On youkai and spiritual matters, they both exist, however they are somewhat in hiding. Most people can't see the smaller youkai and the big nasties live far apart from civilization that the common peasant will never see glance of them. There are people who know the truth and deal with it, but to most these are belief which go unproven all their lives or foolish superstition of the rough people in the outskirts. Youkai and Kami do take part in human life, however, as mentioned, mostly in hiding or myth. Priests actively fight and exorcise Youkai with their prayers or try to attract the favor of Kami. However, the fate of man in civilized lands tends to be settled on the open by humans. The clans fight with soldiers and steel and so does their fortunes increase or decrease... however, having supernatural help on your side is quite a boon. And the opposite... really not healthy.

The Mitsumine have a lot of forested mountain terrain in their territory. They possess mines from which good steel and silver are acquired, which secured wealth and weapons which have put them in prominence within the realm despite a good amount of their territory being unusable due to its wild and rough features. They are on the far north of the proposed island nation, with the only other settled landmass further north being on another island. Furthermore, given all the unsettled lands in the Mitsumine territory there is a big youkai presence within. The Mitsumine lands are located on the very north of the country. The name of the clan (Mitsumine 三峰 Three Peaks) comes from the characteristics of their hold, which while mountainous in general, has three very important peaks. The fist one is close to the ancestral home of the Mitsumine and Takeshi's home. It is one of the highest peaks in the whole country and holds a lot of spiritual significance. There is a temple located near the very top of the mountain dedicated to the chief deity of the Mitsumine... however, given the harshness of the pilgrimage, not many make it to the top. Even Takeshi, the clan's second son never did it, though Daichi did. The second important peak is located near to the capital of the Mitsumine lands. Indeed, the capital was located here to take advantage of the peak's natural resources. These mountains are rich in metals and minerals and from it flow the silver and steel that are the clan's chief's exports and source of power. Finally, the last peak is situated to the very south of the Mitsumine lands, making a mountainous barrier with only one or two passes through them. This peak is considered the chief protector of the Mitsumine lands and a grand keep is situated there to stand as the first, impervious protector of what lies beyond. However, since Takeshi took control of the family and retreated back to the ancient home of his family, the keep has since been abandoned and only a specialized force keeps watch beyond the mountains. The name of the peaks have not been set yet, but if you guys want to name them, that would be a great way to build up the world together. Aside from the three peaks, the Mitsumine lands have a nice coast to the North West of it, which supplement their needs for food and provides another avenue of trade through the sea. Through local agriculture, a lot of the minor villages within the Mitsumine lands can mostly sustain themselves for food. There is a single city which has good terrain and lots of flat ground for cultivation and from it, this city has grown to be the second biggest in the Mitsumine lands. However, their greater population means they need even more food to sustain themselves, so while they do trade and distribute food around the neighboring Mitsumine lands, they don't have enough to sustain the capital. Indeed, the capital of the Mitsumine lands is the biggest draw of resources in the region. It has maintained itself with its trade in silver and steel, however, the massive numbers living within means it needs to import a lot of food. Little more than half of it comes from other lands, while the rest is sustained by the Mitsumine agricultural city and the fish from the coast. In times of crisis, their dietary needs can be constrained to depend less in imports by making use of food stores and cutting out on 'luxury' food imports.Aside from all mentioned, the Mitsumine have a lot of lumber to draw on from its numerous forests and a lot of tiny villages exist to sustain the demand from the capital to build yet more houses, buildings and the like. With the Mitsumine ruling, there are a lot of smaller clans which pay fealty to them. There is the clan of the agricultural city, a clan representing the biggest of the lumbering villages out in the woods, a coastal clan, a branch family of the Mitsumine who have for long worked under the rule of the main family running the small bureaucracy of the capital but who have become more independent since Takeshi retreated to his manse. Even more of the small clans can be created as we need them, but these would be the major players so far.

Tiger Clan: The oldest of the Mitsumine's enemies, a clan whose lands lie to the East and South East of the Mitsumine territory. A warlike people whose biggest asset are its own population. Having no particularly favorable natural assets, the rulers of the Tiger clan obtained significance by the fierceness of their warriors which allowed them to expand their territory. Furthermore, the rulers of these lands demand a lot of their people, giving rise to a very hard working and perfectionist population, even by the land's standards. The Tiger clan invests heavily in intellectual avenues that can be put into good use, having some of the best engineers and scholars of the whole land. The Tiger people are a prideful sort, with heavy suspicion and sometimes contempt of those not their own, with very heavy expectations put into them but who nevertheless take good care of their own. Besides their conflict with the Mitsumine, they also target heavily the Boar clan and crave to subjugate the territory of the Turtle Clan to finally have access to a coast of their own.

