im so in love with your ocs could i ask what the plot of their story is about 👀
omg thank you!! They belong to me and my partner, let me try to make it the least messy as possible!
EMPIRES
There are seven empires, each of them specialising in different "subjects", i.e. one in medication, full of doctors and experts in the field of poison, herbs ect. Another, is the cultivation empire, where every aspiring cultivator goes to to work on their inner self; it has schools, is the place where those willing enough can reach godhood, full of monks and students. Then there is the literature empire (storing historical records, texts,ect.), the empire that manages trade and wealth (consider it a big bank), the "war" empire (specialises in forging of weapons, training soldiers and overall being the strongest empire military), the "defence" empire (specialises in the creation of protective shields and architecture), and finally the "alchemy" empire, which focuses on studying myths, spells, and approaching cultivation from a more scientific view.
SETTING
The reasons each empire focuses on one aspect doesn't mean they're not knowledgeable in the others, but this hierarchy creates harmony, kind of like every empire collaborating as one society- which is pretty much what it is. The reason there are empires to begin with is that the land is too vast to manage under one ruler. Then again, because of their expertise, each empire has its own culture, traditions and stories.
The empires were founded after a long and disastrous war at the dawn of time, where the survivors of the aftermath set the pillars. Each one embraced cultivation since the beginning, but only one (the literature empire), disliked the power it could grant some.
GODS AND TRIALS (an example)
Gods are cultivators that ascended to divinity. They have to study at the empire of cultivation and take a final trial in which their will and strength is tested. The tests vary in difficulty, but that doesn't mean they're anything easy to pass. The teacher doesn't know what to prepare their students for, but there is one solid rule for the trial: Not to interact with anything or anyone outside of the assigned "mission"- which adds another challenge to the test (identifying your goal). To make this example clear, one of the main gods, Xiao Shiyun, who took on the trial before his 20s, was thrown off after starting the test and not finding anything to complete. Not a puzzle, not someone needing to be saved. Instead, after a while of stillness, he met a wandering demon who begged Xiao Shiyun to to talk to him. It enquired that it was stuck there for centuries, and that everyone he'd met had ignored him. If Xiao Shiyun spared him even just a greeting, the demon believed it could be freed. Of course, hearing this, Xiao Shiyun panicked, believing it to be a deviation from his main goal. Were he to fall into the trap, he'd fail. But, after days and nights of exploring, he passed his test by talking to the demon! It's always tricky. This interaction is funny because later on, when Xiao Shiyun is an established and well respected (martial arts) god, he meets with the demon he had freed. As thanks, it tells Xiao Shiyun that he had named a daughter of his after him.
PLOT
Knowing this, the main plot revolves around the literature empire, ruled for years by the Meng Empire- a proud, pure lineage that relished in the simple thirst for knowledge and the enjoyment for poetry. In this point, though, cultivating has been allowed since a while, and the physical resilience strayed many from their humble origins, including the rulers. The Emperor falls into depression after an episode, and his judgement sways. At the same time, he gets a new advisor, sharp and witty, confident. He one day announces that there is a reason behind the mental state of the emperor, which is none other but a curse from the gods for hipocrisy: embracing cultivation far too late. The Meng sin tainted the energy, creeping then into the people and the dynasty itself- the emperor, his wife, his kids and his ancestors had their blood poisoned with the gods' rage. Emperor Meng's wise advisor could only give him one solution to dissolving the curse.
THE MARTYRDOM AND THE FARCE WAR
The Meng family, influenced by fear and the clarity of the advisor's words, agrees to ending their own life in search of a better ending in the next one. Emperor Meng asks for the help of a friend:
"Take over my Empire when I'm gone."
It's a favor bounded by honor and promises, which his friend can't deny. To make sure Emperor Meng's friend had a legitimate right to the throne, and to avoid starting another war, they settle on a fake rebellion, where the Meng Dynasty would be overthrown, and the Yins, the emperor friend's family, would take over their stead.
The war ended with the glorious deaths of both the emperor and empress at the hands of a young, emerging soldier, Li Wei. The Meng heir and general of the army Meng Jiahao disappeared, and their daughter, Meng Linjin, died from voluntary poisoning.
Though, not everything went as planned. The man who was supposed to become the new emperor, the head of the rebellion, chickens out. He realizes that the weight his promise carries is too much, so he puts his son, Yin Lingyun, on the throne. Everything is a mess- the eldest sister, Yin Mixiang -appointed as general during the war- is denied the recognition of victory and earning the highest of rewards (the crown). She falls into rage, promptly distancing herself from her family. It only gets worse when her and Yin Lingyun's mother dies from illness, taking her husband with her due to grief.
All of this happens right after everything settled, leaving Yin Lingyun scarred and Yin Mixiang disoriented. She grows overly protective of her brother, but she deals with his "incompetence" as a newly appointed emperor with physical and mental abuse- something that, in her opinion, would protect him.
Yin Lingyun is a quiet and reserved guy, someone who was openly spoiled as a child by his mother. He loved eating and reading literature, things which often made him a target of bullying.
Having had no friends beside his sister, mother, and cousin, Yin Lingyun is isolated and easy to take advantage of. After his coronation, Yin Lingyun is tasked with personally congratulating Li Wei, the man everyone sees as the one who won the war, and advancing his rank. The latter, though, who also lacks the adequate etiquette to adress the emperor, refuses the honor and admits he wants to retire. Yin Mixiang, whose strategy made it so Li Wei could make it out alive, is mortified at his decision, but is even more so when Yin Lingyun indulges in it. Li Wei confesses that he wishes to be somewhere calm and follow painting as a hobby. Yin Lingyun suggests Li Wei becomes his personal artist (being fascinated by any sort of art and also finding an opportunity to have a friend).
Li Wei accepts, but his decision doesn't guarantee him a peaceful life. The burden of being Emperor Meng's son will prove to pursue him like a curse.
There's so much more i haven't mentioned yet, so many characters, relationships, backgrounds etc. but this is a very quick and general idea of the lore. Tysm if you read this far!
