Tsukiyo
We are as the moon, first small and vulnerable, then bright and vibrant, at last wise and mysterious, all to be reborn and live again. —Tears of Jade
Prince of the Moon
Tsukiyo is the god of the moon, revered most widely in Tian Xia for his wisdom and his role in guarding sacred spaces, from cemeteries to primeval forests—but he was not always so. Murdered by his brother in a fit of envy, Tsukiyo was returned to life by divine medicine and his lover’s will. Yet despite his miraculous recovery, Tsukiyo had experienced a transformation in death that left him more contemplative and less socially engaged, and he began avoiding the boisterous people and settings that had appealed to him before his rebirth. The new Prince of the Moon leaves many of his peers uneasy, for it remains unclear whether death itself changed him, or whether he witnessed something dire while beyond the pale that inspired his eccentricities.
Untold millennia ago, the Prince of the Moon spent as much time roistering with the other gods as he did flying out to vanquish evil. He and his lover Shizuru were the epitome of romantic love, and Tsukiyo’s happiness inspired unquenchable envy in his brother, Fumeiyoshi. In a fit of rage, Fumeiyoshi murdered Tsukiyo, cutting a wound so deep that it left the moon forever scarred. Unwilling to accept her lover’s death, Shizuru convinced Qi Zhong to ply his greatest medicines undo death itself, and three nights later, life returned to the fallen god. For Fumeiyoshi’s crime of fratricide and deicide, the other gods condemned him to live within his brother’s grave, from which he would always envy his betters.
Tsukiyo’s death and rebirth changed him into a god of transformations and transitions, from those of the lunar cycle to the shepherding of souls to the afterlife. His personality changes gradually over time, ranging from coolly judgmental to brimming with quiet compassion. Despite occasional outbursts of passion, Tsukiyo is reclusive and even shy. This predilection shapes his divine undertakings; he rarely participates in monumental affairs, but he doesn’t hesitate to connect with individual mortals to offer silent support in times of need. Despite his reserved demeanor, he is an unshakable advocate for the frightened, the lost, and the misunderstood—particularly those maligned by society for thinking or perceiving the world differently from their neighbors. Though this often takes him away from the light of mainstream civilization and the sun, his lover Shizuru seems to understand and provide him space, so that both can combat injustice in their own ways.
Tsukiyo appears in art far less frequently than Shizuru, but when he does, it is as a Tian-Min man with long silver hair and a peaceful, understanding smile. His age often changes in symbolic reflection of the moon’s phases. His green robes seem woven from flexible jade, and he wields a spear crafted from spun moonlight.
His brother Fumeiyoshi is among his greatest enemies, having slain Tsukiyo out of jealousy for his love of Shizuru. Tsukiyo views his brother with a mix of scolding disdain and heartfelt pity for the villain’s harrowing banishment. Fumeiyoshi has developed numerous plans to destroy his brother a second time, but Yaezhing regularly intercedes with the threat of even greater punishments. Tsukiyo never thanks Yaezhing, for the former believes that Yaezhing’s love of harsh punishment inflicts emotional scars that may never heal.
Tsukiyo gets along well with Pharasma, and their priests regularly work together when maintaining cemeteries or destroying undead threats. Likewise, he and Nalinivati find each other fascinating, with each holding esoteric secrets that intrigue the other. This friendship attracts numerous naga worshippers to Tsukiyo, many who find symbolic similarities between the act of shedding one’s skin and the moon’s ever-changing face.
Without a doubt, Tsukiyo’s dearest ally is his lover Shizuru, though his transformation has complicated their relationship. The moon god cannot always handle the overwhelming emotions she inspires, and often retreats to center himself. His constant departures sometimes cause other gods to call him uncaring or cruel, but despite their hardships, the couple remains as devoted to each other as ever. Tsukiyo knows that Shizuru cannot understand him as he is now, but loves her deeply for giving him the space he needs without question.
Although it was Qi Zhong who restored Tsukiyo to life,their friendship often breaks out in argument about the treatment of the mentally divergent. To the former, there is no malady so powerful that it’s beyond the ability of medicine to heal, including any expression of mental abnormality. Tsukiyo firmly rebukes this misguided interpretation; from his perspective, insisting that those who think and perceive differently from an arbitrarily decided ideal need to be “cured” is tantamount to erasing their personalities.
Dusk Ronin: Believed to be the child of Tsukiyo and Shizuru, the Dusk Ronin lacked the forbearance of her mother, and constantly confronted Tsukiyo over the toll his absences took on Shizuru. When the Dusk Ronin lost her temper and struck her father in anger, Shizuru exiled the archon as punishment. The Dusk Ronin is not truly a divine servant, but answers calls from the faithful of either of her parents. She most often comes to the aid of Tsukiyo’s followers, both as penance and to better understand her father and others like him.
Kihyo: This eerie bird glows with a cool moonlight that deals a combination of cold and divine damage (similar to flame strike). She exults in any opportunity to calm undead spirits, and prefers being paid with jade carvings.
Lady of the Green Crescent: When Tsukiyo’s corpse crashed to the ground, it sent the nearby animals running—all but one hare oft-maligned for her cowardice. However, she remained by the god’s side, washed his face, and fended off thieves and scavengers until Shizuru’s arrival. Once revived, Tsukiyo praised the hare’s loyalty, and she has since served as his herald. The Lady of the Green Crescent is a unique jade-bodied emperor kirin with a hare’s features. She and her kirin children usher the dead back to their tombs, watch over Tsukiyo’s faithful from afar, and provide comfort to those who would otherwise suffer alone.
Untold millennia ago, the Prince of the Moon spent as much time roistering with the other gods as he did flying out to vanquish evil. He and his lover Shizuru were the epitome of romantic love, and Tsukiyo’s happiness inspired unquenchable envy in his brother, Fumeiyoshi. In a fit of rage, Fumeiyoshi murdered Tsukiyo, cutting a wound so deep that it left the moon forever scarred. Unwilling to accept her lover’s death, Shizuru convinced Qi Zhong to ply his greatest medicines undo death itself, and three nights later, life returned to the fallen god. For Fumeiyoshi’s crime of fratricide and deicide, the other gods condemned him to live within his brother’s grave, from which he would always envy his betters.
Tsukiyo’s death and rebirth changed him into a god of transformations and transitions, from those of the lunar cycle to the shepherding of souls to the afterlife. His personality changes gradually over time, ranging from coolly judgmental to brimming with quiet compassion. Despite occasional outbursts of passion, Tsukiyo is reclusive and even shy. This predilection shapes his divine undertakings; he rarely participates in monumental affairs, but he doesn’t hesitate to connect with individual mortals to offer silent support in times of need. Despite his reserved demeanor, he is an unshakable advocate for the frightened, the lost, and the misunderstood—particularly those maligned by society for thinking or perceiving the world differently from their neighbors. Though this often takes him away from the light of mainstream civilization and the sun, his lover Shizuru seems to understand and provide him space, so that both can combat injustice in their own ways.
Tsukiyo appears in art far less frequently than Shizuru, but when he does, it is as a Tian-Min man with long silver hair and a peaceful, understanding smile. His age often changes in symbolic reflection of the moon’s phases. His green robes seem woven from flexible jade, and he wields a spear crafted from spun moonlight.
Relations With Other Religions
Tsukiyo’s outward eccentricity ensures that most gods pay him cautious respect for having returned from death and witnessed what lies beyond. This affords him considerable influence, as even evil divinities are willing to listen to him out of sheer curiosity when he visits. When others seek him out, he is likely to retreat in contemplation.His brother Fumeiyoshi is among his greatest enemies, having slain Tsukiyo out of jealousy for his love of Shizuru. Tsukiyo views his brother with a mix of scolding disdain and heartfelt pity for the villain’s harrowing banishment. Fumeiyoshi has developed numerous plans to destroy his brother a second time, but Yaezhing regularly intercedes with the threat of even greater punishments. Tsukiyo never thanks Yaezhing, for the former believes that Yaezhing’s love of harsh punishment inflicts emotional scars that may never heal.
Tsukiyo gets along well with Pharasma, and their priests regularly work together when maintaining cemeteries or destroying undead threats. Likewise, he and Nalinivati find each other fascinating, with each holding esoteric secrets that intrigue the other. This friendship attracts numerous naga worshippers to Tsukiyo, many who find symbolic similarities between the act of shedding one’s skin and the moon’s ever-changing face.
Without a doubt, Tsukiyo’s dearest ally is his lover Shizuru, though his transformation has complicated their relationship. The moon god cannot always handle the overwhelming emotions she inspires, and often retreats to center himself. His constant departures sometimes cause other gods to call him uncaring or cruel, but despite their hardships, the couple remains as devoted to each other as ever. Tsukiyo knows that Shizuru cannot understand him as he is now, but loves her deeply for giving him the space he needs without question.
Although it was Qi Zhong who restored Tsukiyo to life,their friendship often breaks out in argument about the treatment of the mentally divergent. To the former, there is no malady so powerful that it’s beyond the ability of medicine to heal, including any expression of mental abnormality. Tsukiyo firmly rebukes this misguided interpretation; from his perspective, insisting that those who think and perceive differently from an arbitrarily decided ideal need to be “cured” is tantamount to erasing their personalities.
