•HAGAKURE•
Both the victor
and the vanquished are
but drops of dew,
but bolts of lightning,
thus should we view the world.
- The death poem of Ôuchi Yoshitaka
The Plot
The Grand Empire has ruled Tsukishima for thousands of years, maintaining the Bakuhatsu dynasty for generations immemorial. Their current ruler, Emperor Kaoru Bakuhatsu, has brought the empire to new heights by being the first Tsukihito to accept the trade agreements of a foreigner, focusing newfound imperial funds on developing technology such as the steam drill, gatling gun, and hot air balloon. Though the empire has grown richer, more technologically advanced, and is furthering science to heights previously unknown, this is believed by the pious to have extended man's domain and power further than it had been intended to be by the gods, which has caused a recent supernatural insurrection. Entire villages are found slaughtered overnight, shadowy beings are said to kill travellers, spastic children are born with red eyes and skin like cracked riverbeds, and men tending to their paddies suddenly drop their tools, speak in tongues, and murder their families in minutes. Roadside temples are being found desecrated more and more, and from Mount Kaji, a deep rumbling grows. More and more, villagers have turned to their once-forgotten temples and shrines, affixing holy symbols to their doors and keeping their doors tightly shut at night.
Though this uprising of demons has been denied by local shoguns and government officials, the Grand Imperial Military has been stationed in many villages for seemingly no reason but "guarding foreign cargo shipments", though many suspect Emperor Kaoru has begun to take notice of the supernatural occurrences. Although areas occupied by the Grand Imperial Military are kept safe from demons and spirits, the soldiers and samurai employed by the government are essentially immune to the Empire's laws, and are known for their wanton cruelty to the serfs they protect. This lack of transparency on the empire's part and anger towards the occupying army has caused a rift in Tsukishima's society, with more and more citizens fed up with the empire and turning to bandit groups and travelling ronin to protect them. However, as the bandit groups usually require extortion payments and are oftentimes as cruel as the occupying soldiers, between the demons and what protects the villagers from them, life has never been harsher to the common man. It is a time that calls for heroes.
Though this uprising of demons has been denied by local shoguns and government officials, the Grand Imperial Military has been stationed in many villages for seemingly no reason but "guarding foreign cargo shipments", though many suspect Emperor Kaoru has begun to take notice of the supernatural occurrences. Although areas occupied by the Grand Imperial Military are kept safe from demons and spirits, the soldiers and samurai employed by the government are essentially immune to the Empire's laws, and are known for their wanton cruelty to the serfs they protect. This lack of transparency on the empire's part and anger towards the occupying army has caused a rift in Tsukishima's society, with more and more citizens fed up with the empire and turning to bandit groups and travelling ronin to protect them. However, as the bandit groups usually require extortion payments and are oftentimes as cruel as the occupying soldiers, between the demons and what protects the villagers from them, life has never been harsher to the common man. It is a time that calls for heroes.
The World
Our story takes place in Tsukishima, a crescent-shaped continent about half the size of Europe, ruled by The Grand Empire, which is as authoritarian and fascist as their name sounds. As is the case with many anime settings, the country is ambiguously Japanese without actually being set in Japan -- Characters and locations have Japanese names, spirituality is divided by strongly Buddhist and Shinto seeming religions, and concepts like honor and filial piety have a place in everyday life. The setting will be split between rural and urban villages, with smaller villages having hand-pumped water and traditional Japanese architecture (Rice paper walls, tatami mats, squat toilets) while more urban villages have steam, plumbing, and western-style beds. As you move closer to the country's western coast, villages become cities, sandals become slippers, and the swords of town guards are replaced by jitte and clubs. Our stories start as far from the west as possible.
Though one of the themes of the RP is the world's rapid industrialization, keep in mind that there aren't any crazy cyberpunk neon cities. At most, the level of the tech in our world is the same as that of the Naruto universe; In the most urban areas, Electricity, factories, gunpowder, and steam-powered machinery are not commonplace, but they are becoming increasingly so. Gatling guns and cannons exist, though only the highest order of the Grand Imperial Army, the Imperial Guard, have access to them. In terms of realism, try to consider our world low fantasy -- Onis, Kappas, Yokai, and all other mythical creatures are still mythical, and dragons are only ever seen in papery forms at parades. Only recently -- to the tune of a year, more or less -- have supernatural occurrences started happening, and that's limited to demons and other vengeful spirits like that. Magic is performed by the highest-ranking priests and monks, and is usually limited to healing wounds, ki strikes, and that cool levitating meditation trick. Otherwise, if you want to kill somebody, you're going to use a sword and not a magic missile.
