art by @NoraPotwora

Sekisame-no-Kai

Faerie Tales of the Red Shark

• ֍ origin story

Desperate for distinction from the primal hunger within did the shark lord learn to lean on the realm of men. It basked in the wisdom of ancient philosophers and for a millennia cultivated its soul in the mountains of Yanxia. By journeying up the path from which all all rivers lead Sekisame eventually returned to the sea. Though it walks the land in mortal skin it deals only in kindness and indifference; to nourish the poor, exonerate evil and expect nothing in return.

- Far Eastern merchants have wizened up to Sekisame's tricks when in its mortal skin. Paying for goods with shark teeth (more info) is the most obvious sign and the wise merchant never refuses it.
- Sekisame is known to afford mortals their desires and bestow fortunes of bounty and health. An optimistic, the shark lord eagerly fetches mortals whatever they seek, only to test their virtue by asking them to crawl into its mouth, their reward buried between rows of jagged teeth.Stories tell of the red shark devouring those found unworthy of its gifts.

- Sekisame's spheres include intuition, efficiency and (oceanic) navigation, and is known to possess the uncanny ability to locate anything in the same body of water it is in. Being in possession of one of its teeth grants a similar navigatory phenomenon to men in the throes of longing and despair.
- Fishermen set traps for Sekisame, luring the red shark into a harness between two skiffs. It would then lead them to its favorite hunting grounds. Other fisherman recount tales of boats being dragged by their nets into the Ruby Tide to be harangued by the Confederacy.

- The Confederacy was never inclined to heed the agency of the Kami. In spite of this, Sekisame took a liking to its rouge operations and is rumored to be its silent guardian.- Eastern scholars would be scarce to find artwork and literature depicting this lesser-known auspice! The earliest tales of the Red Shark hail from the Yanxian countryside. It is little known that the Kojin of the Blue are more familiar with this kami.- Sekisame holds its breath when it decides to walk the land. It is believed if you splash Sekisame with seawater while in its mortal shell by surprise it will reveal its true nature.

The Kojin tell tales of a baby shark that absorbed the essence of heaven when the divine sun scorched its porcelain skin on the day of its birth. Innocent white flesh turned the hue of autumn leaves. None could deny its beauty but this striking scarlet skin cursed it to be hunted forever.The Red Shark learned to outwit all who dwelled betwixt land and sea and shared its intelligence with the sharks who lived in its waters. Men claimed the sharks became possessed of the desire to hunt those who used to hunt them. Voraciously they gobbled up all the fish in the sea until nothing was left.The Kojin below and people of Yanxia plead for their sacred guardians to return their livelihood to them. Each were told there was nothing to be done for they brought this famine upon themself. The Red Shark was elusive and unpredictable. How could the kami of the earth hold a candle to a demon of the sea?It was Osamu Samu, a seven-tailed fox of Yanxia, who consorted with its peers and chose itself to act as bait. It met with the Red Shark on the sea floor and plead for it to allow the fish to return to the sea. "They are going to catch me." The shark quivered with fear. "I am afraid."A great current swept the seven-tailed fox back to the surface. It now knew they had no choice but to lure the Red Shark to the surface and take it far away from its home. Osamu Samu had to play a cruel trick and mimicked the voice of the Red Shark's mother who had abandoned it the day of its birth. Fooled by the disguise, the Red Shark was drawn into the shallows and collected into a warded pot that would contain its power.It seemed overnight that the fish returned to the Ruby Sea and the sharks became mindless beasts once more.

For decades a warded pot was kept in a vault of Jinyun (or "Gold Cloud") temple, guarded by the monks as a treasure. When the moon was out a sobbing child could be heard coming within the vault. The monks were trained to ignore the trickery of the demon within the sealed pot for they were told it was evil.The elderly priest, Master Katou Arihisa, had inherited guardianship of the vault and of all of the temple's sacred artifacts. He and his disciples detached themselves from the living world and dedicated themselves to the Tao. They safeguarded the land from spirits that would bring harm to the mortal world and afforded good demons a safe place to cultivate and be nurtured."Why then," the Master's brightest disciple spoke up, "Do you condemn the demon in the pot to suffer forever? Can it not be redeemed and forgiven for its sins?"The Master, in all this time, had never concerned himself with his own prejudice. Enlightened by the mercy of his disciple the monks were gathered into the vault and told the truth of the fish god who, in its fear for being captured, condemned the land and sea to death. The pot was plucked from its pedestal and the Master decided it was time to face his own mortal sins."The sobbing stopped days ago," the disciple spoke again. "I''m afraid it might be too late." Within the Master's hands was the limp body of a small red fish who carried not the will to live on.The Master mourned. "This child was innocent. I convinced her I was her long lost parent come to claim her. That is how she ended up in this pot. In my pride that I had restored the Ruby Sea by removing her I have condemned her to Hell."The Master's remorse drew forth a river. The water and salt of his tears nourished the body of the dying fish and for the first time in days it drew breath. Certain the Heavens granted them the chance to redeem themselves the Master cared for the child as both daughter and student until the time of his death, in which she would return to the sea.

