K
Kooriryu
Guest
Original poster
臥茶葉 藏咖啡豆
Café Wuxia
It's an alternate universe 17th century China. Revered martial codes of battle, philosophy and honor co-exist with manuals on do-it-yourself delivery scooter repair. It is a prosperous time all over the country, fishermen fish and the wet markets are bustling with the freshest produce and finicky customers. Trade between neighboring and somewhat distant countries is known however the average citizen has never met someone outside their prefecture. New inventions and improvements on old technology are experiencing a surge amongst the population especially in urban areas, many speculate on how this technology wave started and sustained itself.
What few seem to take into account is the introduction of a special drink brought to the land that has taken over the national drink of choice and transformed tea houses in cities across the country.
In Wumen province, the hustle of nearby cities pass by quietly in the rural town, Hudong. Some urbanites favor this place for their vacations from their hectic lives in the city for its tranquil atmosphere, quaint tourist spots, and friendly citizens. As much as city folk like to take their breaks in Hudong, the town itself is relatively untouched and unimpressed by the developments of the city-- many natives are happy to bicycle to work and for the more elderly it's not uncommon to see them use scooters, loaded down with equipment, products or even other co-workers. Many of the shops are as old as Hudong itself having been passed down in ownership from mothers and fathers to sons and daughters. Though Hudong is rather large for a town, its citizens are so tight-knit that some families are related by friendship or debts or are otherwise intertwined for mutual benefit that span across generations.
Tea houses are very popular, not only throughout Hudong but also surrounding provinces and beyond. In the cities, tea houses are disappearing at an alarming rate, something that the people of Hudong and similar provinces tsk and shake their heads at. The most popular tea house in Hudong, the Eight Lucky Sparrows is celebrating its 208th birthday in the coming weeks. The establishment's birthday also marks the beginning of the tourist season.
However, something unusual has been coming up as the tourists from the cities begin to flood in. In tea houses across Hudong, the tourists are asking for a strange drink no one is familiar with. They say the drink came from Indonesia and that all the well-cultured people are drinking it. As word about Hudong's lack of this drink spreads amongst the tourists, the tea houses tourists visit aren't faring as well without it.
In the year following this tourist season, the drink that had confused Hudong has begun to find its way into the smaller tea houses, turning them into something many of the old residents don't approve of, taking it as an affront to Hudong's reputation as a historical and national tea house landmark. The youth are split down the middle about it, traditionally-minded youth and youth enamored of modernizing Hudong to make it into the next hottest city to visit in all of China.
As time goes on, these transformed tea houses are disappearing entirely. A franchise from the neighboring city has been sending scouts into Hudong and buying out the local tea houses. Only a few of the oldest standing tea houses remain and unknown to the people of Hudong, the Eight Lucky Sparrows is next in the franchise's sights...
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In this game, you'll be playing as a part of the faction that wants to preserve Hudong's traditional and historical value or the faction that wants desperately to save the town by modernizing it and make it appealing to tourists again. The introduction of this franchise's stores has shoved Hudong into a buzzing hive of in-fighting and street arguments. It is almost literally tearing the town apart as epic kung fu battles ensue over this changing of the town's age-old identity.
Friendships spanning generations are crumbling.
Lines are being drawn, separating lovers.
Espionage, betrayals, coups and rallies are firing up the blood of the town's youth!
All over a cup of coffee.
For Hudong's survival: Pick your side.
Artwork done by imperial boy http://tksn.sakura.ne.jp/