[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/JugDRpE.png[/img][/center][center][h2][i][color=#A3A3A3]H[/color] [color=#A9A9A9]e[/color] [color=#B0B0B0]a[/color] [color=#B6B6B6]v[/color] [color=#BDBDBD]e[/color] [color=#C3C3C3]n[/color] [color=#CACACA]l[/color] [color=#D1D1D1]y[/color]    [color=#DEDEDE]S[/color] [color=#E4E4E4]t[/color] [color=#EBEBEB]e[/color] [color=#F1F1F1]e[/color] [color=#F8F8F8]l[/color][/i][/h2][/center][hr][hr]
[center][i]The Warring Lands are no more. Yu, Xiang, Zhuwei, Dongnu, and countless other little empires are no more. Forged from the crucibles of war, the great country of Beinan stands above all others. United under one banner, unified under one vision, and led by their Heavenly Emperor blessed by the Celestial Heavens themselves, a Black Peace now descends upon the lands. It is a time of reconstruction, of renewal, of the rise of something great from the dead ashes of the old. 

If only it was to last. 

It has been ten years since the end of the Great Unification, and the pains of grudges of yesteryears are not so easily forgotten. Centuries of warfare had led to centuries of grievances between the states of Beinan, grudges which could no longer be swiftly satisfied with blood. And in the midst of it all, the savage Elves of the North have once again started raiding and reaving their way south into Beinan, killing with wanton slaughter as they harvest innocent souls for their dark needs. The Heavenly Emperor, in their divine wisdom, has turned Beinan's focus towards the Elves, bringing to bear the might of armies which had unified the Warring Lands under one banner, equipped with the finest arms and armor developed with unprecedented collaboration between the finest minds the world has ever seen.

Whether it will be enough to save the nascent nation from buckling underneath its own weight has still yet to be seen.[/i][/center][hr][hr][h2][color=darkgray]Initial Hook[/color][/h2]
	In the Heavenly Emperor's infinite wisdom, they have commissioned swathes of merchants in sending relief supplies the beleaguered towns among the northern provinces. You are traveling in one such merchant caravan, headed to one such town by the name of Ssanjuu. A border town that is no stranger to the ravages of the Northern Elves, it is otherwise notable for being one of the many blacksmithing towns situated along the Arcane River which makes use of the water's unique properties in crafting fine arms and goods. Your reasons for joining the caravan are your own, and Ssanjuu is in no position to deny aid from any and all who are willing to give it.
[h2][color=darkgray]Lore[/color][/h2]
[hider=Races][list][*][b]Humans[/b] - The most common race and the one which receives the most attention from the gods, for better or worse
[*][b]Aspected[/b] - Humans which have been blessed, or cursed, by one of the many gods which live in the lands of Beinan. These folk often exhibit some sort of physical characteristic from their patron, whether it be something as innocuous as sharper teeth or tinged skin, or something as radical as a full transformation into something new and terrible which align with the visions of their patron
[*][b]Elves[/b] - Mysterious, carnivorous, and terrifying, elves are a different species entirely from humans and the Aspected, even if there are some visual similarities. Born from the pods of Great Trees which are connected the heartbeat of the world, they are genderless with no distinct sexual characteristics. While there are a few Great Trees littered throughout Beinan, co-existence has not always been busy with their human neighbors, and even less so with their Northern cousins always conducting vicious raids which scar many who have experienced those horrors.[/list][/hider]
[hider=The Great Unification]While the Warring Lands had been in conflict with each other for over five hundred years, it only took twenty for the Heavenly Emperor to bring them all to heel. Starting from the small empire of Fei, a once small state on the verge of being consumed by its neighbors in the never-ending exchange of power that plagued the Warring Lands, it was only by the Heavenly Emperor's boundless wit and charisma did they the state of Fei from destruction. Allying themselves with what were once mortal enemies, the Heavenly Emperor proved that they were first and foremost a unifier of men. From there, the Heavenly Emperor's vision of a unified nation spread outward, folding in those who were wise enough to follow the Heavenly Emperor. Those who weren't were brought to heel first through fire and iron, and then later on through steel and powder.[/hider]
[hider=Gender Roles in Beinan]While there have been recent attempts in bringing equality between the genders, it is a slow process. For centuries, it has been accepted that men are fierce and conquer, while women are wise while they take care of home and hearth. Men would be soldier, hunters, and go out to be foreign merchants and diplomats. Women would be scribes, accountants, or handling the intricacies of internal trade and diplomacy. Those that do not fit this binary must be exceptional, such as the Heavenly Emperor, or face heavy discrimination and scrutiny. That, or they're dirty elves.[/hider]
[hider=Magic in Beinan]Powerful warriors, reclusive scholars, wielders of awesome and terrifying power, magicians have always influenced the history of the world. However, during the Heavenly Emperor's rise a brutal system had been implemented to limit the wrath and destruction of these powerful individuals, a system which has now spread to all of Beinan.

