Khurgan
14-12-2005, 00:25
Basic Info
Capitol: Jigoku
Leader: Orochi no Oni
Population: ~4000
Religion: Corrupted Shinto/Japanese Buddhism
The Oni
The Oni are monstrous giants, twenty feet tall with horridly distorted features. Most have gaping maws and giant fangs, but deviations are common, some possessing extra limbs, or six fingers, or multiple mouths. Others are far from human, bestial creatures walking on four limbs. More powerful Oni can trick creatures into giving up their true names, stealing their power in the process. Orochi no Oni is a prime example of this, having stolen the name of a monstrous dragon as it lay dying. Orochi no Oni's various lieutenants have also stolen the names of various monsters, and are terrible foes on the battlefield.
Jigoku
The city of Jigoku is hidden away, buried beneath a great mountain. The mountain is riddled with caves, a labyrinth of stone walls with the city of Jigoku at the center. The city itself is a riot of flame and smoke, the screams of the poor souls captured by the Oni in their raids echoing through the massive cavern. The Oni themselves live in great edifices of stone, carved from the floor and walls of the cavern itself, while their captives are stored in pens dug out of the cave floor.
Orochi no Oni
The leader of the Oni, Orochi no Oni is the master of Jigoku. In ages past, he stole the name of Orochi, a great dragon with eight heads and eight tails. Orochi no Oni, using the power of this name, manifests himself as either a giant with eight dragon-like heads on long serpentine necks and eight arms, each clutching a different weapon; or a great wyrm with eight heads and eight tails, dripping corruption from his many maws and spreading fire from his many tails.
In addition to the raw power gained from the name of such a monster, Orochi no Oni wields the sword Kusanagi, stolen from the Kami. The sword possesses power over the wind, and Orochi no Oni uses this to deadly effect. Occasionally, the great demon will grant this weapon to one of his chosen Bushi, in order to spread havoc in Orochi no Oni's stead.
The Oni at War
Roughly 5% of the Oni make up the Bushi caste, who act as bodyguards to their Daimyos and Shogun, as well as conducting raids upon the human populations around Jigoku. These giant warriors are often garbed in elaborate armor and tiger skins, emphasizing their demonic nature. Their great iron clubs and swords can sweep aside smaller opponents, and their skill at the arts of war makes them a match for warriors of equal stature.
Economy
The Oni economy is quite complex, utilizing both coinage and a barter system, with the various artisans of the Oni producing weaponry and other crafts, partially with the aid of slaves, who are captured by the Bushi and sold or traded amongnst the rest of the population, for uses ranging from recreation, to helpers for the artisans, to farmers, to food. Oni coins are large, about six inches in diameter, and are generally composed of gold, silver, and brass, and are stamped with the symbol of an eight-headed dragon, the sigil of Orochi no Oni.
The Mahou of the Oni
For aeons, the Oni of Jigoku have practiced the arts of Mahou, refining their knowledge of the Names of the material world to an art form. Over the centuries, six circles of Mahou arose: Sukai, the magic of the wind; Kasai, the magic of the flames; Enkai, the magic of the seas; Tsuchi, the magic of the soil; Munashii, the magic of the Void; and Ketsueki, the forbidden magic of Blood.
Sukai- With the Mahou of Sukai, a Majo can create blades of air, lift enemies into the skies, and control the weather around him, destroying foes with bolts of lightning.
Kasai- Using Kasai, a Majo can create flames from nothing, or expand existing flames to epic proportions. With the power of this Mahou, the Oni can create explosions in the midst of enemy lines, fling bolts of fire, and sheath himself in protective flames.
Enkai- A Majo with knowledge of Enkai can force the spirits of the waters to do his bidding. Rain will fall from a clear sky, floods will sweep away his opponents, and the ground will soften, ensnaring enemies in an endless bog.
Tsuchi- Using the Mahou of the Soil, a Tsuchi Majo knows the Names of spirits of the earth, and can command them to cause the ground to quake, to cause the local flora to grow to tremendous sizes and hostility, and for the rocks themselves to aid him against his foes.
Ketsueki- The forbidden Mahou, Ketsueki is the knowledge of spirits of the Blood and the Names of Men and Beasts. With this knowledge, the Majo can assume a portion of his foes power, gaining in strength while his opponent falters. A Majo can drain the spirits from his foes as they lay dying, gaining the power to assume their visage, and adding the unfortunate's strength to his own. The Ketsueki Majo can also cause blood to boil, and the flesh of his victims to pull itself to pieces as the blood within attempts to escape. This Mahou is known only to a select few, Orochi no Oni and his favoured disciples. The surname of no Oni is given to these Majo, and they are given great respect within Jigoku.
