[Spirit Class 2] Rōjūrō 'Rose' Ōtoribashi

» Name: Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi (鳳橋 楼十郎)
» Titles: Rose
» Age: Unknown (>650)
» Gender: Male
» Affiliation/Rank:
Gotei 13 - 3rd Division (Former Captain)
Gotei United - 8th Division (Captain)

» Appearance:

Outfits:

Rose is a character that seems rather simple on the surface, an air-headed musician. He is an easy-going person that appears entirely disinterested in the world around him, caring only for his music and his manga. If forced into action without motivation, he is lethargic and reluctant to commit too much effort to a cause. Music is certainly his greatest passion, as he incorporates it into his work and abilities as a Vizard. He can talk at length about his favourite genres, or about almost anything else, casually without paying much attention to what is going on.

Despite the disinterested behaviour he exhibits and cultivates, Rose is deeply emotional and cares greatly for his friends above all else. He is quick to warm to people who are kind to him or his allies and equally cold to those who do him wrong. Sitting above this underlying sense of caring is a heavy air of melancholy and regret that surrounds Rose of late. Past actions and inactions weigh heavily upon him, though he does well to mask it with an air of feigned indifference. Still, his music is often the source for venting his darker feelings and a gateway to his truer feelings.

Rose seems to focus more on dramatic effect than combat effectiveness while in battle, often acting in an exaggerated manner to make each action as intense and over-the-top as possible. If he is hurt, he will lament profusely, whilst if he gains the other hand, he is equally prone to showboating when at an advantage. In Rose's ideal world, every battle he fought in would be a theatrical piece fit for the world stage rather than a gritty contest of blood and steel.



Rise to Captaincy

Even Rose remembers little before his arrival in the Rukongai on the outskirts of Soul Society, only the vaguest of memories of wind rushing through his hair and the faintest hum of music in the air. Even those are little more than feelings though, his old identity long since forgotten.

He had been a Soul for several decades, living in the outer districts, before Rose first applied for the Shin'o Academy. He had no grand designs, rather he had grown bored with his simple life and wanted to see if he was capable of more. To the surprise of many, not least himself, he possessed an impressive amount of spiritual power and a natural affinity for Zanjutsu and swordsmanship that accelerated his time at the academy accordingly. Proving competent in the other subjects, it was suggested that he would likely find a position amongst the thirteen companies of the court guard rather quickly.

Given his skillset and the clear distance in ability between his weapon skills and other talents, Rose joined the 11th Division and eventually rose to the rank of Fourth Seat. But, as he developed a closer bond with his Zanpakutō, he also grew more interested in the other aspects of being a Shinigami and he began to drift away from the Combat Division's mentality. After achieving his Shikai release, and advancing his abilities with Shunpo and Kido by way of extra classes, Rose accepted the position of Lieutenant in the 5th Division under Shinji Hirako.

He was arrogant at first, the young Lieutenant eager to prove his worth in a new division, but his time with Shinji was humbling. The two were opposites in many regards, Rose being overtly dour and serious whilst his inside burned with a fiery passion whilst Shinji was easygoing on the surface but maintained a keen eye, but his time with the 5th served to mellow out the uptight young soul and gave him the time and focus to start practising his Bankai.

Kinshara, as his Zanpakutō was named, was peculiar as far as spirits went. Taking the form of an awakened tree, rather than a standard humanoid, it was not exactly something that could be subjugated in the physical sense. Instead, the process involved a constant battle of willpower and focus that honed his mental abilities to a level that was considerably higher than many of his fellow lieutenants. Weapons would not work, so he turned to song and sound to tame the spirit. After a decade or so of training, Rose was able to readily summon Kinshara forth and bend its very heart to his will. This proved to be the key to unlocking his final release and showed the maturity of his weapon since his days in the Combat Division, as his Bankai was an entirely spiritual performance rather than a feat of strength.

With the discovery and subsequent study of Kinshara Butōdan, Rose's days with the 5th Division were numbered. A vacancy had opened up for Captaincy of the 3rd Division so Shinji suggested his Lieutenant for the position and - following a proficiency test conducted by the Captain-Commander, Shinji, and Love Aikawa of the 7th Division - he was appointed to the position. Whether Shinji pushed for Rose to move to the 3rd because of care for his subordinates development was unclear, as he quickly raised Sōsuke Aizen up to replace him and spoke little of his reasons.

