The Laws and
the World

The grand Institute stands on a massive mountainous ground isolated from the world. It is large in mass and resembles a cathedral in design, constructed of semi-smooth stone, its build more modernized in certain areas on the inside for convenience. It hosts a myriad of its own resources, including an athenaeum, sanatorium, auditorium, refectory, training grounds, pools, and two grand gardens (one Japanese-style, one hanging). Some Shinigami, Shikigami, and a rare few humans bound to the area have set up resources around the school for entertainment, like a resort at the base of the mountain and a kart-race and putt-putt. There're food stands and more nearer to the campus, and casual training centers for tae kwon do and the like.

The Institute has five tall floors. Dormitories are usually two-three people per room, and co-ed. They're physically located in a special added-on section of the grounds, while professor rooms reside on the fourth floor of the main building. Classes are typically on the first and second floor, with other accomodations on the first. Student rooms come equipped with: shower, small refridgerator, one-three beds, and some larger ones have miniature kitchens, like apartments.

There are eight grand steps before the Institute, and students are initiated by the Steps Ceremony, in which they symbolically move up a step. The First Step is taken on the first day, watched by all senior. At year's end, all levels address the steps and move up. Seniors are dismissed into the world with the Sending Ceremony, in which there is usually flight (even of wingless Shinigami) and tossing of robes to reveal their transformed bodies.

After Graduation period, there are six weeks of downtime, a Break occurring in late Spring during which students can do as they like on the grounds, followed by two weeks of Orientation for new students. Normally classes are held every day except Sunday.

Recently, more normal people with insight into the supernatural have been joining the Institute. The Institute was once filled with seedier and more withdrawn people, considered strange and unfit for society in their time.It is not required that a student tell why they desired to become a Shinigami, only that they be sincere about their undertaking.

Students who are found to be not cut out for the institute for lack of ability or dedication have their minds erased and are placed back in their place of origin, regardless of what their situation was prior. They are marked so that Shikigami will know to avoid them.

The Bureau of Rings: The smaller ministry kept at the Institute, consisting entirely of Shikigami, with only a few smaller factions spread out to Posts. These Shikigami recruit Shinigami, among other things (such as performing busywork and clean-up). They also manage the Shinigami libraries. They are called the Bureau of Rings because, in the past, each Shikigami would give a ring (one that specifically enables it to be able to move at immortal speeds) to the person considering joining. Today they still wear the rings but do not give them out for simplicity's sake.

This Bureau is headed by a great Crane Spirit and consists mostly of smaller birds and flying things, but not entirely. They keep constant watch on humans whose lives are bleak through "looking-books" and are cautiously assigned humans to approach.

Posts: Subsets of the Institute, Posts are found throughout the world as aids to Shinigamikind. These Posts are usually run by earnest Ronadas who have gleaned a good knowledge of the Gods of Death.

The Institute for the Arts of Death was founded fairly recently in a very remote area of the world - thought to be hidden in southern New Zealand, though one can be unsure, even its students. Since it is located on the Spirit plane, it cannot be found by normal humans. Although its name implies emphasis on death, it is actually focused on the act of killing, or removing the Soul.

It was founded by First Shinigami Obigami 1455 years after Christ* and during Japan's Muromachi Period, during which he noticed a great increase in the number of dying humans. He could no longer use a sheath to reap their Souls, and changed to an axe, then a sword, and finally decided he would recruit the hidden jaded nations of people to help him collect Souls. They were unfocused, their potentials unrealized, and would not always listen or operate as a Shinigami should; he also saw that they could develop different, efficient, and interestingly creative ways of collecting Souls. Thus, he established the Institute, making it a seven-year program and making the divine laws governing him its rules, in order to educate those who would become Shinigami, and had Shikigami go about to recruit potentials.

Obigami perished when he broke the first rule of Shinigami himself by slaying his closest student, Yarigami, in a fit of rageful frustration. Yarigami had always employed means that were effective yet contrary to Obigami's teachings, and the two, despite respecting each other, had often fought. To this day, the oversight of God and his Counsel, the Sun Amaterasu and the Moon Tsukuyomi, has been constant upon the Instutition, and it continues well.

The Institute was then delegated into the care of Ruegami, an upstanding Shinigami not related to Obigami's close inner circle. The circle dispersed after this election, and all controversy with them; however, it was not long until Rue stepped down for reasons unknown and left the Institute to Jonegami before disappearing herself.