Capitol: Jigoku
Leader: Orochi no Oni
Population: ~4000
Religion: Corrupted Shinto/Japanese Buddhism
The Oni
The Oni are monstrous giants, twenty feet tall with horridly distorted features. Most have gaping maws and giant fangs, but deviations are common, some possessing extra limbs, or six fingers, or multiple mouths. Others are far from human, bestial creatures walking on four limbs. More powerful Oni can trick creatures into giving up their true names, stealing their power in the process. Orochi no Oni is a prime example of this, having stolen the name of a monstrous dragon as it lay dying. Orochi no Oni's various lieutenants have also stolen the names of various monsters, and are terrible foes on the battlefield.
Jigoku
The city of Jigoku is hidden away, buried beneath a great mountain. The mountain is riddled with caves, a labyrinth of stone walls with the city of Jigoku at the center. The city itself is a riot of flame and smoke, the screams of the poor souls captured by the Oni in their raids echoing through the massive cavern. The Oni themselves live in great edifices of stone, carved from the floor and walls of the cavern itself, while their captives are stored in pens dug out of the cave floor.
Orochi no Oni
The leader of the Oni, Orochi no Oni is the master of Jigoku. In ages past, he stole the name of Orochi, a great dragon with eight heads and eight tails. Orochi no Oni, using the power of this name, manifests himself as either a giant with eight dragon-like heads on long serpentine necks and eight arms, each clutching a different weapon; or a great wyrm with eight heads and eight tails, dripping corruption from his many maws and spreading fire from his many tails.
In addition to the raw power gained from the name of such a monster, Orochi no Oni wields the sword Kusanagi, stolen from the Kami. The sword possesses power over the wind, and Orochi no Oni uses this to deadly effect. Occasionally, the great demon will grant this weapon to one of his chosen Bushi, in order to spread havoc in Orochi no Oni's stead.
The Oni at War
Roughly 5% of the Oni make up the Bushi caste, who act as bodyguards to their Daimyos and Shogun, as well as conducting raids upon the human populations around Jigoku. These giant warriors are often garbed in elaborate armor and tiger skins, emphasizing their demonic nature. Their great iron clubs and swords can sweep aside smaller opponents, and their skill at the arts of war makes them a match for warriors of equal stature.
Economy
The Oni economy is quite complex, utilizing both coinage and a barter system, with the various artisans of the Oni producing weaponry and other crafts, partially with the aid of slaves, who are captured by the Bushi and sold or traded amongnst the rest of the population, for uses ranging from recreation, to helpers for the artisans, to farmers, to food. Oni coins are large, about six inches in diameter, and are generally composed of gold, silver, and brass, and are stamped with the symbol of an eight-headed dragon, the sigil of Orochi no Oni.
The Mahou of the Oni
For aeons, the Oni of Jigoku have practiced the arts of Mahou, refining their knowledge of the Names of the material world to an art form. Over the centuries, six circles of Mahou arose: Sukai, the magic of the wind; Kasai, the magic of the flames; Enkai, the magic of the seas; Tsuchi, the magic of the soil; Munashii, the magic of the Void; and Ketsueki, the forbidden magic of Blood.
Sukai- With the Mahou of Sukai, a Majo can create blades of air, lift enemies into the skies, and control the weather around him, destroying foes with bolts of lightning.
Kasai- Using Kasai, a Majo can create flames from nothing, or expand existing flames to epic proportions. With the power of this Mahou, the Oni can create explosions in the midst of enemy lines, fling bolts of fire, and sheath himself in protective flames.
Enkai- A Majo with knowledge of Enkai can force the spirits of the waters to do his bidding. Rain will fall from a clear sky, floods will sweep away his opponents, and the ground will soften, ensnaring enemies in an endless bog.
Tsuchi- Using the Mahou of the Soil, a Tsuchi Majo knows the Names of spirits of the earth, and can command them to cause the ground to quake, to cause the local flora to grow to tremendous sizes and hostility, and for the rocks themselves to aid him against his foes.
Ketsueki- The forbidden Mahou, Ketsueki is the knowledge of spirits of the Blood and the Names of Men and Beasts. With this knowledge, the Majo can assume a portion of his foes power, gaining in strength while his opponent falters. A Majo can drain the spirits from his foes as they lay dying, gaining the power to assume their visage, and adding the unfortunate's strength to his own. The Ketsueki Majo can also cause blood to boil, and the flesh of his victims to pull itself to pieces as the blood within attempts to escape. This Mahou is known only to a select few, Orochi no Oni and his favoured disciples. The surname of no Oni is given to these Majo, and they are given great respect within Jigoku.