Issesakuyō

The Isseyuma

***Issesakuyō*** is an Northeastern religion which promotes the worship of many different **Sakuyō** (Deities) which all have their own place within the religion and the world as a whole. Most civilizations that have adopted ***Issesakuyō*** do not vary drastically in their approach to the religion as the faith holds traditional values above all else. In this respect, all aspects of ***Issesakuyō*** are nearly identical to the practices of the ancient era in which they were founded. ***Issesakuyō*** has a potentially unlimited amount of **Sakuyō** for every aspect of life and the world at large, meaning ***Issesakuyō*** is a Polythiestic religion focused on a specific type of diety known as thee **Souzou**.

## ***Sakuyō***

### Souzou

At the dawn of creation, there existed only the creationaries (Souzou). Born from out of mysterious circumstances, it is uncertain how these primordial came to be. Their actions however have shaped the very world as we know it. These four creationaries are all siblings of each other that would go onto birth the next generation of gods known simply as Sakuyō (This is also the word in which all gods are attributed.) These creationaries are as follows:

#### Harusakuyō

The Goddess of Light, Life, Creation, and the Sun. Harusakuyō is said to be kindest of her siblings, being the oldest and most mature of them all. She is often depicted holding a flower that mimics the texture of the sun and is always shown to have raven hair with a golden crown that looks mildly like the wings of a bird. Though she is known as the goddess of creation, she had very little impact on the formation of Avalor as we know it, only providing the light required for life to exist. It was her impact on shaping the world as it grew however that was the contributing factor to her title as the creation goddess. Harusakuyō is said to be the main **Sakuyō** in charge of all the other lesser **Sakuyō** and helps guide them to the best decisions for their people much like a tutor or a mother might. Other than being in charge of the day and making sure the reaches of the planet obtain the light suitable for life, she does not have any other oficial obligations. For the most part, Harusakuyō travels the universe to find distance stars that may provide sustenance for her.

#### Tsukisakuyō

The Goddess of Darkness, Death, Destruction, and the Moon. Tsukisakuyō is said to be the wisest of her siblings, having the most experience and the vast majority of the universe at her command. She is most often depicted as very swan like in her features, with her most defining characteristic being her white hair earning her the nickname "The White Heron". Tsukisakuyō is the only one of the four creation **Sakuyō** to have ever walked the world of Avalor herself, claiming that and the title of the only Souzou to have entered a matrimonial relationship with a mortal. Tsukisakuyō is known to have had the biggest impact on the world after its creation just behind her elder sister. Though she is attributed with death and destruction, she is rarely the cause of such. She does take mild joy in seeing the violent squabbles of the mortals even if she is not the cause of them. Though she is constantly admired for her beauty, she often prefers to go things alone. She has the least amount of children out of the four Souzou and often tries to do new things away from her siblings. To this extent she has traveled most of the known and unknown world disguised as an infinite amount of different faces. It is likely that every civilization has had her visit more than once. Her presensce is a constant reminder to be kind, or else.

#### Kaitosakuyō

The God of Water, aquatic life, Ansui, and the ocean. Kaitosakuyō is responsible for the creation and the maintaining of "Ansui" (The Flow), an invisible force which binds all living things to the mortal plane. Kaitosakuyō is most often depicted wearing blue and having long hair which matches his beard. Though sometimes depicted with a longbow, that has since fallen out of favor in the more recent ages. Kaito is one of the main beings responsible for the creation of the world of Avalor, having done so with the aid of his brother, Tomoesakuyō. Though oceans once were everywhere among the world, certain crises required Kaitosakuyō scale down on the amount of water which was flowing through the world leading to a much less ocean dependant land then it once was. Though his domain is the smallest of the four, it is often regarded as the most influential as creatures and plant life of all kind need water. Amongst the four, Kaitosakuyō has the most sway over day to day life.

