[center][color=8dc73f][b]The Jaded Empire[/b][/color][/center] [center][IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/nd7lnb.jpg[/IMG][/center] [color=8dc73f][b]Name:[/b][/color] The Jaded Empire [color=8dc73f][b]Flag:[/b][/color] Purple flag trimmed with gold and a gold Chinese dragon in the center [color=8dc73f][b]Territory:[/b][/color] The Jaded Empire is mainly Michigan with expansions into Wisconsin and future plans to expand into Ontario. The goal is to control the main Michigan Great Lakes, Superior, Huron, and Lake Michigan. [color=8dc73f][b]Geography:[/b][/color] A large portion of the territory is rolling hills with smaller woods and many fields. The Southern part of Michigan’s agriculture has slowly returned, but yet to yield the same as crops further north. Northern Michigan is largely wooded area, also dotted with an abundance of fields. The weather is cooler, and in the Upper Peninsula small amounts of snow have graced the ground. The Great Lakes help with the precipitation due to lake effect storms which, at times, can present their own problems. There are many rivers and contributories along with many lakes inland that have slowly returned over the years since The Great War. The northern lakes are more user friendly, but some of the southern lakes still contain high levels of radiation. The large point, often referred to as the ‘rabbit ear’ of the Upper Peninsula is known as Spirit Point. Calypso’s main fort is Mackinac Island; she had her people rebuild the Grand Hotel on the island. The Mackinac Bridge is 80% useable at this point, known as The Gateway. The Soo Locks are known as the Passage. Michigan International Speedway is a militia training facility covering a secret. A vault was discovered via entrance through the turn 1 tunnels. The vault, known as 50M, simply served as a safe haven for those whom could afford such a luxury. No experiments were conducted there, nor were any special military needs. The vault ONLY serves for keeping Calypso’s pregnant women and children under 4 safe. Once I figure out this whole Google map thingy, I will make a map with specific points of interest. [color=8dc73f][b]History:[/b][/color] Calypso was raised by Chinese immigrants (CS posted in notable section) Her blood thirsty ways have led her from the far reaches of the Northern Territory down as far as Grayditch. In Grayditch she had a run in with the BOS, and some of the locals banded against her alongside of the tin cans. With turmoil quickly approaching, not only her own, but that of other factions in the D.C. area, Calypso retreated to a more vacant land. A land more reminiscent of her origins. [color=8dc73f][b]Population:[/b][/color] The Jaded Empire border towns surrounding the state is roughly 20,000. The border towns are ages 18-30 with 2 Elders per town. Inland population, and is pretty widely spread is approximately 35,000, with ages of 30-50. The ghoul population is only around for their pre-war knowledge and numbers 325 Super Mutants none. One synth, her main mechanic for the vehicles. [color=8dc73f][b]Government/Domestic Politics:[/b][/color] Calypso The Jaded Empress is The Jade Emperor’s servant, sent to provide eternal slaves for the courts of hell. Calypso has a circle of 30 Jaded Warriors, highly skilled in various forms of combat. If you are in her militia, you eat, sleep, train and serve The Jaded Empress. (A name Shelby mocked one day and Calypso stole it lol) Politics??? Calypso sees something; she will do what it takes to get it. Unless the Spirit at Spirit Point advises against it. She is ruthless, and will only abide to other’s laws if it will benefit her. The Jaded Empire does have a mutual appreciation for the Dark Deities as The Cult. What this comes to is, what is Calypso’s is Calypso’s. Regarding the government of her people. Once the age of 50 has arrived, the person is looked at as if under a magnifying glass. If they served her well, they may get to live out their days in as Elders. They do have the option, given their years of service to either; be a sacred sacrifice to The Jade Emperor, or to live on as an Elder. If their service is deemed last luster, they will be sacrificed as an offering. People in The Empire who question her, or show disbelief in the Jade Emperor get their heart cut out slowly and placed at their feet to be eternally damned. It is customary when a worthy foe has been killed recently or captured to be to be taken to Sacrificial Rock know before the war as Castle Rock. They are skinned alive; their skin is tanned and