Post by Pyra on Nov 14, 2010 13:36:36 GMT -5
Welcome to the site- there is only one rule for writing here; remain realistic.
There are however more points to keep in mind when writing here. This isn't going to function as a typical roleplaying site- the objectives aren't as simple as 'make a thread and then have someone reply in it, get in a fight eventually and then go about your business.'
The First Empire first and foremost is going to stand as a writing site, where together we can all take part in stories and bring a sense of poetic justice to the topics we choose. This just essentially means we're looking for depth or a more professional, real sense of writing.
The setting we chose for the as a platform for this idea of storytelling is of ancient China. If you've ever seen Jet Li's movie Hero (2002), then you may understand why. The period of the time was a pivotal part in China- a land that has always been very diverse and individual. Ancient China is also filled with amazing, folklore like tales (like those in Hero) of great romantic semblance and culture to the period they were from.
The setting is beautifully simple to understand.
Early in 222BC, ancient China is in the end of a period that was both a golden age of free thinking and a span of years that saw great destruction and war. Historians call it the Warring States era for this reason- however it would end in a year. It had lasted for over 200 years, where the nations of Qin, Qi, Zhao, Yan, Chu, Wei and the Han struggled for supremacy-- yet none could attempt to unify the land. That is until the mighty King of Qin, Qin Shi Huang, sought unification.
He did so at all costs, and after much warring tore apart the other nations until only a small sliver of countries remained. These two were Zhao and Yan. Yan, a small country to the west of Zhao had played small yet pivotal roles in the past conflicts. Their ability at tricking other nations into doing their bidding had managed to sway the land once before, and now it appeared they must act again.
To their west, and next to Qin, was the nation of Zhao. Prior to Qin's wars, Zhao had been the most powerful nation and the only chance at stopping Shi Huang. Despite this, they blundered in the face of battle and were beaten by the Qin forces. Their capital, Handan, was taken under control, their King executed and the remaining of their loyalists and forces were forced north to the city of Dai, a sort of last bastion for the name of Zhao.
That had all had occurred six years earlier, since then Qin has managed to defeat each and every other country other than Zhao and Yan. In fact, their forces were just returning from a long war in Chu, a large nation of the southern regions. Talk of invading Zhao was already starting to spread around the King's palace, and it appeared obvious that the last step to unification was at hand.
This is nothing short of a black and white understanding of the period, which personally doesn't get me writing, so allow me to explain the heart of the period:
The Warring States era lasted several hundred years and saw the rise of "The Hundred Schools of Thought" and of the many Kingdoms within the land. Bronze had become old in the face of Iron, the northern lands were covered in walls to protect the lands from barbarians and it appeared the culture of China was finally developing. Yet in this period of such ideals as Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism and Mohism, the difference in opinion often lead directly to bloodshed.
Today, you don't see this much- because we've learned to work together as people. Yet at points in history, this wasn't so. The end of the Warring States is important in this light because for the first time ever in China, a leader sought unification- he sought to end the bloodshed by forcing the people together. Now, to do this he also decided that he'd have it so that people only believe on philosophy and one true ruler. It would be no democracy, but it would end the conflicts (at the price of a very large one). Shi Huang, King of Qin, sought a greater good and believed he was the man to be burdened with carrying it upon his shoulders. But not everyone saw eye to eye.
Those in Zhao, those across the land who had opposed the Qin did so for their own individualism, for their freedom. They understood well that unification brought assimilation, and to keep their lives, their passions, their culture, they fought to their deaths. In a way they represented the natural side of life and the Qin represented the societal structure that we all find ourselves in today.
And now in today, where we find society an endless turning machine--it becomes interesting to look where, for the first time, it was turned on.
The idea behind this site is to look at this story and build our own, not to follow history exactly but to understand it. That and improve our writing- so please feel free to go create a character and post in a thread. This place is based on plots that move us all forward and keep us writing, so try to build stories with each other that are relevant. Also, try to be realistic, (its the only rule!); so not everyone in Zhao is going to be against unification, and not everyone in Qin is going to be for controlling the land. Remember to use emotions, to feel the scenes and to think outside of your own head! What would a person who has lost everything do in response? What would a person who wants everything do to achieve their goal?
Write on.