#### Tomoesakuyō

The God of the Earth, creatures, nature, and the weather. The is no one that had more of an impact when creating the world of Avalor than Tomoesakuyō. It is believed that the entirety of the celestial body that Avalor would become is the direct result of Tomoesakuyō's intervention. Tomoesakuyō is most likely depicted wearing a golden crown with the symbol of Earth engraved upon it and drapped in an armored Kimono. Tomoesakuyō and Kaitosakuyō are the two largest players in the formation and maintenance of the world of Avalor, constantly at each other's throats deciding how to deal with each other's powers. Tomoesakuyō typically likes to undermine Kaitosakuyō by using the weather and constantly flooding his oceans and rivers. Though it the result of these fueds are often disasterous, the have shaped the world as we know it. Tomoesakuyō has what many consider to be the largest domain at least on the rock we call home, coming out far beyond his twin brother in terms of his dominion size.

### Sakuyō

All Sakuyō are born from a combination of two of the Souzou, as a result they all partially share their parents' features both physically and in the dominion in which they reside over. Each Sakuyō specializes in a small range of tasks, but each one is able to do their task with expertise and craftmanship beyond anything a mortal could conceive. Though the inter-family relations of each Sakuyō is quite complex, many of them do produce kin within the family. These Sakuyō are as follows:

Sakuyō born from Harusakuyō and Tsukisakuyō:

1. Yamari: Son of Haru and Tsuki, Yamari is the God of Mountains.

2. Hoshima:  The Eldest daughter and first sakuyō born of Haru and Tsuki, Hoshima is the goddess of the stars and space.

3. Masaru: God of war.

4. Ninjina: Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge.

5. Arusu: Dragon god of Luck.

6. Jikan: God of Time, Eldest son and second born.

Sakuyō born from Harusakuyō and Kaitosakuyō: The center of every hurricane is considered to be Hura and Kaito giving birth to another sakuyō.

1. Mizu: Goddess of the coral reef.

2. Hansha: Goddess of the reflection.

3. Nari: Eldest son of Kaito, Nari is the god of Lightning and thunderstorms.

Sakuyō born from Harusakuyō and Tomoesakuyō:

1. Sakura: Eldest daughter of Haru and Tomoe, Sakura is the goddess of the Cherry blossoms and flowers.

2. Suki: Youngest of Haru’s daughters, Suki is the goddess of love.

3. Hinotori: God of fire

4. Taihsakuyō: Goddess of the Phoenix and rebirth.

Sakuyō born from Tsukisakuyō and Kaitosakuyō:

1. Douku: Eldest son of Tsuki and Kaito, Douku is the god of caves and ravines.

2. Kouhou: Youngest born from Tsuki and Kaito, God of navigation, he is known to guide ships through to their destination.

3. Kaze: God of wind.

Sakuyō born from Tsukisakuyō and Tomoesakuyō:

1. Shin: Illegitimate son of Tomoe and Tsuki, Shin is the God of Earthquakes.

2. Kaido: Eldest son of Tsuki and Tomoe, Kaido is the god of Volcanoes.

3. Simea: Eldest daughter of Tsuki and Tomoe, Simea is the god of alcohol and agriculture.

Sakuyō born from Kaitosakuyō and Tomoesakuyō:

1. Yukima: Eldest daughter of Kaito and Tomoe, Yukima is the goddess of snow.

2. Hirou: Eldest Son of Kaito and Tomoe, this dragon god is the god of ice and hail.

3. Yuu: God of Lava and magma, works underneath Kaido.

### Shinmata

Beneath the creator gods and their children reside an endless number of gods the Azuma people simply refer to as “Shinmanta”. Shinmanta provide the majority source of all gods within the Issesakuyō faith. Though the exact total will never be known, it is said that there are thousands upon thousands of the "Lesser gods" who all have one very specific thing that dictate their domain. Though few of those thousands have names, the ones who do are usually direct descendants of a Sakuyō.

