Jūheitai

## Overview

The Juheitai are a key component of Lady Tomoe's inner circle. They work as an irregular militia and are allowed to actively behave like terrorists all across the mainland. They move as a large number of troops, engaging in guerilla warfare with police and members of the Japanese Defense Forces. From bombing cars to slaughtering entire villages, they have the authority to kill anyone they deem worthy of a cold and brutal death. Ever since 1180, they have participated in countless wars from the Genpei War to the showdown during the Bakumatsu Period between the Kiheitai and the Emperor's forces. It could be hypothesized that they were the inspiration for the Kiheitai given that they were a group of rebels who frequently foiled the plans of the Shogun and the Emperor in the past, managing to get away from each battlefield unscathed with a river of blood behind them. They obey only the Star residing over Asia and occasionally clash heads with their sister faction the Tenshikaku. A group of uncivilized savages who are only out for themselves, they take much pleasure in stealing from others and enjoying the spoils of war. As a personal code of theirs, they will not harm children but women and men are not met with this same sentiment. Under very rare circumstances do they kill the elderly, unless that individual caused them too much of an annoyance to be left alone. They behave like the Demon Kings of the Buddhist Hells and as such the four commanders are often compared to them, starting from the Third King to the Sixth King as they cannot be the second or the first, for those are the realm of humans and gods to which they are neither. Because the Yakuza faction works hand in hand with politicians and obeys most societal norms, they are tasked with doing the things that are not socially acceptable and get their own hands dirty for their lord.

## Objective

Their primary objective is to obey any and every command from the Maia Star, Tomoe. They have no qualms about the work they receive because they are handsomely rewarded for their actions. Those caught and punished for their actions are usually pardoned by their lord and are under oath to not divulge the nature of their work. The complete and utter annihilation of an unlucky soul who managed to get on their bad side is inevitable. As people who formerly worked under Taishakuten, they believe that they are doing the work of the Goddess and feel no remorse in the deaths of others. People who "spill the beans" or share information about the underworld will find them at their doorstep and return to the earth in seconds. People are better off keeping their lips sealed and they would have it no other way.

## Public Response

The public is outraged by their actions and wishes to send all of them to death. But alas, it is not that simple because of their protection from higher ups. No matter how many of them get rounded up by Orpheus or the police, more will come back and take the place of the originals if they had not already been set free. Many people fear them and what they will do, but the Tenshikaku deal with them to keep their good reputation and have the general population place their faith in them. Many SD units have gone after them and have been slain in an attempt on their life, people pray that one day they will disappear from the face of the earth.