[OOC] Genkokujo: A land of honor and war (OOC is WIP)

[Fallen Muse]

Like a rotten log
half buried in the ground -
my life, which
has not flowered, comes
to this sad end.
-Minamoto Yorimasa

The Emperor is dead, and after 112 years of peace in Genkokujo the threat of war looms on the horizon. With the death of the Emperor and the lack of an heir, the Shogunate held by the Yoshitaka family keeps the peace between the many feudal Lords, however they all vie for power, and plot against the Shogunate and one another as they seek to rule themselves, or even the whole of Genkokujo as the new Imperial bloodline. The time for the Emperor’s funeral has come, and all the houses have gathered in the Capital City Ayari to celebrate his life, and death, as well as seek alliances, and recruit the many warriors and powerful beings that have gathered in the Capital during such a time. What shall become of Genkokujo? What will you do?

---

Welcome, to the world of Genkokujo, a world so very much like our own, but so very different! A world where humans live alongside supernatural beings, where duels are part of everyday life, where Honor, Bushido is the law of the land, where men and women live and die by the sword, the spear, the bow. Where one can befriend and Oni, or find themselves indebted to a Kitsune. Magic is as common as the sun shines, and though a beautiful sight it is not uncommon to see a dragon soaring through the sky.

In this roleplay you will be taking part in a vast political intrigue with a possible element of war that will loom ever closer as the roleplay progresses. You will be able to choose from several different roles all of which wll bring you intermingling and mixing with the other characters of the roleplay.

Roles and Factions.

Shogunate: You can play a variety of roles in the Shogunate varying from Metsuke, guards, retainers, spies and assassins.

Houses: You can make your own house or ask that I make one for you, at first there will be no houses except what the players make and I will fill in the empty spaces. There will be a total of 6 houses, and players can pick and choose to lead them or simply be a part of them, though if your character is simply a part of that house you will have to NPC your own lord if no one else is playing said leader.

Unattached Characters: You can play these but you will have to eventually be attached to something, kind of hard to pave your way through a political climate when you have nothing political to care for.

Other: If you have other ideas let me know! We can of course discuss anything.

Races:

Humans: Obviously humans are humans

Kitsune: The Fox demons yes you can play one! I’m allowing 2! But there’s only one slot left!

Tengu: Only allowing one tengu. Bird demons possibly protectors

Traditional Oni: Two of these are allowed!

Other Demons: Ask!

Dragons: One dragon is allowed and only one. Would have to be a traditional japanese style dragon no western.

Anything else just ask. Disclaimer all supernaturals that appear as large beasts etc must have a human form as well.

Any races can rule a household.

Character Sheet

Appearance:

Name:

Species:

Sex:

Faction:

Occupation:

Abilities: (this only concerns supernatural abilities)

History:

Rules
If I need to make a list of rules say so, but I’m pretty sure at this point all of you should know how this works.

[Spike]

May I call dibs on an oni?

[Fallen Muse]

@Spike sorry this is a late reply! Of course you can! also join us! discord.gg/H55NhH

[AtomicNut]

@Fallen MuseHmm i am interested in trying something. Hope it is not much of a problem if i just drop in the chat.

[DClassified]

Real sorry about that.

[TyrannosaursRex]

Deleted

[AtomicNut]

Guren

Appearance:
Name: Lord Gushiken Rentarou alias Lord "Guren"

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Faction: House Gushiken

Occupation: Lord Samurai

Abilities: Although not a spirit user or an exorcist himself, Rentarou has accumulated a moderate wealth of supernatural rites and knowledge to deal with youkai, fundamentally charms and enchantments. His own blade is blessed and can exorcise demons. He is spiritually aware and he is able to see ghosts.

History: To speak of Guren, one has to speak about the fall and rise of house Gushiken. Landlocked between powerful warring nonhuman leaders and powerful lords, house Gushiken was a small, unassuming land ruled by a rather low-key family of samurai whose main highlight was the quality of some of their bamboo crafts. When Rentarou was born, he was born a genius among mediocre people. Yet, despite the disparity between his own talent and those who surrounded him, he never felt alone and bitter. His family was understanding of the whims and demands of the young lord-to-be and for the most part, tried to steer him in the righteous path while tolerating his somewhat peculiar thirst for knowledge and ambitious aims.

