The Kirimachi Empire

The Kirimachi empire was a feudal sea-faring empire in the archipelago of Palai. They were the second-largest power in the region, after Barras.

Political Structure

Kirimachi was formally ruled by the Emperor and the royal family, The House of White. However in practice the Emperor oversaw only administrative and cultural duties. In truth, the empire was ruled by the Great Houses and their political games.

While Kirimachi comprised over a hundred noble houses, there were about a dozen who could claim the title of "Great", though there were fewer still "lesser" houses who could go toe-to-toe with the greaters' influence and strength. Most of the lesser houses resigned to controlling their own lands, and some couldn't even manage that.

Those not born into nobility were serfs, common peasants who belonged to whichever house's land - or Pagori - they lived on. Serfs were not without freedom and rights, though they could never hope to dream beyond their station.

Sometimes a house would choose to 'contract' one or more of its serfs to another house, effectively transferring ownership of the serfs. This practice was not uncommon, though once a house bought the serf, they did not have the same control over them as they would their own serfs, rendering these so-called "Mercenary Serfs" more free than their 'owned' peers.

However being sold comes with a risk; Should a mercenary serf perform severely inadequately, or attempt to betray their new house, the house could choose to disown them - an option not afforded to owned serfs. If they do so, the serf becomes houseless, a terrible fate for a serf. Houseless are the lowest rung of Kirimachi society and are afforded no rights or freedoms by the houses.

Some Houseless will travel the islands, seeking to impress one of the houses enough for adoption. Most leave Kirimachi for good, seeking brighter shores in Barras, or Integya.