Miketsukami

Miketsukami is the second of the Three Great Desert Cities and is home to the Crimson Guard, the most powerful samurai force of any city in Kōryō. Its close proximity to the vast expanse of the Sabaku and the indigenous Si Xiong nomads has necessitated a harsher, gruffer attitude from its citizens and leaders. Like Byakuroku, Miketsukami is regarded as a military city and offers little else in terms of aesthetic beauty or tourist attraction.
The Daimyo estate is a plain brown color accented with silver leafing with the samurai barracks located past the courtyard within the estate itself. The courtyard itself is serviceable enough and is lined with carefully trimmed shrubbery, a well stocked koi pond, and a central fountain. Miketsukami's Daimyo is unique in that the title is not passed down through the family line. Instead, the title can be earned by anyone who demonstrates sufficient military and political aptitude.
The current Daimyo is Miyamoto Suzuha , the younger sister of the previous Daimyo Miyamoto Musashi. After Musashi was murdered by Sanada Yukimura, one of his own samurai, Suzuha resolved herself to avenge her brothers death and rose through the ranks at an incredible speed to arrive at her current position. At present, she is the second youngest Daimyo at the age of 25. She is a master of Iaijutsu and combines her knowledge of magic with her deadly swordplay when she fights.

Demographics

Miketsukami's population is made up almost entirely of lower-middle class humans/humanoids. Being a military city, Miketsukami has no upper class or nobility to speak of (sans the Daimyo). There is simply no reason for any well-to-do family or individual to settle down in this harsh desert city.
Yokai are present in the city but they are often viewed as nothing more than tools to bolster Miketsukami's military might, something that former Daimyo's Miyamoto Musashi and Kusaka Soujiro of Byakuroku experimented with. Any foreigners passing through the city rarely stay longer than a fortnight and often sarcastically refer to Miketsukami as "a Desert Paradise".

Government

Like most other cities in Kōryō, Miketsukami's Daimyo holds supreme authority within their city and surrounding province and answers only to the ruling Saint. The stringent lifestyle of the city is only exacerbated by Suzuha's zero tolerance "might makes right" policy. Under her strict oversight, Miketsukami's military has flourished and the success rates of expeditions to map the Sabaku have more than doubled. Like most Daimyo, Suzuha had a cabinet of advisers to assist her with her duties when she first took office. However, many of them plotted to turn what they thought was a naive young girl into a puppet ruler and exploit her for their personal gain. When Suzuha learned of their plot, she sent them on a "diplomatic" mission to the Si Xiong city of Tao-Tei. When they failed to return, she sent a party of samurai out to retrieve them. She gave what was left of them a proper burial before dissolving her cabinet and shouldering the burdens of the city herself.

Austere though she may be, Suzuha still cares for her people and makes it publicly known that any who disapprove of her or their life within the city are more than free to leave, even offering fully stocked ration packs to any who would brave the Azuma Road. Though dissenters certainly exist, none of Miketsukami's citizens can deny that Suzuha's power is what holds the city together. Even the skulking thieves and vagabonds who infest the slums have a grudging respect for the young Daimyo. It may not be the most glamorous way of life but Suzuha's power keeps them safe and the people take an odd sense of pride in that fact.

Defences

Miketsukami is a walled city with several scouting towers located around its perimeter. The wall is several feet thick and hewn from heavy sandstone blocks. Needless to say, the samurai Miketsukami is so well known for have been hardened by both battle and the desert. These warriors are more than a match for the wild beasts, Yokai, and occasional Si Xiong bandit group that would threaten the city. Should the situation necessitate more drastic measures the Elite Samurai along with Suzuha herself are more than capable of joining a fight to defend the city.

Assets

Aside from its military prowess, Miketsukami is quite an unremarkable city. With the Daimyo estate at its heart the rest of the city seems to have grown around it. Businesses and practices that cater to the samurai and to those with more militant interests are clustered tightly around the estate while residential blocks, slums, general stores and eateries are scattered throughout the drab streets. Notable establishments:

• Oni no Hanzo/Hanzo the Demon- (run by Hattori Hanzo)
The one and only smithy in all of Miketsukami. Hattori Hanzo is a Master Smith who specializes in bladed weaponry. He is widely regarded by samurai and blacksmith alike to be the unrivaled master of crafting katanas with the sharpest edges. He is said to be the only smith currently capable of folding steel 1000 times.

• Tawawa- (run by Kinjo Erina)
A small Ofuda shop that mostly sells healing Ofuda to the samurai. Erina is an elderly woman who spends most of her day crafting Ofuda with her daughter Amane.

• Desert Gold- (run by Mizuho Ginko)
The closest thing Miketsukami has to a souvenir shop. Ginko is a portly gnome who sells valuable trinkets, jewelry, and the occasional magic item to anyone who happens to have enough coin. How he stays in business is a mystery. There are rumors that Suzuha lets him stick around because she thinks he'll bring in more tourists. It doesn't seem to be working.

Guilds and Factions

The Crimson Guard

Miketsukami's samurai are touted as the most well-trained, battle-hardened troops in all of Kōryō. The city's position on the fringe of the Sabaku and between Byakuroku and Feng-Nao have spurred many of its Damiyo to invest more heavily in their military force. Their armor is red and black. Until his death at the hands of Galbatorix Arazaleus following the March of the StarCrossed in 1353 AB, the captain of the the Crimson Guard was Soushi Tsutaya. Hidehisa Toyotomi was promoted to replace him, but he too lost his life protecting Suzuha during the Battle of the Grindstones. Suzuha has not appointed a new captain since then. Notable individuals:

• Former Captain (Deceased): Tsutaya Soushi
• Former Captain (Deceased): Hisahide Toyotomi

The Elite Samurai

Samurai with extraordinary skill are eligible to be promoted to the Daimyo's personal unit. The Elite Samurai have quarters within the Daimyo's palace and act as the Daimyo's bodyguards and also as their special task force for select missions. The Captain of the Crimson Guard is chosen from among the Elite Samurai. Notable individuals:

• Former Member: Miyamoto Suzuha
• Former Member: Sanada Yukimura
• Former Member (Deceased): Tsutaya Soushi
• Former Member (Deceased): Hisahide Toyotomi.

