Post by The Lord of Blades on Jan 10, 2008 22:17:53 GMT -5
Prerequisite for joining:
Character Creation:
Astrological Aspects:
Select one from each of the following and gain both benefits upon character creation
Elemental
Zodiac
Factions[/b]
There are several varying power groups on the world of Shikarui. They're Clans, Families, and Tribes from strongest to least respectively. Each of these varied groups belong to a certain set of factions under which they work together for certain goals and ideals. These factions are rarely ever fully unified as most harbor their own agendas and wellbeing over that of their allies.
Clans are groups of several families and tribes that have united under one banner. Although prone to internal power struggles, they are still more than a match for their enemies and often-time occupy the seats of power in cities and factions.
Families are groups of blood related individuals (no matter how distant usually) as well as their vassals. Families are incredibly loyal to one another and although there are occasionally internal problems these are usually rare and the result of sibling dispute. The loyalty to the good of the family is paramount and depending on the family, they can either be weaker than some tribes or stronger than some clans.
Tribes are groups of likeminded people and friends who've banded together to form their own group. Usually poorly funded and poorly managed, tribes can still be effective due to the underlying principle of their bond and in rare instances a tribe will gain enough prestige to rise to the status of "Family" with one dominant leader establishing the lineage and the rest becoming loyal vassals.
Finally, Factions are groups of clans, families, and tribes that are ruled over by either a council or individual who unites them for a singular purpose or to keep the peace. Factions are generally ruled over by exceedingly powerful people who need to not only be able to quell rebellious pieces of their faction but also resist assassination attempts and keep the loyalty of their followers through impressive displays of good rulership. It is unlikely that clan, family, or tribe will willingly submit to an underqualified or unimpressive leader.
Clans
More clans that are unlisted because they are not prominent figures
Families
More families that are unlisted because they are not prominent figures.
Tribes
More tribes that are unlisted because they are not prominent figures.
Factions
There are a few lesser factions left unlisted because they are not prominent figures.
- Must be able to post frequently. If you mysteriously vanish for days at a time with no warning, reason, or pre-stated length of absence, you are not to join this game. Simply put, I am only going to run this game if it moves along at a decent rate. I'm already running two games that occasionally slow to a crawl and have had one game closed as a direct result of it. I don't need more that aren't gonna 'happen' persay.
- Must have good roleplay experience and be able to use it. There is a possibility of romance (if you've played Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark you should be familiar enough) if the player pursues it and this can result in critical changes in the game. Also, most of the game occurs between intelligent and humanoid NPCs and PCs meaning this is no mindless monster-slaughter.
- Must be willing to work as a group when groupwork is necessary. You will all be starting as members of the same family, clan, dynasty, tribe, faction, and etc. What this means is that unless you choose to go rogue/ronin and face those consequences, even if you dislike someone you will work with them if the need arises. Think of it as a groupwork assignment, you may not like everyone present, hell you can even make it a point not to, but unless you're going to shoulder the burdens alone (there will be no gracious difficulty leniency if you go solo) then you're all in it together.
Character Creation:
- Stats are J-Standard (two brackets of 8 x 4d6, re-roll ones and drop two lowest, choose only one bracket, do not mix and match)
- Max HP
- Starting Level: 5
- Starting Gold: 10,000 (with variations based on orientation)
- Allowed Races: Check with me if it’s anything nonstandard. You may be able to play certain abnormal races, it just needs to be approved first. There are also two additionally available custom races, Half-Oni and Lamia.
- Acceptable Items: Legacy Items are NOT allowed, in the world of Shikarui they exist, but they are far more powerful than normal. Grafts are NOT (exceptions regarding Lamia, Half-Oni, and a few other races) allowed, standard races are incapable of utilizing them on the world of Shikarui.
- Flaws: Maximum of 2
- Background: One bonus Feat selection at first level only.
- Bonuses at Creation: Depending on your Astrology and orientation you gain additional benefits.
Astrological Aspects:
Select one from each of the following and gain both benefits upon character creation
Elemental
- Wood: People elementally aligned with wood are natural explorers and friendly people. They are gifted in dealing with people and begin play with a +1 Permanent Bonus to Charisma.
- Fire: People elementally aligned with fire are proud, strong, and energetic people. They are gifted in their tremendous power and begin play with a +1 Permanent Bonus to Strength.
- Earth: People elementally aligned with earth are cautious and learned people. They are gifted with experience and knowledge and begin play with a +1 Permanent Bonus to Wisdom.
