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 Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:42 pm
Shrine of the Underworld
Entering the cave to the dark land.
It was after the Shrine of the Heavens was seperated from the Main Shrine, the shrine previously known as "The Shrine of the Damned" too began to split away from it's brothers. However, it was once the Shrine of the Mind was burnt down that those who followed Izanami and the rest of her children walked away. All that was left in the old shrine that was swiftly wearing down were those.. Those insane people who were infected by lunacy - those who were followers of the August Star.
Make no mistake, however. It wasn't because they were saddened that those who were of the Shrine of the Mind were banned. Oh, no. In fact it was the Shrine of the Damned which set their banishment into motion. Those.. They.. They who worship the fake gods, who like their magics are nothing more than of the mind! Indeed, it was about time they were expelled, and those rotten relics returned to the earth and soil to be eroded by time, and turned back into what they were born as: Sand.
Perhaps they did become bitter. That boy, Satsuya, he had the chance to escape, and was likely within Fujin's grasp serving his master. They rather enjoyed his antics, the chaos he caused. T'was a shame he was rooting for the wrong side, and thus his death. Perhaps, perhaps they would like a similar fate. To escape to another world from their mountain prison.
However, that was not possible. No, they had their duties to serve before they could be with their deities. They moved their shrine, once more, against to one of the walls of the valley. However, they chose to protect the cave which held Yomi sealed within it. The endless cavern which was fabled to be the one Izanagi fled from, and back to Takamagahara. The one.. Which was said to house their resting place, their hell, their underworld.
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:44 pm
Layout of the Shrine
That which guards the path to Yomi.
The Location
If the Shrine of the Heavens sits to the south, then it is the Shrine of the Underworld which guards the north, forming a seal around the Shrine of the August Star. Perhaps one could look at it as if the two shrines were guarding against The Evil from both of it's sides.
The Shrine of the Underworld, unlike the Shrine of the Heavens which was expelled immediately was prepared to face the harshness of the up and coming winter. Predicting that they would be one of the next to be removed by the paranoia of the August Star Shrine, they gained the help of the tanuki to service them. It too was built against the mountains, their back facing the ocean. Thusly the rocks fall backward rather than forward to crush them, whenever a rock slide occures.
Also, to their back, rests the cave which is said to lead to Yomi. It is blocked by a large stone, said to be so heavy that not even a hundred men could lift it - nor could fifty horses drag it. This stone was said to be a challenge amongst brothers, Fujin and Raiden, to see who could lift the rock. In the end, it was their efforts combined which granted them access to Yomi.
The Shrine
The Shrine itself is much different from that of the Shrine of the Heavens, oh yes. Rather than being constructed of wood and rice papaer, it is dominantly stone taken from the mountain and ground itself to build it. A sturdy building with many supporting pillars, so that it can withstand a light fall from the mountain behind it with very minimal damage. The building itself is still very much that of a traditional shrine.
The colors range from red stone to black, with rice paper naturally building the doors, with a very minimal ammount of wood. The Shrine was built in such a way that it could protect the Cave of Yomi which sat behind it.
Inside the Shrine
Much like that of the Shrine of the Heavens, the shrine itself has one central meeting building - as well as five sub shrines which spout out around the central shrine. Nearest the cave to the north is Izanami's shrine, nearest to Izanami's shrine to the left is Fujin's shrine, nearest to Izanami's shrine to the right is Raiden's shrine, nearest to Fujin's shrine below it is Tsukiyomi's, and nearest to Raiden's shrine below it is Kagutsuchi's shrine.
The Shrine of the Underworld has a similar functionality to that of the Shrine of the Heavens. Those sub-shrines serve as sleeping quarters for the loyal servants of their deities, and yet those also hold within them the sacred objects. Izanami's onyx, the emerald of Fujin, the amethyst of Raiden, the meteorite of Tsukiyomi, and the obsidian of Kagutsuchi.
However, that leaves one to wonder the purpose of the Central Shrine. It has been split into two rooms, and two doors. The door to the left will lead to the meeting room, and the food court. Different kinds of flesh are prepared here, from the lowly squirrel to big game such as a deer. Because of the harsh and rocky land around the cave enterance, and the Shrine of the Underworld, they are unable to grow a functioning garden. Thusly, they borrow from the Shrine of the Heavens.
The door to the right? The sleeping quarters of the Raiju, Raiden's guardian beast sent to Gaia to aid in protecting the Cave of Yomi. Beasts which came i many different shapes and forms, from that of a cat to that of a monkey. It is said that these beasts are the streaks of lightning one sees in the sky.
