Species & Beings
A Note from the Scribe
Taxonomy is a desperate attempt to categorize the infinite madness of creation. We try to draw lines—Human, Spirit, Demon—but the blood often blurs them. Herein lies the catalogue of beings that stalk the night. Know the difference between a hungry ghost and a high-born vampire, for that knowledge is often the only shield you will have. We are all monsters in someone's story; these are just the ones with the teeth to prove it. — Haku'jin, Chronicler of the West
The Returned & Their Kin
This category includes the core supernatural protagonists of the setting, the Kikon-jin, and those directly related to their unique existence.
Kikon-jin
Kikon-jin ("Returned Soul People") are unique, corporeal undead reanimated by the forceful reunification of their sundered souls. They inhabit their original bodies, sustained by Chi, and are locked in an eternal internal struggle between their human essence (the Tamashī) and a parasitic demonic entity forged in Jigoku (the Akuryo).
Hantsuki
Hantsuki are exceedingly rare, living hybrid beings born from the union of a Kikon-jin and a human. They possess a singular, mortal soul that is intertwined with an Akuryo Echo—a diluted spiritual imprint of their parent's Hell-tainted essence.
Daraku-jin
The Daraku-jin are Kikon-jin who have committed the ultimate heresy: they have willingly sworn a pact with a Goku-Tei from Jigoku. Through this pact, their human soul (Tamashī) is imprisoned and their demonic half (Akuryo) is elevated, becoming their sole consciousness.
Core Spiritual Concepts
These are not species in themselves, but the fundamental spiritual components that define the Kikon-jin.
Akuryo
The Akuryo is a malevolent, semi-sentient spiritual entity that serves as the corrupting engine of a Kikon-jin. Born when a human's lower soul is tormented and twisted by the essence of a specific Hell, it forcibly reunites with its higher counterpart to reanimate a corpse.
Tamashī
The Tamashī is the preserved higher soul fragment of a Kikon-jin, the vessel of their human memories, moral essence, and capacity for compassion. It serves as the crucial counterbalance to the corrupting influence of the Akuryo.
Mortals & Their Defenders
Humanity is not merely a passive observer in the supernatural world.
Human
Humans are the mortal inhabitants of the world, possessing a complete, unified soul and a finite lifespan. They are the source of sustenance for many supernatural beings and the stakes in the secret war that rages in the shadows.
Oni-gari
Oni-gari are rare and highly disciplined mortals who have undergone rigorous training to awaken their latent spiritual energy (Chi) and combat supernatural threats. They are humanity's unacknowledged guardians.
Otherworldly Beings
These entities operate by different rules, often tied to places, pacts, or foreign traditions.
Draconian Gentry
The Draconian Gentry are a species of corporeal, immortal undead from the West, created through a flawed ritual that stole power from primordial earth-beings. Their existence is sustained by consuming mortal blood and their power is tied to the lands they rule.
Nushi
A Nushi is a powerful, ancient spirit whose existence is intrinsically bound to a specific, significant location, acting as its master, guardian, and living consciousness (genius loci).
Kizuna-gami
A Kizuna-gami is a minor spirit that has entered into a formal pact with a Kikon-jin Nakama (peer group), acting as the living, supernatural anchor for the group's bond and providing spiritual stability.
Certified by Haku’jin (Alex White)
Last Vault Modification: 2026-03-13 21:57