G
GuanYue
Guest
Original poster
ISE MONOGATARI
#48A1FB
Inspirations: Samurai Champloo, Japanese Folklore, the mobile app game Onmyoji
LINKS: INFO || IC || OOC
Premise: Edo period Japan, a priestess is sent from her shrine to travel along the Tokaido Road to the grand Ise Shrine to investigate a bad omen. Along the way, the priestess gains friends and allies to accompany her in her adventures. It is up to this group to save Japan from falling into another impending darkness.
LINKS: INFO || IC || OOC
Premise: Edo period Japan, a priestess is sent from her shrine to travel along the Tokaido Road to the grand Ise Shrine to investigate a bad omen. Along the way, the priestess gains friends and allies to accompany her in her adventures. It is up to this group to save Japan from falling into another impending darkness.
After the Battle of Sekigahara, a clear victor was proclaimed and all of Japan was united under one banner. In doing such, there was much change throughout the land. Roads were made so that the heads of samurai clans would have more direct route to the capital. Over time, the merchant class rose, cities sprung up. Edo became the centerhub of civilization. Because of this, everyone felt the need to make profit in Edo. But as civilization becomes dictated in monetary value, other things become neglected. Small villages where the local kami were taken care of were soon abandoned and left for the sympathizing passerbyes to give some momentary respect to. Values began to change, and importance fell on living rather than being immersed with the unseen world.
But temples and shrines still exist, and there are many that still have great importance. Because of the shogunate, some shrines and temples were sanctioned more heavily than others. One of which, was Ise Shrine-- dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, whose descendants became emperors.
Let's fast-forward a little bit, shall we? On the outskirts of Edo is a small village not too far into the forest. The central point in this village is the village shrine, large enough to house a handful of priests and the shrine maiden. It is tranquil and nothing really seems to happen there other than the normal ceremonial things. However recently, the shrine has been getting mixed messages. Prayers have been disrupted by oddly cold winds, the flowers around the village are closed, even though it is time for mid bloom. And even worse, it seems the nights are getting longer and longer every day.
The Shrine Maiden was the first to discover the oddities and bringing it to the priests, they quickly deducted that these were all inauspicious signs leading into very, very bad omens. The stories of old sang in their heads as they looked up to the night sky. It was then that the decided it was their duty to warn one of the most important shrines of such events. They packed up the Shrine Maiden's things and sent her off, feeling that she was the most qualified of all the priests there to take on the task. They did not have much money, and so hiring an escort for her was impossible. They prayed to every resident kami and local deity they could think of for her safe travels.
It is this Shrine Maiden's adventure that we follow, and who she encounters and who decides to follow with her. It becomes their adventure and duty as well to make sure these bad omens do not cast the new Japan into darkness.
But temples and shrines still exist, and there are many that still have great importance. Because of the shogunate, some shrines and temples were sanctioned more heavily than others. One of which, was Ise Shrine-- dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, whose descendants became emperors.
Let's fast-forward a little bit, shall we? On the outskirts of Edo is a small village not too far into the forest. The central point in this village is the village shrine, large enough to house a handful of priests and the shrine maiden. It is tranquil and nothing really seems to happen there other than the normal ceremonial things. However recently, the shrine has been getting mixed messages. Prayers have been disrupted by oddly cold winds, the flowers around the village are closed, even though it is time for mid bloom. And even worse, it seems the nights are getting longer and longer every day.
The Shrine Maiden was the first to discover the oddities and bringing it to the priests, they quickly deducted that these were all inauspicious signs leading into very, very bad omens. The stories of old sang in their heads as they looked up to the night sky. It was then that the decided it was their duty to warn one of the most important shrines of such events. They packed up the Shrine Maiden's things and sent her off, feeling that she was the most qualified of all the priests there to take on the task. They did not have much money, and so hiring an escort for her was impossible. They prayed to every resident kami and local deity they could think of for her safe travels.
It is this Shrine Maiden's adventure that we follow, and who she encounters and who decides to follow with her. It becomes their adventure and duty as well to make sure these bad omens do not cast the new Japan into darkness.
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