Rokugan Local Governance:
The Layout of the City
Cities in Rokugan can grow organically from the cluster of simple huts that they originated as, or they can be carefully and extravagantly planned with the guidance of the Kami. Cities serve to fulfill many roles. Almost all cities in Rokugan are defensible, either because they are on an island or at a cliff's edge, or because they are surrounded by walls. Most cities are on the ocean or on waterways, boats being the fastest means of transportation of goods in the Empire. The great castles of each clan's ruling families are often surrounded by or have cities nearby, drawn by the security the Kami created for themselves at the beginning of the Empire. Cities can run from 5,000 to 100,000 inhabitants, but of those, only about five percent would be clan samurai of status.
Cities that are planned are commonly arranged on a grid pattern or a circular street pattern, with several gates into the city.
features found in cities are:
Cities that are planned are commonly arranged on a grid pattern or a circular street pattern, with several gates into the city.
features found in cities are:
- Surrounding fields and feeder villages
- City Walls and City Gates
- Barracks for unmarried bushi assigned to defend the city
- A Temple of the Brotherhood of Shinsei
- A number of Shrines to the Fortunes
- Storehouses for taxed rice or similar goods
- A waterwheeel or mill for processing rice and grain
- A burakumin area for leatherworking and other unsavory jobs
- Docks for fishing vessels or merchant ships
- A city open marketplace
- An artisan district for crafters and artisans, including their shops
- A geisha/entertainment district
- Magistrate's stations, usually with watchtowers and bells in case of fire
- Training Dojos
- Inns, Sake Houses, and Tea Houses
- Public Baths (called the Sento) or Hotsprings if available
- A noble district where most higher status samurai reside
- Government Offices for various functions
- Gardens for the nobility
- The Governor's palace
- The Keep: If the city is there because it centers on a Kuge family's home, this will be in or near the city proper.
