Hi, all. This is where I'll post various tidbits about the game world, and the major players, so you have a better understanding of what's going on. It'll start out light, and be updated as we go on. Spoiler: Introduction The emperor is dead. For centuries, the emperors of the Empire of Hattori have lived as figureheads, real power being held by the shogunate on the island of Koru. However, after a succession crisis spiraled into open civil war, the authority of the shogunate was broken, leading Hattori into a state of anarchy. The daimyo, Hattori's great lords, seeing that the shogun no longer held the power to hold them back, began to clash against one another in great battles over territory and influence, bringing terror and death to the common people and leading to a rise in the population of hideous and violent monsters, with all the men who had once hunted them being conscripted into the armies of daimyo. For over a century, the destructive conflict raged, until one man rose up to end it. In his palace, the emperor Gotaka grew weary of poetry and gardening, tired of hearing the pleas of helpless people begging him for help that he was unable to give, and decided to rise up and end the violence. Gotaka raised an army, and forged alliances with the bushi clans surrounding the capital, and with foreigners from across the oceans. Over a period of 20 years, Gotaku crushed the leading daimyo, using strategy and diplomacy to isolate and eliminate all of those who refused to enter the emperor's 'great peace'. Gotaka turned out to be as able an administrator as he was a unifier, and for five years following the establishment of peace, the country experienced a golden age. Now, though, the emperor is dead. As his young son takes the throne, all hold their breath to see who will come out on top. Gotaka's brothers and wife all believe themselves to be the sole power behind the throne, while a new shogun burns with ambition, seeking to become the sole ruler of Hattori like her ancestors, and make the upstart emperors into puppets once more. On the Island of Santila, an outpost for strange and powerful foreign nations, nanban look upon the chaos in Hattori with anticipation, praying to their strange God that war overtakes the island nation once more, so they can sell their weapons and spread their faith unchecked. Perhaps war would be even more a boon to them than that... The peasants cower and wail in the streets at Gotaka's death, fearful of the chaos to come, but some people don't share that view. They see chaos not as a scourge, but as a doorway to greater things. In the fires of chaos, those at the bottom of the pyramid now see a way for themselves to rise. Map:
Spoiler: Secondary Characters The Captain General - Luis Gonsalvo When Emperor Gotaku was unifying the nation, a strange ship was spotted along the shoreline of his domain, a huge ship, with a design that seemed entirely alien. Inviting the crew to his palace, Gotaku soon realised that these men hailed from a land far to the West, beyond the known world. Dining with these men, his higness requested a demonstration of the strange weapons they possessed, and was shocked by the power of Western firearms. Knowing the advantage such weapons could bring him, Gotaku established a trade deal with the foreigners, and sought out other Western powers to trade with. He granted these powers a barren and worthless island at the edge of his domain, which they named Santila, and use as a trading base. Luis Gonsalvo, as Captain General of Santila, is charged with protecting the island and attacking pirates, but dreams of using instability in Hattori to launch a campaign of conquest that will make his name famous forever. The Holy Man - Taiga Soishu Officially, just a simple monk, Taiga Soishu is the figurehead of a large religious movement that spread across the land during the time of anarchy. His highly controversial doctrine, called the 'Ideal of True Purity', calls for the dismantling of Hattori's feudal society, and the expulsion of all foreigners. Gotaka gave Soishu a role in his government to pacify him, and prevent the movement from becoming a rebellion, but now that the emperor is dead, Soishu looks poised to make his ideology a reality.
