Editing Kensei (section)

=====Earthly Creatures=====
Many Earthly Creatures are Kami, either those who's hedonism or rural behavior got them booted out of Ten-Do, or who prefer to have real jobs. They vary greatly in alignment and behavior. 

* Tanuki

Level 1 Earthly Creature. Those raccoon things Mario turned into in Super Mario Bros. 3. Tanuki are bipedal raccoon men who carry a symbol of each of the eight elements at all times, and are tremendously lucky which also blesses those near them. 

Tanuki are lazy bastards who prefer to guzzle sake and laze about with women while sampling delicious food all day, but are masters of disguise and naturally prone to trickery which they use if upset. 

Tanuki are real life animals in Japan, and in old Shinto were considered the masters of all nature which doesn't directly serve a Kami (so not foxes or crows) although they later got demoted to just a silly minor spirit. They have oversized scrotum, which is exaggerated to the point of ludicrousness in visual depictions. Thankfully the Kensei miniature isn't playing his balls like drums, because apparently that's a thing folklore Tanukis do. 

<gallery> 
Image:Tanuki Single.jpeg
Image:Tanuki Trio.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Kappa

Level 1 Earthly Creature. Pokemon fans will remember Golduck as being a Kappa. Kappas are basically bipedal turtles, and vary in depiction from being just that or having lean bodies and duck bills. Kensei strikes the balance between turtle and [[The Dark Crystal|Skeksis]]. 

Kappas are usually nasty creatures who live in or on the shore of rivers, and are more Infernal than Earthly in behavior. They eat children, rape women, and if they see an exposed anus they use their lightning fast speed to reach into it and pull out intestines to eat raw (no, seriously, look it up). That being said, myths also portray some as kind-hearted or at least True Neutral, with Kappas becoming guardians and friends of people who give them cucumbers or write names on cucumbers and leave them by rivers. Apparently they also taught mankind how to use nets. 

Hymukai Kappa just stick to being baby-eating rapists. 

The top of a Kappa's head is concave, and inside is water like a bowl. They are creatures who value manners and customs greatly, so bowing to one forces them to bow in return which makes the water pour from their head. They become immobilized until the next time their head fills with water, so likely until the next rain unless some kind or foolish soul (depending on the personality of the Kappa) helps them. The other way to defeat them is to lead a cow or some similar animal to the water, as once the Kappa reaches into it's anus the animal's sphincter keeps the arm in place, with the Kappa frantically attempting to free itself until tearing it's own arm off and dying of blood loss. 

<gallery> 
Image:Kappa Single.jpeg
Image:Kappa Trio.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Karasu Tengu

Level 2 Earthly Creature. Identified just as "Tengu" on the model. Tengu are men with the head and feet of crows who carry Naginata. 

Those who pursue great knowledge in life can become a Tengu after death, with Karasu being the lower caste of Tengu who serve the higher caste. Arrogance can also lead to becoming a Tengu, and humans who are arrogant or clever are much more likely to encounter Tengu in their travels. Karasu enjoy partying and practical jokes, being the college fratboys of Tengu. They congregate in mountains, with their lights and drifting sound of drums being the indications they are around. 

<gallery> 
Image:Karasu Tengu.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Dai-Tengu

A level 2 Earthly Creature. The higher class Tengu. They are the greatest scholars who become Tengu, and resemble large red-skinned men with massive and long noses. 

Dai-Tengu are very benevolent beings, who live at the tops of Cedar and Pine trees near places of spirituality and learning, using impressive magic and martial arts skills in defense of these places. They also sometimes abduct human babies, returning them to their parents after only a few years with the child (now only a toddler) having a bright future thanks to their massive intellect and mastery over whatever skills the Tengu saw fit to teach until almost masters of the craft. 

In real life Japan, Tengu are important figures in folklore and Dai-Tengu masks are iconic of the culture. A lot of old fashioned porn also involved Tengu noses being used as dildos. The more you know!

<gallery> 
Image:DaiTengu 1.jpeg
Image:DaiTengu 2.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Genbu

A level 3 Earthly Creature. Genbu, also called "The Black Warrior", is a giant bipedal turtle with a snake for a tail. 

Like Byakko, Genbu is a single being rather than a species. Genbu is the spirit who guards the direction North, and is a symbol of wisdom and longevity. Unlike the more social Byakko, Genbu is reclusive although he freely dispenses his wisdom to any who seek him out. He knows all languages known to humans, and is almost impossible to harm. He also guards the universes greatest treasures and secrets faithfully. 

<gallery> 
Image:Genbu 1.jpeg
Image:Genbu 2.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Sesho-Sekki

A level 3 Earthly Creature. Looks like a naturally-formed golem, covered in moss and growth. Once again, the Pokemon Geodude and their evolutions plus Snorlax are the parallel. 

Sesho-Sekki are called "Assassin Stones" due to being extremely hostile and attacking anything who comes near them with single-minded fury that comes from being disturbed. They are hard to avoid, looking no different than the rest of the landscape until they move. They move far faster than anything made of stone should naturally move, and drain energy from their foe as they fight. Once they destroy their target they return to slumber, although they can fight entire battles without actually waking up fully. 

<gallery> 
Image:SeshoSeki 1.jpeg
Image:SeshoSekki 2.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Mizuchi

A level 4 Earthly Creature. Also called "Misuchi", it's a giant Eastern Dragon (you knew it was coming) with deer horns, whiskers, and a long serpent-like body. Think Falkor, with the habits of Gyarados. 

They breathe poison gas and acid, and sleep at the bottom of large lakes. Mizuchi are the strongest creatures in the Kuni, and taking one on requires a LOT more than one British dude in a metal tuxedo. Mizuchi really represent the massive "fuck you" nature can give if you hassle with seemingly defenseless things, pretending to be a wounded deer and completely obliterating hunters who attack it as a pass-time among other things. 

Mizuchi also control rain. 

<gallery> 
Image:Mizuchi 1.jpeg
Image:Mizuchi 2.jpeg
</gallery> 

* Daidarobotchi

A level 4 Earthly Creature. An EXTREMELY powerful Kami, a shapeshifting spirit who appears to be made out of the landscape and without knowing it a traveller can be on top of one. They can be a mountain, a hill, a tree, a waterfall, or anything else natural. The Kensei model looks like a statuesque treeman. 

Daidarobotchi create life, and can reshape the landscape at will. They hate anything that destroys nature, and everything from ant to yew (even you) is under their protection. They are the parents of all of nature; fuck with the forest, overfish or hunt a region, or reroute a river at your own peril. After they crush you, they'll restore the damage you caused as if you were never there. 

tl;dr the forest spirit from the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eG_O1wEJ40 Fantasia 2000 Firebird Suite] after a few levels in badass

<gallery> 
Image:Daidarobotchi.jpeg
Image:Daidarobotchi 2.jpeg
Image:Daidarobotchi 3.jpeg
</gallery>