[Spirit Class 4 | Hazard B] Hyosuke Niyagata

Thu Oct 13, 2022 2:22 am

THE SHINIGAMI TEMPLATE

Enter The Shinigami
非再生可能

I. Basic Information

» Name: Hyosuke Niyagata
» Alias: Lord Niyagata (Formally);The Crimson Dancer; Weaver of Blood; Red-Eyed Butcher; The Twinblade Lord; Former Captain
» Age: 526
» Gender: Male

» Association: The Niyagata Clan; Soul Society; Formerly of the Gotei

» Appearance Written: Hyosuke Niyagata is a tall, well-muscled Shinigami with a young appearance despite his age. Sharp, angular and handsome features make his appearance rather nebulous when deciding what age 'category' one might place him in. At times when he is forced to adopt a stern expression he seems very much a man of rugged late adulthood, yet other times when smiling or laughing he appears quite a bit younger than he might otherwise. His head and face are capped and, subsequently, framed by long, luxuriantly sweeping black hair that cascades down his body.

Of Hyosuke's body to call him fit or muscular would be a disservice, by his own estimation, as he has religiously honed himself into a weapon and warrior for the purposes of a Shinigami. Should anyone ever get a peak of what lies under his loosely fitting robes they would find a physique in an unparalleled prime, wrought and forged of countless hours of exertion with the blade and only slightly fewer hours in pitched battle.

Of small note, Hyosuke always wears an eyepatch over his right eye. Very few, if any, living people in Soul Society have seen him without it.

» Appearance Image:

Casual:

Headshot:

I. Personality

» Personality:

Hyosuke Niyagata is a man defined by his conviction and devotion to what he believes to be the absolute, unshakeable purpose of Soul Society. That being the safeguarding of mortal souls and the eradication, hunting and banishing of Hollows and other more destructive creatures wherever they can be found. It is his solitary belief that it is the duty of all Shinigami to execute this duty, to hone themselves in both mind and body, to better pursue this purpose.

All this being said, he is not a man of absolute obsession to the point of denying anything not related to this goal. People still have to LIVE, after all, outside of that which is their purpose and Lord Niyagata sees the balance of dedication to the goals of the Shinigami along with experiencing actual life to be one and the same process. After all he learned long ago that it quickly becomes impossible for a Shinigami to understand and protect humanity if they devote themselves to an idea to such an extent they become less than human.

Outside of his convictions surrounding his belief of what a Shinigami should be Hyosuke is rather laid back when not focusing on his duties. Possessing a very strict, very rigidly mentally enforced dividing line between who he is when functioning in his capacity as a Shinigami and who he is when he is simply head of the Niyagata Clan and can often be found wandering the Rukongai, even into higher numbered districts, to visit various shops and, particularly, hot springs found there. Possessing a certain fondness for using hot springs in order to relax and recuperate.

However, it should be noted that, due to his past, Hyosuke has developed a deep-seated, buried rage he has shown to non of his contemporaries in the Soul Society. The only individuals to ever see it are all dead, whether by his hand or not, and while when calm he is a charming, cunning individual this anger has never dwindled, never left him and remains expressed in his pride and indignation towards other beings all the same.

All that being said Hyosuke's devotion to the role of Shinigami, allegiance to Soul Society and deep-seated anger does not necessarily extend to his belief in the body of the Gotei itself. In truth in more recent decades he has found the current Gotei's willingness to associate with Hollows, Quincy and other beings to be rather..... distasteful. In truth it would not be a stretch to say Hyosuke despises Hollows and, by extension, Arrancar. Those of mixed descent like the Vizard he pities, seeing them as 'dirtied' but still, somewhat, Shinigami. Meanwhile he views the Quincy as, put simply, fools and children playing at a role that is not meant to be their own. While he would still be cordial toward a Quincy it is not a stretch to say that he would be polite, if not a bit patronizing.

Of the other kinds of beings found in the realms he has a very neutral opinion of Denava, finding them to be simple oddities that are best left alone but Demons he harbors a disgust for nearly equal to what he feels towards Hollows. They are, put simply, the refuse of reality that it is the duty of Shinigami such as himself to eliminate. Nothing more, nothing less, and while Arrancar can wear the skin and face of a person they are, undeniably and forever, beasts and creatures to be abhorred.

