Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 2, 2007 12:13:49 GMT
A Short Overview Of The Shirezei
The Shirezei are what is now all the tribes who inhabit the fortress-island of Ganura, although many are descended from other tribes from the time of the Great Theriza-Shirezei War, who moved to Ganura after the war.
War and battle are hugely intertwined with life in Shirezei culture, but the fighting of the Shirezei is cultured and educated, not based on machismo and brute force. Children are taught to treat their weapons as an extension of their bodies, and their enemies as respected equals.
Many of the Shirezei do not follow war professionally - working in the fields of Ganura, or other professions on the island, but all know how to wield a weapon, with a skill that surpasses most others, and to use the armour that every person owns.
Although practically every member, male and female, of the Shirezei is a trained warrior, their numbers are few - Ganura being probably the least populous of the factions.
Agriculture & Food
Large sections of Ganura, most of the island areas in fact, are given over to farmland. 3 varieties of cereal, several types of vegetable and many livestock are grown and reared on the farms, and fishing in Lake Nadai provides a tasteful alternative, but the bulk of the food is supplied by the farms.
The poor drainage of the northern section of the island requires this part to be given over to rice, and the paddies are thoroughly intensive, many tonnes of rice being produced on relatively little land.
Weapons & Armour
Different classes in the Shirezei wear different armours, but all follow a similar pattern. The great forges are masterful in creating the two-layer (soft steel/hard steel) armour and katanas that the Shirezei wield.
These weapons are exceedingly sharp, perfectly balanced to the individual's taste, and the armour is fitted and weighted to the owner's preference. Armour and weaponry is a very personal thing, many warriors of the Shirezei feeling stronger for their swords & armour than their wives or children.
There are many types of weapon preferred by the general populace Shirezei, but the three distinct classes of the professional military are generally similar in their equipment.
Ashigaru are the general infantry of the Shirezei, and personal preference dictates their armament and equipment - light cavalry, archers and standard, rank and file infantry make up their numbers.
The cavalry wield naginata, spears with long, glaive-like blades, and wear light armour, as do their horses.
Archers carry composite longbows, curved and strong, and large amounts of steel-tipped arrows. They generally also carry a short wakizashi for hand-to-hand combat.
The infantry are standardised in their compliment - three swords, the katana, a long sword for combat, the wakizashi, a shortsword for honourable fighting, and finally the tanto, a long knife for use in honourable killing of a enemy, or honourable suicide.
The Tsuwamono are bedecked in huge suits of full steel, plated armour, and wield great no-dachi: massive, long swords designed for removing cavalry and large numbers of infantry, or westernised halberds or warhammers. They are chosen from the strongest and largest of the ranks of Ashigaru, and the great suits of armour only compliment the great strength and height of these gargantuan warriors.
Finally, the Uruwashii, the officer class, are allowed to choose their weapons to their own tastes, generally preferring ornate katanas or strange, exotic blades. One of the female Generals, a Tang Fu Xiang, wields two chakrams, circular weapons with an outer metal edge.
Government And Finance
Intelligence and martial ability are held in similar stead in governmental office, but proficiency at the job will always win out when deciding on candidates for different positions.
Money is relatively non-existent in Ganura, trade based on a mutual help arrangement, or barter. Many things, such as housing and food, are supplied by the government in accordance with your position, but it is used to purchase luxury items outwith the government provided items.
The Shirezei are what is now all the tribes who inhabit the fortress-island of Ganura, although many are descended from other tribes from the time of the Great Theriza-Shirezei War, who moved to Ganura after the war.
War and battle are hugely intertwined with life in Shirezei culture, but the fighting of the Shirezei is cultured and educated, not based on machismo and brute force. Children are taught to treat their weapons as an extension of their bodies, and their enemies as respected equals.
Many of the Shirezei do not follow war professionally - working in the fields of Ganura, or other professions on the island, but all know how to wield a weapon, with a skill that surpasses most others, and to use the armour that every person owns.
Although practically every member, male and female, of the Shirezei is a trained warrior, their numbers are few - Ganura being probably the least populous of the factions.
Agriculture & Food
Large sections of Ganura, most of the island areas in fact, are given over to farmland. 3 varieties of cereal, several types of vegetable and many livestock are grown and reared on the farms, and fishing in Lake Nadai provides a tasteful alternative, but the bulk of the food is supplied by the farms.
The poor drainage of the northern section of the island requires this part to be given over to rice, and the paddies are thoroughly intensive, many tonnes of rice being produced on relatively little land.
Weapons & Armour
Different classes in the Shirezei wear different armours, but all follow a similar pattern. The great forges are masterful in creating the two-layer (soft steel/hard steel) armour and katanas that the Shirezei wield.
These weapons are exceedingly sharp, perfectly balanced to the individual's taste, and the armour is fitted and weighted to the owner's preference. Armour and weaponry is a very personal thing, many warriors of the Shirezei feeling stronger for their swords & armour than their wives or children.
There are many types of weapon preferred by the general populace Shirezei, but the three distinct classes of the professional military are generally similar in their equipment.
Ashigaru are the general infantry of the Shirezei, and personal preference dictates their armament and equipment - light cavalry, archers and standard, rank and file infantry make up their numbers.
The cavalry wield naginata, spears with long, glaive-like blades, and wear light armour, as do their horses.
Archers carry composite longbows, curved and strong, and large amounts of steel-tipped arrows. They generally also carry a short wakizashi for hand-to-hand combat.
The infantry are standardised in their compliment - three swords, the katana, a long sword for combat, the wakizashi, a shortsword for honourable fighting, and finally the tanto, a long knife for use in honourable killing of a enemy, or honourable suicide.
The Tsuwamono are bedecked in huge suits of full steel, plated armour, and wield great no-dachi: massive, long swords designed for removing cavalry and large numbers of infantry, or westernised halberds or warhammers. They are chosen from the strongest and largest of the ranks of Ashigaru, and the great suits of armour only compliment the great strength and height of these gargantuan warriors.
Finally, the Uruwashii, the officer class, are allowed to choose their weapons to their own tastes, generally preferring ornate katanas or strange, exotic blades. One of the female Generals, a Tang Fu Xiang, wields two chakrams, circular weapons with an outer metal edge.
Government And Finance
Intelligence and martial ability are held in similar stead in governmental office, but proficiency at the job will always win out when deciding on candidates for different positions.
Money is relatively non-existent in Ganura, trade based on a mutual help arrangement, or barter. Many things, such as housing and food, are supplied by the government in accordance with your position, but it is used to purchase luxury items outwith the government provided items.
