Tengoku

The shining jewel of the orient, Tengoku is the capital city of Kōryō. Located at the heart of Kōryō, Tengoku is a shining jewel of beauty, wealth, and culture. Here, the cherry blossom trees are always in full bloom, painting a vibrantly beautiful picture of serenity and calmness. Canals and waterways cut through the city streets and the Imperial Samurai patrol the streets and maintain order. Additionally, a multitude of public parks are scattered throughout the city for recreational use.
The multi-tiered white marble palace of the ruling Saint is located at the center of the city and its many gardens are often open for public use. A number of smaller, wild Yokai have made these gardens their home. The members of Tao-Ren's Queensguard also reside here with the exception of Musashibo Benkei who has a domicile in the residential district.
Following Tengoku's reconstruction after the end of the Second Great Yokai War, a memorial wall was erected between the palace and the samurai barracks; the names of the brave fallen who gave their lives are etched into the black marble, the most notable being: Himuro Raishin the former captain of the Imperial Samurai, Nozomi and Saki of the Kita-Yama Kitsune, Rokurogan Chidori of Abe no Seimei, Ami the Jorogumo, the young ranger Katsuhiko Banshou, Tsutaya Soushi the former captain of the Dessert City Miketsukami's samurai, the great Kyuubi Asuramaru, Azekura the Raiju and guardian spirit of Abe no Seimei, and Vuzath Zadarath of Abe no Seimei.

Demographics

Tengoku's population is largely comprised of native middle-class shop owners, workers, and samurai. The few upper class citizens are mostly shop owners and retired adventurers. The majority of the population is human, with domesticated Yokai and Ayakashi following close behind.
Before the Fall of Babylon and the Second Great Yokai War, foreigners were few and far between in Tengoku, let alone in Kōryō as a whole. However, after the War ended and the isolationist policy was lifted, Tengoku has seen an influx of foreign tourists and adventurers who have flocked to the orient seeking the safety Tao-Ren's presence offers.

Government

Unlike the other Cities in Kōryō, Tengoku has no Daimyo to govern it. Instead, the ruling Saint is responsible for maintaining order not only in Tengoku, but throughout all of Kōryō. The methods used to reach these ends are largely dependent on the ruling Saint. Saiha favored a more hands-on approach, choosing to personally involve himself in matters at all levels of society whenever he could. In contrast, the younger, more headstrong Tao-Ren seems to favor a less involved method, choosing to delegate most of the work to trusted advisers and friends while she tends to more pressing matters at the global scale.

Defences

Tengoku's greatest defense is the presence of the ruling Saint, with the Saint them-self acting as a deterrent for any malicious force. Few are brave (or stupid) enough to consider assaulting the capital of Kōryō when one of the Ten Saints of Babylon dwells within its marble walls. Admittedly, this deterrent was stronger while the Tochigami Asuramaru was still alive. Aside from its high marble walls, Tengoku is protected by the Imperial Samurai captained by Kusunoki Masahige. The samurai are usually more than enough to deal with most threats to the city but should the need arise Tao-Ren's Queensguard will lend them their aid. In times of even greater need, the resident adventurers and Yokai are more than willing to raise their swords in defense of their city.

Assets

North Ward

As the capital of Kōryō, Tengoku boasts an incredible number of shops and businesses, so much so that the entire Northern Ward of the city has become known as the "Shopping District". Notable shops include:

• Tsukihanami/Moonlit Flower Viewing (run jointly by Mizuhara Rei and Mori Ayaka)
A rustic magic emporium specializing in Ofuda crafted by Rei and other strange, experimental oddities curated and collected by the powerful and cunning Ayaka.

• Little Amon-Ra (run by Pietdidro Galiasta, the Prince of Thieves of Amon-Ra)
A shop selling foreign goods and magical items from Pietdidro's home country of Amon-Ra. Pietdidro also offers a service that involves permanently strengthening an individual through the use of magical gemstone tattoos. This service is particularly popular with foreign adventurers.

• Phylarmina's Potion Palace (run by Phylarmina Pantilier)
A new addition to the North Ward following the end of the Second Great Yokai War. Phylarmina sells hard to get potions and caters mainly to the foreign demographic.

• Homura-Dama/Burning Soul (run by Shien Kakuzu)
Homura-Dama is the premier smithy of Tengoku and provides high quality weapons and armor to the Imperial Samurai. The Master Smith Kakuzu is gruff and irritable but will go to great lengths to provide quality equipment to his customers. He is aided by a number of apprentices as well as an Ishi-Ningen (rock person) named Larry.

