Jonathan

The heart of Mikado Castle, and consequently of the city. A fortress-like construction with heavily-reinforced double doors contains the entrance to Naraku, topped by a massive, featureless statue honoring Mikado's first monarch, King Aquila. The plaza is made up of several layers of defensive walls to keep the demons within Naraku contained, should the worst come to pass and they ever breach the doors.

A favored place for Samurai of all levels of ability and experience to decompress and socialize, as well as to find out about new tasks assigned to their order and to issue friendly challenges to one another. It is run by the previous commander of the Samurai, who now goes by "K."

The mainstay of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado, built atop a slightly elevated hill. The king lives within the multi-walled castle, but the walls are not meant to defend against attacks from the outside. Rather, they exist to prevent the diffusion of demons that might pour out from within Naraku. The castle also houses the obelisk plaza with King Aquila's epigraph, as well as a stone statue built in honor of the king. Ordinary citizens are rarely permitted entry into the castle; the only exceptions are for the Gauntlet Rite and other special festivals.

An organization established to communicate God's will to the people, the Monastery is led by Abbot Hugo in the year 1492. Beyond enlightening the people, the Monastery has also served as an advisor to generations of monarchs. After over 1,000 years since the kingdom's founding, the archangel Gabriel appears in the form of Gabby, a human woman. She watches over the pastoral society, ensuring providence for the good and worthy people.

An area filled with demons that attempt to enter the rest of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado or choose to live there willingly. One of the Samurai's duties is to patrol the realm and subdue hostile demons. It is also a training ground for prentice Samurai. There are five strata in total, and they get more dangerous the further in one ventures. In Mikado's creation myth, Naraku is the forbidden place in which the first king, Aquila, sealed up the demons. This story—and the idea that demons could spring forth from the hole—tends to keep the ordinary civilians of Mikado from treading near.

A holy site in the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado where a giant cocoon is enshrined. Prior to the kingdom's founding, the angels brought the chosen children to the land in the cocoon, so the site is still worshiped to this day. While most of Mikado is lush and verdant, this area alone is craggy and sandy, as it was formed by angels themselves.

The lower-class citizens of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. Tasked with performing all jobs requiring manual labor. Their living conditions are markedly poorer than those of the Luxurors, the upper caste, but the people rarely object to this system, as the Monastery teaches that it is all part of God's will.

Alternate term for the Gauntlet.

The umbrella term for supernatural beings. It refers to evil creatures, and also the spirits of the deceased, fairies, and in the broadest sense, angels and even God.

A vambrace worn by Mikado's Samurai. It contains a portable, wearable computer that can be used to communicate with, transport, and summon demonic entities using the Demon Summoning Program. All Gauntlets come with an assistant interface avatar called Burroughs. Burroughs guides Gauntlet users through demon data, application usage, navigation, among other functions within the limits of the Gauntlet's internal database. Mido aids with fusion and compendium data.

A group of demons counted as a single force. A Horde can be made up of an entire group of the same demon or be made up of demons of the same mythology or alignment. Hordes cannot be communicated with; attempting to do so will cause the demons to all try to speak with you at once, creating an unnavigable chaos. It can only be dispelled or vanquished.

Tomes brought to the East Kingdom from another world by the Black Samurai. Those who read her books are transformed into demons. As such, the Monastery forbids the reading of these texts, and the Samurai of Mikado are often tasked with gathering the dangerous texts for the Monastery to burn or to deal with the consequences of citizens reading them.

The upper-class citizens of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. Their roles in society involve intellectual pursuits, governance, and ecclesiastical work.

The term for all junior Samurai.

Artifacts from a civilization and culture wholly alien to the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado's way of life. These items are identical to modern technology and tools, ranging from methods of transportation (cars, bikes, motorcycles) to electronics (cell phones, computers, e-readers, headsets) to weaponry and more. They find it impossible to analyze most of the technological objects, regarding and fearing them as "magical artifacts."

Tasked with protecting the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado is an organization called the "Samurai." On the surface, the Samurai preserve law and order in the land, but in truth, their job is to work to clear Naraku of demons, which is accomplished in part by summoning allied demons using technologically-advanced Gauntlets.

A Samurai qualification ceremony which all citizens must undergo when they turn 18. Those whose applications qualify them for the position are summarily enlisted. It is considered a significant privilege to be chosen, regardless of one's caste.

The first king of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado, who founded the nation and sealed the demons up in Naraku. The name of the Samurai, who are tasked with keeping the peace within the kingdom and suppressing demons in Naraku, came from him, as did knowledge about the Gauntlets and how Samurai could use them to negotiate with and make allies of amenable demons. His teachings are still respected to this day.

The current king of Mikado.

The operating system AI that exist within each Samurai gauntlet, who is often referred to by Samurai as a fairy. She appears as a white, feminine silhouette with long, flowing hair that falls past her thighs and wearing a flowing white dress. Each Burroughs is supportive of and encouraging to their wielders, and will brag about them to the other Burroughs when they accomplish significant tasks. However, she will scold her wielder in times where she senses them faltering in their convictions or considering going along with something that feels wrong simply because it is the path of least resistance. She is helpful both in and outside of combat, providing information about the environment, demon summoning and fusion, and any nearby signs of life (human or demonic) readily when asked. If she senses a powerful demon, she will always warn their user before they encounter it.

