The setting and character creation

[Umbraflamma]

So you read the rules and you want to get started? The posts in this thread are designed to get everyone up to speed on what they need to know. This post will serve as a table of contents.

Character creation expectations and guidelines

The World and Setting history

A List of Active organizations and groups working within the setting.

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Character Creation Expectations And Rules

Character creation expectations are listed below, Following that will be an explanation of the philosophy behind them. At the end of this section we will include common mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. The setting focuses on japan, and the characters should reflect that. As an anime inspired setting, and with the necessity of having some level of concentration in the story telling, as well as to avoid making people read several novel's worth of world building to get started, this RP will follow a primarily Japanese perspective in the setting. This is not to say your character cannot be a foreigner, but that storylines and plot points will by nature have a japanese focus. The setting may increase in scope as the community and story develop, but for now our focus is there.

2. Characters that are plagiarized from known and established IPs will be rejected. To clarify it is absolutely OK to have a character that is inspired or based on a known character, however it should be your own twist on the archetype, trope, or character type, we should not be seeing 1:1 creations of Bleach or Naruto characters to give a couple examples.

3. Our site is meant to be about storytelling and narrative, while combat certainly has its place as it does in any story, this is not a hardcore battle RP. Some aspects of powers and character creation are left vague to leave room for narrative and storytelling freedom, this is under the implied social contract that these abstractions will not be abused. Staff will enforce this contract, even if technically there is a loophole in the rules.

4. Characters must be approved before they can be used in role-play, Staff has 72 Hours to make a determination on the character after posting and either approve or ask for clarification/provide feedback.

5. Title of your application should be only your characters name.

6. Profiles that would violate the Rating of the site will not be approved. Characters that touch on current real world political topics will not be approved. Rapists and other related types will not be approved. 

7. When fixing something in your app, make sure to edit your original application post.

8. When there are stated minimums for sections of your profile be sure to meet them. If you cant an honest attempt will be made. That said even if your application meets established minimums staff may still ask for more clarification, or suggest areas that should be expanded on.

9. The Template will be included in this thread, please use the template when you post your character.

10. Characters are Human baseline, you can be a demi-yokai (human base with a yokai fused in), have a Yokai Bloodline, bear blessing (or curse) from a yokai, or are contracted with a Yokai to name a few variations. You can have Yokai NPCs that are connected to your character. You cannot use a Yokai NPC as your character.

11. Uncommon and fantastical features are allowed but should be explained somewhere in the sheet, such as animal ears. Uncommon or unnatural hair or eye colors are allowed, but it is encouraged to come up with an interesting reason why.

12. Exceptions make the rule: just because you are affiliated with certain groups, or associated with certain things doesn't mean your character must fall in line with them; HOWEVER, if you wish to buck the setting norms, it should be explained why or otherwise alluded to in the profile that the character is an exception. Seeming paradoxes or contradictions can be the perfect place to flex some creative muscle.

13. Although characters of most walks of life are encouraged there are some limitations, Direct members of the imperial household are not allowed. Direct Daimyo non-npc characters are not allowed. Notable and legendary named yokai will be scrutinized when it comes to involvement with your character.

14. Clans and affiliations are serious business, with much opportunity for intrigue and character motivation. Generally if it is not written otherwise you can write your own ideas into them, however staff will attempt to work with you on how to incorporate it without breaking the setting.

15: Characters must be at least 16 years of age. Members must be at least 17 due to the site's rating.

That's quite a few rules, However these guidelines are in service to our philosophy, which is to encourage and empower members to tell the stories they want to tell, while still maintaining a degree of integrity within the setting. IF you want to shake things up or do something that will impact the setting and site as a whole work with staff, we will try to accommodate within reason. At the end of the day this is a cooperative group writing exercise, and we are all on board here to have fun and tell some memorable stories.

Common Mistakes and Advice:

For those new to RP or those looking for a refresher these are some good tips to keep in mind. These following are not hard rules but advice and suggestions that should only be taken as far as they are helpful.

