Recent posts by shirayuri

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The Terumi Family Complex Aug 11, 2015 17:29:25 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 11, 2015 17:29:25 GMT -8

It only took a second. In a flash, Miyako was moving towards her and the slighest displacement of water and rushing wind told her exactly where she would strike. It was less an innate sense of precognition and was more an inherent familiarity with her sister's fighting style and the fact that she happened to be razor sharp focused. The Mist was almost upon them and the area outside of their immediate range was very cloudly. Shirayuri spun around and blocked the strike aimed at the back of her head and grabbed her sister's forearm with her free hand. She held her for a split second but was not strong enough to restrict the kunoichi's movement for any significant amount of time. Miyako had momentum on her side and she'd need to react quickly if she didn't want to end up on the ground in pain. In that moment the two had locked eyes and Miyako said something that would change the course of their lives forever. It was a tough thing to hear but it was resoundingly true. The Mist would not get any better under Old Man Shin's reign no matter how much the Church pleaded with the bitter shinobi he wouldn't stop until it was destroyed.

The sharp knee to the stomach was a bit unexpected but rather than tense up she went with the flow allowing the momentum to send her backwards. It was painful but Shirayuri could tolerate it without completely losing her balance. The so called "Witch of the Wetlands" merely winced and used her left leg as a support before throwing a haymaker to the side of Miyako's head. "Blocking Old Man Shin will set him off. Winning the council seat is one thing but if I seriously try to go for Mizukage, how many members of the Church will die? I can't be everywhere at once Miyako! I can't spiritually help my people and fight Shin at the same time!" Shirayuri was still young, she hadn't even come close to finding a suitor and the longer she remained in the Church was the longer she realized having a family of her own wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to minister to the people and serve them as a High Shepherd. How could she defend an entire village and run a Church at the same time? It wasn't possible. Deep down Shirayuri felt as though her sister was asking something far more important of her. The mere thought of it caused her to step forward again jutting out her elbow and trying to slam it into her chest to knock the kunoichi backwards.

"You're asking me to choose..." Shirayuri looked into Miyako's eyes. The words were said coldly. Kirigakure needed her but how best could she serve them? "Kirigakure needs me. But what do they need me to be? A military commander or a spiritual leader? You want me to choose Miyako...and you know I can't do that" It was the god-honest truth. As talented as the young girl was she did not feel up the challenge of taking on the responsibilities as both High Shepherd of Kirigakure and Mizukage. The subject had been broached between her and the current High Shepherd of the village. His answer was cryptic but contained truth.

When the Mist is upon you, you don't get to choose whose hand you hold and how you hold it.

Kirigakure was a complex village. A place where people longed for blood but fought in the name of peace. A village where they reviled in their sin yet still somehow craved redemption. They wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Far be it from a Shepherd to judge though. Shirayuri would need to lead them somehow. Her Church was seen as a strange cult to many. She would need to find to take their hands and guide them through the Mist. They might squirm, they might protest, they might yank their hand back but leaving them behind wasn't her decision to make. She would not move forward until she had them both in her hands. The most loyal of religious acolytes and the most stubborn of sinners. Anyone who try to cut her off from them with malicious intent would be destroyed without mercy. She swore these things to herself and yet...

"I can't do it Miyako. I can't be both. I'm a healer not a warrior"

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The Terumi Family Complex Aug 11, 2015 16:40:36 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 11, 2015 16:40:36 GMT -8

[Le Flashback Mode On!!!!]

Shirayuri's stance was that of an amateur boxer. It was the best she could do really as the girl wasn't very good with physical combat. Miyako insisted on the sparring session as they could fight on an somewhat even playing field without having to rely on their strengths. The younger sister was much more frail and physically unfit than her older sister and she had the bruises to prove it. The goth was wearing mesh (her favorite fabric), black shorts, and ninja scandals. The intricate application of make-up was missing from her coutenance only because Miyako would go out of her way to muck it up as she always did when they fought. Although Shirayuri couldn't help but put a thin line of black lipstick on her lips if only so that she could have something to match with her raven dark hair. It was far from her more elaborate choice of attires but it fit for the occasion. Her eyes stayed on Miyako's core watching every detail of her sister's body for the slightest twinge of muscle. Miyako's basic distraction technique wouldn't work now that the kunoichi was far older and wiser. She preferred Genjutsu but was more than capable of holding her own with her bare hands now that she was a Jounin. What through her off was not some juvenile Taijutsu trick but her sister's bold comment.

"No" Shirayuri said adamantly. It was a subject that had come up often between them. As well as between her, the Clan and the Church. She was a master of Genjutsu and a fearsome opponent to even the strongest in Kirigakure. She had recently accepted the title of Low Shepherd and was studying the Water Element under the tutelage of a Church leader. It wasn't a question of capability, it was a question of respect.

"I can serve the Mist without starting a Civil War..." Shirayuri spoke but kept her eyes on her sister's movement adjusting her body accordingly and inching towards Miyako as she did. It would be a quick series of jabs, they wouldn't hurt a lot but if she could get Miyako off balance then there might be some hope that she wouldn't be at the receiving end of an ass whooping. The Low Shepherd breathed calmly as she felt the Mist encroaching on them both metaphysically and literally. "Old Man Shin and most of the council don't see a problem. But if we talk to them, if we can get them to sit down with the Church then may-" Shirayuri didn't finish her words. It was a pipe dream at this point. The vandalization of shrines, the lynching of priests, and the overall anti-Church platforms of Shin did the talking. He vowed to ramp up the Bloody Mist's traditions not gradually phase them out. The time for talking was at an end and Shirayuri knew that as well as she knew that Miyako liked to make the first move.

"It doesn't matter if I should be or not. Making a bid for it will only make things worst, its better to try and appeal to the common people to demand reforms rather than taking over village"

Last Edit: Aug 11, 2015 16:41:42 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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The Terumi Family Complex Aug 11, 2015 15:30:45 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 11, 2015 15:30:45 GMT -8

Shirayuri closed her eyes as she shuddered. She had put most of her graduating class to sleep. It would be painless she told herself. They'd go to sleep and wake up in the Pure World. The young girl remembered forming the seals and executing a series of illusions, those that refused to fall unconscious were filled with the sudden desire to turn their blade on someone else rather than the quiet girl in the corner holding a seal. She stared as they wrecked havoc on each other completely oblivious to the fact that she had not yet even born a single scar. Those who slept had their throats slit as gently as she could manage but even if the throes of blissful illusion they gargled and awoke in a fury as the pain sent them back into reality just before their deaths. There was no such thing as a "clean kill". That is what the Academy instructors had told them before the graduation ceremony. The Bloody Mist was called the Bloody Mist for a reason. No matter how hard you tried your fellow classmates would bleed and their deaths would be agonizingly painful. No one in the Academy had the finesse to achieve a kill with minimal cruelty and bloodshed. The Council knew this and encouraged the slaughter as a means of psychological conditioning. Shirayuri had been audited countless times and she had audited hundreds yet the trauma that their collective conscious had endured could not be healed so easily.

"I remember" she said as a single tear dropped from her eye. It ruined the mascara but she didn't care about her make-up at a time like this. She wiped it instantly. No Kage, not even a religious one was afforded the luxury of tears. Least of all the Mizukage. She needed to be strong for this village.

The Seven Swordsman were the worst of the worst. Chosen from among those who had killed the most number of their classmates. They were renown for their brutality and savagery in warfare. Children, pregnant women, the elderly...it didn't matter to them. There were said to engage in rituals in so depraved that the Church had no choice to openly condemn them even in its earliest days. Shirayuri didn't like to liken the minds of animals to men. A man's mind would always be superior but it could be corrupted. "They were worse than dogs. They were demons". The Seven Swordsmen's weapons were a sight to behold and Shirayuri had been raised to fear them. But with the light of the Church backing her she felt no fear, only righteous anger. Some of the Seven Swordsmen laid down their arms when Shirayuri had become Mizukage. Only two...and a half. The third being split by his comrades for bowing down to a Witch. The other four went to war against House Terumi, the Church, and their supporters. Two of which were killed in combat and the other two remained in the asylum driven utterly insane.

