Record: They Who Inhabit

Record on Extraneous Supernatural Entities
Classified Document #001270
Published by the Department of Containment
Written by Director Kanae Rosenblume (circa 2019)

CURSED SPIRITS

Cursed Spirits are a recent phenomenon. 

Curses emerged shortly after the Meiji Revolution at a time when the power of Horrors was in decline and the Crystallization of the Veil was in full force. 

In the simplest terms, Curses are yokai without Core Mysteries. Strikingly little is known about the true nature of these strange creatures, only that their existence is based on instinct and survival. They can range from small and harmless curselings to powerful entities with powers and abilities just as varied. Most of them have no discernible intelligence, while the more powerful ones have a semblance of sentience and the ability to communicate. 

When a Curse devours a human, it develops an insatiable hunger for souls. At this point, it transforms into a Greater Curse. Greater Cursed Spirits gain power corresponding to the number of souls it has devoured. When it accumulates enough energy, it may develop a Cursed Field. As a rule, Greater Curses are more powerful than normal Cursed Spirits, and those with Cursed Fields are more powerful than those without. It tethers its life-force to a pseudo-core called a Yorishiro which it hides in the deepest recesses of its Cursed Field

At this point, slaying the Cursed Spirit only sends them into a state of dormancy. The only definitive way to end them is to extract or destroy their yorishiro, and this is easier said than done. The deeper one ventures into the Cursed Field and the closer one gets to a yorishiro, the more desperate and reckless a Cursed Spirit will become. It will do everything in its power to destroy the invaders and safeguard its pseudo-core. 

Curses represent the foremost threat to the stability of human and yokai society in today’s world. A great deal of resources are expended to detect malignant Curses and snuff out problematic Urban Legends before they can accumulate strength. The Department of Containment, a branch of the Bureau that specializes in containing and neutralizing supernatural threats, is at the forefront of this campaign.

URBAN LEGENDS

The seed of a rumor, the telling of a tall tale, the propagation of lies. When reiterated multiple times and admixed with the energy of the masses, such little things have the potential to transform into an Urban Legend.

Urban Legends are a subset of Curses molded by human belief and superstition. More malignant than regular Curses, they have the unparalleled ability to mutate into greater threats by virtue of their volatility and their close association with humans. Urban Legends usually have greater sentience and a high-capacity for adaptive learning. As such, they are a matter of utmost concern to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs.

Some known examples of Urban Legends are Hanako-san of the Toilet, Eight-Feet-Tall, and even western legends like Slenderman, among many others.

LAND GODS

Since ancient times, a subset of yokai became revered and worshiped by humans, with some being enshrined in key shrines located throughout the country.

Known as tochigami, these powerful yokai are akin to minor gods within their domain. While inside their territory, they have the ability to harness greater levels of Horrors over a limited area.

They are commonly called land gods and their scope of influence is limited to a certain enclosed geographical or conditional location. They are considered guardians of shrines and temples and rulers of balance within their domain.

Land gods can be invoked through a Harbinger’s binding pact ritual. In which case they may become dedicated Patrons to Harbingers, lending their great powers in exchange for their loyalty and devotion. It is typically believed that the more worshippers a land god has among the local populace, the stronger and more powerful it is within its domain. Likewise, land gods whose worship has dwindled or have been forgotten entirely are weakened and prone to elucidation.

The Department of Containment is tasked with keeping track of all the active and enshrined land gods within the country, deeming them a matter of national concern. In recent history, there has only ever been a handful of incidents of land gods going berserk. Such cases are often linked to localized calamities or upheavals within the god’s domain.

DIVINE GODS

Divine Gods or the Myriad Gods are divine entities who dwell in the fabled Heavenly Realm of Takamagahara. 

They represent the major gods of the Shinto and Buddhist pantheons, as well as the myriad unknown deities that sprung forth as offshoots of Creation. Little is known about the divinities apart from details in myths and legends. They rarely if ever meddle in worldly affairs and act as casual observers. 

Proficient exorcists and Soul Forge smiths are able to call upon their blessings in battle or to anoint a weapon or item. Harbingers who manage to gain the favor of a celestial deity will at times hear the voice of their Patron telepathically. Some deities are known to have their own agendas, communicating their purpose to those who can hear their voices.