Shir (ʃiɾ)

"Before another attempt to hold Shiru-tō is made, the volcano must be leashed. I refer the matter to the Emperor's Reiji."

— Wamato no Taishōgun Kagetsune Arikiyo

Shir is the second largest of the Utari Islands, and is located at the westernmost end of the archipelago. It is the Utari territory closest to the island of Hoshimoto, and the Shir Utari are closely related to the Hoshimoto Utari. Throughout the Hoshimoto Utari's struggles with the Empire of Wamato, the Shir Utari have provided support, mostly by smuggling weapons, food, and other necessities to the communities on Hoshimoto. Because of this support, the Empire of Wamato invaded and conquered Shir in 3962.

Their victory was short-lived. When the Wamatoan fleet first landed, they laughed at how the Shir Utari put up little resistance, choosing to retreat into the forests and to the other islands in the archipelago. The soldiers mocked them as cowards, and cheered their easy victory over the Yabanjin. Some wondered at how these people could be related to the fierce and intransigent Hoshimoto Utari. None it seemed, realized that the retreat was an act of strategy, not fear.

A few days after the Yanjin landed, Chikar Puyar, the volcano at the heart of Shir, erupted. Cinders ignited the ships of the invaders, and their camps were buried by a burning wind carrying ash and rock. Only a single ship of the Yanjin escaped, with less than a tenth of the soldiers who had come to Shir originally. As they fled the destruction, the ships of the Shir Utari harried them, hurling arrows and insults and warning them to never return lest they meet the wrath of the island. In the decades since, the Empire of Wamato has kept its distance from Shir, and the Shir Utari have continued to support their cousins on Hoshimoto in their war.

Notable Spirits

The Shir Utari worship many Kamuy of Shir including Yayke Kamuy, the spirit of Chikar Puyar. Yayke Kamuy is a Kamuy of two natures - the fire within, and the stone without. Those who seek a transformation into their true self may walk upon the slopes of Chikar Puyar and speak to Yayke Kamuy of their desires. If their case is compelling, the Kamuy will summon their true self from within to erupt onto their body without.

This is a painful transformation, and those who have undergone it speak of being burned alive and emerging as a new being. The changes wrought can be small or large, but are always connected to the petitioners truest sense of themselves. The body is reshaped - the old may become young, biological sex altered, or even species changed. Those who undergo the transition often go on to live memorable lives, and none have ever regretted their choice to climb Chikar Puyar.