Post by Bob (DM) on Jun 2, 2014 20:10:45 GMT -5
You may have noticed the new titles all the Lords have. I did that because there isn’t enough variation, the nobility having no clear titles other than “Lord”, titles were kind of generic.
Feel free to make up any fancy sounding title you want, and give it pretty much whatever provenance you want. Remember, there is no central authority that grants titles and such, but rather people simply give themselves whatever title they want.
It also opens up a neat window of opportunity during diplomacy, for example, if you send a message to the Ogawa, and don’t address him as “Great Lord”, he might take it as a slight, etc.
Anyway, here are the titles of each of the Lords and what the story behind them is.
Abe/Fukuchi: Voiceless One
This one, I’m afraid I can’t explain. I had something in mind, but can’t for the life of me remember what it was. Suffice to say it has something to do with some ancestor not talking for some reason.
Hashimoto/Oharu: Wise Ruler
This one is sort of obvious, they claim to be particularly wise rulers (yes, I was running out of ideas, now that you mention it).
Ikeda/Agawa (Chuo-do): Wealthy One.
This is simply a reflection of the fact that the lands of Agawa are the richest and most densely populated in all Zaidan, and are the “rice bowl” of Zaidan, so to speak.
Ishikawa/Midori: Forest Lord
This is sort of obvious, the realm of Midori consists of the central forest, the name Midori actually means “green”, so in effect he is “lord of the green wood”, sort of thing.
Ishii/Seichi: Undefeated One
According to the legends, the island of Kamijima off the coast of Masaki was never overrun by the Oppressors, thus the local ruler takes the title of Undefeated, though I guess the sense of Unconquered would be more accurate.
Maeda/Shimanokuni: Prince of the Sea
This one is obvious, they rule the Island realm and are great seafarers.
Miura/Sakaide: Marsh King
This title comes from the fact that the first Miura stronghold against the Oppressors was on the marshy islands at the mouth of the Imagawa estuary.
Mori/Yamaki: Shield of the Widows
This title comes from the story of the widows of Kamikatsu and their revenge on the Oshiro clan for the sack of the citadel of that city, a defining moment in Mori clan history.
Nishimura/Yamaguchi (Nanto-do): Son of the Dragon
There is supposed to be a dragon living in the Mizumi Hado, and the Nishimura claim descent from that dragon.
Ogawa/Mihama: Great Lord
This title is a hold-over from the days of the Ogawa ascendancy.
Oshiro/Akiota: August Lord
This title is a hold-over from the East/West Court period when the Oshiro ruled all of western Zaidan.
Sato/Sasaguri (Hokusei-do): Defender of the Lands
This title comes from the fact that the Sato hold the island of Kurajima where the Kagemon is located. The Kagemon (Shadow Gate) is a volcanic rift that goes deep under the earth, and it is reputed to be the entrance to the underworld from whence the Oppressors first emerged, and thus they are the first line of defence against a return of them Oppressors.
Takeuchi/Yurihama: Fisher King
So named for the importance of the fishery to Yurihama’s development and independence.
Takagi/Hinohara: Liberator
This title comes from the clan legend that holds that the uprising against the Oppressors first began when the ancestor of the Takagi led a revolt on the island of Agarijima and liberated the many agricultural slaves there, which was the spark that started the whole War of Liberation.
Takahashi/Otawara: Hidden One
This title comes from the fact that during the War of Liberation, the Takahashi carried out a guerrilla campaign, striking at key times and points, but remaining hidden deep in their dark woodland home.
Tanaka/Odai: Oath Keeper
This title is a reflection of the Tanaka clans reputation for loyalty and trustworthiness. They pride themselves on the reliability of their wor, and their devotion to those to whom they have sworn allegiance.
Watanabe/Kodama (Nansei-do): Slayer of Demons
This title comes from the fact that at the final battle against the Oppressors at the present site of the city of Kamikatsu, the Watanabe comprised a major part of the forces involved, and the Watanbe Lord killed many of them personally.
Yamashita/Tamamura & Hokuto-do: First Lord.
This title goes back to the brief period of the Yamashita Ascendency, but it has much older roots. The locals of Shitara maintain that the very first independent human realm in Zaidan was based there, and thus the Yamashita, as heirs to that Realm, are lords of the very first realm, so therefore the First Lord.
