The Empress's Own (historical, culture clash, all welcome)

[IrishWolf]

It is the year of 1655 of the Fourth Era, in the world of Feria. Or at least, that is how the civilized nations of the Osor continent see it. For several centuries, they had been the center of scientific, industrial and cultural advancement, their armies welding the most modern of arms, although tactics might be outdated at this point. For years now, their explorers had mapped in the dark interior of the southern continent of Erslya and they have colonised several points along the coast, to bring enlightenment to the dark skinned natives there. Or so they’ve claimed, conditions in the colonies are not, as the intellectual thinkers hoped they would be, although the bankers and colonial governors grow wealthy.

However, their view of the world has changed. For years untold, they thought the world was just Osor and Erslya, with the rest empty ocean. They knew the world was round, thanks to math and the calculations of learned men but since time began, they could not explore the rest, for there was a great natural barrier preventing this. The Doldrum a massive belt stretching vertically around the world, where the wind doesn't blow and waters are choked with thick beds of floating seaweeds, where terribly destructive shipworms breed. No wooden hulled sailing ship could penetrate, to see what lay beyond.

Now though, there is a new kind of ship upon the seas. Launched just four years ago, in the middle of a terrible war with the Kingdom of Tauacia, the Sesal Republic possesses a squadron of ironclad steamships, the first to be armored and the first to be driven by engines, rather than sail. With the end of their war with Wesal, the Naval Department find that they had a great number of bold and daring captains, eager for danger and glory, some of whom, are urging to see what lays beyond The Doldrum, using the new ships.

Three years ago, a fleet of exploration sailed west, bound for The Doldrum. The Ironclads, their keels armored to protect them from enemy torpedoes, should keep the vessels safe from the hordes of shipworms, towed barges of coal behind them. The bottoms of the barges sheathed in copper, in what would hopefully be a cheaper method, of keeping the wood worm-free. Three quarters of a year later, they returned, the first ships from Osor to ever do so and they carried shocking news. Not only were their lands beyond the The Doldrum but they were inhabited, mostly by barbarians but there was at least one great civilization.

The ship’s officers and crews told of tales of vast landmass beyond the windless sea, peaked with cloud covered mountains and forested by strange trees. Odd, warlike people lived there. Some have darker skins and others had fair skin, much like those of the Osorens and many have slanted eyes. Almost everywhere the ships tried to land, groups of men appeared, waving swords, spears and weapons unfamiliar to the sailors or firing arrows at the longboats, forcing the men back to the protection of the armored hulls of their ships. It was as if the whole of this continent was inhabited by savages, until the three ironclads followed a large number of tiny fishing vessels into a large bay, between a pair of mountains.

Behind the shield of the tall mountains and beyound the clear, shallow waters of the bay, was the grand city of Kōzu, the base of power for the Araki Empire. As the Ironclads approached, a boom of iron chain, wrapped with bindles of a strange wood, was raised, as the last of the fishing vessels slipped past. Two of the three Ironclads slowed to a stop but the third, under the command of a young captain named Elie Gohier, steamed ahead, smashing through the boom with her armored hull and into the bay. Sailing across the clear waters, until her keel was rammed into the white sand of the bottom, Captain Gohier climbed to the foredeck and watched, as hundreds of armored clad warriors assembled on the docks and beaches before the city. After an hour, without the natives launching arrows or spears towards his ship, he ordered a small boat lowered and called for enough volunteers to man the oars, to row him ashore.

This tiny party of bold seaman was met in the surf by wary eyed warriors, as the other two Ironclads sailed into the bay. Although words could not be understood, after a time, gifts were given by both sides, leading to a month long stay for the small fleet of exploration. During this time, some translations were made and some dialogue established before the fleet had to head for home, their coal running low and supplies of rum short. Their hulls were stuffed with strange spices, artwork and a wonderful new kind of cloth, called silk.

When the fleet returned to the Sesalian port city of Guirec and word spread of their adventures and what they had found, silk became the most sought after trade good, the nation had ever seen. Sailors from the fleet, who had been given little more then enough to make a single shirt, sudden found themselves rich beyond their dreams. Scores of merchant ships were outfitted with steam engines and sheathed in copper, for the long voyage across the Doldrum, sailing forth from ports all over Sesal, for the nation jealously guarded the route across the sea, eager to acquire whole shiploads of silk and other Arakian goods.

Over the past two years, as trade between Sesal and Araki grows, diplomacy stagnates between the nations. Much of the Imperial Court is opposed to having any interaction with outsiders, other than war. Araka merchants, while happy to make money selling to Sesalians, are rude and distant with them. Any attempt by a Sesalian to see the country beyond the city of Kōzu, is blocked. It would seem, that the whole country wants nothing more to do with those from across the sea, then to quickly swap good and sent them away at once. However, there is one person within the Empire, who is enthralled by them, the Empress Satsuki.

The Ironclad fleet arrived on her eighteenth birthday, on the day she was suppose to ascend the throne, which was put off until the strangers left. As much as the court has attempted to keep her separated from the Sesalians, she has become obsessed with them, sending out her servants to secretly bring Osoren clothing and books back into the palace for her. However her most recent desire, were fueled by one of the rare times she got to meet with the Sesalian ambassador and was given a demonstration of of Sesalian weaponry by a company of marines. She now wants a regiment, equipped and trained in Sesalian style.

The Ambassador, seeing an opportunity but not overly hopeful, sent to the request back to Sesal. To his surprise, the Secretary of the Army responded at once, agreeing to the venture and began organizing a military mission. You see, he had hundreds of thousands of rifled-muskets, uniforms, haversacks, cartridge boxes, belts, tents and all the other equipment of war to spare, along with hundreds of officers and sergeants in need of posts. After the war, the volunteer regiments had disbanded, leaving their equipment in government armories and the regular army officers and NCOs that had trained and then led them on the field of battle, without commands or postings, suited to their ranks, even after they reverted back from breveted promotions.

While the Empress was overjoyed to hear the news, brought by merchant ship, her Court was not so pleased. Not only would this mean more of the outsiders dealing with their folk and polluting their country but it was a direct attack on the power of the nobility. Since time unknown, the great lords of the Arakian people, called Daimyo, had been granted their strength through their ability to wage war. They lived upon the borders, forcing those lesser lords from the safe, protected interior of the country to send them huges taxes of rice and gold, to support their war making. It was their warriors, their armies and their victories, which maintained the nation. If the Empress was adopt the Sesalian model, it would not longer be their warriors but her soldiers, not their armies but her army and their honors and glories, would belong to her.

So they can only hope this experiment in outsider methods, fails. Of course, should they get an opportunity to help it fail, they’ll take it. Already, even before the Empress’s heralds ride from Kōzu, announcing to the whole country, that she is looking for warriors to assemble at the capitol, they have sent out their own messengers, back to their domains. None of their true warriors from the borderlands will come and those lesser lords sworn to them, will not send what few warriors they have to serve. At best, Empress Satsuki may get the dregs from the least powerful of families, whose swords have not been drawn in generations.




Alright, well that was a long read and I’m glad to see your still with me. Hopefully, you're wondering about characters and what plot I’m going to take this background setup from, about what kind of adult aspects the story will have, how I was inspired to come up with this and that you want to join.

Inspiration

Now in the title, I said said this was a historically inspired story and it is, mostly by the French Military Mission to Japan of 1867-68 and by the Onna-bugeisha.

So, after Commodore Perry opened Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate sent out an emissary to Europe, who requested military missions from the United Kingdom and France, to train modern troops. The United Kingdom refused but Napoléon III agreed, sending over a dozen officers and NCOs to Japan. These men were from the infantry, cavalry, artillery and engineers. When the Boshin War broke out and the Shogunate was defeated, the military mission was ordered by the restored Imperial government, to return back to France. However several men in the mission, lead by Jules Brunet, a lieutenant in the Horse Artillery Regiment of the Guard, promptly resigned from the French Army and joined with several thousand sailors, soldiers and samurai from the defeated Shogunate, who formed the Republic of Ezo, continuing to teach them Western Tactics and leading soldiers into battle. While noted for holding the first election in Japan, the Republic of Ezo was defeated in about six months.

The Onna-bugeisha, are warrior women, from Japanese history. Before even the samurai class was formed and right up to the Edo period, the women of the warrior and rules classes were taught how to weld weapons. This training allowed the women to protect towns, castles and other settlements, whose men were either away waging war or which lacked fighting men. However, with the Edo period and the end of war in Japan, for over two hundred and fifty years, saw the Onna-bugeisha nearly fade away, as even the Samurai changed from warrior to bureaucrat. There was a slight resurgence during the Boshin War, at least in the Aizu Domain. During the Battle of Aizu, Nakano Takeko led a small band of women armed with naginatas. During the same battle, Yamamoto Yaeko defended Aizuwakamatsu Castle with a Spencer Repeating Rifle.

Plot

Now for the loose plot. Now nothing is set in stone and it can be changed as the story evolves but my plan at this point is to start the story with the Military Mission arriving in Kōzu, early in the night. When they disembark, they are met by the Sesalian Ambassador, to brings them to his house for the night, while the crates with uniforms, rifles, ect are unloaded into a warehouse. While this is going on, Less than two dozen young nobles answering the call of the Empress arrive in a camp near the city, with retainers and levies from their homes.