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:29 pm
Surrounding Creatures
The beasts of Yomi's depths.Ao-Andon: Hailing from Yomi originally, these great blue beasts are summoned regularly to the shrine due to the game played by young students - One Hundred Stories. However, while they are the vicious guards of Izanami's realm, when they are called to the mortal realm once the game is completed they are nothing more than pranksters, scaring their prey shitless before returning to Yomi.BetoBeto-san: Another creature who comes from Yomi, this jolly shadow colored beast behaves no different from it's brothers within the cave. It's a polite beast with a horrible temper. Of course, one may avoid being eaten by BetoBeto-san by asking him to go around, or standing to the side or asking him to go ahead.Tanuki: While the Shrine of the Heavens have the Kitsune, the Shrine of the Underworld has allied itself with the tanuki - or the raccoon dog. These perverse little shape shifting creatures are also known for their massive, dragging scrotum. Much like their fox borthers, they indeed have magics all of their own - not only limited to shape shifting.Yama-Inu: Yet another shape shifting creature which has allied itself with the Shrine of the Underworld, they are mountain dwelling people who take the form of a mountain wolf. While they have no magic, their brute strength and battle intelligence is something to be reckoned with. They are highly spiritual creatures, despite this. Much like the Native people of the Western masses of land.Yama-Oroshi: The old wise men and women of the mountains, said to have lived up there for so long that their lungs have become strong enough to blow down houses. It is these beings who are said to have been there longer than even the Shrine. Because of this they evolved to a beastly state in which their hands have become clows, as well as their feet.
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:47 pm
Those who follow Izanami
Those who posess the onyx.Izanami, a powerful woman of infinate compassion for the mortal souls. She is the mistress of Yomi, and the one who determines if a spirit has repented for their sins or not. Because of this, she is often viewed as a cruel woman, and yet this is not the case. She is only harsh because she wants only those who have repented to move on, not those undeserving souls.
Because of Izanami's way, those who follow hr are rather strict as well. They are quick to punish, and judge others for what they have done. This is bthey are to be the future judges of Yomi. One could say that they are already beasts of the underworld.
Those who follow Izanami control magics which are of the negative aspect of life. Illness, to be exact. A good number of those who follow Izanami also specialize in psychologcially destroying their opponets. It's not nessicarily a magic, but they can get inside the mind of those who they dislike and destroy them from within, planting yet another negative seed. Making them doubt themselves, their life, and on occasion even driving them to taking their life.
The students of Izanami recieve a robe which - surprisingly - is white. Such a pure white that it should serve as a warning. After all, white is the color of danger in the east. More often than not because of the whiteness of this sheer silken robe, they are mistaken for ghosts.
The priests recieve meditation beads constructed of (You guessed it!) onyx.
______________________________________________________________
Priests of Izanami______________________________________________________________
Students of IzanamiKuwano, Ame
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:06 pm
Those who follow Fujin
Those who posess the emerald.
Fujin, the vicious kind of the wind and storm. He was once known as the Terror of the Wind, and brought horror to the humans. However, once he discovered Yomi, he was able to terrify humans on a whole other level and have one of the Seventh Generation Grand Kami approve it. Yes, he and Raiden are of the Eighth Generation.
Much like the storms he commands, those who follow Fujin are tempermental people who act on their own accord. Like a wild wind brews within them. They have their own ideals, and their own walk a life although it leads to the same destination. However, they are also known to be cruel and vicious to those who occupy the same earth as they. Terrifying children, scaring old men. All for their own enjoyment.
Like Fujin, the most experienced priest can command a storm at his whim. Each student is trained with the ability to control the wind, the rain, the snow - all for an offensive magic which has been known to level village after village in the old days.
The students of Fujin are given a pale green robe.
The priests of Fujin are given emerald meditation beads.
______________________________________________________________
Priests of Fujin
______________________________________________________________
Students of Fujin
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:16 pm
Those who follow Raiden
Those who posess the amethyst.
Raiden, the angry purple beast of the thunder and lightning, said to feast on human navels and carry drums with him to act as the thunder. However, it is also said that despite his massive claws he is an exceptional archer. It is said that once Raiden once laid waste to a whole village, his arrows falling from the sky and turning into lightning.
Those who follow Raiden are often much like the large beast, quick to act on anger. Their fuse, extremely short they are also known to get angry over the tiniest thing, such as spilling a soda. However, one might want to take heed. A Raiden follower angered is not something to laugh at.
These people who command thunder and lightning are gifted with magics of sonic booms and lightning bolts causing their enemy to perish instantly. The priests, able to command an electrical storm to lay waste to an entire army. Granted, a skilled warrior has the ability to dodge a bol of lightning if they can feel the electrical energies beginning to rise from the ground.
The students of Raiden recieve a rich, purple robe.
