OOC chat

Good luck, court is draining in many ways

Sorry I should have made it more clear but Shizuka didn't try knee him in the face due to him falling on her injured legs. 😂

Oops! I should've read it better... Should I rectify it?

It'll work either way since he gets some sympathy points now. I just didn't want to make it seem like Shizuka liked beating handcuffed people up. :P

Well, it wasn't her fault! Just, uh... Reflex!

Oh dear. Now I'm imagining Abenanka's reaction to the nudge.

Sorry I couldn't get this out earlier in the week. I had a couple of bad mental health days and got sick from Covid (I guess that's coming around again). I was really affected from headaches and dizziness but I'm finally feeling better. These are my character concept ideas. I know there's more to character creation but I just wanted to share my initial thoughts before investing into a particular concept. Let me know what you think!

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Name: Meihua (梅花) Li (李)
Lineage: Hua Mulan
Age: 16
Occupation: runaway teen
Community: aristocracy
Culture: Chinese nobility
Distinguished characteristic: rugged appearance relative to her youthful appearance and aristocratic background

Within her nation and family, Mei is known as the granddaughter of China's emperor. Her blood carries the legacy of nobility, diplomacy, and authority. From a young age, she was put on a carefully laid out path towards a life of high society, politics, and power. Mei did well in her familial duties and scholarly education, yet she often felt out of place. She would rather serve and protect people in the battlefield — like the comics of heroines she grew up reading.

Her family's attempts to curb her unconventional desires have only fueled her rebellious acts. She would get in trouble for having snuck out of the palace walls to play with other kids while in disguise.

As she was figuring out her place in the world, supernatural abilities started manifesting and adding to her complication. Her nascent control over earth and stone caused her family to worry further.

After receiving an offer to join the Steel Petal Force (I don't know how recruiting would work so we can workshop this), she ran away from her home to find her calling as a petalframe pilot!
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Name: Tsukiko (月子)
Lineage: Hattori Hanzō
Age: 16
Occupation: kuroko (stage hand)
Community: kabuki theater
Culture: shinobi (ninja) Iga clan
Distinguished characteristic: easily flustered, always blushing

Tsukiko is quite shy in social situations where she is the center of attention, used to blending into the background unnoticed, but what she lacks in charisma she excels in ninjutsu. She has been trained by her shinobi clan the skills necessary to fight darkness with darkness (covert warfare, siege, infiltration, ambush, reconnaissance, espionage, and deception).

When she is not a covert operative, she helps out at a local kabuki theater as as a kuroko (stage hand). While she isn't comfortable with the limelight yet, she does appreciate the art of theater, drama, and acting.

Both seem like an interesting addition! If I had to pick the ninja seems fun, but pick the one you want to play as more of course. :P

Thank you! I am also most drawn to the ninja idea since there’s a lot to go off of. I also enjoy stealthy playstyles in other TTRPG and video games (thief/rogue/sniper) so I think it would translate well.

Lore question: how are characters recruited if the Steel Petals are a secret organization?

It also pairs with the theater and contrasts with everyone else being aristocratic or more straight-laced. Shizuka is a cop but also stupid, so she'd think ninjas work with the Yakuza or something. I can imagine some fun interactions for sure.

That post might've been quite strong, tonally. Let me know if anyone wants me to tone it down!

Seems OK to me tone-wise. The only issue is that this course of action once again separates Abenanka from others, and I'm not sure whether to take the 'bait'. ^_^

I figure she'll head over to where Homura is. :p

I second everything Handle said about it, @cyberseer!

As for your question, they'd normally find out about your character having spiritual powers, either through mutual contacts (more commonly) or intelligence work, and then extend an invitation.

If you go with the ninja character, maybe she could be related to some of the higher-ups in the Gacrux Division, I. e. the intelligence and reconnaissance division, I. e. a bunch of ninjas and spies, who, after noticing her spiritual powers, suggested she should be included in Blossom Maidens division (Acrux).

Oh, and your post is completely fine! In fact, I was hoping for such conflict on that matter by the PCs!

I feel like Chimera would get along well with both characters concepts. Meihua because they share some similarities in their motivations, and Tsukiko because Chimera would think ninjas are really cool. Either way, Chimera would appreciate someone close to her age.

Oh yes, Chimera's age, the greatest state-secret of the Dutch Empire!

Coolio! I'll work on fleshing out my ninja character :)

If no one says otherwise, I'll presume everyone will go to Otoya's home after this scene on the alley, and from there back to the theater.