Aishiji. A strange country inhabited by strange people. People who, normally, wouldn't get along with one another. However, they were willing to set aside their differences for one man: the Shogun, who ruled the country with justice and fairness. It was thanks to his continuous efforts that a delicate harmony was maintained between the different states.
But one fateful night, it all went wrong. The capital went up in flames and the land was plunged into turmoil. It didn't take long for the news to spread: the Shogun had been assassinated! Speculation quickly followed: "It must've been so-and-so!" "Those two must have conspired!" Distrust between the different states festered. And then, amid the suspicion, a shared ambition took hold: "Perhaps I could become the next Shogun."
And thus, Aishiji went to war. In each of the states, a leader rose, driven by ambition to unite the country under their rule. Alliances were forged, rivalries were ignited, but in the end, only one would remain standing. This event would come to be known as…

The Warring States of Aishiji

You can now submit your state preferences! aishiji-messenger@proton.me

Nazuna card is now live! A separate lorebook for your own bots can be found here. A catbox collection for all your Nazuna needs can be found here: https://catbox.moe/c/au8cbs A step-by-step guide detailing what you can expect from the event can be found here: https://rentry.org/aicg-warring-states-guide For thoughts/suggestions: aishiji-messenger@proton.me

For this event, botmakies will be asked to makie a bot representing their assigned state. This could be a general, a tactician, a diplomat, whatever you like, so long as they have authority to serve as the "face" of your state. The setting is based on the Sengoku period, so picture something 16th-17th century not-Japan with low to mid fantasy elements. You can take this pretty loosely: foreign naval fleets or embassies are totally fine too. While working on their bots, participants will have the opportunity to reach out to other botmakers and forge alliances or wage war with leaders from neighboring states. The ultimate goal is to have a collection of bots in a shared world with interesting relationships. Once all bots have been published, a scenario card containing a lorebook on all the states and their respective leaders will be constructed, which will then run a simulation of the war and crown the last leader standing as the new Shogun.

Step 0: Sign-ups and suggestions

You can't host an event without botmakies! Starting April 13th, there will be a period of 1 week during which makies can register for the event. Makies are also asked to provide one type of biome/terrain for a state, as well as any resources/traits they think might be interesting to incorporate. Note that these don't have to be related to the suggested terrain. Think of it like tricks from last year's Halloween event, but related to the land rather than the character themselves.

Any other suggestions you may have are also welcome, of course. Non-participants are free to contribute resources/traits as well.

Hostie, hostie! I've never made a bot before and I want to join. can I?

Of course! This event is open to both rugged veterans and those looking to start. However, to reduce the risk of falseflagging or any potential grinching, I may ask for some verification that you are are indeed who you claim to be. A link to a Chub/Rentry/Neocities page that matches your e-mail address will suffice in that case.

I want to join anonymously. Is that possible too?

The event structure encourages reaching out and collaborating with your fellow makies, which makes anonimity hard to maintain. That being said, we can probably work something out. Worst case scenario, your state will end up standalone without any connections, but that's fine too.

Step 1: Claim your land

Once we know how many makies are participating in the event, the map will be drafted into states. Each state will come with a short description about the geography, as well as a short list resources and other oddities.

The unannotated map can be found here.

Each makie is then asked to list 3 states they'd like to claim as their own, in order of preference. For each state, they're also asked which traits they'll incorporate. Like the previous step, they will be given 1 week to do this. After everyone has voiced their preferences, one state will be assigned per makie.

Erm, traits? Does this mean I'll be limited in what I can make?

In a way, yes. While you don't have to incorporate all of the listed traits into your setting, some form of constraint is at the very least expected. If you really don't like any of the listed traits but you still really want that specific terrain, feel free to suggest some of your own traits. However, this should be the exception rather than the norm.

Reading? Descriptions? UGH, that's boring. I want to experience it myself!

Nazuna is here to help! She's more than happy to assist as both an information booth and tour guide for any and all inquiries you might have about the country, the states, or her sisters. Just make sure you ONLY use her for those purposes, alright? No funny business whatsoever!

But hostie, what if multiple makies want the same land??

