[Spirit Class 4] Kazura "Kazu" Yukiyama [Arc Character]

» Name: Kazura Yukiyama 蔓 » Alias: Kazu, The Sparrow Catcher, Yukiyama Chieftess. » Age: Unknown » Gender: Female » Race: Beast Clan » Affiliations: Yukiyama Alliance Chief » Alignment: True Neutral » Marital Status: Single » Curse Root: Canis Lupos Arctos » Markings: Scars along the throat and down her left shoulder to her hip. » Height: 6'1" » Fur Color: White-Grey » Eye Color: Red

» Association: Beast Realm Yukiyama 雪山 Clan Alliance

» Appearance Written:

Kazu has pale shock white fur, though a slight mask of black crosses her eyes and adds a bit of distinction from several of her brothers, she from most angles can stick out in most climates, though in her Clan's home in the outer rukongai mountains, this usually serves excellent camouflage. Towering over most human females, Kazu stands at 6'1" and has a thick frame. Lacking the extent of secondary sex characteristics that humans usually have, one can sometimes mistake her for a male if you aren't from a Beast Clan.


» Personality:


A driven and pragmatic woman. Kazu is technically the Heiress of the Yukiyama clan amongst the Cursed Beast Families. She is a personable type and even despite her enormous size and intimidating features, she has a playful and even approachable mannerism to her that was well received by her peers, though looked down on by her elders. However, it is the wisdom sitting behind that smile which has garnered her respect.

Kazu has an unerring ethic about her duty to her family as well as the Cursed Clans in general. Not only has she an interest in one day properly taking the head position in her family, but she intends to hold sway over all of the Cursed in the soul society and beyond. To this end, she aims to lead by example, and will often take the first step and show her followers the way when trying to introduce others into something new.

Towards strangers and outsiders, Kazu comes off as very lax and understanding. Finding nice simple terms and round about ways to convey what shes trying to get across, and even going out of her way to make sure she's understood. In this way, she can seem almost motherly as she has a tremendous amount of patience when it comes to helping someone understand something, and even in the midst of an argument, she maintains composure and seldom resorts to tactics such as insult or slander. If she can't invalidate a view, she will accept the possibility that she may be wrong, at the very least.


» History:


Kazu grew up as the Heiress to the Yukiyama Clan in the outer rukongai. Isolate from the majority of the other sections of soul society, there was of course interactions with the other cursed villages. A community that though diverse and with varying levels of cooperation or antagonism, still shared in the joint lot they were cast in life. It wasn't until she was a few decades old that she saw her first normal soul from afar. And another four years after that until she met one up close.

She learned very quickly the aversion souls had to their kind. For all the arguments and disagreements that sometimes came between the various cursed clans, there was still an insurmountable gulf between them and the citizens of the Wandering Soul City.

As she grew in age, she met all kinds of humans. Some of which she got along with, and others not so much. But the one familiar thread she always felt in the interactions was a sense of tension and hostility. Not the cognizant sort of hostility one found in an enemy or a target. But rather, there was a clear and distinct 'other'ness that seemingly never faded. While she herself managed temporarily to integrate into some communities in the outter rukongai.

Whenever something went wrong. Or tragedy fell. Her kind were the first on the chopping block, and she found she was forced to defend herself all too often. She attempted to overcome this. She grew close to the humans and even began to adopt what she had identified as charming or charismatic traits. But in time, as years passed, she would always find she never belonged. Ultimately, as she turned a hundred, she returned to her clan. She was welcomed back with open arms by her immediate family, and a sort of tired resignation by so many others. Elders who had known very well that she would find her way back eventually. At first she hated it, but in time, as she saw the little pups growing up with similar hopes in their tiny hearts, she came to understand their sentiment. The quiet resignation, knowing that these little pups would set out, be hurt, and return something not quite as bright as they had once left. The very wonder stripped from their eyes.

She found herself a renewed sense of purpose, and as she got back into the routine of her life. Over time, she grew to resent the humans that took the joy from their young ones eyes, and as she watched over the next fifty years, so many of her little kin would return from journeys of their own. Sometimes to the Rukongai. Other times out to look for other places where they might fare better. Kazu focused on the clans. Not just her own family, but on fostering bonds between the Yukiyami as well as any other clans who would have her. That all of them might suffer this fate, there should be no reason to further divide themselves more than the humans did them. And with this new spreading support, she began to ponder a potential end to her endeavor. She dreamed of bettering the lives of the clans, of one day settling deep into the rukongai and making a more comfortable home. Some days, that dream was a warm and diplomatic thing. A steady, but well earned warmth. And other nights, it was a harsh, practical hell. One built on corpses, Human and Cursed, as well as so many broken bones and bleeding hearts crushed by their own innocence.

During the demon incursion, the clans moved in, shifting their claims a bit closer to the rukongai, and though this now meant there was some overlap and conflict with the sueki as well as the demon forces themselves, they came to be more familiar and aware of Plus culture and behaviors by sheer accessibility. When the Demon occupation of Soul society finally ended, a select few villages in the very outmost regions of the rukongai became quite familiar with the Cursed, and as a result, in some places their interactions with humans changed. Where once they had heralded the cursed as terrors, now they had true monsters to contend with, and in isolated cases, the Cursed and the rukongai fought against demons together.