The Empire of Hattori is administrated under a feudal system, in which dynastic clans rule over portions of territory in the name of the emperor. The country is split into large provinces, led by daimyo, which are then divided into smaller regions led by .lesser clan patriarchs. The daimyo, leaders of the great clans, are often subdjugated by powerful leaders, such as the emperor or the kampaku, and end up as their vassals. Within the clans, the heirarchy goes: Spoiler: Samurai hierarchy Great Lord ^ Daimyo ^ Lesser clan Patriarch ^ Hatamoto ^ Greater Samurai ^ Individual samurai ^ Commoner An individual samurai is a member of the samurai class with only enough land to support themselves and their immediate family. To be samurai is to be part of a social class, so they don't necessarily have to be warriors. Jobs open to samurai include: Ninja, Metsuke (administrator), merchant, etc. A greater samurai is a samurai with enough land to support several families of samurai. The samurai aren't sworn to them, but they have a level of power and authority over lesser samurai. They are responsible for gathering the samurai in their lands to deal with wars. Hatamoto are minor aristocrats who have power over multiple greater samurai. Hatamoto are also charged with administering the lands of the clan. Clan Patriarchs are the leaders of smaller lesser clans
Characters of interest: Characters of interest: The Dragon Emperor - Gotaka: A towering figure over the entire nation, Gotaka brought the nation back from the brink, and his death is mourned by all but those he cast down in his rise to power. Widely worshipped as a deity, it is hard to describe the love that people have for their departed Emperor. The Young Emperor - Jin Young, reclusive and untested, Jin doesn't inspire the confidence of his people, or of the aristocracy. Many believe that he will soon be under the thumb of one of the country's leading figures, if he's not already their puppet. For his part, Jin has remained in the palace for much of the time following his father's death, and he is reserved to the point that no one can truthfully say that they know him well. The Empress Dowager - Cixi Beautiful, intelligent, seductive and ruthless, Gotaka's wife is a princess of the immense Eternal Empire to the west, on the mainland, and was instrumental in gaining support for her husband's wars of unification. Now that Gotaku is dead, Cixi has devoted herself to defending her son's right to rule, by any means necessary, and who better to guide the young emperor than his mother? With her position close to the emperor, and her ties to a powerful mainland empire, Cixi is one of the leading figures in the struggle for power over Hattori. The Kampaku - Yoshimasa Sengoku A cousin of emperor Gotaka, the lord of Clan Sengoku, Yoshimasa, was one of the most trusted supporters of the Imperial Restoration, and in the Wars of Unification gained a reputation for being a strategic mastermind. He was named Kampaku (regent) for Gotaka, and continues to serve in that role for Jin. With the respect of most of Hattori's samurai, and a proven ability to lead armies on the battlefield, Yoshimasa is another leading figure in the nation, and a contender for the role of power behind the throne. It's widely known that Yoshimasa and Cixi despise one another, and both will do practically anything to keep the other out of power. The Schemer - Toyotomi Minami Another cousin of Gotaka, Lord Minami distinguished himself in the Wars of Unification, fighting as an officer in Lord Sengoku's army, using tactical brilliance and deception to win a number of battles in the name of the emperor. Toyotomi was rewarded for his victories with land and wealth, but now that the emperor is dead, he seeks power as well. Using skillful manipulation, he's managed to keep himself on good terms with both the empress dowager and the kampaku, both of them counting him as a potential ally, neither realising that he plans to seize power for himself. Knowing that he doesn't have enough land or men for his plans, he married his sister to Lord Majima, the last of the rebel daimyo to submit to Gotaka, subtly forging his own political faction. Another point strengthening Minami is the fact that of all the lords of Hattori, none have been so willing, or so eager, to trade with the foreigners from the West. This trade has made him exeedingly wealthy, and given him access to advanced technology. Though most armies in Hattori have adopted Western firearms by this point, none are better at using them than the armies of the Minami. The Powerless Shogun - Aya Fujiwara Young, ambitious, stunning and with a chip on her shoulder, Lady Fujiwara still holds the title of Shogun, the marshal of all Hattori's armies, and true leader of the nation. In truth, however, she rules only the island of Koru, the shogunate's power having been broken over a century ago. With little manpower and wealth, this seems like a tall order for the young shogun, but there are other types of power. Many of the clans, great and small, remember the days of the old Shogunate, when they were free to rule their domains with a minimum of oversight, as opposed to the stifling beaurocracy imposed by the Emperor's eunuchs. Unbenknownst to the great lords, the shogun's agents have been whispering into the ears of many of the daimyo, promising a return to the glorious days of yore, and their words have found a warm reception in the minds of some.
Still can't see the pcitures of the two Emperors (possibly due to some sort of hotlinking protection), but at least I can go to the pages and see them that way. The rest are displaying fine for me. I can see them now.
