PERSONIFICATION OF REINCARNATION, TSUMIYAKU-NO-KAMI’S VESSELS
THE CRUCIBLES
A mortal-born Kami, Tsumiyaku was once a venomous serpent forged of malediction. Destined to inflict pain and suffering upon others, the moon cleansed her of her old purpose, and granted her new life as she shed the mortal coil. Ridding herself of what caused her pain, she ascended to the status of Kami, acting as a face of redemption, and reincarnation. Containing a fiery heart, and the will to do good, she burns all that comes within her path. Benevolent at heart, she acts higher than mortal understanding, seeking to purge all filth from the prison isle of Norowarejima. Yet her purification is not without severe consequence, her flames do not distinguish between sinner and saint, as all those who cross her path must endure the trial of her judgement.
Worshipped and feared in equal measure, she is both a savior and an omen, her presence signaling that change, whether welcomed or not, is inevitable. To some, she is mercy incarnate; to others, she is the final being they will ever witness again.
Second Sight [Innate] [Effect]
Accessible to all Vessels from the point of creation, bearing the soul-shard of a spirit, grants the living mortal the innate ability to view spirits who are not actively hiding themselves.
A requirement to become a Vessel through painful ritual with a spirit, the victim’s soul is cracked, and replaced with a piece of the spirit’s. Essentially becoming a walking Veil into Yomi, the Vessel may freely view spirits who actively do not conceal their presence. Should they choose to hide, the Vessel can only note that there is an odd presence about the area which the spirit remains within.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- The process of becoming a Vessel is excruciating, as the spirit tears out a piece of the Vessel’s soul, and replaces it with a piece of their own.
- Should the spirit be willing, they can further implant more pieces of their soul into a Vessel to increase their power.
- As the Vessel now shares the soul-shard of a spirit, they are now defined as a ‘Spiritual Being’.
- Now sharing the spiritual energy of a spirit, the Vessel may glimpse into the afterlife and witness spirits. Should the spirit make any attempt to conceal their presence, the Vessel can no longer physically view them, only now noting there is an odd presence about the location of the spirit.
Eternal Confinement [Innate] [Effect]
As Vessels splinter their souls in order to gain power, they now fall subject to the divine mandate of confinement upon the prison isle of Norowarejima.
No spirit is free to leave the isle, and as Vessels now share the soul, they now share the effect. Permanently bound to never stray from the isle, Sazanami-no-Kaze’s divine current will always drag them back to shore.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- Any Spiritual Being, including Vessels, are now permanently bound to remain on Norowarejima, unless they gain explicit permission to leave, or find means to escape otherwise.
- As Sazanami-no-Kaze, the Warden of Norowarejima’s influence extends throughout the sea, most, if not all Spiritual beings find themselves naturally adverse to seawater. This effect does not apply to travelling to the outer barrier islands, but Spiritual Beings may prefer to use Veils to travel there instead.
Spontaneous [Remnant] [Effect]
The Vessel is seared by the volatile purity of Tsumiyaku-no-Kami’s flame.
Vessels may find their logic and actions become increasingly impulsive, often abandoning strategic logic in favor of pure instinctual movements and emotion. In moments that demand caution, they may instead act recklessly, convinced of their own martial prowess and importance under divine fire. They may find their temperament becomes unstable, with irritation quickly gravitating into anger without clear cause. This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- Vessels of Tsumiyaku-no-Kami find themselves extremely reckless, scaling with the tier they stand at. Remnant Vessels may appear to have no sense of caution, whereas Exalted Vessels may be utterly carefree should they know they face certain death.
- They still are able to resist this urge, though find themselves more often than not, becoming a thrill-seeker, believing Tsumiyaku-no-Kami will protect them from harm.
Burnout [Remnant] [Effect]
The Vessel’s soul is consumed by their own purifying flame upon death, leaving nothing behind.
Rather than passing on to their respective afterlife upon death, their spirit is reduced to ash and is drawn into Tsumiyaku-no-Kami’s domain. Any hope of reuniting with loved ones within the afterlife is lost, replaced by eternal servitude to the flame. From theses remnants, one transforms into Hiomiko, spiritual fire entities with direct relation to the flame-serpent herself.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon death.
- Burnout only applies should the Vessel die of any reason excluding old age.
- Burnout only applies should the Vessel truly die. If they are by other means spiritually corrupted, captured, or sealed away, Burnout does not play into effect.
- Burnout only affects the soul, leaving the body physically intact.
- While you may apply to become a Hiomiko through a lesser spirit application, they are forever bound to Tsumiyaku-no-Kami’s domain, and cannot leave.
Sanctification [Remnant] [Ability]
The Vessel may consecrate the surrounding area with golden holy fire.
Following a short, freeform ritual which invokes Tsumiyaku-no-Kami, the ground around the Vessel becomes imbued with her purifying fire. This space acts as sacred ground, naturally rejecting malevolence or unwelcome spirits. Those who persist with entry are met with searing burns that intensify the longer they remain within its bounds. The area may remain for up to three emotes in combat, requiring the Vessel to maintain focus.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least two lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote consisting of the verbal invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form. Lasts three emotes.
- Lesser spirits can be forced out by Remnant Vessels, Greater Spirits by True Vessels. Anything stronger than an Elder Spirit, may only find minor burns upon their form.
