[Jūryoku Tani]

[Hisakawa Yamato]

Nohara no Kuni Climate

As indicated by its name, Field Country is a land covered mostly in grassy plains, with the occasional hill, forest, or river to break up the terrain. Due to its fertile soil and relatively small size, much of the country is well developed, a high density of farms, military outposts, and villages dotting the landscape.

The climate of the Land of Fields is decidedly temperate, with the springs and falls tending to last a bit longer than the summers and winters. Precipitation is a fairly common occurrence, though most days in the country can be expected to be pleasantly warm and sunny. 

Nohara no Kuni Military

Being landlocked near the center mass of the shinobi continent and snugly between 4 other nations has greatly influenced the history of Nohara no Kuni, the open fields too often becoming the battleground for conflicts between the other powers. It is during these conflicts that the weakness of the fertile plains becomes all too clear, the indefensibility of open ground forcing the denizens of Field Country to use other means to protect their homeland.

Unlike most of the other shinobi nations, the Daimyo of Nohara no Kuni holds significant power within the country, drawing a near fanatical amount of loyalty from the people. This loyalty manifests itself into what can be considered one of Nohara no Kuni’s greatest military strengths: the Hohei clan. Not a clan in the traditional sense, but rather a collection of peoples and families across the nation united in their unwavering loyalty to the Daimyo. And while most of these Hohei may never receive shinobi training, nearly all are trained to fight with basic weaponry, bolstering their shinobi force with an astounding number of fierce and loyal ashigaru.

Additionally, the practice of medicine/medical ninjutsu is highly encouraged within Kusagakure and the nation as a whole, an effort that is aided by how easily medicinal plants and herbs grow in the country’s soil. It is due to their miraculous medical force that Kusagakure is able to continue fighting in nearly any situation, despite lacking the full military might of the other great shinobi nations.

Kusagakure Positions Trait Requirements
With the change in rules regarding promotions and acquiring SA's, I'll tentatively be requiring that characters wishing to enter certain positions fulfill certain prerequisites. These prerequisites primarily apply to characters that are moving from one position to another and not really to characters that are already created in said positions. These prerequisites can include utilizing the Arc & Trait System, having certain specs/abilities, or simply completing relevant IC thread(s).

Bodyguard/Assistant: At least a Moderate Loyalty Trait. No Disloyalty Traits.

ANBU Operatives: At least a Minor Loyalty Trait. No Disloyalty Traits.
ANBU Captain: At least a Moderate Loyalty Trait. No Disloyalty Traits.

Jounin Hanchou: At least a Minor Loyalty Trait. Proof of Strategic capability/ability.
War Council: Proof of Strategic capability/ability.

Head Medic: Medical Specialization and Ability.
Medical Corps: Medical Specialization or Ability.

Operations/Genin Team Leaders: At least a Minor Loyalty Trait.

[Hisakawa Yamato]

Important Land Features

Rivers and Lake
Nohara no Kuni possesses 2 major rivers, with one splitting off from the other just north of Kusagakure no Sato. The major river, known simply as Bonchikawa [Basin River], flows from the northernmost border of the country down until the aforementioned split, continuing further southward until feeding into Ishi no Izumi [Lake of Will]. The lake itself is relatively small, and Field Country geographers often debate whether it is in fact a lake or a simple widening of the river. This lake splits and feeds into 3 smaller rivers, with the largest of these rivers flowing eastward into Hi no Kuni. The smaller major river, which splits off from Bonchikawa just north of Kusagakure, is simply named Kusa no Kawa [River of the Grass] and flows southwest into Arashi no Kuni.

Hohei no Mori [Forest of the Hohei]
Named after the Daimyo’s loyal followers, Hohei no Mori is the largest of 3 notable forests within Nohara no Kuni’s borders. Located to the west of Kusagakure across the River of Grass, this forest encompasses the entire area from the river to the border, between 2 key military outposts. This forest not only serves as serviceable defensive terrain, but also as a source of much needed lumber for the country, though imports are still more heavily relied upon.

Hachidori no Mori [Hummingbird’s Forest]
Just south of Kusagakure lies a minor forest named after the abundance of hummingbirds in the area, and unlike Hohei no Mori, harvesting lumber from these woods is both illegal and shunned. Instead, the land is primarily conserved and utilized by Kusagakure for various shinobi tasks, such as training expeditions, exams, and in rare cases, rites of passage.

Chimamire no kinoko no mori [Bloody Mushroom Forest]
The strangest of Nohara no Kuni’s forests, the Bloody Mushroom Forest lies on the western edge of the country, nestled comfortably between the village of Ōtama and the military outpost Semi no Rakuen. In addition to trees, the forest is filled with mushrooms of various shapes, sizes, and colors, with many reaching heights of 70 meters or more. While entry into the forest is explicitly forbidden, there is no need to enforce this rule as it is nearly impossible for any animal life to survive in the aptly named land, a downfall of toxic spores warding off any would-be explorers.

[Hisakawa Yamato]

Villages
Villages are the backbone of any nation’s economy, and, thanks to the accessible terrain and fertile soil, Nohara no Kuni has a fair amount. While each of the villages may specialize in something different, Field Country is unique in that all of them dabble at least somewhat into agriculture, ensuring that the population will always be well fed, even if supply lines were to be disrupted.

Kusagakure no Sato

Population: 105,400 Civilians - 13,250 Shinobi - 14,400 Ashigaru
The Village Hidden in the Grass, though hidden only in name. Being situated on flatland means there’s little in the way of keeping Kusagakure’s location a secret, though this means the village can openly trade and interact with the rest of the country’s villages and military outposts. That isn’t to say Kusagakure is completely vulnerable, however, as the country’s main river splits into two more rivers, giving it some cover to the north, west, and east, with a minor forest providing some defensive terrain to the south.

Most of the buildings in Kusagakure are constructed from wood and stone, with a few key structures being made primarily from concrete and metal. They can range anywhere from 1-4 stories high, though in almost all cases there is little room in between buildings as construction space is always at a premium. The shinobi HQ lies squarely in the center of the village, with all other military facilities close by. Markets and other businesses lie on the next ‘ring’ outwards, with residential districts and a handful of farms on the outermost edges of the village.

Hohei-chō

Population: 194,600 Civilians - 500 Shinobi - 28,000 Ashigaru
The true capital of Nohara no Kuni, Hohei-chō is the most developed village in the nation by far, having existed for the longest amount of time, as well as receiving the most attention from the land’s inhabitants. The structures within the city are as old as the nation itself, built of wood and stone and reaching up to 5-6 stories in height. This is where the Daimyo spends most of his time, though unlike most other nations, he takes a much more active role in the leadership of his shinobi village, and spends a fair amount of time in Kusagakure as well. In some ways, Hohei-chō is even more well defended than Kusagakure, boasting huge stone walls around its exterior, as well as vastly more ashigaru garrisoned in the city.

Izumizaki

Population: 21,800 Civilians - 50 Shinobi - 3,500 Ashigaru
From the outside, Izumizaki appears to be a quiet and unassuming village, which is what makes it so surprising that it has the highest agricultural output in the country. Grains, fruits, and vegetables all curiously grow much faster and hardier in this village than in other locations. It could be due to Izumizaki being situated directly atop a river, or perhaps the soil itself is enchanted, but of course the people who live there will claim it’s solely due to their hardworking nature. Agriculture aside, the river also plays a key role in distributing the village’s goods to the rest of Nohara no Kuni, as well as making it easy for any military reinforcements to arrive should the need to protect such a critical asset arise.

Shōwa

Population: 15,000 Civilians - 50 Shinobi - 1,500 Ashigaru
In the northernmost part of Nohara no Kuni, Shōwa is the closest village to the Bonchi no Kuni border. The areas to the north and east are densely wooded, and the climate generally encourages the cultivation of tree-based crops, mostly fruits. With the plentiful access to lumber, most of the buildings in this village are constructed from wood, and close proximity to the river provides additional benefits such as watermills and easy transportation of goods. It is not uncommon for residents of Shōwa to originally be from its sister village Nishigō and vice versa.

Nishigō

Population: 13,000 Civilians - 50 Shinobi - 1,000 Ashigaru
Just a bit southwest from its sister village Shōwa, Nishigō is incredibly similar when it comes to things like population and architecture. Nishigō, however, doesn’t have such immediate access to Nohara no Kuni’s river, and so it isn’t uncommon for produce to be shipped by land to Shōwa to then be transported downstream. This village prides itself on bush/vine-grown crops, such as beans, squashes, peppers, tomatoes, and an assortment of berries.