In the morning, a few of the Empress’s chosen officials arrive at the Ambassador’s home and led the Mission about to the camp, followed by laborers carrying the crates, while another official arrives at the camp, telling the nobles and their followers to get ready to hear why the Empress as called for them. The Mission arrives and the officials announce that the Empress wants this strangers to teach them how to fight with new weapons and in the stranger’s tactics. Confusion breaks out.

The Sesalians are disappointed to find a little less than six hundred are there to be trained, to them, a newly mustered regiment is at least a thousand strong and they were told to expect more than that. They are then shocked to find out that something like have of the recruits are women.

On the flip side, the Arakians are shocked as well. Being from in the middle of the country, they hadn’t heard of the arrival of the Sesalians and knew nothing about them. The fact that they are to be armed and trained by barbarians (for all outsiders are barbarians) confuses, insults and shames them. Many assume that because their families haven’t been defending the country on the borders, that the Empress no longer has any faith in their skill with sword, spear and bow and feels that they must be taught new ways of war.

Over the next month, maybe a month and a half, the Sesalians are going to have to force these feudal warriors into becoming modern soldiers. The sergeants drilling the levies and retainers in marching, forming formation, shooting and bayonet, while the officers oversee the sergeants and try to teach the nobles in how to led a modern force. Until word reaches the city about a series of raids along the border, many of them coming out a mountainous region, where there is suppose to be a medium sized barbarian fort.

Seeing an opportunity, the noble members of the Imperial Court pressure the Empress to send her barely trained regiment to deal with the fort, promising to send levies of their own to support her new troops. At first it seems like they will keep their word, as the regiment marches out but when they reach the foothills of the mountains, their support melts away in the night, just in time for raiders to find the regiment.  A surprise attack in the early morning sends the regiment into panic. The Mission, which came along with the regiment as advisors, rather than to continue training them, knowing that the inexperienced officers will never be able to reorganize the green troops, wade into the fray, to take command and hopefully save the regiment.

Even if they do, there is still the mission to take the fort or they could return in shame and defeat to the Empress.

Characters

I will be accepting characters from the Military Mission, the Regiment or as Court officials.

Now, if you want to be part of the Military Mission, your character will be male and an Osoren in the Sesalian Army or one may play was a Seasalian woman with some sort of connection to someone in the mission, perhaps a soldier's wife or mistress. There should be between three and four officers, either Captains or Lieutenants (first or second). The Mission will be commanded by my character, a Major. These men would have moved from Regular Army units during the war and given breveted (temporary) higher ranks to command volunteer regiments and after the war reverted back to their permanent rank in the Regular Army, only to find that there isn’t a place for them in any of their old units.

There should also be between four and six NCOs. These men would have already been sergeants when the war broke out and were moved to volunteer regiments like the officers, to help train them and then to have veteran, senior NCOs in such regiments. Unlike the officers however, their promotions to ranks like Sergeant Major, Colour Sergeant, Ordnance Sergeant and the like, were not breveted but permanent promotions.

The Sesalians would appear the same as western europeans with French sounding names. Mustaches, beards, sideburns and muttonchops are highly encouraged. The Sesalian Army is based off the French Army (1850-1870), so they should be wearing uniforms like them and I will provided examples below and I will make a little list here to help out making up a uniform. Different regiments could have very different uniforms.

Headgear: either a kepi or a shako

Jacket: either a knee length frock coat or a hip length shell coat, both should be single breasted (one row of brass buttons) and have epaulettes. Some shade of blue.

Trousers: Baggy or straight legged, shades of blue, red or black, with a differently colored stripe along the outer seam.

Footwear: Black leather ankle high boots (officers may have thigh high boots), hobnailed and wore with white spats (canvas covers wore over the boot and around the ankle) or gaiters (canvas covers wore over the boot and up to the calf ).

Under the uniform, men would wear shirts (any color or pattern), vests (any color or pattern), drawers (lightweight cloth pants, reaching down to knees or ankles, with a drawstring) and socks.

Examples of French and French inspired uniforms

If you want to play a character that is part of the Regiment, I would ask that you play as either a noble or a retainer. Characters can be of either gender and must be Arakians. Nobles should be young, late teens or early twenties and will become the Regiment’s officers, ten captains, one Major and a Colonel. The retainers on the other hand, can be of any age. Their the few professional warriors serving the lords of the interior of the country and will become the junior officers (lieutenants) and sergeants of the regiments. The levies are farmers called up to fight and will become the enlisted men of the regiment. If you do want to play as such, I would prefer it if your character would be someone who proves themselves during the Regiment’s first action and get promoted.

As to those who might want to play as Court Officials, they can be either gender and any age, as long as their Arakians. They lived in the capital city all their lives and serve the Empress, not a Daimyo. After introducing the Sesalians, they will stick around as translaters and to try and keep the peace between the two groups.

Arakians should looked East Asian. Names and clothing should be heavily influenced by Japanese culture, with an undercurrent of Hans Chinese. I will be honest, I’m not overly familiar with clothing for them but I will try to help with that, with what I have been able to find out. If anyone knows this subject better, feel free to speak up. Now, after the beginning, those in the Regiment, will be issued with Sesalian uniforms but feel free to mix and match those uniform with traditional clothing, like the image at the top.

Kimono: should be the simpler men’s style. Juban, a thin undershirt like garment, inner robe called a nagajuban, outer robe, attachable sleeves and a narrow sash called an obi. They also can be worn with a hakama, a pleted, divided skirt.

Samue: work clothes, waist length robe with loose trousers that tie around the ankle.

Kosode: basic robe, can be worn as undergarment or overgarment. Loose fit, worn with an obi and often with a hakama

Clothing examples

Kimono






Juban


Samue

Weapons

Pattern 1640 Bosc Rifle

Invented fifteen years ago, the Bosc is a muzzle loading rifled musket, using percussion caps. Firing a .58 caliber Bosc ball (this world’s version of the Minié ball), at a rate of 3-4 shots a minute, by a well trained rifleman, this rifle is four feet and ten inches from butt to muzzle. Weighing nine pounds, it has an effective range of one hundred to four hundred yards with a maximum range of a thousand, although hitting anything over five hundred is up to luck. COme equipped with a socket bayonet, with a triangular blade, eighteen inches long. Issued to all Sesalian enlisted and sent with the Military Mission to arm the Empress’s regiment with.



Le Hir Revolver
Invented nine years ago, the Le Hir is a five shot, cap and ball revolver. Coming in .44 caliber, they are double action, meaning that it take a single squeeze of the trigger to cock the hammer and fire the weapon. The chamber can be popped out and replaced, allowing those that carry it to quickly reload. Effective at thirty-five yards, the revolver has a maximum range of one hundred yards. They are general issue to all Sesalian officers and flag bearers, although the officers are allowed to purchase their own weapons, so long as they were .44 caliber and a number of these side arms are being shipped with the Military Mission for the officers of the Regiment.



Pattern 1630 Infantry Officer’s Saber
Standard issue to all Sesalian officers, although regulations allow for officers to purchases other style of swords. Thirty-two inch, slightly curved blade, with brass guard and wire wrapped leather grip, they come with steel and brass scabbards. These swords are not being sent with the Military Mission, as the native Arakians have their own styles of swords.



Pattern 1620 Noncommissioned Officer’s Sword
Issued to sergeants, flag bearers and musicians in the Sesalian Army. Twenty-six inch, straight blade, with cast brass grip, which resembles the more expensive wire wrapped grips of officer’s swords. They come with leather scabbards. These swords are with the Military Mission, as the military minds back in Sesal were unsure if the common people in the Araki Empire are allowed swords.



The men of the Military Mission may also be carrying personally bought weapons, such as knives of various styles and lengths or non-standard revolvers or single shot pistols. Arakian officers are carrying native swords of different types and native polearms, if they choose to, such weapons include but are not limited to katanas, ōdachi, nagamaki, naginata and yari.

