PERSONIFICATION OF FATE, UNMEKUMO-NO-KAMI’S VESSELS
THE WEAVERS
Legends say Unmekumo-no-Kami was once a yokai of vengeance and deception formed from grief, betrayal, and isolation she had faced as a young child. But over the passing centuries through divine soul searching and the quiet guidance of nature, she transformed. She shed her vengeful past and emerged as a kami of balance, fate, and revelation; one who tests those who stray into her forest not to die, but to face their own hidden truths. Described as a weaver of karma, her silken threads are said to bind the lives of mortals together, forming intricate and delicate webs of consequence. Those who come to her shrine with pure hearts or deep regret may find her guidance. Yet those with hidden malice or arrogance, however, may never return, trapped not by force but by the illusions spun from their own guilt and fears.
She appears as a graceful woman donning flowing robes, her lower half merging seamlessly into the body of a giant spider. Her many limbs move with elegance as she smokes from a long pipe, weaving strands of fate and memory beneath the canopy of wisteria.
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.
String Theory [Remnant] [Effect]
Vessels of Unmekumo-no-Kami become burdened with overwhelming awareness of fate’s threads.
Now hyper-aware of the threads of fate, the Vessel experiences constant anticipatory anxiety. Every decision they make, now feels dangerously significant, as if it’s outcome will solely decide their future. Hesitation is common, however this is not from indecision, rather they feel as if every action is tied to inevitable consequences.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- All of Unmekumo-no-Kami’s Vessels suffer from severe anticipatory anxiety.
Frayed [Remnant] [Effect]
The Vessel becomes attuned to the fractures between the living world and Yomi.
Bound to the threads of fate, the Vessel can sense tears within the veil between Norowarejima and Yomi. While they still may suffer the excruciating pain of passing through a tear, they may focus to precisely locate them. In exchange for this gleaning information, the Vessel becomes eternally woven into the fabric of Norowarejima, unable to leave even in death.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- Vessels can only locate active tears with strict event permission, and may only know the general direction of the tear.
- Vessels cannot leave Norowarejima in any way.
Embroidery [Remnant] [Ability]
The Vessel may bind fragments of a soul into objects, creating spiritual instruments.
Through a formal rite of creation, the Vessel may imbue the essence of a soul, their own, or another’s into an object, creating a weak link into the spiritual world. This delicate process requires the Vessel’s utmost attention, as they first must wrap the object within silk. This silk-bound object must then be bathed in blood, and imbued with the soul’s spiritual energy. Only then, may the Vessel invoke Unmekumo-no-Kami to complete the ritual.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least four lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote consisting of binding the object in silk, the second emote bathing the object in blood, the third requiring the imbuement of the soul’s energy, and the fourth a verbal invocation of Unmekumo-no-Kami.
- Embroidered items must be applied for, with clear and concise mechanics behind them.
- Embroidery cannot be done in combat.
- Embroidery may only be performed a maximum of once per OOC month.
Ensnare [Remnant] [Ability]
The Vessel manifests the threads of fate to bind and restrict a target’s movement.
Following a short, freeform ritual invoking Unmekumo-no-Kami, the threads are projected towards a target. Upon contact, the Vessel may either bind a singular limb, or weave thinner threads around the entirety of the victim’s upper or lower body.
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 invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form.
- If Ensnare targets a singular limb, that limb is woven into place for a maximum of two emotes, unless the victim dedicates one emote to breaking free.
- If Ensnare targets either the upper, or lower body, it is slowed for a maximum of two emotes, allowing their movement to be read easily.
- Ensnare can be performed a maximum of twice per combat encounter.
Entwined [True] [Effect]
The Vessel sacrifices physical strength in exchange for a deepened understanding of the fabric of Norowarejima.
As the Vessel further surrenders to fate’s threads, their physical strength deteriorates, leaving their body fragile. In exchange, their spiritual energy grows significantly, allowing them to gain a deeper awareness of the fleeting perception of Yomi and Norowarejima.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- The Vessel’s strength diminishes to that of the most unhealthy state of their age, always out of shape and unathletic.
- Ensnare can now be performed a maximum of four times per combat encounter.
Divination [True] [Effect]
The Vessel may experience fragmented visions of possible futures
Now attuned to the ever-changing tides of fate, the Vessel becomes hyper-aware of the ‘ripples’ of the future. Plaguing their dreams, the Vessel may suffer from nightmarish visions of possible futures, that which are fragmented and overlapping, entirely unclear. While more often than not false prophecies, the Vessel may occasionally be given clear visions of the future.
Ability Restrictions
- This is a passive effect, and is activated upon creation.
- Divination does not allow Vessels to predict the future.
- Vessels can only be given clear visions with strict event permissions.
Spiritual Suture [True] [Ability]
The Vessel may temporarily mend spiritual wounds utilizing their own fragmented soul’s threads.
Requiring a short, freeform ritual which invokes Unmekumo-no-Kami’s name, the Vessel may utilize their own soul-threads to stitch spiritual wounds closed. While these threads themselves are unable to entirely heal these wounds, they simply stitch them to ensure they do not worsen over time. A natural period of ‘healing’ is still required to recover.
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 invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form.
- Spiritual Sutures do not instantly heal wounds, they still take a natural amount of time to heal.
- Spiritual Sutures only effect cuts, scratches, and grievous injuries upon spiritual beings’ souls.
- Spiritual Suture cannot be used in combat.
- Spiritual Suture can be performed a maximum of four times per OOC day.
Reweaving [Perfect] [Ability]
The Vessel may manipulate the veil between worlds, opening or sealing passages.
Requiring a formal rite in which the Vessel utilizes their soul-threads to either tear apart, or sow together the fabric of the veil. These are stable passageways between Norowarejima and Yomi. Vessels should be wary, as they have no control over what may emerge from these newly formed tears.
Ability Restrictions
- The ritual must consist of at least five lengthy emotes with clear effort put into each message. The first emote consisting of the invocation of the spirit’s name, the second emote manifesting the spiritual energy into visible form, with the Vessel’s threads unravelling the fabric on the third. On the fourth, the tear begins to form, and may be stabilized with a fifth emote.
- Passing through an established veil is excruciating to any spiritual being with a living body.
- Reweaving can only be used with strict event permissions.
- Reweaving can only be used twice per OOC day.