I. History

» History:

Ignoble Beginnings:

Bloody Ascension:

As an Experiment:

Proving himself a resourceful and cunning child Hyosuke lived more or less without serious issue in the Rukongai for a year or so, stealing what he could, making what he could of a life for himself, and seizing on every opportunity to pull and tear himself out of a life of squalor as he could. So it came to be that Hyosuke took up the offer of a man claiming to be from the legendary Soul Society. A man who had gathered other children and young men like himself for induction into Shin'o Academy with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a Shinigami!

This, as Hyosuke would come to learn, was a promise too good to be true. Indeed the children and young men were taken and they WERE trained, but not as Shinigami and certainly not at Shin'o Academy. No. Instead they were not gods of death, but it's penultimate victims. Hyosuke never knew who the man, or men, in charge of all this were but everyone who was taken by them were forced into bloody mock wars. Were cloned, remade, healed, stitched and forced back into fighting shape over and over. From being split into two groups and made to fight to the death, to being put into free-for-all's and ordered to secure a flag to a certain point for victory, Hyosuke was put into trial after trial, blood-sport after blood-sport, and, eventually, not only survived but became the one thing the people behind those experiments desired one of them to be.... powerful.....

As a Finished Product:

Water ran over Hyosuke in a pouring deluge of rain, cold, wet and unwelcome like the grasping hands of a million water-slick corpses seeking to drag him up into a cold, mist-laden hell. His breathing was sharp, soft white clouds of breathe wafting in front of him as his calloused, raw and bleeding hands twisting onto the pommel of the blade in his grasp. It's tip shaking softly as he leveled it's chipped, damaged point toward the only living enemy left. A boy much like himself but bald, who bore a deep gash on his left arm, and warily waded Hyosuke away with a vicious looking cleaver. Angling it inward in a wary, guarded stance.

Hyosuke began to move, slowly, with numb, cold legs and almost stumbled as his foot lightly touched the water-logged corpse of one who had already died. His throat seized, terror gripping him, and he had to fight the urge to look down. His mind screaming at him both that he was surrounded by the dead, by corpses, by what were once PEOPLE, while also screeching in primal, survivalist fear that to look down, to hesitate, to see the milky dead eyes of the person's body he had touched.... would be the death of him..... and so he didn't.

His opponent, however, lost that battle of wills. The boy's eyes briefly flickered down, checking why Hyosuke had stopped moving, and the moment his eyes fell upon the corpse Hyosuke's heart was gripped with sorrow because of a single fact.... he had won... and that boy was dead. He saw it all even as he stepped in, over the corpse, blade drawing back, and preparing to strike the entire time. The body, no older than he cracked, his numb hands dropped the cleaver, his face wrinkled in sorrow, his mouth opening in a maddened wail of crying screams, and he broke. Screaming, begging for his mother, for the Shinigami, for anyone or anything to save him from this hell.... and the only one who answered was Hyosuke by driving a blade into his screaming neck

Only after the boy's body fell, only after Hyosuke stood there, silent and choked to breathlessness,, did his hands begin to shake and the sword fell limply from his grasp. He lifted them, slowly, his blood-splattered hands, even as the ones who had trapped him, taken him, approached and congratulated him... he stared at his bloodied hands that never seemed to come clean, no matter how the sky wept down upon them. No matter if it rained or poured, if he scrubbed them together, or if the the rain was joined softly by the falling of his tears, the blood. Never. Left.

By the overseers he was taken, he was bathed, they talked and murmured about how he was the one, the one who had survived, who had triumphed, and they finally spoke to him in voices other than threatening death or giving commands. They praised him, instructed him, they placed an eyepatch upon his newly reddened eyes 'as a reward' they said. His mind was bombarded with more prompts, more words, as his face was adorned with an eyepatch that hurt him and bandages that soothed him.

'You will be given something else.'

'It is yours.....'

'...An Asauchi, don't ask how we got it. Hehehe.'

As a Scared Monster:

Hyosuke was then given a bed, or something much more like a bed than he had ever had, bundled up with the rough, vicious looking sword, and for the first time in a long, long time he was able to achieve something like sleep. This sleep was short-lived, however, as it felt as if he had barely closed his eyes when he heard the sounds of fighting, of dying, sounds he now knew too well. While he was, indeed, frightened overnight that vicious looking sword had become a soft, beautiful umbrella, something to shield him from the rain he so viciously hated now. Something that, in this place of darkness, brought him some small measure of comfort.

