Old World Corruption in New World Doma The Case of Lord Tetsuno

Chief Editor - Sima Qian 司馬遷

As the editor-in-chief of an internationally minded news magazine, my work has led me to explore many cultures both modern and historical, from the elusive Duskwights of the Black Shroud to the isolated Seeker tribes of the Sagolii desert. Yet, no matter how far I travel, my heart always wanders back to my beautiful Yanxia, the land of my birth, and this is reflected in the Kingdom of Doma’s frequent representation on these printed pages.Doma is still a nation undergoing a social, economic and governmental rebirth. Many of my past articles have painted an optimistic picture of my nations future as her people recover from their generation of foreign occupation and build a new future. However, I have also not shied away from reporting on the darker sides of Doman society either: whether they are born of more recent scars left behind by the Garleans, or of older traditions which, in my opinion, are best done away with. Unfortunately, this editorial will be one such article.The mining town of Reishinawa is a remote settlement, tucked away in the mountains of the Fanged Crescent in Doma’s northern provinces, and was traditionally the holding of the titular Reishinawa clan. For many generations, Reishinawa village punched above its weight in economic influence, its mines accounting for much of Doma’s wealth in natural minerals, and its smiths playing a central role in forging (forgive the wordplay) the reputation of Doman Steel as among the best quality metal on this star.When Garlemald’s IV Legion ground Yanxia under its heel, the Reishinawa clan kowtowed to the invaders in order to avoid being annhilated. As a result, they survived, but their mines were turned into pits of despair where slaves of the Empire toiled away, with the bounty of the mountains now feeding the Garlean war machine.This lachrymose state of affairs continued until our late King Kaien cut his strings and rose into revolt. In the feverish wave of rebellion that ensued, a neighbouring clan, the Tetsuno, destroyed the Garlean-collaborating clan Reishinawa and seized their lands in the name of the liberation effort. As we all know, that first rebellion failed, but the second, led by Lord Kaien’s son, Hien, succeeded, and after that, the Tetsuno closed down the hated slave mines. As of the printing of this article, the Tetsuno are hailed as heroes of the Doman revolution. Surely, a decade after their deliverance from Garlean rule, it's people are thriving under their new Lords?When I first arrived in the town, my first impressions were not positive. The mountain roads leading to it were ill maintained, isolating it from the outside world. The settlement itself had clearly seen better days: several homes look abandoned, and those which show signs of inhabitation are poorly maintained. It is obvious that Lord Tetsuno has not reopened the mines, and that decision has reduced Reishinawa village’s people to poverty, for the mountainous land they live on is ill suited to farming. Most of the inhabitants I approach for comment are standoffish and suspicious of me, even the ones who do not seem to be wary of me are surprised when I tell them my business here, as if they cannot comprehend why a Journalist would ever come to their decrepit, backwater dump.Eventually, I find someone willing to converse with me: Kura-san, the village blacksmith, a position once held in high regard during Reishinawa village’s heyday, but fading in prominence now since the closing of the mines. Kura-san invites me into her home, and over tea, she is kind enough to oblige all the questions I have for her about her town, her people, and the Lord who rules over it.The Tetsuno, as previously mentioned, are publicly regarded as heroes of the Doman revolution, and praised for their role in driving out the Reishinawa, who sided with the invaders. Kura-san, however, tells a different narrative. According to her, the feud between the Reishinawa and the Tetsuno predates the Garlean invasion. The two clans had been enemies for centuries, even back before Lord Ganen united Yanxia. Therefore, when the Tetsuno wiped out the Reishinawa and took control of their lands, they did so not out of high minded ideals of Doman liberation. Instead, they saw the chaos of the rebellion as an opportunity to eliminate a longstanding rival and finally annex