The Holy Dragon Empire (Asian Fantasy Adventure)

M

Melon Kid

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[The Story]

Locked deep underneath the hidden city of Llyolin, there exists a legendary vault that shelters six artifacts of unmatched power from an era long past. At the height of civilization, each of the six nations was granted a single artifact as a blessing - or perhaps as a curse - from the gods. Deemed too dangerous to lay in mortal palms, they were eventually sealed away concluding a dreadfully long inter-kingdom council meeting, never to be seen again.

But now, there has been a breach of unprecedented scale: An artifact of equal power was used to force the vault open. However, there was one final line of defense the vault had in store that not even its guardians were aware of. In the event that its defenses were compromised, it would use its power to scatter each artifact to a random location somewhere within their nation of origin.

You are going to take them back, for better or for worse.

Qinlan: [Dragon Heart - The Ultimatum] Transforms the user into a full-fledged dragon attuned to their soul - no two people will experience the same transformation, and each comes with its own set of strengths.

Xanwu: [Philosopher’s Stone - The Artificer] An artifact that can transform one thing into another, animate that which is inanimate, and even gift one with immortality.

Honjo: [Suzaku - The Eternal Phoenix] A feather that calls upon a great phoenix, capable of incinerating armies with a single wave while that same fire revitalizes its allies. Upon death, it is capable of being reborn from its own cinders.

Koriiyama: [Byakko - The Vicious Tiger] A suit of light armor that grants the wearer massively enhanced physical ability and the power to freeze things on impact, as well as the ability to unleash a roar that can stun all living things in the area. The user is able to summon the blade of frost, White Tundra.

Llyolin: [Underworld Key - The Spirit Gate] Opens a gate to the underworld , summoning profound otherworldly creatures bound to the will of the key’s owner.

Kaiesen: [Centena Arsenal - One Thousand Weapons] A shape-shifting tool that can transform into one thousand different weapons and armors, each one imbued with a distinct power capable of holding its own against other artifacts.

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[The Setting]

It is said that the ancient golden dragon Tianlong emerges from the heavens only once in a millennia, bestowing upon Laoa's worthiest hero the divine will. Centuries upon centuries of long-winded strife between the six warring nations culminated with a decisive victory led by legendary swordsman Ia, who in a shocking move splintered and single-handedly defeated all six generals in direct combat. With this, he decreed a new edict to the people of Laoa: A great migration, half of the population of each territory would rotate, from ally to enemy, from enemy to ally. With such measures in place, they would find it difficult to enact war against their own brethren - and to estrange the new pilgrims in their land would mean that they must also be prepared to forsake their own kin, sent off beyond the borders.

The golden dragon Tianlong applauded Ia's strength and his cunning, descending in a sea of golden light and blessing the great hero with divine power.

But, every story has a twist. In what could only be described as an act of madness, Ia drew his blade and slew the dragon after receiving his power. From there, he boldly declared a new ordinance: To follow under his rule, or perish. Fearful of his newfound abilities, citizens flocked under his supposed. . . protection, establishing the Holy Dragon Empire, Tiansheng - an empire that spiked directly into the center of all six borders of the once conflicted nations in confidence of its superiority. To truly consolidate his superiority, he sought to claim the ancient artifacts of old before they could be used against him - but was met with smoke and mirrors as they slipped through his fingers.

Now, new heroes must arise to end the tyranny of the Mad Emperor before all of Laoa bends to his will.

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The World of Laoa

[Chi / Sorcery / Divine Arts]

Chi and magic exist both separately and in tandem. Not all are able to utilize their gifts, but those that have them are certainly dangerous.

Chi represents the life force of every living thing - one who has mastered control of their own body is able to use their chito perform superhuman feats that range from shattering stone with their fists to outrunning a gazelle. All things must be used in moderation, however, as the body can only support so much stress on itself. Even a being with untapped chi may find a new and sudden surge of energy in dire straits, though this is a rare occurrence that usually marks the birth of a true warrior. Chi is not limited to physical enhancements and may appear in surprising ways, especially when utilized by non-humans.

Sorcery on the other hand is a form of magic that derives from a connection with a spiritual being, one that is perhaps innate or contractual. However, those who study these arts - considered dark arts by some - may be able to uncover its secrets without their help. Its uses are limitless, but to attempt mastery over more than one aspect of energy is foolishness to all but the most dedicated to its craft. Sorcery does not drain one's own energy, but the energy of other things. Additionally, unlike chi there is often a physical component that must be present in the use of sorcery, whether it is a lock of someone's hair or a runic inscription. More often than not, the easier it is to procure the ingredients you require, the less potent the magic is likely to be.

Divine arts are a special class of spiritual practices designated solely to sealing and cleansing undead, yokai, and other such spirits. Most priests and monks are well versed in this field by nature - temples are abound with students who wish to learn not only how to protect the weak, but to purify evil with utter impunity.

[Races]

Humans: If it were not for humans, Laoa would have remained a celestial space, untouched by their corruption. But, they would not have opened their gates if they did not see the good in their hearts as well - humans partake in all trades and activities throughout the land, some scraping by as farmers while others claim glory pillaging ancient temples and destroying their slumbering sentinels. Kingdoms constantly rise and fall under the banner of the humans, much to the chagrin of their fellow denizens.

Beastfolk: Humanoid with bestial features, these fair folk often find spiritual kinship with their animal counterparts and in many cases, their cultures have developed around this unspoken bond. Wolves are territorial and form packs, avians are migratory creatures - so on and so forth. Though they are more likely to stick to their own, it has become commonplace for different species of beastfolk to live together in mixed communities.

