Controversial: Kusari never had an Emperor

[jammi]

A discussion popped up in the Bowex thread earlier on where we were bemoaning the stereotypes that had been applied to all the various Houses by the Discovery playerbase, with the basis for many of them having never even existed in the original game. A lot of people's perceptions of the Houses are based on material that simply... doesn't exist.

After a while we got to the point of Kusari, which prior to the republican coup was widely roleplayed as a pseudo-feudal, isolationist/racist state with a weak government that existed primarily to service a strong/powerful Emperor (whose dynasty had been appointed during a Samura led coup 500 years previously). Well, that all checks out, right?

Not so much, it transpires. I suddenly realised that while playing through the single player campaign I could not recall a single mention of an Emperor in Kusari. So I fired up FLDev and went looking through the infocards for vanilla (helpfully available due to the way Discovery installs on top of a clean copy). What I found was equal parts surprising and bemusing.

Here are the sum total of all the results that apply to Kusari for the word 'Emperor':

IDS 066564 (Kusari gunboat).
In an effort to better enforce the will of the Emperor, the Imperial Navy developed this ship. In large numbers they are particularly devastating.

IDS 133383 (Ainu Depot rumour).
The Golden Chrysanthemums believe that they have the next emperor -- excuse me, empress of Kusari back in a corner of the living deck in the form of a seven-year-old Kyushu girl. They're teaching her everything she needs to know to run the country. Good luck

That is it. Everything to do with Emperors - the rest of the references pertain to Rheinland and their old Imperial government prior to the 80 Years War. Even more interestingly, I believe the infocard for the Kusari gunboat wasn't even included in the game, and could only be found by using infocard reader programs like FLDev.

So, that leaves one extremely weak implication for there actually being an Emperor, in that the Chrysanthemums wanted to impose one of their own. But that could just as easily be taken as proof of their desire to create some kind of mental matriarchy, not that there is an existing Emperor.

What exactly was the situation then, and what's the deal with the Blood Dragons? Their sole purpose is trying to kill off the Samura-influenced Imperial dynasty, right? Again, not so much. During the campaign, the head of state for Kusari was referred to as the Shogun - Shogun Edo specifically - who was of equal stature to the President/Queen/Chancellor of the other Houses. Politicians of planets and systems were prefects or governors (perhaps interchangable titles?), including such notables as Tekagi an Hakkera.

When you search for the term 'Shogun', things get a lot more interesting. First up, here are all of the vanilla story-based news articles that pertain to Kusari and appear at intervals through the campaign. They demonstrate how the Shogun is the principal actor in Kusari, equivalent to his counterpart heads of state in the other Houses:

News Articles

IDS 015064

Shogun Edo of Kusari is said to have taken great umbrage towards recent remarks made by Chancellor Niemann. Edo bitterly dismissed the accusations of conspiracy and espionage, accusing the Chancellor of clouding the issues of his illegal operations in the Border Worlds and his infringement of the Boorman Treaty, which forbids armed aggression between the major Houses.

IDS 015082

Shogun Edo now insists that Rheinland's continued military actions show them to be in complete violation of the Boorman Treaty. Edo's tone was almost accusatory in itself, as he asked why Liberty refused to help the Kusari people. The President, in fact, did speak to both powers today, asking them to reduce the buildup at their borders and to present their respective issues at the proposed summit meeting.

IDS 015120

Reports indicate that soon after the Chancellor’s recent address, many Kusari citizens in Rheinland were placed under arrest "for their own safety." Shogun Edo of Kusari was reportedly outraged at this news and demanded their immediate release. There has been no response yet from the Chancellor on this matter, but Queen Carina is also appealing for their release.

IDS 015126

A Kusari convoy near the Kusari/Rheinland border fell to a Rheinland attack wing earlier, eliciting a blistering rebuke from Shogun Edo. The ships, which were on the Kusari side of the border, are said to have been carrying Food and medical supplies to one of Kusari's outposts when the attack occurred.

IDS 015132

Shogun Edo dismissed the Chancellor's statement that one of Kusari's own medical convoys was being used to transport an explosive device into Rheinland territory. He warned Niemann that he could not allow this "wanton slaughter" to continue and insisted that Rheinland release the Kusari citizens that they were holding hostage.

IDS 015136

Kusari has appealed to the governments of Liberty and Bretonia in their dealings with Rheinland. Shogun Edo says that his principal concern is the welfare of his people still within Rheinland's borders. He said that he is receiving enormous pressure to act militarily, but is still seeking a peaceful resolution.

IDS 015162

There is still no news on the fate of thousands of Kusari citizens being held captive by the Rheinland government. Though the Shogun has been successful in persuading Liberty and Bretonia to apply additional economic and political pressure on the Chancellor, the Shogun is also considering more direct military action.

IDS 015164

Governor Tekagi briefly met today with Shogun Edo to discuss the Rheinland conflict and Liberty’s proposed meeting. After the short, private discussion, the Governor said that he has been ordered to Liberty to ““organize the release of our people through our allies." Tekagi will leave at once to meet with President Jacobi.

