The Races

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The Races
of Suiko City

A city equal to that of Tokyo, Suiko contains a variety of humans from all walks of life and backgrounds, naturally drawn by the mystical force that stems from the mysterious Three Pillars. Although this makes for an interesting array of people, it's own little melting pot, Suiko has a lot more than humans traversing it's streets...

Known as Kami, spirits of the otherworlds, they are drawn to the power of the Three Pillars as heavily as the humans themselves. They patrol the streets, all for their own purposes, feeding from the Three Pillars powers and leading lives in the shadows of humans. Aware of by few, unknown by many, the Kami masquerade as human residents of Suiko, their magical heritage their own secret.

Of course, there are always mysteries lurking in the background as well, to human and Kami alike...

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Humans
~~~

The most common race of Suiko City, humans first arrived in the area long ago, when the village was first established by the Twelve Warriors. Adaptable, resourceful, and intelligent, humans are at the top of food chain, and their sheer numbers make Suiko no exception. Now, in this day and age, nearly 12,500,000 people populate the streets of Suiko, a far cry from the original twelve, all with their own unique stories and ways of life.

Suiko-no: Also known as "Natives", Suiko-no, literally translated as "Of Suiko", are residents of Suiko who were born upon Suiko soil. They exhibit strong powers, especially if their mother remained in Suiko during time of the pregnancy, and have a high spiritual connection the deities themselves. In order to be named as a Suiko-no, you must have been born on Suiko soil, otherwise you are Kaigai-no. Because of the mixed races that populate Suiko, the Suiko-no are known for having a variety of facial features, and are not easily identifiable from the Kaigai-no themselves. Still, as with any nation or city, it is considered more honorable to be a native rather than a foreigner.

Kaigai-no: Also known as "Foreigners", Kaigai-no is a general term used for beings who were born off of Suiko soil, whether they be Japanese or no. Suiko City attracts a large variety of people, making Kaigai-no not entirely recognizable from the Suiko; however, if one is recognized, being Kaigai-no is generally frowned upon. Although not having been born in Suiko, it only takes a short time for a Kaigai-no to pick up powers from the Three Pillars; even so, a Kaigai-no's powers can rarely match a true Suiko-no.

Clansmen: A selective, royalty-esque chain of families, descendant from the original Twelve Warriors themselves. The Clansmen are twelve top houses, each select to the warrior they descend from, all with their own unique and selective traits and lifestyles. Clansmen are capable of heightened powers, magical sensitivity, and are privy to an assortment of behind the scenes information. To be a Clansmen is to be, all in all, an heir to Suiko itself. More information on the clans can be found in the Library.

Although the Kami may retain their powers, no matter where they choose to settle, a Human can only retain his or her powers if they remain so close to the Three Pillars. As such, many Suiko-no choose to never emigrate from Suiko, while many Kaigai-no choose to never return to their original homes.

Whether it be Suiko-no or Kaigai-no, human beings populate the majority of Suiko. They all can lead similar or different lives, from as hum drum as business men and school girls, to Kami hunting detectives or ringmasters of their own circus. Some are only vaguely aware of the magical force that surrounds Suiko, while others are complete experts on the matter. Some choose to embrace the power of the Deities, while others choose to take advantage. Whatever the case, humans are as vast and different as they are alike.

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Kami
~~~

A mysterious set of creatures, all borne of and attracted to the mystical force that surrounds the Three Pillars, Kami are spirits of nature who are capable of their own set of powers, as well as the ability to change their shape and form. They have been instinctively drawn to Suiko, and within the last thousand years, their originally small population has grown to an enormous size; still, the Kami numbers are small compared to the invasive humans.

Although the existance of Kami is highly debated in society outside of Suiko, they are very real and prominent factor within the city lines. Pulled in by the force that emanates from the Three Pillars, many Kami have taken to life in Suiko, drawing power from the pillars to fuel their life force, as well as finding the safest place for their existence in an ever changing world.

In reality, it is considered a cardinal sin for a Kami to reveal it's true form to mortal eyes, and to do such is said to lead to an eternity in the pits of hell. Because of this, Kami all possess the power of "henge", or "shapeshifting", allowing them all to take on their own human forms, personalities, and lives. Under their new human identities, it is common for most Kami to keep their true race a secret, so as to avoid provocation into revealing their true forms.

However, there are more reasons to hide than the impending threat of all time suffering; humans themselves. Kami are valued and hunted, for a variety of purposes. Some are killed for their mystic body parts and magical qualities, while others are captured and sold to offshore countries for research. At other times, certain parties of humans hold a racism for Kami, and they are simply killed for hatred.