Rentarou ascended to lordship not long after becoming a full-fledged samurai, following his lord father demise in a rather inane scuffle with one of his warring neighbours. His mother soon followed, becoming suddenly ill and bedridden not long after a plague. Or perhaps the grief or losing her loved one. Rentarou was thus left with a small land, and a 12 year old priestess sister to protect. The situation looked grim, but the new lord Gushiken managed to grasp the ebbs and flows of power rather quick and stabilised what seemed a dying household. While somewhat strained and grim, the hatred that would later drive his actions had not nested inside him.

It would take the bizarre abduction of his sister and posterior gruesome death by a maddened mother kitsune, in order to save her ailing kid, to awaken the beast that was later known as lord "Guren". He was merciless, and executed both mother and child. He was not swift, nor merciful, and he made a public example by displaying their flayed corpses. Disturbingly, he would craft a sword bathed in the blood of his own sister. The notice spread like wildfire, and several of his nonhuman neighbours showed hostility towards the madman.

But he plotted. And waited. When swords did not do the job, he would use arrows. When those did not work, he would use fire. He never stopped to consider the fairness of his actions merely beyond the faintest adherence of bushido, and his bloody tenacity broke enemy armies, lines and sieges. Both a Great Tengu's followers and an entire Oni clan fell victims to his viciousness, and he did not stop there. He took over their domains and added them to his own, from which he has ruled them ever since with a severe iron fist, specially with those who are not human, who were condemned to live as second class citizens, always under the threat of flailing, execution or slavery.

Yet, for all his bloody exploits, Guren's managing talent did not go unnoticed. Having conquered ten times the land he once was granted, he used the unified rule to promote resource gathering, commerce and urbanism, raising the living standards significantly in his territories. Only for humans, that is. Countless nonhumans have been relegated to sacrificial pawns in the shadows of his rule.

With the death of the Emperor, Rentarou sees a further chance to expand his ambitious project, as he is still in his mid forties, but at the same time, he is aware that the same instability might embolden more enemies to try and bring the ambitious House Gushiken to an end. It is a time to thread lightly, move swiftly and find kindred spirits.

[Lucius Cypher]

Asahi

Appearance:


Name: Asahi

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Faction: Himself

Occupation: Bandit Leader

Abilities: Greater than-human strength, said due to be due to the fact he has slain oni. He swings his kanabou with the same swiftness and precision a samurai would swing their sword, but with the power to kill an ox with a single blow.

History: A man of humble origins. Blessed with great strength since birth, he was born to simple farmers and had planned to live a simple life. In his home town he had a few accomplishments under his belt thanks to his strength, such as the time he hauled a fifty pound gold ore from the bottom of a river or the time he tossed a brown bear to the ground, but his life took a drastic turn when he was fifteen years old. His hometown was attacked by a samurai lord; they didn't even give them a chance to run. Homes were on fire and people were getting killed left and right. Asahi tried to save his family as best as he could but by the times the fires died down and the samurai left, none from his family was left alive. Somehow, though gravely injured, he survived the chaos.

Among the survivors were other young, angry men. Asahi was the biggest and strongest of them. He wanted revenge. From the ruined remains of their village Asahi cobbled together weapons and armor, leading the survivors of his village to attack the samurai and their allies. At first they tried to keep it to just the military; they raided traveling patrols for their weapons and armor, occasionally striking their caravans to disrupt supply shipments. But soon as more desperate and spiteful men heard about his army, Asahi needed more food and supplies for his own men. So he started attacking other villages and farms as well, at least ones allied to his enemies.

For the last ten years Asahi has led a formidable army of bandits. Though it's not unusual for the samurai lords to send their warriors to cull his forces, they never succeeded in killing him. And as long as he lived he would always be able to raise a new army and raise havoc across the lands. He cared not for taking lands at this point, or even revenge; the samurais who destroyed his home were long dead. Now Asahi was simply a wanted man to all of Japan. If he was to lay down his arms, it would only be right before a katana cleaves his head off his body.