IDS 015180

Governor Tekagi left Manhattan, but not before endorsing an amended version of the controversial, joint ban on Artifact trading proposed by Liberty. After spending several hours in a secure-link conference with the Shogun, the two agreed to the ban in concept, but only as a temporary measure, and specifically as a means to better lawfully regulate the trade coming out of the Rheinland Border Worlds.

IDS 015190

Governor Tekagi is meeting with Chancellor Niemann under the protection of the Shogun’s own Imperial Guard, who accompanied him through the blockade and to the Rheinland capitol of New Berlin. The Governor was greeted with unusual warmth by the Rheinland Chancellor, who was himself surrounded by his own well-armed bodyguards. The two reportedly are going to meet privately to discuss the peace settlement and the safe release of the Kusari hostages. Today, all eyes are on Rheinland.

IDS 015194

Governor Tekagi met privately with Shogun Edo immediately upon his return from New Berlin. There is no formal word yet from this meeting. Meanwhile, Intelligence officials have reportedly begun the process of debriefing the recently returned hostages. It is hoped that they will be reunited with their families and co-workers in the very near future.

IDS 015200

Advance word from the Shogun and Governor Tekagi is that Chancellor Niemann is willing to follow all of the directives outlined by Kusari, Liberty, and Bretonia if he is allowed more rights to territories in the Border Worlds. This is being considered by the Shogun, who has called a meeting with several of his top generals to review security concerns.

IDS 015202

Local authorities have reported that the Blood Dragons may be on the move again. Informants and intercepted communications alerted them to this possibility. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this assumption. The Shogunate has said that the Blood Dragons do not represent a significant threat to our security at this time.

IDS 015204

Even as Shogun Edo considered Chancellor Niemann's peace proposal and tensions along the Rheinland border appeared to ease, several Rheinland heavy cruisers and ships suddenly attacked Kusari forces, destroying at least one ship and killing over 100 soldiers. As a result of this unprovoked act, Shogun Edo has declared an open state of hostility with Rheinland -- a precursor to war.

IDS 015206

With the escape of the attacking Rheinland ships back over the border, the Shogun has ordered immediate reinforcements to prevent any further assaults as offensive forces begin to mass. The Shogunate cautions that all ships passing through Kusari space are now subject to search and seizure. Travel outside of Kusari-controlled zones is not advised at this time for citizens.

IDS 015218

The Kusari people are in mourning today for one of the few great men of our time: Governor Yoshinobu Tekagi. Upon hearing of his murder by armed assassins, Shogun Edo was enraged and shouted for vengeance. An Imperial taskforce has been called in to investigate what is left of the Governor's retreat.

IDS 015220

As investigators speculate on the identity of the killers who took the life of the greatly beloved Governor Tekagi, they say that there is no concrete evidence to support The Order in the list of suspects. Despite suggestions that operatives from the Blood Dragons or even a Rheinland strike force may have played a role, Shogun Edo insists that The Order must be to blame.

IDS 015242

IT’S WAR! Rheinland ships penetrated the Honshu defensive perimeter and are now in Kusari space. Our military forces have rallied, led by the Shogun and his Generals, and are successfully defending our cities. Soldiers, police, civilians, and even the unlawful have gathered together to fight the Rheinland invaders.

IDS 015250

In a carefully worded statement, the Shogun voiced his concerns that even "temporary military leadership" in Liberty might signal rough changes for Kusari. Reports indicate that several military leaders have echoed what could be construed as pro-Rheinland sympathies, which could shift the balance of power in the already tense conflict.

IDS 015256

In what has been described as the largest battle ever fought in the colonies, a massive Rheinland attack force completely destroyed the Kusari Fleet stationed in the Honshu system. Led by a group of over 40 Rheinland battleships, the Chancellor's onslaught on Kusari seems unstoppable. The Shogun has mobilized all reserves, and the Kusari Naval Forces are now desperately attempting to establish a defensive ring around New Tokyo.

IDS 015262

The decisive battle in the war between Rheinland and Kusari ended in the total destruction of the Kusari Naval Forces near New Tokyo. Rheinland has erected a blockade around the planet and has made clear that only an unconditional surrender from the Shogun can prevent a devastating planetary bombardment.

Bit of a slog if you read through all that, but it's interesting fluff and provides context. Plus it underlines what I'm angling at here: through a crisis that threatens the very existence of Kusari as a House, an Emperor isn't mentioned once. Not in a position of power, not as a vestigial/ceremonial role. All statements and diplomacy are conducted by the Shogun and the Kusari government. So, in order to get to the root of this, we're likely going to have to look a bit further back in time. Here's the Blood Dragon infocard that delves into the Samura coup that resulted in the Dragons' formation:

IDS 065568

The history of the Blood Dragons goes back to the fourth century. The founding members of the group were the Shogun’s Royal Guard during the Hideyoshi family dynasty. In a bloody coup during the celebration of the revived Sakura festival in 321 AS, the Shogun was surrounded in the palace by Samura-backed elements of the military and asked to surrender, along with the Royal Guard. The Shogun, humiliated by the shame he had brought his family, committed suicide. The guards, headed by Kozue Okamura, did not acquiesce so easily. In a bloody battle, they fought their way out of the palace and retreated into the darkness of northern Kusari space. Here they regrouped and began a long guerrilla campaign aimed at overthrowing the Samura-controlled Kusari government

The Blood Dragons are a tight group who hold the sympathy and support of individuals in the highest levels of Kusari government. They periodically launch surgical strikes and commando raids from their Kyoto base designed to destabilize the current government to the point where sympathetic officials could potentially seize power. Blood Dragons prefer to target Samura and Kusari Naval Forces bases and ships, although they occasionally attack other House shippers for supplies.