Shirayuri had dreaded growing up ever since she heard about the graduation ceremony. She dreaded having to kill her best friends, she dreaded having to kill other people period. But even as father's spirit as a warrior perished with his wife, he was adamant that the two would become powerful kunoichi. The Terumi did not accept failure and Shirayuri feared his temper more than she feared her classmates. But in time fear would be replaced with faith. The faith that after all was said and done, humanity would change. The Adversary and his followers would be defeated and mankind was ascend into the stars. Man would become a God once more and he'd rule the universe with his spirit brothers for eternity. It seemed like the stark raving of a lunatic but it kept her going when she needed it most. In the mean time, there was a lot to do and little time to do it. The sisters had gotten their far together only by doing what was necessary. "We did what we had to do to put a stop to them. I don't regret any of it."

Last Edit: Aug 11, 2015 16:05:21 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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The Terumi Family Complex Aug 11, 2015 14:41:41 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 11, 2015 14:41:41 GMT -8

Shirayuri couldn't help but smile. Humility was the mark of a good priest in the eyes of the Church. She was by far the most skilled user of Genjutsu in the entirety of the Hidden Mist and still retained the elements of Fire and Water Release which she had yet to perfect. The second eldest Terumi daughter had always been good at deceit and trickery but she loathed using it to destroy other people. Unfortunately in the ninja world such demands were not only common their fulfillment was a necessity. Shirayuri knew that father would be proud of her accomplishments but for some reason hearing that her big sister was proud filled her with more joy than anything else at the moment. The Mizukage blushed but shook the feeling off almost as quickly as it came. She remained stoic and raised an eyebrow at Miyako's playful comment. It certainly contained elements of truth as much as she hated to admit it. Now that she was the military leader of the village she had learned that decisive action was required but prior to that Shirayuri was quite naive. Even when the old coot had marked her a deranged "Witch of the Wetlands", Shirayuri wanted to beleive that he could be a good Kage if only he'd let the Church guide him.

It took Miyako, the Terumi Clan, and the Church's leadership to convince her otherwise. However most of the credit had to go to Miyako for consistently pressuring her sister to live up to her talents. Miyako worked Shirayuri in a way that no auditor or guide could. She played on her sense of justice and downplayed her longing for mercy and cooperation between the Old Guard and the Church. It took time but when all was said and done the Clan was united behind her for the position of Mizukage. The council could not stop then and nor can the various lords and barons around the Land of the Water. The victory was inevitable but the cost came at the price of so many minds lost. Some say there is an asylum underneath the Somatology Laboratory that contains the men that had opposed them via more violent means. Their minds utterly dashed as they convulsed in a fleshy shell that was as alien to them as they had been to the Church. Shirayuri and the Church took no pride in what they had to do. Those men were dangerous and sick. Many of them were directly responsible for a laundry list of crimes under the Bloody Mist and Shirayuri believed mercy extended to only those who were repentant. Yet, despite her reluctance in what she had done, the Mist seemed to love it. It was proof that the Church and their new Mizukage weren't soft. The street cred had been "earned" in some sense although there were others that remained unimpressed. It was this silent reflection that caused her to pause in answering Miyako.

"You're right" she said with a sad smile. "I never could have done any of this without you. Even when we faced off against the Seven Swordsmen. I didn't think I could do it..you know, that thing" She was of course referring to the institutionalization of many of the organization's senior members who had chosen to fight for the Old Guard. Their minds had been put to the metaphysical torch so to speak. Whilst Miyako ensured that if or whenever the brains recovered they would have few limbs with which to move. They wouldn't be a factor in the new village that was to be created. "But what we were up against. Those people, I didn't want to hurt them. But I would never let them continue destroying generations of shinobi with their wickedness". It was a somber statement but a true one. Shirayuri firmly believed them to be lost and under the sway of the Adversary. A mind was a terrible thing to waste but better it be destroyed than it be used to inflict misery on another. "You remember it right? The days of the Bloody Mist" Shirayuri didn't want to poison the atmosphere with such memories at this point she was speaking almost hypnotically as she had horrid flashbacks to the carnage of her Academy graduation ceremony.

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The Terumi Family Complex Aug 10, 2015 18:23:16 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 10, 2015 18:23:16 GMT -8

Shirayuri didn't like to think about death. It was the anti-thesis to consciousness, life, and everything that made the mind what it was. The truth was when it came to the issue of life and death, the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist had few answers. The Book of Hope mentioned the Pure World but only in passing. Some speculated that the Pure World was the Godly reality that man had lived before the commission of the Great Crime. Yet, the Church officially maintained an honest opinion of uncertainty. When asked by the faithful if one's loved ones were in a better place the High Shepherd of Kirigakure gave the honest answer she was capable of giving someone: "I don't know". The Church taught that when the time for ascension was near, humanity would be able to cooperate and unravel the mysteries of this reality. The Mist of the world would become familiar and with it the mysteries of life and death. Until such time the Church would minister to the living minds so that they may know peace while they are conscious.

The two arrived at the Terumi Complex. It was a grand structure befitting one of the most noble houses in the entire village. It extended beyond Miyako and Shirayuri to include a number of cousins, uncles, and in-laws who thought it prudent to marry into such an ancient family. The family graveyard was quiet but others had been there. The flowers and offerings were evidence that their parents commanded respect in the Clan's affairs. Miyako remarked that it had been a long time since they had passed and it was the truth. Shirayuri had thrown herself into propagating the faith but after many auditing sessions she had come to terms with the fact that Latter-Day Rising Mist was her way of filling the void that they left inside. Shirayuri placed an arm over her sister's shoulder as they faced their parents together.

What would they say?

Father did not approve of Miyako's sullen behavior after mother's death and he abhorred the "cult" that Shirayuri had joined at a young age. He had done his best after mom's death but the truth was that the tragedy had broken him. His skill as a ninja suffered and many in the Bloody Mist thought him and his household as an easy mark. Miyako proved them wrong. Shirayuri hardly remembered their mother but from what she could surmise from her auditing sessions, the woman was a beautiful paragon of charity and love. She had brought the best out of their father and if there any doubt where Shirayuri got her good nature from it was no doubt that it came from her mother. Shirayuri would like to think that Mom would have approved of her finding solace in the Church even if their father had hardened his heart to its odd ways. Either way, both of them would be proud that their children had become successful shinobi with their second eldest daughter as Mizukage of the entire village. When Shirayuri was given the position she swore that the days of the Bloody Mist would end. No longer would a weak man's family be considered spoils for the stronger. The Mizukage had made headway but tradition was harder to fight then people. No matter how powerful she and her sister was, their father's failure to protect them when they needed him most cast a mark of shame on their branch of the family. No one dared said it openly lest they face Miyako's wrath but many thought it as the sisters walked into a family meeting. It didn't matter to Shirayuri for their father had fought with honor and their mother passed bringing new life into the world. She was proud of them and always would be. She squeezed her sister's shoulder tightly to reassure her that all would be okay.

"They always loved us. To the very end."

Last Edit: Aug 10, 2015 18:24:17 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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The Rusty Kunai Aug 10, 2015 15:26:23 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 10, 2015 15:26:23 GMT -8

Miyako didn't say a word. She didn't have to for Shirayuri to know that today of all days was not one where it would be appropriate to audit and probe at her older sister's mind. The two walked in silence as they made their way out of the Uradana District. Shirayuri wanted to tell Miyako that everything would be alright. That she would join the Church as a new convert. She'd allow her mind to be audited and cleared of the traumas that lurked within its deepest recesses. She'd receive the priesthood and serve her community righteously. Shirayuri wanted to tell her big sister all these things and she usually did. But no on this day. Today there would be silence interrupted by the occasional reminiscing on times of old. With the slums behind them, the siblings moved on to the Terumi Household without another word.

