Sengoku Amahara

Sengoku Jidai: an age of chaos and violence in the history of Amahara when samurai clans and their daimyo lords vied for supremacy over the shattered dominon. This is the story of a certain clan's rise or fall.

Rule Pages

Sengoku Amahara: Heroic Rules
The "main" part of the game - character creation and such.

Sengoku Amahara: Tactical Rules
The rules for battles with armies and stuff.

Sengoku Amahara: Strategic Rules
The rules for managing holdings and stuff.

Background

Azuma Shogunate

Over two centuries ago, the greatest war hero of shogunate times, Azuma Hatsunari, defeated the final invasion of the seemingly inexhaustible Rouran hordes. Since then, he and his descendents have ruled the Dominion of Amahara as the Azuma shogunate. Following precedent, the Azuma dynasty relocated to the traditional capital of Aki and it made its mark by building a new palace in the vicinity of the Grand Shrine of Aki, though actual administration was done from Ayanami Castle half a day's ride away. Having held the seat of power for some two centuries, the Azuma Shogunate has lasted longer than either of its predecessors, the Watatsuki and Takamachi shogunates. For the first century and a half, the rule of the Azuma was severe but effective. This changed during the second century with the birth of twin brothers Yoshihichi and Yoshikira and circumstances that led later to dispute as to who was actually the firstborn. The decision of the shogun to split the family into two branches to accomodate the brothers proved to have enormous longterm repercussions.

Division

Within a generation, the clan was riven by an intractable rivalry and the dynasty's political effectiveness and legitimacy wavered. The two branches occupied opposing north and south towers of Ayanami keep, separated by a complex fitted with nightingale floors that was said to be the most heavily guarded place in the Nine Islands. Although violence was forbidden in the castle itself, brawls and armed combat broke out between retainers of the two sides in the vicinity of the capital. Outside the capital, the numerous clans of Amahara's samurai society waited silently, declaring for one side, the other, or none at all, all quietly preparing for the worst.

As years passed, not only household samurai but thugs, mercenaries, ronin and violently competing buddhist sects joined the fray in the name of one side or the other. The death toll mounted ever higher as daily skirmishes turned the district into a war zone and commoners fled, leaving the capital a smouldering husk. Then, having suffered a series of setbacks in the fighting, the Southern Azuma called on their vassals, the outlying Katsuragi clan for additional men. This set off a chain of escalations that now truly spiraled out of control. Within the year, general warfare had spread across the whole of the dominion. In the middle of it all, the rival branches of the Azuma fought bitterly on, barely aware of their sudden irrelevance as their petty dispute drowned in the sea of conflict.

Incident at Ayanami Castle

On the 16th day of the 8th month of the 4th year of Mukyu era (1544), the entire households of both main branches of the Azuma clan were assassinated within Ayanami Castle despite the protection of the nightingale floor. Only two of the daughters may have survived and they are said to be missing. Speculation is still rife on who the culprit is though it is thought that only the head of one of the five great ninja clans or a god could have accomplished such a thing. No one is sure yet, but immediate and bloody fighting has torn the remains of the clan apart, put the capital to flames and left a massive power vacuum in the rest of the country.

Factions

The Samurai

The dominant power in the turmoil of Amaharan politics is the strength collectively held by the samurai class. Although the wise daimyo makes it his business to be versed in administration and puts competent deputies in administrative positions, the rule of the samurai is primarily based on force of arms backed by the holding of land in a complex net of feudal relations and clan loyalties. At the center of this web is the shogunal clan which holds government in the capital of Aki and obligations of loyalty, directly or indirectly, from all other clans. Normally, the dynasty in this position is the most powerful clan in the domain and will have all the necessary tools to keep it that way. Since the overthrow of direct rule by the priestesses, three clans have established shogunates: the Watatsuki, the Takamachi and most recently, the Azuma.

