Two most important (living) people to Ryoutou
So, with today's introduction to Wish Bracelets, Ryotou's mentioned that there are two people he'd REALLY like to see in camp. So think of this as a whoring post, unless we get them, in which case it's an in-depth relationship meme! \o/
PLEASE NOTE: The ages given are approximations based on historical birth years and events. Sonsaku's death in episode one suggests that the story is set in the year 200. However, because the story is progressing at a VERY rapid pace, the character ages at that time are still fairly ambiguous. So I've decided to give a historical age range based on the events that are occurring (As of episode nine, they're covering events that occur in the year 207), but also an approximate age range based on character appearance and behavior. My estimates may be lower than real history because there is a character who should be in their forties but is unquestionably camper appable. (AND ALSO NOT APPEARING IN THIS POST.)
Japanese: Sonken Chuubou
Chinese: Sun Quan (Zhongmou)
Journal: empressofgo
Relationship to Ryotuou: Childhood friend; King; crush
Historical Age: 18~25
Approximate Age: 15~18
Background: Sonken is the younger brother to Sonsaku (though the extent of his masculinity is up to debate), and is shown to be a sharp contrast from the cruel Barbarian king image that Sonsaku presented while under the influence of the Seal. He's thoughtful, gentle, and kind; someone who genuinely cares for the well-being of his officers and the common people alike. Despite his apparent leadership inexperience, however, he's shown himself to be a wise and decisive leader.
Relationship: Sonken and Ryoutou have been close since childhood. I'd previously erroneously stated that they'd grown up together and knew each other for as long as at least Ryoutou could remember, but it turns out this statement is wrong. Ryoutou's special Drama CD track details his first meeting with Sonken, in which Ryoutou got lost during a festival and stumbled on Sonken completely by accident. And while age was ambiguous here (I'm assuming Ryoutou was around eight), Ryoutou was still old enough to apparently fall in love at first sight. In the flashback, Ryoutou mentions that when he finally got a good look at Sonken's face, it was more beautiful than ALL THE FIREWORKS IN THE NIGHT SKY RIGHT THEN. And was extremely flustered when Sonken then said "...Pretty..." (referring to the fireworks, not to Ryoutou, as he'd thought.) Ryoutou then later swore to protect Sonken when he got stronger, because a guy's gotta protect a pretty princess, right? All this before learning that Sonken was actually... Sonken Chuubou, prince of Go.
And they've been extremely close ever since, with Ryoutou acting as Sonken's personal bodyguard on more than one occasion.
So at this point, it should go without saying that Ryoutou has got it BAD for Sonken. The drama CD confirms it, but his reactions to Sonken in episode two is what initially suggests it. When Sonken takes Ryoutou by the hands while saying he needs his strength, Ryoutou blushes a great deal before pulling away awkwardly. When Ryoutou and Rikuson talk about Sonken, Rikuson states that "you must care for him a great deal," to which Ryoutou laughs awkwardly, blushes, and says "Yeah, something like that." That's pretty ambiguous, but also keeping with Ryoutou's tendency to avoid talking about his feelings too much in depth.
Japanese: Rikuson Hakugen
Chinese: Lu Xun (Boyan)
Relationship to Ryoutou: Sworn brother
Historical Age: 17~24
Approximate Age: 15~19
Background: Rikuson is the protagonist of Koutetsu Sangokushi, and it should go without saying that he's pretty much the most important character to EVERYONE in the series. Rikuson is (apparently) the last of the Riku clan, the family that has guarded the (apparently sentient) Imperial seal for generations and interpreted its will. After witnessing his father murdered right in front of him by Sonsaku Hakufu (Sun Ce), he somehow ended up being taken under the wing of Shokatsuryou Koumei (Zhuge Liang) as his pupil. Between then and the beginning of the series, Rikuson had been wandering the countryside and fighting alone for the sake of justice; something that had earned him a reputation across the land as "The Crimson Warrior".
In episode one, he attempted to join Go under Sonsaku (At Koumei's urging) in order to determine whether or not Sonsaku had been chosen by the Seal in order to carry out its will. However, Sonsaku was killed by a rival kingdom and the seal stolen right in front of Rikuson... but not before it had chosen him.
Relationship: Ryoutou idolizes the Crimson Warrior and hopes to be just like him someday! So imagine his luck when he confronts a few thugs in the marketplace one day and some guy comes and helps him out... and hey, he's got that legendary RED SWORD that Ryoutou spots and recognizes as the Crimson Warrior's. Ryoutou then promptly swears brotherhood with Rikuson before the latter even has a chance to protest.
Ryoutou settles into a kind of "sidekick" role to Rikuson; rarely leaving his side, always supporting him and standing up for him, and even providing a listening ear for him if he needed them. And in return, Rikuson did his best to look after Ryoutou in his father's stead; at first because Ryoutou and Ryousou's relationship was rocky at best (and Ryoutou liked having Rikuson look after him), and then after Ryousou's death. When Ryousou was killed in battle, RIkuson became, in essence, Ryoutou's only remaining family; someone Ryoutou clung to jealously whenever someone else threatened to come between them. (Notably, Shokatsuryou Koumei and Ryuubi Gentoku). The two seem to counterbalance each other quite nicely; Ryoutou encourages Rikuson, and Rikuson does his best to keep Ryoutou in line.
Personal Thoughts: Ryoutou develops a VERY quick and VERY strong attachment to Rikuson early on. It's interesting to note that his feelings for Rikuson appear, on the surface, stronger than his feelings for Sonken, despite knowing Rikuson for a FAR less time than he knew Sonken. He and Rikuson are near-inseparable, whereas Ryoutou and Sonken have, as of episode thirteen, five scenes together (Three of which are in the same episode).