Chikane Iba was the first to welcome Rose to his new position, as his new Lieutenant, though the relationship between the pair soon became more akin to that of a mother and her wayward son than two officers of the Gotei 13. Rose did not know the 3rd Division well, nor did he know all that much of his new duties as a Captain, and so Chikane took it upon herself to strongarm her superior officer along the path of duty and diligence.

Becoming a Vizard

Rose was not destined to remain a Captain for long though, as he soon became ensnared in the machinations of Aizen and his experiments with the Hōgyoku.

Near eleven years after his promotion, when Kensei Muguruma and many members of the 9th Division are reported to have disappeared, Rose was part of the team of Captains and Lieutenants dispatched by the Captain-Commander to investigate. Arriving at the scene, he was shocked to discover a Hollowfied Kensei and eventually engaged him in battle alongside Love and Lisa Yadōmaru. Ambushed by Mashiro, he continued to fight after sustaining injuries until he was incapacitated by Kaname Tōsen's Bankai.

Rose then began to Hollowfy and, though he was spared from execution at the hands of Aizen and his accomplices by Kisuke Urahara, the Captain of the 12th was unable to reverse the process. Urahara was arrested and framed for Aizen's crimes, leading to Urahara's decision to take the Hollowfied Shinigami and go into exile in the Real World whilst working on a cure. His efforts would ultimately yield different results, and, instead, Rose would be forced to battle with his Inner Hollow for control of his own body and soul.

Unlike his Zanpakutō, his Inner Hollow was not a plant and instead took a humanoid form with a build that mirrored his own. At first, he attempted to negotiate with the Hollow and establish boundaries. But the creature would seize control of his body whenever it saw the opportunity and that forced Rose to be placed under constant watch whilst he battled with them. Even when he was in control there were always dark whispers in the back of his mind, and so Rose concluded that he would have to handle matters with force.

Reaching inside himself, a great internal struggle began as his Hollow and Shinigami selves wrestled for dominion. Though the Hollow's powers were frightening, and it could melt him away into nothing if it got too close, Rose was far from an incapable combatant. With Kinshara in his hands, he was a force to be reckoned with and eventually he was triumphant against his internal foe. Returning from the process with the power to summon a Hollow Mask that vastly enhanced his capabilities for a short time before shattering, he was amongst the first generation of a new race that would come to be known as Vizard.

Having successfully conquered his own demon, Rose joined the rest of the former Shinigami in leading a life of exile on Earth. He devoted much of this time to his music, whether creating it or listening to it, and that in turn served to enhance his own powers beyond his original station.

After a century, Ichigo Kurosaki came to the attention of the group of Vizard and they eventually attempted to recruit him into their ranks. Though he declined, the group did help him to overcome his own Inner Hollow and unlock his Vizard powers - during which Rose and the rest of the group fought against his possessed body.

Return to the Gotei 13

Having long awaited a chance at revenge for what Aizen did to them, Rose and the rest of the Vizard arrived at the Fake Karakura Town to fight him and his Espada. Dispatching a horde of Gillian-class Menos, the Vizard split up to face different opponents. Together with Love, Rose faced down the Primera Espada after he forced Captain Shunsui to temporarily withdraw. Though both Captains in their own right, and further enhanced by their Vizard masks, the pair were unable to overcome Starrk and suffered severe injuries from his exploding wolves.

Unwilling to retreat, Rose and Love stood their ground as Starrk moved to finish them off but was prevented from doing so by the timely return of Shunsui. Watching on as Shunsui cut down Starrk using his Shikai, Rose recouped his strength for the impending battle with Aizen. Releasing Kinshara again, he attacked Aizen in tandem with several other Vizard and Shinigami but suffered a grievous wound at the traitor Captain's hand.

His injuries were healed by Retsu Unohana, though Rose was surprised to hear that the Captain still referred to the Vizard as her allies after all that had transpired. In the aftermath of Aizen's defeat, he was invited to return to Soul Society along with his fellow Vizard. Though some declined, Rose chose to accept and eventually reclaimed his former seat as Captain of the 3rd Division in Gin Ichimaru's absence.

