Historia et Historiarum: Tenka elves
READ THESE FIRST:
*Suggested to be read with own discretion (no spoilers but maybe more fun to read them in the actual novel)
*The plan is to create more of these kinds of info texts
*This will be updated in a non-timely manner
*Maps and concept art can be found on my Instagram @AlexanderCa0
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The Tenka elves are a race of elves who inhabit the world of Takaamanohara and live in countries and fiefdoms called Yayois or "rice kingdoms". They are ruled by powerful daimyos and are guarded by their unrelenting warriors known as samurais.
.
.
Values and Culture:
The Tenka elves value loyalty above all else and have formed nations around food, particularly rice, which is seen as a symbol of their strength and unity. Going hungry was very common so those with land grew food. Those with more food hired people and gave food as payment. If someone didn't do their job correctly, the landowner would starve them. That is why the Tenka elves became loyal to a fault.
As the landowners of these rice kingdoms grew more and more powerful and lived decadently, some started to question the rulers right to dictate laws and payments. To ensure the control of the masses, one couple, known as Izanami and Izanagi hired some elves and gave them weapons to fight against any possible uprisings and keep order. They were placed in the middle of the Tenka hierarchy, and they were called, the samurai.
The Tenka elves are known for their perfectionism and are considered the best bladesmiths in the universe. Failure is seen as an embarrassment and those who fail may choose to become hermits until they have mastered their craft.
.
.
The Foundation of Takaamanohara:
Izanami and Izanagi founded the first Yayoi and cultivated the lands. Their homeworld is unknown, but the couple and their people were desperate enough to flee. The world of Takaamanohara was filled with demons and other foul beasts, and the couple and their people fought relentlessly against these abominations.
Soon as other yayois started to pop up on the world, the demons were forced back allowing for new generations of elves to be born in peace.
The couple moved and traveled the world of Takaamanohara and founded many other settlements, pushing the demons ever more north and south, to the more unforgiving places. Soon though the demons and worshippers of the winds of pandora were forced to band together and go for a final push. It was either the elves or the demons.
The Tenka elves won, but unfortunately, Izanami was mortally wounded. A curse was placed upon her, making her ooze out winds of pandora so her husband had no other choice and sealed Izanagi, as he couldn't bare to kill her. Before her sealing, Izanagi birthed three children, Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukiyomi.
The three siblings were raised by the elves that had made Takaamanohara their home, so they had no knowledge of Thalos or of the golden elves. To many, Izanami was simply the only one worth worshipping, as he had during the wars against the demons rosed to godhood.
The three children of Izanami left their home and wondered to other worlds, as they too were inhabited, like their homeworld. This became known as the epos of the Tenka siblings.
.
.
The Encounter with the Yokai:
During their adventures, the three siblings came in contact with a world inhabited by Yokai, beings with large lower fangs, dark bright skin, and silver white pitch black hair.
The three siblings tried to conquer this world, but they did not meet any resistance, but instead, they found two Yokais fighting each other. These two were Raijin and Fuji, the gods who had disowned the four heavenly kings gods of the Yokai heaven, so they could finally decide who was the strongest. Raijin and Fuji fought over and over, in their world of Grishna, but were never able to reach a to end their debate on who was the strongest.
Raijin and Fuji even proclaimed that their people would become part of the Takaamanohara heaven if the three elves would let them fight in peace, which the four heavenly kings could not do. During one fight, Raijin and Fujin, were set upon by demons, almost forcing them to stop their endless fight, but Susanoo, touched by the resolve of the two brothers, intervened and told the two Yokais to finish their debate in peace, while Susanoo would hold back the demon army.
The two Yokais then continued to fight each other as the armies of the Takaamanohara elves fought against the demons. After three years of warring and the two Yokai brothers fighting, Raijin was finally able to cut the hand of Fujin. Fujin then with a smile laughed and Raijin lifted him up, as the endless debate had finally been answered. Amaterasu then healed the arm of Fujin, enabling him to keep fighting. The two brothers then joined the Takaamanohara heaven, though the reason for joining was not the best, but the Yokai worshippers of Raijin and Fujin are not known as the brightest but are known as fearless warriors.
.
.
The Death of Izanami and the War:
As the Takaamanohara heaven was growing, Izanami was called to Thalion, to bow before Thalos. His three children pleaded with him not to go, but Izanami was a loyal servant and follower of Thalos. When he arrived in Thalion, he did not find Thalos anywhere, but the trickster god of the elves Yris, smiling. A horde of demons and children of pandora came out and seized the god Izanami. Yris then cut off the head of Izanami and sent it to his children, framing Thalos.
The children of Izanami were furious and raised the realms of rice to war, alongside Raijin and Fuji and their outcast Youkai.