A Bit Of News

[sunshinemods]

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Plot Missions
Ame B-Rank to fortify rivers. Mid-June to Late-June.

Suna and Konoha B-Rank, seal point investigation. Mid-June.

Konoha B-Rank to Uzushio, emergency procedures, at least two people, Mid-June.

Kiri B-Rank, Breaking an Embargo, Late-June to Early July.

Kiri C-Rank, Escort Mission, Early July.

Konoha C-Rank, Escort Mission, Early July.

Suna A-Rank, water emergency, Early July.

Rumors and Intelligence
Propaganda fliers have begun appearing in the Five Big Nations and across the Shinobi world.

Sealpoints near Bears and Frost continue to be guarded aggressively and anyone allied with the Kage villages can expect to be attacked if travelling there. As such, Konoha, Suna, and Iwa have all (independent of each other) officially ceased Shinobi travel through those sealpoints or through those lands.

Frost has become nearly entirely impassable, which means access to Hot Water is essentially impossible given Rice's apparent determination to be 'uninvolved' and not allow passage, nor offer hostilities, to either side. Publicly. Some suspect they're allowing non-Kage nation allies through, as they continue to have travel in the civilian sector. Shinobi find themselves rebuffed.

Waterfall has become exceedingly belligerent, going from attacking anyone who crosses into their borders to seeking out people to attack them if they come too close within their own countries.

Grass remains ominously silent, something that will change in the upcoming weeks when they'll begin to make it so that people can no longer pass through their country, essentially cutting Fire off from Iwa trade. THey will no longer halt the attacks, nor will they join in themselves.

Rain has extended an open hand to all Uzumaki in the Nations to come to their country if there is a need, but otherwise remains in watchful isolation.

Water's 'civilian' leadership was taken up by one of Kirigakure's Chunin, who was a disposed princess of the original rightful heir to the throne. Being one of the few survivors, she's taken up the position only at the extreme hesitance of the shinobi court, and already marriage proposals are arriving for the girl. It is to be noted that the reception of a shinobi leader, even one who is clearly not a pinnacle example of strength, is making the other Daimyo unsettled. The only upside to this appears to be their island status is giving them protection from someone trying to resolve the 'issue' by force.

Fire's Daimyo situation continues to strain relations within its borders. Konoha was attacked and experienced extensive damages to its structures and likely to its morale. The Hokage has chosen someone to distribute the scrolls by hand, something which will have happened over the first week after the attack this month. The police force and T&I divisions have increased the depth of their background checks and incoming trade is heavily inspected before even entering the gates.

Suna's defenses continue to be high in the wake of their previous Kazekage's death, with the former's son, Kankuro, officially assuming the position of fifth Kazekage. There has been no contact from the Daimyo for some time and disappearances continue, centered around Mori. No one is certain what is going on in the civilian capital and control of the country is starting to shift toward the Shinobi faction because of this.

Rivers is hostile to shinobi travel and Kage ninja are officially advised against using it in their routes. Their borders remain heavily guarded, as do sealpoints nearby. Civilians asking for escort through this area are starting to more regularly ask River's shinobi to bring them through to lower instances of attacks.

Kumo remains on high alert, greatly restricting trade into and heavily monitoring transport of goods out of its borders. Visitors without proper papers are turned away and everyone else is subject to thorough background checks. Due to their unique position in relatively minor contact with the surrounding small nations, locking down travel and isolating is going well for them, though ship travel has become very common for any transportation needed by their civilians.

Iwa has, to their knowledge, removed any foreign Shinobi. Visitation is extremely restricted and visas are no longer being issued for travelers other than necessary trade. Due to the suspicious nature of the Kage, an attack first, ask later policy is being carefully put back into place.

Whirlpool is in a very bad position currently, and tensions in their northern areas are due to explode any day. Due to this, their allies have sent some of their shinobi in hopes of easing the situation.

Weather and Goods
Caravans through Woods and Mountain have occasionally encountered bandits seizing all goods or hijacking their carts after they've disembarked from their ships. There have been some mentions of ransoming those goods, as the attacks seem to be those of opportunity.

The Lands of Vegetables, Claws, Fangs, Birds, and Stone continue to refuse to trade with the Kage villages, not allowing for imports or exports. Any goods exclusive to or largely from those villages will have risen in price or become scarce in any of the Kage villages and their immediate vicinity.

Waterfall has stopped all incoming and outgoing trade. Its borders are effectively closed to merchants. All their trade appears to be going exclusively though Mountain.

Rivers' dramatic increase in trade continues, but they refuse trade to the Kage villages, instead sending ever higher numbers of ships and cravans through the north-easternmost part of Wind to Stone.

Wind continues to be cut off from trade, making things difficult given the rising difficulties from the unusual weather some months before. Fire has increased overseas trade to Wind, which finds itself largely reliant on Sand and Fire for most of its goods, putting a strain on internal affairs. Prices are rising due to the difficulties in transporting goods, meaning that higher paying jobs are becoming much more competitive.

Earth's spring crop yield has been lower than usual and has negatively affected the trade prospects, leaving them scrambling to make sure that their early bounty will last over the icy recession into the summer.

Grass joins Mountains and Rice in dramatically increasing the price of its goods. Trade passing through Grass is monitored and there are talks of a rise in tax for goods passing through, but so far it has continued to remain open to trade.

Bears continues permit trade and traffic from only Lightning or the surrounding small nations, Whirlpool excluded. They refuse trade negotiations and requests for envoys to be sent or received go unanswered.

Heavy sandstorms continue across Wind. Near the coastal regions, waterspouts have occasionally been spotted, sometimes disrupting merchant vessels, and have destroyed multiple shipments from Sand. Shinobi interference is suspected.

Lightening continues to see moderate temperatures, though the weather is warming. Occasional summer thunder storms have been spotted, but have done no damage, leading to a high spring crop output in their prosperous ares.

Northern lands, including Earth, are experiencing heavy rain and dense fog through many of their most-traveled mountain passes, leading to an increase of Bandit activity and lost goods.

Eastern Fire and Whirlpool are recovering from a hurricane, and some of their crops experienced flooding in the fields. Western Fire is warm and dry, leaving some of the more sensitive plant-life wilting and turning brittle. As of this time, there is no indications of a drought, though some areas have advised residents to begin fire-scaping.

All islands to the East and South are continue to be warm, bringing in some tourism and a trade increase as these areas still allow access from the Kage nations.

Events!
The Suna Chunin Exams are up! The post is Here and it should be said that though things are shaken, Suna is very determined to move forward. Konoha, as well, still has representation at the exam, though security has redoubled in the wake of their home troubles when their politicians arrive.

As there is propaganda on paper (linked above), and explosions in the sky, be aware that it's not quite over yet in this month's chaos. One more is on the way, and the increasingly regular notes about aa certain business are the only unfiltered clues given. Thus far.