Feel free to make up any fancy sounding title you want, and give it pretty much whatever provenance you want. Remember, there is no central authority that grants titles and such, but rather people simply give themselves whatever title they want.
It also opens up a neat window of opportunity during diplomacy, for example, if you send a message to the Ogawa, and don’t address him as “Great Lord”, he might take it as a slight, etc.
Anyway, here are the titles of each of the Lords and what the story behind them is.
Abe/Fukuchi: Voiceless One
This one, I’m afraid I can’t explain. I had something in mind, but can’t for the life of me remember what it was. Suffice to say it has something to do with some ancestor not talking for some reason.
Hashimoto/Oharu: Wise Ruler
This one is sort of obvious, they claim to be particularly wise rulers (yes, I was running out of ideas, now that you mention it).
Ikeda/Agawa (Chuo-do): Wealthy One.
This is simply a reflection of the fact that the lands of Agawa are the richest and most densely populated in all Zaidan, and are the “rice bowl” of Zaidan, so to speak.
Ishikawa/Midori: Forest Lord
This is sort of obvious, the realm of Midori consists of the central forest, the name Midori actually means “green”, so in effect he is “lord of the green wood”, sort of thing.
Ishii/Seichi: Undefeated One
According to the legends, the island of Kamijima off the coast of Masaki was never overrun by the Oppressors, thus the local ruler takes the title of Undefeated, though I guess the sense of Unconquered would be more accurate.
Maeda/Shimanokuni: Prince of the Sea
This one is obvious, they rule the Island realm and are great seafarers.
Miura/Sakaide: Marsh King
This title comes from the fact that the first Miura stronghold against the Oppressors was on the marshy islands at the mouth of the Imagawa estuary.
Mori/Yamaki: Shield of the Widows
This title comes from the story of the widows of Kamikatsu and their revenge on the Oshiro clan for the sack of the citadel of that city, a defining moment in Mori clan history.
Nishimura/Yamaguchi (Nanto-do): Son of the Dragon
There is supposed to be a dragon living in the Mizumi Hado, and the Nishimura claim descent from that dragon.
Ogawa/Mihama: Great Lord
This title is a hold-over from the days of the Ogawa ascendancy.
Oshiro/Akiota: August Lord
This title is a hold-over from the East/West Court period when the Oshiro ruled all of western Zaidan.
Sato/Sasaguri (Hokusei-do): Defender of the Lands
This title comes from the fact that the Sato hold the island of Kurajima where the Kagemon is located. The Kagemon (Shadow Gate) is a volcanic rift that goes deep under the earth, and it is reputed to be the entrance to the underworld from whence the Oppressors first emerged, and thus they are the first line of defence against a return of them Oppressors.
Takeuchi/Yurihama: Fisher King
So named for the importance of the fishery to Yurihama’s development and independence.
Takagi/Hinohara: Liberator
This title comes from the clan legend that holds that the uprising against the Oppressors first began when the ancestor of the Takagi led a revolt on the island of Agarijima and liberated the many agricultural slaves there, which was the spark that started the whole War of Liberation.
Takahashi/Otawara: Hidden One
This title comes from the fact that during the War of Liberation, the Takahashi carried out a guerrilla campaign, striking at key times and points, but remaining hidden deep in their dark woodland home.
Tanaka/Odai: Oath Keeper
This title is a reflection of the Tanaka clans reputation for loyalty and trustworthiness. They pride themselves on the reliability of their wor, and their devotion to those to whom they have sworn allegiance.
Watanabe/Kodama (Nansei-do): Slayer of Demons
This title comes from the fact that at the final battle against the Oppressors at the present site of the city of Kamikatsu, the Watanabe comprised a major part of the forces involved, and the Watanbe Lord killed many of them personally.
Yamashita/Tamamura & Hokuto-do: First Lord.
This title goes back to the brief period of the Yamashita Ascendency, but it has much older roots. The locals of Shitara maintain that the very first independent human realm in Zaidan was based there, and thus the Yamashita, as heirs to that Realm, are lords of the very first realm, so therefore the First Lord.