their lands.Kura-san goes on to explain the depth of the Tetsuno Clan’s mismanagement. Evidently, the patriarch of Tetsuno has given Reishinawa village to his second son, who has refused to re-open the mines. Kura-san admits that, ten years ago, when the Tetsuno closed the mines, the villagers cheered, for it represented an end to an era of Garlean exploitation. Yet, before the Imperial conquest, the mines were Reishinawa village’s main source of wealth, and ten years after the liberation, the failure to re-open them and employ free, fairly paid labourers to work in them has led to deep economic and social stagnation.If the blatant maladministration was not bad enough, Kuna-san also informs me that Lord Tetsuno’s son’s personal character is, to put it mildly, lacking. Evidently, he is a despot and an indolent lecher, whose appetite for Raen has led to much suffering among the young women in the village. Moreover, Tetsuno (the son’s) retainers and Samurai bannermen are not drawn from the locals, but are transplants from Clan Tetsuno’s original lands.They treat the locals with contempt and suspicion. As Kuna-san explains: as the Tetsuno continue refuse to open the mines, the people starve, grow bitter, and become unable or unwilling to pay their taxes, and so more men are brought in to keep them in line: a vicious cycle.There is a racial compotent to all this too, for the Tetsuno are Hyuran, while their longstanding archenemy of clan Reishinawa were Raen. Most of Reishinawa village is also peopled by Raen. Kura-san postulates that the reason why the Tetsuno and their retainers are so neglectful and cruel to the people of Reishinawa village is because the village still bares the name of their ancient rival, and is populated by people of the same race as their ancient rival.Having gained a sufficiently well-rounded picture of Kura-sans perspective on the affairs of her village and Tetsuno rule, I bid her farewell and once more attempt to converse with the other villagers. None of them are nearly as forthcoming with me as the lady blacksmith was. None were willing to comment the Tetsuno, but judging by the tightness in their faces and their nervous shuffling when I brought up the name, this was out of fear, not respect.Next, in an attempt to have an even hand, I approach one of the Tetsuno bannermen and request an audience with their Lord so that I might gain his perspective on his administrative decisions, and hear his perspective on his treatment of the local population. Without any tact or manners, the bannermen tell me to shove off: the Lord is apparently seeing no visitors, especially journalists and newshounds.If I had any lingering doubts that my impression of the Tetsuno as corrupt tyrants was wrongly formed, they were dispelled when I departed from the village. Down the mountain path, there is a roadside inn run by an elderly Raen gentleman. As I was riding by, I noticed three armed retainers of Lord Tetsuno accosting the old proprietor, demanding from him a tribute of rice which, naturally, he was unable to pay.To my abject disgust, the bannermen then suggested that, if the old man was unable to pay his dues to his rightful lord in rice, then he could do so by giving up his young daughter: a girl of eighteen. As a journalist, I am supposed to remain an objective observer in all things. Here, however, I confess that I intervened in the situation. Thankfully, I was, through my humble merits, able to convince the Tetsuno bannermen to leave in peace. The innkeeper and his daughter have since taken a ferry south to the Doman Enclave, where they will seek new work and be out of the reach of Lord Tetsuno’s son’s lechery.As an editorial is, by definition, an opinion piece, I will state my opinions clearly: based on my experience in Reishinawa village and the testimony of the people who live there, the Clan Tetsuno is unfit to rule. They represent a level of stagnation, decadence, corruption and neglect which may have been normal in the Doma of old, such as the dark years of mad-king Seien, but has no place in our new, modern Doma: a nation which should strive for prosperity, dignity and respect for all of its citizens. I hereby call upon our just and rightful King Hien Rijin to reconsider the trust he has put in Clan Tetsuno to govern his northern provinces, and right the wrongs which have been committed since their takeover of Clan Reishinawa’s lands.

