Welcome, Traveler
You stand at the threshold of the Sundered Isles of Yamato, a world remade by catastrophe, a breathtaking landscape scarred by a cosmic wound. Here, reality itself behaves like troubled water – fluid, unpredictable, and dangerously deep. The very boundaries that once separated the mortal world from the realms of spirit and dream have frayed and merged, creating a reality where memory shapes mountains, emotions command storms, and the past bleeds ceaselessly into the present.
The Three Realms
Utsushiyo
The Seen World of mortals, governed by familiar cycles of time and physical law.
Kakuriyo
The Spirit World, inhabited by countless Kami, mischievous yōkai, and lingering echoes of ancestors.
Yume-no-Kuni
The Dreaming Realm, a fluid landscape where myths were born and the collective psyche ebbed and flowed.
The Sundering
Before the catastrophe, Yamato existed as three distinct, yet interconnected realms. Then came the Sundering.
The Veil tore violently, replaced by the Scar of Sundering—a wound in reality bleeding into all three realms. The three worlds crashed together, fundamentally rewriting the laws of existence.
- Time lost its reliable flow, becoming fluid and subjective
- Remembered places achieved heightened reality, forgotten ones faded away
- Intent became absolute in Kakuriyo, directly shaping outcomes
- Dreams manifest physically, forgotten myths coalesce into realities
The Spiritual Economy
In this altered world, the fundamental currency is not gold or rice, but essence itself. Existence operates on a complex "spiritual economy" driven by four intangible forces.
Kō (Memory)
The anchor for physical reality and sustenance for spirits. A village collectively remembering its founding hero might find his spirit protecting them, while a forgotten shrine physically crumbles into dust.
Nen (Intent)
The driving force behind actions, so powerful that focused intent can deflect curses or compel spirits, while malicious intent can poison the land itself.
Shin (Belief)
The current empowering deities; Kami thrive on reverence, and even Forgotten Gods can regain influence if belief is invested in them.
Kan (Emotion)
The raw psychic energy generated by living beings; intense joy might cause ephemeral spirit-lights to appear, while profound grief could cause phantom storms to rage for generations.
Memory, Life & Death
The spiritual economy has tangible mechanics shaping life and death:
- Memory Tithes: Powerful spirits demand specific memories for passage or knowledge
- Life & Death: Those remembered remain anchored in Utsushiyo or Kakuriyo, while the forgotten fade into Yomi-no-Kuni
- Echoes: Collective memory or emotion can coalesce into Echoes – tangible, warped constructs resembling the deceased
Inhabitants of the Isles
Humans
The most numerous inhabitants, exhibiting remarkable adaptability alongside deep-seated fear. They cling to the structures of their Imperium while relying on community memory and Onmyōji to maintain stability.
Oni
Powerful, horned inhabitants of the Shattered Peaks who embody raw forces of mountain, magma, and storm. Their tribal culture revolves around strength, grief, and honor.
Kitsune
Mystical fox spirits who thrive in the unstable emotional landscape. Masters of shapeshifting and illusion, they operate from hidden courts, weaving intricate webs of intrigue.
Tengu
Bird-like ascetics and warriors residing in secluded mountain monasteries, dedicating themselves to preserving ancient truths and perfecting demanding martial disciplines.
Ryōzu, The Ember Sage
Beyond these races stands the enigmatic dragon-headed sage with an ember heart, a living link to pre-Sundering order. He wanders the Isles, subtly guiding fate through cryptic advice and Reality Sutras—perhaps one of the ancient Shikan world-shapers themselves.
