MINPŌ 民法
CIVIL LAW
1. This Constitution is executory throughout the entirety of the Koyo-Kuni Shugonate, formally referred to as “the Stratocracy”, “the Shugonate” or “The State” by the will of the Shugo.
2. This Constitution shall take effect in every part of the Shugonate, from the moment at which the publication shall be known to The State.
3. This Constitution shall speak only for future events; it imposes no weight to events already passed.
4. This Constitution, deferring to the way of Heaven, shall recognize Nichi-Jin as the formal State Religion.
DAI ICHI-HEN | HITO NI KANSURU 人に関する
BOOK OF PERSONS
第一章 | ON SHIMIN STATUS
1. Shimin 市民 [G. Citizens] constitute every individual born or naturalized of Koyo-Kuni who reside within, have declared their intention to remain within, and who vow to uphold the expectations of the Shugonate.
3. Gaijin 外人 [G. Foreigners] who have been permitted by the government to establish their residence in the Shugonate shall enjoy in the country all rights permitted so long as they shall continue to reside there.
4. A Gaijin who bears no residence within the Shugonate shall be subject to the Laws and Regulations of the State, and therefore may be tried and sentenced for violations thereof lest granted exception by lawful treaty.
第二章 | ON THE LOSS OF SHIMIN STATUS
6. The quality of being Shimin shall be lost:
6.1. By the naturalization in a foreign country;
6.2. By accepting, without the explicit dispensation of the Shugo, employments bestowed by a foreign power;
6.3. A citizen who, without the explicit dispensation of the Shugo, engages in any sort of military service with a foreign power, or enlists himself in foreign military endeavors;
6.4. They shall not be permitted to re-enter the Shugonate without the affirmation of the State, nor to recover their citizenship for as long as they may live, unless by direct intervention of the Shugo.
第三章 | ON THE DUTIES OF SHIMIN
1. Shimin shall maintain a state of total allegiance to the Shugonate and shall refrain from engaging in conspiracy against the state nor extend succor to its enemies.
2. Shimin shall maintain a state of readiness to take up arms in defense of the Shugonate and repel threats, be they invaders, insurrectionists or unnatural forces.
3. Shimin shall maintain Social Harmony in accordance with the Way of Heaven and Filial Piety, and contribute towards the stability of the Realm.
3.1. Laws of the State are to be obeyed without question. Orders levied by the Shugo, Samurai or any relevant authority shall be respected and executed within a timely fashion.
4. Shimin shall abstain from partaking in Immoral Traditions, forbidden magicks, and unlawful associations.
4.1. Immoral Traditions are defined as faiths and practices which decay the moral harmony of society, or which adhere to tenants set out by, or espouse loyalty to: Daemons, Infernal Beings, Drakaars, Xionist Lords, Necrotics, Voidal Entities and any number of Yokai.
4.2. The practice of illicit magicks, or the associations with yokai and enemies of the state, shall subject Shimin to the loss of status and immediate termination.
5. Shimin shall uphold all oaths and pledges, and adhere to the terms of agreements and other contracts before their fellow citizens and the State.
第四章 | ON THE RIGHTS OF SHIMIN
1. Shimin shall enjoy the right to life, and shall be protected against unlawful harassment and execution.
1.1. The deprivation of life shall not be unjustly administered, save for due legal process or by means of Kirisute Gomen 斬捨御免 [See: On The Rights of the Samurai].
2. Shimin shall enjoy the right to self-defense, adherent to the Non Aggression Principle, provided that such an action does not interfere with or oppose the administration of justice by the State.
3. Shimin shall enjoy the right to bear arms within the territory of the Shugonate.
3.1. The regulation of arms shall be subject to the discretion of individual Shōya, provided that such regulations do not infringe upon this right in totality nor contradict the laws of the State.
3.2. Shimin shall be prohibited from wielding a sword in any territory subject to the direct jurisdiction of the State, lest authorized by a Samurai for the purpose of military maneuver.
4. Shimin shall enjoy the right to freedom of movement and protection from unlawful servitude.
4.1. Freedom of travel within the territory of the Shugonate shall not be infringed save for instances of necessary quarantine, or to ward against trespassing into hostile territories.
4.2. No Shimin shall be subject to forced servitude save for cases of official conscription for the defense of the State, aggressive retaliation, or by means of penal remedy.
