Humans

Among the many beings of Yamato, Humans are the most widespread and ambitious and the most territorial. Though fragile compared to Yokai or Kami, their adaptability, ingenuity, and fierce sense of community allow them to thrive in every corner of the land. Humans stand as average-sized folk, their dexterous hands and sharp minds shaping tools, weapons, and wonders.

Their society is rigid, ruled by an Emperor said to carry divine mandate, though true power lies with the Shogunate and its network of Daimyo. Honor, duty, and discipline bind human life together — from peasants laboring in the fields, to merchants in bustling markets, to samurai who carry their clan’s pride upon their blades. Every station has its place, every life its duty. Yet beneath this order lies ambition, rivalry, and the ruthless pursuit of power.

Humans prize tradition and etiquette, but they are also curious and fiercely territorial. Their lands are not only homes but sacred inheritances, fought for and guarded against outsiders. And though they revere the Kami, they remain wary of the Yokai, whose mischief or malice often unsettles human rule.

Humans are the adaptable backbone of Yamato. In Sakuragawa, the imperial and spiritual heart, they maintain shrines, courts, and trade hubs, acting as mediators between the yokai and divine. In Kome no Kuni, humans cultivate the fertile rice plains, feeding Yamato and sustaining the balance of life. Their role is one of stewardship, administration, and continuity, making them the bridge between the mortal world and the mystical forces surrounding them.

Among the many ancestries of Yamato, none are so widespread, so ordinary, and yet so adaptable as humans. Without horns, tails, scales, or supernatural powers, humans lack the innate gifts that define the other ancestries. Yet it is precisely this limitation that makes them remarkable: their strength lies not in what they are born with, but in their endless ability to change, endure, and create. Humans are the mortar that holds Yamato’s vast tapestry together, their presence found in every village, city, and province.

Physicality and Appearance: Humans vary widely in appearance, though compared to supernatural ancestries their traits are subtle. Their hair, eyes, and skin tones span a wide range, though Yamato humans often share dark hair and earthy complexions shaped by sun and soil. Unlike their supernatural neighbors, they carry no striking marks—no horns, glowing eyes, or animal features—though this plainness is sometimes envied and sometimes pitied. To humans themselves, however, individuality is a matter of clothing, bearing, and the way they present themselves to the world.

Way of Living: Humans thrive on versatility. Farmers in the rice paddies, fishermen on the coasts, traders in the markets, soldiers in the armies, scribes in the courts—humans fill every role imaginable. Their settlements are diverse: some live in quiet mountain hamlets, others in bustling river cities, still others in sprawling castle towns. Where supernatural ancestries often cluster in homogenous communities, humans weave themselves everywhere, adapting to climate, politics, and opportunity. While they lack supernatural gifts, they have numbers, resilience, and a restless drive to improve their lot.

Societal Values and Behavior: Humans value diligence, perseverance, and ambition. Where other ancestries inherit status through blood or mystical traits, humans believe in earning honor through action. Publicly, many humans strive to present modesty, discipline, and respect for hierarchy—values deeply rooted in Yamato’s strict social order. Privately, however, humans are as diverse as their circumstances allow: some are fiery and rebellious, others quiet and introspective, others shrewd and calculating. They adapt their behavior to their station, often balancing genuine beliefs with the necessity of appearances.

Spirituality and the Kami: Among all ancestries, humans are perhaps the most devout, for lacking supernatural power they lean heavily on the favor of the kami. Shrines dot their villages, and prayers, rituals, and offerings are woven into the rhythm of daily life. Humans honor spirits of field, river, and mountain, seeking blessings for good harvests and safe travels. Unlike Kitsune or Ryūjin, who may embody aspects of divine power themselves, humans position themselves as humble petitioners, striving to live in harmony with forces greater than themselves. Yet within this devotion lies creativity: humans produce countless localized festivals, myths, and rituals, each shaped by the land they live on.

Family and Comradeship: Family is the foundation of human life. Kinship defines not only inheritance but also honor, support, and identity. Households are often multi-generational, with elders guiding the young and children expected to uphold the family name. Marriage is both a personal and political bond, tying together families, villages, or merchant houses. Comradeship, too, is prized: human soldiers speak of “brothers and sisters in arms,” and guild members of their “family of craft.” Yet betrayal among humans is equally infamous, for ambition sometimes outweighs loyalty—one of humanity’s greatest strengths and weaknesses.

Fashion and Aesthetics: Human fashion in Yamato reflects social class and circumstance. Farmers wear practical earthen hemp robes and straw hats, while nobles display colorful silks, intricate embroidery, and lacquered armor. Craftsmen often wear tools upon their belts as both function and symbol of pride. Humans love color when they can afford it—deep reds, indigos, and greens mark prosperity—though peasants often make do with earth tones. Unlike Oni or Kitsune, who may mark identity with their natural features, humans rely on clothing, hairstyle, and ornamentation to signal status, personality, and taste.

Traditions and Rituals: Human traditions are countless, varying from province to province. Common across all are seasonal festivals: the planting and harvest rites, New Year’s purification ceremonies, and summer festivals honoring the ancestors. Weddings and funerals are deeply spiritual, binding families together or guiding souls to the otherworld. Humans also practice communal traditions of work—rice planting songs, fishing prayers, and collective rebuilding after floods or fires. These rituals reinforce bonds of belonging, reminding humans that though they lack supernatural powers, they survive through unity and shared purpose.

Public vs. Private Conduct: Publicly, humans often conform to the expectations of rank and role. A farmer bows to the village elder, a merchant flatters his patrons, a soldier salutes his commander. Etiquette is a shield against chaos, ensuring respect even between strangers. Privately, however, humans are freer, showing affection, humor, and passion. Around the hearth, they laugh, bicker, and dream with honesty often hidden from the outside world. This division between “face” and “heart” is deeply ingrained, teaching humans to balance duty and desire.

Relations with Others: Humans coexist with every ancestry, though relationships are complex. Oni are feared but respected for their strength. Okami are admired for their honor but seen as distant. Kitsune are distrusted tricksters, yet secretly envied for their wit. Tanuki are embraced with warmth, especially in villages where laughter is needed. Ryūjin and Hebi inspire awe or fear, as beings closer to the divine. Hanyou embody tension itself, stirring debates over purity and belonging, same for the Yurei, though them and Nekomata are too eerie and too independent and lonesome for a human. Above all, humans see themselves as central, for their sheer numbers and adaptability ensure their influence on every corner of Yamato.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Humanity’s greatest strength lies in adaptability. Where others rely on the gifts of birth, humans forge paths through sheer will, creativity, and endurance. They are builders of cities, creators of art, writers of law, and farmers of the land. Their weakness, however, lies in their restlessness: ambition can turn to greed, rivalry, and war. No other ancestry has caused as much strife among Yamato’s peoples as humans themselves, for their desire to rise often comes at a cost. Yet this same hunger drives them ever forward, making them both fragile and unstoppable.