#i'm taking the inspiration and ideas inari offered and running

[godkilller]

INARI   OKAMI   :   FEUDAL   JAPAN   /   EDO   PERIOD.

          Gin appears as a simple man in elegant robes and a faintly glowing aura, though in truth walks the mortal plain as a deity, patron, protector of warriors, guardian of prostitutes and women wronged. In Shinto and Buddhist belief ( and northern China ) Inari, the often androgynous god, may take the form of a pale fox, snake, or a serpentine dragon----shapeshifting being perceived as their more mischievous trait, though some believe that foxes and snakes alike are merely messengers, a mouthpiece for the celestial being to interact with their followers. The dragon form may appear within one’s dreams, the message typically of dire importance. This god holds many personas and many aspects in which it oversees. Inari makes up more than one-third of all active shrines devoted to a Shinto-based deity within Japan, though its Buddhist traits are not forgotten.

        ORIGINS    /    WORSHIP  :

          Inari has no concrete origins recorded within ancient texts, though it’s roughly estimated that 711 AD is the furthest date of an aged shrine to the god, though worship allegedly began centuries before. Near the end of the fifth century, it was believed that Inari protected agriculture, food, sake, the importance of rice and humanity’s bond with nature. Shrines and texts depicted the god carrying rice, warding off bad luck and bringing in good fortune for plentiful harvests, often as a fox-like creature. With the popularity came decorated shrines bearing twin foxes and a signature jewel, a wish-fulfilling orb, in one’s mouth or hovering nearby. In some records of worship, Inari is split into three, though inconsistent, and may even be perceived as divided into five similar deities fused whole. Inari started small but became widespread in their protection--even bleeding into finances--as faiths and needs grew.

          Within Edo, it was believed that Inari prevented destruction by fire especially following the great fires that struck Kyoto’s houses and streets. Due to shrines often being built nearby or even next to whorehouses, Inari became the protector of prostitutes, in which their shrine was often seen as a safe place to linger----as such Inari became indirectly known as a staple deity in the acceptance of desire and lust. As popularity grew, the art of seduction became attributed to Inari’s kitsune mischief-making foxes, and the god was perceived as deceitful and would lure foul men closer to then punish or devour their soul. In other depictions and due to that belief, Inari no longer was perceived as a god, but rather a demon, for the brutality they could unleash upon wrongdoers and its trickster nature. Inari is seen as playfully deadly.

          Following Inari’s connection to desires, worshipers began to consider the god as Desire-Fulfilling Inari. A figure of speech prevalent within Osaka went   “ Byō Kōbō, yoku Inari ”   which translates   “ For sickness, pray to Kōbō, for desires pray to Inari ”   Many great lords, or daimyōs, constructed shrines for Inari within their massive castles, holding true to Inari’s protection of loyal samurai and to give prosperity to the land they held ruling over.

       APPEARANCE    /    ABILITIES   /   PERSONALITY  :

          Gin materializes himself as an average male standing at 185 centimeters and with a lean, slender build. Notable abnormalities begin at his silver, pale hair, mirrored by how the shapeshifter will often times take the form of his signature animals bearing a fairer coat or stretch of scales. The origin of his human guise’s namesake remains rooted in Gin’s initial appearance as moonlit, which he kept in favor of searching for any other alias he considered less suitable. The addition of  ‘ Ichimaru ’  to his human’s title simply translates his full name as “ Silver One “ which he believes as a perfect fit. Gin may, at will, however, abandon his namesake in favor of a more natural hair color----it is easy for the changing god to adjust his appearance as a mere glimmer of the light, a trick of the eyes. On that topic, Gin’s eyes will most certainly glow or appear intensely vibrant in comparison to any other ( rare ) blue-eyed mortal within Japan. Though he knows of its rarity and that the possibility of being labeled inhuman remains high, Gin favors the appearance, and will not change or dull down the piercing gaze. Rather, he will simply opt to squint his eyes to relinquish any startling reaction a human may have.

