My Rokugan
Mar. 6th, 2007 12:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akaihyoMy thoughts on
The Jade Empire of Rokugan, a paradise ruled by the wise and eternal Hantei dynasty. The Empire is currently blessed with the wisdom of Emperor Nakamikado, twenty eighth of his line, who celebrate his fifteenth year of rule, and his Empress Tsuneko.
The Unicorn have returned and the last two generations have seen the Children of Shinjo become more accustomed to their homeland. The graceful Crane and noble Lion bicker in Court as is expected. The Scorpion plot in the shadows, as is their way. The Crab are stoic and watch for any danger to the Empire from the Dark. The Dragon are more distant than usual. While the Phoenix entertainers and artisans make a place for themselves in courts across the Empire. While the Imperial bureaucracy toils silently behind the scene to keep everything working.
It is a golden age . . . or is it?
This is my vision of Rokugan. A land drawing more on Japanese myth than the official setting, with spirits, small gods and oni (just oni, not creatures of otherworldly evil) a constant background element. The Empire itself draws on Chinese elements with a powerful bureaucracy pulling strings to maintain Imperial control of the Empire and a multitude of secret societies seeking to complete their own agendas.
The Dark, the threat of the Shadowlands, is more of a metaphysical one than one posed by armies of horrible monsters. Some people will pay any price for power and willingly sell their soul for the gifts of the Dark. Occasionally the Dark can be very, very real with gateways torn from the Empire into the hells releasing monsters to ravage the countryside.
The Jade Empire of Rokugan, a paradise ruled by the wise and eternal Hantei dynasty. The Empire is currently blessed with the wisdom of Emperor Nakamikado, twenty eighth of his line, who celebrate his fifteenth year of rule, and his Empress Tsuneko.
The Unicorn have returned and the last two generations have seen the Children of Shinjo become more accustomed to their homeland. The graceful Crane and noble Lion bicker in Court as is expected. The Scorpion plot in the shadows, as is their way. The Crab are stoic and watch for any danger to the Empire from the Dark. The Dragon are more distant than usual. While the Phoenix entertainers and artisans make a place for themselves in courts across the Empire. While the Imperial bureaucracy toils silently behind the scene to keep everything working.
It is a golden age . . . or is it?
This is my vision of Rokugan. A land drawing more on Japanese myth than the official setting, with spirits, small gods and oni (just oni, not creatures of otherworldly evil) a constant background element. The Empire itself draws on Chinese elements with a powerful bureaucracy pulling strings to maintain Imperial control of the Empire and a multitude of secret societies seeking to complete their own agendas.
The Dark, the threat of the Shadowlands, is more of a metaphysical one than one posed by armies of horrible monsters. Some people will pay any price for power and willingly sell their soul for the gifts of the Dark. Occasionally the Dark can be very, very real with gateways torn from the Empire into the hells releasing monsters to ravage the countryside.