Post by shihan on Jul 11, 2010 20:32:24 GMT -5
Name: Benetsu Shihan
Alias: N/A
Age: 38 [19]
Gender: Male
Family: Living parents; no siblings [See History]
Faction: Shinigami
Rank: Academy Student
PvP Availability: Yes
Appearance - Reference:
Like his blade, Shihan’s physical appearance isn’t all that distinctive: He is of average height and impeccable posture, sharp facial features and long, dark brown hair, which is generally bound tightly behind his neck. His body is very thin, but wiry and strong, his stature showing an assertive confidence and dignity uncharacteristic of his physical size. He carries himself with pride, a rare quality in the youths of the age, but this body language, which proves to be a very deep aspect of his character, is rather volatile; his attitude shows very strongly in his posture, his face, and his eyes, which tends to cast a strong first impression, regardless of how he’s feeling [See Personality for Details]. Regardless, however, these traits are subtle things, not usually revealing themselves unless one takes the time to really look, which is why his appearance tends to come off as more mundane, as he is not wanting for attention, and thusly tends to blend into the backgrounds of the world.
Like any, he does possess his share of minor details; he has an angled brow and loose lips, which tend to make his natural expressions appear stoic and serious, as well as making his smiles softer and more reserved. His eyes, dark brown like his hair, can be extremely expressive or steely and cold, sometimes to a frightening degree. Since the sleeves of his Shihakusho are a bit long for his arms, one rarely sees beyond his wrists, but his hands, with square palms and long, nimble fingers, are always visible in times of peace. Despite his bearing as a warrior, his fingertips and palms are actually quite soft, and in respect for the line he draws between home and the battlefield, he can be seen often donning a pair of thin, fingerless gloves sewn of cloth, reserved only for times when he must take up the sword.
Reiatsu Color: Bronze [Translucent]
Personality:
It is no feat of coincidence that Amano Megumi embodies the collision of heaven and earth, for Shihan’s personality too is a thing of overlapping opposites. He is a deeply feeling individual, very expressive, but only to a few, only in private; he believes in honor, in commitment and honesty with himself, but still seeks the acknowledgement of a chosen few others, those he feels great respect or deeper feelings toward, and is strongly driven to such ends, while rather lacking in motivation for mundane tasks. He is sometimes quick to despair, but unflappable in his attempts to cheer up others, and finds himself bonded to those he meets in sadness, even, sometimes, if they are strangers. Likewise, he can be light-hearted and cheery if the mood befits him, or weary and crestfallen if it doesn’t. He isn’t often angry, but his capriciousness nonetheless makes him complicated, and this can sometimes become problematic for those closest to him.
When he is at his strongest, his most positive, Shihan is a joy to be around; he is a bit stiff from his formal and professional nature [not too unlike Byakuya, in fact], but this seems less prominent around those he has grown comfortable with; he smiles, he laughs, and these are rare occurrences for him, at least in the public eye. The more time he gets to loosen up, the more energetic he becomes, enthusiastic, open, sociable. As little as he claims to care for community and friendship, he is quick to become intoxicated by its energies and greatly enjoys the sort of camaraderie that puts aside one’s personal life. At his worst, he is somber, unmotivated, and apathetic, and makes little attempt to hide it from those around him, though he does tend to avoid contact with people in general. This is what feels natural to him, but ironically enough, social contact is generally the best way to cheer him up, though only with one person at a time; groups do not befit him unless he has grown familiar with each of them.
However, though he doesn‘t like the pressures of the position, Shihan is a capable leader, having a firm grasp of tactics and astounding skill in thinking under pressure. These talents don’t generally show, as he will generally avoid the leadership role, but tends to instinctively take command of situations when he feels that others are in danger or otherwise need his skills. Similarly, it is difficult for him to ignore anyone in danger, even strangers, but he doesn’t claim any sort of righteousness, and in fact often complains about the hassle of saving others, though he could hardly mean a word of it. He doesn’t like to take responsibility for the wellbeing of others, but does so anyway for those he feels obligated to: fellow shinigami, humans, friends, and family. This is tied to his own views on morality and honor, into which he has put a great deal of thought. To him, honesty, consistency, and loyalty are some of the most important characteristics of an honorable warrior, and it is these traits that he values most, both in others and himself.
That ideal of honor that Shihan carries with him is important to his character, for the basis of his value as a warrior is built upon his strong heart and stronger sense of duty, and though he may seem the emotional type at home, battle brings out a stronger side of his personality, a firm, powerful protector willing to take blows and lives for the sake of those important to him. Never does he hide behind orders for justification; if he commits to an action, regardless of its purpose, he owns it, and that is, perhaps, his most unique and distinctive quality as a soldier. He is not without his faults, the double-edge of his faith and trust that makes him gullible, the dark side of his intelligence that makes him cynical, and the fuel of it all, the need to be significant, to be valuable. However, if nothing else, he is a reliable warrior, and he yearns ever to overcome personal weaknesses, which is why he seeks the power of a shinigami: to protect, to serve, and in the end, to become something better.
Weapons:
Stats
History:
Shihan was born in urban district forty-three, Rukongai West. His mother had been a local herbalist and grower of the area; his father was a shinigami, crippled by injuries and forced to retire to civilian life. Their district was prosperous; it had its fair share of crime, but Shihan’s mother had never been the subject of theft, as she had little of value apart from the herbs and plants she grew about her home. This was Shihan’s early life: peaceful, humble, and with the support of loving parents, a boon few children of the age seemed to have.
Perhaps because of this environment, Shihan’s young mind seemed to prosper in his parent’s teachings. From his father, he learned of manners and etiquette, of respect; from his mother, compassion, tactfulness, and appreciation. He was never very social as a child and opted to stay at home, rather than mingle with the other young ones of the area, but was also ever curious, always wanting to learn more about his parents and their professions, the world and its people. He asked about his father’s sword, which could no longer be called a zanpakuto since its sealing, and it was through him that the boy first heard of shinigami.
As many younger children would, Shihan quickly took to the aspiration of becoming a shinigami; his parents didn’t approve of this idea, but they also knew that, being a shinigami’s son, the hunger would no doubt eventually come to him, and so reluctantly, his father began instructing him in the principles of the soldier, the simplest, but most profound things, like the achievement of serving something greater than yourself, but the personal strength to never let one’s self be used. He grew with these principles, and slowly, the training that came with him. His father’s blade was no longer a zanpakuto, now only a memento of his service, but it served him well as a training instrument into his teens, when he began learning the aesthetics of swordsmanship. His parents could only prepare him for the rigors of the Academy, and though he twice failed its initial entrance exams, it was never a lack of knowledge that held him back, only a lack of power.
When the hunger finally came, Shihan naturally went to his father for advice, and it was explained to him, the workings of spiritual power. He could not have understood, but it was only then that he began to truly train for power, rather than form. Shihan passed his very next entrance exam, and while lingering in the background of his Academy classes, continued his training through its first five years. His well-rounded expertise and keen intellect have earned him a place within it's most advanced class, but his lack of sheer power has stunted his development, making him something of a "B student". He now approaches his final days as a student, and eagerly awaits the first days of truly taking on the shinigami’s duty.
Skills
Zanpakuto - Amano Megumi [Merciful Divine Law]
Release Command: Suku [Love]
Sealed State - Reference:
There is very little in the way of special distinctions about Amano Megumi’s sealed state; it is very much the traditional katana, worn blade-up above the hip and sheathed in polished hardwood. Its tsuba design is square [Reference], and bears a faint relief of the face of a mountain touching the clouds, symbolic of the path between earth and the heavens; one can tell from its thickness, however, that this tsuba was made for functionality, not for its aesthetic properties. Similarly, the blade is fairly plain by the standards of katana, but only a few inches short of technically being an Odachi. The handle is also quite long, putting the weapon’s center of gravity closer to the tsuba and creating a counterbalance for one-handed mobility; this puts the weapon’s total length at about 120 cm . The slight thinning toward the weapon’s pommel is meant to give the upper fingers support on the thicker end while leaving free space for the lower fingers to encourage mobility.
Zanpakuto Spirit - Reference:
Amano Megumi is a silent form, with neither contrast or expression, but a depth that cannot be properly perceived or explained. He rarely talks, rarely moves, but the depth of his one visible eye speaks worlds, as do the subtleties of his expressions. Rarely does he visit Shihan’s consciousness, but he ever speaks of how all resides within none, a concept that even assists Shihan himself in interpreting his hidden intentions. Every meeting with this spirit is a test of Shihan’s intuition, his perception, and the lessons he teaches are of the highest order, though their value is only as strong as Shihan’s interpretation.
Inner World:
Shihan’s inner realm is featureless, without perceivable depth nor discernable shade; all is a blank and featureless white, but only for a few moments, as long as it takes for Shihan to realize where he is. Subconsciously, the idea that there must be air to breath, depth to see, and ground to stand upon shapes the realm for him, creating patches of terrain from memory or imagination to fill the immediate area around him. As he moves or shifts his attention, these terrain features may fade away, but will return if they are recalled in his mind or witnessed in absence. The only exception to this volatility is the space around Amano Megumi, which always dissolves and returns to its blank, white state. Through this world, Amano Megumi teaches Shihan of the weaknesses of the mind in justifying and assuming, in filling the blanks of the world with lies, and in failing to accept the absence of a discernable truth or right. According to the spirit, Shihan’s power will come from suppressing these internal dispositions, allowing him to walk, as he does, in a world unfettered by contrast.
Shikai - Reference:
Matching Shihan’s height, Amano Megumi’s shikai form has a much more impressive presence as a weapon than its sealed state. It is a pole-arm, a naginata, and thusly possesses great reach and maneuverability with it’s over four foot long area of handle. It’s 50 cm blade is thicker and heavier than a sword’s blade of the same length, allowing Shihan to shift between quick, short-style strikes in close and arcing, powerful blows at range. These are stereotypical features of a striking naginata, but the blade does possess a uniqueness in its tsuba, a solid, metallic ring inscribed with the symbols of Yin [Earth] and Yang [Heaven]; this ring rotates steadily around the weapon’s core in battle, symbolizing the cycle of shifting balances between these two ideas. This turning is too slow to serve any sort of purpose on the battlefield, but never seems to stop, regardless of strikes made against it or the condition of its wielder.
Abilities [Attacks] - Foreword:
Amano Megumi is a zanpakuto dealing in energy and space, mainly the auras created by reiatsu and the pressures they exert upon one another. In real-world techniques such as Saiminjutsu and Kiaijutsu, these auras were considered metaphysical, but in the interaction of spiritual beings like shinigami and hollows, they take on a much more permeable presence.
Ariryu [Flow Existence]; Command: Kaketsukeru [Rush]:
With this ability, Shihan may channel his spiritual energy into a change in his physical momentum, creating a surge of pressure meant to push an enemy off their guard. In detail, Shihan invokes this ability by shifting the center of gravity about his hips, which moves the whole of his body; generally, a motion invoking Ariryu will start low, with Shihan bending his knees and shifting his lower body, but will then be followed by his torso and arms, which focus that large motion in a specified direction. Keeping with this motion, the force created by this ability begins where Shihan’s motion originated, surging forward in the direction of his movement, around his body and into the target. These blasts of energy strike like gusts of wind, beginning weekly, but gaining strength with Shihan’s development.
Development:
Hiraryu [Flow Repose]; No Command:
In a rather sharp contrast to Ariryu, Amano Megumi’s primary ability, Hiraryu is meant for allied support and protection, not for combat. It requires a different sort of mindset to properly invoke, making it difficult for both abilities to be used simultaneously, but by stretching his aura outward and through the bodies of his allies, Shihan can bolster their energies and relieve them of physical and spiritual tension, assisting healers or staving off nervousness and fear. Hiraryu induces a state similar to physical relaxation, which can lesson pains or calm those in panic; effects intensify as Shihan grows in strength, but in order to effect an unwilling subject [such as an animal or a crazed or panicked ally], Shihan requires physical contact to purge the psychological effects.
Development:
Bankai - Amano Megumi Reiratsu [Fiercely Ordained Merciful Divine Law:
While a warrior and his blade may be an intimidating force upon the battlefield, Amano Megumi’s bankai state, as bankai often do, takes combat to an entirely new level. The zanpakuto’s primary body is that of a great wheel: a massive, ring-shaped mass of bronze-colored metal with a rough, marbled texture akin to cast iron or even granite. It’s body is nearly eight inches thick, eight inches deep, and spanning four feet in diameter. The outer edges of this ring narrow into a roughened cutting blade, and its inner reaches are filled by five curving rods, originating along its inner edge and spiraling inward to form a second ring within the first [Reference]; this inner ring spans only a foot or so across and is empty in its center, serving as a second handhold and the “eye” of Shihan’s flow of energy [See abilities for details]. Aptly, this weapon is referred to by Shihan as the Chijinme [Earth God Eye], and embodies the weapon’s Yin [Earth] essence.
The zanpakuto’s Yang [Heaven] attributes begin at Shihan’s hands in a pair of thinly plated, stylized gauntlets, which sheath his hands and fingers in a deep, smoky grey metal adorned with tiny waves like those of Damascus-forged steel. The gauntlets themselves are more symbolic than they are functional, riddled with patterns and abstract markings the likes of which even Shihan does not understand. They are, however, still part of his zanpakuto, able to resist blows as well as any blade would. Shihan’s armored plating continues up the wrist and forearm to the elbow, split widely at the joints to preserve full mobility. Generally, the upper regions of this protection are covered by the sleeves of his shihakusho, leaving only his hands and fingers exposed.