Jonegami made radical changes to the ITAD, including increasing the required time by a year, issuing true uniforms to students, relocating the base, completely restaffing, the curriculum and methods of teaching and training, and keeping an Oni as his vice president, among other things. He approached training more holistically, and his sudden and vast changes stirred up controversy, conflict, and complaints. Still, he had his way. Shinigami-dom came out with a fresh new face. He rules as Shinigami King to this day as a favored and powerful overseer.

Historically, there have been a few Shinigami wars, some directly involving the leaders of the Institute, others more involving renegade Shinigami rarely ever heard from. Most were not typical wars, but "cold wars," ending only at the crest of escalating conflicts.

* NOTE: In the years after Christ, the need for a Shinigami decreased significantly, yet they remain today to keep the spiritual world in balance - that is, to manage the interactions of Souls and Oni. Today, there are plenty of Shinigami to handle their tasks, but nowhere near as many as there once were.

The years for a student are named so:

• Year 1: Freshman
• Year 2: Fledgling
• Year 3: Sophomore
• Year 4: Initiate
• Year 5: Junior
• Year 6: Senior
• Year 7: Aether

During that time, one may "major" in one Shinigami skill and "minor" in another. They can take study more independently or take on courses not pertaining to either, but it is not advised, as there are many to be sidetracked with. With seven tiers of learning going on at once, one might find the Institute confusing at times. The higher-tier students actually spend more time in the field than they do at the campus, however, relegating the teachers to focus on fledglings.

Each student is admitted after a personal meeting with the Principal, No Jonegami, and given their supplies. When a student reaches their seventh year, they may append their name with "-gami" (great) or rename themselves with the -gami suffix. Once a student has graduated his or her seventh year, he is re-presented with a Divine Weapon of their very own, marked with their own sigil and tailored to their skill.

The Institute at first consists of more reading, writing, and lectures than physical training, though a lot of study is interactive, and students are usually engaged in their subjects, even ones irrelevant to their type focus.

During lecture classes, one is required to wear the official brown uniform; any other time, students can wear whatever they would like.

Shinigami that have graduated are ranked by the amount of Demon Fangs they collect - and doing so is not an easy feat.

Students typically change appearance over the course of their training at the Institute. Depending on their type, they can appear more ethereal, more animal-like, or even change into their own desired self-image. However, there are a few basic changes that normally manifest themselves in all students:

• Freshmen: A change of hair color; stronger nails, hair, and teeth
• Fledglings: Noticeably improved body health (if training well)
• Sophomores: Small head horns, elongated canines
• Initiates: Additional horns, tails (sometimes)
• Juniors: Wings (small), of bird type (usually) and summoned by will; fur and scales possibly
• Seniors: Larger wings, markings (if any)
• Aethers: Eyes shift colors and glow in darkness

Many say that as a fully-realized Shinigami they are nothing like their former selves; however, at best, they have come to be themselves at their fullest.

In some these may not develop as much, or at all, or may develop vestigially; again, it depends on their type.

Shinigami are known to develop more acute senses, including taste (and some are known to become gluttonous) and sensuality. Similarly, those who had crippling or chronic illnesses or conditions tend to notice them fade away within the firts half-year of Shinigami training.

Shinigami and most other ethereal beings collectively share the ability to switch planes at will, so long as they have certain resources. This is done by staring straight into the eyes of your reflection in water for three seconds. Cross-plane interactions can be confusing at first, for affecting the other plane requires much power, so young students find themselves resorting to the Water Switch often.

Shinigami stop aging at the time they graduate the Institute. Some older ones have been known to actually look younger going from that point because of their improved body condition (this doesn't go so much for Shinigami who don't often use their bodies, such as Heart or Claw; and certain types can mildly add age). At Aether point, certain Shinigami gain advanced regeneration skills (apart from advanced healing that comes default), able to regrow lost limbs. The most powerful kind can even regenerate heads (provided the original head was not completely destroyed, but simply lost). This doesn't help if the Soul alone is attacked.

At a certain point, usually in Fledgling or Sophomore year, students experience the Shinigami Sickness, the last true illness they will ever have. Depending on the Shinigami type, the symptoms may be very mild (like rashes) or incredibly intense (like high fevers, shaking, vomitting). It's caused by the Shinigami's entire body system, especially the immune system, changing; formerly beneficial parasites are unable to live on the body anymore, white blood cells disappear, etc. During this transition, the body is open to all kinds of human sicknesses (even on the Spirit plane), but when it's over the Shinigami body is immune to all diseases, save for those caused by curses.

Certain Shinigami have been known to become purely Soul instead of a meld of Soul and body, but it is extremely rare and hard to achieve.

It's noted that Shinigami may also never enter Heaven, since their services are on earth and they will never die. They have given up such priveledges.
Also, Shinigami lose their Guardian Angel upon agreeing to become Shinigami and may not ever recover one, even if extreme circumstances lead them to again become a part of the human world.

