It is said that shisai are aligned with a kami’s purpose and that is how the kami grant them power. The opposite is said of shugenja, that they take the power and use it for their own ends with no regard for cosmic balance. The shisai of Orochi are certainly faithful to the serpent kami and work to serve Orochi’s will. The shugenja may take Orochi’s power for their own, but this does not seem to displease Orochi in the slightest. Perhaps such selfish acts are aligned with Orochi after all.
Nanako has been faithful to Orochi from childhood, and she has watched as the Ito came, seizing their place at the head of Orochi’s temple. This rankles her, for she has had to claw her way to power, fighting for every scrap. For some outsiders to come and simply slide into Orochi’s favour?
That would not do for Nanako and she has redoubled her efforts, taking from Orochi what the great kami would not gift her. It was through her efforts that the abominations were created, by infusing others with undeserved power stolen from the great kami.
Some say that for her efforts, Orochi has seen fit to reward Nanako. Now a great guardian serpent ensures that no others will interfere with her work. Others whisper that her serpent is, in fact, an old rival that she has inflicted with her ministrations.
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