Kama’kari

Kama’kari

 

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Region of Origin

Emerald Veil — the mist-shrouded bamboo forest of Yoake, a land of shifting light, sacred shrines, and ancient spirits. The Kama’kari dwell in small warrior-villages within the Veil, particularly near the Sakura Grove, where Kitsune clans maintain spiritual leadership.  

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Overview

The Kama’kari are the mantisfolk of Yoake, slender and bladed, their culture shaped by centuries of martial discipline. Known as duelists, hunters, and ritual warriors, they see combat not as bloodshed, but as art — a test of focus, clarity, and respect for life’s fragility. With forearms like curved blades and compound eyes that catch every motion, the Kama’kari embody precision in all things.   Though outsiders often view them as alien or fearsome, within Yoake the Kama’kari are respected as honorable allies of the Kitsune clans, standing against the Oni Empire in ages past. Their discipline has preserved their people through both war and peace.  

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Culture and Way of Life

Kama’kari villages are small, tight-knit communities built among bamboo stalks and stone shrines. Life is organized around the Path of Blades, a code that emphasizes clarity of mind, mastery of body, and loyalty to kin and spirit. From a young age, Kama’kari are taught meditative stillness and lightning-fast strikes, with dueling as a common form of training, judgment, and ritual.   Hunters serve as providers, using their reflexes to catch prey or defend the village from spirits warped by the Veil. Ritualists serve as philosophers and teachers, interpreting omens from the swaying of bamboo or the drift of sakura blossoms. The community holds festivals in harmony with the Kitsune, celebrating the balance of beauty, danger, and spirit.  

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Spirituality and Belief

Kama’kari spirituality blends reverence for the Kitsune-guarded shrines of the Emerald Veil with their own martial philosophy. Many venerate Othorion, seeing his ideals of freedom and precision as aligned with their warrior path, while others whisper to Veracus, the Betrayer of Endless War, as a dark echo of their martial hunger.   Central to their belief is the idea that each duel reveals truth — to face an opponent is to face oneself. Victory and defeat alike are sacred, for each strike unveils a fragment of destiny.  

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Appearance

Chitin: Green, jade, or earthen brown, sometimes marked with faint patterns that resemble bamboo leaves.
Eyes: Large and multifaceted, gleaming in shades of emerald, amber, or obsidian.
Build: Slender but tall, often between 5’8” and 6’6”, with elongated mantid forearms ending in bladed edges.
Other Traits: Many adorn their carapaces with cloth sashes, charms, or painted symbols of their path.  

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Relationships with Other Races

Kitsune: Honored allies and spiritual kin; the Kama’kari fought beside them against Oni incursions. Humans of Yoake: Relations vary — some Kama’kari respect their artistry and discipline, others distrust their politics. Elves and Dwarves: Viewed with a mix of curiosity and caution; Kama’kari see them as outsiders who seldom understand the Veil. Other Xal’kari: The Tik’kari and Dun’kari are respected as kin, though seen as less refined in the way of the blade.  

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Legacy

The Kama’kari are remembered as the “Silent Blades of the Veil,” warriors whose precision turned the tide against Oni legions and whose patience preserved their kind through centuries of mist and trial. Today, they walk a balance between guardianship and wanderlust — ever seeking foes worthy of their skill, and truths hidden in the duel.  

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