Crab Lands - Clear Water Village and The Shrine of the Willow-Healing Kami
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:29 pm
The Shrine of the Willow-Healing Kami
Clear Water Village is the largest port city of the Crab Clan and a major center of trade. It also contains one of the Empire’s oldest shrines. Set on an outcropping just beyond the docks, little more than a stone lantern at the foot of a dappled willow, it is easy to overlook. But were it not for the Willow-Healing Kami enshrined here, Clear Water Village would not exist.
History
Now a village only in name, Clear Water Village was once a tiny speck, a minor fishing settlement at the mouth of the River of Gold, overlooking Earthquake Fish Bay. Despite its size, it was an important village to the Yasuki family, providing the wealth of the sea and feeding the clan with daily catches from its unusually warm waters
History does not record what the denizens did to offend Ekibyōgami, but during the second century, the Fortune of Pestilence made its displeasure with the village known. A terrible plague swept through the settlement, causing fever, scaly fluid-filled bumps across the skin, muscle pains, weakness, and eventually death. Even the fish seemed affected by the disease, and as it swept unhindered through the village, priests gave daily offerings to Ekibyōgami and begged for the Fortune’s mercy.
All would have been lost had it not been for the intervention of a lone kodama, the spirit of a humble willow shrub. When the spirit’s daily visitor, a young girl who often played around its boughs, caught the disease and came close to death, the kodama approached the Fortune alone and bargained for the people’s lives. It is not known what the spirit traded for Ekibyōgami’s mercy, but when the disease miraculously vanished, the willow’s once-strong boughs sagged, the bark became grey and soft, and its lush green leaves turned pale white. So it is to this day.
Approaching the Shrine
Because it rests on an outcropping beyond the busy docks, one must approach the Shrine of the Willow-Healing Kami on boat. A blessed kobune ship, decorated with paper streamers and a torii arch, is maintained for this purpose and is considered by many to be a part of the shrine.
On the farthest side of the tiny island rests the humble shrine: a knee-high stone lantern at the foot of a seven-foot dappled willow. This ancient shrub is perpetually in bloom, with splotchy pink flowers and colorless leaves gently shedding into the reflective sea beneath the sagging boughs. A thick shimenawa rope encircles the knobby trunk, designating this as the blessed home of an ancient spirit.
Shrine visitors are rare. There are few reasons to visit the Willow-Healing Kami, and the spirit has not manifested in ages. However, there are some who still leave regular offerings of incense and sake in order to thank the gentle kodama and humbly ask for its contin-ued protection.
Whispered Rumors
To appease Ekibyōgami, the kami offered its good health to the Fortune. The spirit grows weaker every decade as a result, and in fact may have died long ago. The tree is now empty, and the prayers spoken there are heard by no one.$When there is an earthquake, an ancient water dragon is arguing with Suijin, causing the underwater volcanoes to erupt. Things would be much worse if the Willow-Healing Kami weren’t there to calm them down.
During the Willow-Healing Kami Festival, the kodama takes human form and mingles with mortal attendees.
The shrine keeper is vexed by poor luck that always interferes with his friend-ships and potential romances. It’s as if he’s cursed!
Clear Water Village is the largest port city of the Crab Clan and a major center of trade. It also contains one of the Empire’s oldest shrines. Set on an outcropping just beyond the docks, little more than a stone lantern at the foot of a dappled willow, it is easy to overlook. But were it not for the Willow-Healing Kami enshrined here, Clear Water Village would not exist.
History
Now a village only in name, Clear Water Village was once a tiny speck, a minor fishing settlement at the mouth of the River of Gold, overlooking Earthquake Fish Bay. Despite its size, it was an important village to the Yasuki family, providing the wealth of the sea and feeding the clan with daily catches from its unusually warm waters
History does not record what the denizens did to offend Ekibyōgami, but during the second century, the Fortune of Pestilence made its displeasure with the village known. A terrible plague swept through the settlement, causing fever, scaly fluid-filled bumps across the skin, muscle pains, weakness, and eventually death. Even the fish seemed affected by the disease, and as it swept unhindered through the village, priests gave daily offerings to Ekibyōgami and begged for the Fortune’s mercy.
All would have been lost had it not been for the intervention of a lone kodama, the spirit of a humble willow shrub. When the spirit’s daily visitor, a young girl who often played around its boughs, caught the disease and came close to death, the kodama approached the Fortune alone and bargained for the people’s lives. It is not known what the spirit traded for Ekibyōgami’s mercy, but when the disease miraculously vanished, the willow’s once-strong boughs sagged, the bark became grey and soft, and its lush green leaves turned pale white. So it is to this day.
Approaching the Shrine
Because it rests on an outcropping beyond the busy docks, one must approach the Shrine of the Willow-Healing Kami on boat. A blessed kobune ship, decorated with paper streamers and a torii arch, is maintained for this purpose and is considered by many to be a part of the shrine.
On the farthest side of the tiny island rests the humble shrine: a knee-high stone lantern at the foot of a seven-foot dappled willow. This ancient shrub is perpetually in bloom, with splotchy pink flowers and colorless leaves gently shedding into the reflective sea beneath the sagging boughs. A thick shimenawa rope encircles the knobby trunk, designating this as the blessed home of an ancient spirit.
Shrine visitors are rare. There are few reasons to visit the Willow-Healing Kami, and the spirit has not manifested in ages. However, there are some who still leave regular offerings of incense and sake in order to thank the gentle kodama and humbly ask for its contin-ued protection.
Whispered Rumors
To appease Ekibyōgami, the kami offered its good health to the Fortune. The spirit grows weaker every decade as a result, and in fact may have died long ago. The tree is now empty, and the prayers spoken there are heard by no one.$When there is an earthquake, an ancient water dragon is arguing with Suijin, causing the underwater volcanoes to erupt. Things would be much worse if the Willow-Healing Kami weren’t there to calm them down.
During the Willow-Healing Kami Festival, the kodama takes human form and mingles with mortal attendees.
The shrine keeper is vexed by poor luck that always interferes with his friend-ships and potential romances. It’s as if he’s cursed!