiving a new weapon, you should show respect and bow to it. Always make sure it’s passed to you covered in delicate perfumed pieces of cloth. Weapons should be considered nearly sacred.

***7- Vow of humility***

A member of Bushido commits entirely to a warrior’s life, and their priority shouldn’t be material but achieving the status of an honourable and elite warrior. The warrior may prioritize material means only if they are tools to achieve their objectives as a warlord or any campaign, but never for personal excess or waste. Charity is encouraged towards those in need or your loved ones, you only need your blade and your beating heart to walk this path.

***8- Acceptance of death***

Death is part of bushido, it will be inevitable, especially as a warrior. Dying in combat or duel is the most honourable death, and you shall be given respect by any other warriors if you join the ranks of the fallen in this way. Warriors that pass on through natural ways or late age are also given respect, talented enough to survive a violent life without succumbing to battle wounds.