A bone or other preserved part of an ara’atan that is held or worn by a Seraph to be used as a conduit for channeling genki to cast jumon spells.
On a general basis, Dokan can vary greatly in shape and size, as well as in efficiency, efficacy, and potency. They can be anything from a ring to a staff or even a chest plate or gauntlet. Typically, the ara’atan the dokan is harvested from is of the same Paragon as the Seraph who wields it. Dokans taken from an ara’atan of a different Paragon can be used, however there is a sharp decrease in a Seraph’s jumon performance when using a mismatched dokan.
For Seraphs who seek to craft their own dokan, there are a few criteria that most tend to follow when selecting the source material. Due to the nature of most ara’atan’s genki systems, bones taken from their extremities tend to serve as more viable dokans. Thick bones are usually avoided, both due to the unwieldy size and because the ability to channel genki through the denser material tends to be more difficult. Additionally, less powerful or younger bones are often purposely cracked, as Seraphs have found that the added surface area allows them to more easily produce jumon using the stored genki. Older bones typically do not require this treatment, as they tend to naturally develop cracks due to the crystallization of trace amounts of daraku within the bones. Lastly, although unnecessary, many Seraphs take into account the visual aesthetic of potential dokan pieces, as the item is understood to be a physical representation of oneself and one’s reputation as a Seraph. Unique or visually appealing dokan have been known to sell for high amounts as a result of this.
In an attempt to commercialize dokan, a few companies in some of the more modern nations began the manufacturing of mass-produced ones intended primarily for training or emergency purposes, harvesting bones from ara’atan raised in farms or other easily-harvestable environments. While these dokan are not nearly as powerful as handcrafted ones, they serve as excellent and affordable option for Seraphs just starting out. Most Seraph educational institutions will require students to purchase these dokan to use until they have developed their skills enough to be able to obtain and craft one on their own. This crafting process is seen as one of the benchmarks for a student’s graduation and is often one of the final tests they must pass before being acknowledged as a full-fledged Seraph.