Adult Aspects

This has been asked of me before in stories before, where the plot isn’t something akin to that of a porn (not that such stories are bad, I love them). This story will contain violence in battle, training or scuffles between characters. There is room for romance and rape in the story, with sex that can be played out in the IC thread but might work better in a separate thread between those players and linked so the rest can know what happened

Characters

Code (Character Sheet) Select Expand


[b]Player[/b]:
[b]Group[/b]: (Military Mission, Regiment, Court Official)
[b]Name[/b]:
[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Gender[/b]:
[b]Rank[/b]: (Military Mission or Regiment)
[b]Highest Rank Held[/b]: (Military Mission only)
[b]Social Standing[/b]: (regiment only)
[b]Sexual Preference[/b]:
[b]Appearance[/b]: (pics are acceptable but there must be a written description)
[b]Weapons[/b]:
[b]Extra Gear[/b]:
[b]History[/b]:




Mine

Player: IrishWolf
Group: Military Mission
Name: Gerard Meresse
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Rank: Major
Highest Rank Held: Brevet Brigadier General
Social Standing: NA
Sexual Preference: heterosexual, dominant   
Appearance:
Gerard Is a man of decent height, standing at five feet and ten inches tall, with a lean, athletic build, from years of fencing and from serving in a four year war. He is fair skinned and lightly tanned, which is slightly darker on his face. His hair is a soft brown color, cut to a few inches long and combed back. His facial hair matches that on his head and is neatly trimmed into a pair of thick muttonchops, bridged by a mustache. His green-brown eyes command his face, staring over a once straight nose, which has been broken at least once. He carries a scar on his left leg, from where a bullet went right through the muscle and nearly killed him. There is also a scar on his right ribs, from a shallow cut from a bayonet. As he has yet be reassigned, he still wears the uniform of the 5th Carlipa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, loose but straight legged red trousers, with black stripes on the seams, a deep blue, single breasted shell jacket with gold epaulettes and a red kepi with gold trim. There are several campaign metals or metals for bravery on his right breast, when he is wearing his uniform in parade fashion.
Weapons: Le Hir Revolver and a personally engraved Pattern 1630 Infantry Officer’s Saber
Extra Gear: bruyère wood smoking pipe, pipe tobacco, silver pocket watch, comb and brush, straight razor, extra cylinders for his revolver, a black and tan Shorthaired Shepherd dog called Chasseur
History: Born in 1625, Gerard is the son of a successful factory owner and growing up, received a good education. As a young man, he worked for his father, who hoped he would take over but when he came to manhood, he applied and was accepted into the military academy, in the old fortress of Malix. After graduating, roughly in the middle of his class, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 12th Infantry, at the age of twenty-two. Barely a year later, war broke with the Kingdom of Tauacia, after the Tauacian Army opened fire on the border forts. At the battle of Blomard Farm, he took a ball in his left calf, as his regiment advanced through a field of ankle high wheat. Nearly bleeding to death, he was carried off the field, to the regimental surgeons. Luckily, it was a flesh wound and his leg bone wasn’t broken. Recovering, he rejoined the regiment several weeks later, he would survive the Battle of Cornillac, where his regiment suffered heavy casualties and was promoted to captain, to fill the spot of his dead company commander.

A month later, he received a letter, giving him a breveted rank of Major and ordering him to report to the muster of the 5th Carlipa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. Unknown to him, an uncle of his was serving on the board of staff officers, choosing field officers to train volunteers. Two months later, the 5th marched out, with Gerard as it’s second in command. During the defense of Cauna Hill, he took command of the regiment, when Colonel Antonin Thorel was shot off his horse. Promoted to Major in the Regular Army and breveted to Colonel of Volunteers, he commanded the 5th until the battle of The Old Forest. The Sesalians were trying to drive the Tauacians from an very old forest and the brigade the 5th was in, was assigned to the left flank. The 5th was placed on the end of the line and as the army advanced, easily punched through a light screen of Tauacian skirmishers.

Despite this easy victory, Gerard was uneasy, as he could plainly hear heavy fighting off to his right. Instead of driving the Tauacians before him, he ordered his regiment to wheel right, forcing their way through heavy undergrowth, until they found the battle proper. The rest of the brigade was being slaughtered, as they assaulted a Tauacian position, set in the remains of an abandoned farmhouse, which had collapsed slightly and the tumbling over stone walls around it. Finding that he had flanked the enemy, he ordered his men to pour fire into the rear of the Tauacians, until they routed from their farmhouse. At this point, more Tauacian regiments began to fall back and their flank started to roll up. However the battle would last a further three days, as the thick woods turned maneuvers into quagmires and often prevented orders from arriving in timely manners.

After the battle, it was found out that the brigade command had been killed and Gerard was breveted to Brigadier General. Until the War’s end, a year and half later, he would led the brigade into battle, gaining a reputation for being able to flank through the roughest of terrain, his men nearly always using light infantry formations and tactics, which seemed to work, even with their colorful uniforms, most likely because enemy commanded didn’t believe men could march through the rocky hills or forests on their flanks. His brigade would earn the nickname, The Devil’s Chasseurs.

After the War, he reverted back to his rank of Major, only to find that his regiment (and the rest of the Regular Army regiments) had no need of a Major. He was put on half pay, like many of his fellow officers and assigned to a border fort. When his former regiment, the 5th Carlipa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, disbanded. The men took a vote and gave the regimental mascot, a one hundred pound shepherd dog, to him as a parting gift. For the past three years, he has slowly going crazy from boredom in the fort, throwing himself into saber fencing to hold off the boredom and playing with Chasseur. He was thrilled, when he was offered the chance to lead the Military Mission to the Araki Empire, which was once again, thanks to his uncle.

[Scribbles]

Tentative interest expressed, I'm already stretched thin but you're touching on a history I'm fascinated with.

I'm not too familiar with the specifics but I can appreciate the nod to the days of Sakoku and the creep of foreigner influence which eventually led to the restoration of the emperor as the sole power in Japan.

[Juggtacular]

Player: Juggtacular
Group: Regiment
Name: Takahashi Fujiwara
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Rank: Regiment
Highest Rank Held: N/A
Social Standing: Noble
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual
Appearance:
Takahashi is surprisingly tall for his race, standing at 6'2 when fully upright. Despite being a noble, as the firstborn son he is constantly training. Swordfighting, staff fighting, hand to hand, stealth, bow and arrow, etc... As such his body as been honed to seeming perfection, with strong yet toned muscles. He has a handsome face that looks slightly older than it is due to stress and pressure. His eyes however are young and sharp, a hazel color that seems to draw ones attention. He keeps a bit of stubble, at times shaping it into a goatee before letting it grow too "wild" as his father calls it. His hair is pitch black with a slight sheen, and he tends to keep it barely shoulder length; he usually keeps it in a ponytail. To show his dedication to his family, he has been tattooed with their clan symbol of twin dragons. Each one starts on his arm and coils it's way to his chest.

He has a light scar over his right eye he received during a duel, starting slightly above his eyebrow and ending just below his cheek bone. It doesn't impair his vision however. When expected to be presentable or receiving guests, Takahashi can be seen in the ornate and traditional garb of his people. Usually a finely tailored kimono. However, when nothing is expected of him, or when he's about to partake in a battle he can be seen dressed in a Shōzoku(sans the mask), as it provides much greater range of movement and comfort. If given enough time, he may don armor for combat. He is always seen with his blades, his Katana on his left hip, and it's Wakizashi pair on the small of his back.

Weapons: Like most warriors, Takahashi's main weapon is a Katana, one that has been in his family for generations and carefully maintained. It is paired with a Wakizashi. While the blades are his favorite, he is skilled in the use of  other weapons as well, such as the Naginata, Yumi Bow, Staff, and Kusari-gama.

Extra Gear: A sake bottle  he keeps on his person and full, a whetstone, a concealed Tantō

History: Takahashi Fujiwara is the 1st son and heir to Lord Tenro Fujiwara and his wife, Lady Aiko Fujiwara. He was born 21 years ago in 1634, and the entire region under the Fujiwara banner rejoiced as Tenro and Aiko had been trying for some time to have a child. What was funny was that after Takahashi, three more children were born. A boy and two girls. As the eldest though, the attention was mainly on Takahashi; not because he was the favorite as Tenro and Aiko loved all their children equally.

However as the firstborn, responsibilities and expectations fell on Takahashi, so he was pushed. Physical Training, Swordplay, Studying, Archery, Diplomacy, everything under the sun a noble would be expected to know was drilled into his head day in and day out. This continued well into his teenage years, until one day he rode into battle at his father's side. The Fujiwara had long been seen as the Right Hand the Royal Family, and as such she called on them when a show of might was needed, or an important battle won. They were supposed to eradicate a large group of bandits hiding in the mountains, and were promised aid from the Saika family, a family which had been friends with the Fujiwara for generations.

The help did not come that day, and Fujiwara lost many men, a great deal more than was necessary. They won the day however, and Takahashi earned his father's gratitude when he felled a warrior who'd broken their lines and tried to assassinate the Fujiwara general(Tenro). It was in that fight that he received his scar, due to slipping on a wet rock while trying to block a sword strike. After decimating the bandits, his father was forced to report what had happened at the battle.

As a result, the Saika family name was dragged through the mud and worse by the time the news had spread around the kingdom. Life after that seemed to go back to normal, until the Queen sent missives about needing warriors for her cause. Many of the other Daimyo and Feudal Lords would refuse, especially those with higher echelons of power. However, Fujiwara had always been loyal to the Royal Family, and they would not change that. Tenro with a heavy heart sent Takahashi along with all of the warriors he could spare to answer the Empresses' call. He hopes to make his father proud.

[IrishWolf]

Scribbles, I would be glad to have you, if your not feeling too stretched. If you are, well its understandable and hopefully, we'll be a good read if you just lurk.

Juggtacular, Good to see Takahashi Fujiwara

[Question Mark]

The good Captain Henry Jean Vesalier will be making an appearance soon.  I want to carefully revise his profile instead of doing a straight copy-paste job, so it may take a day or two.

Also, Scribbles, I hope you can work this game into your schedule! 

[Scribbles]

Thanks guys, I'll wait and see what happens with the RPs I've already committed too!