In the years following this incursion however, the advances into the rukongai halted. The Allied Clans that had been encroaching on rukongai territory were sorely wounded in their conflicts with the demons, and the conflicts drew the attention of wild hollows, which began to harrass the clans. In one such assault, Kazu was injured by a rather peculiar hollow. She was bedridden for an entire month, and the corruptive touch of the hollow, even in its death, bloomed within her and attempted to take over her body.

The pack attempted to offer its support, but ultimately it was Kazu's sheer willpower and domination of this budding inner hollow that kept her from rampaging and slaying her own kin. For a year and a half she forced her hollow into a submissive state. Not only fulfilling her duties as the leader of the Allied Clans, but enduring the relentless desperate attempts of her hollow to take over.

But she could feel that the hollow was taking over, but she refused to die out there in the wastes. And so she led an incursion into the outer reaches of the rukongai in an attempt to once again take territory, and though they were not successful, she did not come away empty-handed. She managed to take the zanpaku'to off the corpse of a shinigami during the conflict, and she discovered that night that the nightmares the hollow usually plagued her with assuaged. Though her and her clans had retreated back into the outskirts once again, she felt her control over her hollow building. Where once she had to suffer horrendous pain and mental strain simply to make it through the day, she soon found herself not only pushing the hollow back, but controlling it. And where one shrill cry faded into the background, another softer voice spoke to her.

After learning the name of the living weapon which garnered her the ability to recover from the hollow corruption, Kazu slowly built up her strength until the opportunity for another territory advance into the rukongai could take place. She would not be satisfied with simply feebly controlling the monster that had tormented her for years. She did not stop until every last drop of fight was beaten and torn from it. And in the throes of her conquest she eventually got what she wanted, and what had once been a torment to every breathing second of her life was now fully obedient.

The Powder Hunter's Joint assault on the Soul Society proved the perfect opportunity. But upon their advance, they did not find the same hateful glares of the rukongai citizens, they saw the terrified faces of civillians running from dozens of Gillians flooding the streets, gorging themselves with the Soul reapers too burdened to bother helping them.

The land would be no good for her Alliance if it was poisoned by hollows. And so she and her Clans set themselves upon the Gillians and tore them to pieces until the writhing remains that still bore their masks could be finished off. While she had had every intention of simply taking the territory for her clan, without the shinigami to protect them and with danger now scouring what little home they had had, Kazu was surprised to find the faces that had once looked at her and her kind with fear and scorn, now stared at her with eyes pleading and full of hope that she would keep them safe.

She no longer had any need to conquer. These abandoned souls were desperate for a strong hand to bring them together. She would provide these wretches what the Gotei never had the ability nor the care to even attempt, and in the same stroke provide a more livable home for her Clans.


» Natural Abilities:

Freakish Charisma

Even before her transformation, she was a very willful and convincing individual. While many may have misconstrued the effect she had on people as some sort of spell, ultimately it was the earnestness with which she interacted with those around her that won many over. This charm was put to the test once she became infected.

Without the benefit of having shinigami powers to contend with hollow corruption at first, she managed to function as a leader of her people for almost two years despite internally undergoing hollowfication. Even as her soul was literally gutted, she met the trials and tribulations of her position with a smile and just as much of that comforting presence that she needed to keep her clans together. And now without her Hollow tearing her soul apart, that aura has only grown stronger. The effect of her presence is subtle but powerful. She doesn't force unbidden thoughts or twist the minds of others into her ways of thinking, but rather she is captivating, and her words can make everything else in existence melt away into a sea of grey meaningless static.

With she cares to, she can wash away almost every other stimuli that would ever compete for your attention, and in severe cases, those of weak mental constitution can even find this effect to be physiological as the very beating of their heart and the flow of spirit energy subconsciously synchronizes with the flow of her words and gestures.


Talented Folk Singer

While she may not have any manner of modern song structure, she has a full and beautiful voice that makes the primitive lullabys she favors sound beautiful. There's not a tone or pitch that she can't reach and she makes up for her lack of vocal complexity with a sincere warmth that makes every verse feel as if it were from your own mother.


Sparrow Catcher

Her nickname when she was a pup. This was because she had matured quicker than the others in her clan. Though this meant that later on in life they almost all surpassed her own height, when she was little she was the biggest and despite that size she was incredibly fleet of foot and agile, capable of snatching birds straight out of the air. This nickname saw a resurgence during their incursions into the rukongai, as when the few shinigami they did encounter utilized shunpo, she managed to snare them mid-step despite being unfamiliar with the technique and using only her base speed and her incredible reflexes.

Absurd Physique:

Unlike many members of the beast clans who either were born more humanlike or found ways to regain a more humane outer appearance, Kazu maintains an almost entirely beastlike form and as such her sheer physicality was already tremendous before she began to develop a wealth of spiritual energy. Once she began to develop spiritual powers, particularly her mask this only became more pronounced, to the point where even she has even shown capable ripping apart gillian without the need for release.