- Metal: People elementally aligned with metal are unyielding and stubborn people. They are gifted in hard endeavors and begin play with a +1 Permanent Bonus to Constitution.
- Water: People elementally aligned with water are intelligent and intuitive people. They are gifted in the workings of the mind and begin play with a +1 Permanent Bonus to Intelligence.
- Air: People elementally aligned with air are agile and incredibly quick. They are gifted in their speed and begin play with a +1 Permanent Bonus to Dexterity.
- Void: Only Half-Oni and Lamia are elementally aligned with the Void and may only be with the Void. They are gifted at all situations, excelling at everything and begin play with +1 Permanent Bonus to all attributes.
Zodiac
- Rat – Bonus Feat (Stealthy)
- Ox – Bonus Feat (Iron Will)
- Tiger – Bonus Feat (Athletic)
- Rabbit – Bonus Feat (Persuasive)
- Dragon – Bonus Feat (Great Fortitude)
- Snake – Bonus Feat (Deceitful)
- Horse – Bonus Feat (Agile)
- Sheep – Bonus Feat (Self-Sufficient)
- Monkey – Bonus Feat (Lightning Reflexes)
- Rooster – Bonus Feat (Diligent)
- Dog – Bonus Feat (Investigator)
- Boar – Bonus Feat (Alertness)
- Unaligned - Bonus +2 to one skill OR +1 to one save of player choice. Half-Oni and Lamia must be unaligned.
Factions[/b]
There are several varying power groups on the world of Shikarui. They're Clans, Families, and Tribes from strongest to least respectively. Each of these varied groups belong to a certain set of factions under which they work together for certain goals and ideals. These factions are rarely ever fully unified as most harbor their own agendas and wellbeing over that of their allies.
Clans are groups of several families and tribes that have united under one banner. Although prone to internal power struggles, they are still more than a match for their enemies and often-time occupy the seats of power in cities and factions.
Families are groups of blood related individuals (no matter how distant usually) as well as their vassals. Families are incredibly loyal to one another and although there are occasionally internal problems these are usually rare and the result of sibling dispute. The loyalty to the good of the family is paramount and depending on the family, they can either be weaker than some tribes or stronger than some clans.
Tribes are groups of likeminded people and friends who've banded together to form their own group. Usually poorly funded and poorly managed, tribes can still be effective due to the underlying principle of their bond and in rare instances a tribe will gain enough prestige to rise to the status of "Family" with one dominant leader establishing the lineage and the rest becoming loyal vassals.
Finally, Factions are groups of clans, families, and tribes that are ruled over by either a council or individual who unites them for a singular purpose or to keep the peace. Factions are generally ruled over by exceedingly powerful people who need to not only be able to quell rebellious pieces of their faction but also resist assassination attempts and keep the loyalty of their followers through impressive displays of good rulership. It is unlikely that clan, family, or tribe will willingly submit to an underqualified or unimpressive leader.
Clans
- Mantis Clan - The Mantis Clan is a group of families aligned under the idea of martial prowess above all else. The soldiers, monks, and even the rogues of the Mantis Clan are paragons of combat. They act as borderguards and as arbiters wherever they go, whether they earned this right (by the societal standards they are in at the time, meaning a Mantis Clan member will hold themselves to a Just course of action even in barbaric lands or lands that don't wish them to do so or acknowledge their justice) or not is irrelevant as they keep to it with rigid tenacity. In short, while cities and lands may possess their own law enforcement, if a greater presence is required, the Mantis Clan is petitioned for assistance. The greatest weakness of the Mantis Clan is the darkness they witness in the name of their justice. Many senior members of the clan are often dark individuals and on occasion succumb to the lure of the darkness they once so proudly stood against.
- Dragon Clan - If there were ever a more hated group of individuals, the Dragon Clan would slay them to recover that rightful title for themselves. Without exception the Dragon Clan are ruthless, cruel, brilliant tacticians. Half-Oni happily fill their numbers and the Dragons welcome them. This Clan is ruled by the strongest and smartest and a truly disturbing number of the higher-ups go missing on a regular basis when their progeny exceed their abilities. These dark people have their undeniable role. They are the best defense against the Oni Legions and other dark forces from the edges of the map, the depths of Shikarui, and the dreaded other-realms of the elementals and Oni themselves. The Dragon Clan are the embodiment of the "Fight Fire with Fire" ideal. It is rumored they employ monsters, and even coerce Oni and outsiders to fight against their kin. Despite their myriad dishonorable acts, the Dragon Clan are admittedly formidable and necessary. Without their aid, Onikage would have long since placed himself on a throne above all Shikarui. However, despite their usefulness, there remains a pact. If the Dragon Clan should ever steep so far into the darkness that they are unable to return... then every family, clan, and tribe in Shikarui is sworn to destroy them.
