ア Book Two :: Global Tension

[Shinsua]

-_-_-_-_-ア Global Tension
-_-_-_-_-[ 2 - 1 ]

___L o o s e T i e s:
Some time has passed since the closing of the worldwide Chuunin Exams, and the emergence of the village blanketed by snow, and in this ellipse of peace and war the actions of the ninja world have gone about in mere singularity. There has been no true increase or decrease in the docile or hostile behaviors between villages, or their inhabitants. Unfortunately, this unchanging present is little more than a reminder of the nations' past. Ninja are ninja, and there's little more to it than that.
An atmosphere of anxiety and paranoia has once again crept unto the world's surface- an atmosphere that few can ignore. It is a feeling that all beings harbor when something catastrophic yet unknown ever nears. Although not everyone shows signs of such nerve racking emotion, it is a subconscious feeling that is ever about. Certain beings handle this anxiety in certain ways- some become completely overwhelmed, their lives consumed by the catastrophe's foreshadow. Others are sentient, the feeling bottled up, under control, yet they still ready themselves. And there are even those who have such feelings balled up so tightly that they are nigh high and blissfully unaware.
In this time of certain uncertainty, the villages of the ninja world have done all they can to steel themselves. Pacts have been formed to ensure safe passage, public peace, and above all else, trade. Although the horizon is blurry, hopefully the efforts of the country's feudal lords and village's leaders will keep the people's eyes clear.

In these uncertain times, Leaf and Snow have formed a union.
In these uncertain times, Mist and Cloud have formed a union.
In these uncertain times, Sand remains a neutral power.


___S u m m a r y:
○ The second book of Shinobi Nations has begun!
○ Although handled differently by everyone, there is an odd atmosphere of things-to-come amongst the world.
○ The Leaf and Snow villages are to form an alliance.
○ The Mist and Cloud villages are to form an alliance.
○ The Sand village is neutral; alliance rules do not apply.
○ Alliance Rule: Villages in alliances have free passage amongst one another. ( Going to a village your village is aligned with is as simple as posting at the gates. )
○ Alliance Rule: If you wish to go to a village your village is not aligned with, you will need permission from your Kage, and a good reason for going.
○ Alliance Rule: Interactions with ninja from unaligned villages should be kept to a bare minimum, or handled in privacy, as it may be taken as an act of treason.

☆ The alliances are not active right away. Your Kage should give a village announcement when the pact is finalized.
 

[Shinsua]

-_-_-_-_-ア "T i t a n"

___J a s h i n ○ E n c a m p m e n t:
Breaking the global anxiety, Jashinist activities within a particular perimeter had been reported en masse for quite some time, though kept under wraps to avoid unnecessary public concern. This area was soon after pinpointed- exacted to a location directly North-West of Sungakure of the Land of Wind, and identified as a city abducted. Held in typical nefarious fashion, the cultists went about causing predictable mayhem, though on a much wider scale than normal. It was because of this increase in affected populace, however, that a party was dispatched in order to deal with the frenzied fanatics.
In their visit to the city, the war party was greeted with oddly well coordinated and ever blood thirty Jashinists. It was as though some form of hierarchy had been developed and, for some reason, followed. Yet, as they frayed, neither side was truly capable of identifying this new pecking order. It was as if the Jashinists were following orders from a master they themselves were unaware of. And, lo and behold, as the battle between the Suna war party, captured citizens, and Jashin cultists continued, a commander who went simply by the name of "Titan" revealed himself.
Accompanied by a unit of his own, it seemed that he and his men had been worked to the point of near exhaustion before they had made their appearance. His exact actions unknown, Titan joined the fray, but was outperformed by the war party, and forced to retreat to the encampment outskirts. Realizing his enemy's strength, he went as far as to holding those that had not evacuated the city as hostages, simply in order to ensure his safety.
After Titan had made his exit, various citizens exclaimed that areas around their homes had been dug up, while others noted that various old items and relics from their homes had been stolen. It is also believed that Titan's escape was accompanied by one additional figure, though there are also reports that a girl had come to the city from a different country sometime before the Jashinst activities, and ran home after the terrifying incident.
Whatever the case may be, clean-up work of any remaining Jashinist happenings is still in process. Of all these processes, the country's effort to keep the mysterious Titan's appearance is top priority. ( As far as any other village / country is aware, this was simply a large Jashinist soiree. )

___S u m m a r y:
• Jashinist activity has stirred global anxiety, though most people believe this to have been the original cause of such anxiety.
• This Jashinist activity has been quelled. Resulting in a "safer" feeling amongst most common folk.
• A man known as "Titan" was the believed source of such Jashinist activity.
• All information regarding Titan has been refined to a "need to know" basis.

___E f f e c t s:
○ Strength of the village separations and unions has lessened. ( Freer travel. )
 

[Shinsua]

-_-_-_-_-ア How Time Drags On
___J o u r y o k u, ○ R e m e m b e r ○ I t:
A short time after the forced excavation of one of Wind Country's more mysterious relics, similar "quarry sites" began to sprout up across the world. Some of history's most weathered ruins were being sealed off by an amebic flock of faceless figures; always draped in black and white, hidden by shadow, and moving as one. As if ghosts in quiet toil, the hooded figures took every inch of every ruin's halls as their own. Their silent work hushed by the emptiness of time's cruel verdict. The thundering steps of only one, the man named Titan, were heard at those barren wrecks. Like Wind Country's encampment prior, Titan and his soldiers proved that no matter the obstacles that came before them, they were capable of seizing the remnants of most any forgotten society as their own.
The Root of Dusk, the Land of Fire.
The Desert's Corners, the Land of Wind.
The Hahen Islands, the Land of Water.
The Ever Fog, the Land of Lightning.
The Ikebana Gates, the Land of Snow.
It is not clear what these objects are, how many of them there are, or where they even came from, but in less than a year's time they had been brought under one man's possession.
Although his actions affected locations long forgotten by the modern world, Titan had mustered the malice of a still unknown individual. On the day shadow overtook the white snow, shadow itself was engulfed in darkness. Ivory hills soaked dark red, a lone shrine in Snow Country's heart rang empty. At the base of the coiling steps, under the first wooden gate, towered a beheaded Titan, still firm on his tyrannical feet. The twisted footprints of his countless ghosts formed scriptures in the crimson snow as they fled. "Jouryoku", "Evergreen." Although the word was there for only a brief moment, dark whispers and ill rumors travel fast in a world of ninja.

___I n t o ○ N o t h i n g:
It has been roughly one full year since Titan's original appearance in Wind Country, and five months since his mysterious death in Snow Country. The relics that were presumably retrieved from the old world's ruins, and even the soldiers that followed their collector, have not been seen or heard from since that day at the Ikebana Gates. Even the whispers of the word "Jouryoku" have seemed to die down.
Yet, beyond pitiful gossip, the ninja way had always been adapting, always strengthening, always ensuring its existence in the days to come.

__S u m m a r y:
• Titan had been collecting relics from ruins of the old world.
• Seven months into operation, Titan was killed at Snow Country's Ikebana Gates.
• It is assumed that his men possess the five relics he managed to excavate.
• "Ninja kind" has evolved. ( Dual-class system. )
• Totally summed up, a year of "peace" has gone by.

__E f f e c t s:
• The word "Jouryoku" has been diluted into the world as a faint reminder of the man named Titan.
• Shinobi Nations' first time skip has occurred.*
• Making use of the [ dual-class system, ] the updated [ profile skeleton, ] and the [ reward offices ] found in each village, alter your character for the one year gap.
• Each village also contains a [ help desk. ] If you need a hand with any changes, or just have some questions, ask there.