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?

Ditto on the economics. Because if it is really like medieval Japan, then my economist character will have quite a lot of work to do.

Such as inventing double-entry bookkeeping just to make the complex task of accounting more manageable, that way she can spend more time with her lord. (Really, medieval Japanese accounting was very time and manpower consuming. Any improvement would be a major boon to economics overall.)

In fact, theres plenty of time period appropriate economic innovations my char could try in order to win over her love with ink and paper instead of swords.

^ I like your character very much.

Heyitsjiwon said
^ I like your character very much.

Heh.

In a supernatural Japan setting filled with supernatural beings, spiritual powers, samurai, ninjas, rivaling lords, epic swordplay, centered around the rise of a fledgling young heir with the potential to change the world with the power within his body, I am playing the accountant.

I like a good challenge.

Bumping this back up.

Alright these last days were a tad shaky, sorry for the silence everyone!

Alright onto the questions. First, let me describe so far what I have planned for our region. As mentioned, the Mitsumine lands are located on the very north of the country. The name of the clan (Mitsumine 三峰 Three Peaks) comes from the characteristics of their hold, which while mountainous in general, has three very important peaks. The fist one is close to the ancestral home of the Mitsumine and Takeshi's home. It is one of the highest peaks in the whole country and holds a lot of spiritual significance. There is a temple located near the very top of the mountain dedicated to the chief deity of the Mitsumine... however, given the harshness of the pilgrimage, not many make it to the top. Even Takeshi, the clan's second son never did it, though Daichi did. The second important peak is located near to the capital of the Mitsumine lands. Indeed, the capital was located here to take advantage of the peak's natural resources. These mountains are rich in metals and minerals and from it flow the silver and steel that are the clan's chief's exports and source of power. Finally, the last peak is situated to the very south of the Mitsumine lands, making a mountainous barrier with only one or two passes through them. This peak is considered the chief protector of the Mitsumine lands and a grand keep is situated there to stand as the first, impervious protector of what lies beyond. However, since Takeshi took control of the family and retreated back to the ancient home of his family, the keep has since been abandoned and only a specialized force keeps watch beyond the mountains.

The name of the peaks have not been set yet, but if you guys want to name them, that would be a great way to build up the world together. Aside from the three peaks, the Mitsumine lands have a nice coast to the North West of it, which supplement their needs for food and provides another avenue of trade through the sea. Through local agriculture, a lot of the minor villages within the Mitsumine lands can mostly sustain themselves for food. There is a single city which has good terrain and lots of flat ground for cultivation and from it, this city has grown to be the second biggest in the Mitsumine lands. However, their greater population means they need even more food to sustain themselves, so while they do trade and distribute food around the neighboring Mitsumine lands, they don't have enough to sustain the capital. Indeed, the capital of the Mitsumine lands is the biggest draw of resources in the region. It has maintained itself with its trade in silver and steel, however, the massive numbers living within means it needs to import a lot of food. Little more than half of it comes from other lands, while the rest is sustained by the Mitsumine agricultural city and the fish from the coast. In times of crisis, their dietary needs can be constrained to depend less in imports by making use of food stores and cutting out on 'luxury' food imports.

Aside from all mentioned, the Mitsumine have a lot of lumber to draw on from its numerous forests and a lot of tiny villages exist to sustain the demand from the capital to build yet more houses, buildings and the like. With the Mitsumine ruling, there are a lot of smaller clans which pay fealty to them. There is the clan of the agricultural city, a clan representing the biggest of the lumbering villages out in the woods, a coastal clan, a branch family of the Mitsumine who have for long worked under the rule of the main family running the small bureaucracy of the capital but who have become more independent since Takeshi retreated to his manse. Even more of the small clans can be created as we need them, but these would be the major players so far.

I gotta go check something at Uni, but when I come back I'll speak of some of the big players for the Mitsumine outside of their clan holds... the rival 'Tiger' Clan who are highly war like, exploit their human resources and knowledge to the utmost and have a long standing animosity for the Mitsumine and the 'Horse' Clan, the biggest merchant and agricultural power on the island who provide most of the food the Mitsumine import. These are only rivaled by the 'Dragon' Clan, set on the Souther coast of the country and a lot of smaller islands who control most of the sea and the outside trade.

Hmm. From what I'm reading here, economically it seems that the Mitsumine Clan stands more as an industrial and wealth-driven clan compared to its war and trade based major neighbors, plus a minor tourism boost from spiritual sites.

Steel, plus appropriate smelters and blacksmiths, and direct supplies of silver to be minted into coins or jewelry. Plus a decent food supply supported by major imports. All of that means....damn, we're like the Lannisters of this setting!

Now how to make my accountant character relevant here.... Perhaps she comes from the capital as a assistant to the heir's most trusted master of coin serving the heir, and is given to the young lord to balance his martial power with awareness of the finances of running such a large clan? Because regardless of how much power he may have, an army still runs on its stomach. And even the most mighty of samurai still eats the same rice as a farmer.

