The Shinzoku Reach

THE KOMU EMPIRE

“Harmony in Steel and Spirit”

HISTORY

Founding Era – The Age of Warring Spirits (circa 1200 years ago)

The Komu Empire arose during an age of fractured clans and elemental chaos. Back then, warlords battled not just with steel, but with bound kami, spirit-forged weapons, and ancient shamanic rites.

Magic, tether and mysticism were seen as from Kami, nature spirits.

The legendary warrior-mystic Komu Takashi, said to be half-human, half-spirit, united five major clans after defeating the corrupted Storm Kami Yugazai. His followers formed a disciplined code, blending martial strength with spiritual balance, and built the first Imperial Citadel at Hoshiryuu. This marked the beginning of the Komu Imperial Line.

The Kami priests learned how to harness the tether, seen as a gift from the Kami spirits.

The Steam Blossom Period (700–200 years ago)

The Komu developed a unique form of steam technology powered by Glyph-binding rituals, and elemental channeling. During this golden age:

Sky barges and steam-gliders were created.

Glyphforged armor became a mark of elite samurai.

The Imperial Academy of Elemental Design was founded to explore peaceful applications of Steam-Tek.

Modern Era – The Veil War & Rise of Onishi (past 100 years)

The fall of the neighboring Onishi royal line and the rise of the tyrannical Emperor Ganshou placed Komu under threat. Though the Komu retain their independence, skirmishes along the Kurokami Peaks are common.

The Komu allied with the Ironclaw Dynasty to counter Onishi's expansion and maintain balance in the Shinzoku Reach. Through this alliance Magi-tek was learned from the Oni. This fragile alliance depends heavily on diplomacy, magic-engineering pacts, and shared elite warrior training between the nations.

CULTURE

Core Tenets

Harmony (Wa): All actions must flow with spiritual balance—between man and nature, technology and soul.

Honor (Gi): Every citizen is born into responsibility, not privilege. Deeds determine worth.

Ancestral Veneration: Shrines to ancestors and kami spirits are found in every home, school, and palace.

Societal Structure

Emperor – Considered semi-divine, spiritual protector of the land.

Council of Twelve Houses (Daimyo Council) – Powerful noble families who oversee trade, land, education, and warfare.

The Onmyoji Order – Spiritual advisors, scholars, and elemental masters who guide the empire’s magical balance.

Warrior Castes – Samurai, ninja, monk-guardians, and spiritbound guardians form the elite military class.

Artisan Castes – Inventors, steamwrights, architects, and spirit-inkers preserve the empire’s magitech mastery.

CITIES & MAJOR TOWNS

Hoshiryuu (Capital City) – “City of the Dragon Stars”

In the center of the Empire this city rose from the place it is said, Komu Takashi defeated the Storm Kami.

Features massive stone torii gates, open-roofed elemental temples, and steam monorails that float over cherry blossom-lined canals.

The Imperial Citadel holds the throne of Emperor Taira no Kazuo, the sacred flame altar, and the Kami Gardens.

Key Locations:

Hall of Ancestral Echoes – A temple containing spirit-bound scrolls that whisper the words of former emperors.

Kagetsu Arena – Hosts elite tournaments, magical duels, and warrior rites.

Senkai – Port of Ten Thousand Spirits

Largest seaport in the empire and naval stronghold on the southern coast of the Empire.

Ships enchanted with air and wind spirits dock here, including sky barges and crane-winged steamboats.

Known for exotic trade, Glyph-bond tattoos, and open markets where Oni, Kray, and Lyrian traders meet.

Takemura – Village of Sacred Springs

Nestled between hot springs believed to be blessed by elemental water kami.

Healing and training town for Onmyoji initiates, with a tranquil temple-school called Mizuno-Kai.

Home to the Moon Blossom Festival, where spirits cross the veil and speak with the living once per year.

Yurei no Machi – City of Ghosts

At the eastern base of the Kurokami Peaks, it is thought to be built on a spiritual rift between realms, this haunted town is both feared and revered.

It is not far from where the Monolith of Spirt/life stands within the mountains.

Onmyoji masters commune here with ancestral spirits and sometimes imprison rogue ones within scrolls and tattoos.

