Kensei

A tabletop game produced by Zenit Miniatures set in Not-Japan, semi-historical although with optional fantasy elements.

Setting

Kensei is set in a setting which is very similar to our world, although the fictionalization allows them to have greater freedom with factions and have their version of Japan, called Hymukai (also called Himukai or the "Wa Empire" by other peoples) which is off the coast of the Ashihara (not-Asia) continent, be anachronistic by having groups from various points in real Japan's history at the same time.

History

The history of Hymukai begins when Hikari (AKA not-Amaterasu) gave birth to a woman named Jingu who became the first Tenno (AKA not-Emperor/Empress). Jingu and her descendants are considered Kami, or protector gods, who ascend to Hikari's realm rather than die.

Hikari gave Jingu four gifts to use to strengthen her kingdom; a Katana to use to counter threats, an O-Yoroi (samurai armor) to endure misfortune and maintain identity, a Joyel (AKA a jewel) to bring wealth, and a Mirror for introspection and purity. A later Tenno named Ayanami united Hymukai under her rule.

The Tennos made a trip around Hymukai every year with these objects to banish malicious spirits. When not on this pilgrimage, Tennos resided in the palace city of Hejian-Jo (also called Heian-Jo).

The descendants of Ayanami were the first nobles, and in Hymukai tradition only relatives of the Tennos can be nobles at all. As each family grew, their ties began to become distanced as one family became multiple clans of multiple families and servants ruled by a noble called a Daimyo. Those high nobles who dwelled in Heian-Jo and the nearby regions served the Tenno directly, and had authority over all others. They became known as the Kuge, and were represented by the holy O-Yoroi.

The noble families who ruled the further, more rural lands obeyed the will of the Kuge and were the first defense against threats. They became the warrior class, the bulk of the samurai, and developed the Bushido code. Samurai could become members of Kuge households or marry into a Kuge family, but the non-Kuge noble clans became known as Buke. The Buke are represented by the holy Katana.

The priesthood of Hymukai enjoy autonomy from the feudal system. They are loyal to the Kami themselves, and the Tenno as a result. Priests and nuns are not required to be chaste in most cases, and usually a temple is run by a single family who accepts any of dedication into their clan. Each temple controls lands and peasants to be independent of Kuge or Buke. The religious clans are called Sohei, and are represented by the holy Mirror.

The final group is made up of powerful families who run the towns and city infrastructure of Hymukai, as well as all trade. Technically the servants of the Buke, these families are considered low class and often barely better than peasants if even that as the Buke see little worth respect in their way of life. These families are commonly called Otokodate. They follow their own code called Kikotsu which is based on Bushido. The Otokodate consider the holy Joyel to be their proof of position in society.

Ninja clans and pirates also exist in Hymukai, dwelling in hidden lands.

For supposedly three thousand years, the Tenno Sujin supposedly ruled Hymukai. Although they had warred in the past with their neighbors the Seven Realms of the Celestial Empire (not-China), Terai (not-India), and Nishi (not-Korea), Hymukai remained isolated from the outside world barring rare and cautious trade with Gaijin (non-native) Nanban (foreign merchants) from other lands. Then one year, while on pilgrimage, Sujin vanished with the four holy objects. The Kuge immediately began to his successor, unconcerned with his actual fate and unconcerned with the relics as they meant little save mark of office. Debate lead to conflict, as important families were found dead to the last heir and documents of lineage missing or destroyed. Heian-Jo burned as the families fled to distant cities, built like reflections of the holy capital. The holy city now sits abandoned for the most part, and whispers say Oni (demons) inhabit it preparing to make war on man.

The Kuge called the service of the Buke loyal to them to destroy their royals for the throne, and though some did answer the call others were occupied by their own war. As stability had broken down, some Buke clans had attacked other Buke to expand their own territory while others declared themselves independent of Kuge rule. Some saw it as a chance to join the ranks of the Kuge, and the most ambitious of them conspired to do away with Kuge and control a complacent Tenno puppet using a Shogun (a Daimyo who executes the will of the Tenno, a position currently held by the entire Kuge caste).

As the Buke and Kuge battled, higher and higher taxes were raised on the peasantry. Farmers were drawn into Ashigaru (militia, or man-at-arms) units without choice. They fled to the Sohei in droves, drawing the Sohei into the politics of the war. Temples nearby battlefields were raided for supplies, and the unimportant delay in recruiting a new Tenno to keep the forces of the Earth in balance offended the Sohei greatly, and they began to preach in an apocalyptic warning while lecturing on the fate of the soul. Some Kuge and many Buke removed themselves from the conflict either out of fear or shame, joining the Sohei and bringing with them wealth and a strong warrior base of Ashigaru and Samurai. Now the Sohei seek an end to the war, defending the common people and curbing the ambition of the two castes.

Meanwhile, the Otokodate have risen up against their arrogant samurai oppressors as the past humiliations have compiled with the other three castes expecting the merchants to bear the bulk of the sacrifice for the war efforts through donation or looting. Declaring themselves nobility and forming pacts and alliances, they have formed relations with the outside world to bring allies and weapons they can use to establish dominance. As time has gone on, the Otokodate have begun to resemble more and more the Buke, Kuge, and Sohei castes as they incorporate anything that works into their methods and plans.