The Land of the Red Fraction - An Arthurverse Tale
The world of the Arthurverse, that world, quite like, yet different from ours, where among many great changes in the 13th century Arthur of Britanny took the throne of England following his uncle, that world is far greater than Europe. At the far end of Eurasia, parallel to the great upheavels in Europe, almost equally great changes were occurring.
Nippon, that large group of islands off the coast of China, had come under Yuan rulership following the succesful conquest of Kublai Khan. Yet, while the Mongols no doubt put their stamp on Japan, they never managed to truly managed to take control of the country as low intensity warfare continued throughout their thirty year reign.
Finally in 1312 AD of the Catholic Calendar the Mongols were thrown out of Japan.
Yet what followed was far from the expected and disired return of orderly self rule. Instead, almost as soon as the Mongols were thrown out, Japan descended into civil war. Legally speaking there were generally five general factions:
The Imperial faction, based out of Kyoto, lead by the Emperor desiring a return to absolute monarchical rule.
The Shogunate faction based out of Kamakura, lead by the man who lead the Japanese in their battle for their freedom, who now naturally assumes that he would be handed the reins of power.
The Northern Lords, who during the Mongol conquest of the souther archipelago had become virtually independent and now desired to stay that way.
The Bastard Lords ruling the southern islands, often of mixed ancestry with the Mongols and unlike their mainland brethren familiar with the art of cavalry warfare.
And finally the Warrior Monk Orders that had sprung up as forms of organized resistance against Mongol tyranny in defense of the common people and did not see their work fulfilled when the rulers of this new land were not also free of tyranny.
Of course there was the silent sixth faction the Ainu people of Hokkaido, but the sources that survived from that troubled time pay little mind to their actions and influences, so we can only guess as how they came to shape the next decades.
Of course, these factions are a gross simplification, as the truth was that Japan was shattered into regional daimyos all vying for personal power, selling their loyalty and the drop of a hat, backstabbing and from the few sources that survive from this period even used supernatural abilities.
It was a time of great strive, yet also one of opportunity as, what few fragments of history that remain from this period telll us, chaos was an equalizer. The Blossom Wars had started.
Greetings Daimyo!
You are a samurai*, a man a leader of your family. And you happen to live at the worse or best period of your history as central authority has broken down. You have just as many troops as your neighbours and now feel like it is the time to take everything and gamble for the big picture. Though were real people would be at a disadvantage, you my friend, have it good, because you can pick and choose basically any family you wish, even a fictional one and claim for them a territory, family tree and history, you may even make slight hints towards some supernatural elements to them as long as it is kept somewhat toned down and flavour wise distinctly Japanese.
*unless you are not
The faction you may choose from are as follows:
The Imperial Faction: Your daimyo supports the Emperor or maybe even is a member of his family. If you claim the Emperor himself you have to include in your backstory that the Emperor was reduced to a puppet of the Mongols during their rule. The Daimyo Faction: Your daimyo supports the Shogun or maybe even is a member of his family. If you claim the Shogun himself you have to include in your backstory that the Shogun was the central leader of the war of Independence.
Both Imperial and Daimyo faction members should be in the general green region. They should also be small in territory, orienting themselves on the size of clan territories during the Sengoku Period. The Northern Lords: You are an independent lord of the north, who never knelt to the Mongol invaders and now you seek to hold on to that independence. You may claim a greater territory than southern lords, though with a thinner population density. The red and orange line delineate where the general southern border of such a claim should be. The Bastard Lords: Either in your paternal or maternal line you descend from the Mongols are maybe were brought up as a hostage at the Mongol dominated court. Whatever the reason, you are a traitor in the eyes of the new regime that claims overlordship over you. Yet, you have something they do not have: Cavalry. True, the charge has not been invented yet, but you can always use good old Mongol tactics, though they are less effective in Japan due to the terrain in some parts. The Grey Line shows the eastern border of cavalry worthy horses being in great enough supply. The Warrior Monks: You are an order of warrior Monks out to serve your religion, the common people and your personal political interests. You may claim several temples distributed within the purple region. The Ainu: You are the wildings of this setting. You are few, less civilized and disunited. Yet there remain so little records of your history during this time, that the only things we know of them are legends of magic. The blue line is a general southern edge of claiming an Ainu polity.
SECRET LEVEL: Become king of the pirates. Claim a crew or pirate nest within the red regions. Built your Nakama and become king of the pirates.
