[occ] General Setting Ideas

The Kingdom is to be greatly based on the lands of China, with touches of Studio Ghilbi and a mix of various other influences.   Various cities tend to have key "products" or wares in them.   The City of Endless Splendors, for example, focuses on the vices and drugs that people might seek.  The City of Unbridled Wisdom, on the other hand is a massive city-sized library with literally hundreds of thousands of books and scrolls.  Each Zodiac Minister commands a particular main City, although some do so less directly than others.  A few actually command more than one, a clear sign of the favor they have gained from the Jade Emperor.

There are levels of technological advancement in the Kingdom.    At the most basic, we have the rural early China feel where people farm and raise herds, with rice paddies and wagons commonly seen.  In some more modern places, steam and mechanical technology proves to be more present.  In such cities, gears and levers are used to open the city's massive gates.  Steam powered vehicles are used for both commerce and military needs.  In further flung areas, electricity is at its beginnings, with only the wealthiest of citizens having access to basic lighting and artificially reproduced music.  And finally, if rumor or myth is to be believed, the Jade Emperor himself and his most favored Minister own cities where magic and prayer fuels the very industry and technology.

The basic currency used is based on Jade.

For simplicity, a large majority of the population speak a single language with some levels of dialectual difference.  Typically, only foreigners to the Kingdom speak other tongues.  Some believe however even the animals and shadow demon have their own language.

Travelling between cities takes at least a few days by foot.  Some cities, such as the Jade Emperor's Forbidden City, may take years to reach by foot.  

There was a time when the Zodiac Ministers were first gathered by the man who was to become the Jade Emperor and the thirteen fought valiantly to unite all into one Kingdom under heaven.  Their acts of heroism and sacrifice united the various warring lands and clans into a single kingdom under the banner of the Jade Emperor.  But in the years that have passed, corruption and selfishness has set in.   Some Ministers refuse to see that, believing they still do what is best for the people.  Others realize the Jade Emperor has become the very threat he once gathered them to defeat, and secretly ponder on when action must be taken to bring the now ruling dictator down.

[occ] Choose your top three Ministers and give sample write-ups

Each Zodiac Minister reflects certain qualities and traits.  This list is taken from the wikipedia entry on the Chinese Zodiac and will be used to help inspire concepts for character creation.  Each player will play the role of one of the twelve original Zodiac Ministers.

1. Rat - 鼠 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.
2. Ox - 牛 (Water buffalo in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
3. Tiger - 虎 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
4. Rabbit - 兔 (Cat in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
5. Dragon - 龍 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, jealous, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
6. Snake - 蛇 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
7. Horse - 馬 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile - mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
8. Sheep or Ram - 羊 (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
9. Monkey - 猴 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
10. Rooster - 雞 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
11. Dog - 狗 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
12. Pig - 猪 (Wild boar in Japan and Elephant in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

Players are to comment below (or email me) their top three choices, and a short write-up for each choice.  
An example write-up can be found below:

The Rat Minister  
Raigô Ajari

子

Meticulous in his shrewdness and charmingly eloquent in his manipulations, the Rat Minister watches over the City of Hidden Splendors, a city based near the water front where illegal goods, blackmarket wares and similar shipments are received.  Though the city's corruption is publicly known, the city maintains a facade of order and peace - one enforced by the Rat Minister who travels the streets as both judge, jury and executioner in his domain.

Dressed in the brown silk that has been embroidered without any markings denoting his position as a Minister, the Rat Minister has always showed loyalty to the Jade Emperor.  Some whisper, though never to his face, that the Rat Minister has seduced the Jade Emperor with access to narcotics and other illegal vices.  While he will never be equally bribe the Emperor with the sheer wealth the Pig Minister's City of Fortune gambling hostels can, his ability to find the rarest and scarcest things makes him an invaluable ally in the Emperor's eye.