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Abe no Seimei is a character from Japanese legend and folklore who also appears in many modern works of fiction. The history detailed below is based in large part on the Wikipedia article about him, and his character and powers are inspired by Yojiro Takita's 2001 movie Onmyoji, in which the title character was portrayed by Mansai Nomura (who is also this character's PB). He appears here solely for the purpose of role-playing in Milliways Bar, from which no profit whatsoever is being made.


In Milliways:

Abe no Seimei appears to be in his mid-to-late thirties. He is just shy of 5'6" tall, and moves gracefully, like a dancer or a martial artist. He may be dressed in dark, tailored twenty-first-century clothes or a traditional kimono, depending upon his mood. He retains the Heian-era custom of scenting his clothes with incense, so he always smells faintly of algawood and something a little brackish, like seaweed.

Sometimes his shadow quivers or moves on its own, or just seems a little bit "off."

Although he is technically a deity, he does not insist on being treated like one (in fact, he finds it a bit awkward). He is friendly, somewhat eccentric, and more inclined to use his magic for amusement and cheap tricks than impressive displays of power. Also, while Seimei appreciates tradition and the classical arts, he is also knowledgeable about current affairs, social conventions, and technology. In fact, he carries a cell phone and various other gadgets in his (unusually capacious) pockets or sash, depending upon what he's wearing.

In the fashion of nobelmen of his time (that is, the time when he lived), Seimei is proficient at music (especially on the kin no koto), calligraphy, and painting. His education focused more on Chinese classics and Taoist magic than poetry, so he is a little behind in that department (compared to other Heian nobles, that is). He is formidable martial artist, having trained with the Shaolin monks among others, and competent with the bow and sword as well.

Magic:

While I do my best to maintain accuracy in the matters of Abe no Seimei's history/mythos and cultural references, I haven't done the same with his magic. I play him as if he comes from an iteration of White Wolf's World of Darkness (the old one). He is most proficient in the spheres of Spirit and Entropy and has some level of competence in all the other spheres except for Time. He usually identifies as belonging to the Akashic Brotherhood but not always: it depends on who's asking and how he's feeling that day.

Any magic he does that may have an effect on other pups will not be done without permission. He will make little spells and amulets for people if he thinks they will do good with them. He will also do bigger and more complex spells for people if requested, but these may come at a significant cost (which is not always paid directly to him). Mostly he likes doing silly tricks with enchanted origami.


History:

Abe no Seimei (921?-1005?) is to Japan as Merlin is to England, a celebrated wizard whose deeds are still recounted to this day. His character and his stories have been reimagined in manga, anime, movies, and even video games.

Fathered by Abe no Yasuna, a human, and Kuzunoha, a kitsune, Seimei showed a talent for commanding spirits from a very early age. His mother wisely entrusted him to the care and teaching of Kamo no Tadayuki, a master of onmyodo or yin-yang magic. The master's training not only helped Seimei make the most of his talents, but ensured that he would use his powers for good and not evil.

As an adult Abe no Seimei became an onmyoji for the Imperial court of the Heian era. He served as a diviner and spiritual advisor to the Emperor and his ministers. Seimei used his powers of divintation to foretell the future of the Imperial Family and the realm, and defended the capital city of Heian-kyo (now Kyoto) and its inhabitants from demonic influences. He also had to defend his position against jealous rivals, most notably the onmyoji Ashiya Doman: many stories about Seimei focus on the ways in which he thwarted Ashiya's attempts to humiliate him and usurp his position.

Following Seimei's death - after a long, healthy, and successful life - he was deified, and a shrine was built on the site of his home in Kyoto, where it still stands today. The Abenobashi bridge and district in Kyoto are also named for him.

Seimei is also credited with the authorship of the Senji Ryakketsu, an onmyodo primer that can be found in the Milliways library.