## Kaoi

There are many different types of creatures that are not necessarily worshiped in the same way that Sakuyō are but deserve to be included within the religion itself. These include the tricksters, the messengers, the seducers, and all other sorts of creatures known to have their own role in Issesakuyō. They are as follows:

Inasan: Trickster creatures. Known for their tiny fairy like bodies, they are able to possess any mortal creature without a strong will. They are known to come in all different forms but all of them will be tiny floating creatures.

Hasune: Messenger creatures. Known for their fox like bodies, they can and have appeared in mortal forms on occasion. Each Sakuyō has their own Hasune which they have named in their likeness. Hasune are messengers of the gods, speaking often in riddles while carrying out their Sakuyō’s will. When not employed by a Sakuyō, a Hasune will often times attach itself to a mortal and follow them until they are called upon once again. Hasune are curious and cunning creatures, and nothing is more curious to them than mortals.

Shimesin: Seducer creatures. Known for their transformative capabilities, these creatures often lure a mortal using the victim’s deepest desires into a dangerous situation, often resulting in death. Most often they are attributed to divine beauty and oftentimes are found when they know a person is at a weak point.

Arukai: Phantom Creatures. Known for their paranormal activities, these creatures are invisible to the regular eye. Special devices can be made to view these often playful spirits, however they are extremely shy and if they are being noticed they will go back into hiding. They also have the ability to phase through solid objects. These are distinctly different from the two other kinds of undead spirits.

Polati: Poltergeist Creatures. Known for their haunting abilities, these creatures are the most dangerous of the lesser creatures. They are also invisible to the eye but are undetectable by anything short of divine intervention. They have been known to follow those who have lost everything and criminals of all kind. If one chooses to reveal itself to its victim, that victim has already been marked for killing. Never look directly at one should they decide to appear before you. They will take your eyes but will leave the rest of your body intact.

Ansuin: Soul Creatures. Those who have become one with the Ansui are known as Ansuin. They are the souls of the righteous dead who lived life with no regrets and contributed as much as they could to the people around them. These creatures contribute to the majority of these lesser creatures as there is an unknown amount of them currently residing all over the world of Avalor. These creatures, with a trained eye, can be seen everywhere and almost triple the currently population of the world. They range from animals, pets, people, and sometimes even gods. They are all pure as snow in color and transparent. They have the same abilities as the Arukai but often choose rather to live in harmony and surround their loved ones.

## Ansui "The Flow"

It is the main belief of Issesakuyō that all things in life are connected through an invisible force called “The Flow” or “Ansui” which binds all living things to the mortal plane. Those outside the “Ansui’s” influence are known as the beings of Sakuyō. Sakuyō have the ability to shape and mold Ansui as they see fit, though it is quite common for mortals to shape it as well using their prayers to give form to the formless.

## The Creation Story

Before the dawn of the first light, there were four brothers and sisters. Harusakuyō, the eldest of the four and the goddess of creation. Tsukisakuyō, the wisest of the four and the goddess of death. Kaitosakuyō, the eld brother who was responsible for “The Flow”. And Tomoesakuyō, the youngest brother responsible for all the celestial bodies in the universe. These four Souzou drifted through space, stopping occasionally to indulge themselves upon each other and the stars.

During their journey, the first two Sakuyō were born from Harusakuyō and Tsukisakuyō. These two were Hoshima and Jikan, gods of space and time. These two were responsible for what priests consider to be “The great expansion”. Hundreds upon thousands of stars were born out of the emptiness that the creation gods were consumed by, generating billions of different options for the Souzou to travel to. They settled upon the star known as Haru, in which Harusakuyō would derive her name from. The Souzou would consider this star system to be their home for a great time, letting the two Sakuyō grow and influence the bodies around them. Hoshima was typically a pain in Jikan’s side as they grew up, Hoshima would poke and tease Jikan as he was focusing on honing his time manipulation which would often lead to space warping time and creating paradoxes of epic proportions.

