Fringe Troupes
What are Fringe Troupes?
Fringe Troupes are specified groups of characters that make their home in Little Asia, Kansas City, alongside the Court of Infinite Ages. They are characters that do not or would not join the Court.
Why have Fringe Troupes?
Firstly, players will play what they will. In an unmoderated game, attempting to force too many restrictions may turn off many good players. To get players to turn in all characters for approval, which is of course for the purpose of improved organization and thus Story intensity, additional parameters must be set for those characters that do not fit into the Court troupe for whatever reason.
Fringe Troupes also provide players an opportunity to play a character type not allowed in the Court. Nezumi and Nagah, Five Metal Dragons, Kuei-jin, unAwakened police officers, Asian-born fae, and the like all fit into this category.
What are the restrictions?
The Court of Infinite Ages troupe is meant to be the center of attention in the ULAG troupe. Thus, there are going to be heavier restrictions on Fringe Troupes. These general rules apply to all Fringe Troupes:
- No more than 10 characters are allowed for any Fringe Troupe (with one exception, see below).
- At least 3 players and characters are required to form a Fringe Troupe.
- Fringe Troupe Storytellers must insure at all times that their troupe does not impede on any other Fringe Troupe or the Court of Infinite Ages troupe.
Bearing those factors in mind, below are the few Fringe Troupes that have thus far been approved, and what characters are approved in those troupes. ULAG Storytellers are encouraged to press players to send their characters in for approval, and to not allow "freelancing" players to participate in their plotlines.
The Lodge of Jade
Storyteller: Soren
Description: This agency co-exists with the Court of Infinite Ages in Little Asia. It has stood a little longer than the Court actually, but keeps a lower profile admidst the temples of the Ten Do street. In Shinma tradition, many members of the Lodge of Jade also member the Court of Infinite Ages (as well as larger hsien Courts and societies). Its members pursue a protective umbrella over Little Asia's holy places, the devoted worshippers, and humanity in general. For this reason, the Lodge and Court are loosely allied and its members often work together.
Also, because the Lodge of Jade includes Shinma from the Court of Infinite Ages as well as its own distinct roster, the usual OOC membership limit is lifted. A limit of ten characters is usually applied to Fringe Troupes. This limit is removed for the Lodge of Jade group. For more details on the Lodge of Jade, please see the Storyteller's site, found here.
Roster (Lodge of Jade only): Deriha Yukar, Su-Yin, Tianyi, Wah An, Yang Pengtianyi, Yuji Ito
Roster (bi-Court): Anela Wu, Fujimon-Chiao Teng, Liao Khan Zhi Hui, Ming Bo Lien, Mui-ho Huang, Reiko Yasui, Tsuki Sotatsu, Wah Kadan, Wah Sing Ku, Yuen Dao-Zi
The Oathcircle
Storyteller: Soren
Description: This group includes Kithain, mostly young Sidhe, in the Little Asia area. They are essentially outcasts from the high Courts, but work to benefit their station in Little Asia.
Note that in order to encourage more "proper" changeling characters of the hsien variety (this being a Year of the Lotus-themed game and all), the Oathcircle Fringe Troupe is actually the fae Fringe Troupe at whole. Thusly, all Kithain and Kinain count towards the maximum allowable roster. This holds true even if the character isn't a member of the actual Oathcircle.
Roster: Jack Shindo, Michael Takahashi, Morgan Nishiiwa, Sabia Suerte, Sylwyndeh Galadnodel, Tavatiana Varich, Violette Despeere
The Subtle Thunders: Amalgam Kitakai
Storyteller: Cam
Description: The Zaibatsu extends its reach as the Western Union requests native Asian agents to deal with the growing "deviant" unrest in Little Asia. Dark horror lurks in the decrepit city corners while doomsday conspiracy haunts the team. Much rests on this single amalgam's success or failure.
Roster: Akira Guraiko, Midori "Ono" Ringo, Misaki Sato, Rai "Die Hard" Nakada, Unari Michi
Non-Affiliates
Description: This isn't a group at all. There is no Storyteller for these characters, who are fringe in every sense. There is no limit to the number of non-affiliates in the ULAG. However, they have no Storyteller to guide their characters personally and will have to rely on the Buddy Storyteller system unless a regular Storyteller graciously lets them participate in a plot.
Roster: Amaya Keiko, Asahara Hikaru, Aurora Nishiiwa, Brona Seros, Chiang Xianxuan, Fu Mei, Jade Hung, Kimiko Satoh, Lais Jivvel, Little Bat, Megan Fisher, Mekong Cara Cam, Qiulian Jian, Samantha Sogiaka, Shang Mei-yin, Tenzing Naji, Tikki-Tikki-Tembo, Xian Xin Xin, Zain, Zhang Qing
If you don't see your character listed here, chances are I have not received your character data. Please refer here for the required format by which character data is accepted.
Remember, if you do not get your character approved one way or the other, you may be denied participation in ULAG Story scenes and fail to gain other benefits. However, if that doesn't bother you, we have no intent to put anyone on "mass ignore". There is always freeform roleplay in our chat room for you to engage in.
Potential Fringe Troupes
Here are the Fringe Troupes in the works. They are known to contain at least three players, but the Storytellers have not received enough character data for approval yet.
Kuei-jin: The Bamboo Scales
Description: The small Kuei-jin presence exerts a subtle but potent influence over the district of Little Asia. Housed in the Court of Bamboo Scales, this Great Step Outward manifest. Ambitious, daring, and driven vampires from many different standards flock to the Court and Little Asia. With several Mandarins guiding, who knows what fate or joss will hold here for the Hungry Dead?
Other Possible Fringe Troupes
Here are a few more ideas on potential Fringe Troupes that have not had enough interest voiced yet. The likely and interested Storyteller volunteer is the name in parantheses: Little Asia Task Force/Police (Shooter), Nagah Nest, Nezumi Deceit, Strike Force Zero (Jim), Crime Syndicates, Boli Zouiszhe, Kyoto Village Kin-jin (Jim), Same-Bito (Cam). (Yes, the Same-Bito Fringe Troupe would take place in an entirely different setting.) For more details on any of these ideas, contact the Head Storyteller.
It is important to remember that even if a Fringe Troupe may be naturally rivaled to the Court of Infinite Ages (e.g., Strike Force Zero), the Fringe Troupes are not to instigate freeform roleplaying conflicts. That would violate one of the core rules of the Fringe Troupes. We have observed over the years that such competitive interaction too often leads to OOC conflict, and it will not be tolerated. Roleplaying games are not meant to be like football games. If it ever occurs and gets out of hand, the Fringe Troupe, not the CoIA troupe, will be the group that is penalized (and possibly disbanded). So long as the harmony of the ULAG is upkept with friendly players and wise Storytellers, this should not be an issue. And so far, friendly players and wise Storytellers are what we have. Enjoy!
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