Suvarnabhumi, the golden land. Straddling the maritime routes between India and the Great Ming, the lands of Suvarnabhumi are diverse, rich and filled with wondrous colour. From the golden stupas of Ayutthaya to the lush jungles of Malaya; from the flowing delta of the Mekong to the mountains of Nam Viet; merchants and adventurers from throughout the known world traverse through the treacherous waters, seeking fame, fortune and peace. From as far as the European edge of Iberia to the northern reaches of Japan, these travellers speak a myriad of tongues, and the faith of different gods. But all are united in the single goal of achieving fame and fortune beyond imagination. Whether through war or trade, these brave souls would venture through monsoon swept waters to earn greatness in the kingdoms of Suvarnabhumi.
But a foul evil had crept into the world. Darkness, both within and external, are poisoning the mortal realm. Strange monsters, known only as Shadows, had begun to emerge, desolating the lands with their mere presence as they sap the very life out of the world. Innocents fear for their lives as bandits and wild beasts predate the vulnerable countryside. Even the very spirits that once lived in unison with mortal men are being twisted by the malice polluting Suvarnabhumi. Beleaguered by the rapidly spreading threat, the King of Ayutthaya had called upon adventurers of all shades to his gilded court, to take up arms on his behalf for great reward, glory and justice.
It is up to you, traveller, to rid the land of blight and return day to the golden lands. Many among you may only find peace in riches or pride, but know that your sword is needed at the world's darkest hour. Succeed, and you may return, lives and riches fulfilled for posterity. Fail, and darkness would consume not only Suvarnabhumi, but all humankind...
Overview
Greetings, traveller, to Suvarnabhumi, 1620 C.E. Wherever your origins across the Old World (or even the New World), you have heeded the summons of King Songtham of Ayutthaya to combat an emerging threat plaguing his rich kingdom. Called Shadows, these malevolent creatures take on a myriad of horrifying form, from giant beasts, humanoid giants or the outright grotesque. Their intentions, if any, remain unknown, though they remain singleminded in their pursuit to destroy all life in Suvarnabhumi and beyond. Already, much of the interior had become blighted, its lush jungles and farmland reduced to barren soil and the light of day blotted by pure despair. None knew how their numbers grow, though rumours of assimilation of wildlife and even people have been abound. What is known is that they are difficult to kill, with a decisive strike at its heart the only sure option of victory.
Magic, if any, is scant knowledge, in a time when the power of sail and gunpowder is fast upending the old power structures of the world. Already, the Iberian powers have taken most of the New World as their own, and their posts scatter along the maritime silk route with their Dutch rivals. Even in Suvarnabhumi, few could claim to have mastered any sort of spell or power, though they might prove useful to the king in such trying times.
Overall, crude steel remains the only real option to combat the monsters, and those opportunistic enough to exploit the chaos to pillage the innocent. You may be a hired hand, but your life is still worth of value to the king, for one less sword is one less hand to defend Ayutthaya, and as dusk sets in on the Golden Land, every head counts.
Nations
The world of Suvarnabhumi is vast and diverse, and the world beyond even more so. From the Taungoo kingdom in the west to Champa, Annam and Tonkin to the East, from the northern Shan to the Sumatran and Javanese sultanates to the south, the lands of Suvarnabhumi speak a thousand tongues to a myriad of gods, both native and foreign. The European colonists who had settled in the region live a tenuous peace with the native inhabitants. Seeking to manipulate the kingdoms against each other and against their rivals, the Iberian kingdoms and Dutch East India Company sought to wrest control of the lucrative trade routes from each other and the local rulers.
OOC: Note that this list is non-exhaustive. If I have missed out any nations of relevance, feel free to highlight. Also, feel free to search for any nation in the early 17th Century.
Rules
- Thou shall heed the word of the OP (Me). Thou who hast been chosen as Co-OP (Sonitusia, Altito Asmoro) shall be heeded too, unless overruled by OP.
- Thou shall not post one liners, unless circumstances apply (e.g. response to a query). If thou hast an unsatisfactory post, the OP will command for a better one. Test his patience and Akuma-Homu will retgone ye to cursed oblivion.
- Thou shall keep OOC speech in the OOC thread.
- Thou shall keep characters reasonably powered. Overpowered characters will be banished to darkness.
- Thou shall keep the IC thread PG-13, lest they incur the wrath of
MadokamiBuddha. - Thou shall face judgement and be banished to nothingness (banned should he break the above commandments three times without heeding the OP's warnings.
- Thou shall not control NPCs unless given specific approval from the OP.
- If thou hast queries over anything relevant or irrelevant to the RP, thou may ask the OP on advice. Taking the law into ye hands is to incur the OP's anger.
- Thou shall have fun, lest the participants dies of boredom.
Applications
Beneath is a set of particulars you must put down for verification with the royal army on your employment under the Ayutthayan king. Identification of potential talent in the war against the Shadows
OOC: Here's the application. Note that players are currently restricted to playing non-magic characters. Please link your RP example to a recent post you made, or write a two hundred word RP sample. Invited RPers need not put an RP sample (i.e. people I know) Signups are currently semi-closed, so if you wish to join in, please TG me first.
Useful Information