In theory, the Shogun is charged only with the conduct of military affairs on behalf of Amahara's theocratic government. All samurai, be they daimyo or lowly retainer, are ranked below priestesses and even the Shogun must prostrate before the Apostle. In practice however, he holds all temporal reigns of power except what limitations he faces from the machinations of the rest of the notoriously self-interested samurai class. The Azuma clan has held the supreme position for over two centuries. The last third of that reign has been heavily marred by internal strife, giving their nominal subordinates a correspondingly greater freedom of action. The implosion of Azuma clan's position since 1503 has thrown the daimyo almost entirely to their own devices.

Samurai may be male or female and are the primary source of professional troops for most clans. Yet, every vassal has his own agenda; most clans find it hard to fully muster the men they should be able to on paper at any given time. Moreover, one's relations with important subordinates and the samurai class in general must be carefully managed as disgruntled vassals are very dangerous.

Southern Azuma

The Southern Azuma are the descendents of Azuma Yoshihichi, who was generally recognised as the elder of the twins during his life. They are named for the southern wing of Ayanami Castle which they occupied. At the present moment, with the leadership of the clan destroyed, the reigns are probably being held by a number of cousins of the former lord without any clear idea who has or will have ultimate control unless the missing daughter, Azuma Fuuki were to be found alive. Given the circumstances, it is perfectly plausible that those recently thrust into power would rather have her found dead.

Katsuragi
An outlying vassal in the capital region that Azuma Yoshihichi called on for support in February 1503. This was the move that led to general warfare breaking out across the dominion.

Northern Azuma

The Northern Azuma are the descendents of Azuma Yoshikira. They are presently tenuously led by Yuuhime who survived on account of a rare visit with her maiden family. The clan previously held the initiative against their rivals but have abandoned it, deploying all resources to find her missing daughter, Azuma Chiri.

Takamachi

The Takamachi clan were the holders of the last shogunate and the formerly the feudal superior of the Azuma Clan. Because their power was weakened by war with the Rouran rather than being overthrown directly by another clan, they managed to survive the past two centuries in relatively good shape. Although noticeably weaker in terms of wealth and numbers of men than either individual branch of the Azuma, the Takamachi have avoided confrontation with either faction. They hold a single influential fortress near Aki while their main land holdings are better consolidated in the north. They also have a clear leader in Takamachi Hanako who, though young, has a reputation as a legendary warrior.

The Shrines

Shinto is the native faith of Amahara, a religion of animism that sees its nine million gods inhabiting each and every process and existence of the universe. The land of Amahara is dotted by thousands upon thousands of shrines dedicated to the gods, ranging from tiny monuments by the roadside to vast complexes ensconced in wilderness. These shrines are managed by the shrine maidens who reached their most recent zenith burning brightly against the Rouran invaders. They have fared less well since then, losing much ground to the newer continental faith of Buddhism.

The Grand Shrine of Aki is the spiritual capital of all Amahara and Shinto. At the center of Shinto's earthly cosmology is the Apostle, a girl selected by the clergy through a complex battery of mystical and astrological tests. The person of the Apostle is the shrine of Kaguya, Amahara's divine founding mother. However, actual power in this faction is held by the Grand Chamberlain who is usually a former Apostle. While mostly devoted to religious affairs, the clergy observe and participate in temporal events in order to better safeguard their shrines' wealth and traditional powers.

With respect to their rival religion, Shinto and Buddhism have far more overlap in terms of adherents than the hardliners on either side would like to admit, to the extent it could be considered normal to observe both. However, Shinto has never been particularly populist like some sects of Buddhism and have no equivalent to the sohei.

The Temples

Buddhism is the newer of the two major religions of Amahara. Unlike Shinto, Buddhism has no living paramount leader and its sects are far more contentious, frequently engaging in all out battle with each other for supremacy and influence in the courts of the daimyo. On the other hand, as a result of its populist nature, there are far more warrior monks than there are warrior shrine maidens. The largest Buddhist sects have the armed forces, fortified temples and land holdings to easily rival some great clans.

The Five Clans

According to their own legends, the Izayoi ninja clan was founded by Kaguya herself. She asked three students what the most important thing was to teach a child destined for power. The first answered "strength", the second "tactics", and the third "contradictions" and it was that third answer that most pleased the moon princess, for the world of power is full of contradictions. Prosperity demands peace, but peace demands war; honor demands victory, but victory demands dishonor. There are many things that samurai must not do that must be done and things that should not be considered that must be considered. This niche of contradictions is filled by the ninja.

