The Story
An age of warring states, the great Empire of Ying as decayed into civil war. Terrible famine sweeps the southern provinces, a peasant warlord Song Zhi as assumed power and taken control of the province of Beifeng under the rebel group known as the Red Turban Army. From his home province, he as conquered other southern provinces and formed a new dynasty to challenge the Emperor. In the northern provinces, a drunken guardsman allowed the Grand Wall to be breached by nomadic barbarians. Raided by horsemen and aid from a distant Emperor not coming Prefect Zhao Zan of the northern prefecture seized power and raised his own armies to halt the barbarian march.
In the great halls of Zhai Cheng, the mad Emperor Sun Bao sits on the Dragon Throne, hiding behind the thick walls of the Impenetrable City. How long can the Emperor survive before the walls come crumbling down and his enemies end his dynasty?
Even worse, as the empire fights amongst each other, the Horde gathers in the far north. Long have the barbarians waited for this moment, with the empire weak and divided, charismatic chiefs gather their warriors, and pillage and rape the northern provinces growing fat from the easy pickings to be had.
Ying is at a crossroads and civil war that will decide the fate of the empire. Who will claim the Mandate of Heaven and restore order? Northern and southern states vie for supremacy to reunify the lands. It is up to you to help determine the destiny of Ying. To support one of these petty warlords would offer great rewards, as well as to profit from the break down of law, or to claim your own dynasty. To forge a new dynasty is not an easy task, one needs men of arms, as well as silver to seize the Dragon Throne, and become the new Emperor.
But the rewards are great, and to claim the Dragon Throne, would allow one to create a dynasty to stand the test of time. Will you succeed in your quest for wealth and power? Or will you fall like so many before you dying in famine, and endless wars, a pawn of warlords. The choice is yours!
Mechanics
Really simple mechanics, you post ONE action per turn, I roll dice to determine if you succeeded or not. Depending on your starting items, you'll either have a great shot of success or failure. For example, if your a warlord wanting to expand and you send 100 soldiers to seize a neighboring province you'll either succeed or fail depending on how well armed that province is and the resolve of your men. Many actions can be made to improve your odds of success. Depending on how well you write your ideas, you'll have better chances to succeed and the more creative and unusual the better.
The Sun Dynasty
The Sun Dynasty was founded in the Age 400 after the Jia Dynasty before it. General Sun Tao led his soldiers from the northern provinces and conquered all of Ying except for Zhai Cheng the Indomitable City. The Jia Emperor at that time was a cruel and vindictive man who oppressed the peasants, while Sun Tao was unable to breach the walls, the peasants within the city revolted, and killed the emperor, opening the gates so that Sun Tao could enter. With the Jia Dynasty disbanded Emperor Tao set in motion a golden age for the Ying Empire. Yet in the last hundred years, the Sun Dynasty has been ruled by a string of weak and ineffective emperors culminating in the rule of Emperor Sun Bao, a man who seldom leaves his quarters in the Forbidden Palace leading rule to scheming eunuchs, who plot more than rule...
Map of The Middle Kingdom
Factions
Army/Company Maintance
Characters may come with either a COMPANY or ARMY.Depending on what type of group is being led different mechanics apply.
Merchants and Foreingers manage a Company a group of traders and explorers. For every five people under a merchants/foreigners command, one silver must be paid in wages per week. So by the first seven turns, 5 Silver is to be paid initially.
Horde Chiefs and Warlords command an Army. For Warlords who rule a rural province, their armies are maintained by the wealth and food generated by that province. For Horde Chiefs, they must either pillage or forage the land every seven turns or dire consequences are to be had.
Archtype
The archetype paints who you are as a person in this rich and varied world. Ying is an ancient land and traditional, and the type of person you create will have profound effects on how the Ying people react to you. For example, foreigners will have a harder time gaining the trust of the native Ying. Women will also have a harder time leading, this game is set in pre-modern times, but while male characters will have an easier time initially, women may find themselves capable of gaining influence and fame easier as a woman who takes up arms is more likely to gain more attention which can be beneficial down the road.
