Slamurai

The Restless Fires

I, however, am none of these things!

The Restless Fires

Aristo.

Aristo is a slang term for a wealthy man who offers to support a typically younger woman or man after establishing a relationship that is usually sexual.

"Aristo" (from Greek: Ἀρίστων) may also refer to:

As an Ancient Greek name:
Aristo of Ceos (3rd century BC), Peripatetic philosopher
Aristo of Chios (3rd century BCE), Stoic philosopher and colleague of Zeno of Citium
Aristo of Alexandria (1st century), Peripatetic philosopher
Aristo of Pella (2nd century), Jewish Christian writer

Other usages of "Aristo":
Aristo (ruler), a member of the ruling class in Eubian society in Saga of the Skolian Empire
OZ Aristo, wheels that come on some versions of the Volkswagen Golf
Toyota Aristo, sold as the Lexus GS, outside the Japanese domestic market
Aristo, a character in the 2006 video game, Sonic the Hedgehog

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@Aristo
So where is this reboot you promised?
Was it a false promise or what?

@WilsonTurner

Cool it; it was an idea, not a promise.
I was waiting to hear back opinions from more people but I guess everyone who's invested has already spoken.
I'll see if I can get something up in the next few days; my mornings/afternoons are busy till Wednesday.

The Restless Fires

events

@Aristo

A great wave of light pulses over Shihoma, and all who were sick are cured, and all who were ill are well. No plague exists here, not now.
(no sickness, all cured)

@Goldeagle1221

It's a Christmas miracle!!!

The Restless Fires

Yotokoto Shrine, Shihoma

Folds of flabby skin collapsed on each other as Matsumura yawned. The portly Bannik's mane of hair was well-groomed; not wild and coarse, like most of his kin. He was adorned in a kimono of Shihoman livery, accompanied by trinkets and fetishes that hung from strands of his beard and around his neck. Matsumura stretched his sleepy limbs, jumped down from his little throne and fetched his ceremonial staff. Now that Homugara had decided to stir once more, it was time for Matsumura to make himself known to the Shihomans once again. The Bannik's recent slumber had been accompanied by some troubling dreams; no doubt Queen Sounouichi had been privy to the visions as well.
In all the years the Bannik had served as Homugara's emissary to Shihoma, there were few he liked better than Sounouichi Sakai. She was decisive, opinionated, and he liked that about her. Too many monarchs had been complacent - willing to grovel on the throne and pay lip-service to the Volcano. Not Sakai; she was very engaged in the affairs of Yahasato, and it pleased Matsumura to see Homugara receive the devotion it deserved. As the Bannik swung himself up into the saddle of his kirin, he thought about the visions Homugara had made known to him. With one of the relics already in the hands of man, it was nigh time for Shihoma to prove its mettle once more.

Kuzumatsunai, Shihoma – Following Matsumura's arrival at the Royal Palace

“Homugara has made this matter known to me,” Queen Sounouichi said, perched upon her golden throne. Her kimono was a deep wine, embroidered with patterns of flame and coiled dragons. The chamber had been vacated, with the exception of herself and the Bannik seated before her.
“Then you, too, must understand what this means for Shihoma, if not the entire world. I would be loathe to sit back and see the rest of Homugara's artifacts fall into the hands of the undeserving.”
“It is too late for the Eye, but there are more relics to draw our concern,” Sakai muttered. “If only I hadn't been so careless...”
“Do not blame yourself, Your Highness. I have no doubt of Shihoma's capability, were it to march on foreign lands and reclaim what it deserves.” Matsumura's remark earned the slightest grin from Shihoma's queen.
“You are rather opinionated, for a Youkabi, Matsumura. I don't call your service into question, but one might expect a Youkabi as yourself to be neutral in the affairs of the mortal world.” The Bannik chuckled politely, nodding his head.
“As the patron Youkabi of Shihoma, I can't help but sympathize over the centuries I've served with your forebearers. Homugara will do what it wills, but I have always had a soft spot for your people.”
“And your service does not go unnoticed,” Sakai replied with a tip of her head. “Now, concerning Homugara's awakening... this demands the attention of both Shihoma's sword arm and Yahasato's faithful. We must be vigilant and prepare ourselves for the signs of the next relic. I will place the kingdom under high alert and announce a month of devotion. Have you any other news, Matsumura?”
“Nothing you haven't already witnessed, Your Grace. I shall remain close by at all times. It would be to your advantage for Shihoma to appear blessed during this time.”
“I agree, but isn't it also to your advantage: basking in the exaltation the public showers on you when you appear before it?”
“Heh, heh! I won't deny it. That is one of the perks of being a Youkai in Shihoma.” The Bannik straightened himself, patting out the wrinkles in his garments. “Now then, Your Grace, I believe it is time for Shihoma to restore order to the land once more.”
“Quite right,” Sakai answered, lifting herself from her throne.