5. Shimin shall enjoy the right to practice religion and worship freely, provided that such practices are not adherent to Immoral Traditions and do not violate the laws of the State.
5.1. The establishment of temples, shrines and other centers of worship shall be subject to approval by Shōya, and shall not be prohibited without just cause.
6. Shimin shall enjoy the right to a trial before a duly appointed Court of the Shōya or State, wherein the accused may secure legal representation of their choosing.
6.1. Legal Representation must attend within a reasonable timeframe, to the discretion of the Court.
6.2. Failure to procure representation, or the waiving thereof, shall result in the self-representation of the Shimin.
7. Shimin shall enjoy the right to self-termination in the pursuit of personal mercy, redemption, or inability to meet the justice of the Shugo.
7.1. Acts of self-termination shall not absolve outstanding debts, filial obligations, or criminal culpability lest explicitly pardoned by the presiding authority.
7.2. Where self-termination is deemed as a remedy for failure, disgrace or criminal transgression, the methodology shall default to the practice of Seppuku 切腹 [G. Ritual Disembowelment] and shall require the presence of a Kaishakunin 代剖人 [G. Second] to ensure the dignity of the act.
DAI NI-HEN | SHŌYA NI KANSURU 庄屋に関する
BOOK OF LANDLORDS
第一章 | ON SHŌYA STATUS
1. Shōya 庄屋 [G. Village Headmen] constitute the recognized and appointed stewards of the Shugo’s territory, who govern representative settlements in accordance with the laws and traditions of the Shugonate.
1.1. All lands within Koyo-Kuni are the domain of the Shugo; the Shōya shall administer designated prefectures as landlords and caretakers in the name of the State.
第二章 | ON THE LOSS OF SHŌYA STATUS
1. The quality of being Shōya shall be lost:
1.1. By the loss of Shimin status;
1.2. By the continued failure to uphold the Duties of Shōya;
1.3. By instigating or otherwise tolerating dissent, insubordination or insurrection.
第三章 | ON THE DUTIES OF SHŌYA
1. Shōya shall swear total fealty to the Shugo of Koyo-Kuni, and pledge their loyalty and citizens to the wellbeing of the State.
2. Shōya shall administer with honor and virtue, and shall maintain social harmony within their settlement.
2.1. Settlement architecture shall abide with the harmony of the land, and reckless or unsightly expansion shall be abstained and, perpetrated, remedied.
2.2. Excessive instances of Immoral Traditions being practiced by the population of a Shōya may result in the repossession of territory via eviction and the loss of title.
3. Shōya shall ensure the readiness of their people to defend their homes in times of war, and to conscript and rally their citizenry as required by the State.
3.1. In the event of national emergency, Shōya shall rally their militias and stand in defense of the state and extend aid to their fellow countrymen.
4. Shōya shall pay for their prescribed tithes to the Stratocracy in a timely manner, without dispute or delay.
4.1. Excessive failure to meet financial obligations may result in the repossession of territory via eviction, and the loss of title.
5. Shōya shall surrender all matters of diplomacy to the Shugo save for trade agreements in accordance with embargo policy.
5.1. To conduct diplomacy without the sanction of the Shugo shall be deemed an act of treason.
6. Shōya shall adhere to Sankin-kōtai 参勤交代 [G. Alternative Attendance] whereby they shall present themselves at the Shugo’s court biannually for the duration of one month.
6.1. Shōya shall be accompanied by an appropriate envoy of family and guards, and shall engage in council, ceremony and feasting with the Warrior Class.
6.2. Shōya shall send their appointed successor to ward beneath a designated Samurai no earlier than their tenth year and for a duration no less than seven years.
第四章 | ON THE RIGHTS OF SHŌYA
1. Shōya shall enjoy the rights afforded to Shimin.
2. Shōya shall enjoy the right to dictate local laws, levy taxes and maintain order within their respective settlement, provided that such regulations do not violate the greater laws of the Shugonate.
2.1. Exceptions may be granted by explicit authorization by the Shugo.
3. Shōya shall enjoy the right to raise and maintain a standing warband to their discretion, with the expectation that these forces shall answer the call to war in the service of the State.
