Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Apr 18, 2010 9:01:56 GMT -5
Out of Character:
Name:
Kamui
Other characters:
Ryoko
In Character:
Name:
Hieda Kazuki (稗田 和希)
Aliases:
N/A
Race:
3/4 human, 1/4 yōkai
Age:
40 (looks to be in his 20s)
Gender:
Male
Occupation/Class:
Vagabond/Ninja/Medium
Orientation:
Bisexual
Physical Description:
Kazuki stands around 5' 6" and is lean, but muscular. Perhaps because of his partial yōkai heritage, he has retained a youthful appearance and vigor. A serious practitioner of the martial arts, he is in excellent physical shape.
His complexion is pale, and his body is marked by several scars. A pensive expression is often found on his face. His long purplish-black hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, but his bangs usually hang over his face.
He most often adopts the guise of rōnin, and wears a simple black kimono, with a white scarf and sash. On his feet, he wears a regular pair of geta.
Personality Description:
Intelligent and observant, Kazuki has seen much during his life. Always remaining level-headed and open-minded, he usually presents a calm, laid-back face to the world. Often remaining unfazed even in dire circumstances, he has no fear of suffering or death.
Curious by nature, he has an interest in history, culture, language, and philosophy. He has little care for fame or material wealth and keeps few material possessions. Instead, he seeks understanding, spiritual growth, and forgiveness for the perceived sins of his past. Kazuki relies heavily on his intuition and is on a continuous mission to find the truth and underlying meaning of people and things.
The tribulations of his past have instilled in him compassion and empathy, and a feeling of genuine concern for others. This, and remorse for the lives he has taken, compel him to help others. Altruistic to a fault, he is willing to make extraordinary sacrifices even for complete strangers. He is somewhat introverted though, guarded about expressing his own inner-most feelings.
In Kazuki's eyes all life is precious, something to be valued and protected, even at the cost of his own. To this end, he dislikes violence and holds pacifistic views, preferring to solve problems without violence and will offer minimal resistance to physical aggression directed at him. However, because of his belief in the sanctity of life, he will not hesitate to protect those in need, whether they be good or evil, man or beast. The use of violence (in any of its forms) against others is one of the few ways to arouse his ire.
Still, even when forced into combat, Kazuki typically holds back, fighting defensively and trying to subdue opponents without seriously hurting them, even if they are not human.
Likes/Dislikes:
Likes: Wandering, nature, animals, philosophy, history, music, learning, noodles.
Dislikes: Unnecessary fighting, arrogance, narrow-mindedness, being bound to a single place for long periods, eggs.
History:
Kazuki's story starts when some wandering yōkai seduced his human grandmother, Komeko. At the time, she was the naive daughter of a poor farmer from a small village in Yamashiro, an easy target for a lustful yōkai in the guise of a dashing samurai. When she became pregnant without a husband, and rumors abounded that the child wasn't human, Komeko was quickly ostracized.
She left her small village with her infant daughter, Suzu. They moved from village to village, never staying long because Komeko feared Suzu's heritage being discovered. Komeko did what she could to scrounge up enough food, including prostitution and thievery.
More than once Komeko considered abandoning Suzu, but was never quite able to bring herself to leave her daughter. She was bitter about their circumstances. She often took out her frustration on Suzu, beating her and telling her never to reveal herself as a hanyō. Komeko forced Suzu to use her magic abilities to make herself look like a normal child.
Suzu was a lonely child, scared and ashamed of her yōkai heritage, a side of herself which she learned to repress from a young age.
One particularly cold winter, Komeko fell ill and did not recover. Suzu was around 10 at the time.
Not long after Komeko's death, Suzu was found wandering on the outskirts of Kyoto by a group of local thugs. They sold her to a brothel, where she was forced into servitude. Suzu was made to work long, hard hours cleaning the rooms, helping in the kitchens, and running errands. What she got in return were beatings, meager meals, and inadequate shelter.
For four years Suzu toiled away. Most of the other servant girls working at the brothel when she arrived had died of malnutrition, and it was only her hidden yōkai blood that allowed her to survive.
