RAGDOLL RONIN

A - This is an art project, developed around the Ragdoll Ronin IP wholly owned and created by artist and designer Travroc.

B - There is no pressure, obligation, or necessity to join the path of the Ronin after the free mint, your journey is up to you.

C - As masterless Samurai, we build and prepare in silence - in the midst of the chaos of crypto farming and posting, we aim to be a sanctuary of peace -
art building, lore and community.

D - If you chose to embark on the path of the Ronin, there will be a wide variety of assets available to level up your Ronin.

E - This initial mint will reveal one of eleven(11) scenes of different rarity, one ronin character with one of twelve(12) base fabrics, one of four(4) layers of boro, (representing their level of experience in battle), one of fifteen(15) weapons(in multiple colorways) of differing rarity, and one basic garment and sash. Metadata at this time will remain locked for the base character for eternity.

F - After the mint as we gather in our Izakaya, the hub of all things Ragdoll Ronin on Discord, we will discuss the mechanics of finalizing our 10K collection together, as a community of Ronins. Hundreds of hand drawn traits will be available to customize the aesthetics and vision of your Battle Ready Ronin, which will be locked upon agreement and finalized as the permanent 10K collection, ready for Phase II of Ragdoll Ronin.

Simply put, Ragdoll Ronin are quite literally ragdolls made of indigo dyed fabrics, set in a world in which these ronin roam against a backdrop of traditional Japanese UKIYO-E woodblock style environments. Being ronin, these wanderers inevitably come into conflict with other warriors along their journeys. In the event of sustaining damage during a battle, these ronin do not die, but are able to use fabrics saved from previous battles or obtained throughout the landscape to patch themselves up and live to fight another day.

Starting off as one single, solid INDIGO fabric(chambray/denim/linen/canvas),our ronin collects and layer these fabric patches over time after every battle. In doing so, these patches add up, continuously changing and evolving the ronin’s body and appearance. Layer upon layer of different fabric patches, ie, the technique of BORO, along with a distinct, heavy, SASHIKO stitch, reinforce the ronin’s original body fabric and gives them a very distinct and individual look and patina.

Most importantly however, these fabrics are not just superficial...each fabric obtained from a previous battle with other ronin holds attributes of that particular ronin...when applied, the new patchwork imbues characteristics of the previous owner to the new owner, granting the new owner more strength, experience attributes and fighting ability. Over a period of time, these ronin become very heavily patched and incredibly powerful.

After a tumultuous upbringing and ascent to samurai master, our protagonist is defeated in battle after receiving a deadly blow from our rival, an incredibly skilled but hated samurai, while seeking to avenge our slain master. Because our ronin was pure of heart, during the transition between life and death our ronin finds himself in the Reikai(spirit world) where the world of the Ragdoll Ronin exists. Informed by the single Ningyo(hero doll) he received as a child from his mother, the world of Ragdoll Ronin exists in our ronin’s psyche, yet becomes real in the Reikai. Throughout our journey through this world, we come across many other inhabitants of this realm, warriors and samurai, as well as beings and spirits both benevolent and malicious, who are trapped in the Reikai, unable to escape. Throughout our journey, we come to discover an evil force, the ruler of the Makai(evil world), who is using his forces to infiltrate and pollute the Reikai, in an attempt to combine both realms and rule over both, unchallenged. Its at this point that our ronin bands together with other warriors of this realm in an attempt to defeat this malevolent being, continue on to avenge our slain master in the afterlife, and ultimately escape the Reikai...

Clothing Assets:

In addition to the BORO patchwork available for your character, each ronin has the ability to obtain various styles of traditional Japanese clothing and accessories... from basic HAKAMA (pants) and HAORI (jackets), to various styles of KIMONO, UWA-OBI (sashes), HACHIMAKI (headwraps), KASA (headwear), HORO (capes), KABUTO (helmets), shawls and footwear among many others, all in various styles and colorways. Along with the clothing assets, many styles of masks are available, from traditional SOMEN (full face masks) and MENPO (samurai half-masks) to KABUKI theatre masks, NOH masks, and various others.