3.1. Warbands shall remain beholden to the orders of the Samurai when commanded.
4. Shōya shall enjoy the right to guaranteed protection by the State against both foreign and internal threats.
5. Shōya shall enjoy the right to request a sanctioned honor duel should they be wronged by any citizen of the State.
6. Shōya shall enjoy the right to adopt a title of their choosing, reflective of their culture and heritage.
6.1. Titles shall not assert nor imply royal standing, independence or authority exceeding the Shugo.
6.2. The State shall recognize and refer to Shōya as “Shōya”, independent of their cultural title.
DAI SAN-HEN | BUSHI NI KANSURU 武士に関する
BOOK OF SAMURAI
第一章 | ON SAMURAI STATUS
1. The Samurai 侍 and Onna-Musha 女武者 constitute the appointed enforcers of the Shugo who are tasked with the enforcement of laws, the collection of debts, and the preservation of social harmony throughout the Stratocracy.
1.1. A Samurai’s authority shall extend to the domain assigned to them by the Shugo.
2. No individual shall bear the title of Samurai without fulfilling the following conditions:
2.1. The individual must retain verifiable lineage to the blood of Oyashima, quantified by direct descent from at least one Oyashi parent;
2.2. The individual must secure sponsorship from an existing Samurai of good standing and attain majority approval by the Samurai Council to undertake the Trials of Budō;
2.3. The individual must successfully complete the Trials of Budō by means of formal apprenticeship beneath an appointed Samurai.
2.3.1. Failure to complete these trials shall render the applicant ineligible for confirmation.
2.4. Upon fulfillment of the aforementioned prerequisites, an individual must again attain formal confirmation by majority approval of the Samurai Council.
2.4.1. The Shugo and Yōshō shall retain the right to issue a veto at any point during the confirmation process. This veto is considered final, lest explicitly lifted by the Shugo or by established condition or duration.
3. The conferral of Samurai status shall be irrevocable except in cases of dishonorable conduct, abuse of power, dereliction of duty, or treason.
第二章 | ON THE DUTIES OF SAMURAI
1. Samurai shall mantle Budō and the Way of Heaven to ensure a noble and civilized demeanor.
2. Samurai shall respect and uphold the rights of both Shimin and Shōya to ensure social harmony.
3. Samurai shall serve as direct representatives of the Shugo in matters of foreign diplomacy.
3.1. Samurai are empowered to enforce treaties and contractual obligations in foreign lands.
3.2. Treaties, Agreements or Pacts negotiated independent of the Shugo shall be considered non-binding and without legal effect, and must be presented to the Samurai Council for review prior to formal ratification.
3.3. Any Samurai found to have issued or enforced unauthorized agreements, or who has been found to have disgraced the Stratocracy abroad, shall be subject to disciplinary action.
4. Samurai shall maintain a state of readiness to take up arms in defense of the Shugonate and repel threats, be they invaders, insurrectionists or unnatural forces.
第三章 | ON THE RIGHTS OF SAMURAI
1. Samurai shall enjoy the right to carry and wield a sword, symbolic to their station.
1.1. The confiscation, restriction or denial of a Samurai’s blade shall be considered an act of unlawful suppression and dishonor.
1.2. Samurai who willingly forfeit their sword shall be stripped of both title and life, for the sword bears the very essence of the Samurai.
2. Samurai shall enjoy the right of Kirisute Gomen 斬捨御免, or the ability to dispense lethal force upon beings who defy lawful commands, or who levy grievous insult towards a representative of the State.
3. Samurai shall enjoy the right to establish a formally recognized Buke 武家 [G. Warrior Clan].
3.1. Buke may only be established with a minimum composition of three Oyashi Shimin.
3.2. Buke may bear its own Kamon 家紋 [G. Crest] and exercise limited autonomy with internal affairs provided that such actions maintain loyalty and adherence to the State and its laws.
3.3. Buke may employ Rōshū 郎衆 [G. Retainers] comprised of non-Samurai warriors, bureaucrats or specialists.
3.4. Buke may establish and maintain a Bukeyashiki 武家屋敷 [G. Clan Hall] to serve as its recognized domicile and administrative center of its affairs.
3.5. The Tōshu 当主 [G. Clan Head] shall bear responsibility for the conduct of the Buke, and may be held accountable for any violation of law or dishonorable conduct levied by their Rōshū.
3.5.1. The title of Tōshu, in accordance with the “Book of Succession”, shall fall unto the Buke’s founder and subsequent appointed and natural heirs.
第四章 | ON THE YŌBUSHIDAN
1. The Warrior Class shall be organized beneath the Yōbushidan 陽武士団 [G. Warband of the Sunlit Samurai], and shall adopt Machiman as their greater patron Kami.