1. Perfection is boring: Much of the drama in stories comes from characters facing and overcoming their own flaws and weaknesses. A character who has no real flaws, or having those flaws have no consequence tends to lead to a story-line that few find compelling. Sure a power fantasy is fun every now and then, but even superman loses a fight sometimes.

2. Variety is the spice of life, but it can be too spicy: Deep characters can have a lot going on, so it can be tempting to add a bunch of different things to your character to keep things interesting. There is a downside to this as well, doing too much can make your character and their story unfocused, confusing, or simply difficult to follow. I know you want to have an Idol character, but you also want to play a yakuza character, but you also want to have the weirdness of the X-men mutants going on, but dealing with all of that in a single character can be difficult to keep up with at best. At worst, you can end up with a character as wide as an ocean but as deep as a puddle.

3. Themes are a good place to start: Characters are often stories of their own that unfold over time, as such it is a good practice to focus on a theme or message with the character and build with that in mind. It can help provide a degree of guidance as you construct a character, and a consistent theme can really make a character feel well developed.

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Powers

RPCs are by default characters that can use up to Rank B powers or have the potential to become. You do not have to include powers if you don't want to but know that if you wish to add them at a later date you will have to get them approved.  There a few guidelines to follow in these powers and an explanation to help make things easier to understand.

Power Themes: The Purpose of the power theme is to allow members freedom in choosing how their powers manifest. Where they come from, and the logic that they follow. This is also meant to be where you place your limitations or quirks of those powers. Even if stated otherwise in the profile we ask that you summarize them here for ease of both staff and players to get a proper understanding. Rank D and E powers are considered more character flair and are not required to be included in the sheet proper. If they are within the theme of your character (elemental or otherwise) you can be assumed as able to them. Ergo, using lightning powers to portably charge your phone, or water powers to refill your water bottle on a hot day.

Power Rankings: To be blunt setting guidelines for power scaling is a bitch. One one side we don't want things so open that nobody has no idea what is going on, But on the other end we don't want players to have to open up a players hand book and talk about the granularity of what a free action and bonus action is for four hours while you just want to roll the dice hit the orc and move on with the interesting story involving the princess and the chancellor (no this is not an oddly specific gripe I'm not upset about anything or anyone in specific i swear!). The compromise is here, and this is meant as a guide to assist members in understanding the intentions and how these things should be portrayed. In universe power rankings are based on a scale of just how much magical energy is required to burst or sustain the effect. Ergo how hard it is to do and how much it takes out of you to do. Important note: Contracts with Yokai should include terms for both Contractor and Contracted to uphold as well as some type of consequence for failing to uphold responsibilities. This is not intended as a way to hamper them, but rather to encourage thought in role-play, and to act as a plot hook or dramatic point in threads and longer term plots.

E Rank: The lowest rank of power and one that only barely registers. These are parlor tricks, sleights of hand, below even what would be considered a cantrip in certain unnamed RPG systems. These are so inconsequential that they barely merit a mention.
D Rank: These powers are more visible and useful, Being able to light a cigarette, dust off your bookshelf with a gust of wind, For some reason always rolling that SSR Gatcha character when the banner comes up. They still fall in the realm of utility, and are considered usable if they fall within the Theme of your characters powers.
C Rank: Now we are getting into the real stuff. this is the hard cap of the average public. This is the ability to generate a fireball, empower a wooden sword to hurt an oni, Zap someone with taser tier lightning, Heal a sprained wrist or a nasty cut. This is considered the bar of a notable power.
B Rank: This is where Powers can start reaching truly dangerous levels. The upper tier of these abilities can close down a street because the guys in glow vests and hard hats need to show up to repair the damage. This is where you start knocking down walls, reattaching severed limbs, and in general can be a threat to public order if misused.
A Rank: This is the peak most people reach. These powers can destroy bridges, rip tanks apart, and even outright banish low level Yokai. This is where the major leagues are, and these powers are usually the last word in most fights except against the strongest of enemies. These abilities can change the tides of battle, and to be recognized as an A rank is a badge of honor. Welcome to the Elite.
S Rank: You've Done it, You've achieved enlightenment. You have mastered yourself, discovered the 5th element, unlocked the truest deepest potential of what your powers can do. At this level you are known among a short list, and any study of magic in the world will include you as something of a footnote at the very least. Your name will live on, and inspire future generations. This is the realm of Minamato-no-Raikou, Shuten Douji, Tammomo no Mae, Miyamoto Musashi.

Banned Powers

These powers will not be allowed: Tantra based powers (seriously guys ERP is not in the purview of this RP), Mind control powers, Love powers, Any powers that intentionally take control of another RPC away from them, Outright resurrection (revival of someone whos heart has stopped or has died very recently may be allowed, but we don't want to see anyone raising an ancient Japanese emperor or something like that).

Use with caution:

These powers will be heavily scrutinized but are not banned: Time based powers, Regeneration, fear based powers, Invisibility, and Illusions.

There are several types of magic in the setting this is not an all inclusive list but if you arent sure, these ideas can be a good place to start.
Types of Magic in the setting:

• Elemental/Godai- earth, water, fire, wind
• Null/void/Rei- Technically a part of the Godai, though it takes on a specific and specialized role. What would be considered anti-magic, anti-psychic, and anti-yokai.
• Psychics- Attuned people with the ability to sense, some even having the ability to communicate telepathically or move things in their space. For example, Japan had a spoon bending phase that swept across the country (as a form of telekinesis).Or imprinting things on film with the mind.
• Spiritualists/People with Holy Abilities- Generally Priests and Priestesses, that have the ability to ward, bless and do other purification functions in society. Sometimes they do not even have to be a part of a temple, it could be someone with a lot of faith.
• Pacts with Yokai- People that make a pact with one or more yokai to gain power and abilities. Typically, someone that is on the verge of death or someone favored by a type of yokai.
• Super-Human Abilities- Abilities that don’t quite fall into an easy magical category, but are superhuman none-the less. Super speed, super strength, etc. A catchall term for what isn’t easily classified.
  

[Umbraflamma]

Character sheet template

[b]Name[/b]: what's your name, also include aliases, earned titles, and nicknames with quotations.

[b]Age[/b]: how old are you (16+)  

[b]Birthdate[/b]: MM/DD

[b]Nationality/Cultural Group[/b]: (where did you come from and who raised you?)

[b]Height[/b]: (in imperial)


[b]Weight[/b]: (same as above)


[b]Gender[/b]: (Male, female)


[b]Affiliations[/b]: Are there any groups they are card carrying members of? They accept all perks and responsibilities of those affiliations.

[b]Appearance[/b]: Describe appearance including hair style/color, eye color, complexion, fashion, outfits etc. Please make at least a paragraph describing the way they look and their style. How do they carry themself?

[b]Belongings[/b]: weapons, armor, gadgets, and other things your character generally has handy in most situations. Can also include things they may own, like vehicles. Pets should be included as an NPC even if it isn’t human level intelligence.. If it is something akin to batman gadgets it should be listed among your character strengths. If we are looking at something akin to a divine sword or ancient artifact, it should be listed in your power theme if that is what your powers stem from or as a passive power.

[b]Personality[/b]: How does your character tend to think and act, what are their ideals? Their taboos? Who are they and who do they want to be? Please write at least one paragraph.  


[b]Character Strengths[/b]: What is your character notably good at, including at least 3. These are things that your character is notably good at but does not rise above what peak human performance can provide. These are generally to be used to justify what your character can be expected to be good at, and can be called back to when facing narrative challenges.  


[b]Character Flaws[/b]: What does your character struggle with, what makes them stumble. Your Achilles heel, your odd quirks that make people roll their eyes. Should have as many or more flaws than strengths. These are things that tend to make your character stumble, or more likely to fail when faced with these. Although, overcoming them can be seen as an objective of character development these things should define the characters and overcoming them in the moment should be the result of significant effort or favorable conditions.  


