Children Of Jintei

[Major]

Chikyū no Okosama (Children of Earth)

Organization Head: There is not an official head or leader, as the religion is largely practiced as an individual. The closest thing would be a group of five people at the central shrine in Metropolis of the Earth Country, called the Masutazu. They are known to be the oldest living people practitioners.

Organization Base: While there is no official 'base' and there are shrines throughout the continent as well as a few in the wildernesses, the central shrine in Iwagakure could be considered as the base. While in some areas it is looked down upon for shinobi to take part in this religion, in most areas it is allowed, for the reason that those who practice it do it alone. Once anointed with the mark of Jintei after being accepted into the Chikyū no Okosama, a person practices it alone. There are no congregations at the shrines and temples; in fact, they were built only so that those who were curious about what was happening in them could see. The religion does not and will never actively recruit anyone; they only pass on the 'power' to those who come to accept it of their own will.

They are built with no doors, anyone and everyone can enter to see anything at any time. Even the ritual of receiving the mark of Jintei is able to be viewed by outsiders. Obviously the mark is now given as a tattoo instead of from a brand in fire, but it is still placed on the base of the neck.

Organization Goals: The goals of the Chikyū no Okosama are to pass on the wisdom and strength of their God. It is said that the more that it is passed on, the weaker the strength gets, so members are trained to be strict with the regiment of honing their body and mind. They often spend hours daily in meditation, and time spent otherwise is usually spent in vigorous training of the body.

Excerpts from the Book of Jintei; Chapter attributed to the Masuta Ojiro

...

IV.

Many years before the creation of mankind, those that are now referred to as Gods roamed the Earth. Many of those Gods went without purpose or direction for those many ages before man. While most quarreled amongst themselves, a single one of them was said to have spent a considerable amount of time in solitude, either creating monstrous beasts to do battle with or spending time instead honing his mind in meditation. Often times his destructive bouts with those legendary creatures would leave the surrounding landscape in somewhat of a ruin. What used to be scenery full of smaller flora and fauna was turned into somewhat of a rocky wasteland in the long years he spent there, and it is said that this earned him the nickname of the God of Earth. The name he gave himself was Jintei. ...

...

XII.

As time passed, the Gods began to create humanity in their image, using them as tools to suit their needs as well as for their adoration. Most Gods demanded their creations worship them, and humanity quickly began to spread throughout the world. They formed their own societies that also quickly intermingled. Although he was fatigued from his intense self-training, Jintei followed suit and created humans in the barren wasteland that he presided over.

These humans were known to be stronger than average, having to adapt quickly to the harsh and unforgiving environment they were born into. They managed to survive just as well as the other groups, but for the most part they stayed to themselves.

Overcome with fatigue from the combination of using his powers to create humans with his likeness as well as his constant drive to improve his own powers, Jintei went into a slumber, leaving his 'people' with two simple commands: Become stronger, and make the land more habitable. While Jintei may have not been the most benevolent God, his people still followed his example of strength and obeyed his commands without question. ...

...

XVI.

Jintei's slumber lasted for hundreds of years, and his people prospered a lot more than he, or they, expected. They managed to cultivate a bit of the land, even after the eons of torture that Jintei had put the land through. Eventually the people expanded out of the borders of the land, starting to intermingle with other groups of people, other societies. Societies that knew about the civilization living in the barren wasteland gave them the nickname "Chikyū no Okosama", because they managed to live in the most rugged natural environments without injury or death. ...

Excerpts from the Book of Jintei; Chapter attributed to the Masuta Naota

...

II.

When Jintei awoke from his slumber, he was surprised to find that his people had changed his land greatly and were now incredible in number. He grew to think that he had lost control of his people, while they had stayed true to the simple commands that they had been given by him. Without warning, Jintei began killing his creations, using his incredible strength to literally fling them from the face of the world.

Distraught with anger and confusion, his people began to beg for an explanation as well as for him to stop with his slaughter. After a few years of his culling, the remaining people went up in arms in retaliation, deciding that their God had gone mad. Thus began the great war against Jintei, who although was immensely mighty, has created these people in his image and were also mighty in their numbers. As time passed many people died, but they also managed to increase their numbers just as the always had. Jintei could not keep up with the vast area that they had expanded into, and eventually found himself losing the battle against his creations. Again, he became weary. ...

...

IV.

Tired of simply defending themselves, the Chikyū no Okosama planned an assault on their God. It would be the final battle, at least it was assumed so. Word of the assault reached Jintei's ears, and before the clash could happen he came before the vast army with a claim of peace. For the first time since before his slumber, he spoke with his creations. Wary, his people reluctantly agreed to listen. He finally explained himself, actually humbled by the strength and resilience of his creations. In a rare act of humility from those that were called 'Gods', Jintei offered to make a deal with the people he created. Explaining his worry that they no longer lived under his commands, he offered them part of his powers. Both his godly strength and wisdom would be given to them as long as they swore an oath to go back to devoting their lives to him and his commands. While a large part of them were fearful of a trick from their 'God', a good number of them accepted the deal in hopes of their land returning to the peaceful way it was before. Jintei went into a slumber again after giving up half of his power as a god. He kept immortality back from the humans, though, as he and the other Gods did not like the idea of sharing their full gifts with their creations.

The mark of Jintei was branded immediately onto those who accepted his powers. It was always visible, proudly displayed by those who accepted it; a black scar on their chest just below their neck. ...

...

IX.

