Offerings

"So they are asking of us that we... provide for a revel, with all but one poisoned meal, to slay their family's wrongdoer and to bring them luck for the next harvest? Who do these mortals take us for?
— I think you just scared them, Shirogu. And what was that with the poison?
— I made it up."

Few mortals have the chance to discuss face to face with the supernatural demons and not end up as a snack. However, a snack is something that few yokais can pass on, and it doesn't have to be human flesh. A rice cake often does the trick.

Offer, and we shall listen

Most yokais and kamis have at least one shrine dedicated to them, even the ones acknowledged as pure evil. When a human wants to address them, or even manifest their respect and worship, they come and abandon something before the shrine. Most leave food, but on some occasion precious objects, money or even children may be offered.

One cannot offer anything to anyone. There is an implicit, but not secret, language to offerings. As even prayers cannot reach kamis, this system is a surefire way to get at least their attention. For example, a sincere offering must be topped by three circular rocks, to signal the receiver that the gift is in good faith and that nothing is expected of them. It effectively asks to disregard any significance behind the presents. This is the sign most commonly used by monks and people who aren't familiar with the code, to make sure they don't offend the demon by accident.

We are not bound by your gift

The code is complex and full of subtleties. Anything can be asked of a divinity, with enough resources. When giving a child, one may put a golden brooch in their hair to ask the kami if they accept to raise them, and make them part of their court. But should the brooch be silver, and the symbol of a household painted on a wooden plank held by the child, it is expected that the offered takes the life of the youngster and send his relentless ghost to haunt and kill of fright the target family.

However, neither yokais nor kamis have any obligation toward the offering. Since the Blossoming of the cherry tree, many have accepted to mingle in human affairs only by way of offerings, while others do as they please. They all understand the meaning behind the thoughtful gifts, but freely decide when to abide by them and when to ignore them.

While many of them are whimsical, others are sadistic. There is a way to specify a date and place using offerings, but it is often costly and not worth it. People assume the kami or yokai will see the offering, and chose to respond to the demand or not. Some of them, however, take advantage of the lack of indication and may decide to kill the son of a rival family decades later, after the dispute has been settled and the two former enemies are now happily married.