I am going to have fun playing medieval economics here. :)

So, what I'm hearing is that the capital is reliant on imports of food. Meaning that the country is not self sufficient. Interesting...

Interested.

I would like to join as well. I'll be the clan's head blacksmith. Just don't expect the strong, silent-and-sullen type. No no no, THIS blacksmith is gonna drink like there's no tomorrow! Oh, and wield a giant warhammer because he's enormous. Can't wait!

>This is all assuming you're cool with it. =)

Hmmm I think I see a Hanzo coming the shadows.... hehe

I just love kitsune lore, so I'm interested in playing a fox youkai. Since you said that the Mitsumine clan has a lot of undeveloped land, my fox, Junkojuro, could be an old spirit that has coexisted peacefully on this land with the clan. Whereas priests/priestesses are mediators with the spirits on the side of humans, Junkojuro, being old and experienced, communicates with the humans to keep the many spirits appeased. His history of service has been sporadic with various levels of involvement with the family depending on the head, but most leaders have treated him as an ally. Junkojuro does his best to keep peace between the spirits and humans, and he informs the Mitsumine clan of ways that they could quell spiritual unrest without violence and before it escalates. He deplores the concept of Youkai hunting with only a few exceptions given to the truly malign spirits, but would rather deal with such problems himself than have the humans interfere. In exchange for cooperation, he has been known to grant the family favors. As a fox, he can often see where good fortune is, and use his supernatural families to solve any problems that the family may be having.

Junkojuro's existence would be known only to the highest echelons of the family, essentially the family head and whomever he decides to tell. Currently, Takeshi is the only one likely to know of his existence, and it is up to you whether or not he has been introduced to the heir yet. When he is on the grounds, those with heightened spiritual awareness would be able to see his true form, but to everyone else he can appear however he likes. The potential for escalating conflict between the clans has become a concern to him, and so he involvement with the Mitsumine's affairs has been increasing over the past five years, and especially now that there is a new heir. He wants to get to know the heir and see what his dispositions are. Will Junkojuro ultimately end up being a powerful ally or a deadly enemy?

Indeed, the whole country is currently unable to sustain its numbers without the importation of food. Long ago, this was not the case but the wealth acquired by the mines allowed for the rapid growth of the capital and outlying villages to the point where the production of foodstuffs in the mountainous region of the Mitsumine was not enough to feed all the mouths there.

Now, a small rundown of the major planned players in the whole country. At the moment, they don't have family names attached to them, so to make it easy to remember them by, I'll just use their animal emblems. If someone has good names for them, I'll consider using those.

Tiger Clan: The oldest of the Mitsumine's enemies, a clan whose lands lie to the East and South East of the Mitsumine territory. A warlike people whose biggest asset are its own population. Having no particularly favorable natural assets, the rulers of the Tiger clan obtained significance by the fierceness of their warriors which allowed them to expand their territory. Furthermore, the rulers of these lands demand a lot of their people, giving rise to a very hard working and perfectionist population, even by the land's standards. The Tiger clan invests heavily in intellectual avenues that can be put into good use, having some of the best engineers and scholars of the whole land. The Tiger people are a prideful sort, with heavy suspicion and sometimes contempt of those not their own, with very heavy expectations put into them but who nevertheless take good care of their own. Besides their conflict with the Mitsumine, they also target heavily the Boar clan and crave to subjugate the territory of the Turtle Clan to finally have access to a coast of their own.

The Boar Clan: The Boar Clan are the Mitsumine's other neighbors, lying to the South West of their territory. They maintain in recent history a good relationship with the Mitsumine as they stand against the common enemy which is the fierceness and warlike manner of the Tiger. Historically, a clan that has faced much hardship due to the ambition of their neighbors, indeed, the Mitsumine themselves in their most expansionist of periods have launched raids against the Boar clan. The clan has numerous forests and is one of the biggest exporters of lumber in the realm, however, they are unable to maintain a strong standing force due to their lack of wealth and arable land. In history, three times have they been forced off their capital city, only for them to retreat to the forest... lie in wait and then fiercely take back their territory when the defenses of their aggressors lie low. Despite their terrible military record and inability to raise armies, it is said that they do possess some of the fiercest warriors of the land in the upper echelons of their noble houses and some speak of a secret keep hidden in their forests from which they always strike back to their aggressors.

