Tsuki Information: Know Your Village

[Kyōshi-hime]

医師案内

Lesson I: General Information

Village:
Tsukigakure no Sato | 月隠れの里
^{[ Hidden Moon Village]}

Country:
Tsuki no Kuni | 月の国
^{[ Land of the Moon ]}

Symbol/Hitai-ate:
[ Crescent Moon ]

Political Setup:

Gesshoku | Lord or Lady | 月食
The leader of Tsukigakure is known as the Gesshoku. The Gesshoku is the equivalant of the Kage of the other hidden villages, and is determined bloodline -- traditionally from the Mangetsu Clan -- much like a monarchy. In the event of the death of the current Gesshoku, the power is shifted to the next adult shinobi in the clan.

Shokujin | Council of Elders | 蝕甚
The Shokujin is the council that governs and advises the Gesshoku, made up of the elder leaders of the clans of the village. Their council is higher than that of the Tsukinowa, but they have no definite say so in the actions of the Gesshoku. They are there to advise, or to step in if something were to happen to the Gesshoku or Tsukinowa.

Tsukinowa | Head General/Advisor | 月の輪
The shinobi who acts as the Gesshoku’s advisor and the head of all ninja forces in the village is the Tsukinowa. This individual is appointed by the Gesshoku, and is the head of every elite faction and leader in the village. All ANBU captains, Oinin captains, Medical-nin captains, and elite forces follow the Tsukinowa’s order, as allowed by the Gesshoku.

Taiinisou | Head Priestess | 尉尼僧
The Taiinisou is the priestess of the Tsukiyomi no Mikoto shrine in Tsukigakure. She his the customary religious leader of the village, and also another member of the Gesshoku’s close inner circle.

ANBU Captains 暗部大長 (3)
There are three, and only three, ANBU Captains in Tsuki's forces. These three shinobi lead the other ANBU in teams on special missions in Tsuki, as well as keep the peace. Because of Tsuki's strict military background, these ninja are expected to the the elite of the elite.

Oinin Captains 追い忍大長 (3)
There are three Oinin Captains in Tsuki's forces. These three shinobi lead the other Oinin in teams on special missions to hunt down missing nin in or from Tsuki. They, too, are expected to be the elite of the elite.

The Taiinmusha | Tsuki’s Elite Group
The Taiinmusha consists of 5 warriors chosen by the Gesshoku in conjunction with the Shokujin. These 5 warriors are usually the strongest in the land, and serve as a special force in the defense of the village. Each are given rings with black moonstone gems that are engraved their phase of the moon, making them recognizable to commoners. These 5 ninja answer directly to the Gesshoku, and are often called upon to be his/her own special council. There are 5 titles:

Saku | New Moon
Ring | 朔 -- Tokiba Aoshi

Gasturin | Full moon
Ring | 月輪

Jougen | Crescent moon
Ring | 上弦

Hanrin | Half Moon
Ring | 半輪

Kagen | Three Quarter Moon
Ring | 下限

The title of Saku is usually given to the Tsukinowa, but if the Tsukinowa is not an active shinobi (a retired shinobi, sennin, etc.), then the position is given to whomever the Council and Gesshoku deem fit.

Geography:

Moon Country
[ Under Construction ]

Village Layout
[ Under Construction ]

[Kyōshi-hime]

Lesson II: The Gesshoku of Tsukigakure no Sato

月食

Shodai | Saikaidō

Saikaidō was the founder of Tsukigakure no Sato. After the Great Shinobi War, Tsuki was formed by a group of nomad mercenaries who worshiped Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. Their leader, Saikaidō -- the only ninja to ever use gravity based jutsu -- created this village for them to worship Tsukuyomi. He was also the first to discover the crystal caves on the island, and decided to build the village around it. Little is known about his death, but according to folklore, in his old age he disappeared mysteriously off the southern shores of the beach, leaving his only pupil, Mangetsu Chinzei, in charge of the village.

Nidaime | Mangetsu Chinzei

Mangetsu Chinzei was the son of one of the original mercenaries who migrated to Tsuki no Kuni from Mizu no Kuni. He was trained by Saikaidō himself, but he could not master the gravity release, then called inryoukuton, before he died. He decided to master the four elements instead to make up for his “incompetence”, and was the only Gesshoku, other than his daughter, to master all four elements before he was a jounin. He ruled during a peaceful era in Tsuki, and died peacefully of natural causes in his ripe old age.

Sandaime | Mangetsu Kyūshū

Mangetsu Kyūshū is the first female Gesshoku in the history of Tsukigakure no Sato. She is the daughter of Chinzei, and the only other shinobi in the village to master all four elements, as well as a variated form of dokuton, or poison release. She became Gesshoku after her father died, and helped to defend her village from the invasion of the barbarians from the south, known as the Genkou Nation. They invaded Tsuki no Kuni, and attempted to slaughter it’s people. The shinobi defended Tsuki’s shores as Kyushu picked off the Hun-like warriors one by one. Finally, as legend tells it, she fought their leader, Temujin, and defeated him after a two day long fight to the death. She severed his head and stood high on mount Mikoto where she held it up to show the remaining Genkou, warning them to never come to their island again. They all fled, and the remaining were taken prisoner.