          Sharp features and pale skin are often draped in smooth layered robes topped by an elegant kimono of darker shades showcasing elaborate asymmetrical patterns, and often times Gin favors lengthier sleeves to obstruct view of his hands, accepting (or perhaps indifferent) of the connotations that he may be perceived as unmarried due to such lengths. Gin is aware of and knowledgeable of Japan’s culture throughout time, though he will play foolish and ignorant of it in order to strike conversation and to challenge humanity’s ( correct ) assumption that gods are constantly watching, and believes conveying such ignorance also makes humans less likely to bombard the gods with pettier prayers, often realizing in that moment that their problems are easier solved themselves rather than taking the time to explain their issue to a deity. Gin enjoys, however, listening to those who persist in explaining their issue----he admires humans who are capable of swaying his stance on granting a particular wish and will honor that dedication. Gin may at any moment answer prayers that fall within his vast celestial domain, but the greater the wish, the greater the trials he places within. Only those who are worthy and loyal may reap the benefits they so strongly desire.

          All praise gathered via worship, devotion to his shrines, offerings given, are stored as energy within the wish-fulfilling orb that may at any moment appear hovering over an opened palm. Usually mistaken as his life source or power source, the orb carries a potent gleam at its summoning, glowing an icy blue, and merely condenses all forms of worship and faith in a more tangible appearance----its size is not to be attributed to an apparent lack of followers, as Gin is supplied with plentiful faith, though the full function of the orb remains undisclosed. Gin clearly treasures the object and thinks it’s cute that humanity’s  “ caught on “  and began incorporating the orb into his shrine decorations.

          Gin confronted his first mortal as a materialized human; the man was a looter, a nameless pawn for one of the many gangs racing across Kyoto, and had a distinct Kansai-ben dialect. After devouring the man’s soul in clear punishment for his threatened violence towards the woman whom he had attempted to attack upon Gin’s grounds, the god has since then used the dialect. Gin does not necessarily need to verbally communicate as he is capable of full telepathic links to mentally and even emotionally convey what he desires to, which automatically translates to whatever the recipient's mind is capable of comprehending----the stronger the person’s spirituality, ki, and general awareness to the supernatural, the closer their minds will be to perceiving Gin’s true voice that transcends human language. However, Gin quickly became fond of the playful nature of Kansai-ben, and therefore will rarely offer opportunities to witness such shows of godhood.

          Wishes granted must remain within Gin’s domains as a god. Thankfully, it’s vast enough that most desires fall within his plain to mold and make so; for fertility in all aspects, for plentiful harvests, for foods to be present and starvation sated, for greater finances, for luck, for protection against rapists, for safe passage along any streets housing his shrine, for great health, for lustful desires ( yes, he can play matchmaker for you, but he usually denies those requests unless the pining is mutual ) and for honor within combat to name a few.

          Gin may bend reality, may turn the tides of current events, he may warp what has been done to an extent to fulfill such wishes, materialize money, materialize anything within reason of his domains, though he may struggle or even be forbidden to overcome the countering fulfillments of another deity. Gin will break such rules for those he cares for deeply but will suffer great consequence for doing so and disrupting the order amongst gods. Consequences involve temporary mortality, banishment from the celestial plains, and certain restrictions placed upon his powers. It is implied that the greatest punishment is death, in which Gin would be forced to gradually and painfully reincarnate himself amongst humanity, then earn his right to return to godhood once again. Though Gin will poke fun at  “ playing human “  he is earnest in still remaining removed from it and therefore looks upon that punishment with distaste. Gin does not resent being immortal.

          Certain wishes are, therefore, much easier to grant. In a reminder to humanity, Gin shows no favor in what appears as morally correct for him to fulfill, though holds his own morality that can occasionally overlap with humanity’s standards. This is not to usher in the concept that Gin understands humanity’s standards, as his worldview may sometimes come as a shock----even cruel----if cast into the correct light. Gin does not believe in second chances for wrongdoers guilty of assault / rape, and will devour them without any remorse. It is difficult to determine if the deity is even capable of such emotion, as he can in the same breath deny a prayer of a woman’s wish for a child if he deems her unworthy of the life she desires to bear.

