{DEMON HUNTERS}

Demon Hunters

Demons Hunters are those that do not view Ayakashi as Ayakashi, but instead as demons. They see them as an evil that must be purged from the country or that which has the potential for evil. Thus, in most cases, something has happened to said Demon Hunter to make them believe such is the case. Usually with black and white views, they fail to see their own wrong, and focus entirely on what Ayakashi do to interfere and harm humans. They struggle to understand any wrongdoing against Ayakashi, arguing that Ayakashi shouldn't actually exist. They aren't in any other countries, why Japan? They are practically invisible and most people cannot see them, what's the difference between them and ghosts? Why should humans bow and pray to sate them? Sure some of them do good and help humans in various ways, but that's all just a ploy! Don't be fooled! Their cores are evil, they were put here to tamper with human society and only now are they showing their true colors! Demon Hunters fail to understand the ripple effect of the wrongdoing of a few ignorant foreigners who turned Ayakashi against humanity. Instead, they typically just shrug, too far lost in their own impressions or pain to see anything besides the evil in Ayakashi.

Some Demon Hunters don't kill Ayakashi; they subdue them for other Demon Hunters to kill or merely just to quell them. Demon Hunters create their own justice. There are no rules. There is no one to take orders from. In fact, some Demon Hunters have formed guilds in order to trade information and work together to take down stronger Ayakashi. Oftentimes, Demon Hunters irk Daimyo or the general public who support the Ayakashi in which they want to kill. That's where guilds come in to either talk sense into the Daimyo formally, or if it comes down to it, face the Daimyo in combat. Sometimes you have to fight the humans before you kill an Ayakashi. However, in other scenarios, a Daimyo might hire a guild or a single Demon Hunter to take down or subdue an Ayakashi causing havoc in his/her realm.

Note: only Demon Hunters can kill Ayakashi. Normal weapons may only harm them.

Demon Hunters are few and far between, outnumbered by all other classes. There are two types.

Monks

Branching into the distant past, Monks have always come down from the mountains to help quell the spirits of enraged Ayakashi. In most instances, these Monks do not kill the Ayakashi, rather, they smooth out the wrinkles and restore the peace. That is not to say there aren't rituals that can kill... However, in most instances, Monks choose not to kill, seeing all life as precious. They believe that Ayakashi, even immortal as they are, are in fact alive. They cannot be seen by most humans, but they can still effect the world, they can still touch people, they can still move this land... How could they not be living just as you and I?

Despite that, there are occasions when one must do what they must. When an Ayakashi cannot see reason, to a Monk, they are then a demon that must be eradicated for the good of the world. Just as humans can turn to evil, Ayakashi can too. They must be dealt with the same. Thus, there are ways--although slim and far between--for Monks to make an Ayakashi vanish for good.

Monks are highly secretive in their ways, and tend to come from a long line of heritage. Therefore, Monks are almost entirely reserved for the Japanese. Some Monk families are well known and often prayed upon for help with dealing with Ayakashi. Perhaps not enough prayers were given to its shrine for harvest, so a drought was brought upon the land. How to remedy that? Well, a Monk would go and speak with the Ayakashi. Depending on how the conversation turned out, the Monk would either leave the humans with advice or end up having to quell the Ayakashi by force.  

RITUALS  

Rituals from prestigious Japanese families are passed down generation to generation, honed, changed, and cherished. They can consist of an ancient dance, chanting a verse, using talimans, or anything of the like. What exactly pertains to the ritual, Monks do not share with anyone. And only on occasion will a Monk ever take on a student or let their rituals leave the family. Being as rituals are the strongest means of dealing with Ayakashi, they are almost entirely kept a secret. Rare and often unseen, rituals are certainly eye-openers, even going so far to be acknowledged as magic.

Rituals don't have to only be used on Ayakashi, however, under most circumstances, a Monk would never use a ritual on anything but. Because to use a ritual on a human, risks also the life of the Monk, usually backfiring and killing them.

Alchemists

Alchemists are mostly foreigners that want to just get rid of Ayakashi. Think of it like taking out the trash. Usually Alchemists have some terrible memory of Ayakashi, having had their lives heavily impacted, making them hate them. Thus, they have vowed to kill Ayakashi. Though there are some Alchemists that just want to tether all the Ayakashi into obedience, most have given up that view. How much can you tame a wild beast before it turns on you? Most Alchemists believe it's either kill or be killed.

