With Empress Yuè’s delivery quickly approaching, the imperial household of Tianlong is preparing for the arrival of Shēnléi and Yuè’s puppies!

We are currently looking for two nursemaids to help care for the imperial litter during their earliest months, as well as one or more healers to oversee Yuè’s delivery, postpartum recovery, and observance of zuò yuèzi—her traditional period of confinement and rest following childbirth.

These roles will be extremely important to the puppies’ early development and will come with plenty of opportunities for long-term relationships, courtly drama, and character development! So its imperative that you are fairly active!

THE NURSEMAIDS

The nursemaids will be carefully selected and entrusted with the puppies’ daily care. Their responsibilities may include:

- Nursing and feeding the puppies.
- Keeping them warm, clean, and comfortable.
- Monitoring their health and development.
- Comforting them through illness, fear, and separation.
- Teaching their first routines and manners.
- Reporting any health or behavioral concerns to Yuè, Shēnléi, and the attending healers.

Because Yuè will not personally nurse the puppies, the nursemaids may become some of the most important figures in their infancy. They may be the first faces the puppies recognize, the first voices they associate with comfort, and the ones they instinctively seek when frightened.

This creates room for the puppies to form very close—possibly even parental—bonds with them.

However, serving within an imperial nursery also comes with intense scrutiny. The nursemaids must be loyal, discreet, dependable, and able to navigate Tianlong’s courtly expectations. Any influence they possess over the imperial children may be watched closely, especially where the heir is concerned.

Depending on interest, one nursemaid may primarily oversee the sons while the other remains more closely attached to the daughters.

Potential drama may include, but certainly isn't limited to:

- A puppy preferring their nursemaid over Yuè.
- A nursemaid becoming fiercely protective of one particular child.
- Tension between affection for the puppies and obedience to court protocol.
- Rivalry or disagreements between the two nursemaids.
- Fear of eventually being reassigned after the puppies are weaned.
- Accusations of favoritism or undue influence over the heir.
- A nursemaid struggling with the expectation that she remain emotionally detached.

These characters do not need to be cold or perfectly obedient! A gentle, strict, nervous, ambitious, maternal, traditional, or quietly rebellious nursemaid could all create interesting dynamics.

THE HEALERS

The healers will oversee Yuè’s pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery.

Their responsibilities may include, but aren't limited to:

- Monitoring Yuè and the puppies before and after the birth.
- Assisting during labor and responding to complications.
- Preparing herbs, poultices, and restorative meals for the Empress.
- Helping suppress and dry up Yuè’s milk.
- Ensuring that she rests and follows the restrictions of zuò yuèzi.
- Monitoring the puppies for weakness, illness, or developmental concerns.
- Advising Shēnléi when tradition conflicts with medical necessity.

During her confinement, Yuè will remain secluded within her birthing den and will be expected to avoid the cold, undue strain and stress, and most courtly responsibilities as Empress. The healers may therefore become some of the only individuals permitted regular access to her.

This role offers plenty of room for both tenderness and conflict. Yuè may dislike being confined or told she cannot immediately tend to her puppies, while Shēnléi may place enormous pressure upon the healers to ensure that both his wife and children remain safe.

Potential drama/plots may include, but is not limited to:

- A healer challenging an imperial custom for Yuè’s health.
- Disagreement between traditional and practical medical treatment.
- Shēnléi demanding honest answers even when the prognosis is frightening and any repercussions tgat may follow.
- Yuè attempting to leave confinement before she is ready.
- A weak or sickly puppy requiring constant supervision.
- A healer becoming a trusted confidant to Yuè during her isolation.
- Court rumors blaming the healers for complications beyond their control.

Healers with experience in midwifery, herbal medicine, infant care, nutrition, or traditional Tianlong practices would fit especially well, though characters learning beneath a more experienced healer are also welcome! Healers from.other groups are also more than welcome to apply!

GENERAL NOTES

These roles are intended to have continued importance beyond the birth thread. The nursemaids and healers may remain connected to Yuè and the puppies as they grow, becoming trusted attendants, parental figures, tutors, confidants, or complicated members of the imperial household.

Characters of any background may be considered, but Shēnléi and Yuè will likely favor those who are:

- Loyal and discreet.
- Comfortable around children.
- Respectful of Tianlong’s customs.
- Willing to follow imperial protocol.
- Able to remain calm beneath pressure.

That said, characters who do not fit perfectly may create some of the most interesting interactions!

Please reach out to Rosie Partytime or myself if you are interested in playing a nursemaid or healer, and let us know a little about your character, their experience, and how they might feel about serving within Tianlong’s imperial household!