          Though he became popular within castles of rich lords overseeing expanses of land they conquered, Gin much prefers the  “ little guys “ and sometimes wishes his domains extended towards wanderers, travelers, and folk of little belongings. Inari will be sentimental, nostalgic, of the era before rice was overcome by coin as Japan’s measure of wealth. Gin enjoys the concept of wandering, of aimless searching----he thinks it’s romantic even to travel across the lands and will even jokingly wish that he could cease his omnipresence to be able to  “ fully immerse himself “  in his own wanderings. 

          A bored god is a far more dangerous one, as Gin’s lesser-adored  “ phases “ involved him shapeshifting into beautiful maidens and luring men deemed disgusting into his waiting arms to soon devour, making a point to drain their blood first before seeking out their foul souls to feast on. Gin also may have  “ accidentally “  ignited a fued between two esteemed families out of pure indifference towards them both via several shapeshifted encounters as a fox posing as the bearer of the future, plaguing the head of each respective household with false visions of calamity should the other house remain in good standing. Gin remained guiltless in the toils he brought, though he will admit his lack of compassion was most prevalent as each human sought to murder one another in years to come.

          Equally so, Gin’s boredom also brought prosperity to many, seemingly randomized, followers. Favoritism began to show itself in patterns, however, that Gin clearly preferred granting women their wishes rather than the desires of men. He won’t deny it, either, but dislikes being referred to as a flirt and the implications that he wants something back from the women whose prayers he answers. Gin does not harbor granted wishes as  “ being owed “  anything in return, despite offerings and other signs of faith as being accepted forms of worship----he does not hold his followers responsible for any further payment as their faith in him provides plenty sustenance beyond a human’s comprehension. Gin doesn’t require food, though appreciates the snacks left for him at shrines, for example.

          He’s guilty of looming behind certain worshipers, simply following them throughout their daily life, random in his selection and unseen by passerby----fully capable of remaining invisible to all. Gin will remain quiet in his observation unless the human of choice begins to sense his presence, thus breaking his immunity to being seen. Gin may appear only to those that wish to see him or demand him to show himself, and therefore unknown and undisturbed by a crowd of humans passing by. Any dialogue spoken to him whilst in this state will be heard by others, though left unanswered to the public despite his replies.

          Gin is able to enter and exit this stealthed state at will, and within a second’s notice, seemingly vanishing in front of anyone’s watchful eye. Gin used to abuse this while luring drunken men, filthy and would snicker within the invisible realm in between steps as he watched them stumble and stagger, calling out, in utter confusion as onlookers scratched their heads at the man’s apparent breakdown. Needless to say, Gin has lived a long life, matured into a full deity capable of granting a vast amount of wishes, powerful and absolute, yet playful in nature and softer towards particular prayers and the wishes of women.

          AN ETHEREAL FORM DANCES ALONG THE EDGES OF YOUR VISION, A WHISPERED FAMILIAR VOICE, YET STRANGE, PLAYFULLY DARK, LINGERING TO YOUR RIGHT, AND A FAINT GLOW IN THE MOONLIT NIGHT-----------------------------

YOU HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF A GOD.

#[ headcanon ] fresh snowfall; fading footprints mark his path #heyooo this is a combination of actual history and then my headcanons mixed in. #so these concepts are not 100 percent down-to-the-wording accurate and shouldn't be read as a list of historical facts. #i'm taking the inspiration and ideas inari offered and running #if anything's offensive though please do let me know. #i did lotsa research to not step on any toes or be blatantly wrong about something but otherwise this is meant to be a very loose takeaway #[ verse: inari ] he would name himself trickster; demon; before claiming divinity