Ezzo Empire

The Ezzo Empire (エッゾ帝国) is a small empire in Elder Tale and one of the Five Territories of Yamato. The Adventurer City of Susukino is located in this territory. It covers the same territory as the real-world Hokkaido, Aomori Prefecture, and the four Kuril Islands closest to Nemuro, administered by Russia in real life.

Overview
Geographically, the land it governs covers approximately the same area as Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture and Aomori Prefecture and the four Kuril Islands closest to real-life Nemuro, with the Earthling city of Hirosaki noted as being its major border city with Eastal. The main island of Ezzo is separated from the mainland by the Lyport Channel and the only way for ordinary adventurers to access this island is via the undersea tunnel known as the Depths of Palm, which is heavily guarded by many monsters. The main events that occur in this nation happen in the player city of Susukino.

The Ezzo Empire is generally a vast wasteland with a myriad of difficult dungeons. This makes it a popular destination for Adventurers, but a hard environment for People of the Earth to live in.

The hot-blooded Human Emperor-Conqueror Al Radil created a young retro machine empire. However, when the Catastrophe struck, most of the empire's powerful mechanized soldiers were deployed on the frontiers to fend off Giants, and so malicious Adventurers quickly seized the capital.

Although the situation has improved greatly since Silver Sword rose to power, little is known about the state of the original Earthling government. Whether the Ezzo royal family is alive or dead is uncertain, and the public administrator is only in name.

Geography and Climate
As stated before, the size of the Ezzo Empire is around the same as modern-day Japan's Hokkaido and Aomori Prefecture. However, most of Ezzo's territory remains undeveloped, particularly anything east of the Poros Mountains and Blazing Peak Daisetsu. Hundred Men's Ice Wall and Wall Shuparo mark the strongholds against hordes of Giants.

West of the Poros Mountains, human civilization is scattered between Susukino, Port City Sharpcliff, Walled City Shubaro, and Hirosaki, Town of Cherry Trees.

Locations

 * Susukino
 * The capital of the Ezzo Empire, built in the Iskal District of western Ezzo. This burg is the foothold for Ezzo's Adventurers, and the stronghold against Giants. It also has political functions to lead the surrounding Earthling settlements.
 * Right after the Catastrophe, Susukino was temporarily brought under control by the rogue Adventurers' guild Brigandia. But Silver Sword, a large-scale battle guild that emigrated from Akiba, put down the rogues and instituted public order. Thanks to this, peace is gradually returning to Susukino.
 * Ezzo Potato, one of the major ingredients for Earthlings of Susukino, is popular among Adventurers as well. They develop new dishes based on it, including 'Sautéed with butter' and 'Miso-soup'.

Corresponding Real Life Regions

 * Sapporo (Susukino)
 * Hirosaki/Aomori (Hirosaki, Town of Cherry Trees)
 * Wakkanai (Frozenspire of Notsam)
 * Tomakomai (Wall Shuparo)
 * Obihiro (Estuarytown Oberi)
 * Tsugaru Strait/Seikan Tunnel (Lyport Channel/Lyport Tunnel)

Trivia

 * The name "Ezzo" is derived from Ezo, a historical name for the lands beyond the northern border of the Yamato Japanese state based in Kyoto. It came into use following the Yamato conquest of the Emishi confederations of present-day Iwate Prefecture in the early ninth century, and was initially defined as the area comprising present-day Aomori Prefecture (the northernmost prefecture of Honshu) and Watarishima (now Hokkaido). During the Edo Period, Ezo was the Japanese term for what would become Hokkaido.
 * On maps, Ezzo also includes the four Kuril Islands disputed between Japan and Russia. The Kuril Islands, like Hokkaido and parts of Aomori Prefecture, were also ancestral homelands of the Ainu.