One such paradox happened while Haru and Tsuki were away, exploring the vast cosmos leaving them behind with their two uncles, Kaito and Tomoe. Kaito and Tomoe were terrible influences on the impressionable young minds as the two of them schemed together better than their two elder sisters. While Jikan was developing his skills on a specific rotation of the sun, Kaito and Tomoe encouraged his sister to interrupt his deep meditative state. Hoshima was all too ready to oblige, knocking over her brother causing him to go on a fit of rage. He lunged at Hoshima, collapsing her into the young Sakuyō’s two uncles and the resulting impact sent a shockwave across the universe. The result of their tussle created the world of Avalor, a floating orb in the middle of space which was habitable for mortal life. Thanks to the combination of all 4 gods’ powers, the world of Avalor would have glorious oceans with waves as tall as skyscrapers. Mountain ranges spanning entire continents. An atmosphere which could hold air. And a rotation caused by the enormous shockwave echoed throughout all of space and time.

Upon hearing this shockwave, Haru and Tsuki returned furious by what the four gods had done. Slapping the two uncles for encouraging their reckless behavior and scolding the two youngest, the world of Avalor was given fresh light and darkness in which all of creation would thrive in. Though Haru and Tsuki initially were unsure as for what to do with the floating orb, they decided to mold it within their image. The goddess of creation set out all sorts of plants and animals to roam the land while the goddess of destruction planted disasters and beauty throughout the land. Not to be left out, the other 4 gods began getting in on the creation of this planet. Often times resulting in the birth of a new god.

Soon, the world was alive and thriving. It’s inhabitants, Avalorians, were quick to develop and rapidly began building shrines, churches, and monasteries to these creators. The Souzou rarely descended from their seat of godhood to walk with the mortals, but their children would and for the most part still do spend their time walking around on the surface of the planet disguised as a mortal. There is a long history of gods fraternizing with mortals which often times produce all manners of lesser creatures.

## Myths and Legends

### The Story of the White Heron

One of the more famous legends is of the only time Tsukisakuyō descended from her seat of godhood to walk amongst the mortals against her sister’s wishes. Through her endless knowledge of the universe, there were few things she didn’t know. She knew everything except life on the planet they had created. After a nasty argument between the two sisters, Tsuki descended upon Avalor appearing in traditional clothing and disguised as a suitress. Her features were without blemish and her beautiful radiance almost seemed to blind out the stars. Her beauty was soon envied by all of the world, and she would spend almost all of her days going from nation to nation, meeting with Kings and Emperors who all wished to wed her. Tsukisakuyō played along for a long period of time before eventually getting sick of the suitress life and running away from her home. It is said that the First Taiho of Azuma found her lying on a bed of leafs covered in mud not that far outside of the nation’s capital. He took the goddess back to his palace where she was given clothes, food, and a bath. In return “Tsuki”, as the other servants called her, was to pay off this debt to the Taiho by becoming head servant to the Emperor for a very short time. She fulfilled this request with glee as she spent nearly thrice as long as it was required of her to stay simply just so she could experience the every day lives of the common folk. During this time, the Taiho and Tsuki had bonded greatly and when it became time for the Taiho to choose a bride, he chose Tsuki and they lived happily ever after. It is said that all Taiho’s are descendants from the children of Tsuki and the first Taiho.

### The Inasan and the Old Man

Another famous one includes the telling of a story connected to a man and the Inasan which lived around his house in large quantities. The man was very old, living by himself out in the middle of the woods in a small log cabin he and his wife had made together after becoming married. She had died nearly a decade ago and the old man could not see his life going on much longer especially since he was all out on his own. Or at least he thought he was until one night, after midnight he looked outside his window to see a small glowing object appear from deep within the forest. Worried it might be a large animal, he grabbed his sword and went outside to confront the glowing light. When he arrived, all he could hear were snickering in the trees and whispers amongst the dozens or so lights which floated around in the forest. The old man called out to them and a hush fell across the forest, only the leafs in the trees dared to move. That is until a brave Inasan approached the old sword wielding man and sat upon the tip of his sword’s blade, staring directly into the old man’s eyes. The old man stopped and stared back until the tiny fairy managed to steal the entire sword from out of his grip. It giggled with glee as it flew as fast as it could with it’s unnatural strength, the old man chasing wildly behind it. The Inasan around the forest began to chuckle with amusement as they chased around the deep dark space of emptiness. Finally, the sun began to rise and the Inasan returned back into their spirit realm, finally returning the sword back to the old man. But they left with a promise to return since he had been so much fun that night. It would be many moons before they returned, but they did. Much to the old man’s dismay. This time stealing the entire door off of the front of his house and hiding it somewhere in the woods as they giggled with each step he took looking for it. After the third night, the old man had had enough of the small fairies and decided he just wasn’t going to let them have their show they had grown accustomed to. On the fourth night they returned and stole his porch, but the old man let them go. They came back again and again until finally there was nothing left of the house but the bed he sat on. At last they had gotten bored of the old man and returned one final time, this time during the day when he could see their tiny figures clearly. They approached the old man and asked why he didn’t try to stop them from disassembling his house. The Old man responded, “The beauty of life lies not in the possessions we hold, but in the joy of shared laughter and cherished memories. Sometimes, letting go allows us to embrace the true magic of existence.”

### The Pensive Hasune

Perhaps one of the most recent legends is the one of the Pensive Hasune. Though it is unclear in which age this legend was made, most scholars agree it was in the years between the Lionel period and the Azuma period, after the story of the white heron but before the official marriage between the first Taiho and Tsuki. The story begins with a man of noble origin, it is believed that this man was belonging to one of the five houses of Azuma, walking around on the border between a jungle and a spruce forest. The spruce forest is said to have been situated high up on a hill so that it could overlook the jungle below, but one wrong step could lead anyone tumbling down into the abyss below. The noble man was walking around with a map in hand, outlining the direct path between the two biomes when he suddenly came upon a rock at the top of hill. Placed upon the rock was a large fox pup looking stoically out into the jungle. The noble man slowly approaches the fox, not wanting to startle the seemingly deeply pensive pup. As fate would have it, the fox already knew of his presence and turned to face him with a casual glance. The noble man freezes in place, hoping that the fox would not attack him. The fox spoke to him, “Do not be afraid mortal, I have no desire to cause you harm.” Though alarmed to have heard the fox spoken, the noble man knows that it is mostly likely a Hasune sent by the gods. He appraoches the fox and sits down next to the rock upon which the Hasune sits, stretching his body as he looks out at what the pup had been gazing at. A world of pure and untouched beauty that the noble man had not been able to see in all of his travels stood before him. The sun kissed skies turning orange as the giant ball of fire in the evening sky shot rays of light through the leafs on the jungle trees, turning the entire world around them into a golden color, kissing their skin and turning their features soft. The jagged peaks below him glisten with polish as the grass he sat upon dug through the grooves in his hands. The smell of the crisp fall air smothers his senses until he’s drowning in delight at the world before him. There are no words spoken between the two of them until the sun finally begins to set and a cold dark begins to fall upon the world. The Hasune hangs its head as the light finally fades and the stars come out to shine. The Hasune speaks, “In these fleeting moments of beauty, we find the depths of our own souls. The world unfolds its wonders before those who dare to pause, observe, and embrace the pensive embrace of nature's touch. Where the golden hues and gentle whispers reveal the profound connection between mortals and the divine. As darkness descends, let us carry the memories of this ethereal encounter, letting not our duties separate us from the contemplation of life's mysteries."