Once more steeling himself, wearily, Hyosuke found the long umbrella too unwieldly for his exhausted, thin, weak arms to wield properly and so he bundled it into his arms. So tired, so weary, so willing to face death yet too numb to fight it was he, that he hobbled out into the rain, finding the building he was in empty, finding no one to instruct or greet him, to command or beat him, Hyosuke wandered out into the rain, into the aftermath of a battle. There he found the men who he had feared so much, the men who had taken so much from him, slain and dead at the hands of a single Shinigami. An older man in white and black robes of fine make, a man who thought him an enemy at first, who readied himself for battle before seeing the child. This man who had found him, this man who would go to him, this man who would lift him and hug him, who would keep him warm against this rain, this man who would go on to be his father....

Now a Niyagata:

Finally a Child:

For the first time in his life luck and fortune would smile down on Hyosuke as the Shinigami who found him, Usui Niyagata, was head of a noble, wealthy family and while Usui had often cursed his fate for it, had been unable to produce an heir with his wife. Such as things were it came to pass that Hyosuke was taken in by this family, adopted fully, and made the eldest son of the Niyagata family. A far cry from the blood sport he had been subjected to Hyosuke now sat in the lap of luxury and love, in particular growing to enjoy hot baths and spas, the opposite of cold rain, and he was happy.

Not all was perfection in paradise, however, as even though Usui trained, instructed and lectured the young Hyosuke on how to be a noble he was, at heart, a very traditional Patriarch. It was no small secret that, even though Usui loved Hyosuke as his son, the Patriarch of the Hiyagata family still desired a son of his own. This, for the longest time, hurt Hyosuke who, in his youth, decided that if who he was now did not make his father completely happy, would resolve himself to everything Usui taught him, to be the best son he could be. Thus it came to pass that Hyosuke devoted himself fully to his studies, his lessons, his etiquette and training, and, finally, when he was truly introduced to Shin'o Academy, to the practices of the Shinigami.

As a Student:

From yet another grueling session of merciless training did Hyosuke emerge, hands blistered and sore from training, mind whirling with lessons from studying, did Hyosuke return to his room through the Niyagata Estate. The soft timbre of his father's voice drew his attention, however, to a small, special room. Never having quite shook his cunning, devious nature, Hyosuke could not help himself but to peek and, seeing his father knelt before what he stood to be the inherited Zanpakuto of the Niyagata family, not wielded since it's founding member, did Hyosuke hear him silently pray for a son to join Hyosuke. Hiding until his father retired to bed the young, sore, battered and tired Hyosuke quietly entered the room, his wide singular eye staring in awe at the weapon before him, his small hand gently touching the hilt, feeling a soft tingle, before he respectfully knelt where Usui had and offered his own silent prayer to echo his father's.

'[i]Anything.... to make father happy.....'

As a Hopeful Son:

As a Brother and Son:

With Junpaku:

By some unknown means it was barely a year after this profound night that, for a moment, both Usui and Hyosuke were truly, sincerely, elated. Their prayers had been answered, his mother was pregnant, and in but the blink of an eye a new member joined their family. This new son they named Junpaku and from the moment he was old enough to communicate with, and be beside Hyosuke, the two were inseparable.

Compared to Hyosuke's devoted, cunning and all-around very vigorous approach to life Junpaku was much lore laid back and contemplative, temperate and empathetic. The two, like day and night, complimented the other and, indeed, even participated at the Academy together once Junpaku was old enough. Taking time to train, study and practice together at every opportunity. The two brothers truly loved each other.

This story, however, while not taking a sorrowful turn out of purpose or spite, does not end well for the growing Hyosuke, now a young man, and well aware of the fact that over the years Usui had begun to favor the seemingly more fragile, level-headed Junpaku to be head of the clan and, though Hyosuke did not really mind the position being taken, he was deeply hurt by Usui's ever-increasing obvious favoritism and, separately, was spurred on by a combination of his frustration with the Soul Society's changing nature, as he had truly adopted Usui's more hard-line, traditional stances and mindset when dealing with the Soul Society, but Usui also took his own frustrations with the Soul Society out on Hyosuke. Making his training more vigorous, sparing his brother it all, and due to Junpaku's laid back nature slowly driving a wedge between the once inseparable brothers.

