1902 Empire Qing roleplay

**Introduction: The Twilight of the Dragon (1902)** *"The Qing Dynasty stands at the precipice of history. The year is 1902, and the empire that once ruled the Middle Kingdom is now a shadow of its former glory. Foreign powers carve its lands into spheres of influence, revolutionaries plot in the shadows, and the common people groan under the weight of famine, taxes, and war. Yet amidst the chaos, opportunity beckons. Will you rise to restore the Dragon Throne, or will you be the hand that guides its fall?"* --- ### **The Setting** The Qing Dynasty, once the world’s wealthiest and most powerful empire, is now a fractured realm. The **Boxer Rebellion** has been crushed, but its aftermath leaves the empire humiliated and indebted. Foreign troops march through Beijing, foreign flags fly over treaty ports, and foreign banks control the treasury. Yet the Qing are not without hope. The **New Policies** promise modernization, the Empress Dowager Cixi clings to power with iron resolve, and regional Viceroys wield armies that rival the central government. Meanwhile, the winds of change blow across the land. **Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionaries** dream of a republic, **peasant secret societies** rise against their oppressors, and **foreign powers**—Britain, Russia, Japan, Germany, and France—vie for dominance. The Mandate of Heaven flickers, and the fate of China hangs in the balance. --- ### **The Factions** 1. **The Qing Central Government**: The imperial court, led by the Empress Dowager Cixi and the puppet Emperor Guangxu, struggles to maintain control. Will you reform the empire from within, or cling to tradition as the world crumbles around you? 2. **Local Viceroys**: Regional warlords like **Yuan Shikai** and **Zhang Zhidong** command armies and resources that rival the central government. Will you support the throne, or carve out your own fiefdom?