Realistic or Modern Grand Tokaido Journey (Inspired by Steel Ball Run/Looking for 4)

[Squad141]

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• Prelude

  In 1832, the artist Utagawa Hiroshige completed a series of fifty-three ukiyo-e wood prints based on the Tōkaidō Road, a well-known path along the coast of eastern Japan, connecting the cities of Kyoto and Edo (more commonly known as Tokyo today). While the Tōkaidō was only one of five major routes built by then-shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, it is perhaps the most well-known both in and outside of Japan.
  
  Three years ago, there were rumors that Andō Tokutarō, business mogul and somewhat-recognized philanthropist, was in discussion with the Bank of Japan and the Prime Minister for some unknown reason. Two years ago, preparations began. One year ago, the announcement was made across the world. There was going to be a 'race'.
  
  The Grand Tōkaidō Journey (or GTJ) would be an incredible feat hosted and based within Japan. Tokutarō, the proposer and instigator of the idea, explained the reasoning behind the grand event: Japan had fallen on hard times, financially. Tourism had plummetted in recent years, and a general sense of humdrum had invaded the country. In order to get spirits up, as well as pockets, a symbol of Japan's great past was constructed with competition in mind.
  
  The GTJ is both a race and journey, in which participants must travel from Chuo City in Tokyo all the way up to Kyoto, following a path incredibly similar to the original Tōkaidō. Of course, that alone would be to easy; In the honor of tradition, participants cannot use any contemporary means of travel, like bikes and cars. The two most common methods of travel originally were by foot and by horse, which is what nearly every competitor has chosen so far. On top of this, participants must camp and rely on their survival instincts, only being allowed to stay at pre-confirmed traditional Japanese Inns. To complete the journey, 53 stamps are located along the path at monuments where the 53 post stations once stood, which participants must collect to legally complete the Journey.
  
  While the idea was originally only within Japan itself, many surrounding countries became interested and pitched in as well. Competitors streamed to the race from all over the globe, from any country that had heard about it. The competition had barely started and Japan had seen a boost in popularity and revenue unknown within the past decade.
  
  All is not as it seems, as these things tend to be. There are rumors among the participants. Some believe others have tricks up their sleeves, special techniques... special abilities. Every rider has a history, and every rider has a reason for winning this event at all costs; after all, one can only imagine what to do with 100 trillion yen.
  
  

  Overview

  Welcome! Thanks for visiting.
  
  If it isn't obvious by now, this RP is heavily inspired by Steel Ball Run, a little bit of The Amazing Race, and my general love of traveling and adventure. I'm hoping for this to be a little long-term, but nothing too incredibly extraneous, since there's a clear goal and each major step in the story is closer to the end of the race.
  
  On top of this being a horse racing/foot racing action adventure, I'd love for everyone to bring in their own unique elements to this world; Fun techniques with their horses or non-technological techniques to use in combat against other participants, things like that.
  
  With some other specifications, in case the summary wasn't good enough: the journey spans on the south-eastern coast of Japan, from Chuo City, Tokyo to a bridge in Kyoto, in an alternate 2019. The winner of the journey wins 100 billion yen.
  
  You, the players, will have the option to have one special technique or ability when you make your participant. These can be both realistic and extranormal; For instance, a technique idea could be if your participant learns a secret method from their family or country, one for speeding up your horse or shooting small projectiles to slow your competition. Regarding abilities, these are supernatural abilities you have gained through mysterious means. These abilities shouldn't be too strong, and are even better if they are specific: examples include things like turning parts of your body into a rope, seeing past the normal human limits, etc.
  
  If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask!
  Plot *
• OOC

  I'm looking for around 4 or 5 players for this.
  A reminder as well: You all don't have to be on the same team. I imagine each racer comes from a different background with different reasons for entering such a race.
  
  1. R U S T
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  4. -----
  (5). -----
  

  Rules

  1.

  No powerplaying. Make sure you consider what's both best for your character's skillset, and best for the narrative.
  
  

  2.

  Like usual, romance is alright if limited, though I don't really see it developing in such dire circumstances. Always remember to keep it PG.
  
  

  3.

  There won't be a post order exactly, but the narration posts *will* be important, due to the nature of the journey and it's obstacles.
  
  

  4.

  The rest of RPN's rules apply.
  
  

  5.

  Within the GTJ, fighting is not encouraged, but it is not explicitly against the rules. Many participants are willing to do anything to win this race, including physical force and other such means.
  Rules *
• Links

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  In Character (Unfinished)
  
  

  x.

  Character Sheets (Unfinished)
  
  

  x.

  OOC (Unfinished)
  Links *

Plot

Rules

Links

Grand Tokaido Journey

"Early in the day the road meets the sea. Cargo ships ride at anchor and some ride the morning breeze. Even the blue-clad samurai, pillars to discipline glance sideways at the welcoming voices of the tea girls."

code by Nano

 

[Nellancholy]

What's the time period this will take place in? Will the participants be riding horses and other mounts through modern Japan or is this a late 19th-early 20th century kind of thing?

 

[Squad141]

What's the time period this will take place in? Will the participants be riding horses and other mounts through modern Japan or is this a late 19th-early 20th century kind of thing?

I should have specified this earlier, thanks for the heads up.
It’s in contemporary times, yes, around 2019.

 

[Squad141]

- Updated the Overview section to include a summary that has the year and prize of the journey

 

[Lost Echo]

So fighting is...encouraged? allowed? Or just something you assume will happen as competition gets fierce?

 

[Squad141]

So fighting is...encouraged? allowed? Or just something you assume will happen as competition gets fierce?

Fighting isn't explicitly against the rules of the race, and yes, I assume that it will begin to become rougher as the competition gets slim. On top of that, supernatural elements will be introduced that may cause fighting on it's own

 

[Nellancholy]

And do you expect that each participant (us,the players) starts with some level of special gear or supernatural powers?

Which is to say,Stand power

 

[Squad141]

And do you expect that each participant (us,the players) starts with some level of special gear or supernatural powers?

Which is to say,Stand power

Each player has the option to start with a special technique, or yes, a very limited special ability. For instance, a participant could bring a technique involving small projectiles that only they know how to throw, or a way to speed up their horse/vehicle for a given amount of time. Regarding the abilities, it would be supernatural yes, but it would limited to doing like, say, being able to speak over long distances, being able to manifest longer ropes or cables, things like that.

 

[Squad141]

- Updated the Overview and Rules to include the messages about combat rules in the race, and what I mean by 'extranatural phenomena' for joining players

 

[R U S T]

How the hell did I not see this? I’m totally in!

 

[Squad141]

bump!