The Boar Clan: The Boar Clan are the Mitsumine's other neighbors, lying to the South West of their territory. They maintain in recent history a good relationship with the Mitsumine as they stand against the common enemy which is the fierceness and warlike manner of the Tiger. Historically, a clan that has faced much hardship due to the ambition of their neighbors, indeed, the Mitsumine themselves in their most expansionist of periods have launched raids against the Boar clan. The clan has numerous forests and is one of the biggest exporters of lumber in the realm, however, they are unable to maintain a strong standing force due to their lack of wealth and arable land. In history, three times have they been forced off their capital city, only for them to retreat to the forest... lie in wait and then fiercely take back their territory when the defenses of their aggressors lie low. Despite their terrible military record and inability to raise armies, it is said that they do possess some of the fiercest warriors of the land in the upper echelons of their noble houses and some speak of a secret keep hidden in their forests from which they always strike back to their aggressors.

The Horse Clan: The Clan with the most territory in the country, the ones who feed the whole island. Shrewd businessmen and administrators, the Horse are friends to all Clans and trade with everyone. They have possession of the best wide fields of the whole nation and for it provide with food to all who are willing to buy it. At least, militarily, they stay out of all conflicts, preach for peace to all and trade to both sides. However, they do fight... but with their coin. And in this, they do have one major rival which are the mercantile, fishing and trade giant which are the Dragon Clan. Despite their huge territory inland, the Dragon have quite dexterously prevented them from claiming much lands on the coast, only having access to about two ports. Another point of interest about the Horse clan is the animals which make their emblem... having the best steeds of the whole land. Buying a pureblood from them is a great mark of status for anyone in the nation and while they preach peace, they maintain a fearsome cavalry to maintain the peace and borders of their vast empire.

The Dragon Clan: Based mostly on the Southern Coast of the city, as well as having control of many islands... one of which their Capital lies, the Dragon are the other mayor trade lords of the land. With wide access to the seas and the best navy, they do trade all along the island, provide transportation in the ships which regularly circle the nation and maintain trade with foreign powers. The Dragon clan pride themselves in them and their ships being the very first line of defense of their nation against what may come from the outside.

The Phoenix Clan: The Phoenix clan is the clan with the second greatest territory on the country, quite close to the Imperial Capital. It is a vast holding with some of the oldest cities on the nation located within, as well as several important sites such as the Tenho Mountain, a great volcanic mountain surrounded by lakes which is an important holy site for the realm. One of the points on which the Phoenix stand above their peers is in spiritual manners and religious devotion. On their ancient cities lie some of the oldest temples still standing where many monks, priests and priestesses pray to the Gods and the prosperity of the Clan and the entire nation. For Youkai and other malevolent beings, this is one of the worst lands to reside. Additionally, the Phoenix have some very good and well exploited mines, gold being a big draw, a large population and a reputation for longevity. Indeed, it is said that to bathe into some of the holiest springs in these lands prolongs life and takes away ailments. The Phoenix claim that in their family there is the single, oldest person in the whole nation.

The Turtle Clan: A relatively small Clan with a small territory on the North Eastern coasts of the nation. While the Phoenix claim to have the oldest person alive, in truth, it is the long living Turtles who claim that honor, with their patriarch being alive at 124 years of age. The Turtle Clan would like nothing more than to be left in peace and away from most politics and the rest of the nation... however, this may not be. The Turtle have borders with the Tiger and they are their only chance, short of the Tigers toppling the Mitsumine, to have access to a coast for trade, resources and fishing. The Dragons as well, would like to add their coastal territory to their already vast empire. The Turtle are an enduring sort, however, and despite attack after attack, they haven't yet being worn down. Their people are used to adversity, their walls are tall and their capital city, set right against the sea, is near impregnable to attack from sea or land. Furthermore, there are a people living within the Turtle Clan... the Toad people, who live in a marshy terrain near the borders of the Turtle lands. The Toad warriors use poisoned arrows and hit and run tactics to harry any aggressors into their territory and stand as the first line of defense for the Turtle.

The Kirin Emperor: The Living God and ultimate ruler of the whole nation, who rules from the Imperial Palace set upon the capital of the land, the city of Yoshino. The greatest city on the nation, a territory independent from the rule of any of the clans and sustained by the taxes and contributions given to the Emperor. This is the only land directly managed by the Emperor, though in theory all of the nation is his to control and only managed by the Clans in his stead. A center of politics, trade and culture, set into the very heart of the nation, the city is said to be unrivaled in beauty, set in plains, with many parks and nature as well as having a river coursing through the length of the city. The current Emperor is called Tomohito a man of 76 years of age who currently has no sons, however, to those who have seen him, appears to look like a very young man.

The Bear Clan: A Clan living on a cold island, roughly the same in size as the Tiger and Wolf holds put together, on the very North of the nation. The Bear Clan has a different culture from the rest of the nation, subsisting on a cold and hard land. They maintain rare communication with the rest of the clans and mostly are left to their devices. They are said to be quite tall on average, with some of their greatest warriors growing to be veritable giants.