Ki.
Across the tapestry of existence, countless names have been given to this boundless force, yet its essence remains eternal. It is the current that drives the wheel of the world, flowing through and connecting nearly every living being. From the violent storms that shape the land, to the tender beginnings of new life, Ki binds and sustains them all.
In the world of Gaia, every human is born with an intrinsic bond to Ki, a connection that lies beyond the reach of sight, touch, or even conscious awareness. Yet it endures, silent and steadfast. In the dawn of human existence, it was revealed that through profound trials of body and spirit, one could awaken to this connection, a moment known as "Opening One's Eyes." This awakening, distinguished by the glow of the irises and the color of their Ki, marks the first true glimpse into the boundless flow of Ki, granting those who achieve it the ability to deepen their harmony with its currents and even bend the very forces of nature to their will.
Although opening one's eyes is the commonly used term for awakening one's access to Ki, the more revered term for the skill is known as the "Mesukiro." Every individual who taps into the realm of Ki is bestowed with one of the three unique forms of the Mesukiro, known as:
"The Nikugan," otherwise known as the "The Physical Eye."
"The Gensogan," otherwise known as "The Elemental Eye."
&
"The Shishogan," otherwise known as "The Mind's Eye."
Each one of these forms of the Mesukiro is intrinsic to the user who wields it and each one wields Ki in a specific way. Through skill, determination and the understanding of Ki, the strength and power of each form can be exponentially increased and it is those known as the "Sentoki" who pride themselves on the journey to doing so.
The Sentoki are more than just warriors; they are custodians of balance and wielders of immense power. In the world of Gaia, where the land itself breathes with vitality, the presence of Ki shapes the destiny of all who inhabit it. To understand Ki is to understand life itself. But such power is not without cost. The bond with Ki demands resilience, devotion, and a willingness to endure unimaginable trials. For some, the journey to mastery is a blessing; for others, it is a curse that consumes them. Yet, it is the Sentoki who stand as living proof of what humanity can achieve when they strive to harmonize with the forces of the universe.
Gaia; a world of vast oceans, countless islands, and four sprawling continents, thrives with a tapestry of cultures, histories, and mysteries. Two continents, Eastern and Western Lorasia, lie beside each other to the north, while Northern and Southern Gondwana stretch across the southern hemisphere, And below them the tundra of Bokar covers the southern pole. Nestled between Lorasia's coasts is the ancient island of N'Duma, home to Eridu, humanity's oldest city & off Eastern Lorasia's far eastern shores lies KamiKochi, another island steeped in legend and the last bastion of the Sentoki.
The Sentoki have a long and complicated history spanning over eleven thousand years into history. Before their existence humanity wielded the powers of the Mesukiro in order to conquer and wage war. For millenia the world was ruled through the power of whichever nation could amass the strongest and most skilled Mesukiro Users, leaving the world in a violent and bloody state, that is until the arrival of the Kami.
The Kami were enigmatic and powerful beings who descended from the stars, each of them coming from far off worlds and seeking a new home. The Kami came to Gaia seeking refuge for themselves as well as the different races of beings that a number of them governed over, beings known as Yokai. In exchange for a new world to call home the Kami began sharing their knowledge of Ki and its secrets with humanity and those who followed the Kami and their teachings eventually became known as the Sentoki.
Under the guidance of the Kami and alongside the Yokai races, humanity began to experience its first era of peace, and for almost seven thousand years the Sentoki held the balance of the world. Keeping the dark ambitions of humanity such as war and greed largely at bay until the arrival of another enigmatic and strange visitor from the stars.
Almost seven millennia after the arrival of the Kami, another race of beings game to Gaia seeking refuge, but unlike the Kami and Yokai who came with countless secrets and precious knowledge of Ki, the next beings to arrive brought only their incredible technology and strangely had no connection to the Ki of the universe whatsoever. With this arrival the landscape of humanity was once again changed. The introduction of strange and powerful technologies meant that humanity no longer had to strain and struggle in order to develop their Mesukiro. Entire cities could be constructed without so much lifting a finger, and Gaia's new residents gladly shared this technology with humanity in exchange for refuge.
Once again after a brief eight hundred years Gaia had changed completely. The Sentoki had dwindled vastly in numbers. The era of devoting one's life to learning the secrets of Ki had passed, and humanity had begun to heavily rely on the sciences and technology that had been shared with them. Old nations and their rivalries began to re-emerge seeking wealth and resources in order to fuel their industries meanwhile those with open eyes became a disruption to the new world that had evolved.
As the Sentoki continued to dwindle and the industries of the world continued to grow, the Kami began to retreat as well. They abandoned the temples that had served as schools and learning places of Ki. Some of them took the Yokai races they had arrived with and created nations of their own, others chose to wander in obscurity, separating themselves from humanity and the troubles of the world. With the Kami all but disappeared, the Sentoki had lost their guidance and with the world no longer seeking their wisdom or protection, they had lost their purpose. It was at this point in history that an event known as The Great Migration took place. In order to both protect and preserve their way of life, Sentoki from all over the globe decided to gather and form a nation of their own, in time this nation became known as Kamikochi.
Now in the year 19,382 Hc, The Sentoki have spent five millennia in relative isolation from the outside world. No longer led by the Kami, they strive to protect their peace and way of life while continuing to uncover and understand the secrets behind the force that binds the universe, Ki.