art by @Grace Xhu & @SD09

Magic Pot (1-25) Sealed clay vessel with a menacing aura and a large red eye painted on the front. Despite your greatest attempts to do so, you aren't quite able to pry it open. Maybe if you ask it nicely...? DM me for details.Shark Teeth (26-100) This pouch is filled with shark teeth of varying shapes and sizes. When in possession of this pouch you experience the uncanny sensation that somebody, somewhere is watching you. Roll /random and add the total of each number. That's how many teeth are in the bag! (You roll 56. 5+6 = 11 teeth)Fine Tobacco (101-200) Known as kizami in the East, this tobacco is as fine as hair and has a pleasant, sweet aroma. Used for smoking in certain type of pipe.Fishing Line (201-240) Cotton ; (241-270) Horse Hair ; (271-300) SilkKoban (301-450) This small wood carving of a rabbit contains all the Koban Sekinetsu has on his person. Roll /random again and multiply your result by 10!South Sea Pearl (451-600) Golden in color, this luxurious saltwater gem is undisputed in value across the five seas. Symbolizing purity, protection and wealth, having stripped one from a stranger's purse you feel an abnormal sense of dread...Live Bait (601-640) Nightcrawlers ; (641-670) Bobbit ; (671-700) Stonefly LarvaeSalty Gourd (701-750) A sand-coloured gourd filled with a sloshing liquid inside. You quickly find it to not be any sort of alcohol and instead... seawater?Jug of Wine (751-800) Within this wide mouthed ceramic container is a pungent smelling yellow wine infused with herbs. Upon closer inspection there seems to be the fermented corpse of a small creature curled up inside.Decorative Scroll (801-900) This Doman scroll likely dates back 100 years, married to detailed artwork depicting a figure of legend who quells evil spirits using only a bell. Choose one: Scroll of Aspir (Mana Drain), Scroll of Attrition (Enrage), Scroll of Halation (Healing). Whether this spell actually works is another matter entirely...Smoking Pipe (901+) Sekinetsu wears two pipes on his belt like a samurai wears swords. The first is long and made entirely of metal with bulky carvings of ocean waves trapped in the winding body of the dragon lord, Seiryu. The second pipe is shorter, of elegant lacquered red wood with brass caps on each end. (Choose one!)Utsura (975+) Lacquered bamboo fishing rod that has seen better days. Inscribed "Tosaku Kishimoto" in Doman, a revered master of the wazao guild of Doma. Utsura-utsura is onomatopoeia for the drowsy state between wakefulness and daydreaming. Known to hook even the most defiant of fish so long as you can resist the urge to...

Sekisame no Ha

Tooth of the Red Shark

Appearance This pearlescent shark tooth exudes a small, pleasant aura. Two ilms long and wide, oddly shaped somewhere between a clam shell and a chocobo's butt. Shark teeth are a token of fortune representing strength and resolve. When identified this tooth belongs to the East Othardian Tawny Wench Shark.

Traits So long as this item is not willfully discarded (even if left unattended at home) your greatest unfulfilled desire shalt manifest for better or worse. This effect can only happen once, usually at night. With the magic depleted, the tooth will fossilize over eight (8) days before turning completely black.

Prelude Leading up to the release of magic within the tooth your character should experience odd dreams of being at sea or swimming with its myriad creatures. Lights flicker at the edge of your vision and as the nights go on the lights take shap. A ghostly fish tries to lead you to a natural source of water. Only you can perceive of it.

The "Twist" Desires will manifest with an oceanic twist, that is, one's desire will become warped by Sekisame's sphere of oceanic navigation. You may interpret the quotes below!

Outcome Those exposed to Sekisame's magic can be found washed up on the same shore they were coaxed from. Healer's explain the babbling nonsense as vivid hallucinations induced from consuming too much seawater.

- Stress/Anxiety ; "Should thou seekest deepest comforts the ocean lights wilt arise to aid thee. Follow my dancing carp to fresh or salted shore. Gaze upon me and nothing more. "
- Love/Romance ; "When a fish desireth love for its lonely soul I tell my little fish it belongs to the shoal. Dream of plenty. Dream of teeth. To tear out thine heart is to know only peace."
- Social/Authority ; "With thy word as bait cast, hold close the catch that surrenders most quick. When the line doth snap it can be believed: my little fish can always feed the defiant to me."
- Estranged/Belonging ; "Dark moons paint thy fate in the sands where a skiff awaits to flee thee of land. Mind not the spirits that oar, their cries nor long ink hair. Thy goodness within is all we ware."
- Strength/Resolve ; "Created all of flesh and bone, within my temple you have no home. The one who rules the sea; a mount that needn't be climbed, yet in courage lacking thy weakness sublime."
- Lost Objects ; "Hearken to thine own salt and blood against the tide that rises as one. Watch for me when the sea is as glass. In disturbing my face let us raze what has passed."
- Occupation/Success ; "Humbled by mud and the grime on his brow are greater men born, odds against all. Until he has released his thousandth carp and set his thousandth sun living hand to mouth shall opulence be a pearl beglamoured by dunes of pitch and tar."
- Seeking Beauty ; "Swim and watch for sea and shore where eyes tells difference little more. Ahead is a pool, in calm without, to dismiss of yours what is most devout."