2. The Yōbushidan shall be commanded by an appointed Yōshō 養承 who shall enforce the Shugo’s as the supreme commander of the warband.
2.1. The Yōshō shall be appointed by the Shugo and shall serve directly to the Shugo’s discretion.
2.2. The Yōshō is empowered to issue commands, assign titles and enforce discipline within the ranks of the Yōbushidan.
3. Each Samurai shall be ascribed a distinct Irochōjū 色鳥獣, a symbolic pairing of both color and beast that shall serve as their personal mantle. The Irochōjū shall be ascribed upon the ascension to the rank of Samurai, and shall be recorded within the registry of the Yōbushidan.
第五章 | ON THE SAMURAI COUNCIL
1. The Samurai Council shall convene as the primary deliberative body of Koyo-Kuni, and is entrusted with the administration of justice, legislative review, and the ascension of Shimin to the Warrior Class.
1.1. The Samurai Council shall be convened and presided over by the Shugo, or in their absence, the Yōshō.
1.2. The Samurai Council shall require a quorum of no less than one-half of all recognized Samurai within the Warrior Class to hold a binding session.
2. The Samurai Council shall be convened at the discretion of the Shugo or Yōshō for any of the following purposes:
2.1. To receive and rule upon petitions levied by Shimin;
2.2. To deliberate upon new legislation;
2.3. To hold lawful trials for the accused;
2.4. To elevate Shimin to the status of Shōya or Samurai;
2.5. To ratify Constitutional Amendments;
2.6. To authorize a Declaration of War.
3. The Shugo, as supreme military governor, shall retain the sole authority to veto, establish and enforce laws unilaterally except in cases pertaining to:
3.1. To elevate Shimin to the status of Shōya or Samurai;
3.2. Constitutional Amendments;
3.3. Formal Declarations of War;
3.4. A vote of No Confidence.
4. The Samurai Council shall hear any petitions or grievances laid before the council, to be addressed by the presiding authority. Any ruling levied shall be rendered as a final judgement lest overturned by direct order of the Shugo.
DAI YON-HEN | SEIJI NI KANSURU 政治に関する
BOOK OF GOVERNMENT
第一章 | ON SHUGO STATUS
1. The Shugo 守護 [G. Protector] is constituted as the sovereign protector and acting head of the Stratocracy of Koyo-Kuni. The Shugo wields supreme authority over Koyo-Kuni’s territory, military and citizenry.
2. No individual shall bear the title of Shugo without fulfilling the following conditions:
2.1. The individual must retain the status of Samurai;
2.2. The individual must be nominated before the Samurai Council to succeed a previous Shugo who has experienced a loss of status;
2.2. The individual must attain formal confirmation by two-thirds approval of the entire Warrior Class;
2.2.1. In the event a super-majority cannot be attained for any individual, the two primary candidates shall engage in a duel to determine who is most fitting for the role.
2.3. The individual must take a vow of duty before the Shimin and Samurai to uphold the constitution and duties of the Shugo.
第二章 | ON THE LOSS OF SHUGO STATUS
1. The quality of being Shugo shall be lost:
1.1. By death;
1.2. By abdication;
1.3. By vote of No Confidence;
1.3.1. A vote of No Confidence is constituted as the formal issue of grievance by two-thirds of the entire Warrior Class, with the expressed intent of regime change.
第三章 | ON THE DUTIES OF THE SHUGO
1. The Shugo shall maintain the social harmony and order of the Stratocracy to ensure that the land remains secure from both internal and external threats.
2. The Shugo shall establish a governing council to assist in the administration of the State.
3. The Shugo shall levy taxes and helm mercantile efforts to expand the National Treasury.
4. The Shugo shall enact and uphold the laws of Koyo-Kuni to foster the obedience and faith of all Shimin.
5. The Shugo shall maintain a state of readiness to summon and lead the forces of the Shugonate in times of National Emergency.
6. The Shugo shall speak with the voice of the State before foreign dignitaries and shall prescribe diplomats.
7. The Shugo shall determine who shall hold the title of Shōya and who may reside within Koyo-Kuni
第四章 | ON THE GOVERNMENT OF KOYO-KUNI
1. The Government of Koyo-Kuni shall comprise a council of State Officials, tasked with governing and administering the affairs of the land in service to the Shugo. The Bureaucracy shall be based within the Capital of the Shugonate, where matters of state shall be discussed.