[Fallen Muse]

@Lucius Cypher@AtomicNut@DC The Dragon please join the discord <3 after you guys this server is full.

[DClassified]

Really wanted to join this. Not really sure what I did wrong beforehand but thanks for the opportunity I suppose.

[Lucius Cypher]

@Fallen Muse

Yeah it’s a dead link.

[Zetsuko]

@DC The Dragon@Lucius Cypher got a new one for you guys on Muse's behalf. It'll expire too though so be get in here quick

discord.gg/HsWGuf

[Lucius Cypher]

Appearance:


Name: Retsu Goroshi

Species: Human

Sex: Female

Faction: None

Occupation: Demon Hunter

Abilities: No magical abilities, but she has the knowledge and skill to create weapons capable of doing considerable harm to yokai and other supernatural creatures, though they're not notably more effective against humans or beasts.

History: Retsu was born the daughter of a blacksmith, assisting her father whenever she could as he had no sons or apprentices. He was no mere blacksmith however: he was a smith for the emperor himself. His most notably accomplishments involved a means of creating demon slaying weapons with entirely mundane materials. No need to hunt down other demons and use their parts, or to venture into treacherous territory to find a rare and limited resource. It was a secret that he only wanted to teach his son, but Retsu learned this technique by watching him. By the time she had a little brother, Retsu could create these demon slayer weapons herself.

However around this same time, Retsu's father was growing old. Too old to work, too old to teach his son how to create these weapons. He worried that this knowledge would never be passed on, not knowing that Retsu had already learned the technique. Out of desperation, he arranged to have Retsu married off so he could teach her husband these techniques and continue his legacy. But it was a trap; the man she was sent to marry was actually a demon is disguised. He wanted to kill Retsu's entire family to ensure that the mortals would never be able to stand up to demonkind. Retsu was able to survive, taking her little brother as her mother and father tried to distract the demon. They paid for it with their lives.

Alone, without a home or weapons, Retsu tried to flee towards a city to find help but she was harassed by the demon the entire time. During her escape her little brother ended up falling ill and died before she could reach the safety of a temple. With her entire family dead the flames of vengeance grew within Retsu. With the help of the temple monks who faked her death, Retsu was able to escape the demon who was hunting her down and returned to her home. Though ransacked and in ruins the forge still worked. The materials and tools were still there. So she forged herself a sword, cast bullets, and even created her own rifle and powder. She would hunt demons.

For the next few years Retsu hunted down all manner of demons and supernatural creatures, regardless if they were actually threatening anyone. She wanted to know where the demon who slew her family was. During her travels she discovered and nursed a dinosaur egg, which later hatched into a raptor. That raptor was Retsu's only family and companion in a long time, and she named him after her lost little brother: Ryo. Together they hunted down demons, even slain men who allied with them, all in pursuit of the one who slew her family.

With the death of the emperor Retsu has noticed a sharp rise in supernatural activity. No doubt desperate men would try to appeal to these supernatural powers for strength and guidance, offering everything they had for just a pittance. Retsu however wasn't going to let anyone benefit; she'd sooner see this world purged of all demons and monsters before she'd ever bow her head before them.

[Ezmeralda]

Miho

Name: Miho Satomi

Species: Human

Sex: Female

Faction: House Satomi (But mostly a loner)

Occupation: Flame Witch

Abilities: Miho possesses great skill with the element of fire. Her flames can take the form of many things, from large fireballs, intense beams, or weapons. Her imagination and what fire can do are her only limitations.

Personality: She can generally appear distant or cold, but deep down is very caring and loyal to those that manage to earn her trust. She has a soft spot for cats.

History: Miho was an obedient child growing up in a...less than stellar household, abusive in many ways. She learned of her gift with fire at a young age and, in a particularly brutal beating from her father, she burned him to death by accident and was exiled from her house, fearing her newfound abilities.

She traveled the country on her lonesome, honing her flames. Her only concerns were survival and increasing her power.

Probably a wip. I'm having trouble coming up with good specifics since I really don't know a lot about Japan or it's cultures.