Sign Up/Discussion Pokemon: Journey of the Sacred Flute (Signups and Discussion

@~Dream-Of-The-Elements~ @122 Generation @Shadria @ShireHime

In the fantastic Asian inspired Pokémon world of Erios, flutes are considered sacred to the Legendaries (but there are specific types that can be played in secular music.) But the most scared flute one can play is called the kinenfue, or prayerflute.

Known for its rich, almost voice-like sound (similar to an alto flute in our world), it is considered a great honor to even learn to play a kinenfue. Once a year, one such practitioner--who is known as the fuemusou--journeys to all the Legendary temples across the land, playing their holy music to ensure peace, fortune, hope, and prosperity for the coming year. The journey culminates in playing before Arceus himself in the Great Temple in the Aiiro City. If Arceus is pleased by the song, he will bless the performer and their companions eternally, and the year ahead with be filled with great luck. If the song is terrible, it is said the year will be filled with misery and despair.

But the journey is not without perils--in addition to getting to the temples, there are monsters, bandits, and those that would go to any lengths to get their hands on a kinenfue. But the kinenfue isn't often played for battle--a fuemusou may carry a second flute called a mateki or warflute, to play magic through if they have the talent to do so, or use another weapon to defend themselves.

A fuemusou can have as many as twelve companions, called douhan, go with them on their journey. The douhan are to protect the fuemusou and his/her kinenfue, and serve as general companions for the journey.

Our story is about a gifted musician and storyteller from the mountain city of Hakugin, who is equally skilled at music as he is with the bow and with words. Alongside the gung ho fighter Ash, the watery swordswoman Misty, and the mystic Serena, Brock has also invited you on the adventure of a lifetime, aware of the honor and responsibility his adventure entails.

What wonders and terrors await Brock and his douhan on his journey to the temples? What does the journey hold for you as a douhan?

To join in, sign up here with the following info:

Character's name
Character's age
Character's class (explained below)
Character's personality and known backstory
Character's current inventory (appropriate to their class)
Why has your character decided to join the pilgrimage as one of Brock's douhan?

Classes you can pick:

Swordsman/woman (your standard warrior class. Many of them can also use magical effects through their blade. Misty is water swordswoman, but she can also use ice moves and healing magic)
Fighter (your standard knuckle-wearing martial artist. Many of them train under a specific school, but there are some that go around to various schools, learning a little of this and a little of that. Ash was trained under the Harmony Moon school, which has Lugia as its guardian Pokémon)
Mystic (your standard offensive magic user infused with the dancer class. Many of them use twin blades or a whip-like ribbon as their weapon. Serena was trained as a Delphox mystic, meaning she primarily uses fire magic)
Miko (your standard defensive magic user infused with fighter and mage characteristics)
Ronin (your standard rogue with a nose for secrets and treasure--not all of them are out to make trouble!)
Kaitan (your standard minstrel class blended with offensive and defensive magic. They typically are good with storytelling and music, preferring to use a lute or harp to play their magic)
Yumidou (a magic knight crossed with a ranger; these mystical archers fuse magic into their arrows. Brock is technically a yumidou crossed with a kaitan)

Attack names should be flowery, showy and stylized a la cheesy kung fu movies, so instead of saying your character cast Ice, your character may use "Silver Crystals Fall From the Sky", so keep this in mind when thinking of skills. If you need help, I can give you some ideas.

If you have any questions or need help, let me know.

 

@ChocoChicken @Fchicken77

Those look good! You both are Accepted!

 

Signups will be open all week, but I'll be posting worldbuilding info in here too.

 

@Fchicken77

Pokémon do exist in this world, alongside your standard RPG monsters (typical Zelda and Final Fantasy fare)

@ChocoChicken

You can give your character an elemental affinity, but you don't have to--if you don't, I'll assume your character knows bits and pieces of all the elements.

 

Preparation and Performing on the Journey

A fuemusou is first chosen by Arceus in a dream, where he leaves a unique marking designating them as the fuemusou; typically on the hand.

Once this marking appears, the fuemusou goes to the temple, where they show the priest or priestess the marking.

If the person is the first in their family to go on the journey, they will receive their own kinenfue, like Brock does. If someone went on the journey before them, they will inherit the previous kinenfue.

Each kinenfue is unique to its owner, and has a unique name. Brock's is a green and silver instrument with some gold trim, simply named Midori.

After being blessed in the temple, the fuemusou is given the option to pick some douhan for the journey. The fuemusou does have the option to travel alone, if they choose.

Once any douhan are assembled, the party is seen off to great fanfare.

If the fuemusou is from any of the towns where a temple is, they will always play in their home temple before they leave on the journey.

When the fuemusou does perform, they must play the sacred melodies from memory, without the use of sheet music. Sheet music may be used to learn the sacred songs, though.

The only time a kinenfue can ever be played in battle is if the fuemusou is up against something demonic in origin. The sound of the kinenfue is said to calm a demon's rage, and purify its soul. If someone or something was possessed, the kinenfue will cast the demon out.

When a fuemusou arrives in a place that has a Legendary's temple, the performance itself has a very specific order:

--The fuemusou usually goes alone to the temple, although a recent change in the rite allows up to two douhan to go with the fuemusou. They typically go when all services are over, and people are not typically present.

--The fuemusou informs the priest or priestess they wish to make an offering of song before the Legendary.

--The main sanctum is closed off for the performance.

--The fuemusou performs the song they have prepared for the Legendary from memory--they are not allowed to have sheet music for the performance. Sheet music is okay to use if learning and practicing a song, however. Using sheet music for the performance itself is said to be bad luck.

--When the fuemusou finishes their song, the Legendary will appear and grant the fuemusou (and any douhan) a blessing. The better the fuemusou does, the better the blessing will be.

The Legendaries are very tolerant about nerves and inexperience--even the most squeaky and out of tune rendition will garner a small blessing if the performer put their heart into it. They only curse lazy fuemusou, or those that didn't even try.

 

@ChocoChicken

You can focus on as many of the eight elements as you wish. If you focus on one or two, you would have an affinity to the elements you focused on. It is rare for someone to master all the elements.

 

@ShireHime

That works fine! These are two separate worlds, but are unified by common elements and concepts. You are Accepted!

You are allowed to have Pokémon, within reason.

@Fchicken77

The eight elements are earth (both rocks and crystals and leaves and flowers), fire, wind, water, ice, thunder, cosmos (the good side of darkness) and light. Which two were you thinking about?

 

@Fchicken77

I plan to leave signups open for another day or so, so you still have time to join in.