The Restless Fires

I have a post in the making! I don't think I'll be done by tonight, but it'll be up before tomorrow night.

The Restless Fires

[Derp, please ignore]

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

You just described a timeskip, not a reboot.

@Foster

It will be a timeskip within a reboot; a 'hard reset' of the game. New players can join, the roster will be reset, the building mechanics may change, etc. Basically, it'll be a new chapter in the overarching story to get the setting up and running again and move things along.

So regardless of whatever you want to call it, your thoughts?

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@aristo

LETS FUCK EM UP!

@DarkStar

And on the third day he rose again, in accordance with the Guild.

I sincerely apologize for my absence for the past week. Honestly, I don't have the same amount of time to work on the Guild as I used to, before starting my job. I appreciate you guys sticking around for as long as you have; I know we've lost a chunk of our roster since the beginning, which has put me in an odd sort of place for thinking of our next move.

With many of our original pilots gone, and with lack of a proper explanation IC, I've been pondering the idea of a reboot. As you know, Sarah's in critical condition, and the last mission went over our heads and Cradle ended up losing its asset. A reboot could easily skip us ahead - Sarah will be in fighting shape again, old members can be chalked up as MIA, dead, or on leave, and the new ones could be additions picked up in-between then and now. It seems like an optimal time to hit the reset button, and I'm hoping that this will get our activity back up.

The idea is the Panthers have become a disgraced unit since their failure at Cradle, and have had a string of bad luck since then. They struggle to find steady work, taking what errands they can to sustain themselves from client to client. But along the way, they will come face-to-face with the consequences of Cradle's research, and be forced into a conflict that they had a hand in starting.

Thoughts?

The Restless Fires

Still working on bits, but here's the gist.

Shihoma

Nation

Nation Name: Shihoma
National Flag:


Sounouchi Family Crest:


What do you call the denizens: Shihomani

Government type: Shihoma's government includes a mixture of monarchical, oligarchical and democratic elements. It is a magocracy, with political power dominated by the sorcerer elite. Its executive power rests with a hereditary monarch and a council of nobles with ties to the nation's founding. The role of the monarch primarily concerns judicial, military and religious affairs. Xe has the last say in the passing of legislation and may appoint any individuals xe finds competent to the council. The monarch is considered to be Shihoma's religious head, as well as the chief military commander in times of war.

Members of the higher council are drawn from Shihoma's most privileged nobles. Members may be appointed directly by the monarch at any time, but there are seats reserved for each senior bishop in the state. The council is the most powerful political force in Shihoma, next to the monarch. It can create laws and appoint new monarchs if they leave no heir. However, those nominated for the position may not already be a member of the council. The monarch has the ability to overturn legislation that the council suggests. The council also is responsible for monitoring the lower council.

The lower council is tasked with the bureaucratic matters of Shihoma, in practice. In reality, it holds little political power in the face of the higher council; however, it tends to back the decisions of its counterpart. It consists of publicly-elected representatives.

