Kikuya no Kushi
菊屋の紅詩
Once known as Mount Rokkan's Red Weaver, this once-proud spider auspice now spends her days under the possession of a mysterious, supernatural being. Having been ensnared in her own web, Kikuya no Kushi can't fault the monster in disguise, for she is one as well...
Kikuya no Kushi- The Red Weaver
菊屋の紅詩
At First Glance
Name Kikuya no Kushi.
Alias the Red Weaver
Age 1,926.
Pronouns She/Her
Species Hyur (jorogumo).
Birthdate 10.21.
Sexuality heterosexual.
Origin Feudal Rural Hingashi.
Location ???.
Talents Weaver, auspice, geisha, skilled in dancing, koto, and shamisen
Scent chrysanthemum, pear, and burning autumn leaves
aetheric signature alluring, enticing, and lethal
Traits
Appearance The embodiment of ideal beauty by traditional Hingashi standards- moon-pale skin; large, almond eyes; shiny and long, onyx-black hair; blemish-free, rosy complexion; ruby-red lips...and perfect, black-lacquered teeth.
Scars None
Body Type Womanly and graceful
Key Features Sultry golden eyes, black teeth, fair skin, extravagant, jeweled hair ornaments, sultry and suggestive fine silk kimono featuring embroidered spider lilies.
Personality (+) Charming, Outgoing, Benevolent, Free-Spirited, Carouser
Personality (-) Selfish, Hedonistic, Narcissistic, 'Two-faced', Malevolent
Personality
Kikuya Is a spider-auspice of autumn and represents the duality of the spider.
A symbol of good luck and good fortune from hard work, The Golden Orb Weaver spider she evolved from is worshipped in parts of the rural mountain ranges where she had lived.
From this token she is seen in the autumn season as jovial, generous, benevolent, good-natured and is honored and revered in the temples she is worshipped. However, autumn does not last forever.
And thus, the darker, more sinister side to her is shown in the months not of her season A symbol of secrets, deceit, and treacherous ill-omen, the spider she is at heart reveals itself most harshly in the winter and early spring. Where once she was renowned as a brilliant weaver of beautiful masterworks, her webs weave lethal lies as benevolence fades to all-consuming hunger, and selfish-malice. Both Exalted and Feared, She preys upon the people she protects of the wooded mountain she claims domain over. To hold her favor is a generational blessing, and to earn her ire is a condemning and slow, predatory death of ill-fortune and misery for generations to come... if she doesn't 'fix' the problem herself.
Kikuya no Kushi- The Spider Auspice
菊屋の紅詩
Favored Offerings Traditional wagashi, fresh pears, performance of song and dance, plum wine, sake, spider lilies, chrysanthemums, silk and silk flowers, hairpins, fine hair combs and ornaments
Favored Prey insufferable gossips, spoiled lazy people, counterfeiters, textile vandals, brutish men and cruel women, people who think too much of themselves and too little of her, enemies of herself and those she holds in favor.
Favored Disciples promising craftsmen/women or artists down on their luck that are seeking a muse and a big break.
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Bonds:
Yuki, Frost-Fox of the Mountain- A reclusive kitsune auspice that Kikuya no Kushi has made allies with. Guardian of Winter and protector of the Mountain glade they both reside on, their partnership was an easy one. However... with auspices there is always a struggle for power. It is best to keep your enemies close and your friends even closer... Kushi- a mortal friend Kikuya made while still a spider. From Kushi's kindness of sparing her life, Kikuya helped the silkworm farmer achieve her dreams to becoming a renowned kimono master, who often embroidered the patterns of Kikuya's webs and her spider silk into the silk of her kimonos. Centuries later, Kushi's designs are still revered, and Kikuya adopted her friends' name into her own to honor her.
A spider and craftswoman (weaver) herself, she is seen as a local patron/kami of the arts and of artists and craftspeople in Kushi's home village and a family guardian in Kushi's bloodline for her role in Kushi's success and renown
.
Discipleship Though it is possible for her to accept patronage, it is exceedingly rare and has not accepted an 'underling' since the passing of her first disciple and friend, Kushi, out of respect and reverence for her dear friend. In the rare chance she accepts the role of patron, she is very demanding of her subjects after Kushi's resonating success but knows that they have the potential to reach greatness just as she had in the past. While her guidance and favor may come off as benevolent and merciful, it is secretly born of Kikuya's deep desire to be admired, revered, and reveled.
Kikuya no Kushi and Kitsune Yuki
Kikuya no Kushi- Jorogumo
Kikuya no Kushi's Beastial Form is one of nightmares. While she prefers the beauty and ease of her hyuran geisha form so she may mingle with her subjects in autumn revelry, the monstrous form she takes while on the hunt is often the last sight her victims see before they are swiftly killed and devoured.
Wicked Wiles- Kikuya often uses her charm and sexuality to lure unsuspecting men to her lair in the mountains where she lulls them to sleep and injects them with her lethal poison. Beguiling and entertaining with her company and games, most of her prey do not realize their fates until it is too late.
Her Powers to Command- Kikuya is a masterful weaver and makes ensnaring webs to capture and bind her prey, rendering them useless while she injects them with lethal, paralytic poison. In the rare event her prey escapes or fights back, she can dissolve into and reform, and regenerate from swarms of spiders.
Queen of Arachnids,- she can also summon and/or ensorcell any spider to spy through or for her, or do her bidding by proxy.