The Emishi Kingdom

The Emishi Kingdom is built around an ancient First Age mountain shrine to an unknown deity. The shrine was lost for centuries after the Contagion and Fae Invasion, no living soul had seen it since illness took the last, but the ancient magic repelled the fae and maintained the structure against the test of time. 500 years ago a small group of refugee monks discovered the shrine and settled there. In the centuries since the Emishi have been a safehaven and a refuge for those who seek, and earn it from the gods. Though the original deity the shrine was devoted to is lost, the monks who discovered it have converted it to a Shrine to Pasiap, the Elemental Dragon of Earth. However, this does not mean the Immaculate Faith dominates the Kingdom, while many Immaculate Monks do travel here, worship of all gods is welcome and infact forbidding worship is the most sacred of rights among The Emishi.

Dozens of other lesser shrines have now been built around the ancient shrine, as well as a full fledged city that sprawls down the base of the mountain the shrine sits atop. The city is a renowned spiritual center in the region and maintains a more pious reputation than Great Forks, none the less festivals of celebration are common.

The Emishi have long sheltered those seeking refuge in honor of their founders, which had grown into a tradition of offering asylum even to the harshest of criminals if they can pass judgment from the ancient God. Asylum seekers may go to the temple and pray for forgiveness and are forced to endure trials both physical and mental to receive judgement. Those deemed worthy may have their crimes forgiven in exchange for pledging service to the shrine, those who are deemed unworthy are punished... Usually with death.

Rumors swell that that the order devoted to the shrine, filled with criminals with forgiven crimes has descended into a cult. What exactly the cult worships is highly debated throughout the Kingdom, some assumptions far more nefarious than others...

The Sisters assumed leadership of The Emishi a little less than 5 years ago, Saishu (High Priestess) Arashi and Saishu Konuma are unorthodox rulers for The Emishi. The Emishi Kingdom has always been a theocracy, and before the arrival of The Sisters, The Paragon of Pasiap ruled over The Kingdom. As the head of the largest temple and shrine in the Kingdom, The Paragon of Pasiap was the natural and assumed leader. However, the events in The Time of Tumult and the kingdoms insistence that all Gods be free to worship which naturally rejects the Immaculate Faith left an opening. The Sister's marched through that opening with charisma, grace, and unmatched metaphysical power and backing. Saishu Konuma is fierce and strong, but wise beyond her years with the power to shapeshift into a raven amongst other lesser known powers. Her younger sister, Saishu Arashi is a natural born leader and quickly rose to prominence a small shrine in The Kingdom devoted to Shin Ma, The God of Truth. The religious leaders of Emishi, the highest priest or monk from each shrine gets a vote on the leader of the Kingdom, and it was a great shock when Saishu Arashi won that vote. Rumor has it The Sisters know the true and rightful God of The Shrine now devoted to Pasiap and intend to return it to his devotion, however their rule has been marked by the same mystery as their rise and the feeling is that their time is running out.