Doma
This article is about the nation in general. For the area in Yanxia, see Doma (Area).
“For two and a half decades, this once-grand kingdom on the shores of the One River was subject to Garlean rule. However, with the expulsion of imperial forces, Doma is free once more to control its destiny.
— In-game description
Zones
The only player-accessible parts of Doma are the Doman Enclave zone, the Doma Castle dungeon, and the ruined area in Yanxia.
Lore
Flag
The Doman character for the nation's name adorns the center, and the crimson border surrounding it represents the royal family's ancestral role as gatekeepers of the One River. The field upon which it rests is green like the color of the rice plants which grow in Doma's many fields.
Motto
By the Righteous Blade We Are Delivered
Government
Since Doma's founding, the Rijin clan's sons have ruled as kings with the support of an educated samurai caste. During the twenty-five-year Garlean occupation, an imperial viceroy held absolute authority, but the recent liberation has seen the return of the old government, with the leader of the rebellion and head of the Rijin clan restored to the throne.
Leader
Ruling Body
Though the king of Doma has the power to intercede in all matters of governance, he delegates much of the minutiae to a cadre of samurai advisors.
Racial Distribution
Far Eastern Hyur: 60%
Far Eastern Roegadyn: 10%
Au Ra Raen: 10%
Other: 10%
Religion
On the whole, Domans tend to practice their faith in private, and do not proselytize nor judge those who do not share in their beliefs. As is the case in many regions of the Far East, they worship a host of spirits referred to as the kami. Though some of these divine beings can be likened to personifications of nature, enlightened sages and long-lived animals of legend may also be defined as kami. Further complicating any attempt to categorize these entities is the variety said to inhabit ancient relics.
Industries
Agriculture:
The banks of the One River have long been considered to be some of the most fertile farmland in eastern Othard, particularly the region surrounding the river's mouth in Yanxia. Rice is the crop of choice, though persimmons and plums are also quite profitable.
Fishing:
Domans have lived off the One River and the Glittering Basin since antiquity. As the kingdom expanded outward, so too did her people, who built villages on the coast of the Ruby Sea and from there ventured farther and farther west. While sources of food are abundant, some of the more adventurous fishermen have made a living hunting sea tortoises for their shells, which are highly valued by all manner of artisans for use in their crafts.
Papermaking:
The fibers of the Yanxian mulberry and the waters of the One River are key ingredients in the production of Doman paper, which is prized the world over for both its durability and its beauty. Not only is it considered ideal for scrolls and documents that must be preserved, but it is also a medium in which artisans may craft fans, lanterns, and more elaborate displays. Though the industry languished during the imperial occupation, masters of the craft managed to preserve the knowledge of their techniques, and in the wake of Doma's liberation they set about rebuilding the mills and resuming production.
Beliefs
Loyalty is perhaps the most virtuous quality to the people of Yanxia, be it to Doma, her king, or his vassals. The samurai would trust in the Rijin, and the people would in turn trust in the samurai. Many Domans would attest that one need only look to the carnage born of betrayal in the past to see the wisdom in this.
Diet
As one would expect given the amount of farmland devoted to it, rice is part of virtually every Doman meal. Aside from that common element, however, the cuisine of the central and coastal regions can differ to a surprising degree. Pork, fowl, and other meats are favored in the heartland of Doma, whereas seafood is far more common along the coast. The seasonings used in preparation are somewhat dissimilar as well, with the coastal villages preferring the more subtle flavors of Hingashi, while stronger spices imported from Radz-at-Han are regularly incorporated into Yanxian fare.
History
The Feats of Ganen
For all intents and purposes, the history of Doma begins with one man: Ganen Rijin. Eight hundred years ago, following his father’s death in battle when he was still but a boy of fourteen summers, Ganen became leader of his clan. Even at that tender age, he immediately understood that the Rijin, a clan of little renown and meager holdings, would be judged easy prey too tempting to ignore, and would soon be attacked by one of the larger and more aggressive clans that were locked in a constant struggle for supremacy. Sure enough, it was not long before his scouts brought word of enemy troops massing near their borders.