With everyone picking several states they'd like, this is less likely to become an issue now.
I've also received several suggestions about balkanizing the state. This could work, but only under the assumption that some states end up completely undesirable by anyone. Would also require another redrafting of the state borders, which might be a hassle. Likely not necessary, but I'll keep it in the back of my mind.

Lake - Lake Buiji

Lake Buiji lies at the heart of Aishiji. Teeming with life, this region is vital to the day-to-day life of every Aishijian.

Traits:

• Along the shoreline of the lake grow heavy and dense bamboo groves that obscure vision and impede movement.
• It is ill-advised to seek out what lies at the bottom of the lake.
• The dead do not remain buried here. Corpses must be burnt, or they will rise again.

Leader:
The general of the Cantharellus is Russula, an individual who is earnest about turning all of Aishiji into Cantharellus. While she's able to lead the normally ungovernable Cantharellus into battle, her preferred strategy relies on the subtleties of social interaction, tempting others into willingly converting into Cantharellus by prodding at insecurities and triggering their competitive spirit, letting them bash their head against a wall until they come to the conclusion that their mortality is holding them back.

Swamp - Yodomi

Travel trough this swamp, more commonly referred to simply as "The Bog", is ill-advised. Still, some people have decided to make it their home.

Traits:

• Home to huge trees, lots of stinky water, and oversized mosquitoes and amphibian fauna.
• Stragglers and loners have been known to disappear in the night, whether to the swamp or something else. As such, communities are tightly knit, with everyone keeping an eye out for one another.
• Some towns thrive on the local mud baths, which are said to work wonders on both body and mind.

Leader:
Welcome to the Willow Baths. The mud will cure what ails you, and the owner will decide what you're owed.
Try not to say anything you'll regret as she remembers all.
But say the right words, and there just might be a bright future ahead of you. For a price she'll name later.

Forest - Tsukigo

A pleasant forest state with cold winters and warm summers. A wide variety of trees and plants can be found here, with coniferous trees becoming more frequent as one moves north.

Traits:

• Rare plants essential in high-grade medicine production can be found deep in the forest. However, they have a symbiotic relationship with a more hostile plant: a population of some manner of prehensile vine, that assault passerby and feed on their "life essence" for sustenance.
• Contains several sizeable tracts of Yew trees, prized for making bows.

Leader:
Tsukigo's representative is Umetsuki Senju, an agent hailing from one of the region's four forest-dwelling usamimi clans. When peace came to Aishiji, she traded her century-long assassination career for spycraft, now working to prop up the Kaedeji, Tsukigo's usamimi-favoring human rulers.
Within a decade, she built a network spanning all of Aishiji: gamblers, courtesans, pirates, corrupt guilds. All feeding intelligence to their supposed masters, unaware their secrets funnel straight to Tsukigo's usamimi.
Now that war has returned to Aishiji, she's itching to return to her old ways as well.
Life-extending treatments keep Senju's body in peak condition and her wits sharp, but her mannerisms have degraded into those of a sleazy old hag. She insists it's an act to blend in with the lowlifes. The kiseru, however, has always been a part of her. Without Kizami, her mind will begin to fall apart.

Woodland port - Avysos

Avysos is centered on a giant port-town that has grown organically over centuries, surrounded by equally massive rainforests. Unfortunately, progress has surrendered to decadence, much to the chagrin of its owly progenitor.

Traits:

• People born here keep being reincarnated with their memories intact.
• This state is a state of the stars!
• For some reason, long-term exposure to the land causes its inhabitants to grow much bigger than normal. This applies to human, animals, and crops.

Leader:
Stolas is a grumpy wizard with strange features here and there, but one who cares for his subjects more than anyone else in this world! For... certain.

Boreal Forest - Shiramori

A boreal forest stretches along the northwestern coast of Aishiji. Days with snowfall are more frequent than those without.

Traits:

• This state is locked underneath snowy days and gray skies. The sun has not been seen here in a long time.
• This state is renowned for their art.
• Ore stronger and more versatile than steel can be found in the ground. However, yokai are naturally drawn to deposits of this ore.

Leader:
Blue haired and fluffy. Boisterous and energetic. Petite, but with a very big sword. Not to be underestimated. Allies shall be aided by her blade. Enemies will taste it.
- Official declaration from Shimizu Hisame, foxgirl general and current acting leader of Shiramori Province. Rumored to be a fierce warrior who fights with manic glee on the battlefield.

