Tomodachi to Tekitachi
The Legend
Once, a long time ago, when the human race was young and
the animals already old, gods and demons roamed the surface of the ground.
The Ningenjin lived peacefully with them, offering sacrifices and various
other offerings to appease both sides. If an Animal Lord, also known as
the Animal gods, resided in an area, then that animal was forbidden game.
It was during these times, that elves, dragons, and other mystical creatrues
not of this world resided in the Ningenkai. The Ningenjin feared these
creatures for their powers. The Humitdan (ancient spritian for 'Chanters')
were the first to be driven back into their own world. The dragons were
the last, and many gods involved themselves in those hunts, as they were
just as greatly feared by some of the lesser gods as the humans.
It was said that some of the elemental gods took on human
form and mated with a human. Some of the children borne of these couplings
could wield the elements of their god parents. These special children were
always watched over by the Ningenkai's Guardian god Kaosu, and a few of
them became Guardians.
As the centuries passed, the lines of the children of
the gods became diluted by normal human blood and so those who could wield
the elements became fewer and far between. As the humans became less independent
of the gods, they became less fearful of the Animal Lords. The elemental
gods, disgusted by the way the humans treated the earth vanished, leaving
the Animal Lords, and Kaosu to protect the Ningenkai.
During this time, two of the Animal Lords, the tiger gods,
also vanished. It was around this time that Kaosu gained a mononoke companion.
No one, not even the other Lords, know what happened to Gin and Gypsy,
and the mononoke is not speaking of his origins.
When Arago invaded, the Animal Lords fought and suffered
heavy losses. They pulled back deeper into their homes and allowed Kaosu
to deal with it. The territory gods were unable to do anything to stop
Arago as well and died with their homes.
The second time Arago attacked and was sent back more
Animal Lords vanished. Also, some of the elemental gods returned, mainly
the four basic elements, Tsuchi, Mizu, Kaze, and Hi, but they vanished
into their elements without saying much.
Kaosu knew that Arago was likely to return, so he sought
out a family from each of the elemental gods offspring and offered them
the yoroi created out of the demon's armor. They were used in petty human
battles, much to the Animal Lord's, territorial gods and Kaosu's distress.
The territorial gods did not like to see so many of their family destroyed,
and the Animal Lords were infuriated at their subjects death. They pressured
Kaosu to remove the yoroi until they were needed, and so he did. They vanished
from the knowledge of men, except the oldest texts. The Animal Lords began
killing anyone who saw them, and the territorial gods rarely showed themselves,
until they too faded into legend. Kaosu faded along with them, as well
as his companion.
At this time, the Phoenix, god of Air, second only to
Kaze, appeared. She spoke of a time when man was ignorant of Them, and
of Evil. She told of the battle of the yoroi, and their power awakening
the stronger, immortal powers within their wearers, and those they take.
"Fire scorches Earth, and heals it. Air surrounds Fire, feeding
it. Water joins Water, drinking of it. Earth loves Air, supporting it.
Light becomes Dark, never-ending.' Then the gods will again take their
place, and hold fear over man. But too, shall demons run free, and the
Guardians once again called, with new armor made of love, instead of hate."
It is said her words were written down, but none have
ever found the ancient writings.
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Author's note: Okay, okay, I know that's soooooooo uninteresting, but
I promise it gets better. BTW a mononoke is a beast spirit. I got this
idea from Mononoke Hime (known here as Princess Mononoke), cause it's just
tooo cool.