A member of the Monastery in the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado who assists Abbot Hugo. Gabby gives the authoritarian Hugo substantial support and guidance, and he likely keeps her at his side because he recognizes this. She tends to avoid showing her face in public; the Casualries never get a glimpse of her, and even the Luxurors rarely see her. Though her calm demeanor, gentle tone, and boundless compassion paint her as a saint, she's much colder when it comes to those who would go against God's teachings. She is a mature woman with an ageless face, pale skin, and piercing sea green, almond-shaped eyes. There's a beauty mark under her left eye. She is dressed in ornate white robes with gold accents; there are thin dark blue stripes at the edges of the robes and her cowl.

The leader of the Samurai. Addressed as "Commander" by the Samurai. He doesn't coddle prentice Samurai and is equally tough on all his charges. He shows outstanding judgment and flexibility befitting a leader, and his unrefined yet solemn personality have won him the trust of those who serve below him. He endeavors to preserve peace in the kingdom and eliminate any demons that emerge from Naraku. He stands somewhat in opposition to the current monarch, King Ahazuya, as well as past monarch, who have warned him that he can be too blunt and sincere. He also has no love for Abbot Hugo, who will change positions on a dime in order to protect himself.

The abbot of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado, and the leader and figurehead of the Monastery. He was once a Samurai, but he became a scholar and now prefers studying battle tactics and other academic exercises to actual fighting. Since becoming a monk, he's come to enjoy the limelight. He rose up to his current position by winning the trust of King Azuhaya Mikado. Despite the holy, humble façade he projects to the public, he's selfish to the core and will do whatever it takes to protect himself. He has an astounding aptitude for machinery and tools, and a boundless curiosity about the legendary artifacts brought up from what lies below Naraku. He is a man in his mid-thirties of middling height and a softer physique, with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and faintly tan skin. He's attired in white robes, with a golden cloak and cowl that denote his status as Abbot.

Referred to as "K". It's a title, rather than his given name. Successive generations of proprietors of the establishment he currently runs are given code letters. The former Samurai Commander, who now runs the tavern in Aquila Plaza favored by Samurai. As the Commander, he led Hope, the current leader, and the rest of the Samurai against a massive incursion of demons, which was suppressed thanks to his efforts. He lost his eye and hand in that battle, which he is open about and even proud of, as they tell of his bravery. He's a tall and very muscular older man with pale blond hair, and his left eye is amber. His right eye is missing, covered by an eyepatch, and in the place of his left hand, he now wears a prosthetic with a scissor-like attachment. Though his appearance is grim, he projects a kind of easy amiability and genuine confidence, and has the absolute trust and respect of the Samurai and other customers who come to his establishment seeking rest and relaxation.

A young Casualry who was recently chosen by a gauntlet to become a Samurai. He is kind and strong-willed, and tends to be very quiet and not say much. He is a skilled fighter and negotiator both, and has climbed up to the top of the class of prentices to whom he belongs, even showing competency above that of some more experienced Samurai. Jonathan feels a strange connection to him, in addition to appreciating his calm demeanor and intelligence. Flynn is a trusted ally and friend of his.

A young woman from the Luxuror class who passed the Gauntlet Rite alongside Jonathan, making her one of the rare female Samurai. She is highly intelligent and possesses a sharp wit—and sharp tongue—though she possesses sensitivity and empathy towards those deserving of it. While very independent of others in day-to-day matters, she struggles with developing her own beliefs and stances. Secretly harbors a great love of manga, "forbidden" literature that reached Mikado from the world beneath the Eastern Kingdom. Jonathan considers her a strong and principled young woman, and is chivalrous and considerate in his dealings with her. However, aside from being fellow prentices and working well when paired up on missions, the two have few interactions or commonalities.

A young Luxuror who was recently chosen by a gauntlet to become a samurai. He is arrogant, prideful, vain, and just generally kind of a spoiled brat. All style, no substance. Easily frightened. Navarre considers himself superior to others because of the fortunate circumstances of his birth, and has taken to attempting to bully the Samurai prentices who came from Casualry backgrounds. Jonathan finds his behavior and often tries to de-escalate the fights Navarre picks for himself, attempting to rein the puffed-up Luxuror in by reminding him of the expectations of propriety and good manners of those of their background. Despite his gentle handling of these situations, Jonathan has little regard or goodwill toward Navarre.

A young Casualry who was recently chosen by a gauntlet to become a samurai. He is boisterous, rash, and somewhat ruled by his emotions, though he cares about his fellow samurai and always tries to do what is right. His main motivation for becoming a samurai is for the adventure, as well as to escape life of being a mere fisherman. He and Jonathan get along well enough, in great part due to Jonathan's gentle and agreeable nature, but they disagree on many counts, some of which seem to indicate they have fundamentally different perspectives on the world and what's best for Mikado and its people. He considers Walter somewhat callous in his opinions, but nevertheless also treats him as a trusted ally.