A hundred years spent an exile had done much to sap the joy of the reinstated Captain, though Rose quickly found a kinsman in his new Lieutenant - Izuru Kira. The pair had more in common than either had expected, especially when they began to pick apart their deeper emotions and driving forces. Together they truly embodied the 3rd Division, as its symbol is a marigold, which means "despair" and reflects their pride despite the darkness that surrounded them. Izuru was also a lover of the arts, much like Rose, and became an inspiration for several of Rose's musical compositions.

It did not take long for another to follow in Aizen's footsteps, as the Demon known as Ender plunged the Real World and Soul Society into a year-long war only a couple of years later. Then, only a few years after Ender was dealt with, The Kokuryuteshi led a three-year rebellion against the Soul King. The 3rd Division pushed itself to the forefront of both these world-shattering events, Rose and Izuru both of the opinion that duty was the best path to redemption for their misdeeds. Barring perhaps the Combat Division, they could be found where the fighting was the thickest and it was only the prolonged period of peace that followed that gave them time to mellow.

As the Earth became more spiritually aware, Rose took to spending more of his downtime there. Sometimes he posed as a travelling musician, going from city to city playing in back alley clubs and retro theatres, whilst other times he was simply content to watch the performances of other artists.

But this time of peace and prosperity would not last, as the bells of war eventually began to ring again. Near a hundred-and-fifty years after the end of the warring period, an unending tide of Demons and Hollows plunged all of Earth into chaos. Wary of the demonic threat, the Gotei did what they could and Rose commanded the 3rd Division through many brutal engagements. He had grown to treasure his time walking the earth, and to see the planet slowly destroying itself only brought him further suffering.

The forces of order were eventually victorious, though the cost was steeper than any could have imagined. A nigh extinction event, leading to the deaths of a third of the world's entire population, this war had raged on for decades. The planet had been warped beyond recognition in places, so many of the cities that Rose had once enjoyed visiting were not little more than rubble and debris. He lamented all that had been lost, the sadness fueling him to look at all that could have been done to avoid this crisis.

Carving his own Path

Never one to let his life stagnate, Rose eventually began to consider his future within the Gotei. He had served as Captain for over two centuries, overseeing many decades of peace and prosperity in the aftermath of the horrors of the third world war. Watching on as the Real World came to know more of the spiritual one, but there was a growing monotony to his day-to-day life. His fellow Captains had their own matters to attend to now, as new faces were replacing many of the old guard, and his dear friends from the original Vizard were growing harder and harder to be found, so the pressing weight of loneliness piled on top of his boredom.

Fifty years to the day after World War Three officially ended, Rose tended his resignation as Captain of the 3rd Division. He stuck around long enough to oversee a smooth change of power before leaving Soul Society to make his own way in the world of the living. He had barely spent any time on Earth after rejoining the Gotei and, even though the war had destroyed much, there was still more that he wished to do and see.

One matter, in particular, that took his fancy was exploring the final frontier. Many humans had grown weary of life on earth, and so space programs had been funded in the aftermath that had allowed for colonies on the Moon and even Mars. Rose signed up to both ventures, one after the other. He lasted hardly a year on the Moon before deciding that the environment was not for him and electing to head further on to the Red Planet.

This would never come to pass, though, as the first wave of colonists disappeared shortly after making planetfall on Mars and the whole operation was considered a failure and abandoned. Still possessed with a great wanderlust, Rose took a posting on an exploratory vessel and headed across the Solar System to see the stars that lay beyond. Eventually settling down in a space station in the orbit of Neptune, he took the time to further harness his skills as both a Shinigami and a Vizard. Centuries of life had changed him, but that did not mean that he had lost all those talents he had worked so hard to develop.

It was the news of a fourth world war that eventually summoned the Vizard back from his time in space. For the first time in centuries, feeling an obligation to offer his aid to the Gotei and any other forces of order he took the first opportunity he could to return to Earth. There was much that had changed in the past two centuries, from the reorganisation of the Gotei 13 into the Gotei United to the rise of several powerful Earth-based factions that served to help protect the people of the planet from extradimensional threats. Perhaps it was the latter that he felt more attraction to, but Rose remained a free spirit for a while after his return.

It would be the appointment of Kagayaku No Murasaki as Captain-Commander that would eventually lead to Rose's return to Soul Society, coupled with the return to prominence of Ichigo Kurosaki. Given command of a new Division, Rose joined the Gotei United as Captain of the 8th and was tasked with using his knowledge and personal experience to help deal with the Ichigo situation and oversee a new generation of Vizards.