MORE LATER OKAY
PLEASE NOTE: The ages given are approximations based on historical birth years and events. Sonsaku's death in episode one suggests that the story is set in the year 200. However, because the story is progressing at a VERY rapid pace, the character ages at that time are still fairly ambiguous. So I've decided to give a historical age range based on the events that are occurring (As of episode nine, they're covering events that occur in the year 207), but also an approximate age range based on character appearance and behavior. My estimates may be lower than real history because there is a character who should be in their forties but is unquestionably camper appable. (AND ALSO NOT APPEARING IN THIS POST.)
Japanese: Sonken Chuubou
Chinese: Sun Quan (Zhongmou)
Journal: empressofgo
Relationship to Ryotuou: Childhood friend; King; crush
Historical Age: 18~25
Approximate Age: 15~18
Background: Sonken is the younger brother to Sonsaku (though the extent of his masculinity is up to debate), and is shown to be a sharp contrast from the cruel Barbarian king image that Sonsaku presented while under the influence of the Seal. He's thoughtful, gentle, and kind; someone who genuinely cares for the well-being of his officers and the common people alike. Despite his apparent leadership inexperience, however, he's shown himself to be a wise and decisive leader.
Relationship: Sonken and Ryoutou have been close since childhood. I'd previously erroneously stated that they'd grown up together and knew each other for as long as at least Ryoutou could remember, but it turns out this statement is wrong. Ryoutou's special Drama CD track details his first meeting with Sonken, in which Ryoutou got lost during a festival and stumbled on Sonken completely by accident. And while age was ambiguous here (I'm assuming Ryoutou was around eight), Ryoutou was still old enough to apparently fall in love at first sight. In the flashback, Ryoutou mentions that when he finally got a good look at Sonken's face, it was more beautiful than ALL THE FIREWORKS IN THE NIGHT SKY RIGHT THEN. And was extremely flustered when Sonken then said "...Pretty..." (referring to the fireworks, not to Ryoutou, as he'd thought.) Ryoutou then later swore to protect Sonken when he got stronger, because a guy's gotta protect a pretty princess, right? All this before learning that Sonken was actually... Sonken Chuubou, prince of Go.
And they've been extremely close ever since, with Ryoutou acting as Sonken's personal bodyguard on more than one occasion.
So at this point, it should go without saying that Ryoutou has got it BAD for Sonken. The drama CD confirms it, but his reactions to Sonken in episode two is what initially suggests it. When Sonken takes Ryoutou by the hands while saying he needs his strength, Ryoutou blushes a great deal before pulling away awkwardly. When Ryoutou and Rikuson talk about Sonken, Rikuson states that "you must care for him a great deal," to which Ryoutou laughs awkwardly, blushes, and says "Yeah, something like that." That's pretty ambiguous, but also keeping with Ryoutou's tendency to avoid talking about his feelings too much in depth.
Japanese: Rikuson Hakugen
Chinese: Lu Xun (Boyan)
Relationship to Ryoutou: Sworn brother
Historical Age: 17~24
Approximate Age: 15~19
Background: Rikuson is the protagonist of Koutetsu Sangokushi, and it should go without saying that he's pretty much the most important character to EVERYONE in the series. Rikuson is (apparently) the last of the Riku clan, the family that has guarded the (apparently sentient) Imperial seal for generations and interpreted its will. After witnessing his father murdered right in front of him by Sonsaku Hakufu (Sun Ce), he somehow ended up being taken under the wing of Shokatsuryou Koumei (Zhuge Liang) as his pupil. Between then and the beginning of the series, Rikuson had been wandering the countryside and fighting alone for the sake of justice; something that had earned him a reputation across the land as "The Crimson Warrior".
In episode one, he attempted to join Go under Sonsaku (At Koumei's urging) in order to determine whether or not Sonsaku had been chosen by the Seal in order to carry out its will. However, Sonsaku was killed by a rival kingdom and the seal stolen right in front of Rikuson... but not before it had chosen him.
Relationship: Ryoutou idolizes the Crimson Warrior and hopes to be just like him someday! So imagine his luck when he confronts a few thugs in the marketplace one day and some guy comes and helps him out... and hey, he's got that legendary RED SWORD that Ryoutou spots and recognizes as the Crimson Warrior's. Ryoutou then promptly swears brotherhood with Rikuson before the latter even has a chance to protest.
Ryoutou settles into a kind of "sidekick" role to Rikuson; rarely leaving his side, always supporting him and standing up for him, and even providing a listening ear for him if he needed them. And in return, Rikuson did his best to look after Ryoutou in his father's stead; at first because Ryoutou and Ryousou's relationship was rocky at best (and Ryoutou liked having Rikuson look after him), and then after Ryousou's death. When Ryousou was killed in battle, RIkuson became, in essence, Ryoutou's only remaining family; someone Ryoutou clung to jealously whenever someone else threatened to come between them. (Notably, Shokatsuryou Koumei and Ryuubi Gentoku). The two seem to counterbalance each other quite nicely; Ryoutou encourages Rikuson, and Rikuson does his best to keep Ryoutou in line.
Personal Thoughts: Ryoutou develops a VERY quick and VERY strong attachment to Rikuson early on. It's interesting to note that his feelings for Rikuson appear, on the surface, stronger than his feelings for Sonken, despite knowing Rikuson for a FAR less time than he knew Sonken. He and Rikuson are near-inseparable, whereas Ryoutou and Sonken have, as of episode thirteen, five scenes together (Three of which are in the same episode).
MORE LATER OKAY