Yayoi

Fontiera's Petite

Overview

She is the celebrated ruler of Fontiera during the Golden Age who is praised for bolstering the theocracy despite wearing a crown. In the epoch of Yayoi, the crown and the church commenced their convergence, decimating Lord Oracle's lineage to the point of collapse.

Chapter One

(11204–11298, Era of Frost Veil) Nanaho, Emperor Aimin's seventh daughter, ruled Fontiera for 90 years, the second-longest reign, as the 224th ruler and the 124th since the capital moved to Sunnyhill.
Nanaho was born in 11204, the 32nd year of Emperor Aimin's reign, in Rainwhisper Pavilion. At four, she bonded with the new Saiō, Eiren, and became heir in the 36th year's September.
Nanaho's rise to power was peaceful compared to Ciaran's bloody successions. Her childhood was steeped in books and rituals.
Eiren and Nanaho, though master and servant, were teacher and student. The miko's guidance helped Nanaho master history and internalize its knowledge.
In 11213, the Frost Veil Era, Emperor Aimin died after a 39-year reign. His seventh daughter Nanaho took the throne and renamed the era to Yayoi.
At this time, the mikos' influence had waned, leaving Saiō Eiren with little support from the Zanamis family.
The young Yayoi had almost no strong political allies. Though the ruler of Fontiera controlled the military, she still needed her ministers' support to implement policies.
Thus, the young ruler relied on her trusted circle, particularly the Tenkei Sect led by Eiren.
Influenced by Eiren, Yayoi embraced the sect's inclusive philosophy, wanting to share life with her people rather than being a distant royal symbol.
Driven by this belief, Yayoi accepted Eiren's blessing and made her the Chaplain, despite ministerial opposition. This became the infamous Royal Stain in Fontiera's history.
The Royal Stain caused an uproar both among the public and in the court. As the gods' incarnate and the church's leader, she bowed to a miko.
This was like Jancis suddenly apprenticing to a nun, severely undermining royal authority. The Royal Stain event led to the rapid growth of the Tenkei Sect, making it a fashionable trend among Fontiera citizens.
However, did the young monarch consider why her ancestors never gave the church too much political power? A good person doesn't make a good monarch, and those who claim to be good can turn the world into hell.
With the monarch's divine right undermined, people began questioning royal authority. The boundary between the monarchy and the people vanished.
Even someone as kind as Nanaho couldn't avoid mistakes. Under constant scrutiny, no one escapes judgment.

Chapter Two

In the second year of Yayoi's reign (11212, Era of Frost Veil), the Samurai clan and officials staged a coup, imprisoning Nanaho and installing impostors.
The coup quickly collapsed when the Tenzen Ninja Order uncovered the Samurai clan's discord, freeing Nanaho and presenting the ringleaders to the emperor.
The legendary "Super Ninja" ReiRei became the hero of the event, celebrated as the Tenzen Ninja Order's daughter and the empress's rescuer, quickly earning Yayoi's trust.
The Samurai clan fractured due to the failed coup, and the young ruler seized this chance to address long-standing court issues.
By consolidating control over the church and aligning with the ninja orders, Yayoi rapidly shifted the course of history.
Despite the coup, eight-year-old Yayoi exercised full authority, pardoned most of the Samurai clan, and maintained strong ties with the populace.
The Tenkei Sect's growing power forced her mentor to resign from church affairs to counter the maternal clan's ambitions.
In the fourth year of Yayoi's reign, Saiō Eiren, despite repeated requests from Yayoi, resigned from church roles and endorsed Tamatori of the Tsugetsukis as the new Saiō.
After Tamatori, six more Saiōs served Yayoi; while they lacked Eiren's stature, they were still highly respected.
Thus began the 60-plus years of the Yayoi era, a time marked by Yayoi's efforts to spread joy and religious teachings. Although it was meant to be a Golden Age for Fontiera, reality differed.
The Tenkei Sect grew under Yayoi, with tax-exempt followers not engaged in production. Local officials built churches to gain favor, increasing the common people's burden.
Some officials used religion as a pretext to slander political rivals, a practice that became widespread and led to numerous injustices.
The facade of prosperity was already decayed, with Yayoi at its core. What she saw as a Golden Age was merely a fragile bubble ready to burst.
From the safety of Sunnyhill's palace, Yayoi saw only an illusion of prosperity, blind to the Golden Age's decline.

Chapter Three

In the 64th year of Yayoi, the arrival of a Dwarf shatters the centuries-long peace of Fontiera.
Accompanied by a single servant, she sails a thousand-passenger ship from Yuwa to Fontiera, spending lavishly.
Fontiera thrives in the Golden Age, as high overseas profits entice its people, leading many to engage in population trafficking and jeopardizing the regime's stability.
No ruler will accept outsiders smuggled illegally from other nations, as this usually shakes the monarchy, especially in Yayoi, a devout nation.
In the 67th year of Yayoi (6816 years after the birth of Lord Deity), the empress of Fontiera orders a complete maritime trade blockade, banning unofficial interactions with Ciaran and Zinew Archipelago.
The Empress believes this will safeguard her people, but the tides of change resist a monarch's will. The grey area of human trafficking has become a fully underground industry.
The high profits and severe penalties of human trafficking drive criminals to risk their lives smuggling people across borders. Victims face even greater dangers and brutal consequences if they fail to escape.
As a righteous person, Yayoi believes everyone, like her, follows the doctrine and strives for goodness, improving the nation.
Outcomes often differ from expectations. Everyone has limitations, and even good intentions can lead to tragedy.
Yayoi prioritizes the happiness of her people and, despite Ciaran's rich resources, has no interest in pursuing power there.
Yayoi desires a peaceful life with her people over fame, but her distinct character ensures she will be remembered by future generations.

Historical Notes

Aimin:
Aimin (11142–11213, Era of Frost Veil), the 1,239th monarch of Fontiera, previously known as Huyu, saw the peak of royal power. The monarchy indulged in luxury while the church became powerless. The heavy taxation on the lower classes fertilized the ground for the church's expansion, offering spiritual solace for folks in hopes of a better afterlife.

Rainwhisper Pavilion:
Built in 24 of the Era of Frost Veil by Gaia, Fontiera's founder, the Rainwhisper Pavilion was a tribute to the late Saiō Seerame, replicating their Ciaran home. The construction took 13 years to complete and it later served as a royal retreat.

Eiren:
Eiren (11180–11214, Era of Frost Veil), one of the Zanamis, was the first Saiō under Emperor Yayoi's reign.

The Zanamis:
Originating from the Mindo River, the Zanamis boasted an emblem featuring a river and has deep roots in Silvermoon. They typically stayed out of Kyotara's political conflicts. Despite their rapid rise during Yayoi's early reign, no Saiō had emerged among the Zanamis in the next ten generations.

Royal Stain:
This event refers to Yayoi's degrading himself to be a disciple of Eiren. In Fontiera, the royal family is revered as the divine voice, supreme rulers ordained by the heavens, while mikos serve merely to support as servants. For a divine spokesperson to become a disciple of their own servant was perceived as diminishing the monarchy's stature, a form of insult.

Dwarf:
The clues—"lavish manner", "Dwarf", "Year 11212 in the Era of Frost Veil", "voyage alone"—all point to one notable figure: Edda Morin, the great Dwarven forger. Historical records suggest Edda spent her final years in Fontiera. This renowned forger chose to die far from home. The famous weapon, Azure Blade, now a treasured artifact of the Kurokamis, was likely crafted by her.