Lucie Lukacovicova: Hotaru Akai, whose name means "Red Firefly", follows the dharma of Thrashing Dragon. She's a 25 years old, black-haired woman, who dresses in red. She is near to the principle of yang, therefore she is as alive as an undead can be. Akai loves music, dance, fun, good food and drinks. She has a dark-red sign in shape of a tear on her forehead. During her empty mortal life she desperately longed for a child. Her wish was fulfilled at last, but her daughter Konjiki is a half demon - a dhampire... Even Akai herself can only guess if the child is Hiraga's or Watatsumi's. And she's happy that nobody knows the truth. She was absolutely furious about the unnatural snow-storm, in which many mortals from the city died - and which she managed to stop with the help of Yataro. She suspected, that Maeda had caused it and her wrath boiled like lava under the thin surface of her white skin and delicate smile. Then she fought Imo Rika for influence and manipulation of the rich families of Namigame. The struggle was ended by a compromise. Akai partly forgave Yataro, whom she suspected to be mere Rika's tool. Hotaru and Yataro went drumming each morning together, so the whole surroundings echoed the sound of the huge taiko drum. But Akai was the first one to agree with Watatsumi's quest... She left for a desperate journey to Hell with a mysterious smile and a promise to both Sachi and Yataro, that she'll return.
Typical quote: "Let's have a party!"

Peter "Crinos" Szmuda: Seiesnsui Maeda, a wise old man, whom some of his companions like to call "grandpa-san". He has white hair and long white beard. He looks around 70 years old and fragile, but he can change his apperance through rituals - and he's an undead blood-drinking demon after all. He found a guru - Watatsumi. Maeda's wu long believed, that Watatsumi was an akuma, a dangerous outcast from Kuei-jin society, who serves the Lords of Hell. This situation nearly caused the breaking of the family, but now it was found out that some things are not what they seemed to be... Face to face with an attack from Korea the wu holds firmly together again. The poor workers from the docks adored Maeda, because he used his supernatural powers to heal and restore good health - but under the guideance of Watatsumi Maeda found a small mountain village, where he is worshipped as a deity and he rather spends a lot of time there. He caused a terrible snow-storm, which lasted for a week and took lives of 10% of the people in the city of Namigame. Perhaps he thought that mortals would worship him more... He did beat up Yataro for not keeping his promise and for lack of respect, which Akai (with her deep dislike for Rika and her brainless brothers) appreciated very much and forgave Maeda the storm. Later Maeda joined his guru and went to save the Oracle from Hell.
Typical quote: "Dragon in the house - fire on the roof."

Michal "Amiboshi" Kucera: Otami Hiraga, follows the dharma of Thousand Whispers, called also Way of the Wise Centipiede. He's around 45 years old, small, grey-haired, he has a narrow face and a moustache. Hiraga is very anxious about what is happening with Maeda, because they used to share the same dharma and a more calm and reasonable view on life, unlife and death, than the rest of the group. After long discussions with Akai, who defended Maeda's decision, Hiraga gave to Akai a kitten as a present. For some time he observed, how the Dragon-girl tried to get along with the animal, which was naturally afraid of a demon - but the cat ran away soon. Hiraga managed to settle down the conflict between Akai and Maeda. In the end he agreed to aid his old honored enemy - Watatsumi - and journey to Hell. Hiraga was the one who stood most firm against the temptations of the Lord of Hell and provided Tatsu the chance to get rid of the presence of the Demonic Lord.
Typical quote: "Problems of the wu can't be solved from outside."

Jan Svojanovsky: Yamada Kenjiro, looks around 20 years old, he's small, wears his black hair bound in a pig-tail and he's very handsome. He follows the cruel dharma of the Devil-Tiger, which considers pain a way to wisdom. Kenjiro would certainly soon be the center of Akai's attention, but he is more interested in Tatsu than in the Dragon-girl. Kenjiro nicknamed Akai "Red Cat". He usually causes a real blood-shed, when hunting. And his cruelty led him to his end. Five skilled mortal men and one supernatural being gathered, ambushed Kenjiro and killed him. The wu of Uncertain Name was terrified, but there was nothing to be done. The assassins escaped Tatsu's and Maeda's revenge. Hiraga accepted Kenjiro's death as an act of the Balance being restored - blind violence was swept from the face of the city. For a long time Akai quietly mourned for the Devil-Tiger, but she believes, that the living are more important than the dead.
Typical quote: "My dear Tatsu..."

