[center][b] Rivalry at Edo[/b][/center] [center][img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Prune_sur_paravent_par_Kan%C5%8D_Sanraku.jpg[/img][/center] [center]The year is 1636, exactly one year after the Sankoku edict, which keeps outsiders from coming in and people from going out of Japan. Under the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Japan live in a peace that they had not known for centuries. The age is the age of art, when poesy and theater became ever so popular. Despite this, many still seeks the way of the sword. Being a Samurai in these time of peace means little, and they are seen as respected relics by most of the people. Most of them keeps on training and serving their lords, while some others became Ronin and travels the land and beyond. Of those few to have mastered their arts and remained free of any oath, some decided to open what came to be known as Dojos. Anyone with a strong will to learn could try to join a dojo and learn from it's art from the master. In the city of Edo, there existed many such schools. Two of them were particularly big and had many followers...they also entered in bitter rivalry, though none remember the cause of it. The first one is the Hachiro's dojo, opened by master [b]Keiji Hachiro[/b]. It teaches the basics of the sword art, of course, but focus mainly on the Iaijutsu, the art of drawing the sword as an attack or counter-attack. At the same time, Zen is considered extremely important by the master in all of it's form. Students that belong to this school starts by learning the basics of the Bushi and Zen, then focus on the Iaijutsu as they grow within the Dojo. The second would be Akihiro's Dojo, opened by master [b]Arata Akihiro[/b]. It teaches the basic of the Bushi, the way of the warrior, and quickly begin Niten Ichi-ryū, the School of the strategy of two heavens as one. The art had been first created by the great Miyamoto Mushashi, some 25 years ago. Mushashi had then chose three students among thousands to keep on teaching his art; Furuhashi Sōzaemon, Terao Magonojo and Terao Motomenosuke. Master Akihiro is said to be a student of Sozaemon, who himself disappeared a few years back. For the master, discipline is required at all time to practice his art and lack of it is hardly tolerated. Both schools became rivals, though none remember the reasons why. Both masters would have immense respects for one another. In their younger days they would have dueled a lot one against another, and this rivalry passed on to their own students. Both masters would hold tea ceremonies together from time to time, showing that not all rivalry should be taken with hostilities...though young minds often seen and felt things differently than wise men, and both masters knew better than to interfere in their student's path to learning. [/center] -------------- Hello! If you read the above, I shouldn't have much to say, actually. The big idea is to play characters from both schools and have the Roleplay evolve around that! I would be playing the role of both masters for plot purposes, but feel free to be creative with the characters that you create. Below will be the Character sheet skeleton along with ranks for students. Few rules. - All the usual crap about God modding and all that, I don't want to have to mention it here. - Don't wait on me for posting, but don't go speed posting either. Be thoughtful of others, everyone likes reading (Or should if they're here) but it's somethign else when you have to catch up with three pages before starting to write. -I personally have no problem if you take for granted, in one of your post, that my character go on walking with yours, for example, if it makes it easier for you to write a good, decent post. There's a fine line between that and straight out making my character talk or giving him or her personality traits that I didn't plan on having. What I am saying here is be careful about controlling others characters. Some may not mind, others will mind so it's always safer to ask first and foremost. [hider= Students Ranks ] Sho-dan - The first dan level can be tested for after 3 months as an i-kyu. Ni-dan - One full year must be spent as a sho-dan before testing for ni-dan. San-dan - After two years as a ni-dan, the kendoka may test for san-dan. Yon-dan - Three years after achieving San-dan testing for this level is allowed. Go-dan - After four years as a yon-dan, testing is available. Roku-dan - Five years must be spent as a go-dan before testing. Nana-dan - Six year as a Roku-dan Hachi-dan - 10 years or more must pass before testing for hachi-dan is allowed.[/hider] [center]Character Sheet Skeleton [/center] Name: Family name, First name (First named used only by close friends and family, most of the time. Just a reminder, not a rule) Age: Gender: Dojo: Student Rank: If any. Appearance: Personality: Name major traits. keep the discovery of your character's personality for isnide the Roleplay. ;) Ex: Reserved, Bold when speaking, Disciplined...Etc. Short Biography: Notes: Anything worth mentioning. ---------------------- [hider= Akimi Oichi & Akihiro Katsu ] Name: Akimi, Oichi Age: 17 Gender: Female Dojo: Hachiro Student Rank: Ni-Dan Appearance: [img]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o598/RainbowDash26/Anime%20Pics/AnimeSamuraiGirlRed.jpg[/img] Personality: Extremely focused, wits, Silence often mistaken for shyness. Short Biography: Oichi was the daughter of a reputed blacksmith who's shop was established not too far from the two rivaling Dojos. Her father created various objects for current life, but he still made swords from times to times. Oichi was fascinated by her father's work at a very young age, but her attention really was caught upon looking at the beautiful blades of the Katanas. Each time she saw her father make one of those, she knew she wanted to become a blacksmith herself. She learnt the art of blacksmith from her father on her 7th birthday, since her father deemed her ready. For 8 years she listened carefully, but her father never approached the subject of crafting a blade. On the day she spoke of it with him, he looked at her very seriously and told her she was not ready. He had said that crafting a Katana was an art far beyond the simple bending of metal. To craft a proper blade, one had the know the [i]way[/i] of the blade. He then told her that she had to begin by learning how to use a blade and become one with it before creating a new one. Oichi's father brought her to the Hachiro's dojo for her to commence her training, but tragedy stroke a short while after; Oichi's father fell ill and died a quick death. His customers turned to other blacksmiths, but Oichi kept the forge of her father, devoting her life to discovering how to craft the finest Katana. -------- Name: Akihiro, Katsu Age: 18 Gender: Female Dojo: Akihiro's Dojo Student Rank: Nana-Dan Appearance: [img]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o598/RainbowDash26/Anime%20Pics/tAG_105554.jpg[/img] Personality: Serious, Competitive, easily angered. Short Biography: Katsu is the daughter of Sensei Akihiro and, simply put, a prodigy . Or so she would love to think. Katsu had been following her father's teaching since she was still a young kid, and never stopped practicing. She bested most of the Dojo's students and wasn't afraid to say it out loud, despite the Sensei's strong disapproval of such behavior. Katsu eventually grew up, and while her outburst of over confidence diminished, she kept her strongly competitive personality. Yet despite her obvious talent, her father refuses to allow her the title of Hachi-Dan, saying she is not ready for it, but refusing to tell her why. The way of the sword is one used to better one self, that is the basic of the teachings, but, to know if one is able to do so is up to only that said person. Even as Katsu's father, the master refuses to give answers to her questioning. Katsu's fiery spirit is respectable, but is not suited for a future master. [/hider] --------------- [center] Roster [/center] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/52178/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1593037]CoyoteKisses[/url] as: Tanaka Hideki & Yamato Eri [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/52178/posts/ooc?page=1#post-1598139]Drallinix[/url] as: Zogaikotsu Shiro [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/52178/posts/ooc?page=2#post-1628144]Metal Zeta[/url] as: Akira Naoki [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/52178/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1631903]Winter[/url] as: Tashigi Yuki [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/52178/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1628673]Ruronihs[/url] as: Takashi, Hayazo [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/52178/posts/ooc?page=3#post-1654850]Jivusa[/url] as Hanari, Yosuke