Abilities [Attacks] - Foreword:
Amano Megumi Reiratsu builds upon its manipulation of the aura, granting greater power and control and increasing the zanpakuto’s overall area of effect. The supportive powers of Hiraryu are forfeited in favor of offensive strength, but those already shielded remain as such until the ability is withdrawn or Amano Megumi becomes sealed again.
Ranryutake [Fierce Flow Storm]; No Command:
This ability encompasses the basic enhanced form of Ariryu, allowing Shihan to release large waves of force by tearing at the air with his gauntlets. These new aura surges, like those of his early shikai state, strike like gusts of wind, not strong enough to really affect a combatant of his level. However, they are also far more expansive, capable of covering areas over five feet wide; This makes them useful in diverting weak or unprepared enemies or knocking light projectiles from their path.
These, however, are rather minor on the scale of a Bankai state’s abilities. Amano Megumi’s true offensive potential comes from its massive blade, the Chijinme, which is controlled using the currents of energy created by this ability. The weapon’s impressive weight makes it difficult to maneuver, but its striking power is phenomenal, capable of leveling trees and even buildings at top speed. It’s movements follow the same tilting and banking as seen in airplanes and similar constructs, and the sharpness of its turns seems to depend on Shihan’s physical involvement, as if it were connected to him by a string. Generally, the blade’s trajectory can be altered by ninety degrees in about fifty feet of flight, but can be turned more quickly with physical effort on Shihan’s part.
Development:
Utsuryutake [Fierce Flow Impact]; No Command:
The pinnacle of Shihan’s aura manipulation, this ability truly reaches into the realm of space distortion. In this form, Shihan focuses the energy in his gauntlets into a solid body of force, short-ranged, but just as strong as the metal from which it originates. When invoking this ability, Shihan seems to strike some unseen barrier with his gauntlet; the force of that strike is amplified by reiatsu and projected from the small area of contact onto a larger plane, like light from a projector to a movie screen. This transference of energy creates a barrier, carrying the same physical force and resilience as Shihan’s gauntlets across a range of up to five feet. These barriers usually cover an area of three square feet, but can later be expanded to block more enveloping attacks.
Development:
Extras
Kido Expertise
In Kanji
Ben - Learn
Etsu - Joy, Enjoy
Shi - Warrior, Teacher, Noble Mind
Han - Prime Example
Ben - Learn
Etsu - Joy, Enjoy
Shi - Warrior, Teacher, Noble Mind
Han - Prime Example
Alias: N/A
Age: 38 [19]
Gender: Male
Family: Living parents; no siblings [See History]
Faction: Shinigami
Rank: Academy Student
PvP Availability: Yes
Appearance - Reference:
It should be noted that these are only general references; refer to the written descriptions for specific details.
Like his blade, Shihan’s physical appearance isn’t all that distinctive: He is of average height and impeccable posture, sharp facial features and long, dark brown hair, which is generally bound tightly behind his neck. His body is very thin, but wiry and strong, his stature showing an assertive confidence and dignity uncharacteristic of his physical size. He carries himself with pride, a rare quality in the youths of the age, but this body language, which proves to be a very deep aspect of his character, is rather volatile; his attitude shows very strongly in his posture, his face, and his eyes, which tends to cast a strong first impression, regardless of how he’s feeling [See Personality for Details]. Regardless, however, these traits are subtle things, not usually revealing themselves unless one takes the time to really look, which is why his appearance tends to come off as more mundane, as he is not wanting for attention, and thusly tends to blend into the backgrounds of the world.
Like any, he does possess his share of minor details; he has an angled brow and loose lips, which tend to make his natural expressions appear stoic and serious, as well as making his smiles softer and more reserved. His eyes, dark brown like his hair, can be extremely expressive or steely and cold, sometimes to a frightening degree. Since the sleeves of his Shihakusho are a bit long for his arms, one rarely sees beyond his wrists, but his hands, with square palms and long, nimble fingers, are always visible in times of peace. Despite his bearing as a warrior, his fingertips and palms are actually quite soft, and in respect for the line he draws between home and the battlefield, he can be seen often donning a pair of thin, fingerless gloves sewn of cloth, reserved only for times when he must take up the sword.
Reiatsu Color: Bronze [Translucent]
Personality:
It is no feat of coincidence that Amano Megumi embodies the collision of heaven and earth, for Shihan’s personality too is a thing of overlapping opposites. He is a deeply feeling individual, very expressive, but only to a few, only in private; he believes in honor, in commitment and honesty with himself, but still seeks the acknowledgement of a chosen few others, those he feels great respect or deeper feelings toward, and is strongly driven to such ends, while rather lacking in motivation for mundane tasks. He is sometimes quick to despair, but unflappable in his attempts to cheer up others, and finds himself bonded to those he meets in sadness, even, sometimes, if they are strangers. Likewise, he can be light-hearted and cheery if the mood befits him, or weary and crestfallen if it doesn’t. He isn’t often angry, but his capriciousness nonetheless makes him complicated, and this can sometimes become problematic for those closest to him.