[Salvation]

I am interested, though I will check my schedule with everything going on to be sure I am good for it. Last time, I had not gotten to do much as I came late to the party. I will do my best to not do that again if I can join this time around.

[SweetSerenade]

I'll get my profile slightly modified, then dish out back to you. Sticking with my girly
Also, no more pretty boy....I'm sad lol

[Juggtacular]

Who's the pretty boy?

[SweetSerenade]

Who's the pretty boy?

Taka has a different appearance now...Lol. he is more rugged and scruffy, where as before he was quite elegant and beautiful...

Lol, don't mind me, I have a fixation for pretty Asian men

[Question Mark]

Taka has a different appearance now...Lol. he is more rugged and scruffy, where as before he was quite elegant and beautiful...

Lol, don't mind me, I have a fixation for pretty Asian men

I like the new Taka.  Seems to fit the setting better, I think.

[Juggtacular]

Taka has a different appearance now...Lol. he is more rugged and scruffy, where as before he was quite elegant and beautiful...

Lol, don't mind me, I have a fixation for pretty Asian men

I had a feeling that was what it was, lol. The reason for the change was basically because Taka's new face has a lot more pictures usable in this setting, as Donnie Yen has done a looooot of fuedal era kung-fu movies.

And he can still be pretty.

[SweetSerenade]

I like the new Taka.  Seems to fit the setting better, I think.

Each person has their own preference of aesthetically appealing interests...But I should note that is just my preference.

I had a feeling that was what it was, lol. The reason for the change was basically because Taka's new face has a lot more pictures usable in this setting, as Donnie Yen has done a looooot of fuedal era kung-fu movies.

And he can still be pretty.

http://twitchfilm.com/assets_c/2012/09/Donnie-Yen-thumb-300xauto-22300.jpg[/img]

Have you ever considered Gackt in his role for a feudal series, Furin Kazan, where he played a Feudal lord known as Uesagi Kenshin?


As   a note I realize my idea of 'pretty' and others idea may be different. XD As reference http://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltkkzccILm1r1fsi9o1_500.jpg

[Question Mark]

Each person has their own preference of aesthetically appealing interests...But I should note that is just my preference.

Of course!  And it's good you again Serenade.  Maybe Aurora will finally get to swat Captain Vesalier with her umbrella this time around. :p

I am interested, though I will check my schedule with everything going on to be sure I am good for it. Last time, I had not gotten to do much as I came late to the party. I will do my best to not do that again if I can join this time around.

Whoa, sorry I missed your post Salvation.  I hope you can make it work!

[SweetSerenade]

Of course!  And it's good you again Serenade.  Maybe Aurora will finally get to swat Captain Vesalier with her umbrella this time around. :p

Would be hilarious... quite honestly. She is really good with that umbrella. Since an Umbrella and a Fan are the only weapons a culture woman is truly taught... though I am tempted to have her convinced someone to teach her how to use a knife in the guise for 'increasing her hunting work'... Wouldn't due to take something down an arrrow - since she did the womanly style of hunting - and have it languish... XD

[Juggtacular]

He's a nice looking guy, but waaaaaaay too pretty for what I imagined if that makes sense.  :P

[SweetSerenade]

Player: SweetSerenade
Group: Military Mission
Name: Aurora Dupont
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Rank: Civilian - Translator in Training - Ambassador Dupont's daughter.
Highest Rank Held: N/A
Social Standing: N/A
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual
Appearance:

Aurora Dupont

(I know the outfit does not fit the time period, at least I do not think so. But I think it is gorgeous. )

Definitely the daughter of wealth, Aurora takes care of herself quite well. Though her maids think her absolutely insane, she bathes nearly every day and clears her body of all body hair every four nights. She has smooth clear skin, lovingly cared for many years. She believed she would become the wife of a wealthy man, be the mother of his children, but her accident changed all that.

Her lean frame is definitely the frame of a lady to be. Her inset waist, high perky breasts, and flaring hips. She would have made a perfect mother, but the doctors say there will be no chance of that. She stands at 5'2'', and her weight is something she never discusses. She wears a variety of clothing, but she prefers clothing that do not inhibit movement too much. She is known to wear trousers, when needed, as the clothing of a male is much easier to pursue scholary pursuits in.
Weapons: N/A - she does not possess weapons as of this moment.
Extra Gear: Research tools, leather bound books - compendiums of language translation. Anything she needs for her new station.
History: Aurora Dupont was the youngest of two children, that Ambassador Dupont and his wife were gifted with. Aurora and her  brother named Philip, but he died when she was merely a toddler. Her parents became very protective of her, because of it. Later, she discovered that her brother had drowned, while out on a little boat with the servants. It was after that point that Aurora realized that as the only Dupont child... there was a major weight on her shoulders.

She took up the lessons a lady would need, and also began to show an interest in languages. Her father approved of this, and dotted upon his only remaining child. When Aurora was twelve her mother died in childbirth. The boy that was born died within a week of living. Aurora realized that her father would remarry, but she tried to continue to be who she was meant to be. She was preparing to be the wife of a man of status. That was what her father expected of her.

Then the accident happened. She was out horseback riding on a hunt with some other young women. She was thirteen at the time, and the hunt was to celebrate her friend Minerva's marriage. Aurora's horse threw her. She landed across a log, and passed out. She woke up in her bed, and doctors hovering over her. She could hear her father cursing up a storm in the background. When he rushed in the Doctors gave them the terrible news. The damage was so extensive that the chances were she would never conceive a child.

With her one major marriageable trait gone... She turned to other things. She began to study to be a lady of state, much like her father was an Ambassador. When the recent developments came about she begged her father to take him with her. There was no way she was going to stay, when she could learn so much more. Which was exactly what she was going to do. There was no life for her in Sesal, with the way people looked down on a Scholar woman. With the way she heard the sly whispers, reaching her ears through trusted servants, about the pretty girl that would grow up to be an old maid. No man wanted a woman for a wife, that would never produce a child. She could become some Royal, or Noble, Mistress. But that was not a life she wanted for herself, she wanted a life  - a real life. She couldn't get that where she was. Where a woman's freedom was based on what a man gave her.

She spent a lot of the sea voyage learning what she could of the language. The translators found her to be quite a quick study, but even so she speaks with a slight accent. She is not completely fluent, but she knows enough to impress anyone whom seems to think a woman is a danderheaded ninny. She hopes for finish her knowledge of the language while at the Court of the Empress. Now only time will tell what this woman may find in such a strange new land.

[SweetSerenade]

He's a nice looking guy, but waaaaaaay too pretty for what I imagined if that makes sense.  :P

That's fine. XD I was just lamenting the loss of the only male that I might have tried to forge any sort of sexual situation with. XP Just my way of things.

Maybe I'll get someone to pick up making an Arakian with that play by XP

[Juggtacular]

Unfortunate. Taka did like her.  :P

[Question Mark]

That's fine. XD I was just lamenting the loss of the only male that I might have tried to forge any sort of sexual situation with. XP Just my way of things.

Maybe I'll get someone to pick up making an Arakian with that play by XP

Really?  I would have bet on Aurora secretly having the hots for Henry.  Tall, not-really-dark, and handsome, with a persistent cough and bigoted outlook to boot!  What's not to like?

...oh.  It's the mustache, isn't it?

[SweetSerenade]

Unfortunate. Taka did like her.  :P

And she was enamored of the old Taka. It was the stark difference of his beauty that attracted her eye.

Really?  I would have bet on Aurora secretly having the hots for Henry.  Tall, not-really-dark, and handsome, with a persistent cough and bigoted outlook to boot!  What's not to like?

...oh.  It's the mustache, isn't it?

Largely the facial hair, partially personality....I can't stand either....lol

[Juggtacular]

It was either Donnie Yen or Lee Byung-hun(Storm Shadow)

[SweetSerenade]

It was either Donnie Yen or Lee Byung-hun(Storm Shadow)

Lee is nice, but warriors from that era are supposed to have long hair to show status and honor XP, hence my infatuation with the old image. Don't mind me, just being silly.

[Scribbles]

I suddenly have the urge to create the perfect man for Aurora, meet Adelard Bellarose!



He'll woo ALL with his magnificent moustache and a single sexy wiggle of his bushy eyebrows!

[SweetSerenade]

I suddenly have the urge to create the perfect man for Aurora, meet Adelard Bellarose!



He'll woo all women with his magnificent moustache and a single sexy wiggle of his bushy eyebrows!

Thank the gods I can tell you are joking XD

Aurora finds no taste for men of her own society, due to the way she grew up. Young illusions of a family and children were shattered due to an accident, and men showed that the only use she had was for warming a bed (Not that she did that). SO it's either Old Maid, in her old world... or be someone's fuck toy... and she will not demean her intelligence by being slotted to being nothing more than a fuck toy... XD

[IrishWolf]

I suddenly have the urge to create the perfect man for Aurora, meet Adelard Bellarose!



He'll woo ALL with his magnificent moustache and a single sexy wiggle of his bushy eyebrows!

Now that is one fine mustache, I must say.

[Question Mark]

I suddenly have the urge to create the perfect man for Aurora, meet Adelard Bellarose!