Wildgrowth - New Merovingia

A state known for its wildgrowth. Plants grow here at an accelerated rate. Great for crops, but let nature run its course for too long and your settlement becomes uninhabitable.

Traits:

• Through means natural or otherwise, their roles and physiology have been flipped between the sexes of this country. Compared to their neighbors, women are much taller, muscular and brutish while men are shorter, softer, and more effeminate.
• A titanic sword lies half-buried in the earth, wielded by a great giantess warrior from ages past.
• A group of priestesses (or priests) maintains a temple to an ancient goddess in the wilderness of this province. They are practitioners of healing and nature magic.

Leader:
The message from the Wildgrowth bears the seal of a foreign nation: a sphinx encircled by the motto 'Veritas, Ordo et Ratio ad Exstasem'.
"By proclamation of Archduchess Theodora von Katzenweise, the Wildgrowth province of Aishiji will henceforth be known as New Merovingia, a crown holding of the Katzenweise dynasty and a province of the Merovingian Empire. This expansion of claims is a response to the threat posed to the Imperial colony at Trümmerhof and a reflection of the reality of Merovingian rule in the area. The Archduchess wishes the people of Aishiji to know that she is open to diplomacy with honorable leaders and that she intends to bring peace to the country by any just and prudent means."

Peat - Khotai

This massive island of peat had been adrift on the ocean for who knows how long before making landfall on the Aishijian shores. It most likely originated from somewhere overseas.

Traits:

• People in this region are masters of growing a rare herb with hallucinogenic and euphoric effects. It is commonly brewed into tea (mild dose) but some locals have experimented with concentrating it further.
• Savage dinosaurs roam these lands.
• The body ages far slower than the mind in this state.

Leader:
"KYAHAHAHOHO! Tremble before the might of The Venerated Saikha the Merciless of Bloodshed, Great Khan of Khotai, the Unsobered Slaughterer of Houses, Mistress of the Saurid Horde, Demigoddess of Carnage! We shall fight another until sunset, then we shall feast, smoke and drink together until dawn breaks, then fight again!"

Grasslands - Sanjō

Flat grasslands, ideal for agriculture. One of the most populated states of Aishiji.

Traits:

• Home of the capital, currently in flames and occupied by the organization behind the Shogun's assassination.
• Cherry blossom trees are dotted across the land.

Leader:
The people have rallied and called upon a master of the arts to catch the pest plaguing their beautiful capital and protect the values held by their fallen ruler. He exhibits physical traits of a child: lithe, short, and adorable. But rest assured, he is not to be underestimated.
This ‘general’ willingly extends a hand to others, even at the peril of his body. Polite yet endlessly confident. Those with malice in their heart, beware.

Underwater Coral Reef - Tatsu-no-Umi-no-Kuni

Tatsu-no-Umi-no-Kuni (龍海國, also read Ryūkai-koku) is a fantastical underwater kingdom nestled against the volcanic coastal shelf of Aishiji, the great archipelago-realm above. Aishiji is a land of daimyō and shogun, of pine-clad mountains and rice-terraced valleys, ruled until recently by a shogunate whose sudden dissolution has thrown every vassal in earth and sea into uncertainty. The Dragon-Sea-Country is one such vassal, and a most unusual one. For centuries it has paid tribute to the surface throne in pearls, coral, and ambergris; in return it has received charcoal, tin, iron, and the assurance that the surface would not try to fish its waters. With the Shogun's assassination, that arrangement is now in jeopardy, and the realm beneath the storm-belt is deciding what it wishes to be.
The realm cannot project much power towards the surface, but it is considered a powerful yokai kingdom. Lately, there has been talk in court about inviting and assimilating the kappa (or turtle-folk) tribes somehow.

Traits:

• Storms above these waters are harsh enough to blot out the sun for extended periods of time, meaning the people live in darkness for however long they last.
• Naval skirmishes were frequent along this side of the Aishijian coast. Remnants of sunken ships, along with any weapons, armor, trinkets, and other artifacts they were carrying, were carried by the sea currents to these reefs.
• Women outnumber men roughly five to one, which has visibly shaped inheritance laws, courtship, and more.

