Mandate of Heaven
Heaven establishes kings not on behalf of rulers but on behalf of the people; "Therefore if his virtue is sufficient to bring security and happiness to the people, Heaven bestows [the Mandate] on him; if his evil is sufficient to injure and harm the people, Heaven withdraws [the Mandate] from him." — Zhongshu Dong
For years the country has been ravished by plague and disease. The people suffer starvation. Famine threatens their livelihood and poor harvest upon poor harvest robs them of any hope for the future. While the people suffer, the government is mired in corruption. From inside the palace the eunuchs whisper into the ear of the greedy emperor to enrich themselves and grasp more and more power into their greedy fingers. On the outside the gentry watches jealously and ruthlessly exploits the people for their own benefit, largely thanks to the lack of imperial oversight. In the end the people suffer at the hands of both of them.
Amidst such chaos, a ray of hope appears in the form of Zhang Jue, the founder of the Way of Peace. With talismans and the promise that confessions of guilt help he went under the masses to heal the sick, cure the wounded and spread his faith. His message was a powerful one and his followers grew to number thousands. But seeing the numbers of his followers grow and even prominent nobles coming to him, Zhang Jue grew ambitious. Not content with just spreading his faith he planned to ignite the fires of rebellion in the heart of his followers. Armed divisions were created and preparations made. After years of planning, preparing and plotting, he considered himself ready to act. So he spoke:
"The azure sky is dead and a Yellow Heaven will take its place.
When the year is jiazi great fortune will come to the world."
Jiazi, this word became a ray of hope for the people. A way for salvation and the followers of the Way of Peace prepared accordingly. In their frevent belief for a better tomorrow they started writing the word jiazi with chalk on walls. In Luoyang, Ye and many other cities throughout the empire walls are littered with these white chalk marks. Their omnious meaning only clear to the initiated.
Ignoring these marks and signs of unrest, the Imperial Court continues its malpractices and follows the path of corruption. Early warnings by Yang Ci and others are disregarded. Such shortsightness rarely leads to a good end. Closing the eyes before a coming catastrophe and putting the head in the sand has never solved a problem. In this case, fate or heaven was still on the side of the Han Empire. A righteous subject saves them in the end.
Tang Zhou, a follower of Zhang Jue, writes a letter to the court and reveals the nefarious plot of his master. This letter reaches the hands of He Jin, brother of Empress He, and his swift actions reveal the truth. Ma Yuanyi, a major organizer of the uprising and recruiter for Luoyang is captured and executed. A purge follows, claiming the lives of most supporters or adherents of the Way of the Peace in the capital. Thousands are put to the sword. With such a threat coming to light, a call is send out.
All men of talent, the heroes of the land, the dutiful officials and sons of valiant soldiers are called forth to help the Empire. To come to Luoyang, to gather behind the Banner of Han, to fight for all that is right and protect the Holder of the Mandate of Heaven.
You are one such hero. A man of talent. Born to a long line of officials. For generations your family served the Han and prospered. It will be your solemn duty to repay such favor and defend the Imperial Throne from its enemies. For a time, at least.
With the Mandate of Heaven in question, will you strife to restore it to its former glory or try to claim it for yourself to establish peace and order? In this era of strife and disorder, a champion was bound to appear. Will it be you? Or will you end up being a side-note in the tale of another?
Your father is Long Weimin, currently prefect of a county in one of endangered commanderies and your family is with him. As a young man he was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt, passed the muster and served faithfully in minor positions. Known as a charismatic and well-liked figure he earned his rank as prefect through merit. During his tenure as a prefect his served faithfully, recommending the able, punishing the wicked and helping the poor.
While your new home is a nice place, you still yearn for your Clan's ancestral home, where your ancestors are laid to rest and the remaining Clan lives. Your birthplace and where you played with your cousins years ago.
Choose the place of your Clan Estate:
As you chose your birthplace and where your clan has his estates, it is important to remember that you will not get an official station in the chosen province. The same goes for your father! Therefore, choosing the respective province automatically looks you out of getting any high rank there as long as the Imperial Administration functions.
