World Building

[Ace Trainer]

Hi guys.

okay so some of you may have heard I've been working on something. Working is kind of a vague term, I've really just been sitting on an idea and trying to figure out if I wanted to commit to it. Been doing a lot of reading around the forum and stuff like that. I wasn't entirely sold on the idea, but, fuck it. Lets take a dive.

I'm going to muse a little, bare with me.

First of all, we have to look at the environment NSRP is. We fill a very specific niche that draws in a lot of people who may not have normally been a part of the forum. NSRP have a very unique mix of PVE and PVP. This however, creates a unique problem because of how balancing works. For a PvE environment, balance isn't too much of an issue. You can have a relatively unbalanced system because you're not worried about ensuring the playing field is even for everyone. These are open environments where in most cases, just about anything goes. In PvP, you have to ensure really balanced environments. For these, creativity in inhibited. There are hard lines drawn in the sand. NSRP is forced to balance the two of them. We try to avoid hard lines, and allow you guys to be creative, but still have to limit and deny things in order to maintain a balance that everyone is okay with.

So keep this in mind.

That being said, the creation of an environment for PvE and for PvP is very different, and we're forced to kind of sit in the middle for that. Again, this means there are hard lines we have to draw some times. A lot of you are interested in things like the spirit realm, religion, gods, origin stories, etc etc. These are hard to establish, and even harder to balance. Also, creating a world requires a lot of moving pieces to all cooperate at once. Hard to do. this is why I draw hard lines on some things, and why I can be relatively secretive about some other things. I don't like talking about parts of the history because I don't want to firmly establish something and then...blah.

Anyways.

We've always said that this is a member driven forum. So, I've decided to just kind of flip the script. Instead of us making an environment for you, you're going to create the environment for you. Origin stories, spirit worlds, wars, countries, etc etc. This is a field day for you guys to do whatever you want.

So here we go.

In this announcement, you guys can post ideas for....anything. In this topic, it will get approved by the staff, then you get to rp it into the canon. However you want. You can do it as actually roleplaying it as the events happening, or you can rp your character discovering it, or whatever you want.Your character discovers a book and reads about it. Or maybe you want to rp as an daimyo from 300 years ago declaring war.

This is a PvE thing mostly, so feel free to go crazy-ish with it. Do whatever you want, i d c.

More importantly, you are building the ENTIRE WORLD. This means you guys have to collaborate to some extent. You need to pay attention to what is being approved in this thread, what people have introduced etc etc. You also need to be mindful of how you guys work. If you do an origin story for a religion, for a country, and some major person in history, there may be an overlap at some point, and the more stuff you guys do before that overlap, the harder it will be to successfully make that overlap work.

Anyways, there are tons of points in it for you guys too.

The OOCs will still sort of have point on this, like they'll be able to reject ideas and junk, but if they're being dickbags about it the staff will overrule them. Cause this has taken too long anyways.

In the next day or so I'm going to post a topic with Inka where I'm going to do an origin story for the primordial forces. so that'll be an example for you guys going forward.

Questions, concerns, comments, as always can be directed however you guys want to direct them

Bye, love you.

Edit: here is the example topic, including the origin story to the universe. Here

[Nick]

First off, really fucking awesome of you to do this. Are there any specific limitations to what we're doing here? You say it's mostly a PVE type thing, but obviously if someone makes out a Daimyo declaring a war, the hidden villages are bound to get involved, yada-yada-blah-blah. And lastly, is all of the approved/completed history/etc going to be placed into a collaborated thread that actually details our world, or is it going to mostly be a word of mouth 'yeah that happened last year' type thing?

[Ace Trainer]

No hard limits. I'm sure there will be limits that we'll find as the OOCs, Vyr and myself approve and deny stuff. But, as you'l see with what I'm doing with Inka, so long as its approved, you can go wild.

This isn't modern day stuff. Its all establishing the environment, history, etc. If you wanted a daimyo to declare war, you could write out the entire war yourself, with another person, or have people create characters for it and treat it as PvP. But it wouldn't be stuff happening NOW, it'd be stuff happening before the current era of the rp.

There will be sections added to the rules, and stuff added to the OOCs pages, for anything that is cleared through, once you guys introduce them to the canon. It getting approved in this thread is not enough, you'll need to actually rp it out for it to become official.

[Ace Trainer]

Topic edited to include sample as promised. It's incomplete due to needing some info before I can proceed with Inka's part, but what's relevant for this topic is done.

[Trusted Grader]

So i can finally canonize Jashinism?

[Takumi]

So i can finally canonize Jashinism?

it already is

viewtopic.php?&t=?p=2019659&t=5898700

[Gara]

I'don't like to work with you on my land of curses in the new country thread. It'd be an interesting house war that left it the way it is, but I'd like the villages or other countries to see it and want the land as their own. For growth reasons and such

[Valkier]

This seems like a good opportunity for me to post these country descriptions up! I submitted these to Nafe awhile ago, and I think he liked them, but since he's lost his green and nothing happened, I'll put 'em here instead. With any luck, there can be some good worldbuilding opportunities.
All the country geography and borders are consistent with our existing world map, just fleshed out a little more, and to my knowledge there's no existing lore that needs to be worked in that I haven't already looked at.

In terms of roleplaying it in, I'd love to put a character of mine on an expedition out to trade with and learn about these 'far-away' (as far as our map can go, at least) lands, hopefully bringing in some other people and making a plot board of it. With all the past wars and instability, trade and cultural differences, I think there's a lot here that I've left completely open to future discovery or development. Anyway, see what you think.

For reference and world map: Link to the Countries Guide.