Yugawa

Population: 14,000 Civilians - 10 Shinobi - 500 Ashigaru
While not as close to the Tsuchi no Kuni border as Ōtama, Yugawa’s surrounding area is still much stonier than most other villages in Nohara no Kuni. Combined with easy access to the river, the architecture of this village is much more modern than one might expect, with an assortment of stone and concrete based structures. Yugawa does produce a respectable number of crops, but this village’s main draw and crowning achievement is the Yugawa Center of Learning, the only place of higher learning in Nohara no Kuni outside of Kusagakure and the capital, Hohei-chō.

Ōtama

Population: 11,000 Civilians - 50 Shinobi - 300 Ashigaru
The closest village to Tsuchi no Kuni, Ōtama still bears scars from the last TWO great shinobi wars, made especially worse by the existence of the nearby Bloody Mushroom Forest. Portions of the village still remain not rebuilt, the rubble covered by growths from the mushroom forest. Denizens of this village are hyper aware of the dangers of the mushrooms and are experts in determining the lethality of the fungi from a mere glance. While some civilians may choose to cultivate and harvest mushrooms for their livelihood, most in Ōtama work in quarries, providing Nohara no Kuni with most of its stone and other ores.

Kawauchi

Population: 18,000 Civilians - 50 Shinobi - 2,000 Ashigaru
Quite the average village when compared to the rest, Kawauchi sports the typical wooden architecture most villages in Nohara no Kuni possess. Its position in between Kusagakure and a military outpost ensures that it is one of the safer villages to reside in, and its primary exports include grains and animal products.

Hirata

Population: 18,000 Civilians - 50 Shinobi - 1,000 Ashigaru
Closest to the heart of Hi no Kuni, Hirata most likely has the highest percentage of residents that are originally from the Fire Country. The constant flow of visitors has naturally pushed this village to become the nation’s go-to ‘vacation’ hotspot, boasting a high number of fairs and festivals, casinos, and other entertainment staples. A healthy population and economy has allowed this village’s architecture to become quite modern, with mostly concrete structures with only the occasional wood and stone building.

Ten'ei

Population: 9,000 Civilians - 10 Shinobi - 500 Ashigaru
The southernmost village of Nohara no Kuni, and easily the least well off. Its position makes the village quite hard to support logistically, and over time this has reflected in the hearts of the people there. Technologically and architecturally, Ten’ei has been left in the dust, with structures made primarily from wood, and electricity reserved only for the most crucial of services. It doesn’t help that the denizens can easily see the higher quality of life of those living across the Arashi no Kuni border. It is here where most dissenters of Kusagakure originate, with even the Ashigaru stationed here generally hailing from other parts of the nation.

[Hisakawa Yamato]

Military Outposts
Evenly dispersed across Nohara no Kuni, it is at military outposts where the bulk of Kusagakure’s shinobi are stationed at any given time, aside from Kusagakure itself, that is. Each outpost is positioned in a key, strategic location, either protecting important Nohara no Kuni villages or being protected by what little defensive terrain the country has to offer. At their creation, the outposts had what would be considered ‘proper’ names, though through the years they have taken on more humorous, or literal, titles. These newer names generally seem to describe the nearby physical terrain, though a few have a bit more depth to them.

While they are difficult to train, it is a top priority to have a few sensor-type shinobi stationed at each outpost, accompanied by shinobi who specialize in mobility/transportation. This is to make up for the lack of defensive terrain, allowing for constant surveillance of intruding chakra signatures, fast communication between nearby outposts and Kusagakure, and then a swift response to the issue at hand.

Daimyō no Kakato

Population: 200 Civilians, 500 Shinobi, 300 Ashigaru
Literally "The Daimyo’s Heel,” this outpost earned its name presumably due to the fact that Nohara no Kuni’s shape could be likened to some sort of mangled foot, and thus the outpost’s location would be where the heel is. What sets this outpost from the others is its unusually high population of non-shinobi inhabitants, being a popular place for talented ashigaru to hone their skills, and this means there are many opportunities for industrious civilians to make a quick ryo.

One of the older, and more populated, outposts, most of Daimyō no Kakato’s structures have been upgraded to stone or concrete, with only few, less important buildings, still made of wood. The outpost boasts sturdy walls and towers, with the added bonus of civilian luxuries, such as small restaurants and a few other vendors.