Oni: The oni are a fierce but fun-loving people, known for their exceptional affinity for manipulating their chi. Legends tell of them shaking the earth with their romping and creating windstorms with their breaths. Often regarded as a strong, bull-headed people, they are the ones you go to when you need some extra muscle, though some of their kind have come to despise this role. In the age of knowledge, some oni have taken on a more scholarly path than their brethren to reach newer heights. While there aren't enough oni to sustain entire kingdoms, they form tribal communities among themselves. Rivalry is common, but they rarely form major disputes like the humans.

Kitsune: Kitsune are the guardian spirits of Laoa, even if they don't immediately know it. It is uncertain whether or not they are foxes with the ability to shape-shift into humans or vice versa, but most have a preference for one form over the other. They are known to be playful tricksters, but can be frightening and vengeful when angered. Many roam the rolling valleys, sometimes serving as guides to the lost. The Kitsune tend not to intermingle with each other, instead sharing the company of the humans, beastfolk, onis, and. . . maybe tengu. A Kitsune may have up to nine tails, signifying both their capabilities and their age.

Tengu: If the Kitsune are the guardian spirits of Laoa, the tengu are the winged spirits of destruction - the wrath of the gods incarnate, designed to annihilate mankind and all of its creations. While most despise humans and often by extension other sentient creatures, others have learned to calm their inner rage and join civilization. They are not trusted due to their relationship with the denizens of Laoa, but can be incredibly powerful allies if you can gain the fealty of one. The home of the war hungry tengu are deep in the mountains, while the more peaceful ones have begun to settle inside of the forests.

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[The Nations]

Tiansheng: The Holy Dragon Empire | Tiansheng sits in the dead center of all six nations, almost taunting them to challenge their might. They have been bred and trained to be a people of war; some serve out of fear of Ia's divine strength, while others admire his ambition and strive to follow in his footsteps. Whatever the case, their territory is spreading rapidly, consuming the neighboring territories and pushing back borders growing bigger and bigger by the day.

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Llyolin: Llyolin is the most adept of the kingdoms, home to the greatest sorcerers and schools of magic. The success rates in this nation are fascinatingly high, especially considering the rigorous standards - it's even said that the citizens who are born in Llyolin are simply naturally talented individuals that are destined for great things. Its capital sits on the biggest locus of magical power known to the world - the Vault, now left eerily empty in wake of Ia's conquest.

Kaiesen: Kaiesen is a nation enveloped in shadow and intrigue - even the commoners who live there seem to keep secrets and know far more than they let on. Many channels flow throughout the land and they have built their cities with this in mind - storms and tides batter the peninsula repeatedly and the soft soil makes for poor foundations. Although they have the resources to build larger buildings, it has been recognized to be far more efficient to build shacks and rickety bridges with some level of buoyancy, not knowing when the next big wave will hit. Despite its shabby infrastructure, it is notoriously difficult for inexperienced ground forces to traverse and thus a difficult nation to invade.

Xanwu: Xanwu is best described as graceful, a place of new beginnings for many a weary traveler. It breathes with life, entertainment, and of course, commerce. The most economically robust of the kingdoms, they outsource much of their labor and provide supplies to other nations. It is incredibly abundant with resources and is said to be the most reliable place to make a living. They are pioneers of trade and the birthplace of technology. Though only in its prototype stages, they say they have something revolutionary in the works and everyone wants their hands on it. Unlike the other nations, Xanwu is one of the few that openly makes use of slave labor along with Honjo.

Qinlan: Qinlan heralds grassy knolls and evergreens, flowers bloom all year long and are said to be the most beautiful in the land. It is home to people from all walks of life. It is also a relatively new nation, which broke off from Xanwu following a hard fought civil war a hundred years ago. Under a new following guided by the Hand’s devout, they established a hallowed ground that extended a hand to all people (excluding ones from Xanwu, of course). Their philosophy is to shift order to chaos and chaos to order, fulfilling the balance they believe is necessary for the longevity of mankind.

Honjo: Honjo is home to a people known both for their great perseverance and for their astounding ingenuity; the birthplace of skilled warriors and talented herbalists. It is considered the badlands of Laoa. While not terribly hot, it is very dry and the unchecked wastelands run amok with turf wars between raiders, gangs, bandits, and ancient monstrosities. Here, only strength is recognized, whether that’s physical strength, magical strength, or even strength of character. A more formal and civilized government resides in the capital, but with so much competition out in the open, their reach is limited. Bones are a popular material to use, as the skeletons of creatures in Honjo are astoundingly flexible and resilient compared those in other regions.

Koriiyama: Koriiyama endures the harshest winters but enjoys the most pleasant springs, they are hardened with a long history of conflict but also remarkable reform. Also known as the frozen west, the people are accustomed to blizzards, deadly wildlife, and hazardous environments. On the fringes, most live as simple hunter-gatherers in small, traveling colonies - prey can dwindle pretty quickly, so they never stay in one place for too long. Deeper toward the center and the coasts are fortified cities and outposts, their strength rivaling even Tiansheng's forts.

 
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How very tempting.
 
This is interesting! I would definitely love to take part in this!
 
Cool lore and setting. Would definitely like to see what can be done with this.
 
This looks interesting! Count me in!
 
Ideally I'm looking for 1-2 more peeps, afterward I'll see about starting up a CS page and checking if everyone's still around.
 
I may be interested. The setting and lore seem reaaally cool!
 
Interesting. I think I might be up for this.
 
Is this still open and accepting,? If so I would be interested
 
I have some interest if you are still taking folks, but I'm a little on the sick side atm. Will try getting something out, need to see what all we have so far.
 
I can say that I'm interested. It might be a minute before I start working on stuff but if you're still accepting peeps...
 
I am intrigued and have a concept in mind for a beast folk.
 
Room for more?
 
Can you take one more? XD