Kami
What are Kami
The Kami are divine beings which control and influence the world and its inhabitants, with each Kami representing a single aspect or domain. There are tens of thousands of Kami, with most being revered as gods or goddesses. They are the only ones able to freely manipulate Enrai, the energy fueling mortal magic.
Kami Power
Despite being considered gods the Kami are limited, they are neither omniscient, nor omnipresent, and instead must gain information or conduct actions through their followers and priests. The Kami’s individual power varies a great deal, being based on the number of worshipers, how devoted the worshipers are; and the generation of the Kami, the older the better. Compared to the best of Human or Yokai mages, even the weakest Kami could defeat several s tier mages.
Kami Generations
Generally Kami can be split into 6 generations based roughly when they came about, although due the unreliability of records, and different legends, this tends to vary. The most common version being based on the Tagami interpretation of the world. Tagami being a religious philosophy which tries to understand the world, while pursuing peace in the afterlife.
- 1st Generation: Existence and Chaos: the First generation of Kami were the first to exist in an endless void of Enrai, before creating the 2nd generation with proper form and purpose.
- 2nd Generation: Creation of the World: the Second generation of Kami were powerful enough to bend Enrai into physical reality, creating Ashiahra, Yomi, Takama, and life. They had expanded most of their power in the creation of the world, and thus created a third to manage existence.
- 3rd Generation: Management of the World: the third generation of Kami, after the Kami, are primarily focused on fundamental aspects of the world, and on maintaining the natural order of things.
- 4th Generation: Nature and Life: the fourth generation of Kami came about as Enrai reflected creation, creating Kami to represent mountains, rivers, bodies of water, plants and animals, and Yokai and humans.
- 5th Generation: Emergence from People and Civilization: the fifth generation of Kami came about with the creation of organized society and civilizations, and represents aspects, ideas, and groups within society.
- 6th Generation: Nations and Cultures: the 6th generation of Kami, emerged from specific cultural and nationalist ideas, and unlike other Kami are deeply attached to specific groups.
- 7th Generation: New Age Kami: the newest generation of Kami, the 7th Kami, have recently emerged from the pressures of industrialization and Enrai Technologies, as well as the growing tension brought about by increased globalization.
Kami and Their Influence on the World
The Kami for the most part interact with the world indirectly, in part due their limitations, but also due a general desire to give mortals free choice, without interfering. The few exceptions are Enrai Corruption, Ayakashi, and afterlife. In the case of Enrai Corruption, non corrupted Kami universally seek to oppose further Enrai corruption, while countering the actions of corrupted Kami. Ayakashi are main concern, horrific monsters, created from Enrai Corruption, with the Kami In ancient times having been the only thing between mortals and extension at times. Lastly the Kami are responsible for their worshipers, in the afterlife, although what exactly varies with each pantheon. The expansion of mortals into cities, and various population booms, required the Kami to delegate to mortals, giving the ability to use magic and giving blessings through priests.
Domains of Kami
Kami Bloodlines
The ability to do magic was granted to humans whose ancestry can be traced to Kami with the ability to do magic. These Kami are usually the patron of the said bloodline, with it generally understood never to expire as long as one parent has the bloodline. Although this blessing is not maintained if it isn’t used, newer bloodlines are established by those who’ve gained a Kami respect, with specifics being poorly understood.
Kami warding against Yomi and Ayakashi
The Kami are assumed to be the guardians of the barriers between Yomi, the realm of the Dead, and Ashihara, the realm of mortals. Yomi contains a great deal of Ayakashi due to the link between death, Enrai corruption, and Ayakahsi.
Kami Preist Orders
While not all do, many Kami have specific priest orders, with varying styles of organization, membership, and roles, but its through them that Kami achieve their goals. An example being a Kami whose domain is related to healing, acting as doctors.
Kami Alliances or Pantheons
The Kami themselves are arranged either by themselves or mortals into pantheons with common beliefs, and goals, usually located with a central cultural or regional group. Although many have spread globally individually. A Kami is typically only placed in one Alliance or pantheon. The Major ones being from Izumo, Yamatai, Kushatani, Soyotama, and Ibaragi.
Type
Metaphysical, Divine
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