[EXIT]

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The Rusty Kunai Aug 9, 2015 21:45:27 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 9, 2015 21:45:27 GMT -8

Shirayuri smiled as the polite young lady excused herself either out of fear or contempt for the Terumi siblings. The Mizukage noted that the person she had mistaken for a female was not a member of the Kiri congregation. It saddened her to see a lost soul so young in a place like this. It couldn't be helped that Kirigakure's tradition as the Bloody Mist had created an entire generation of untrustworthy and rather sadistic individuals. Despite her sincere longing for peace on Earth under the banner of kindness, happiness, and service she bore a near constant look of ill will towards others. As off putting as it was, it could not hold a candle to the infamous Terumi temper. A disposition so hot it could boil through a man's flesh. Shirayuri wanted no such unpleasantness but when she thought of her sister she grew concerned for her mental wellness. Miyako relaxed a bit now that they were together but her tone retained its sharp quality. Shirayuri listened amicably before responding.

"I'm sure she could." the Mizukage agreed. If the girl had not yet left she would curtly add "It was nice to meet you too"

Shirayuri didn't ask the girl's name because it would be unnecessary to do so. When the time came they'd meet again. All who walk through the Mist be they guide or child feel the need to walk through the unknown together. Instead the younger Terumi would turn to her sister and correct her. "I'm never lost in this village Miyako. This is my home. From the seediest bar to the highest Church" Shirayuri took her sister by the hand and began to tug her in the opposite direction of Shiori. "I took some time off so that we could go see mother and father." While Shirayuri's words were true in her heart she would much rather continue the conversation elsewhere. While the two walked the sounds of the slum could be heard everywhere. Whores being beaten by pimps, junkies babbling about flying on the tears of a Kitsune, and bones being broken in alleyway street fights. The district needed to be cleaned up and only the Church was equipped to do so. But it had not gotten to its position of power out of ignorance, it knew that it needed to bide its time. The people of Kirigakure had come to love the madness and violence that made the Bloody Mist what it was. Even the non-shinobi got a sick thrill out of betting on which academy students would be left standing after the annual graduation massacre. Laissere faire moral policies and corruption had become not just a way of life but a source of pride for a village that thought itself the roughest of the rough. The Church needed to leave them alone for the time being. Those who sought help would find it. Those who sought forgiveness would find it. Those who sought peace would be given the tools to fight for it. And those who enjoyed inflicting misery on others? Well the Fair Game Doctrine existed for a reason. Shirayuri didn't like to think about that though. Uradana would be cleaned up in its own time until then the Church would operate as though not too much had changed. As time went on the Mist would rise and with it the consciousness of every individual living in Kiri.

As the two walked away, Shirayuri would be eager to hear Miyako vent. The Jounin was not drunk but she had been drinking meaning that there was a lot on her mind. The goth was affectionately called "Little Cat" by her older sister. She had always been a quiet girl that preferred listening over talking. She disappeared when not needed and showed up when one wanted genuine companionship. Shirayuri's demeanor gave off a sense of mild disinterest yet she was one of the few Bloody Mist era shinobi that had retained a sense of decency and affection.

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The Rusty Kunai Aug 9, 2015 16:42:48 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 9, 2015 16:42:48 GMT -8

On this particular day Shirayuri would have kept a particularly keen eye on her older sister but the duties of being an Mizukage were an never ending stream of toil. In addition to being the supreme military commander of Kirigakure's armed forces she was also a person of spiritual significance. She was a High Shepherd in the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist and heir to the Sage's dream of human ascension. The goth's responsibilities were not only political but also spiritual for the village was sick after years of enduring corruption and savagery. She had been busy throughout the day doing an assortment of tasks ranging from ensuring the Church's supplies had been ordered to auditing priests. When she managed to get enough time alone, she slipped out of her Mizukage clothes and entered into the Uradana District. Her appearance was far from regal and instead gave off the ethos of a depressed young girl. An layer of mesh tightly hugged her skin from the knees to her neck. She wore a simple black dress over it that stressed her undeveloped female form. While it reached her knees it didn't hinder her movement in the slightest but by the way she moved one would probably assume she wasn't in a rush.

There were a few places that Miyako would go on a day like this. None of them were nice places to visit, especially if you were from a noble family like the Terumi. Shirayuri didn't want to chide her big sister as they were a traditional lot where the youngest followed the eldest. Unfortunately Miyako's tendency for trouble had forced Shirayuri to step up and remind her that she ought conduct herself less like a common drunk and more like the eldest daughter of House Terumi. Out of instinct she chose to visit the Rusty Kunai and as she drew near the commotion inside told her that it was a fairly rough place to get a drink. It wasn't until Miyako left the establishment with some girl that the Mizukage's mood changed from concerned to annoyed. The Church frowned upon casual sexual encounters and try as she might to persuade Miyako against it, Shirayuri could not convince her elder sister that it was a poor lifestyle choice. Yet she had always assumed that Miyako had the decency to keep her sexual proclivities to consenting adults. The way she circled around the young girl forced Shirayuri to enter on the scene with a greater sense of urgency and alertness. Keeping conscious of her movements in relation to the probably scared young girl and seeking not to offend her temperamental sister, she walked up behind Miyako just after the elder sister had circled around the petite genin exactly once.

Shirayuri had caught the tail end of the conversation but she had enough sense to surmise that Miyako had been thrown out of the establishment for one reason or another. The child's intentions seemed pure although awfully precocious but Miyako's distrustful ways couldn't be helped given that she had yet to accept the guiding force of the Church into her heart. The suspicion was vocalized as Miyako demanded to know why the child considered her an angry drunk. Shirayuri spoke up just as Miyako had demanded an answer.

"She's probably just lost Miyako. When we see people lost in a Mist, its in our nature to try and guide them to safety" Shirayuri spoke in a low tone with a voice eerily similar to that of her sister albeit with a soft and gentle touch. She put a hand on her sister's shoulder and gave her a quick embrace. "I should have known you'd be here..." Despite the affection in her actions her face did not seem amicable. It was as though she were in perpetual contempt at the situation but this was not something she could help.

Shirayuri looked at the young girl that had become the object of Miyako's curiosity.

"Hello"

Last Edit: Aug 9, 2015 16:44:08 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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Kirigakure Village Gates | The Tidal Walls Aug 9, 2015 15:59:31 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 9, 2015 15:59:31 GMT -8

Kirigakure's village gates are known as the Tidal Wall as they stretch high into the Heavens to protect the Mist from the waters below it. The village's location is a well guarded secret, kept from the outside world in a thick mist that stretches miles from the actual village itself. The Tidal Walls are large but almost completely shrouded and made invisible by the surrounding weather. The walls stretch several hundred feet into the air with ANBU sentry posted at the top and bottom. The shinobi manning the Tidal Walls are all specifically chosen and if one seeks entry without belonging to the village they must have proper documentation in order to actually enter. Most people use boats to travel to the front of the Kiri gates giving the guards a decent view of all those who approach. 

NPCs are played by the Mizukage only

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Kirigakure Mission Station Aug 8, 2015 22:58:44 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 8, 2015 22:58:44 GMT -8

The Kirigakure Mission Station is a large gothic building with a surprisingly well lit interior and marble floor. There is a large bulletin board with D-Rank missions available to be taken. If a shinobi would like to take one of these all they must do is post here IC and tell the clerk they plan on taking on the mission. C-Rank and B-Rank missions are kept on file at the building but require an administrator present while viewing them IC upon which they may accept the mission. A and S rank missions are not written down per se but are rather passed along to higher level shinobi via intelligence officers (NPCs) who working in the building. If you would like to take one of these missions approach the clerk and present proof of rank. An intelligence officer will speak with you briefly about the missions available although the details are usually given directly by the Mizukage herself. The area is basic yet beautifully reflects the religious overtones found across the village.

D-Rank Missions

The People Need Hope!

Rank: D

Description: The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist wants people to know that there is hope in the world for all those who need it. Walk around the village handing out copies of its main religious manuscript "The Book of Hope" said to have been written by a great Sage that restored his Church in the Land of Waters. Give out at least fifteen copies to passerby on the street, people who are at home, shops, and other centers of civilian activity.

Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times

Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

The Bloody Mist No More

Rank: D

Description: Civilians still have archaic and poor notions of what the Village Hidden in the Mist truly stands for, They remember the days where children were kidnapped from their homes and forced to participate in bloody Academy exercises that culminated in the worst graduation traditions in the history of the known shinobi world. Distribute pamphlets emphasizing that such barbarianism will no longer be tolerated by the Kirigakure government. These pamphlets will include positive points of information about what the village is trying to do to protect its citizenry, the Water Country's interests, and the peace in the world. Hand out at least fifteen pamphlets!

Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times

Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Scared Straight!

Rank: D
Description: The orphans and street urchins in the Uradana District are almost always up to no good. Whether its scheming, robbing, or simply hanging out with the criminal elements in the Land of the Water they are heading down a dark path. Reach out to them and warn them of the horrors that await if they continue their despicable behavior. Also try to inspire them to become shinobi if you see any potential.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Church Supplies!
Rank: D
Description: The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist is always in need for supplies for the large gathering that comes on Sunday. Go around town picking up bulk orders of incense, communion wafers, and fresh water for the weekly rites hosted at the Church of the Great Shepard. Ensure that the priests have everything they need so that this Sunday will be a good celebration.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Lab Supplies!
Rank: D
Description: The Kirigakure Laboratory is always churning out new research for the betterment of mankind. Go around town and help pick up bulk orders of generic lab equipment that they will always need. Grab some beakers, test tubes, scales, basic chemicals, and other miscellaneous items and bring it to the Laboratory.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Poverty Aid
Rank: D
Description: For far too long Uradana has been a cesspool of crime driven by not enough opportunity and desperate low income individuals. Alleviate their poverty through the Church's ambitious community service projects that include job training, soup kitchens, reconstruction projects, and health clinics. You can hop aboard any of these projects and you can be a bit creative with how you choose to make the lives of those living in the slums a little bit better. As long as you aid in a community service project approved by one of the NPCs. (Played by the Mizukage)
Restrictions: This can only be done 50 times after which point the district will have been transformed.
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo

The Pound
Rank: D
Description: Strays are an occasional problem in Kirigakure but rather than put them down the village has set up a few pounds where strays can hopefully find a new home. Catch ten stray animals roaming around the village and bring them to the Pound so they can be cared for until they find a new home.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Clean Up!
Rank: D
Description: The new parks around Kirigakure need to have there litter picked up and the trash taken out. Clear the area of any rodents or park creatures that don't belong. In addition to cleaning up the park(s), you must also place some new literature about the park's history and attractions on benches throughout the area.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Auditing 101
Rank: D
Description: Get audited! Kirigakure encourages the mental wellness of all of its shinobi. Seek out an auditor NPC (played by the Mizukage) and have your first auditing session. The first three audits are open to not only Church members but those curious about how to improve their mental acuity and concentration abilities through one of the most powerful forms of therapy available in the world today.
Restrictions: May only be completed three times.
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

Fresh Fish!
Rank: D
Description: There is always a steady stream of fish coming into the village and the fisherman need help unloading their cargo and transporting it to the various markets around Kiri. Help the transporters and their clients with carrying fish from the gates to the marketplace.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

C-Rank Missions

Fight Club!
Rank: C
Description: Kirigakure's Uradana District is known for its seedy underground boxing clubs. They force young children to fight until exhaustion while making money on the subsequent bets. Break up three of these fighting clubs and confiscate the cash. Take any wounded children to the infirmary so that they might feel better.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Wogs Gone Wild!
Rank: C
Description: There are those that have attempted to make their own counter-feit Churches based off of Kiri's one true faith. These false Churches and prophets are known as Wogs by the Church and their dissemination of heresy is not to be tolerated. They have erroneously changed The Book of Hope to suit their own agenda and they insist on vilifying the one true Church established by the Great Shepherd. Break up these religious anarchists and put a end to their smears with violence if necessary. Many of these quasi-Church activists are con-men looking to make a quick buck from those too meek to enter into the Church's loving embrace.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

No Drugs!
Rank: C
Description: Peddlers of strong substances not approved of by the Church have made their way into the Mist. They partake in substances that are addictive, strong, and create adverse effects on the mind. Find them, arrest them, and destroy their products. Take any addicts you find in their dens to a mental wellness treatment clinic. Convince at least one of the addicts to commit to long term treatment and to attend weekly sessions with either a Guide or Auditor.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Sea Critters!
Rank: C
Description: While there are many harmless fish that swim around the Land of Waters, there are some critters that are incredibly dangerous. These sharks, lamprey, giant squid, giant jellyfish, piranha, and barracuda present a nuisance to those who wish to engage in commerce around the Isles of Mist. Travel to five different locations and aid ships in fending off sea critters that are a bit more vicious than normal.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Pirates!
Rank: C
Description: There are many small pirate ships that dock off the coasts of many Mist islands. They lie in wait under the cover of the Mist to rob and attack the passerby. Protect cargo ships from the pirates that frequently try their luck on the most helpless of Water citizens. While the pirates pose a threat to civilians they are fairly weak in comparison to even the most basic of ninja and should either flee or put up minimal resistance after their attempt at capturing or sinking their target ship has failed.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Seven Swordsman Aptitude Test!
Rank: C
Description: The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist is looking for a new generation of Seven Swordsman committed to the principles of leadership, expert swordsmanship, and peace. Take an test to see if you are what we are looking for! Visit the testing center outside of the Tower of Trials. Take a written test administered by one of the proctors (Done by an NPC played by the Mizukage) if you pass the Exam you will receive a ticket to fight against a Church sponsored swordsman to test your abilities (another NPC played by the Mizukage). If your skills are shown to be worthy. The Church will keep your record on file and consider you to have enough aptitude to join the elite group. From there they will be in further contact.
Restrictions: Only open to those with a Fighting Style directly related to Swordplay. Can only be done once.
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Interrogate!
Rank: C
Description: There are plenty of low level criminal networks operating around the village. When we catch them and put them in jail many refuse to talk or give up the myriad of contacts and higher lever chiefs than run the criminal organizations that can make civilian life hell. Make them talk! You are able to use whatever tools that are at your disposal as a shinobi whether it be physical violence or psychological coercion. The use of enhanced interrogation techniques has been sanctioned by the Church's [REDACTED].
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Note: The Church officially denies the existence of any "Fair Game Doctrine".

Guard the Donations!
Rank: C
Description: A great deal of money is donated to the Church by the faithful so that we can continue to provide the spiritual and social services necessary to maintain the people's mental wellness. Every now and again small shrines or even the Church of the Great Shepherd receive a tip off that someone is looking to break into a holy site and steal the money that has been donated. Show up at any random Church or building operated by the Church and secure the funds when they are transferred, they are usually cat burglars or even dim witted bandits who wish to try their luck against the village's benefactors.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Help the Hopeless!
Rank: C
Description: The Center for Mental Wellness cares not only for those with minor mental blocks but also those with the most severe of disorders including those with low functioning autism, criminally insane individuals, and those traditionally deemed unfit for general societal functioning. You must restrain or otherwise guard auditors and other psychiatric professionals from these seemingly lost causes. You will be responsible for fending off any attacks and keeping the patient conscious yet under control so that an evaluation may be performed and treatment started.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

Clearing out the Sewers !
Rank: C
Description: Many gangs have criminal meetings under the sewers of the village. You will assist one Jounin in helping clear out the tunnels of such criminal scum. These lost souls plot actions not only against their fellow man but against the Church whose very existence is a gift by the Great Shepherd to a lost race of people. You will infiltrate the sewers and scout out at least three potential meeting points for criminal elements and report to a Jounin. The Jounin will then be tasked with clearing out the sewers completely.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 50 EXP and 1000 Ryo.

B-Rank Missions

Seven Swordsman Interview!
Rank: B
Description: At this point the Church has been keenly interested in your competency in swordplay as well as your knowledge about swordsmanship. If you accept this mission you will have taken the first official step in joining one of the most elite squads in the history of the Mist Village. There are three rounds of interviews each constructed so as to test the psychological profile of the individual attempting to join the Seven Swordsman. We look for absolute loyalty to the Church and her village, an intense focus, a mind resistant to brainwashing, and most importantly stable moral character. Each round will be conducted by an interviewer with a strong psychology background (NPCs played by the Mizukage). The interview ends with a final audit by the Mizukage herself!
Restrictions: Must have successfully completed the Aptitude Test Mission. May only be done once
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5,000 Ryo

Be Aware!
Rank: B
Description: We must know the inner workings of a village for our own safety and security. Gather information about the politics and status of a Hidden Village. Either through espionage or simply lending an ear when a foreigner is venting. Keep your eyes and ears open to get valuable information. Detail what you have learned and hand it to the Mizukage personally for your reward. If the information is deemed useful then you shall be rewarded.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times for each ninja village.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

Where Are They!?
Rank: B
Description: Find the locations of the other major Hidden Villages. Scout the surrounding areas as a traveler and bring back intelligence on where their village can be found and what the general defenses surrounding the military installation. Remember knowledge is power!
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times for each ninja village.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

Take out a Gang Leader
Rank: B
Description: Urdana is home to many petty criminals that victimize the people in the Land of Water. Most of these are nothing more than nuisances created by decades of failed policy and spiritual starvation. However some of these individuals are so insidious that their actions are said by Church leadership to be guided by the Adversary. Their targeted assassination is sanctioned under the purvey of [REDACTED]. These gang leaders are a dime a dozen and operate outside as well as inside the village. The organizations that sustain them are numerous so as part of the Church's new tough on crime policy you are instructed to work with one other shinobi of Chuunin level or above to get the job done. Your contact in the field will be an informant and intelligence operative that will give you a different target each time (NPC played by the Mizukage)
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

Note: The Church officially denies the existence of any "Fair Game Doctrine".

Big Bad Creatures!
Rank: B
Description: The monsters that hide deep under the Land of Waters are not restricted to the occasional shark. Megaldon sized predators with a particularly nasty taste for human flesh have been spotted around the borders of the Country itself. Travel to its outskirts and slay three mega-sized sea monsters. The beasts rarely come up but when they do their attacks are so vicious and quick that they rarely leave time for the village to send help. Thus their eradication or at the very least suppression require proactive effort. Stir up three beasts and slay them or at least badly damage them so that they are of no threat to the citizens of Water Country.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

Massive Donation!
Rank: B
Description: The Church is constantly in need of excess funds with which to serve its flock and strengthen the village just as the Mists around us protect us from the Adversary. Secure an surplus fund of 20,000 Ryo from a source outside of Kirigakure from a PC and give it to directly to the Church's coffers so that it may be added to the village. While the Church frowns on robbery under the principles of the [REDACTED] . It recognizes that the Adversary will use poverty as a weapon against the mind's of men. The ends justify the means.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

Note: The Church officially denies the existence of any "Fair Game Doctrine".

The Priests Need an Escort
Rank: B
Description: It is common that priests travel across the Land of Water to minister to the minds of men who have not yet heard the Great Shepherd's gospel. Unfortunately these areas can contain anti-Church elements and those who backed the Bloody Mist in all its tyranny. Protect a member of the auditor or guide priesthoods (NPCs played by the Mizukage) from minor Blood Mist Loyalists groups who are active in the remote areas of the Mist.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

Assassinate!
Rank: B
Description: It is said that the leader of a small Bloody Mist Loyalist organization is still operating on the very fringes of the Land of Water's borders. The leader is said to be fairly powerful and an ex-graduate of the Academy butchering tradition whose ideology is so wicked it is a danger to those who seek peace and tranquility. The leader is considered to be a violent terrorist skilled in Suiton with the intent to destroy the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist and those who serve it. You must assassinate him and leave no trace that the Church was behind this activity. Threats to the faithful are caused by the Adversary and subject to the penalties listed in relation to the [REDACTED].
Restrictions: May only be completed once.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo

Note: The Church officially denies the existence of any "Fair Game Doctrine".

Miyako's Special Request
Rank: B
Description: The Mizukage's sister Miyako needs your help with something and its probably pretty important.
Restrictions: Can only be completed once.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo. Special treat from Miyako?!

Join the Priesthood!
Rank: B
Description: Do you have what it takes to join the elite priesthood of the world's newest and greatest religious movement? See the Mizukage for details on starting the process of joining either the Auditor Priesthood or Guide Priesthood.
Restrictions: Can only be completed once. Must be a member of the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist.
Rewards: 75 EXP and 5000 Ryo.

A-Rank Missions

Samples!
Rank: A
Description: The study and cataloging of the world's various Kekkei Genkai (including Advanced Releases) and Dojutsu is of supreme medical importance. Kirigakure's Laboratory has requested that the Church field this mission despite ethical objections that the Church has. While not covered under [REDACTED] the harvesting of DNA samples from shinobi with KKG is considered to be sanctioned under [REDACTED]. Find a donor or volunteer a shinobi from outside of Kirigakure to donate a sizable transplant worthy KKG sample for the Mist's Laboratory. Any pain inflicted on those unwilling to part with their gifts is minuscule compared to the thousands of lives saved via research and development.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times. Just don't get caught or die!
Rewards: 100 EXP and 10,000 Ryo.

Note: The Church officially denies the existence of any "Fair Game Doctrine" or "Code of Righteous Triage".

Secret Techniques!
Rank: A
Description: Steal a hidden technique from another village and add it to Kirigakure's own knowledge. While theft may seem contrary to the Church's teachings it is important to note that Ninjutsu and all techniques are now "owned" they are merely borrowed instruments of harmony that have been weaponized by the Adversary. These techniques belong to the Great Shepherd who taught humanity how to use them and the Great Shepherd's authority is represented by the restoration of the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist. In other words, these "village exclusive" jutsu are really just the property of the Church. Their theft is sanctioned on the condition that it is done so without being able to be traced back to the village.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times from multiple villages. Just don't get caught or die!
Rewards: 100 EXP and 10,000 Ryo.

Conversion!
Rank: A
Description: Successfully convert a PC of another village to the faith.
Restrictions: Must be a priest in the Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist with access to select jutsu.
Rewards: 100 EXP and 10,000 Ryo.

Seven Swordsman Final Test!
Rank: A
Description: At this point you are being seriously considered for a position of the Seven Swordsman of the Mist. You must battle six of Kiri's finest swordsmen who have opted to train rather than join the organization. Each of the six is a master of a different form of sword play and are considered to be incredibly powerful (NPCs played by the Mizukage). There is a very real risk of death in fighting these masters as the examination process is both grueling and difficult. You must defeat them but may not kill them although they may do the same against you. The Church is looking for swordsman so skilled they could defeat an opponent without necessarily resorting to lethal force although crippling the instructor is allowed.
Restrictions: Must have successfully completed the Aptitude Test and Interviews.
Rewards: 100 EXP and 10,000 Ryo.

Broker A Deal!
Rank: A
Description: If you are interested in this mission you must see the Mizukage in person. Assist the Mizukage in brokering some sort of treaty with another nation. The circumstances will vary and more specific details will be given by the Mizukage when you approach her about it. Whether the deal be a security agreement, a trade pact, or a treaty its successful signage by the Mizukage and counter-party will be considered a mission of historic importance.
Restrictions: None/May be completed multiple times from multiple villages. Just don't get caught or die!
Rewards: 100 EXP and 10,000 Ryo.

S-Rank Missions

Strange Things!
Rank: S
Description: Strange phenomena are being reported. See the Mizukage for permission to investigate.
Restrictions: Can only be done once.
Rewards: 250 EXP and 20,000 Ryo.

Last Edit: Aug 8, 2015 23:15:39 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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Shirayuri Terumi [FINISHED] Aug 8, 2015 13:40:09 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 8, 2015 13:40:09 GMT -8

Fixed again

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Shirayuri Terumi [FINISHED] Aug 8, 2015 12:30:14 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 8, 2015 12:30:14 GMT -8

Fixed

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The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist [WIP] Aug 7, 2015 17:04:35 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 7, 2015 17:04:35 GMT -8

The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist
"When the Sky Falls, The Mists shall Rise"

Matsujitsu Raijingumisuto no Kyōkai

末日ライジングミストの教会

Translation: Church of the Latter-Day Rising Mist

Overview

The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist is the official religion of Kirigakure no Sato and a predominant political force in the Land of the Mist. It is essentially a shinobi based religious movement centered around achieving mental wellness through spirituality, chakra, and fellowship. The religion originated from the Isles of the Mist and uses its geography and climate for most of its symbols, sacred rites, and mythology. It is known for its emphasis on service, discipline, and devotion to evangelism. While a majority of the citizens living in Kirigakure are a member of the Church, those who are not are still treated with respect and dignity. The faith encompasses a wide range of literature, symbols, history, texts, and leadership positions all of which are deeply intertwined with the military affairs of the Mist village. While the Church was not always this powerful it recognized the importance in ministering to the talented but deeply disturbed genin of the Bloody Mist, in doing so they created a generation of ninja willing and eager to find a spiritual path that could lead humanity to true peace.

Name

The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist was given its name by the Church's forefathers allegedly under the instruction of The Great Shepard that was said to have appeared to them in the Isles of the Mist. He stated that humanity's collective consciousness would rise into the Heavens as the ascended into Godhood just as the Mist eventually will rise from the Land of Water. This ascendancy is the primary aim of all faithful members of the Church. It heralds the coming of peace, tranquility, and absolute cooperation as all minds are cleansed of trauma and restored to glory. This event will happen in the latter days of human existence and so it said that the believers of the Church await the latter days when the Mists rise and humans ascend to the next stage of reality.

Symbol

The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist deeply identifies with the image of the Sun Hidden in the Mist. They see it as a proof that there are bright days ahead of the Mist. The image is usually shown as a circle (representing the Sun) behind three large bars representing the Mist. One bar to the top being slightly out of parallel with the others, representing that the Mist will indeed rise in the latter days.

History

The Church is said to have got its start from two independent but equally minor organizations. The first and oldest were the Mist cults that existed on the fringe islands around the Land of Water. The inhabitants were primitive and versed in a very basic form of Ninjutsu that allowed them to leave among the dense mists that gave them protection but simultaneously threatened their existence on a daily basis. It was said that the cults were unified in that they believed the Mist to be God itself but each thought that they were the chosen tribe to be protected and outlast the others. The second organization was that of a secular psychologist society known as the Rising Thought Order. They had started out as a group of Iroyou-Nin who saw the debilitating effects Genjutsu could have on shinobi and thus dedicated their lives to undoing the damage by studying the mind as a biological component and the effect of Genjutsu on alleviating some of the damage that it had caused. They styled themselves as "Scientists of the Mind" and became a fraternal order that earned them the adoration of few but the distrust of many. The two groups had the building blocks for what would become the Church of the Latter-Day Rising Mist but they had not yet received the final revelation that would change the course of Kiri's destiny.

The first period of contact occurred when a civilized member of one of the many Mist Cults came to the Rising Thought Order. He had been mentally damaged by Genjutsu and through cutting edge science and the application of new Genjutsu Techniques he found himself well after years of therapy. The treatment used would soon become the building blocks for a far more rigorous and allegedly powerful form of therapy known as Auditing. He was so grateful that he joined the Order and managed to convince one of his more primitive tribesman to visit the Order so that they may learn more about the mental acuity of these tribes. The diagnostic tests produced amazing results that turned the Order on its head. It is said that the serenity and fortitude of the Man's mind was so great that he was resistant to several of their most potent Genjutsu. Eager to meet the other Cults, the Order left Kirigakure on a research expedition. They arrived at the Isles and through the use of an interpreter was granted permission to stay for a time. The Mist was thick and the tribes people are said to have taught the Order its secrets over the course of many years, in return the Order showed the more promising primitives how to utilize Genjutsu. With time, the hostile Cults that lived on other islands joined the strange new society that was forming on the very edges of the Land of Water. After awhile, the various Cults of Mist and the Rising Thought Order unified under the banner of a single creed. The Myth of the Appearing is said to have taken place at the first vocal declaration of this creed.

The creed is said to have contained a universal affirmation of the rights of man, a commitment to achieving the mental wellness of every human on the planet, and a vow to destroy all those forces working to keep man ignorant of his true purpose: Unlimited Glory. When boldly read aloud in both tongues the Church maintains that a blinding light struck and the Mists grew parted to reveal a holy figure. The descriptions did not vary and mainly consistently claim it felt as though they were in the presence of a God. He called himself The Great Shepard and proclaimed that they had proven themselves worthy to receive his instruction and re-build the Church that he had founded when man was said to have taken his first step. The Great Shepard led the group to where he had buried the book containing all his teachings many of which confirmed the findings of the Order with regard to the Mind and its relation to the Mist that the tribes lived in. Then he sent away the multitude until three remained. The President of the Rising Thought Order, The Chief of the oldest Mist Cult, and a single shinobi who had arrived not a day before to find the peace and happiness he was denied in the shinobi world. He anointed them High Shepherds and gave them instructions on how his Church should be run and what they ought call themselves. He then disappeared and when he did the Mist returned but far heavier than before. It is said that despite the thickness of the Mist the early Church was in absolute jubilee, they felt safe in its dark almost abysmal enrapture for they knew with certainty that one day it was to be lifted into the Heavens and their minds along with it.

The first Shepherds of the Church were diligent and honest folk. They set about expanding the faith by creating an aggressive evangelization program. They targeted at-risk shinobi youth and those who had seen the horrors of the worst Genjutsu. They were divinely inspired to create a set of Genjutsu that could heal the mind far better than anything they had created before. The Priesthoods were created and then used to minister to the new religious communities created all across the Land of Water. Many of them regarded the Church as subversive or a greedy attempt to secure the money of mad shinobi. The accused the Order of sinking to a new low in using religion as a thinly veiled excuse for operating throughout the Mist with impunity. The early Church members were not only converts but many became martyrs as well as distrust and suspicion in the shinobi world often led to death. Years later as the Church grew and took on young talented shinobi, its ability to defend itself also increased but with its strength came new laws restrictions its operation. The construction of new areas of worship for the faithful were banned and the priests were often violently suppressed especially during the years of the Bloody Mist. The religious persecution of the Church is said to have only made its leadership more resolute in taking complete political control over the village. They saw it as divine right that the birthplace of the world's greatest new faith ought to be able to operate freely and openly. The previous shinobi military government had started with a more conciliatory tone towards shinobi. They allowed a young kunoichi by the name of Shirayuri Terumi to sit in on council meetings as a representative of the Church but yet their pleas for mercy were often ignored. The regime became more brutal and its policies resembled those of the Bloody Mist. The sick tradition of death and carnage seemed to crop up often in the Mist. Shirayuri was a Low Shepard who had been chosen to inherit the position of Koharu Metsuki, the High Shepherd that reigned over Kirigakure. She was talented in both Ninjutsu and Genjutsu and was considered the strongest ninja in the Church and some argued all of the Hidden Village. When the government decided it was time to select a singular military ruler to preside over the village, the Old Guard backed a candidate whose platform included nothing short of the absolute expulsion of the Church from the village and new restrictions on operations in the Land of the Mist.

This was intolerable for even the most pacifists of the Church and they backed Shirayuri as their own candidate. The selection process at the time included a open ballot, the consent of the council to rule, and the blessing of the various Daimyou and his lords across the Water country. The Church's membership made up a little less than half of the village so it would be a tight selection process. Shirayuri took her case to the people in an open, fair, and above all peaceful means. It is rumored that her sister along with the more radical elements in the Church are said to have engaged in intimidation, blackmail, and even violence to secure her victory. Other contend such measures were never used at all or that they were only in response to the more blatant acts of aggression committed by the Old Guard. When all was said and done, Shirayuri was selected to take on the helm of Mizukage at an incredibly young age. There was outrage among those who hated the Church and while a civil war never officially broke out the candidate and renegade members of the Seven Swords of the Mist made an attempt on the new Mizukage's life. The battle was ferocious and it only ended when the rebels were placed in a Genjutsu said to be so severe that it caused permanent brain damage. Seeing that the Church could never be safe as long as it operated outside of the establishment, Shirayuri declared it to be the official religion of the village and its membership soared. Many saw it as divine providence that a man who closely associated with the years of the Bloody Mist was defeated by a Shepherd of the Church. In a matter of months it had become the biggest religion in the Land of Water.

While the Church operates comfortably within Kirigakure it still retains friendly relations with all contacts in the Land of Water. It has a monopoly on the council and more or less controls policy for shinobi affairs under its Fair Game Doctrine. Many in the Church are looking to spread its faith beyond the Water Country into new territories. They hope that the faith can function as a uniting factor among the world's shinobi and are eager to bring happiness and joy to those who seek it. But simultaneously its leadership remembers the days of old. Persecution, warfare, and instability. It states it will serve the needs of the clients that ask for its services but it will also fight for truth, justice, and peace in the world no matter the cost.

