The World of Kamigawa

On the plane of Kamigawa, the people exist in a balance with their gods, the spiritual kami. The land itself shows a sign of balance as the sources of land with mana are balanced and organized. The people themselves are strong believers in a sense of honor, a code of conduct which they ascribe themselves to. Some ascribe to the code of bushido, others to a sense of freedom, and others to high high standings of behavior. Honor is the most sacredly held rule, even if not everyone has the same interpretations of it when they conduct themselves. Honor drives many people and many often come to blows over it, all under the watchful gaze of the kami who guide and protect the people.

Rebuilding

Even after the Kami War ended, the land of Kamigawa is not peaceful. Ogres continue to worship their oni patrons and sacrifice people to them. Nezumi and ronin continue to raid and swarm in the Takenuma. Bandits and Akki cause chaos in the Sokenzan Mountains. The Soratami plot and watch imperiously from their cloud city of Otawara over Kamitaki Falls. Even the Orochi slither through the Jukai forests, hunting any and all within. Humans struggle to survive and rebuild in Towabara with the aid of the Kitsune. All the while, many rogue kami would still seek to punish mortals for their hubris and disrespect even with the Sisters restoring balance.

It is a world rife with adventure and glory waiting to be found for those brave enough to journey through it.

Dangerous Pranks

When someone in Kamigawa references the idea of "humor like an akki," it often means someone whose sense of humor is mean-spirited, aggressive, or outright dangerous. Akki consider themselves to have an excellent sense of humor, measuring the quality of their jokes by the number of injures that it causes.

An akki goblin seems to take the most joy in life from pranks, usually played on other akki, but sometimes on humans, moonfolk, or even the occasional ogre. The only creatures akki never dare to risk pranking are the kitsune and the kami- the kami for obvious reasons, and the Kitsune because if the joke doesn't kill a Kitsune, the fox-folk is sure to come back and play a practical joke on the Akki in turn, and any joke played by a kitsune is usually more terrifying than anything an akki could come up with.

Over hundreds of generations, akki pranks combined with natural evolution has caused the shells that grow on the back of the akki goblins to steadily become harder, tougher, and more resistant to damage. Without these shells, the akki tendency to play pranks involving fire and explosions, their second and third-favorite things in the world, would have led to them blasting themselves into oblivion. The downside to this evolutionary tactic is that akki have never learned any reason to be careful, and their pranks over the centuries have only been limited by the resources they can get their hands on.

Water Cousins

Long ago, the akki were not the only race of goblins to walk the earth beneath Kamigawa's skies. The kappa, a race of waterborne goblins, also called Kamigawa home. Like the akki, they had a devilish appearance and turle-like shells on their back, though the myths claim they had a deep bluegreen skin, quite unlike the fiery red of the akki.

Little is known about what happened to the kappa, and how they eventually became extinct, but many assume they eventually killed themselves off through the same sorts of pranks the akki like to pull. Other say the kappa were pushed to extinction by the humans when they arrived on Kamigawa, hunted for the magical properties of their shells, and tricked into going to their deaths to satisfy human greed. The only evidence of such a story is the Shell of the Last Kappa, an ancient relic kept in a temple near Minamo Academy, whose magical properties attest to the at least some sliver of truth in the myth.

Akki Names

All akki names consist of a single word, repeated twice, with no differentiation given for gender. Each akki is given their name on birth, and carry it with them their whole lives. Some akki, upon accomplishing a great deed, are given the honor of an altered name, in which one letter in the second-half of their previous name is changed.

Akki Names: Ai-Ai, Gura-Gura, Hop-Hop, Ishi-Ishi, Itsu-Itsu, Jin-Jin, Ju-Ju, Kikki-Kikki, Lim-Lim, Rin-Rin, Tok-Tok, UppoUppo, Zo-Zo

Akki Traits

Every member of the akki race holds the following traits in common.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 4, and your Intelligence and Wisdom scores each decrease by 1.

Age. Like many goblins, akki mature quickly, reaching adulthood in 5 years. Most akki live short lives due to the nature of their pranks, but the oldest akki are known to live up to 90 years.

Alignment. Most akki are neutral, while a few tend towards evil, and the rare akki might be of good alignment. Almost every akki is chaotic, and no one has ever heard of a lawful akki.

Size. Akki are small and light, usually between three and four feet high, and weighing around 150 pounds with their shell. Your size is Small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages. You know Common and Goblin.

Akki Prank Training. You've spent your whole life learning the masterful art of pulling akki pranks, and the skills needed to pull off the best ones, through an extensive process of trial and error. You are proficient with Alchemist's Tools, and can use your Constitution modifier in place of other ability scores when asked to make an ability check involving them.

Natural Armor. Finding armor sized for you is almost impossible as an akki. However, your tough skin and hard shell provide adequate protection. While unarmored, you have a base AC of 15 + your Dexterity modifier, as well as resistance to fire damage. You can wield a shield and still gain this benefit.

Quick Reflexes. You are used to dodging out of the way of explosions and fireballs. You take half as much damage on a failed Dexterity saving throw, and no damage on a successful one.

Spiritual Growth

While kitsune do innately seek out entertainment, this stems from the strength of their minds, rather than a strength of desire. Kitsune are highly intelligent creatures, capable of seeing patterns and wisdom hidden from members of other races. As they grow older, many kitsune turn more and more towards inward contemplation as a reflection of outward contemplation, growing in power as they do.

Each time a kitsune approaches and overcomes a powerful emotional, mental, or spiritual obstacle, their long, elegant tail splits and grows, leaving them with one more than they had previously. While a good indicator of age, the number of tails a kitsune sports is not directly related to how old they are, and even the youngest of kitsune are shown great respect by those with fewer tails. The number of tails a kitsune has is always a good sign of how powerful and wise it is.

Kitsune Names

When a kitsune is first born, it often spends the first few days in contemplation of itself, and the next few in contemplation of how it interacts with the world. After about a week of life, a kitsune chooses a name for itself, based on a criteria only it fully understands.

These names are always hyphenated, and often fixate on some physical quality. As a kitsune grows spiritually, gaining more tails, it may often choose to change it's name to reflect it's new understanding of the world and itself.

Kitsune Names: Calm-Voice, Charm-Speaker, Forest-Walker, Golden-Tail, Half-Moon, Long-Tail, Pearl-Ear, Red-Fur, Sharp-Ear, Silk-Eyes, Silver-Foot, White-Eyes

Kitsune Traits

All kitsune, regardless of their subrace, share the following traits.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. All kitsune, regardless if they are spirit or material kitsune, are full-grown from the moment of their birth. A kitsune's lifespan seems connected to its tail-growth, as kitsune seem capable of living for up to two hundred years per tail they have.

Alignment. Though most would expect the kitsune to fall on the chaotic side of things, this is only because of their need for stimulation. Kitsune themselves are very dedicated to lawfully serving the kami, making them tend towards neutral. Most kitsune are good, but some that serve evil kami eventually turn towards evil themselves.

Size. Kitsune are the same size as humans, though slightly thinner and lighter. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Kitsune have eyes like a fox, with an astounding sense of vision that lets them see easily in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Shapechanger. All kitsune have the ability to change forms at will between their true selves and the guise of a mundane fox. You can use an action on your turn to transform into a fox and back again. When you do, your stats are replaced with those of a cat, except that you retain your hit points, alignment, and mental ability scores. Any equipment you are carrying or wearing melds into your new form. If you are killed or knocked unconscious while in the shape of a fox, you immediately revert to your normal form.

Worldly Awareness. The mind of a kitsune is uniquely adapted to studying the world around them. You are proficient in the Insight skill.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial. Each kitsune quickly learns the language the kami use among themselves.