Radek Krotil: Tekage Tatsu, is another Devil-Tiger in the wu. He is around 25 years old, he's tall, strong, sinewy, with short black hair, a scar on his temple and a dark-blue sign in shape of a tear on his forehead. Tatsu is near to the principle of yin - cold, unfeeling, emotionless. Causing pain to others and making mortals suffer is the most natural deed for him. Recently he became the leader of a local branch of yakuza, but organized crime was destroyed by Imo Rika and her side-kicks, when they arrived at Namigame. Tatsu found Rika worthy, he allowed her to lead her war against crime and left yakuza to it's fate. Only thanks to Tatsu and his skill of Yin Prana, the family escaped from Hell. The Devil-Tiger managed to dance the hypnotic yin-dance and the Lord of Hell and his servants fell asleep.
Typical quote: Slap! (Kenjiro flying through the air)


Jan Svojanovsky: Ishigawa Kensatsu, the heimin, lonely traveler who doesn't belong to any Kuei-jin Court, he follows the dharma Song of Shadow. Kensatsu is pale, cold, distant, yin-oriented. He prefers the company of yin spirits and doesn't take part in the wild discussions of others. The family of Uncertain Name allowed him to settle in the city of Namigame, where he arrived after the death of Kenjiro. Because of Akai's prophetic dream they try to take him in and strengthen mutual cooperation. It seems that Kensatsu came to the city in search of his lost past, but never found it. He was the one who perished in Hell in the fight with the demonic Gate-guardian.



Non-Player Characters


Watatsumi
Akai's comment - strange and powerful demon living in the Worlds of Yang, behind the Wall. He has long violet hair and lives in a shining tower, he's a master of Storm Shintai. Local fishermen worship him as a sea-demon under the name Gekirou ("The Stormy Sea"). Akai was awfully afraid of him, but now she is hesitating. Watatsumi's family, the wu of Water-stone, was distroyed by Michiko, on behalf of Nashiwaki. The reason for this blood-shed was, that all the members of Water-stone had been followers of "heretic dharmas", which are not oficially recognized by the Court. Watatsumi himself walks the spiritual path called Mask of Gods and he teaches Maeda to follow the same heretic dharma. For a long time he left the city of Namigame and travelled through the Yang-worlds. He left his magic tower to Akai. When he returned, he asked the wu of Uncertain Name for help, he asked them to journey to Hell and rescue a strange powerfull being called the Oracle. The family agreed, despite of the knowledge, that one of them is doomed never to return...

Hiraga's comment - what a waste of potencial! He really thinks that by pretending to be a god and being worshipped by handful of mortals he can make Heavens to withdraw its ancient curse. In fact, he only tries to escape hard reality of our state. True way to redemtion doesn't lie in selfish pampering of one's ego and godlike image but in responsibility and fulfilling our duties. In his pride and arrogance, he is not only offence against Heavens, other Kuei-jin and all souls that suffer in Yomi, he also creates dangerous imbalance by neglecting his given place in order of things. It seems that he really cares about his followers and resurects forgotten traditions but in the end, he does it for himself only and that has nothing to do with true way of kami. I am going to do everything to correct the imbalance he has been producing in human society, our society and at world itself. Even if it takes years.

Hideyaki, the Inspector - was sent by the Court to investigate the reason for attack of Korean Kuei-jin and Maeda's change of dharma. No matter, how loud and often violent were the discussions about the heretic dharmas inside the wu, when talking to the Inspector, the family members cover Maeda and praise his behaviour. Almost too late the family found out that the real Hideyaki was killed and the being they are dealing with is an akuma! This revelation did cost Tatsu his magic dagger and nearly also his unlife. The akuma escaped, but his minions were killed by the wu of Uncertain Name with help of Watatsumi and the wu of Eastern Sea.

Tama - Akai's black kitten, present from Hiraga. Unable to get along with the demonic Dragon-girl, the cat chose to run away.

Hotaru Konjiki is Akai's daughter, a dhampire. Her name means "Golden Firefly". Her father is either Watatsumi or Hiraga - nobody knows. Hiraga lost any interest, because Konjiki is a girl. Akai dislikes this behaviour, she keeps quiet, but she'll rembember that. On the other hand she's glad, because of Hiraga's unpredictable ways. Watatsumi likes Konjiki and Akai spends quite a lot of time in Watatsumi's tower in Yang-worlds now.