The group is loosely allied with the Golden Chrysanthemums, who provide refuge and a forward tactical base for assault crews in the Hokkaido system. The Golden C. also provide many of the essential Commodities that the Blood Dragons need, a critical function given the complete lack of Blood Dragon landing rights within the rest of Kusari space. The Chugoku Gate construction is viewed as a direct threat to the continued survival of the group.

So, looking at this, Samura directly caused the previous Shogun (not Emperor) to commit suicide, usurping his government. They then replaced it with a "Samura-controlled Kusari government", with again no mention of an Emperor. To really drive this point home, a few more infocards can be found that refer to Kusari's government and which hold wider implications about the name of the House as a whole. See below:

IDS 065640

Constructed by Samura after the completion of the Jump Gate linking Hokkaido and New Tokyo, Sapporo Station was intended to act as a local base from which Samura could survey the surrounding systems for mineral resources. But with construction proceeding ahead on the Chugoku Gate and the resulting increase in terrorist activity, Samura has been persuaded by the Kusari Shogunate to also house officials from Deep Space Engineering and Universal Shipping while providing support for the Kusari State Police.

IDS 065666

Kyushu has few appreciable mineral resources but does possess arable land and an ideal climate for rice farming. While the independent farmers of Kyushu provided much of the basic Food stuffs for New Tokyo for over three centuries, a recent Shogunate directive to further develop the planet has resulted in Samura assuming control under government contract. Samura has organized the farmers into collectives growing new, genetically engineered rice purchased from Samura's labs in New Tokyo. But the farmers have had difficulty recouping their investment as Synth Foods products have grown more popular among young Kusari.

IDS 065734

After Jump Gates linked New Tokyo with the other colonies, the Kusari Shogunate decided that the resulting influx of foreign traffic needed careful management. As a result, Narita Outpost was constructed to serve as the final destination for all shipments to New Tokyo and as a base of operations for the major foreign shipping firms, primarily Republican Shipping, Bowex, and Gateway Shipping.

IDS 133482

We send Food produced at this base to the New Tokyo system where it can be enjoyed in the heart of the Kusari Shogunate. Too bad those Farmers Alliance pirates keep attacking our convoys. That just means higher prices for the children of Kusari. 

So this again reinforces the point that Kusari is led by a Shogun and perhaps might have then been more appropriately known as the Kusari Shogunate. However! There are a few references that undermine this hypothesis, such as the original infocard for Shinjuku Station:

IDS 065742

Shinjuku Station is the corporate headquarters for Samura, the oldest of the keiretsu -- vast corporate networks -- in the Kusari Empire. The history of Samura is deeply intertwined with that of the Empire, and Samura maintains close ties with the Kusari Shogunate, its ruling governmental body. Samura holds key contracts for the construction of the Kusari Navy and terraforming in the Tau Border Worlds, and previously held the exclusive rights for the distribution of valuable resources produced by the Gas Mining Guild (GMG). However, because the agreement with the GMG has recently expired, Samura faces intense competition for the GMG's business from archrival Kishiro. Samura is also engaged in a protracted dispute with Synth Foods over the lucrative race to feed the ever expanding Kusari population.

There are a few other infocards which use similar phraseology. I'm inclined to chalk this up to Digital Anvil sloppiness, given the way Empire and Shogunate seem to be used interchangeably between infocards and rumours. In any case, the above seems to imply that the House is possibly an Empire, but is definitely led by a Shogun with no mention of an Emperor.

So, what's the take-away from this? Not very much, honestly. It seems that a great deal of roleplay stretched across a great many years was based on the shakiest of implications as opposed to actual lore. Alternately, it could be argued that the reason there is no Emperor is because the Shogun practically fills exactly the same purpose, and the game's developers simply wanted to give the role a more "traditionally ethnic" sounding title. In any case, there's no evidence whatsoever to support whether the position of Shogun was inherited, elected or other.

I imagine this might be seen as uh, upsetting from certain quarters. I'm not proposing any action or alterations anyway, I just found all this highly fascinating. Basically the idea that memes generated entirely by the players themselves went on to massively drive mod-developed storylines. Lets hear what you all think on this controversial subject! Discuss!

And be sure to join me next week when I explain where Chancellor Niemann went after the campaign ended, and why he'd never been seen in the same room as Queen Carina! And remember, H Fuel can't melt the Honshu defence fleet!

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