Yondaime | Mangetsu Getsurei

Getsurei was the eldest son of Kyushu, and inherited his mothers vigorous spirit. He was the founder of the Tsuki Council, who consisted then of the strongest ninja in the village and several of his closest friends. He was a medical nin who ruled during another peaceful era in Tsuki no Kuni, leaving him free to study the gravity release that his grandfather had failed to master. He never made any headway, though, and decided to retire to become a sennin, searching for more medical breakthroughs to add to his research. The right to rule passed to his son, but before he left, he started the Tsuki Medical Institute to train more medical ninja like him.

Godaime | Mangetsu Shihaku

Shihaku was one of the most warrior-like rulers of Tsuki no Sato, leading it into what was known as the First Dark Age. During this time, Tsukigakure went on a campaign to take over all separate, non-shin obi villages of the island and make them colonies of Tsukigakure no Sato. He then made plans to move on to other small surrounding islands and take them also. After 10 years of absolute rule, his father, a much older Getsurei, returned to set his son straight. A tired, war weary Shihaku acquiesced to his father’s demands and over time, several of the surrounding islands were freed. It was too late, however, for Shihaku to redeem himself in one man’s eyes, and a coup d’etat was led against the Mangetsu clan, leaving Shihaku and his only son, Saku, dead. Saku, however, killed the assailants before his death, redeeming the honor of the Mangetsu clan.

[color=BlackRokudaime | Mangetsu Kyoushi

Kyoushi, named after Kyūshū and Shihaku’s only other known living child, was made Gesshoku after she protested against the Council choosing someone outside of her clan as the next Gesshoku. Her grandfather agreed to train her and take up the position as Gesshoku while he did so, so that the position would be filled. After she was deemed fit, she was made the 6th Gesshoku, and ruled the village like her grandfather would have had it. Her grandfather finally died of old age, content on the way the village was ruled.

After several years of peaceful rule, however, a band of thieves known as Kiken -- led by a tyrant named Dorobou and his two underlings, Daigiri and Kakeru -- swiftly invaded Tsuki and took the Gesshoku and the Tsukinowa (who was then also the Taiinisou) hostage, ushering Tsukigakure into it's Second Dark Age. After months of biding her time, Kyoushi defeated Kiken with the aid of Hankouteki Kakeru, who had switched sides. He was later on made the new Tsukinowa of the village.

Almost a year after Kiken was dispelled, Kyoushi disappeared, leaving her husband, Kuchiyo Arra, in charge of the village. Foul play was suspected.

She returned to Tsuki a year and a half later, defeating Kakeru with Arra, and taking back her throne. The next five years would be known as The Golden Age, as Tsuki was built back to it's former glory, physically and financially.

Shichidaime | Kuchiyo Arra

Kuchiyo Arra, long time friend and ally of Kyoushi, migrated to Tsuki no Kuni after the destruction of his own village, Kagegakure no Sato (Village Shrouded in the Shadows), by Bukko which he was also the leader of. Kyoushi allowed him to become one of her most trusted royal guard, and they two began their romance from then on. After her disappearance, a year after their wedding, it is rumored that he was murdered, and zealous followers took his body, leaving the throne open once again.

He returned a year and a half or so later and defeated the Hachidaime Gesshoku, losing his life in the process.

Hachidaime | Hankouteki Kakeru

Kakeru, the current Gesshoku, was Kyoushi and Arra’s Tsukinowa. He was general and leader of all of Tsuki’s forces, and now rules Tsuki just as a general would: with an iron fist. Despite his past affiliation with Kiken, the Council reluctantly granted him the position of Gesshoku to keep the villagers peaceful, and to prevent a civil war.

Then, after trying to make his village more powerful by taking over small surrounding villages, and trying to spread his influence, the Daimyo saw his efforts as a threat to the wellbeing of Tsuki no Kuni. Kakeru then began plans for killing the Daimyo and taking over his office as leader of the country, but the Daimyo had the village attacked by hired mercenary ninja from other small countries. The villagers were forced to take shelter in one of Kakeru's nearby outpost villages while they rebuilt their village.

The Daimyo soon let them return with the coaxing of the council against Kakeru's wishes. However, he continued to plot as Tsuki rebuilt itself, but was soon cut down by Arra and Kyoshi in their triumphant return.

The current power now lays back in the hands of the Rokudaime Gesshoku, Mangetsu Kyoshi.

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[Kyōshi-hime]

Lesson 3: The Shokujin | Tsuki's Council of Elders

The council of elders is split into three groups of four known as levels. The most influential are in the first level, and so on. They are the driving force behind the Gesshoku, often being the Lord or Lady's advisory group when making critical decisions that affect the well-being of the whole village.

Each of them have their own arcana, but the mystery behind it has yet to be revealed.

1st -- Raja Naga (Emperor)
2nd -- Seiryu (Temperance)*
3rd -- Ganga (Priestess)*
4th -- Omoikane (Heirophant)*

5th -- Shiva (Tower)
6th -- Arahabaki (Hermit)*
7th -- Take-Mikazuchi (Emperor)
8th -- Kurama Tengu (Hermit)

9th -- Yatagarasu (Sun)
10th -- Taraka (Hermit)
11th -- Kali (Strength)
12th -- Take-Minakata (Hanged-Man)

Click a picture for full view.

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* = Have died in the last 5 years of the Golden Age.