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This story is to be a "another world" version of historial Edo Period. Since I'm an American taking on something Japanese, it's decided that it's best to modify many things to make it more of a realistic fantasy based on the Japanese culture (similar to The Lords of the Rings based on Mediveal Europe) so not to worry about making any possible cultural mishaps. The story is expected to be very character-oriented (focused on the main characters).
Prelimitary Summary (subject to
changes due to any possible new ideas):
Tokiyo, a daughter of Kinishi Takoshiro, who was
well known and respected samurai of Nippon ("Japan"), receives the shocking
news of the death of her father duiring his diplomatic mission in Sino("China").
It was said that her father has died in disgrace during his failed attempt
to dishonorably murder the Shogun's son and few other officers, but Tokiyo
didn't believe such news, and she becomes determined to discover the truth
behind the death of her father. But she couldn't leave because her isolation
by her strict aunt who tend not to treat her well along with the fact she
is very inexperienced with anything beyond her village. Her opportunity
opens when one of her aunt's servants named Shuang, who was captured and
sold as a "servant" (slave), managed to escape. With her father's sword
in her arms, Tokyo pretended to chase after her, and that begins her quest
for the truth. She did not realize that by carrying a samurai sword, she
is
violating one of Shogun's decrees, hence, the soldiers keep going "There's
that samurai girl!" "Where's that samurai girl?!" "Find that samuri girl!"
as they attempt to capture and arrest her few times. ^_^; She didn't want
to kill anyone, and it didn't help that when she got challenged to a duel
by a samurai named Tomogoro Kuroda.
I have to be very careful with how I
handle the Japanese culture considering how many authors tried such similar
feats and failed. I still have a lot of research to do..
The fashion designs are not final since I have yet to do more deep research on Japanese and Chinese fashion designs (couldn't find good online sources due to excess junk stuff). As for the descriptions of the characters below, I have to admit that I know excatly what their personalities are, but I'm lousy at describing them(I think in pictures not words). ^_^;;
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-Tokiyo, daughter
of Kinishi Takoshiro, who is to be in search for the truth behind
the death of her father. She is to be somewhat innocent/naive mainly due
to being isolated by her aunt for some reasons unknown to her. She was
shocked by the news of the death of her father who she had not seen for
few years, and she became determined to discover the truth behind her father's
death. She has no desire to fight with anyone but that willl provide to
be difficult when for the first time, she got challenged to a duel by Tomogoro,
a low ranked samurai.
--Sketch 01, Sketch 02, Hairstyle Sketch --Basic Color Diagram01(Sept06), Basic Color Diagram02(Sept06) |
 |
-Shuang, a Sinonese(Chinese)
girl captured and sold to Tokiyo's aunt as a "servant". She will start
as a withdrawn and grumpy girl during her time as Tokiyo's aunt's "servant"
before she escaped. She will eventually learn Tokiyo's language and become
more open to Tokiyo who treats her well. When she feels better, she will
become cheerful and very curious (loves to learn). Her cheerfulness hides
the fact that she had some repressed bad memories that she did not want
to recall.
--Sketch 01, Sketch 02, Hairstyle Sketch --Basic Color Diagram01(Sept06), |
 |
-Jingo, involved
with rebellions against against Shogun's rule. She could be considered
a "wild girl" that had to be "handled with caution", and with her personality,
she also could be considered a "punk" compared to "more civilized" women.
Beside from being playfully flirtatious with men, she would warm up to
anyone who treats her well while treating anyone who don't treat her well
rather poorly. She's highly skilled with the samurai bow.
--Sketch 01, --Basic Color Diagram01(Sept06), |
| -"Marco", the only trader from the western
civilizations to hold a permit to trade in Nippon (secret reasons). He
is skilled at spear fighting and very friendly and willing to help those
in need, but he expects those he helped to return the favor. He had been
frequently targeted by his older dead brother's rivals.
--Sketch 01, (I haven't decided on his actual appearance and fashion designs). |
|
 |
-Tomogoro Kuroda,
a low-ranked and depressed samurai with some family problems. He is to
challenge Tokiyo who happened to be carring the samurai sword to a duel.
--Basic Color Diagram01(Sept06), |
 |
-Kiyoshi, A friend
or an enemy? A freelancer ninja specialized in information gathering. He
tend to be silent and talk only when necessary. He will do only what he
was paid to do even it might mean that he will either help or hurt Tokiyo
and her company.
--Sketch 01, --Basic Color Diagram01(Sept06), |
 |
-Kanaya, a young
peasant with "too-big-for-his-own-good" dreams of becoming a samurai whose
courage kept getting him in trouble. He is to be a clumsy boy with
a big crush on Tokiyo which Tokiyo found to be very annoying. A potenial
for comedic romance (later become more serious as he matures.)
--Sketch 01, |
 |
-Ichiro Nanuma,
a low-ranked samurai who is like a brother to Tokiyo. He's always very
concerned for the welfare of Tokiyo, and
would try to protect her from any dangers. It will difficult for him to act on his own, because of his sworn oath to serve his lord. --Basic Color Diagram01(Sept06), |
-Concept/Action Pencil Sketches (Always Messy!)
-Capture
of Tokiyo (Nov. 2006)
-Tokiyo's
First Encounter with Kanaya (Nov. 2006)
-Kiyoshi,
Tokiyo and Shuang (Nov.2006)
-Possible
'Where's that Samurai Girl?!'(Tokiyo) Cover #1(Nov.2006)
-Possible
'Where's that Samurai Girl?! (Tokiyo & Shuang)' Cover #2(Nov.2006)
-Possible
'Where's that Samurai Girl?! (Tokiyo & Jingo)' Cover #3(Nov.2006)
That's it, and I haven't decided on which manga to
start with, and I may have to start with short story ("arc story") at first
with possible expandations if they do well enough. That was the same method
I did with my first fanfic manga, Sailor Mercury: Beryl's Curse which was
intended to be only one fanfic I did but it got expanded with 12 additional
chapters due to its popularity. ^_^
