|
|
|
|
 Screenshots: none Related Characters: Nanami Yumei Jun Shiho Suo |
Hai-Lan Capitol: none Government: none/shogunate Major Landmarks: Hai-Lan An island isolated just off the southwest coast, Hai-Lan has developed its own unique culture. It is filled with unusual flora and fauna, as well as less natural magical beings. In the game, Hai-Lan is a small country divided into factions and at war with itself. The culture is predominantly Japanese, complete with Shinto temples and traditional living quarters. Judging by the way this place was named ('Wakoku' in Japanese - 'Wa' being the name, and 'koku' meaning country), Hai-Lan seems to be set in the period of history prior to Japan's formation as one, united country. No one ruler managed to unite the entire island, and no matter how much power they gathered, it nearly always disappeared in the wars of succession that followed their deaths. It was rare for the position to pass to qualified descendants in one piece. The war between Hai-Lan and the group called "100 Demons" is an interesting reflection of that history. The closest form of government I can think of to associate with this place is a shogunate. During Yumei's senario, they afford great respect to General Koh's name and station, and it may be that he and people like him are the ones who hold the power in Hai-Lan - at least as far as it'll go. The game doesn't refer to this place as a 'kingdom' or 'monarchy' or 'regime' like it did with the others, and I'm sure there's good reason for it. (In this way, I think Hai-Lan's situation also closely resembles the Tokugawa period.) Yumei's senario also let us know that Hai-Lan was at war with the Merfolk until just a few years before the game, and that a peaceful resolution was eventually found, thanks to General Koh. Unfortunately, except for talk here and there, we hear nothing about the culture of the Merfolk - I can guess that the conflict centered around Hai-Lan's fishing/harvesting practices (what other interest could the merfolk possibly have in Hai-Lan's dealings?), but as far as we see, they stay underwater. Where they belong. ^^ Fashion in Hai-Lan consists of kimonos, bandannas, and occasionally a hat. ^.^ Their economy can't be great, since they're at war, but they're a coastal city; most of their food products are probably obtained through fishing and such. State religion seems to be Shintoism, and they probably have their own unique practices of magic - even though the game forces all magic-users to equip scepters, I noticed that the sprites for Nanami, Shiho, and Yumei do not incorporate staves or scepters into the images, while many of the others do. Interesting. Another interesting bit is the slave trade; Hai-Lan residents seem to be a popular target, or at least the game led me to believe so. But do the slavers run all over the island and steal little girls, or do the warring factions simply sell their prisoners of war? It's an interesting question, at least to me. |
|
Back to Main :: Contact Me |
|
|
|