The True Samurai
Samurai were honorable? that's not entirely true. The word samurai, literally means "to serve" and thats what they did, no questions asked, they followed the orders of their masters. Although, that is not to say that some really knew what it was supposed to mean to be a samurai, others followed blindly.
The history of the samurai is not a pretty one, they slaughtered and killed anything in the way of their masters path. But some rebelled, and when they did, they had to fight, and fight hard. If their fathers were still alive, it was of high chance that they would be sent to kill their own renegade children.
Allow me to explain, this is an RP about samurai, and the entirety of their life. Whether you choose to serve, protect, rebel, or all three, this RP is open to you. If you choose to serve (Kuro), you will technically be the bad guys of this story. If you choose to protect (Haiiro) , you are very much neutral. But if you choose to rebel (Aka), you aren't necessarily good, nor evil. Choosing to rebel puts you in a strange place, you kill, sometimes needlessly, but you are fighting the "bad" guys, so you think what you want to. (The parenthesis are Japanese words that represent each faction)
A little more about the world: Feudal Japan, a ruling power (a fictitious one for the purpose of the RP) leads a wealthy and prosperous nation. The highest leading family, the Akuma clan, are the high and mighty sort that more than one family wishes to dethrone and take their place. Many rebellions have sprung up, all have been thwarted, but now it has been several years, and rumors of the samurai turning on their lords is frequent.
Character Profile
Name: (try to look up actual names)
Age: (22- 60)
Looks: (picture or detailed description)
Faction: (use the words provided above)
WOW: (words of wisdom, something to live by)
Training: (how many years have you trained, whats your death count, be realistic, no "death count is uncountable")
Reason to fight: (this should be obvious)
Family: (last name, your clan, again, try to use authentic names)
Carried weapons: (I will list the weapons at the end of the page)
Weapon that you are best with: (what have you spent the most time on perfecting)
Biography: (not required, but always welcomed)
Other: (anything I left out)
Age: (22- 60)
Looks: (picture or detailed description)
Faction: (use the words provided above)
WOW: (words of wisdom, something to live by)
Training: (how many years have you trained, whats your death count, be realistic, no "death count is uncountable")
Reason to fight: (this should be obvious)
Family: (last name, your clan, again, try to use authentic names)
Carried weapons: (I will list the weapons at the end of the page)
Weapon that you are best with: (what have you spent the most time on perfecting)
Biography: (not required, but always welcomed)
Other: (anything I left out)
Samurai Weaponry:
Katana and Wakizashi
Obviously, those with greater martial training had an edge over their less accomplished colleagues. Samurai had a variety of weaponry with which to dispatch each other. The two principles swords of the samurai - the katana and the wakizashi - were razor sharp, with an extremely hard cutting edge backed by a softer steel substructure.
This meant that as the warrior sliced the edge across an opponent, the blade would continue cutting through to the bone - and sometimes beyond - as it followed the curve of the blade.
Yumi
In the earlier period of samurai warfare, many warriors used yumi (bows). These were of composite wood and bamboo construction. The bow was laminated to protect it from the elements. Arrows were of bamboo. The strength of a bow was measured by how many men were required to string it. Thus, a ‘3 man bow’ reputedly required the weight of 3 men to bend it so it could be strung.
Yari
Polearms were also used. Most samurai preferred the yari, or spear. There were a variety of techniques, or yarijitsu, associated with the use of the spear. Contemporary illustrations depict men being spitted on spears, sometimes several at once. If the warrior was mounted, the yari could also be used to deliver long slashing strokes.
Naginata
Some warriors used the naginata, which closely resembled the European glaive. This weapon was particularly favoured by sohei, or warrior monks, who are often referred to as ‘spinning their naginata like waterwheels.’ Some scholars believe the development of suneate (shin-guards) went hand in hand with the evolution of the naginata.
Nodachi
Another, less well known blade, was the nodachi. This was a two handed sword which resembled a giant katana. It was, however, a highly specialist weapon, although some warrior’s achieved fame through it’s use. One Makara Naotaka used a nodachi with a five foot long blade.
Kanabo
The tetsubo or kanabo was a wooden club clad in iron, with iron studs accounting for perhaps a third of the weapons length. It basically resembled a crude elongated baseball bat. It was reckoned good for breaking swords and horses legs and it’s weight meant that it could inflict serious blunt trauma even on armoured opponents. However, it’s weight also made it very cumbersome to wield. This weapon is associated particularly with oni, the devils of Japanese folklore.
Obviously, those with greater martial training had an edge over their less accomplished colleagues. Samurai had a variety of weaponry with which to dispatch each other. The two principles swords of the samurai - the katana and the wakizashi - were razor sharp, with an extremely hard cutting edge backed by a softer steel substructure.
This meant that as the warrior sliced the edge across an opponent, the blade would continue cutting through to the bone - and sometimes beyond - as it followed the curve of the blade.
Yumi
In the earlier period of samurai warfare, many warriors used yumi (bows). These were of composite wood and bamboo construction. The bow was laminated to protect it from the elements. Arrows were of bamboo. The strength of a bow was measured by how many men were required to string it. Thus, a ‘3 man bow’ reputedly required the weight of 3 men to bend it so it could be strung.
Yari
Polearms were also used. Most samurai preferred the yari, or spear. There were a variety of techniques, or yarijitsu, associated with the use of the spear. Contemporary illustrations depict men being spitted on spears, sometimes several at once. If the warrior was mounted, the yari could also be used to deliver long slashing strokes.
Naginata
Some warriors used the naginata, which closely resembled the European glaive. This weapon was particularly favoured by sohei, or warrior monks, who are often referred to as ‘spinning their naginata like waterwheels.’ Some scholars believe the development of suneate (shin-guards) went hand in hand with the evolution of the naginata.
Nodachi
Another, less well known blade, was the nodachi. This was a two handed sword which resembled a giant katana. It was, however, a highly specialist weapon, although some warrior’s achieved fame through it’s use. One Makara Naotaka used a nodachi with a five foot long blade.
Kanabo
The tetsubo or kanabo was a wooden club clad in iron, with iron studs accounting for perhaps a third of the weapons length. It basically resembled a crude elongated baseball bat. It was reckoned good for breaking swords and horses legs and it’s weight meant that it could inflict serious blunt trauma even on armoured opponents. However, it’s weight also made it very cumbersome to wield. This weapon is associated particularly with oni, the devils of Japanese folklore.
Tell me what you all think and feel free to give suggestions.
And a hachiwari (which means "helmet-splitter")... It'd be easier to just show you a picture than to describe it:
