Kannagara - The Way of the Gods - A Multifandom RPG

Mizusato is due east off the coast of Kannagara's mainland, situated on the western side of a large island. It requires a boat to get to, water-walking, or fire abilities. Getting to Mizusato depends on the intent of the traveler.

The climate is extremely mild and balmy, quite pleasant year-round in Mizusato, with only infrequent rain and light breezes. Its position in a canyon, however, does subject the village itself to a year-round blanket of mist, especially because of how much water it's in such close proximity to. Some of the higher peaks around the island, though, are subjected to snow during the winter.

The island's terrain is extremely mountainous, with a long-inactive volcano being the highest peak. It sports an abundance of both high and low land, with soaring mountains, forested slopes, rolling hills, lush valleys, and steep canyons. Much of the coastline of the island is made of pleasant, sandy beaches, though there are some exceedingly rocky areas, and even some cliffs right against the ocean.

The most prominent part of the terrain, however, is water -- endless water. The island abounds with an incredible number of rivers, waterfalls, reservoirs, gorges, swimming holes, and natural onsens -- far more for its land area than any other country.

The mere fact that Mizusato is situated on an island is an excellent defense for it; it's further protected due to its location in a broad canyon and backed by tall mountains, making it an extremely defensible location. It faces west, looking towards the mainland, and sits alongside a river running from the mountains behind it, to empty into the ocean not far from the canyon the village is situated in. Being along one of the major rivers on the island, and so close to the coast, places Mizusato in an excellent position for both trade and mobility. The village itself is surprisingly large and well-organized, sporting cobblestone streets that connect every house, lined with lanterns to help light the way despite the mist.

Houses in Mizusato are built considerably more sturdily than in many other villages, though they aren't especially elegant; they're made to last, and to be functional, not beautiful. They have high stone foundations to house storage basements, primarily to house private forges, personal armories, and crop storage. The houses boast wooden terraces and carved railings of variable intricacy; the main portion of the houses are wooden as well. These buildings have broad, sloped roofs with actual shingles. The houses are primarily along the edges of the village, built on slopes in the canyon walls and mountains that back them, overlooking broad stretches of farmland, primarily rice paddies and corn fields, as well as training grounds and fields.

The floors are mostly bare stone, the walls wooden with few windows, and the architecture simple; there is little in the way of furniture, instead favoring roughly-hewn benches and low tables. Simple curtains are used in place of doors, and space is maximized with bars installed along the walls, for hanging up clothes, weapons, fabric, household implements, and even food, especially over the hearth to be dried or smoked. Mizusato settlers will discover several changes of clothing hanging on these bars, or stored away in large wooden chests in the living area, or in the bedroom. Houses usually have the most basic amenities, but almost nothing modern at all.

The bedroom is furnished with thick mattress bags stuffed with reed, hay, or wool -- or if you're lucky, cotton -- and covered with layers of fur and cow hide to serve as a bed. Large wooden chests like the ones in the living area hold several changes of clothing and belongings that they came into Kannagara with, as well as bedding and pillows filled with buckwheat chaff. The main room is a sitting area furnished with wooden benches and low tables for eating, dominated on one side by a simple fire pit, or irori, which sports several chains with hooks that can be raised or lowered to hang pots from; this is the main way to heat the house, and a place for simple cooking.

The kitchen is set towards the back of the house with a door that leads outside, dominated on one side by a kamado, or a low, hollow clay stove with holes in the front to feed in kindling and control the fire, and holes on top for grilling surfaces or clay pots to be placed into. A large basin and preparation surface take up much of the rest of the space, with shelves lining the walls for storage of cooking and eating implements; most food storage is in large clay vases and wooden barrels. There is no refrigeration. A small room is set aside for the bathroom, holding a basin and large tub, plus a toilet; the latter is the only thing in the house with running water and working plumbing, and is fortunately fully functional

Aside from the toilets, any water needed will have to come from the river that runs through the village. Bathing is more easily done, though far less private, in a centrally-located bath house built near the river's edge; those more inclined towards it can travel farther inland to the mountains that back the village, and bathe in any of the natural onsens located throughout the mountains. There is also a large central forge in the village, for those who prefer not to do so in their own homes, supplied with both tools and materials.