History

Creation

Like Byakuroku, Miketsukami's roots stem from the nomadic Si Xiong. In 50 AB a tribe of these desert wanderers settled down outside the Sabaku and were joined over time by more indigenous. Over the years the settlement became known as a trading outpost and began attracting the attention of travelers from the northern cities and villages. Eventually, it grew large enough to be recognized as a city and in 117 AB Saiha named the city Miketsukami and named Giongawa Zenosuke its first Daimyo.

March of the StarCrossed

After the ronin Sanada Yukimura and his companions Conradus and Nozomi appeared in the city in 1353 AB, Suzuha imprisoned them and began investigating their claims that the city was connected to a jail located in the Glimmer by way of teleportation sigil. Yukimura and his companions claimed that half-man, half-Yokai abominations created by the former Daimyo Miyamoto Musashi had overrun the jail and threatened to overrun Miketsukami itself. Those fears were soon realized when a small army of the "StarCrossed" used the teleportation sigil to appear in the Daimyo estate and wreak havoc. Yukimura and his companions along with Suzuha and her samurai were able to beat the invading creatures back with minimal casualties.

Galbatorix and Agony

The morning after the StarCrossed attack, Tsutaya Soushi was discovered murdered in his home. The culprit was one of the The Twelve Apostles of the Church of Bane, a half-orc named Galbatorix who had come to Kōryō in search of Conradus. Combat broke out with Galbatorix and his men, though he was eventually forced to retreat by calling for Agony, his green dragon companion. With portions of the city devastated by the back-to-back attacks, Suzuha banished Yukimura and his companions from the city.

Agito the Famine

After the beginning of the Second Great Yokai War and the fall of Tengoku in 1353 AB, Miketsukami was the first city to join forces with the resistance gathering at Abe no Seimei. Once Mugen was freed, the Yonkishi split up and began conquering each of the major cities throughout Kōryō with Agito choosing to go south. Agito personally appeared before Suzuha and pleaded with her to evacuate her city, warning her what would happen if she did not comply. After delivering his warning Agito chose to wait in the desert, giving Suzuha until the very last moment to make up her mind. Members of the resistance including Pietdidro Galiasta, Mori Ayaka, Mizuhara Rei, and Mumei attempted to negotiate with him, but he politely declined. In the end, another team comprised of Sanada Yukimura, Vuzath Zadarath, Musashibo Benkei, Himuro Raishin, and Ameno Yuuna were forced into battle with him. The fight was long and brutal, resulting in Vuzath and Yukimura's temporary deaths. However, they were eventually able to defeat him and earn his respect.

Geography

Miketsukami is about an hour hike away from the Sabaku. Though the city walls keep most of the sand and harsh winds out, the angry desert storms still batter the city frequently enough to necessitate monthly examinations of the wall's structural integrity.

"Miketsukami is different from every other village or city you’ve been to. To combat the harsher desert weather, its buildings have been constructed from stone and clay as opposed to wood. Banners flying the crest of Miketsukami (two katanas crossed over the rising sun) are affixed to most structures, flapping lazily in the dry desert wind. The looming Daimyo estate stands at the center of the city. Though vendors and other merchants hawk their wares through the streets, they do so in a more conservative manner than in Hayakawa or Tengoku. You still see Yokai walking about, but far fewer than in Tengoku. The overall ambiance of Miketsukami is darker and more somber. Everyone seems to watch you and you can’t seem to shake the feeling that their gazes are following you as you walk past."
-Before the Fall, Chapter 4: Kyotouryu

City Crest: Two katanas crossed over the rising sun

Alternative Name(s)

The Desert Paradise

Type

City

Owner/Ruler

Miyamoto Suzuha

"So...I guess we're just going to sit in jail."
-Conradus Stonero, Before the Fall, Chapter 4: Kyotouryu

“The Yukimura-senpai I know wouldn’t have stuck around after he’d killed someone. He would have turned tail and fled like the coward he is. Like he did when he killed my brother. How long I’ve waited to pass judgement on you, Yukimura-senpai... DON’T YOU DARE SPEAK HIS NAME! You have no right to utter my brother’s name. You sully his memory just by thinking about him.” -Miyamoto Suzuha to Sanada Yukimura, Before the Fall, Chapter 4: Kyotouryu

“…First my brother…then you…and now Soushi. Why is it that you bring death with you wherever you go? Why is it that everyone I care for keeps leaving me? All I do is lose what I hold most dear. When will it end? You are a blight upon this city, Sanada Yukimura. A blight that devours happiness and leaves nothing but despair in its wake. Go. Take your companions and leave this city. I’ll allow you to stay the night out of respect for Soushi, but I want you gone before the sun rises. I don’t ever want to see your face in Miketsukami again.”
-Miyamoto Suzuha to Sanada Yukimura, Before the Fall, Chapter 4: Kyotouryu

"Did you know? They say that when two swordsman of are of a high enough caliber, they're able to know each other's thoughts with no more than an exchange of blows. Let's see, Yukimura-senpai. Can you tell what's on my mind? ... I'm glad I learned your true feelings. It makes it easier to forgive myself for everything I've put you through. I've already forgiven you." -Miyamoto Suzuha to Sanada Yukimura, Before the Fall, Chapter 16: Onslaught of the Apostles