Leader/Leaders:
-Queen Sounouchi Sakai
With her mother having died in childbirth and her father deceased due to illness three years ago, Sakai sits upon the Shihomani throne. Just twenty four years of age, she is also the acting religious head of Yahasato. While such responsibility is capable of pushing rulers so young to their limits, Sakai has adjusted remarkably well. She is strong-willed and resolute, pushing her own agendas in the Shihomai courts and upholding the integrity of Yahasato at home and abroad. She is known to be astutely aware of the political climate, abhorring displays of weakness and pursuing opportunities where they can be found. Sakai has recently established a kind of secret police, in order to carry out both her personal will and to promote Yahasato tenets.

Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: The current dynasty is ruled by the Sounouchi family.

Other Important political figures: TBA

Currency: Kyoda

State Religion: Shihoma follows a religious philosophy called Yahasato. See Culture section.

Demographics and Geography

World map location: i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/Abso..
Shihoma's territory is orange red.

Interior map:

Major cities:
Major military installments:
Important locations and buildings:
Capital: Kuzumatsunai

Population: 2,109,800
Race and Ethnic demographic: The population is largely homogeneous, with the majority being Shihoman humans by ethnicity. Few foreigners are seen outside of visitors; these being either adherents of Yahasato on pilgrimage, merchants, or political emissaries.

Economy:
Wealth balance:
Major exports:
Major Imports:
Staple agricultural crops:
Trade partners:

Culture

Religion demographics:
Religious heads: Queen Sounouchi Sakai is the defacto head of Yahasato.

Popular opinion on the volcano:
Popular opinion on wars:
Popular opinion on magic:
Popular opinion on religion:
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy:
Pauper opinion on the Government:
Popular opinion on foreigners:
Popular opinion on other cultures:

Cultural name for the Volcano: Homugara is the name attributed to the volcano and the region it encompasses.

Cultural Notes: Shihoma is the birthplace of the religious philosophy of Yahasato. Because of this, its whole political and cultural society is heavily-influenced by the belief. Yahasato holds that the volcano, or Homugara, is an incredibly fickle, dangerous entity, possibly originating in another plane of existence. The magic it radiates is an incomprehensible, sacred product, and is therefore not something to be used lightly. As such, the less practitioners of magic there are, the safer society will be. It defers the duty to “guarding” the secrets of magic to the ruling elite of the state; those who are most powerful and trustworthy. It is for this reason that commoners are prohibited from attempting to practice magic.

In addition to outlining the proper use of magic, Shihomani Yahasato values social hierarchy and subservience. It holds that the masses should admire and look to their superiors for leadership. Respect for authority is a defining principle of Shihomani-brand Yahasato; one which inevitably has allowed it to remain an oligarchy for so long. After government, family is the next tier of priority. Shihoman families are quite large, as both sides of a marriage treat each other like immediate relatives. Any 'proper' Shihoman maintains close ties to his or her relatives and comes to their aid in times of need. To be disowned or to turn one's back on family is among the gravest ills one can commit.

As Yahasato believes the Volcano to be a destructive force of nature, it holds it both in fear and veneration. Just as it teaches a man subservience to his superior, it teaches all to be subordinate to Homugara. The Volcano's hairy messengers, called Youkabi in Shihoman, are seen as either signs of great fortune, or great disaster. For that reason, when one is near, everyone in the area will devote a silent prayer or offering, in hopes of keeping in good grace with the Volcano. Youkabi are prominent features in Shihoman art, and shrines with statues depicting unique, named Youkabi abound in temples throughout the country.

Cultural history:

Notable figures:

Military and History

Type of Military: Shihoma's military service is voluntary, with conscription having been abolished several decades prior to Queen Sounouchi's reign. The nation prides itself on having a well-trained and equipped fighting force, and it is considered prestigious to have a family with multiple generations of service.

Total Military fighting units: Approx. 220,000 men and women

Unit demographics: (heavy infantry, marksman, etc and their equipment/training)

Notable figures:

Past wars and notable events:

Past conflicts with other nations:

Current conflicts and wars:

Other

Artifacts and famous enchantments:

Anything else we should all know: