Tenkihito

An alien race that discovered Gaea late in the Third Age, after the Sealing of Nibiru, the Tenkihito first interacted with the native population during the early 4th Age, and have had an impact on Zipangu's society and culture, as well as the behavior of the local gods, with whom they have a generally positive relationship. A people that balance war and peace, they are largely responsible for protecting Gaea from the influence of other, more dangerous aliens... in large part because they see the world as similar to their own and enjoy visiting it for recreational purposes. The name Tenkihito is a misnomer that relates to their worship of the sentient, mystical trees of their homeworld, which they use to make and power their ships and other important tools. They are also commonly known as Spirit Folk due to their inherent connection to the nature. They command a vast empire that includes many other races and has a peaceful, if somewhat complex, relationship with the Star Federation and its military and police forces.

The Tenkihito are separated into a number of ""subraces related to the particular plants for which they have the strongest affinity. One is not born to these, but rather, adopted into them after being chosen as a child by one of the sacred plants of Hogoku in a symbiotic relationship that changes the nature and appearance of the young Tenkihito, granting them new abilities and qualities. The most prominent of these include:

* Hanahito: Chosen by the Tenki's blossoms to serve as shepherds of the next generation, the Hanahito are effectively a vast Imperial family that oversees the governance of the people. Bound primarily to the eldest of the Tenki, the Hanahito are often directly related to one another, though it is by no means a certainty that one born to such lineages will also become a Hanahito. Such individuals have diverse characters, but all display strong leadership qualities.
* Kaedehito: Chosen by the sacred maples of Hogoku, the Kaedehito serve as spiritual leaders, priests, monks, and mediums between the sacred trees and the common people. They serve as the primary interlocutors between the sacred trees and the people, the caretakers of the former, and intermediaries between all of them and the spirits that reside within the world. The Kaedehito hold tremendous social power, being the principal clergy of the species.
* Sakurahito: Chosen by the sacred cherry trees of Hogoku, the Sakurahito are the warrior class of the Tenkihito. Those who are chosen for this caste adhere to something akin to Gaea's code of Bushido and are known for their exceptional martial prowess, grasp of philosophy, tactics, and artistic endeavors.
* Nehito: Chosen by the great roots that burrow deep beneath Hogoku's soil and form the living will of the world, the Nehito are wise and strong, robust of body and driven to serve and protect others. Sometimes compared to the Oni of Gaea in terms of appearance due to their powerful builds, the Nehito are a brown-skinned people whose hair is pale as often as it is dark. Proud, strong warriors and workers, they work hard to defend and feed the other Tenkihito. It's a duty they take great pride in. The Nehito are known for being boisterous, athletic, enthusiastic, jovial, and gregarious.
* Edahito: The people chosen by the Tenki to serve the most diverse of tasks, the Edahito fill out the majority of the Tenkihito's population abroad; they are often skilled experts in one or more fields, mastering valuable techniques for their society. The Edahito are in many ways the most like Humans, and the easiest to mistake for them... which is saying something, as most of the Tenkihito can pass for Humans quite easily. Edahito are known for being fairly mild-mannered and serious, with a studious demeanor.
* Yanagihito: Chosen by the sacred willows of Hogoku, the Yanagihito are a mystical people associated with powerful magic. Occultists, spiritualists, psychics, and wielders of potent nature magic that links the elements and bestows strange secrets through familiars and the whispering of the spirits, the Yanagihito are a mysterious people who hold prominence as religious figures, advisers, and mystics in their society.
* Momohito: A people associated with the sacred peach Tenki, the Momohito are known for their vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic nature. They are often athletes, leaders, or warriors, and often rise to prominence in Tenkihito society due to their active approach to life. They are often popular leaders and innovators who change the status quo through their achievements and drives.
* Rennohito: A people associated with Hogoku's vast lakes, rivers, and fresh water systems, the Rennohito are connected with the massive water lilies, lotuses, that cluster at the edges of these spaces. This makes them notable among the common Tenkihito in that they aren't bound to the sacred Tenki to which most of the race connect, but rather to another form of divine plant. They are associated with great spiritual prowess and mystical powers, as well as unusual fighting styles, and hold a high reputation and status despite their lack of bond to the great trees.
* Konbuhito: A people native to the coasts and islands of Hogoku, the Konbuhito are amphibious and have a strong connection to the world's native kelp, making them similar to the Rennohito in that they aren't bonded directly to the sacred trees, but to another sacred plant on that world. Unlike the Rennohito, the Konbuhito are often seen as rustic and crass among their peers; crude, blunt, and unsophisticated. They are seen as lacking in art, in beauty of the spirit, and hold low status because of it. This suits many of them just fine; their culture emphasizes practicality over show and hard, honest work over fancy tricks and tactics.
* Shuhito: The "seeds" of the Tenkihito, they are rarely seen outside of Hogoku. These individuals are children or those who have either not yet been chosen by one of the sacred plants of the people's homeworld (or those they've exported), or who have been actively passed over. These individuals are almost totally indistinguishable from Humans, save for greater longevity, more comparable to an Elf.

As mentioned above, these are not conventional subraces as is applied to other species. The Tenkihito are not born to them, with the exception of the Shuhito, which *all* Tenkihito are born as. Instead, As a Tenkihito has their coming-of-age they are allowed the chance to commune with the Tenki to see if one will accept them as its Attendant. This normally happens for the first time around the age of twelve or thirteen, though earlier cases have been known to happen based on the physical, mental, and sexual maturity of the individual and their particular living circumstances. Should the individual be rejected by all the Tenki who choose to observe and judge them, then they remain a Shuhito for at least one more year. During this time they are expected to improve themselves in a manner satisfactory to the Tenki. Should they be accepted by one of the Tenki, then they may choose to change their caste and enter the culture's higher society in some fashion. If they are chosen by more than one Tenki, then they may choose the caste which they feel fits themselves best. It is considered deeply rude to refuse a Tenki if it is the only one offering this honor and may negatively affect further attempts. After all, one is essentially telling a God "no," when it offers a blessing. However, there *have* been historical instances of this happening, and even cases where the individual refusing the Tenki has gone on to find another patron better to their liking.

## Trivia

* The Tenkihito are an homage to the Juraians from the Tenchi Muyo series.