Sen - a mortal orphan, one of the children whom Akai took under her roof after their families died in a horrible seven-days snow-storm, which hit Namigame (and was one of Maeda's deeds of selfish pride). Akai takes care of Sen and wants her to become one of the girls who work in the "Cherry-blossom Tea Room", when Sen grows older. Sen keeps mourning for her parents and often has nightmares. Akai hopes to bring the child back to normal life.

The Oracle - her real name is Daugher-of-the-starry-sky. Some think she is a yang-spirit, some think she comes from a long forgotten race. In fact, the Oracle is a silver she-dragon. One of the Yama Kings (Lords of Hell) captured her and Watatsumi set for a madly courageous quest to free her. Oracle offered to become a nushi (guardian spirit) of those who rescued her, but under one condition...

Miyahara Sachi - the mayor's son who admires Akai very much. Although he knows she is not human, he seems to love her blindly. Akai, being a Thrashing Dragon, holds very special feelings for him. Love? Friendship? Superficial interest? All at once?


"Wu of the Eastern Sea":
(All the members of this family left for Korea)

Haru
Akai's comment - big, stupid, Devil-Tiger.
Hiraga's comment - fierce warrior and undoubtely brave man. He is utterly loyal to Nashiwaki and he also often helps Michiko to bring out her "lessons". Even if he seems to have no agenda of his own, I think he should not be dismissed as a simple, weak-minded brute.

Michiko
Akai's comment - a little girl, small, clever bitch, also Devil-Tiger. Never trust her. Thanks to the kami, she left for Korea.
Hiraga's comment - imagine a cute, little girl's body with devil's mind inside. That's Michiko. I have no idea why so young girl chose the way of suffering after she had taken the Second Breath. And I am not sure I want to know. Nevertheless, she embraces her dharma as fully as possible. She manipulates people around her to painful and dangerous situations all the time. Even I tasted the bitterness of her lessons. Other people are only toys in games her devious child's creativity produced. Despite of cruelty, there is great insight in her actions and they are supposed to teach.

Nashiwaki
Akai's comment - a noble pain in the... erm... neck, Mr. I-know-it-all, an extremely obnoxious Resplandent Crane.
Hiraga's comment - stern and detached man that never shows a single emotion. He has quite strong will and is able to do anything to keep order, no matter the cost. But he should add more empathy and tolerance to his judgements, because he often chooses the most radical cuts, before even trying to find any peaceful solution. I don't know if it's his habit, but he absolutely ignored standard Court procedures by giving direct order to imediately destroy the wu of Water-stone. I think that righteouss deeds should not be done under cover of darkness! Even if it'd mean a little bureaucratic delay.

lady Sawamura
Akai's comment - friendly, lively, emotional, owner of the "Cherry Blossom Tearoom", a Thrashing Dragon. Akai bought the Tearoom from Sawamura.
Hiraga's comment - compassionate and lively woman and great mystery for me. By running the famous tearoom located at noble quoters of Namigame, she is metaphorically sitting on the hub of information streams. She is always well-oriented in all local mortal matters be it politics, trade or crime. Despite of her passion to speak with others, she almost never gives any hint of her true feelings or plans. She is very talented at gathering knowledge a gossips without effort and that makes her powerful.


"Wu of Many Surprises":
(newcomers to Namigame, a very young family which works together)

Imo Rika is a young woman who follows the dharma of Resplandent Crane, direction East. She's the leader of the family, others follow her perhaps too blindly. Whatever has got a head, it is easy to kill - by cutting the head off...

Masanobu Senzo is a Devil-Tiger of the South. He has a very self-confident face, hair bound in a pig-tail and a small moustache. A devoted follower of Imo Rika.

Shimedzu Yataro, Akai's favourite, a Western Thrashing Dragon. He has short hair, nice round face, flat nose and inquistive eyes. Let's see if Akai will be able to teach him to use his own brain and not only the one of Imo Rika.

Chiba Kiohisa, the last member of the group, follows the way of Song of Shadow, direction North. He's over fourty years old, with a face of a burnt corpse and he slightly smells like burnt flesh. Therefore Chiba wears a hooded cloak and a hat. He seems to be the only one to think for himself, but he seldom speaks.


Game Quotes - jokes and funny quotes (in Czech)
Akai's Life, the story of the Red Firefly
Riddles and Poetry (in Czech)