Joketsuzoku (AST)

## Overview

The Joketsuzoku are more commonly referred to as the Chinese Amazons. While this designation is not accurate, it is one they generally allow. Hailing from Nyucheizu in the Bayankala Mountains, the society of the Joketsuzoku is a female dominated warrior one, and one with strong influences in its area. Despite being dominated by women, it does have male members, and both sexes do appear to be trained to fight.

## Society

The Joketsuzoku is ruled by a council of village elders which is itself headed by a Matriarch. Each elder hails from one of the older and generally more powerful families in the village. Each elder is generally the strongest in their respective family, but this is not a strict rule and each family can select its elder as it sees fit. The position of Matriarch is chosen by the council as a whole and officially much of the village power is in the hands of the Matriarch, although Cologne has conveyed much of that power to the council to retain their support.

Besides the elders, village members can be divided in a number of ways, although one way would be by primary role. Most female village members are seen as warriors, but there are also healers, and mages, although very few of the latter. Males are given their own special status, and while affording most the rights of other villagers, do not have the official right to own property. It is also possible for females to either give up their status, or have it removed, due to various circumstances.

## Laws

The Joketsuzoku do have their own set of laws. The most notorious of these are the laws regarding defeat:

* Should an Joketsuzoku female be defeated in combat by a outsider male, she must marry him.
* Should an Joketsuzoku female be defeated in combat by a outsider female, she must give that female the kiss of death and kill without delay

The kiss of death is more a formality, but nonetheless mentioned in the law. It is delivered below the ear and on the cheek (a common misinterpretation is that the kiss is delivered on the lips). Despite a kiss often being involved with the marriage law, there is no formal requirement for such, nor any particular official name for it. Still it is often used as an unofficial mark of acceptance of the male as their new husband.

Despite the simplistic nature of these two laws, there are some known conditions for them, and some others as well. Those known are as follows:

* A female may choose to marry rather than to kill an outsider female who has defeated them in combat.
* A male may declare an outsider female their wife. This will informally recognize the female as a member of the village until such time as the council approves or disapproves of the marriage, which approval obviously leading to a formal recognition of this status.
* The defeat law for outsider males also applies to village males.
* A female may only have a single husband, but no restriction has been placed on the number of wives. This presumably means that the marriage law only applies once.
* Once bounded to an Joketsuzoku through marriage, family members of that person are also recognized as members of the village as well.
* Only the strongest female of an all female marriage will be allowed to retain their full status. All others are reduced to the status of a male. However, should the marriage include a male this no longer applies.

## Known Members

* Cologne, current, although soon to be former, Matriarch
* Be Dea, council elder
* Guan Li, council elder
* Cao Yun, council elder
* So Pu, council elder and likely future Matriarch
* Siren, mage
* Brush, father of Shampoo
* Comb, mother of Shampoo, granddaughter of Cologne
* Soon Li, adoptive daughter of Cologne, current location unknown in AST
* Zhao Mi, friend of Soon Li.
* Tonic
* Shampoo (aka Shan Pu)
* Mousse
* Frost, mage
* Perfume (aka Par Phume), hailing from Shampoo 1/2
* Perfume (aka Pur Fum), hailing from MUOF
* Spring, mage
* Ling Ling
* Lung Lung

## Notes

* Cologne has noted Amazon history as old as 5000 years.
* The Joketsuzoku and the Musk have been at odds through much of their history, but have never been officially at war with each other. Their diplomatic relations are thus similar in nature to those between the US and Russia.
* The Joketsuzoku were formerly allied with the Moon Kingdom before said kingdom's fall at the hands of the Dark Kingdom. Much of the Joketsuzoku's odd genetics can be traced to cross breeding with those of the Moon Kingdom.
* Before the time of the council, the Joketsuzoku were ruled by a Queen, the last of which was called Tranquility. Tranquility herself was bounded to then Queen of the Moon Kingdom, Serenity, in a marriage like arrangement, but one more akin to a blood sister bond. Tranquility died during the battle with the Dark Kingdom, although it has been noted that Usagi's current day mother bears a strong resemblance to Tranquility and thus may be her reborn.
* In challenge weddings it is traditional for the villagers to test the groom. During the ceremony they are provided a beverage to loosen the guard most people place on their thoughts and actions. It allows their true nature a chance to come out. If they fail then ended up getting into an accident.