None but Hyosuke knows what happened one fateful night, during which Hyosuke and his brother argued for the very first time before the shrine the Zanpakuto was at, their argument lasted hours, their voices raising and falling, tears were shed and, finally, all that was known to anyone else is that when Usui entered the room to check on the two the only one he found was a bewildered, shaking Hyosuke, holding the familial Zanpakuto in his shaking, bloody hands. Usui, incensed to a mad rage by the seeming murder of Junpaku by Hyosuke, attacked his son and, once again fighting for his life, Hyosuke slew the man who had saved him, who had taken him in, and given him a life. As Usui died and Hyosuke wept, explaining what had happened to his dying father, attendants of the Clan arrived to tend to their dying master who, forgiving his son in his last moments, apologized to him, claimed that Junpaku had fled and named Hyosuke his successor before passing away.

That night, for reasons unknown to Hyosuke until centuries later, his mother also died of unknown circumstances. Leaving him well and truly alone again, except now instead of a blood-drenched battlefield it was on the opposite end of reality as noble, powerful Lord, with no one to love and share it with.....

Alone Again:

As a Captain:

To be a Shinigami:

The New Captain:

A Game of Cat and Mouse:

Hyosuke's Game:

Aftermath of War:

As a Lord:

I. Natural Abilities

» Natural Abilities:

Kido Savant: Hyosuke possesses a singularly, startling affinity for the art of Kido, as well as most of it's advancements and derivatives. While still pursuing true Mastery this is manifested in Hyosuke needing only say the name of the Kido in question to use it, treating the name of the Kido itself as it's incantation, but is not true silent casting as of yet. Only a mid-point between true incantation and silent casting.

Preternatural Weaponmaster: Ever seeking the approval and acceptance of his father Hyosuke has spent countless, innumerable hours honing himself to combat a plethora of battlefield weaponry with a sword. Making him a true demon with the blade even to those near in skill to himself.

Strength Befitting a Lord: Hyosuke's Spiritual Energy is noted as being massively potent in it's potential. A potential he is yet to truly achieve but, perhaps, one he could come to fully realize in time.

An Infamous Eye-Patch: Though not the exact same one worn by a certain previous Captain, Hyosuke's eyepatch nonetheless functions similarly to that very same eyepatch. However Hyosuke's energy is much different than the aforementioned captain and the eyepatch he wears is able to successfully lower his spiritual energy down by two Spirit Classes, such as from SC4 to SC6 for example, as well as preventing Hyosuke from entering his Bankai while it is worn.

I. Racial Abilities

» Racial Abilities:

Gankona chinomichi: While in it's Sealed State Benicho Kogo's Wagisa maintains the same level of strength and sturdiness as it's metallic blade, even on the usually fabric-made bits of the Wagisa. This leades to Hyosuke having a very uinique fighting style while his Zanpakuto is Sealed. Namely, he uses Benicho Kogo as almost a shield while manipulating his blood for offense from around it.

Butcher's Dance: Over his many centuries of combat Hyosuke has developed a specialized form of Zanjutsu focusing on draw-cuts and angled lacerations with his Zanpakuto mixed with incredibly efficient dueling forms to enable his blows to draw especially grievous bleeding wounds.

Flowing Form: In addition to Butcher's Dance effecting his actual strikes, Flowing Form denotes Hyosuke's ability to adjust his fighting style between offensive and defensive postures with great efficiency. This has the benefit of making him exceptionally able at seeing through feints and blocking ripostes from other skilled opponents.

Mathematical Swordsmanship: As the abilities of his Zanpakuto will make more clear Hyosuke's style of fighting also weaves multiples attacks from a variety of angles into it's free-flowing form. Making Hyosuke's dance-like style of fighting an eternal calculus of subconsciously judging angles, distances and positioning to a very high degree.

Blood Magic: While it is a misconception that Hyosuke uses blood to cast his Kido it is not one to say that given his fighting style he is not incredibly able to weave the use of Kido into his strikes and may use blood to enhance his Kido. As a very unique alteration brought on by his innate skill with Kido and his Zanpakuto if Hyosuke can gather a handful of his opponents blood when releasing a Kido that blood will evaporate and the Kido in question will be able to track the target, provided the Kido in question is one that would utilize the property. This tracking results in any applicable Kido being able to alter it's trajectory by up to 45 degrees during travel.

