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Post by Admin: Otto on Apr 1, 2023 19:50:45 GMT -5
Cultural GroupsShita Eodum-TaiyangDominant Religion: Mainstream Pantheon with special importance on Solaria and the Sun. Preferred Colors: Ebony, Crimson, and Light Blue. Main Arts Focus: Calligraphy and Single Stroke Artwork, Poems, and Philosophical Enlightenment. Way of recording events: Written word, Song, and Poems.
The people of the Crescent Isles are a strong and resilient bunch that have been hardened by many lifetimes of internal strife and difference. The Southern, Central, and Northern Isles that form the Crescent Isle itself are all inhabited by a group of like yet different people that spent many centuries fighting amongst themselves while maintaining closed borders to the mainland of Charon. It wasn't until the Shita-Isu, Eodum-Tang and Taiyang-Je people aligned with one another due to several key marriages that led to the unification of the royal lines of each people, that the island finally knew true peace. It was in this peace and solace that they formed a vibrant and strong culture that was a unification of their people and ideas, making something truly strong from the sum of its parts.
The Shita Eodum-Taiyang people as they refer to themselves, or Crescent Islanders to the mainlanders, have many festivals throughout the year, filled with laughter, love and vibrancy that cements them as a place for tourism across the continents. Their cherry blossom festivals and new year celebrations some of the most prolific and renowned. They favor natural beauty in their environments whenever possible as they give importance to the land and all that it gives, meaning that their cities and villages try their best to be conservationists whenever possible, an expectation that passes on to those that step foot upon their land.
They are ruled by the Shogun and the Imperial Family as well as a collection of Administers and Daimyo's that maintain control over the cities and villages that dot the crescent isles as they are today. Their relatively feudal lord based system is simple to follow and begins with Lords, Samurai, and Officials, and then elevates to Daimyo, Administers and Gukgong, The Shogun themselves, and then the Imperial Family and its myriad of Prince and Princesses some of which hold titles below their tier of influence as well. It is through this heavily regimented system that the castes can function as their people work within three social classes as well, Sustainers (Farmers/Fisherman/Hunters), Merchants, and Craftsmen, with a fourth semi-social class being occupied by the soldiers that make up the various nobles armies and the guards of cities and villages who come from all backgrounds.
The Shita Eodum-Taiyang wear silks, and fine linens in a myriad of styles that bear accents based on their background and current social statuses. Jewelry of Jade and resin incased cinnabar are common. Their food is unique to them and known the world over for its unique flavors and appearances, being based upon rice, seafood, and noodles made of buckwheat or rice flour. Many beef, pork, and chicken dishes are consumed within the interior of the isles, and a peculiar dish by the name of Sushi or Sashimi which often incorporated raw fish is also consumed within the Crescent isles. Their biggest exports are Rice, Sake, Soju and Finely crafted weapons made with the vast iron deposits found within the Isles. The Nekizoku Dominant Religion: Solaria Preferred Colors: Blacks; golds; pinks; oranges; warm colors with a strong emphasis on colors of the rising sun and dawn Main Art Focus: Silk Tapestries, Alcohol Brewing, Landscaping, Weapon Crafting Way of Recording Events: Visual, as told through tapestries
General Appearance: Middling height, anywhere between three to four feet. Their fur is generally white or beige with dark black markings and long whiskers. Tails come in a variety of lengths, which are usually tucked within a belt or wrapped around a waist when in combat so as to not provide any points of weakness. Those with long pelts generally tie back their facial fur with beads and cords.
