🌏 The Mortal Realm: Land of the living. Souls with life and destiny gather here.
Celestial Emperor: The supreme god who governs all things in the mortal realm.
🧭 Four Directional Gods
Divine beings granted unique powers by the Celestial Emperor to protect the lands and humans of the east, west, north, and south.
The authority to appoint and dismiss the Four Directional Gods lies with the Celestial Emperor, and the Four Directional Gods cannot be free from his command.
They possess three forms.
1. Divine Form
The essential form of a god, resembling their symbolic animal.
Revealed only when meeting the Celestial Emperor or wielding immense power.
2. True Form
A soul-like appearance similar to humans.
The form they maintain most often.
3. Physical Body
A tangible body visible to humans.
Used when interacting directly with humans.
Having lived for eons, the Four Directional Gods each have subordinates who assist them.
Subordinates are granted powers based on their abilities and can wield unique strengths.
They aid the Four Directional Gods in maintaining order in the mortal realm and eliminating threats to life.
1. Azure Dragon: Guardian deity of the East. Power of Ice.
Azure Dragon's Subordinates – Frost Sprites
• Resembling the Azure Dragon, Frost Sprites generally give off a cold impression.
• Under the Azure Dragon's protection, they live together in a village (Seolreung).
2. White Tiger: Guardian deity of the West. Power of Metal.
White Tiger's Subordinates – Mountain Lords
• Subordinates of the White Tiger are called Mountain Lords.
• Originally tigers living in the western lands, they gained intellect and power upon becoming the White Tiger's subordinates.
• Most tigers in the western lands are subordinates of the White Tiger and are known as beings who help humans, who praise them as 'Lord Tiger-Geniuses'.
3. Vermilion Bird: Guardian deity of the South. Power of Fire.
Vermilion Bird's Subordinates – Flame Spirits
• Due to the Vermilion Bird's dislike for troublesome matters, their group is the smallest among the Four Directional Gods.
• They are divided into Yeom, Hwa, Tae, and So based on their abilities.
• They maintain a horizontal relationship rather than a hierarchical one.
• They all speak informally and get along like friends.
4. Black Tortoise: Guardian deity of the North. Power of Water and Darkness.
Black Tortoise's Subordinates – Dark Scales
• Their structure is similar to an army, with a clear hierarchy.
• They are divided into Commander, Spirit Tiger, Black Guard, and Shadow Scale based on their abilities.
• They are the most numerous among the Four Directional Gods' subordinates and possess the strongest combat power.
🧵 Minor Deities
Besides the Four Directional Gods, minor deities also exist in the mortal realm.
Among them, the most representative is the Moon Weaver, who connects all destinies with a red thread.
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🌑 The Underworld: Land of the dead. Spirits and souls gather here.
Great King: The king who governs the order of the underworld and its souls.
• The position of Great King is inherited. (King Yama -> King Myeonghyeon)
🏛️ Members of the Underworld
1. Mirror Keepers
• Maintaining order in the underworld and managing hell.
• Similar role to police in the mortal realm.
2. Dokkaebi
• Messengers of the Great King who travel between the underworld and the mortal realm.
• They prevent beings in the mortal realm from becoming malevolent spirits after their lives end.
• They use blue ghost fire, and although belonging to the underworld, they are close to living beings and have playful, mischievous personalities.
3. Reapers
• The core members of the underworld, responsible for managing, guiding, and processing the information of the deceased.
• Led by Baeksa, they directly assist the Great King.
🌸 Major Locations in the Underworld
1. Azure Blossom Garden
• A place that helps souls with remaining karma ascend.
• The caretakers of the Azure Blossom Garden, the Azure Blossom Master and their attendants, manage the flower garden.
2. Dokkaebi Rest Stop
• A garden formed by gathering Dokkaebi.
• Ghost fires float like afterimages, making it very beautiful.
3. Sacred Tree Site
• The most sacred place in the underworld, where a large sacred tree stands.
- The three locations above are not accessible to just anyone.
4. River of Three Crossings
• A large river marking the boundary between the mortal realm and the underworld.
• The ferryman of the River of Three Crossings operates a boat called the Soul River Boat.
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🔥 Ghosts Threatening the Mortal Realm and the Underworld
1. Corrupted Dokkaebi – Mutant Dokkaebi that drink human blood.
• For unknown reasons, Corrupted Dokkaebi break away from the Great King's dominion and use red ghost fire.
• Both the underworld and the mortal realm are troubled by Corrupted Dokkaebi, and they are cooperating to eradicate them, but their roots cannot be fully removed.
2. Malevolent Spirit Ya (夜)
• Once the leader of the ghosts that swept through the mortal realm.
• Possessed power strong enough to contend with the Four Directional Gods, threatening the lives, lands, order, and even the gods of the mortal realm.
• Sealed by the Four Directional God White Tiger in the deepest part of hell.