Geography in the Suikoden series
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The Suikoden series of role-playing games are all set in the same world. While much information comes from the games themselves, unfortunately some information concerning the world of Suikoden is only available in various Suikoden-related publications so far, and may change with later installments.
The following fictional nations and areas are included in the respective games, organized by game of appearance.
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[edit] Toran
Prior to the events of Suikoden, the Scarlet Moon Empire ruled the Toran region, named after Lake Toran in its center. The Empire is overthrown and replaced with the nascent Toran Republic at the end of Suikoden.
[edit] Dunan
Dunan is the major setting of Suikoden II. The Dunan Region is to the north of Toran from Suikoden and to the southeast of the Grasslands. It is split between the Jowston City States and Highland. In the course of Suikoden II, Highland nearly conquers the City States; however, the City States receive some aid, and win the war after all, unifying the nations in the Dunan Republic. The Tinto Republic, also in the area and allied with the City States, remains independent, however.
[edit] Grasslands
The Grasslands is an open stretch of plains that stretches between Holy Harmonia to the east, the Northern Outlands to the north, the Zexen Federation to the west, and the Tinto Republic to the south. It is where Suikoden III is set.
The Grasslands is home to several different tribes of people, known as the Six Clans of Grassland. The Six Clans — Alma Kinan, Chisha, Duck, Karaya, Lizard, and Safir — are not truly a "government;" they are more a decentralized alliance. To the west lies the Zexen Confederation, a merchant nation more associated with Harmonia than the Six Clans.
[edit] Six Clans
Karaya Clan — Headed by Chief Lucia, the Karaya Clan is an aggressive warrior and hunter clan. Many of its warriors are seen using curved swords or bows. The Karaya clan aided the Highland Army under Jowy Blight during the Dunan Unification War to reclaim land that Greenhill had taken from Karaya. After Highland lost, the Karaya returned to their original land, but not before Mayor Teresa Wisemail investigated Lucia's claim that Gorudo and Alec Wisemail had murdered her father Kinua.
The Karayan village, burned down by the Zexen Knights in the Second Fire Bringer War, was rebuilt at the end of the war, with the help of the new chief, Hugo.
Chisha Clan — A peaceful clan that lives in the eastern section of Grassland. Headed by Chief Sana, Chisha is known for their clothing and for their cooking. They are much more pacifistic then the other peoples of Grassland.
Duck Clan — A tribe that lives near the middle of Grassland in a permanent settlement known as Duck Village, the Duck Clan is known for their cooking and that the clan is a group of walking, bipedal ducks. Often, Duck clansmen are hired as guides for parties traveling eastward. They are generally peaceful, but are known to be among the first to charge into battle when battle is necessary.
Lizard Clan — A strong warrior tribe of bipedal lizards that live in the Great Hollow, a massive underground cave. Headed by Chief Zepon, they are closely allied with the Karaya clan; the leader of the army, Dupa, is known to have drinks together with Chief Lucia on occasion. The Lizard Clan often clashes with the Zexen Federation.
Alma Kinan Clan — A clan of all women, the members of the Alma Kinan clan have a reputation for being spiritualists who commune with nature and the spirits. Headed by the young Chief Yuiri, they have a permanent settlement deep in the forest that is protected by a magical barrier. It is difficult for outsiders to penetrate through the barrier without the aid of an Alma Kinan member.
Safir Clan — The Safir Clan is one of the tribes of Grassland, but they are not ever seen in Suikoden III. They are attacked and defeated in Harmonia's invasion.
Village of Werebeasts — A village inhabited by werebeasts which was destroyed by Windy.
Milit — A village located between Tinto, Kaleria, and Camaro. This village was preyed upon at one time by troops of the Allied Army of Dunan during the Dunan Unification War. Although these troops were acting against their own military code, the Allied Army's administration was not aware of the pillaging that went on in the Grasslands. Due to this fact, the people in this village are extremely skeptical of the goodness of the newly created nation of Dunan. However, due to the fact that they were rescued by bandits by the hands of Camus, Miklotov, and the Lampdragon Trio, they seem to have regained their trust in their new neighbors.
Amur Plains — A vast plain that lies between the Karaya Clan and Vinay del Zexay. Random rocks and bushes line the road, but otherwise there is very little to see.
[edit] Zexen Confederacy
A mercantile nation that formed its own new nation 20 years prior to Suikoden III. Headed by an elected senate, trade and merchants are encouraged. Zexen is richer and more "civilized" than the Grasslands, but they are regarded by Harmonia as little more than an offshoot of a Grassland tribe. The military forces of Zexen are commanded by the Six Mighty Knights of Zexen.
Vinay del Zexay — The capital of the Zexen Federation. It is a seaport, and the Council and the Knights of Zexen are based here. It is a center of commerce and diplomacy.
Brass Castle — On the eastern border of Zexen, Brass Castle is the destination of many caravans before heading east to Grassland or south to Tinto. Brass Castle is the frontier defensive line against Grassland, but it is a generally open and accessible city.