-[X] Donghai Commandery: Situated in Xu Province your family has their estate close to the town of Qu in Qu county. Over time your family has taken many different merchant clans under their wing. Through the patronage given by your clan these itinerant merchants could grow rich through the trade with pearls and the South. Your clan could partake in this wealth through their deep bonds to the merchants. A local ally is the powerful Mi Clan, which is also the Clan of some of your childhood friends Mi Fang and Mi Zhu.
- Richest Origin: Clan has the most accumulated wealth and direct income.
- Historical Characters: Connection to the historical characters Mi Fang, Mi Zhu and Mi Shi.
- Connections to Merchant Clans: They are involved in the Trade with the South and provide a decent source of income aside from land or the Han.
-[X] Nanyang Commandery: Situated in the Jing Province your family has their estate in Xinye county close to the town that gave the county its name. Nanyang is blessed with people and fertile lands. Your family has etched out their own little paradise. Great stretches of land and many tenant farmers, wage-labourers and some slaves work your clans vast fields. These lands have made your clan the dominant force in the county and most of the local posts are filled with clan members or close allies.
- Biggest Landholder Origin: Clan has the most land and the most people under their control.
- Deeply entrenchend: Clan has most local posts filled with allies or family members.
- Biggest armed force: Through their extensive holdings they can call upon the most people to protect themselves.
-[X] Lujiang Commandery: Situated in Yang Province your family has their estate in Shu County near their close allies the Zhou Clan. Together these two clans are one of the commanding presences in the commandery. Alone already considered a considerable force in the region together they cannot be ignored in their home. Your father has become an especially close friend of Zhou Yi and his son has come to see yourself as some kind of older brother.
- Political Power Origin: Clan is one of the dominant forces in the commandery instead of just the county.
- Powerful Alliance: The Zhou Clan is known as a Clan of Ministers with two of their members having served as Grand Commandant, one of the three excellencies.
- Historical Characters: Deep connection to the Zhou Clan and with it to Zhou Yi and his son Zhou Yu.
-[X] Runan Commandery: Situated in Yu Province your family has their estate in Xiyang county close to the namegiving town. The position of the Yuan Clan in this commandery is domineering and other Clans either rise or fall through them. Your ancestors have proven themselves able and have joined the long list of clients of this mighty clan. Your father was during his time at the capital among the many companions of the leading characters of the younger members of the Yuan Clan.
At this time the Clan, your family, is the basis of power for any hero. In your case there was not just your father. There is also your mother. The marriage between your father and mother was arranged as is the norm for this time. Still, there is genuine affection and even love between your parents.
Choose the fate of your mother:
-[X] Mother is alive: Your mother is Long Baiye. She is the official wife of Long Weimin. Their marriage is a loving one, and even though him taking a concubine has soured their relation somewhat, she is the pillar supporting the family. Keeping you and your siblings out of harms way and helping each of you coming into your own has been her life-long dream.
-[X] Mother is dead: Some time ago tragedy has struck your family. Your mother, the lovely Long Baiye perished. Her loss left a hole in your life as well as in the life of your siblings. Your father was consoled by his concubine and she even tried to step into the former role of your mother. But something about your mother's death was suspicious...
But your mother was not the only woman your father had around him. He also has a concubine. Formerly of the noble Yan Clan, which has been in decline for decades, Yan Ying has given your father a son and a daughter. An older half-brother and younger half-sister, their relationship with your side of the family is complicated.
Except for your two half siblings you also had some full-blooded siblings.
Choose the number of siblings:
-[X] Two Siblings: You were not the only talented child of your parents. Your other siblings, while not quite as gifted as you are, can still be considered blessed with talents beyond the norm. (Choose two options from the archtype list)
-[X] Four Siblings: While three of your siblings are following in your footsteps, one among them is a true troublemaker. The black sheep of the family, a headache at the moment he could become a real problem for the future. (Choose three options from the archetype list and one from the Troublemaker)
Choose the archtype of your siblings(Choice dependent on earlier one (2 or 3)):
-[X] Elder Sister: Renowned as a local beauty, your older sister is known for her charm and beauty.