Our world will be about as dark as the average 90's anime, and will borrow from a few (Most notably, Ninja Scroll). Graphic, if unrealistic violence will be the norm, whereas other dark themes will mostly take the side stage, or be balanced out to make the world less of a complete crapsack. If we meet a homeless alcoholic, he'll crack jokes. If an NPC is tryna rape somebody, it's because another character is about to be introduced as a trustworthy, honorable character by killing them. If the group encounters a drug-addicted prostitute, she will turn out to be a man in drag with a deep voice. I want to tell a compelling story with compelling villains, but I'm not tonedeaf to my own edginess.
Additionally, though the RP will have realistic occurrences and consequences, I'll admit that if you survive the solo stage and end up in the main group, your character will don plot armor from then on. Feel free to be a bit more brave or outspoken in your actions, as I guarantee you won't die -- If you pass the first month or two of this RP without dropping out. That seems like a good segue to the next section.
Though one of the themes of the RP is the world's rapid industrialization, keep in mind that there aren't any crazy cyberpunk neon cities. At most, the level of the tech in our world is the same as that of the Naruto universe; In the most urban areas, Electricity, factories, gunpowder, and steam-powered machinery are not commonplace, but they are becoming increasingly so. Gatling guns and cannons exist, though only the highest order of the Grand Imperial Army, the Imperial Guard, have access to them. In terms of realism, try to consider our world low fantasy -- Onis, Kappas, Yokai, and all other mythical creatures are still mythical, and dragons are only ever seen in papery forms at parades. Only recently -- to the tune of a year, more or less -- have supernatural occurrences started happening, and that's limited to demons and other vengeful spirits like that. Magic is performed by the highest-ranking priests and monks, and is usually limited to healing wounds, ki strikes, and that cool levitating meditation trick. Otherwise, if you want to kill somebody, you're going to use a sword and not a magic missile.
Our world will be about as dark as the average 90's anime, and will borrow from a few (Most notably, Ninja Scroll). Graphic, if unrealistic violence will be the norm, whereas other dark themes will mostly take the side stage, or be balanced out to make the world less of a complete crapsack. If we meet a homeless alcoholic, he'll crack jokes. If an NPC is tryna rape somebody, it's because another character is about to be introduced as a trustworthy, honorable character by killing them. If the group encounters a drug-addicted prostitute, she will turn out to be a man in drag with a deep voice. I want to tell a compelling story with compelling villains, but I'm not tonedeaf to my own edginess.
Additionally, though the RP will have realistic occurrences and consequences, I'll admit that if you survive the solo stage and end up in the main group, your character will don plot armor from then on. Feel free to be a bit more brave or outspoken in your actions, as I guarantee you won't die -- If you pass the first month or two of this RP without dropping out. That seems like a good segue to the next section.
The Rules
1. Every time I've run this RP, I've had to deal with butthurt people in my PMs when I reject their samurai, or the anguish of well-written characters arriving too late to be accepted. Given that I am only accepting one writer -- at the most, two -- and already have more applicants than I am willing to accept, I fully encourage those of you who do not get accepted for one reason or another to take this idea and run with it. You have my full permission to rip the entire OOC and post it elsewhere to run a game of demon-fighting samurai with your pals. I intended this initially to be a 1x1, which then became a 1x1x1. If you get rejected, it's more likely me than you, given the characters are already on a discord you have no way of seeing. Anyway. No hard feelings.
2. Every character should be different -- They should look different, act different, approach the same problem in different ways, and have different fighting styles. They should have different themes, different backstories, and different goals. If you see a character who's big and red, make a guy who's short and blue. The only thing that shouldn't be different is their weaponry -- Everyone is a martial artist using a melee weapon. No archers or riflemen, sorry. Makes balanced combat difficult when one character can competently kill dudes from fifty feet. I'd prefer a bunch of very different styles of swordsmanship to a party where everyone uses an arbitrarily different exotic weapon, but I'm certainly open to non-sword users within reason. Think Samurai Champloo or Afro Samurai before Inuyasha.