The Horse Clan: The Clan with the most territory in the country, the ones who feed the whole island. Shrewd businessmen and administrators, the Horse are friends to all Clans and trade with everyone. They have possession of the best wide fields of the whole nation and for it provide with food to all who are willing to buy it. At least, militarily, they stay out of all conflicts, preach for peace to all and trade to both sides. However, they do fight... but with their coin. And in this, they do have one major rival which are the mercantile, fishing and trade giant which are the Dragon Clan. Despite their huge territory inland, the Dragon have quite dexterously prevented them from claiming much lands on the coast, only having access to about two ports. Another point of interest about the Horse clan is the animals which make their emblem... having the best steeds of the whole land. Buying a pureblood from them is a great mark of status for anyone in the nation and while they preach peace, they maintain a fearsome cavalry to maintain the peace and borders of their vast empire.

The Dragon Clan: Based mostly on the Southern Coast of the city, as well as having control of many islands... one of which their Capital lies, the Dragon are the other mayor trade lords of the land. With wide access to the seas and the best navy, they do trade all along the island, provide transportation in the ships which regularly circle the nation and maintain trade with foreign powers. The Dragon clan pride themselves in them and their ships being the very first line of defense of their nation against what may come from the outside.

The Turtle Clan: Coming soon.

The Kirin Emperor: Coming soon.

The Phoenix Clan: Coming soon.

The Bear Clan: Coming soon.

Additionally, I must inform that tonight I will be making my choice of which heir we'll go going with and with some luck the OC shall be going live tonight or tomorrow.

Hmm, interesting.

The Phoenix Clan: The Phoenix clan is the clan with the second greatest territory on the country, quite close to the Imperial Capital. It is a vast holding with some of the oldest cities on the nation located within, as well as several important sites such as the Tenho Mountain, a great volcanic mountain surrounded by lakes which is an important holy site for the realm. One of the points on which the Phoenix stand above their peers is in spiritual manners and religious devotion. On their ancient cities lie some of the oldest temples still standing where many monks, priests and priestesses pray to the Gods and the prosperity of the Clan and the entire nation. For Youkai and other malevolent beings, this is one of the worst lands to reside. Additionally, the Phoenix have some very good and well exploited mines, gold being a big draw, a large population and a reputation for longevity. Indeed, it is said that to bathe into some of the holiest springs in these lands prolongs life and takes away ailments. The Phoenix claim that in their family there is the single, oldest person in the whole nation.

The Turtle Clan: A relatively small Clan with a small territory on the North Eastern coasts of the nation. While the Phoenix claim to have the oldest person alive, in truth, it is the long living Turtles who claim that honor, with their patriarch being alive at 124 years of age. The Turtle Clan would like nothing more than to be left in peace and away from most politics and the rest of the nation... however, this may not be. The Turtle have borders with the Tiger and they are their only chance, short of the Tigers toppling the Mitsumine, to have access to a coast for trade, resources and fishing. The Dragons as well, would like to add their coastal territory to their already vast empire. The Turtle are an enduring sort, however, and despite attack after attack, they haven't yet being worn down. Their people are used to adversity, their walls are tall and their capital city, set right against the sea, is near impregnable to attack from sea or land. Furthermore, there are a people living within the Turtle Clan... the Toad people, who live in a marshy terrain near the borders of the Turtle lands. The Toad warriors use poisoned arrows and hit and run tactics to harry any aggressors into their territory and stand as the first line of defense for the Turtle.

The Kirin Emperor: The Living God and ultimate ruler of the whole nation, who rules from the Imperial Palace set upon the capital of the land, the city of Yoshino. The greatest city on the nation, a territory independent from the rule of any of the clans and sustained by the taxes and contributions given to the Emperor. This is the only land directly managed by the Emperor, though in theory all of the nation is his to control and only managed by the Clans in his stead. A center of politics, trade and culture, set into the very heart of the nation, the city is said to be unrivaled in beauty, set in plains, with many parks and nature as well as having a river coursing through the length of the city. The current Emperor is called Tomohito a man of 76 years of age who currently has no sons, however, to those who have seen him, appears to look like a very young man.

The Bear Clan: A Clan living on a cold island, roughly the same in size as the Tiger and Wolf holds put together, on the very North of the nation. The Bear Clan has a different culture from the rest of the nation, subsisting on a cold and hard land. They maintain rare communication with the rest of the clans and mostly are left to their devices. They are said to be quite tall on average, with some of their greatest warriors growing to be veritable giants.

Alright, this is the rundown of the rest of the big clans! We may create some more on player input or as it comes necessary, however, this is mostly what comprises most of the big players I have in mind at the moment.

Furthermore, I am pleased to announce that Mitsumine Ryunosuke, by Heyitsjiwon will be our heir! With this decided, I shall start to work on our OC thread and the character sheets. Valerine, Nobodyman, I thank you very much for your pitches and do hope that you will take part in the RP anyway. You may create another character or indeed, both of your characters can easily be re-purposed as allies to the heir instead of the heir themselves.

Double post to say, that we now have an OCC!

Link was buggy, but I found it again, try this link

EDIT: Nevermind, link was fixed

Reminder that the OOC is up.