Heart-Essence Step: Due to his skill in Hoho Hyosuke is capable of utilizing a specially designed Shunpo should he find himself standing on a sufficiently sized bloody surface. Intriguingly this Shunpo application is rather short-ranged and, depending on Hyosuke's state of release, is itself altered. Flash-stepping a rather short distance with Heart-Essence Step in a manner that prioritizes precision over distance Hyosuke is able to use his abilities to use the surface-tension of the blood and his resulting manipulation of it to propel himself with startling quickness. While the blood utilized for this technique forms up into a number of Blood clones depending on his release state. One if Benicho-Kogo is Sealed, Two if it is in Shikai and Three if it is in Bankai. These clones take the form of Benicho-Kogo's spirit appearance and, in the moment the Shunpo is used, form into distinct poses depending on Hyosuke's direction.

I. Sealed Powers

» Zanpakutô Name: Benichō Kogo

» Zanpakutô Spirit Appearance:

Benicho Kogo Appearance:

» Inner World:

The Crimson Palace:

Hyosuke's Inner World takes the form of a stoic palace of deep, dark reds and depthless blacks. Rivers of blood crisscross the pristine landscape and soft, white butterflies flutter placidly around his odd place. The palace is always pristinely maintained and during every visit Hyosuke and Benicho Kogo engage in combat until Benicho Kogo is satisfied by his performance, eternally testing her wielder as they ascend in power.

» Sealed Zanpakutô Appearance:

Sealed Appearance:

When Sealed Benicho Kogo takes the form of a large red Wagasa of fine make, with softly luminescent crimson butterflies occasionally fluttering from it's fabric .

» Sealed Zanpakutô Power:

Weaver of Blood: While Sealed Benicho Kogo allows Hyosuke to manipulate his own blood while it is within 5 meters of Hyosuke.

The Crimson Dance: While Sealed Benicho Kogo is able to phase itself out of any of Hyosuke's blood if the surface of blood is large enough to accommodate it's form and the blood is within the range set by Weaver of Blood. A single drop, for example, would not be broad or wide enough for the umbrella to emerge from.

I. Shikai

» Shikai Release Phrase: Begin a reign of crimson Benicho Kogo!

» Shikai Release Action: Upon releasing his Shikai Hyosuke stabs the tip of Benicho Kogo's Wagasa form into his palm, drawing blood.

» Shikai Appearance:

Shikai Appearance:

» Shikai Abilities:

Enhanced Weaver of Blood: When in it's Shikai Benicho Kogo extends the range Hyosuke can manipulate his blood out to 10 meters. Additionally the speed and finesse they are able to employ when manipulating his blood is such that Benicho Kogo can harden his blood, allowing Hyosuke to catch enemy weapons inside his own body.

Lord of Blood: While in Shikai Benicho Kogo will slowly transmute and coagulate all liquids within 10 meters into Hyosuke's own blood over the course of 2 posts. Provided these liquids are not within the body of an individual.

Bloodsong: Upon entering Shikai Hyosuke gains a 6th sense that allows him to sense any and all blood within 10 meters separate from his other senses or sensory abilities. It is worth noting that other abilities that mask, distort or otherwise alter the vital functions of an individual's body can fool this ability, provided the user's Focus is equal to or greater than Hyosuke's.

I. Bankai

» Bankai Release Phrase: Rule the essence of their hearts, Benicho Kogo!

» Bankai Release Action: Upon stating the release phrase Hyosuke coats Benicho Kogo in blood before cutting their eyepatch free.

» Bankai Appearance:

Bankai Appearance:

Upon ascending to Bankai Benicho Kogo's sword form does not change in appearance, rather it's change in appearance is more related to Hyosuke himself. After releasing his Bankai six blade tendrils emerge from Hyosuke's back, each one 5 meters long individually and bearing sharp, barbed tips and serrated edges to draw blood with.

» Bankai Abilities:

Master of Blood: The range of 'Enhanced Weaver of Blood', 'Enhanced Crimson Dance' and 'Bloodsong' extend to 30 meters. Additionally, all liquids not inside the body of an individual within 30 meters coagulate into Hyosuke's blood over two posts. Finally, in this state his Bankai grants Hyosuke the ability to phase Benicho Kogo through the blood of others and control the blood of others, however, he cannot control the blood of others while it is within their bodies.

Flowing Blade: Benicho Kogo's blade and blade-tendril forms are able to turn themselves into flowing, liquid blood on command while maintaining their shape. This allows them to potentially slip through cracks or other small spaces a liquid could move through, and allows Hyosuke to change their form from liquid to solid with enough efficiency to potentially catch an opponent's blade within one of his own.