Guards wear silver-mirrored masks to ward off possession.

LANDMARKS

The Kurokami Peaks – The black-hair mountains forming the Komu–Onishi border, home to the sacred Veiled Vale and the only Monolith of Life/Spirit on Valdessia.

The Skysteel Bridge – A miles-long Glyph-forged suspension bridge from Hoshiryuu to Senkai, infused with air Glyphs to prevent collapse.

Mount Fukai – An inactive volcano where many Onmyoji undergo their soul forging pilgrimages.

The Floating Monastery of Tensei – A hovering temple held aloft by powerful Wind/air Glyphs and home to a major Air Obelisk. Only those who master Air Tethering or sufficiently warded with proper Glyphs can enter.

NOTABLE PEOPLE

Emperor Taira no Kazuo – The Harmonious Flame

A beloved yet enigmatic ruler. Said to be bonded with a fox spirit since youth.

Recently vanished under mysterious circumstances—some claim replaced by a spirit-forged puppet.

Wields a ceremonial blade called Amatsukami, gifted by a sky dragon during a celestial eclipse.

General Ayame Windblade – Daughter of War, Mistress of Balance

The empire’s supreme commander. Commands both the Shadow Guard (elite ninjas) and Blazing Order (samurai).

Uses twin steam-forged katana and a wrist-Glyph’d wind generator.

Maintains a fierce rivalry with Ironclaw’s Forge Commander Brakk.

Onmyoji Kenshiro Raiden – Storm-Eyed Sage

Grandmaster of spiritual arts, head of the Order of Elemental Harmony.

Known for sealing a corrupted fire kami inside a scroll with a single breath.

Leads secret magical experiments combining Komu Onmyōdō and Ironclaw tech in Yurei no Machi.

Master Kuruma the Inkweaver

Tattoo artist, philosopher, and retired assassin.

Founder of the Spirit-Ink Dojo—where warriors receive living tattoos infused with bound Glyphs.

Rumors claim he once tattooed a dragon’s soul into his own chest to defeat an Onishi summoner.

THE ONISHI EMPIRE

“Through Power, All Will Kneel.”

HISTORY

The Fall of the Azure Court (circa 400 years ago)

Once a peaceful monarchy neighboring Komu, the Onishi realm was ruled by the Azure Court, a spiritually balanced dynasty that honored elemental harmony. That peace shattered when a noble named Ganshou Morikai, obsessed with forbidden magic and dark steamcraft, staged a coup backed by mercenaries, rogue Onmyoji, and Glyph-forged machines.

Using blood-Glyph rituals, he enslaved the reigning royal family and usurped the throne. In doing so, he became the first Emperor of the Black Throne and established a new regime: the Onishi Empire.

The Rise of the God Engine Doctrine (200–present)

Under Ganshou and his successors, the empire abandoned balance and embraced total domination of magic and machine. New doctrines taught that Kami and the Tether were not to be worshipped or used in harmony but subjugated as fuel and tools.

They began constructing the God Engine, a soul-fueled arcane-steam device meant to turn the emperor into an immortal deity. This marked the full transformation of Onishi into a technocratic, war-worshipping superpower.

The Warfront Era (100 years ago–present)

Onishi's hunger expanded outward. They launched aggressive campaigns against smaller nations and repeatedly skirmished with Komu and Ironclaw forces. Though currently in a tense cold war, Onishi's espionage networks and military pressure never waver.

The empire is infamous for:

Conscripting citizens into Glyph-bound servitude.

Conducting brutal experimentation on magical races, including Oni and Lyrians.

CULTURE

Core Values

Dominate or be dominated.

The strong are the chosen of fate.

Spirits are tools; magic is conquest.

Unlike the reverence-based traditions of Komu, Onishi culture is shaped by hierarchy, control, and willpower. Every citizen’s worth is based on how well they serve the empire. Glory is earned through obedience or battlefield success.

Societal Structure

Class

Role

The Emperor

Absolute ruler and divine aspirant.

High Black Court

Nobles, warlocks, technocrats, and spirit-binders.

The Dreadbound

Elite soulbound enforcers and commanders.

The Spirit-Forged

Laborers enhanced with Glyph implants and soul cages.

