Banner of Aika, specifically of the Emperor but also of the nation

Aika Shogunate

ܬܐܢܘܓܥܗܨ ܐܟܝܐ

"You want to invade the nation which provides the continent's most fearsome and renowned mercenaries and warriors? Good luck."

- Rinos Yelsalor to Erphon the Great (Erphon the Great would die in battle against the Aika and his invasion would fail)

Aika is a feudal monarchy located on the Aika Islands off the coast of Khanda. It is home to the legendary samurai warriors, bound by strict codes of honor and fealty, who regularly emigrate to serve as mercenaries and adventurers across Yekare.

The Kingdom is ruled by two major political powers: the Emperor and the Shogun. 

The Shogunate survived the Pelegonic Conquest by siding with Pelegon I, sending a major contingent of soldiers. This had a dual effect. Firstly, it established the Shogunate as an ally. Secondly, the show of force through the effectiveness of the Shogunate's forces likely intimidated the Emperor to leave the archipelago alone. 

History

The foundation for Aika was laid with the migration of peoples from Yekare and mainland Khanda. Over time, several small petty kingdoms formed on the archipelago. Unification under the first Emperor, Kawahito the Unifier, came in the IV 300s. Since then, the entire archipelago has been ruled by the Emperor. For a time, the Emperor was the sole political authority. However, the rise of Saisho the Great and her samurai warrior tradition led to the rise of a new power bloc. The shrewd Emperors sought to curtail the power of the samurai by adopting them as a core part of the military and naming a noted samurai to the office of Shogun. Over time, however, the power has traded hands back and forth between Shogunates and periods of Imperial supremacy. As of present, the Takeya Clan rules as Shogun while the Emperor is more of a figurehead, leading many historians to call this period the Takeya Shogunate.

Domains

Attire

The Aika wear kimonos of various colors and makes. These kimonos are usually decorated with geometric shapes, family or feudal emblems, artistic scenes, nature scenes, or simply left plain.