Modern Poetry - Valentione’s Day Insomnia

Staff Writer: Wilberga Lowe

Valentione's Day InsomniaI lie awake at night, too tired for sleep
Beneath Menphina's light I've no relief
Moonbeams reveal the secrets I would keep
That I am overcome with feelings deep.The love affairs I've known have all been brief
Affections warmth fled sudden as it came
Again wrapped in the lonely cold of grief
And yet my heart still drives me to beliefThat since you chose to set my heart aflame
The cold will fade to distant memory
I dare to hope an end to this cruel game
Now that upon my heart you’ve set your claimI’ll take this chance and speak of love freely
I’ll speak the words that I had dared not peep
And tell you just how much you mean to me
My love my one my lady of the sea

• Front Page

Perfect Places for a Romantic Rendezvous

Staff Writer - Ayana Rhelka

When it comes to Eorzea's many holidays, nothing quite gets me giddy like Valentione's Day. All Saint's Wake is all well and good, but there's something about a celebration of love itself that sets the heart alight and makes me feel full of bubbles. And, if you're like me, you might have pondered some of the nicer places to visit during this heart-tickling holiday!When I think of a nice place to go for a date, my usual pick would be Reverie, because it's literally next to my house and I work there. But what if you wanted something different?If you're thinking of somewhere for a nice dinner date, another spot does come to mind! Unfortunately, by the time this paper comes out, The Jeweled Cypress's Valentione's Day event will have passed (as they're open every other sen), but who says romance is just for this specific window of the year? A Hingan-and-Doman-centered eatery, The Jeweled Cypress is well-known to members of The Halcyon Assembly, as friends and former members alike have visited and even held events (a certain wedding reception comes to mind) in this gorgeously-decorated tavern. If I tell you about them now, you'll be able to plan for next year!If you're looking for something aside from the traditional romantic meal, I might suggest the Elysian Springs Spa! There's nothing quite like relaxation and self-care with the ones you hold dearest to your heart, and Elysian Springs Spa is one of the finer places that comes to mind. Nestled cozily in the Lavender Beds, this luxurious home-away-from-home has an unmatched atmosphere that instills feelings of both tranquility and whimsy. The spa's baths, eight in number--that's a lot!--are the main feature, but they're not the only treat to be found. Elysian Springs also features a sauna and a sitting parlor, as well as a selection of delicious drinks. When I went to visit and get permission to feature them in this article, I met with the managers, two lovely viera named Braely and Lynnaes, who made me feel right at home! On the topic of Valentione's, Lynnaes had this to say: "We try to embrace every little holiday that comes along, you know, and Valentione's day is so special that we like going all out for it." That's a sentiment I can get behind!Funnily enough, however, I've often been told that Reverie is incredibly romantic and a wonderful date spot. It feels strange to mention it in this article at all (twice, especially), but it really does have an atmosphere like few others. Even if the matanga statues inspire feelings far from romance, many loves have bloomed under this egregiously-sized roof.Here's hoping you get a chance to take your sweetheart--or your friends--or your lonesome self--to one of these wonderful establishments in the near future, Valentione's Day or otherwise!

The View From Below

Staff Writer: Susuni Suni

Eddie Wilbers has a problem on his farm. His problem is bats.There’s a large cave nearby, and various bats live in it. They come out at night, chew the fruit on his trees, and suck the blood from his livestock.This problem comes to me because I carry a spear. What does a spear have to do with bats, you ask? Spears are a working person’s weapon, and working people see it as such.Swords provide an aura of nobility, purpose, and authority. People with swords have problems bigger than bats. This doesn’t apply to people with huge swords. Those people are maniacs and are best avoided.People with bows are probably hunting for their own food to feed their own family. Probably not bats. Bats taste like ass. Don’t ask me how I know either side of this.People with axes have a significant dedication to violence and are to be avoided on general principles, save for when your problem involves trees. Axe-people tend to hang around and drunkenly argue with people that carry huge swords. This entire scene is something to shun unless you have more limbs attached to your body than you want.People with magic or strange technology are just plain feared by the common folk. I’m sure you disagree if you’re one of those who uses magic or some special “no-it’s-really-not-Garlean-I-pinky-promise” technology. The fact is that you honestly terrify people who are just too afraid to tell you that. Any farmer you try to explain ley lines or blast powder to will just humor you while they try to think of the best way to get far away from you.A spear, however, is just a knife on the end of a stick. It shows you know the world is a dangerous place, and you’re doing the best you can to face it with the minimal resources you have. I like to call this View From Below. The View From Below is a good way to see the world, since it doesn’t assume you’re above anything or anyone.Because honestly, Eddie’s problem is not the bats. Eddie’s problem is that his body is so broken from years of working the farm and trying to harvest his fruit and livestock that he no longer has the ability to defend them. Hard work breaks somebody in a way that combat never will. It’s not fighting, it’s struggling.That he’s broken is why years ago he hired a sixteen-year-old girl with a shoddy leather cuirass and an equally ramshackle spear to patrol his fields and make sure that in the morning a week from now he still had fruit and meat to sell when it came market time. He needed somebody to do work he could no longer do. He also needed to be able to say he only hired her because he was helping somebody else out, not because he could no longer do it himself.Because honestly, Eddie’s problem is not that he’s broken. Eddie’s problem is that he’s so old that he thinks any of this is still his problem. He can no longer remember that he gave the farm to his son, who like the rat bastard that he let it go to weeds and just sells time on the farm’s windmill to other people who actually till the land. Business-wise this is probably a better idea, but you can’t explain that to Eddie, because to him it’s a farm and not a business.So a few times every year I show up at Eddie’s farm and he hires me again to take care of his bat problem. I spend a night outside by a campfire, run around a bit so I look like I’ve been fighting, and rub some dirt on my face to complete the illusion. Then I go back to tell him the story of this year’s flock of vicious bats and how I ran into his rat bastard son outside who had already paid me. We split a bottle of very hard cider that a neighbour always gives me.The story is all a lie, which is fine. I lie a lot, and I’m good at it. It’s part of my job. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Eddie knows it’s a lie too.But it’s nice for a while to pretend that either of our problems are really bats.