Primary Weapons: Katana, which are earned through hard work and discipline after years of training. They carry around wooden training blades which serve as polearms in the meantime. The Nekizoku are a group of Catfolk that live on a relatively isolated island off of the mainland of the Crescent Isles. Despite their diminutive and often adorable appearances, the Nekizoku are hardworking folk. They primarily worship Solaria, though they do not know him as such - most recorded history depicts him as Sutaiyosama, a giant catfolk spirit who awakes in the earliest hours of dawn and sets out every morning to dutifully push the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset, which provides warmth and guidance every day as it rises over the hills. No matter what trials and tribulations the Nekizoku might face throughout the day, they keep moving forward, believing that so long as Sutaiyosama wakes to move the sun once more, everything will be okay. As such, they carry on each day with earnestness and a fresh perspective, leaving the troubles of the last evening behind in the dusk.
The Nekizoku consider themselves artisans. Silk weavers and seamstresses, farmers who grow and ferment beans and rice, and smiths who forge ceremonial weapons. The tending to the land itself is considered an art, a tradition whose origins are seeped into the earliest days of the people’s history; where priests and shamans believed that Sutaiyosama would continue to earn and grand them his warmth if they made the land beautiful and enjoyable for him to look down at. Most Nekizoku cultivate their gardens and backyards with careful placement of stones, plants, and lakes, while the insides of their homes are traditionally kept modest save their tools and their craft.
Life for the Nekizoku tends to follow a strict schedule. They rise with the dawn, and work until it reaches the highest point in the sky, and nap the afternoon away while basking in its warmth. Their evenings are spent sharing stories and dancing, enjoying the fruits of their labor until it is time for the next day to begin anew. They enjoy a simple life, a peaceful one.
But it was not always this way.
The beginnings of the Nekizoku as we know it were actually quite bloody and violent. The start of their culture is generally attributed to one person - a woman whose name has been lost to time, but whose fur-markings in visual recordings have earned her the nickname ‘The Tigress’. The Tigress was once a bride to the magistrate of the clan that existed before the Nekizoku. She hailed from a family of dressmakers who were quite well off, and it was said that her long elegant fur and unusual markings interested the Magistrate. Though she lived a comfortable life at the top of the hill, the Magistrate was a cruel man who abused the law and often administered harsh punishments. The Tigress tried to reason with her husband, but he insulted her, claiming that she would never understand the hard choices he had to make. He insinuated that if she was going to be this ungrateful then he would leave her on the curb.
The Tigress was not a warrior, but even she knew that something needed to be done about her husband. So under the guise of working with her family, The Tigress trained with the blade, practicing combat and discipline in preparation of the day she might one day need to confront the Magistrate for his misdeeds. The day finally came when the Magistrate attempted to declare a death sentence against an innocent grain thief, and the Tigress challenged his rule.
A violent civil war ensued, with those that supported the Tigress against the Magistrate’s own forces. The Tigress’s honor and natural charisma rallied families who supported her cause, and set forth a war that lasted for nearly five years. During this time, most of the civilization’s riches and structures were razed, destroyed by the Magistrate’s dirty tactics. In the end, The Tigress suppressed the Magistrate’s army, and began rebuilding the Nekizoku clan as it exists today. It is because of the Tigress’s accomplishments to give them a peaceful life without fear and iron rule that striped markings are considered lucky amongst the Nekizoku.
The Nekizoku are not peaceful because they are naive to the horrors of battle. They are peaceful because they choose to be, and live in contentment knowing that they train with the blade in the hopes that they may never have to use it. The Nekizoku view swordsmanship like a craft, an art to be carefully perfected and honed and practiced until it is perfect. They train their young on forms with wooden swords until the student has proven themselves through a spar with their master. Once they are declared a real warrior, they may go through the process of obtaining their first sword, in which they find an artisan in the village to craft a personalized weapon. This long process is meant to give the student an appreciation for the time and effort that goes into crafting while ensuring they bond with their weapon, forging a relationship between warrior and artisan and blade for life.
The more accomplished and experienced a Nekizoku is in battle, the more blades they carry on their person. As Nekizoku are slow to draw their blades, seeing warriors with several swords hanging from their belt is the sign that they are not to be messed with.