The Shrimp Continent (Countries 1 to 8)Show

 Overview of the Shrimp Continent:

 Cultural differences:
 Largely isolated except through sparse sea-travel, the Shrimp continent is culturally distinct from the mainland in several ways. The most apparent to any visitor is the shift in language and accent; while the mainland primarily follows Japanese culture, the Shrimp continent does so with Chinese. While the mainland-tongue is spoken and understood in most large towns, locations on the Shrimp continent - countries, towns, notable features of the land, et cetera - are primarily named in Pinyin. Rough translations of the countries are outlined below.

The local population are generally darker-skinned, shorter and stockier than those on the mainland, with very dark hair and dark, almond-shaped eyes being common traits. There are a number of local religions, although only one has risen to dominance within recent generations; Jindàoism, or The Golden Way. With its spiritual centre in Tianguó (Country 4), the religion teaches of a spirial "counter-world" to our own, and many other paired mortal-spirit worlds existing in dimensions beyond discovery. These 'female' spirital realms are the source of 'good' energy and benevolence in the world, including chi (chakra), spirits and good fortune. The 'male' mortal-world is the natural counterbalance, where all that exists is susceptible to evil and corruption over time. As such, anything 'spiritual' -- including ninja capable of utilising chakra -- are seen as fragments of divinity who have been in contact with the spiritual world.

It follows from this that practitioners of the ninja arts are exceedingly rare in the Shrimp continent. Those that exist typically do so in secret, and reject the theories of Jindào. Those that have exposed themselves openly as ninja have, in the past and whether intentional or not, sparked turmoil and war across the continent as faithful and faithless assumed allegiences and clashed. Despite this contrast in beliefs with much of the mainland, foreigners and their trades are typically welcomed in the Shrimp continent, and the people are known for their general lack of xenophobia.

 Recent history and military climate:
 Thirty years ago, the Shrimp continent was a prosperous, peaceful land. The Shénzhèng, chief priest of Jindào in the city-state of Jīnshān, worked for the happiness of the citizens of the continent and, with the Junfá of Laohudì, endeavoured to maintain peace. A brutal coup d'état in Laohudì and a conspiracy to assassinate the Shénzhèng, however, soon plunged the continent into a fierce and agonising decade of war, creating the countries and borders that we see today. The war ended in a fragile, tenuous peace, and although further war has thus far been avoided, skirmishes and minor conflicts between neighbours are still a common occurrence; the old wounds are far from forgotten. The land and its peoples have yet to recover, and while many strive to stabilize their nations and restore peace to the land, there are those among the citizenry and nobility alike that believe a second full-scale war will soon consume the continent again. Borders are unsafe, many smaller villages have ceased to exist in the face of continual invasion, and tensions remain high in the face of political, economic and militaristic turmoil.

In the east, the Junfá of Xùntudi now seeks to reunite the continent in a web of diplomacy and alliances to return the land to peace, as it had been in decades past. The central and western powers, however, are concerned only with their own survival - often through dominance before all else. The armies of Guólóng grow year by year, and Laohudì responds with equal preparations. The border between the two is now a wide stretch of no-mans-land, dominated by half-rebuilt towers and fortifications, outposts and strategically positioned military camps.

 Region map:

Region nomenclature
Country #	English Translation	Pinyin	Romaji
Continent	Shrimp Continent	Lù Xia	Ebitaishu
1	Land of Tides	Cháodì	Shio no Kuni
2	Land of Floods	Xùntudi	Kozui no Kuni
3	Land of Monkeys	Hóuzidì	Saru no Kuni
4	Land of Heaven	Tianguó	Enmansujo
5	Land of the Tiger	Laohudì	Tora no Tochi
6	Land of the Dragon	Guólóng	Hiryuu no Tochi
7	Isle of Serpents	Daoshé	Janoshima
8	Isle of the Great Mountain	Dàshanzhou	Daiyamatou

 Other terms:
Junfá; A warlord or leading figure of a country; essentially the local title for a Daimyo.

Country 1Show

  Country 1:Cháodì: Shio no Kuni: The Land of Tides

 Geography:

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 Cháodì is a small nation forming the eastern peninsula of the Shrimp continent, far to the south of the mainland. Its terrain is relatively flat, forming lowland plains that gradually rise towards rolling foothills to the west that lead into a pass of low mountains at the border of Xùntudi.

The majority of Cháodì's land is covered by varying densities of temperate, mixed broad-leaf forests. Open plains roll down to the south-western and the north-eastern coasts, the latter of which become dense mangrove swamps for a small distance. The countries northern coast is composed of a series of cliffs and sheltered bays, broken by occasional beaches and off-shore reefs.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 Despite its potential in expansive grasslands, the soil of Cháodì is relatively poor and provides little agricultural wealth for the nation beyond basic sustenance. While the forests are rich in wildlife, particularly grazing herbivores, the small population of the nation are uncommon hunters and largely prefer instead to survive on fishing and marine agriculture.

The coasts of Cháodì are rich in life, providing a diverse and sustainable source of food for its people. Fishing also provides the country with its chief export, and farming for oyster pearls provides a rare luxury resource. In addition to this, the expansive forests provide a steady supply of lumber, much of which is traded over the border to Xùntudi, Tianguó, and beyond.

The weather patterns over Cháodì are mostly as expected from a coastal region; high winds and rain are frequent with the occasional storm, however as one moves inland the forests and low-lying basins provide a degree of natural shelter, and year-round the climate can be considered fairly mild.

 Politics and History:

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 Cháodì is known to have a very small population, about a quarter of which reside in its capital town, Haizhong, situated on its southern shore. The remainder generally live in small coastal fishing communities and trading ports. While Haizhong has a degree of local administration, the nation has no official leader or established governmental structure, and law quickly becomes forgotten once the capital is out of sight. Most communities are left to organise and fend for themselves in the event of trouble.

