outland regions Neighpon - Empire of the Eastern Seas!

[SteelEagle]

 

Neighpon - Empire of the Eastern Seas

 

Neighpon is an island nation that Equestrians are vaguely aware of, if only because of their reputation as great seafarers. Situated near Long Guo and with a history tied in with its much larger neighbor, Neighpon nonetheless stands apart from the Dragon Kingdom. The Neighpon Home Islands are a relatively small set of islands that host a very large population. It was this burgeoning population base that even more than a thousand years ago proved so dire due to the islands' relative lack of resources that Neighpon launched dozens of expeditions abroad to find places to settle and colonies to pull resources from. It was in this expansion that the Neighponese sense of individualism and seaponyship took hold. Over the ages, dozens of islands and smaller lands have found themselves placed under the rule of the Neighponese; Neighpon’s dominion therefore stretches the farthest of any pony nation on record... even if the majority of it is simply the sea.

 

For thousands of years, Neighpon was home to warring clans that only briefly banded together to resist invasions from the outside. Besides these events, clan warfare and court intrigues ruled the day, and Neighpon was heavily isolationist. It was only when the Caribou of Whitescar invaded en masse under the leadership of one of their greatest High Kings that this status quo was changed. After years of leadership conflicts leading to defeat, the Neighponese came together and elected the first Shogun. He rallied the Neighponese together and they fought the caribou for some time, leading to several decades of war. Finally, the caribou left Neighpon, but the Neighponese considered it a hollow victory at best. Much of the arable land was destroyed, and the resources of the Home Islands were spent.

 

Luckily for Neighpon, they had their great fleets which helped win them the war. The new Shogun decided to use these fleets and the core of Battlemage Shock Troops to expand into Polyneighsia. Many gave themselves up willingly; others fought. Many had resources, and a few of the larger ones were even suited for farming. Neighpon even expanded into Unyasi, where they established their largest colony in the jungle region now known as the Brakenweald. All of these colonies quickly helped Neighpon in its survival, and then aided it in flourishing. Over time, many colonies have been granted independence — though the majority still answer to their trade masters in Neighpon — while the Brakenweald was abandoned rapidly after an event not well recorded. Nor was this colonial campaign met with success at all times. Small island chains near Long Guo called on their large neighbor for defense, which saw many Neighpon victories and defeats until they were forced back, and their colonial ambitions halted.

 

The Home Islands themselves are fighting a battle between increasing urbanization and nature — which is highly regarded and respected in Neighponese culture. The wealth of hundreds of colonies in Polyneighsia has flown to the city of Kyoma, Neighpon’s capital, for hundreds of years. This has made Neighpon incredibly wealthy, and investments in Magitech throughout time have allowed the nation to maintain the balance of nature and civilization, though the increasingly immigration-friendly nation has seen civilization's approach into protected areas threaten this delicate balance. The cities are wonders to behold, the equal of an Equestrian metropolis without the urban sprawl (and to Neighpon, decay) thanks to the efforts of every citizen.

 

Neighponese respect hard work, commitment, respect, and family above all else. Sons and daughters following in the hoof steps of their elders is considered natural, and they work long and hard hours without complaint. The arts are respected and almost fetishized, with musicians, projector stars, dancers, and other art forms having whole academies devoted to them. Not that this is unusual; specialized academies are far more common than standardized education. A young colt or filly is much more likely to spend his or her time learning and training to be one thing than to have a general education comparable to an Equestrian. The rich tend to have a more all-around education, though for many with such resources learning is an all-day experience.

 

This has led to a workforce that is in many fields outrageously skilled, but also leads to many unable to find work in Neighpon or the colonies. Many pledge themselves as skilled servants in the major households, but there are a great deal who leave Neighpon to ply their trade elsewhere. Many of these Neighponese can be found in Long Guo, but all major nations have some Neighponese immigrants and they often do well; including an acting REN Admiral, as well as the leading Dancer of the Sultan's Court in Saddle Arabia.

 

Neighpon is led by the Shogun, which is a title passed down from parent to child. The Shogun has supreme authority over all matters and is unquestioned in his decision making... at least until the other major families and clans grow tired and revolt. Such conflicts are by common agreement kept out of Neighpon itself — it is the colonies that bear the brunt of war — and with the capabilities of the Neighponese military they can be very costly. Neighpon is a land of the greatest magitech in the world; their Navy, Air, Ground, Aetheral, and Colonial forces attest to that. While there are certainly larger, more magical, and even more technologically advanced forces in the world, Neighpon has perfected the art of Magitech war like no other nation.

 

Not that it has needed to use it for a time. The current line of Shoguns has run three generations without issue. Conflicts with caribou still happen, but caribou are a thorn in every nation's side. It has been more than a century since the last incident with Long Guo, and the colonial revolutions which were always put down swiftly have mostly subsided as many were granted Favored Independence. Their relations with the outside world are mostly neutral with some warmth, as Neighpon rarely devotes itself to any alliance or agreement for an extended period of time. Their word is peerless, but even they recognize that things change. The Shogun is a powerful, but not permanent, ally for any nation.

 

~A Journal Between Lovers: My Travels and Travails

by Flowing Stars