Archmage of Blood: With the expanded powers of his Bankai, and an advancement of his natural 'Blood Magic' ability, Hyosuke is now able to phase his Kido through blood sources within 30 meters just as he would Benicho Kogo itself. Provided, of course, the blood surface is large enough to accommodate what the Kido generates.

I. Equipment

» Equipment:
- Energy Draining Eye-Patch
- Bloody Raiment

I. Weaknesses

1. Blood is Blood: Until unleashing his Zanpakuto Hyosuke possesses only a very limited amount of his own blood he can utilize for combat and unless he wishes to spend valuable time casting Kaido on himself he must keep stringent track of his blood loss. Thankfully, Benicho Kogo allows Hyosuke to endure the mortal limit of blood loss before he begins to weaken, leaving Hyosuke with four liters of blood to utilize in his Base or Shikai release.

2. Limited Area of Effect: As a side-effect of the above weakness Hyosuke is a duelist in every sense of the word as without releasing his Bankai his area of effect is not large at all. This makes Hyosuke very reliant on Kido for handling large groups in a timely manner without his Bankai.

3. Conductive Reasoning: Blood is, quite simply, a liquid and conducts electricity much the same as other liquids. Meaning that while manipulating blood that touches his own body his attacks are vulnerable to interception by electricity-based attacks.

I. Skill Sheet

(To Find Out about what these skills are for, please READ THIS THREAD before you try doing anything to it)

General Skills

Durability: Adept
General Speed: Advanced
Strength: Adept
Martial Skill: Elite

Will Skills

Willpower/Determination: Advanced
Mental Deduction: Advanced
Focus: Advanced

Shinigami Skills

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

I. Role Play Sample

» Roleplay Sample: [Please show us how you role play by either posting a previous post from another site or creating a new one. We do this so we know your RP skill. If you already have an accepted, you need not do another RP sample]

END OF THE SHINIGAMI APPLICATION

Fri Oct 21, 2022 3:02 pm

[adm]Whilst it is possible for a family to have a Zanpakuto that is inherited by a specific bloodline, and thus - in theory - a Shinigami could come to possess two different Zanpakuto, the sheer uniqueness of this possibility means that we would have to require an OTY wish for this to be approvable. The desired power level of this character is equally abnormal to such a level that the use of a wish would make it much easier to approve, however, in the absence of that, we're going to have to ask that you take things down a notch too.

Bring it down to one Zanpakuto, which may require a significant amount of restructuring in the bio and abilities, and then we can look to progress this application.

If you have any further questions about this application, feel free to ask.
[/adm]

Sat Nov 12, 2022 10:01 pm

- Removed active use of Second Zanpakuto, kept as story element in backstory.

- Integrated abilities into single Zanpakuto, no changes to actual ability effects, just names.

- Removed racial and natural abilities relating to second Zanpakuto

Tue Nov 22, 2022 2:41 am

[adm]

>History

There's a lot here that is left unclear or intentionally vague. Why is it written like this? We need accurate history to grade not subjective or unreliable narration.

>Kido Savant

This is not approvable because it requires Master Kido skill, remove it.

>Absolute Dedication

Is this not just a personality trait?

>Strength Befitting a Lord && An Infamous Eye-Patch

It is fine for him to have a great spiritual pressure, but not to the level I believe you want this character to have.

>Eternally Silent

Again, this represents a mastery of Kido well above the level presented in this app. Remove this.

>Blood Magic

What does a moderate affinity mean in this context?

>Sealed Zanpakuto Powers

All of these abilities are too strong for sealed powers, and would better fit as Shikai powers or can be removed.

>Noble Authority

Add OOC consent clause, or add further counterplay to this ability.

>Shikai

>Enhanced Crimson Dance

Blood has to be external, just clarifying that was the intent.

>Bloodsong

Given that this would make it impossible to sneak up on him as written, remove this.

>Unrelenting Majesty

Add OOC consent clause, or add further counterplay to this ability. Remember it is a shikai ability. Consider moving to Bankai.

>Crimson-Eyed Fury

Is there an intended scale for this? Currently it is too nebulous to be approved.

>Bankai

>Master of Blood

Remove this.

>Unassailable Nobility

Remove this.

>A Lord's Undying Will

I think this is referring to a missing ability.

>Crimson-Eyed Rage

Skill improvements cap at Elite.

>Flowing Blade

Remove this.