Offices - Offices are appointed positions, both within individual clans and the Imperial court, that carry their own responsibilities and bring a certain level of wealth and prestige to the office holder. You can't hold two offices in a clan, or in the Imperial court, but you can have both a clan office and an Imperial office. A Clan office can be held by only a single person at one time, while there can be multiple holders of Imperial offices. All clan offices are equal in pay and glory, but Imperial offices are tiered in a hierarchy, with each position holding greater rewards than the last. Spoiler: Clan Offices Clan offices are appointed by the whim of the Clan Patriarch, and have no prerequisites that must be completed to be appointed to such a role. Culturally, it is acceptable to turn down an appointment to an office if one does not wish it, and were a patriarch to take offense at such a refusal, they would be considered unreasonable. Each office brings one point of prestige and one point of wealth to the player. Clan offices are as follows: Clan Captain - Responsible for ensuring that all clan samurai are trained and equipped for war Clan Treasurer - Responsible for the clan's economy Clan Justice - Responsible for maintaining law and order in the clan Clan Diplomat - Responsible for maintaining relations with powers outside the clan Clan Advisor - Responsible for counseling the patriarch on clan matters. Generally the patriarch's most trusted/liked retainer Imperial Court Offices: Unlike clan offices, the Imperial court requires someone to prove themselves capable of fulfilling the duties of an office by serving well in successive tiers. The initial office is easy to be appointed to, taking little more than an expression of interest, but you need a history of good service to be promoted to the next office. Like clan offices, imperial court offices can be declined with no loss of face. There are two branches in the Imperial Court: Military and Civil Spoiler: Imperial Military Offices Military Inspector - Responsible for undertaking inspections of military units to ensure that they are up to the high standards of the Imperial Army (3 wealth/ 3 prestige) Fortification Officer - Responsible for ensuring that military buildings are well maintained (3 wealth/2 prestige) Entertainment Officer - Responsible for ensuring that Imperial forces are supplied with leisure goods (2 wealth/2 prestige) Logistics Officer - Responsible for ensuring that Imperial forces are supplied with essential goods (2 wealth/1 prestige) Bandit Chaser - Responsible for finding and apprehending bandits in the Imperial Domain (1 wealth/1 prestige) Trainer - Responsible for going to villages in the Imperial Domain and training peasants in the use of the spear and bow, as well as drilling them in formations. (1 wealth/0 prestige) Spoiler: Civil Offices Civil Inspector - Responsible for exposing corrupt officials (3 wealth/ 3 prestige) Trade Magistrate - Responsible for negotiating trade deals, specifically with nanban merchants (2 wealth/ 3 prestige) Investigator - Responsible for solving crimes in the capital ( 2 wealth/ 2 prestige) Mediator - Responsible for settling disputes between peasants in the Imperial Domain (1 wealth/ 2 prestige) Thief Taker - Responsible for commanding a team of Thief Takers in the capital. (1 wealth/ 1 prestige) Junior Thief Taker - Responsible for catching thieves in the capital. (0 wealth/ 1 prestige) Corruption: The responsibilities of an office will come with opportunities to betray your honour, and use your position for personal profit. What type of profit this is differs from situation to situation. Becoming corrupt carries the potential consequence of being caught. Depending on the severity and circumstances of the offence, the punishment you endure will differ. If you're caught by someone who is also corrupt, you may have to pay them a bribe, or owe them a favour. If you're caught by someone honest, you may have to endure demotion, being banned from holding office, fines or imprisonment.
It sounds complicated but in the same time I'm ready to accept chalange. I can't watting for our clan description.
No it is good. I think it is important to show all rules to players. Player could focus just on their position and decided if they want to be honor or cheaters. I personalyty prefer position of bandits chaser or thief taker. We will earn our ranks in the game or before it will started?
Majus will decide who gets what clan offices when the game starts. As for Imperial Court Offices, the game will begin with all the characters heading to the Imperial capital. Once you get there, your character just needs to go to the Imperial eunuchs and register to serve in either a military or civil office, and you automatically get the job. With corruption, there'll be opportunities here and there to take corrupt actions, but you absolutely won't be forced to. You can be completely honest and honorable if you want.