-[X] Elder Sister: Studious, learned and obedient, your older sister is the ideal wife to be.
-[X] Elder Sister: Bold and ferocious, your older sister pursued a path seen unfit for a woman. She wanted to be a warrior.
-[X] Elder Sister: Mischevious and studious, your older sister enjoyed studying the classics but often used such knowledge for her troublesome schemes.
-[X] Younger Sister: Your younger sister is turning into a true beauty and her charm has already produced a small list of suitors.
-[X] Younger Sister: Your younger sister is born a little more on the shy side and has sought refuge in books and ancient journals.
-[X] Younger Sister: Your younger sister has joined you on more hunts than you can count and has pestered everyone for lessons in archery or with the dao.
-[X] Younger Sister: Your younger sister is known as a mischevious little troublemaker, but quick-witted enough to never be blamed for her deeds. It was always 'someone else'.
-[X] Younger Brother: Your younger brother has trained relentlessly with the bow, sword and the horse. He is boisterously claiming to become unrivaled under the heaven in battle.
-[X] Younger Brother: Your younger brother has a deep love for the scholarly arts and has learned to recite the classics by heart.
-[X] Younger Brother: Your younger brother grew up with tales of mighty generals and since then has tried to emulate these tales with an extensive study of the art of war.
-[X] Younger Brother: Your younger brother takes deep pride in your lineage of officials serving the Han and has dedicated his youth to trying to emulate his ancestors in the future.
Choose the Troublemaker: The black sheep of the family. Someone you would like to claim no relation to, but cannot deny their close familial bond to you. (Ignore this category, if the plan for character creation does not include
4 siblings!!)
-[X] Greedy Gambler: Your younger brother is a well-known gambler and in his greed to accumulate riches he never knows when to stop. This is why he has lost a not insignificant amount of wealth to your family.
-[X] Arrogant Drunkard: Arrogance is only a sin, if you cannot back it up. Sadly your younger brothers fascination with drinking addles his formidable mind and this has led to more than one unfortunate event.
-[X] Lecherous Troublemaker: Even at a young age your younger brother has lusted after woman. It started with him harassing the maids at your family manor, but has since then only escalated.
-[X] Wrathful Brawler: Quick to anger and quick to fight, your younger brother has been in fights since he can walk. And most of them have been started by his own hand.
Your story is a tale worth spinning, but every story has a beginning and an end. While the final days of your tale have not been written, the start of your journey could be. Are you a hero who rose to promince with his deeds during the Yellow Turban Rebellion or an unknown youth facing his first obstacle on the path to glory?
When does this tale start?:
-[X]Start with Yellow Turban Rebellion: Your tale begins with the Yellow Turban Rebellion. In times of chaos heroes rise and with your father beset by danger the moment for you to stand up to do your part has come. All he has build up and the fate of your family may depend on your actions.
-[X]Start after Yellow Turban Rebellion: Your name first entered the annals of history with the recent rebellion. While not one of the main actors crushing the rebellion, you still accumulated merits and proved your worth. Enough to draw the attention of the court.
AN.: The Character Creation will continue and include your education, clan of your mother, possible items, character and character weakness, fate of your father, accomplishments of your father and stat allocation. Altogether it should be four to five parts. If it is not obvious,
please use plan voting.
Concerning the Yellow Turban Rebellion, if you decide to not play it out we will have it as something like a tapestry decision tree. You will be able to choose your own deeds, where you served and correspondingly some historical characters you made connections with. Lastly there will also be the option for one major butterfly and some other smaller changes.
If you want to play it out, the biggest difference is that many things will depend on dice. If your father is alive, he will depending on your character not be inclined to let you join the fight. There is no guarantee that you will make such great accomplishments as offered as certainty for the other option and there is the risk of characters dying. But for that you will likely have the chance to meet more characters and more butterflies may start influencing things.
Lastly this was obviously inspired by
@Gaz amazing work
To Establish Peace , it is deliberately set in another location so to not tread upon the same paths.
