[OOC] Welcome / Introduction thread

[Cadoc]

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Kirigakure No Sato - The Village Hidden In The Mist

霧隠れの里

[Also known as "the bloody mist", a reference to its infamous genin trials which require potential shinobi to ruthlessly slaughter all of their classmates; this cultural tradition is still in practice today.]

Village Motto: "mors ab mare" "Death from the Sea"

Mizu no Kuni (The Land of Water) acts as the mainland for the smaller nearby islands, and collectively they make up the continent of Thales, also known as the Water Archipelago. Despite being the smallest of the great nations Mizu no Kunai has managed to establish a position as one of the most brutal places on earth. This is partly due to the natural terrain and the difficulties that the Hazian people have had to endure because of it: vast lakes and swamps cover the majority of the island, limiting the application of agriculture. As a result, the island's inhabitants have traditionally either hunted, fished, or raided other islands for food and resources. The latter of which is aided by the perpetual mist that wraps the country, from which the village draws its name.

Eventually, these small tribes banded together to form larger naval forces to vie for control of the seas, this lead to the rise of the great sea lords and eventually Kirigakure No Sato in what had been a neutral area. The influence of these sea lords and long-standing Martine traditions are still reflected in the village today, whether it is the architecture—many of the village's structures are fashioned from old boats—or the act of killing everyone in your class to graduate to the rank of genin—a means settling inter-house rivalries.

As a result, academy students and their families approach their education with a sense of vigour, a stark contrast to some of the more lackadaisical view held by the peace-loving nations. The merciless nature of its training requirements and expectations far exceeds what is demanded by the other ninja lands, and this has caused Kirigakure's shinobi population to be especially battle hardened. The village's motto, "Death from the Sea", is often used as slang to either confirm the acceptance of a difficult task or to communicate solidarity with another person's resolve or intentions. 

The village is led by the enigmatic Kraken Lord Yoko Taro, a Jōnin hailed as the stealthiest in history by her countrymen. The title itself is a unique one bestowed upon the acting Mizukage to reflect the village's beginnings as a confederation of sea lords. Only when the acting Mizukage gains the support of all three sea lord fractions can their position be ratified, by way of assigning a number to their position, in this case, Yoko would become the Rokudaime Mizukage. This rule has been the source of much contention within the country, with many battles breaking out for the seat of power.

Most recently between Hyobe Kaguya, a kage candidate supported by the Eteoclus sea lord and a terrorist group called Hazian who claimed to represent the will of the people they drew their name from. It was in the ensuing battle that the Mizukage disappeared only to be quickly replaced by a shinobi called "Moon" who for a time held the support of the Hippomedon Sea lord's family, leading many to believe that they were supporters of the terrorist group that had seized power. However, the civil war was not to last forever, and within less than six months the rebellion (as it is now know) was quashed. This internal fighting considerably weakened the fighting strength of the respective sea lords and depleted their followers within the hidden village. 

In the wake of this civil war, a new Mizukage was appointed who held the position for little more than a year. While an official reason has not been given as to why they resigned the popular view is because they lacked the support of any of the great houses, instead they had managed to come to power through their existing position. The combination of weakened forces and failing leadership saw the rise to the current Kraken Lord, who has ushered in a time of financial prosperity and discovery, always pushing her forces to become more powerful. Alas, despite these achievements and the support of the Parthenopeus families she has still yet to unify the entire island. 

In a fight, no potential opponent is feared more than a shinobi of Kirigakure no Sato. This drives its military forces to each seek out becoming the consummate master of their own particular talent and has turned the village into a city of the specialized, with each of its ninjas purportedly perfecting a unique skill.

It is by this acquisition of specialized skill that a Kirigakure shinobi earns their village-wide epithet, their namesake and shinobi persona. It is also commonplace for Kirigakure shinobi to file their teeth into sharp shark-like points, an ancient cultural tradition now treated like a ceremony in honour of academy graduation. It is advised for those unfamiliar with the rigours of constant battle to avoid this fog covered privateer metropolis, and to flee its advanced shinobi forces on sight.

Notable Shinobi: Yoko Taro, the Kraken Lord, Gekkido Runeska, Sandaime Mizukage, Shango, The Demon Of The Bloody Mist 

Points of Interest:

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(2) Crafting area (Highest bonuses possible)
(3) Ritualist's Research Centre / Library (Legendary books and more)
(4) Rogue training area (+1 to Agility skills)
(5) Out of character area (Meet your fellow villagers!)[/font][/ul]
Village Bonus: Genin Item Starter Pack (link), Perk Page (link)
Economic Rating: "S" Class
Combat Rating: "S" Class
Population Rating: "D" Class

[/b] 7
Active Chunin: 0
Active Jonin: 1
Active Sannin: 0
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Village Alliances: It is the way of the denizens of the Hidden Mist to remain neutral with all other ninja nations, and to shy away from making definite deals or alliances in the long term. In the interest of some global catastrophe, they can possibly be persuaded to temporarily ally with others, but these instances occur incredibly infrequently at best. They are known to be removed from the greater conflicts of the world, and to be all but indifferent to the struggles of outsiders.[/div][/blockquote]