Title Pending (AU Naruto) — Roleplayer Guild

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Shiori [+]

History

The islands of Water Country have always reflected the mighty ocean that surrounds them, wild and fierce. The people of each island were highly territorial many years ago before they were united as one nation, always making sure that none could step foot on their island and constantly vying back and forth for more land. Dozens of smaller islands littered the sea, setting the stage for war between the island nations. Every year, the smaller islands would be raided, pillaged, and conquered, and every year, the larger islands would wage war over a small piece of land.

It was a tumultuous time, and it was nearly the destruction of the islands.
Then appeared the feudal lord Tsukikaru Ichi.
With the samurai of Senshitoshi at his back, Tsukikaru Ichi marched a campaign across the 6 isles of Water Country. Scrolls aged by the centuries reflect upon the campaign, stating that with each victory – his force would grow by the thousands, the people of Water Country uniting under one indisputable leader.

Geographical Description

Water Country is comprised of six islands, with the largest referred to as the main island and five smaller ones surrounding it. It hosts a small tropical paradise that has a warm, sunny climate. The island is only bothered by differing state: the monsoon season. Monsoon season starts from March to May, beginning on the easternmost end of the islands and working its way west. Storms brew frequently and rapidly with barely any notice beyond a few darkened clouds. However, Hidden Mist has devised a complicated set of detection machinery to measure barometric pressure and other such signs to at least raise the flag when a particularly fierce tempest threatens to ravage the islands.

Once monsoon season comes to a close, the weather becomes balmier and more consistent. Long sunrises and even longer sunsets paint the skies a fantastic spectrum of colour, with the sun beginning its ascent at roughly six in the morning (finishing at eight) and starting its descent at five (and ending at eight).

The islands themselves are mostly lush tropical forests with occasional plots of land cleared for farming (rice farming being an extremely lucrative field with the amount of wetland there is), surrounded by beautiful white sand beaches and the sea on all sides. A huge river system called Itonami Taiga runs from north to south of the main island. It splits into 7 smaller rivers called the Nana Eda (Seven Branches). They are...
• Senshi (the Warrior)
• Biki (Beautiful Maiden)
• Shijo (the Child)
• UmiKami (God of the Sea)
• Ningyo (Mermaid)
• Kani (Crab)
• Same (the Shark)
These 7 small rivers connect to the central river like branches to a tree and provide water to the rest of the island. Itonami Taiga cuts right through the famous Shiroizumi Lake in the center of the main island.

The islands’ soil is rich and nourishes yams, rice, and several varieties of greens. The forest is filled with tropical fruit and the sea is teeming with fish. The Country of Water is, to the spectator’s eye, practically paradise. They would be most surprised to find out several swampy regions scattered throughout the main island of Kodanetou, and the climate within these swamps are vastly different from the rest of the country. Often humid and muggy, a gloom sits and stagnates as animals that thrive in these regions such as alligators wait for travelers to get caught in the muddy waters.

Towns and Cities

The five smaller islands of Mizu no Kuni are dotted with innumerable villages, ranging from small fishing towns to thriving port cities. The main island is naturally split up into eight sections by the Nada Eda. Seven of these are/were occupied by especially noteworthy villages named after each river branch; the last is home to Kirigakure itself.

Senshitoshi of the southeastern region was destroyed in one of the civil wars, mainly because its very name (the Warrior Village) suggested that its inhabitants were extremely aggressive and helped fuel each new conflict as they came along – whether or not this was true. Today, all that remains are several scars in the floor of the tropical forest where the feudal lord’s mansion once stood, with ruins of battlements and crumbled remains of rusted weapons.

Bikitoshi to the south is a pleasant fishing town, the most populated in the area. Its inhabitants live as their ancestors had and as their descendants will, making a humble living off catching and selling seafood. It has most always been a very quiet hamlet, rejoicing in its continued existence. Even though it is a small coastal village, it has managed to survive against the reaches of war and pirate raids all these years: something no other village its size has managed to do.
Shijotoshi to the southwest is the capital of Water Country. All government buildings are located here, as well as the most prestigious schools of higher learning. The brightest in the country grow up in the halls of the academic institutes, memorizing formulas and theories while eventually testing out their own. This is where the intelligence of Water spawns, and it is straight from these academies that Hidden Mist recruits graduates to work in their Medical Corps R/D and Engineering divisions.