And trouble appears often. The land is overwhelmingly poor despite the prevalence of natural resources available for trade, and this is almost entirely due to frequent raiding. Daoshé to the north is a plague upon the coasts of Cháodì, seizing whatever prizes they can find - whether they be gold, resources, or the helpless citizens themselves. Captives are often sold into slavery or kept for labour. Many of the trade deals between Cháodì and Xùntudi to the west are heavily in favour of the latter, who regard Cháodì as uncivilized and desperate. With such a small population, no central leadership, and little to no supporting infrastructure, the nation is powerless to resist either drain on its society, leading the people to continue to suffer on quietly year by year as their country slowly declines into deeper and deeper poverty.

Country 2Show

  Country 2: Xùntudi: Kozui no Kuni: The Land of Floods

 Geography:

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 Separated from the eastern peninsula of the Shrimp continent by the Shíkuò Range, Xùntudi contains terrain that is greatly envied by its neighbours to the west. The Shíkuò Range serve both as a physical barrier against any future threat from Cháodì and as a meagre source of ores and minerals for use by the nation's tradespeople. Much of both the northern and southern coastlines are protected by steep cliffs and treacherous undersea rocks, making them easily defensible against naval assault. The southern half of the country is dominated by very dense mixed broad-leaf forest, which gradually thins and gives way to tropical grasslands and savannah to the north.

On the border between the two biomes and roughly following the curve of the Shíkuò Range footprint rests a long and thin lake. The city of Húzhèn has been built up on the lake's western shore and is the only major settlement that remains in the nation. Xùntudi's western border meets that of Hóuzidì along its full length, from the seas in the north to the coast of the southern ocean, and while many areas are disputed and fought over between the two, the actual border has not moved since the end of the last war.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 The broad-leaf forest in the south of Xùntudi is teeming with a diverse range of flora and fauna and many local populations thrive through trapping, hunting and logging alone. The tropical savannah to the north is much more sparse, but provides a natural habitat to many larger mammals and free-roaming cattle. The land that meets the shores of the lake in the center of the country is largely dedicated to farming, providing a sustainable year-round supply of food to the nation's citizens.

Weather patterns across the country are relatively mild, with cold winds blowing down from the eastern mountains and from across the southern seas, and warmer air circulating from the north and west. Rainstorms are incredibly common, with clouds rising from the mountains in Hóuzidì and rolling eastward, or coming in from over the oceans.

In terms of resources, Xùntudi is largely self-sufficient, with supplementary support and resources traded to and from Cháodì. The main revenue of the nation is earned through craft secrets, created using locally sourced ore and lumber which provides a reliable source of income from overseas trade routes. Xùntudi ironwork and furnishings have circulated in rare cases as far away as the great nations away to the east, primarily the lands of Wind and Water where they can fetch incredible prices.

 Politics and History:

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 Given the small size of the country, Xùntudi is a surprisingly prosperous place. With lots of fertile land for expansion and natural resources, it has become a very stable nation among those of the Shrimp continent. Although it lacks the great military might required to compete wholly with the larger nearby nations, its borders are entrenched and fortified enough to remain secure. Such a reliable economy and military strength is complimented by an expansive feudal system, with a Daimyo at its head and many tiers of organisation below. Raids from Daoshé to the north are rare given the strength of arms and danger of Xùntudi's coast, with the attackers generally preferring the easier pickings elsewhere on the continent. Hóuzidì, to the west, frequently attempts to test the borders of Xùntudi with small organised forces, but outside of these minor disputes there are have been no large conflicts in recent history.

The Junfá of the country is an expert in diplomacy and aims to use the stability and security of his nation to push the rest of the Shrimp continent closer towards a lasting peace. With a cabinet of over a hundred advisors (many of whom are relations by blood to some degree), he has a firm grasp on all aspects of his nations internal and external policies. Under his rule, the country has enjoyed a generation of relative happiness. The citizens are well educated, healthy and happy; and with all such luxuries have a tendancy to look down upon their neighbours to the east and west as less civilized folk.

Country 3Show

  Country 3: Hóuzidì: Saru no Kuni: The Land of Monkeys

 Geography:

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 Relative to others on the Shrimp continent, Hóuzidì is regarded as being a fair size, stretching from mangrove swamps along its southern shore to the mountains and grasslands that dominate the northern coast. The eastern reaches of the great central desert occupy the middle of the nation and create a geographical barrier that almost splits the country into two smaller states. Nestled between the foothills of two peaks in the north, and along the shores of a small inland sea, lies the capital city, Zhōngyǎn.

In the south, the Jìntóu mountains tower up at the edges of the desert and block access to the coast. The only passage through these mountains also leads directly to the town of Chéngmò, beyond which lie much more temperate Mediterranean forests which thrive between the shadow of the mountains and the great sea to the south.

Another span of rocky highlands rise from the desert's northern edge, marking a change in conditions. Beyond this, the desert gives way to sparse tropical savannah, fed by mountain run-off streams, lakes and rainfall coming in from the seas to the north. A small inland sea forms a bay on the northeastern coast, on the south of which lies the capital. To the west of there, the land rises steeply into rocky and grassy highlands, before eventually ending in a border on the slopes of Fù Shan, the second highest peak on the Shrimp continent.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 Hóuzidì is host to a diverse range of ecological regions, ranging from temperate forests and coasts in the south to the arid deserts through the center of the nation and the tall Jìntóu mountains, as well as plains of savannah and shrubland in the north. With the exception of the great desert region, life is abundant and varied, and the people of Hóuzidì enjoy commons sights of a wide range of flora and fauna.