When he is at his strongest, his most positive, Shihan is a joy to be around; he is a bit stiff from his formal and professional nature [not too unlike Byakuya, in fact], but this seems less prominent around those he has grown comfortable with; he smiles, he laughs, and these are rare occurrences for him, at least in the public eye. The more time he gets to loosen up, the more energetic he becomes, enthusiastic, open, sociable. As little as he claims to care for community and friendship, he is quick to become intoxicated by its energies and greatly enjoys the sort of camaraderie that puts aside one’s personal life. At his worst, he is somber, unmotivated, and apathetic, and makes little attempt to hide it from those around him, though he does tend to avoid contact with people in general. This is what feels natural to him, but ironically enough, social contact is generally the best way to cheer him up, though only with one person at a time; groups do not befit him unless he has grown familiar with each of them.
However, though he doesn‘t like the pressures of the position, Shihan is a capable leader, having a firm grasp of tactics and astounding skill in thinking under pressure. These talents don’t generally show, as he will generally avoid the leadership role, but tends to instinctively take command of situations when he feels that others are in danger or otherwise need his skills. Similarly, it is difficult for him to ignore anyone in danger, even strangers, but he doesn’t claim any sort of righteousness, and in fact often complains about the hassle of saving others, though he could hardly mean a word of it. He doesn’t like to take responsibility for the wellbeing of others, but does so anyway for those he feels obligated to: fellow shinigami, humans, friends, and family. This is tied to his own views on morality and honor, into which he has put a great deal of thought. To him, honesty, consistency, and loyalty are some of the most important characteristics of an honorable warrior, and it is these traits that he values most, both in others and himself.
That ideal of honor that Shihan carries with him is important to his character, for the basis of his value as a warrior is built upon his strong heart and stronger sense of duty, and though he may seem the emotional type at home, battle brings out a stronger side of his personality, a firm, powerful protector willing to take blows and lives for the sake of those important to him. Never does he hide behind orders for justification; if he commits to an action, regardless of its purpose, he owns it, and that is, perhaps, his most unique and distinctive quality as a soldier. He is not without his faults, the double-edge of his faith and trust that makes him gullible, the dark side of his intelligence that makes him cynical, and the fuel of it all, the need to be significant, to be valuable. However, if nothing else, he is a reliable warrior, and he yearns ever to overcome personal weaknesses, which is why he seeks the power of a shinigami: to protect, to serve, and in the end, to become something better.
Weapons:
- Amano Megumi [Zanpakuto]
- [Future Entries Here]
Stats
- Reiatsu: 60
- Attack: 65
- Speed: 60
- Weapon Skill: 65
- Experience: 0
- Skill points: 0
- Pvp Rank: Beginner
- Kill Points: 0
- Customization Points: 0
History:
Shihan was born in urban district forty-three, Rukongai West. His mother had been a local herbalist and grower of the area; his father was a shinigami, crippled by injuries and forced to retire to civilian life. Their district was prosperous; it had its fair share of crime, but Shihan’s mother had never been the subject of theft, as she had little of value apart from the herbs and plants she grew about her home. This was Shihan’s early life: peaceful, humble, and with the support of loving parents, a boon few children of the age seemed to have.
Perhaps because of this environment, Shihan’s young mind seemed to prosper in his parent’s teachings. From his father, he learned of manners and etiquette, of respect; from his mother, compassion, tactfulness, and appreciation. He was never very social as a child and opted to stay at home, rather than mingle with the other young ones of the area, but was also ever curious, always wanting to learn more about his parents and their professions, the world and its people. He asked about his father’s sword, which could no longer be called a zanpakuto since its sealing, and it was through him that the boy first heard of shinigami.
As many younger children would, Shihan quickly took to the aspiration of becoming a shinigami; his parents didn’t approve of this idea, but they also knew that, being a shinigami’s son, the hunger would no doubt eventually come to him, and so reluctantly, his father began instructing him in the principles of the soldier, the simplest, but most profound things, like the achievement of serving something greater than yourself, but the personal strength to never let one’s self be used. He grew with these principles, and slowly, the training that came with him. His father’s blade was no longer a zanpakuto, now only a memento of his service, but it served him well as a training instrument into his teens, when he began learning the aesthetics of swordsmanship. His parents could only prepare him for the rigors of the Academy, and though he twice failed its initial entrance exams, it was never a lack of knowledge that held him back, only a lack of power.