Umitoshi of the west region is a rich fishing/trading city. It is host to the port that receives boats coming from the mainland. This town is the economic hub of Water Country, and so all the best efforts are made to put forth the best protection of its market. Some of the wealthiest merchants and businessmen reside in Umitoshi, and the inhabitants have divided themselves into classes according to wealth. The aristocracy run the show in this town while the poorest of the poor fend for themselves in the canals and sewers.
Ningyotoshi to the north houses Hirame Temple, where people can pay their respects to the god of the sea. The temple was originally located in Umitoshi, but it was burned to the ground much like Senshitoshi during a war. It was rebuilt in Ningyotoshi when the Water Lord noticed the thriving activity in Umitoshi and decided that the large quantity of money changing hands would interfere with the solemnity of praying at Hirame Temple.
• Landmark: Hirame Temple

Built by some of the keenest architects in the land, this expansive temple is known throughout the country. Its solid stone framework makes it an excellent shelter for those caught in the middle of a storm, and it is perpetually lit by multitudes of candles. The temple itself is built upon the slant of a mountainside; part of the spiritual journey is simply reaching the breathtaking height of Hirame Temple. Hirame Temple also holds the shrine of the 6 tails.
Kanitoshi is unique as it is the only region that is actually a small offshore island to the northeast of Kodanetou. The island itself is basically a chunk of rock out on the ocean, close enough to be seen with the naked eye, but far enough that no land bridge can be safely constructed to it. It is sometimes called the ‘Wild Town’ because of its red-light district, the only one in all of Water Country. In addition, some of the best bars can be found here, and it is said that quite a bit of drug trafficking goes on, though law enforcement has been unable to confirm these rumours. Kanitoshi has been acknowledged by many as the heart of the underworld in Water, making it very dangerous for local authorities to pass through.
Sametoshi to the east has the highest population after Umitoshi and Shijotoshi, and is famous for being the hometown of some of the country’s best swordsmen. Even today, the city contains almost twenty schools of kenjutsu. Hidden Mist often hires several of the top graduates to lead training sessions at the Genin Academy.
Economy

Not surprisingly, Water Country’s economy depends heavily on the sea. Most of the nation’s food comes from the ocean, and what they do not consume they trade to other places. They are especially proud of their pearl divers and coral sculptors, and recently some entrepreneurs have started up whaling businesses. Water Country also exports tropical wood and tropical fruit. Because farmland is limited, they must import other types of foods in order to provide the people with a healthier diet, namely starches and vegetables.

To a lesser degree are oil and engineering trades. Two oil platforms have been constructed several miles south of Kodanetou and produce a steady supply of tradable resources. The technological industry has been fairing quite steadily as well, breaking grounds in steam-powered machinery that they manufacture and export to less fortunate cities around the globe.

And, of course, Water brings in a great deal of its gross income on the seas itself. They have several large companies that run on specializing in bulk deliveries, loading up tugs with products from one location and transporting it to another, charging a nominal fee for their service. Vacation and tourist industries also thrive, seeing as the country is generally fair and beautiful. This wide variety of financial support helps soften the blows of economic shocks, creating a very stable market in one of the most successful countries to date.
Culture

People of Water Country are persevering and do not easily succumb to hardship. How can they, after surviving this long against storms that prevent the men from fishing, threats of having their homes carried away by floods, pirate attacks as far back as written history can remember, and endless civil war? This leads to the stereotype that Water citizens are stubborn, sometimes violent in their struggle to accomplish what they want, and indeed, Water Country has a bad reputation of tackling their problems with the pen in the drawer and a sword in both hands.
Religion

There is only one major deity in Water Country, and that is the Umikami, known as the god of the sea. The more common and less official name for him is the water god. The religion of the water god is one steeped in mythology, for there are literally dozens of stories that relate either directly or indirectly to the god. His origin tale is not known, for to the people of Water Country, he has always existed. Instead, the oldest story of the god of the sea is the creation of the world and the islands that make up Water Country. It is a long epic tale, with a recitation that can last several hours. In fact, because of the many tales of the Water God, it has become a tradition of sorts for people to choose their most favourite and meaningful tale and to memorize it, keeping it forever in their hearts.

Traditional worship of Umikami is not highly complex. The people of Water Country have never been the most cultured or educated. Rather, prayers are made to him, asking for life blessings and fair conditions. It is considered to be foolish to go out to sea in a boat without praying for the blessing of the ship, and the especially religious believe that any ship that sinks must have invoked the wrath of the god. Annual trips are usually made to the various temples that dot the islands, though the largest and most prominent is on the main island itself. Because the official religion of Water Country is the worship of the water god, the government pays for the upkeep of the temples. There is also the annual Fall Festival that is celebrated every year in celebration of the water god.

Umikami is not a god who is truly benevolent. He is the spiritual manifestation of the ocean, and the sea is the physical extension of his very will. The ocean reflects the various aspects of the god. He can be calm like small waves lapping the shore. He can be furious as the great hurricanes that batter the islands like paper houses. He can be the merciful like water, for nothing in this world can live without it. But he can be cruel and merciless, for nothing can drink only seawater and expect to survive. The god of the sea is not a fickle god, but it can be easy to stir up his wrath. The ocean is his will and the sword is his symbol. To him, the worthiest are the ones who show skill and survival. Much of Water Country’s and Hidden Mist’s attitude can be reflected upon this aspect of the Water God.