Despite their bloody origins, the Nekizoku are a friendly people - they keep mostly to themselves on their island, though they welcome travelers with open arms and shower them with gifts and stories and drink and food. They do not attack unless attacked first. They have a strong sense of honor and hard work instilled in the core of their values. They work hard, play hard, and live life to the fullest. And if you are kind to them, they will share that kindness with you.
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Post by Admin: Otto on Sept 23, 2023 18:17:19 GMT -5
Flora and FaunaNisshoku BlossomLocation: Found in the Crescent Isles, specifically alongside the lake of a forsaken village in the Bamboo Forest A flower that grows by one specific lake, specifically in damp soil-- the blossom is dark in color, a deep purple almost as dark as the night, with clusters of very thin, fragile petals all curling inward. Light hardly seems to reflect off of them. The blooms face directly upward, and the stems and leaves are very thin and wiry. The whole flower looks fragile and ominous. Oh, these flowers certainly have a property, alright, but I'd argue they aren't medicinal in any sense. The whole thing is a beacon of toxicity; touching it with bare skin will cause severe inflammation and abrasions, whether internal or external. When consumed in any sense, they... seem to cause a hallucinogenic effect, and heighten awareness to another realm. I don't recommend going anywhere near these. Toxicity: Extremely -- even touching it will cause inflammation and abrasions on the skin, no matter where it touches. Consumption can cause severe hallucinations. Please, for the love of Solaria, do not eat these. (You know who you are.) **NOTE: the flower is completely harmless to non-celestials**Additional Notes: They definitely have a quaint mystical quality to them, having sprouted in the wake of severe bloodshed, but they most certainly are best left alone, both for safety reasons and out of respect to the fallen. I take these notes solely to document them. StarberriesLocation: Found in the Crescent Isles, growing in carefully-hidden pockets on the far reaches of Starlight City
Starberries are a beautiful fruit-- small, semi-spherical berries with a five-pointed bloom at the top. They're ever-shifting in color, a vivid sphere of blues, purples, and pinks, with tiny white dots that seem to mimic stars. They really do look like little pieces of space that have fallen down to earth, honestly...
The effects of Starberries are physical-enhancing in nature, and depend on how many you consume-- just a few will improve your energy levels, more than that may aid in stamina or endurance, and great amounts will even see a drastic change in things like speed or even the height of one's jumping capabilities. I'm betting they'd be useful for helping individuals who struggle with chronic fatigue, or with exhaustion... but I'd probably get thrown into an ethics argument over the potential of these being used illegally in performance-enhancers down the line, wouldn't I? Ugh.
Toxicity: Mild...? It's difficult to assess: they're not something anyone should eat in excess, as they seem to exist as an enhancer above all, and the effects of eating too many may burn out one's physical systems, which is obviously a terrible, terrible idea. Still, I don't think they're too dangerous.
Additional Notes: These also have a quaint bit of folklore; some say they're pieces of the night sky that simply couldn't hold themselves up anymore, some say Ziev himself tore some of the stars from the sky by accident and cast them down. Obviously that last bit is total bullshit. Ziev doesn't interfere with the fleeting lives of mortals.
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Post by Admin: Otto on Sept 23, 2023 18:17:23 GMT -5
Military FactionsThe Starlight CouncilContrary to other areas of Charon where the nobility decide matters of importance for all through inherited title or other forms of nepotism, the Crescent Isles have elected officials that assist Princess Leylani with her decision making. They are chosen representatives of the islands that make up the Isles, and are elected through a nomination process. The individual with the most nominations is elected to serve on the Starlight Council on behalf of the area they were elected in, bringing their interests before the Princess and having their input provided. These electors are often pillars of the community, those who have completed a great feat in service to the people, or a respected elder. These elections happen on a yearly basis, with representatives for certain areas changing annually, while others have nominated the same person over the course of several generations. They are given titles and roles according to their specializations and abilities, in order to offer a broad swath of information to the decision making process of the Court. Teishin ShudanThe formation of the Teishin Shudan was in response to the need to project force across the many islands that make up the Crescent Isles. The main threats that they respond to are the various inter-clan conflicts and bandit raids that permeate the daily life of the waters within and around the Crescent Isles. With this focus on amphibious and naval warfare, the Teishin Shudan have developed a multitude of rapid reaction forces across the isles, these are primarily made up of localized militia and have no defined equipment outside of the necessary amount of boats required to carry the force that is present nearest to the conflict.