Leader:
A young woman of courtly bearing, black of hair, styled long and straight as of a princess. She has a bright and cheerful demeanor as she negotiates on behalf of her most esteemed father. Your hairs bristle in her presence from time to time. She will not stop eating.
Link to full text

Forested Hills - Infuku no Kuni

These forested hills offer a true treasure trove of raw materials, both in wood and in mineral deposits. Their elevation makes them less favorable for agriculture, however.

Traits:

• A shifting labyrinth exists somewhere in the hills whose entrance moves regularly, a legend that swallows the brave and foolish alike.
• Inchlings are indigenous to the state.
• The people of this region have a legend that says that, in their time of greatest need, a legendary ruler will reappear to lead them.

Leader:
The leader of the inchlings is a human foreigner who suddenly appeared one day. He goes by the name "Nobunaga Oda".

Mountainous Basin - Hishoryuiki

Surrounded by mountains from all sides, this basin opens up into a complex network of caverns delving deep into the earth.

Traits:

• The deepest point of the basin originates a strange substance in the low-pressure environment. It permeates a good portion of the land.
• This state believes heavily in Tanegashima (japanese musket) use.
• The land is populated by a variety of rodent kemonomimi, such as mice, squirrel, and gophers.

Leader:
An easygoing demeanor and ornate rifle does little to disguise the ambition in this tactician's eyes. With the opportunistic bandits of Hishoryuiki recently suppressed and their goods confiscated, the people can no longer afford to wait for history to absolve them. The Kenshunei's moment to take the stage has come. All Tomeshi Nemura has to do is to see her dream of a unified Aishiji through, no matter the consequences.

Cold Steppe - Rúmshof

A steppe region that's better known for its cold winters than its warm summers. While it may be dry, there is certainly something of value to be found here.

Traits:

• Due to the unpredictable weather and terrain of this land, many people live stationary lives, not traveling past their place of birth. Those that do are heralded as brave but also isolated from the community with some level of suspicion.
• Thanks to occasional meteor strikes, this state's land is rife with both craters and whatever those meteors brought down with them.
• An indigenous species of plant grows here that allows an incredibly slimy and lubricating substance to be crafted from it.

Leader:
"Gythja, Will of Gefn, does not seek the title of Shogun. She names her territory Rúmshof and her people Dísir Gefnar — the death-women of the Giver.
She will not ally. She will not submit. She will trade only for living men and women of breeding age.
Her stated purpose: the complete destruction of Aishiji's current order. Every man dead or dying. Every woman taken into Gefn's Grace."

Post-Volcanic Hills - Fukyuufumetsu

Long after a large volcanic eruption, people have settled on these post-volcanic hills. While the mineral-enriched ground and frequent rain would make the soil ideal for agriculture, most of it is too rocky to properly grow crops.

Traits:

• Due to the 'incident', only artificial 'humans' live in this state. With two exceptions.
• An abundance of magic in this region makes it prone to a variety of natural disasters.

Leader:
It's been ages since their original leader died... however, this doesn't mean She no longer lives on.
Two twins, one with warm eyes, the other cold, lead Fukyuufumetsu in Her absence. They seem to have enough on their plate with the natural disasters that ravage the land (are they natural if caused by magic?) and haven't expressed any interest in the war.
Well, one is sick and the other hates the disgusting population, so what reason do they have for waging war in the first place?

Mountain Caves - Meirin Sanmyaku

Shrouded peaks piercing the heavens and caves rumored to plunge into the underworld; a place called home by a people who are certain they don't belong, their history destroyed in the great calamity that pushed them underground.

Traits:

• An independent tribe of tanuki girls live here, pilfering from caravans and stealing away any able-bodied travellers who wander too far from the road. They have a murderous hatred of foxgirls, who smell like filth and are ugly.
• Ancient customs of dress and style make it difficult to tell the men and women apart.
• Due to a calamity that struck this state long ago, inhabitants no longer build their residences on the surface.