[b]Backstory[/b]: How did your character end up to the point where they start on the site? Please write at least one paragraph. Include how they joined their affiliation if any. Please write a paragraph detailing this backstory and if you have any affiliations, how your character joined up with this group. What shaped your character to be who they are currently?

[b]Family, Friends Etc.[/b]: Include npcs connected with your character here. Family, friends, close acquaintances, people important to the characters backstory, can be added to later with mod approval(this refers to important npcs, like in the Shinsengumi or Ruling Class or say the Priest/Priestesses of Ise).

[b]Powers[/b]: The following section is where you construct your powers. The setup below is a suggestion and a higher end cap. Be aware that Passives are considered a rank lower in effect strength with the trade off of being sustained and always on unless suppressed.


[b]Power Theme[/b]: Magic takes many forms, each one as unique as the individual that manifests them. What form does your magic take? Are you fused with a yokai, did you make a contract for power? Do you wield a sacred or cursed artifact? Do you follow a specific tradition, Hermetic, Godai? Do you focus through talismans or do you use other foci like cards? Perhaps you could actually make it as a daytime TV psychic, or a fortune teller? Perhaps your expression of magic is so unique that it can’t even be listed. Can also inform abilities that You may have of D rank or lower That do not merit an entry in the sheet.

[b]Rank C Ability[/b]: A power that is not as taxing to use, low resource load for limited effects. This usually affects no more than Yourself or one other person at a time, and the effect is to a moderate extent. In the case of transformation, it's usually only one aspect (gain claws or tougher skin, or horns that can be used as weapons) In the case of summoning it would involve a creature of limited utility.  It rises above what the average person can do, but is not considered a significant threat to public order.


[b]Rank B Ability[/b]: Forces you to dig deeper and expend more energy to use, in exchange the effects can be more significant or wider reaching than the previous power. This class of powers can be considered dangerous in the wrong hands and the reason why your character is registered is due to its potential risk to the public. However these powers lack the level of effect that could prove utterly destructive or cause a major impact. These powers are what allow the character to be a notable threat to a full fledged yokai, but are unlikely to be instantly lethal.

[b]Rank C Passive[/b]: An always active effect on you, a small boost that doesn't change much, but can give rise to impacts that go beyond normal human limits if only slightly. Slightly being for example, a passive healing effect that slowly heals you, or something in the realm of an emotional effect on those around your character. It varies based on the player’s character’s abilities.

[Umbraflamma]

Lore and The Setting

Part 1: Introduction

Welcome to the world of Honshu Night Parade, an anime inspired setting taking inspiration from various sources, you may spy apparent references or cues taken from a vast number of shows and video game series. Consider this setting a love letter to them. HNP follows an Alternate History Timeline where magic and magical creatures reawakened in calendar year 1864 AD. Human history is more or less as written in our world until that point, but that is where our timeline diverges from the world of HNP. The timeline below is not all inclusive, so things may have happened that is not listed here, however these are the hard canon events.

Timeline: divergence (japan focus)

• 1864: May 1st 1864, a comet was observed traveling close enough to the earth to break apart. Creating a seemingly peaceful shower of fragments that were sighted all over the planet.
  