Hierarchy

The Church of Latter-Day Rising Mist is a hierarchical organization with members serving at various levels so as to ensure the spiritual needs of the world can be attended to. The hierarchy subscribed to comes from the direct revelation given to the Church founders by The Shepherd. With each increase in rank comes greater responsibility for the members below it, yet the Church also believes that all humans are equal and that its leadership is held to the same standards of the newest of converts.

Convert

This is someone who has just joined the Church. They have made a Covenant with the Church (Shepherd's representatives on Earth) to better themselves and the world under the principles of its doctrine. They receive a Funninjutsu marking their official membership and giving them access to certain abilities. Converts are expected to continue to study the faith, participate in service events, and of course regularly meet with members of the Priesthood.

Priest 

A priest is someone who holds either the Priesthood of the Guide or the Priesthood of the Auditor. They have a special relationship with the Church and their flocks. Priests are to serve their community spiritually, socially, and professionally. All Priests must be able to manipulate chakra as such many are shinobi or retired shinobi. They have taken on a secondary covenant with the Church swearing loyalty to both the faith and leadership, and in return receiving a Seal allowing them to learn and perform jutsu specific to their vocation.

The Dual Priesthoods

The priesthoods are a concept of extreme importance within the Rising Mist faith. The Church teaches that its authority flows from the direct revelation given to it by the Shepherd. As such two priesthoods were instituted by the Sage to attend to the souls and needs of humanity. The priesthood is given to all who sincerely seek to spread the faith and perform its rituals to those in need. The High Priesthood or Priesthood of the Auditor is associated with Yin Release and the Low Priesthood or the Priesthood of the Guide is associated with Yang Release. While they both are essential in healing and ministering to the world of shinobi, the auditors responsibility for healing the mind makes it the primary class when it comes to church affairs. They are far more selective and their tools are much harder to master in comparison to the lesser priesthood. The only requirements for joining the Priesthood is the ability to manipulate chakra and a sincere belief in the five tenants of the faith.

Gaido no Shinken

The Priesthood of the Guide traces its origins to the tribal seers and young men who dedicated their lives to learning how to navigate the mists of the Land of Water. In keeping with the spirit of the first tenant of faith the world's nature as a Mist requires certain people of high character to act as guides. Thus the Priesthood of the Guide seeks to bring vitality, liveliness, and assistance to those navigating the murky nature of this reality. They are bestowed with scrolls detailing various Ninjutsu with which to defend against the Adversary who strikes from the depths of the Mist. They learn to conjure, dispel, and utilize vapors of all kinds, most notably smoke and mist. Guides often as physical therapists, life coaches, and project leaders within the Church. Being the lesser Priesthood they have a closer connection to average Church members and tend to service whole communities rather than just individuals.

Gaido no shinken

The Priesthood of the Auditor traces its origins to the psycho-therapists and secular researchers that have dedicated their lives to understanding the mind and helping others achieve mental wellness. In keeping with the spirit of the second tenent of faith, the Mind is a reflection of the world in that our thoughts, desires, and goals are often cloudy or at the very least contradictory with our actions creating cognitive dissonance. Thus the Priesthood of the Guide seeks to bring understanding, creativity, and clarity to those navigating the murky nature of their own minds. They are bestowed with scrolls detailing various Genjutsu which defend against the Adversary who strikes into the inner recesses of man's mind. They learn to cast, dispel, and engineer illusions of all kinds although their main role is auditing. The auditing process is considered the chief sacrament in the Church hence it is performed by the Higher Priesthood. The ritual revolves around a series of mental exercises followed by counseling from the auditor who leads the session. Once the mind is made flexible through conventional therapy and scientific analysis, the mind is carefully pried open by the auditor via Genjutsu. The auditor then "audits" or takes inventory or account of all the negative emotions and repressed memories of the person being audited. The auditing session can last up to hours even days in some cases, and may require repeated attempts at probing the inner mind with the mysterious jutsu which is said to have come from the Doctrine and Covenants text of the Church. Once the audit is complete, the auditor will remove or alter the mental baggage weighing down the person but usually only with their consent. It is a form of mental therapy that blends the relatively new science of psychology with the mystical art of a tradition dating back many years. Auditors tend to work with individuals one on one, they rarely ever discuss auditing sessions and are bound by a blood oath not to speak about a person's auditing sessions to any member lower than that of a Shepard. 

Low Shepard

A Low Shepard is a member of either of the divine Priesthood who has been selected to serve as stewards to the leaders of the Church. Historically the Church has been governed by the High Shepards each representing a different Ward in Kirigakure. The Low Shepards oversee the day to day affairs of their wards as they manage both Priesthoods with care. The Low Shepards have high visibility and are seen as Church pastors for the litany of chapels and temples that decorate the Water Country. The Low Shepards are given the unique opportunity to study the scrolls of both Priesthoods while under the strict supervision of a High Shepard. The Low Shepards are powerful in their own right and because they have a strong command of the faith's teachings as well as its mystical techniques they are the frontline in greater battles of faith and fortitude. 

High Shepard

These are the leaders of the Church and they are exactly three in number. It is said their office, positions, and the way the entire Church is structured is said to have been dictated to three holy High Shepards by the Great Shepherd himself. He had anointed them in the presence of the other two before giving them the directions to find the Book he had written. From there the entire structure of the Church as well as its techniques are said to have been recited by the Sage and written down by the High Shepherds in the form of the book known as Doctrines and Covenants. Unlike the Book of Hope which is standard reading material for all those who join the Church, Doctrines and Covenants are to be read only by High Shepards although Low Shepards are occasionally given access to its contents in certain situations. A High Shepard is said to have made a final covenant with the God himself the details of which are not totally known but some say that when the Great Ascension happens they will be the last to go just as how a Shepard ensures not a single sheep is left behind by leading from back. The three High Shepards act of Bishops of the three major wards or areas that the Church has a base in. The first High Shepard lives in the Isles of the Mist and is the most hermetical of the three as he/she carries the tradition of the Mist Cult by living in its murky depths. The second High Shepard lives in the capital of the Land of Water in the heart of the shipping industry and he/she carries the tradition of the psycho-therapist who meditates on the mysteries of the common man. Finally, the last High Shepard sits in Kirigakure the Hidden Village of the Mist and a source of many new converts. The three are considered co-equal bishops of the faith that oversee their respective Low Shepards, Priests, Members, and Converts however they must be in unanimous agreement when declaring Doctrine or making major changes to Church beliefs or structures. The High Shepards hold both Priesthoods meaning they have mastered the Ninjutsu held in the Guide Scrolls and the Genjutsu held in the Auditor Scrolls making them the most  powerful members of the Church itself. A High Shepard chooses his successor from among his Low Shepards before passing on. It is considered a position of extreme responsibility and holiness. 

Tenents

1.

The Church believes that the world itself is one large metaphysical Mist. The reality that we interact with is often clouded and tough to see through. Ethics and ways of living are never clear cut and only through experience can one hope to successfully move through the Mist. The Church holds that the Isles of the Mist is a holy land in that the people who live there have learned to function in tandem with the natural Mist that covers the island. It provides protection, security, and sustenance to those willing to live amongst it. In them, the Church believes the truth of this world can be surmised. That the opacity and mystery of life on Earth can give us great comfort and joy but only if we work to fully immerse ourselves in it. Like the seers that lived on the misty islands we must entrust our growth to those guides who can help us through the Mist of the world.

2.

The Church believes that the world is a reflection of the mind. That our consciousness was made in the image of reality. Therefore, our Mind like the world around us can best be understood as a Mist. Our thoughts of ethics, family, ideology, nationality are clouded and often contradictory. Human consciousness is diffused throughout the body similar to that of a Mist. That is what it means to be a human embodied. One's mind can and is very often clouded with past traumas and hidden emotional splinters that require a skilled and trained therapist to uncover. To understand reality we must integrate ourselves with the Mist that is the world by extension to fully understand ourselves we must fully integrate ourselves with the Mist that is our Mind. Only when this is done for every person on Earth can humanity reach its hidden potential and achieve everlasting paradise.