Expert Swordsman: Rose views himself as an exceptional swordsman and has both the experience and ability to support this claim. As a former Captain of the Gotei 13, his martial prowess was renowned and he was counted amongst the finest swordsmen of his era. In a straight fight, he was confident enough to face another martially-inclined Captain - a Hollowfied Kensei Muguruma - without releasing his Zanpakutō and fought on par with him before being ambushed by Mashiro. Though his skill has slowly atrophied in his time away from active work as a high-ranking Shinigami, Rose's strength in battle still revolves around his skill at arms and so it remains at the core of his power.

• Whip Mastery: Rose is masterful with whip-like weaponry, an exotic skill harnessed from centuries using Kinshara both in and outside of combat. In battle, he is more than capable of moving the length of Kinshara with little effort and controlling the direction of his attacks with great ease in order and precision to confuse his enemy. He can also wield Kinshara in both his right and left hands with equal effectiveness, to give him an extra edge against unprepared opponents.

Kidō Expert: Rose is proficient in Kidō and can comfortably perform low-level spells without chants whilst being able to muster more powerful incantations should the situation call for it. Though his abilities pale in comparison to a master of the craft, his Kidō skill is still formidable and Rose is more than capable of dealing with any number of lesser threats without the need to draw his weapon.

Shunpo Expert: His skill in Shunpo was high enough for him to comfortably keep pace with the other original Vizard, barring Shinji Hirako, and is heavily involved in his combat style as he wants to use both his movement and weapon style to control the range at which he fights his opponent. He often trained Hoho in tandem with his Zanjutsu, ensuring that both served to complement the other, and maintained this balance in the centuries since the Winter War. Due to this training, his Shunpo is a dominant tool on the battlefield and only those truly specialised in speed are able to outpace him.

Great Spiritual Power: As a former captain of the Gotei 13 and an original Vizard, he possesses a great amount of spiritual power. Rose gained dual-type spiritual energy, part Shinigami and part Hollow, after becoming a Vizard. Though not at the level he achieved during his peak, Rose's spiritual pressure is an impactful force if left unchecked.

Musical Prodigy: Rose has always been fascinated by music, he enjoys listening to it and appreciating it as much as he does playing it. This, combined with his enhanced physiology, has honed certain parts of his body far beyond the limits of a normal human or even another Vizard. Rose's hearing is incredibly sharp - able to pick up subtle details with startling clarity, he is notably perceptive in general as well - able to notice minuscule differences in positioning if focused on the task, and his fingers are also exceptionally dextrous from centuries spent mastering the guitar and the piano - his two instruments of choice. These traits mean that Rose has developed a lightning-fast reaction speed, something made all the more dangerous by his aforementioned skill at Hoho.



» Zanpakutō Name: Kinshara (金沙羅, Golden Sal Tree)

» Zanpakutō Spirit Appearance: Kinshara appears as a towering sal tree with leaves the colour of vibrant gold. Whilst underneath it, the spirit tree seems to be infinitely tall as there is no gap in its coverage from which to view the sky above. Though, when viewed from a considerable distance away, it does appear to have a peak that one might be able to achieve with enough climbing.

The tree's branches appear to have a mind of their own, and sway with their own momentum rather than a passing breeze, which only serves to make the task of climbing the tree more challenging. Additionally, unlike a traditional sal tree, some branches sport a golden blossom or two that are similar in appearance to the flower of Kinshara's Shikai form.

Rose remembers that the great spirit was little more than a few inches out of the ground when he first saw it. As both he and his abilities have matured over the centuries, the tree has continued to grow and bloom. It communicates via feelings shared by touch or proximity and has the voice of a wizened old man, though Rose knows this was not always the case.

» Inner World: Unending hills and fields of golden foliage packed so thick that even stepping upon the ground does not immediately reveal the dirt beneath. It stretches from one horizon to the next with no visible end, though venturing several miles from the centre will reveal an impenetrable wall of sal trees that prevents further movement away. At the very centre of the vast grove is where Kinshara can be found, and it is so tall some part of it can always be seen regardless of where someone is within the world.