### Kaitosakuyō and the Flood

Though the accounts of this tale have been few and far between, the art depicted of this event is so grand that the legend mostly evolved from there. It begins when the Sakura nations once bordered the great ocean to the south for thousands of generations. “Kaito’s pond” is what they called it and it was a lifeline for the dozens of city states which bordered the great ocean. But during the late Messi period there were several years where it was reported that the rain never stopped. Many blamed Tomoesakuyō for this period in history as the ocean grew in size, swallowing up entire cities as the sky poured rain from the sky for nearly decades. The weather became more severe and hazardous to the point where people deeper into the mainland were beginning to feel its effects and they began to wonder why Tomoesakuyō had forsaken them. Entire civilizations were wiped out as the flood began to engulf the world, but none suffered as much as the bordering Sakura City-states which simply just did not exist at this point. Kaito and Tomoe were in constant argument but Tomoe would always win because he had control over the weather which led to constant rain, tornados, tsunamis, and earthquakes which all shook the Sakura city-states to their very core. Kaito though had had enough of Tomoe’s nonsense and finally unleashed the ocean’s wrath on his brother, destroying large swaths of land in his wrath. Kaitosakuyō used his power over water to descimate countless biomes and turn the entirety of the land into his own. But the people of the world were safe from his wrath as he parted the massive walls of water just so the people would have enough room to farm and live their lives. When Tomoesakuyō finally conceded, Kaito removed his water from the world and in its wake left either destruction or life. Those that had been underneath his water for long periods turned into desolate wastelands while the newer ones turned into jungles and vibrant forests of bamboo. But Kaito wanted the world to recover from his mistake and so withdrew the oceans back into very small areas where he could give time for the planet to recover from his wrath.

## History

It is most commonly accepted that the first prophet whom had spoken the word of Issesakuyō was known as the Kiminomasato, or “The Annointed”. The Kiminomasato claimed they had died and been resurrected by the Creation Sakuyō Harusakuyō who breathed life into her breathless corpse. All of her friends and family were shocked to have seen the dead rise from the grave again and instantly converted themselves unto the story the Kiminomasato began to tell. A story about the creation of the universe and hundreds of Sakuyō which influenced their day to day lives through means of “The Flow”. Though her word was slow to gain traction throughout the Sakura territories, constant natural disasters and wars would slowly begin to see Issesakuyō grow in its hold over the Sakura people. Through her teachings and stories, the people of the divided Sakura nations all began to worship these gods which the Kiminomasato had named. She told everyone of their personalities, what type of rituals they admired, and who to thank for what. This was said to please the gods immensly, and their prophet continued to spread the word of Issesakuyō to the people of Sakura, bringing with her the great tidings and otherworldly boons said to be from the gods themselves. Soon enough, every city state within the divided continent soon wanted the teachings of Issesakuyō to be spread to them, for with it came bountiful harvest, a great leap in population, and a plethora of culture with every step she took. But not all was well, because while the Kiminomasato was favored well amongst the Sakura nations, her reputation outside of their influence was growing more and more disturbing to neighboring empires. So in an attempt to control the separated city states of Sakura, these neighboring Empires sought to kill the Kiminomasato. And while she was walking with her group of missionaries to the next city state after having just departed, she was murdered and left to die on the side of the road. But this only infuriated the city states which paraded her dead corpse throughout each city where the populous chanted “She is with the gods!”. This rallying cry began a long series of battles which took place over the late Messi period and is believed to be the transition from the Messi period into the Lionel period.