Subrace. The kitsune race is split into two, perfectly balanced hlaves: the material kitsune and the spiritual kitsune. Choose one of these subraces.

Master Carpenters

After the Kami War ended, when the nezumi began to spread from Takenuma, they also brought with them a surprising affinity for carpentry and architecture. With the help of the nezumi, several historically important buildings lost in the Kami War were rebuilt, with added structural support in the case of future disasters. Nezumi building techniques, once used to quickly erect flexible, light-weight huts in the Takenuma swamps, were applied to helping build shelters for those left homeless after the Kami War. Now the nezumi serve as some of Kamigaw'as finest craftsmen, hired by up-and-coming nobles to design intricate and beautiful places and manor homes.

Nezumi Names

Nezumi each have names in their own language, given at birth and known only to them and their loved ones. The names which nezumi use for public association are fluid, changing over time and from group-to-group, and the most well-known or celebrated nezumi might hold dozens of names over a lifetime. These common names are based on physical traits of the nezumi in question, or in rare cases are derived from their personalities, and are almost always hyphenated.

Nezumi Names: Beam-Carver, Bone-Cruncher, Fear-Claw, Grace-Hopper, Herb-Fingers, Lash-Tail, Loose-Coins, RockSkipper, Sharp-Fang, Shine-Eyes, Stub-Nose

Nezumi Traits

Nezumi share a few common traits amongst themselves, regardless of where or who they grow up with.

Ability Score Increase. Nezumi are light and nimble, but also hardy and resistant to danger, though physically they are not very intimidating. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 2. Your Strength score decreases by 1.

Age. Nezumi reach adulthood at roughly 13 years old, but also have shorter lives, generally living to be about 65 years of age.

Alignment. Most of the perception of all nezumi as petty criminals comes from being forced into crime to support themselves. In truth, nezumi do perfectly well in lawful societies, though their shorter lifespans do tend to lead them to seek out new experiences and adventures, making them slightly more chaotic.

Size. Nezumi are much lighter and skinnier than the average human, standing between 4 and 5 feet on average, and weighing only a little over 100 lbs. Your size is Medium. Speed. Nezumi are slightly more fleet of foot than most races, making your speed 35 feet.

Craftsman's Paws. Nearly every nezumi is trained at an early age in the craft of their parents or clan. You have proficiency in one set of artisan's tools of your choice.

Darkvision. Nezumi are well-adapted to the dark environment of their homelands, the Takenuma Swamp, letting them see as easily in darkness as out of it. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Slight in Shadow. Nezumi are naturally adept at hiding themselves from sight when needed, especially in the dark. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill, and advantage on all Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in dim light or darkness.

Swampborn. Your body's immune system is primed to fight off any natural infection it encounters, as well as unnatural sources. You are immune to disease, and have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to avoid being poisoned.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Nezumi. At your DM's discretion, you may also know the Thieves' Cant language.

Three Tribes as One

The orochi people are actually made up of three separate tribes, each of which plays an important role in the orochi lifestyle. From the Kashi Tribe comes the warriors of the orochi people, trained in close-combat and martial defense. The rangers, lookouts, and scouts of the Orochi are born from the Matsu Tribe. And finally, the Sakura Tribe is the source of the orochi shamans, the spiritual leaders of their people and the ones that communicate with the kami of the Jukai Forest.

Without the organization of the three tribes to guide them, the orochi people and their way of life would be lost.

Kashi Tribe

The orochi of the Kashi Tribe all grow to be staunch defenders of their people, alert for threats both from within the Jukai Forest and without. These orochi stand taller than others, particularly large against members of the Sakura Tribe, and also tend to be thicker and heavier, with naturally developed physical strength. Their heads seem more similar in shape to that of a viper, broad and with eyes set slightly off center, affording them a higher range of vision. Not every member of the Kashi Tribe learns to wield blades in all four of their hands, but those that do can be devastating in battle, looking like beautiful and deadly whirlwinds.

Matsu Tribe

If the Kashi Tribe are the soldiers of the orochi, the Matsu Tribe are the scouts, and the first line of defense against any threat from outside of the Jukai Forest. Rarely seen in the interior lands of the orochi, Mastu Tribe households life furthest to the egdes of the Orochi homeland, where they can more easily watch for threats. Compared to the Kashi and Sakura Tribes, the orochi of the Matsu Tribe are much thinner, and more flexible, with faces like that of a python, and tongues that are long compared even to other orochi.

Sakura Tribe

While the Matsu Tribe is tasked with watching for threats from the rest of Kamigawa, the Sakura Tribe is responsible for watching the Jukai Forest itself. In its branches and brush live thousands of different kami, each with their own goals and desires, and the Saskura Tribe must communicate with them to work out systems that allow the orochi to leave in peace with the rest of the forest. While the Sakura Tribe orochi receive little combat training, they are instead taught as shamans, religious leaders and eventually elders who provide advice to the other orochi.

The Sakura Tribe is smaller in stature than the other two, with some members several feet shorter than warriors of the Kashi Tribe, and their bodies often grow hunched with age, making the difference even more remarkable. Sakura Tribe arms are thin, more suited to quickly forming complicated hand signs, which they do with all four arms, and their bodies grow hunched with age. Their heads are usually flatter and wider than other orochi, like that of a cobra, and some Sakura Tribe even have hoods, though displaying these freely is often considered rude.

Orochi Names

Each orochi is given a name upon birth, just like a human, though some choose to change their names when they reach a certain age. Almost all orochi, except those raised away from the Jukai Forest or those deliberately braking from tradition, have names that begin with a hard 's' sound, and often contain more than one in the rest of the name. Unlike humans and many other races, the orochi do not have last names, instead using their clan as a designating title among themselves.

Male Names: Sadao, Satoshi, Senichi, Seshiro, Sitsusuro, Shizuko, Shoichi, Sosuke

Female Names: Sachiko, Sakiko, Sasaya, Sayuri, Setsuko, Shidako, Shisato, Shinose

Orochi Traits

Your orochi character, no matter their Tribe, has a few qualities which they share with all other orochi.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age. Orochi mature more quickly than humans, considered fully-grown at about 10 years, but live for much longer at an average of 175 years.

Alignment. Because of their respect for nature and the kami, most would expect the orochi to be of lawful alignment. However, the orochi themselves know that nature adheres to no laws but its own, and can change in an instant. Because of this, orochi tends towards any alignment that contains some aspect of neutrality in it, such as Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, or even Chaotic Neutral and, in rare cases, Neutral Evil.

Size. Most orochi are the same size as Humans, standing at roughly the same height and weighing only slightly more. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. In the Jukai Forest, the overhanging trees can sometimes make even midday look like the dark of night, and the orochi have adapted to this fact. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

One with Nature. Many orochi spend their whole lives in the Jukai Forest, never leaving it, and are trained almost from birth to see its hidden signs. Your are proficient in the Nature skill.

Serpentine Brethren. As many would predict, your people are naturally adept at dealing with snakes, and can even communicate with them directly. You can talk to snakes and similar animals as if under the effects of the speak with animals spell.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Orochi. In settings other than Kamigawa with a larger number of races, you might instead speak Common and Draconic.

Subrace. The orochi race is split into three tribes: the Kashi, the Matsu, and the Sakura, all of which are different enough from each other to be considered its own subrace. Choose one of these subraces.

Soratami Names

While the moonfolk strictly differentiate their names by gender, it is not a soratami's gender that determines their name, but rather the other way around. A member of the Moonfolk with a name that ends in -"yo" is considered female, while those with names ending in "-ku" are seen as male, no matter the physical traits of the soratami in question.

In this way each soratami is free to determine their identity on their own terms, changing their name when they reach adulthood to fit who they are. Some soratami even vary their names between social groups and situations, taking on a different identity with each one.

Soratami do not use familial names, instead relying on mononyms, and differentiating those with similar names through their actions and deeds. In rare cases a soratami might hold a title that is recognized among their people, and used to differentiate them from others with the same name.

Male Names: Eitoku, Genku, Hiroku, Isaroku, Kiku, Meloku, Saku, Toku, Yasashiku

Female Names: Akiyo, Chiyo, Fumiyo, Hoshiyo, Rumiyo, Shizuyo, Tamiyo, Uyo

Soratami Traits

All soratami are similar in not only physical, but some mental qualities as well, and your character shares these with them.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence scores increases by 2 , and either your Wisdom or your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. While the soratami mature at the same rate as Humans, reaching adulthood in their late teens, they live slightly longer on average, to about 110 years, though soratami that use magic to live longer than this aren't uncommon.

Alignment. Just like Humans, the soratami as a whole do not tend towards any one alignment.

Size. Soratami are the same size and shape as Humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your speed is 30 feet.

Eidetic Memory. Your memory is so sharp that you can automatically store and recall up to 5 pages of writing or 5 minutes of speech and music. Information memorized in this way remains perfect in your memory for up to a week, after which you do not lose the stored information, but it becomes as fallible as other memories.

Keen Intellect. The soratami love to study and learn, but each has a specialized area they focus on. Choose one skill from the following list: Animal Handling, History, Medicine, Nature, or Religion. You become proficient in the chosen skill, and have advantage on all ability checks made using the chosen skill.

Spellcasting. All soratami are trained in some basic forms of magic when they are young, and though not all of them grow to be spellcasters, it is something they never forget. At 1st level, you know one cantrip of your choice from the Wizard spell list. At 3rd level, you can select one additional cantrip. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Trained Researcher. Not every soratami grows up to spend their time in a classroom or library, but every soratami spends their childhood learning their way around one. You have advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks made to find specific information in places such as libraries, records, or other places where information is stored and catalogued.

Classes in Kamigawa

The classes in Kamigawa are similar, but also different in other ways. The culture of Kamigawa emphasizes some classes or subclasses while others are rarer or not seen at all. Consult with the DM over details from some classes.

Druids

Druids are not clerics who take magic from the kami for their arts. Instead, they draw magic from the land itself to keep harmony as well as purify it of negative elements such as corruption, demons, and bloodshed.

All the Druid Circles can exist in Kamigawa. In particular, druids of the Circle of Dreams would focus more on the Kakuriyo, or spirit world, rather than the Feywild.

Fighters

Many people take on the roles of fighters and serve local militias or greater lords. The most common Martial Archetype to follow is the Samurai. Fighters who reach that level are expected to learn many skills, so other Fighters would be considered a samurai even if they are Battle Masters, Arcane Archers, or other archetypes. They are all considered samurai and are expected to act as such.

Monks

Monks are a well-respected and well-known path people can take in Kamigawa. The largest and most well-known are the budoka and kannushi monks who dwell deep in the Jukai. Other monks are the Yamabushi in the Sanzoken Mountains, who fight kami with their skills.

Any Monastic Order can apply to Kamigawa as different sects and monestaries can be found in any region depending on their focus and particular beliefs.

Paladins

Paladins in the classical sense are not seen in Kamigawa. However, there is an equivalent. Samurai who rise above the rank and file will be empowered by their patron kami after swearing oaths and proving their own skills worthy of carrying such an oath.

Which oath is taken can depend on which kami the elite samurai pays homage to or which region they come from, as they grew up and likely trained to follow those tenants unless they traveled elsewhere.

Rangers

Rangers in Kamigawa follow the same function as rangers in any plane do: they brave the wilderness and become the guardians of civilizations in the wild frontiers.

The listed Ranger Archetypes in the Player's Handbook and Xanathar's Guide to Everything can be used. Horizon Walkers would focus primarily on the Kakuriyo than any other planes. Monster Hunters and Gloom Stalkers would focus on hunting the dangerous creatures and kami in Kamigawa on behalf of their people.

Rogues

Rogues are mostly the dishonorable, criminal elements who have discarded any code of honor or conduct in order to enrich themselves. Some others play a different, more honorable roles despite the implications of the word 'rogue'.

Thief, Assassin, Mastermind, and perhaps Arcane Tricksters are inherently criminal and would be considered quite dishonorable. If the characters play with the honor rules, it can hinder them outside Takenuma or Sokenzan. More honorable rogues would be Swashbucklers, Inquisitive, and Scout.

Sorcerer

Sorcerers would be natural in a world so steeped in magic such as Kamigawa. Most, if not all, would inevitably become students of Minamo Academy, but others could exist, honing their craft through discipline and/or self-study and experimentation.

Sorcerous Origins all exist in Kamigawa, although perhaps not as they would in the Forgotten Realms. Draconic Bloodline sorcerers would more likely be descendants from priests or heroic individuals who were favored by the Ryuu. Wild magic may be descended from survivors of the Kami War where the barrier between the Kakuriyo and Utsushiyo was so thin.

The Divine Soul, Shadow Soul, and Storm Sorcery origins would possibly come from the Myojin of Cleansing Fire, Night's Reach, and Seeing Winds respectively.

Warlock

With the kami coming into contact with people so readily and repeatedly, the formation of contracts between supernatural entities is a given. Some do it for power, others for reputation, or for more personal reasons.

Archfey patrons can be translated as kami related to nature such as Myojin of Life's Web, Jugan, the Rising Star, or other powerful kami of nature.

Celestial patrons would be kami of light such as Myojin of Cleansing Fire, or Yosei, the Morning Star.

Fiend patrons would be the oni the ogres revere in the Sokenzan or wander in Takenuma. Named oni include Kagemoro, First to Suffer, Kuro, Pitlord, or Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked.

Great Old One patrons would be kami of the unknown, such as Towazu, the Unspeakable, a kami of mysteries and knowledge best left unknown.

Hexblade patrons would be weapons related to obscure kami or perhaps even weapon-based kami themselves like Kataki, War's Wage.

Undying Patrons in Kamigawa are typically kami of death or rather undeath such as Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker or Horobi, Death's Wail.

Wizard

Wizards are almost exclusively found at Minamo Academy where they learn the craft of magic, usually joining specific classrooms where they learn a specific school. After graduation, they go and join courts, temples, the military, or stay as scholars to apply the skills they learned.

The wizards of Kamigawa can use any Arcane Tradition listed in the Player's Handbook. Necromancy may be seen as a taboo school of magic, but it does have applications which are necessary in some regions.

Towabara

The Towabara plains are the center of Kamigawa with rich fields which expand for miles. Many simple farming villages dot the landscape. Roads are easily found, traveling from place to place and markers worshiping kami of roads and travel line certain stretches to offer safe travel. Several temples are situated among the fields to offer travelers and people on the road a safe place to rest for the night.

Towabara was the worst affected by the Kami War, the government and standing army being nearly wiped out by the numerous battles and then by the final assault by O-Kagachi. Many settlements were likewise destroyed by assaults by the kami, leaving refugees to seek safety. With the assault by O-Kagachi destroying the last fortress to the humans, it left the survivors to scatter and try to rebuild all over again.

Watchtowers would remain at the edges, watching for incursion of ronin from the Sokenzan Mountains or undesirables from the Takenuma swamps or the other regions of Kamigawa.

The entire Towabara region is protected by the Ryuu, or Divine Dragon, Yosei, the Morning Star. The dragon's focus was centered on Eiganjo Castle, where the people of Towabara were centered but even that was not enough to save them from O-Kagachi.

Honden of Cleansing Fire

This is the shrine dedicated to the Myojin of Cleansing Fire, built to honor the kami which embodies all of the plains, law, honor, and purifying magic of Kamigawa. It is located in a sacred site facing where the sun rises over Kamigawa. The shrine was established as the great shrine of Towabara before the Kami War. However, it was all but abandoned when the Kami War began as kami who watched over the temple and aspects of the Myojin of Cleansing Fire began attacking their own worshipers for the crimes of Konda. People still braved it, leaving prayers and small offerings, hoping to learn why their spirits turned against them even as Konda ordered the Honden abandoned and barred from the people.

After the Kami War. As word of the end of the Kami War spreads, people will wish to return to worshiping the Myojin of Cleansing Fire. Feeling safe in their pilgrimages, people will resume tending to the Myojin's temple. it will be a slow process as people try to trust the kami again.

Future Kamigawa. As the people regain their trust in the kami, they will restore the Honden of Cleansing Fire. As the years pass, it may turn into a fully dedicated temple with dedicated priests. Inversely, it may become the rallying point of the warlord of Towabara if Kamigawa descends into warring states.

Lake Kamitaki

To the north of Towabara is Lake Kamitaki, home to the Minamo Academy and the Kamitaki Falls, the largest falls in Kamigawa. Here is the intellectual and magical center for Kamigawa. The Yumegawa River, the longest river in Kamigawa, drains into the Kamitaki Falls, emptying into the ocean where a mysterious shrine waits.

Lake Kamitaki was perhaps the place damaged almost as badly as Towabara, only in a much shorter amount of time. An ogre mage rampaged through the academy with bands of oni and enslaved yamabushi.

The Soratami who resided above were just as mauled, crippling their people and leaving them without their patron kami.

Lake Kamitaki was the second region to rally their Ryuu, Keiga, the Tidal Star. However, Keiga didn't even get a chance to fight enemy kami as she was defeated by the All-Consuming Oni of Chaos. With the destruction, Kamigawa was robbed of it's source of arcane knowledge and sage wisdom.

Honden of Seeing Winds

This is a shrine which is set inside one of the floating islands which rises above Lake Kamitaki and around Minamo Academy. It is dedicated to the Myojin of Seeing Winds, the patron kami to islands, the water, intelligence, deception, and cunning. Unlike other hondens or shrines, the academy already closed the honden and the soratami did not dare approach, knowing the onset of the Kami War and how the Myojin would lash out at the initial crime of Konda. The Honden fell into disrepair as it became partially flooded by the water pillars of Lake Kamitaki. Still, the Myojin's power is strong even if its shrine is not maintained.

After the Kami War. The shrine can be restored as the students and teachers of Minamo Academy slowly try to restore their once glorious institution. The people will especially wish to see it restored after they find themselves lost with the Soratami abandoning them and many in Kamigawa seeing them as traitors for being so close with the moonfolk.

Future Kamigawa. The Myojin of Seeing Winds may become more prominent as the faculty and students seek out its wisdom first to help them through their dark times, and then to thrive in the years that pass. This dependence may turn Minamo into a fusion of school and temple, incorporating the Honden into part of the school.

Mikokoro

In the midst of the sea even further north of Lake Kamitaki is an island apparently made of crystal. There is what students of Minamo Academy called Center of the Sea, Eye of the World, and the Shrine of Enlightenment. Little is known about this beautiful island, only that by going there, travelers can find healing and the answers to all of their questions there. If anyone had gone there since the Kami War began, they likely perished in Hidetsugu's assault on Minamo Academy.

After the Kami War. It is likely Mikokoro will remain untouched for many years as the academy tries to rebuild. Only scraps of information on the island shrine would remain and no one who has been there likely survived. As the faculty tries to recover their lost wisdom, Mikokoro would remain untouched for some time to come.

Future Kamigawa. As Kamigawa rebuilds and expands after the Kami War, Mikokoro would eventually return to the minds of the people. With the incomplete knowledge, myths and legends about it may spring up. In more dire times, such as a warring state, many factions may believe a power to unite the factions may be found there and set out to claim it first from the kami which presides over the temple there.

Takenuma

To the west of Towabara lies the thick and festering bamboo bogs of Takenuma. It is a place where the Nezumi thrived and criminals hide themselves from the samurai who hunt them for their dishonor. It exists in perpetual gloom and even darkness in the deepest parts as wandering oni block the sun with their corruption and cults of dark wizards and ogre shamans draw power from them.

Takenuma used to be a more civilized place. It had proper villages, it had culture, it had a measure of prosperity with the herbs and plants it exported along with the bamboo which literally grew all over as a building material. It was still a swamp, but it was a place where Kamigawa's prosperity could be felt.

The Kami War changed that. As the kami attacked, the samurai rose to defend it. However, the kami of the swamp were horrifying, rotting, and diseased creatures which spread their toxins and pain. Legions fell, creating cursed battlefields. The water turned fetid and the air stank of stagnation. The oni were soon lured to the sites, spreading their darkness as their ogre worshipers followed them.

The samurai saw they were losing and Takeshi Konda ordered them to withdraw, abandoning Takenuma to the merciless kami. The people struggled to survive, turning to dark magic or criminal work. Yakuza rose up, creating an organized and even thriving criminal underworld as Konda only obsessed over his prize and proving himself superior to the kami. Takenuma was left to its own devices and somehow, it manages to keep surviving despite how it should have rotted away ages ago. Part of that reason may be its guardian kami, Kokusho, the Evening Star.

Honden of Night's Reach

On a small island in the Takenuma is the only spot any of the criminals and mercenaries really take care to be respectful about. A small shrine depicting the Myojin of Night's Reach, barely a building in itself thanks to limited dry land to build on.

When the kami began to attack, the Myojin of Night's Reach was no exception. However, hers were token assaults to keep O-Kagachi's gaze off of her. The Myojin had discovered the greater multiverse and proceeded to explore.

She eventually turned her attention back to Kamigawa, claiming Toshiro Umezawa as one of her followers, and one who would change the course of the Kami War.

After the Kami War. The Honden of Night's Reach will be seen to once again. With the actions of Toshi becoming more well-known, the worship of the Myojin can grow to greater heights, as it was one of her followers who was the key to ending the Kami War once and for all.

Future Kamigawa. With this prominent role in the Kami War, the Myojin of Night's Reach will enjoy some prominence for some time. Near the modern era, worship drops as Nicol Bolas, the dragon planeswalker, searched Kamigawa for the one who sent Toshiro to Dominaria, resulting in Tetsuo Umezawa and Bolas' first death. The people turn on the Myojin thanks to Bolas' manipulations, making worship drop sharply.

Sokenzan Mountains

To the south of Eiganjo lies the Sokenzan Mountains, the true wild frontier for Kamigawa. The red, snow capped mountains hold the greatest natural dangers of Kamigawa. It is also home to some of the hardiest folk in Kamigawa.

The Sokenzan Mountains has always been a point of conflict compared to the rest of Kamigawa. Konda's armies have been combating against the forces of Godo's bandits and ronin samurai that have numerous bases and positions in the mountains. Littered in the squabbles are the annoying Akki who like to throw rocks or fireballs at the battles just to make the noises and lights more interesting.

Sokenzan is a constant state of wars as Konda tried to subdue Godo and the ronin, so the Kami War didn't really change things. It only gave them a new opponent to fight. Ogre mages were already worshiping oni, so fighting spirits were never anything new for the ronin or the yamabushi. Any battle that might get out of hand can be rerouted to keep Sokenzan from suffering too much by Ryusei, the Falling Star.

Godo's Hall

This structure is a hall built with fieldstone and mountain rock in a crude imitation of a small manor. It is the base of Godo, the sanzoku bandit lord. Godo fancies himself a damiyo and as he united the sanzoku bandit gangs and forged his territory, he may be truthful in terms of ability.

This fortress is hidden inside a valley, obscured by the mountains and the path hidden from those who would pursue the leader. Godo holds court in this building and rallies his men to his campaign to expand his holdings into the rest of Kamigawa.

Despite it being a bandit base, Godo has thought ahead to ensure that he can supply his armies, using the towns who look to him for protection and what farming land he holds to keep supplied. Anything else he raids from his enemies or unclaimed territory.

After of the Kami War. Although Godo rallied an effective defense against both the kami and Konda's samurai, he was decimated after one event. He used an engraved tile which contained the Yuki-Onna to drive away the samurai. Once the samurai were gone though, the Yuki-Onna turned on him and killed just as many of his own forces. Godo himself managed to survive, but his own forces were reduced to a fraction of what they were, forcing him to take time to rebuild.

Future Kamigawa. Godo will take time to rebuild and will be quick to take advantage of the destruction of Konda's regime to try and establish his own. If he can collect his forces, he may be the one to force Kamigawa into a warring states period.

Honden of Infinite Rage

This shrine is dedicated to the Myojin of Infinite Rage, patron spirit of the mountains, war, passion, and battle among other aspects. It is a blood red metal shrine made in the image of the Myojin. Set on the flattened top of a small mountain, it has a massive stairway leading to it, forcing those seeking the Myojin's aid to push themselves through their passions and will.

Although the Myojin of Infinite Rage gladly lashed out at O-Kagachi's commands, it also gave aid to its followers who properly honored it. War and battle are parts of the Myojin's domain and it reveled in it as both sides in the Kami War clashed endlessly.

Only the most devoted, such as Godo and some of the Myojin's priests could enter the Honden without any kind of punishment. Anyone else was attacked or slain simply for the passion of it.

After the Kami War. With the end of the Kami War, the reach of the Myojin of Infinite Rage's also wanes. It may reflect in the Honden as less people desperately seek it. As with many kami though, this Myojin has its own plans. It may try to stoke the embers of resentment and battle to keep conflict with other kami going and continuing to feed it more power. The Honden is the ideal focal point for this plot.

Future Kamigawa. The Honden of Infinite Rage is still a sacred place for the Sokenzan Mountains. Many bandits, ronin, and even Akki will go there for war wisdom and other needs. While the Myojin will still seek furious battle where it can.

Jukai Forest

To the east of Towabara lies the thick and largely unknown forest called Jukai. Here is perhaps the most abundant beauty in Kamigawa, but also home to some of the most ancient powers.

The Jukai is most well-known for the order of budoka monks who meditate and learn from the ways of nature, seeking harmony and enlightenment. Living deep in the western heart of the forest are the Orochi, the enigmatic and tribal snake folk. The fringes of the west are the Kitsune, the staunch allies of humans for all of their mischief.

Jukai Forest is likely one of the most mysterious locations in Kamigawa. Much of the forest is unexplored in the eastern portions. Any excursions into exploring have failed and when the Kami War began, such projects were abandoned, leaving much of the forest to remain a mystery.

The forest is also an important location because it is where the Kami War officially ended. Michiko and Kyodai ascended there as the Sisters of Flesh and Spirit, slaying O-Kagachi and taking his place. It is also where the Mad Damiyo Takeshi Konda met his own punishment. Obsessively chasing O-Kagachi, determined to take back what he felt was his by right, he was met with the angry Kyodai. The Spirit Sister, manifested from That Which Was Taken, petrified Konda and shattered his form, leaving him aware through every piece as they were scattered in punishment.

The forest is protected by Jugan, the Rising Star. This divine Ryuu was roused early in the war. Although defeated, he passed his power onto the monks to help them defend their home from the numerous kumo and other insect kami.

Sugi Hayashi

This village is one of the typical villages built by the Kitsune near the edges of the Jukai. This one in particular serves as an important location because it is the home of two of the heroes of the Kami War. The first is Lady Pearl-Ear, a female Kitsune who served as a teacher and friend to Michiko Konda, the princess who would become one of the Sisters of Flesh and Spirit. The other is Sharp-Ear, Pearl-Ear's brother who helped crush an akki assault on his village and a protector of Michiko before her ascension.

Sugi Hayashi has the usual skills and trades for the kitsune and who can aid their human comrades. One of the noted skills of the village are their samurai and rangers who guard their borders. The other is the mystic arts of their leaders.

Pearl-Ear and Sharp-Ear were some of the few witnesses to the ascension of the Sisters. They witnessed O-Kagachi's defeat as well as the final punishment for Konda's crime.

After the Kami War. Pearl-Ear and Sharp-Ear would return to their home to spread word of what had happened. Pearl-Ear, the more politically conscious of the pair, may wish to keep the deeper secrets of the Kami War, not wishing to bring further conflict after so much damage had been done. Sharp-Ear, the more impulsive of the siblings, may reveal the information, believing the cause of the Kami War must be known to prevent further conflict in the long run.

Future Kamigawa. As a place where heroes of the Kami War were born and raised, historians, the grateful, and hopeful students may come to learn from the heroes and later about them. This may allow Sugi Hayashi to expand, perhaps allowing it to grow into a true city and a place to call home for many.

Honden of Life's Web

This temple dedicated to the Myojin of Life's Web lays in a valley, built by nature with only a wooden statue depicting the Myojin as a sign that it is sacred ground. As a patron of life, nature, and the forest, keeping in harmony in nature is a must. It was a place where Orochi and budoka offered their respects to the power of the forest and life.

The Myojin of Life's Web was the most ardent in rectifying the crime which was done against O-Kagachi. She believed that by capturing and killing Michiko Konda, the balance which kept That Which Was Taken in Konda's grasp would be destroyed and free the kidnapped kami. However, she was thwarted by Toshiro Umezawa and his new patronage under the Myojin of Night's Reach.

With her physical destruction, the Myojin is forced back to the spirit world to recover. The Honden would be the focal point of her power, where she recovered enough to lend aid to the Orochi against the Soratami.

After the Kami War. With Konda's crime avenged and balance, albeit a new one, restored, the Myojin would be appeased and allow all of her followers to return to her Honden and continue their rituals and practices. However, the Myojin will be keeping an eye on the new balance, being more zealous in keeping it than she was before.

Future Kamigawa. As the new balance is established, the Myojin will do her part to ensure it is kept. As Kamigawa expands, so will her Honden, perhaps becoming a temple which grows from the ground as her worship expands. It could become a central location of power for an Orochi faction in warring states, or a meeting place for nature-related characters.

Adamaro, First to Desire

Adamaro was first known as a great warrior in life. However, his story turned tragic as he lost himself in battle and growing envious of his comrades who had something else besides battle while he only ever found himself in it. Envy turned to jealousy as he began to fear his own lover seeing another man while he was away. He abandoned his men, overcome with the delusion and returned to his home and killed his lover in a fit of jealous and envious rage. Soldiers guarding the village tried to stop him, but he killed them too, drowning in delusional rage. Finally he was cut down, but his spirit was pulled into the Utsushiyo, becoming a kami of anger, envy, and pain. He is worshiped by samurai and ronin so they can abandon their pain, anger, and other disharmonious emotions.

Akuta, Born of Ash

Akuta is a kami of destruction and ruin, born when a sign of civilization was destroyed for the first time, Akuta has gone on to do nothing but destroy. Appearing as a lava-spewing millipede/worm, it tunnels through the world, causing destruction as it goes. Survivors of disasters make offerings to it, praying the kami will stay away while warriors pray for its aid so they may destroy their enemies.

Arashi, the Sky Asunder

Arashi is a kami of nature who governs storms of thunder and lightning. They are primarily worshipped by farmers and other people who work agricultural trades. They pray to this kami for rain during dry spells. They also pray to Arashi for when they do create storms over their homes, the storm will be gentle and not threaten to wash them away.

Ayumi, Last to Vist

Ayumi is an enigmatic kami who wanders through the wild spaces of nature. She is also a kami of memory and reclamation. When there is ruin and destruction, Ayumi arrives to oversee the land taken back by nature. She took a more violent role during the Kami War as she came to the Monestary of the Sacred Bell during the Battle of Silk after Jugan fell and killed almost everyone to reclaim the temple sooner.

Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate

Azamuki is the kami of betrayal who is believed to possess random targets and force them to betray everything they stand for and everyone they hold dear. It was an act which was proven true as in conflicts with the kami, he forced numerous soldiers and defenders to turn on one another, only to be cut down themselves. Soldiers, generals, and other leaders make offerings to him in hopes it would turn him away. Others usually leave protections or talismans to bar his path.

Chisei, Heart of Ocean

Chisei is a kami of abstract thought and patterns, commonly associated with water and nature as patterns of the sea often predict journeys and weather patterns. Scholars often pray to Chisei, hoping for insight, wishing to see a pattern or a trail they can follow in their pursuits. Inquisitive Rougish Archetypes usually pay at least some homage to this kami in their investigations.

Hikari, Twilight Guardian

Hikari is the kami who guards the border between day and night, ensuring that both pass without fail or disruptions. People often pray to Hikari out of fear, praying for the daylight so the darkness and their fear can be cast away. They also pray for the dark so they can rest and ease their wearied minds and bodies. Both Hikari provides, but only when it is time for such.

Horoki, Dust Drinker

Horoko is a kami of dust and drought, taking away water and moisture wherever he goes. Many either wish for his attentions, or do everything they can to keep him away. He is prayed to in places suffering floods, hoping he will drain the waters faster so that the people can repair their lives. Others try to ward him away, not wishing to suffer painful droughts at the worst possible time. Storm Sorcerers connected to him usually associate with dust storms rather than a tempest.

Horobi, Death's Wail

Horobi is a kami of the dying, suffering pain and despair as their life drains from their bodies. She was born during the massacre of Reito, rising from the death cries of the people. From then on, after every battle, Horobi would arrive, collecting the sounds of death from the people who lingered and were not yet dead.

Ichiga Who Topples Oaks

Ichiga is a kami of strength and invigoration. He is worshiped primarily in the Jukai although people from other regions who visit may pick up some of the folk rituals to revere him as well. He is prayed to primarily for strength and endurance to overcome adversity. Many warriors also wish for strength from him to fight their enemies. Mythology often states that he would infuse himself into a particulary pious or wothy mortal and grant them incredible strength for some trial ahead.

Iname as One

Iname is a kami with two identities, one of life and one of death. During the daylight, Iname is kind and promotes verdant growth. He governs life in this state and is kind and generous. When night falls, Iname grows jealous of all the plenty the others have and lashes out, becoming his Death Aspect. In this form, Iname governs death, rot, and decay, angry at all the things people have that he does not. When dawn comes, he grows remorseful at his actions and returns to his life aspect to replace what he has taken. Only in dawn and twilight is he balanced as his true self, a kami representing the cycle of life and death itself.

Jaraku the Interloper

Jaraku is a kami of mischief and trickery, often playing multiple pranks on mortals for the fun of it. He travels across Kamigawa, looking to see where he can find his next bit of fun. It is often believed that when a random accident happens which is more embarrassing than painful, it is Jaraku's work. His favorite targets are the serious and stoic people such as the Jushi of Minamo. His favorite trick is to secretly hide within his target and let his very presence cause personal disaster. Children often pray to him for fun, but institutions and organizations constantly look for ways to keep him away.

Jiwari, the Earth Aflame

Jiwari is a kami of earthquakes and fire, constantly breaking the earth open and unleashing blasts of spirit fire when he does so. Oddly, for all the destruction this causes, some have seen it as an inspiration to create. For when the earth breaks open in his passing, new possibility appears. It is also known that in fire, something new can be forged. It is not a well-known following outside of Sokenzan, but some people view Jiwari that way, hoping for something good to come from his travels.

Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty

Kaiso, before the Kami War, was a strong kami who embodied loyalty. With the ranks of samurai loyal to Konda and the people faithfully keeping to the rituals to revere the kami, Kaiso was as strong as he ever was. When the Kami War began and the samuri abandoned their lord to defend their homes and the kami lashed out at the people who revered them, Kaiso dwindled to a shadow of his former self. He was forced to inhabit select bushi who showed great loyalty. After the Kami War, it would take time for him to heal, offering token boons such as weapos infused with his essence before he could return to his full power.

Kataki, War's Wage

Kataki is the kami which smiths look to as they make their weapons and who samurai whisper to when they sharpen their swords. He governs the creation and maintenance of weapons and armor. He brooks no disrespect of warriors or smiths who misuse or insult their arms. Some have done so recklessly he personally hunts them down. He personally hunts down any offenders and turns on anyone who gets in his way or robs him of his purpose. Unlike many kami, he does not grant magic outside of those who make a link to his domain from worship. Instead, he grants steel, a magic in itself which channels the power of the one holding it rather than some fancy words or hand gestures.

Kira, Great Glass-Spinner

Kira is a kami of magic, knowledge, and has a minor domain in delicate technique, often exemplified by the glass woven around itself. Kira has great knowledge in magic, but primarily focuses on how to undo magic rather than cast it. Priests and other who specalize in breaking curses and spells often take Kira as their patron. A sign of Kira's magic is the use of glass talismans and tools to conduct curse breaking ceremonies.

Kiyomaro, First to Stand

Kiyomaro was the first to become emperor of Kamigawa and is the ancestor to both Takeshi Konda and his daughter Michiko. He first united the lands of the humans, creating the empire which would spread to almost every corner of Kamigawa through his descendants. It was believed that he had have some divine power to be able to win so many battles and unite such a diverse group of people. As such, after he died, the people venerated him and that worship brought his soul to the Kakuriyo where he became a kami of royalty and kingdoms.

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream

If there is a proverbial rags to riches story among the kami, it is Mannichi, the Fevered Dream. Once considered a mischievous kami who visited strange dreams to the sick and feverish, it changed in the years of the kami war. Takeshi Konda took ill early in his reign and Mannichi sent him a vision. Claiming he saw a spirit child with the key to ensuring his eternal kingdom in its eyes, it set the road to Konda's astonishing crime which sparked the Kami War. As the truth of what Konda had done after the war spread, so was Mannichi's role in it. Now Mannichi enjoys greater offerings and even small shrines as people fear he may inspire madness in their sick ones, or ask he inspire them to feats of greatness with his dreams.

Masumaro, First to Live

Masumaro, in life, was a pioneer who delved into the secrets of the strange spiritual creatures which would pop into and out of Kamigawa. He was the first to commune with them, finding them sentient and powerful in a myriad of different ways. It was him who first discovered the kami were in fact gods and worship granted boons as well as a harmonious world. He was the one who determined that a worshipped kami was a strong kami and a strong kami made for a healthier world. His wisdom began the kami worship and after his death, he joined the spirits he learned to revere as one of their own governing worship itself.

Smiling Kami of the Crescent Moon.

Called Mochi by those he considered in his inner circle, or those he wished to trick, the Smiling Kami of the Crescent Moon was a disarmingly humble kami in appearance, but it hid a cunning and ruthless mind. Patron of the soratami of the time, who revered the moon in all its phases, Mochi helped support Konda's mad bid to steal from O-Kagachi. He knew the plan would ultimately fall apart and Konda's empire would be crushed by the angry kami. When the human empire would be crushed, Mochi would have his soratami go out and subjugate Kamigawa, making the soratami it's rulers and himself a major Kami, possibly equal to the Myojins. His plans fell apart as the soratami captial was sacked by Hidetsugu's oni. Then after O-Kagachi was killed and replaced, he tried to curry favor with the new Sisters of Flesh and Spirit. Sadly for him, they saw through his deciet and remembered all his plots before and fed him to the newly born Hidetsugu the All-Consuming One. Although considered dead at the time, its possible he may regenerate after a time like Jugan did.

Oyobi Who Split the Heavens

The kami who governs the sky and all the creatures that live in it, Oyobi has one of the largest domains just under the Myojins. During the Kami War, Oyobi was also the larget kami incursion before O-Kagachi. Slow to manifest, Konda recieved word and send mothriders to deal with it since Oyobi was manifesting at his borders. The mothriders arrived and were wiped out as Oyobi manifested as a massive bird and sent hordes of spirt birds at them. Not one survived survived. It reaffirmed that despite the sky being gentle most days, it can be just as fierce and deadly as the ground can be.

Sekki, Seasons' Guide

Sekki is the kami who regulates the seasons, ensuring that winter does not last too long or that spiring gives way to autumn at the appropriate times. People often pray to him for short winters or long springs for a lengthy growing season. Sekki hears, but like the seasons come when they are needed, Sekki remains steady in those duties. The seasons will always come and go, but only when it is time for them to do so. No sooner and no later. Only when the need is overwhelming, such as in the Kami War, will that change.

Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker

Shirei is a new kami who was born during the massacre of Shizo. He was born from the cries of confusion and despair of the newly dead, many not even sure if they were even dead. Shirei governs all of the land of Shizo and everything that stands on it, living or dead. He tends to the dead, some who despair over the demise while others may not be aware they are even dead, unable to see the passage of time. Like a good shepherd though, Shirei does not let the spirits leave lest it is necessary. He is the shepherd of the dead and none of his flock shall be taken.

Soramaro, First to Dream

Soramaro was once the fruit of a union between a human and a soratami, a concept thought taboo at the time of the imperious soratami. Despite this, Soramaro dreamed of rising above his position and accumulated knowledge and skill in magic to the point that even the pureblood soratami were forced to acknowledge him as he took a respected post in soratami society. He became a figure of an ideal to the downtrodden, proof that one can rise above their origins to become something great.

Towazu, the Unspeakable

Sometimes, there is knowledge best left alone. Towazu embodies this as the kami of knowledge unspeakable. How people even learned of him is unknown, but the knowledge of his existence exists. How to summon him is a mystery, but Lady Azami of Minamo Academy left clues, purposefully letting foolish students try to summon him so to try and gain knowedge for their exams or other reasons. Those that do are driven mad left gibbering wrecks that Azami would hide away to try and parse Towazu's knowledge from their insanity. After the Kami War, it may be possible to treat with Towazu, but still at great risk to one's sanity.

Yomiji, Who Bars the Way

Yomiji is the final kami a mortal shall meet after they die. He is the one who decides when a mortal soul is to pass onto the next life. When he says a mortal shall die, so they do. When he says they live, no matter what brought them to his attention be it sickness, assault, or even other kami, they shall live. People pray to him as much as they do the other kami, asking for long life, quick death, or to be saved from a deadly situation. Yomiji hears them all and carefully considers each one before declaring a verdict. He cannot be swayed although he can be gentle or firm in his decisions depending on how he is honored.

The Kakuriyo

The Kakuriyo, otherwise known as the Reikai, is the world of the Kami. Here the gods of Kamigawa exist and look over the material world. No one knows what the Kakuriyo truly looks like. The few tried to enter it only ended up becoming the type of kami known as a zubera.

The denizens of the Kakuriyo are called kami. These spirits are the embodiments of nature, items, concepts, and even of the people of Kamigawa themselves. Some kami used to be humans, whose strength of spirit and the reverence of the people for the extraordinary or infamous acts, allows their spirits to transform into kami themselves.

The people revere the kami and usually give prayers or offerings to specific kami for specific purposes. A blacksmith would pray to kami of the forge or metal to make a great sword. Fishermen would pray to kami of the rivers for bountiful catches. Scholars would pray to kami of knowledge for wisdom. If there is anything in the world a mortal wishes for, there is a kami that governs it.

Although rare, kami do cross over into the material world, taking on a material form. Usually the form they take has some resemblance to the domains they look over. These manifestations are unstable, making the kami appear monstrous in most cases, but also small objects related to their domain orbiting them.

If a kami is slain in the material world, that does not mean the kami is dead. Rather, their essence is returned to the Kakuriyo to recover and eventually reform. How long this process takes is unknown, but may be reliant on how powerful and/or massive the kami itself is.

Akuba

The akuba are kami of bad fortune, death, and evil magic. They take the vague appearance of women dressed in rags. Often these kami are invoked by evil wizards or dark priests in order to inflict curses and other dark rituals. Often a blood sacrifice is required depending on the severity of the curse and if an akuba is involved, a high price will be needed to pay for that dark magic.

During the Kami War, Akuba were seen working with humans as much as they were targeting them. Several were invoked in the service of Boss Uramon in Takenuma. The time of hate, blood, and death made it a golden age for such Kami who enjoyed acts of bloodshed.

Akuba can be represented by a Hag statblock. What kind of hag used can depend on the area in which the akuba was summoned or has appeared in, using the ambient energies to help create it's material form.

Baku

Baku are usually benevolent kami who feed on dreams, usually the bad dreams of children. They usually take an odd form with lion-like legs. Their main body varies though. Most baku have a jade sphere for a body, which most people identify them as. However, as a baku eats more certain kinds of dreams, their bodies change to reflect that. It's not unknown for baku to appear which had blades, a mass of flowers, bundles of scrolls, a mass of candles, or even a pile of bones for bodies depending on which kinds of dreams they eat.

During the kami war, baku would try to infiltrate places where That Which Was Taken might be found by devouring the minds of their victims, rather than just their dreams, and using them to try and spy for knowledge which can help find O-Kagachi's spawn.

Although some baku are known to change their size, it does not change their true abilities. Use an Intellect Devourer to represent a baku.

Bunrei

When some creatures or even people die, sometimes their entire spirit is not strong or revered enough to become a kami. Rather, portions or qualities which they were so well-known for split off from their main spirit and become minor kami in themselves. These are minor spirits, perhaps destined to become greater kami or subservient to a greater one. They are small and annoying compared to greater kami, but can be dangerous in groups.

A DM can use a Sprite, Fairy, for regular bunrei. A Mephit can also be used if an important NPC is brought down to make a bunrei.

Genju

Genju are powerful kami that embody an aspect of the very land so many tread upon. They collect portions of the land to create their bodies and properly manifest. These genju can come in a variety of sizes, although many take larger forms if they are in the mindset to punish trespassers on their sacred grounds or have brought some kind of insult.

Genju can be represented by Elementals both in the Monster Manual and Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes.

Zubera

The ways of the spirit world often give a sense of wonder to those of the mortal world. Because of this, many scholars and wizards have sought out ways to enter and explore it. Others have received an unexpected invitation as they stumbled into it through a sudden opening or being pulled in by a kami. These people end up having their material forms stripped from them, losing their very identities, and cast adrift in the spirit world, eventually finding their way back to the material world as a faceless zubera.