Clan (written by Majus): Clan name: Yokuboo Starting position: Vassal of the Koru Shogunate Plans for future: the destruction of the shogunate: despite being their vassal, realising the threat of Nanban, the clan leader decided that the continues rule of shogunate could mean the destruction of the empire. So the first thing to do is to destroy the shogunate. That means betraying their liege. Lands: A castle with the city at its base and mountain (tall hill) at it's back. Two landlocked cities and one port city - the jewel of the domain and main trade hub. Fourteen villages. So - a total of four cities, each has a population more than 3000 but less than 5000. The domain is between dense forest, few hills and the sea - it's placed northeast of the main island. Stats: Wealth: 1, Army size: 1, Army training: 1, Prestige: 1
Yokuboo Family: Lord Yokuboo: TBC Lord's children: Senzan Yokuboo: The proverbial "problem child" of Clan Yokuboo, Senzan went into hiding several years ago, after he murdered the son of a neighbouring clan. Rumours abounded about what he did during his exile, with the most common rumours claiming that he joined a gang of thieves and ronin, and that he went to the Eternal Empire to fight as a mercenary. Either way, Senzan returned when the family of his victim all died out. He's exceptionally skilled with the no-daichi, and has a keen understanding of the criminal underbelly of Hattori, but at the same time, talk of the 'black sheep of Yokuboo' has spread far and wide, with people questioning the clan's honour. The Patriarch, and the other members of the clan, must decide whether Senzan's undeniable skills are worth the shame of associating with such a publicly dishonourable man. Midori Yokuboo: A respected onna-bugeisha warrior, Midori has a record of success fighting against bandits in the Yokuboo lands. She disagrees with her father on many aspects, but shares his distrust of the nanban westerners, and their firearms. Her sense of honour and tradition are rigid and unflappable, which has led to many calling her closed minded and ignorant. Hattori Yokuboo: A highly intelligent young man, Hattori astounded his tutors, and people throughout the clan with his academic abilities from a young age. Unfortunately, that intelligence hasn't translated to any skill at combat. Hattori is squeamish, and many believe that were he to be put into a role of responsibility, he would be unable to make difficult decisions. (If you make a character that's part of the family, they'll be displayed here.)
History of the Yokuboo Clan (written by majus). 63 – The creation of Yokuboo clan, under the rule of Shogunate. Some clues suggest that the clan escaped the Santila island after the civil war. 334 – After the death of the previous Shogun – the last of his bloodline, Toshi Yokuboo was elected the Shogun. The first of five generations of Yokuboo Shoguns ruling the Empire. The begging of the golden age of Yokuboo clan. 417 – the assassination of Norihisa Yokuboo and purge of Yokuboo clan in Shogun's capital. Beginning of the 'Crane War'. 423 – the conclusion of 'Crane War'. Kaya Yokuboo relinquishes title of shogun and swears her allegiance to Saitou clan Shogunate. 829 – beginning of the 'Nine Shogun's Wars' 830 – A brief takeover of Shogunate by Kirime Yokuboo. After forty-seven days of ruling, she was captured and executed by Kudo clan soldiers. Start of Kudo shogunate which lasted seventeen days. 831 – End of the 'Nine Shogun's Wars'. Establishment of Fujiwara Shogunate. Current history: 1112 – Take over of Yokuboo clan by Jurobei Yokuboo, son of Nobuatsu Yokuboo and Anri Rai 1114 – After years of interference of Rai clan into Yokuboo clan politics, Jurobei Yokuboo led a sudden attack at the enemy clan's home base, which ended in slaughter. Jurobei ordered the extermination of Rai clan – including his mother. He saved but a few Rai females, which he used to breed a clan of kunoichi, conditioned to serve the Yokuboo clan as disposable tools, whores and in any capacity clan deemed fit – he considered it a final slap to the clan that made so much trouble to Yokuboo, as well as a warning to other clans. 1137 – Beginning of Imperial Campaigning on Koru island. Jurobei was one of few generals who achieved victories against Imperial forces. His skills in strategy gained him renown. 1141 – Due to plots by the wife of the Fujiwara Shogun, Jurobei is removed from the position of leader of armies. Something he accepted without a word. Some say he saw the defeat coming, some that he swore vengeance on the woman who slighted him. 1142 – The defeat of Fujiwara Shogunate. End of the War of Unification. 1147 – After the defeat in the civil war, perceiving it as a sign of weakness, the 'old blood' faction of Yokuboo clan tried to take over the clan. The conflict ended in seven days with the almost complete annihilation of 'old blood' faction. 1154 – present
I have idea, to use for magic casting Naruto fingers tricks to make jutsu. It will make something different from previous games and will be more world building. And adding here small dictionary of japanise things could be helpfull too.