One day she was told that she would no longer be scrubbing floors or peeling vegetables. She was to become one of the prostitutes. After years of slavish labor, this news was too much for Suzu to bear. She lashed out and could no longer suppress her yōkai powers. Suzu slew the owner of the brothel and escaped, freeing most of the girls and women in the process.
Soon after, she fled Kyoto. She knew that if she did not run, then she would be hunted down and killed. For the next year or so, she survived by begging and stealing.
One day she heard rumors about a nearby forest where a group of tengu had taken residence. Suzu went to the forest, hoping that the tengu would accept her because of her yōkai blood. What she found, however, that the "tengu" were a gang of bandits wearing tengu masks to scare the local villagers. Having been discovered, the bandits attacked. Suzu was prepared the use her magic in order to defend herself. In the midst of the fight a wandering swordsman, a young man on a musha shugyō, came to her aid. He had also come to the forest after hearing of the supposed tengu, and together they defeated the bandits.
After the battle, Suzu followed the wanderer, who's name was Hieda Ryōichi. Though he knew she was a hanyō, Ryōichi did not try to stop her. The two wandered across Honshū for the next year or so, sharing several adventures. They began to grow close, and for the first time in her life Suzu was happy. It was not long before she was carrying Ryōichi's child.
They decided to stop wandering and settle down, for the sake of their child, whom they would name Kazuki. They went to Iga, where Ryōichi's family owned a small domain, on which the ninja village of Mibu was located. His father, Hieda Ryō, lord of Mibu, was originally descended from kokujin. Several generations ago, however, the Hieda clan had taken up the way of the shinobi. His mother, Hitomi, a miko, was the caretaker of Mibu's only Shinto shrine. They both welcomed Suzu, and she did not have to hid her yōkai heritage from them or the villagers. Ryō was a kind lord, and his people trusted him. When he welcomed Suzu, so did the villagers. Ryōichi and Suzu were wed shortly after their arrival in Mibu. For the first time, Suzu now had a place which she could call home, and did not have to hid her true self.
The years passed, Ryōichi helped his father govern Mibu and Suzu helped Hitomi take care of the shrine. Kazuki, when he was old enough, began to study the martial arts under the tutelage of his father and grandfather. His mother and grandmother also taught him about his yōkai heritage and the spirit world. Hitomi also taught Kazuki things such as history, literature, math, etc.
When Kazuki was 12, Mibu was attacked by Atshushi Hirofusa, a neighboring kokujin looking to increase his lands. It was his first real battle, one that he was not supposed to participate in. Disobeying his father, Kazuki snuck out to join his parents and grandfather in battle. It nearly cost him his life, and his face was permanently scarred. Hirofusa was ultimately driven off, for the time being. Unfortunately, Ryō had been gravely wounded during the battle. Suzu tried to use her magic to save him, but his injuries were too great. Ryōichi inherited his father's land.
Hirofusa regathered his men and launched another attack, but were again defeated. During the battle Ryōichi cut down Hirofusa, avenging his father. After this second defeat, Mitsufusa, the son of Hirofusa, gave up on the prospect of conquering Mibu.
Ryōichi made an effort to stay out of the larger conflicts being waged by the daimyo for control of Japan, and so things were (relatively) peaceful in Mibu for the next three years.
It was not long after Kazuki's 15th birthday that a deadly disease struck Mibu. When the village doctor could do nothing to treat it, Suzu and Hitomi concluded that the source of the disease was not a natural one. Malevolent magic was at work, and Ryōichi journeyed to find the source. Kazuki accompanied his father. Suzu remained, using her own magic to contain the disease as best she could.
The cause of the plague was discovered by Ryōichi and Kazuki to be a wicked old hag. The hag explained that she had cursed Mibu for a pair of oni brothers seeking revenge on Ryōichi and Suzu for slaying their father 16 years ago. The hag escaped before Ryōichi and Kazuki could finish her off. They did not chase her, instead they made haste to return to Mibu, but it was too late. The village was ablaze and its people lay dead, helplessly slaughtered by the demons. Among the dead were Hitomi and Suzu, and one of the oni.