The Heart of the Golden Grove:

» Sealed Zanpakutō Appearance: In its sealed form, Kinshara appears as a standard katana. The hilt-guard of Kinshara is shaped like a diamond, with curved concave edges, and it has a deep-orange handle.

Katana:

» Sealed Zanpakutô Powers:

• Folia (フォリア, Foria): Holding his sheathed Zanpakutō out in front of him, Rose flicks his free hand out in a manner similar to leading an orchestra. A brief flourish of music sounds as Kinshara flies from its scabbard and briefly levitates before Rose. As the weapon is drawn, a wave of sound energy emits from the scabbard damaging everyone within close proximity of Rose and forcing them back until the energy dissipates after a few metres. If a target is unable to hear then it is unaffected by Folia.
  
  
• Ostinato (オスティナート, Osutināto): Kinshara floats in front of Rose and slowly rotates clockwise in a circular motion before him. He strums his fingers as if playing the guitar, which is accompanied by the sound of guitar strings playing the same chord repeatedly. When the chord sounds, his hands glow briefly with yellow light and a razor-thin wire launches out from Rose in a direction of his choosing. The tempo at which these wires are released corresponds to the speed at which his Zanpakutō spins, provided his hands can keep up with it.
  
  
• Arpeggio (アルペジオ, Arupejio): With Zanpakutō and scabbard floating before him in a cross shape, Rose begins to mimic the actions of playing the piano in the air between him and his weapon. Wires appear and wrap around a single target, as the sound of a broken chord resonates through the air. As Rose plays more notes, the wires tighten and constrict the target until either they escape or are eviscerated by the crushing force.

» Shikai Release Phrase: Play, Kinshara

» Shikai Release Actions: Holding his sword in its scabbard close to his chest, Rose draws the blade upward several inches before speaking the release phrase and twisting it perpendicular to the scabbard. A yellow glow encases the whole length of the weapon as it transforms and grows outward into its whip form.



» Shikai Appearance: Upon release, Kinshara transforms into an extendable golden whip with a golden flower at the tip. Rose can increase or decrease its length on a whim, allowing him to fight at extreme range or close quarters without any hindrance to his performance. As he attacks with Kinshara, it makes the sound of playing different piano keys with every strike. The flower tip is also razor-sharp and can both penetrate through foes or embed into other surfaces so that Rose can swing around the battlefield and better control his aerial movements.

Kinshara:

» Shikai Abilities: Kinshara's ability is best described as the control of music, as it is not purely reliant on sound but it is Rose playing the notes that empowers each of the songs. There is a whole album of different songs that Rose created, each serving a different function from attack to defence to utility. It is something that he continues to add to and adapt - even after centuries of practice.

• Golden Sal Tree Sonata Number One - First Kiss at Midnight: Rose taps on the whip, causing it to glow and make the sound of cymbals clapping. This sound travels up the length of the whip and shoots out in a 5-metre long beam of energy from the direction in which the flower is pointing, the flower then follows this beam and attempts to impact upon the same location a second time. Striking first with sound, and then with steel.
  
  
• Golden Sal Tree Sonata Number Two - Sea of Cerulean Tulip: Coiling Kinshara before him, Rose's fingers play out a chord that causes the weapon to glow and the chord to be echoed out. A shockwave is released in a small cone in front of him as a distraction whilst the whip attempts to restrain any target caught in the blast by wrapping around their feet and hands. The number of targets this can affect is limited by Rose's Zanjutsu skill, starting at 3 for adept and increasing by 2 for every rank higher.
  
  
• Golden Sal Tree Sonata Number Five - Viridian Sunrise: In response to being targetted by an attack, Kinshara shifts in the direction and forms a swirling shield that can absorb blows. Whenever the weapon is struck, it glows slightly brighter and grows stronger until it is fully charged. At this point, Rose can tap on the end of the whip and cause it to discharge all the attacks stored in a deafening burst of sound that echoes back at his attackers to daze and debilitate them. With this ability, Rose could absorb three attacks from someone of equal offensive ability compared to his Zanjutsu skill - provided they have no way to get around his physical barrier. Additionally, whilst this defence is up, Kinshara cannot be used offensively.
  
