neighpon [Lore] Mount Kaminichi

[Bellosh]

Mount Kaminichi - The Mountain of Purity

 

Nothing else can singularly dominate the landscape of Horshu like Mount Kaminichi can. The highest mountain in all of Neighpon, this snow-capped stratovolcano is highly visible from the capital city of Kyoma on clear, cloudless days. For the Neighponese, Kaminichi is a highly spiritual place; a perfect cone-shaped pinnacle that gives inspiration to countless works of art and literature. Their veneration is not misplaced, for a deep magical power indeed radiates from the volcano.

 

Few communities are found in the shadow of Mount Kaminichi aside from scattered villages and shrines. The vast majority of the surrounding land, comprised of lakes and low-lying hills, is left almost completely pristine. Although permanent settlement adjacent to Kaminichi is strongly discouraged by the Neighponese government, staying in one of the long-established inns within this region is one of Neighpon’s celebrated vacation traditions. The primary draw of these inns: hot springs. Each inn is connected to a particular hot spring, where ponies bathe to rejuvenate and relax. Such resorts can be found all over Neighpon, but the springs near Kaminichi are particularly cherished for their healing properties, the likes of which are very rare in the world.

 

The revitalizing hot springs are far from the only manifestation of the spiritual power present around Kaminichi. At the base of the massive volcanic cone lies the Forest of the Forsaken; a foreboding sea of trees. The ground is too rocky for roots to burrow normally, so instead they spread out on the ground and twist in all directions. Making navigation even more of an impossibility, the trees are thick enough to blot out sunlight. The wind never blows and animals (if any) don’t dare make noise, casting a blanket of deathly silence over the Forsaken Forest. All attempts to mark paths through the murky woods fail miserably, as trails and markers inevitably disappear. Flying over does no good either; anyone up in the air mysteriously feels immense pain and the compulsion to relieve it by landing on the ground below.

 

Nonetheless, the allure of reaching the peak of Mount Kaminichi drives Neighponese ponies to trek through the Forest of the Forsaken, at the cost of being lost in the woods for eternity. Those who make it back report experiencing vivid hallucinations of their darkest fears, or flashbacks to the most traumatic moments of their past. The common thread linking all successful hikers is their ability to grapple with their negative emotions and push onward. Accordingly, the Neighponese treat the ordeal through the forest as something of a purification ritual. Just as a pony shouldn’t be covered in dirt before bathing in a hot spring, he or she must not cloud the spiritual energy of Mount Kaminichi with mental pollution.

 

As with the forest below, it is impossible to merely fly to the summit or blaze any trails. And also like the mystical trees of the Forsaken Forest, Neighponese legends tell of a natural Essence that gives the Mountain a will of its own. Communing with the Essence of Kaminichi requires ascending the peak with painstaking rock climbing, complete with the hazards of rock slides and extreme cold. Once the summit is reached, then comes a careful descent into the crater where volcanic smoke billows forth without end. A climber can discern cryptic visions in the smoke if he or she is patient enough, but interpreting the images is an errand so often botched by mere mortals. Immersing one’s self in the fumes is not recommended; however, one happy accident long ago resulted in the discovery that Kaminichi’s exhaust also imbues objects with magical power of an incredible nature. What precise enchantment the Mountain will grant cannot be predicted; Kaminichi seems to think it knows best on such matters.

 

Mount Kaminichi has stood dormant for hundreds of years, but it is not yet extinct. Neighponese scientists predict that the volcano is long overdue for an eruption, though nopony knows for certain how much devastation will be inflicted on cities like Kyoma. If the legends about Kaminichi are true however, then as long as the Neighponese continue to respect nature as they have done for more than a thousand years, then the Mountain will spare the ponies of Horshu from the worst of the ash and lava. 

~Neighpon in Bloom

Dr. Tong Zei