Connected to the Ochaya No Ouka (Tea-house of Cherry Blossom) is the Shiata No Kinpaku (Golden Leaf Theater) where the Broken Strings Kabuki troupe performs. The troupe works with the teahouse in order to draw in audiences and to better work their craft, sharing profits with the teahouse in order to keep both businesses alive.
Owner and manager of both the Shiata No Kinpaku (Golden Leaf Theater) and the Gogen Waremono (Broken Strings) is Kumurichi Matatomo, a shrewd and pragmatic businessman who, while he cares for the cast and crew of the theater, has little time for petty sentiment and will do what he has to in order to keep the business running.
His business partner and owner of Ochaya No Ouka (Tea-house of Cherry Blossom) is Man Onama, a woman of impressive intelligence who runs her tea-house through careful planning and subtle control through her front-man, a strong and obedient man known as Hibaro Nibuteda
Stage manager for the Broken Strings company is Kaita Yoroki, a young, compassionate man who cares about the cast and crew, but also has no patience for interference with show proceedings.
Rules and Setup
This is a role-play set in the pleasure quarters of the fictional feudal Japanese city of Yutsikujo during the Tokugawa Period, so characters can be members of nobility, samurai, merchants, artisans, performers, soldiers or even gaijin (Japanese for “outsider/foreigner”. I understand that there was no outside influence
during the feudal era, but I'm making an exception in this case).
I am also allowing people to play “Half-breeds”, which are people who are half-human, half-spirit.
SPECIAL NOTES
GAIJIN CHARACTERS: For those who want to play gaijin, you have limited options for country of origin. Historically, before the United States opened Japan's harbors, there was little contact with the outside world, and extremely limited contact with the few countries that they did allow within their borders.
Possible Countries of Origin for Gaijin:
1. England
2. Holland
3. Portugal
4. China
5. Korea
Please also understand that, as Gaijin, your status in society will be low in general. So be ready to deal with and/or role-play that.
HALF-BREEDS: If you want to play a half-breed, you need to keep these rules in mind.
1. You cannot be a gaijin; you must be Japanese.
2. Your proposed half-breed must be OK'd by me.
3. Your mystical/supernatural parent must be of Japanese mythology/folklore. Examples include kitsune (fox spirit), tanuki (raccoon), oni (demon), mamono (monster), youkai (ghosts), kappa, and tengu.
(For some inspiration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_creatures_from_Japan)
Now for the rules:
1. No Godmodding. I have to be sure people understand that it has no place with me.
2. Keep OOC chat out of the RP as much as possible, and if you have to say something OOC please mark it by using "[brackets]". Example: And Kigu thought that it wasn't fair. [got to go sleep. bye].
3. As a rule of procedure, please be polite and civil with the other players. I don't want to break up a fight between players, and if I have to I may kick both parties out of the RP for good.
4. We will start once I have players to start, but I wish to have a full cast (4-6 players) before I start doing deep plot stuff.
5. In order to be accepted into this RP, I require that anyone interested submit a character profile (profile template provided below), picture for character (just link it, please) OR a detailed description, and a small paragraph in which you show me an example of your RPing skills.
6. If you are selected for the RP, please keep two little things in mind.
a. This is an online, on-going RP, so please keep up with it.
b. I expect a minimum of three sentences per post. In this hectic world, we often shortcut ourselves when we chat, however, this is not simply chat, so no chatspeak and please use proper punctuation (mistakes are okay, but not a whole lot); this is an interactive story, so let's get descriptions out there; it makes it more fun that way.
7. This is intended to be fun, and I have no problems with romance, so romance lovers rejoice. Also, I have no problems with yaoi, yuri, or heterosexual romances. But be smart about it; I don't want a mod or admin shutting me down because people couldn't keep it PG-13 or less.
CHARACTER APPLICATIONS: IMPORTANT!!!
Okay, here is the profile I want you to follow. Remember, I want full details and descriptions, anything not completed or poorly written will be rejected.
Name: (Anything can work, but try to keep to the theme)
Age: ( Anything from 14 and up, but keep in mind most people died in their 50s or 60s, with those who could afford doctors living up to maybe 70 or 80, and a super-rare few living beyond that. Just remember to play your age )
Gender: (One or the other, no futa please).
Height:
Build:
Eye Color:
Hair Color:
Race:
Picture/Description: (Place link/description here)
Abilities: Half-breed characters may have two minor powers from their supernatural parent, and these powers must be OK'd by me.
Personality:
Sexual Preference:
Hobbies: (Please give us something to work with; just one or two hobbies will suffice.)
History:
Secret Stuff: If there's something dramatic you wish to add to your character, send it to me, and I'll keep it on file for later use in the RP.