Leader:
Heralded by the bells strewn to her tail, gems and jewelry adorned over radiant scales. Her mark, placed upon summits few have reached and scratched within depths from which fewer return.
A culture that strives for perfection in all facets. None more accomplished, talented, or beautiful than the ruling clan's daughter. Her older brother, pushed aside in the line of succession. Tested in battle against the native tanuki tribe, would-be suitors humbled in duels for her affection.
Her people expect greatness and in these uncertain times, her ambitions reach towards the Shogunate.

Glacial Mountains - Kasumidani

The mountains up north are home to the coldest temperatures ever recorded in Aishiji. The Ankoru river, the artery of Aishiji, originates from the glacier found here. Many natural hot springs can also be found here.

Traits:

• This land is home to a glacier-capped mountain that is considered holy to the people of Aishiji.
• This nation is a natural fortress, with mountains and rivers as bulwarks against its neighbors. This makes trade and travel beyond it's own borders difficult, however.
• The mountains are rich in precious minerals and gems.

Leader:
Shirayuki Kagehisa (Enduring Influence Beneath White Snow) is an arctic foxgirl dressed in layered silks of ivory and deep indigo. A gracious host by reputation, she offers warmth and welcome to all who reach her domain.

Mountains - Ripira Mosir

The mountains along the southern coast rise up out of nowhere, forming steep cliffs. Traversal from one side of Aishiji to the other is easiest through here, though that is only relatively speaking.

Traits:

• When standing on the cliffs and peering over the sea, one might occasionally spot a mermaid. Whether it's wise to engage with them is still up for debate.
• The dominant race in this province is centaurs. Bushido culture is deeply ingrained: mastery of polearms, swords, and most importantly, bows, is taught from a young age.
• Urban and rural populations of the same species behave almost nothing alike.

Leader(s):
Hailing from the desolate border outpost of Pirakim, the indomitable captain of the guard. They say the reach of her naginata is matched only by the length of her titles.
From the urban seaside capital of Heyasi, the minister of state. A master of diplomacy of unimpeachable decorum, it often shocks newcomers to learn that he's not a woman of the court.

Cursed Desert - Arugin

Dry and arid, this desert is a land bound to its past. Pockets of warped magic litter the sandy expanse, each showing sights which defy logic.

Traits:

• This land once worshipped an ancient deity of pacts and oaths, with certain rituals still persisting to this day. It is believed that breaking a promise results in a terrible curse.
• The land is so rich in precious metals the people either only barter or use something else as local currency due to inflation.
• Persistent sandstorms make it difficult to find one's way.

Leader:
Amita Oz Adi. Ruler of the Cursed Desert. A land unchanged from the dawn of thinking life itself. Save for what little detail there is on the commerce stamp that carry her name, little is known about Amita, and even less for the land she rules beyond its name: Arugin. Rumors and stories fill the gaps. A strange land of strange people. It is the cradle where life took its first steps, yet for reasons now long sunken alongside Ozymandias in the sand, drove the ancestors of every nation to take their cattle and travel outward. Currently, all that is known is that the masked girls are always ready to make a deal, their sands are made of gold dust pure as silk, and their lives are different.
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Steppe - The Crimson Horde

The steppe is a region characterized by extremes, swinging between droughts and torrential storms every few months. The location leaves this state somewhat isolated.

Traits:

• (Almost) every person in the country was handmade by a higher being to serve a specific purpose.
• Not much grows here aside from a curious plant: It absorbs ambiant mana and, if consumed in sufficient quantities, enables one to cast unpredictable spells.
• This region was recently in its own smaller warring states era and just recently unified.

Leader:
"I am Aozora Hidetsugu, a mother to many, and an acting Diplomat and Voice of the Carnalite Regency, though you may colloquially know us as the Crimson Horde. I was born an Azurite Oni, a magical being blessed by the goddess that formed our kind. However, I am a bit of standout from my sisters' and closer to a Carnelian Oni in the regard that I prefer martial arts over the spellbook. 
Though some (mainly my mother) would strongly prefer I boast solely of my capabilities and political tact, my true merits were forged entirely on the front lines. A time in my life that I sorely miss, now that I am a veteran soldier turned diplomat. 
The fact of the matter is that our world is in turmoil, and our leaders have decided to take an interest in the Shogunate, as we have much experience dealing with a fractured land. While I personally have no interest in leading the realm, as their voice in this matter I will see their will be done."