A dying human, or a human killed, must have his or her Soul taken and placed properly in Purgatory, lest it roam the earth eternally in torment as a ghost or transform into a monster. This is the Shinigami's main task. To do this, a Shinigami presses the Sigil of his/her Divine Weapon through the core of the Soul. This is called Sending. Usually the Soul lingers about the dead body for three days, floating on the Spirit plane and invisible to humans, and if by then their person is not resolved or a Shinigami has not seen them, they will remain attached to the earth until a Shinigami catches them. At this point, they can turn into several different kinds of Souls.

Lost Soul
This is most Souls after they've separated from their body. They do not know what to do, often follow their friends or family or go to places they once visited, rarely thinking to travel outside their society circle.

Wandering Soul
This type causes havoc or destruction without being aware of it, having lost sapience and cognition over time. It has no desires, no aims; it knows only confusion and loneliness. This type is not Sent to Purgatory if a Sound Shinigami cannot calm it and restore it to its original self. (This process is called Restoration or Purification, similar to removing curses, and can sometimes result in reverting the Soul to an infantile mind.)

Oni
Demons, Imps, Devils. These Souls are destructive to human character and sometimes to physical property. They, through great effort, gather the energy to affect the physical word and have caused many problems throughout the history of humankind. These are sometimes born of already-malicious and unfortunate human Souls and must be completely destroyed from existence, although they can be stunned and purified (notably the cursed kinds that also do not understand their own destruction). Some Oni are completely natural, a product of the world itself (albeit a destructive product). A few Oni tribes hold peace pacts with the Shinigami.

Oni is the nickname these destructive Souls have taken on at the Institute. There are several different classes of Oni:

• Daemon/Daimon class: The highest class, nearly on-par with the likes of Satan.
• Devil class: Uncommon and reasonably powerful.
• Oni class: A very common, smaller yet destructive type. Has many subclasses, including Succubi, Incubi, Sirens, etc.
• Imp class: A very common, weak class.
• Beast class: The weakest and most common.

The act of defeating Oni is called Banishment. It is done the same was as Sending: press the weapon's sigil through the Oni's core or its own sigil. Sometimes Banishing a powerful Oni, such as a Devil, can generate a Demon Fang.

Oni are sometimes known to be unstable, subtly shifting shapes as they move. This is due to their impure and sometimes incomplete nature. It can be a weakness, but often they use this form-changing to their advantage.

A list of great and formiddable Oni (and Spirits) can be found here.

Plant Soul
The Souls of living plants, including fruits and vegetables (roots), can also be seen. Shinigami revere them and often leave them idle, for the Souls of plants are reincarnated. They can be of help in restoring life energy. Shinigami will go through some lengths to make sure their conflicts do not interfere with wildlife or flora.

Animal Spirit
Conventional lower animals do not have Souls in the way humans do, but they possess spirits that are released into the Spirit Plane - energies that can be harnessed and used to certain Shinigami's advantage.

Natural Spirit
Apparitions, Poltergeists, Wraiths, Bakemono. Natural Spirits are non-destructive spirits that exist in the world. They have never been "alive" or were never "born" in the physical world. Examples of these are Dragons, or the four mighty Spirits of Japanese legend belonging to the East, West, North, and South. They have no obligation to help the Shinigami but may if they are appeased. If their trust is gained, you may achieve Synthesis with one.

SYNTHESIS: the joining of two Souls, with the ability of the more powerful Soul to control the abilities of the other. Very hard to achieve, this can technically be done with Oni as well as Spirits. This is not the same as Possession.

THE PRECISE MOMENT: One of Shinigami's major duties is to take people's Souls when their life ends or within the first three days of their death, to save them the trouble of having to hunt down the Soul. It's easiest at the moment a person is dying. With the ability to see Souls, Shinigami can see the seconds count down on the Soul to the moment the life ends. The moment it's easiest to strike is right after "1".

SOUL SENSE: Otherwise known as the "Sixth Sense". Shinigami actively using the Soul Sense can see the Souls of living people and other Shinigami. They can also see the cores of deceased Souls and Oni.

CURSES: Sometimes a human curse or a curse of the gods can linger on a Soul after it's passed from the body. Other times a Wandering Soul can come in contact with a cursed object and become cursed itself. Curses can incite wrath, dolefulness, blind madness, and more, things that utterly prevent a Soul's being able to pass into Purgatory. These curses can also affect Shinigami.