The mountains of Hóuzidì contain scarce resources, and much of the nation's trade resources lie in crops from its arable northern plains. Economically, the country benefits greatly from taxation on trade routes passing through their lands and through previous diplomatic agreements with Tianguó, however this latter source of income ceased with the war thirty years ago. Since then, Hóuzidì have exercised military might to secure the resources and riches they require, raiding wherever they see opportunity.

 Politics and History:

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 Hóuzidì occupies a crucial position in the center of the Shrimp continent, and has had to defend its borders against the press of invasion many times throughout its history. Although Xùntudi to the east have never officially attacked the nation, Hóuzidì's Junfá is ever cautious of their strength and suspicious lack of open aggression; they are a threat to nation, and one which is always being tested and gauged by small skirmishes along the border. Xùntudi's rich and fertile lands are highly desirable to Hóuzidì, and the Junfá is keen to push for aggression and conquest in the region as soon as the opportunity presents itself, however thus far their neighbour is proving staunch and stable against both investigation and assault. Such a conquest, if it could be achieved, would establish Hóuzidì as a major power on the Shrimp continent, securing themselves against present threats and granting them the strength to expand further and on to greatness.

Historically, Tianguó was never a concern; the small city-state did not have the military ambition to cause problems for Hóuzidì, and although the lands were exceedingly wealthy, much of that fortune came to Hóuzidì through diplomacy and trade. Further west, Laohudì have always been a clear and substantial threat, and much of Hóuzidì's strength has been exhanged many times over with that country. Were it not for Laohudì's priorities elsewhere, Hóuzidì might well have been conquered generations ago. With the outbreak of war thirty years previous, however, Tianguó came into their own as a military power and arose as a threat to Hóuzidì, and the nation lost a lot of ground to the former city state. Although some of that land has since been reclaimed and firmly fortified, the present-day borders of Tianguó still largely consist of seized friendly territory.

Country 4Show

  Country 4:Tianguó: Enmansujo: The Land of Heaven

 Geography:

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 At the heart of the Shrimp continent, Tianguó is a nation landlocked on three sides, spanning approximately two hundred and fifty kilometers at its widest point. Its southern coast is dominated by a range of tall mountains which the pious locals have for long generations called the Pillars of Heaven. On their far slopes the land falls quickly and sharply away into the vast ocean that lies beyond. The lower reaches of the inland northern slopes are swathed with sparse Mediterranean forest which extends for several leagues, before thinning out and disappearing as the land becomes more dry and arid. From here, the country stretches north out into the large desert that runs through the majority of the Shrimp continents length. A number of canyons and hills are scattered through the desert regions, however the continually shifting sands make accurate mapping or exploration of the area nigh impossible.

Halfway along the mountainside on the northern side, a large plateau juts out for some thirty kilometers and creates a wide shelf approximately two and a half thousand meters above sea level. In a wide basin on this shelf lies a great lake known as Jinhú, the Goldwater, created through run-off from the nearby peaks. On its western shores lies the Divine City of Jīnshān, the capital of the nation and former jewel of the Shrimp continent. Far to the north, amid the shifting desert sands, rests the only other remaining large town of the once prosperous country; a trading-post turned military compound, Lù'dào.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 The desert that occupies the central reaches of Tianguó provides only rare cases of life, usually in the form of small insects and reptiles. Beetles, scorpions and snakes are the most common, with rodents and carrion birds emerging by night. As the desert gives way to dry shrub-land and eventually Mediterranean forests, life becomes far more abundant. Rainfall and run-off from the nearby mountains create a fertile region where woodland species can thrive and the land is rich enough to support many types of crop farming, while the summer heats are still significant enough to support the culturing of exotic fruits and spices. Where the deserts are brutally hot during the day and freezing by night, the sheltered regions near the mountains provide a much more stable, temperate zone. Cold ocean winds passing over the mountains and mixing with the arid air of the deserts often results in fierce storms, although these are usually far enough away from the few major settlements to be of little concern. The main consequence of these is the continual picking-up and depositing of sand across large stretches of the desert, giving the region the nickname of the "shifting sands".

In these forests, and on the slopes beyond the mountain shelves, many larger mammals thrive. Mountain goats and birds of prey are common sights, but are both dwarfed in quantity by the diversity of other life. Bears, monkeys, tigers and antelope are commonly hunted for sustenance or the fur trade, and there is a large local profit in the growth and processing of many herbs, spices and lumbers.

The main wealth of the nation stems from veins of gold discovered within the mountains themselves, which have for many years been exploited by Tianguó, boosting it to be one of the wealthiest and grandest nations on the continent. It is incredibly common here, and in years past people have successfully led extravagant lives through nothing more than panning along the shores of Jinhú or the rivers that feed into it.

 Politics and History:

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 Tianguó began as a small, yet stable and prosperous city-state in the shadows of the mountains, famed for its religious freedom and piety. The city of Jīnshān, on the shores of Jinhú, housed one of the greatest temples in the known world; a vast shrine of Jindào, and the nation was led by a religious figurehead: The Shénzhèng, messenger and representative of their divine pantheon. The entrepreneurial spirit of the free peoples of the city soon discovered the vast wealth of gold in the nearby mountains, and very quickly the small nation erupted with untold fortunes.

Thereafter, for many generations, Tianguó was known across the Shrimp continent as the jewel of the south. Its vast fortunes in gold and its strong religious ideals created what many believed to be a seat in paradise, with gleaming white-and-gold walls encircling their plateau-city and multitudes of shrines reaching out across the desert. Their wealth was so great that they conquered the shifting sands of the desert to the north, establishing within it a rich and vibrant trading outpost to better access and draw their neighbours' interests.

