Lore: Maneki-neko
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Introduction: In the modern mortal world, the Japanese maneki-neko (招き猫, lit. 'beckoning cat'), or "lucky cat", is commonly depicted as a figurine, often believed to bring good luck to the owner. It is typically depicted as a calico Japanese Bobtail holding a gold koban coin, with a paw raised in a Japanese beckoning gesture. The figurines are often displayed in shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, laundromats, bars, casinos, hotels, nightclubs, and other businesses, generally near the entrance.
Originally the use and veneration of these figurines was confined to Japan, but over time cultural exchanges introduced the lucky cats to neighboring nations and over many centuries the maneki-neko became an pan-Asian icon. But such simple representations are cheap commercial replicas created to attract foreigners and tourists and have little or nothing to do with the secret histories of mythical beings.
The real Maneki-neko are yōkai (supernatural phenomena) of the Kaibyō variety (magical cats) which could be anything from an wise old feline that exhibits almost human intelligence to shape-shifting were-cats with magical abilities, but more specifically in this case a mystical figurine inhabited by a living spirit with alien intelligence and a will of its own.
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- ●○○○○ Initiated
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- ●●○○○ Conversant
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- ●●●○○ Educated
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- ●●●●○ Scholarly
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- ●●●●● Hidden Master
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- Possessed By:
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- Specialties:
