Ikaiguchi is covered in dense, lush, green forests, with trees taller than any man-made structure and leafy canopies that leave the forest floor in eternal night. As soon as a traveler sets foot within the boundaries of the wildwoods, they enter Yasei territory.
Treetop settlements, some as wide as any township, are nestled among the upper canopy over vast tracts of wildwood. The Yasei build and maintain long stone roads throughout their territories, firstly to keep the careless away from the flora and fauna that call the wildwoods their homes, and secondly, to allow the Yasei to keep a close eye on those who travel through their protectorates.
Philosophy and Hierarchy
For many of The Yasei, a nomadic life is all they have ever known. Their ancestors eschewed the largest settlements, and now live preserved in bark, and that same life calls to their descendants. For these people, nature’s bounty is all they need, embracing their place in the complex ecosystem and moving by year, by season, or whenever the elements dictate.
Others of the Yasei find themselves called to a particular tree, grove, or city. There they will stay until their death, devoted to its growth, and its protection. Where a nomadic Usokeibi — a Bullfinch Warden — might wander the roads across an entire forest, protecting its creatures and communicating through birdsong, the others would serve as a watcher for one place, normally in service of a larger settlement or at the edges of the forest.
Always isolated are the hermetic Reinousha, known as The Listeners. This cult within the Yasei have dedicated themselves to the old ways and listen to the old gods and ancient spirits for guidance. Though some see their whole forest as sacred, others dwell in service of a particular god or spirit, who they believe can be found near their hermitage.
The most sacred of groves need protection. This is the role of the Kanshu, ever ready to defend the forest from invaders and those who would do the trees harm. Each of these fearsome warriors rejects the metal weapons used elsewhere in Ikaiguchi, instead only arming themselves with the materials the woodland offers them.
The Mori no Sōryo are woodland priests, protectors of the land’s wisdom. These are amongst the most learned and wise of all the priests of Ikaiguchi. They commune with nature and are more at home walking the wilderness trails than they ever are in the company of men.
History & Background
The Yasei Clan claims its origins are in the First Age. They say that the Shin’rei fought in the forests with monsters, and everywhere that blood was split, the animals and plants died. Thus, some who lived in nature gathered to try to preserve nature around these blighted battlegrounds.
The remnants of abandoned Yasei settlements are gone in the blink of an eye, with nature reclaiming them as her own. For that reason, there are few Yasei ruins predating the Third Age, though there are some Tōtemutsurī that are considered sacred to the clan. These ancient trees are amongst the oldest across the land, and young Yasei are brought to them, receiving their blessing to grow into adulthood.
Over the ages, the Yasei have settled every wildwood and deep forest, making their homes in the most inhospitable of regions, whilst building a network of stone roads that makes travel across Ikaiguchi possible today.
They are skilled with natural crafts and handiwork, especially in the creation of carvings of wood and bone, many of which honor the Shin’rei Shizen, the horned dweller of the trees.
Fire is the natural enemy of the Yasei.
Locations
Morinokokoro – Built from the wildwood itself, Morinokokoro is a testament to the ingenuity of mankind. Carved into and from the towering ancient trees of the Endoressuddo, this Emperor City is unlike any other, with its places and imperial chambers high above ground in the leafy bowers of the canopy. It is an ever-evolving place, with new structures being woven into the canopy every year as new branches become strong enough to support the structure.
Jikan no Gensen – a wellspring in the heart of the oldest forest, it is said that to bathe in it is to bathe within the stream of time itself and be granted images of past lives lived and lost.
Kodai no Mori – The Forest of the Ancients is a sacred grove within the heart of the primeval wildwood whose trees are so old they are encased in moss and lichen, and bow to deformities, their trunks unable to support them.
Komorebi – named for the light that filters through the trees, this sacred glade is where the Mori no Sōryo gather for their Hōtei, a clan moot where all matters pertaining to the wellbeing of the Yasei are debated.
Shinrinyoku – deep within the wildwoods lies the sacred pools of Shinrinyoku, where the Yasei bathe. This collection of shallow lakes and natural steam pools are said to be rejuvenating and capable of healing even the worst of wounds.
Yabuna – lost within the claustrophobic depths of a vast forest lies the ruins of Yabuna-shi, the City of Broken Roots, or as some have come to call it, the Undercity.