Gulab Jamun - A Guide to Thavnairian Sweets!

Staff Writer - Suresh Aarya

Valentione’s is upon us- a strange, Eorzean holiday to my Thavnairian eyes and ears. We do celebrate some days of love in Thavnair and Othard, but none are quite like Valentione’s. Imagine my surprise upon finding that showcasing your love amidst gaudy displays of bright red hearts is commonplace, and it even extends to chocolate!Chocolate is not exactly popular in Thavnair, and I do not recall seeing too much of it in Kugane. However! We can approximate it using a spice that my lovely friend Syrenead will tell us about. So let us tell you about Gulab Jamun!Gulab Jamun is a traditional Thavnairian sweet oft enjoyed during festivals. (I myself am fond of bringing it to business meetings!) It is typically made with khoya or milk solids, though that is a bit of an advanced process and not easily doable outside of Thavnair. So instead, for our recipe we will be using milk powder, which can be purchased easily at most markets.
Let us begin!In a medium-sized pot, add a cup and a half of sugar, and four lightly-crushed green cardamoms. (Syrenead will have a note about cardamom at the end of this article.) Pour in a cup and a half of water and bring the pot to a boil until the syrup turns sticky. You can easily test this by putting a little bit of the syrup onto a plate, letting it cool, and then touching it. Once the desired consistency has been achieved, take the pot off the heat and add a dash of rose water, gently stirring until it turns a nice, reddish colour.For the dough, combine a cup of milk powder, a quarter cup plus one tablespoon of all-purpose flour, and a pinch of baking soda. Gently filter this through a sieve. Now normally we would add a teaspoon of ghee, but our readers may recall from an earlier article that if ghee is unavailable, you may substitute this with a teaspoon of clarified butter instead. Mix well.Now add a tablespoon of yogurt and two tablespoons of milk to the mixture, and stir well. You do not need to knead the dough, just continue gently mixing it. If it feels too dry, add some more milk, a tablespoon at a time. You are looking for a soft dough that is firm to the touch.Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls. Take a pan filled with ghee or oil, and place it over medium heat. Fry the balls for two minutes, then reduce the flame and continue frying until they turn golden.Once done, strain them and let most of the oil drip out. Add them to the hot sugar syrup (not hot enough to be steaming). Let them sit for a few hours, add your favourite nuts, and serve.(Syrenead Note: Cardamom is a spice made from a seed. It is related to ginger and can often be described as smelling earthy, smoky, and spicy. It is also said to be heavily fragrant.The taste of cardamom ranges from a ginger and pepper-y taste, to a mint and lemon taste, depending on how it is cultivated. This is also due to the fact that there are several varieties of this plant.It comes in pods which can be used as they are, or the seeds can be removed and ground into a powder. Is it very strong and can be an acquired taste, and it is used very frequently in Thavnairian dishes.)