Tatsu (English: dragon) are guardian water spirits encountered in the Japanese-inspired land that are the literal incarnations of bodies of water. They act as tutelary deities of the lakes, rivers, and oceans which they inhabit. They appear as majestic giant serpents, with long, twisting bodies covered in scales and patches of hair. They usually have four limbs ending in sharp claws. Their heads are decorated with horns and beards. Tatsu can also appear in many different forms such as snakes, fish, eels, even humans. Their magnificence and ferocity represent both the life-giving powers and the destructive potential of water.[1]
Tatsu are revered as gods by farmers and fishers, who rely on water for their livelihood. Tatsu who are pleased by their worshipers gladly share their water's bounty. They might even bestow wisdom or grant wishes to those who venerate them. On the other hand, tatsu are savage to those who do not properly respect them, or who overfish or poison bodies of water. Angry tats inflict water-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and storms. Prayers and sacrifices of food and sake are regularly offered to tatsu for stable rains, bountiful catches, and protection from disasters. During severe times, even humans - usually young women - might be sacrificed to appease a particularly vengeful tatsu.[1]
At some point a group of kappa led the witcher/ronin Geralt to a cave in the swamp, when he noticed something strange: hanging over the cave entrance was a shimenawa. These decorative ropes mark the boundaries of sacred places, and so Geralt entered the cave confident that no evil spirits were lurking within. He was however surprised to discover a great tatsu living within. This tatsu was not merely the swamp's guardian; it was the spirit of the swamp itself. It was a holy creature which had blessed the village with clean water for generations. If the swamp was destroyed, the tatsu would cease to exist. By building a dam, the villagers were not only threatening the spirits who lived in the swamp, they were committing sacrilege. The spirit guided Geralt, who was searching for a yuki onna, north to the logger Tasuke, who lived on Mount Kaijinzan and had more information.[1]
Trivia[]
- Tatsu is a word for a Japanese dragon.