>Skills

Speed down to Adept

Strength down to Adept

Martial Skill needs more detail and elaboration to justify Elite, which is clearly the intention of this app. Focus in particular on Hyosuke's aptitude with martial arts and skill with different styles.

Hoho down to Adept

Mental Deduction down to Adept[/adm]

Mon Dec 05, 2022 12:22 am

Applied all changes discussed with staff as detailed below:

- Expand Captain Section to include hunting down and elimination of group from past, flesh out Captain-level details

- Change Kido stuff to be diluted version of silent casting (Done)

- Clarify spiritual pressure is different to Zaraki. Eyepatch nerfs down 1 Tier (Done)

- Clarify tracking of Blood Magic to at most be a 45 degree angle of movement (Done)

- Remove abilities from what was Second Zanpakuto (Done)

- Clarify blood control must be external (Done)

- Bloodsong: Clarify counterplay for stealth abilities (Done)

- Remove buffing abilities (Done)

- Specify ability effects external liquids and does not kill people (Done)

- Clarify "Flowing Blade" (Done)

- Add "Weaknesses" section (Done)

Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:31 pm

[adm]

History

Hyosuke's involvement in the actual war itself was a comparatively small thing, acting in the most drive, and most literal, sense of what the Ninth Division was about: involvement in the Muguruma Commando Unit.

Wasn't the Muguruma Commando unit wiped out a hundred years prior to the Winter War?

This confrontation, with the exact details now dwelling only in Hyosuke's mind and personality, did much to harden Hyosuke's resolve into what it is now.

What are the exact details? If these details are so impactful to Hyosuke then it would be good to expand on them here.

Kido Savant:

To confirm, Hyosuke can still only cast spells at 75% power when using Incantation Abandonment.

Absolute Dedication:

This is still just a personality trait unless I am missing something.

An Infamous Eye-Patch:

Do you mean this would reduce Hyosuke's tier from say 3-3 to 3-4, or 3-3 to 4-3?

What is in a name:

That isn't how that works. Hyosuke is still beholden to the Shinigami racial specs.

Enhanced Crimson Dance:

If his Bankai lets Hyosuke manipulate the blood of others, this should only work on his own blood at Shikai level.

Bloodsong:

Change to "equal to or greater than" on the focus check.

» Bankai Release Action: Upon stating the release phrase Hyosuke impales himself in the heart with Oduru Benicho.

Wouldn't this just kill or seriously inhibit Hyosuke? Like, if he stabs himself through the heart that's a pretty serious injury. If this is just for flavour, make that part clear.

Master of Blood:

It is worth mentioning that even in this state Hysouke is only able to manipulate the blood inside his own body, not control the blood of others while it is within their bodies.

I think I know what you were going for with this, but it reads a little confusing. Just clarify that he cannot control the blood of others when it is within their bodies and remove the first part.

Weaknesses

Blood is Blood:

Is there a missing ability that covers how Hyosuke can endure the mortal limit of blood loss?

Controlled but Vulnerable:

This isn't a weakness as much as it is a self-imposed handicap, and probably not worth mentioning here.

Skills

Speed down to Adept

Strength down to Adept

Hoho down to Adept

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Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:57 pm

1. I'm honestly not sure, as that was never lore mentioned to me, but whether or not the Gotei at the time would have left it destroyed is a good question I think. If not, then I think it's reasonable to assume the Commando Unit would be reinstated and repopulated, but if so I can add a statement about Hyosuke reforming it for a short time for his own purposes. Whichever you'd prefer to see.

2. Details added

3. Clarified KIdo Savant a bit to show his progression and current status in comparison to his goal of Kido Mastery.

4.Removed Absolute Dedication. My bad, missed it last time.

5. It'd be a whole Tier drop. So from 2-5 to 3-5. Added small example of this.

6. Removed What's In a Name.

7. I think there's a little haziness with Enhanced Crimson Dance. It only lets his Zanpakuto phase in and out of blood surfaces belonging to the blood of others. Not outright control their blood as of yet as it's something that the Zanpakuto escalates into sequentially like his refinement of Kido. He doesn't get the whole thing right off the rip, so to speak. I can try to clarify that further but it is explicitly stated between this and Enhanced Weaver of Blood that he can still only manipulate his own blood, and phase Benicho Kogo out of the blood of others. Any recommendations for that if you'd like me to add anything?

8. Added bit to Bloodsong.

9. Changed the Bankai Release action. This was a hold-over of detail from when Regeneration was still part of his kit to keep the wound from being instantly crippling. Good catch.

