Thread: Background info for Dark Fantasy Novel

((its in the making and so the mythological bits of it havnt been written yet so bare with me and still comment though))

Ill just get right into it:


This thread is basicly the background information about the religion and mythology in my Novel-in-the-making. I am doing the religion before the Imperial History side because it is alot more important. Please dont get discouraged by the fact its about religion, believe me its interesting ....

Anyway, my story is set in an empire which is based on 16th century Japan (although i still need to further research it, it is more my setting than reall life Japan). The main religion, which takes a HUGE part in the story, is based on the Japanese religion Shinto, however, it is very much different and again is my own made religion rather than actual Shinto religion.

Its gone to be a long post when i get it finished but please dont get discouraged. I will set it out like this:

Heading, small mythilogical story from the creation story in this empire in italics, then the actuall explanation.
(also whenever you see this: "....(n)" (where n is a number) it means it is a name which i have not yet thought of.)


Over View/Creation

((myth to be done))

The world is split into three parts, the Physical/Living World, the Spiritual/Over World and the Soul/Under World. The Living world is the physical and the "actuall" world - kind of like this world, the Spiritual World is full of the spirits (kind of like Kami from Shinto) - kind of like heaven prehaps, and the Under World is where the Souls reside - kind of like hell prehaps.

If you know anything about Shinto then you will know that the world is full of spirits or deities which look after certain parts of the world and, if they are in the Living World, they may reside in Caves, Lakes, Rivers, Waterfalls, Forests etc.. They work in harmony with eachother and although they are not evil they are also not good, they are pure with their own decisions on whether they help passers by or not.

The Empire worships these Spirits in shrines where they belive they breifly enter the Spirit world and also draw the Spirits to the Living World so they can be worshiped.

(more on this section later)

The Mortals, Demons and Ghosts

((myth to be done))

The Mortals/Humans which rule the Living World consist of three things: a body, spirit and a soul. Where as the Spirit is similar to the other spirit deities, the soul - which is unique to the humans (but is also a curse) - is what binds the spirit to the body and physical world (see the myth above) so it does not leave. However, the soul is also known as an evil-spirit and can become evil and twisted.

When a human dies, he is split into these three parts: the Spirit enters the Spirit World, the Body remains and rots and the Soul should (unless the needed rituals are not performed at time of death) enter the Under World.

However, the soul, which needs the spirit - as it's its reason of existense - and so may leave the Underworld and enter the Living world - the only way to get to the Spirit World - in search of its Spirit.
To do so it needs a body to exist in the Living world, and it may either steal a dead body, a living body or the body of an animal - which is easier as the animal does not already have a soul (more on this later).
This monstrosity of a body and soul with no spirit is known as a Demon and wonders the Living World killing all in its path in search of its Spirit. The Demon may sometimes haunt villages, wait in mountains, be disguised as man untill it changes to a horrific form and kills.

Sometimes, a soul may not even leave the spirit at the time of the human's death and may continue to bind the Spirit to the Living world with the soul and remain there. This is known as a ghost.. ((more on this later))

The Calander and Festival of The Spirits

((myth to be done))

The Empire's Calandar is split into 360 days and 12 months of 30 days. Each month is dedicated to a guardian ((see myth above))

The last month is also known as the Spirit Festival, this is because as soon as the month begins, Spirits are seen from the east of the Empire - persumably spirits of dead ansestors - and journey to the Empire's capital in the West, where they suddenly disapear at the capital's Shrine. This journey takes exactly one month and is a time where people make shrines dedicated to lost family. ((more on this later))

At the end of the Spirit Festival, the new year begins - as soon as all the Spirits leave the Empire.




As you can see im no where near done, i have to add alot more.

Basicly, my story follows a unamed Demon who has taken the body of a 17 year old boy from a small village. For some reason - not sure yet - he cant remember anything and does not even know hes a demon. He eventually comes to the Village of the "bodies" birth and finds out he is called Nakito and is human bla bla bla. He thinks he is human for some time untill he realises later.


Im not sure what the main story is yet, all i know its something to do with the Spirit Festival (which it is nearing). The story will include Demons, Spirits and Ghosts and should be - if i do it right - very scary and interesting and bloody cool.

Sorry for taking your time, although its not finished please comment. its long but still i would love it if you read and said something.

I will finish it soon.

-Thanks