Ever since foreigners came to Japan, they have seen and witnessed more things than they ever could have imagined in their lifetime, expanding their technology. With this technology, however, comes the deterioration of nature. Ayakashi are that nature; they are the pillars for the past--the reminders of what soft sunshine feels like in spring. And they have terrible ways of reminding humans of that, turning violent, and even forgetting their original intent in a fit of rage. Such unpredictable behavior and dangerous power should not belong in this world at all. Alchemists strive to preemptively prevent such pain from ever falling on a human (as it had to them). They believe that there is a better way to remind humanity of such things without violence and without having to go to a shrine and pray. They see no need for Ayakashi, believing that humanity can help and deal with itself. Although not all Alchemists think this way, and many have their own views, it all leads back to hatred toward Ayakashi.


Alchemy

With foreigner's technology, Demon Hunters have harnessed a device known as Tera Technology. With a wide array of usage, a Tera chip can typically be installed in any device or weapon. What it does it activate a scientific equation widely known as Alchemy. With this chip, any Transmutation Circle will work upon activation. Also, with the Tera chip installed, one can automatically see and experience Ayakashi. For Alchemy to work, however, Equivalent Exchange is everything; to get something, you must give something. Making something out of nothing is strictly impossible in terms of Alchemy. In that sense, there is no way Alchemy can be called 'Magic' like a Monk's Rituals; it is but a science of the world conveyed through esoteric means.

Alchemy is not vague or abysmal; it is concrete and tangible. Using it must apply to things that could be grasped--could be touched, and it is not an abstract concept such as gravity or kinetic energy. The exceptions towards this rule is through proxy via catalysts, such as creating fire from sparks. To loop Alchemy into infinite production from only a little substance without realizing it is only as good as it lasts. It is forbidden due to Equivalent Exchange; a violation of this usually results in a rebound: a volatile balance where what little has been given would be made up by taking more than it was intended to stabilize itself, often causing unforeseen consequences.

Those who use Alchemy are specialists in their field of study, and for rightful reasons too. There is far too many sciences for one person to even know about, and it took even the best to master them. For that reason, an Alchemist either partakes in a specialized singular field, or takes in another at the expense of neglecting their original studies.

A Tera chip can be installed in any weapon, any held item, in clothing like shoes, within oneself, and many other possibilities. To initiate it, the Alchemist must be entirely focused on the task. They must envision what they are creating. For instance, once they make a spark, they must think about breaking down the air molecules into oxygen, using it to expand the fire and burn whatever it is that was intended. This all happens in an instant, and the more the Alchemist does it, the easier it becomes.

All Alchemists must also have a Transmutation Circle along with a Tera chip. Each Transmutation circle has a connecting theme, such as fire for example. If an Alchemist has two abilities, say, creating a combustion of fire in the air and freezing water like puddles/lakes/etc., they would need separate transmutation circles for that. But if their two abilities are freezing water like puddles/lakes/etc. and freezing people’s blood by touching them, then you can use the same Transmutation Circle. Make sense?

To obtain a Tera chip, one must associate with a guild of some kind or with someone in a guild. They must either be a part of a guild or have enough money to purchase a Tera chip from a guild/someone in a guild. Guilds regulate Tera chips by making them and passing them along. The only thing with guilds are that they prefer to have some degree of control over the Alchemist-wannabe that purchases the Tera chip from them. Only some exceptions are made, but many deals are made in the shadows none-the-less. You do not have to belong to a guild in order to have a Tera chip.

On the black market, one can also purchase a Tera chip. Tera chips can be stolen, traded, and auctioned. There is no personalization to Tera chips besides what is in one's head unless otherwise invented, tweaked, and created by another party. All Tera chips typically appear the same, as a small chip with some quirks, serial numbers, and model differences. Of course, their processes are all different. Some Tera chips exude more power, but cannot be used more than a few times without causing harm to the user. Some Tera chips can be used many times over and over, but yield minute results. Mostly it's up to the user, but it's also about how the Tera chip is made. That is why the guild one chooses to join and how they obtain Tera chips is important.