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| Empire of Mirai Geography The Yamato Islands are a group of islands upon which the Empire of Mirai and the independent state of Kuwayama are located. Geographically, both countries lie in the very heart of Visteria between its western and eastern parts. This archipelago consists of a great many islands, but only some of them are inhabited, and only a few deserve individual mention: — Shokuhō Island, the largest and most densely populated island, home to the empire's capital. These lands account for the bulk of the empire's economy. — Niwatari Island, the land of oni — non-humans whose primary distinguishing feature is sharp horns growing from their foreheads. — Kuwayama Island: after the defeat in the war between the empire and the Church of Arteria, the losing side had to allow missionaries of the victors onto their land, and over time the influence of the overseas goddess led to the emergence of a distinct culture on this island. At the time of writing and publishing this book, Mirai and Kuwayama are separate states and are hostile toward one another. There is no open war between them yet, but it is obvious that it is only a matter of time, and minor clashes occur on a regular basis. — Yukoku Island, the land of warriors, where the greatest number of martial arts schools is located; over the past half-century, imperial soldiers have come to be trained here, and most weaponry is manufactured here as well. — Himejima Island, the northernmost of the islands, the center of Mirai's religious life. — Murasakishi Island, called by the empire's inhabitants the most beautiful island of Visteria and, by a curious coincidence, the birthplace of the plant of the same name; the least populous of the listed islands, a land of hermits visited by residents of other islands seeking enlightenment or peace of mind. Culture and Religion Mirai has its own pantheon, headed by Tomoe — the creator of the Yamato Islands, whose inhabitants revere this goddess as their progenitor. The symbol of Tomoe is mitsudomoe, often used in Mirai symbolism, and she herself is identified with thunder and lightning, which corresponds to the element of air in the Western Visterian system. In different regions of the country, Tomoe is depicted differently, but unlike Arteria, there is no universally accepted version of her appearance. Besides Tomoe, the Mirai pantheon includes many deities associated with various myths and legends, but they are unknown beyond the empire and Kuwayama Island. The society of the empire is based on strict rules of conduct and a rigid hierarchy among people depending on their social status, skill in some craft, gender, etc. Unlike the openness characteristic of Western Visterians, Mirai people behave extremely reservedly, try not to attract undue attention to themselves, and focus on their own lives, trying not to bother others or meddle in affairs that do not concern them. At the same time, Mirai's strict culture does not tolerate strong deviations from generally accepted norms of behavior, so outside one's own home it would be fair to say that people keep quieter than water and lower than grass. The foundation of the Mirai mentality can be described as three duties — duty to oneself, duty to family, and duty to homeland. The first duty lies in preserving one's own honor and the inner necessity to remain "the best version of oneself" at any time in life, never being lazy, striving to realize one's potential, maintaining nobility of appearance, keeping one's motives pure, etc. Furthermore, a true Mirai person must be aware of their purpose in life and stay devoted to it (drifting without finding a definite place in life is considered shameful). The second duty places the interests of the family (primarily parents, and for women — husbands) above one's own, since according to local customs, the family is the foundation of society. And the third duty is the idea of loyalty, devotion to one's nation, developing a sense of national identity, emphasizing the supremacy of national interests and culture. Losing one's homeland for a Mirai person is like losing one's place in life. Despite this, many islanders enjoy traveling across Visteria, though often for some specific purpose. Government In ancient times, the Yamato Islands were divided among mutually independent countries, but over time all of them were united into a single state — the Empire of Mirai. The influence of the imperial family varied from era to era, but after the Time of Troubles spanning years 757–769 (during the same period, Kuwayama Island seceded from the Empire of Mirai for religio-political reasons), imperial authority within Mirai became firmly established as absolute. Unlike Kuwayama, which has become something of an international hub for the region, the empire's contact with the continent is mostly limited to trade. Effect of reading the book: +1500 XP and +1 OS (for characters of Mirai origin). |