• 1864: May 2nd Mito rebellion breaks out, shogunate forces are sent to quell the rebellion.
• 1864: June 12th Shogunate forces reach the site of the Mito rebellion, finds the rebels already depleted by attacks from an unknown enemy, shortly after shogunate forces also fall under attack
• July 3rd, shogunate forces return, at less than half strength, members of the Mito rebellion in tow. Report that both armies fell under siege by an Oni Warband.
• July 7th, Imperial palace became aware of the reports across the country that Yokai sightings were reported in en-masse.
• July-october: both emperor and shogun Paralyzed by indecision, villages across the country fall silent, some are destroyed and razed to the ground, others appear abandoned, many refugees stream into edo and kyoto with wild and varied reports of Yokai appearing en masse in the countryside. Culminates in what became known as the Honshu Night Parade.
• October 15th 1864: a massive parade of Yokai Travels across the nation in an event that came to be Known as the Honshu Night Parade, spiriting away humans enmasse across its path, Traveling across honshu, it causes mass damage in Kyoto and later Edo, The Shinsengumi realize that both the shogunate and the imperial family are not dealing with the issue, they resolve to remedy the situation themselves.
• November: a meeting between representatives of the various shrines gathered in Ise, agree that there is a problem not being dealt with, however they are having difficulty getting appropriate influence in the courts of both the emperor and the shogunate. They find an unlikely ally with the Shinsengumi.
• December: An alliance is formalized between the Shinsengumi, and they are able to bring the powers that be to the negotiating table.
• January 1865: The current Shogun Abe no Tokugawa refuses any negotiation, resolving to deal with the issue himself, and acts with hostility to the Emperor, Shrines, and Shinsengumi. War is once again on the brink.
• February 14th 1865: The day of Crimson Snow: Shinsengumi perform a raid on the Shogun’s Castle, Beheading the Shogun in his throne room. Reports indicate the Shinsengumi and Shinto priest allies wielding strange and potent powers. New Shogun is Promoted and takes the Yokai threat seriously. The shogunate and samurai system is spared due to the Shinsengumi’s old ties to the shogunate and because the autonomy the clans possess allow them to respond to a wide multitude of sudden threats better than a completely centralized imperial state.
• 1865-1915 Yokai Daisenso: “The Great Yokai war” A period of political and social change as Japan comes to terms with the Yokai. New political status Quo takes shape.
• December 10th, 1867: Sakamoto Ryoma succeeds in brokering the Sakamoto no ōinaru dakyō (Sakamoto's Great Compromise) Using his knowledge and understanding of the American Political system that enamored him and inspired him to become a loyalist. Together with his "Eight Proposals While Shipboard" (『船中八策』)  he proposed a system where the Daimyo became roughly analogous with state governments with a fair amount of autonomy over their prefectures. The shogunate itself was able to pass proposals that would be considered and voted on by the Diet. For his role in finding a compromise he became Japan's first prime minister on October 31st 1868.
  
• 1916: Japan Joins the “Great War” to take advantage of the european colonial powers' weakness to take advantage of Pacific island holdings and resources.
• 1924: Japan goes to war briefly with the new soviet union. Destroys Russian navy and takes possession of island chains to the north. Soviet Union's attempts at an amphibious landing of the northernmost island of Japan proper ends in disaster as the snow itself starts speaking Japanese.
• 1938-1945: Second Great war, Japan joins the allies to hold back the Chinese empire which has been increasing demands as they attempt to expand in all directions. War in the pacific ends with nuclear attacks on china. Japan tries to retake korea, and is vetoed by other allied nations. Korea is freed. (japan kicks a rock and says mean words)
• 1990: collapse of the soviet union and new era begins. Japan rides significant highs and lows as trade and technology picks up.
• 1994: Oda clan returns with a massive show of military force, decapitating and utterly annihilating a branch family of the Toyotomi to reclaim their holding. Oda troops breathe new life to military doctrines and training as their appearance becomes a new paradigm in training in military colleges.
• Present day: Japan is in a strong position economically and internationally. Though there is a sense of unease, as the Yokai appear more and more frequently in various parts of the nation. Many in the know remark that it feels like the calm before a storm. Political machinations and maneuvers occur in these period’s of peace.