The priests of Raiden, on the other hand, go through a procedure which is becoming frowned upon by the rest of the shrine. As an offering of Raiden, they go through a surgical procedure to have their navel removed completly and have it replaced by a bare patch of skin.
______________________________________________________________
Priests of Raiden
______________________________________________________________
Students of Raiden
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:26 pm
Those who follow Tsukiyomi
Those who posess the moon stone.
Tsukiyomi, the ugly yet beautiful brother of Amaterasu, one of the first Grand Kami to hail from Izanami and Izanagi. Banished by his sister, he turned his back on Takamagahara and fell into Yomi. He fights a never ending battle with Amaterasu to control the day and night. His darkness is one which can bring even the creatures from the depth of Yomi to life on the mortal realm.
Those who follow Tsukiyomi are often beautiful on the outside, yet ugly on the inside. If it wasn't for those within the Shrine of the August Star, it would be likely that they would be the most lunatic within the mountain valley. They have a soft spot for the morbid aspects of life, and their nature is geared towards sadism.
Those who follow Tsukiyomi do not nessicarily control any lunar aspects, but the darkness of the moon itself. They are known to bring the shadows to life, and with that also bring to life many childhood horrors. The claw that was a tree? The monster which seemed to come from under the bed? The fabled Grim Reaper which was actually a jacket? All of them come forth at the hand of the Tsukiyomi magics.
The students of Tsukiyomi recieve a robe which is darker and deeper than any twilight. A darkness that Mikaboshi himself could have been born in.
The priests of Tsukiyomi recieve meditation beads constructed from moon stone.
______________________________________________________________
Priests of Tsukiyomi
______________________________________________________________
Students of Tsukiyomi
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:39 pm
Those who follow Kagutsuchi
Those who posess the obsidian.
Kagutsuchi, the great serpent dragon of flames. He posess infinate rage towards his father, Izanagi, and infinate love for his mother. The beast of hell fire is said to be the greatest being of torture within Yomi.
Those who follow this great beast are said to posess a sadism that would even make the lunatics of Tsukiyomi cringe. They are vicious people who are known for burning objects just for the sake of burning it. Even if said objects are actually people. In short, they are pyromaniacs.
Fittingly enough, their magic is a magic that controls fire, and molten lava. It is said that they are able to pull the magma flow up from the earth and call down balls of fire from the space above. Furthermore, creating a flame at the wave of their hand is something simple and easy. It has been jokingly said that to even create a flame for a cigarette doesn't even require an incantation for them.
The students of Kagutsuchi are given meditation beads formed from obsidian right from the start.
The priests of Kagutsuchi are branded with the kanji character '火' for fire upon the hollow of their neck.
______________________________________________________________
Priests of Kagutsuchi
______________________________________________________________
Students of Kagutsuchi
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:40 pm
The Plot Thus Far
Oh snap!
The Shrine of the Underworld was once, like the Shrine of the Heavens, tied to the Main Shrine which is not dominated by those who follow the August Star. However in spite of that, they were always the trouble makers of the Shrine of Four Paths.
After all, there was the Wind, the Thunder, the Flame, the Darkness, there were a lot of people within those groups who wanted nothing more than to bother other people. There was even the youth, Satsuya, who would often make trouble for those lunatics who followed the August Star by trying to steal the heart of Hisa'me.
Things have not changed, perhaps. However, out of fear they were forced to cool down. They were the ones who saw Satsuya be slain by the Ki'mei Kyari. They feared for their lives, and thus instead of making trouble for the Shrine of the August Star they slowly became bitter. Filled with hatred for those who were behind the slaying of the youth of Fujin.
Originally, they asked the Shrine of the Mind to aid them in banishing the August Star Shrine from their mountain range. They weren't as forgiving as those who were of the Heavens. Oh, no. They were quick to judge, and quick to punish. Because of this, they exiled those who followed the deities of the mind from the valley instead.
They were next to move from the main shrine from that point. They didn't, couldn't face those who followed the August Star. They knew what would happen if they did. They have become quiet people, who only interact with the Shrine of the Heavens for food.
Sub Plots The Defiant Student The star pupil of Izanami has always been a defiant little b***h, described as such by even the elder priests. Oh, but that was only her in the eyes of the male sex. After all, whenever they tried to get her to do something she'd always tell them to leave her be. Oh, but to the Head Priestess of Izanami she is a star who refuses to submit to the males!
However, as of late she's been pushing her boundries rather far, although her mentor can only grin. In the past weeks she has gotten herself into a fight with the High Priest of Kagutsuchi, someone who was supposed to be a friend, and walked away without a scratch.
Just how much longer will she be allowed the freedom to act as she pleases? More often than not she can be found in the food court with a bowl of fried lizards in her lap, boasting about her 'victory.'
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:12 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:26 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:39 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:42 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:43 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:49 pm
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