3.

The Church believes that it and only it has the authority and ability to guide others through the Mist that makes up both Reality and the Mind. The Church believes that The Great Shepherd was the founder of the Ninja Way and originally intended Ninjutsu to be a means to connect others together so that the wise may lead others to serenity. The Church holds that Yin Release in particular and Genjutsu in general was intended to be the primary means of bringing therapy and mental wellness to the world. Yin Release is grounded in spiritual energies having to do with creativity and bringing form out of nothingness. It grants us the ability to come up with creative solutions to the mysteries presented by the Mist of Mind and Reality. The Church maintains that Yin Release's primacy is foretold by the Shepherd himself and that while Yang Release is important one must utilize Yin Release often in order to achieve clarity of Mind. The Church believes that it carries the dual Priesthood required for performing these rituals and that only through its will can salvation be achieved.

4.

The Church believes that mankind was originally a God of otherworldly design and origin. We had a pre-mortal existence as divine creatures that populated the universe beyond this reality's borders. Through incidents and causes unknown we were sent to this reality as punishment for a crime of extra-dimensional magnitude. We were cast out of our Godly forms and our consciousness was scrambled so that our own minds became Mists to us and we were flung into a lower level of worldliness. The commission of the Great Crime was so heinous that we were to be left in the Mist with no aide or help. Immediately upon arrival we were confused and angry so we set upon each other with madness and violence. Since our arrival and our existence on Earth were are incapable of saving ourselves from this fate.

The Church believes that one of the Heavenly Beings that ruled alongside humanity was not content with the punishment delivered on humanity. She came to our world with the intention of ruling over us and eventually destroying us. Yet her son being born of this world and seeing potential in us fought to preserve our existence and so our sentence was amended too allow for the possibility for our re-ascension into Godhood. The woman was defeated but her soul lingered throughout the globe. The vengeful disembodied spirit became known as the Adversary and she started affecting humans worldwide and causing us to perform acts of wickedness against each other. The Shepherd wrote a book and tried to teach man the way of Ninjutsu but his teachings were perverted by the spirit of the Adversary causing it to be weaponized. The wars that followed were caused by the spirit of the Adversary to prevent our spiritual growth and eventual ascension to our rightful place. The descendants of the Sage warred with each other and although he tried to tame the hand of mankind through transmigrants, the history of humanity remained bloody and violent. The Mist in our Minds and in our world grew denser and the guides were few and far between. This is the essence of the Great Tragedy.

5.

The Truth of the world remained isolated in small pockets throughout the planet. The teachings of the Shepherd were scattered and seen as more myth than fact. A few cults that lived in the Isles of the Mist carried on its teachings as did the secular Rising Thought Order that was based in the Land of the Water capital. The restoration of the Church occurred when the therapists from the Order encountered the Cult of the Mist residing in the Isles. It was there that both groups encountered a holy revelation from the Shepherd himself where he directed them to find the holy book he had written to remind the world of Ninjutsu's true purpose. The Book of Hope was re-discovered and the holy apparition of the world's savior instructed the tribal chiefs and head therapists to restore his Church and name themselves the Church of Latter Day Rising Mist. The latter days of man's ascension were at hand and through the rituals and teachings covered in the book, the Mist would rise and humanity would finally have atoned for the Great Crime. Only when this was done could the Adversary be finally defeated and humanity whisked away to true paradise in the heavens from which we came. The Church wrote down the instructions for restoration given to them by the Sage and named the book "Doctrines and Covenants" to be used as a guide for the bishops that would be in charge of it. And so from the esoteric cults of the Mist and the experts of psycho-therapy from the mainland, the Church continues its work of saving humanity and defeating the Adversary.

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Kirigakure's Council Conclave Aug 7, 2015 15:01:39 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 7, 2015 15:01:39 GMT -8

The village's council has been re-modeled to reflect the change in attitude the new government has towards its people. Gone are the days of petty politics and strife, instead the council has been made up of only the most spiritually select members of the Church of Latter Day Rising Mist. The council is made up of a Holy Quorum including Church members, priests, Low Shepards, and non-members with exemplary records of religious tolerance and kindness to their fellow man. Each member of the council has some form of military experience but they are also guided by a higher power and open up each meeting with a prayer to remind them of that fact. Unlike in most ninja villages, Kirigakure's Council is slightly larger with thirty members but holds no real decision making power. It functions as an auxiliary and advisory role to the High Shepherds of the Church but more directly to the Mizukage. The Conclave is made to give off a much more religious feel with marble flooring and a central seating area for council members. There is a balcony where people can sit and view council meetings take place but may not interrupt or give testimony accept during such times the Council allows it.

All NPCs or officials will be written by the Mizukage.

Guards will be present throughout The Church.

Last Edit: Aug 7, 2015 15:13:18 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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The Mizukage's Shrine | The Church of the Great Shepard Aug 7, 2015 13:04:32 GMT -8

Post by shirayuri on Aug 7, 2015 13:04:32 GMT -8

The Mizukage's old opulent palace was torn down following the selection of the new Mizukage. The Church of Latter Day Rising Mist was declared the official religion of the village and hence its seat of power was transformed to reflect this new reality. The Mizukage's main building is the form of a massive shrine called The Church of the Great Shepard. It is styled in Gothic architecture with a large center atrium that functions as the ground floor and a succession of spiraling towers extending upwards into the mist covered skies above the village. The structure is five stories tall with each floor dedicated to a specific function in serving Kirigakure's faithful as well as the Mizukage who resides at the very top. The overall color and ethos of the building is very dark and brooding despite the colorful tinted glass that make up the windows. The light shines throughout the building at technical angles such that it seems the holy light of God itself was filling the Church. The stone masonry is of excellent quality giving the building an old, mysterious, and esoteric feel when one enters through the giant wooden doors at the first floor. Because the area is both a site of political and spiritual importance there are many guards at every level.

1st Floor: The Atrium - The first floor is the main area for Church ceremonies. It takes the form of a church inner sanctum complete with altar, pews, and glorious religious imagery reflecting the Mystery of Faith and the Five Tenets of the Church. Services are held every Sunday and the atrium is large enough to fit several hundred worshipers. There is a set of stairs to the side of the atrium that allows one to access the higher levels without disturbing parishioners who are there to pray

2nd Floor: The Study - The second floor houses a large library. While it contains the all general information about the world. The library itself caters to the religous sort and has many books about the Church of Latter Day Rising Mist. Many priests walk and study on the second floor as there are mini cubicles for private reading. While the library is free and open to all residents regardless of creed, its esoteric knowledge is under the direct purvey of the Church and the priests who tender and care for the books housed within.

3rd Floor: The Auditorium - The third floor of the Church is a bit of a misnomer as it actually refers to the area where those who hold the Priesthood of the Auditor practice their holy craft. The area consists of several private, soundproof offices that include a desk, two couches, a hookah, and several books describing the auditing process. This level usually has a great deal of clinical psychologists in addition to the auditors who work there. It is a place where those seeking mental wellness can come to find peace of mind. The Mizukage can occasionally be seen on this level, studying an auditor's technique or performing an audit herself.

4th Floor: Mizukage's Office - At the top level of the Church is the Mizukage's Office. While not as grand as its predecessors it is a large area including a waiting area and reception to those who seek an audience with the Mizukage. Personal records and the village's hidden scrolls are kept in the office proper. The office includes a desk and chair for the Kage, comfortable chairs for the guests, a few bookshelves on the sides, and several file cabinets. Above the Mizukage is a large portrait of "the Appearing", the sacred moment when the Church's forefathers were greeting by the Great Shepard who taught them the five tenants of faith and instructed them to build a Church after his teachings. The room contains no shortage of religious symbols and near the Kage's desk is a wooden Shepard's staff. It reflects her dual title as High Shepard of the Church of Latter Day Rising Mist and Mizukage for the Village Hidden in Mist.

All NPCs or officials will be written by the Mizukage.

Guards will be present throughout The Church.

Last Edit: Aug 7, 2015 15:12:02 GMT -8 by shirayuri

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