Weapon Assets:

Of course, no ronin is ready for battle without the appropriate weaponry. All manner of traditional Japanese samurai weapons are available to each ronin, along with the ability to show each weapon active(in hand), sheathed or un-sheatherd, or stowed on your ronin’s back or waist. Various swords, such as KATANA, TANTO, NAGAMAKI, SHIRASAYA, various styles of YARI (spear), TETSUBO (heavy club), YUMI (short and long bows), and many others are available.

Art and Creative Process:

While this project is living in a virtual world(for the time being), great attention has been placed on giving the project an actual, real world, tangible and tactile feel. All assets for this project have been hand drawn and shaded in ballpoint pen, scanned, and then “painted” digitally to reach the final image. Along with the fabric assets as described above, an immense amount of time has been spent incorporating actual textures into almost all assets. Wood grains, pitted and stained metals, worn and distressed fabrics and prints, straw headwear, woven rope textures and fabric textures have all been incorporated. Additionally, keeping with the look of traditional UKIYO-E woodblock prints from various periods in Japanese history, a distressed patina has been added to each background, giving each piece the look of a woodblock print worn over time. With all of these characteristics combined, this project presents very distinct and unique visuals, unlike anything else seen in this space to date.

**SKETCHES FROM THE EARLY STAGES OF THE PROJECT**

**JAPANESE UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINT INSPIRED BACKGROUNDS.**

***A SMALL SAMPLING OF POTENTIAL RONIN CREATIONS***

With all this talk about dyed fabrics and Boro and Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, for those not familiar with what those terms are, we’ve put together a quick primer for you. Below is a very brief education on some of the art, techniques, fabrics and clothing styles that were traditionally used in Japanese culture and how all of these things inspired the look and feel of Ragdoll Ronin. Our goal was to bring this project to life as authentically as possible, while still retaining some creative license, and we feel the final product is quite successful in doing so.

Boro:

Boro (ぼろ) are a class of Japanese textiles that have been mended or patched together. Meaning “ragged” or “tattered”. Boro are patchwork textiles hand-pieced by peasants in Japan in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This was done by overlapping and stitching spare or discharged scraps of fabric together, using a sashiko stitch, to reinforce the material. The inability to cultivate cotton in the climate of northern Japan necessitated the practice of stitching remnants of used fabric into utilitarian items. Boro fabrics were typically indigo-dyed as it was the cheapest natural dye available. Boro will play an extremely important role in the evolution and transformation of your Ronin over time…

Sashiko Stitching:

Sashiko (刺し子, lit. "little stabs") is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery or stitching used for the decorative and/or functional reinforcement of cloth and clothing. Sashiko and Boro are both intertwined in history but not interchangeable. Sashiko refers to the style of embroidery, whereas the word Boro meaning rags or tattered cloth and indicates the textiles used rather than how they are put together.

Ukiyo-e Woodblock Prints:

Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” were a style of woodblock print that captured the exciting urban popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), promoting its beauty, landscapes, fashions and heroes. All backgrounds for Ragdoll Ronin are based on and have the distinct feel of authentic Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

Shibori Dyeing:

Shibori is a Japanese dyeing technique that involves folding, bunching, or bundling fabric, binding it with a resist, and dyeing it with indigo dye. The results are patterned blue lines that are both geometric and organic. There are various Shibori dyed fabrics available for your Ronin in the way of base body fabrics and clothing assets.

INDIGO DYEING:

In Japan, indigo dye is known as AI-ZOME and was very popular during the Edo Period (1600-1868). The dye can actually be extracted from a variety of plants and is a very strong dyeing process. The deep blue color fades slowly or not at all from porous fabrics such as cotton. All of the base body fabrics for Ragdoll Ronin start off as an indigo dyed fabric. The addition of boro and sashiko stitching will alter your ronin’s appearance over time.