1.1. The Shugo retains the right to delegate, withhold, and revoke the following positions at their discretion. It is permissible that a single individual be assigned to multiple stations of government.
1.2. The Positions of Government are:
1.2.1. The Tōshi-Kan 大司鑑 [G. Overseer of the Faith];
1.2.2. The Tōshi-Metsu 大司術 [G. Overseer of the Arcane];
1.2.3. The Tōshi-Sen 大司戦 [G. Overseer of War];
1.2.4. The Tōshi-Ga 大司賀 [G. Overseer of Peace];
1.2.5. The Tōshi-Kage 大司影 [G. Overseer of Shadows];
1.2.6. The Tōshi-Setsu 大司設 [G. Overseer of Development].
第五章 | ON THE TŌSHI-KAN
1.1. The Tōshi-Kan shall serve as spiritual advisor to the Shugo and the Warrior Class on all matters pertaining to the Way of Heaven.
1.2. The Tōshi-Kan shall study philosophy, religion and ethics to offer guidance on morality, faith and spiritual wellbeing as to ensure that the laws of the land remain virtuous and just.
1.3. The Tōshi-Kan, in times of social unrest, shall act as mediator between the State and the People as to counsel and maintain social harmony.
第六章 | ON THE TŌSHI-METSU
4.1. The Tōshi-Metsu shall serve as Court Wizard and advisor to the Shugo and the Warrior Class on all matters pertaining to the supernatural and arcane forces of the World.
4.2. The Tōshi-Metsu shall study magic, divination, and celestial phenomena to offer guidance on how to handle magical anomalies or supernatural occurrences that could affect the stability of the State.
4.3. The Tōshi-Metsu, in times of mystical unrest, shall undertake immediate action to safeguard the land using their knowledge to mitigate threats.
第七章 | ON THE TŌSHI-SEN
5.1. The Tōshi-Sen shall serve as War Marshal and advisor to the Shugo and the Warrior Class on all matters pertaining to battle and armed conflict.
5.2. The Tōshi-Sen shall study strategy, maintain discipline, and procure logistics to ensure the readiness of the Shōya, the Ashigaru and the Samurai for times of war.
5.3. The Tōshi-Sen, in times of national emergency, shall rally the forces of Koyo-Kuni to suppress foreign invasion or domestic insurrection, and to offer relief to the Shōya and Shimin.
第八章 | ON THE TŌSHI-GA
6.1. The Tōshi-Ga shall serve as Chief Diplomat and advisor to the Shugo and the Warrior Class on all matters pertaining to peaceable relations and foreign treaties.
6.2. The Tōshi-Ga shall study the art of diplomacy, negotiation, and financing to ensure the optimal advantage when conducting diplomatic missions and to maintain alliances abroad.
6.3. The Tōshi-Ga, in times of foreign crisis, shall dispatch themselves to areas of uncertainty as to provide an assessment to potential threats, remedies or shifts in political climate.
第九章 | ON THE TŌSHI-KAGE
7.1. The Tōshi-Kage shall serve as Spy Master and advisor to the Shugo and the Warrior Class on all matters pertaining to espionage and investigations.
7.2. The Tōshi-Kage shall study the art of stealth, assassinations, and intelligence gathering to ensure the flow and network of information for the purposes of national interest.
7.3. The Tōshi-Kage, in times of clandestine necessity, shall deploy to enforce death warrants upon targets deemed enemies of the state or who pose a threat to valued allies.
第十章 | ON THE TŌSHI-SETSU
8.1. The Tōshi-Setsu shall serve as Interior Minister and advisor to the Shugo and the Warrior Class on all matters pertaining to construction and infrastructure.
8.2. The Tōshi-Setsu shall study architecture, agriculture, and urban planning to ensure the optimal layout and development of the country, as well as to ensure a standard of quality for all projects.
8.3. The Tōshi-Setsu, in times of essential development, shall ensure that each Tōshu is provided with space for the establishment of Bukeyashiki, and that the territories of the Shōya are linked with navigable roads.
DAI GO-HEN | KEISHŌ NI KANSURU 継承に関する
BOOK OF SUCCESSION
第一章 | ON THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR MARRIAGE
7. Persons before the age of 18 are incapable of entering full matrimony.
8. No marriage can be legally made where there is already a pre-existing marital contract between either of those betrothed.