Ying Citizen- The standard citizen of the Middle Nation. You are a native of Ying, you've lived here your entire life, maybe you were a peasant farmer, an artisan, bureaucrat, criminal but now you've lost everything and are forced to start from scratch. Telegram me first and we can hatch out a suitable start for you. War grips the land, famine, and disease sweep the land, and the dead bodies of the fallen are everywhere. It is up to you to survive and succeed in this chaotic period of warring states. Depending on how you described your character you'll get appropriate items. RPG game start.
The Warlord--You are a feudal lord, either you have kept your loyalty to Emperor Sun Bao, or broken ties and sworn allegiance to Song Zhi or Zhao Zan. You may have even capitalized on the disharmony and formed your dynasty! Do be warned this is the most dangerous choice as the other warlords and the Emperor will seek to crush you once they have the chance. Either case you start with 250 silver, a small rural province, and 2,000 peasant soldiers at your command! There will be a limited amount of warlords.
Dao Monk--Through years of meditation, you have achieved balance and enlightenment. You have cultivated the dao and thus achieved an ability that many men lack. All Dao Monks are as light as a feather able to run at speeds far greater than man, walk on water, and jump great distances. Telegram me and we'll work out a unique Dao ability for your character. Dao Monks start with monk robes and a dao or changdao sword as a symbol of their membership of the Order. Monks may serve under feudal lords but cannot gain titles or land or marry. Start anywhere in the world.+1 Spirit Skill.
Merchant- You are a wealthy enterpriser wishing to profit in these disharmonious times. As such start either with a horse-drawn carriage, or sailing ship that allows one to carry trade goods.Whatever part of the world you land in you gain a unique resource that can be traded for profit in other parts of the world. Start with merchant garb 250 Silver and a company of 25 men. Start in any port city or Market District of Zhai Cheng.+1 Trade Skill.
Foreginer- Stranger in these lands through whatever means you have found yourself in the Far East. Perhaps you are a trader, wishing to acquire silk, and rare spices or a priest wishing to convert the easterners in whatever faith your homeland in the west preaches. Start with Foreign garb,200 Silver, and 25 Recruits. Ying rulers and officials view foreigners with suspicion. Start in any port city or Zhai Cheng Foreign District.+1 Foreigner Trait.
Horde War Chief- You are a nomadic chief, here to rape and pillage Ying for all she's worth! Ying is a wealthy land, and much riches can be had by pillaging the settlements of the south. Start with 3,500 Horde Horsemen armed and armored. Gain the ability to pillage settlements for a chance to gain wealth. +1 Horde Trait,+1 Foreigner Trait.There will be a limited amount of Horde Chiefs.
App
If your playing as character from Ying you'll want a Chinese inspired name to fit the narritive-Chinese name generator
- Code: Select all
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Apperance (Description or image)[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b]
[b]Biography:[/b]
[b]Archetype:[/b]
[b]Starting Items:[/b]
[b]Starting Location (Coordinates):[/b]
ROLEPLAYERS CONTRACT
Roleplayers in Mandate of Heaven may say anything, travel anywhere (As long as they're not in combat), and carry with them common items of insignificance.
Roleplayers may not-
Take valuable items from the world, harm any object, character, or take control of characters, objects, factions, or Godmod in any way or form possible.
Roleplayers may attempt to harm characters, objects may attempt to acquire/steal items from the world, and may attempt to influence the world around them with a chance of failure or success.
RULES
1. OP word is Law
2.General NS rules
3. One action at a time.
4. Everyone get along no arguments if you have any issues just telegram
5. At least a paragraph long posts, not asking for an essay but some characterization and quality roleplaying goes a long way towards success in this game.
6. This world is inspired by China and east asia but is not based in it keep that in mind.
7. And remember have FUN.