But thirty years ago, their prosperous political climate came to a dramatic, brutal change. Unrest and war brewing in the west erupted, and for reasons very much still speculated over, the Shénzhèng of Tianguó was assassinated. At once the veil of peace and prosperity over the country vanished, and it became a nation of panicked and helpless citizens. Wars between Laohudì and Hóuzidì almost crushed the peaceful state, consuming many of its former lands and pushing Tianguó to the brink of destruction; it quickly became a lucrative prize for whichever neighbouring country could seize it first and hold it against the other.

After a few months of terror, a resistance faction arose in the rubble of Jīnshān, amassing their influence and wealth to gain control over the remaining peoples. Years of internal strife were revealed as this new government seized power over the nation and established themselves as firm military dictators; those citizens who resisted disappeared, and those who didn't resist became oppressed and abused to the point where submission became the natural way of life. Confusion and treachery triumphed, transforming the once peaceful religious state into a reborn, hardened military regime, hell-bent on its own survival - at any cost.

Whatever the price, the new government was successful in its efforts to save the country. The white walls of Jīnshān are now stained and decrepit, and no one remains who sees the country for what it once was - but its borders are now at least relatively stable and the country remains.

Country 5Show

  Country 5: Laohudì: Tora no Tochi:The Land of the Tiger

 Geography:

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 One of the largest countries of the Shrimp continent, Laohudì is sandwiched between Tianguó to the south-east, Hóuzidì to the north-east, and Guólóng to the west. Daoshé lies to the immediate north, only a short sail away across the Daoshé Straits. As with its neighbours, the nations central landmass is almost entirely desert and xeric shrubland that provides little domestic value to its inhabitants. There remain many stories and tales of ancient cities and countries that once existed among its sands, but nothing now remains save occasional rumours of ruin sightings or unearthed trinkets. Many deep canyons and crevasses run through the desert beneath the surface of the sand, adding additional peril to those who try to cross.

The real land wealth of the country lies in the northern and southern extremes of its borders. To the north, it meets Hóuzidì by a border that crosses the peak of Fù Shan, the second highest point on the continent. East of this the land falls steeply into a fertile lowland, sheltered from the elements by a second set of highlands further east, and Daoshé to the north across the Daoshé Straits. In this valuable patch of arable land lies the nations capital, Bófeng, as well as its vast seaport through which the majority of the countries' trade flows.

Far to the south a large mountain plateau rises, the west side of which is so steep and impassable that it creates a natural border with neighbouring Guólóng. This region is filled with mineral wealth, and a sizeable portion of Laohudì's military and economical strength is sourced here in iron, silver and other resources both strategical and luxurious. The high altitudes are utilized by the people to escape the searing heat and inhospitability of the deserts below, and as such they contain various small communities and military camps. Together, they secure most of the mountains against ongoing attempts by Guólóng to push the residents of Laohudì out. In a small valley situated in a nook just to the east of the plateau is a large town, Lèyuán. A rare stream flows from the heights down here, creating an unlikely paradise tucked away in the shadow of a steep gorge, where dwellings are built clinging onto cliff-like walls and infrastructure is composed of networks of hanging bridges and ropes.

Along the foot of the southern plateau, running from the eastern border with Guólóng and following the coast to the edge of Tianguó lies a stretch of thinning Mediterranean forest. Although it is a region that is vital to the survival of the nearby population due to the source of foodstuffs provided, it is growing smaller through logging year by year which adds continual strain to the local ecosystem. A number of small ports dot the coast, although they are largely military fortifications that act as a deterrant to Guólóng. A large wall and fortress occupies the southwestern coast between the end of the mountain plateau and the start of the sea.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 Given that Laohudì is dominated by the great central desert that runs through the heart of the continent, it is therefore no surprise that its range of flora and fauna is fairly small. In these regions one can travel for many days without witnessing life, although a trained eye may discover tracks of rodents, insects and some small subterranian species that, as a rule, prefer not to be disturbed. Most of the ecological value in Laohudì follows its northern coastline, where cooler air and moisture from the Daoshé Straits provides better conditions. Unlike neighbouring regions of this coastline, the mountain Fù Shan and another range of highlands provide a good degree of shelter against storms and create an almost idyllic river-fed envionment in which the nation's capital is seated.

The Mediterranean forests in the far south of the country have for many generations provided a valuable source of food and raw lumber for the developing nation, however the region is now overcultivated and is at increasing risk of vanishing entirely. However, as with the ores and minerals of the mountain plateau on the west border, these are not prime source of the country's prosperity; that comes from silk. A rare and prized species of silkworm is found among the deserts of Laohudì, and is heavily exploited to produce some of the finest fabrics in the known world. The "silk road" is a network of traderoutes that run the length of the country from its origin in the southern sands, through the great desert and to the sprawling ports of the northern coast, where the valuable products are widely exported. This rare and luxurious resource grants Laohudì a wealth almost comparable to that of Tianguó's gold industry, and allows the nation to field an impressively large military.

 Politics and History:

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 Laohudì has a very turbulent, wartorn history. Holding a prominent and lucrative central position on the Shrimp continent, it has throughout the past been targeted by nations on all sides and this has created a country whose people are constantly on high alert. With the wealth of the silk trade beginning within its southern deserts, it is a tempting target; however the value of such a resource is sufficient to employ and support a sizeable military counterweight.