9. No marriage can be legally made where consent has yet to be attained.
10. No marriage can be legally made without the consent of the breadwinning Parent.
10.1. In the event the Parent has perished, or is otherwise incapacitated, then the Tōshu, or any relevant figurehead, shall take up arbitration.
11. Marriage is prohibited between:
11.1. All in a direct line, such as between mother and son, or grand-parent and grand-child;
11.2. All in the collateral line, such as between brother and sister, cousins, or uncle and niece.
第二章 | ON DUTIES OF MARRIAGE
12. Two people in matrimony must pay each other fidelity, respect and the obligations necessary.
13. Each must swear faithfulness to the other.
14. Neither man, nor woman, may enter a new marriage until two Years have elapsed since the last, if it has been nullified by the relevant authorities, or one participant in the contract has deceased.
第三章 | ON SUCCESSION
15. Succession is generated by the natural death or by civil forfeiture wherein the property or titles are not assumed by the State.
16. The laws of the Shugonate regulate the order of succession between Appointed Heirs; however in the absence of such, both the property and titles in question may pass to the Natural Heirs.
16.1. Appointed Heirs are constituted as Shimin who have been endowed via a written will, affirmed by the Shugo, and who may thus inherit without regards to lineage or blood-ties. Appointed Heirs take precedence for all matters of succession.
16.2. Natural Heirs are constituted as Shimin who qualify for succession with regard to their lineage and blood ties following absolute primogeniture. In the event no will is authored, it is assumed that the Natural Heir is the Appointed Heir.
17. Lawful Heirs are afforded absolute rights of property, its claims, and the funds granted by the deceased, under the obligation that they pay any unfulfilled debts or expenses of the succession; be they the appointed heir, natural heir, or the surviving spouse.
17.1 A husband shall assume inheritance from his wife.
18. Children who are wrought out of wedlock, bar those deriving from incesutous, illegitimate and immoral means, may be legitimized as a Natural Heir by the Shugo.
19. Legitimization as a Natural Heir may take place even if a child has since deceased, and have left descendents of their own. In such a case, legitimization accrues to their own descendents.
20. When the deceased leaves no Appointed Heir capable of succeeding them, nor any Natural Heirs, the succession shall be assumed by the State.
第四章 | ON THOSE INCAPABLE OF SUCCESSION
21. A child wrought of wedlock cannot claim the rights of a Natural Heir, and therefore cannot succeed their parents in any way unless explicitly Legitimized or made the Appointed Heir
21.1 In the event of delegitimization, the Child will take on a surname befitting their prefecture and/or region.
22. Those deemed incapable of succeeding are,
22.1. They who are not yet conceived;
22.2. A child unlikely to survive past infancy;
22.3. They who have passed through civil forfeiture;
22.4. A child wrought of incestuous, illegitimate or immoral means.
23. If there is a lost or missing person among the line of succession for longer than ten years, their inheritance shall be forfeit.
24. Excluded from Successions are,
24.1. Those who have been condemned by the Shugonate for having been the direct cause of death of the now deceased, whether he were the perpetrator, the instigator, or whether they were acting as an accomplice of others;
24.2. Those conforming to Immoral Traditions or who pose a threat to social harmony. Succession will thus skip unto the next of kin who adhere to the Way of Heaven;
24.5. Those who have been convicted as traitors or enemies of the Shugonate.
Hereafter, As Decreed By:
SHUGO OJŌ-SAMA Ugokoyama Atsuko the Iron Lady, Legendary Sanbushi, Yōbushi of Machiman, Mother of the Land of the Scattered Sun and DEFENDER OF THE FARFOLK
The Law of The Flower Capital
And the lands directly under the rule of the Shugo and Stratocracy
Kaji to Kenka wa Sakuragakure no Hana
火事と喧嘩は桜隠れの里の花
Fire and Fights are the Flowers of the Village Hidden Amongst Cherry Blossoms
It is in the interest of the Stratocracy to clarify and define the Law of the Flower-Capital and lands under direct jurisdiction beneath it currently such as the Honma Rice Paddies, Crater Town, the Nanban expansions, the former Desert Province, and the Oyashi Badlands (Norowareta Mori - Cursed Forests). Holdings within the Shugonate under the governance of a Shoya shall be entitled to their own laws within the boundaries of the rights and expectations of the Shoya and Shimin per the Civil Law of the Koyo-Kuni Shugonate and considered exempt from the Law of the Flower Capital unless traveling within lands in its jurisdiction.
