Go-Shintai of Boundless Vigor
| Go-Shintai of Boundless Vigor | |
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The Go-Shintai of Boundless Vigor was a legendary shrine housing a Kami of Boundless Vigor.
Description
The Go-Shintai of Boundless Vigor, nestled at the end of Far Corner's main street, rises from the black-paved ground like a massive dark root heaving upward. Its natural form is both unsettling and awe-inspiring, with intricate, pale roots curling around a central hollow that resembles a gnarled, beating heart. The shrine is a stark contrast to the meticulously placed cherry trees and carefully maintained plants of the neighborhood. Despite its small size, the shrine's presence is commanding, hinting at the dormant power of the kami within — a power that whispers in fractured dreams and speaks through enigmatic, rumbling murmurs.[1]
History
A young monk was forced out of Jukai forest by Towashi's urban expansion. To preserve the memory of his homeland, he built a small shrine around a seed from his destroyed garden. Miraculously, the seed grew without soil and became the Kami of Boundless Vigor. Together, the kami and monk reclaimed his section of the forest. Every tree cut down magically grew back the next day. Before he passed, the monk moved the kami's shrine to the reborn forest where it lives to this day, granting strength to those whose wild nature cannot be tamed by the city.[2]
Time passed, and the section of Towashi that jutted up against the Jukai forest exactly at the placement of the Go-Shintai of Boundless Vigor became known as Far Corner. The shrine had long been an object of reverence and mystery to the people of Far Corner, who worshiped it despite warnings from Chishiro, the Shattered Blade, who was hired to protect them from the threat of the Mukotai Reckoners. The shrine, a vessel for an enigmatic kami, had been unintentionally the source of tension between its devoted followers and Chishiro. The kami, thought to be a shadow of harrowed Jukai, was initially dormant, whispering through dreams but not revealing its true nature.
When Tatsunari, a Reckoner with a vendetta, arrived in Far Corner, he sought to destroy the shrine. His attack on the shrine triggered a violent awakening of the kami, which manifested as an enormous, wrathful entity reminiscent of Chishiro's former kami, Kaima. The kami's emergence led to a devastating rampage through Far Corner, as it lashed out at anyone in its path, regardless of their allegiance.
In the chaos, Chishiro, despite his injuries and conflicted emotions, fought to protect the shrine and its people. He confronted Tatsunari and ultimately, with the kami’s destructive power fueling his rage, he sought to end the Reckoner's life. However, the kami's vengeance was indiscriminate, endangering even those it was meant to protect. Chishiro's confrontation with Kaima revealed a painful truth: both he and the kami had become shadows of their former selves, consumed by betrayal and sorrow.
Chishiro offered his blade, a symbol of their broken bond, to Kaima, expressing a willingness to sever their connection if it might bring peace. Kaima, now diminished and sorrowful, acknowledged his brokenness but expressed a desire for a different path — a chance to be remade, to be redeemed through Chishiro’s renewed commitment.
With a newfound, fragile hope, Chishiro accepted Kaima’s plea. The focal blade, once a harbinger of their division, began to crack and fall away, revealing a light of renewal. In this final act, both beings faced the possibility of reconciliation and the promise of a transformed future, reflecting their once-shared devotion and their enduring bond. They left the devastated Far Corner and its ruined shrine behind.[1]
Story appearances
| Title | Author | Publishing date | Set | Setting (plane) | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Blade Reflected and Reborn | Emma Mieko Candon | 2022-02-07 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | Kamigawa | Chishiro, Ayari, Go-Shintai of Boundless Vigor, Kaima, Jenzo, Tatsunari, Keimi |
In-game references
- Represented in:
References
- ↑ a b Emma Mieko Candon (February 7, 2022). "The Blade Reflected and Reborn". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ari Zirulnik, Grace Fong, Emily Teng, and Gerritt Turner (February 11, 2022). "The Legends of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.