The Lowborn

Commoners, miners, soldiers, and conscripts.

The Bound

Enslaved creatures, Oni, or enemy citizens trapped into servitude.

CITIES & MAJOR TOWNS

Shouzan (Capital) – The Iron Spire

A sprawling black city built on jagged obsidian stone.

Perpetually shrouded in steam, smog, and glowing rune-light.

Divided into seven concentric circles, with power increasing toward the center.

The Iron Spire is the Emperor’s palace, laboratory, and nerve center of the empire.

Notable Locations:

The Obsidian Crucible – Massive soul furnace used to power citywide enchantments.

The God Engine Chamber – A secret chamber deep beneath Shouzan where the emperor undergoes periodic soul-infusions.

Kaiban – The Canyon Fortress

A militarized city built into a massive canyon near the Ironclaw border.

Heavily fortified and rigged with dread cannons and steam-powered artillery.

Population includes mostly Dreadbound warriors and military families.

Known for producing elite commanders and massive spirit-hunting machines.

Yametsu – City of Chains and Whispers

The empire’s chief research hub.

Surrounded by spiraling towers of brass and glass, constantly pulsing with magical discharges.

Home to the Institute of Soul Mechanics, where captured spirits are dissected and integrated into machines.

All buildings are covered in binding sigils to prevent spirits from escaping.

Dokuji – The Bleeding Mirror

A border town used for infiltration, misinformation, and psychological warfare.

Dokuji appears as a peaceful village on the outside—but it’s a nest of mind-binding agents, assassins, and disguised Dreadbound.

Many enemy envoys go missing after visiting.

LANDMARKS

The Black Maw Crater – Site of the ancient ritual that killed the Azure Court. Still radiates cursed magic.

The Whispering Mines of Varran – A massive subterranean network of enslaved laborers mining Arcanite and spiritstone.

The Mirror Wall – A 200-foot wall of obsidian and enchanted glass separating Komu and Onishi. Reflects not the viewer—but their darkest self.

The Ebon Towers – Spiraling towers dedicated to binding and draining kami, where scream-songs echo through the sky.

NOTABLE PEOPLE

Emperor Ganshou the Black Serpent

Race: Human (heavily corrupted by soul-binding)

Traits: Veined marble-white skin, serpent eyes, voice like cracking gears.

Weapon: The Soulchain Scepter—binds and drains spirits into its coils.

Goal: Complete the God Engine and ascend into a divine being of perpetual dominance.

Rumors: May have no soul left, only a rotating cycle of spirits that keep him “alive.”

Lady Nyra the Steel Widow – Mistress of Whispers

Role: Supreme spymaster and commander of the Whispers.

Features: Moves with eerie grace; accompanied by Magi-tek spiders that obey her.

Known For: Coordinating assassinations, illusions, and possession-based infiltration in enemy capitals.

Master Artifex Denzan – The God-Maker

Former Komu engineer, now lead scientist of the God Engine Project.

His body is mostly steam-tek, kept alive by Glyph tubes of recycled air.

Rumored to be attempting to upload his consciousness into the God Engine.

The Three Warden Generals – The Claws of Onishi

General Kar’Zhek the Unmoving – Leads the stone legion, controls geomantic magic and siege engines.

General Seryn Flameveil – Fire-wielding tactician, trained in Komu combat arts before defecting.

General Rothar Vileblood – A blood-shaman and warlock who binds entire battalions with loyalty glyphs.

Summary

The Onishi Empire is a soulless machine fueled by enslaved spirits, bound in iron and ambition. While it lacks the moral compass of its neighbors, its sheer innovation, power, and unity under an immortal tyrant make it a grave threat to global balance.

THE IRONCLAW DYNASTY

“From Flame and Forge, We Rise.”

HISTORY

Origins – The Age of Broken Tribes (1,600 years ago)

Before the Dynasty, the Oni existed as scattered highland and volcanic tribes. Though fierce, they were divided—competing for sacred land, elemental sites, and spiritual dominion. That ended when a warlord-smith known as Varnak the First Flame, armed with a Glyph-bound hammer, united six great clans during a volcanic eclipse.