Local traditions suggest that the origins of the nation lie in conflicts between previously nomadic desert tribes, however few reputable accounts remain of such times and these beginnings are rarely supported by histories of the surrounding continent. One fragment of these origins does remain, however, in that all young men and woman are encouraged to cross the great desert and emerge safely on the far side before they can be considered adults; walking the path of their ancestors and facing the hardships of the desert is said to forge their bodies and minds ready for the challenges of adulthood in such a rough country. The beginning of recorded history starts many centuries after the supposed era of these nomads, however a warlike and aggressive culture has always been firmly rooted in the country's people.

The ruling warlord of Laohudì fits this demographic well. An ambitious yet paranoid man, he is widely regarded as a confident and talented military commander. He sees enemies on every side, and dreams of expanding his nation at any cost; he is the type of leader who has a vision of a better future, and will chase it through any hardship. He rose to power thirty years ago when he orchestrated the assassination of the previous Junfá in a brutal coup d'état, seized control of the military assets of the nation and immediately began killing off his opposition; the event is recorded today as the Night of the Hundred Wolves for the (supposedly) one hundred assassins and their targets.

One such target was the Shénzhèng, the religious leader of Tianguó, an advocate of peace and prosperity who had been working closely with the previous Junfá of Laohudì. It was this assassination that plunged the continent into a bloody war that rewrote the borders visible today. Laohudì spent much of its military strength in the war, but in doing so claimed large tracts of land from both Tianguó and Hóuzidì, and prevented any advance from Guólóng to the west. The conflict only ended when each nation realised that no further ground could be gained, and the combatants were forced to turn their attentions to broiling internal strife or else be shattered from within.

Country 6Show

  Country 6:Guólóng: Hiryuu no Tochi: The Land of the Dragon

 Geography:

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 Similar in size to Laohudì, Guólóng is one of the largest nations on the Shrimp continent, and boasts a very diverse range of environments. A thin strip of mangrove swamp runs the entire length of its southern shores, which blend into dense Mediterranean forests further inland. These extend for approximately a third of the country's north-to-south distance, and are broken by two small mountain formations. These are known as the Westmount and Eastmount ranges, respectively, although each consist of far more than a single peak. The Eastmount range is the higher of the two (and includes the third tallest peak of the continent), snow-clad all year round, while the Westmount range remains a more habitable temperature with its flatter, gentler profile.

A plethora of rugged highlands cover the southeast of the nation, between the Eastmount and the mountains of Laohudì, while many valleys and plains cover the western reaches up to the foothills of the Westmount range. North of the forests that cover these regions, the great central desert divides the land and continues far out into and beyond Laohudì to the east and reaches to the very shore of the western seas. On the northern coasts the desert thins to become tropical savannah and sparse grasslands, with many rolling hills and sheltered bays. On the northwestern tip of the continent lies a large coastal inlet which is actually sunken swampland, and is now a dense spread of mangrove swamps.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 The wide swamps of Guólóng are host to a great many species, some of which are not found anywhere else in the known world. The snow-clad heights and peaks of the Eastmount range are too steep and high to culture much life, but the lower plateaus of Westmount are home to a range of mountain-dwelling goats, deer and reclusive bears as well as many types of birds of prey, wildcats and horses. The hills and valleys of the south are filled with forest animals, providing a healthy hunting and trapping culture to sustain and provide trade for the local populations. The central desert is home to only the hardiest of plants and animals, namely cacti, snakes, scorpions, beetles, rodents and the occasional flock of carrion birds. Along the northern coasts life becomes more abundant among the tropical savannahs, and many small communities thrive here through a combination of agricultural farming, fishing and hunting.

The climate of Guólóng is just as varied as the land. The southern coasts recieve plentiful rainfall from stormfronts moving in from the oceans beyond, and the northern coasts are subject to harsh weather coming into the Daoshé and from the seas to the north. The central desert is very arid and dry, but kicks up frequent dust storms which make passage across it difficult during the warmer months when they are more common.

In terms of resources the nation is relatively self-sufficient. The forests and mountains to the south provide enough raw materials to support its various communities, and most inhabited areas provide ample quantities of foodstuffs and trade products. Guólóng is likely as large and as stable as it is due to its well-maintained infrastructure network, with roads and caravan routes maintained between its many settlements - including those that cross its central desert.

 Politics and History:

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 While there is continual border conflict with Laohudì to the east and the rare raid along the northern coasts from Daoshé, Guólóng capitalizes on its relative security as the westernmost region of the Shrimp continent; with no threats from the south or west, it has for many generations thrived by being able to focus its attentions on the sole main threat to the east. From such a strong position, with all the resources and territory its people need, the country boasts an impressive army and a sizeable navy, and many believe that it has enough military strength to crush its neighbour of Laohudì should the two nations come to blows. However, since Guólóng's security and efficiency stems from its infrastructure, such a war effort would become less and less effective the more land it seized, which keeps Guólóng relatively conservative in its ambitions.Instead, the Junfá of the country appears content to maintain a strong border with Laohudì by fortifying the outer regions, rebuffing any invasion attempt and securing peace with his neighbour through fear of retaliation more than anything else.

The Junfá rules from his seat in the nations capital of Ximén, located in a great valley in the central south of the country. Ximén is now one of the largest single settlements on the continent, having been allowed to flourish for many years in the relative security of the west. A number of smaller towns dot the southern regions of the country, particularly among the foothills of the Westmount range where mining communities are common. From these areas the Junfá's influence stretches north, securing the desert through a great network of watchtowers and trading posts, before eventually it reaches the northern ends of the country. On the northern coast lies the country's second largest city, Beimén, from which Guólóng carries out much of its overseas trade with the mainland.

