TANUKI RELIGION

Religion: Tanuki see the world in much the same way they view a puzzle or engineering design. When things are connected properly, there is harmony. When they are not, there is discord. This sense of connection, and the tanuki’s desire to understand how they fit into this extraordinary puzzle called life underscores their spirituality. Because tanuki rarely build temples, or perform rites and ceremonies, other races do not think of them as deeply religious. In truth, tanuki religion is inextricably woven into their everyday lives. Every new place a tanuki visits becomes a temple, each answered question is a rite performed, every new experience a ceremony.

Tanuki Pantheon:  Tanuki tend to embrace grand philosophies rather than specific deities. How everything came to be is a mythic question, and not one they have left unexplored. They understand that greater forces are at play in the machinations of the worlds. Some of those powers want worship, others do not. Some create, others destroy. Tanuki are fond of saying that “for every greatest being, there is another greater being.” Since none of these powers have come to ask the tanuki for anything, they feel free to do as they see fit until told otherwise. Despite their cultural heritage, however, tanuki are free to worship any of their world’s deities, and follow the same rules for doing so as other clerical classes.

Mysterium: Tanuki think deific lives are a lot like mortal lives. Despite this seeming irreverence, they still experience a sense of awe and gratitude when they contemplate their existence. They offer that gratitude to the Mysterium- loosely defined as whatever force it is that allows or makes it possible for life to exist. They do not know what the Mysterium is… yet. Be assured they will keep looking until they find out.

The Tree with Thousands of Branches: When tanuki tell stories, they often begin with “somewhere on a branch among the thousands of branches of the great tree…” When they speak of their ancestors, they refer to them as “watching from the thousands of branches.” They refer to their clan, or a child as “a branch of the tree.” Though not a deity, the great tree is nearly the only spiritual symbol used among tanuki. If tanuki believe something is sacred or worthy of respect, they denote that with the symbol of a thickly branched tree.  

Iconic Worship: Though tanuki do not have a godly pantheon per se, they do have several iconic figures that appear frequently in tanuki stories and inform their sense of morality. Tanuki may revere any of these icons in much the same way another race would worship a deity.

Sassy Frasblack: The dorobo is a central character in tanuki storytelling. They are clever rogues who live life to its fullest. One of the most prominent personages among the Dorobo stories, Sassie Frasblack is witty, charming, and has a preternatural ability to find trouble. In the end, it is always something Sassy has learned that saves the day. Tanuki place great value on education and knowledge, and may revere the shrewd Sassy Frasblack.

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Domains: Charm, Glory, Luck, Knowledge, Trickery

Weapon of choice: Briar Whip

Pikerd Waddle: The greatest of the A’Koon A’Ki, the short, fat, smart-aleck Pikerd features prominently in tanuki tales. He is most often described as blue merle with blue eyes- the rarest of coat colorations. Pikerd could transform himself into anything, and did. When he had learned all he could from sorcery, he turned himself into an elf, lived with them, and learned wizardry. Still bored, he turned himself into a pixie, and learned the secrets of fey magic as well. Pikerd Waddle often comes across as absent-minded, but when he casts, he’s all business. Magic is in the very blood of the tanuki, and when they speak of magic wielders, none are more highly revered than Pikerd Waddle.

Alignment: Neutral Good

Domains: Liberation, Madness, Magic, Rune, Travel

Weapon of choice: quarter staff

The Wild Nookie: The Wild Nookie built a tree, probably the first tree. The fates liked the tree, and asked Wild Nookie to build them one, too. So, Wild Nookie built the world tree. Engineering is one of the most loved disciplines among tanuki. Designs are puzzles to figure out, something clever tanuki can’t get enough of. The Wild Nookie is the tanuki epidemy of the brilliant engineer.

Alignment: Lawful Good

Domains: Artifice, Community, Earth, Knowledge, Strength

Weapon of choice: darts

           Clowd Reinson: Tanuki excel at exploration, and Clowd Reinson exemplifies the ultimate survivalist, prepared for anything, and always ready to go. Portrayed as a stout, northern Tanuki, Clowd has traveled everywhere under the sun, and returns to all the places just to see what’s changed. The mighty Clowd is fine on his own, but he also likes to share the joys of seeing what’s around the bend with companions. Tanuki stories about Clowd Reinson often involve him traveling with unwitting adventurers he fears are unready for what awaits them, and he’s always prepared to aid his companions when things get out of hand.

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Domains: Healing, Protection, Rune, Travel, Sun

Weapon of choice: Tanuki Sling Bow

The Red-Eyed King: This evil being is at the heart of a good many tanuki horror stories. Powerful and unyielding, the Red-eyed King has no mercy, and seeks to control the world through law, demanding that everything conform to the king’s own ideals. This authority figure typically confuses people by convincing them to be afraid of something, and then offering to make things better for them. Tenaciously, he/she steals one freedom after another before the people realize what they are losing. Tanuki are rarely evil, but those who are may wish their own kind were more focused and disciplined as a race. Perhaps the Red-eyed King should be given a chance to enforce some kind of order among the tanuki. Think what they could achieve under such leadership.

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Domains: Charm, Evil, Law, Nobility, Strength

Weapon of choice: darts