The dispute over allowing the westerners into the continent spilt the former alliance of the clans creatings civil war. Half of the clans following Shatori Kun, who was the current shogun's half brother. His claims that Hitori was to scared of change and that under his rule the lands would soon be overtaken by the enemy struck fear in the hearts of his followers, which Shatori ruled with an iron fist. The other half, still loyal to Hitori and the old ways of Bushido held close to their sword and beliefs, their main thought being that without swords they would no longer be samurai.
These sudden outbursts between clans divided the land in half, weakening the continents military power. The westerners seeing this as an oppurtunity to claim more land offered their help to Shatori, who in return allowed them into his borders. When this act of indecency reached Hitori, the time of waiting and wishing was over and the time of action was now. Immediately his armies began preparation, concription was issued. Any man over the age of 10 who could wield a sword would do so, they were samurai after all, death meant nothing to them over honour. The shogun wars had finally begun.
In a village hidden deep with in the mountains, completely untouched by the outside world for 1000 had no idea of the war that was about to begin. Although, the affairs of the samurai didnt affect this town, the samurai their mortal enemy. For they were the last survivors of the shinobi, a group of warriors who trained in the art of stealth and surprise or how the samurai put it "Guerilla Warfare".
The samurai, out of fear of the shinobi began mass genocide. They destroyed countless villages all in the name of "honour". Believing that the shinobi's way of fighting was dishonourable and should be eradicated before they could cause more harm. The samurai's fear came from the fact that whenever a returning samurai came home after i fight with a shinobi, they would state that the enemy had magic powers and at times could even duplicate themselves. However, this was not the case, the shinobi liked to travel in small groups of 3-4. The fact that they wore lighter armour then that of the samurai meant they were more manouverable, giving them an edge speed wise. Although these claims may have been untrue, the shinobi had no problem with acting them out.
On one occasion, one shinobi even faked his own death and came back alive just to give away the effect that he was "immortal". With the samurai on the move and most of the shinobi villages being wiped out, the remaining leaders of the clans decided it best to take refuge in the mountains, hiding being the best form of defence at the moment. The remaining clans set out on their journey for Mt Kashika, where they closed themselves off from the outside world.
Our story is set in the present time, the shogun wars have been going on for a good five years now. The hidden village of the mountain, still unaware of the turmoil that stood below them. A young shinbo named Ryu Musashi, has come of age, and is ready to start his trials. He is summoned to the shinobi clan leaders who still think he is not ready to become a shinobi. As the man spent most of his child years being a nuisance.
The boy is about to protest to their claims but the elders quickly change their mind. It seems they have a task for him to do after all, one that will certainly prove he was ready for the title of "Shinobi". The clan leaders ask Ryu to venture out of the town and go on a basic scouting mission. To find out what has been going on in the continent since the time that they shut themselves in.
Apparently, many of the younger clansmen have wanted to rage war on the samurai for quite sometime now. The elders, not wanting to seem weak feel it best to get some basic info on the matter first, no point fighting an enemy that might not be there. Ryu, eager to prove himself accepts the task without a second guess and heads off down the mountain. After all it is just a basic scouting mission....or so the shinobi thought.
Characters
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2649 ... shigu9.png[/IMG]Ryu Musashi
Age-18
Gender-Male
Class-Shinobi
Weapon-Kunai
Skills-Ninjitsu
Ryu is an enthusiastic character, always ready to rush into things gets him into a lot of bizarre and dangerous situations. Most people wouldnt call him "leader" material, yet when push comes to shove he is always helping his friends with a plan. At first, Ryu would seem like a coward as he is always trying to get out of a fight with his words instead of his blade. Although, once in a fight he is struck with a sudden burst of confidence, the desire to push himself to his limits and to prove that he is worthy of the shinobi name. Gives Ryu the determination to accomplish things he never thought imagineable.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4044/shunharagi2.png[/IMG]Shun Hara
Age-22 (looks 16)
Gender-Male
Class-Martial Artist
Weapon-Gloves
Skills-Taijitsu
Shun is best described as a bitter old hermit. He first meets Ryu when the ninja carelessly breaks into his little mountain shack where he brakes one of Shun's priceless antiques. Well, atleast he told Ryu it was priceless. For the last six years or so Shun has lived by himself up in the mountain. Having learnt Taijitsu from his sensei in the school of the hopping frog, he mostly spent his time training his skills. The only reason the hermit joins Ryu is for the sole reason to get his money back for the antique, at least thats the excuse Ryu is given. The years of being a hermit has left Shun very socially scarred, the ability to construct long conversation leaving him long ago. Although one thing is for certain, he is more then he is letting on.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7278 ... itamd2.png[/IMG]Takumi Yamashita
Age-28
Gender-Male
Class-Samurai
Weapon-Katana
Skills-Bushido
Takumi lives in a small samurai town positioned on the border between the lands owned by Hitori and Shatori. Being a samurai means that this hearty fellow has a very big sense of honour and his build means he has a extremely large appetite. Takumi meets Ryu when the pesky shinobi trys to sneak through the town dressed as a samurai. Takumi uncovers him as a shinobi and immediately flys off the handle, going on about old birth rights and how it was his duty to rid the world of the last remaining shinobi. Ryu being the sneaky pest he is manages to evade Takumi at every turn and explains he is not the last shinobi. Takumi wanting to complete the task of his forefathers makes a cunning plan to join Ryu in attempt to know the whereabouts of the hidden village. Takumi and Ryu's relationship can be best described as a rivalry, each trying to best the other in any situation. Also, each trying to kill the other although the plans they hatch never fall through.
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6490 ... otowq1.png[/IMG]Akari Sakamoto
Age-19
Class-Assasin
Weapon-Needles
Skills-Acupuncture
Akari is a moody and sarcastic woman at best. She comes from the same village as Ryu, although the two haven't spoke in while due to Akari studies in ancient medicines based around the needle theorum that and the fact that she left the town when she was ten, deciding that there was more for her then what the quiet little shinobi town could offer. Akari found herself being hired as a assasin for Shatori who is eventually told to assasinate Ryu. Seeing this as a way to prove herself better then her old sibling rival she eagerly takes the task. Although her assasination attempts always end up failing and she even joins Ryu as a way to get closer to her goal. With friends like Akari and Takumi who needs enemies.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2853/s ... aralb4.png[/IMG] Shai Hakushi (shy doctor)
Age-23
Class-Alchemist
Weapon-Fan
Skills-Alchemy
Shai is a shy and sheltered girl. She came over to this continent with the westerners as a way to study the cultures herbs and medicines. Not very skilled in fighting, she mostly uses her alchemy training to make healing herbs for her friends or things to weaken her enemies. She meets Ryu when he enters the westerner town of Ladia, as a unconcious prisoner. Her curiousity took over her natural feelings of being shy as she inspected Ryu closely in his cell while she applied to him his treatment. Ryu, being shy with the ladies himself however jumps up and runs out the cell doors locking her in, it seemed she had carelessly left it open. Feeling guilty about her clumsiness, she sets off to find Ryu and spends most of the time she is with him trying to convince him in returning to Ladia so she can atone for her crime.
Features
+ side on battle system.
+world map
+the ability to use some of the party's skill out of battle.
+Ninja mini games
(still under construction)
Screenshots
(none as yet)
Credits
Japan for having such a good history :P
Japanese Site for the sprites of the main characters.
(thats it for now)
Conclusion
This was just a project i thought of five minutes ago and to me it felt orginal so i decided to turn my thoughts into a reality. Also, as proof to some people that i am quite capable of making an orginal game if i want to :P.
Please post comments on the story and characters. Also, any suggestions you might have on names or whatever the case might be. Please post them as well, i like criticism. P.S. Im aware there might be some grammer problems. Bare with me as microsoft word is on the fritz so i had to write this up in word pad. Which, stupidly doesnt have spellcheck and if it does i am yet to locate it.
(i will make the page more pretty soon with a titlescreen and fancy logos :P)