Passing by

[Tenkaranpu]

How do they say "bonjour" in America ? Ah yeah... I remember now...

Greetings, :cuss power armoured Rotary club members !

Just a Français guy passing by for special reasons and it's the first time I subscribe on an English forum, but whatever, can't let a mere language barier stop me, right ? Stile, has ze rumors aboute french ceking ine linguistic arre conplitli trou, you gaillz wile ave two excyuse maille pour English. Aie ame rilli souris fore vat (voilà, contant maintenant ?). ;)

I am mostly an ancient Demon Hunters player, as I started the game back in 4th Edition, altough I'm a fan of old Fluff, the one true 40k Fluff, thus all my Grey Knights miniatures are old one in metal (except vehicles of course). Ah... The mighty and glorious Grey Knights. They were much better before their Matt Ward's update. Fighting superior foes with human wisdom and peerless bravery, combining stuffs in order to overcome the Chaos, and in the end, making them flee in terror.

I, Tenkaranpu, am also a fan of Japan's ancient culture & History, and work on a samurai codex called "Jipang". As in this sort of project, I prefer to do Japanese-like rather than imitating japanese culture (as did nearly all the other western people's project that I have heard of) most of it's background is heavily based on Japanese History (and nationalists claims lol), with a 40k touch. For exemple, the time-line, where each Millenium of the Warhammer 40k Chronology looks in Jipang like a Japanese's historical period (only the Meiji period-look alike is really different). I must also warn you that as it is an amateur codex, it is possible to use only existing miniatures. But rest assure, I have build quite a list of usable produce for most codex entry.

I will now talk about the reason why I have subscribe here, on Bolter & Chainsword.

In Jipang's fluff, the origins of it's Civilisation are shrouded in legend and mysteries. Not only because it began pre-Imperium, but also because it seems to follow a strange "political direction" as if it had a peculiar goal... and it's means to accomplish it are quite astonishing. Jipang, despite having for most of it's history, poor technological and scientific knowledge, managed to built a miraculous Post-scarcity economy, making most of it's population is idle, and while looking for a goal in life, most of it's population ended as warriors, risking their lives for greater ideals, and striving to reach perfection.

As I am both a monarchist and an adept of the saying "give back to Caesar...", many concepts used by the Eldar and inspired by Japanese & Sinocentrist cultures are tacking back for this codex. I have also taken back the "Senseï" and revamped it as Arahitogami, making them less shagadélique by the way, and more Shintô like. Arahitogami are numerous on Jipang, and their divine bloodline is partly responsible for the grosbill profils I gave to them. Their is also other strange things, like demi-eldars descent (as some suppose Jipang was a Virgin World or even an Exodite World).

But the problem, for historians & scholars of the 40k universe, is how it has really started ! You know how is the Inquisition, they simply can't just stand a world full of psykers (even though they doon't like your usual grotesque mutants). But also, in Jipang's Civilisation, their is simply to many coïncidences ! Jipang's people explain it by saying Jipang is "Shinkoku" (the God's Country / Godly Nation) since times of yore, but of course, that can't be that simple. So everyone is looking back at the fundation of it's Sovereign Dynasty, Yamato-ôcho / Sumeragi-ichimon.

Yes, the Imperial Family of Japan do not have a family name. But if it had one, it would be either Yamato-ôcho (Kingly Dynasty of Yamato, the name comonly used in antiquity for their kingdom) or "Sumeragi" (the kanji means Sovereign, Augustus, God-King... it's the same as the second in Tennô) used by some japanese who are blood-related with the Chrysanthemum Throne. Sometimes, Japanese use the Sumeragi name in order to do discret nationalism too... lol

Most hypothesis are on Jimmu-Tennô, the official funder. Official truth says he was an Arahitogami and biological offspring of the God-Emperor's bloodline (while still being Amaterasu's Grandson... one of the official interpretation of Jipang's myth is the Emperor's banged Amaterasu sometimes the Emperor is also associated with Izanagi, but that's a lot less funny, right ?). Since, as it is essential for the Enthronment Ceremony, all the Tennô-heika, the Heavenly Sovereign (& High Kings in the name of the Imperium) are Arahitogami. And the official story says it has allways been like that. But just as in the real Japanese History, their is some who doubt this official truth.

For exemples, some other versions deemed as heretical, says Jimmu was an Exodite, and the "Undocumented Monarchs", Kesshi-hachidai, were as well, until they were overthroned by the 10th Heavenly Sovereign Sujin-Tennô, who could have been the First Arahitogami-Heavenly Sovereign, and maybe invented the rest to legitimize his rule or for some other reasons. Official story say he was the 9th princely offspring, so Sujin could maybe have been adopted. Maybe the kesshi-hachidai were eldars, maybe they were normal humans... maybe they didn't existed at all and are part of a Tzeentch grand plot. But all the other Tennô are Arahitogami. Of that we are sure, and you will understand why soon enough (if you read French... or if I take the time to explain it in English for those who are interested... if their is some... ).

Great and strange coincidences are around this suspiscious, yet glorious and charismatic fellow... Sujin-Tennô (also in real japanese History hailed as the "funder of the nation") ruled in the time of the Great Crusade, when Jipang first joined the Imperium (Imperium playing the role of China in this Fan-Fluff) ! So one of the many hypothesis about the origins of Jipang, is that Sujin was in fact, one of the Unknown Primarch. He may also have been Shôtoku-Taishi in an Under-cover identity, in the hypothesis he survived the purge. In Jipang's Fluff, both Sujin and Shôtoku are also described as giants measuring 2m85, strong and tall, and yet verry wise and gentle.

As my work is linked with the Unknown Primarchs, I have chose to subscribe in B&C after seeing on Deviant Art portraits of Icarion, thus trying to read his work about it. While doing so, I have also discovered Arthrawes intended to use samurais & bushido as inspiration for his legion. So, in order to find more easily is posts, and also to help whie passing by. And in the same move, I give an international aspect to my samurai codex. Well... is not a good plan ?

Well, fact is the "Primarch Sujin" story mainly serve as a basis for the fluff of the "Heaven Marines", Jipang's Sôhei, an Elite choice in my codex. The key word in this Jipang Codex Project is "seriousness" so be warned (or I will send an insult letter to Matt Ward in your name or something ).

But whatever... everyone likes the Primarch, right ?

http://obscuraelibrarium.forumgratuit.org/t570-codex-jipang

Here you'll find the lattest version of the Jipang codex (in French). If you read it, you may comment here if you want. Don't worry, because of it's structure, as a 40k codex, most of it is easy to understand. I know it because I have read codices in English too, and it would have been :cussing hard otherwise.

[Olis]

Welcome to the forums, brother.