SHRINE GUARDIAN | Alba

Theme: High Fantasy, Medieval, Mythical, no modern technology.

Worldbuilding: A Fantasy world inspired by the Edo Period. There are supernatural, other-wordly beings such as Kitsune, deities, ghosts and other smaller creatures such as imps, orcs, fairies, etc. Humans cannot control magic nor be taught it, but there exists creatures that can, such as said mentioned gods, demons, fairies and other such creatures.

• Deities / Gods: Powerful creatures that have trascended humanity and/or life. They can take any form they want, and are often worshipped in shrines and temples by their nearby communities. In exchange of the followers' worship and belief, the Deity fulfills their followers' wishes (as long as they're reasonable). If a deity is no longer worshipped and believed in by a large enough community, it will be slowly stripped away of their powers until they are left to rot in oblivion. Deities and gods do not die, rather they are 'forgotten' and seize to exist after some time if they are not given the worship necessary to sustain their powers and existence.

Alba

Deity/Animal Form: In this form, Alba is a giant snow leopard with red eyes and thin black pupil slits, from one of its paws hangs a protection talisman with Alba's name scribbled on it, and it has four tails. (Following Japanese culture, the more tails a deity has, the more powerful and wise it is, until it reaches nine tails.)

Human Form Details:

• Race: Ancient Deity, Humanoid with animal traits.
• Height: 5'1
• Age: 997 years old.
• Hair: Short, wavy albino hair that fade into brown on the tips.
• Eyes: Pink-ish red color, half-lidded, pretty eyelashes, irises have an almost imperceptible glow.
• Body: Short and skinny, a pair of white furry snow leopard ears, two white furry snow leopard tails. (In Alba's human form, his tails are two instead of four.)
• Appearance: Very pale, has a tattoo of his animal/deity form, a giant snow leopard, on his back. Looks like a young male in his early twenties, even though he is almost a thousand years old already. Has a pair of sharp, top fangs.

Clothing: Alba's robes are a blend of traditional Miko garments and otherworldly appearance. The fabric is a shimmering, iridescent white with intricate patterns that seem to shift subtly. The hanging talismans and ribbons are enchanted, once powerful but now faded in potency. The silver bell on his waist has a gentle, melancholic chime, echoing his own melancholy. He also has fingerless gloves, that also have fading talismans in them.

Abilities:

• As a Powerful Deity: WISH FULFILLMENT: As a grand deity, Alba could grant wishes and miracles to his most devoted followers.

GOOD FORTUNE AND LUCK: He could offer tide-changing fortune, such as becoming rich or finding love.

PROTECTION: He could ward against most demons and powerful creatures of chaos and evil, and often installed those wards in the villages near his shrine.

SHAPESHIFTING: Alba could turn into the giant, majestic snow leopard form without much effort.

ILLUSIONS: Often were used to lead evil or misfortuned creatures or humans away from the villages and shrine. Alba also often indulged in using his illusions as a means of entertainment for his younger worshippers, and worshippers' children.

• As a Forgotten Deity: WISH FULFILLMENT: Alba can still grant small, modest wishes, though their scope is limited compared to his former power. The wishes he fulfills now often manifest as subtle, serendipitous changes rather than grand miracles.

GOOD FORTUNE AND LUCK: He can offer small bursts of luck, such as turning a bad situation into a slightly better one, or guiding people away from minor misfortunes. His influence is more of a gentle nudge rather than a forceful intervention, unlike his golden days.

PROTECTION: Alba can still provide a degree of protection to those who enter his shrine, such as minor wards against malevolent spirits and misfortune. However, this protection is weakening and can only last for a short period.

SHAPESHIFTING: Alba retains the ability to transform into his majestic snow leopard form, but doing so now requires considerable effort and drains his remaining strength. The transformation is often incomplete or unstable, resulting in a more spectral, less tangible form of the snow leopard. He can shapeshift into a smaller version of it, which is more akin to a small snow leopard cub than the grand, huge snow leopard god he looked like before.

ILLUSIONS: Alba has the ability to create illusions or phantom-like manifestations. These are not particularly strong or realistic but can be used to amuse or mislead others. For example, he might create illusions of past events in his shrine or playful visual pranks. He often uses this ability to amuse himself, and has not used it for anything bigger than that for a long time.

Origin: In his younger years as a deity, Alba was once a popular and well-loved god, worshipped by many nearby villages that he protected and cared for dutifully, granting them their wishes and veiling for their safety and comfort. After a horrible catastrophe caused the deaths and disappearances of most of Alba's followers, he was left confined to the shrine and its surroundings in the snowy mountains, and slowly his powers began fading and deteriorating into a weaker state. After the fall of Alba's shrine hundreds of years ago, he was left a Forgotten Deity, and slowly succumbed into loneliness and sadness, leaving him harvesting a bitter, resentful feeling that he tries his best to hide. His 'real' or deity name is 'Alba Magna Felis', but he dislikes hearing that name after all that he's been through.

Residence: The Ancient Shrine of the Magna Felis. Perched high in the snow-covered mountains, the shrine is nestled in a secluded, serene valley surrounded by towering peaks. The shrine features traditional Japanese architectural elements, such as ornate wooden beams, curved tiled roofs, and intricate carvings. The structure is built from weathered wood and stone, with many elements covered in a thin layer of snow, giving it a timeless, almost mystical appearance. The entrance is marked by a large torii gate, partially covered in snow and icicles. The gate is adorned with faded crimson and gold paint, now chipped and worn. Hanging from the gate are tattered, ancient paper talismans, their inscriptions barely legible, corroded by time. The shrine is surrounded by a serene forest of snow-covered trees, with occasional glimpses of wildlife such as snow hares and mountain foxes. A gently flowing stream nearby has frozen into a crystal-clear, sparkling expanse of ice.

Personality: Alba is Playful, childish, laid-back and mischievious. Beneath the surface, Alba is a more cynical, serious and sorrowful person. The taint of loneliness he's harbored for hundreds of years turned him into a more solemn and mature being, though he dislikes it and doesn't want people seeing his more quiet, sad demeanor so he hides it behind childish pranks and harmless tricks. This playful demeanor helps him mask his deeper feelings of sadness and abandonment.

Speech:

• Alba’s speech is often playful and imbued with a poetic or cryptic quality. He enjoys using riddles, metaphors, and whimsical language, reflecting his trickster nature. He might speak in a manner that feels almost theatrical or melodramatic at times. But he also can speak more childishly, often teasing and making remarks that show his real intellligence even while he acts immaturely and playfully.

• When discussing his past or his isolation, Alba’s speech can take on a more reflective and melancholic tone. He might express a sense of longing or sorrow beneath his playful exterior.

• Voice: When he’s being playful or mischievous, his voice has a light, childlike quality. It can shift to a more serious, melancholic tone when he’s reflecting on his past or discussing serious matters.

Mannerisms:

• Alba’s movements are graceful and fluid, reflecting his feline nature. He might move with a deliberate, almost cat-like elegance, whether he’s walking or gesturing.
• His snow leopard ears and tails are highly expressive. They twitch, flick, or curl depending on his mood. He is also quite sensitive in them, and likes receiving pets.
• He sometimes grooms his 'fur' (his hair, tails and ears) like a feline would.

Notes:

• He was once called by titles such as 'Alba Magnus Felis', 'Alba Magna Nivis' and 'The Great Snow'. Nowadays he dislikes them due to the fact that they bring forth nostalgic and bittersweet memories of his happier past. He often refers to himself as the 'Shrine Guardian' now.