He'll woo ALL with his magnificent moustache and a single sexy wiggle of his bushy eyebrows!

Hmm, ahem, wow.  That is a moustache.

[Scribbles]

Adelard: "Merci, merci, all the result of proper moustache care, messieurs!"

Thank the gods I can tell you are joking XD

Poor Addy is just a joke to you? Well, maybe he'll just take himself and his fine facial follicles to other more appreciative quarters!

[Merah]

DEFINITELY interested. What a fascinating scenario--I love it!

Thinking of playing an NCO in the military mission, will start working on a character profile.

[IrishWolf]

Excellent, we'd love to have you Merah.

[Merah]

You seem to be using British ranks for the military mission... was that intentional, or would you rather use French ranks?

[Scribbles]

So, all the RPs I've committed to are sitting in a limbo of sorts, not sure if some are even running anymore. I typed up a brief concept for a character, I just want to know I'm on the right track before going into detail on the minor stuff, like appearance.





Player: Scribbles
Group: Regiment
Name:Akane Onigawa
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Rank: Regiment
Social Standing: Noble
Sexual Preference: Bisexual
Appearance:
Weapons: Katana, Wakizashi, Hankyū
Extra Gear: Sake, Small Bag of Tools, Light Samurai Armour, Sack of Rations
History:
Akane is a widow of a fallen samurai, a man who lost his life in defence of the empire. Keiji Onigawa, the onna-bugeisha's one true love, was ambushed and slain during the task of delivering an important missive to the court's allies. At first Akane blamed the Empress for sending her husband on the mission at all, a mission which she saw as little more than a mad power grab and an attempt to throw away years of culture and tradition. The heartbroken samurai even considered treason during her grief, betraying the ruler both her and her husband had sworn their service to. These thoughts, her tears, were all she knew for the next three days, until finally her eyes ran dry and her mind cleared, leading her to ask one simple question, "Who"?

It was true that it was during the course of an imperial task which Keiji found his death, but Akane had yet to consider the actual culprits behind her beloved's demise, from the nobles who gave the orders to the servants who dealt the killing blow. Akane still couldn't force herself to accept the Empress's new fancy, she felt the barbaric foreigners and their strange ways were little more than a taint; one which had to be stamped out before it could spread any further. Her husband believed in the Empress however as well as her plans for their nation and so Akane served dutifully, following orders like a good soldier, if not for the empire then to honour her beloved's memory.

When not serving the empress, Akane used to eke out a living as an entertainer, but she lost that profession after Keiji's death. She simply lacks the emotion and energy she had in the past. Now she serves the empire full time by training when not following orders and hunting for survival when not doing either. More importantly, she keeps track of the daimyos, pondering on which may have been behind the blade which slew her husband. Now, Akane finally feels she has the opportunity to strike out at the daimyos as the empress has summoned her and others of her regiment. She looks forward to marching forth and slaying all who oppose imperial rule, cutting deep into the murderous bastards which would cowardly assassinate good and honourable men.

[SweetSerenade]

She looks absolutely amazing...

I am contemplating making a male for the Arakian's probably will use ambigious images of a couple of my choice favorite males... (Not Gackt though... I like him too much to do that. XD)

[IrishWolf]

Merah, it is intentional, its a little easier to write Major, rather than Chef de Bataillon and my mind works better with the British equivalent. Besides, I am also using the American concept of volunteer regiments in the Sesalian Army. Like the Arakians aren't 100% pure Japanese, the Sesalians aren't 100% pure French.

Scribbles, Akane Onigawa looks very very good.

[Lustful Bride]

Im somewhat interested in it but feel like I need to ration my roleplays since my college classes are starting again on Monday.

Question: Would there be a spot perhaps for a foreign mercenary woman?

[SweetSerenade]

Im somewhat interested in it but feel like I need to ration my roleplays since my college classes are starting again on Monday.

Question: Would there be a spot perhaps for a foreign mercenary woman?

From what I gathered your best bet would be one of the Arakian women who are known for combat... I made Aurora the way I did because the only Sesalians ending up in the Empress' area are those with the Military/Politica (Like the Ambassador and his household.) Most Sesalian women, from what I can tell are slotted down as nothing more than breeding stock (Think about old world views on women) - so I wouldn't know how you could get over. Since the Military men make it pretty well known that they don't believe females capable of combat and thus not viable for the military...

I actually have to keep Aurora and her Maid in their cabin for the trip, because of the prejudiced nature of some of the men on the ship XP

[IrishWolf]

Hmm, yes I think we could work something out.

The best way, I believe to work in such a character would to have the mercenary working for a Arakian noble and sent to join the regiment as a token show of support without that noble family sending any of their sons or daughters. Although it should be understood that while all foreigners are looked down on, it gets doubled for "local" foreigners.

If that direction for the character interests you, send me a PM and we'll hammer out the details

[Lustful Bride]

I see, but I probably should have been more specific. I meant Foreign mercenary as in not from Arakia or from Sesal. She is from another nation in the world only coming for the money.

Possibly even from a rival nation to add some drama to the mix.

Hmm I might need to think more on this before I fully throw in my chips.

[Question Mark]

I see, but I probably should have been more specific. I meant Foreign mercenary as in not from Arakia or from Sesal. She is from another nation in the world only coming for the money.

Possibly even from a rival nation to add some drama to the mix.

For what it's worth, I think this is an awesome idea.  The Sesalians were fairly uniform in the last game (aside from some unspoken friction between Aurora and Gerard/Henry), so the more wrinkles we can add to the tapestry, the better.

I know I'd get a kick out of playing it from Henry's perspective.

[Lustful Bride]

Player: Lustful Bride

Group: Mercenary hired by the Empress's officials since she just happened to be there.

Name: Ada Sanchez.

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Rank: Mercenary.

Sexual Preference: Anything, usually dominant.

Appearance:
Ada Sanchez is a young, light haired, tanned skinned woman from the land of Ersyla. She has a few scars upon her body from fighting in the revolution, the most prominent of which is on her leg where a bullet grazed her. Her hair is black as a crow’s feather and her eyes are a light shade of brown, like that of the rest of her body. Her frame is not very muscular for a woman who fought in a war, mostly due to her having joined the revolution near its end phase and for usually choosing to stay inside and read as a girl instead of playing in the fields as well as skipping out on field work when she could.

She seems to always have a gentle face and never seems to get angry, annoyed yes but never angry. Her hair is usually shoulder length and she rarely cuts it, just not finding the time to do so in her line of work, but at the very least she is able to keep it clean.

Weapons: Revolver rifle (ball and cap) and a machete.

Extra Gear: Two revolvers (which require those fancy new capsules, or bullets as some call them.)
and her 3 ammo belts for them. Small bits and pieces for her to do maintenance on her weapons, as well as clippers and a bandanna she uses to help hold her hair.

History:
Born in 1632, Ada is a descendant of colonists from Soadorien.(this world's version of Spain and was neither enemy nor truly friend to the Sesalian people.) Ada’s family lived in a colony called Eblar in a land known as Erslya. A wide and fruitful continent full of much land and which most nations tried to colonize, in one way or another, and carve out their own piece of the pie. To varying degrees of success.

Five years ago, there was an attempted revolution by the peasantry of Erslya against their mother nation, having finally been pushed to the brink by their abuses and mistreatment of the many workers who shed endless drops of blood sweat and tears to farm and colonize the arid land.( Though the crimes will always be downplayed and denied as falsehoods)
Sadly, despite the bravery and many successful battles, the revolution failed miserably, seeing most of the colonists dead or scattered and the colony placed permanently under military rule to prevent further rebellions.

The irony was that Ada herself had been among the few loyalists of Eblar. But her twin sister Cathrina was a devout rebel supporter and fighter. She was hiding weapons in her home. When the soldiers of Soadorien searched the town for any of the rebel sympathizers they decided to make an example of Ada’s sister, making the entire town watch as they brutalized her and beat her to death before hanging the woman naked with a sign around her throat that read “Rebel whore”.

The very next night after burying her sister, Ada was part of the rebel retaliation party which set fire to the nearby Soadorien fort and left no survivors. For the next two years Ada fought and shed blood alongside her rebel brothers and sisters, never giving the enemy an inch until finally they were expelled in one final push from their home nation. But it mattered little for Ada, she had nothing to go back to and turned mercenary. Working anywhere except her old home of Eblar.

Most recently Ada was hired by a Sesalian merchant going across the Doldrum, to try to open trade with some of the other nations there. Her job was to protect this man and ensure his safe arrival to land. However, after crossing the Doldrum, the ship was wrecked. By a miracle Ada somehow survived and managed to get the other survivors down the coast to the Araki Empire without much incident, where they were escorted to Kōzu. While in the capital, Ada was hired by one of the Empress's officals to join the regiment and even offered a nice contract for her work, and since she wasn't getting paid for her last job, there was no way she would turn down a job, especially not from royalty.