In fact, the core of the Teishin Shudan isn’t a military force, but a series of spies, messengers, and scouts that are capable of such thorough reconnaissance and information gathering that the Teishin Shudan often are already at a potential site of conflict before even the other involved parties show up. It is often rumored that their spy networks reach all the way to Thorock, a hotbed of piracy, in Dragon’s Cradle.
The organized military force under the direct command of Yokai Monokailiki numbers around 2,000 soldiers of various specialists across the clans of the Crescent Isles and a fleet of 200 longships capable of bringing to bear the entirety of these specialists to any flashpoint across the isles and the southern coastline of Charon. These specialists are masters of their specific weaponry that have learned from millennia of teachings from their respective clans, making them as individuals the very best at their skill sets.
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Post by Admin: Otto on Sept 23, 2023 18:17:28 GMT -5
Criminal FactionsOniwanban
Deep within the oral histories of the Crescent Isles, there are tales of falling stars bringing life to the island chain. It was said that upon landing, these falling stars cracked open giving birth to fallen Tianshi or angels. Others coined the term Oni or demon. Of course, these monikers reside in the past and only describe a story of why certain Fellblood reside within the Crescent Isles, but that past was filled with hate and those monikers spat with venom.
As a survival response to this hate and violence-filled past, the Fellblood in these ancient times developed methods of keeping each other safe. Coded language revolving around hand signs, writings, and phrases, certain ways of dressing, and becoming heavily involved in the four major sectors of life in the Crescent Isles all led to the founding of the Oniwanban during the Rune Wars.
At the founding of the Oniwanban, four chiefs were selected to represent the four cardinal directions and the four major sectors of Crescent Isles society. Their identities were secret, the selection process even more so. The safeguarding of these clans of Fellblood was its paramount objective while the protection of Starlight City and the Crescent Isles was a secondary outcome of their efforts.
It wasn’t till the bloody aftermath of a siege of Starlight City that the fearsome reputation of the Oniwanban started to become more popularized across the Crescent Isles, the term Oni changing from being spoken in disgust to one of awe. With time passing and society steadily making progress in its attitudes and thinking, the Oniwanban have managed to integrate themselves into the fabric of society as camouflage so thoroughly that they have returned to being just rumors on the wind.
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Post by Admin: Otto on Sept 23, 2023 18:17:33 GMT -5
Important NPCs
Meloku Leylani, Princess of Starlight City Crescent Isles, Human, Female Appearance |
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Description | Personality | While the Crescent Isles currently reside under Moonglade, the island chain itself is ruled by the Leylani family. Motorio Leylani has passed leadership of the island over to his daughter as he has no longer been able to lead. Meloku settled into the role just fine, leading her people and looking out for their best interest. Recently rumors have come out that the head family desires to split from Moonglade and become their own region, however this has not been confirmed by the royal family. | Meloku is beloved by her people and considered to be a step in the right direction for the islands future. She is kind, loving and gentle. However, some view her as naive and unable to do what needs to be done, leaning on her family name instead of her own merits. |
Yokai Monokaiki Crescent Isles, Oni, Agender
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Description | Personality | Leader of the Teishin Shudan, Monokailiki (a name that is more of a title than identifier, meaning 'One Who Nourishes the Eyes of Gods [in reference to stars]') is an old inhabitant of the land. He has been leader of the Teishin Shudan, the primary defense force in the Crescent Isles themselves, for hundreds of years, recruited by the last ruler of Starlight City. He stands over 9 feet tall and has been known, on occasion, to devour enemies, though he has been asked to cut back on this for the sake of optics.
| Monokailiki speaks with an old cadence, refering to himself as 'This One' as opposed to "I" or "Me" and uses words that many senior elves would consider archaic, even by their standards. While intimidating, Monokailiki is also known for his gentle side and is a well known calligrapher. He is known as a ruthless warrior, an unbowed leader... and a very good listener, especially to those under the banner of his leadership. His wise council has been admired for centuries.