  
• Golden Sal Tree Sonata Number Seven - Emperor's Seven Steps: Striking the whip several times as they move, Rose is able to mask the exact movement of his Hoho. Whilst using this technique, Rose's speed increases to the point where it is hard for those of weaker minds to follow. Those with a lower combined Mental Deduction and Focus will struggle to keep their eyes upon him as a chorus of voices ring out to cover his tracks and distract his opponents.
  
  
• Kinshara Sōkyoku Dai Jūichiban - Izayoi Bara (金沙羅奏曲第十一番・十六夜薔薇, Golden Sal Tree Sonata Number Eleven - Sixteen Day-Old Moon Rose): Upon connecting the flower tip of Kinshara to an enemy, Rose can tap his fingers upon the handle of the weapon which causes it to light up and emit the sounds of a guitar string bring strummed. Travelling the length of Kinshara, this sound creates a shockwave in a wide area from the flower caused by a vortex of reverberating sound.
  

» Bankai Name: Kinshara Butōdan (金沙羅舞踏団, Golden Sal Tree Dancing Troupe)

» Bankai Release Actions: Beginning in its released state, Kinshara curls itself into a spiral and twists through the air around Rose. Swirling, the weapon begins to form the first figure as he calls out its name before the shape begins dividing to form the entire troupe.

» Bankai Appearance: Kinshara Butōdan takes on the appearance of a pair of large floating hands, one of which holds a conducting baton, and a number of large figures with flowers for faces and holes in their torso from chest to groin referred to as the "Dancers of Death" (死の舞踏団, Shi no Butōdan). The floating hands mimic Rose's movements, the baton following Kinshara's movements as it remains in his hands for the performance.

Rose himself also appears to undergo a change, though more a mental one than something physical, as he takes on a darker and more theatrical persona.

Kinshara Butōdan:

» Bankai Abilities: Kinshara Butōdan allows Rose to use his mastery of music to create physical illusions. This music gives him power over his target's heart for as long as they are capable of hearing it and, as long as the target's heart is deceived, the illusions are realistic and powerful enough to physically damage the target and affect its surroundings as if they were real. The various attacks that the Bankai uses are delivered by way of various dances that the "Dancers" perform. Rose further controls these dances by conducting them with the blade of Kinshara which has taken the form of a conducting baton.

• Sea Drift (海流 (シードリフト), Shī Dorifuto): Rose has the figures surround his opponent and spin around until they appear to create a whirlpool of surging water. The target actually believes they are being drowned and constricted within the whirlpool whilst under the Bankai's effect.
  
  
• Prometheus (火山の使者 (プロメテウス), Purometeusu): Rose has the figures generate fire in their hands before engulfing his target in flames. The target actually believes they are being burned under the Bankai's effect and will manifest wounds to suggest severe burns after prolonged exposure.
  
  
• Tempestates (嵐の神々 (テンペステーツ), Tenpesutētsu): Rose has the figures reach upward with their bodies before calling down a volley of lightning bolts from the sky above to strike down around his target. The target actually believes the bolts have formed a cage around them and that the bright yellow bars are electrifying to the touch, constantly shocking anything that comes into contact with them whilst under the Bankai's effect.
  
  
• Ein Heldenleben (英雄の生涯 (アインヘルデンレーベン), Ain Herudenrēben): Rose has the figures form into a single line before his opponent, who is held in place by the overwhelming need to protect something just out of view behind them. Conjuring swords into their hands, each figure takes turns stabbing the target before returning to the back of the queue and summoning a new sword. The target actually believes that they are being constantly impaled by each blade but, perhaps more dangerously, they are so devoted to protecting what is behind them that they forget how to even breathe and will hold their breath until they suffocate if they are unable to endure the performance.
  
  
• Crescendo: Portes Du Ciel (音楽の頂点：天国の門 (クレッシェンド:ポルトデュシエル), Kuresshendo: Porutode Yushieru): Rose announces the crux of his performance with an ecstatic exclamation, as his voice resonates from all the figures in an angelic cacophony. The target actually believes that one of the twelve pearl gates of Heaven appears before them, ready to usher them into the afterlife, but, first, they are forced to relive all of their past sins. Even Rose cannot see what they do, instead, it is a torture of the target's own making that grows in intensity as they continue to stare at the open gates before them. It grips the target with an overpowering sensation of hopelessness as their willpower is drained, crushing those of lesser will under the weight of their despair to the point at which they are unable to even function anymore and powerless to resist Rose's attacks.