And so, the name 'Chikyū no Okosama' was passed on to only those who chose to take the deal from Jintei, as well as their descendants. Those who did not lived among them, and there was a growing and glaring enmity between the two groups. From the view of those who gained part of their God's power, those that did not accept them were cowards, people not worthy to live among the new 'Children'. They were also seen as traitors to the true civilization that had been formed. Although their God had betrayed them, they had shown Him their strength and earned His respect as His creations. From the view of those who declined Jintei's power, those who had accepted it were seen as stupid, traitors to their own brethren to a God that should have been abandoned and destroyed. They had proven they as a group could defeat him, and yet those who accepted the powers of a God went back to bending to His whim. The civilization teetered on the brink of a civil war for many years, held back only by the wisest of both sides. ...

Excerpts from the Book of Jintei; Chapter attributed to the Masuta Yumiko

The Great Cataclysm

I.

In a time of extreme uneasiness between brethren, sometimes sadly the best catalyst is a horrific event that affects the differing sides. The Chikyū no Okosama survived such an event, even while their God slept.

The first of the Masutazu rose from the masses in the barrens as a leader, respected by both sides for his incredible wisdom. The Masuta Higashi was known to be the first who stepped forward to accept Jintei's offer, and surprisingly had been the one in charge of the planned assault on the God. It shocked most of the group to see him take the offer so quickly; it is said that if he had not stepped forward that no one else would have accepted. Instead he led the forgiveness of the people for their God, and so it is also said that he received the most of Jintei's wisdom when it was given. He was still considered the leader of the people afterwards, but was forced to appoint a council of elders, selecting equal amounts of those who had accepted Jintei's powers and those who hadn't. The council often bickered when it came to the courses of action the civilization was to take, but they all bowed in respect when the Masuta Higashi spoke. ...

...

IV.

Soon after it seemed the separation of the ideals of the people was the least of their worries. Beasts of monstrous proportions were appearing throughout the land, attacking villages and destroying entire colonies of the Chikyū no Okosama. They were said to be the descendants of the beasts that Jinrei himself summoned to fight in his efforts to strengthen his Godly powers by those who still remained true to him. No one argued about the origins of the creatures, they simply lived in fear of them and began to turn into a nomadic civilization. They lived constantly on the move, trying to avoid the legendary monsters that their God had somehow left.

The Masuto Higashi spent much time in meditation on the issue, his council leaving him alone at his wish. A full year was spent in meditation, and miraculously the central village of the Chikyū no Okosama had been largely untouched by the legendary creatures. It seemed that The Masuta Higashi was meant to contemplate everything he did, perhaps a gift from his dreaming Father, Jintei.

It is said that when The Masuta Higashi emerged from his private chamber, he glowed with an unearthly energy that seemed to shine and penetrate through those who saw him. His council was said to have felt an invigoration from him that inspired a courage previously unknown to any of the Chikyū no Okosama. The Masuta Higashi then laid out his plans to his council: They were going to use the powers that their God gave them to destroy these monsters. ...

...

VI.

It was not long before the Children realized that they were outmatched by the legendary monsters, but The Masuta Higashi's wisdom extended beyond convention. He was the first to realize that the gift from Jintei was able to be passed on to those who would accept it, as long as it is freely given. From his original council of ten, only four remained alive, the rest killed in attacks on the creatures as well as attacks received. All four were also men and women that accepted Jinrei's powers initially.

It was under that group of five that the survivors of the creatures banded together, and it was that group of five that began offering the strength and wisdom that was imparted unto them by Jintei to those who had not accepted it yet. It is said that The Masuta Higashi himself gave most of his power away during that time, and yet was still stronger and wiser than any of his companions. During that time, no one refused the offer, knowing full well that it was their only chance to survive as a people. Jintei was nowhere in sight; it was up to them to use his strength and wisdom to defeat the creatures he had left behind. ...

...

IX.

After many years of furious and bloody battles, the remaining survivors of the Chikyū no Okosama emerged victorious. The destruction of the final creature was marked with a long death rattle, which was often mimicked in the years after. Celebrations amongst the scattered remnants of the Chikyū no Okosama erupted, and it wasn't long that they all came together again underneath the banner of The Masuta Higashi and his council of four. While their numbers were a fraction of a fraction of what they were in their previous glory, they used their incredible strength and wisdom to survive as a people. ...

[Major]

Organization Skills:

Devout Follower

Organization:

Chikyū no Okosama

Description:

In a show of gratitude to the God Jintei for him allowing his children the use of his power and wisdom, those who follow him quickly took it upon themselves to give part of their earnings to Jintei himself. It is written that originally the money was used in the repairing of their civilization after the Great Cataclysm, and nowadays it is used to build new shrines and temples and to pay for the cost of living for those who take it upon themselves to keep those shrines and temples. It is also written that The first Masuta, Higashi, issued it as a command that must be obeyed by all those who accept Jintei's 'power'.

Effect:

20% of Ryo earned on missions are immediately 'set aside' to be eventually given to the nearest temple or shrine of Jintei; this set aside Ryo may not be spent in any circumstance. Character must roleplay the visit and giving of their Ryo with at least 500 words per visit. If Ryo set aside has not been 'given' in a visiting quest, the character may not train to gain experience. Mandatory upon entering Chikyū no Okosama.

Cost:

+1

Organization Jutsu:

Organization EQ:

Jintei's Mark

Type:

Tattoo

Slots:

0

Description:

The mark of the God Jintei, taken by those who accept his power and wisdom. It used to be branded on those who accepted it, in modern times it is customary to receive it as a tattoo. It's placed at the base of the front of the neck, where it is likely to be visible to anyone. Those who accept it are proud to display it, and it is rarely covered up. Is mandatory for anyone who practices the religion.

Cost:

5 Ryo

Edited August 20, 2010 by Major

[Major]

I suppose this is ready for you all to tear it apart, but I enjoyed the hell out of writing it. I'll work on skills and etc. later, for now I guess I'd rather get the history approved. Questions, comments, concerns, feel free to go at it. >.>

[Azure]

Approved.

[Cellar Door]

Approved.