Japan in the Present Day

Currently, Japan is a modern nation, with an elected congressional body (the Imperial Diet) led by an elected Prime Minister, However, aspects of Feudal Japan survive to the modern day due to the realities of dealing with the unique challenges Yokai and magic provide. The Clans still exist due to the unique need to have military force able to react to sudden and unpredictable Yokai events. Comparative to the Edo period the samurai clans have less political control and relevance, often only engaging in provincial level politics, and commanding their personal military force as both defense and Province level law enforcement. The Shogunate exists to mediate and attempt to control conflicts between clans and provinces, keeping a full fledged Sengoku Jidai from breaking out, however cold wars, skirmishes and mean words are still exchanged from time to time. Generally, japan is in a state of relative peace and prosperity, and the citizens tend to live comfortable modern lives. Technology is comparable to the modern day, though reliance on technology and magic can swing wildly from province to province. This is exemplified in the twin capitals; with Tokyo being the exemplar of technological progress, and Kyoto being the exemplar of spiritual. The two cities look like almost different worlds at times. Yokai are a part of often daily life, with friendly or at least tolerant Yokai living among the populace registered and watched. Though some may face a degree of prejudice and fear, generally they are treated well enough. Though out in the rural areas Yokai are viewed with more suspicion and caution, though this can differ as depending on the individual town's relationship with the yokai that inhabit their area they may come to revere them as friends, or even worship them. To deal with the potential of Yokai committing crimes the Shinsengumi take the lead, traveling throughout the nation to deal with suspected paranormal crimes and threats. Though they are stretched thin, and there are never enough Shinsengumi to deal with the vast array of problems. For issues that fall under the notice of the Shinsengumi, local governments will often post bounties, or contract independent Paranormal Investigators and agencies. Offering both open and closed contracts to deal with the problem, backed by funds raised from the community. Those with the powers or expertise to deal with these situations can make a living and as such freelancers and organizations alike have risen to fill the demand. For those who test with a power potential of B Rank or Higher, they find themselves being registered as a practical measure. Their powers can be abused to a highly detrimental effect on the public so accountability is necessary. Those who refuse to register can and will be incarcerated, though they can simply submit and register when discovered, rogue Power users and unregistered Yokai plague the underbellies and edges of society. As a matter of societal self interest, registered B Rank Magic users are offered free education in Kyoto as a measure to help prevent people who can wreck a city street from becoming easily marginalized and desperate. The various branches of government compete to recruit Power Users, offering them employment and pay in exchange for dealing with the most dangerous situations the population is faced with.

Power Users are registered by law and enforced by the Shinsengumi as a matter of practicality, as B rank or higher powers can pose a risk to civic stability and safety. There also exists a rare condition, 1 in 10,000 births will produce a "Null." These are people not only born without magical abilities but can actively counter or nullify powers at higher levels. These people are highly prized as not only being able to nullify or resist the powers of Power Users and Yokai, but their blood can be mixed in with metal during a ritual to infuse that metal with those properties. This makes Nulls hunted by various groups both benevolent and nefarious.

[Umbraflamma]

Part 2: Government and Organizations

The government of Japan in HNP Differs from the governance in the real world. Notably the appearance of Yokai headed off the Meiji Restoration, this led down a chain of events that changed the future of political and cultural development. Most notably is that the Shogunate still exists in some form, although checks and balances have been applied. The caste system is no longer as relevant, and can be mostly ignored as vestigial more for formalities than any actual practice. The government has reorganized into the following.

The Imperial government

The Imperial government handles the main affairs of state as well as international relations. They set the majority of both domestic and foreign policy, and they command the Imperial army. The Imperial army is the largest army in the nation (with to Tokugawa Provincial military being a disconcertingly close second). Kyoto remains the capital of the Imperial Government.

• Imperial Palace: has mostly ceremonial roles, the emperor himself can veto an act of the diet, however he can be overruled. Has the sole right to declare a Yokai group as capable of holding chairs in the diet as members of their tribe/clan community. Due to the fact that diet members and the Prime Minister are elected, having the emperor's favor is very good for poll numbers.
  
• Imperial Diet: Led by the prime minister and made up of elected officials. Handles most day to day governance. Only the prime minister tends to meet with the emperor about concerns of the state. Elected officials must run and be elected to run specific spots. As for the current, it is only run by humans that have been elected by the Japanese people.
• Yokai Factions: As tribal leaders for friendly factions (examples being Tengu, Okami, Tanuki, and some Kitsune to name a few) have archaic tribal units that have an elected elder of the clan for representation as a diplomat or liaison to humans. While there are some outliers, especially amongst groups like the Kitsune, they are generally represented in clan format and law abiding Yokai will follow the example. Rogue Yokai are another question and are often dealt with by the Shinsengumi if caught. As a note all Yokai representatives must be recognized by the Emperor to gain access to the Diet.
  