Overwhelmed with rage and sorrow, Ryōichi immediately began to search out the second oni. Kazuki followed his father, but when they found the oni, Ryōichi did not allow Kazuki to fight with him. The fight was long and fierce, but then the oni dealt Ryōichi a grievous blow. Kazuki leapt to his father's aid, but Ryōichi pushed his son away and continued the fight. Kazuki again tried to help his father and attacked the oni directly. The oni snapped Kazuki's sword with its kanabō and sent him flying back, knocking him unconscious.
By the time Kazuki woke, the fight was over. Both his father and the oni laid dead before him. With a grieving heart, Kazuki carried his father's body back to the ruins of Mibu, where he built a funeral pyre and afterward buried Ryōichi's ashes.
Now alone in the world, Kazuki took to wandering, assuming the guise of a rōnin. For the next several years, he worked as a mercenary and assassin. He found no satisfaction in this, however, and killing on the behalf of ambitious lords only brought Kazuki despair and regret. But in this "warring states" period, what else was there but violence? Things changed, however, when he met a traveling Buddhist monk named, Dainin. Kazuki was around 21 at the time and Dainin was in his 60s.
In an age of constant strife, Dainin's philosophy of compassion and morality had a profound impact on Kazuki. He traveled with the monk for two years, in which time he began to meditate and reflect upon himself and the current state of the world. After parting ways with Dainin, Kazuki continued to train his body and mind. He moved forward with a new resolve to live his life for others instead of just himself.
So again he took to wandering, coming and going among people, observing and interacting with them, and letting the winds of fate blow him where they would. He saw and did many things, participated in various events throughout, but also bared witness to the whims of culture and sapient beings, and the skewed effects of subtle circumstance throughout the years. He bared witness to joyous occasions and atrocities alike, but always preventing the latter where he could.
Perhaps he will one day return and re-build Mibu, but for now he wanders on...
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Strengths:
The tribulations of his past have lent him much physical and mental fortitude. Despite the fact that his seemingly carefree nature makes him seem lazy at times, Kazuki possesses a steadfast will and indomitable spirit and rarely ever gives up when he sets his mind on something.
He is a skilled swordsman and martial artist. Growing up in a ninja village, he has trained in the art of moving silently and remaining hidden. He is also has a working knowledge of poisons, and is a skilled acrobat. Though only possessing average physical strength, his speed and agility are well above average. Accordingly, his fighting style places emphasis on speed, maneuverability, and using his opponent's own force against them.
He is intelligent and perceptive. Educated by his grandmother in his youth, Kazuki has also learned much during his wanderings.
Though diluted, his yōkai blood does lend him some supernatural abilities.
Weaknesses:
Because of his compunctions against killing, he often suffers at the hands of tenacious or vengeful opponents.
Despite his wanderings, he has a horrible sense of direction, and finds himself lost quite easily. He is also very bad with numbers, practically hopeless beyond basic arithmetic.
Going beyond the self-imposed limits of his yōkai abilities is dangerous, as extensive use will cause his health to rapidly deteriorate.
Weapons/Armor:
A finely crafted katana, with a blade length of 27in (~68.5cm). The 10 inch (~25cm) hilt is custom fitted to the tang of the blade and wrapped in same kawa (ray skin), over which is wrapped black tsuka-ito (braided silk cords). It has an elegantly simple oval tsuba, made of steel.
Its saya is carved from hinoki wood, with a coat of lacquer on the exterior. It is black in color.
Paired with the katana is a wakizashi of similar quality. It's blade length is 20in (50cm) and it's full tang hilt is around 8in (~20cm).
Its saya is of the same material and color as the katana's saya.
The swords belonged to his father, Ryōichi.
Magic:
Because of his partial yōkai heritage, Kazuki possesses a small amount of innate magical ability. Like his mother could, he can naturally sense the presence of other yōkai. He can also see and communicate with ghosts.