Dry Harbor - Sanko

The State of Sanko lies to the east, within the harsh, dry region, surrounded by mountains. Trade, people, and messages usually only arrive in this region by the sea. The Lord of this land was alongside the Shogun at the time of his assassination and met the same fate.

Traits:

• Despite bordering the sea, the air here is dry and thin, most likely due to the states surrounding it.
• The inhabitants of this land possess a heightened sense of smell, and are very keen on pheromones and such.
• Among the population of this state exists a sizable amount of cultists.

Leader(s):
With the recent death of Lord Aki, the two princesses of Sanko have stepped up to take command of the state in the upcoming civil war.

Nobuko: Raised from childhood to become the next ruler, Nobuko is a charming young woman with magnetic charisma and a gentle smile, although she hasn't found much to smile about since her father died. Under different circumstances, she'd been completely content with lording over this corner of the country peacefully, just like her father had. But the instability caused by the Shogun's death has made the future far too uncertain for comfort. Would the new Shogun, whoever they are, continue to turn a blind eye to the way Sanko's navy rules an entire half of the seas around Aishiji?

Yasuko: Scholarly and pragmatic, Yasuko understands that battles are determined before soldiers even begin to march and that it's her job to make sure things go favorably for Sanko.
The sisters have made a pact with one anothe: should they come out victorious at the end, Nobuko would become the Shogun while Yasuko would be left in charge of Sanko and the Emerald Fleet.

Both sisters are seeking justice for the murder of their father.
Link to full text

Mesa - Solmaren

Once an old mountain weathered by the elements, this mesa is known only for its scorching hot sand. Living here is not pleasant.

Traits:

• The people worship gods that take the form of various animals, and in their religious rituals they dress up as these animals and act as them.
• This land was historically the testing ground for the ancients, and pockets of it are blighted by failed magical experiments, leaving behind strange environmental anomalies.
• Some say they can hear the heartbeat of something buried somewhere deep beneath this land.

Leader:
"The Solmaren state elects its leader through a mix of traditional ritual and family lineage. Mine was a feud. As it was tradition, nobody stood in my way. But their silence spoke volumes.
I was called reckless by those who witnessed my decisions, and lazy by those for whom I did not act. Jingoist by some, disinterested by others who thought I did not care. In truth, I simply did not think them worth my concern. I do not know if all the pretenders for the title of shogun have true experience in reign, but those who do will understand what I am talking about.
My country, save for its cities and magical anomalies, is sand and ruins. I do not have war-mongering desires. But do understand that in the wake of the roaring states, I have no intention of letting my country fall prey.
My advisors have told me that, to outsiders, I am known as a gambler, taking unnecessary risks. One who has, so far, not left her country, that I craze on the magic of my state but forego the intrigue of my court... I guess it's not for me to confirm or deny.
We will meet, whether through diplomacy or otherwise. We shall acquaint ourselves then, so do try to bring something worth wagering."

Snowy Plains - Hakuboya

Sitting atop a high plateau, these snowy plains appear to be stuck in an eternal winter. Life here is harsh, but people have learned to adapt.

Traits:

• Local customs and beauty standards have led to many flat chested wolf girls living here.
• An earlier ruler once fancied this region as important to his realm and had an intricate network of canals built between the major settlements. Although some parts of the system are now in disrepair, it is still useful.
• It might look like nothing is amiss, but the land above ground here is terribly poisonous. The underground is the only safe place.

Leader:
Ginko "the She-Bitch", eldest of the Kiroshi, the amalgamation of many disparate Wolf folk builder clans stripped of their titles, wealth and positions in the Shogun's court decades ago and exiled from the capitol in the grasslands, rumored to have been plotted by tanukis and foxes within the court. Those of her people that did not turn to petty crimes or were taken in by other lords on their way north settled Hakuboya (otherwise known as The White Wastes, Chonyn Tal, Ieyasu's Folly), sheltering from the poisonous gasses above inside the long abandoned canals below. The hovels the Kiroshi first settled into became buried cities over the decades of their exile, and the former scribes, architects and tradesmen turned to raiding their neighbors for both hostages to ransom and slaves for their own dark purposes. Now with Aishiji in turmoil, they seek to fill their coffers and cities with plunder and slaves, while taking their revenge on the still living nobility and courtiers of the capitol by seating themselves on the throne to be judge, jury and executioner for all those who wronged them.