These clans forged a permanent alliance, building a capital atop the Worldfire Crater, a sacred lava well. This became Thundervale, the heart of the Ironclaw Dynasty.

The Magma Enlightenment (700–400 years ago)

Oni engineers discovered Steam-Tek, using Glyphs to generate steam and power for mechanical devices. During this golden age:

Shamanic rites were merged with Glyph and arcane smiting creating Magi-Tek to further enhance the qualities and complexity of their devices.

Forge-magi developed the first Glyph-forged automatons.

The Titan Forge Council was formed to guide both political and spiritual matters.

The Ironclaw began to build its first airships, armored guardians, and city-forges, establishing itself as a rising world power.

The Modern Age – Steel and Alliance (past 200 years)

Facing border tension with the Onishi Empire and lacking food exports, the Ironclaw Dynasty formed the Pact of Steel and Spirit with the Komu Empire. This mutually beneficial alliance strengthened both empires through trade, joint research, and shared military drills.

The Dynasty now serves as the western bulwark against Onishi aggression—its skyships patrol the Shinzoku Reach, and its war-smiths produce some of the most feared weapons in the world.

CULTURE

Core Values

Strength Through Craft – Value is proven through what one builds or defends.

Honor the Flame – Fire is both destroyer and purifier; it forges the soul.

Ancestor Flame – The spirits of the dead fuel the wisdom of the living.

Societal Structure

Tier

Role

Archmagister

Supreme ruler and spiritual smith-king/queen.

Forge Council

A circle of Forgelords, shamans, military leaders.

Flamesmiths

Masters of elemental crafting and Glyph-forging.

Skybinders

Pilots, engineers, and airship designers.

Spiritguard

Elite Oni soldiers, many bound to elemental Glyphs.

The Bound Caste

Glyph-soulbound constructs aiding society.

CITIES & MAJOR TOWNS

Thundervale (Capital) – “Heart of the Worldflame”

Built inside the caldera of a dormant volcano; cooled magma streams now power its forges.

The air is filled with steam, smoke, chanting, and the hiss of metal.

Headquarters of the Titan Forge, the ruling hall of the Forge Council.

Key Features:

The Worldflame Crucible – A bottomless lava shaft said to contain the spirits of the first smiths.

The Ironspire – A colossal tower built upon and tapping into a large fire obelisk that channels fire magic into the city grid.

Moltenreach – Gate of the Pact

Border city near Komu lands; half-embassy, half-trade hub.

Known for the Celestial Embassy Forge, where Oni and Komu engineers craft collaborative weapons.

Marketplace boasts rare alloys, enchanted dragonhide, and Oni scrollsmiths.

Ashforge – The Endless Furnace

A Kray subterranean town deep beneath the mountains, where forge-temples run without rest.

Guards the Vein Eternal, a glowing Cobinite cavern that hums with latent spirits.

A long standing treaty keeps a good supply of corbinite to the Dynasty and Komu.

LANDMARKS

The Echo Anvil – A 100-foot forge-hammer built on the ruins of a godbeast’s skull. Used to craft ceremonial armor for Glyph-bound generals.

NOTABLE PEOPLE

Archmagister Varnak Ironclaw – The Soul-Smith King

Massive red-skinned Oni with cybernetic arms and horns capped in Corbinite steel alloy.

A visionary who sees no divide between shamanic tradition and arcane engineering.

Commands the Dynasty from the Ironspire Throne, surrounded by elemental forges.

Weapon: Heartmaul, a steam-infused warhammer forged from the molten heart of a dragon.

Forge Commander Brakk Stonegut – Hammer of the Reach

Iron-gray Oni with armor fused to his body. A blunt, loyal military genius.

Leads the Stormclad Legion, a mechanized infantry force powered by steam-tek.

Famous for turning back three Onishi dread engines at the Battle of Shinzoku Reach.

Mistweaver Lorrakai – Glyphsinger of Ashforge

Red-skinned Oni savant who crafts glyphs that “sing” into the subconscious.

Uses her creations to heal trauma, purge corruption, or communicate with the dead.

Sought by Lyrian healers and Kray engineers alike for her mind-Glyphs.

SUMMARY

The Ironclaw Dynasty is a forge-born juggernaut—where innovation meets spirit, and tradition fuels invention. It is a nation built on volcanic resolve, flaming ambition, and deep reverence for the elemental and ancestral world.

