Name: Mbun!fu Yah Takdiri
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Patron deity: The Smith
Nation of origin and information:
Nyumbani: Across the Southern Sea from the continental Western civilizations, past the small coastal city-state of Pwani, lies the sprawling nation of Nyumbani. It's particularly large size comes from the fact that it's borders are not well defined, as no expedition has been successful in transversing the deadly deserts that seem to stretch on for eternity to the West, and the lands to the South and East are rife with swamps and malicious barbarians.
Nyumbani was relatively isolated from its Northern neighbors for much of its history, when about four centuries ago, the surge in demand international trade from both the West and Nyumbani itself led to seafaring merchants to pass through Pwani in order to set up economic ties with Nyumbani. Eventually, these merchants brought not only gold and goods with them, but Western culture and religion. The latter began to take the form of missionaries and local citizens who realized that the concept of the Holy Trinity was the superior religion to the traditional Nyumbani Monotheistic religion. As some Nyumbanians converted to this new religion, others clung to their old beliefs, and an inevitably, bloody, religious civil war was soon at hand. In present times, members of both religions have gotten to the point of unsteady tolerance, with the occasional sporadic riot or massacre.
Nyumbani is quite influential and wealthy due to its position as a desired source of international trade. What exactly are their products? Nyumbani does produce wood, food, metal, and so forth, but only enough so that it can support its own populace. What really attracts foreign trade is the exotic and desired goods native to the Nyumbani lands: Spices, salts, sugars, chocolates, narcotics and tea never seen before by other nations. As a result, Nyumbani has sizable merchant and middle classes, which in turn have resulted in the progress of many social fields, from education and literacy to architecture and art. This does not make it a utopia by any means: Poverty is just as rampant as anywhere else, and the massive flow of the economy leads to additional corruption and violence throughout Nyumbani.
The feudal monarchy is headed by a Mfalme, who distributes land to Kifalmes, who further divide it among Makosas. The military is quite active and up to date, having to constantly deal with religious strife and the various barbarian tribes on the outskirts of Nyumbani.
Physical appearance: Mbun!fu stands at about 2 meters in height, with a slight build. He is twenty-two years of age. Noticeably, his fingers are also quite thin and long, like the rest of him. He has very short, thick brown hair, and auburn eyes. His complexion is deep ebony. His outfit consists of a white cloak, with a wearable hood and mask section, (intended to be worn in parts of Nyumbani that were particularly windswept, like the deserts or savannah). He wears two golden earrings to display of royalty and wealth.
Backstory: Mbun!fu was among many of the children born into a merchant family that specialized in the selling of chocolate and cocoa goods to Western traders. Mbun!fu was raised and educated as a child with the intention of one day taking the family business into his own hands and expanding it along with his brothers and sisters. At the age of 11, however, Mbun!fu was caught in the middle of an angry mob, only to be rescued by a Knight of an Order of the Holy Trinity. Mbun!fu's family were less interested in religion than making capital, but this event changed Mbun!fu's life, and he began educating himself on the Holy Trinity, and taking several ventures to the local church.
As an adolescence, Mbun!fu was determined to join the ranks of the Holy Trinity's Military Order. His family did not support him in this endevor, but this didn't disaude him either; they figured that they had enough children to take care of their merchant business, and they could spare one running off. At the age of 16, Mbun!fu joined the Order but lacked the physicality and athleticism to become a footsoldier or knight. However, with his intelligence and education, he was able to secure a spot in traveling with armies and keeping track of logistics, or acting as an accountant or secretary. By the age of eighteen, Mbun!fu rose to the rank of Regiment Officer. Though soldiers under his command initially repudiated his abilities as a commander due to his frailness and non-combative history, Mbun!fu was able to dispel these rumors as his cunning and zealousness made up for his weaknesses, such as when he went into single combat with a much bigger, heathen rebel leader and proceeded to remove his entire jawbone with his Officer's Saber.
During one incident in the Eastern Marshlands, Mbun!fu and his regiment had been beaten in battle by a tenacious band of barbarians, and were routed to a lake. While awaiting for their inevitable slaughter when the barbarians caught up, Mbun!fu was seized by a "great divine revelation", and utilized his remaining resources, nearby trees, and reeds, in order to create makeshifts rafts that sailed the regiment away to safety with minimum causalities. Word spreads fast in Nyumbani, and commended once he arrived home with a surprising number of survivors. And so, the tale spread through the kingdom, which made its way to the ears of Western Merchants, who took it home with them. It wasn't long before the Ruling Council sent a dignitary to visit Mbun!fu...
Mbun!fu chooses The Smith as his Patron God, as The Smith oversees concepts important to Mbun!fu.
Reason(s) for assignment: Mbun!fu has a great deal of experience with military strategy and logistics, using methods and systems not yet introduced in the Western lands, allowing him to come up with solutions and breakthroughs previously unheard of, a skill found useful by Council members tired of using the same, inefficient tactics again and again. He also has his occasional insights, though whether this is true divine intervention or just sudden revelation is up for debate. Still, these insights have spread word of him up to the Western countries fast. His zealousness also make him both confident and loyal to the cause, while retaining his exotic cunning. His religious convictions are fierce even compared to the religious populace of many Western lands, as is true for many new Nyumbani converts to the Holy Trinity, who were not born with the religion, and have decided to follow it out of their own decision and conviction. Mbun!fu has fought against Monotheists, Heathens, and Barbarian alike in a wide range of lands, which broadened his practical military knowledge. He does show a knack for intelligence, and is multilingual, speaking both the language of Nyumbani as well as the West.
Do you wish to be the High Inquisitor? Yes.
[spoiler=Headquarters sheet for the High Inquisitor]Headquarters name: Jumba Yah Heshima (Literally, Palace of Prestige. Abbreviation: J.Y.H.)
Headquarters characteristics: Below are five choices, each with a few options. Choose one option for each choice.
Inside a city
Close to the border
Equipped with civilian facilities
Small and well maintained
Access to trade
Headquarters description: Jumba Yah Heshima once belonged to a minor noble, and was auctioned off by his family after his death. It is only a Palace in name, and is more akin to a moderate mansion, decked out in bourgeois architecture and filled with all sorts of fancy decor, from hanging plants to authentic pictures. It also meets the finest living standards, with everything from marble baths to a gilded dining hall, and of course a plethora of bedrooms. It's position, upon a river and adjacent to a popular trading post, makes it very accessible to trade. There are many advantages to the palace, but it suffers from the drawback of physical vulnerabilities. Historically, it has required a decent guard or mercenary population to ensure that no outside forces invade it.
Retainers of note:
Recruiter - Can recruit and train a certain amount of troops by himself.
Engineer - Can create and repair traps, equipment and structures for you.
High Priest - Can cast divine magic and teach it to a greater extent than inquisitors, initially.
Author
Topic: Inquisition - OOC thread (Read 5090 times)