Werew0lf 12024 Share Posted February 26, 2021 KYOJIN ; The Titan-Kami of Black ; The Dragon-King (Ryuo) ; Black Dragon (Kokuryu) SYMBOLIC VIEW Flames, brimstone and ash; the Dragon-King of Black delineated knowledge, power and wisdom. During the Tenjō Era, Emperor Tenjō deified Kyojin as the harbinger of strength and mental fortitude, praised commonly by scholars for earnest chronicles and spiels dedicated to Oyashima and its rich history. Of course, castes of noble-families venerated Kyojin for strength; most commonly revered by samurai to be granted strategic wisdom and brawn in their fierce battles. ORIGIN | REKISHI The founding of Oyashima - during the Tenjō Era - hailed the claimant of the eastern peninsula to bring rise to the ancestral homeland of the Oyashiman. It was Emperor Tenjō who used his wisdom and knowledge for granaries, paddy fields and agriculture that brought their survival; denizens satisfied by full stomachs and cultural prosperity. Dedicating many shrines to the magnitude of Susanoo, the Lord of Tempest and other kami within its sphere of influence. They worshipped the Kami - who blessed their land - for strength, protection and good futures. It is assumed that Kyojin was a part of this rich line of Kami, mostly revered by scholars and samurai that wished to learn martial arts, sword-play and literature. It is believed that Kyojin, the Dragon-King of Black, elevated further in Oyashima’s Imperial Capital of Yamatai; the noble castes and military households centred mainly where royalty sat. Most erected shrines in worship to Kyojin and his children who were viewed as lesser-kami of dragons, symbols of luck or calamity. This worship trailed along to the Rentai Era where came foreign invaders to the ancestral homage of Oyashimas people. Oppression and rivalry from hou-zi yearned for conquest; the denizens worshipped Kyojin then as a destructive kami of battle-arts and merciless victory, warping his image of strength as chaos. After the Izugata Massacre which brought the fall of Emperor Rentai, worship to the Great Titan-Dragon lessened; mostly found now in smaller clans who remember Kyojin and his true meaning of worship. LESSER-KAMI | RYUUEI Kyojin remained magnificent, large and mountainous, clambering cordilleras and volcanoes, thewing oceans and forests. It was then he was referred to as Titan, the Dragon-King of Black; his scales of ash wrought shadows over the world, taken under his heraldship. Of course, the greater-kami had many offsprings to support his ambitions and goals, lesser-kami; the Ryuuei were smaller in comparison and resembled anthropomorphic creatures with dragon-esque heads. Much like their father, the Ryuuei were more present in histories calling, appearing to assist in literature and to assist in warfare. Hence, they were seen as symbols of luck, calamity and strength; the lesser-kami remained prideful due to their strength and intellect. It is believed that the Ryuuei also heralded denizens of Oyashima under their wing, providing their boons and blessing to support in their venture of prosperity, becoming saisho of Kyojin; the priests were referred to as ryuso. A lot of the Ryuuei are rumoured to strive in mortal cohorts, disguised as noble lords of fire. HERALDS | RYUSO The children of Kyojin, broached as lesser-kami Ryuuei were powerful divines able to bestow mortal devotees with boons and gifts. These boons come in the form of spirituous markings that charge them with mahou. Thus, allowing the Ryuso to become greater in scholarly on-goings and providing battle prowess, spells fuelled by the divine blessings from the Ryuuei. Of course, one does not have to become a Ryuso to become a worshipper of Kyojin; many worship the Great Titan without becoming heralds through rites and rituals at his shrine. In histories calling, the Ryuso were written as folklore for legendary heroes, mighty noble lords and samurai generals. Many of the Ryuso dedicate shrines to their Ryuuei, and to claim to be a Ryuso is blasphemous if not proven otherwise. RITUALS | GISHIKI PILGRIMAGE - Ryuu no Junrei At the coming of summers brazen rays of gold, many go on pilgrimage to bring solace onto themselves. This is usually done by trekking through the path of Keihatsu, stopping at shrines for different Ryuuei and offering prayers. Eventually, it will lead to a shrine dedicated to Kyojin where one must kneel for three hours whilst ignoring the gelid winds of the mountain top. DUEL - Ryuu no Kettō In hopes of bringing fortitude to their households, many worshippers of Kyojin and his Ryuuei duel amongst themselves, claiming victory in the name of the Dragon-King of Black and his brood. The forowā of Kyojin will breathe their swords with blessings prior to a duel; at the end of the duel, it is dedicated to one Ryuuei and Kyojin. FUNERAL - Ryuu no Sōshiki Upon the death of any respectable soul, a funeral is held, with the exception of hated foes (oni, for example). Some will ignore the deaths of commoners and only hold these rites for family or Ryuuei and Ryuso; it rather depends on the situation in which they died. Ryuu no sōshiki rites typically involve burning the body and speaking a blessing over the ashes, which are then kept in either a familial or local shrine for the deceased. Spoiler Written by: @Werew0lf Written by: @Kimika (she wrote like one section called 'funeral') Formatted by: @Werew0lf 25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoanOfArc 4586 Share Posted February 26, 2021 (edited) Fujiwara Mutsuhiko sat by the cherry blossoms of Almaris next to his Shogun, his father, his wife, his friends, and all the other displaced samurais of Oyashima. Despite the depression brought on from the Usurper Shogun, he at last found peace among the pink skies above his head. Perhaps this is the peace his father spoke of twenty years ago during the usurpation... The moon descends, The Black Dragon-King takes wing, The fire rises. Edited February 26, 2021 by JoanOfArc 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werew0lf 12024 Author Share Posted February 26, 2021 Minamoto Kenshin veered his back against a lonesome maple tree, pastel orange and red kimono baggy against the wintry atmosphere. His one hand slumped over an ashen tetsu-ken, thumb pressing against the weapons fuchi. Slowly raising one hand towards a top-knotted headpiece, plumes of smoke exhumed his nostril. "The Black Dragon-King takes wing." He murmurs under his breath. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimika 268 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Watanabe Setsuna kneeled at the shrine containing the ashes of her ancestors, her sister Watanabe Miyako at her side. The pair was silent as their gazes remained fixated on two particular urns, vivid red ceramics branded with twin black dragons. Moving in tandem, they began to pray, reciting a poem known to them since birth;As the moon descends, the fire rises. Kokuryu spreads his wings, His silhouette blackening the sky. His eyes are burning with omniscience; He will raise his children above all else. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts