A Quick Refresher
A Quick Refresher
M
AIN
CHARACTERS
Genshu Hidekazu (AKA: Hide) – Gen-shoo / (Hee-deh)-kah-zu
The former scion of the Genshu family and Masanori’s twin brother.
Hidekazu has mastery and understanding of ki beyond his years, but though considered lucky by most, he’s grappled with the responsibility and meaning of his power his whole life. For him, it has meant struggling with his parents’ high expectations for his future and securing more honour for the Genshu family name. His father overturned his initial decision to prevent Hidekazu from studying as a bushi, but this was before Hidekazu, Masanori, and Aihi disappeared for an entire month to unlock the secrets of the Dragon’s Eye. When they returned, Hidekazu was exiled from the Genshu clan.
Although he still studies at the Tsukiko Academy under the mentorship of Meki Barame, the stakes are higher than before. If he does not become a bushi, he will remained exiled from the clan. Not only that, the spirit of a warlock now haunts him, trying to convince Hidekazu to perform a task of much greater importance than going to school.
Genshu Masanori (AKA: Masa) – Gen-shoo / (Mah-sah)-noo-ree
A talented ki-engineer who used to work at the Jyutsu Laboratory within the Cedar Palace, in Nagasou, designing and building devices for the emperor and Shōgun. Unlike his brother, however, Masanori has no ki to speak of, a reality he’s struggled to accept his whole life between the constant ridicule of his peers and his personal disappointment. With the tapper, however—one of his most recent inventions—Masanori has gained some minor use of ki.
Though a prodigy engineer, he never wanted to become one. Instead, he dreamed of following his parents’ footsteps and becoming a bushi. Although Hidekazu was granted the opportunity to join their ranks, Masanori was not. He, too, was banished from the Genshu clan, but his requirement isn’t that he will become a bushi… but give up on that dream forever.
After falling into the Nightmare during the trip to unlock the secrets of the Dragon’s Eye, Masanori started seeing corruption and demons everywhere he looked. When it felt like everyone he cared about had turned against him, he ran from his family, and Hidekazu, and didn’t look back. Now he’s on his own, and unravelling the Nightmare isn’t just about finding himself again, but a matter of survival.
Furahau Aihi (AKA: Exalted Dragon Princess) – Foo-rah-ha-uw / Aye-hee
As the sole heir to the Warlock Throne, Furahau Aihi is the Exalted Dragon Princess of Seiryuu and tackles the responsibility of one day ruling the nation in her parents’ stead. She is both a skilled swordswoman and majyu, one who commands respect, to most, with her mere presence.
Many believe she is on the way to becoming one of the greatest rulers Seiryuu has ever known, but those close to her know she must still tame her temper and impatience. She was raised as a sibling to Hidekazu and Masanori, although they are not blood-related.
After failing to heal her dying mother with the Dragon’s Eye, Aihi returns to Nagasou to take Mika’s place as Shōgun. Her new position is overwhelming, not just because its suddenly thrust upon her, but because while she is still trying to figure out Lacotl’s game and find a way to kill him, she must also navigate a tremulous alliance with a nation that was once Seiryuu’s ally.
Other Noteworthy Characters
Meki Barame (AKA: Headmaster Meki) – Meh-key / Bah-lah-meh
The Headmaster of the Tsukiko Academy, a former bushi, and consultant of Governor Benri. Barame is the only survivor of the Meki warlock clan, theorized to have survived because he never manifested any warlock ki. Though he has retired as a bushi, he uses his expertise to guide young majyu and warriors toward bushido, and to serve Seiryuu, through Tsukiko Academy.
He was held partially responsible for the inaction of Tsukiko authorities during Lacotl’s attacks, although he ultimately contributed a tremendous amount to the kan’thir eventual discovery and capture.
He shares an en bond with his student, Hidekazu, and intends to turn him into a suitable bushi fit to guide Aihi when she becomes empress. He also had a failed mentor-student relationship with Aihi, which ended after some event resulting in someone’s death—details which both have remained tight-lipped about.
