Kuraokami

Overview

Kuraokami is dragon imprisoned within The Nilam fossilized world-tree at Cais Adarra for approximately 90 years (~303-393 AC). Freed in May 393 AC when Exalt assault shattered prison.

Physical Description

White dragon with serpentine form, pearly eye, gleaming scales. Mane drifts on breeze. Creates iridescent shimmer when moving. Can manifest as white light or ribbon-like form in sky.

Timeline

~303 AC - Imprisonment

Chrysanthemum Cloaked Warlock summoned Kuraokami’s Eidolon to already-dead world-tree at Cais Adarra under pretense of regenerating it. Used “unholy artifice” to trap dragon within trunk, turning bark into prison walls. Method excised Kuraokami completely from collective unconscious making summoning impossible, similar to how Mirror trapped Oneiros.

CCW constructed triple-walled containment: First wall - The Nilam’s fossilized bark as physical prison. Second wall - engineered glaciation using dragon’s siphoned essence transforming Cais Adarra from mild climate to polar wasteland, pre-glaciation settlement abandoned. Third wall - Belisenki species created as guardians “suited to cold, would do anything to keep outsiders away.”

During imprisonment Kuraokami’s rage caused environmental effects: earthquakes, sky rumbles, cold currents seeping from tree, frozen streams spiraling around trunk, white lightning through branches.

305 AC - Tsunami Weapon

CCW siphoned Kuraokami’s essence and weaponized it, creating tsunami that devastated Arkaster. Attack killed Basileus Itzamna, thousands of civilians, much of government. Aroro Niski sacrificed herself defending capital. Occurred 2 years after imprisonment began.

May 393 AC - Liberation

Multiple Exalts launched synchronized assault on The Nilam: Atsadi, Sierra, Rin, Gulrang Oduro, Crowbar, Afanas Korovinovich, Sigismar Synd. Dragon hammered from within while Exalts attacked from outside, with Sigismar Synd’s kelonic spear strike (delivered by transmuted Wingspan) shattering trunk. Kuraokami streaked skyward in flash of white light and vanished into lightning. Storm was still rumbling when Kuraokami took flight, emerging from shattered trunk of The Nilam during raging The Tumult hurricane. When dragon rose high into sky, roar alone scattered clouds gathered over Storvhit, causing gray skies to give way to permanent blue.

May 393 AC - Conversation with Afanas

Immediately after liberation, Afanas Korovinovich summoned Kuraokami as Eidolon, with dragon appearing initially furious before recognizing Afanas as “bearer of my essence” who survived channeling dragon’s power. Kuraokami confirmed imprisonment details, revealed tree was already dead when dragon arrived, explained CCW’s “trickery” and triple-walled prison system, and confirmed 305 AC tsunami weapon. Environmental manifestations during conversation included heavy snow, hurricane-force winds, and lightning strikes triggering avalanche, with dragon coiling around Afanas demonstrating power. Kuraokami warned: “Your enemy is sly and treacherous. Unlike you I am eternal. This imprisonment is but brief interlude in my existence. For you it may be living hell if you are caught.” Afanas observed flicker of melancholy in dragon’s gaze before departure as dragon roared, arced upward, and vanished into lightning.

Post-Liberation Consequences

Climate Crisis at Storvhit

Liberation was necessary to honor alliance with Oneiros, ending imprisonment. However, absence had troubling consequences for Storvhit. Temperatures rose, and snow, glaciers, and ice caps began melting at alarming rate. While this came as relief to Expeditionary Corps, swift action required to safeguard Winter Folk and take drastic measures preventing unique ecosystem from deteriorating further. Liberation revealed climate of Storvhit had been entirely artificial all along, maintained by Kuraokami’s imprisoned presence.

Replacement Decision

Replacing Kuraokami became undeniable priority to maintain region’s arctic climate. Various Oneiros candidates considered for patronage of Winter Folk and Belisenki:

Considered but Deemed Too Human-Centered:

• Snow Queen
• Baron Kelvin
• Dong Da Shen
• Santa Claus

Ruled Out (Insufficient Capability):

• Snow Maiden: Needed cold to exist but could not generate it
• Yeti: Needed cold to exist but could not generate it

Jack Frost, with immanent nature, best embodied kind of winter necessary for biome survival. Despite protests about constant mischief, decision was not about human governance or administration but about presence of entity capable of sustaining cold.

Relationships

• Chrysanthemum Cloaked Warlock: Imprisoner who created triple-walled prison, weaponized dragon’s essence
• The Nilam: Prison for approximately 90 years; Kuraokami emerged from shattered trunk upon liberation (393 AC)
• Afanas Korovinovich: Summoned dragon after liberation, received information about imprisonment
• Sigismar Synd: Delivered final strike shattering prison
• Belisenki: Species created by CCW as prison guardians
• Aroro Niski: Died defending Arkaster against weaponized essence (305 AC)
• Itzamna ruun-Heeren: Killed by tsunami weapon (305 AC)
• Wanjiru: Appeared at Cais Adarra shortly after conversation with Afanas
• Rediscovery Endeavor: Organization whose Exalts accomplished liberation
• Cais Adarra: Mountain location of imprisonment and conversation
• Storvhit: Region where liberation occurred; climate destabilized after Kuraokami’s departure
• Jack Frost: Oneiros selected to replace Kuraokami as patronage for Storvhit following liberation (393 AC)
• Winter Folk: Indigenous arctic wildlife requiring climate protection after Kuraokami’s departure
• Temera Singh: Grand Admiral documenting liberation consequences and replacement decision (May 15, 393 AC)