Kinshara Butōdan is able to target a number of targets equal to half the number of Dancers in the Troupe, though the effectiveness of each act is not diminished or amplified by the number of Dancers performing it. The effectiveness of each dance is based on Rose's Zanjutsu skill and modified accordingly by his Power Augmentation skill should he be wearing his Hollow Mask during the Bankai.

The base number of Dancers he is capable of creating is 6, and the number created increases by 2 for every two Spirit Class levels above 7 Rose is (eg. 2 at SC 5, 4 at SC 3, 6 at SC 1 etc.). This number additionally increases by 2 for each rank in Zanjutsu above Beginner that Rose possesses. This means that was Rose theoretically at SC1 with Grand Master Zanjutsu, his Bankai would create 22 Dancers.

Unlike many illusion-based Zanpakutô, Rose can actively control and manage who is affected by Kinshara Butōdan's spell and is thusly subjected to its effects. This is because, like Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, he can control his entire Bankai at a mental level and even more precisely with the use of his conducting baton. Those unaffected will still be able to hear Rose play and watch the Dancers perform, but are unable to see the exact nature of the effects of any dances that the illusion has created.

Simply covering one's ears is not enough to prevent the Bankai from seizing a target's heart, but if, for some reason or another, a target is totally incapable of hearing any sound at all then they are unable to fall under its spell and are immune to all of Rose's illusions. Much like those he chooses to be unaffected, they will still see the Dancers moving but perceive none of the illusory elements.



» Hollow Mask Appearance: Rose's Hollow mask resembles a medieval plague doctor's mask, protruding out from his face with a large beak whilst his eyes are hidden behind narrow black slits. The mask itself is not dissimilar from the face of his inner Hollow, though the details of the mask are less complex and the eyeslits are much narrower.


» Vizard Powers:

• Power Amplification: The primary function of using his Hollow Mask is amplifying Rose's already considerable Shinigami powers and improving his abilities far beyond normal means. From base strength to speed, Zanjutsu to Hoho, whilst wearing his Mask, Rose is considerably more dangerous and explosive in combat as his reactions are heightened to the point of being able to evade attacks without warning. At this enhanced level, he can easily defeat a Gillian-class Hollow without releasing his Zanpakutō.
  
  
• Cero: Given Kinshara's impressive range, it was not a pressing urge for Rose to master the cero like many of his fellow Vizard desired. Instead, he let his skill improve naturally over several centuries until it was finally useful to his performances and could work in tandem with his Zanjutsu abilities. Whilst perhaps lacking the power of many of his peers' cero, it is still a dangerous tool in his arsenal and not to be underestimated.
  
  
• Hollow Control: The relationship between Rose and his inner Hollow is not one of cooperation but one of pure subjugation. Being forced into making a pact with such a foul creature against his will during his conversion from Shinigami into Vizard was most unpleasant and, in the centuries since then, Rose has devoted much of his strength towards suppressing the Hollow within. Rose first referred to them as a disease, which would become the entity's chosen name, as they whispered black thoughts into the deepest recesses of his mind. Rose views his Inner Hollow's ability as an affront to his artistic style and flow, disgusted by their affinity for acidic attacks, and refuses to use their power even in the direst of situations to further exert his dominance.
  
  
• The Devil's Fingers: A most vile power in Rose's eyes, granted to him by his Inner Hollow in spite of his wishes. At his behest, a powerful aura of acidic corrosion can be emitted from the ends of his fingers, capable of melting through stone and metal alike should such come within close proximity of his hands. Flesh is even less safe from this technique and will begin to slough off when within a metre of him for any significant amount of time, eventually reaching a point of simply dissolving straight down and through the bone should his fingertips touch an exposed area.
  
  This aura can also spread to his Zanpakutô if Rose so chooses. Were this to occur, it would spread up the entire length of Kinshara giving it a rusted colouration instead of the usual gold, though the weapon itself would be undamaged. When affected in this manner, in addition to Kinshara's own abilities, being struck by the weapon would be akin to being in close proximity to his fingers as the weapon now has an aura of its own.
  
  Rose has trained for centuries to keep this ability in check and has achieved such mastery in this that only when faced with a complete hollowfication would he even consider using it.

