|
The sage and compassionate Ichi jin-rai commanded a huge allegiance during the Asheron's Call beta test, and has since re-entered Dereth. Curious to discover the reason for his phenomenal political success, we dispatched a scribe to speak with him in Tou Tou, on the great isle's southeastern coast. The substance of that interview is as follows:
Tell us a bit about your character during the final phase of the beta.
I, Ichi jin-rai, a Sho Blademaster, had an allegiance rank of 7 (Kou Ichi jin-rai). I believe that made me the highest-ranked monarch on the island. I credit my family with the rank: they all worked hard to obtain that title for their monarch. I have been a monarch since the middle part of beta 0. I became a monarch shortly after I wrote the story Dawnsong, as posted in Player Chronicles. The name is a good Sho name. Ichi -- being the family name -- means "first" or "prime" or "most high." My given name of jin-rai means "of heavenly beauty and attributes," and "mind sharp as a sword." I believe I was level 5 when I first accepted the allegiance of one still in my family. Her name is Chen wing-na, and she is a female Sho martial artist. Within a few moments, I also received the pledge of a warrior named Darkwing. Alas, he has recently disappeared into the wilderness, and my heart grieves for his warrior soul. They were the basis for my first family in Beta 0. In later builds, the family soon met after we were reincarnated. I was level 1 each time I received my first pledge from a vassal. Our family would quickly re-form, not necessarily in the same order, and oftentimes by the end of the first day, when I had reached about level 4, I would have 60 or more faithful followers. We try to work together as a family, helping one another without regard to order and hierarchy within the family tree. Our family has taken the name Ichi Kazoko, which roughly translates into "of One Family." We believe our family has brought purpose to many lives here on Dereth, and that easily justifies our existence.
Did you have any magic items that could only be wielded by characters of a certain rank?
Yes, you may have noted the fine Gold Tachi I wore. It has a requirement of allegiance rank 7 for the use of its several level IV spells. It was a royal gift from a friendly monarch named Drakoor. The helmet I wore was, of course, a Golden Koubuton, with an armor rating of around 150. In my backpack I had another helmet, with about the same armor rating, plus many high-level magical spells that also required a level-7 allegiance rank. Others in my family had items requiring allegiance rank 5 and 6, and they used those items only in time of need.
How many total followers did you have in your allegiance? Do you have the tree mapped out?
When the family blessed me with the rank of Kou, we had 514 members. Since that time, the family grew slightly, to approximately 715 shortly before the latest apocalypse. We have tried to map our family tree, but we found the task daunting with the tools we were provided.
Does your allegiance have a history in any other games?
NO. We have all met here on Dereth.
How do you recruit members to your allegiance? What works best?
That varies on a case-by-case basis. Often a family member will find a lonely, stranded waif or wanderer and adopt them into the family. The only requirement is that they hold in their heart Honor as their highest attribute. Here is an account of one young Sho we call Icelander, who was cold and hungry when found.
From the midst of the mountains, I traveled a strange and dangerous world, seeking refuge. I wandered the land called Shoushi till I came across a man named icebeast. I asked, "Can you help me? I am scared; I don't know who I am but only recall I'm 13. I woke up on the ground, with a sword."
This strange man, icebeast, adopts me into his family. He takes me to a far-distant city, Tou-Tou. I think to myself, Is this my life? But this family is 500 people, all warriors. They all train me in the art of fighting, and teach me well. Then I meet Ichi jin-rai, the leader. I meet him on a beach fighting drudges, not even knowing who he is. I ask, "Can you help me? I don't know what I am doing." He says, sure; he teaches me the art of walking and how to fight with safety. But then icebeast tells me Ichi jin-rai is the family leader. I then feel safe and not afraid, to be in the clan of this wise, honorable leader. Then I travel to protect the land of Tou-Tou, and to fight till the end, and to the end it was.
--Icelander
Now please meet Askani, a young female warrior that came to our family:
The morning after the death of our world as we have known it, I sit and reflect back over the last two months.
I traveled the lands of Dereth for several days on my own. I was lost, confused, looking for refuge.
My first day was spent in a dark dungeon filled with straw drudges and straw rats, learning to take aim with my trusty sword. Fearful of what might lie outside the swirling purple haze, I ventured forth and was immediately besieged by white, alien-looking creatures and small razor-back creatures gnawing away at me, taking what little health I had.
For five lonely, fearful days I walked the land of Dereth, using my practice simi for all it was worth. My tunic was threadbare, my pants tattered and torn. My fortitude was waning, and I felt I was seeing my last day in Dereth. I was hiding away in Yanshi, not knowing where to turn, when a light appeared. Dallas had spotted me for a forlorn traveler and asked if I would like to join his allegiance, an allegiance being something I had not yet learned about. I told him yes, and started learning of a group that roamed the lands of Dereth, a group led by the great Ichi jin-rai, a warrior who set out in honor and with a desire to help Dereth become a land filled with milk and honey and to weed out the evil lurking all around us.
Out of curiosity, I took the chance and pledged my soul to Dallas and to Ichi jin-rai, not knowing what ill effect or grandiose scheme lay ahead for me. Dallas dressed me in studded leather apparel, and I suddenly had a new sense of self worth.