Many Zubera are simply warped, faceless humanoid spirits who wander the lands, searching for the identities they lost. They often attack travelers and people they come across, attempting to steal their faces in hopes of getting their identities back.

Other zubera are humans who have earned the favor of the Myojins are drawn willingly into the spirit world. They maintain a stronger sense of self, attending the Hondens of their Myojins, taking on an elemental appearance of their Myojin patrons.

Zubera can be represented by Doppelgangers. Zubera in the service of Myojin can deal elemental damage instead of their regular damage. Poison for green, Necrotic for black, Cold for blue, Fire for red, and Radiant for white.

Other Kami

There are more than the recorded types of kami. In truth, there are countless more kinds of kami that exist in Kamigawa. They can exist in a multitude of mediums and in a variety of forms. The appearances of the kami can depend on where they appear, which can be from the deepest forest, to the middle of civilization.

The Unknown

Despite so much being known about the world, there are still some kami who it is impossible to be really sure what they represent. Perhaps they govern something yet to be discovered, or they are a combination of aspects.

Many of the kami of this unknown type can be represented by bizzare monseters such as Otyugh, Nothic, Roper, Chimera, Grick, or even more powerful ones can be represented by an Aboleth or other creatures. A good guideline to select these bizzare kami can be monstrosities or aberrations.

The Utsushiyo

The world of the Utsushiyo, or material world, is where the mortal races of Kamigawa live. Although life in the Utsushiyo are not as powerful or mysterious as the kami themselves, it is not without its own perils an dangers. So much of it remains unexplored, leaving much to be discovered and potential adventures to be had.

Moonwing Moth

Gliding noiselessly through the night sky, the moonwing moth is almost impossible to see except when its shadow passes across the moon. Native only to the deepest parts of the Jukai Forest, the moonwing moths come out to dance across the skies of Towabara on the night of the full moon.

Steed of the Samurai. Moonwing moths are considered to be one of Kamigawa's most beautiful creatures, with a wide variety of multicolored markings and reflective wings that can burst into a dazzling display when they catch the light just so. Because of this, moonwings moths are highly sought after by many daimyo for their personal menageries, and are even given as rewards to samurai in exceptional circumstances.

No one is sure what clan first thought to try taming the moths and using them as mounts, but unexpectedly, the enormous insects took well to the training. Moonwing moths raised in captivity can be trained as mounts in a short time, but even freshly-captured moths only take moderate effort from a skilled beast tamer to be trained properly. Once trained, a moonwing moth almost never wavers in its duties, faithfully serving their riders even in the most dangerous of circumstances

Rarity of Rarities. As the use of moonwing moths as steeds grew in popularity, it quickly became necessary for a daimyo to have at least one contingent of moths in battle to successfully stand against their rivals. Without one, they would be at a heavy disadvantage. Unfortunately, without their native environment of the Jukai Forest, moonwing moths grow restless, and unlikely to lay eggs, making moths born in captivity a true rarity, despite the size of their egg clutches.

Because of this, beastmasters serving the daimyo were forced to capture more and more of the creatures from the wild during their monthly pilgrimages to the Towabara Plains. The number of traveling moths quickly shrunk, until one year, not a single moth appeared in Towabara on any full moon. Whether all of the moths had been captured, or altered their habits, was unknown, but only those moths raised in captivity remain. Several years have passed, and despite the emperor's institution of a ban on hutning wild moths, they have yet to return to the skies of Towabara.

Optional Rule: Honor

Kamigawa is a plane which has strict rules of social conduct woven into their beliefs. Honor is a concept all of Kamigawa believe in. It drives their conduct and their behaviours. The more honorable one is, the more respect and trust the people have in them.

Characters who adventure through Kamigawa have the chance to claim honor in their actions. The more honor they have, the more advantages and perks the characters can have at their disposal in different regions of Kamigawa.

How honorable a character is reflected by how the people around them react. An honorable character may be entitled to cheaper, or even free services. They can also be able to get better information or leads in their adventures. The most honorable characters could even be entitled to special items, titles, or even other rewards.

One thing to note however, is that honor is up to interpretation among the different regions of Kamigawa. Actions which are viewed as honorable to one place, could be seen as neutral, or even dishonorable in another.

Takenuma

Takenuma, being a place where criminals are the rule of law do not hold traditional honor like other places. That is not to say that they do not have honor of their own. Their version of honor is simply more self-serving. The people of Takenuma know they have to trust each other and loyalty to their causes and organizations are deeply important.

Loyalty to organizations is the core concept of Takenuma honor. Actions which would earn honor among Takenuma groups and people center around doing deeds for their groups. Such actions would include ferreting out traitors, completing tasks for their bosses, or even assassinating others in the name of their groups. Inversely, spilling secrets, failing tasks, and killing fellow members of your group without reason is dishonorable and can give penalties.

Ambition, the willingness to step outside the law or common morals for those goals is considered admirable in Takenuma. The classes which would have a bonus in honor checks with Takenuma natives would be rogues and warlocks. Both are seen as people who would risk much to achieve their ends and would be worthy of respect.

Sokenzan Mountains

Most view the people of Sokenzan as brutes, ronin, and bandits. While many of the people do appear as such, they do have their own sense of honor. Even Godo, the bandit warlord, has a sense of honor and adheres to it. Even he knows that a leader with no honor is no leader at all. The people of Sokenzan have honor and they react poorly to those who think otherwise.

What the people of Sokenzan respect is strength and loyalty, which reflects in their sense of honor. Honorable actions to them means defeating powerful enemies, defending their homes, and surviving deadly encounters are all actions which gain honor in Sokenzan. Weakness, cowardice, and treason are dishonorable crimes and may even be punished severely.

Classes which gain a bonus to their Honor Checks are Barbarians and Rangers. One holds a source of great strength while the others endure the untamed world and fight to be the buffer between their people and their enemies.

Jukai

The mysterious and verdant forests of jukai hold a sense of mystery, but also a quiet sense of honor. The monks who hold such sway there and the tribal Orochi have created their own sense of honor as unique as the ancient trees they live amongst. They do not preach or announce it as loudly as other regions, but it is just as strong as anyone else's.

The people of Jukai find honor in harmony and peace. By showing respect to the balance of nature, subduing enemies through skill rather than outright power or overwhelming magic, and finding peaceful solutions are staples of honor in Jukai. Encouraging conflict, destruction, killing, and disrupting nature are anathema and dishonorable to them and is swiftly put down.

The classes which embody the Jukai's sense of honor can be found in monks and druids. One represents the discipline and peace of Jukai's honor while the other represents its belief in balance and harmony.

Bards and Clerics

By their nature, bards are free spirits. This is also true in Kamigawa where they travel to all corners. The nature of their class keeps them from being seen as inherently honorable.

Clerics gaining a bonus to Honor Checks depends on their divine domains as different domains are viewed as more or less important in different regions.

Towabara: Order, Light

Kamitaki: Knowledge, Trickery

Takenuma: Death, Grave

Sokenzan: War, Forge

Jukai: Nature, Life

Adventure Ideas

The plane Kamigawa is a place rich in adventure. Simply because the Kami War ended does not mean that peace will settle forever. Many factions, villains, and other events will begin to rise which needs brave heroes to deal with them in order to save the day and be written into legend.

Here are some ideas for a DM who wishes to take their players into Kamigawa.

• The pieces of Takeshi Konda's petrified form are picked up and begin influencing people to reuinite them so he may be reborn and retake his empire

Art Credit and Thanks