WIP November Teaser! Saeno, Sarugami Zuijin

Where wisdom fails, iron succeeds.

Next month we're going back to the Qian Sheng Shan, the Thousand Sacred Mountains, which is home to the Tengu, Guanghan (rabbitfolk), Xueren (yetis), Yuudai (tigerfolk), and was the original home of the Feixian (cranes) before they scattered due to Nemesis. We've deepened the lore for this area with a cool adventure spot that DM's may want to send their adventurers into 👀 

The rest of this release is not planned to be a Sarugami release, however! We're thinking the other characters this month will be Tengu, one of the many people who have joined together to guard the mouth of hell...

The Sealed Gate of Despair

Deep beneath Agony Peak lies the demon god of Despair, Yami no Zetsubou-nushi, in his cavernous halls. At the height of his power, the demons of his making would pour forth from the mountain, terrorizing the surrounding lands and spreading Despair to grow his empire. The peoples of the Qian Sheng Shan gathered together and fought against him in a bloody war which lasted a thousand years, neither side able to defeat the other. At least, until the Eight Sages appeared. The Eight Sages pooled together their magic to create the Gate of Despair, sealing the demon god inside his underground mountain fortress at the cost of their lives. For centuries now, he has lain in wait, growing his strength as the seal of the Eight Sages weakens, biding his time to rise again.

Despite the combined efforts of all the mountain folk, there have not been any Great Sages capable of fully refreshing the seal. While it still remains in place, it is slowly eroding and will someday be broken if the Eight Sages are not reborn again together.

The Sarugami Monkey Folk

The Sarugami traditionally live close to the Sealed Gate of Despair, doorway to the demon god’s lair deep beneath Agony Peak. Legend says that the Sarugami were once messengers of the gods, intermediaries between mortals and those they worshiped. How they came to be the caretakers of the Gate is uncertain, though there are many legends. Some say it was created by a god they once communed with, and others say that their gods cast down the god of Despair and tasked the Sarugami to be its gaolers. Whatever the case may be, they have chosen to stay near the Gate and consider it their duty to keep it sealed.

Like many of the surrounding societies, the Sarugami are structured around the caretaking and maintenance of the Gate itself. Every member of the surrounding villages has tasks related to this, whether it is weaving of charms, fighting the demons who are able to pass through the gate, or simply repairing and cleaning the structures themselves to maintain the existing magic.

Saeno - Sarugami Zuijin
The Zuijin are an elite group of warriors who are tasked with guarding the Sealed Gate of Despair, both from outsiders who seek to unleash the creatures contained within, and the demons who attempt to pass through the gate. Saeno wields an iron-banded staff, a common weapon amongst the Sarugami but one that requires great skill to master. Despite being much heavier than a plain wooden staff, Saeno is able to spin it at incredible speeds and even throw and catch it, making his attacks fast and unpredictable. A veteran of the Zuijin, he has seen (and defeated) his fair share of demons from the Gate.