[IrishWolf]

Very nice, welcome to the game

[Lustful Bride]

Very nice, welcome to the game

Thank you for having me/ making such an awesome game.  ;D

[Merah]

Player: Merah
Group: Military Mission
Name: Frederic Bugeaud

Age: 34
Gender: Male
Rank: Colour Sergeant
Highest Rank Held: Captain (brevet, Soadorien expeditionary forces)

Sexual Preference: Heterosexual
Appearance: Frederic is six feet tall with a broad frame. His limbs are thick and firm with muscles built over ten years of campaigning, but he has a bit of a gut hanging over his belt from three years of heavy drinking. He has blond hair with a thick but well-groomed mustache, and troubled hazel eyes. Puckered craters remain from bullet wounds in his right shoulder, left calf, and stomach, and there is a graze track across his neck. There is a long white line along the front of his left forearm from where he blocked a knife slash and there are two marks on his right thigh where an epee bayonet pierced it.


He still wears his Zouave uniform (crimson trousers, crimson shirt, blue jacket with details in crimson, crimson kepi).


Weapons:
Pattern 1640 Bosc Rifle

Pattern 1620 NCO's sword


Zouave sword bayonet (20in blade)

Lefaucheux 20-round revolver

Fires 7.65mm pinfire cartridges. Barrel length is 4 3/4 inches; weight is just over 2 lbs empty, just under 2 1/2 lbs fully loaded. Triple action trigger (allows inner and outer cylinders to fire separately).
Pros - Can fire 20 rounds without reloading. Pinfire cartridges are more reliable than ball-and-cap rounds (can't get wet, don't jam or misfire as often). Faster to reload than empty ball-and-cap cylinders.
Cons - Ammo is incompatible with other weapons. Small caliber bullets have less stopping power. Slower to reload than pre-loaded ball-and-cap cylinders.

Extra Gear:
Equipment
Personally-altered Soadorien marching pack, bedroll, small pot, small pan, ladle, spoon, leather waterskins, coil of light rope, whetstone, flint and steel, weapons cleaning kit, straight razor, comb, scissors, sewing kit, pocket flask, and spyglass.
Clothes
Spare trousers, two spare shirts, two spare sets of drawers, and six spare pairs of socks.
Ammunition
80 rounds of percussion caps and .58 balls (8x 10-rd boxes, 4 of them on belt), and 200 rounds of 7.65mm (4x 50-rd boxes).



History:
Son to a wealthy Sesalian family, Frederic rejected that life when he dropped out of university at twenty years of age and enlisted in the colonial forces for the adventure, rejecting the chance at a commission so that he could be in the thick of things. After four years fighting in various campaigns across Erslya, he had achieved the rank of corporal.

Yet he dropped out once again when conflicts died down in the Sesalian colonies, joining the Soadorien expeditionary forces in response to their call for volunteers to put down the Eblar Revolution--this was just after the rebels had defeated the initial Soadorien garrison and burned their fort. A Soadorien general recognized something in Frederic, and gave him a brevet rank of captain among the volunteers--and Frederic decided to try being an officer out.

The Eblar campaign was a hard-fought two years that left a sour taste in Frederic's mouth. He had seen things in that war--atrocities committed by Soadorien soldiers and other volunteers that had shaken his faith in his fellow man. So he turned down the general's offer of a permanent commission in the Soadorien army and returned to Sesal, where he resumed the studies that he had forsaken six years prior.

But not one year following, Sesal went to war with Tauacia and Frederic found his loyalty to his homeland compelled him to go to war once again. Quickly granted the rank of sergeant, he was appointed 'chief of scouts' for a Zouave (north Erslyan colonial forces) brigade due to the tracking skills he had picked up in pursuing Eblarin rebels. Four years followed, of bitter fighting over remote Sesalian and Tauacian colonies, of countless marches and a cacophony of skirmishes, raids, and battles. Two months before the war ended, Frederic guided his unit to a strategic port colony through a desert previously considered impassable. There, they surprised and annihilated a much larger Tauacian garrison. But their messages requesting reinforcements were intercepted... and the Tauacian counterattack stormed the port, slaughtering half of them before they could even escape the city. Frederic led the survivors on a desperate flight back into the desert, but without adequate supplies, most of the Sesalians died on the second crossing. Less than twenty men from his brigade survived to see the end of the war.

Frederic was promoted to colour sergeant, handed a medal, and sent to run a training program for scouts, where he stayed for the next three years of mind-numbing peace. He knew he should quit again, but he didn't dare. He felt too old to take up any other career at that point--he was thirty-one, but he felt a thousand. He began drinking himself into oblivion every night.

At thirty-four, Frederic was close to being quietly retired because of his growing state of constant drunkenness, when the Araki mission came up. He swore to sober up; he would NOT be denied a spot on that mission. So his superiors relented and so he met his new commander, sergeant major, and other comrades for this adventure. They were good souls, hardened by war just as he, and he finally felt at home once again. If only this interminable voyage would end and they might embark on a harsh land against armies of hostile men once more!

[Lustful Bride]

Hmmmm an Eblar rebel and an officer who fought for the Soadorien's......I smell delicious drama in the future.  ;D

Bitter sweet.

[Question Mark]

So many good characters!

I'll post mine in a bit.  Hopefully he'll be able to hold his own.

[Merah]

I hope I didn't screw the timeline up too badly in his history... if my years don't all add up properly, just pretend they do. :P

[IrishWolf]

Oh Gods, a twenty round, over and under double barreled revolver. I love how weird some of the weapons people have invented have been. Hell, I recently learned about the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon.

Anyways, welcome aboard Frederic Bugeaud.

I will have the IC and OOC threads open by monday.

[Merah]

Oh Gods, a twenty round, over and under double barreled revolver.

:D

[Question Mark]

Player: Question Mark

Group: Sesalian Military Mission

Name: Henry Jean Vesalier

Age: 42

Gender: Male

Rank: Captain

Highest Rank Held: Major

Social Standing: N/A

Sexual Preference: Heterosexual

Appearance: Tall, nearly 190 cm, with a willowy build and long legs that make him a naturally good runner.  Maintains a bushy brown mustache on a handsome, albeit worn, face.  While in uniform, wears a red and blue kepi, a blue single-breasted shell coat with golden buttons and epaulettes, white gloves, and dark blue straight-legged trousers with a golden stripe running down the outside leg.  Out of uniform, Henry will wear simple trousers, boots, and a tunic left open at the chest.

Weapons: At all times, Henry possesses a standard Le Hir Revolver, loaded.  When in uniform, he will also carry a Pattern 1633 Cuirass, which he bears with great pride.  Finally, he maintains a standard 1630 Bosc rifle, which he keeps in his quarters.

Extra Gear: The usual toiletries.  In addition, Henry possesses an older style pocket watch, the outer casing of which bears a map of the (then) known world, itself ringed by an artistic representation of the Doldrum.  He also carries a handkerchief for his persistent cough and a finely carved wood pipe inlaid with brass, although he does not smoke it.

History: Henry was born into poverty in the year 1613 to his father, Jean, and his mother, Amelie.  A clotheswasher, Amelie died during childbirth.  Jean, a factory worker deep in debt, frequently took out his anger and grief on his young son, indirectly blaming him for his wife's death.  Henry grew up covered in bruises and reeking of the gin his father had bought with money he didn't have.  He loved his father despite the harsh treatment, and being an intelligent and surprisingly emphatic child, often worried after his health and fortunes.

By the age of 6, Henry was working 12 hour shifts as a chimney sweep.  Several years later, Jean was jailed in a debtors prison.  As a result, Henry began boarding with his father's sister.  Despite her close relation, she maintained that it was Henry's responsibility to pay down his father's debt, and so he continued working.  Her husband, a Lieutenant in the army named Picard, returned later that year on a brief leave.  A kind man, he persuaded her to release Henry to the army, and to use part of her considerable savings to make Jean's debt solvent, allowing Henry to stop working and attend a private school as a ward of the army.

Despite his late start, Henry proved to be a voracious student, excelling in reading, arithmetic, and oration.  On Picard's advice, and inspired by his grand tales of soldiering abroad, Henry applied and was quickly accepted into the Malix Military Academy.  He again excelled academically, but received poor marks in the areas of leadership and military strategy.  Upon graduation at the age of 21, Henry was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 12th Logistics Corp and stationed in a city garrison as a supply officer.  Proving adept at maintaining the supply chain, he quickly rose to the rank of Major over the next decade.  Henry set aside a percentage of his wages to paying off his father's debt, but was unable to keep up with the accruing interest.  Growing desperate, Henry entered into the contraband black market.  By changing numbers in supply ledgers, he could reroute weapons, food, and clothing to illicit buyers without arousing suspicion.  With this robust income, he quickly paid down the interest, released Jean, and even bought him a small apartment in the city.  However, he was forced to discontinue sending money after an investigation nearly uncovered his role in the contraband racket.

Two years later, war broke out with Tauacia.  Henry was commissioned as a chief logistics officer for one of the many fronts, and was moved out to a supply camp near the fighting.  A month into the war, a misled Tauacian force assaulted the depot, having incorrectly believed it to be a staging area.  Although the force was quickly rebuffed due to the timely arrival of an Osoren regiment, Henry took a ball to the chest in the chaos and nearly died of pneumonia the following week.