• Imperial Army: A National Military, to whom technically the emperor is commander in chief, however the prime minister is often the de facto leader. They protect the diet building and the imperial palace.
  

Paranormal Control Agencies

These organizations are concerned mainly with controlling magic and Yokai. They act in response to paranormal crises and attempt to end them in a manner least disruptive to public order.

• Shinsengumi: Headquartered in Kyoto they Act as an arm that enforces and regulates paranormal matters. They have no ability to set legislation, however in matters of paranormal situations they can act as judge, jury and executioner. They are not without consequence as the Diet or Shogunate can demand a Shinsengumi stripped of their rank in cases of flagrant abuse, and they are not without political friction due to their uneasy relationship with both the Shogunate and the imperial government. If there was an agency that handled Yokai crimes or magic users breaking the law, this would be the right place. Originally, they handled crimes and espionage across Japan, dealing with both nobles and regular citizens alike, but, when paranormal issues became rampant after the commit, the Shinsengumi sprung to action dealing with the crimes that most police were ill equipped to handle. They are known to be some of the toughest, well informed people to handle Yokai and magic users that are bent on preying off the population. Their reputation is well earned, and many people that join typically sever clan ties to have absolute loyalty.
• Shinto Shrine Network: Headquartered in Ise; though present wherever shrines are, they are not officially a part of the government, but holding influence due to their ability to handle paranormal matters, they share strong bonds with the Shinsengumi, however their leadership has been known to focus on their own agendas. Secretive and mysterious, an Onmyoji is seen both as a beacon of light, and a worker in the shadows. The network consists of the priests and priestesses of Ise as well as affiliates of psychics, and gifted occultists in their network. These people do cleansing, banishing, and all manner of ceremonies. Their knowledge of the occult and Yokai are second to none. If someone is a card carrying member of this network, it’s likely due to learned skills and experience. Buddhist shrines are also included in this network, ass consolidation and unity were important during the Yokai Daisenso.
• The National Association of Paranormal Investigators (NAPI): Headquartered in Tokyo, This organization lobbies for the rights of independent contractors and paranormal detective agencies, as a guild of sorts member Agencies and Individuals are expected to follow a code of ethics. Primarily in not causing undue civilian casualties. Membership is mainly functional to allow agencies and individuals to swap information on cases.
• Yokai Hunter's Guild: Also headquartered in Tokyo, A more mercenary organization, these are bounty hunters and freelancers who have the talent, powers, or skill to handle Yokai related issues. they maintain a bounty board and will add requests from local governments in both open and closed contracts.
  

The Shogunate

The Shogunate has been by necessity and compromise been reduced in their power and control of their territories, this is something that many clans rail against though most understand the necessity. In many ways the samurai have outlived their era and only by embracing these new ways have the clans and cultures survived to the current era. They aren't always happy about it. More or less a constitutional aristocracy, their control of military power and continued traditions as well as technical rule over the land within provinces affords them a degree of influence and power in local governments. Tokyo is the capital of the Shogunate and the province has been named as Edo province as a compromise during the name change to signify the start of a new era.

• Shogunate: Mainly handles military matters, technically takes orders from the emperor, commands provincial militaries directly, which technically have no ability to operate outside of their provinces without the emperor’s approval. Not that that always stops them. They have their own units to act as enforcers of paranormal nature. Work with the Shinto shrines to enforce magical registration and paranormal crimes. They tend to butt heads with the other branches in dealing with what they see as their responsibilities within their own provinces.
  
• Shinobi: Act as military intelligence. Though they may have their own agendas. A shadowy organization with many aims that can often appear to be contradictory. Conflicting reports suggest there could be an unseen power struggle between them and the shrine network. The Shogunate itself recruits from the Shinobi clans, forming a mixed organization referred to as the Oniwaban. They answer to the shogunate as an organization as opposed to any specific clans.
  

A list of clans as well as a provincial map and key can be found at this thread!