Archipelago - Shiki-Shima Archipelago

Along the southern coast lies the Ashijian Archipelago, a collection of small islands with wildly differing flora and fauna between them.

Traits:

• These islands are littered with high lakes and caves all over, likely hiding precious mining resources.
• One island in particular is known for a legendary creature: an untamable steed, galloping across the land without rest.
• The seasons are in complete disarray on these islands.

Neighbors:
To the north of the Archipelago lie the Forested Hills, Post-Volcanic Hills, and the Mountains.
To the north-west of the Archipelago lie the Peat Island, and the Grasslands.
In the middle of the Archipelago lies the Prison Island.
The easternmost island of the Archipelago is the Volcanic Island.

Leader:
Sankei of the Shiki-Shima Archipelago stands with absolute stillness, the dark fabric of his clothes absorbing the light around him. His skin is the color of bleached bone and possesses a slight, wax-like translucence. Most striking are his eyes: twin spheres of polished obsidian that lack pupils, reflecting your image back like a dark mirror. He does not blink. He does not appear to breathe.

Prison Island - Shinitaru Island

This island houses the largest prison of Aishiji where the most dangerous criminals of the nation are exiled. Although technically under the jurisdiction of the archipelago, this island operates under its own leader and social hierarchy.

Traits:

• A revolt took place as soon as the Shogun was assassinated and now the convicts have taken over the large citadel that served as a jail, as well as several small islands around it. They've also managed to capture a sizeable flotilla.
• A mystical force prevents anyone from staying here for long, the length of time varying per person (~10-40 years). Either they leave before then, or they die.
• When a prisoner once dug an escape tunnel, a large, naturally formed tunnel network was discovered. To this day, it has yet to be fully explored.

Neighbors:
To the north of the Prison Island lie the Post-Volcanic Hills.
To the north-east of the Prison Island lies the Volcanic Island.
To the west of the Prison Island lie the Grasslands.
To the north-west of the Prison Island lie the Forested Hills.
The Prison Island lies in the middle of the Archipelago.

Leader:
A fallen angel (tennin) cursed with desire, leading the people down the path of temptation and righteousness in equal measure. Raised among the rabble, his unorthodox faith once spread among the peasantry and the downtrodden like wildfire, to the point the Shogun and his monastic order branded him a dangerous heretic and exiled him to Shinitaru Island. He recently organized a revolt that overthrew the prison's citadel and now leads an army of fanatic criminals that follow him unquestioningly. Fond of bittersweet parables and poetry, he believes that for every carnal transgression a price should be paid… if not a punishment in itself.

Volcanic Island - Akujima

Sitting at the tail end of the archipelago, this volcanic island contains the only active volcano of Aishiji. It sits a bit off the coast of the mainland and is only a few kilometers in width and length.

Traits:

• Vicious giant insects pester the inhabitants of this remote island.
• An extensive subterranean cavern network lies underneath the island, with indigenous bioluminescent and psychoactive mushrooms that are central to the island's strange local religious rites.
• Beach birds make nests of white guano atop black sands, while sheer cliff overhangs where molten falls of lava cascade into the sea are dotted with caverns that have housed innumerable generations of bats, coating the cave floor in centuries of that same white powder that feeds both field and gun. The tropical interior of the island is dotted with natural hot springs where the villagers communally bathe in the nude, while near the volcano itself are geothermal vents lined with sulfur.

Neighbors:
To the north of the Volcanic Island lies the Cursed Desert.
To the south-west of the Volcanic Island lie the Archipelago and the Prison Island.
To the west of the Volcanic Island lie the Post-Volcanic Hills.
To the north-west of the Volcanic Island lie the Mountains.

Leader(s):
On the other side of the bundai kneels a slender young boy, his delicate cheeks flush with signs of fever. "I am Akujima Ayato (操人), my given name is written with the kanji for loyalty and person. I inherited this station from my late father."
Beside him is a girl around twelve, in the red and white robes of a miko, "I am Akujima Yuki, and I help Onii-chan with everything. Is the tea to your liking? Perhaps you would like some ochazuke instead?"
Link to full text

Step 2: Make yourself known!

