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#Post#: 20--------------------------------------------------
Locales of Zakyo Toshi Volume 2
By: Beebs Date: August 27, 2018, 9:33 pm
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Pearl Gate
Pearl Gate, also known as Exile’s Gate, is the westernmost
gate of the city, and the gate nearest the Shinomen Mori.
When the Naga first visited the city in 1125, they entered
through this gate. It was renamed the Pearl Gate in their
honor.
Lately it has taken on a different name, Exile’s Gate.
Ronin who cause too much trouble in Zakyo Toshi are
marched out of the city through this gate, with the obvious
implications of being told to go get themselves lost in the
Shinomen. It is also the gate through which the city’s eta
enter and leave every day for work.
The Pearl Gate is kept closed at night.
The Plum Blossom Gate
The northernmost gate in the city is known as Sumomo
Sakari, the Plum Blossom Gate. This is the main entrance
to the residential section of Zakyo Toshi. It was named for
the sacred fruit that sustained Shinsei during his fasting,
in the hope that this would bring good luck and prosperity
to the city. This gate also closes at nightfall.
Snowfall Gate
The northeastern gate is known as the Kosetsu or
Snowfall Gate. It gained this name from the habit of many
residents coming to this gate to watch the first snowfall of
the year, especially if they have no garden in their home
to do so. This gate, due to its location near the pleasure
and gambling districts, remains open at all hours unless
the city is under attack.
Honeymoon Gate
The city’s southeastern gate, known as the Shinkonryoko
or Honeymoon Gate, leads directly to the gambling
and pleasure district of Zakyo Toshi. This is the gate
most travelers enter when they come to the city to relax.
Originally named in the hope of attracting newlyweds to
the city, this gate’s name has become something of a joke
in modern times. Much like the Snowfall Gate, this one
always remains open unless the city is threatened by war.
Opportunity Gate
The southernmost gate is known as the Kikai or
Opportunity Gate. It leads to the merchant district of Zakyo
Toshi, and is the main route by which trade caravans enter
and leave the city. The gate itself is of thick mahogany
wood with the symbol of a koku carved into each door.
This gate also remains open at all times, since caravans
respect no hour for arrival or departure.
The Docks
Small Trade River flows from Shinomen Mori, through
Zakyo Toshi, and down into the River of Gold. The river is,
as its name implies, fairly small, with only enough breadth
and depth to let two trading barges pass – and then only
if their captains know what they are doing.
The eastern bank of the river is home to the docks
district. These docks are a very loud and raucous business
center during the day, as barges come in almost hourly
and goods are offloaded into warehouses or merchant
carts. Some merchants have even opened stalls along the
docks, hocking fresh fruit and vegetables straight off the
barges.
The Counting House &
Council Chambers
Located near the Governor’s mansion is a large round
building that looks more like something found in Unicorn
lands than a typical Rokugani building. Two stories tall,
built entirely from wood from the nearby Shinomen Mori,
its plain exterior belies the riches within its walls.
The inside is full of luxuriant amenities such as fine silk
pillows, rugs from the far-off city of Medinaat el-Salaam,
and polished woodwork from the Ivory Kingdoms. The
main room holds six seats, five for the council members,
and one for the Emerald Magistrate when he attends the
meetings.
Currently the Counting House is the seat of power for the
Merchant's Council
in Zakyo Toshi, but this will begin to change when the
Court of Golden Scars arrives.
Shrine to Ebisu
Located just inside the Opportunity Gate is a large
shrine to Eibisu, the Fortune of Honest Work. The irony
of worshipping such a Fortune in a city dedicated to vice
and self-indulgence is obvious, of course. While the shrine
is not large by Rokugani standards, it is very opulent and
well-kept, perhaps a gesture by merchants who do not
wish their dubious city to incur Eibisu’s wrath. The Brotherhood
of Shinsei tends to this shrine, keeping
it clean despite its constant stream of visitors, and making
sure the incense sticks and prayer strips are in good
supply. Every caravan that passes through Opportunity
Gate makes a stop at the shrine to send prayers to Eibisu
that their journey be safe and that they have good fortune.
Since caravans are leaving the city all of the time, the
shrine never closes its doors.
Shrine to Daikoku
Slightly smaller then the Shrine to Eibisu and located
right next to the Counting House is the shrine to Daikoku,
the Fortune of Wealth. This shrine is even more extravagant
in its opulence, with the statue of Daikoku being cast of
solid gold. With such wealthy patrons as the Merchant
Council, it is expected to be so.
The Council never meets without first coming to the
shrine and praying for Daikoku’s wisdom to shin on
their endeavors. However, it is not unusual to see grubby
ronin praying at the lavish shrine as well, right alongside
elegantly attired merchants, for Daikoku favors gamblers
as well as merchants.
Those who seek the Fortune’s blessing find the shrine’s
doors open at all hours of the day and night. The
Brotherhood of Shinsei keeps at least one monk on late
night vigil, both to greet guests to the shrine and to watch
for thieves.
The shrine is also unusual for offering a number of
unoccupied rooms where peasants or samurai can stay and
rest. This tradition started when the monks noticed that
many a late-night reveler came to the shrine to celebrate
their good fortune, only to fall asleep while giving thanks
to Daikoku. Rather then turn these worshippers out on the
streets, the monks give them a place to sleep it off until
morning.
The North Bridge
An apt, if unimaginative, name for the wide and sturdy
bridge that crosses the Small Trade River in the heart
of the residential district. This bridge was designed to
accommodate not only foot traffic, but caravan wagons as
well. Like the Shobai bridge nearby, it could easily be used
to move troops in a time of war.
The Trade Bridge
The other large bridge inside Zakyo Toshi, designed
(like the North Bridge) to accommodate caravans rather
than merely simple foot traffic. Trade Bridge is located in
the northern part of the trade district and allows goods
brought upstream on barges and unloaded on the east
bank of the Small Trade River to be easily carted across to
the other side of town.
Ambition Bridge
South of town and past the eta district is Ambition
Bridge, so named because of the daring architecture
involved in its creation. Ambition Bridge is a stone and
wood fortification built tall enough to allow barges to pass
underneath unhindered, but sturdy and wide enough to
accommodate caravans leaving the city. Indeed, so sturdy
is its construction that many claim it feels as if they are
traveling on solid ground.
One Tree Brewery
Located just inside the Plum Gate in the residential
district is the One Tree Brewery. It produces sake from the
city’s rice paddies for many of the inns in Zakyo Toshi,
and also creates a very limited run of pear wine every
year.
The brewery was founded by a merchant’s widow who
had lost everything but a single pear tree. She decided
to try her hand at brewing, and soon her friends were
marveling at the unique taste of her pear wine. A sweet
but strong alcohol, albeit not as strong as shochu, nor as
dry as traditional sake, the brewery’s pear wine is quite
a sensation in Zakyo Toshi, and its limited quantities
command a high price.
The Fat Rat
The Fat Rat is a merchant’s shop and deals mainly in
general goods such as clothing, silks, footware, and the
like. It used to be known as the Laughing Cat, but recently
it had a severe run of bad luck – stolen goods, gang
shakedowns, and late deliveries. In the hope of changing
their fortune, the owners renamed their business the Fat
Rat, in honor of the servants of Daikoku.
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