BASIC GROUND RULES:
1. Be excellent to each other.
2. Wait 24 hours before appealing events. Appeals posted in the OOC thread and not in PM will be automatically rejected.
3. I assume that fewer people will be familiar with Medieval Japan than for other kinds of scenarios. Indeed I myself am not quite as knowledgeable as I would like to be at least compared to Medieval Europe. Hence I will give a lot of leeway to how you portray them in a very popular history and narrative style (hell I am giving you magic), but I still ask that we stray away from racist caricatures and 300.000 Sasukes.
4. The goal of the game is to unite all of Japan south of Hokkaido under your rule. Should any player ever manage to do that to my satisfaction I shall declare that player winner of the game and transition this side story back into the main universe.
5. Should the players fail to unite Japan by 1400, the players will lose the game as a collective and Japan will have to live with the consequences, whatever they may be.
6. Unless you are the Emperor or the Shogun all military numbers will be more or less in the same punching weight with difference in size and power being more flavour dependent, if you wish to be slightly bigger or smaller than the average. Generally normal Daimyo can raise 3-5k men, while the Shogun and Emperor can raise 8k each.
7. There will be a max of three monk claims.
8. Yes, you can find the big treasure.
9. No gunpowder.
10. No great contacts with the outside world unless you are a pirate. The Yuan dynasty has put all of Japan under embargoe, so apart from the obvious smuggling that is going on the background there won't be any great outside contact.
CLAIM FORMAT:
Name of Polity
Use this as orientation when claiming territory, post an edited map of this base map.
Write a detailed description of your faction and their recent history since the Mongol Conquest of Japan in 1281. Feel free to be cliche and take inspiration from popular culture, after all this is not authentic history, but historical records of the event, hence being quite over dramtic themselves.
I will not consider two sentence claims or "well I have this idea for something like" claims. Put actual thought into it.
I will use the same turn post format as the main game and Major Actions, but no economics or major persons as this is supposed to be more action than politcally oriented in general (which means also more dirty politicking and back stabbing ).
Anyways, have fun bringing great dishonour to your family.
For those wondering for how much the supernatural tone should be done, Dovahsith sent in a claim a few days ago via PM, which nails the tone pretty well.
武田氏 - 1312
Name: Takeda Clan
Current Ruler: Takeda Katsu
Expected Heir: Takeda Katashi
Type of Government: Feudal Daimyo
Capital: Kōfu
During the invasion of the Mongols during the 1270s, the Takeda family faced destruction at the hands of the invaders limitless numbers. Despite their valour in the ferocious resistance to the invaders as they entered the Takeda homeland of Kai, the family soon found themselves forced from their stronghold of Kōfu, a garrison placed within to guard the strategic Kōshū Kaidō road through the mountain passes. Unwilling to surrender nor cease the war till the invaders were driven from his home, the newly inherited leader of the clan, the still young Takeda Shinobu gathered together the remainder of his warriors and withdrew into the edges of the mountain valleys, ambushing enemy patrols and preventing the collection of taxes. Their actions have since ingrained themselves into local folklore, the tale of the young lord's righteous struggle against a larger force occupying his home having been romanticized with many an element extravasated to the point of what was often a minor skirmish having become a larger full scale battle in which the often heavily outnumbered Takeda either defeat their enemies through sheer skill and willpower or a clever trick, before disappearing into the mountain paths before a response can be mustered by the Mongolian occupiers. The ability to hide from those whom meant Shinobu and his men ill can be summarized due to the factors of local knowledge and support from the local peasantry, ever uneasy with the more tyrannical foreign occupiers, the Takeda attacks on tax collectors often mistaken as a form of benevolent guardianship, rather than the means to sustain a force of samurai despite lacking a formal power base beyond the token gestures given to the now entrenched bandit chief. It is also rumoured that he was given the aid by a spirit of some kind, though the details vary from a Kenku impressed with his ability,to a Snow Maiden having fallen in love with the young man, giving her blessing to guide him through the mountains and to keep her lover safe. In this time Shinobu managed to acquire several children of his own, though details of his wife's origins and her fate are fragmentary at best.