South Ward

The south ward of Tengoku is the residential district. The title speaks for itself. Inns and restaurants as well as the Pit colosseum can be found here. Notable establishments:

• The Prancing Pony Inn
A small, homely inn run by a middle-aged man named Negi. The establishment is popular with foreigners because Negi has a decent grasp of the Common tongue.

• Fresh Catch Sushi
Considered by many to be the best sushi restaurant in Tengoku. The owner chef Murasaki was born in Taki-Hoshi and only uses ingredients sourced from the O-Mizu. Murasaki trained in Taki-Hoshi until travelling to Tengoku at the age of 19 to make it big. It has the distinction of being Tao-Ren's favorite restaurant in the city.

East Ward

The East Ward is home to the less savory facets of Tengoku, including Izakaya, gambling parlors, geisha brothels, and even the whispered base of operations of the Arashi gang. The East Ward is fairly quiet during the day, but once the sun sets it comes to life in a haze of red lanterns, lust, and cloak and dagger activity. Most of the Imperial Samurai's work is done here. Notable establishments:

• Pleasure Plum Parlor (run by twin sisters Makie and Chirie)
The highest rated brothel in Tengoku. After repeated attempts by the late Samurai Captain Himuro Raishin to close it, the owners Makie and Chirie have adopted the front of a geisha entertainment parlor, with "special" services available after dark and only to those who know the secret passphrase.

• Izakaya Midori (run by an elderly Kappa named Midori)
Home to the locally famous "Midori Sake Brew", this all you can drink Izakaya is a popular place to kick back and relax after a hard days work. And if you're feeling particularly lucky, the basement also doubles as a gambling parlor.

West Ward

The West Ward is the Temple District, home to shrine maidens, priests, Onmyouji, and anyone else who is pursuing a more serene life steeped in nature and tranquility. Though its inhabitant perished during the Second Great Yokai War, the Tochigami Shrine to the great Kyuubi Asuramaru is located here and kept in pristine condition in his honor. Those suffering from any malady or ailment can be cured by the practicing shrine maidens and monks (for a price, of course).

Guilds and Factions

The Imperial Samurai

Tengoku's samurai make up it's main punitive and military force. They are responsible for keeping the peace and making sure the city's gears run smoothly. Though not as battle-hardened as the samurai of the Dessert Cities, Tengoku's samurai are still a force to be reckoned with. Their armor is follows the same color scheme as the ruling Saint. Presently, it is lilac and gold. Notable individuals:

• Current Captain: Kusunoki Masahige
• Second in Command (Deceased): Hiraoka Michio
• Former Captain (Deceased): Himuro Raishin
• Former Captain: Sanada Yukimura
• Former Second in Command (Deceased): Yanagida Buto
• Former Quartermaster (Deceased): Yanagida Himura

The Queensguard

Following the defeat of the Yonkishi and Tao-Ren's ascendancy to Saint of Falling Flowers, Musashibo Benkei took it upon himself to put together an elite group of individuals dedicated to protecting and watching over the young Saint as she grows into her position. The Queensguard operate under a different jurisdiction than the samurai and can be recognized by their unique lilac and white armor. Their crest depicts each members weapon over Tao-Ren's falling cherry blossoms. Current members:

• Noda Shoraku- An Onmyouji who specializes in restorative magics, Shoraku was an acquaintance of Benkei’s from Abe no Seimei. Shoraku takes his job the most seriously out of everyone in the Queensguard and is often teased by the other members for his solemn and serious nature.
• Umezawa Iho- The only Yokai among the Queensgaurd. Iho is a kage-onna whose specialties include stealth and discretion. She’s introverted by nature but still willing to have fun if she feels comfortable. She has an uncanny talent for silently appearing behind people and takes great pride in her collection of straight-razors.
• Omura Suzume- A seductive elf monk with the important role of acting as Tao-Ren's body double. Before being recruited, Suzume led a sultry life using her body to achieve her personal goals. Suzume is the newest member of the Queensguard and is least trusted due to her blase' personality and sexual promiscuity (particularly by the straight-laced Masahige).

Yubara

Yubara is a radical anti-Yokai group that opposes the cohabitation of humans and Yokai. They believe that all Yokai should return to living in the wild where they'll be free to give in to their base and primal urges. They cite the fact that Yokai are man-eaters by nature as the primary reason for their distrust of them. The events leading to/during the Second Great Yokai War further incited their rhetoric and many across Kōryō began to reevaluate their beliefs. Luckily, after assuming his post as Captain of Tengoku's samurai, Sanada Yukimura was able to talk most of them down and they have yet to cause any major problems since that day.

