Dragons, Ryuujin & Other Mystical Creatures

[KaeCozy]

About Dragons & Seasonal Dragons

[floatright][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53131820134_d4471d713b_n.jpg[/img][/floatright]

Dragons are fantastical beings that live in, but also transcend the world, and indeed are deeply connected with the inner workings of all of life. Thought to be both the progenitors and guardians of all things, the world itself ebbs and flows with their heartbeats, and as dragons grow, the world grows with them, becoming brighter and more vibrant with each passing moment.

Among the multitudes of dragonkind, the Seasonal Dragons have a particularly special place, being connected with magic, memories, and great stories of growth, mystery, danger, and hope. They begin their lives as mystical eggs in the care of Ryuujin, and feed off of the travel tales of the world's inhabitants. These stories shape the Seasonal Dragon, and as a result, also help to shape the world itself.

Even now, the Seasonal Dragon that watches over you patiently waits within its egg, yearning for your stories to help bring it to life.

[KaeCozy]

About Ryuujin

[floatright][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53131000717_94e0676fde_o.png[/img][/floatright]

A divine emissary who can take many forms, such as plants, animals, or even people, they are typically depicted as beautiful humans with draconic features, namely dragon wings, horns, tails, or similar features.

A ryuujin's lot in life is to care for and steward the eggs of Seasonal Dragons, collecting the stories of Travelers just like you and, when the need calls, nudging these stories along with a bit of help (or hinderance) in order to make them more fascinating and intriguing, eventually recording these trials and travails in Travelogues that they feed their charges.

🌸 Midori-Ryuu: "Green" Ryuujin are those who value journeys and tales of great significance to the individual, or those that grant new experiences. They are attracted to tales of adventure and exploration, pilgrimages of faith, and deeds fueled by hope, freedom, and balance.

🌸 Ao-Ryuu: "Blue" Ryuujin are those who are most deeply connected to the heart, and value tales of emotion. They are attracted to adventures that deal with youth, love, and heartwarming feelings, as well as understanding between people, their bonds and the intricacies of the human heart.

🌸 Kurenai-Ryuu: "Red" Ryuujin are those that are connected to the lessons behind challenges, conflict, and tribulations. Their preferred stories are those of heroic struggles, the rigors of war, and grand competition, and they deeply value feelings of rivalry, fortune, and growth.

🌸 Kuro-Ryuu: "Black" Ryuujin are those whose interests are deeply methodical, veering into the realms of intrigue and secrecy. They are attracted to tales lost in the shadows, such as spell-binding mysteries, the reality of life, death, and decay, and the dark properties of fear and madness.

[KaeCozy]

About Henge

[floatright][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53140314444_0e37fa333a_w.jpg[/img][/floatright]

Henge (also called Inanaka, which means 'those who have a curious center') are animals with latent magical powers that, through unknown cause, have the ability to turn into humanoid forms and can understand, as well as speak, the languages of people.

Though at their cores they are animals, they are capable of might complex thought and reasoning beyond their bestial kin, albeit some concepts of living as a human are vague and difficult for them to understand. They live as animals, get their food like animals do, and like any other animal, have no concept of money, houses, or transportation beyond what is natural to them, though when appearing as a humanoid form, they usually mimic the appearance of those they have seen, which usually includes clothing. Henge almost always appear as children or teenagers, even if they are much older by human standards, which is quite common.

Henge are rare creatures that are often drawn to people, usually those living in small settlements that live more in harmony with the natural world, and often possess diverse personalities. To the henge themselves, the ability to take on human form and other strange powers are something that just happens. Maybe all animals can change and have strange powers, and those that occasionally decide to use them to appear human are called henge. Whatever the reason, henge don’t trouble themselves over it. They are the mystery, and they never give any thought to why they can change.

Some of the more common kinds of henge include foxes (sometimes known as kitsune), raccoon-dogs (also known as tanuki), felines, canines, birds and rabbits.

[KaeCozy]

About Elementals

[floatright][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53140404549_efc2807e34_n.jpg[/img] [center][size=2]A pair of elemental motes.[size][/center][/floatright]

A pair of elemental motes.

Creatures, or perhaps spirits, that embody the elements of nature, an elemental is a fragment of something that is not quite creature, but also not quite object. Imbued with depthless energy attuned to their type, they quite common, but tend to avoid the world of people, though how they act towards people varies from elemental to elemental. When roused to act, they can even combine together, fusing into larger, more fearsome versions of themselves, only to break apart again later.

Elementals are usually left alone lest they become antagonistic, though in this modern age, people have learned to harness elementals and their power, creating a tenuous, but often symbiotic relationship. In particular, the people of the country of Mordun have harnessed the power of fire elementals to power their steam engines, while lightning elementals zip through power lines.

Elementals come in many shapes and sizes, from formless, shifting matter with only vague shapes like Slimes, while others even look like humans or other races, such as Sylphs. Others, like the Djinn take on the form of animals or anthropomorphic creatures.