When the hunger finally came, Shihan naturally went to his father for advice, and it was explained to him, the workings of spiritual power. He could not have understood, but it was only then that he began to truly train for power, rather than form. Shihan passed his very next entrance exam, and while lingering in the background of his Academy classes, continued his training through its first five years. His well-rounded expertise and keen intellect have earned him a place within it's most advanced class, but his lack of sheer power has stunted his development, making him something of a "B student". He now approaches his final days as a student, and eagerly awaits the first days of truly taking on the shinigami’s duty.
Skills
- Kido 1.
- Analysis 1.
- Reflex 1.
- Free Skill: Kido Expertise.
Zanpakuto - Amano Megumi [Merciful Divine Law]
Release Command: Suku [Love]
Suku can also be translated as “Leave a gap” or “Make empty”. This is significant in the conceptual sense, as Amano Megumi is meant to embody the relationship between opposites such as wholeness and emptiness.
Sealed State - Reference:
There is very little in the way of special distinctions about Amano Megumi’s sealed state; it is very much the traditional katana, worn blade-up above the hip and sheathed in polished hardwood. Its tsuba design is square [Reference], and bears a faint relief of the face of a mountain touching the clouds, symbolic of the path between earth and the heavens; one can tell from its thickness, however, that this tsuba was made for functionality, not for its aesthetic properties. Similarly, the blade is fairly plain by the standards of katana, but only a few inches short of technically being an Odachi. The handle is also quite long, putting the weapon’s center of gravity closer to the tsuba and creating a counterbalance for one-handed mobility; this puts the weapon’s total length at about 120 cm . The slight thinning toward the weapon’s pommel is meant to give the upper fingers support on the thicker end while leaving free space for the lower fingers to encourage mobility.
Zanpakuto Spirit - Reference:
Amano Megumi is a silent form, with neither contrast or expression, but a depth that cannot be properly perceived or explained. He rarely talks, rarely moves, but the depth of his one visible eye speaks worlds, as do the subtleties of his expressions. Rarely does he visit Shihan’s consciousness, but he ever speaks of how all resides within none, a concept that even assists Shihan himself in interpreting his hidden intentions. Every meeting with this spirit is a test of Shihan’s intuition, his perception, and the lessons he teaches are of the highest order, though their value is only as strong as Shihan’s interpretation.
Inner World:
Shihan’s inner realm is featureless, without perceivable depth nor discernable shade; all is a blank and featureless white, but only for a few moments, as long as it takes for Shihan to realize where he is. Subconsciously, the idea that there must be air to breath, depth to see, and ground to stand upon shapes the realm for him, creating patches of terrain from memory or imagination to fill the immediate area around him. As he moves or shifts his attention, these terrain features may fade away, but will return if they are recalled in his mind or witnessed in absence. The only exception to this volatility is the space around Amano Megumi, which always dissolves and returns to its blank, white state. Through this world, Amano Megumi teaches Shihan of the weaknesses of the mind in justifying and assuming, in filling the blanks of the world with lies, and in failing to accept the absence of a discernable truth or right. According to the spirit, Shihan’s power will come from suppressing these internal dispositions, allowing him to walk, as he does, in a world unfettered by contrast.
Shikai - Reference:
Matching Shihan’s height, Amano Megumi’s shikai form has a much more impressive presence as a weapon than its sealed state. It is a pole-arm, a naginata, and thusly possesses great reach and maneuverability with it’s over four foot long area of handle. It’s 50 cm blade is thicker and heavier than a sword’s blade of the same length, allowing Shihan to shift between quick, short-style strikes in close and arcing, powerful blows at range. These are stereotypical features of a striking naginata, but the blade does possess a uniqueness in its tsuba, a solid, metallic ring inscribed with the symbols of Yin [Earth] and Yang [Heaven]; this ring rotates steadily around the weapon’s core in battle, symbolizing the cycle of shifting balances between these two ideas. This turning is too slow to serve any sort of purpose on the battlefield, but never seems to stop, regardless of strikes made against it or the condition of its wielder.
Abilities [Attacks] - Foreword:
Amano Megumi is a zanpakuto dealing in energy and space, mainly the auras created by reiatsu and the pressures they exert upon one another. In real-world techniques such as Saiminjutsu and Kiaijutsu, these auras were considered metaphysical, but in the interaction of spiritual beings like shinigami and hollows, they take on a much more permeable presence.
Ariryu [Flow Existence]; Command: Kaketsukeru [Rush]:
Note: Shihan will call out the command once: “Ariryu, Kaketsukeru!” This stirs the ability. It can then be used without command from that point on, unless Shihan himself becomes distracted from combat for a time, when the command “Kaketsukeru” will be required again.