He can perform several spells/feats:
Tejina (Eng: Prestidigitation):
Creates simple magical effects, such as: slowly lifting one pound of material; color, clean, or soil items in a one-foot cube; chill, warm, or flavor one pound of nonliving material; or create small objects, however, they often look crude and artificial (the materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, etc.)
Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) fades within an hour or so.
Akari no Odoru (Eng: Dancing Lights):
Kazuki can create up to four lights that resemble lanterns or torches (and cast that amount of light), up to four glowing spheres of light, or a single faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape. The lights must stay within a 10-foot-radius area in relation to each other but otherwise move as Kazuki desires: forward or back, up or down, straight or turning corners, or the like. A light winks out if the distance between it and Kazuki exceeds the spell’s range, which is around a 100 ft.
The duration of the spell is about one minute, give or take.
Jibun no Hensōsuru (Eng: Disguise Self):
He can make himself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. He can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between, but is restricted to a humanoid form. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to Kazuki. He could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person.
It is, however, only an illusion. The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the chosen form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile, audible, or olfactory properties of Kazuki or his equipment.
The duration of the spell is about 30 minutes, give or take.
Zanzōjutsu (Eng: Afterimage Technique):
Utilizing his great speed, and a bit of help from his yōkai heritage, this technique consists of a single movement so swift that it creates an afterimage of Kazuki.
Ki no Tama (Eng: Spirit Ball):
Through a combination of rigorous martial arts training, meditation, and a little help from his yōkai blood, Kazuki can create an orb of raw Ki energy in the palms of his hand. He can deliver the attack with a palm thrust or throw the orb. The orb can only travel as fast and far as Kazuki can throw it.
In terms of power, the attack can splinter a tree trunk or crack a boulder.
Ki no Tate (Eng: Spirit Shield):
After gathering the Ki in his palm, instead of forming an orb, Kazuki can use it to block or deflect an attack that he would not be able to with his bare hand (i.e. a blade, arrow, etc.).
Kaze no Ha (Eng: Wind Blade): Also through a combination of rigorous martial arts training, meditation, and a little help from his yōkai blood, Kazuki can extend the cutting power of his weapon several feet beyond the blade itself. While the name of the technique references the air, the cut is actually made by an invisible shockwave of Ki energy.
The power of this technique is generated from the speed at which Kazuki swings his weapon and is capable of easily cleaving a boulder cleanly in two.
------------------------------------
Kazuki can only use these abilities a certain number of time per day, without resting/meditating, before it will start to adversely affect his health.
5/day: Tejina, Akari no Odoru, or Jibun no Hensōsuru.
4/day: Ki no Tama, Ki no Tate, or Kaze no Ha.
1/day: Zanzōjutsu.
The number is the amount per day for each grouping combined, not for each ability.
Other:
Kazuki is left handed.
RP Sample:
As the sun began to set, a pair of worn sandals tread the dirt path leading to a small village. Walking with a bamboo walking staff, the traveler was wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat. The white scarf draped around his shoulders fluttered in the breeze.
The man stopped for a moment, letting the rutsack slung over his shoulder drop to the ground. He then sat down on top of the rutsack with a sigh, for he had been walking for some time now. Leaning his staff against his shoulder, he removed the straw hat, placing it on his lap and wiping a few beads of sweat from his brow. It was had been unusually hot today, feeling more like summer then spring.
He reached under him and pulled a hollowed gourd from the rutsack, uncorked it, he raised it to his lips. The few drops of water left in it were warm, but it was wet and better then nothing at all.
"Now, if only I had something to eat..." He said to himself aloud.
Returning the gourd to its place, he put the straw hat back on and stood up. Hefting the rutsack back onto his shoulder, he took hold of his walking staff and continued on down the path.
Soon enough he found himself approaching the village, entering into its outskirts. A few lights flickered in the tiny houses, but other than that, the village was almost dead.
'Wow, what a dreary place. By the looks of things, these people don't have much more food then I do.' He thought to himself, coming to the main part of the village...