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Shou Huoziang Crescent Isles, Half-Goliath, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Huoziang, family name Shou, is the founder of the three main styles of martial arts of the Crescent Isles: Aita-Shou, Tojita-Shou, Yuruita-Shou. The Shou family were original inhabitants of the Crescent Isles, and Huoziang the second eldest son. Though the reason is lost to time, he left home to wander the Crescent Isles in a journey of self-discovery, that made the Shou arts what they are today.
| Much of who Huoziang was has become the stuff of legend. Stories say that he was an affable man who was creative and easily bored. He travelled each island in the Crescent Isles, and knew how to navigate each, without a map. He was known to be frank and a little mischevious, traits that he tended to look for in potential students.
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Niú Mówáng Crescent Isles, Minotaur, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Current grandmaster of Yuruita-Shou. His dojo is located in Starlight City, but he himself is rarely there. He was adopted by the Shou family as a youth after getting into an impromptu street fight with a family member of roughly the same age. He has been spotted within the Bamboo Forest, and making frequent journeys between the Isles and the mainland, travelling as far up the coast as the Marsh Flats, ostensibly to find potential students for his school and to continue the never ending journey of self discovery.
| Niú has a personality that is not unlike the flow of water; constant, refreshing, and can shift without warning from gentle brook to unrelenting rapids. He is a firm but forgiving instructor, allowing for mistakes to become important lessons, though he is not especially known for holding back. Niú is a laidback man who is full of mirth, though his dry, softspoken delivery tends to confuse people who are not used to his candor.
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Kōnane Kaʻuhane, Minister of Medicine
Crescent Isles, Human, Female
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Description | Personality | Kōnane is one of the newly elected to the Starlight Council, and the youngest to be given the honor to represent her area in the past fifty years. When the majority of those on her island, Keone’ō’io, fell ill, including the only physician within several leagues, she took it upon herself to tend to the sick. An herbalist and apprentice physician herself, she used what she had learned during her study and from her mentor's books to create a medicine that helped to cure the sick. It is from her quick thinking that saved many lives, and for this, she was nominated to the Council.
| Kōnane is determined and driven, a proud young woman with a desire to help that runs as deep as the ocean itself. She is fiercely loyal to the island of Keone’ō’io, and does not suffer any talk from those in more developed areas that would disparage her rural community. She is a gifted herbalist, having created a book of medicinal herbs and roots unique to Keone’ō’io. She hopes to one day be the chief of her village.
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Rizalino Abalahin, Minister of Justice
Crescent Isles, Half-Orc, Male
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Description | Personality | Rizalino was born on the Crescent Isles on the island of Matalahambre. The son of immigrants, his parents had fled the Marsh Flats, accused of a brutal crime they did not commit with no way to fight the punishment. Growing up as the child of fugitives had a profound effect on how he viewed the world and developed a deep interest in law. When the Golden Army found his parents at last, he acted as their legal representative and successfully defended them to the High Court. He has served a handful of times on the Council as a result of his dedication to justice and truth.
| Rizalino is a witty, down-to-earth half-orc with a deep fascination with people. He is a loving husband and a devoted father; He has six children between the ages of 20 and 4, with another on the way. He carries himself with pride, knowing that the community he represents has confidence in him and his abilities to see to their best interests. He is considered wise council and happily takes on pro-bono cases for those who are unable to pay for the services of a lawyer.
