The Seishin once populated the whole of the world. They spoke the language of nature and used their songs to grow garden cities. Their knowledge and natural power are vast. There is no sickness they cannot cure and no injury they cannot heal. Though they would live, age, and die as humans do, their souls are reborn in the world and their bodies transform to reveal their true nature. Some transform into animals, such as foxes, hawkes, or dolphins, others become part of nature itself as a piece of the wind, earth, sea, or sky. There seems to be no limit, other than their own individual truth, as their history speaks of their people transforming into islands, mountains, and more.
Because of their power and intimate connection with all things, Seishin can easily recognise their own people including their reborn ancestors and relatives. Additionally, the rebirth of their soul grants them ageless immortality. It is believed by some scholars that all living creatures in the world descend from the Seishin, as the transformation does not prevent their new form from reproducing.
Given their nature, the Seishin revere all living things, including the animals they hunt and raise for food. They obviously do not kill or hunt their own people, regardless of form. A Seishin who's soul is reborn as a wolf, tiger, or leopard would never harm their human-like counterparts or even a Seishin who took the form of a prey animal save in self defense. As such, all reborn Seishin are free to wander through any settlement or city of their people. The transformed Seishin can also learn to return to a human-like form given enough time and growth. The Seishin call these people Kodai.
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The other races, including humans and elves, have no protection from attack from reborn Seishin. As a result, humans not only hunt indescriminately but activly try to bring down or capture reborn Seishin. Human hunters tend to target the oldest and strongest animal-form Seishin because their bodies contain great power and their parts can be used in alchemy, to forge magical weapons, and as exotic foods for the wealthy. Additionally, the Kodai captured in human lands are enslaved and used terribly. Females especially, as they are almost always used to breed powerful warrior-slaves. The crossbreeds are known as Maigo to the Seishin and Demi-humans or Beast-men to the other races. The Maigo possess many traits belonging to their Kodai parents, both physical and magical.
Few of the Seishin and Kodai remain today, however.
It is partly due to frequent raids and wars with human kingdoms and empires, often fought to either enslave or free Kodai and Maigo. However, despite the gloating within most modern human historical sources, the most ancient records of mankind suggest the Seishin fought a greater enemy, and lost or barely survived their victory. As dark gods rise and the world faces the chaos of divine warfare one can't help but wonder, what ancient evils might these powers wake from slumber?
And, should they wake, who but the Seishin could survive them?