Empire of the Clouds

Introduction

An empire spreading from the city of Shuto on a continent south of Kara-Tur. (Media:World-18.jpg)

Known as the Empire of the Clouds because most lands under the empire's domain seem to be consistently overcast, hazy or foggy. Emperor Kijin Tono has gained impressive power over the last 25 years by conquering lands starting from the island of Shima, his original domain and spreading his empire West and South into the lands of Nouchi.

Tono's empire has tight control of weapons and metal working throughout the imperial lands.

Imperial Roles

Emperor - Kijin Tono

Gray Coats - aka mist walkers, these are the magic wielding tax collectors of the emperor. They are typically sent when the standard tax collectors fail to sway citizens to pay.

Dark Templars - Religious soldiers of the empire.

Characters

• Chika Cho, played by User:Johnm
• Setsuko
• Ryuchi

Campaign Narrative

Backstory

You are rookie Dark Templars of the Empire, trained to be strictly obedient and merciless in pursuit of your goals - most likely following orders to rise through the ranks.

One of the Gray Coats has gone missing when out collecting taxes to the West. Protocol is for them to check in at least every three days. It has been seven since he was last heard from. If he is found alive, he is to be captured, gagged, bound, blind-folded and returned for questioning. If he is found dead, the murderers should be found and executed, and other peasants in the area are to be reminded of the god-king's power and that their taxes are not to be avoided. They must be reminded that their contributions allow the god-king to protect them from the vile gods and demons that would otherwise plague and torment them.

You are being sent from your base temple in Eigyou in the northwest. There are four villages between Eigyou and the next temple in Ramiin. The Gray Cloak was to visit the second and third village, as the second did not give the tax collectors full pay, and third refused to pay and threatened violence upon the collectors who were forced to flee.

• As always, if there are any youths with the gift of magic encountered, they are to be brought to the empire for training.
• Young able-bodied men or fair-bodied girls are to be taken as laborers for the empire from either of the villages in question.
• Weapons and armor are under strict imperial control. Some blades or tools are allowed by citizens whose occupation require them (Blacksmiths -hammer and shoeing implements, farmer - scythe, butcher - knives, hunter - bow and 1/2 dozen arrows, woodsman or carpenters may be allowed axes). Those with long blades or combat armor typically lose at least fingers for the offense. Dark Templars are generally allowed to be judge, jury and executioner (although death is not often the penalty, as examples are useful).

Three Villages

Having completed the last year of their study at the temple in Eigyou under the tutelage of Korkai. The Chika Cho, Ryuchi, and Setsuo embark on their first imperial mission being led by an older Templar named Ruthas.

The trio left Eigyou by pony after meeting Ruthas in the courtyard outside the temple. They rode throughout the day and made camp that evening without event.

On the 2nd day Ryuchi shot an antelope. The party then visited the first farming village and traded meat for refills of water, questioning some citizens. That evening they rode out of village and setup camp - Ruthas taught Setsuko some butchering and cooking. Setsuko fought shadows while keeping watch. Before the dawn of the fourth day, the watch noticed shadows moving low through the tall grass and warned the party in time to fend off an attack by ravenous wolves.

As the group approached the third city, Ruthas was shot in the arm by a rebellious arrow. They retreated and sent Chika in a burlap sack to break in. She cut her way in through the roughly constructed aspen wall under the cover of darkness and was caught and escorted to a restaurant. While her captors went to gather the seemingly innocent young peasant girl food she ran and opened the village gate. Chaos ensued as dark templars burst into the village on horseback while Chika began the combat with a nut-kick to her pursuer knocking him unconscious. Ruthlessly the angered templars attacked, eventually the combat led to Setsuko slamming a rebel off of a building to land on his head, and Ryuchi eviscerating a poor misled bastard peasant. The party captured Toran, the supposed rebel leader of the village and left back to the east. They left the hands of other rebels severed as an example of the consequences of raising them against the empire. The four templars rode under the cloaked sky back to Eigyou trailing a few young slaves taken as the Empires tax for the villages insolence.