Country 7Show

  Country 7: Daoshé: Janoshima: The Isle of Serpents

 Geography:

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 Daoshé is a small island, little larger than nearby Cháodì, which lies sandwiched between the spires of Dàshanzhou and the rugged shores of the northern Shrimp continent. Most of the island is covered with flourishing temperate broad-leaf and mixed forests, which reach from the central areas of the island up to and along the highlands on its northern coasts. A thin strip of xeric shrubland runs close to the southern coast in the unsheltered region that is scoured of rich plant-life from the rough Daoshé straits. The land rises up to the north, before suddenly falling away into the sea in a range of steep cliffs.
The coasts of Daoshé are very varied, with many sheltered bays, inlets and natural cave systems close to the shore that make it a haven for raiders and smugglers alike.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 Daoshé generally receives very fair weather, likely due to the relative shelter provided by Dàshanzhou to the north and the rest of the Shrimp continent to the south, although rough seas along the Daoshé straits often carry storms over the coast. These stretches of the southern coast are mostly devoid of all but the hardiest grasses and trees due to the harsh salty winds, but further inland the ground becomes much more fertile. By the time one reaches the mixed forests the ground becomes nutrient rich and ideal for farming, although that is only rarely done so by the local population who prefer other means of sustenance.

Aside from the land quality, Daoshé offers little in the form of exploitable resources. Fishing is a strong food industry and used to feed the various villages, but it has never been performed at a level that would allow much in the way of exports. Many people speculate that it is this lack of natural raw materials that first drove the peoples of Daoshé to raiding and piracy, although it is more likely now a tradition and heritage among the citizens rather than their only option to survive. These activities account for almost all of the nations collective wealth, with riches plundered from anywhere they can be seized.

 Politics and History:

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 The peoples of Daoshé compose a strong and fierce warrior society, with personal standing and importance based on skill in battle and victories won. This creates a very fractured, unstable relationship between neighbouring communities as more often than not there is no single leader among the people. Typically each village or region is ruled and organised by those within with the most influence over their peers. Local folklore frequently alludes to past or future "kings" of warriors who were, or will be, so great so as to unite the land; however in practise it is doubtful that this has or ever will happen due to the inherent nature of the people to fight one another and defy order in pursuit of more immediate gains.

This, of course, leads to the nation having a long and bloody history of warfare, much of which is not well documented. Since the prime concern of the people is war, little thought is given to cultural or personal development; education is minimal, healthcare is crude and the only crafts of major renown are those of martial relevance, such as shipbuilding and practical weaponsmithing. The ability to read and write is scorned by most individuals, meaning histories, treaties, news and other information is primarily passed only through word of mouth from parent to child.

With each community being independent of the others, all but the smallest fishing villages venture out to raid the various shipping lanes and port towns of the Shrimp continent to bring in the supplies and wealth needed for daily life. Cháodì and Laohudì are the main targets due to their vulnerability and richness, respectively. An unusual point of note is that the residents of Daoshé, warriors included, revere the secret peoples of Dàshanzhou and deliver tribute frequently to the safest shores of their northern neighbour. It is believed that they consider the peoples of Dàshanzhou to be heralds, messengers or descendants of a God or Gods; although their exact religious beliefs appear to vary wildly between different communities, and is the source of much in-fighting. On one thing they all agree - if they do not pay sufficient tribute, be it in gold, exotic goods, supplies, slaves or prized possessions (typically weapons) to their "superiors" on the northern island, they will retaliate with divine fury, bringing the storms and seas against Daoshé.

Country 8Show

  Country 8:Dàshanzhou: Daiyamatou: The Isle of the Great Mountain

 Geography:

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 Dàshanzhou is often considered the great herald of the Shrimp continent, a monolithic twin-peaked mountain rising from the churning seas that is the first sight any traveller will find south of the mainland. Its forested shores are deceptively inviting, for many treacherous rock spires, reefs and underwater currents surround the island which makes any uneducated approach an exercise in lethal futility.
These coastal forests rise quickly into steep foothills, hiding scattered valleys and gorges, and eventually into the high slopes of the mountains themselves. Of the two peaks the western is the greater, both in height and footprint, and its spine and shoulders are year-round entrenched in deep snow that, beyond the clouds, glimmers in the sun. The eastern peak is several hundred meters shorter and is a much sharper, unbroken spire. The western peak is suspected to be the highest point in the Shrimp continent.

Many rivers and gulleys run from the twin mountains down into the forests and seas below, and the few travellers that have ever escaped the island speak of places with wondrous beauty - from secret valleys and hidden stairs in the mountains to lush vibrant forest hollows that seem untouched by humanity. A high lake rests on the eastern tip of the island, fed by a great waterfall that begins high up in the mountains, cascading down hundreds of meters and creating a breathtaking sight.

 Ecology, Climate and Resources:

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 There have been very few attempts to study the ecology of Dàshanzhou due to the difficulty in reaching (much less leaving) its shores. The forests appear to teem with exotic life, with many-colored birds and unlikely mammals a common sight. Species that elsewhere in the world have been hunted to extinction thrive on the isolated terrain, making it a haven for the weird and wonderful. Although beautiful, much of the flora and fauna is considered dangerous, with many local toxins and poisons having no known antidote simply because of their rare and unique nature.

The few areas of the island that can be considered lowlands are well sheltered by a thick forest canopy, although the northern, western and eastern coasts are exposed to the fury of the seas beyond and are frequently battered by approaching storm fronts. The peaks of the mountains are frequently obscured by clouds and storms are common. The heights are largely dry and rocky slopes, too steep in many places to accommodate much in the way of plant or animal life, although hidden valleys exist on the island that are said to be near paradisiacal in terms of their beauty and ecological wealth.

