The Old Country

"It's kind of hard to be strictly observant about the rites when we've only ever heard of the Old Country from our elders. We've never seen it or set foot there, and in all likelihood it'll never play that much of a part in our lives... "
—Kinu

Writer Credit

The Observer
The Old Country Codex Entry

Codex

Description

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An island realm in the world of Savarra, which lies across an extended ocean trip from the Frost Marches. The Old Country is the homeland of the Kitsune and Tanuki races; individuals encountered elsewhere are mostly the descendants of expatriates who emigrated in the wake of the Godswar. By this point, the diaspora are some generations removed from their homeland and customs; despite relative isolation, they have reacted in various ways to the Marches' disparate culture.

Travel to the Old Country from the Marches typically requires a little more than one month's eastward travel over the ocean; however, due to the existence of kitsune torii gates created with "borrowed" Esteloran technology during the Godswar, traveling the immense distance is possible in the blink of an eye.

History

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Due to its separation from other continents by virtue of it being an island chain, The Old Country (what its inhabitants call it in their native tongue is largely unpronounceable in Belharan languages) escaped the brunt of the Godswar, with only coastal forays and skirmishes taking place. Keros, however, was obligated to send aid to the other gods who were meeting the Wraiths on the front lines, and therefore various groups of kitsune and tanuki were dispatched across Savarra to aid as advisors, spies, and saboteurs. Some of these elected to later serve as settlers in freshly-emptied lands instead of returning home, leading to the establishment of a diaspora of both races across the world.

Shortly prior to the Godswar, tentative contact was established between it and the Belharan Empire's scout ships; however, fighting broke out in the empire before the situation could progress for better or for worse, and what's left of Belhar hasn't had the resources or inclination to attempt contact again with such a remote and unassuming realm.

Geography

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The Old Country spans a small handful of large islands and several smaller ones. Experiencing hot summers and cold winters, settlements are clustered about either coastal flatlands or mountainous regions. Seismic and volcanic activity are common, with the attendant results. The land itself is largely quiet, quaint and picturesque; while major population centers have modernised somewhat in the last couple of centuries, many of its inhabitants in the countryside and mountains live much like their ancestors did.

Government

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The Old Country is ruled by the God-Emperor, who claims divine right to rule by being the direct patrilineal descendant of the trickster god Keros. From the Cherry Blossom Throne, he rules the empire with absolute authority — or at least, theoretically. In practice, his rule is modulated by the twelve Divine Houses (or clans), who form the vast majority of the upper echelons of the Emperor's court. These twelve families dominate much of politics and government, who pressure, cajole, suggest, insinuate, and manipulate the Emperor and his family into doing what they want. Although they may command armies and possess considerable wealth, these twelve clans of foxes are not soldiers or merchant princes; tradition and religion bequeath a mystical authority upon them. Tradition states they are destined to rule; religion states that they are the descendants of the divine and wield considerable mystic power. It is through this authority that the twelve Divine Houses assert their grip on the land in the Emperor's name.

Kitsune are matriarchal and — the Imperial Family being the notable exception — government positions are heavily filled by women, although there is no formal ruling against men in office. Only individuals from the head and major branch families of the twelve Divine Houses may be born with radiant or silvery white hair and fur — while not all of the members of these clans are so blessed, white fur is proof positive of one being of high noble lineage. Smaller kitsune clans vie for the Emperor's favor and perhaps a minor appointment; success is often an uphill task and the result of many generations working in concert.

The other major player in government and politics is the tanuki. While some tanuki have risen to official positions such as governors of prefectures, most gain influence and authority by swearing servitude to a kitsune noble. Being a vassal or retainer to a kitsune lord or lady often involves, amongst other duties, being a "fount of spirit" for their liege; being fed on once or twice every month is a small price to pay for the privileges of rank and station.

It is wrong to say that social mobility is nonexistent in the Old Country; social rank is quick to slip and next to impossible to attain without long-term or truly heroic efforts.

Demographics

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Roughly 15% of the population are kitsune, who are represented in all social classes of peoples, high and low. Due to their need to periodically drain life-force from other sapient peoples, they have never allowed themselves to grow past a comfortably small proportion of the population.

Another 35-40% of the population are tanuki, who form much of what middle and lower middle classes there is to be had. Some proportion of the peasantry is also derived from this race.

The remainder of the population is a mishmash of other sapient races and foreigners, mostly making up the lower class and menial workers.

Religion

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While the Seven are worshipped as in much of Savarra, the trickster god Keros has dominance in the region. Apparently, he has other portfolios on his home turf not recognized in other parts of the world — for example, agriculture. Numerous other minor spirits and entities are also paid homage to, inasmuch as a Marcher might quietly leave an apple out for the pixies and fairies.

Economy

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Being largely undeveloped compared to the past glories of Belhar, the Old Country does not have much of an economic presence. What small amounts of trade that happens are largely in manufactured goods: turning imported iron considered worthless by the bronze-dominated world into useful and passable tools for the less discerning or wealthy. What high-value goods there are deal mostly in the production of magical items, playing to the natural strengths of kitsune and tanuki alike, as well as filling the void left by Estelore's fall. All trade is conducted by way of middlemen in the diaspora who facilitate the crossing of language and cultural barriers alike.

The Old Country is particularly lacking in high-grade metal ores despite their mountainous interior, and its inhabitants have developed various ways to deal with the lack of such. What interest in foreign lands that comes from this insular empire largely stems from the desire to acquire reliable sources of metal; at the time of the game, iron ore usually considered worthless by the bronze-working Marches is much in demand on the other side of the ocean.

Codex Acquisition

Only one of the conditions below must be met to unlock The Old Country Codex entry:

• Met Kiyoko in the Astral Plane
• Met the Forest Kitsune at the Old Forest