The Kurokami Peaks ("Black-Haired Mountains")

So named for the way the dark pine forests and obsidian stone make the mountain tops appear like a shroud of black hair from afar.

Here stands the only Monolith of Life/Spirit.

Mist often curls through the valleys, giving the peaks an ethereal and elusive feel.

The Clans of the Veiled Vale

Overview:

Hidden in the heart of the Kurokami Peaks, the Veiled Vale is an independent and sovereign region guarded by the five great warrior clans, collectively known as The Five Shadows.

Despite their differences, the clans share deep mutual respect and ancient traditions that maintain peace.

The clans are both protectors and spiritual stewards of the Vale and refuse to bow to any empire.

No army has successfully invaded the Veiled Vale—not for lack of trying, but because those who trespass never return.

History of the Veiled Vale:

Ancient Origin: The Five Shadows trace their lineage to the mythical warrior Aokiri the Unseen, said to have been gifted elemental magic by the elemental dragons themselves after saving the spirit of the mountain from corruption.

The mountain was once a war-torn zone between rival kingdoms until Aokiri united five powerful tribes through elemental oaths and founded the Five Shadows.

Each clan was entrusted with mastering one of the Five Sacred Elements—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. An Obelisk for each of the five resides in each clan village.

The clans have lived in harmony for nearly a thousand years, united in purpose: to master the warrior’s path, protect the sacred heart of the Vale, and ensure that no nation gains control over the mountain’s spiritual power.

The Five Clans of the Veiled Vale:

1. Kazan Clan – Flamebound

Element: Fire

Style: Aggressive, explosive strikes; dual blades and chained weapons heated with fire glyphs.

Village: Hi-no-Sato (“Village of Fire”) — Carved into a volcanic cliff that sometimes smolders.

Symbol: Crimson phoenix.

Personality: Passionate, bold, often the most competitive in the tournaments.

2. Mizukari Clan – Tidewalkers

Element: Water

Style: Fluid motion, reactive counters, sword and naginata techniques that mimic flowing water.

Village: Umi-no-Kawa (“River of the Sea”) — Built along the banks of the Vale’s largest river.

Symbol: Koi dragon.

Personality: Calm, analytical, slow to anger but devastating when roused.

3. Kagehana Clan – Whisper of the Wind

Element: Air

Style: Speed-focused, evasive; throwing weapons, twin blades, and hit-and-run techniques enhanced by wind manipulation.

Village: Kaze-no-Mura (“Village of the Wind”) — Located on narrow cliff paths surrounded by perpetual mist.

Symbol: Silver falcon.

Personality: Elusive, philosophical, known for producing master assassins and scouts.

4. Tsuchi-no-Rai Clan – Earthborn Sentinels

Element: Earth

Style: Strong, immovable forms; greatswords, spears, and gauntlets. Earth Glyphs reinforces armor and weapon weight.

Village: Iwa-no-Tera (“Temple of Stone”) — A stone fortress nestled within a canyon.

Symbol: Twin-horned boar.

Personality: Stoic, loyal, and slow to trust outsiders, but fiercest in defense of the Vale.

5. Raijin-Kai Clan – Stormfang

Element: Lightning

Style: Rapid strikes with crackling energy; katana and polearms imbued with lightning speed and shocking power.

Village: Ikazuchi-no-Yama (“Thunder Mountain”) — Perched atop a craggy peak often struck by storms.

Symbol: Blue serpent coiled around a thunderbolt.

Personality: Wild, energetic, with a flair for dramatic combat.

Tournaments of the Vale:

Known as the Goken Saishin ("The Five-Blade Renewal"), the tournament is held every five years at a neutral ground in the center of the Vale called the Sanctum of Blades.

Nobles and rulers from all over the world attend in secret or openly—many seeking to hire clan-trained warriors or elite instructors.

Victors earn sacred titles, honor for their clan, and sometimes invitations to secret inter-nation peace councils.

Political Impact:

Neutral Zone: Ironclaw, Komu and Onishi both respect the Vale as neutral and sacred ground. Any aggression would result in retaliation from all five clans.