used in various ways on the Empire’s weapons. Then the foe’s heart cut out at the Sacrificial Rock for a ceremony paying respect to a worthy opponent and Calypso and her two Ambassadors, Shelby and Waylon each take a bite to absorb the fallen’s prowess in war. [color=8dc73f][b]Notable People:[/b][/color] The Jaded Empress Calypso. [hider] Name: Calypso Age: 35 Sex: female Basic physical appearance and attributes: Caucasian, Five foot nine inches and well-toned. Fair complexion, long black corn-rowed hair. She has mixed eye color - one blue one green - and wears sunglasses most of the time to conceal them. She is pretty, but has burn marks on her neck and a scar that runs down from her left eye to her jaw line. Calypso also has a Chinese dragon tattoo sleeve that wraps around her left arm, and ends on her shoulder blade. She uses prostitution to lure people to fulfill her deeds, to enslave, or to set traps for people. Skills: Extremely skilled in melee weaponry Personality: She is arrogant, sadistic, selfish, and cruel. Is a superficial charmer as well, which ends up very badly for those who fall for her act. She is also a cannibal, who enjoys watching people suffer. Seeing people in pain and desperation only fuels her sick and twisted soul. At times, she gets too full of herself, and makes no attempt whatsoever to hide her intentions. Backstory: Calypso's family was slaughtered and fed upon by a group of Chinese remnants. Her life was being spared because the remnants believed her to be a sacred warrior sent from King Yama, the ruler of the Ten Courts of Hell. Raised by an ex-Chinese soldier only known as Sensei Lee in the Canadian territory, Calypso was taught to live by any means necessary. Secluded from civilization, that meant hunt or be hunted, this included the occasional humans that would cross the territory. She was taught the arts of combat daily and religiously treasures her weapons of death. As Sensei used to say: "These are your tools; these weapons are to be an extension of your body, mind and soul. They are your means of survival, meant to deliver death to ALL, who oppose you child. These are your weapons of death; treat them as part of you." At age ten, Calypso was tasked to prove her worth - to prove that she was indeed sent from King Yama as the remnants believed her to be. She was sent into the wilderness for seven days with a Samurai sword, and nothing more than rags for clothing, and returned. . . .[/hider] Shelby Jackson [hider] Name: Shelby Jackson Age: 26 Sex: female Basic physical appearance and attributes: Shelby has pale skin, she stands at five foot six inches tall, bright blue eyes, thin lips and a slender face. Shelby has a delicate frame, and is not nearly as strong as Calypso. Shelby also wears Calypso's trademark, corn rowed hair, hers being blonde with black undertones. She is missing her pinky finger on her left hand, scars on her back from being whipped. Personality: Shelby hangs on Calypso's every word; she is obedient and extremely loyal to Calypso. She is very smart, and creative with constructing weapons, and various slaving tools. When Shelby is away from Calypso she can get quite wild. Occupation: Calypso's protégé, she primarily makes weapons and slaving tools. Shelby also does a majority of Calypso's slave running. Backstory: Shelby was a mischievous child, growing up in North Battleford, a small reestablished settlement, in the Canadian Providence of Saskatchewan; it was a relatively quiet place. After being taught to read and write, she would study anything she could get her hands on. Shelby held a fascination for melee combat, since she was too young for a gun, Shelby would create swords, staffs, and spears from the remainder of petrified trees. Shelby's parents constantly scolded her; the people of the settlement would voice their displeasures with her as well. At the age of ten, Shelby made her first Nuka grenade, to test it out; she tossed it in the settlements Brahmin pen. Needless to say, this caused uproar with the community. Her parents, unable to corral her enthusiasm for chaos, were faced with a daunting decision. They were forced to decide between, having her stay with the town sheriff, a corrupt man Mr. Fusiler was, but he kept the piece in the settlement. Or, they must pack up their family, leave, and never come back. They had no caps, barely enough weapons to hunt with, let alone defend themselves in the wasteland. Her parents relinquished her to Mr. Fusiler. As Shelby began maturing into a young woman, Mr. Fusiler would