10. Removed first clarifying bit of "Master of Blood".

11. For "Blood is Blood" it's less a "missing ability" and more that with how his abilities work he's able to control and make more efficient use of the blood still in his body. Keeping it flowing where it needs to go and more creatively applying his pre-existing abilities.

12. Removed "Controlled but Vulnerable". The original intent was capitalizing more on the "He CANNOT use his Bankai while wearing it" so if an attack or threat he would require his Bankai to contend with appeared and struck before he could remove it, it would be the same as being surprised by a fight while one hand is tied behind your back.

13. Included examples of Skill usage of indicated level.

Fri Jan 06, 2023 11:31 pm

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I'm honestly not sure, as that was never lore mentioned to me, but whether or not the Gotei at the time would have left it destroyed is a good question I think. If not, then I think it's reasonable to assume the Commando Unit would be reinstated and repopulated, but if so I can add a statement about Hyosuke reforming it for a short time for his own purposes. Whichever you'd prefer to see.

Given that the unit was named after Kensei, who was then exiled from Soul Society, it would likely be a strange choice to name it after an exiled Shinigami. That said, it's not entirely impossible that the unit was reformed in some semblance of the original image, perhaps as a subtle joke by Tosen, so I'll let you have the commando unit.

I think there's a little haziness with Enhanced Crimson Dance. It only lets his Zanpakuto phase in and out of blood surfaces belonging to the blood of others. Not outright control their blood as of yet as it's something that the Zanpakuto escalates into sequentially like his refinement of Kido. He doesn't get the whole thing right off the rip, so to speak. I can try to clarify that further but it is explicitly stated between this and Enhanced Weaver of Blood that he can still only manipulate his own blood, and phase Benicho Kogo out of the blood of others. Any recommendations for that if you'd like me to add anything?

Is phasing his weapon out of someone else's blood not manipulating it? I appreciate it is not the whole thing, but it still looks like it is outside of the bounds outlined by his Shikai.

Included examples of Skill usage of indicated level.

Maybe it's buried in there somewhere but I only see a new Shunpo-related ability and, whilst that just about meets what I could use to also justify Speed and Hoho given his status and history, I see nothing particular for Strength so please bring that down to Adept.

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Fri Jan 06, 2023 11:45 pm

1. Fair enough, it's appreciated.

2. I mean to avoid quoting the definition of manipulate I think it's more of a passive use of an environmental effect. Like if someone with a fire-based Zanpakuto could teleport to nearby flames. While, yes, the substance is being used it's not outright being controlled. Not meaning to split hairs here it's meant to be a fine point between Sealed and Bankai to show how the ability changes per stage. Rather than just make each stage "the same thing but stronger" so to speak.

3. The Strength feats, I admit, were a bit more thematically buried than the other two they revolved more around blocking the strikes the demon delivered that were of such force, as the backstory states, that even being blocked the excess wind blast was still enough to demolish a wall and an unblocked attack smashed through a foundation and still kicked up enough dirt to cloud an entire room. Given that Advanced Strength is listed as roughly a tank round of firepower per blow those seemed fitting to me.

4. Also as a small addition I know writers can generally suggest or ask for a rough range of Tier for a character, though you guys are under no compulsions to go with them, I will admit my expressed range for Hyosuke has shifted upwards a bit from where previously discussed. Especially after getting into some of the more hard feats in the demon fight. As I remember discussing with you and Rawk before I was aiming for mid to high 2-X for Hyosuke but after some more reference to other characters around that range I'd like to ask considering that a bit more weight be given to this. Whether or not the Strength change is something you feel is intrinsic for approval. I think it stands to reason as, even after removing an entire second Zanpakuto's worth of writing, this iteration of Hyosuke now possesses more feats, abilities and effort put into the app than before.

Sat Jan 07, 2023 12:20 am

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2.

As we're in the business of splitting hairs, I would say that materialising your sword out of a pool of blood is manipulating said pool of blood. It directly influences the thing in question, so I don't see anything passive about it really.

3.

If that is the evidence then I will still fall in favour of Adept Strength. This does not make Hyosuke weak by any measure of the word, and he can still blow out the occasional wall or kick up a dust cloud with his moves.

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[Spirit Class 4 | Hazard B] Hyosuke Niyagata

[Spirit Class 4 | Hazard B] Hyosuke Niyagata

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