kishmaka
New member
What’s your IGN?: kishmaka
What's your Discord Tag?: @luciiia
Do you have any alternative accounts?: The only alternative account I have is kishyu.
Do you have a functioning microphone?: I do have a functioning microphone and am comfortable speaking in voice calls if required.
How old are you?: I am 18 years old.
Have you worked in teams like this before?: I have worked in many teams like this before, yes. Both across several servers, but also in real-life groups and clubs, if that counts. Although most of which were focused primarily on writing, I’ve also worked in teams whose focus was the event creation aspect, which is present in YRP’s Lore Team.
Do you have any previous experience?:
I do have a great deal of previous experience, especially with lore writing and all that comes with that—including but not limited to the aspect of worldbuilding, following a solid storyline, and also hinting towards the bigger picture being expressed in the writing. I’m pretty well-versed in writing descriptions, character lore, family lore, location lore, etc. Creative writing is something I’m fairly versatile in; as long as I have a clear set of instructions and a vision to follow, I can write just about anything. This comes from not just other lore teams, but also general experience in the field of writing and creative writing over several years, which has allowed me to expand the range of what I write.
As far as the event aspect goes, I do have some experience there as well. I was very active in my school’s community and had the opportunity to be a part of our student government group, whose tasks were primarily the creation, execution, and reflection of events. Campus culture meant a lot for me, and I had some of the best times while working behind the scenes to shape it for the rest of the student body. It called for a lot of creativity, and I was in a position where I had to take on leadership roles frequently, so I’ve grown accustomed to brainstorming unique and interactive event ideas as well as working alongside others to make things run smoothly during the events themselves.
What do you believe is your writing strong suit?:
My strong suit in writing is writing folklore; not only do I thoroughly enjoy it, but I also find myself leaning into the creative aspect that goes into writing it. I use a lot of figurative language and articulate myself the most when writing folklore, I’d say, due to the creative freedom that comes with it in most scenarios. Although I fare pretty well with other genres when assigned, I would say that I do a lot better with folklore.
From a general standpoint, my overall strong suit is connecting a theme or meaning to my writing. It’s not always an easy or seamless process, and it takes a lot of thinking, editing, and brainstorming to complete. That being said, I do aim to ensure that the broad idea of what I’m trying to convey in my writing—whether it be folklore or lore in general—is cohesive and understandable when analyzed. It’s typically what I focus on the most in my writing, which ties into my previous statement that my writing skills are stronger in folklore. A theme is significant in folklore, so this comes naturally to me.
Why are you interested in joining the Lore Team?:
I am interested in joining the Lore Team because it combines event creation with writing and worldbuilding, which are the two characteristics of community teams that have always appealed to me, as well as characteristics that I have found enjoyment in. Especially seeing as how YRP is a fresh slate lore-wise, I would be thrilled to play a part in creating the foundations of the server's lore. Community involvement is also a huge component in my motivation for joining the Lore Team. I find that being involved in the community and playing a hand at fostering a positive atmosphere makes my time in any place all the more enjoyable. With Lore Team's connection to the Spirit Faction, I also look forward to broadening the range of roleplay I'll engage in.
How did you learn about the server?: I learned about the server through my friends who are already in it and have been following its progress.
What unique contributions can you bring to the server?:
Having years of experience with writing and roleplay, I believe I have much to bring to the server. My schedule is very flexible, so I have an abundance of time on my hands for both general activity and time that can be spent working on lore assignments. In addition, I have the motivation to match. Seeing as writing is a long-time hobby of mine, I find enjoyment in both roleplay and general writing that is required when completing assignments. It's also worth mentioning that I have experience in other servers as well. I have a vast amount of ideas—especially events—left over that I would love to share with the server and perhaps see come to life for the community.
Write a short story of a Self-Made Yokai you can find roaming throughout the island:
Kagami-no-Kijo: The Mirror’s Reflection [505 Words]
In ages past, when Norowarejima’s silhouette along the island of Japan was still youthful, a noblewoman lived in silent solitude. Her manor stood tall with pride, yet it was the most distant of every residence on the island despite its grandeur. A grotesque darkness shrouded the structure like morning mist and lingered like smoke—relentless and unyielding. However, its unease stretched far beyond the exterior and wrapped itself around she who dwelled within its walls.
The noblewoman—hardly swayed by the element of Norowarejima’s community—scarcely left her home. And on the rare occasion that she did, it wasn’t common that she’d engage in conversation. In fact, she stuck her nose up into the air and sashayed unabashedly past every passerby whom she considered inferior to her, unworthy of even an ounce of her attention. For she only had interest in conversing with those she regarded as her equal in appearance.
It was only natural that talk circulated in the island’s community about who this woman was and how she passed her time. Even the occasional murmur traded amongst strangers contained a web of speculations, woven into the minds of curious—and even fearful—residents. The less that was known about the woman, the more gossip was exchanged. But this was only fuel to the blazing and festering fire that was the noblewoman’s ego. For every new rumor that made its way back to her, she’d fill the empty halls of her residence with mirrors.
Each mirror served as a backhanded reminder of her infamy, which came with the biting reality of abundant misinformation about her. For hours on end, she would stand and revel in the image of herself in her mirrors. Every angle provided her with new perspectives of herself to dote on, from the careful slope of her cheek to the way her hair fell past her shoulders. For years, her obsession remained resolute, as concrete as the foundation of her home that she avoided stepping out of.
