Background

The Celestial Empire was formed 200 years ago at the end of the Great War when the Lord General Ishi Zokuran conquered all the nations of the Lower Lands and styled himself the 'Celestial Emperor of the Lower Lands'. The Empire is divided into five administrative 'principalities', each ruled by a Prince. The division of the Empire into five is said to be along the lines of the five elements that make up the living world.

The five principalities:

• Principality of Aapo - Traditionally, the Emperor rules from Aapo, situated along the banks of the river Meyung. With a long coastline and fertile marshes and farmlands, Aapo is perhaps the largest and richest principality, boasting a huge population and a standing army.
• Principality of Riga - Riga is a vast, dry valley situated near the northern border of the Empire and is known for its rich mineral and gold deposits. Rigan metallurgy is known for its strength and dependability throughout the Empire, and the Rigan heavy cavalry is often used by the Emperor in putting down rebellions.
• Principality of Bhu - A heavily forested province to the south of the Empire, the residents of Bhu are often looked down upon by the rest of the Empire for their tribal ways. Powerful shamans and elemental magicians are known to inhabit the more secluded parts of Bhu, and even the Emperor's personal astrologer comes from the Land of Bhu.
• Principality of Vayu - Located in the high plains of the Maruth Mountains, the principality of Vayu has always been a friendly vassal of the Empire. Never in the 200 years of the Empire's existence have they rebelled, and the residents feel quite happy with the fact that they are part of the glorious Celestial Empire. Apart from extensive sheep-rearing and tea cultivation, the Vayus are known for their extensive knowledge of the mountain terrain and are some of the best climbers.
• Principality of Tama - The smallest principality of the Empire is also the most influential. The Prince of Tama is also the High Priest of the Empire and is responsible for garnering divine support for the Emperor's reign. As such, the High Priest usually holds a lot of clout within the court of the Empire and has under his command highly learned and skilled monks. The Principality of Tama is located at the western edge of the Empire, at the foothills of the Grey Ranges.

Current state of the Empire

A civil war has been raging quietly in the Empire for the past one year, arising from the ill-treatment of certain Bhu residents by the ruling family. As a result, the principality of Bhu is in a state of chaos, with the Emperor's armies rampaging across the woodlands in search of Bhu rebels. Fissures have also started appearing between the Prince of Riga and the current Emperor.

The High Priest has predicted a severe drought and has indicated that the gods may be angry. Rumours are coming out of the Grey Ranges about something sinister and nasty going on in the unreachable forests of the Grey Ranges. Many mountaineers and sheepherders have been inexplicably lost, their bodies never to be found. Even the animals are disappearing.

List of Characters needed for this RP:

Emperor Ten'ishi Zokuran (played by Wisdom)
He is the 25th Emperor of the Celestial Empire and is 60 years old. With a civil war in the south and nasty murmurs from the west, he has enough on his plate without having to worry about a female successor.

Princess Tamara (Open for audition)
The young and beautiful princess is also the sole heir to the throne of the Celestial Empire - a fact that is becoming increasingly irritating to the various princes of the land. Unlike her father, she is stout of heart and kind of soul, but does she have the strength to secure the throne?

Lord Captain Commander Masema (Open for audition)
Middle-aged, scarred and widowed, the chief of the armed forces is a veteran of many wars and is a loyalist. If street rumour is to be believed, it is because of him that the princes haven't resorted to open rebellion yet. Lord Masema controls the army with an iron fist, but is also known for his just decisions. Again, if rumour is to be believed, his intimate 'friendship' with the young princess is also causing a rift between him and the Emperor.

High Priest Ren'ishi Doman, Prince of Tama (Open for audition)
The High Priest may be old, but he is as cunning as ever. Having 'predicted' drought and displeasure, he has made things worse for the Emperor - a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed. Is he trying to unite the other princes under him to wrest the Empire from the Zokuran dynasty? Or is he serious about his prediction of the gods' displeasure?

Prince Randol of Vayu (Open for audition)
He is young, he is good-looking, and he knows it. Self-assured and confident, Randol has been trying to catch the princess's eye - hoping to wiggle his way on the throne with the help of a strategic marriage alliance. Will he be charming and persuasive enough to pull the princess to his side, or will he ally with the rebels openly? It is known that Prince Randol hates the Lord Captain Commander with a vengeance bordering on insanity.

Prince Drogmir of Riga (Open for audition)
The middle-aged prince of Riga is a firebrand - a wrestler at heart. He cuts a regal figure in his court, with his trimmed black beard, wide shoulders, and strong arms that grip the Scepter of Fire in all its royal pomp. It is said that the Prince Drogmir tames tigers in his free time, and it can well be believed of him. He is known for his quick-silver temper, and also for his honesty. Prince Drogmir has never couched words in honey even to the Emperor and always speaks his mind.

Twala of Bhu (Open for audition)
He is 30 and is the charismatic leader of the Bhu rebellion which is threatening the Empire. For well over a year, he has managed to evade the Emperor's forces in the forests of Bhu while inflicting irritating damage. With his fiery words and captivating speeches, he has won the hearts and minds of the Bhu peasants. Rumour has it that he also has a couple of Element Wielders in his ragtag army. There are also whispers of a covert deal between him and the High Priest.

Rules

• You can only choose a character from the list of characters I need for this roleplay
• Once the main characters are all accounted for, I will start accepting new character applications
• To apply, read the short intro under the character list, and write a sample post based on that short intro