POSSESSION: As Shinigami come into contact with many Oni, it is easy to become possessed by one, or even several at once, on the Spirit Plane (and even the Physical Plane at times, such as near the Solstices). However, through a practice called "Light Bending", a Shinigami's Soul can also leave their own body and possess any Soulless body, sometimes even by forcing the Soul from the body by "Soul Swapping". While the techniques to swap Souls and possess bodies are still known by elder Shinigami, they are no longer taught at the Institute. Because of the danger to both bodies during and after the swap (leaving a Shinigami's body empty, or subject to a wild and unfamiliar Soul), it is now a forbidden practice.

All are enchanted to make them usable beyond what they would normally be limited by, and to ease the taking of Souls. Since they are an extension of the Soul, they can change form to different forms of their weapon type, affected by emotions or mental states, though more volatile Shinigami will have a harder time controlling them. The most common types are:

• Slayr: A sword that extends length at will. Usually looks of pewter or steel. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 85%
• Reapr: A very sharp scythe. More recently in double-ended models. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 85%
• Cleavr: A slow yet powerful form of axe. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 95%
• Gashr: An extendable spear that also comes in axe-headed varieties. Commonly used as javelins. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 75%
• Flingr: A bow, paired with a quiver (Flingr-load) whose stock never expires. Also comes in crossbow form (Cross-Flingr). First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 33%
• Flayr: A whip, single- to multi-pronged at will, with the ability to take many Souls at once. Sometimes used by Ero types. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 95%
• Bangr: A mace with an optional chain. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 95%
• Blastr: A handgun, rarely used by the Institution, filled with divine Soul-capturing bullets. Requires precision to aim. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 99%
• Sayr: A wand or rod usually instilled with the properties of absorption or infliction. These can also take the forms of lightweight maces. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 85%
• Singr: Musical instruments of all sorts used to entice or strike at Souls. First-Time Soul Capture Rate: 75%

There may also be custom weapons requested, such as sais, swallows, katars, hooks, and even physical animals/Shikigami.

All Divine Weapons come with a sigil that acts as a way to Send Souls to Purgatory.

Most students receive a temporary Divine Weapon during their education that can only take on three different forms of weapon.

Divine Weapons (or DWs) are mostly used against Oni, but when needed to retrieve a Soul, they only affect the Soul itself, not the body. Normally a strike only produces momentary but intense pain in a person as their Soul is taken.

Only DWs officially given official sigils - that is, those given to students upon graduation, as opposed to the temporary student weapons - can generate Demon Fangs from banished Oni.

(1) The Physical Plane, host to all known by the human world. This is, sadly, the plane that those without any kind of spiritual insight are confined to. On this plane (somehow considered to be the "main" one of this world), all the workings of nature go in order, but it often influenced in big ways by the other plane.

(2) The Spirit Plane, in which the Institute and all spiritual life is hidden. It perfectly overlies the physical plane and is, in ways, less occupied, but throughout hosts some communes of Souls and Ronadas. Souls that aren't sent, animal spirits (including those of myth that have influenced the Physical plane, as well as lesser "gods"), and Ronadas have staked themselves throughout. Though it is possible for humans (such as No Isu) to dwell in their own bodies on the Spirit plane (such makes it easier for people to become Shinigami), it is extremely rare for them to be allowed to freely--even those perfectly aware of and in tune with its existence.

Shinigami can switch between planes by staring into their eye's reflection in any body of water for more than three seconds. This is the Water Switch.

There is also a third realm independant of any plane on any world (most worlds possess these two planes with their own beings and Souls). That is:

PURGATORY: The waiting place of all Souls for the Final Judgment. Has several divisions: the Eternal Pit (for punishment of particularly cruel humans, far on the other side of the River), the Waiting Room, and the Spa (an extensive and tall nine-tiered tower). All living beings, including Shinigami, are barred from entering. It's largely managed by Lords of Death and strange flying creatures called Umbri.

UMBRI: These mostly take care of Souls in Purgatory, keeping the afterlife pleasureable and in order. They're also responsible for negotiating with Angels about reincarnating a Soul, although this can also be done amongst important Shinigami.

HEAVEN: An off-limits realm reserved only for God and the Angels, which can be accessed by no mortal being.

NOTE: There is no Hell - it hasn't been created yet.

There are some important locations on the Spirit plane since it is a completely different space on top of the Physical one.

• Spirit Central Also called Spirit City, this place is a hub for all kinds of different Spirits. Often they cometo meet there; some Spirits use it as a resting place in the midst of a migration. It is large and extravagant.

