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Xuefeng, founded in the year 2097AC, has faced many changes throughout its two decades of existence. Ji-yeong, during her time as the Secretary of the Nakano-Shinjitsu Estate, wished to archive the state and history of this settlement for future generations with publications such as this, releasing new editions as significant changes shook the grounds of the Ruby Jewel. This publication, written by Secretary Qiu Zaiqiang, serves as a continuation of what Ji-yeong started, made after the Reformation of the Military in 2120AC.

This period shall be referred to as the Shinjitsu's Autumn Administration due to the de-facto leadership of Miyuhiko Shinjitsu and Qiu Zaiqiang. Anything that has not received a topic has remained the same since the last publication.

Shogun and Regent

The ruling classes of Xuefeng operate on a sort of diarchy that leads and handles political and military affairs. There is an 'order of rule' in place where the word of the Shogun is absolute, but so is the word of the Regent when the Shogun is not present. The current ruling class is blessed by the Emperor, but that does not mean they necessarily have to be.

Daimyo

Xuefeng harbors nobility, and the Daimyo are the pinnacle of this class. They have commonly been gifted the blood of the Emperor by the Shogun for outstanding performances in their craft, be that military rule, artificery, or anything the Ruling Class deems worthy. This is not necessarily a role of power, even if responsability does usually come with it. The Secretary of the Nakano-Shinjitsu Estate is supposed to be on the same level as the Daimyo, though special cases can and have been made.

Warlord

Warlord is a term that simply refers to power, as Warlords do not necessitate to be affiliated with the Ashigaru. They are people entrusted with some kind of autonomy, and are leagues above the average citizen and even some members of the Ashigaru. This role is generally given to the hatamoto, but it can also be given to others who prove themselves worthy, such as a grand priest.

The Ashigaru is the military of Xuefeng, an army of diligently trained warriors that follow the Fourfold Path more strictly than most others. They are an autarky, an entity with financial, technical and administrative autonomy that is overseen by the State still. As such, they harbor a hierarchy of their own, but even their leader bows to the ruling class still.

Hatamoto

The Hatamoto or the Bannerman is the direct leader of the military, serving under the leading hierarchy, delegating tasks and handling military matters. They are expected to be great minds in both direct and indirect combat, devising strategies and operations alike.

Bushi

The Bushi or the Samurai are subordinated to the Hatamoto, serving as an intermediary leader that handles day-to-day tasks of military management, such as training and leading teams of those below them. The Bushi harbor the power to arrest without apparent reason, and though it is expected for them to use this ability responsibility, reality is often not what we want.

Goshi

The Goshi or the Rustic Warrior are combatants with moderate experience in combat, showing themselves useful to the proper body of the military. They can make arrests within reason and give direct orders to those below them and regular citizens, typically being held in higher regard in society.

Gokenin

The Gokenin or the Houseman are fresh, untrained recruits in the military, typically teenagers still who resort to the Ashigaru for better learning and the chance at a better life. The Gokenin rarely ever do any physical tasks and are instead taught the theory of battle and its tactics, generally following the concepts created by famed Izhuran general Fuyuki Sanada.

Religions followed in Xuefeng generally hail from Sheng, and there is, of course, the ever-present Fourfold Path, the basis of all Shengese cultures with very few exceptions, something so rooted it can even be seen in practices such as the Tea Ceremony. Other religions such as the Illuminated or the newly-founded Shenlonghui have their differences, but use of the philosophy of the Path all the same.

"In family, we find purpose. In honor, we find guidance. In judgement, we find wisdom. In spirit, we find strength."

The Fourfold Path is the traditional way of life, hailing from the way the Emperor supposedly lived his life. It's the philosophy that the abstract concepts, or pillars of Family, Honor, Judgement and Spirit should all be understood and balanced so one can live a fulfilling life.

The Pillar of Family

Family is oftentimes one of the greatest motivators a person can have. It extends not just to family, but to relations as a whole: as such, the search for companions, platonic love through found families, friends, and other things in between are things all can relate to, because our desire to protect them, to see them flourish is what gives us purpose.

The Pillar of Honor

Honor is upheld in actions and in words, and is a strong guidance for the world. Honor can be found in the littlest actions, such as speaking the truth, to the biggest, such as upholding a military alliance. It is through honor that guidance is found.

The Pillar of Judgement

Judgement refers both to the judgement of those with ill intentions but also the judgement of your own actions. Seeing the errors you've made in the past and thinking before acting again will grant you wisdom throughout your life.

The Pillar of Spirit

It is said that strength comes from the spirit, and this pillar is the embodiment of this idea. It is strength of mind above all, the ability to rise after falling into a pit, and to pull an unfound strength from within when you are at your lowest.

Some seek not the balance of the Fourfold Path and instead dedicate their whole life to a single pillar -- those are the monks, who take several vows during their life, such as shaving their head bald as an act of initiation. Most end up making a pilgrimage to the Four Pillars in Sheng itself. This practice is very rare nowadays and has been overtaken by something similar, that of Cultivation or the Dragon Way.

The Dragon Way has been a famed philosophy amongst lesser magi for some time now, but in recent times, magi of greater power and renown have found themselves adhering to the path of Cultivation as well -- some of them having achieved that status due to cultivation. Cultivation is the belief that through training and meditation, a person's body, mind and soul can be elevated to a higher status, eventually ascending to the Heavens. It is, much like the Fourfold Path, less of a religion and more of a philosophy.

Shenlong has been venerated as the Lord of Rain and Thunder in Xuefengese society since its inception, as commoners, as always, believed that praying to them would grant bountiful harvests and other common things. But their teachings as the Dragon of Knowledge came more recently, with the creation of the Shenlonghui, a congregation of scholars that added to the Fourfold Path the notions of Creation and Defense, balancing these two concepts in ways they see fit. Worldviews are not well defined, as it is believed each member should create their own and debate with others -- though there are, of course, some common thoughts and ideologies based on what Shenlong taught to their first drakanites.

Participants who are more inclined to the faithful aspect of this society call upon Shenlong, taking a series of vows and going through particular rites to be considered worthy. They conduct rituals and festivals in Shenlong's name and generally take a more traditional approach to such a progressive faith. Priesthood is more common amongst drakanites, since most Shengese drakanites were created by Shenlong (though there are exceptions, as Yugao has his drakanites too).

Though The Illuminated do not bear a proper magi priest in Xuefeng anymore and Jiuweihu's Chosen lives in Aegis, some commoners often direct their prayer to the Sun still, in an attempt to seek an individual relationship with it. They live their lives with a philosophy that embodies kindness, respect and understanding, called the Three Virtues of the Illuminated Faith.

Priests of the Illuminated call upon Jiuweihu, the Sun Deity, and they are generally taught the ideas of fate. Priesthood is most popular amongst kitsune, as they are a race that came to be precisely due to Jiuweihu's blessing.

There are, of course, countless other less organized beliefs in Xuefeng, but that have enough of a following to be worth mentioning. Perhaps the biggest of which is that of Enarr, the God of Wisdom, followed by Ualdir, the God of Battle, likely due to his friendship with the Emperor. Chireus, the God of Travel and even the Divine Four (especially Aeldfyr, here called Ryujin) are present there as well, though they all lack proper magi priests.