While recovering from his injury, a messenger arrived bearing a formal accusation of Henry for contraband smuggling.  He would later learn that a captured fence working for the contraband ring had given up his name under duress.

Despite the ongoing war, Henry was forced to return and stand trial.  As it turned out, the evidence against him was not especially strong, and Henry was able to narrowly evade a conviction by nullifying the incriminating testimony and citing his distinguished service.  Fearing an incorrect verdict, the military tribunal nonetheless busted him down to a Lieutenant, docked his pay, and assigned him as a "morale officer" to a 9th Infantry fort on the fringe of the fighting, far away from any major supply lines.  The remote assignment was intended as an indirect punishment, and Henry spent the remainder of the war pacing the walls of the fort and cleaning equipment, growing resentful and bitter.  His wound, although fully healed, had left him with a persistent cough, and the cool, damp climate only exacerbated the problem.

After the war ended, Henry repeatedly petitioned for reassignment, and was repeatedly turned down.  Even when he received a rain-soaked letter telling him of Jean's death, the Osoren army refused to grant him leave to return home and bury his father.  The fourth year of his assignment crawled by, and Henry began contemplating desertion.  Before he could steal away across the border, a letter arrived bearing his name.  His sixteenth reassignment request had been granted: he was ordered to immediately report to the nearest port and rendezvous with a mission to the distant Araki Empire.  Included was a parcel bearing the epaulettes of an Osoren Captain and a signed order confirming his promotion.

Dismayed at what seemed to be an even worse punishment, Henry decided to use the command as a cover-up for his desertion.  Three nights after leaving the fort, Henry encountered an Osoren military convoy led by a man who recognized him from his highly publicized trial four years earlier.  After a brief inquiry, Henry was forced to reveal that he was destined for the nearest port.  Surprised, the leader of the convoy insisted that he travel with them since, through sheer luck, that was where they were headed.  Unable to decline without revealing his desertion, Henry found himself unwillingly escorted to the port.

[Merah]

We really need someone to play a strong Sergeant Major... my character is good to be a primary trainer, but he's not the type to actually run the whole program.

An Araki male retainer in the Regiment might help balance things \as well. I'd run one, but I'm thinking there'd be too much of him and my colour sergeant together. Maybe I'll play the ambassador? Someone in the court as well as someone in the field sounds like a good mix.

[Salvation]

Appearance: Standing at 5'4 in height, she is a study in fitness from the slim and muscled frame hidden beneath the folds of rather plain garments, while still being unmistakeably female from breasts to hips as nature's shaping of the curves will reveal upon a closer examination.  She dresses in the attire best suited to fighting in the traditional --   Her hair is the only vanity that Chiyo keeps in some length, though the natural 'blue' black strands are usually worn in a tight braid close to the scalp or in some tidy up do to keep the strands out the way.   With eyes of an unusual shade of grey, she shows much of the 'water' in her soul, or so Chiyo's grandmother once said.

A lesson gone wrong contributed to a scar over and under Chiyo's left eye, and though it was just a long thin line by the time she grew up, the mark remained as a strike against her beauty, if such was to be said of her, and a reminder about what could happen should she ever falter.

Weapons:  Naginata (Japanese pole-arm, A pair of Kaiken (daggers), Bow and arrows, Tanto (Knife).  Though she does possess a possess and is trained in its use, it will be used mainly in applicable situations, Sayuri prefers to use the naginata, due to the blade's length and advantages to her frame and stature. The shorter blades of the dagger and knife also allow for concealment.  Sharpened hairpins (This seems to be a favorite among the women here, and rightfully so!)
Extra Gear: Shamisen (at times), bed roll and such camping supplies, usually on her horse, a rolled up parchment with a certain picture on it, kimono as needed,  Dō-maru armor,  black horse.

History:  Any story starts with its beginning, and in the minds of those that live, they are constantly writing their own tale.


The second daughter of a second son, Chiyo did not have expectations of having to marry right away as did some of her other family. Still, she was expected to know the duties to skills of her social class as required to see to home and family as the future could allow for.

Her father, while he was not the eldest son, committed to succeeding in what he did know, which had turned out to be fighting.  So, he trained others to fight.    Her father, a warrior, taught others his craft and skill, and in this, Chiyo aided him.  She was instructed in horseback riding, hunting, and fishing, and ate with men rather than with her mother, sister, and other women of the household.  While her mother did insist that Chiyo learn what must be done by women from taking care of the family, she often skipped out where it could be managed to train with her weapons. 

With the loss of his eldest son to battle, Chiyo's father became even more obsessed with preparing his remaining children for combat and the future.  In this, his second daughter committed herself to his cause, vowing to make him proud. When the opportunity arose to join this new endeavor of the Empress', despite some qualms from her family, she was sent by her father to join up.

Hobby - She has learned to play the shamisen from one of her older sisters, and shows some musical affinity.  She finds this past time to be relaxing.


---

This was the character from before though I may go in and rework some of the minor details.

[Salvation]

Whoa, sorry I missed your post Salvation.  I hope you can make it work!

No problem at all. There are a lot of posts in this, and I tend to be a bit more quiet in responses. ;)

Donnie Yen is yummy, though I like Gackt too...mmm.

As for 'pretty' Asian men, I enjoy them too as well as more rugged looking men. I admit that my standards probably match what the Japanese find attractive in men, which can be more a bit more 'pretty' and androgynous in some cases.  Being Japanese, though, in RL could provide some reason for that. =P I was tempted to perhaps do a male character as I have role played those plenty in the past, but I never did get to do much with Chiyo last time.

[SweetSerenade]

We really need someone to play a strong Sergeant Major... my character is good to be a primary trainer, but he's not the type to actually run the whole program.

An Araki male retainer in the Regiment might help balance things \as well. I'd run one, but I'm thinking there'd be too much of him and my colour sergeant together. Maybe I'll play the ambassador? Someone in the court as well as someone in the field sounds like a good mix.

Ambassador Dupont is up there in years, since I play his daughter.

[Merah]

Yeah, I'm not thinking of him as a full-time character, just that it might be helpful to have someone designated to handle him.

[SweetSerenade]

Me and Irish usually play him, actually. :D Don't worry about Ambassador Dupont, we got him handled.

I think I need to settled down and get caught up on all of my other stuff, then work on profiles for MY group game... then I'll hop over here and work on a male Arakian profile... probably a younger son of lesser nobility.

[Lustful Bride]

Hmm...due to my character being more of a frontline fighter and such I guess her position in this mission would be helping to teach the men how to properly handle their rifles, right?

Possibly even fighting alongside them because, well what else is a mercenary for?  :-)

[Juggtacular]

So many cool characters. Takahashi won't be lacking company this time around. 8-)

[Merah]

Me and Irish usually play him, actually. :D Don't worry about Ambassador Dupont, we got him handled.

I think I need to settled down and get caught up on all of my other stuff, then work on profiles for MY group game... then I'll hop over here and work on a male Arakian profile... probably a younger son of lesser nobility.

Hey, sounds good. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes here. ;)

Now, if I understand this right, the noble Arakian characters are generally going to be very capable warriors and will likely not have any problem with courage or discipline... so I guess when we talk about the regiment getting almost routed in its first battle, that means that the retainers will, in contrast, be extremely inexperienced and more difficult to train?

I assume we'll have the officers (Meresse and Vesalier at this point) training the nobles (Takahashi, Akane, and Chiyo so far) in tactics, command, and strategy, while the NCOs (Bugeaud and Sanchez atm) train the actual rank and file (the hundreds of retainers) in formations, marching, discipline, etc. Of course weapons training would be something the NCOs would train all of the Arakians in, even the nobles.

Does all that sound about right? Just trying to figure out how we're going to structure scenes at the training camp.

[Lustful Bride]

I suddenly have the urge to create the perfect man for Aurora, meet Adelard Bellarose!



He'll woo ALL with his magnificent moustache and a single sexy wiggle of his bushy eyebrows!

My god! what a Manly moustache!

I cant believe I didn't notice it before X3

Im fine being an NCO and such btw.  ;D

[Merah]

I was thinking the Mission might offer Sanchez a corporal's position or something, being as how the more trainers they have the faster it'll go. And then she'll have plenty of time to hang out with Bugeaud, her old war buddy!

A thought though... maybe she's been stranded in Araki long enough to have picked up enough of the language to double as a translator?

[Lustful Bride]

I was thinking the Mission might offer Sanchez a corporal's position or something, being as how the more trainers they have the faster it'll go. And then she'll have plenty of time to hang out with Bugeaud, her old war buddy!

A thought though... maybe she's been stranded in Araki long enough to have picked up enough of the language to double as a translator?

hmm I think her language skill will be rather broken, not full sentences but enough that she can sort of be understood.

Not sure about her rank *shrug*

[SweetSerenade]

Given the prejudiced that the males in the Military Mission have, towards female fighters, I doubt any female will ever get any substantial rank without pulling several strings and a lot of teeth...

The last game it took the Ambassador yelling at the Head Honcho - to get him to realize that the female Arakian Warriors WERE important...

Remember, this is a game with not only a cultural and social clash - but a sexist equality clash as well.

[Merah]

Okay, so what role would you see Sanchez in?