Name:
Kamui
Other characters:
Ryoko
In Character:
Name:
Hieda Kazuki (稗田 和希)
Aliases:
N/A
Race:
3/4 human, 1/4 yōkai
Age:
40 (looks to be in his 20s)
Gender:
Male
Occupation/Class:
Vagabond/Ninja/Medium
Orientation:
Bisexual
Physical Description:
Kazuki stands around 5' 6" and is lean, but muscular. Perhaps because of his partial yōkai heritage, he has retained a youthful appearance and vigor. A serious practitioner of the martial arts, he is in excellent physical shape.
His complexion is pale, and his body is marked by several scars. A pensive expression is often found on his face. His long purplish-black hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, but his bangs usually hang over his face.
He most often adopts the guise of rōnin, and wears a simple black kimono, with a white scarf and sash. On his feet, he wears a regular pair of geta.
Personality Description:
Intelligent and observant, Kazuki has seen much during his life. Always remaining level-headed and open-minded, he usually presents a calm, laid-back face to the world. Often remaining unfazed even in dire circumstances, he has no fear of suffering or death.
Curious by nature, he has an interest in history, culture, language, and philosophy. He has little care for fame or material wealth and keeps few material possessions. Instead, he seeks understanding, spiritual growth, and forgiveness for the perceived sins of his past. Kazuki relies heavily on his intuition and is on a continuous mission to find the truth and underlying meaning of people and things.
The tribulations of his past have instilled in him compassion and empathy, and a feeling of genuine concern for others. This, and remorse for the lives he has taken, compel him to help others. Altruistic to a fault, he is willing to make extraordinary sacrifices even for complete strangers. He is somewhat introverted though, guarded about expressing his own inner-most feelings.
In Kazuki's eyes all life is precious, something to be valued and protected, even at the cost of his own. To this end, he dislikes violence and holds pacifistic views, preferring to solve problems without violence and will offer minimal resistance to physical aggression directed at him. However, because of his belief in the sanctity of life, he will not hesitate to protect those in need, whether they be good or evil, man or beast. The use of violence (in any of its forms) against others is one of the few ways to arouse his ire.
Still, even when forced into combat, Kazuki typically holds back, fighting defensively and trying to subdue opponents without seriously hurting them, even if they are not human.
Likes/Dislikes:
Likes: Wandering, nature, animals, philosophy, history, music, learning, noodles.
Dislikes: Unnecessary fighting, arrogance, narrow-mindedness, being bound to a single place for long periods, eggs.
History:
Kazuki's story starts when some wandering yōkai seduced his human grandmother, Komeko. At the time, she was the naive daughter of a poor farmer from a small village in Yamashiro, an easy target for a lustful yōkai in the guise of a dashing samurai. When she became pregnant without a husband, and rumors abounded that the child wasn't human, Komeko was quickly ostracized.
She left her small village with her infant daughter, Suzu. They moved from village to village, never staying long because Komeko feared Suzu's heritage being discovered. Komeko did what she could to scrounge up enough food, including prostitution and thievery.
More than once Komeko considered abandoning Suzu, but was never quite able to bring herself to leave her daughter. She was bitter about their circumstances. She often took out her frustration on Suzu, beating her and telling her never to reveal herself as a hanyō. Komeko forced Suzu to use her magic abilities to make herself look like a normal child.
Suzu was a lonely child, scared and ashamed of her yōkai heritage, a side of herself which she learned to repress from a young age.
One particularly cold winter, Komeko fell ill and did not recover. Suzu was around 10 at the time.
Not long after Komeko's death, Suzu was found wandering on the outskirts of Kyoto by a group of local thugs. They sold her to a brothel, where she was forced into servitude. Suzu was made to work long, hard hours cleaning the rooms, helping in the kitchens, and running errands. What she got in return were beatings, meager meals, and inadequate shelter.
For four years Suzu toiled away. Most of the other servant girls working at the brothel when she arrived had died of malnutrition, and it was only her hidden yōkai blood that allowed her to survive.