3. This RP is about character development as much as it is plot development, so bring your A-Game. I've got an overarching plot in mind to bring all the villain NPCs you introduce during your solo tenure, so bring good villains. Bring a good backstory to build on personal change with while you're at it, too. As characters develop and there are more demons and samurai to fight, players who have been here since the beginning will scale up in power -- I don't want to do kamahamehas and power tier transformations as much as I want to see named attacks, wire-fu, and punches that leave little craters in the wall. Hopefully, we won't need a reference point for the level of fantasy used because it'll be enforced by all the posts.
4. Don't intentionally be a contrarian dick. Aside from any "Respect da GM" rule, if you have a problem with something I've written or something someone else has written, just try to bring it up in a respectful manner. There are too many roleplays ruined by petty disagreements, insistence on being right, and general toe-stepping that could be avoided by thinking "Would I say this to someone's face?" I reserve the right as GM to outright reject players or ideas, but I'm not gonna do that unless suggesting a dozen alternatives if I think a suggestion isn't right, because I am not an intentionally contrarian dick. So follow that rule as best as I do, I guess.
5. Last but not least, have fun! I didn't want a rule list with four rules, are you kidding me? No for real, the last rule is to PM me your sheet instead of posting it on the thread. If you're accepted, I'll PM you. I already have myself and two writers, so I will be accepting one to two more. Probably one.
2. Every character should be different -- They should look different, act different, approach the same problem in different ways, and have different fighting styles. They should have different themes, different backstories, and different goals. If you see a character who's big and red, make a guy who's short and blue. The only thing that shouldn't be different is their weaponry -- Everyone is a martial artist using a melee weapon. No archers or riflemen, sorry. Makes balanced combat difficult when one character can competently kill dudes from fifty feet. I'd prefer a bunch of very different styles of swordsmanship to a party where everyone uses an arbitrarily different exotic weapon, but I'm certainly open to non-sword users within reason. Think Samurai Champloo or Afro Samurai before Inuyasha.
3. This RP is about character development as much as it is plot development, so bring your A-Game. I've got an overarching plot in mind to bring all the villain NPCs you introduce during your solo tenure, so bring good villains. Bring a good backstory to build on personal change with while you're at it, too. As characters develop and there are more demons and samurai to fight, players who have been here since the beginning will scale up in power -- I don't want to do kamahamehas and power tier transformations as much as I want to see named attacks, wire-fu, and punches that leave little craters in the wall. Hopefully, we won't need a reference point for the level of fantasy used because it'll be enforced by all the posts.
4. Don't intentionally be a contrarian dick. Aside from any "Respect da GM" rule, if you have a problem with something I've written or something someone else has written, just try to bring it up in a respectful manner. There are too many roleplays ruined by petty disagreements, insistence on being right, and general toe-stepping that could be avoided by thinking "Would I say this to someone's face?" I reserve the right as GM to outright reject players or ideas, but I'm not gonna do that unless suggesting a dozen alternatives if I think a suggestion isn't right, because I am not an intentionally contrarian dick. So follow that rule as best as I do, I guess.
5. Last but not least, have fun! I didn't want a rule list with four rules, are you kidding me? No for real, the last rule is to PM me your sheet instead of posting it on the thread. If you're accepted, I'll PM you. I already have myself and two writers, so I will be accepting one to two more. Probably one.
The Setting
Most countries date their founding on the arrival of foreign invaders -- Not Tsukishima. For thousands upon thousands of years, the Tsukihito have met every invading force with the same swords that they pass down through generations. The island nation has had their ruling family, the Bakuhatsu family, for as long as they have recorded their history through paintings and the written word -- which they had developed sooner than other cultures -- and most likely longer than even that. In the same vein, Tsukishima has only ever had two religions, which have both simply been called The Sacred Path and The Holy Path for as long as anyone remembers. The Sacred Path is originally from Seung Yua, and follows the teachings of The Enlightened One, whereas The Holy Path is a polytheistic animist religion native to Tsukishima, centered around gods known as The Kami in lieu of one enlightened mortal.