» Resurrección Release Phrase: (What does your character say to transform into their Resurrección state? This is optional.)

» Resurrección Release Actions: (What kind of action does your character perform to transform into their Resurrección state? This is also optional.)

» Resurrección Appearance: (What does your character look like when they transform into their Resurrección state?)

» Resurrección Abilities: (When a character ascends to this state, they at their peak power. Please state what kind of powers that your Vizard obtains when ascending to this form.)



» Equipment: Outside of combat encounters, Rose is prone to carrying a guitar.



General Attributes

• Durability: B
  
• Speed: B
  
• Strength: C
  
• Soul: S
  

Shinigami Skills

• Hoho: Advanced
  
• Kidō: Advanced
  
• Zanjutsu: Elite
  
• Hakuda: Adept
  

Vizard Skills

• Power Augmentation Elite
  
• Hollow Control: Advanced
  

Will Skills

• Willpower/Determination: Elite
  
• Mental Deduction: Adept
  
• Focus: Elite
  

((Setting the tone.))

The atmosphere in the small theatre barely changed as a new figure enters from behind the curtain, a piano was already in position at the centre of the stage and the performer takes to their seat without even sparing a glance at the audience. A shock of blonde hair and a long, black suit is all they see as the coattails suddenly leap into action whilst nimble fingers start to glide over the bone-white keys with a natural grace. It is the beginning of a sombre melody, set in a slowly rising tempo, that sets the tone for the whole performance. As the music slowly builds towards its crescendo, the player's head swings back to look upward at the ceiling and his features are finally revealed.

Rose's gaze is surprisingly intense as he stares into the nothingness above the piano, memories clearly dancing through the back of his mind but hidden away from prying eyes behind lilac voids. His cheeks peel back to reveal a muted grimace as a solitary tear rolls down his face, out of view of many, and his fingers now hammer away at the keys with a ferocious intent as the piano shakes and reverberates in response. He can feel the audience's gaze upon him, a dozen or so souls judging him as he so brutally bears his heart, and yet he does not pause nor relent. For he does not see beyond the stage, even the realm beyond the piano is lost to him shortly, as all that remains is the pounding rhythm that his hands continue to work.

Then, as quickly as it began, the crescendo is over and a softer pace sets in once more. With a master's precision, Rose's fingers continue to flutter across the keys as his eyes wander for the first time to his surroundings. The rain seeps into the theatre from several cracks in a dilapidated roof, the walls showing similar signs of ageing, and the floorboards creak almost in time with his music, yet still, there is a homeliness to the hall. It is big enough for perhaps a hundred, but today there are only a dozen or so patrons whilst a bartender shines away at a dirty mug from over the counter.

Everyone was following the rhythm now though, hanging off Rose's every note, and, as his piece headed towards its final climax, he stood with a flourish to hammer out the last of the melody and flashed the onlookers a toothy smile. The shadow of his previously dark mood already vanished behind the mask of an entertainer. At that moment, he could feel their envy and their passion so he let it fuel those final notes with righteous vigour.

A quiet round of applause soon followed, though to Rose it might as well have been deafening. Collapsing back into his chair, he turned for the first time to the microphone at his side and leaned into it.

"Thank you, thank you. You were all so wonderful."

His business concluded, Rose eventually took his leave of the small theatre and headed out into the night. Rain poured down overhead, torrential enough to soak him through if he let it touch him but he did not deign to let it as he darted from shadow to shadow with night imperceptible speed. He was about halfway to his apartment when his ears perked up, sensing something out of the ordinary in his vicinity, and he cocked his head in the direction of the noise. It was several blocks away, but the sound was distinct - a rogue Hollow on the prowl. Perhaps it was not his place to intervene anymore, he had certainly chosen negligence plenty of times before, but after a night of such revelry, he was feeling a touch more benevolent than usual.

A hand now resting upon the hilt of his weapon, Rose shifted his course toward the disturbance. It took only a matter of seconds to find the creature, arriving as it towered over a human couple who were frozen in place by fear.

There would be two performances in one night, how exhausting.

The creature's hands reached out for the innocents, the gap between them too short for a Vizard to bridge in time, but Rose did not move forward. Instead, he lifted his Zanpakutō before him and struck a heroic pose as the weapon began to emit golden light.

END OF THE VIZARD APPLICATION