As a more coordinated rebellion against Mongolian rule took place, Shinobu took the opportunity to seize back control of his family's stronghold and organised a general uprising across Kai Province, cutting off the escape Mongolian forces within the Kantō region and preventing their access to the mountains, where the terrain favored the more adept infantry of the Samurai. From there on the Takeda forces supported the Japanese rebellion in forcing the Mongolians out, acting in concert with the other warlords. As victory was achieved, Shinobu changed his name in celebration to one that marked the occasion, rechristening himself in true Japanese nobility fashion as Takeda Katsu, the Mountain Wolf of Kai.
(This will be increased if I'm allowed to claim more land and vice versa)
Name: Tsogt Clan
Current Ruler: Tsogt Gan
Expected Heir: Tsogt Muunokhoi
Type of Government: Bastard Clan
History: (Subject to Future Embellisment)
When Kublai Khan led his glorious invasion of the foolish samurai, the great warrior Tsogt Ganbaatar was in the vanguard. Throughout the campaign he showed his pathetic opponents that he was the embodiment of the war god, striking down foe after foe with lance, arrow, and blade. When he stood beside his Khan at the submission of the Emperor it was clear to all that he was amongst the finest warriors the Empire had ever produced. For his efforts he was given the land of Hizen to rule, where he was given a daughter of the former daimyo as his wife and given the important task of ruling the port of Hirado and ensuring a constant stream of horses and gunpowder from the mainland. However, in the years since the invasion the Tsogot were neglected by those who ruled through the Emperor. Their service was not repaid with more land and the Tsogt grew discontent finally leaving their forces in Hizen when the Shogun marched against Kyoto. Now the Empire has withdrawn but no matter. As the samurai turn on themselves the Tsogt will unify the lands around them. This island of Kyushu is valuable and the samurai will be willing to make a deal with whoever rules it. Wherever the Emperor or the Shogun rules the Tsogt will survive.
Name: Ikkō-ikki
Current Ruler: Tsubasa, an abbot
Expected Heir: N/A, to be chosen when the current ruler passes from this world
Type of Government: Feudal Theocratic Military Confederacy
Capital: N/A, central authority is distributed across temples
The Ikkō-ikki, or "Devoted League", were once monks, peasants, lowly samurai, and ninja that banded together in the wake of the Mongol Scourge to resist these barbarian invaders to the last. Wielding religion as a weapon to lead the masses the progenitors to these warrior monks led ambushes, struck at patrols, infiltrated Mongolian castles, and disrupted the invaders' hold over Japan as much as they could.
Legends speak of monks empowered by the holy aura of the Buddha who have accomplished inhuman feats of strength or valour, it be one warrior fighting off multitudes of foes, infiltrating the most heavily guarded of fortresses and slipping out without discovery, and other such rumours and hearsays. More pragmatic outsiders merely point to the merging of the ninja and Ikkō-ikki into one, and tenacity and devotion to training of the mon and the skill and cunning of the ninja combined into something greater.
The League fought for the freedom of the common Japanese people, even people of no particular birth or rank as peasants, and just as the Shogun might have lead the daimyos and lords of Japan against the Mongols it was the Ikkō-ikki who lead the smallfolk of Nippon to cast the invaders back into the sea. Yet even as Japan celebrated its newfound freedom, the Ikkō-ikki despaired, for it seems their work is not yet complete.
Japan will soon fall into chaos and bloodshed, and it is the duty of the League to uphold the people and liberate them from the yoke of tyranny, whether it be Mongolian or Japanese, for it is no less then the will of the Buddha Himself.
Current Ruler: Murakami Kairi Aka: Kamikaze no musuko
Age: 21
Expected Heir: N/a
Type of Government: Pirate Clan
Capital: Shadoshima
History:
When the Mongols invaded, the native armies suffered greatly yet while the navy was also defeated, parts managed to slip away. Several such ships under the command of captain Murakami escaped after strong winds held off the mongol fleet. They then found a secluded cove occupied by a small band of pirates, though tensions ran high at first neither side wanted a destructive battle and they had a common enemy in the form of the Mongols.
Throughout the occupation they launched raids on mongol ships stealing grain, rice and other trade goods, as well as leading out small groups of fishing boats for sustanense, they had the good fortune to escape without losses in most raids and began steadily stockpiling weapons and resources while also training pirates, sailors and local dissidents into being capable fighters both at sea and at launching shore raids.