TRAVROC - Creator/Founder, Designer and Artist

Brooklyn based painter and designer Travis “TRAVROC” Dommermuth, has been working in the creative industry for over three decades. While having started doodling and drawing at a very young age, being introduced to Hip-Hop culture and skateboarding in the early ’80’s helped mold him into who he was as a youth. It also started him down a creative path and lifestyle that have influenced everything he’s touched to date. While he considers himself an illustrator and painter above all else, he continuously utilizes all aspects of his creative arsenal in pursuit of achieving unique results in his work. Ragdoll Ronin is his latest creation and first foray into NFT’s. While Ragdoll Ronin is initially launching in the NFT space, he has much broader plans for the Ronin as an art project and creative IP. There are many irons in the fire in regards to Ragdoll Ronin and he looks forward to sharing these projects with everyone as they come to fruition.

CARBON - Co-Founder and Business Development

Born and Raised in New York City, surrounded by the ebbs and flow of diverse cultures opened the pathway to unlimited avenues of expression, education and enlightenment for Carbon. Proficient and successful as a creative custom knifemaker, amateur boxer and music producer, with traditional studies rooted in Business Administration with a BA from Boston University as well as a passion for Sustainability, with continuing education geared towards an ALM in Extension Studies and Sustainability Science at Harvard University. Carbon is currently immersed in web3, dope ass art and music (Wu Tang is, and will always be, for the Children), and is now focused on pushing the boundaries of our collective consciousness for good, through blockchain art and experiences with Travroc and Ragdoll Ronin.

Why does Ragdoll Ronin exist?

Because it couldn’t be contained. Because it’s a creative explosion. Because it brings a look and feel to NFT’s that isn’t present anywhere else in the space. Because Ragdoll Ronin is dope and it does dope shit. An ode to all things Japanese, samurai and ronin, its bridging digital to physical, with a real-world, tangible and tactile feel. Physical representations of RR such as high-quality merchandise and art related projects are part of the mission, all to spread Japanese and ronin inspired vibes across the land.

What is the initial supply at launch?

There will be 10,000 base Ragdoll Ronin characters at Launch as a Free Mint. Each character will consist of a base body fabric, one of three(3) different levels of Boro patchwork, one(1) in hand weapon, one(1) basic pant and one(1)basic waist-wrap. All additional assets, of which there are over five hundred(500) individual assets in total, will be available in TOMOBAKO boxes at the price of .0047 ETH. Each TOMOBAKO box will consist of three(3) random traits, and all traits will be tradeable.

The Immortal Forty Seven:

An additional forty seven(47) artist 1 of 1’s will be artist generated with specific traits chosen by the creator, which will automatically be born as IMMORTAL ranked full woodblock Ukiyo-e version NFT’s. Six(6) of these artist 1/1’s are reserved exclusively for the team members who have helped get Ragdoll Ronin to where it is today.

How does the Ranking System Work?

Good things take time, effort and patience. While every NFT will have the ability to ascend, not all will reach the pinnacle of Enlightenment and the possibilities that could possibly come after. The ranking system will follow this progression and will match discord roles: Wanderer, Ronin, Light Boro, Medium Boro, Heavy Boro, Keihatsu(Enlightenment), Josho(Ascension) and ultimately Fumetsu(Immortal).

What is the Degen Temple?

There is only one way to find out. Mint your Ragdoll Ronin to unlock the wisdom that lies within.

When is the mint?

Very soon, 2024. Be ready.

What is the mint price?

Initial mint for the base Ronin is FREE. In time, all purchasable traits will be available in randomly generated Tomobako boxes for .0047 ETH per box, with three(3) individual traits included in each box. In total, there are over five hundred(500) individual assets available.

Where can I learn more?

Discord is the best place to dive into the world of Ragdoll Ronin. Also check out our Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date and informed of all goings on with the Ronin and all related projects. Social links in top bar.