Nation Building Dynasty Divided CS

[Dystopianist]

Yeah, post your Character Sheets here, strikethrough the suckers when they die IC. I’ll add NPCs here when you meet them.

Spoiler: NPCs

I get irrationally paranoid with faceclaims, so I’m manually describing the NPCs. I’ll be grouping here by warlords faction with a list of subordinates, since it was more common for factions to be described by their warlord leader until they gained enough power to claim sovereignty.

Faction Head: Zhao Long
Description: Known as the Purple Wave Bandits, it is claimed that Zhao Long was met by a sage god years ago and entrusted with the duty to seek a new world order. He has founded the Purple Wave by garnering peasant discontent with the wide economic and environmental catastrophe as the Quanfong emperor relaxes in his palace with his eunuchs. Does not control territory but has large armies positioned to take the capital from 8, 9, 15, and 16.
Faction Deputies: Zhao Hong and Zhao Lu, his brothers. Various other minor deputies such as Jun Pei, Gan Su, Songsun Qian, and Xu Fei.

Faction Head: Songsun Yao
Description: The Songsun family has long ruled from the capital as a wealthy family that has enjoyed considerable political clout from the emperor and his retainers. Naturally, their oldest son, Songsun Yao, has gathered a massive following of sycophants and followers and built a power in the northeast. Controls 3, 4, and 7.
Faction Deputies: Xiahuang Ren and San Yan are described as his right and left hands, the wise and noble minister and the young, spry champion. Both are relatively new, however, and their power is overshadowed by the legacy advisor Meng Dun, who some regard as unscrupulous and dishonorable.

Faction Head: Kong Ke
Description: Regarded as wise beyond his years by many scholars, the politician Kong Ke eagerly aced the imperial exam and earned himself an appointment as administrator over several major cities. Controls 8.
Faction Deputies: Jun Ai, his aging mentor. Also many skilled ministers, such as Xiahuang Gong, Shan Ce, and Kong Ci.

Faction Head: Emperor Quanfong
Description: The teenage emperor of the nation, he was raised largely by eunuchs and defers to them much more than to his own advisors. There are rumors of pools of wine and trees of meat in the palace complex. Controls 1 and 6.
Faction Deputies: Eunuchs Shan De, Chen Rong, Pang Luo, and others make up the Seven Attendants who hold much sway over the young monarch.

Faction Head: Wang Mei
Description: Almost too ragtag to be truly called a faction, Wang Mei is the great-granddaughter of Wang Yin, the temporary usurper of the Kan Dynasty as the sole Ji Dynasty emperor. She is, however, also the granddaughter of a pirate lord who married Wang‘s daughter, and therefore the heir to a small fleet in territories 27, 28, and 29.
Faction Deputies: The blind archer Ha Xiong, said to be able to shoot by sound, the cunning commander Jin Dao, said to bend the wind itself to his very will, and the barbarian chieftain Mojinde, said to be so brutal as to inspire fear in the ground itself.

Faction Head: Songsun Dian
Description: The son of the concubine of Songsun Yao’s father, he was ostracized as a young man but has made up for this by being one of the most skilled logisticians in the modern day. He earned an appointment as administrator in a rather sizable tract of land and has since gathered much wealth and power behind the position. Controls 10 and 24.
Faction Deputies: His son, Songsun Yuan, as well as other skilled generals such as Tairen Shan, Jin Feng, and Jun Xun.

Faction Head: Xiahuang Ding
Description: The inheritor of a folklorist cult founded by his father, Xiahuang Ding holds sway over a large sect of peasants and soldiers in the heartland. Controls 18 and 19.
Faction Deputies: Mi Pei and Gong Dai, also nepotist heirs to their fathers.

Faction Head: Zhi Xiang
Description: The heir to a powerful military faction in the south. Said to be a noble, just, and skilled general who gathers great talents around him and alienates the wicked. Controls 16 and 17.
Faction Deputies: Zhi Liao and Zhi Ying, his younger brother and sister. His best friend and confidant Zhao Cai, as well as several older ministers inherited from his father such as Gong Zhang and Meng Ze.

Faction Head: Zhen Mao
Description: A large and robust man, Zhen Miao is often described as the Great Tiger of the East for his many military victories as an imperial commander. He boasts two daughters said to be both incredibly intelligent and beautiful, but has not yet chosen matches for them. Controls 2, 5, 12, and 13.
Faction Deputies: Songsun Tuo, his oldest ally and often depicted as his best friend, as well as the uncle of Songsun Yao and Songsun Dian. He also has two main captains who he has handpicked from his admiral family, Feng Shan and Kan Juening.

 

[Tempestus]

Name: Jun "Zǎoshang" Kai
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Background: Zaoshang is a young cavalry officer assigned to the Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Riders and has been dispatched under General Ho. He along with his younger brother Jun Shi are descendants of an old line in the East which fell from grace roughly a century ago. There was a brutal purge following the family's downfall, and eventually most of this line was adopted into the Jun family tree.

Zaoshang's entrance into riding school at 16 initiated a promising military career. He was praised by instructors for his horsemanship and proficiency with the lance. Upon completion of his training, Zaoshang served in various posts across China's eastern provinces, which spurned him into the role of cavalry officer just eight years later.

Appearance: Zaoshang's long black hair is braided from the neck down. The top of his head is decorated in Tian-tsui style with several blue kingfisher feathers shaped into a bird. Rarely will he ever go a day without shaving, even while on campaign. He exclusively wears either a black or gray hanfu robe held together by a large, elaborate belt. Carved in silver are a number of Qinglong dragons, making this a piece signifying not only nobility but membership within the Azure Dragon Riders. Matching bracers, also cast in silver, depict Yulan magnolia trees in full bloom.

