Fushimi

Fushimi in Rankai.

Description

Fushimi, often referred to as The City of Accord, is the former Imperial Capital of Hoshi-no-Kuni and the political seat of Clan Wakamoto. Situated along the banks of the Aizu River and surrounded by sloping hills and centuries-old shrines, Fushimi is the most diplomatically neutral and politically active city in the Rankai system. Declared neutral ground by all major clans during the Warring Epoch, Fushimi remains the only city where representatives of every great house may walk without immediate threat of bloodshed.
Equal parts cultural crossroads and political battleground, Fushimi is home to secondary estates of all major clans, countless minor families, and a host of trade guilds, information brokers, and diplomats. Though governed by Clan Wakamoto, the city is a stage rather than a throne—a place where alliances are brokered, disputes mediated, and the future of Hoshi-no-Kuni often decided in soft voices over strong tea. Fushimi is known for its balance of old-world refinement and quiet ambition. Marble bridges, ceremonial halls, and stone gardens sit beside bustling marketplaces and information dens. It is a city of masks—where hospitality is sincere, but never without purpose.

Notable Locations

Former Imperial Palace

Once the seat of the ancient imperial lineage that briefly united Hoshi-no-Kuni, the Former Imperial Palace is now a ceremonial site maintained jointly by Clan Wakamoto and a neutral temple order. Though stripped of political power, the palace is still considered sacred ground, where seasonal festivals, high-level negotiations, and rites of truce are performed. The Grand Hall is often used as neutral territory for inter-clan conferences and emergency declarations.

Wakamoto Estate

Located in the northeastern quarter of Fushimi, the Wakamoto Estate is a sprawling compound of subdued elegance. Surrounded by quiet reflecting pools and lined with wisteria-draped walkways, the estate is both residence and administrative center for Wakamoto leadership. Unlike the overt military presence of Tendou or the veiled rituals of Shiratori, the Wakamoto maintain their estate with transparency and ceremony, using it as a stage for diplomacy and mediation.

Great Clan Houses

• Tendou: A stark, utilitarian stronghold within Fushimi’s western sector. The Tendou House is heavily fortified, garrisoned by a disciplined contingent of Heaven Guard, and functions more as a watchpost than a residence. Diplomacy occurs here only under strict protocol, and always with visible deterrents.
• Hanzo: Unmarked and anonymous, the Hanzo compound is believed to lie beneath or behind one of the quiet garden complexes in the southern district. It has no signage, no visible guards, and no public entryway. Only those expected find their way in. Those who are not never return.
• Kurayama: A lavish manor near the merchant quarter, styled like a trade palace more than a fortress. The Kurayama estate doubles as a commerce hall, where business is conducted over wine and soft music, with contracts written in calligraphy finer than most court poetry. Its upper levels serve as private banking and negotiation spaces.
• Shiratori: The most beautiful of the Great Houses in Fushimi, the Shiratori estate is a tiered villa overlooking a sacred lotus pond. It is a place of white silk, perfumed air, and polite menace. Every inch is carefully arranged for ritual, reception, and subtle warfare. Few are invited inside—and fewer leave unchanged.

Entertainment District

Fushimi’s Entertainment District, located in the southeastern quarter, is a vibrant, ever-shifting maze of oiran houses, theaters, tea salons, gambling halls, and poetry dens. Both commoners and nobles frequent its shaded walkways, often donning masks to hide their identities. Here, deals are struck in whispers between performances, and secrets are traded for pleasure. Though officially neutral, every establishment is rumored to have an allegiance—to a clan, a spy network, or a cause.

Honey Bee Inn

Tucked in the shadow of grander and more opulent pleasure houses, the Honey Bee Inn is one of Fushimi’s most infamous and paradoxically respected oiran establishments. Often dismissed by outsiders as a “low-tier” house due to its gaudy signage, cheerful aesthetic, and comparatively modest rates, the Honey Bee In thrives not in spite of its reputation—but because of it. The house is easily recognizable by its distinctive theme: the staff—courtesans, servers, and performers alike—are dressed in alluring bee-inspired attire, complete with gold-and-black silks, translucent wings, and playful antennae. The environment inside is lively, irreverent, and unpretentious, with warm lighting, honey-infused sake, and an open floorplan designed to foster intimacy over ceremony.
But beneath the flirtatious charm and suggestive costumes lies the real draw: anonymity.
The Honey Bee In is considered neutral, even by Fushimi standards. Its clientele includes smugglers, diplomats, low-ranking samurai, disaffected nobles, and even the occasional spy handler—all drawn to its policy of “no names, no records, no questions.” In a city of masks and obligations, the Honey Bee In offers something more valuable than luxury: freedom. Deals are whispered behind paper screens, messages passed between shared sips, and confessions made to companions trained in discretion as much as seduction.
While not as refined as the lotus courts or as dazzling as the Treno House, the Honey Bee Inn remains a thriving, buzzing corner of the Entertainment District, always alight with laughter, secrets, and wings that flutter just fast enough to stir the city’s balance.

Honey Bee Inn Oiran

Mitsu Amagusa	Rinari Takamine	Hachika Hanabira	Suzuka Yosuzu	Kanoko Komabari

Himeka Kagerou	Kohana Shinobu	Mai Tsukihana	Ran Hachiko	Sayo Kurimitsu

Sumire Kinuyo	Suzume Kogane	Yuri Hachimitsu	Sam Antadine	Shi-Zuka Meioh

Treno House of Pleasures

A crown jewel of Fushimi’s Entertainment District, the Treno House is a luxurious, multi-tiered pleasure palace known for far more than oiran. It is equal parts salon, casino, gallery, and auction house—a haven for aristocrats, collectors, wealthy merchants, and thrill-seekers with a taste for elegance and danger. The Treno House’s exterior is understated yet imposing: lacquered stone, golden lanterns, and a sweeping staircase flanked by lion statues carved from onyx. Inside, its halls are labyrinthine, adorned with rare paintings, imported sculptures, and chandeliers of crystal sourced from offworld decades ago. The House prides itself on its tiered floors, each one catering to a different vice or indulgence—from fine dining and performance arts to high-stakes gambling and underground auctions.
The upper levels are reserved for the elite: discreet rooms where priceless heirlooms change hands, antique weapons are bartered over whispered wagers, and exclusive invitation-only card tournaments unfold beneath painted ceilings. The Treno House casino is fully legal—on paper—and draws challengers from across the system, some of whom have wagered not just fortunes, but titles and land. The establishment also houses a famed collector’s hall, where rare artifacts and oddities from across Rankai and beyond are displayed, often available for silent bidding or private sale. More than one stolen relic has discreetly found its way here, resurfacing behind glass under the pretense of “anonymous donation.”
While oiran are still part of Treno’s appeal, they are considered theatrical courtesans, trained in performance, philosophy, and subtle manipulation. Their role is as much to elevate status as to entertain. To be seen escorted by a Treno companion is to signal wealth, education, and discretion. Though Clan Kurayama is often suspected to have ties to the House, its ownership remains officially anonymous—another open secret few are foolish enough to question. To visit the Treno House is to step into a world where every moment is a performance, every smile a negotiation, and every indulgence an opportunity. In Fushimi, power wears many faces—and Treno provides the masks.

Treno Pleasure House Staff

House Master Masunari Kougetsu

Aimizu Jouten	Fumiyo Natsuko	Iyo Agano	Mizuki Fujimoto	Rumiko Saionji

Hanami Parlor

Hidden behind a lacquered gate adorned with painted petals and soft wind chimes, the Hanami Parlor is one of the most quietly exclusive oiran houses in all of Fushimi—and one of its most whispered about. On the surface, it appears to be a refined, almost ethereal establishment: minimalist in design, perfumed with rare blossoms, and known for its hauntingly beautiful performances under drifting petals. But beneath the elegance lies something far more calculated.
The Hanami Parlor is secretly operated by Clan Hanzo, its true purpose cloaked beneath veils of incense and choreography. Its oiran are not merely entertainers—they are observers, informants, and sometimes agents, carefully selected from the rarest bloodlines and species across Hoshi-no-Kuni. The parlor specializes in the “exotic”—non-human oiran of uncommon origin, each one captivating in ways that defy explanation. Their mystique draws in nobles, scholars, and generals alike—those who desire what is rare, and who often speak too freely in the presence of wonder.
While patrons believe they are indulging in rare pleasures, many are in truth being assessed, compromised, or subtly manipulated. Secrets spilled in whispered poetry or over a lover’s sigh may be passed that same night to Hanzo handlers, or used in negotiations elsewhere by dawn. Despite its hidden purpose, the Hanami Parlor remains in high demand—not in spite of the danger, but because of it. In a city where every pleasure masks a price, Hanami offers the rarest indulgence: to be seen, truly and fully, by something inhuman—and to surrender, even briefly, to the beauty of it.