After locating Ichi in Tou Tou, I would sit quietly and listen to him, Lar Luppisun, and Killean. Ichi offered to take me hunting, and instructed me in the ways of walking. I thought perhaps the man was a bit crazy. Walk. Walk not run with all that surrounded us. But he was a gentle man and told me, "One must learn to walk before one can run." I shrugged and did as instructed and realized again that Ichi was wise and I should listen even closer.
We have new hope in Dereth, our souls have been cleansed, and soon we will be walking the land together with Ichi at the helm. Stay safe, fair family, until we meet again on the new horizon.
With much respect and love,
Askani
Who are your major lieutenants?
All in my family have equal importance. They all help one another. Some that come to mind as being very active in assisting others in the family are Askani, whom you have just met, Killean, and Lar Luppisun. Killean is a great administrator, and assists me on a daily basis. Lar is a great warrior and teaches many the art of survival on this island. Several others include Lao Tsao, Maetsu Shao, Li Kwan, and Li Khan. You will often find them at the inn assisting family members.
Do you have an allegiance contract? Do you have any special allegiance motto or symbols?
We have no allegiance contract. We as a family only offer family love and assistance. We never offer riches or rewards for joining the family. We do, however, attempt to provide for the characters' current needs, commensurate with their abilities and specialties. We attempt to provide them with a purpose in life here on this island and the knowledge that they are wanted and loved by the family.
I guess the motto for our family is the name which we adopted, Ichi Kazoko. We do have a symbol for our family; it is a piece of art done for our family by one of its talented members. It contains the Tachi and the butterfly, which symbolize our life here on Dereth. We hope some day to have it grace the wall of a meeting hall for our family.
Is your allegiance centered in a certain geographical area? Do you have a town you consider your headquarters?
We consider our home to be the village of Tou-tou. As there is no hall of sufficient size for our family other than the inn, we often gather there on a daily basis. We hope someday to have a simple Sho hall of similar size, but possibly located just outside of town or in the area near our favorite shrine to the south of the healer's residence. We would also hope it might be somewhat more secure than the inn. One large single-story Sho room would be sufficient for our simple needs.
What do you perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the allegiance system?
The strengths are self-evident. We have been able to provide for our family's common need and to lend them purpose for their continued existence here on Dereth. The weaknesses are somewhat more complex. It is wrong that one person can decide to remove himself from the family and also require those under him to also leave. I have seen much anguish caused by one person deciding to leave and those under that person having much difficulty and despair in their attempts to re-join the family. I have seen this problem in many monarchies here on Dereth, not only my own. I believe one should be able to leave their Patron or Monarch, but I do not believe that all those below that person should be forced to leave also.
How often do people leave your allegiance? Have you had any major defections? Has anyone leaving your allegiance tried to return, and if so, did you welcome the person back?
We have had very few people leave our family. Oftentimes it has been for personal reasons not associated with Dereth. Those leaving in that fashion normally have attempted to lessen their loss by having those directly under them pledge to the Patron directly above them. This process in the future should be automatic. Any member leaving in honor may return to the family in honor. We did have one person, during beta 2, leave our family and kidnap some 24 fellow family members. Ultimately all those under him were able to return to the family. The family continues to wish this person a most peaceful and prosperous existence on Dereth.
How much maintenance do you think it takes to keep people from leaving?
I believe all in our family realize their importance to the family as a whole. Everyone has something they can contribute to the family in one way or another. I have found that our family often has two or more members at the inn at most times. Family members are encouraged to drop by the inn to chat with fellow brothers or sisters or to assist those in need. Given that, I believe it takes no less than 72 man-hours per day to maintain and to see to our family's needs.
How often do you team up with members of your allegiance to go on adventures?
As often as possible. There are often adventures and explorations to go on. We also have done rescue missions for family members in trouble on some part of the island. One just has to come to the inn, and within minutes usually there will be some adventure or rescue they can assist on. The inn is a busy place. We have elders of the family at the inn an average of 18 hours per day.
Do you have any alliances or feuds with other allegiances?
We have had several alliances with others monarchs. A most pleasant one was with the Monarch Drakoor. He developed a friendship with my family early on in the beta process which we enjoyed for a long period of time. One would only hope that such an alliance will continue on into the future.
One should never speak of their enemies in public. Such talk would only enhance their presence.
Do you ever see your allegiance going PK?
I have no need for Nanjou, or Ninja, within any branch of my family.
Do you have an allegiance Web site?
We do maintain a web presence at http://yanshi.GamersNet.Net
Do you have any comments you'd like to add?
This is the best game I have ever played, and I have been computer gaming since 1974. The ages in my monarchy run from 13 years old to nearly 70 years old. I believe all in my family enjoy this game very much.
Sincerely,
Ichi jin-rai
Sho Blademaster
Monarch
|
[Ichi recently dispatched a courier to our representative in Holtburg with the following update:]
Ichi jin-rai now resides on the Morningthaw server. More than 120 of his family members have returned, and a number of members are waiting for a favorite patron to return so that they may again pledge allegiance to Ichi jin-rai and his family Ichi Kazoko.
The family has NOT encouraged the pledging of secondary characters nor the pledging of "mules" as of yet. We want the initial core of the allegiance pyramid to be built upon the sound footing of active characters.
Ichi is still a Blademaster and wields only a tachi. He was last seen wearing a warm mat coat, covering his normal red gowns, to ward off the chill air.
|
;)
