"Daichi-Aniue and my sister in law, Mizuho-sama... I write to you once again, praying that my words may reach you in the place of honor upon which you reside, looking over all in the Mitsumine household"

"Twelve winters have come and gone since the day of our parting, a date that to this day is a matter of great grief. Your departure from this world was the most tragic event of my entire life... and surely, if not for the gift you left behind, my heart would have been torn, my soul lost its path and my life forfeit"

"Your child is well, I'm pleased to write. To dedicate these years to caring and raising them has been as much an honor as it was a joy. In their actions and figure I see the reflection of both of his parents and such a sight I am brought reassurance and peace in a time of turmoil and worry. I have no regrets... I have done my best to protect them, to raise them and to see to their happiness. It shall never make for what they have lost... and seeing the person they have become under such a clumsy tutor as myself, I cannot but wonder the heights your child would have reached had you two been here to do a better job I'll ever be able to do"

"This winter was cold... but short. During its long nights, your child has turned eighteen years old... and no longer can I delay what is already true. It was never my place to rule the Mitsumine Clan and now that they have clearly passed into adulthood, it is their right and responsability to lead our people to their future. I tried to postpone it... despite their brightness, I still remember their tiny hand, barely able to wrap around my pinky as you held them Mizuho-sama. I remember their first steps, their first tears, their first words. To think that they must now stand front and center into the very world that took you two away shakes me to the core with a fear that I can hardly fight. This land was dangerous when you left it, beloved brother, esteemed sister... and I'm afraid that it has only grown darker and filled with more peril. Nobles wage their battles, on the field and their palaces, with swords and intrigue. Dark things move in the cover of shadows and evil things seem to move about our mortal world. I wish for nothing more than to forever keep this precious gift secure and under my vigil..."

"However, I gave my word... and with the passes opening up as the snow melts, as the trees fill with flowers and a new year is born... as spring comes, the last of my delays has been met. I promised them... this spring, when they are an adult for everyone to see, they shall come into their inheritance and become ruler of the Mitsumine. I doubt them not for a moment... I'm sure they shall make you as proud as I am. Of course, I shall remain at their side as long as they will have me... and at their shadow, should the time come when they can't stand the presence of this old man"

"For this I swear to you both, brother, sister, upon the graves and names of all our ancestors, on the love I have for you and your child. For as long as I draw breath, for as long as my blade doesn't rust, for as long as these bones and muscle hold me together, as I draw breath and my heart beats... I shall protect the precious life that was entrusted to my care. No matter what man, what army, what dark horror or God tries to bring harm to them, this blade and this body shall not stand idle. None shall pass through me for as long as I live to hurt this child that I love"

"This I, Mitsumine Takeshi, swear to you, brother, sister"

-----

Welcome to the Mitsumine Clan RP and thank you very much for your interest in reading so far. This RP will be set on an original setting of culture and customs similar to Ancient Japan.

If you notice, the letter by Takeshi reads more than a bit awkwardly, specially since details are sparse about the child of Daichi and Mizuho. The reason for this is quite deliberate as I, the GM, won't be playing them. This is a somewhat asymmetrical RP on which I will take applications for the heir of the entire Mitsumine Clan.

This character will be the one around which the RP will revolve, as their choices as head of the clan will strongly affect the story and what happens with their land and people. So far, only a few things are set in stone about the child. They are 18 years old and have been raised by their uncle Takeshi. They are about to assume leadership of their clan. Aside from that, due to their genes, they have the potential for exceptional physical conditions, spiritual power and a rare ability to naturally see the supernatural world. Potential is the key word here, as their player will be the one to ultimately decide which of these gifts manifest on their character. Their appearance, temperament, skills, backstory to a certain extend, studies, name and gender are all for them to decide.

It stands without saying, that this position comes with a lot of responsibilities both for the character and the player. Please, do not apply for heir if you don't have the commitment or time to be certain to participate as the loss of the heir is near synonymous with the end of the RP.

Aside from the heir, the rest of the players will also have the chance to play a variety of important characters. Loyal servants, retainers, minor lords under the Mitsumine, childhood friends, samurai of the Mitsumine, ninja killers of the clan, priests and priestesses of the Gods, youkai spirits from the unseen supernatural world and more are some of possibilities for characters in this game. While the heir marks the pace of the RP, the player characters in kind guide, protect and move the heir to their different ideals. Siblings of the heir are a possibility.

As GM I shall be playing primarily Mitsumine Takeshi, the heir's uncle and guardian but I shall also play a variety of NPCs and move events based on the decisions made. Expect plenty of time skips as decisions are made and then we move forward to their consequence.

This thread stands to gather interest, answer questions, obtain feedback on this idea and to apply for the position of heir. There is no character sheet for them, as this is a try out process and all I wish for applicants is to sell me their pitch for the heir. Describe who they are, what they act and look like, what are their talents, what do they think about inheriting the clan and such. The pitch I like the most, shall then get the position and then they shall make their sheet with everyone else in the OCC. Feel free to PM me your application or you may post it here.

Once again, thank you very much for you attention.

Throwing my interest in here, though I''l probably not apply for the position of heir.

Definitely interested in the Heir position. Is there anything they should or should not have that I should know before I start my pitch?

I don't think so... so far, the Heir position is a blank slate. They could have fighting skills or not at all. They could be charismatic or shy. Noble or spoiled. They would have gotten a good education and morals out of their uncle, so the most likely thing is that they won't be a wild child or ignorant but that's about it. If the heir has points he or she is found lacking in, then he or she will have to depend on the other players, his aides, companions, friends and allies to make up for it. The rest of the requirements are same as above, just that they must be 18 years old and raised by his uncle.

Oh, another important point is that they have been kept away from official life as much as possible during their upbringing. Takeshi has a manor on a village away from the capital of the Mitsumine territory and from there is where he has ruled while raising the Heir. While the heir has not necessarily been kept in isolation, they have purposely been kept apart from court life, manipulators and the big city while Takeshi tries to educate them. Private visitors, family members and friends as well as the people of Takeshi's village would not have been kept away, so the Heir has had access to plenty of social interaction should their player be inclined to it.

Interesting... will keep an eye out for this. だれか日本語を話しますか？(Does anyone speak Japanese?)

Got it, tell me if I should tweak anything, then.

Mitsumine Sakuya-sama is a young man dedicated to his clan and his vassals and is a fair and compassionate leader, a trait that would hardly be believed by neutral or hostile individuals as the young heir can be quite cunning and sometimes downright vicious in his dealing with strangers. Quite possessive of his clan, the boy have grown to believe that it was his destiny to lead the Mitsumine clan from it's minor place in court to the prominence it deserved. Tall and lithely muscled, his fighting skill is more apparent to the clever and subtle ninja than the honorable and mighty samurai, his silken clothes hiding small knives and vials of poisons and his long hair tied by sharpened needles with hollow tips. His face blankly smiling at most time, it is his eyes that are the mirror of his moods, becoming both a fond dove gray or hard and cruel granite.

Having studied the human body, poisons and politics intensely, he is most at home at court, antidotes tied on the underside of his long sleeves and an honeyed tongue hiding a sharp mind, he was brought up believing that wars were to be fought by vassals and planned by the Head of the clan. Incredibly fond of his fiancee, he is a proper and honorable young man whenever she is within sight or earshot, believing that women should be guarded from the unpleasantness of the world. Finally, at the start of every season, he make his way to the clan's main shrine to pray for the safety and prosperity of his clan, offered various fruits and flowers found in his uncle's estate.

Quick question, I thought Japanese males became adults around the age of 13 in the past and that it became 20 during the Meiji Era? How far back is this RP set up at? The Sengoku Jidai period? Are blackpowder and guns present?

Jiwon: I have studied Japanese for a few years now, though I have been way lax in Kanji x.x Can hold a conversation but I'm near illiterate. As for your question, this RP won't be set on Japan as much as in an original setting with Japanese themes. Like how many fantasy novels are not set in Europe, but the characters, themes, locales and such are obviously referent to it. So we got more leeway on ages and the like, just liked 18 years old as it seems like a good age. There may be some blackpowder present, but it will be incredibly rare. I won't say it doesn't exist, but barely anyone knows of it.

Valerine: Very good pitch, you got to the meat of what I want in one. I got a very clear feeling for the character you'd make of the heir. Later on, if we go Sakuya, I'll start revealing more information about the setting, ask a few questions and the like to build up his sheet.

Okay, I got it. Can you expand a bit more on the world? For example, does the RP take place on a very mountainous terrain like real life Japan, or will there be a lot of various terrain and cultures? Also, is there a Shogun, or a dominant clan? I'm really interested in the RP, and I want to have a very good idea about the RP world before I decide what kind of character I will go with.