When the mongol armies turned to leave thier raids became more eager then ever, securing weapons, funds and horses and securing the island from thier initial cove, however on one especially ambitious the previous leader fell to storm of Mongol arrows while leading the charge. This left Kairi in a tenuous position with deep divides between those wishing to restore the naval heritage and serve Japan against those pirates in it purely for profit, yet the time fighting together has made bond that will not break easily and the Samurai became more accepting as they fought alongside lowborn pirates.
Name: Oda Clan
Current Ruler: Oda Naruto
Expected Heir: Oda Nobunaga
Type of Government: Feudal Daimyo
Capital: Edo
History:
The Oda Clan began as offshoot of the Taira Clan. This small samurai clan had no home during their origins but the Mongol Invasion changed much. The Oda fought against the Mongol Horde and were forced to watch as Japan fell to these invaders. However, the Oda Clan plotted revenge. Soon another offshoot of the Taira Clan, the Edo Clan had perished after the Mongols slew the last member of the clan. the Oda's claimed the castle and town of Edo as their own. Easily seizing Edo as the Mongols preferred easier ports to use in the south, the Oda Clan soon grew in power in their small fortified port.
However, once the Mongols were successfully removed did the Emperors proclaim themselves rulers of Japan once again. Oda Naruto refused to serve those who had failed Japan and has since thrown his forces in with the Shogun. As the Oda Clan prepare to march to war, many see Naruto's son, Nobunaga as one to look out for. Wielding a bloodlust that few can match, Nobunaga seeks even more then his father to unite Japan, even if he must slaughter all those who cannot understand this. This bloodlust is a noted trait within the Oda clan and many blame the ancestral sword of the clan for it, swearing it is cursed and seeks to bathe in the blood of life itself. For now, Oda Nobunaga shall walk the battlefields wielding Tamashī-en and remake Japan in blood, or die trying.
OOC: All of this can be subjected to change by @JBO
Clan: Date - 伊達氏 Daimyo: Date Yasamune the One-Eyed Dragon of the North Expected Heir: Date Teremune Capital: Date (in Fukushima)
History:
Established by descendants of Fujiwara no Uona who seized power in Date during the chaotic period that followed the Mongol Invasion, the Date Clan stands as one of the most powerful and fiercely independent of the Northern Lords, a Clan that is decidedly in love with the idea of having to answer to no one. Expanding outwards from the Mutsu Province over the course of several hundred years, the Date would expand their power northwards, subjugating a number of lesser powers in the process, while fending off any attempts from the south to do the same to the Date.
Currently, Date Yasamune, known as the One-Eyed Dragon of the North after his eye was taken by a Mogami arrow, stands as the ruler of the Date with all the violent implications that comes with a man who runs around with one eye and an ambitious streak the length and breadth of Japan. Not content with merely ruling over Mutsu, Yasamune has begun to eye all his neighbours, dreaming of a day when Date power stretches from one end of Japan to another and the Date are confirmed as the undeniable top dog by virtue of no others remaining who might challenge them.
Name: Oda Clan
Current Ruler: Oda Naruto
Expected Heir: Oda Nobunaga
Type of Government: Feudal Daimyo
Capital: Edo
History:
The Oda Clan began as offshoot of the Taira Clan. This small samurai clan had no home during their origins but the Mongol Invasion changed much. The Oda fought against the Mongol Horde and were forced to watch as Japan fell to these invaders. However, the Oda Clan plotted revenge. Soon another offshoot of the Taira Clan, the Edo Clan had perished after the Mongols slew the last member of the clan. the Oda's claimed the castle and town of Edo as their own. Easily seizing Edo as the Mongols preferred easier ports to use in the south, the Oda Clan soon grew in power in their small fortified port.
However, once the Mongols were successfully removed did the Emperors proclaim themselves rulers of Japan once again. Oda Naruto refused to serve those who had failed Japan and has since thrown his forces in with the Shogun. As the Oda Clan prepare to march to war, many see Naruto's son, Nobunaga as one to look out for. Wielding a bloodlust that few can match, Nobunaga seeks even more then his father to unite Japan, even if he must slaughter all those who cannot understand this. This bloodlust is a noted trait within the Oda clan and many blame the ancestral sword of the clan for it, swearing it is cursed and seeks to bathe in the blood of life itself. For now, Oda Nobunaga shall walk the battlefields wielding Tamashī-en and remake Japan in blood, or die trying.
OOC: All of this can be subjected to change by @JBO