After the end of the battles resulting in the transition into the Messi period, the religion experienced a golden age throughout the separate Sakura nations. Temples were constructed, statues were built in honor of the gods and “The Annointed”, poetry was written, and open literature and worship was encouraged by the city states. This boom in culture during the Lionel period is often known as Anitalure or “Reawakening” in honor of the Kiminomasato who had risen from the dead to relay her message to the people of Sakura. There was a massive influx of patrons seeking art depicting some of the stories that the Kiminomasato had spoken of and an even bigger demand for more rituals to be included for even the most menial of daily life. This created many of the most famous rituals including the tea and prayer rituals and most famously it resulted in the creation of Issesakuyō’s most famous painting made by a man named “Raku” and titled “Houou no jounetsu”. It depicts the gods sending down the Kiminomasato after her death while a crowd of amazed bystanders watch. The Kiminomasato is worshipped in a like manner to the Taihō, not on par with the gods but the next step up to them. Through this shared religion, many of the city states began to hormonize and work together to further their societies. Though this would not be long as “Harusune”, the name attributed to the Hasune from Harusakuyō, began to spread a rather dire message from the creation goddess that warned the Sakura city states to be weary of their religion and heritage sharing neighbors as they may one day begin to change what is commonly held as the true word of the Kiminomasato. Perhaps expectantly, the city states began to form a distrust with each other which over time grew and grew until they eventually all started to declare war with each other one right by one. With the collapse of the Sakura city states and the one true Azuma Sovereignty being formed, the religion began to stagger as new ideas and traditions were quickly stifled in favor of the older and more strict varieties. Aotakas and the Taihō were quick to make sure that Harusune’s message was put into good faith as they did not spend hundreds of years fighting wars amongst themselves over the idea that one might change the religion against the gods’ will. And so ushered in the Azuma age that now reigns both over the religion and the nation itself.

## Symbols and Signs

Harusakuyō: The Sun. Light. The color white or gold. The Raven Herron, named after her black hair. Torii.

Tsukisakuyō: The Moon. Darkness. Skulls. The color purple or black. The White Herron, named after her white hair.

Kaitosakuyō: Water. Oceans. Waves. The color blue or white.

Tomoesakuyō: Grass. Dirt. Ore. The color brown or green.

Yamari: Mountains.

Hoshima:  Stars.

Masaru: The Katana. Blood. The color red.

Ninjina: Books. Glasses. Libraries.

Arusu: Coins. Dragons.

Jikan: Golden Stopwatch. Clocks.

Mizu: Fish. Sea pickles. Vibrant colors.

Hansha: Mirrors. Glass.

Nari: Thunderbolt. Often depicted holding a Katana.

Sakura: Cherry blossoms. Pink flowers. The Regnant Blossom.

Suki: A heart. Confetti. Fireworks. It’s often said when someone is head over heels in love that they’re, “Simply suffering under Suki”.

Hinotori: Fire. Flames. Campfires. The nether.

Taihsakuyō: The Phoenix. Resurrection. Ashes.

Douku: Caves. Ravines. Most commonly depicted with a glow berry necklace.

Kouhou: Sails. Compass. Sextants. Ships.

Kaze: Intense Wind. Trees blowing.

Shin: Earthquakes. Fault lines. Shaking.

Kaido: Volcanoes. Large mountains that are active.

Simea: Wheat. Anything that has to do with agriculture. Is nearly always depicted with a beer in hand.

Yukima: Snow. Blizzards. It is often said that when the snow has just fallen and not a single step has been taken outside that “Yuki’s path has been laid.”

Hirou: Ice. Hail. Frozen lakes.

Yuu: Lava. Magma.

## Traditions

Throughout the late Messi period and early Lionel period hundreds if not thousands of traditions were made to honor the gods. Most of these traditions have been dropped by all except the most dedicated within the faith who continue to practice the thousands of traditions daily. The most important traditions are as follows:

Masutempryo: This tradition is among the most important and requires that each follower of the faith must attend a once yearly shrine visit. These take place almost entirely on the first day of the year as it has become a tradition itself to do so. Most often these shrine visits include a yearly purchase of a seal which acts as its own torii gate and cleanses evil spirits for the rest of the year, though it is by no means necessary to do this, most people who worry about Inasan and especially Polati should consider getting these seals. Many get them just simply to add an extra layer of protection. On top of this, everyone receives a free fortune of their year which a priest, priestess, maiden, or servant may oversee depending on the location of the shrine. These are usually followed by each person lighting a firework and lighting up the sky at the end of their visit. Often times these can be combined into a single firework show where a group of people all come together to attend at the same time to launch their fireworks in celebration.