- Tiger Clan - While the Mantis Clan are proud warriors of justice, the Tiger Clan are the soldiers of the people. They lack the abilities of the Mantis Clan but what they lack in talent they make up for in sheer number and determination. If the Tiger and Mantis Clans were to march on eachother, the Tiger Clan would outnumber the Mantis fifty to one. Indeed the two hold a very fragile peace as the Tiger Clan are the army most often called upon to defend the lands of Shikarui and their leaders are men and women who've been defending the lands of their birth their whole lives. The achilles heal of the Tiger Clan is the upstart fiery youths who believe they can win a battle against Onikage if they marched into the heart of his dark lands. These upstarts are a grave danger to the Tiger Clan, as such doomed crusades weaken their numbers should they actually be launched by seperatist clan members. Thusly, while the Tiger Clan's numbers are immense, the aged and wise leaders are frequently at odds with the fiery youths that serve them.
- Hydra Clan - Perhaps the most dichotomous of the clans, the Hydra Clan is a mercantile clan. They took their name with the underlying connotation that they cannot be bested by simply killing parts and that they have enough heads to 'get into' everything available. There is very little in the way of business that doesn't go noticed by the Hydras. They are, for lack of a better term, the stewards of the economy. They have been known to singlehandedly end wars or start them with their vast wealth and while their internal structure is riddled with strife and bribery, they keep to themselves well enough that the corruption is never exposed. While many despise the Hydra Clan, they are admittedly necessary as "The Guardians of Economy."
More clans that are unlisted because they are not prominent figures
Families
- Shao Family - A family of proud-nobles who claim to be able to trace their lineage back to days predating the founding of the family as a prominent group in Shikarui. The Shao Family is entirely human, even their vassals and servants are humans. They believe that other races are lesser or impure and treat them as such. The arrogant nobility of Shao Family is scarcely tolerated by others who frequently refer to them as "Blue-Blooded Nobles-in-name-only." While far from popular, the strength of the Shao Family is their devotion to their own causes. They, of all the factions, suffer from practically no internal strife at all and thusly remain a unified front against all of their detractors. This unity, despite racial limitations, is quite a potent asset to the Shao Family.
- Zhuo Family - Quite possibly the most shunned family, the Zhuo Family once served under the Dragon Clan. After breaking apart from the Dragons, the Zhuo Family set up its own territories and began to delve far deeper into experimentation and the like than any other group before them. In many ways the Zhuo Family merits the destruction threatened of the Dragon Clan should they be too corrupted. However, through what can only be defined as 'secret influence' the Zhuo Family retains its status in the face of treacherous evil. Despite their evil acts and callous disregard for morality and life, the Zhuo Family as well as their vassals have a tendency to be neither evil nor good. Simply displaying a cold detachment from the affairs of morality all together.
- Kaisho Family - The newest family in the power games of Shikarui, the Kaisho Family is a strange group. Having been established by a local hero in a city (now the head of the Kaisho Family), it is still an unknown factor to it's colleagues. How they established themselves in their territory so quickly (and without being consumed by larger families or clans) is also a mystery. Indeed, to know practically anything about the Kaisho one must be either a vassal, servant, or a family member themselves.
- Liang Family - Warriors born and bred, some have gone so far as to call the Liang Family the "Golden Blades." The reason for this is that the Liang Family is ruthlessly exclusive despite their wealth. Anyone seeking to even become a servant of the Liang Family, let alone a vassal, must demonstrate remarkable skill with a weapon and martial discipline, without it, they are of no value. The skill of the Liang Family is said to even eclipse that of Mantis Clan. The leader of the Liang Family, Taishi Liang, is said to be the strongest warrior of Shikarui that even Onikage fears.
- Song Family - Of the Families of Shikarui, none goes to such extremes to maintain its image as the Song Family. A family devoted to arts and magic and nature, the Song are without a doubt the leading 'art' Family. Many consider the Song Family themselves a 'treasure' as much as their many works. However, despite this, they try to desperately maintain their 'beautiful image' from any form of scandal and corruption. Unfortunately, due to their decadent lifestyles, they are rife with such corruption.