- Should the Vessel use this ability against another Vessel, they may only afflict burns to tiers lower than themselves.
- The Vessel’s fire does not affect mundane beings in the slightest, nor are they able to witness these flames.
- Activated Sanctification has a maximum diameter of 10 meters, and a minimum of 2 meters.
- The Vessel is required to have line of sight with the area of Sanctification.
- Sanctification can be performed a maximum of once per combat encounter.
Censer [Remnant] [Ability]
Thick, sacred incense pours from the Vessel’s maw, filling the space around them.
After a short, freeform ritual, dense coils of worship incense seeps outwards, clinging to surfaces and saturating the air. The fumes spread steadily, reaching into hidden corners and lingering within an area for up to three emotes. Spiritual entities who are concealed, find the smoke suffocating, forcing them to reveal themselves to retreat. While not directly harmful to one’s physical body, its presence is suffocating to spiritual entities.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least two lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote consisting of the verbal invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form. Lasts three emotes.
- The smoke summoned by the Vessel may only spread out to a 5x5x5 meter radius centered around them. Should the Vessel be within a small enclosed room smaller than 10x10x10, the smoke becomes noticeably thicker and more effective.
- The Vessel’s smoke does not affect mundane beings in the slightest, nor are they able to experience these choking effects.
- Censer can be performed a maximum of twice per combat encounter.
Ignition [True] [Effect]
A constant holy flame burns within the Vessel’s soul.
This fire exists solely within the spiritual plane, radiating outwards as an unseen but omnipresent force. Spiritual entities that come into direct contact are met with severe purifying burns that force them to disconnect. Mundane beings only feel a heavy, oppressive and uncomfortable warmth coming from the Vessel. The flame acts as a safeguard, making the Vessel immune to corruption and malevolent forces.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- The souls of True Vessels of Tsumiyaku-no-Kami are permanently burned and charred at the point of soul-mending. This radiates a portion of their holy fire outwards to burn any and all spiritual beings who attempt to make physical or spiritual contact with these Vessels.
- Mundane beings are entirely immune to this effect, only feeling intensely uncomfortable with sharing physical contact with the Vessel.
- Ignition only manifests whilst the Vessel’s soul still inhabits the body, should they die, the soul is transported elsewhere, leaving the body free of the searing effect.
- Ignition allows the Vessel to perform one additional act of Sanctification.
Divine Judgement [True] [Ability]
A sacred rite which condemns a target through purifying golden flame.
To invoke this ability, the Vessel must perform a ritual requiring purified ground, either through Sanctification or the grounds of an existing shrine. The target must be identified aloud, calling upon their nature, name, or corruption, followed by a formal declaration of judgment carried out in Tsumiyaku-no-Kami’s name. Physical contact must be held, and maintained with the restrained target as the rite completes. Once fulfilled, holy flames surge through the condemned, inflicting severe spiritual burns that overwhelm their core. Victims of Divine Judgement suffer an irrevocable soul-death.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least three lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote verbally calling out the spirit, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form, the third, calling out to Tsumiyaku-no-Kami. Manifests and condemns on the fourth emote.
- Physical contact must be held with the victim for the last two emotes of the ritual.
- Must be done upon shrine grounds, or within the grounds of Sanctification.
- The Vessel’s fire does not affect mundane beings in the slightest, nor are they able to witness these flames.
- Divine Judgement may be performed a maximum of once per OOC day.
Concordance [True] [Ability]
The Vessel may temporarily align allies with Tsumiyaku-no-Kami’s flame.
After a short, freeform ritual, the Vessel’s fire intensifies, burning hotter and stronger for a limited time. During such, it can be projected onto a maximum of two individuals, which then gain temporary immunity to the searing effects of Ignition. Allied Vessels chosen may gain increased mental clarity and resistance against corruptive effects. Concordance lasts for one combative encounter or one OOC day, and must be reapplied afterwards should they wish to keep the effects.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least two lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote consisting of the verbal invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form. Lasts for one combative encounter, or one OOC day, whichever should apply first.
- Allied Vessels do not become immune to mental attacks, only becoming more resistant should they be affected.
- The Vessel’s fire does not affect mundane beings in the slightest, nor are they able to witness these flames.
- Concordance can be performed a maximum of once per OOC day.
Retribution [Perfect] [Ability]
The Vessel may manifest radiant chains of golden holy fire to bind and punish.
Following a short, freeform ritual invoking Tsumiyaku-no-Kami, searing chains erupt from the Vessel’s hands and extend outwards 8 meters. These chains can slash into spiritual targets, burning intensely upon contact and disrupting their concentration. This manifestation persists for up to three emotes, allowing the Vessel to restrain or control afflicted entities. Mundane beings remain unaffected, as the chains pass harmlessly through them without resistance.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least two lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote consisting of the verbal invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form. Lasts three emotes.
- These chains act as weightless extensions of the Vessel’s flames, only serving as a solid burning weapon.
- The chains may not exceed farther than [5] meters from the Vessel’s hands.
- The Vessel’s fire does not affect mundane beings in the slightest, nor are they able to witness these flames.
- Should any spiritual being be struck with these flaming chains, their concentration is broken, and any ongoing invocations must be restarted.
- Retribution can be performed a maximum of once per OOC day.