The Solstice Faire: This tradition is the one in which a majority of people like to celebrate the most. Also know as a “Festival of color” Harutempryo is a celebration which occurs four times annually. Once in the summer, once in the fall, once in the winter, and the most famous one which occurs in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. They occur on the solstice of each year and are meant to bring good fortune and fertility to the land in hopes of a good growing season. As is tradition, farmers gather around shrines and other elevated areas and sell their crop from the year’s harvest making it a popular tourist attraction that people from far and wide come to witness and taste some of the things you can only find in Azuma. In addition to delicious food, the festival is also known as a “World’s fair” in which all the nations of Avalor can come together to show off their shops, feats, inventions, and other neat concepts. Foreign food is strictly forbidden, but foreign alcohol consumption is highly encouraged. The Solstice Faire is an attraction which often encourages meeting new people or going with a group of friends or spending time with family. At the end of the fair, a massive fireworks display is put on for the enjoyment of all in attendance which will typically happen at the end of the fair towards later in the evening.

Inutempryo: Though more of a daily occurrence than a tradition, it is generally accepted that every time you pass by a statue to pay reverence to it in some way. I can be a simple nod or a bow to acknowledge its existence, or as reverent as a lengthy prayer. Regardless on what you do, so long as you do it each time you pass a statue of great importance then you have completed Inutempryo.

Anamura: Also known simply as just “The Ball” this tradition happens regularly each month and is hosted within the halls of Haru castle in the main ballroom. Despite its name, there is very little dancing as it’s mostly a social get together where people can drink and hang around. Sometimes there are matches of fighting, sometimes there are literature meets, and other times there are exhibitions displaying all manners of items from military strength to the latest cuisine. It is head by the Taihō and designed so that those who follow the religion can enjoy themselves at least once a month regardless of any outside interferences in their day to day lives. All are welcome to “The Ball” but members of the faith take priority over all others.

Ansuisuyo: Another popular day of tradition which occurs bi-monthly is the celebration of “The Flow” only known as Ansuisuyo. This day is strictly for those within the faith and is sort of a pilgrimage through the nation of Azuma to all the holy sites located around the nation. This must all be done on foot so there is no teleporting and begins in the smallest city, working their way up by going to the next largest city and finally ending at the capital. Regardless of how big each city is, each Ansuisuyo ends at the capital. At each place of worship it is customary to receive a reward from each city to represent “The Flow”. These can be gifts attributed to the cities or the specific shrine they visited. It is common for shops to be set up along the route that those participating will take holding rare and valuable items.

## Society

To say Issesakuyō shaped the Azuma Sovereignty and indeed all Sakura nations would be an understatement. All of Sakura history can be boiled down to the Kiminomasato’s word during the middle age of the Messi period. Reflecting this perfectly are the people of the faith who hold many daily traditions as common day occurrences. Many attend religious tea ceremonies and pray before each meal to thank the gods for watching over them.

Many claim to see “The Flow” in their day to day lives, like doing something charitable or kind they are said to have seen “The Flow”. Farmers operate under the understanding that what they do pleases Simea and she rewards them with bountiful harvests each and every season. The Taihō is said to be a god themselves and that they dictate every manner of life with their word.

All of Azuma culture is surrounded by Issesakuyō and it shows in the way they speak, the way they act, and the way they present themselves. Even traditional Azuma clothing is designed in someway to mimic those of the gods. Issesakuyō isn’t just about the worship of the gods, or the practices within there involved. It’s about the people and the culture who remain faithful and present during even the most menial of life’s tendencies.