History

Creation

Tengoku was cultivated and founded during the Age of Gods approximately around 10 AB (After Babylon) by the first Saint of Kōryō: Saiha el-Ryugamine, The Saint of Tranquility. Saiha was a kind, peace-loving man. A just ruler, he was respected and admired by peasant and noble alike. In addition to ruling over Kōryō, Saiha also pioneered the art of Onmyoudo and was the first person to form an Ayakashi bond with the native Yokai. Under Saiha's guidance, Tengoku became the first major settlement in Kōryō to establish friendly relations with the Yokai.

The Second Great Yokai War

The Fall of Babylon in 1353 AB marked two monumental events forever engraved into Ormodinia's history. First, the end of the Age of Gods and the beginning of the Age of Chaos. Second, it marked the beginning of the Second Great Yokai War. Following Saiha's death during Heaven's Fall in 1353 AB, the three revived members of the Yonkishi seized the opportunity and assaulted the city along with their many Disciples. With Saiha gone they devastated the city, took the weakened Tao-Ren hostage and succeeded in killing Asuramaru, freeing Mugen from his seal and heralding the opening to another Yokai War. Tengoku was left a ruined shadow of its former self, home to Mugen and his Disciples. The eternally blooming cherry blossoms blackened and withered as the city succumbed.

The Siege of Tengoku

In a poetic turn of events, Tengoku was the site of the final battle of the Second Great Yokai War. After months of planning and preparation, the resistance made up of the allied forces of Abe no Seimei's Onmyouji, the samurai of Miketsukami, Yokai forces from the Grindstones and Kita-Yama, and the Twilight Enclave assaulted the city in a last-ditch effort to seal Mugen away once and for all. Outmatched in numbers and fighting power, the battle hinged on how long the resistance could hold out against superior foes until the strike-force was able to seal Mugen away. This strike-force was comprised of Sanada Yukimura, Musashibo Benkei, Vuzath Zadarath, Captain Himuro Raishin, Kugayama Kenzo the Master of the Wild of the Twilight Enclave, and the travelling bard Ameno Yuuna. After a brutal combat in which Raishin and Vuzath were killed, Mugen was successfully sealed away for a second time and Tengoku was reclaimed by its rightful owner.

Reconstruction

It took a full two years for Tengoku to make a complete recovery even with combined aid from the cities of Taki-Hoshi, Miketsukami, and Byakuroku in the form of funds, supplies and workers. Once his shop Little Amon-Ra was secured, Pietdidro Galiasta turned all of his stored wealth over to the city to use as funds for construction. In 1355 AB, the second year of the Age of Chaos, the reconstruction was completed. The palace once again stands tall, a beacon of white marble that speaks proudly of the hardships it's overcome. But there are still visible scars left from the war. Faint cracks in the streets, odd discolorations and smudges on the walls. And of course, the newly erected memorial wall.

Geography

Tengoku is surrounded by lush grasslands and verdant fields and is located at the the intersection of the Azuma Triangle and the Azuma South roads. Streams flowing south-east from the O-Mizu have been manually diverted to feed into the canals that flow throughout the city. The rocky Grindstones are about two weeks travel to the North and the treacherous swamplands of the Numa are half a month's ride to the East.

"You pass through the gates and enter the city. The city is positively vibrating with life. The voices of street vendors, laughing children, angry parents, and Samurai attempting to break up street fights fill the air. There are cherry blossom trees everywhere; the gentle breeze scatters loose petals along the streets and into the air, accompanied by the wafting scent of exotic foods. You see Ayakashi floating along behind their masters and tending to shops. In the distance, you can see a large white palace that towers over the rest of the city."
-Before the Fall, Chapter 2: Tengoku

City Crest: Tengoku's city crest is the same as the ruling Saint's. At present, it is an image of cherry blossoms falling from a branch.

Alternative Name(s)

The City where the Cherry Blossoms are Always in Full Bloom

Type

Capital

Owner/Ruler

Tao-Ren el-Nagaoka

"My friends…my comrades. These past few months we have all struggled to survive, grasping for any semblance of our past lives. And I would not be standing here before you if you did not have the strength to persevere through the darkness... We remember Saiha-sama and everything he did to make Kōryō a better place for us. For ALL of us. We remember Asuramaru-sama. We remember Azekura-sama. We remember the ones we lost, and the ones lucky enough to still be with us. We remember Tengoku, and we remember Kōryō as it was before the Yonkishi... And I say now with all of you here as witnesses, that I, Tao-Ren el-Nagaoka fully intend to carry on in Saiha-sama's footsteps. As the Saint of Kōryō and as protector and friend to any and all who would call this land home. But I am still young and inexperienced. And I will need to surround myself with good friends and advisers. Will you lend me your strength?"
-Tao-Ren to the survivors of the Siege of Tengoku, Before the Fall, Chapter 13: Mugen the Death