- Xia Family - The most highly sought after of all the Families in Shikarui, the Xia Family is truly unique in that there are no male members of the family. Any child born to the Xia that is not female is cast out. The reason for this is the remarkable seer abilities of the females. The Xia Family foretold the coming of Onikage, the maidens-of-sight knew that the Empire of Baika would fall. It is for this reason that anyone seeking to disturb the Xia will face brutal reprisal from all of Shikarui. They are simply too valuable if one can discern the meanings of their prophecies and omens.
More families that are unlisted because they are not prominent figures.
Tribes
- Petal Tribe - A Tribe mainly formed out of druids and monks that advocate peace above all else.
- Blue Fang Tribe - A Tribe of raiders from the north, famous for their abilities to operate in any weather conditions.
- White Wind Tribe - A Tribe of nomadic healers that cure the ailments of wherever they go.
- Orochi Tribe - Eight mysterious individuals somehow strong enough to count as a Tribe by themselves.
- Howl Tribe - A group of barbarians that have in many ways, regressed into a primitive band of animals.
- Mongrel Tribe - Half-breeds that are shunned by society, while large in numbers they lack organization.
- Ogre Tribe - Giants that have banded together into a tribe of their own, they remain aloof from all others.
- Chaos Tribe - A Tribe ruled by the strongest that attacks anyone who nears their desolate lands, even Onikage's Legion.
- Justicar Tribe - A group of vigilantes that took matters into their own hands to defend themselves.
- Owl Tribe - The bravest of the Tribes, they are dispersed throughout Shikarui, keeping a ceaseless vigil over all.
More tribes that are unlisted because they are not prominent figures.
Factions
- Sun Empire - Also known as the Kingdom of Dawn (the name having been deemed rather unfit with the emergence of the Three Kingdoms Faction), the Sun Empire is led by a charismatic youth (even now he cannot be older than 30) named Inochi Hikari and is the pheonix that rose from the ashes of the Empire of Baika. For some unknown reason, Inochi was able to rally together most of the remaining groups and bound them into a new empire. This empire was to be the dawn after the long darkness that followed the death of Baika himself. The unusual aspect of the Sun Empire is that it welcomes all to join it, even Oni themselves will be accepted into the 'light'. While a foolish policy, it has endeared Inochi to the people and (begrudgingly) earned him the loyalty of the families and clans as well as a position on the throne of Shikarui opposite Onikage's throne of evil. Inochi insists people simply call him by name, however, many refer to him as the "Sun Emperor" out of respect despite his protests.
- The Three Kingdoms - A foreign faction. The Three Kingdoms are a complete enigma. They hail from the West... far to the west across vast oceans and other terrible obstacles. They claim to have come in goodwill and exploration, however none can overlook the armaments and abilities they possess as being powerfully militaristic. While they have only a foothold on the western coasts of most lands, they somehow possess the numbers and supplies to over-power a mere clan. Despite the knowledge that such signs imply an invasion of some kind, Inochi Hikari, Ruler of the Sun Empire, welcomes the "Three Kingdoms" as he does all. Despite their namesake, none know the names of the individual kingdoms that comprise their faction.
- The Fallen Empire of Baika - The old order, the ruins and tatters of a forgotten era. Baika, the holy-child, ruled an empire that spanned almost all of Shikarui after growing into a strong man. Under his divine banner, every faction was brought into one unified front and Shikarui knew an era of peace. Unfortunately, such things never last and with his death, the conflicting matter of an heir (as he had sired none himself) resulted in the empire crumbling inward. While many still cling desperately to the old ideals and hopes of a unified people, most view it as a sinking ship from which they must escape. Those that have left call those that remain conservative dreamers. Those that remain call those that left disruptive traitors. While not a strong military presence, the Fallen Empire still retains much confidence in the eyes of the people. Due to the dreams of returning to an Era of Peace, much political influence is still in the hands of those that cling to the shattered empire.
- Onikage's Legion of Darkness - The presence of evil in the world of Shikarui is ruled over by one man. More accurately, one creature, as none can speak for certain on just what Onikage is. His followers say he's a god of darkness, his enemies say he earns his namesake of "Demon Shadow", and everyone else say he's a plague of Shikarui. Nevertheless, Onikage is the undisputed (or, rather, the undefeated-so-far) ruler of the evil of Shikarui. While certainly greater and more terrible Oni reside in their nether realms, they are unable to break free and thus cannot challenge Onikage's rule. So, with few even potential rivals, Onikage rules the hordes of evil with a cruel, powerful, hidden fist. Onikage is the greatest threat Shikarui has known, having defeated the previous ruler of the Legions of Darkness, an Oni Warlord named Shou-Dai and usurped his throne.
There are a few lesser factions left unlisted because they are not prominent figures.