With this ability, Shihan may channel his spiritual energy into a change in his physical momentum, creating a surge of pressure meant to push an enemy off their guard. In detail, Shihan invokes this ability by shifting the center of gravity about his hips, which moves the whole of his body; generally, a motion invoking Ariryu will start low, with Shihan bending his knees and shifting his lower body, but will then be followed by his torso and arms, which focus that large motion in a specified direction. Keeping with this motion, the force created by this ability begins where Shihan’s motion originated, surging forward in the direction of his movement, around his body and into the target. These blasts of energy strike like gusts of wind, beginning weekly, but gaining strength with Shihan’s development.
Development:
- Stage 1 [Locked]: Ability is unlocked: projections require large motions such as the one described above, and manifest as bursts of wind with strength equal to half Shihan’s Spirit Power. Useable three times per battle.
- Stage 2 [Locked]: Useable five times per battle.
- Stage 3 [Locked]: Control extends, allowing Shihan to use twisting motions of his torso to create lateral waves at arm’s length; these strikes carry half the ability’s strength.
- Stage 4 [Locked]: Usage limit is removed.
- Stage 5 [Locked]: Aura surges condense, becoming more powerful. Strikes carry weight similar to rushing water, rather than air, and are capable of knocking over unprepared opponents. Half of Shihan’s strength is added to the effects.
- Stage 6 [Locked]: Lateral waves become as strong as direct flows; range extends to five feet.
- Stage 7 [Locked]: Control extends, allowing Shihan to add the rush of his aura surges to the swing of his naginata. This force is carried outside the blade and is only concussive in nature.
- Stage 8 [Locked]: Control extends, allowing Shihan to reverse the effects of his basic aura surges [not the twisting or striking surges] by reversing the motions that create them. This creates a “pull” rather than a pushing force, useable at ten feet.
- Stage 9 [Locked]: Aura surges become ripe with spiritual energy, capable of parrying weak reiatsu attacks like Bala [such attacks strike briefly; attacks like cero, which create a continuous flood of energy, are unblockable with such a technique]
Hiraryu [Flow Repose]; No Command:
In a rather sharp contrast to Ariryu, Amano Megumi’s primary ability, Hiraryu is meant for allied support and protection, not for combat. It requires a different sort of mindset to properly invoke, making it difficult for both abilities to be used simultaneously, but by stretching his aura outward and through the bodies of his allies, Shihan can bolster their energies and relieve them of physical and spiritual tension, assisting healers or staving off nervousness and fear. Hiraryu induces a state similar to physical relaxation, which can lesson pains or calm those in panic; effects intensify as Shihan grows in strength, but in order to effect an unwilling subject [such as an animal or a crazed or panicked ally], Shihan requires physical contact to purge the psychological effects.
Development:
- Stage 1 [Locked]: Ability is unlocked: aura may induce relaxation to assist in healing or purifying [effects of healing techniques are accelerated] in one subject; treatment requires full concentration.
- Stage 2 [Locked]: Bolstering extends to psychological hindrances like panic and rage, and can be used as a morale boost and bolster against such effects.
- Stage 3 [Locked]: Control is enhanced, allowing Shihan to bolster subjects even while fighting or utilizing Ariryu.
- Stage 4 [Locked]: Effects extend to any number of subjects within twenty feet.
- Stage 5 [Locked]: Bolstering extends to include mind-effecting spiritual abilities; focusing on a specific subject may nullify spiritually induced paralysis and other physical impairments [but not wounds].
Bankai - Amano Megumi Reiratsu [Fiercely Ordained Merciful Divine Law:
While a warrior and his blade may be an intimidating force upon the battlefield, Amano Megumi’s bankai state, as bankai often do, takes combat to an entirely new level. The zanpakuto’s primary body is that of a great wheel: a massive, ring-shaped mass of bronze-colored metal with a rough, marbled texture akin to cast iron or even granite. It’s body is nearly eight inches thick, eight inches deep, and spanning four feet in diameter. The outer edges of this ring narrow into a roughened cutting blade, and its inner reaches are filled by five curving rods, originating along its inner edge and spiraling inward to form a second ring within the first [Reference]; this inner ring spans only a foot or so across and is empty in its center, serving as a second handhold and the “eye” of Shihan’s flow of energy [See abilities for details]. Aptly, this weapon is referred to by Shihan as the Chijinme [Earth God Eye], and embodies the weapon’s Yin [Earth] essence.
