Shuyuri

*Note: Excerpt taken from Scholar Pechin entry - Shuyuri
The primary seat of the Ryukyuri Kingdom, Shuyuri has had as much court controversy as any other kingdom. From Mad King Thomas to His Gentle Spirit Uehara, each evolution of the kingdom has been successful in its own way.
Geography - down the center of the main island runs a meandering, undulating ridgeline. A road runs along this ridgeline with off shoots down to various points along the way and assists with the carrying of messages and trade goods to all ends of the island. While many supplies come in from the surrounding islands, there are local agricultural goods produced of varying qualities that are shared using this road. It is said that on the Ryukyuri Road, you never travel alone.
At the southern end of this road stands Shuyuri castle, a red castle of immense beauty. Shuyuri castle is where the taxes are collected and assessed, decrees are passed and meetings with foreign representatives take place. The unique part about all of this is its openness. The castle is open at all times and is known to shelter those in need in times of war or economic strife. More than anything, Shuyuri represents the strength and spirit of the kingdom.
This castle is not designed in the manner known to many other cultures and as such is deceptive when invading armies come to attempt to assert their will on the kingdom.
I describe it as open at all times, and you might imagine a door with dusty blocks holding it open, but this is not the case. Within the structure is central pillar composed of a singular tree trunk. Many scholars wonder where this tree trunk could have come from as there are no known trees of comparable size anywhere in the kingdom, and as some records of the original building have been...'destroyed' scholars still speculate on how it came to be here. This single pillar standing in the center of the castle structure holds a red tiled roof that is comprised of eight sections over a flat configuration of stone slabs. These stone slabs that make up the floor of the Shuyuri Castle are cut from the natural stone found at various locations throughout the kingdom and were brought here to be used as a floor. Using stones from all over the kingdoms to place as floor stones signifies the strength of the kingdom and represents the unity and oneness that the kingdom wishes to instill in its people.
From the central pillar, the roof descends to mid-thigh level on a normal sized human. this allows protection from the elements initially, especially when typhoons are prevalent. but in a tropical climate, this can get quite stuffy and humid on days where the trade winds are not participating, or gently flowing in the wrong direction for the day. at two different levels along the inside roof, long poles allow for the opening of ports and help to create cross currents drawing air from the cool ground up to the roof and out of the building.
But as I mentioned typhoons, the worst of which was Toshi1012, there are doors that can be placed along the bottom of the structure. These doors can be slid down into slots in the stonework and are secure against even the strongest of winds. They can of course also be placed to assist with air flow and natural air conditioning when the Shuyuri Wind Masters are present, which they generally always are, but even Masters need a day off from time to time to attend festivals, check on other castles within the kingdom or attend to the birth of a child. When a Wind Master arrives at a child's birth, it can cause quite a stir. Their arrival is only known by there wind Master after they have been contacted by Kanamefuri or Amamihabuchi to point out an baby who if they mature, may be a future Wind Master if they survive the trials.
I have spent a great deal of time describing the castle and no time describing the city that surrounds it!! While you would imagine a great sprawling metropolis around this castle given its significant historical importance, there is actually only a few blocks of settlement nearby mostly to support operations of the castle itself. The king and queen actually don't live here!!
Most of the kingdom's inhabitants reside near the sea or have small agricultural fields in the surrounding areas. In fact, when standing on the ridge where Shuyuri castle is situated and gazing in various cardinal directions, you will witness distinct "snapshots" of the kingdom's diverse landscape. Looking to the south, there are expansive fields of sugarcane and rice, while the eastern and western views provide views of bustling sea ports engaged in maritime trade. As you walk and look northward, a thick blanket of foliage conceals the nearby artisans and their creative endeavors that are used for trade and locally consumed.

Government

Kingdom

Industry & Trade

Sugar, Salt, Fishing, Pottery, Silk, Lacquerware, Sunshine

Districts

Agricultural Ward, Sea Trade Ward, Artesian Ward, Knowledge Ward

Architecture

Walls of stone or wood. Roofs are typically heavy tiles to avoid damage during typhoon seasons.

Geography

Immediate area, end of long ridgeline with surrounding rolling hills that can sometimes be steep

Climate

Summer - Tropical, humid Winter - Cold, humid

Natural Resources

Sunshine Rain

Founding Date

unknown

Type

Capital