User:Gang Beast

GRIMDARKNESS

looks like everyone has OCs and stuff, so I'll write up my own one, which will probably be uncreative but why not, obvious influences are early colonisation in india/china, with stuff like calcutta, madras, east india company, hk, etc. minus all the brutalities

OC: Harry Whitehorn, mercenary and trader of the Nankai Corporation
"I'm glad we came here. I was able to learn that the authorities of our homeland were wrong, that humans and monsters aren't so different after all - and that great opportunity can come from interactions with them." - My father, several years after arriving in Zipangu

I can't say I entirely agree with him. To some extent, he is correct. Considering the family I come from, especially my own career choice, we may just lust after different things. Monsters after sex, passion and love; humans for money, power and affection. Both lustful creatures. If their methods weren't so forward and without a man's consent, I wouldn't consider them any different. That's at least some part of the story to why I work here, in Zipangu.

The name's Harry Whitehorn. I'm from an upper-middle class family in the city-state of Tures, on the coast of the main continent of the Order. My family are merchants. Not particularly wealthy ones, but they make enough to get by just fine plus some more, so they could afford me an education. I was recognised as fairly bright, a prodigy if you will. Not a genius, but someone with at least some potential, worth training further. In the end, I was sent to a private institution near the city of Südstadt, where I learned both professional combat and the arts of trade.

My time there was interesting; I learned a different language and interacted with an entirely different culture. One striking difference was that Südstadt was a monster neutral state. The city where I came from, Tures, was entirely hostile towards monsters. Whereas in Südstadt, though it would be a bit of a stretch to say that monsters were equal to humans in all rights. I learned that this was primarily because of new trading links. The ever-growing Nankai Corporation operated in both human and monster lands, promoting trade and bringing prosperity to many nations. Here in Südstadt, the differences were put aside in the name of greater living standards.

Here is where I met my best friend, Jacob. He's a bit of a weirdo, but maybe that's why we came to be such good friends. He was training militarily, but his career was already decided from the beginning; he was a dragoon. He was raised alongside a wyvern, and when I first met him he introduced him as his spouse. At first, I was fearful and suspicious; but both of their kindness was probably key to my acceptance of monsters. He's very protective of his spouse, and on top of that very stubborn about what he things is right - he reviles the Order in particular, wishing to see them destroyed - but he's very caring and reliable, pulling through when it counts (heh). In contrast to me, a Machiavellian figure. Others studying in my class proved to be fun friends, partygoers and sparring partners - humans and monsters alike. So eventually, I let go of my prejudices. As a tradesman and a combatant, holding on to those prejudices I was taught would only limit my endeavours and potential. Besides, the people studying there seemed normal. I made friends with many, humans and monsters alike.

When my time at the academy was over, I said my farewell to Jacob. He, as an extraordinarily talented dragoon, immediately moved to Zipangu, where he could serve in a monster-friendly state. Whereas I had a dilemma. During my time, I had forged links with the Nankai Corporation and offered a position there. But as an organisation that treated humans and monsters as equals, I would likely be effectively barred from my home city of Tures and by extension, from my own family. After thinking on it for some time, with no solution, Jacob is the one I have to thank. He lent me some money to rent a house big enough for my family in Südstadt, and show them the wonders of unlimited trade when not limited by hostility towards monsters. After some time, my family, in awe of the opportunties for even less powerful merchants, agreed to move even further away - to Zipangu.

Jacob arranged me to transfer to his unit, based in Nankyo, a city controlled by the Nankai Corporation in Zipangu. My family have moved with me, and we live a life with luxuries in a rich city. My mercenary unit consists of a few memorable faces, such as Jacob, my long time friend; his Wyvern lover Saskia; a very composed, disciplined Dullahan called Rae who no-one knows a great deal about; a hot-blooded Salamander called Bridget, who had a surprising level of self-control but never ceased challenging us to spars and duels; and a sniper from Order lands called Aidan, who managed to severe his ties and instead become a merc, like me. Together, we've fought countless units from the Order and hostile city states, as well as countless wild monsters seeking to spirit away merchants and threaten our trade. Of course, we rarely aim to kill. Though it's immoral, selling single Order men captured to single monsters is one form of a profitable business. And besides, it's more profitable than killing them or imprisoning them. The exception is if the state offers a high ransom to pay for their POWs back. Capturing monsters is less profitable, but they can still make a profit.

A little narration of the Nankai Corporation

A corporation that holds a lot of leverage in the southern coast of the Order continent, more hostile continents and Zipangu itself. As Zipangu was discovered and opened up more, along with further continents, the Nankai Corporation - literally the Southern Sea Corporation - was founded. Initially just a trading company, it monopolised trade between Zipangu and other states willing to trade on the coast of the Order continent that its profits soared, and it soon established its own cities, such as Nankyo - meaning Southern capital. Eventually it hired its own private army of mercenaries to protect its interests against all aggressors, humans and monsters alike... or to expand its influence by moving in to "protect" its interests in a foreign state. Its success comes from its unique interactions. Humans and monsters are essentially considered equal. The Corporation is in pursuit of profit, riches and goods for all (though for those in charge above others, of course. Good old capitalism), so it does not discriminate. This leads to some rough patches with Order states and others, but it is negligible compared to the opportunities gained from previously closed off monster-friendly states, with goods that were previously unheard of and more efficient land and sea routes unlocked. Thanks to the extreme wealth and leverage of the Corporation, many monster-hostile states have signed treaties with the Corporation, letting humans and monsters affiliated with them do business. This has increased the wealth of those states, while of course having the consequences of monsters slowly being accepted.

The trading wing of the corporation, aside from humans, mainly consists of Gyoubu Danuki. Though already sly creatures well versed in trade, the Corporation presents new opportunities for them as it lets them operate mostly freely - hence, many have joined their ranks and established trading empires over many monster-friendly and even monster-neutral and monster-hostile states. The rest consists of mostly humans, including the board of directors which solely consists of human merchants. Other monsters can trade, but this is unlikely.

The Corporation's military wing is well known for their unconventional use of dragoons. As soldiers trained from birth, they are usually professional and well disciplined, along with their powerful companions. Dullahans also serve, as one of the few monsters proficient in military discipline. Good pay and service is offered for their employment, which leads many to accept. There are a few salamanders present, though they must undergo tests of disciplines to join their ranks; discipline is highly coveted, and Salamanders in the private army are seen as the best of their race. Otherwise, it consists of well trained humans, but only ones fine with the idea of serving alongside monsters, of course. Harry's unit is one such unit with a whole variety of races.

Chances are I'll never write an interesting fanfiction, but here's an interesting background world at least. This is one where military is not the focus, aim or goal. There's no "us vs them". It's a group of people seeking what humans do best. Power, glory and money.