While formulating his defensive strategy, Ganen first considered how a small contingent of soldiers might defend a fortified position against a larger force, which then led him to devise a most cunning plan. When the invading clan’s cavalry first sighted the Rijin soldiers, they were surprised to find them woefully underequipped—on foot and bereft of chain and plate. They fled, and the eager invaders gave chase, only to become caught in wetlands and weighed down by their armor. At Ganen’s command, the trap was sprung, and a hidden host of archers rained arrows down upon the helpless army. Thus began the legend of the boy general who would later found a kingdom.
The Birth of a Kingdom
Many accomplished warlords have left their mark on Yanxia over the centuries, but Ganen had two qualities others lacked. For one, as a child he had learned the art of geomancy from a wise hermit. He could read the elemental energies as well as any practitioner, and use this knowledge to his advantage when deciding on the time and place to engage his enemies.
Ganen’s other strength was his disregard for birth and background. Whether farmer, fisherman, or even former bandit, he would accept any recruit into his service so long as he believed them possessed of ability and wisdom. Races such as the Lupin who would be considered lessers by many Eorzeans were man’s equals in his eyes, and he welcomed them into his service with open arms. Ganen showed mercy to his defeated enemies, and in so doing earned their respect and loyalty, further bolstering his armies’ ranks. With every victory the Rijin grew stronger, and in the span of twenty years they controlled the whole of the One River’s eastern bank.
On the western bank, however, other clans observed the Rijin’s expansion with growing fear. Led by the Koboku, they assembled a massive army, and it soon became clear that confrontation was unavoidable. For eight years the war 'twixt east and west raged with hardly a day of rest, until General Ganen at last led his armies to victory with the aid of Namazu messengers and spies, who provided invaluable military intelligence. Having united all of Yanxia beneath his banners, he then decreed that the Kingdom of Doma was born.
The Intercession of the Shinobi
For seven centuries, the Rijin clan remained firmly in control of Doma, though their largely uneventful rule was punctuated by occasional periods of unrest. One notable example was the reign of King Seien some three hundred years ago, who even from childhood seemed destined to wreak havoc. He was a brash, impulsive ruler, who hosted extravagant galas day and night to indulge his many vices, with no consideration for the cost. As Doma’s coffers ran dry, he turned to merchant clans for financial assistance, and when the time for repayment drew closer, he taxed his subjects to raise capital. Seien was, in every aspect, unfit to lead.
In these troubled times, the kingdom found salvation in an unexpected ally. Sasuke, a shinobi of the Kagekakushi clan who had come to Doma to carry out a secret mission, was moved by the plight of the people. After fulfilling his duties, he sought out Seien’s younger brother, Shoen—a far more sensible man whose attempts to restrain the king’s appetites had only drawn his ire—and freed him from captivity. Together, the two led a rebel army and overthrew Seien, and in so doing brought an end to a dark chapter of Doman history.
The Garlean Occupation
The newly crowned Shoen implored his friend Sasuke to remain in Doma, but not as a mere retainer. Rather, the king feared what might become of the realm should another like his brother claim the throne, and saw the shinobi as a check against tyranny—defenders loyal to Doma, not her leader. Sasuke shared Shoen’s concern and readily agreed to his proposal, and shortly thereafter founded the hidden village of Shinobi-no-Sato deep in the mountains of Yanxia. There he trained others in the arts of ninjutsu, and for nearly three hundred years the Kingdom of Doma enjoyed peace and tranquility.