The zanpakuto’s Yang [Heaven] attributes begin at Shihan’s hands in a pair of thinly plated, stylized gauntlets, which sheath his hands and fingers in a deep, smoky grey metal adorned with tiny waves like those of Damascus-forged steel. The gauntlets themselves are more symbolic than they are functional, riddled with patterns and abstract markings the likes of which even Shihan does not understand. They are, however, still part of his zanpakuto, able to resist blows as well as any blade would. Shihan’s armored plating continues up the wrist and forearm to the elbow, split widely at the joints to preserve full mobility. Generally, the upper regions of this protection are covered by the sleeves of his shihakusho, leaving only his hands and fingers exposed.
Abilities [Attacks] - Foreword:
Amano Megumi Reiratsu builds upon its manipulation of the aura, granting greater power and control and increasing the zanpakuto’s overall area of effect. The supportive powers of Hiraryu are forfeited in favor of offensive strength, but those already shielded remain as such until the ability is withdrawn or Amano Megumi becomes sealed again.
Ranryutake [Fierce Flow Storm]; No Command:
This ability encompasses the basic enhanced form of Ariryu, allowing Shihan to release large waves of force by tearing at the air with his gauntlets. These new aura surges, like those of his early shikai state, strike like gusts of wind, not strong enough to really affect a combatant of his level. However, they are also far more expansive, capable of covering areas over five feet wide; This makes them useful in diverting weak or unprepared enemies or knocking light projectiles from their path.
These, however, are rather minor on the scale of a Bankai state’s abilities. Amano Megumi’s true offensive potential comes from its massive blade, the Chijinme, which is controlled using the currents of energy created by this ability. The weapon’s impressive weight makes it difficult to maneuver, but its striking power is phenomenal, capable of leveling trees and even buildings at top speed. It’s movements follow the same tilting and banking as seen in airplanes and similar constructs, and the sharpness of its turns seems to depend on Shihan’s physical involvement, as if it were connected to him by a string. Generally, the blade’s trajectory can be altered by ninety degrees in about fifty feet of flight, but can be turned more quickly with physical effort on Shihan’s part.
Development:
- Stage 1 [Locked]: Ability is unlocked: Aura surges manifest within fifteen feet; Chijinme operative striking range is thirty yards.
- Stage 2 [Locked]: Control increases, allowing Shihan to create the “pull” forces that manifest in his shikai ability at this marker.
- Stage 3 [Locked]: Aura surges become filled with spiritual energy, capable of deflecting weak reiatsu attacks like Bala and lower level Kido; range increases to twenty-five feet.
- Stage 4 [Locked]: Chijinme’s operative range increases to fifty yards.
- Stage 5 [Locked]: Aura centered around the Chijinme adds to its destructive power against spiritual barriers; Hierro, shields forged of reiatsu, and shield-type Bakudo are only half as effective at withstanding its attacks. Operative range increases to one-hundred yards.
- Stage 6 [Locked]: Aura surges take on a cutting property as the reiatsu within condenses into tiny blades, leaving minor cuts in flesh and clothing in addition to their pressing power. Spread increases to ten feet.
Utsuryutake [Fierce Flow Impact]; No Command:
The pinnacle of Shihan’s aura manipulation, this ability truly reaches into the realm of space distortion. In this form, Shihan focuses the energy in his gauntlets into a solid body of force, short-ranged, but just as strong as the metal from which it originates. When invoking this ability, Shihan seems to strike some unseen barrier with his gauntlet; the force of that strike is amplified by reiatsu and projected from the small area of contact onto a larger plane, like light from a projector to a movie screen. This transference of energy creates a barrier, carrying the same physical force and resilience as Shihan’s gauntlets across a range of up to five feet. These barriers usually cover an area of three square feet, but can later be expanded to block more enveloping attacks.
Development:
- Stage 1 [Locked]: Ability is unlocked: Maximum projection area is three square feet; manifestation is instantaneous [meaning the barriers only exist for a moment, to block an incoming attack, then vanish]
- Stage 2 [Locked]: Maximum projection area increases to four square feet.
- Stage 3 [Locked]: Control increases, allowing Shihan to create one barrier with each gauntlet simultaneously. Maximum projection area increases to five square feet.
- Stage 4 [Locked]: Projections can be used to emulate a sudden strike, manifesting the force just as it makes contact with the enemy. Such a strike usually induces a tingling sensation just before it manifests, making it possible to detect and avoid the attack.
- Stage 5 [Locked]: Barriers can be held in place after manifestation, given that Shihan continually exerts physical force against them. This usually ties both his hands, as maintaining strong physical pressure with only one arm is rather difficult. Maximum projection area increases to six square feet.
- Stage 6 [Locked]: Manifestation range increases to ten feet.
- Stage 7 [Locked]: Narrow, compressed projections can be used to inflict piercing or slashing auras, which travel a few feet before dissipating. These follow the same rules as the offensive auras at Stage 4.
Extras
Kido Expertise