Budehuc Castle — Owned by Master Thomas, Budehec Castle is an old, run-down fort. Many castle masters have headed up this castle before, but they all ran away when they couldn't take the pressure. Budehec has a small population, but it is selected as the base of operations during the Second Fire Bringer War.
[edit] Island Nations
Featured in Suikoden IV, the Island Nations Federation is the government of the Island Nations area in all later Suikodens. The area lies south of the Kooluk Empire, which itself is south of the Toran area. During the time period of Suikoden IV (some ~150 years prior to Suikoden I), the islands were loose and decentralized. During the Kooluk invasion, they unified to repel the Kooluk Empire. At the end of the game, Lino En Kuldes takes control of the separate island kingdoms and unites them in the Island Nations Federation.
Places in the Island Nations include:
- Obel
- Kooluk Empire
- Razril
- Middleport
- Iluya
- Nay
- Na-Nal
- Deserted Island
- Gaien
- Mordo Island
- Donut Island
- Limestone Shelves
- Mountain Mass Island
- Pirate's Nest
- Hermitage Island
- Nirva Island
In Suikoden V, the Prince of Falena visits Nirva Island, an outlying island closer to Falena used as for stocking and resupply by passing ships.
[edit] Falena
- See also: List of Suikoden V characters
The Queendom of Falena is the nation in which Suikoden V is set. While mostly inland, the Feitas River unites the Queendom and is the main method of transportation within Falena. The government is a monarchy in which the first-born female to the throne is the heir.
Sol-Falena is the capital of Falena and thus the location of the royal palace and the Senate. It has easy access to the Feitas River. Nearby, the East Palace is where the Dawn Rune is kept (under normal circumstances), and the West Palace is the site of the Twilight Rune. Part of the purification rites done before a princesses' marriage include praying at the East Palace, though in Suikoden V the Dawn Rune was missing during the time of Lymsleia's rites.
Lunas is a holy town to the north of Sol-Falena governed by the Oracle — at the time of Suikoden V, Haswar. It is illegal to develop or hunt on its lands without prior permission. Though never seen in the game, Lunas is presumably nearby Alseid, a village of elves in Falena.
Stormfist is the old capital of Falena. It still has its own impressive governing quarters, and the arena in which the Sacred Games and other gladiatorial events take place. In Suikoden V, it is the Godwin faction's base of power; more than 100 years ago, the Aethlebald family ruled it.
Agate Prison is located southwest of the Northern Wharf, and north of Baska Mine on a small island at a mini-lake created by the Feitas River. It has rivers running off it to the Northeast and South. It is made accessible from the Baska Mine by the efforts of the dwarves, somewhat compromising its security. Lucretia Merces was held here by Arshtat after she criticized her decisions over Lordlake.
[edit] Harmonia
Harmonia is a huge and somewhat mysterious country east of the Grasslands and north of Highland. It is ruled from the Crystal Palace by the hero Hikusaak, who bears the Circle Rune, the Rune of Order. While Harmonia has never been directly featured in any Suikoden game, it has nevertheless exerted its influence in many other countries. Its spies and agents have played roles in several of the conflicts in other Suikoden games, especially the Howling Voice Guild. Harmonia lightly aided Highland in the Dunan Unification War, and twice invaded the Grasslands region.
[edit] Other
The Northern Outlands, also known as the Nameless Lands, lie to the north of the Grasslands. It is a cold and frigid place, mostly notable as the place where Thomas grew up before moving back to the Zexen Confederation in Suikoden III.
The Kooluk Empire is located on the southern border of the Scarlet Moon Empire on a peninsula. It is nearby the Island Nations and is the main antagonist in Suikoden 4; much of Suikoden Tactics is set in Kooluk. Following Suikoden Tactics, the Empire disintegrates, and by the start of the first Suikoden it is only a rough collection of independent settlements.
The Gaien Dukedom is a largely unknown part of the Suikoden world that lies to the west of the Island Nations. At the start of Suikoden IV, Gaien controlled some of the islands. A piece of official Konami artwork shows it to be a large island to the west of the Island Nations proper, however.[citation needed]
The New Armes Kingdom is to the southeast of Falena. It has fought occasional skirmishes with Falena, and fought a major war roughly 10 years prior to the start of Suikoden V. It seems to have a fairly consistent Arabian style (also shared by Caleria far to the north) and is ruled by a council of chieftains and a king.
Nagarea is a nation to the southwest of Falena. It is ruled by a theocracy that, in the past, was incredibly fanatical and violent; their sending of armed "missionaries" into Falena triggered a long and bloody war, and was one of the causes for the Dragon Knights of Sauronix Castle to be formed. The road to Nagarea is mountainous and narrow, and trade is rare. Since those times, an earthquake caused the route to become even more treacherous. Nagarea has thus become isolationistic and shown little interest in interacting with the outside world, spurning Lymsleia's coronation in Suikoden V. According to information on Nether Gate in Suikoden V, some Nether Gate members who took the order to disband badly fled to Nagarea.
Kanakan is a nation mentioned but never actually seen in the series. It is unknown as to where it lies.
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