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===== Kodama =====  
//Japanese folklore//  \\ 
**Subdue-3, Haunt-2, Curse-3**\\ 

A tree-bound nature spirit that inhabits ancient or sacred trees. The kodama is shy and elusive, capable of taking on many guises: a beautiful woman, a child, a beast, or a mysterious light. Its life is tied inextricably to the health and fate of its parent tree. Kindness and reverence are rewarded with protection or blessings; harm invites supernatural revenge. The kodama may vanish into the tree’s trunk, move unseen through the forest, or curse those who threaten its home.

===== Tags & Edges =====  
  * Bound to the life and fate of an ancient tree  
  * Appears as a beautiful woman, child, beast, or spirit light  
  * Shy and elusive, merges with the trunk or the forest shadows  
  * Protective guardian, vengeful when provoked  
  * Blesses those who show kindness, curses those who harm

===== Soft Moves =====  
  * Mysterious echoes or shifting lights mark the area with <wrap caution>Forest Spirits</wrap>.  
  * Eerie silence falls in the grove, applying <wrap safety>Guarded-2</wrap>.  
  * Shifting shapes conceal movement, creating <wrap caution>Hidden Presence</wrap> story tag.  
  * Gentle whispers bring minor aid or reassurance, applying <wrap safety>Blessed-1</wrap>.

===== Hard Moves =====  
  * Tree branches strike or roots entangle intruders, inflicting <wrap danger>Restrained-3</wrap>.  
  * Calls other spirits for aid, creating <wrap caution>Spirit Swarm</wrap> story tag.  
  * Punishes harm to the tree by cursing offenders, inflicting <wrap danger>Withered-3</wrap>.  
  * Vanishes into the tree, evading all attempts to capture or harm.

===== Custom Moves =====  
  * **Bonded Life:** If the tree suffers, so does the spirit—destroying the tree may banish or unleash the kodama’s wrath.
  * **Spirit’s Mercy:** Those who heal or honor the tree receive ongoing <wrap safety>Blessed</wrap> or <wrap safety>Protected</wrap> statuses.
  * **Forces of Nature:** May alter weather, summon fog, or inflict minor misfortune as a warning or act of vengeance.

===== GM Notes =====  
  * **Goal:** Protect the tree and the forest; reward kindness, punish cruelty.
  * **Escalation:** Subtle omens → increased spirit manifestations → defensive strikes → powerful curses or tree-related environmental hazards.
  * **Tactics:** Prefers avoidance and subtle intervention; direct action comes only after repeated provocation or destructive acts.
  * **Counters:** Spiritual offerings, respectful rituals, or reparations can pacify or win the kodama’s favor.

===== Appearance & Vibe =====  
  * Usually unseen; occasionally reveals a beautiful woman, child, beast, or glowing spirit light near the tree.
  * Forest air is marked by mysterious whispers, echoing footsteps, and strange phenomena when present.
  * When angered, the environment reacts: trees bleed sap, branches grasp, or forest animals swarm the offender.

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