The Spirit Court Of The Hidden Valley

Spirit Court of the Hidden Valley

A while ago, someone on RPG.net asked what kind of spirits might exist in a valley that was cut off somehow from the rest of Creation and Yu-Shan. Here are some very bare-bones ideas.

The Administrator of the Changes

The spirit who monitors at the plants and animals, ensuring that they change as appropriate with the seasons, such as leaves falling, fur changing color, snow falling, plants dying, leaves regrowing, etc. etc. works closely with the Humble Monitor and Joyous Representative. While this job was also an important, if almost "cushy" job, the Administrator of the Changes has also had to take over many of the duties of the Masterful Controller of the Five Seasons.

Humble Monitor of the Process of Dying

An overworked spirit responsible for ensuring that the correct number and type of forest creatures and plants dies at the appropriate times, and of the appropriate things. Not only does he have to ensure everything dies when it should, he often has to reign in over-zealous spirits of predatory animals, disease, fire and poison, who seek to kill too much or too quickly.

Joyous Representative of the Process of Birth

Joyous Representative of the Process of Birth is the equally overworked, but much happier older "sister" of the Humble Monitor, she is responsible for ensuring that the proper number and type of animals and plants are born each year. She must often speak with over-zealous animal spirits who try to make their charges reproduce too much.

Masterful Controller of the Five Seasons

This spirit was once responsible for ensuring that the various seasonal and weather spirits act appropriately. This often included engaging in combat with overly vicious winter spirits, hearding minor spirits of rain in the spring, and ensuring that temperatures change appropriately. While the Administrator was responsible for supervising the effects of the changing of the Seasons, the Masterful Controller was responsible for the actual changes.

However, over times (since the valley was lost) the Masterful Controller became discontent with his place within the Celestial Bureaucracy. He attempted to leave; however, until the valley is "found" again (meaning your PCs taking knowledge of it back to the civilized world) he is stuck in the valley. Therefore, he has become petulant and violent. He occassionally uses his own powers, as well as his station to bring havoc to the valley. This includes whipping spirits of fire into frenzies, and causing huge forest fires, and making spirits of wind and rain create horrible storms.

This has caused problems, seeing as the Administrator of the Changes has been having to slowly take over the Masterful Controller's duties (which is technically against the laws of the Bureaucracy, and frankly, not what the Administrator is suited), but also has to content with the Masterful Controller, who is only making things worse.

Luckily, the Masterful Controller of the Five Seasons has not gotten to the point that he will actively attack any other valley's other major spirits, as he could easily defeat any of the others in a one-on-one situation.

The Measurer of Growth

She is responsible for ensuring that all plant and animal growth is within acceptable perameters. Much like the duties of the Administrator used to be, The Measurer's job is incredibly simple, and garners far more respect that its worth. Very few spirits or creatures ever get out of line and grow at an unacceptable rate, and when something does, The Measurer gives a very simple choice to the spirit of the animal or plant: Stop growing or be killed by the Humble Monitor.

The Dutiful and Nurturing Tender of Uncounted Millions of Blades of Grass

The longest and most flowery title goes to one of the weakest and most insignificant spirits that is not a spirit of one single thing.

He is responsible for tending grass within the valley. This makes him a very neurotic and sullen spirit, as grass is the least respected flora. Trees take its sunlight, weed choke it out, animals eat it, everything that can move tramples on it. Yet the Nurturing Tender must ensure it grows strong and beautiful.

bobthepariah