abuse her, in various ways. This caused her to fester a hatred for everyone in the settlement. The once friendly, outgoing youth, was becoming a wolf in sheep clothing. At fourteen years of age, she heard rumors of a crazed woman, who with her Chinese remnants, were en slaving and slaughtering towns on her way to the States. Shelby had hoped the Battleford would lie in her path. Just after Shelby turned fifteen, her wishes came true. As the local hunters returned with horrific news, the crazed woman, Calypso, had stormed through Lloydminster, and was heading to Battleford. News of this sent everyone into a panic, Shelby relished every second, as she watched the towns people scurry to set up defenses. Mr. Fusiler locked Shelby in the backroom of his barn, as he did so many times before. Over the course of the last year, since Shelby first heard the rumors of Calypso, she had been preparing for this day to come. She would pick the lock to the barn door, and at night, would pilfer various things. Shelby made a staff like no other, using a pair of lawnmower blades, a conductor, braided fuel lines and flamer fuel. Gunfire erupted, along with screams of the people Shelby had grown up with, it actually made her smile, as most of the town has shunned her. They were getting what they deserved, having never taken her accusations of Mr. Fusiler's disgusting acts. Shelby pulled up the wood plank in the floor, where her staff resided, looking it over as she picked it up. She picked the lock on the door, cautiously, she snuck outside. Shelby watched, as Calypso masterfully orchestrated her minions in the takeover of Battleford. Catching some movement behind some brush, Shelby saw Mr. Fusiler take aim at Calypso's back. Igniting her staff, she sprung from her spot, Mr. Fusiler yelled for her to run. Instead, Shelby spun around, and with a loud swoosh and the crackle of flames, she sliced his stomach wide open. Mr. Fusiler's son sought to attack Shelby, she kneeled down, sweeping her staff upward, stabbed the young man in his throat. Shelby heard someone clapping, "Bravo darling, bravo" a dramatic voice called out. Turning to find, Calypso walking over to her, Shelby placed her staff on the ground. "Take me with you" her blue eye sparkled, awaiting Calypso's answer. She saw two of Calypso remnants restraining her parents as they called to her. Calypso looked at them, then back to Shelby, picking up Shelby's staff. "Prove you are indeed worthy of such a request" Calypso said, handing Shelby the staff. Shelby walked over to her parents, without hesitation, they pleaded, apologizing profusely for anything they had ever done to the girl. None of it fazed her, she spun the staff, and executed them right there, no tears, no remorse. She looked at Calypso, she smiled back at Shelby, "very well done indeed, we shall hone your skills my dear, come now." It has been eleven years since then; Shelby has grown into a woman, Calypso's protégé. Calypso shares a special bond with Shelby, a mother like bond. The only person, beside Sensei Lee, that she has ever cared for.[/hider] Waylon [hider]Waylon is 6 foot 2 inches tall and well built, his hair is shaved on the sides with the top combed back. Usually has scruffy facial hair, three day beard I guess you could say. He is not generally talktative, but issues commands with an authority only rivaled by Calypso. He typically wears a mixture of leather and combat armor in combat. When not in combat he can be found wearing jeans, workboots and a sleeveless shirt. He always has a matching pair of 1911 pistols at his sides and a combat knife strapped to his hip. Waylon joined up with The Jaded Empire when Calypso and her merry band of craziness easily wiped out a rival Raider faction whom has been a nuisance to his group. The remaining raiders in his group followed suit, but Waylon excelled in Calypso's grace. He, along with Shelby, acompany Calypso whenever she leaves the territory.[/hider] Aponi [hider]Aponi was brought to The Capital wasteland by a western slave tycoon. She was taken as a gesture of 'good faith' by the tycoon. But that did not matter once the man did not adhere to the rules of The Elusive Rose, Calypso's profitable brothel in Grayditch. Upon his ignoring her no smoking rule; exhaling in Calypso's face, he promptly swallowed steel. Aponi is Native American and is now just 20 years old, very quiet, speaks softly and very timid. She has become Calypso's direct servant, carrying a small carry bag of different items. She has not been trained for combat.