Edit: Also, kanji is a killer. I've only been studying for 6 months now. I only know maybe 100 kanji. It's rough... I sometimes even have to remind myself how to write the kanji for watashi. Still, I plan to keep going at it. At this point, I've come to realize that learning Japanese is about practice and putting time into it. That's partly why I'm interested in this RP. I want to be able to practice a bit of my writing if you do not mind. Of course, I'll put a translation as well right after what I type for those who can't read. Oh, and I have kind of the opposite problem. I can comprehend listening and reading pretty well, but speaking is rough for me. I don't know why, but the verb conjugations just murder me.

日本語なら話せるが。　練習が必要だったら、手伝おうか？

Interest here, too! I feel like Sakuya would be quite a fearsome heir to follow...

There will be a bit of variation on the terrain. There will be plenty of mountains (The Mitsumine land is very mountainous) but some areas will have long plains and the like. Instead of a Shogun, there is a ruling Emperor to the which all the clans pledge their allegiance and compete to curry his favor. I was thinking of dividing the land into around 7 or 8 great clans with smaller ones in between. Plus, perhaps animal motiffs for each of the clans, leaning with giving the Mitsumine a wolf.

As mentioned, the Mitsumine have a lot of forested mountain terrain in their territory. They possess mines from which good steel and silver are acquired, which secured wealth and weapons which have put them in prominence within the realm despite a good amount of their territory being unusable due to its wild and rough features. They are on the far north of the proposed island nation, with the only other settled landmass further north being on another island. Furthermore, given all the unsettled lands in the Mitsumine territory there is a big youkai presence within.

On youkai and spiritual matters, they both exist, however they are somewhat in hiding. Most people can't see the smaller youkai and the big nasties live far apart from civilization that the common peasant will never see glance of them. There are people who know the truth and deal with it, but to most these are belief which go unproven all their lives or foolish superstition of the rough people in the outskirts. Youkai and Kami do take part in human life, however, as mentioned, mostly in hiding or myth. Priests actively fight and exorcise Youkai with their prayers or try to attract the favor of Kami. However, the fate of man in civilized lands tends to be settled on the open by humans. The clans fight with soldiers and steel and so does their fortunes increase or decrease... however, having supernatural help on your side is quite a boon. And the opposite... really not healthy.

Awesome, I'm really interested now. Hmm, now... what kind of character to make.

Thanks, I hope to take part regardless of the result! *crosses finger in hope*

Alright, my first idea is a clan leader (youkai or otherwise) of a family that's been allies with the Mitsumines for a while, but more because the head was close with Daichi and Mizuho than out of loyalty to the name. There's been no contact since Daichi died, but with the heir coming of age, the estranged clan would be a powerful ally to have, and their support would lend the heir credibility. He or she will just have to prove to the head that he or she is worth mentioning in the same breath as his old friends.

The other idea would be a younger character, about the same age as the heir, also from an ally clan (again, youkai or not). This character would be sent to marry the heir. It'd be a bit more difficult, since I'd essentially be waiting until the heir was finalized and then making my character to play off the chosen heir's personality and so on, but that would be fine.

Either way, I look forward to working with y'all. =)

Interested!

Call me interested, I've got a few ideas on how to join.

A beautiful young woman who is accountant, merchant, and mistress of whispers for the clan. In theory, she's little more than an assistant amongst many to the old wizened master of coin. In practice, everybody knows she is the one pulling the clan's financial strings and managing their informers, and does so very well. Has a crush on her young clan master despite her low birth. How she came to know numbers and the ways of merchants so well is a story she never tells the same way twice.

Alternatively, I could try for a samurai character.

I know quite a bit of Japanese language, although I'll need to brush up on my samurai-era stuff. This looks to be a interesting game.

I'm thinking of making a shrine priest/ess who is a younger sibling of the heir, who will become an ambassador to the spirits/youkai in order to elicit supernatural aid. Will also function as a "support mage".

Gender of my character will depend on other people's preferences, as I usually try to go for a nice gender balance.

However, if it turns out we have too many squishies and non-fighters, I can opt to play a tankier individual, like a samurai or monk.

Good concept Skylar! I'm liking it.

Well then, we now have two heir concepts as one recently came by PM to me. I'll try to fish for a bit more of interest before starting the OC, though if you guys want to get started faster I'll take it into account. To make this lively, I'll try to world build a little bit more with you... what would you like to know? Neighbors? Rivals? Youkai? Learn more of the Mitsumine lands? Learn more of the uncle?

I have been looking for an RPG like this for a very long time. Please count me in.

A bit more about the politics and economics would be nice. For example, what do the people think about the current government? Does the clan have any friends/allies? Does the clan import most of its food since they have mostly mountains?