One day she was told that she would no longer be scrubbing floors or peeling vegetables. She was to become one of the prostitutes. After years of slavish labor, this news was too much for Suzu to bear. She lashed out and could no longer suppress her yōkai powers. Suzu slew the owner of the brothel and escaped, freeing most of the girls and women in the process.
Soon after, she fled Kyoto. She knew that if she did not run, then she would be hunted down and killed. For the next year or so, she survived by begging and stealing.
One day she heard rumors about a nearby forest where a group of tengu had taken residence. Suzu went to the forest, hoping that the tengu would accept her because of her yōkai blood. What she found, however, that the "tengu" were a gang of bandits wearing tengu masks to scare the local villagers. Having been discovered, the bandits attacked. Suzu was prepared the use her magic in order to defend herself. In the midst of the fight a wandering swordsman, a young man on a musha shugyō, came to her aid. He had also come to the forest after hearing of the supposed tengu, and together they defeated the bandits.
After the battle, Suzu followed the wanderer, who's name was Hieda Ryōichi. Though he knew she was a hanyō, Ryōichi did not try to stop her. The two wandered across Honshū for the next year or so, sharing several adventures. They began to grow close, and for the first time in her life Suzu was happy. It was not long before she was carrying Ryōichi's child.
They decided to stop wandering and settle down, for the sake of their child, whom they would name Kazuki. They went to Iga, where Ryōichi's family owned a small domain, on which the ninja village of Mibu was located. His father, Hieda Ryō, lord of Mibu, was originally descended from kokujin. Several generations ago, however, the Hieda clan had taken up the way of the shinobi. His mother, Hitomi, a miko, was the caretaker of Mibu's only Shinto shrine. They both welcomed Suzu, and she did not have to hid her yōkai heritage from them or the villagers. Ryō was a kind lord, and his people trusted him. When he welcomed Suzu, so did the villagers. Ryōichi and Suzu were wed shortly after their arrival in Mibu. For the first time, Suzu now had a place which she could call home, and did not have to hid her true self.
The years passed, Ryōichi helped his father govern Mibu and Suzu helped Hitomi take care of the shrine. Kazuki, when he was old enough, began to study the martial arts under the tutelage of his father and grandfather. His mother and grandmother also taught him about his yōkai heritage and the spirit world. Hitomi also taught Kazuki things such as history, literature, math, etc.
When Kazuki was 12, Mibu was attacked by Atshushi Hirofusa, a neighboring kokujin looking to increase his lands. It was his first real battle, one that he was not supposed to participate in. Disobeying his father, Kazuki snuck out to join his parents and grandfather in battle. It nearly cost him his life, and his face was permanently scarred. Hirofusa was ultimately driven off, for the time being. Unfortunately, Ryō had been gravely wounded during the battle. Suzu tried to use her magic to save him, but his injuries were too great. Ryōichi inherited his father's land.
Hirofusa regathered his men and launched another attack, but were again defeated. During the battle Ryōichi cut down Hirofusa, avenging his father. After this second defeat, Mitsufusa, the son of Hirofusa, gave up on the prospect of conquering Mibu.
Ryōichi made an effort to stay out of the larger conflicts being waged by the daimyo for control of Japan, and so things were (relatively) peaceful in Mibu for the next three years.
It was not long after Kazuki's 15th birthday that a deadly disease struck Mibu. When the village doctor could do nothing to treat it, Suzu and Hitomi concluded that the source of the disease was not a natural one. Malevolent magic was at work, and Ryōichi journeyed to find the source. Kazuki accompanied his father. Suzu remained, using her own magic to contain the disease as best she could.
The cause of the plague was discovered by Ryōichi and Kazuki to be a wicked old hag. The hag explained that she had cursed Mibu for a pair of oni brothers seeking revenge on Ryōichi and Suzu for slaying their father 16 years ago. The hag escaped before Ryōichi and Kazuki could finish her off. They did not chase her, instead they made haste to return to Mibu, but it was too late. The village was ablaze and its people lay dead, helplessly slaughtered by the demons. Among the dead were Hitomi and Suzu, and one of the oni.