Tsukishima is effectively owned by the oldest male of Clan Bakuhatsu, more frequently called "The Emperor" than by his birth name, which becomes nearly obsolete after his coronation. Below the emperor are the four shogun, each controlling a quarter of the continent as kings, whose word is second only to the emperor's. The shogunate clans and their branches are known as "high samurai", distinguished from peasantry, merchants, lords, and daimyō by being permitted by the emperor to own and ride horses, as well as each of their male members being permitted to become samurai. Below the shogun are the 64 daimyō. It is said of the daimyō that few rule ports, some rule mines, most rule rice paddies, and all rule the small folk. The richest and most well-connected to the shogunate are typically in the east or west, whereas the less impressive daimyō live in the south -- known as the rice paddy kingdom -- and the frozen north, which was only annexed by the empire three hundred years ago. Daimyō are permitted to raise their eldest sons to be samurai and essentially act as mayors, lords, and petty kings of the continent. Below the daimyō are the landed samurai -- retired samurai who have purchased lands and have started a branch house of their clan -- and the samurai, Tsukishima's most ancient and honored caste. Below the samurai are the merchants, artisans, and peasantry, and below them, the burakumin; butchers, gravediggers, and tanners, who are considered untouchable.
Tsukishima has two neighboring countries -- Goristan and Seung Yua. Goristan is the larger of the two, spanning further than Tsukishima's fleet has sailed and taking up all of the west, as far north and south as the west seems to go. Goristan has a generally cold relationship with Tsukishima -- they have no trade or immigration with Tsukishima, having a mountainous coast, though there are very rare immigrants who are mostly fleeing persecution for various crimes. They are called Goristani, and have a more Eurasian look than Tsukihito, with round eyes and hair ranging from black to dark brown that grows on their face as thick as on their head. The Goristani have tried to invade Tsukishima three times, being repelled by Tsukishima's combined forces the first two times and washed away by typhoons the third. They possess steam power, rudimentary electricity, and gunpowder, though very little is known about these three wonders in Tsukishima until very recently. The Goristani fight with slightly-European looking Jiangs and muskets, and are thought to be loud, rude, and greedy. They cultivate cows for beef, milk, and cheese, leading to the word for Goristani in Tsukihito translating literally to "cow mouth people". It is the setting's equivalent to China and Eurasia.
Seung Yua is a small island nation near Tsukishima's southeastern archipelago, known as the Tokukokko Islands. It is largely comprised of its own ethnic group, the Seungyo, though its western coast has a thriving population of immigrants from Tsukishima and the Tokukokko islands. It is a poor country, and its people are generally seen as dirty, smelly, unintelligent, and clearly inferior to Tsukishima. Though it carries a great number of negative stereotypes, it is also seen as mystical, exotic, and spiritual, due to it being the birthplace of The Sacred Path and its predecessor, the Divine Path -- Buddhism and Hinduism, respectively -- It is believed that the founder of The Sacred Path was born in Seung Yua and came by way of raft as an infant. The Seungyo fight with curved swords, chakram, and a multitude of bizarre and foreign weapons. It is the setting's equivalent to India, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Tsukishima is effectively owned by the oldest male of Clan Bakuhatsu, more frequently called "The Emperor" than by his birth name, which becomes nearly obsolete after his coronation. Below the emperor are the four shogun, each controlling a quarter of the continent as kings, whose word is second only to the emperor's. The shogunate clans and their branches are known as "high samurai", distinguished from peasantry, merchants, lords, and daimyō by being permitted by the emperor to own and ride horses, as well as each of their male members being permitted to become samurai. Below the shogun are the 64 daimyō. It is said of the daimyō that few rule ports, some rule mines, most rule rice paddies, and all rule the small folk. The richest and most well-connected to the shogunate are typically in the east or west, whereas the less impressive daimyō live in the south -- known as the rice paddy kingdom -- and the frozen north, which was only annexed by the empire three hundred years ago. Daimyō are permitted to raise their eldest sons to be samurai and essentially act as mayors, lords, and petty kings of the continent. Below the daimyō are the landed samurai -- retired samurai who have purchased lands and have started a branch house of their clan -- and the samurai, Tsukishima's most ancient and honored caste. Below the samurai are the merchants, artisans, and peasantry, and below them, the burakumin; butchers, gravediggers, and tanners, who are considered untouchable.