With your land claimed, it's time to let the world know who occupies it! Write a short description of your state's leader. Think of it like a teaser: you want to make your neighbors curious without giving away everything all at once. If possible, I'd also like to ask you to come up with a name for your region. It'd be a little lame to keep calling it "the [thing] state", after all. You'll be given 1 week to do this. Once you're done, send your description to hostie and I'll add your leader's description to your assigned state.

So... Do I write my bot now?? Be more clear, dumb hostie!!

You CAN write your bot in this time, but it's not a hard deadline yet. It's just about letting your neighbors know who they're dealing with. If, in the end, your bot ends up differing from your initial description, that's no problem either.

Ooh, ooh! I wanna make an omnipotent, indestructible general with laser eyes!

For the sake of a somewhat fair competition, I humbly ask that you keep your leader and their accompanying army at least a little bit balanced. A little bit of OPness (hehe I said penis) is fine, and I certainly don't wanna spoil the fun for any size enthusiasts, but your leader shouldn't have a 90-10 or even a 100-0 matchup against other leaders. If you're unsure whether your idea might be bordering on too powerful, just send me an e-mail and we'll work something out.

Step 3: Meet thy neighbor

Now that the leaders are known, it's time to see what's on the other side of the border. Forge alliances, force rivalries! You're encouraged to get into contact with other makies and see if you can incorporate one's bots into each others' settings.

But hostie, how do I get into contact with the other makies??

That's where Nazuna and her sisters, the trustworthy messengers, come in! Simply send an e-mail to aishiji-messenger@proton.me with your contact request, and they'll make sure it gets safely delivered to the other party.

Once contact between the two makies has been established, it's up to them how to proceed. They can continue using mail, move it to D*scord, use messenger birds, whatever works. The only thing I ask is to notify the hostie if something changes in the dynamic between your leaders, or if there's a bad actor somehow.

I don't want any of that. Can I just keep my state isolated and not interact with anyone?

Sure, no problem.

Step 4: Makie the bots

From this point on, you'll have 3 weeks to get into contact with your allies or rivals, and flesh out your leaders. At the end of those 3 weeks, on May 30th, a nation-wide battle will take place, spanning 48 hours. All leaders are expected to participate, and any leaders missing from the battle will be outed as cowardly deserters, expected to commit seppuku come the next dawn.

Hostie, you're talking nonsense. Just explain it in plain American, you dummy!

Fiiine. Post your bot on May 30th, with a 2-day grace period. Anyone who hasn't posted is a GRINCH.

Step 5: Fight for glory!

So, we now have the states, the leaders, the alliances and the rivalries. All that's left to do is let them fight! This is where I, hostie, step in. I will write a scenario bot with a big lorebook containing all the armies and then, through some script wizardry, simulate the entire war until a new Shogun emerges. Again, like with the map, I won't have the scenario bot ready the same day everyone posts their bots, but it should follow soon after. All I can give for now is a "just trust me bro" on this one.

Going forward

Okay, that's cool and all, but what can I do NOW??

Wait. As of this Rentry update, the sign-ups for event are closed. If you're still unsure about anything or have other questions, you can always send an e-mail. I'll do my best to answer in a timely manner.
Besides that, leading up to the sign-up period mid-April, we have had one poll per week where everyone can vote on how they'd like to see certain aspects of the event shape up. These topics are:

• States: What types of resources would you like to see in the states? How grounded should the setting be? Should the resources be statted?
  • Previous poll: https://poal.me/d8ijui
• Leaders/armies: Should there be a limit to the power of a leader and their army? How should we balance this?
  • Previous poll: https://poal.me/up3338
• Alliances: How exactly should these work? Is there a limit to their size? Can an entire alliance win the war, or will only one leader remain standing?
  • Previous poll: https://poal.me/fhklc2
• The final battle: Is a scenario card the right way to go? How should the final battle be recorded? Should there be underlying mechanics?
  • Previous poll: https://poal.me/4sgixp

And that's about it. Now get out there and have fun!
Super secret poll: https://poal.me/to1zbc