Overwhelmed with rage and sorrow, Ryōichi immediately began to search out the second oni. Kazuki followed his father, but when they found the oni, Ryōichi did not allow Kazuki to fight with him. The fight was long and fierce, but then the oni dealt Ryōichi a grievous blow. Kazuki leapt to his father's aid, but Ryōichi pushed his son away and continued the fight. Kazuki again tried to help his father and attacked the oni directly. The oni snapped Kazuki's sword with its kanabō and sent him flying back, knocking him unconscious.
By the time Kazuki woke, the fight was over. Both his father and the oni laid dead before him. With a grieving heart, Kazuki carried his father's body back to the ruins of Mibu, where he built a funeral pyre and afterward buried Ryōichi's ashes.
Now alone in the world, Kazuki took to wandering, assuming the guise of a rōnin. For the next several years, he worked as a mercenary and assassin. He found no satisfaction in this, however, and killing on the behalf of ambitious lords only brought Kazuki despair and regret. But in this "warring states" period, what else was there but violence? Things changed, however, when he met a traveling Buddhist monk named, Dainin. Kazuki was around 21 at the time and Dainin was in his 60s.
In an age of constant strife, Dainin's philosophy of compassion and morality had a profound impact on Kazuki. He traveled with the monk for two years, in which time he began to meditate and reflect upon himself and the current state of the world. After parting ways with Dainin, Kazuki continued to train his body and mind. He moved forward with a new resolve to live his life for others instead of just himself.
So again he took to wandering, coming and going among people, observing and interacting with them, and letting the winds of fate blow him where they would. He saw and did many things, participated in various events throughout, but also bared witness to the whims of culture and sapient beings, and the skewed effects of subtle circumstance throughout the years. He bared witness to joyous occasions and atrocities alike, but always preventing the latter where he could.
Perhaps he will one day return and re-build Mibu, but for now he wanders on...
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Strengths:
The tribulations of his past have lent him much physical and mental fortitude. Despite the fact that his seemingly carefree nature makes him seem lazy at times, Kazuki possesses a steadfast will and indomitable spirit and rarely ever gives up when he sets his mind on something.
He is a skilled swordsman and martial artist. Growing up in a ninja village, he has trained in the art of moving silently and remaining hidden. He is also has a working knowledge of poisons, and is a skilled acrobat. Though only possessing average physical strength, his speed and agility are well above average. Accordingly, his fighting style places emphasis on speed, maneuverability, and using his opponent's own force against them.
He is intelligent and perceptive. Educated by his grandmother in his youth, Kazuki has also learned much during his wanderings.
Though diluted, his yōkai blood does lend him some supernatural abilities.
Weaknesses:
Because of his compunctions against killing, he often suffers at the hands of tenacious or vengeful opponents.
Despite his wanderings, he has a horrible sense of direction, and finds himself lost quite easily. He is also very bad with numbers, practically hopeless beyond basic arithmetic.
Going beyond the self-imposed limits of his yōkai abilities is dangerous, as extensive use will cause his health to rapidly deteriorate.
Weapons/Armor:
A finely crafted katana, with a blade length of 27in (~68.5cm). The 10 inch (~25cm) hilt is custom fitted to the tang of the blade and wrapped in same kawa (ray skin), over which is wrapped black tsuka-ito (braided silk cords). It has an elegantly simple oval tsuba, made of steel.
Its saya is carved from hinoki wood, with a coat of lacquer on the exterior. It is black in color.
Paired with the katana is a wakizashi of similar quality. It's blade length is 20in (50cm) and it's full tang hilt is around 8in (~20cm).
Its saya is of the same material and color as the katana's saya.
The swords belonged to his father, Ryōichi.
Magic:
Because of his partial yōkai heritage, Kazuki possesses a small amount of innate magical ability. Like his mother could, he can naturally sense the presence of other yōkai. He can also see and communicate with ghosts.