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Ka’aukai, Minister of Coasts
Crescent Isles, Taniwa, Agender
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Description | Personality | Known as a 'taniwa', or water spirit, Ka’aukai was nominated unanimously from unrepresented peoples all over the coast, especially in the more remote areas. They have been on the council for nearly a century. Reasons for their nomination include the ridding of pirates and poachers, cleaning up polluted areas, the preservation of animal life, and attending those who have been lost to shipwreck. Ka’aukai is considered a guardian, and holds much respect across the Crescent Isles.
| Ka’aukai does not speak and does not enjoy interacting with others, but they do attend their duties as an elected representative with diligence and thoughtfulness. Unfortunately, they are not without their enemies; those who do not care for the environment and see Ka’aukai as a roadblock to progress have made numerous attempts on their life over the years. None have come close to succeeding.
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Kang Guoqiang, Minister of Arts
Crescent Isles, Half-Elf, Male
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Description | Personality | Guoqiang is a master painter from Hongli, considered to be one of the greats of our time. He has painted murals for the High King in Sol City, the Sultan in Zeinav, and overseen the building of many temples and palaces. However, it is his candor that secured his nomination to the council. Known for being blunt to a fault, his constituents enjoy that Guoqiang is entirely unafraid of informing someone the are out of line. A reason he will not be invited back to Sol City any time soon.
| A true artist, Guoqiang seeks nothing short of perfection. He is known to be extremely passionate about art and the works of others, and is often moved to tears by the works of others. He is talented not only as a painter, but as a musician, poet, and playwright. To have him attend your gallery or view your play is considered a mark of high regard. His favorite artists are his eighteen grandchildren.
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Matsushita Kazane, Minister of the Tempest
Crescent Isles, Astralblood, Female
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Description | Personality | Kazane calls one island home, but considers herself a nomad. Given to a Temple of Avasha in the high mountains of Maiagarutake as a foundling, they became a studious monk, dedicated to serving the goddess of the air. With the more recent news that the gods are long deceased, she suffered a crisis of faith. Thinking her whole life's work a failure, she left the temple and sought out new purpose. It was during the tsunami's that plagued the Isles the past few months that Kazane's magic and selfless-bravery saved countless lives. And so, she found her faith again; within herself.
| A powerful sorcerer, Kazane is a force to be reckoned with. Considered a sorcerer of the storms, she was bestowed the title of Tempest, a term to refer to emergency response situations should the tsunami's and quakes cause havoc again. She is light hearted, compassionate, and deeply generous. Her hard work and belief in her abilities has led to her taking on disciples of her own, to continue the work of rescue and the consultation of storms.
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Han Crescent Isles, Fellblood, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | One of the four chiefs of the Oniwanban, Han represents the trade unions on the Crescent Isles. Like all Oniwanban, Han's identity is unknown within the organization, only appearing with his mask and as his pseudonym when in the presence of his peers. He has internal knowledge of the inner workings of Moonglade and the Crescent Isles' trade routes and shipping capabilities, working directly under the chief of customs, Saveriel Yalathanil-Wang. As a result, his ability to gather intel on the movements of the crown, and other resources, makes Han an indispensable part of the Oniwanban
| As a man who wears many faces, Han appears to those who know him as a light-hearted man who is as quick with a joke as he is with a formal apology. He seems to have an answer-- or a question-- for everything, naturally curious about any and everything that crosses his path. In his life where he works alongside the Chief of Customs in Moonglade, much is not known, as whoever he appears to be playing as within society is as well hidden and discreet as the Oniwanban themselves.
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Zhou Crescent Isles, Fellblood, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Zhou is the Chief of Religion within the Oniwanban, dedicated to keeping alive the ancient traditions of ancestor worship from before the Rune Wars. Having inherited the role of Shrine-keeper from the many ancestors within his lineage, Zhou's role is the most sacred within the Oniwanban's culture; tasked with bringing the memory of the Lost back into the realm of common knowledge. A preeminent scholar and a troublemaker-- for who is more troublesome than an individual speaking the truth to those who refuse to hear it-- Zhou is a skilled ritualist with many acolytes at the ready to move as the Oniwanban requires.
| Zhou is a brash and outspoken man, who has many strong words for those who would turn their nose up at the traditions of Crescent Isle elderblood. Keeping the practice of honoring one's ancestors alive and well from a young age. Fascinated with concepts such as destiny and how history tends to repeat itself, he is of the mind that his tireless work as a scholar and advocate for the forgotten of society has led to the dawn of this new age for the Crescent Isles.
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Li Crescent Isles, Fellblood, Female Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Li represents the Military operations within the Oniwanban. As the youngest of the four Chieftains, her strategic and martial prowess set her above her peers and caused her to be handpicked for her role. She keeps her horns filed down and her tail bound to pass as a human within the more customary realms of Crescent Isle society, where she learned the ways of the Teishin Shudan under the direct tutelage of a general. There is no warrior among the Oniwanban who shares her equal, as she is proficient in all forms of weaponry, preferring the Hyeopdo and the long bow.
| Li is a young woman who leads from the front. Her status as Chieftain was a fraught process of selection to which she surpassed the expectations of her elders and the skills of her peers. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, she considers the lives and well-being of those under her command. Her small stature belies her strength, as she is profoundly courageous, sharp of wit, and tempered with a wisdom far beyond her years. Li has an excellent knack for timing that has led the Oniwanban to the precipice of history, where we all currently stand.
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Fu Crescent Isles, Fellblood, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Fu is one of the four Chiefs of the Oniwanban, and heads the Agricultural section, which is perhaps the most important of them all. Dedicated to the land itself from which all life stems, Fu is intimately familiar with the lives and habits of the many farmers, gardeners, fishers and cattle-owners in the Isles, knowing many families by name. He secures a place for the common people in the midst of the the Oniwanban's goals; without their support, without their resources, their cause would be but a guttering flame in a large pit. With them, it is a bonfire that lights the signal for what is to come.
| Affable and respectful, Fu is a Fellblood of large stature who maintains his history as a farmer and peasant. His role as Chief was given to him not only by virtue of his trade as a mason building grind stones for windmills, but because of his rapport and encouragement throughout the rural communities of the Crescent Isles. He wants nothing more than to see how the Crescent Isles could grow into its best future, one he knows will benefit all of the Isles who remain repressed under the rule of the Crown.
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Aoi Crescent Isles, Half-Moon Elf, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Assistant to Chief Fu, Aoi is a bard by trade, taking on the role of retainer while the pair travel the Crescent Isles and recording all that he sees, an important piece of memory. He is one of the gifted, able to conjure images through song much the way an artist would be able to paint the likeness of a loved one's face when they pass. This makes him an invaluable means of reconnaissance and connecting with the people.
| A lively young man with a somber edge to his music, Aoi was dedicated to the Oniwaban's cause from a young age. When his family's millstone was fixed by Fu some years ago, saving them from financial ruin and starvation, Aoi offered to become his vassal, and the two have been inseparable ever since. While his path to the Oniwaban has been round-about, he is no less dedicated to the cause.
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Ko Crescent Isles, Fellblood, Male Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Assistant to Li, Ko is of a warrior's blood, much akin to the ronin of old who seek fights under any and every circumstance. Though he was passed over for the role of Chief in favor of her, he sees Li as a prodigy, someone truly special-- and someone he would very much like to surpass. Ko recognizes he has much to learn from the young Li, and offers his years of experience to make up for her lack in that area. In exchange, he learns the valuable and unique perspective of the world, a vision that he feels will make him a better leader in the future. | Ko is not much one for words; he would prefer to act. All that tempers his need for war is the steady and unwavering hand of Chief Li, whom he respects greatly, despite being more than a decade his junior. He is quick to anger but has an eye for improvisation and strategy. He takes his role as Chief Li's assistant very seriously and has sworn to guard her with his life. It is said that when he looks upon her, Ko is reminded of his own daughter whom he lost long ago.
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Mi Crescent Isles, Human, Female Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Assistant to Zhou, Mi is a zealous individual, a Drake Hussar, and determined to bring the truth to light. Though she has no blood-related ancestors within the Oniwaban to speak of, she was adopted as an orphan and was given to the service of the temple once she was old enough to sweep the stone steps and learn her numbers. She has accepted the faith as her own; as a child who was abandoned, it is second nature to be one of those dedicated to remembering the forgotten. She will do whatever it takes to see this vision come to pass-- for better or worse. | Mi could best be described as hungry. For knowledge, for power, for truth. She shares Zhou's vision of seeing the Forgotten remembered once more, and is furious in the face of any denial of this, whether it be malicious or ignorant in nature. Where Zhou is advocating for societies lost at the front line, Mi skirts around the back, digging up the truth to throw in the face of those who would denounce and deny the Oniwaban and their supporters.
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Oki Crescent Isles, Human, Female Appearance |
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Description | Personality | Assistant to Han, Oki is an Arcanatek Researcher, even if her work is understated and tends to go well below the radar (though this is by design). She helps to keep Chief Han's files, schedule, and meetings in order, a skill for which he values her above all others. Her skills lie in the creation of life-like wooden golems that she and Han utilize to gather resources and information while maintaining their outward appearance. She was placed into the orbit of the Oniwaban by none other than Nana Withers, a patron of those who loathe the crown, and Oki's mentor during her youth. | Oki speaks very formally, using an almost archaic structure to her sentences that others find almost too much-- the equivalent of referring to someone as 'thou' rather than 'you'. Regardless of her formality, she is known to have an exceptionally dry wit, and rare is the person who takes issue with her personally, least of all Chief Han. While there is affection between herself and the Chief she assists, the extent is not known, but there is no doubt as to how dedicated they are to one another and the cause.
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Grand Chancellor, Atsawin Lao
Human, Starlight City, Crescent Isles
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Atsawin Lao holds the illustrious role of the head advisor to the royal court of Starlight City and serves as a personal guard to the Princess herself. While apprenticing to become a merchant, his mother and elder brother fell ill and required constant and expensive medicaltreatment to help them heal. Reluctantly, he abandoned his studies and enlisted in the military at a young age in order to ensure his family could be cared for, going so far as to lie about his age. During his service, he distinguished himself by using his background to discover a trap intended for members of the Royal Family. For this, he was awarded a boon by Princess Leylani, and when she heard his request to simply help his sick family, she did so without question. The two became fast friends and corresponded regularly throughout the duration of his service. During this time, as Atsawin advanced in his career, he became known as a master strategist, his insight and judgment proved accurate and helpful time and again. After sustaining an injury while stopping an internal coup, he was discharged. Instead of a medal to decorate his service, this time, Atsawin was invited to join the court as a Grand Chancellor, at the personal request of Princess Leylani. Though this was not the path he had intended to take, he would not trade his current situation for anything in the world. Straight-forward and blunt, Atsawin's military service has made him a dignified and capable commander who expects nothing short of exemplary service and honesty from those he interacts with and employs. He is fiercely loyal to the Princess and takes any threat against her seriously, no matter how minor. While not often seen unless he is to contact you directly, his presence is felt, for it is often whispered that Atsawin Lao is the Shadow of Princess Leylani, the distance that keeps the Starlight Monarch just out of reach of those who would try to steal her light. It is said Atsawin is a warrior without peer, trained in the ways of the blade by Yokai Monokailiki theirself in order to best protect the Princess. He follows the Warrior's Code to the letter, ensuring that he practices precisely what he expects from others. Frivolity and deceit are features that will not inspire trust within Atsawin, but if you do what it is that you promise, you will earn his respect. He values discretion, humility, compassion, and above all, diligence.
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