Realm
Tsukiyo’s divine realm is the Grove of Green Shadows, a forested region along Heaven’s third tier, Clarion. Countless secluded homes hide under the canopy of translucent jade leaves. Tsukiyo’s own home is a small palace made of marble and mithral, though he rarely occupies it in favor of traveling. The grove stands on the opposite side of the Holy Mountain from Shizuru’s home, the Palace of the Eightfold Mirror.Planar Allies
Tsukiyo’s host consists of angels, celestial lycanthropes, kami, kirin, and other unique creatures.Dusk Ronin: Believed to be the child of Tsukiyo and Shizuru, the Dusk Ronin lacked the forbearance of her mother, and constantly confronted Tsukiyo over the toll his absences took on Shizuru. When the Dusk Ronin lost her temper and struck her father in anger, Shizuru exiled the archon as punishment. The Dusk Ronin is not truly a divine servant, but answers calls from the faithful of either of her parents. She most often comes to the aid of Tsukiyo’s followers, both as penance and to better understand her father and others like him.
Kihyo: This eerie bird glows with a cool moonlight that deals a combination of cold and divine damage (similar to flame strike). She exults in any opportunity to calm undead spirits, and prefers being paid with jade carvings.
Lady of the Green Crescent: When Tsukiyo’s corpse crashed to the ground, it sent the nearby animals running—all but one hare oft-maligned for her cowardice. However, she remained by the god’s side, washed his face, and fended off thieves and scavengers until Shizuru’s arrival. Once revived, Tsukiyo praised the hare’s loyalty, and she has since served as his herald. The Lady of the Green Crescent is a unique jade-bodied emperor kirin with a hare’s features. She and her kirin children usher the dead back to their tombs, watch over Tsukiyo’s faithful from afar, and provide comfort to those who would otherwise suffer alone.
Holy Books & Codes
Tsukiyo’s holy texts primarily take the form of parables, each with several layers of meaning intended to teach humility, empathy, and spiritual traditions.
Tears of Jade: The most common 28 parables told by the faith make up Tears of Jade, the canonical holy text, which provides a different story for each day in the lunar cycle. Priests regularly produce illustrated or reinterpreted versions of these stories to ensure they are as accessible as possible in both language and medium.
Tears of Jade: The most common 28 parables told by the faith make up Tears of Jade, the canonical holy text, which provides a different story for each day in the lunar cycle. Priests regularly produce illustrated or reinterpreted versions of these stories to ensure they are as accessible as possible in both language and medium.
Holidays
Tsukiyo’s faithful celebrate every eclipse, believing these represent the fleeting moments when their god reunites with Shizuru in Heaven. In addition, the phases of the moon provide a number of occasions for reflection.
Darkest Night: Tsukiyans celebrate a lunar new year marked by the last new moon before the spring equinox, commemorating the three nights that Tsukiyo was dead. Between ritual meals, a participant conveys to their neighbors what about them inspires envy in them and how they aspire to have the same quality; they in turn must take some step to help them attain that goal—symbolically quelling the envy in each other that led Fumeiyoshi to kill his brother. Hares feature prominently in the celebration, for it was a hare that found Tsukiyo’s body and carried Shizuru’s request for aid to Qi Zhong.
Darkest Night: Tsukiyans celebrate a lunar new year marked by the last new moon before the spring equinox, commemorating the three nights that Tsukiyo was dead. Between ritual meals, a participant conveys to their neighbors what about them inspires envy in them and how they aspire to have the same quality; they in turn must take some step to help them attain that goal—symbolically quelling the envy in each other that led Fumeiyoshi to kill his brother. Hares feature prominently in the celebration, for it was a hare that found Tsukiyo’s body and carried Shizuru’s request for aid to Qi Zhong.
Symbol
Edicts
provide aid and counsel without judgment to those who seek help, help the dead find their rest, amplify or help speak for the powerless and demonized
Anathema
harm another out of envy, force aid on those who do not want it, inflict harmful mental effects on others as punishment
Areas of Concern
jade, the moon, spirits
Centers of Worship
Goka, Jinin, Minkai, Nagajor, Tianjing, Wall of Heaven, Zi Ha
Favored Weapon
spear
Domains
delirium, moon, repose, soul
Alternate Domains
change
Divine Ability
Constitution or Intelligence
Divine Font
heal
Divine Skill
Occultism
Divine Classification
God
Religions
Species
Ethnicity
Church/Cult
Spouses
Shizuru
(wife)
Siblings
Children
Gender
Male
Aphorisms
Tsukiyo’s faithful create new sayings inspired by natural observations and phrases they’ve overheard.No matter its phase, the moon Is whole: A community might be quick to judge someone who looks or acts differently than the majority of its members do, even assuming these differences make that person inferior. This saying is a reminder that perspective changes with time, and that regardless of idiosyncrasies or appearance, everyone is a whole person and worthy of respect.
Even hares are heroes: Although normally skittish, a hare guarded Tsukiyo when he was most defenseless. Tsukiyans use this phrase to encourage bravery in each other; but it can just as readily convey that, for a vulnerable or scared person, completing a seemingly minor task requires courage or energy that’s too rarely celebrated.
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