He can perform several spells/feats:
Tejina (Eng: Prestidigitation):
Creates simple magical effects, such as: slowly lifting one pound of material; color, clean, or soil items in a one-foot cube; chill, warm, or flavor one pound of nonliving material; or create small objects, however, they often look crude and artificial (the materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, etc.)
Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) fades within an hour or so.
Akari no Odoru (Eng: Dancing Lights):
Kazuki can create up to four lights that resemble lanterns or torches (and cast that amount of light), up to four glowing spheres of light, or a single faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape. The lights must stay within a 10-foot-radius area in relation to each other but otherwise move as Kazuki desires: forward or back, up or down, straight or turning corners, or the like. A light winks out if the distance between it and Kazuki exceeds the spell’s range, which is around a 100 ft.
The duration of the spell is about one minute, give or take.
Jibun no Hensōsuru (Eng: Disguise Self):
He can make himself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. He can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between, but is restricted to a humanoid form. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to Kazuki. He could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person.
It is, however, only an illusion. The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the chosen form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile, audible, or olfactory properties of Kazuki or his equipment.
The duration of the spell is about 30 minutes, give or take.
Zanzōjutsu (Eng: Afterimage Technique):
Utilizing his great speed, and a bit of help from his yōkai heritage, this technique consists of a single movement so swift that it creates an afterimage of Kazuki.
Ki no Tama (Eng: Spirit Ball):
Through a combination of rigorous martial arts training, meditation, and a little help from his yōkai blood, Kazuki can create an orb of raw Ki energy in the palms of his hand. He can deliver the attack with a palm thrust or throw the orb. The orb can only travel as fast and far as Kazuki can throw it.
In terms of power, the attack can splinter a tree trunk or crack a boulder.
Ki no Tate (Eng: Spirit Shield):
After gathering the Ki in his palm, instead of forming an orb, Kazuki can use it to block or deflect an attack that he would not be able to with his bare hand (i.e. a blade, arrow, etc.).
Kaze no Ha (Eng: Wind Blade): Also through a combination of rigorous martial arts training, meditation, and a little help from his yōkai blood, Kazuki can extend the cutting power of his weapon several feet beyond the blade itself. While the name of the technique references the air, the cut is actually made by an invisible shockwave of Ki energy.
The power of this technique is generated from the speed at which Kazuki swings his weapon and is capable of easily cleaving a boulder cleanly in two.
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Kazuki can only use these abilities a certain number of time per day, without resting/meditating, before it will start to adversely affect his health.
5/day: Tejina, Akari no Odoru, or Jibun no Hensōsuru.
4/day: Ki no Tama, Ki no Tate, or Kaze no Ha.
1/day: Zanzōjutsu.
The number is the amount per day for each grouping combined, not for each ability.
Other:
Kazuki is left handed.
RP Sample:
As the sun began to set, a pair of worn sandals tread the dirt path leading to a small village. Walking with a bamboo walking staff, the traveler was wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat. The white scarf draped around his shoulders fluttered in the breeze.
The man stopped for a moment, letting the rutsack slung over his shoulder drop to the ground. He then sat down on top of the rutsack with a sigh, for he had been walking for some time now. Leaning his staff against his shoulder, he removed the straw hat, placing it on his lap and wiping a few beads of sweat from his brow. It was had been unusually hot today, feeling more like summer then spring.
He reached under him and pulled a hollowed gourd from the rutsack, uncorked it, he raised it to his lips. The few drops of water left in it were warm, but it was wet and better then nothing at all.
"Now, if only I had something to eat..." He said to himself aloud.
Returning the gourd to its place, he put the straw hat back on and stood up. Hefting the rutsack back onto his shoulder, he took hold of his walking staff and continued on down the path.
Soon enough he found himself approaching the village, entering into its outskirts. A few lights flickered in the tiny houses, but other than that, the village was almost dead.
'Wow, what a dreary place. By the looks of things, these people don't have much more food then I do.' He thought to himself, coming to the main part of the village...