Those who make a profession out of the sea tend to be much more religious then those who live and work mostly on land. Because nobody ever really thinks that there can be any other religion in Water Country, there is little enforcement of the religion. Those who do worship other gods do not speak of it publicly, for fear of retribution and attack. Overall, the water god makes up a large part of the lives of the citizens, especially in certain attitudes and traditions that are kept, but He is not a constant presence.

Government

Following a system started forty years ago, the Mizukage now meets six times a year with delegates from each of the smaller islands. Together, they create new laws, discuss the effectiveness of existing laws, internal and external politics, the economy… Though the delegates have their say in how the government works, the Mizukage is responsible for about 75% of what goes on in the country. Though he does have a council of advisors, advising is the only thing they can do. The Mizukage must directly approve all official word sent out from the capital on any subject first.

Technology

The level of technology in Mist is most similar to the “steampunk” theme of machinery. While their machines are neither sleek nor slim, they pack limitless power due to the combination of Steam techniques Shinobi are capable of producing. Technology has already begun to graft itself into the culture of Hidden Mist in many different ways, the most obvious being the main gate. Several prototype Fleet ships are beginning to incorporate the use of steam technology, though nothing solid has yet been developed.

In terms of use on a body, the level of implants and prosthetics is fairly impressive for what they have achieved. While enhancements can be made on a larger scale (limbs and major inner organs) leaving obvious signs of tampering, minute adjustments on areas such as the eyes are still unachievable. For example, if a Shinobi received a replacement arm for one they lost, it would clearly appear mechanical. The options on it would be simple, such as a piston mechanism that adds force to a punch on an arm, or one that lends strength to a jump on a leg.

While no modifications can be done on parts such as the eyes, they are still able to be wholly transplanted as regular replacements.
The Naval of Mist

Hidden Mist differs from other hidden villages in one important aspect, and that is the presence of a full naval fleet. As an island nation, the Water Country has a substantial naval force to draw upon. The ships are designed after the maritime tall ships of the early 1800s. Most of the Naval vessels are three masted frigates, though there are a handful of big ships of the line that serve as flagships when a fleet is formed. The Navy's main purpose, however is detachment of individual ships to escort the shipping that makes Water prosperous. Some of the best shipwrights in the world work with the Naval Fleet of Mist.

The ships used to protect the merchant ships are Frigate class, sporting half a dozen ballistae and a number of other wielded long range weaponry (bows, and the like.) Also, the frigates are armed with 22 nine-pounder cannons. (Meaning they fire a cannonball that weighs about nine pounds.) Keep in mind that these weapons are arranged along the ship's sides, so that only half of them are actually fired with a full broadside. The crew is 160 strong, give or take. The boarding force on a Frigate consists of six 4-man squads, and one military commander whose position is different than the captain's.

The ships of the line are much bigger than the light frigates, having a second gun deck below the main deck. Also being longer, this more than doubles their armament. They are fitted with 20 ballistae and 56 guns. These are 12-pounder carronades, boasting a good deal more force than the nine-pounders. A full broadside from one of these vessels sends over 600 pounds of metal screaming into the enemy vessel. Truly a terrible force to be reckoned with. The crew complement s enormous, generally over 300 men serve on one of these vessels.

Also in service are a few small sloops of war. These are mounted with 12 nine-pounders and no ballistae. The full crew complement is 80, though generally sloops are given a few under that number. Generally, shinobi are not stationed aboard these ships, due to their relative unimportance in the Navy and uselessness as ships from which to stage a boarding action. They serve as supplement vessels to the fleet, providing quick and light spare ships in a sea battle, which can be a decisive factor.

The cannons found on the naval fleet are not the typical cannons found in real-time history. These are cannons that were designed by the Engineering researchers, and are weapons that are powered by steam and chakra. In essence, the cannons are elaborate metal tubes with dozens of seals engraved into the iron of the cannon. One end has an opening, the other has a large metal container in which the cannonballs are loaded. The cannons are then activated with a single touch, which uses stored up chakra within the seals to manipulate the water in the sea and air to transform into steam within the container. The steam instantly pressurizes and explodes, sending the cannonballs flying out with the same speed and strength as a normal cannon would. In all essence, they are one and the same, except one is powered by gunpowder and the other by steam.
Hidden Mist Divisions

The divisions in Hidden Mist are fairly simple and can be found in the following post. In short, upon graduation from the Academy, all Genin are placed into the standard three-man cells under the tutelage of a Chuunin or Jounin. When all Genin are successfully promoted to Chuunin, they can either apply to the Medical Corps or the Mist Law Enforcement Agency, or they can go straight to the Navy. All rejected applicants (there are many) to the Corps or the Agency are sent to the Navy. All Chuunin and Jounin are a part of the Navy, although they can be given special permission to stay on land to teach a Genin team.

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