Such a rich variety of animal life would no doubt provide a unique source of rare and valuable hides, furs, meats and animals to trade - should anyone dare to try and secure or export them. Due to the limited area of lowland, agriculture is non-existent and would no doubt require the clearing of large swathes of forest to achieve. No surveys to date have been recorded concerning mineral wealth or mining opportunities of the mountains and surrounding terrain.

 Politics and History:

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 Most of the world regards Dàshanzhou as a forbidden gem; most attempts to even approach the island result in tragic shipwrecks and many lost lives, and the vast majority of landfall attempts over the long years have resulted in failure - the few who reach its shores are rarely ever heard from again, and those that are speak of impassable terrain, deadly wildlife and claim divine interference preventing their passage inland. In reality, the island is already occupied; but by a very small, very secretive tribe that reside in the hidden valleys and gorges of the towering mountains. Experts of their land, they alone know the routes and passages that allow approach to and from the shores, through the forests and into their precious highlands. They are fiercely protective of the island, attacking, killing or enslaving all those who encroach on their domain.

 Highly religious, this small community spend most of their lives at high altitudes and in difficult conditions which makes them incredibly hardy and adaptive. Of all the peoples of the Shrimp continent, their subculture is the most secretive and little is known about them beyond their relationship with their island neighbours of Daoshé - which even then is little-known further afield. In their own eyes, the peoples of Dàshanzhou are subservient only to their diety, a monotheistic entity who controls and creates all aspects of life and death. They consider themselves beyond the call or question of other humans and life, and only tolerate the "savages" of Daoshé due to that peoples' reverence for Dàshanzhou and its tribe.

[Ace Trainer]

You guys are really thinking way too grand with this stuff, lmao. It doesn't need to be a huge plot or anything.

Also keep in mind this is historical stuff, not stuff happening now. You don't need to be incorporating a ton of information.

Also, country discovery is unnecessary since we're just going to add countries to the maps like we were before. This is more about stuff like..history for the grand 5, origin stories for stuff significant to the lore (jutsu styles, spirits, etc)

[Gara]

Origin of the death of the sharingan? Haha. WAIT what about the clan purge of kiri? Thatd be a cool thing to write out. Have some of the mod killed clans be wiped out completely in the story.

[Ace Trainer]

Thats already established in the Canon....this is for you guys to establish new information...

[Jinan B]

The events relating to the establishment of the first Kage?

nvm saw new stuff post

The defeat of the Genma and the un-enslavement of mankind?

Probably still counted under not new stuff

The discovery and establishment of Kiri as a Konoha penal colony? Maybe throw in how the local populace where killed/pushed out when it was first made or smth like that?

The creation and subsequent destruction of a 6th Shinobi Village back when it was only the big three? (so like, random Daimyo sees big three, thinks he's hard, gets a small handful of MN to train his subjects, other villages discover what's going on, kill Daimyo + destroy village)

[Ace Trainer]

Guys. :| don't just spitball ideas. Come to this thread with solid, thought out, coherent ideas that add depth, history or purpose to the existing universe.

[Red X]

I had the Idea to finally make Uchiha cannon and purge them from the land. Uchiha would lose to the senju, and instead of joining them as losers, they would leave the main land in search of a place where they could rebuild and comeback stronger. So they set out to sea, and of course the only place they discover is water country. The various clans that make up Kiri could be locked in struggle (kind of like how the native americans were back in the day) and when the Uchiha show up they make a push to eliminate the other clans and take over the land. This pushes the other Clans to unify and mercelessly kill the Uchiha, who under the combined assault perish. No sharingan survivors, no one to awaken it again since after all this will be hundreds of years ago. It would finally add the Uchiha to cannon (because why the hell not), and greatly explain how so many clans in such a small space all came to unify under a single banner.

[Director]

I'm gonna go ahead and say that's probably a definitive no Red. Because while yes we could just say they don't exist anymore, there is no possibility of them existing once again. Someone will complain about that, and make an issue of it. And its generally been agree'd that they've never existed and never will. But I appreciate the creativity behind it, and hell if you wanna make some extinct clan ideas that's cool. Just no Uchiha.

[Taiga]

So we can finally do our Spirit World characters AKA like Envy's dude?

Alright, sweet.

Wars for the wellsprings guy.

You can't say no to the Uchiha, if someone actually makes it IC. I.e. the uchiha I was going to post... but modifying history like that and inserting them without reason/current characters tied in seems silly

[Legacy]

Something that I've always been curious about was the era of the first breed of Kage. Historically speaking they did exist but no real records have been found on them so, with time provided I would like to do a thread based upon the early forming of the villages. If anything it could give perspective as to why things are the way they are now. Any volunteers to help get this concept off the ground? (one person from each village to play as the corresponding kage ) others welcome.

[Gara]

I'd like to see threads pre-village. Why did the clans align the way they did, how were ninja taught pre-academy. Etcetera

[Ace Trainer]

Need you guys to be a little more specific but this is do-able.

[Legacy]

I'll open a discussion thread where the details can be fleshed out and bring it up here later. sound good?

[Gara]

In canon the clans, pre-village, were hired as assassins and often were at war with each other. After senju and uchiha made their alliance other clans did the same. I would like to do threads showing each clan making it's alliance with another, and the villages coming into existence. Like...were Nara and awai at war with each other before joining konoha? Stuff like that

[Ace Trainer]

You're speaking too broadly, Gara. We need to know specific so that it can be ran by the appropriate people. Which clans, what happened, etc. Be detailed.

[Gara]

I get to decide? o.O I figured that'd be up to the OOCs. I was just giving ideas for yall.

[Director]

I can go ahead and tell you I definitely planned the Senju and Yamanaka to be at war for a time. Nara and Awai are chill with each other since its like a brethren clan.