1. Respect those of Higher Station
Those who come to Sakura-Gakure and wantonly disrespect the Oyashi people will not be tolerated and will be subject to the samurai’s justice as seen fit by them. Any disrespect towards the clan lords or the samurai of the village will be met with extreme punishment
Amongst the Oyashi, while not strictly enforced, proper honorifics should be used in exchanges between those of higher and lower station. Disrespect through the intentional use of incorrect honorifics is subject to the discipline of the samurai.
-Sama is to be used following one’s name of higher station such as but not limited to the Shugo, the Samurai, the Tōshu, a respected elder or for one’s sensei in an apprenticeship.
-San is a more neutral/equal term to address someone of equal status to yourself, someone you are unfamiliar with or someone of a lower station but still held in respectful regard.
-Kun is an honorific for the junior individual in a conversation such as a
young male, your junior colleague in a working situation such as within a guard force or the Grub Bucket.
-Chan is a very reserved honorific carrying cute and infantile connotations and should be saved for those with close, comfortable bonds, primarily for children.
2. Samurai are the law, jury and executioners of our law.
The village is ruled by the Shugo and the warrior class representing the clans of the village. While in times of war or emergency in the absence of a samurai civilians may enforce their NAP, they are forbidden from going against the decision of the warrior class. The samurai have free reign to exercise punishment however they wish that does not break the constitution or local law of the Flower Capital.
3. Only Samurai may draw their sword.
Only the warrior class may unsheathe a sword within the Flower Capital and lands directly under the Shugo’s rule such as the surrounding Oyashi farmlands outside of the Flower Capital, the Norowareta Mori (Cursed Forests) and the port south of Crater Town. A blade must be no greater than a foot-long to be wielded by anyone not of the warrior class. The sword is a symbol of authority in the village and a weapon one must not use lightly unless they are prepared for the repercussions that come with taking a life. All katana bearers will be issued a license by the Shugo with his expressed blessing and validation of their status as a member of the warrior class in the Land of the Scattered Sun.
Non-warrior class may wield spears and polearms such as the naginata, blunt weapons and range armaments in order to defend their lives and NAP. Blades that are less than a foot long are allowed to be wielded by the non-warrior class.
Exemptions may be allowed for foreign warriors whom are friends of the Stratocracy and hold the equivalency of warrior rights in their home of origin (i.e knight) or in times of emergency.
4. No Yokai or Kaibatsu
All monstrosities and creature anomalies of nefarious origins and secret dark magic cults are considered illegal within the Flower Capital and will be subject to execution from the samurai or their delegated executioners.
5. No Rogue Constructs or Rogue Artificial Intelligence
Constructs unconnected to an obedience vessel or not under the fealty of a Shimin shall be considered rogue and unwelcomed within the Flower Capital such as rogue automatons, homunculi and atronachs. It is noted that soulful sorvians are not considered rogue constructs and shall be subject to the law akin to a descendant.
6. Gaijin cannot own property or spit on the ground.
All property (houses, shops and stalls) within the Flower Capital is reserved for residing Oyashimans in the Flower Capital. You must be either an Oyashi Human, a Yosei (Oyashi elf), an Oni (Oyashi Ork) or an individual or construct of Oyashi origin to be considered for citizenship. Non-Oyashi may be allowed to rent rooms from an Oyashiman owned property. Non-Oyashi cannot spit on the ground to discourage the spread of disease.
7. No unlicensed Shinobi or Ronin
All of those intending to be shinobi or ronin are expected to turn themselves into the stratocracy and make themselves known. Ronin are lordless warriors either retaining the previous status of a warrior in foreign lands or being excused of their fealty from the Shugo or their clan lord. They may not administer the law’s execution or unsheathe their sword within the Flower-Capital.
Shinobi are agents and mercenaries who may act independently or seek employment from the state and shall not represent the interests of the government though they may not take work or contracts against the Koyo-Kuni Shugonate.
8. Gaijin may not roof hop around the village.
Gaijin (and shimin not residing in the Flower-Capital) may not roof hop or leap upon the roofs of the Flower-Capital and may be subject to tanegashima fire from the samurai, ashigaru or an offended resident of the Flower-Capital.
9. Violation of NAP results in death.
All shimin have the right to defend themselves as they see fit should their NAP (non-aggression principle) be violated except when obstructing administration of the law and are not obligated to give mercy for transgressions made against them.