Lacotl –
Lah-koh-lue
The kan’thir majyu who terrorized Tsukiko, kidnapping and murdering over two dozen noblewomen. He uses a corrupted variation of ki and perverts the Goddess’ power for his own gains. What those gains might be, however, are unknown.
Currently, he rots in the cells beneath the Cedar Palace, where he still manages to manipulate Aihi and the game of life and death that they’re both playing.
Genshu Dano
–
Gen-shoo / Da-no
The head of the long-lived Genshu family, and a former bushi who believes it is time for Seiryuu to prepare for peace, and not war. Thus, he urged his sons, Masanori and Hidekazu, to seek a path in life beyond bushido. The Genshu family has always been close to the Furahaus, and Dano grew up with Furahau Takeha, the current emperor. Now Dano advises the emperor directly as the Daijō-daijin. He is husband to Genshu Sachi, and father of Hidekazu and Masanori. It was his idea to banish Hidekazu and Masanori from the Genshu clan in a desperate effort to teach them lessons on humility, respect, and obedience.
Ijichi Kira
A promising student formerly of the Tsukiko Academy. Although she doesn’t seem to like Hidekazu, she helped train him a bit and gave him information that went against Meki Barame’s orders so that Hidekazu could help save Mezan Taniya, one of Kira’s few friends.
Despite this, she betrayed Hidekazu, Masanori, and Aihi to Barame when she found out that they planned to leave for Najadu in search of more information about the Dragon’s Eye.
Furahau Mika (AKA: The Shōgun)
–
Foo-lah-ha-oo / Mee-kah
Mika is the Shōgun of Seiryuu, a positioned gained by marriage to Furahau Takeha, the emperor. Formerly of the Aochi merchant clan. As the military leader of the nation, she manages the distribution of bushi and Nagasou's defence. Mother of Aihi, but Hidekazu and Masanori look up to her as a second mother, as well. Unfortunately, she was attacked by the corrupted aki. Aihi severed Mika’s arm in an attempt to stop the corruption from spreading, but it wasn’t enough. She has been unconscious ever since, and is slowly dying as her ki mysteriously drains away.
Furahau Takeha
–
Foo-lah-ha-oo / Tah-keh-ha
The current emperor of Seiryuu, a position he fought for during the civil war. Though he rules Seiryuu with an iron fist, his reign instituted order and peace to the nation after thirty years of civil war, and decades of war beforehand. He wishes to repair relations with Kairo, their southern neighbour, but with no success so far. Husband to Mika, and father of Aihi.
Mezan Taniya
The former librarian from the Tsukiko Academy who helped Hidekazu find the book he needed to turn his staff into an artifact (and therefore summon Sayuri’s spirit). She is the only survivor of Lacotl’s attacks and, upon her rescue, Hidekazu and Masanori learned that she already knew Aihi, even though the twins had never met Taniya before. After she helped Aihi, Hidekazu, and Masanori learn more about the Dragon’s Eye, she also helped them escape Barame after Kira sold them out.
Because Taniya is yōkai-kin, she can shapeshift into a perfect appearance of any other person. She used this ability to take Aihi’s place in Nagasou while the others went on their adventure, and she has remained in Nagasou helping Aihi ever since.
Ryuu Naoji (AKA: The White Warlock or The Keeper)
The White Dragon or White Warlock, one of the original Three warlocks. He has a younger brother and sister referred to as the Black and the White respectively. Naoji both torments and rescues Hidekazu within the Nightmare. He also requests a favour from Hidekazu—something that will, hopefully, result in Lacotl’s death. As a result of this favour, however, now he follows Hidekazu around everywhere, and he’s determined to get what he wants from the young majyu.
Sayuri
She is the shishajya who possesses Hidekazu’s staff in the form of a tsukumogami. She claims to be named after the lilies in the Goddess’ pool. Not much is known about her, save for how she’s helped Hidekazu, Masanori, and Aihi a bit in their travels. The longer she’s with Hidekazu, though, the more she becomes present in his life—more like a friend.