Hanami Parlor Staff

Madame Madame Gao	Custodian Ito Shusaku	Security Zilug

Hikari Dokuya	Hinako Hiraishi	Hayakasa Hatsune	Kagerou Ayaka	Kagura Hien

Maihime Asagao	Miyako Maejima	Rikuna Kazekiba	Suzukaze Suzuran	Tsukayo Enrai

Yae Mikoshi	Yoshino Kaede	Yukihime Onigawa	Yumeko Shinkaji	Yumi Senran

Wall Market

Tucked into a crumbling ravine beneath the southern edges of Fushimi's Entertainment District lies The Wall Market—an infamous and chaotic hive of dueling arenas, pit fighting, underground games, and raw survival. Once a failed construction project meant to expand the district’s trade routes, the site was abandoned after a rockslide collapsed part of the outer cliff. Over time, it was reclaimed by the desperate, the exiled, and the lawless. Now a renegade coliseum and black-market hub, the Wall Market thrives as a proving ground for warriors too wild for the clans, too dishonored for the courts, or too skilled to be ignored. Combatants fight for coin, pride, or redemption, beneath a towering stone wall covered in carved names, scars, and graffiti-like clan symbols—hence the name. Some mark victories. Others, deaths.
Though illegal in name, the Wall Market is quietly tolerated by the great clans, especially the Tendou and Kurayama, who find it useful as a place to test experimental weapons, spy on rival talents, or offload troublesome retainers. Wagers are common, blood is expected, and honor is optional. The Marker’s deeper chambers host everything from weapon traders and unlicensed cyber-smiths to Force-imbued relic dealers and bio-mod artisans who offer enhancement syringes drawn from creatures long extinct. At its core lies the Marker Pit, an open dueling arena where battles are fought under torchlight before a roaring, masked crowd. Winning earns gold and infamy. Losing earns scars—or worse.
Despite its brutality, the Wall Market also serves a strange justice: in a world of dynasties and whispers, it is one of the few places where skill alone determines fate. Many Resistance sympathizers pass through here, recruiting among the broken, the bitter, or the bored. More than one war hero or clan outcast found their purpose again by surviving the Marker—and carving their name into the wall themselves. Whether a gladiator’s grave or a rebel forge, the Wall Market endures—raw, ungoverned, and echoing with the thunder of fists on stone.

Chidori Teahouse

Chidori Teahouse, named after the "plover bird" often associated with resilience and return, is one of Fushimi’s oldest and most beloved public establishments. Nestled along the Aizu River’s middle district, just outside the ceremonial quarter, it serves as a peaceful gathering point for travelers, couriers, merchants, wandering monks, and locals alike. Unlike the exclusive salons of the noble clans or the themed parlors of the Entertainment District, Chidori is open to all—from wandering ronin and exiled scholars to flower vendors and postriders. Its architecture is humble but refined: pale wood beams, a broad veranda overlooking the river, and seasonal ikebana displays hand-arranged each morning by the owner’s apprentice.
The teahouse is famous for its blended infusions, including mountain leaf sencha, plum blossom tisane, and a smoky blackroot brew favored by Heaven Guard veterans. The space is quiet, respectful, and communal. Guests share long, low tables or sit on tatami mats beside the hearth, and conversation is encouraged only in gentle tones. Above all, Chidori is known as a place of rest and neutrality. Stories abound of warring retainers who accidentally shared tea here and walked out with a truce—or of Resistance couriers slipping coded messages between cups in plain sight. Even Hanzo informants are said to treat Chidori as sacred ground: a place not to whisper secrets, but to forget them.
A small upper room offers calligraphy lessons, local gossip readings, and public poetry nights. During festivals, the Chidori Teahouse often serves as a staging point for lantern walks or river blessings. Though it has no banners, no guards, and no noble affiliation, Chidori is respected by every faction in Fushimi, perhaps because it offers the one thing the city itself rarely grants: quiet.

Tsuru-no-Sho Teahouse

Tsuru-no-Sho, or “Scroll of the Crane”, is a discreet and exquisite teahouse perched on a stone terrace overlooking the eastern quarter of Fushimi. Hidden behind a wisteria-draped wall and accessible only by a narrow path flanked by moss gardens, it is considered one of the most elegant and exclusive tea houses in the entire Rankai system. Founded generations ago by a former Shiratori courtier turned tea master, Tsuru-no-Sho is designed not for leisure—but for discretion. Its clientele includes clan elders, high-ranking courtiers, merchant lords, and wandering dignitaries, all of whom come not only for the ceremonial perfection of its service but for the privacy it affords.
The teahouse features a series of secluded chambers, each separated by shoji walls painted with subtle crane motifs and wind-calligraphy. Private rooms are accessible via timed appointments, often booked under false names or clan-neutral titles. The servers—trained in both silence and etiquette—are rumored to be vetted by Clan Hanzo or Shiratori themselves, depending on who you ask. Each chamber is soundproofed and spell-screened, with built-in inkstone stations, hidden compartments for documents, and call-bells for silent service. Seasonal teas are prepared according to traditional rites, using spring-drawn water and utensils polished to mirror-finish. Certain blends, such as Nightfall Chrysanthemum or Starroot Shadow, are exclusive to Tsuru-no-Sho and believed to be laced with minor calming agents or truth-drawing herbs.
Though officially just a tea house, more treaties have been inked within Tsuru-no-Sho than on any battlefield, and more rivalries cooled over porcelain cups than through entire campaigns. Resistance members, disaffected nobles, and Sith sympathizers alike have all passed through its doors—though never at the same time, and never by name. In Fushimi, where words are sharper than swords, Tsuru-no-Sho offers not just tea, but sanctuary—a place where alliances are quietly born, and powerful decisions are made in the rustle of sleeves and the clink of a kettle.

People of Note

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