Mogura Oka

Population: 10 Civilians, 300 Shinobi, 100 Ashigaru
Literally "Mole Hill,” this outpost earned its name from the sheer amount of mole hills dotting the landscape nearby. Situated on an abnormally large hill, at least by Field Country standards, this outpost is well known for being a boring, and undesirable place to be stationed, due to its distance from any major villages and being situated close to an ally border. In fact, it can be argued that most shinobi stationed here will spend more time policing the nearby village of Ten’ei, where there have been several cases of civil unrest and dissent… Between that and simple watch duties, more seasoned shinobi often have fun commanding fresher faces to deal with the mole hill problem, which is impossible.

Nokoribi

Population: 50 Civilians, 200 Shinobi, 100 Ashigaru
Literally "Embers Island,” this outpost could easily be considered the most unique of the bunch. Situated in the "Lake of Will,” the island is completely manmade, created by the Honō clan at the request of the Daimyo shortly after Kusagakure’s founding. It was a construction project of which the nation had never seen the likes of before, but it was well worth it.

A large percent of the people stationed at this outpost, shinobi and non-shinobi alike, are in some way a part of or affiliated with the Honō clan. Blacksmiths, in particular, are free to practice and refine their craft, and it’s said the ringing of hammers can be heard even from the far end of the bridges that connect the island to the rest of the nation.

Kusa no Umi

Population: 400 Shinobi, 100 Ashigaru
Literally "Grass Sea,” this is the northernmost outpost of Nohara no Kuni and holds a key role in watching both the Tsuchi no Kuni and Bonchi no Kuni border. It gets its name from the vast grassiness that spreads out before it in all directions, cut off eventually only by the trees springing up towards the north, the mountains to the west, and the river to the east. In the event of all out war, the shinobi stationed here are typically expected to easily surrender the outpost, retreating across the river to Shōwa and destroying the bridge.

Hisui no Heiya

Population: 400 Shinobi, 100 Ashigaru
Literally "Jade Plains,” this military outpost is primarily tasked with watching over the Basin River towards the Tsuchi no Kuni border, though should the need arise it is prepared to defend from attacks from the north and east as well. It gets its name from the beautiful hue of the plains in the surrounding area, as well as the view of the crops being grown in Nishigō. While the number of combatants stationed here at any given time is the same as Kusa no Umi, the facilities are built to accommodate two to three times that number, in the event that Kusa no Umi and Shōwa are overrun and the people forced to retreat deeper into Nohara no Kuni.

Semi no Rakuen

Population: 20 Civilians, 500 Shinobi, 100 Ashigaru
Literally "Cicada Paradise,” this military outpost gets its name from the incessant cries of cicada and other insects during the warm seasons. Being close to the Tsuchi no Kuni border as well as the village of Yugawa has allowed most of the structures to be constructed from stone and concrete, with a few even boasting being made from tough metals. This outpost also has the benefit of having being close to the Bloody Mushroom Forest, granting ease of mind from attacks originating from the southeast.

Noraneko Bokujō

Population: 50 Civilians, 300 Shinobi, 50 Ashigaru
Literally "Stray Cat Pasture,” this military outpost gets its name from the comically large number of stray cats roaming about, as well as the generally lax attitude of the combatants stationed here. Despite watching over a ‘hostile’ border, the defensive terrain to the north and south makes the area a rather undesirable angle to attack from, leading to the outpost being known for its slackers and being a great place to be stationed if you don’t wish to see any action.

Midori Oka

Population: 20 Civilians, 500 Shinobi, 100 Ashigaru
Literally "Green Hill,” this military outpost gets its name from the surrounding area being… mostly one large green hill. Despite its mundane name, this particular outpost tends to see the most action, whether it be from unruly bandits, out of control animals, or the nearby residents of Ten’ei growing restless. It covers a very key area of the nation, being relatively far from any sort of river while still watching over the Arashi no Kuni border.

Kōrogi Inaka

Population: 20 Civilians, 100 Shinobi, 50 Ashigaru
Literally "Grasshopper Hometown,” this village gets its name from the large number of grasshoppers that plague the area during the warm seasons. This outpost has an incredibly low number of combatants stationed, and that is due mostly to the current political climate and its location. Because it watches over the Hi no Kuni border and because of its proximity to Hohei- chō, there is hardly any need to keep a large force here. However, it’s still quite useful to send fresh faces here to get some proper field experience without putting them in any true danger.