Personality: He harbors a deep-seated disdain for the current rulership due to the way they treat farmers. Zaoshang believes they are being taxed off their lands and only reward a select few - ie, Quanfong and his ilk.

As far as his family is concerned, Zaoshang maintains a close and protective bond over his young brother. Before being sent off to the military, they were nigh inseparable. They rode their ponies across the plains, ignoring their parents' admonishments. Even now, when Zaoshang remains away on official duties, he continues to write his brother.

 

[Sylvio]

Name: Yu Lang
Courtesy name: Wenchu
Age: 31
Gender: Cismale (he/him)

Elemental Affinity: Earth

Background: Yu Lang was born as part of the prestigious Yu clan. His father, Yu Ching (styled Xinshu) is currently the Minister of Ceremonies and a powerful druid known for his connection and affinity to the elements of the earth that had been granted to him by the heavens. His sermons and temples are dedicated to Heaven's Patrons to provide bountiful wealth, harvest, and success in battle. Yu Lang didn't inherit much of his father's mystical talents, while he couldn't communicate with the Gods directly he did pretty extensive knowledge in agriculture thanks to his abilities to commune with animals and is able to handle plants of magical properties. What he did inherit however was the political aptitude of the Yu family. For three generations the Yu have served the Kan Dynasty gracefully, starting with Yu Lang's great grandmother Yu Hua, the Grand Tutor. Yu Lang was also known for his swordsmanship, training with Imperial officers and studying war manuals.

Throughout the failings of the Kan however, the Yu family have had a bad rep with ministers in the court and governors across the land. The constant locus pandemics and droughts have at worst called for the execution of the Yu clan in order to appease Heaven or at the very least call for them to be stripped of their titles and status. But because their ties to the Imperial family and agricultural policy they were saved from humiliating transgressions. Many do fail to forget that the Yu clan did distribute surplus grain to those that faced deficiencies and have staved off hunger in the commanderies surrounding the capital province.

However a high distaste against the Yu clan was very prominent and Yu Lang was kept from an administrative role. Instead he was made Imperial Cavalry Commandant.

Appearance: Yu Lang's hair is fairly short but he stands at 5'8. He loves to keep himself groomed by washing his face to maintain his appearance and grooming his facial hair whole keeping his hair sleeked back. Besides his armor his hanfu is colored silver made by some of the finest silk in the land. He his in a perpetual state of looking serous all the time so people tend to find him very intimidating though is more of a man of solitude.

Personality: Yu Lang carries his name with dignity always ensuring he doesn't embarrass his family or himself. He is a strict follower of the traditions of the Kan and the ancestors that the empire bases itself on, such as filal piety. He prefers to not share disdain with anyone and reserves from judging people, including his enemies. He knows that the Kan is dying and the Yu must abandon the Empire if it were to take over the country and maintain influence. Yu Lang admires men and women of many qualities including, loyalty, intelligence, wisdom, bravery, and fortitude and loves to make connections with talented individuals to realize his ambition of majesty.

 

[LadyOfStars]

Wu Chunhua

Alia: The Chimera

Age: 22

Gender: Female

Appearance:
Hair Color - Black
Eye Color - Brown
Height - 5’8”
Weight - 120lbs
Scars/Tattoos - N/A

Personality:

A competitive spirit is considered a good thing to have when you’re young, but when you’re an adult it can make others uneasy in your presence and sometimes even scare your competition. Chunhua’s competitive nature, paired with her ferocity and indifference towards bloodshed made her a fearsome mind in the eyes of others her age.

Naturally she is a meticulous and patient person who doesn’t mind taking the time to ensure the details of something are perfect. Chunhua is also quick witted and much to the dismay of her opponents she performs well under pressure as she is able to keep a leveled head in high stakes situations.

Interacting with others is easy for her when she knows how to play the person and can tell them what they want to hear. When meeting with someone who she is unfamiliar with Chunhua is usually a bit less open and will bring the conversation to an end fairly quickly.


Elemental Affinity:

Wind

Background:

The daughter of a late Imperial general, was exposed to the troubles of war at an early age. Tales or victories and defeats, whispers of strategies and talk of supply lines were her day to day. Normally a girl wouldn’t be exposed to such things, but being the only child made her the only option for the heir. Her father taught her the tactical side of war and leading while choosing to forgo actual combat training. Growing up Chunhua was competitive and always tried her hardest at whatever she did. Chess, academics, even in her hobbies of singing and poetry she wanted to be better than those around her. As she got older the young woman developed a reputation for being sadistic. What made this evident to her peers was her display of cruelty in a military mock battle where her men to slay their captured foe. Given the story of the expertise such action was unnecessary but she chose to take it anyway. Fellow tactician apprentices distanced themselves from her in the hopes of avoiding whatever darkness made her so cruel.

The belief that she was some dark, sadistic person carried on until it was time for her to begin looking for a husband. At first she had few options. No one wanted a headstrong woman with a mean streak and a witty mouth. That is until one suitor saw a softer and more compassionate side of her when they stepped away from topics such as war and completion. Chunhua was akin to a rose and the man was surprised and had to tell the world of the time he spent with her. Soon after men became interested in seeing this softer side of someone known for being cold. Eventually she met a man who didn’t mind that she enjoyed warfare and strategy. And she was able to drop the façade of sweetness that people had come to know her for.

Chunhua was married off to a young lord who had yet to make his mark on the world. Her new husband was known for his determination and courage. Those traits proved to be his undoing when the general was ambushed by the rebellion forces. Escaping the ordeal purely by luck only to later show symptoms of poisoning. Now bedridden as the empire brings its assault on rebels.

With her husband incapacitated Chunhua has taken it upon herself to lead their armies and fill his role in the newly founded coalition.​