All magical citizenry in Beinan must submit to receiving an Imperial Mark which tracks them at all times. An Imperial Mark can only be given after passing an Imperial Magical Exam conducted all throughout the land. Most are forced to attend and study in one of several Imperial Circles of Magi set up and maintained by the new Beinan government, though there have been tales of hermits and enlightened cultivators passing through their own study. However, there is an inherent risk in doing so as the citizenry in recent years have become frightened and fearful of these rogue individuals, and apostates are hunted down with impunity if they do not comply with these new Imperial mandates.[/hider]
[hider=Technology]The Warring Lands had seen both eras of Bronze and Iron, but under the Heavenly Emperor's divine direction, the Great Unification had signaled a new age of warfare of Gunpowder and Steel. At first arming only their most trusted cohorts, the secrets of steel-making has slowly started to disseminate throughout the population, and the deadly effectiveness displayed by the simple muskets the Heavenly Emperor's legions had made use of ensured its rapid research and adoption. Beyond that, the rice-cement has still proven to be the most steadfast ally of the growing nation, as it had been for its many forbearers, but the new proliferation of trade and ideas has seen a renaissance of melding the many disparate styles spread across Beinan into something unique and new.[/hider]
[hider=Foreign Culture in Beinan]While there has always been an interest in far-off lands, the instability of the Warring Lands had made it difficult for any sort of reliable trade or exchange of ideas to flourish. Now however, under Beinan and the Heavenly Emperor's infinite wisdom, concerted effort has been made to court dignitaries and trade from all across the world to come and be awed by the beauty of a unified Beinan.[/hider]
[hr][hr]
[hider=CS][code][COLOR=BFAFB2][CENTER][h1][COLOR=Silver]( your character's name )[/COLOR][/h1][/CENTER]
[table][row][/row][row][cell][IMG](your character art/face-claim)[/IMG]
[CENTER][SUB]________________________________________[/SUB][/CENTER][CENTER][SUB][COLOR=Silver][b]
(character full name)
[/b][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#807B84] (character gender) [/COLOR] | [COLOR=#807B84] (character occupation) [/COLOR] | [COLOR=#807B84] (character race) [/COLOR][/SUB][/CENTER][CENTER][SUP]_______________________________________________[/SUP][/CENTER]
[hider=// PERSONALITY][indent][SUB][b]P E R S O N A L I T Y[/b][/sub]

[sup][COLOR=SILVER][b]Character Trait[/b]
[COLOR=#807B84]Explain a bit about your character's personality.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=SILVER][b]Character Trait[/b]
[COLOR=#807B84]Explain a bit about your character's personality.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=SILVER][b]Character Trait[/b]
[COLOR=#807B84]Explain a bit about your character's personality.[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[/SUP][/indent][/hider]
[hider=// SKILLSET][indent][SUB][b]S K I L L S E T[/b][/sub]

[sup][COLOR=SILVER][b]Skill Trait[/b]
[COLOR=#807B84]Explain a bit about your character's skills and abilities.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=SILVER][b]Skill Trait[/b]
[COLOR=#807B84]Explain a bit about your character's skills and abilities.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=SILVER][b]Skill Trait[/b]
[COLOR=#807B84]Explain a bit about your character's skills and abilities.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[/SUP][/indent][/hider]
[/cell][cell][b]Physical Description[/b]
[color=#807B84][indent]What's their normal attire? Any identifying marks? Anything that might not be readily apparent from a glance at the image?
[/indent][/color]
[b]Motivation[/b]
[color=#807B84][indent] How did your character come to be today. What has happened to them, what drives them, why would they think syrup is baby food, etc.[/indent][/color]
[b]Other Information[/b]
[color=#807B84][indent] Anything else that might not have been covered above

[/indent][/color]
[/cell][/row][/table][/COLOR][/code][/hider]