Tsukishima has two neighboring countries -- Goristan and Seung Yua. Goristan is the larger of the two, spanning further than Tsukishima's fleet has sailed and taking up all of the west, as far north and south as the west seems to go. Goristan has a generally cold relationship with Tsukishima -- they have no trade or immigration with Tsukishima, having a mountainous coast, though there are very rare immigrants who are mostly fleeing persecution for various crimes. They are called Goristani, and have a more Eurasian look than Tsukihito, with round eyes and hair ranging from black to dark brown that grows on their face as thick as on their head. The Goristani have tried to invade Tsukishima three times, being repelled by Tsukishima's combined forces the first two times and washed away by typhoons the third. They possess steam power, rudimentary electricity, and gunpowder, though very little is known about these three wonders in Tsukishima until very recently. The Goristani fight with slightly-European looking Jiangs and muskets, and are thought to be loud, rude, and greedy. They cultivate cows for beef, milk, and cheese, leading to the word for Goristani in Tsukihito translating literally to "cow mouth people". It is the setting's equivalent to China and Eurasia.
Seung Yua is a small island nation near Tsukishima's southeastern archipelago, known as the Tokukokko Islands. It is largely comprised of its own ethnic group, the Seungyo, though its western coast has a thriving population of immigrants from Tsukishima and the Tokukokko islands. It is a poor country, and its people are generally seen as dirty, smelly, unintelligent, and clearly inferior to Tsukishima. Though it carries a great number of negative stereotypes, it is also seen as mystical, exotic, and spiritual, due to it being the birthplace of The Sacred Path and its predecessor, the Divine Path -- Buddhism and Hinduism, respectively -- It is believed that the founder of The Sacred Path was born in Seung Yua and came by way of raft as an infant. The Seungyo fight with curved swords, chakram, and a multitude of bizarre and foreign weapons. It is the setting's equivalent to India, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
The Themes
Modern Industry vs Traditional Naturalism
The largest theme in Hagakure is lifted from a lot of anime, because it has been a prevalent theme in Japanese society for the past century. It is implied that belief in the Sacred Path and Holy Path had been on a decline throughout previous years, and outright stated that demons had not shown up until Tsukishima abandoned tradition in favor of industry. Additionally, demons are repelled by items granted reverence in the Sacred Path -- heirlooms, weapons, and structures that have lasted one hundred generations and have been given a soul by the kami. The Grand Empire has an array of steampunk villains aided by technology, which are to be foiled by our cast of heroes who all have humble origins in traditional fighting styles.
Honorable Idealism vs Brutal Reality
Hagakure is about swordsmen, and swordsmanship in feudal Japan was about discipline and honor. Swords are being replaced by guns -- a tool that lacks a tradition, a need for training, whose removed, indiscriminate nature of combat goes against any need for honor. Much in the same way that tradition is being brushed aside for industry's sake, the world should have many examples of unpleasant realities trumping ideals. Travelling samurai are very rarely warriors in shining armor. The Imperial Army, for all their golden trappings, is not the fair and transparent military body they claim to be. This is a world where the strong have beaten down the weak throughout all of history, whose idea of strength is now transitioning towards having access to firearms and technology or not.
The largest theme in Hagakure is lifted from a lot of anime, because it has been a prevalent theme in Japanese society for the past century. It is implied that belief in the Sacred Path and Holy Path had been on a decline throughout previous years, and outright stated that demons had not shown up until Tsukishima abandoned tradition in favor of industry. Additionally, demons are repelled by items granted reverence in the Sacred Path -- heirlooms, weapons, and structures that have lasted one hundred generations and have been given a soul by the kami. The Grand Empire has an array of steampunk villains aided by technology, which are to be foiled by our cast of heroes who all have humble origins in traditional fighting styles.
Honorable Idealism vs Brutal Reality
Hagakure is about swordsmen, and swordsmanship in feudal Japan was about discipline and honor. Swords are being replaced by guns -- a tool that lacks a tradition, a need for training, whose removed, indiscriminate nature of combat goes against any need for honor. Much in the same way that tradition is being brushed aside for industry's sake, the world should have many examples of unpleasant realities trumping ideals. Travelling samurai are very rarely warriors in shining armor. The Imperial Army, for all their golden trappings, is not the fair and transparent military body they claim to be. This is a world where the strong have beaten down the weak throughout all of history, whose idea of strength is now transitioning towards having access to firearms and technology or not.