Alas, such things are not wont to last. During the reign of the forty-third king of Doma, Kaien Rijin, the Garlean Empire invaded Yanxia from the west. After establishing a beachhead on the One River, imperial forces were reinforced by massive airships used to secure floating isles as part of a multi-pronged attack. With the support of the hastily constructed Castrum Fluminis, the Empire was poised to bring the Kingdom of Doma to its knees. At first, Lord Kaien and his vassals were determined to drive the Garleans from their lands, but as the invaders brought their airships and armor to bear and losses mounted, it quickly became clear that the defenders were outmatched. Doma surrendered, and for the next twenty-five years was subject to imperial rule, until a group of rebels finally rose up and cast down their oppressors to reclaim their freedom.
Organizations
The Rijin Clan
Since its birth over seven hundred years ago, the Kingdom of Doma has been ruled by 2 single clan, which was the first to unite the peoples of Yanxia beneath a single banner. The Rijin are regarded by many as the heart and soul of Doma—leaders deserving of unconditional loyalty, who in return are expected to act as staunch defenders of Doma, as Lord Kaien did when he and his samurai fought valiantly to repel the imperial invaders.
Recognizing the influence the Rijin wielded, Garlemald named the deposed monarch deputy viceroy in the fourth year of the occupation, in the hopes that his appointment might make the populace more amenable to their rule. However, while Kaien played the part of collaborator, he continued to work in secret to coordinate the Liberation Front’s activities, until two decades later when he finally gave the command to put their plans in motion.
The rebels were strong and well-prepared—so much so that they managed to reclaim Doma Castle and drive the bulk of imperial forces out of Yanxia for a time. Unfortunately, they did not foresee that the imperial war of succession would end so quickly, allowing Zenos yae Galvus to lead his XIIth Legion to Doma and reassert control. With the death of Lord Kaien and the disappearance of his son Hien, the rebellion was crushed, and the Rijn line extinguished..or so it was believed. In truth, the heir to the throne had fled to the Azim Steppe, where he was nursed back to health by a Xaela tribe. There he remained, until found by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, with whose considerable aid Hien managed to return to Doma and overthrow the imperial viceroy, Yotsuyu goe Brutus, freeing his people from the yoke of imperial oppression once and for all.
Royal Retainers
Although the samurai elite who maintain order garner the most attention, there are many other retainers with rather less martial prowess who counsel the Rijin on administrative matters. In the past, these advisors lived in Monzen near the castle, but as both now lie in ruins, they now reside in makeshift homes in the Doman Enclave.
Gosetsu Daito
“The kami are not finished with you yet.”
This grizzled warrior who entered into Kaien’s service in his youth was not only his right hand in public, but a dear friend and confidante to the king in private. Tragically, in the carnage that was the Garlean invasion twenty-five years ago, he lost his wife and daughter. Imprisoned as an insurgent afterwards, he was prepared to embrace death, until he was sought out and entrusted with the safety of Kaien’s unborn child, Hien. Given new purpose, Gosetsu resolved to earn his freedom, and did so by fighting for Garlemald as a mercenary for several years.
Though his feats in battle earned him a fearsome reputation that has endured to this day, Gosetsu speaks little of those dark days. As a warrior who has known terrible loss, who fate ever conspired to see thrust to the front lines of war, he was glad to put up his sword once and for although his respite only came after one final tragedy.
Hien Ryin
“Stone walls do not a nation make. Her people do, and as long as we yet live, we can rebuild.”
Born to his mother Mina shortly after Doma fell to Garlemald, Hien knew nothing of life before the occupation. Though he was subjected to the official imperial curriculum, he was also permitted to study Doman arts and culture, and from this diverse education he developed an appreciation for both traditional values and modern philosophies. Until his mother passed away following an illness some fifteen years ago, little “Shun” enjoyed a relatively happy life with his father’s retainer, Gosetsu.
Following her death, he devoted himself to the pursuit of Doma’s liberation and reconstruction. That said, the young lord still finds time to sup on raw meats and enjoy spirits with his comrades, who never fail to enjoy his good company.
Haruko Gunji
“Duty comes before all.”