[/hider] Regina Torrez (Reggie) [hider]Name: Regina (Reggie) Torrez Age: 27 Race: Hispanic/Native American Sex: female Skills: Reggie always has an ace in the hole ready to play, making her a good cheat at small time poker games. She is handy with tools, but not great, but a Jerry-rigger rather. She is a proficient hunter and trapper and learned from her father how to handle a gun. Physical appearance: 5'8" 130 pounds, Usually she wears her hair in a pony tail, or braided pig tails. Her eyes are golden brown, her skin is olive colored and tans easily. Reggie slender and fit with adequate curves. She has a scar that runs from the bridge of her nose to the center of her right cheek. It's an old wound, and is not much more than a slightly lighter colored line these days. Personality: Reggie is confident, and blunt. She is not afraid to speak her mind, and is not afraid of confrontation. To those not close to her, she comes off as brash, rude and arrogant. But Reggie shows a mutual respect followed by general concern for those she befriends. Reggie believes strongly in old world ways, specifically the late 1800's. She believes if there is a problem, you settle it, no need to wait for the local law dogs to arrive. She would take to an good old fashioned duel in the streets. Where, whether you are right or wrong, if you are the one left standing it doesn't matter anyway. Her feelings about the Great War leave nothing in question. To Reggie, the countries who engaged in the nuclear exchange are cowards. Instead of facing their differences head on, they chose to sit behind their terminals thousands of miles away and utilize satellite technology to do their dirty work. If the issue is brought up, she will carry on about the cowardice of the war. She lives one day at a time, when her time is up, someone, or something will put her down. Weapons & armour/clothing: Prewar, blued, Remington Wingmaster 870 12 gage pump shotgun with orange fiber-optic sights. Carved into the stock is, El diablo, la hija de (The devil's daughter) Twin .357 Magnums with 6 inch barrels and polished Jade inserts on the handles. 10 inch Bowie knife, also with polished Jade inserts in the handle, as well as a spiked knuckle guard (spike knuckles attached) Reggie, down on her luck, took to Calypso's offer to be in her militia after working a short time at The Elusive Rose. Reggie since has been in charge of The Passage.[/hider] Rip [hider]Rip is Calypso's personal butcher in charge of the meat locker. He is short at 5 foot 3 inches but toned. He is well adapted in martial arts. When in combat he utilizes his small frame to sneak close to the enemies and use his throwing knives along with his Kukryie and Samuria blades.[/hider] There are more characters that you will see, Swick, Heart, Louie, Watson and I'm sure more will appear as we go. [color=8dc73f][b]Military:[/b][/color] The Empire values hand to hand combat and the use of blades but, they know in order to fulfill their intentions and defense, they must rely on firepower. They mostly use SKS rifles (Chinese Assault rifles) shotguns, and a variety of whatever they steal…err…I mean purchase. Traverse City airport, now called Cherry City, houses 4 old news choppers (zero weaponry) 2 single engine airplanes 4 deuce and a halves 1 Apache helicopter, missing a turbo shaft, only functional weapon remaining is a 1× 30 mm M230 Chain Gun Unknown to Calypso, 1 Enclave power armor and 1 BOS power armor, smuggled out of Grayditch by Brandy and Bob Dobbs who fled before Calypso left. 2 150 foot barges (no weapons) Various boats 1 large cargo container ship News choppers and single engine planes are for internal territory travel only. Economy: The Empire’s income comes from slavery, prostitution, theft and waterway fares. [color=8dc73f][b]Culture:[/b][/color] Calypso is somewhat refined, but is quick to return to her tribal like roots. Inland territory is similar to pre-war farming communities. Mainly do not share her belief in The Jade Emperor but, those are wise enough to not openly discuss it. The Empire, despite its evil beliefs does provide a safe place in a sense for the population. The borderlands are wilder, spiritual as they are young, and bloodthirsty. [color=8dc73f][b]Technology:[/b][/color] Windmills are the main source powering the towns with some water powered generator plants sprinkled around. They are mostly pre-war, but Calypso is highly interested in robotic warriors. [color=8dc73f][b]Religion:[/b][/color] Worship of The Jade Emperor. You’re either Jaded or you’re not lol.