Foundation myths aside, the five clans first became renowned during the Shogunate era, providing needed services during periods of conflict. They are technically nobility (or at least samurai, given they can afford to support armed professionals) and their heads are technically daimyo but they are viewed as beneath the samurai proper, being fundamentally mercenaries.

Ninja Clans hold some hidden fortresses but mostly mingle with ordinary peasant or town life where they also hold some key trade monopolies. They deal in information and work for any side that pays them but are of course concerned with protecting themselves as well. They don't hold much land, relying on businesses to get by

and often engage in business on the side that reputable samurai would not publicly engage in.

This disadvantage in status makes ninja clans more beholden to their feudal masters

because they are a very necessary evil. For their part, ninja clans also take advantage of their unclear status to turn a profit in areas samurai deem too low for them to touch, not the least of which is selling their services on the side.

Izayoi

The Izayoi Clan is one of the oldest ninja clans, claiming to be the tutelary descendent of the mythical Kaguya. As a result, they have closer ties to the Grand Shrine of Aki than they do to any samurai clan. This earned them the shogunate's ire, which has historically hampered their position.

Kuga

A great ninja clan founded during classical antiquity and the traditional, though not particularly bitter, rivals of the Izayoi. The Kuga clan maintain a strict policy of professional neutrality, with payment in silver or gold as the only factor of assessment as well as unswerving loyalty once a transaction has been made.

The Bandits

Bandits with a capital B are usually one way or another disenfranchised samurai. They have bands of supporting small b bandits. Although outlaws they are notable in that they know perfectly well how to fight, may hold sway with local lords, and will take proactive steps to protect their turf if necessary. There can be a sliding scale between Bandit and Lord in some locales. Some are pirates.

The Peasants

Peasants working the land are the primary source of wealth for the samurai class. When beset by natural disasters, misfortune, or heavy taxation, even the low and downtrodden have the potential to rebel. Peasants will usually try to get some kind of support whether from neighbouring lords, clerics or someone else with military experience as they are otherwise usually fairly easy to put down. They do have to be put down however, and either way everyone suffers economically. As such, it is generally wise for lords to prevent, forestall, or subvert discontent before actual rebellions occur. It may in turn be possible to encourage them to occur in a rival's territory.

The Merchants

Merchants are technically ranked lower than peasants on the social ladder since they produce no actual goods themselves. are generally able to make a much better living than peasants. Like peasants, merchants are a source of wealth to overlords and are likewise sometimes pushed to revolt. Merchants rebelling (or joining a rebellion) is rather more rare than the usual peasant rebellion but may be more dangerous due to the wealth they possess enabling them to hire ronin to their cause or sway the decisions of rivals with generous gifts.

The Ainyuu

The Ainyuu catgirls dwell on the northernmost of the Amaharan isles, the bitterly cold land of Ezo to which they were driven centuries ago. Although the two sides share some roots, the Ainyuu are not by any means Amaharan and have absolutely no intention of bowing to Amaharan lords or economic dependency. Although their numbers are few and their lands generally poor, Ainyuu have significant home field advantages and are more likely to be conducting raids on the encroaching Amaharan settlements than to suffer reversals in their own territory. They are great foresters, have strong archery traditions and have access to a separate unit list to reflect this.

Geography

According to the oldest traditions, the land of Amahara is the land closest to the heavens, with nine islands and ninety-nine provinces. Since early times, these have been taken as numbers designated the heavenly gods. One could say they are the administrative divisions defined within a constitution. As the borders of Amahara have contracted and expanded over time, this definition has been continually re-interpreted. Currently, minor islands include Akatsuki (72-74), Genmunokojima (7), Sadogashima (93), Ama-iwato (98) and Hyoudo (99). Significant islands are Hatashu (75-86), Rokushu (1-6), Nanka (87-92) and of course the main island of Honriku.