Concern from other residents of Norowarejima grew like the very rot that began to eat away at the wood of her home, creeping into every crevice and decaying alongside the sightings of her in town. It was a month into her radio silence that the noblewoman was found and pronounced dead. And following her death came an uproar of reports from people who caught wind of what was found inside the woman’s home—the kind of intel that the skeptical population of Norowarejima waited years for.
What the public didn’t know was that following her death, the noblewoman’s spirit—riddled with vexation and wrath—failed to fade away with her last breath. It burned brighter, vowing to curse every mirror on the island. If she—the self-proclaimed most radiant face to grace Norowarejima—could no longer delight in the sight of herself, every person who thought well of themselves on the island would be forced to see their most unredeemable qualities in their reflection. A reversal of their character; every vice and flaw would magnify, and trap them into an abyss of despair.
Write a quick event based on Japanese pop-up cafes/restaurants/stores (Promotional cafes based on media such as anime, gaming, spirits, etc.):
Midnight Masquerade Cafe
Once a year, the businesses of Norowarejima come together to illuminate the night streets of the city. Restaurants tend to ravenous locals in search of a late-night bite or beverage. Meanwhile, boutiques and stores join forces to bring alive the masquerade theme that is so widely known and loved. Stores sell masks, boutiques sell outfits to match, and the citizens of Norowarejima? They empty their pockets—a win for everyone. But the real charm in this nightly affair is not in the products and goods sold, but the people you meet.
Not to mention the spirits you meet, which many inevitably mistake for humans. With games and attractions that appeal to all, human and spirit, it’s a night for blending of backgrounds. Beneath a mask, there is no such thing as knowing who you speak with, thus creating the perfect atmosphere for a seamless appreciation of the island’s spirits and the thin veil between worlds that grants a coexistence.
How would you write the atmosphere of the image provided below? (Byakuyakoku Shinto Monastery):
(Must be at least 200 characters long, describing the characteristics, atmosphere as well as including some personal ideas about Byakuyakoku.)
The rooftops of Byakuyakoku Shinto Monastery glisten with the frost of melted snow, trickling down the sacred structures and crystallizing into sharp blades of ice—courtesy of the unrelenting cold. But still, a warmth lingers about the Monastery, beyond the simple golden hues of lanterns casting light upon the pathways. Gentle silken rays of the sun illuminate this hillside sanctuary, giving its historic stature just the sacred and peaceful ambience that it embodies.
The harmonious nature of the Monastery suggests something that extends beyond the foundation it stands on; it is more than a place of worship, but a place of secrecy. Engraved in its fissure-ridden stone are truths buried beneath sediment. Those that are uncovered only through reflection of the self within. It is not a task for the weak of heart, nor for the small of mind. It is not said, but rather felt, that success grants the gift of sight to those who are deemed worthy of it.
You have been tasked to write an in-lore influential character in the history of Norowarejima. Who and what would you create? Provide some insight on the character!:
(e.g., A previous Journalist from 30 years ago named Nagasaki Itto).
The Architect’s Ambition [439 Words]
Naoki Kobayashi was a man among the first of Norowarejima’s visionaries; a forefather in its creation, and a believer in its success. His keenness for architecture deemed him nothing short of a worthy candidate, not solely for the task of building the foundations of what would come to be Norowarejima from the ground up, but also for putting his stellar skills in craftsmanship to use as the future of the island would begin to take its shape from lumber and stone. Tasks which he eagerly took on, his passion for carpentry and architecture rivaled only by that for Norowarejima’s birth.
Upon his discovery of the island’s upstart, he was compelled by the notion of being part of something; of etching his signature onto something significant that would last for centuries to come. For a man who never married, who never became a father, the weight of his legacy was heavier to him than any other accomplishment in his life. Equally as much, the burden of his present stillness only spurred the idea that this was Kobayashi’s way forward. Norowarejima, decidedly, would be his life’s work.
Naoki worked diligently, restless in his every exertion to do more than simply carry his own weight in the process of building Norowarejima. He aspired to make an impact and to excel at doing so, even if it translated to a dangerous number of nights passed without his head so much as touching his pillow. And the times that he did permit himself what he considered the luxury of rest, it was frequently atop his desk, workspace scattered with blueprints and sketchbooks. Even in dreams, he couldn’t escape his fervent need to do more—to be better.
It was only then, when he stood teetering on the brink of madness, that those around Naoki Kobayashi began to realize just how imperative it was to him that he fulfill his quest for accomplishment. Enough so that he was willing to succumb to his delirium if it meant that history would remember his name. And a true tragedy it was, when his descent coincided with his imminent end. Naoki Kobayashi, the ambitious architect of Norowarejima—one amongst the first—lost more than just his sanity for the cause of its success. His life, too, became an unforeseen sacrifice following a fatal accident at one of the construction sites he oversaw. A consequence of his gradual derangement.
But history would not soon forget the architect. Stories passed down, his name written in news articles to come, and memorials engraved onto park benches. His name would serve as a mundane reminder that Norowarejima was a dream before it was a place.
Additional Notes: Thank you for taking the time to read!
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