For centuries, the Shogun of Kiri'jima, a master summoner and revered avatar of summoning magic, had meticulously prepared for one ultimate spell: to summon the Wild Gods—beasts of unimaginable power from the astral plane—into the mortal realm. These divine creatures, long thought untouchable by human hands, included Byakko, the Tiger of the West; Suzaku, the Phoenix of the South; Seiryu, the Azure Dragon of the East; and Genbu, the Turtle of the North. The Shogun knew that his life was drawing to an end, and with the weight of responsibility to protect his people bearing down on him, he committed himself to this final act.
Before attempting the ritual, the Shogun took an unusual step. He found a young woman from the islands, someone who displayed an immense potential for magic, and took her on as his apprentice. She was trained in the sacred arts, learning not only the ways of summoning but also the spiritual and philosophical significance of controlling such beings. The Shogun believed that she was destined to carry his legacy. For years, they trained in secret, preparing for the moment when he would no longer be able to fulfill his duty as protector of Kiri'jima.
As part of his preparations, the Shogun commissioned the creation of four powerful artifacts—each designed to bind the Wild Gods to the realm of existence even after his death. These artifacts were to ensure that the Wild Gods, once summoned, could not return to the astral plane and would remain protectors of Kiri'jima. The Shogun intended them to be divided among four noble clans who would carry on his legacy.
However, summoning beings of such immense power was not without consequence. The summoning caught the attention of Kashiko, the Goddess of Realms and Summoning, a celestial deity who governed the separation between realms and controlled the balance of planar beings. Kashiko was furious at the Shogun's audacity to bring wild entities from the astral plane into the mortal realm, for such acts could disrupt the delicate fabric of existence.
In her divine intervention, Kashiko descended to stop the ritual, declaring that the summoning of the Wild Gods would defy the natural order. But the Shogun, resolute and unwavering, chose to sacrifice his life for his people. Through sheer will and an unyielding sense of duty, he completed the ritual, knowing that the cost would be his soul. The Wild Gods, bound by the Shogun’s artifacts, entered the plane of existence, forever tethered to Kiri'jima.
Impressed by the Shogun's ultimate sacrifice, Kashiko relented. Rather than destroy the summoning or banish the Wild Gods, she honored the Shogun’s devotion. She declared that his apprentice would inherit his title and mantle, becoming the next Avatar of Summoning. This marked the young woman's ascension as the new Shogun of Kiri'jima, a symbol of both the island’s protection and its newfound relationship with the Wild Gods.
The new Shogun, in her wisdom, divided the four artifacts among the most loyal noble families of Kiri'jima, ensuring that the Wild Gods could never act against her or the will of the realm. Each family was entrusted with an artifact, which held both power and responsibility. Through the magic of these artifacts, the Wild Gods were forced to accept their fate, bound to the plane of existence, eternally protecting the land that summoned them. Thus, the legacy of the Shogun lived on, with the Wild Gods now guardians of Kiri'jima, their fates intertwined with the people they had once been summoned to defend.