As protection, Kami hide their true selves from all but their closest of companions, and generally choose to lead mostly human lives. No matter the type of Kami, most charade as humans.

Kappa: A shy, yet mischievous form of Kami, often related to the elements of water and wind. The Kappa are quiet hoarders who prefer to keep themselves out of the attention of others, although they are not unknown to playing tricks or finding enjoyment at others' expense. Kappa often require the presence of water in their lives to remain healthy, and as such remain near bodies of water. Despite popular belief, Kappa, in their true forms, are generally humanoid, and appear quite beautiful, aside from their dark, wet hair, blue colored skin and webbed toes and feet.

Kitsune: The most popular, yet a very elusive form of Kami, often related to the elements of water and wind. The Kitsune are playful, seductive tricksters, who have been famed throughout all of Japan for their antics. Kitsune are generally women, and have little care for the worries of life, occupying themselves with sex and gambling. In their true forms, the Kitsune are small, generally lightly colored foxes with slanted, joyful eyes.

Kirin: A mythological, incredibly rare form of Kami, often related to the elements of fire and wind. The Kirin is the most rare of the Kami, said to only be born once every hundred years, should a true leader be born. As to be expected, most Kirin have found their ways into Suiko. Kirin are secretive, elusive, and are said to bring great fortune to those around them. In their true forms, Kirin are long, dragon like creatures, with lion's heads, long hooved legs, antlers upon their heads, and beautiful flaming bodies. Kirin cannot breed with humans.

Okami: A powerful form of Kami, often related to the elements of fire and wind. The Okami are popular, pack type Kami, who often form groups amongst themselves due to such a nature. They are powerful, and are a type of Kami that do not prefer to rely on tricks; however, they do adhere to the shapeshifting rules. In their true forms, Okami are large, shaggy furred wolves, who at times adorn themselves in flames to exert their power.

Oni: A demonic form of Kami, often related to the elements of fire and earth. The Oni are often considered to be malevolent, war loving spirits, and generally hold foul temperaments, poor self control, and a love for violence; however, there are known to be more peaceful, joy loving Oni, especially more so in recent times. In their true forms, Oni are said to be red or green skinned, with a variety of different features, such as thick horns or dark eyes.

Shishi: A dignified form of Kami that embodies law and justice, often related to the elements of earth and wind. The Shishi are lion type protectors of law and order, and are said to have strict, no nonsense type personalities. They are also fiercely loyal to their families, and the original Japanese code of tradition. Many Shishi are attracted to those who have power, thus the influx of Shishi in Suiko. In their true forms, Shishi are said to be golden or red colored Lions, with long flowing manes and multicolored eyes.

Tanuki: A common form of Kami that is known for having nature loving tendencies, often related to the elements of water and earth. The Tanuki are as common as the raccoons they resemble, being homemaking types. Tanuki migrated to Suiko as development began to occur around Japan, seeing as Tanuki are protectors of the forests. In their true forms, Tanuki are small, raccoon dog creatures, often featured with offbeat colorations.

Tengu: A pure form of Kami that resemble the western ideal of Angels, often related to the elements of earth and wind. The Tengu are protectors of peace and innocence, as well as the innate virtue that generally surrounds children, causing them to be drawn to areas where child care is apparent. They are benevolent in nature, and often oppose the Oni. In their true forms, Tengu are said to be pure, beautiful humanoids, with large, feathery wings and sharp, birdlike eyes.

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Seppan
~~~

A more and more popular race of being, the Seppan have recently been springing up all over the city of Suiko. Born from Kami and Human unities, the Seppan, literally translated to "Halves", are a new breed of being, prevalent in only Suiko society. Blood and magic both courses through their veins, and they are slowly becoming the revolutionary breed.

However, this calls into question; are the Seppan on equal footing with the humans? Some believe they are greater, capable of overcoming humans, while others see them as inferior, foul blooded beings, no better than common dogs on the street. Because of this, the social standing of the Seppan are in great turmoil, with both sides of the debate heavy.

To be noted, Seppan require the mystical power of the Three Pillars to simply live, and a separation from Suiko for an extended period of time will lead to a weakened state, until death ensues. For this reason, Seppan are often powerful and healthy near the center of the city, and become frailer as one reaches the city's outer limits. Current research is being held by the Republic of Suiko in order to improve Seppan health, although, similar to cancer, the study is slow and costly.

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