[Lustful Bride]

Given the prejudiced that the males in the Military Mission have, towards female fighters, I doubt any female will ever get any substantial rank without pulling several strings and a lot of teeth...

The last game it took the Ambassador yelling at the Head Honcho - to get him to realize that the female Arakian Warriors WERE important...

Remember, this is a game with not only a cultural and social clash - but a sexist equality clash as well.

I know that's what makes this fun. Nothing worth effort is ever easy.  :-)

Itl be interesting to see how things play out.

Im fine with Ada not having any real rank and mostly being an instructor, until the ambush that is.  ::)

[SweetSerenade]

It's gonna be fun watching these fights happen, and people trying to establish their positions :D
Aurora is actually training to be a fully functioning Translator, so that should be beyond fun at some parts. But she also intends to learn everything about Arakian culture she can.

THe last game her and ... a certain >.> *eyes the character in question* Male... had an unspoken battle between them... mostly their views on certain things. XD

[Lustful Bride]

It's gonna be fun watching these fights happen, and people trying to establish their positions :D
Aurora is actually training to be a fully functioning Translator, so that should be beyond fun at some parts. But she also intends to learn everything about Arakian culture she can.

THe last game her and ... a certain >.> *eyes the character in question* Male... had an unspoken battle between them... mostly their views on certain things. XD

Considering her age and....lack of certain fighting skills, I might just have Ada look our for her should danger ever come.
Yay Aurora gets a new big sister.  ;D (if that's okay with you.)  :-)

[SweetSerenade]

We will have to see how they interact. She isn't completely without skills, she knows how to use a bow and kknife - for hunting. After she lost her ability to produce children (From the childhood accident) her indulgent father basically let her enter scholarly pursuits for anything she was interested in.

[Lustful Bride]

We will have to see how they interact. She isn't completely without skills, she knows how to use a bow and kknife - for hunting. After she lost her ability to produce children (From the childhood accident) her indulgent father basically let her enter scholarly pursuits for anything she was interested in.

Makes sense. We will see how interactions go first.  :-)

[Question Mark]

THe last game her and ... a certain >.> *eyes the character in question* Male... had an unspoken battle between them... mostly their views on certain things. XD

*whistles innocently*

Makes sense. We will see how interactions go first.  :-)

Just like the first go-round, I'm chomping at the bit to get at this game!

[SweetSerenade]

Still wish I had a pretty boy to chase XD Hopefully we get more arakians male and female... I knoow I will make a guy eventually

[Izaya Orihara]

Hmm...
I've been looking at this for a day or two now, though I haven't got a proper app yet, I may make one soon.

And perhaps of relevance to the above post, my character will probably look like this:

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

One could perhaps say that blue eyes and that hair colour are due to some Ainu ancestry or something.In this setting, it would be an equivalent to that, I suppose.

[SweetSerenade]

O.O...... *wiggles*

That's pretty cool... scuse me... *hides*

[Question Mark]

Poor Henry's going to have an aneurism.

[IrishWolf]

I can see it now, there is going to be a "Your a man?!" moment.

[SweetSerenade]

LOL, Aurora may have to question her sexuality for a bit XP ... Though I don't mind some experimentation... She seem's like the type...

[Lustful Bride]

I can see it now, there is going to be a "Your a man?!" moment.

I thought that Ada should have that exact reaction.  ;D

HHmm...as a side note, since we seem to have a lot of characters, should we have a tag of sorts? to help us keep track of who is who?

[Question Mark]

I can see it now, there is going to be a "Your a man?!" moment.

My only question is how the Arakians got their hands on Photoshop...

Hmm...
I've been looking at this for a day or two now, though I haven't got a proper app yet, I may make one soon.

And perhaps of relevance to the above post, my character will probably look like this:

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

One could perhaps say that blue eyes and that hair colour are due to some Ainu ancestry or something.In this setting, it would be an equivalent to that, I suppose.

I'm just being an idiot, Izaya.  I look forward to your full sheet, the more the merrier!

I thought that Ada should have that exact reaction.

HHmm...as a side note, since we seem to have a lot of characters, should we have a tag of sorts? to help us keep track of who is who?

A gag system would help I think, although I've done bigger games without them.  It's Wolf's call either way, though.

[Juggtacular]

I wonder if Aurora will still like Takahashi.

[SweetSerenade]

I wonder if Aurora will still like Takahashi.

Well we are doing a complete restart. Unfortunately Aurora's attraction to him was the grace and beauty he held. That has changed now, as he is closer in appearance (not exactly mind you) to a Sesalian man. Despite him still having the grace, he is rougher looking - and that probably will not draw her eyes (since it really doesn't draw my eye, and my characters dont' go where I won't... XD)

[IrishWolf]

Well, we will have a roster on the first post of the OOC and I think a simple system for where the characters are will work, for IC posts. Maybe something like Mark's posts from the first attempt at this story.

[Question Mark]

Well, we will have a roster on the first post of the OOC and I think a simple system for where the characters are will work, for IC posts. Maybe something like Mark's posts from the first attempt at this story.

Do you mean like this?

Name
Precise Location
General Location

For example...

Henry Jean Vesalier
Second Officer's Cabin
Triomphante

[Scribbles]

My god! what a Manly moustache!

*Squee*

You found ol' Adelard's hit single!

[Lustful Bride]

I just realized, we have a dog in our party, with Gerard keeping Chasseur.  >_< *internaly bracing for future heartache* 

I have a soft spot for dogs.

[Question Mark]

I just realized, we have a dog in our party, with Gerard keeping Chasseur.  >_< *internaly bracing for future heartache* 

I have a soft spot for dogs.

Oh no!

[Lustful Bride]

Oh no!

I am fully prepared for heartache on the level of I Am Legend.  :P

[Question Mark]

I am fully prepared for heartache on the level of I Am Legend.  :P

Oh man, my heart just broke all over again.   :'(

[Lustful Bride]

Oh man, my heart just broke all over again.   :'(

*hugs*

[Juggtacular]

I am fully prepared for heartache on the level of I Am Legend.  :P

Or Riddick.  :'(

[Lustful Bride]

Or Riddick.  :'(

You can mess with a man, but you don't mess with his dog.  >:(

[Question Mark]

You can mess with a man, but you don't mess with his dog.  >:(

The sterile, intellectual, detached part of me has always boggled at this ridiculous double standard.  We ascribe people all of these rights: the right to happiness, to life, to property, to freedom, rights most people will not give to dogs.  And yet most people would agree with your quoted sentiment.

I have a friend who supports the death penalty only for one crime: animal abuse.

It's amazing how motivating innocence can be.


...


Well, that was a tangent.  But ya, I think I agree with you.

[Lustful Bride]

The sterile, intellectual, detached part of me has always boggled at this ridiculous double standard.  We ascribe people all of these rights: the right to happiness, to life, to property, to freedom, rights most people will not give to dogs.  And yet most people would agree with your quoted sentiment.

I have a friend who supports the death penalty only for one crime: animal abuse.

It's amazing how motivating innocence can be.


...


Well, that was a tangent.  But ya, I think I agree with you.

Pets are almost family man. *owns a dog rescued form an abusive home*  but should it come down to the wire I would say a Human life is more over that of an animal.........darn we really could use that OOC thread.  :P
Were filling up this recruitment thread with our banter.

[Question Mark]

Pets are almost family man. *owns a dog rescued form an abusive home*  but should it come down to the wire I would say a Human life is more over that of an animal.........darn we really could use that OOC thread.  :P
Were filling up this recruitment thread with our banter.

I think it's the injustice that makes people's blood boil.  It definitely heats me up. 

But anyway, an active OOC thread is always a promising sign.  It's just making me look forward to this game even more.

[Scribbles]

I'd pick a human life over an animal's nearly every time but I'd cry over the loss for days to come...

I think what kills me the most is that when an animal dies, it's pain is likely coupled with confusion. They just don't understand the world and they might even think something horrible, like their caretakers are punishing them...

[Question Mark]

Man, I feel like I inadvertently made this whole thread really depressing...  :-[

Who can save us from this melancholia?  What power of hope and happiness could possibly pull us back into the light?

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

...ah, much better!

[Lustful Bride]

Man, I feel like I inadvertently made this whole thread really depressing...  :-[

Who can save us from this melancholia?  What power of hope and happiness could possibly pull us back into the light?

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

...ah, much better!

hahahah yes let the moustache save us!

[Juggtacular]

Mustaches for everyone!

[Scribbles]

Man, I feel like I inadvertently made this whole thread really depressing...  :-[

Who can save us from this melancholia?  What power of hope and happiness could possibly pull us back into the light?

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

...ah, much better!

Hahahaha, how can I stay all glum in the presence of such a moustache!

[IrishWolf]

And we have an OOC thread open. I am still working on tweaking my opening IC post. Hopefully, it will be up before I leave for work but if not, tomorrow.

And I have three things to add;

1. That smiling face and excellent mustache, brightens my day

2. I love dogs but that said, we will be going into combat, nasty things may happen.

3. As always, still accepting new characters.

[IrishWolf]

For those who haven't checked in on the OOC, we now have an The Empress's Own IC.