Elite Exports: Each clan occasionally sends a few warriors into the wider world to train nobles, serve as personal guards, or act as hidden emissaries—greatly influencing political shifts behind the scenes.

Balance of Power: Some whisper that the Veiled Vale ensures the balance between the three major powers of the East remains stable, and should it ever fall or choose a side, war would be inevitable.

The Five Clan Leaders of the Veiled Vale

1. Lady Akari of the Kazan Clan – Flamebearer of Hi-no-Sato

Age: 38

Element: Fire

Weapons: Twin chained flame-blades

Personality: Charismatic, unrelenting, fiercely loyal to tradition.

Background: Born during a volcanic storm, said to be blessed by the Fire Dragon Spirit itself. She became clan leader by defeating five elder warriors in single combat at just 20.

Notable Feats: Burned an Onishi war party in a single night raid when they trespassed near the Vale; her chains were said to move like serpents of fire.

Philosophy: “A warrior's passion is their greatest weapon—and their greatest weakness.”

2. Master Hoshin of the Mizukari Clan – Serpent of the River

Age: 61

Element: Water

Weapons: Crescent glaive, water-manipulated silk rope

Personality: Wise, diplomatic, slow to act but deadly when moved.

Background: Former traveling monk, returned to the clan after a vision of a drowned future. Restored peace among three feuding water families.

Notable Feats: Negotiated a secret peace between the Ironclaw Dynasty and Komu Empire via a river summit.

Philosophy: “All things flow, even war. Especially pride.”

3. Mistblade Aya of the Kagehana Clan – Whisper of the Wind

Age: 33

Element: Air

Weapons: Dual fans with hidden blades, throwing needles

Personality: Mysterious, serene, rarely seen outside her mists.

Background: Orphan raised by the wind monks of Kaze-no-Mura. Speaks only when necessary, and disappears like fog after meetings.

Notable Feats: Defeated a Komu assassin cell singlehandedly without being seen; left their blades hanging in a tree.

Philosophy: “One who walks in shadow becomes the shape of the wind.”

4. Lord Boru of the Tsuchi-no-Rai Clan – The Earthwall

Age: 54

Element: Earth

Weapons: Massive stone gauntlets, mountain cleaver blade

Personality: Stoic, honest, slow to speak and impossible to sway.

Background: A blacksmith's son who carried a collapsed tunnel's weight for three hours to save children trapped inside.

Notable Feats: Held the Stone Gate of Iwa-no-Tera against an invading monster for three days without rest.

Philosophy: “Strength is not forged. It is rooted.”

5. Raika Stormlash of the Raijin-Kai Clan – Thunderblood Ascendant

Age: 29

Element: Lightning

Weapons: Storm-forged nodachi, crackling whip-sash

Personality: Fierce, unpredictable, often laughing in the midst of battle.

Background: Born during the Storm Bloom Festival under a triple lightning strike.

Notable Feats: Beat three elder masters in one duel by disarming all with a single flash of lightning.

Philosophy: “Live fast. Die loud. Or don't die at all.”

The Sanctum of Blades

Location:

Nestled at the dead center of the Veiled Vale, where all five rivers converge into a tranquil lake named Shinsei-ko ("Lake of True Intent").

Structure:

A circular arena surrounded by five towering pagodas—each one constructed by a different clan, representing its element and warrior path.

The center arena is open-roofed, with the floor made from a mixture of sacred stone, red sand, water-veined quartz, ironwood, and obsidian—each symbolizing the elements.

Key Features:

The Elemental Archways: Five stone arches through which each clan's warriors enter during tournaments.

The Eternal Flame Brazier: Lit only during the Goken Saishin; its fire burns blue when a true warrior enters.

Whisperspire Hall: A neutral pagoda used for diplomatic talks among the clans and visiting nations.

The Archive of Oaths: Houses ancient scrolls of battles, duels, and treaties signed under the veil’s watch.

Traditions:

Goken Saishin Tournament (every 5 years): Clan champions duel in elemental rounds judged by the five clan leaders. Non-lethal, though injuries are seen as badges of pride.

The Trial of Silence: Newcomers who wish to train in the Vale must pass this three-day stealth-and-survival test through the mountain trails.