Known also as the White, Hakuro is the thirty-three-year-old lord of the Gunji clan, retainers to the royal house of Rijin. When Doma fell, as the heir to an influential Lupin faction, he was made a ward of the Empire, whereupon he was given an imperial education and conscribed into its army. Yet despite being but a pup of eight summers when he was taken, he knew full well he was little more than a hostage.
In order to protect his own, he maintained the veneer of obedience and bided his time, ever honing his deadly Howling swordfighting style. The turning point came when he and his unit, the Ferae Domitae, were deployed to defend Ala Mhigo. There, his path would cross with Alphinaud and the Warrior of Light, who convinced him to defect to the Eorzean cause. Following the city-state’s liberation, he returned home to Doma to take his rightful place beside his lord.
When not fulfilling his duty as personal guard, Hakuro can be found amidst the Enclave’s sparring dummies, training a new generation of fighters—the Lupin’s only true respite proving an occasional round of mahjong with his old friend and rival Otoya.
Shinobi-no-sato
Hidden deep in the mountains of Yanxia, this village was founded by Sasuke of the Kagekakushi clan that he might train others in the arts of ninjutsu. The Doman shinobi were conceived as an independent organization that would defend the realm from her enemies—even if said enemy was the reigning king of Yanxia. Because of this unique position, the shinobi were divided as to their role in Kaien’s rebellion. While many fought and died for Doma’s freedom, there were others who opposed the Liberation Front for fear of the people’s suffering.
Yugiri Mistwalker
“Every day, I pray for my home, and for the people I left behind. That they might be spared the wages of war, and live in peace, untouched by this madness.”
Like many born in the hidden underwater sanctuary of Sui-no-Sato, Yugiri was curious about the outside world, and as a child she and a friend journeyed to the surface to spy upon a coastal fishing village. Though her friend grew fearful and returned home alone, the bold Yugiri ventured further inland and met a boy not much younger than herself, who shared with her tales of Doma and imperial oppression. Afraid of what might become of her own home, she returned to her parents and urged them to do something to help the boy and his people, but neither they nor any of the other adults would listen. In spite of this, Yugiri never forgot the boy’s words, and when she was old enough, she left Sui-no-Sato to study the art of ninjutsu. Alas, by doing so, she defied the will of her elders and was forever barred from her home.
Years later, in a curious twist of fate, when she answered the Liberation Front’s call for assistance, she was greeted by none other than the boy, now a man grown, she had met so many years ago: Hien Rijin.
Shazenkai
This modest group of motivated citizens labors tirelessly to facilitate the reconstruction of the Doman Enclave. Named for the shazenso—a hardy herb that can endure even the harshest conditions—the Shazenkai strives to rebuild the nation’s crippled industry and support the craftsmen and artisans of Yanxia. Shazenkai founder, Kozakura, is often seen poring over documents late into the night, for their work is never finished.
Kozakura Gyoji
“The Doma in our memories and in our hearts will soon be ours again, Until that blessed day, let us never give up hope!”
A driven and dedicated young woman of twenty-five summers, Kozakura’s personal motto is to take one step at a time, one day at a time. It was this sensible attitude which saw her catch the eye of one of Lord Hien’s advisors, who then tasked her with taking stock of the enclave and compiling information on the people’s wants and needs. Over time, she became more involved in everyone’s affairs and grew confident in voicing her opinion, and soon—though she was vehemently opposed to the idea at first—she found herself in charge of the newly formed Shazenkai. Like Kozakura, many of the members are rather young but eager to rebuild their homeland, though few are as committed to the cause as she is.
When not occupied with Shazenkai business, Kozakura indulges in her hobby of folding paper into various artistic designs. She has also been seen fiddling with materia, though her furrowed brow suggests she has yet to wrap her head around its usage. [1]
Images
Concept Art
References
- ↑ Encyclopaedia Eorzea: Volume II, page 91-94