ESSENTIAL TERMS & PLACES
Seiryuu – Seh-ii-riuu
– The homeland of Hidekazu, Masanori, and Aihi, in the northwestern corner of Shimensoka continent. The Seiryan people worship the Dragon Goddess Shirashi, dragons, warlocks, and often ki itself. Kairo used to be a part of Seiryuu and was called “Aoryuu” long before the fall of the Warlock Empire.
Tsukiko –
A city two days north of Nagasou, not far from the Kin Sea. Home of Tsukiko Academy, the Benri Clan, and Torra.
Tsukiko Academy -
A renowned school for majyu and warriors, famed for producing master majyu, bushi, and warriors. It is operated by Headmaster Meki Barame, the former bushi.
Dragon Eye -
A powerful artifact once exclusively used by warlocks. Supposedly, they are made from the eye of a dragon after a dragon passes away. The warlocks protected their Dragon Eyes so well that none have been found since the fall of the Warlock Empire until now.
Kan’thir -
A race of goat-men who live on the Yaotlan Isles far from Seiryuu, east of Tajida. They are humanoid, completely covered in fur coloured anywhere from black to creamy white. Kan’thir do not grow their horns until between thirty and fifty years old and often wear the skulls of their ancestors until theirs are fully grown.
Bushi -
Bushi are warriors and majyu of unparalleled skill and finesse; they are the elite forces charged with defending the Seiryan royal family and their interest. Some teams of bushi are assigned to specific duties or people, which are identified by a prefix,
i.e.
Shōgun-bushi.
Ki -
Literally “energy.” Ki is the material that makes up all things, and majyu can use it to manipulate the elements to their will. It can also be used in its raw form, which is not associated with a specific element. It is also said that some majyu can use ki to manipulate much more than the elements…
Ki-Engineer -
A relatively new discipline, having surfaced within the last two decades, devoted to merging and utilizing the power of mechanical parts enhanced with ki. Previously, ki-engineers used to also refer to constructionalists, but now it is used exclusively for mechanical engineers. Masanori has been training as a ki-engineer for most of his life.
Kigou -
Literally “symbol.” They are written characters that, when drawn with ki, can compel the energy to action. They are the fragmented remains of the Old Language.
Majyu -
Short for majyutsushi, which literally means “conjuror.” Majyu are people who can use ki to control the elements of water, earth, fire, and wind.
Warlock -
A powerful majyu—male or female—with the blood of dragons running through their veins. All the warlocks died out almost fifty years ago for unknown reasons during a war between Seiryuu and Kairo.
Irezumi -
Literally “inserting ink.” A tattoo traditional to Seiryuu where ink of pure ki is threaded into the skin, usually along the forearms. Only bushi and some exceptionally skilled healers receive irezumi; they cannot be removed. There are five different ranks of irezumi: green (for new bushi and healers), blue (skilled), white (masters), red (royalty), and purple (warlocks).
Tapper -
A round, metallic device made by Masanori. He keeps it in a leather pouch draped around his neck.
Anti-tapper -
A device similar to Masanori’s tapper, but instead of drawing unusable ki from the body to form spells, it takes ki from within and stores it in the device, making it inaccessible.
Dragons -
The children of the goddess Shirashi, gone from Seiryuu for centuries. They are associated with water, wind, and storms—not fire. These dragons are long and serpentine, usually with no wings, and flowing manes. Some have only front legs, others have four.
Shishajya -
Literally “messenger serpent.” They are the messengers of the Dragon Goddess Shirashi, the dragons, and the warlocks. There is only one left in all of Seiryuu.
Yōkai -
An umbrella term for supernatural creatures, ghosts, spirits, and unexplainable occurrences. There are yōkai specific to certain regions
Shirashi -
The Goddess of thunder and storms, mother of yōkai and dragons. Centuries ago, she came to Seiryuu with her dragons to teach them how to use ki. She is the deity of Seiryuu, said to be both benevolent and cruel. Sister of the Wyvern God, Ozeki.
For more characters and information about individual terms, please visit the glossary at the back of the book!