The Spirit plane's alternate to humans. Not Souls, not Oni, not deities of any kind, they are simply beings that exist on the Spirit plane, often accompanied by mythic beasts. Since they are long to expire, they are also few, and dispersed throughout this Spirit world in small communities. It is said that sometimes, when one passes on, it is reborn into the Physical plane as a human Soul (and sometimes the same goes for mythic beasts and animals), and this chain of rebirth and reincarnation can continue for several generations. (Original human Souls are also reincarnated, but Ronadas never reincarnate by themselves.)

Ronadas are often mistaken for Shinigami by other inexperienced Shinigami, as they usually bear resemblance to them. A few kinds of Ronadas look animalistic, and fewer don't resemble anything seen elsewhere on Earth. For the most part, they are neutral, like Spirits; however, some of them help out the Shinigami at Posts.

Most Ronadas are uninterested in becoming or helping Gods of Death, but some have formed alliances with the Shinigami. Ronadas mostly help the cause by providing resources in areas outside of the Institute's reach.

Common pets (mythic beasts): Dragons, baku, unicorns, gryphons, gargoyles, benu (rare). When kept as pets, they're branded so as not to be mistaken as Oni.
Also witnessed, but rare: Centaurs, fairies, chimaera, leviathans, basilisks

History
The history of Shinigami overall, and specific important historical Shinigami. Also includes related art and paranormal science. Covered by No Isu.

Discovery
Gems are used to determine which Shinigami type someone is; then the semester is spent focusing energy into them. Covered by No Fila.

Laboratory
Alchemal processes are explored to give students an idea of what State Shinigami can generate. Covered by No Gachan.

Basic Field
Unlike Advanced Field, students do not engage in battle as their instructor, No Chester, goes out and tracks a lost Soul. Onis and Wanderers are rarely pursued - they're dangerous. Usually covered: how to properly handle a recently-deceased Soul, and how to Send them.

Physical Education
The professors find it important that Shinigami even with round body types should keep active, even if their major doesn't require it. All types gather and train with running, lifting, and sports competition.

Library
An extensive array of books to keep the students entertained and learning. The Bureau is busy cataloguing all worthwhile books currently in existence. All genres are documented, from the history of the world through human eyes to simple amusement. Second floor.

Swimming Pool
Indoor, recreation building. For fun swimming, exercise, and training. Coupled with a heated jacuzzi. (There is also a nearby lake.)

Playground
Small, not filled with overly ridiculous kid-things, but hosting a few swings, see-saws, etc. Outside.

Training Field
Adjacent to the playground. Since some find recreation in training, there is a track, bars, a skeet-shoot, and indestructable grounds where Clash types can spar. Outside.

There is also a Battle Room, a Recreation Room, an archive of Records, a Refectory, an Auditorium, and the "Ero Lounge".

Pool Club
For those who like billiards. Begun by Donna. Meets in the Rec Room. Rules: No cheating.

Ero Club
Commonly mistaken for a regular group orgy, this club actually has a lot of personal insight and drama stemming from the many questions asked and experiments performed. Led by Aether Ecogami and Oregami in the Ero Lounge. There are male-only and female-only factions. Rules: Get your body and attitude checked.

Battle Club
Don't ever talk about it! Rules: Don't attempt to wound your opponent(s). Clash-only.

Book Club
Popular amongst Murmur-types. A favored genre is horror/macabre, as well as mystery and thriller. Meets in the Hanging Garden. Rules: No cheesy romance or fantasy. Do not lick your fingers to turn pages. Do not crease spines or pages. (These are the Library's rules.)

And more! Song and Dance, Claw, Alchemy...

Apart from a light and mostly unorganized playing of volleyball (and pool volleyball), tennis, and football (soccer), the Shinigami sometimes play their own invented sports, which also serve as training means.

Javelin - flying Clash types toss spears through suspended rings. Danger level: ****

Fire Toss - it's like hot potato, but with fire. Danger level: ***

Day of Candles - A late winter/early spring event where everyone lights a candle and sets them onto hard paper rafts to float down the river. They send prayers and wishes on the candles, and it's said that if the candle does not blow out, the wish will come true.

Day of Lanterns - An early autumn alternative to the Day of Candles, which is essentially the same, but with candles covered by lanterns, and usually to respect those passed on.

Obigami Day - A day in late summer to honor Obigami as well as Yarigami, on the day they died. (Although it was a disgrace, they're still respected.)

Apple Day - Actually, no one is sure what started this tradition. It's easy to get sick of apples on this day - even gala apples.

Familiar celebrated holidays: Hallow's Eve, All-Saint's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, sometimes Thanksgiving. Also, the Solstices (Summer/Winter) and the Equinoxes (Vernal/Autumnal), on which Souls emerge or are summoned by dancing and candles.