Tomoe Kuroda

Tomoe comes from the Kuroda (黒田) clan, which may have had some prestige once upon a time but presently really consists of just her, her father, and her grandmother.

She was born and raised within the Mizuumi-dera temple complex, and practically began her training before she even took her first steps. Throughout her life, Tomoe’s grandmother (who was herself a priest of the temple) constantly imposed upon her the importance of maintaining harmony with the world; people suffer and struggle today as a direct consequence of past failure to do so. In direct contrast, Tomoe’s father, a respected healer, believed that the individual actions of mortals were really of no consequence to truly divine beings; the hardships that plague the world are the fault of the gods. If mortals could so easily unravel the work of the divine, then what was the purpose of the gods?

Tomoe loved her father, but adored her grandmother. She took her responsibilities and her duty to the temple very seriously, not out of reverence to the divine, but because it made her grandmother happy. She kept the home clean and proper so when her father came home from his long journeys, he could relax with minimal worries, but more importantly so that grandmother didn’t have to. Tomoe was also an awkward child who found it difficult to relate to other children her age, as many of them didn’t quite understand her lifestyle or her responsibility and often associated anything to do with priests or temples as boring and stuffy, so she found herself somewhat lonely at times.

As she grew older, Tomoe noticed that her grandmother and father bickered a little more often. Nothing severe, but it was a disagreement over something specific; her grandmother believed that Tomoe was old enough to know things and her father disagreed: Certain things were better left in the past, especially if they had nothing to do with the lives they lived now and if knowing could only bring suffering and change nothing. But curiosity never dies with Tomoe; her father begrudgingly respected her choice.

Solemnly, the Kuroda household traveled all the way to the Monjo-kura archives one rainy morning. To Tomoe’s surprise, among their countless halls and floors, within their endless arrays of bookshelves, there was actually one section specifically dedicated to the history of Clan Kuroda. Over tea and ancient tomes, the history of their family was revealed to her, from the truth of her mother’s illness to the sacred and forgotten history of their clan from even before the Sealing. Tomoe realized her father was correct; knowing the truth couldn’t really erase the tragedy that already took place, but she also disagreed that nothing could be changed. If fate was immutable, then why toil and pray for a better future? Why live life at all? Knowing the truth indeed changed Tomoe’s heart and steeled her resolve.

Over the next decade, and with the generous material support secured by her grandmother, Tomoe was able spearhead the restoration of the once-dilapidated Tsukinoki Shrine (槻木 神宮) which was located in the Holy Area to the east and historically served as the home and estate of the Kuroda clan as well as their mysterious divine patron. Although the process has been long and arduous, Tomoe found some happiness along the way establishing her own practice and slowly getting to know her new neighbors.

Likes: spring season, sweets, lush gardens, cute clothes, gentle music
Dislikes: waste and excess, greasy cooking, hot weather, big crowds, funerals

• Tomoe’s father is Rin Kuroda (黒田 凛), a traveling healer who primarily journeys to remote and rural locations that would otherwise not have reliable access to the services of a healer. He is best described as a classically “gruff personality, soft heart” character.

• Tomoe’s grandmother is Tsukasa Kuroda (黒田 司), a well-renowned priest in Mizuumi-dera who has practiced for many years and now primarily oversees administrative functions rather than public-facing, day-to-day responsibilities. Stern, exacting, but benevolent.

• Tomoe’s hobbies include inkwash painting and playing the flute.

• Tsukinoki Shrine’s most popular product is actually their ume fruits, which are also distilled into spirits beloved by many (including Tomoe herself).

• An ancient Zelkova tree is part of the shrine grounds, hollowed out by time but still very much alive. Said to have been planted by the original patron of the shrine.

• Tsukinoki Shrine hosts a small congregation of Chimechos that assist Tomoe with her daily responsibilities.

• Tomoe wears her priestly garb when performing her duties as the priest, but has regular civilian clothes for personal use.