» Racial Abilities:

Mountain Sigh Fighting Style: Kazu Variant

A breathing technique which involves controlling the flow of energy in one's body. With drawn-out breaths, the spiritual energy flowing through the body briefly slows to such an extent that the user's presence vanishes entirely. This is followed by burst of Motion during a sharp inhale, rapidly accellerating the flow of spiritual energy resulting in explosive bursts of force and speed. This was originally derived as a hunting technique for the purpose of ambushing prey.

Kazu's variant of this style involves using Singing to control her breathing. With slow, melodious songs she can push this style much further by using the task of her singing as a sort of Focus, she can eliminate the flow of her spirit and for all but the most astute and focused seem to vanish almost in entirety leaving only the ringing of her voice. This combined with a bit of throwing of her voice, and she is capable of singing directly infront of someone yet be almost unnoticeable, with nothing but her gentle song echoing around them.

This technique means that her actual capabilities in terms of speed are incredibly hard to measure as she transitions between incredibly high speeds and stillness in tandem with her fluctuating presence. While theres been no transfer of information from shinigami, the actual mechanism of controlling the flow of one's reiryoku is practically identical to Hakuda technique.


Ryōshikachi 猟師歩 _{Hunter's Walk}

A variant of shunpo passed down in the outlands past the rukongai. However, thanks to the importance of hunting over direct combat, stealth is prioritized over all else. As such, the technique has been refined to the point where even young children first trying to utilize the technique barely make a sound. This is achieved by pulling in their energy and stifling their spiritual pressure, creating a slight spiritual vacuum around them that briefly stifles sound and energy signature. Because of this it is sometimes mistaken for sonido despite its roots in shinigami fundamentals.

Kazu herself is well-versed in the technique, capable of smooth and effortless use even in the mist of combat.

Kido User

She hasn't had much experience with Kido other than the spells used against her in the outter rukongai by shinigami. Through mimicery and experimentation she's managed to figure out how to perform spells, though without access to actual instructional materials, she and her clan have had to develop their own spells. Rather than using the structure of Numbered Levels, they are instead diverted into 'Claws'. A First Claw spell is roughly equivalent to a spell anywhere from Level 1 to level 20. Second Claw can range from 21 to 50. Third Claw anywhere from 51 to 89. And Fourth Claw would be a rough equivalent of Level 90+ spells. Concepts for a Fifth Level have been conceived, but have not yet been realized, these are equivalent to Forbidden Kido and go by the moniker Full Clawed.

While others in her clan have surpassed her in developing and conceptualizing the entire gambit of these Claws, She herself is capable of spells up to Third Claw.

Potent Vizard

Her control over her inner hollow is something to be astounded at. While the real essence and depths of her inner hollow's abilities have not been entirely explored, her control is extensive, to the point that she's grown to be able to don her mask and utilize its powers without the slightest worry of takeover, provided she does not try to push herself to the extreme.


» Zanpakutō Name: Karashippu 絡疾風 _{Entwined Gales}

» Zanpakutō Spirit:

Kazu's zanpakuto spirit is a pale white Sparrow with black edges to it's wingtips. She's a flighty little bitch and often chides Kazu from the safety of the grass. She does however enjoy when Kazu whistles, and is generally lured out in this manner.

» Inner World:

Kazu's inner world takes the form of a brilliant moonlit field of long grass surrounded by a huge barren rocky valley. The entire spot is hidden up within the mountains, and past the peaks one can see the outlands of the rukongai where she grew up.

» Sealed Zanpakutō Appearance:

In it's sealed form Karashippu is a short polearm with kama blades on either end. Though in most cases Kazu separates the center section of the polearm and reveals a chain, carrying them around as a double-ended kusarigama with the chain wrapped around her waist. Once she learned the name of her zanpaku'to it took on this form, in both its sealed and released state.


» Shikai Release Phrase: "Hush"

» Shikai Appearance:

There is no discernible change in the released state of Karashippu, and thanks to its elaborate sealed state its often mistaken for being constantly released.

» Shikai Abilities:

Shijima 静寂 _Stillness

While released, Karashippu wrests command over the air within a large area. But rather than whipping it into a storm like so many elemental manipulators do, it becomes entirely still. Most encountering the ability have tended to report a ringing in their ears as all sound is promptly extinguished within the reach of the weapon's influence. Individuals will find themselves unable to speak as the air will refuse to budge and produce no noise. As such, those within this range will be incapable of utilizing the benefits that come with saying a name or reciting incantations. This does not inhibit one's ability to breathe.

Kazu herself is capable of speaking through this silence and this ability has come in handy when talking over an arguing group. A useful ability for a leader.



» Bankai Name: [What is your zanpakutō's release phrase?]

» Bankai Release Action: [Does your shinigami do any physical action to release their bankai? Feel free to remove this if not.]

» Bankai Appearance: [What does your shinigami's bankai look like?]

» Bankai Abilities: [What abilities does your shinigami gain in bankai?]


» Inner Hollow Name: Mir

» Inner Hollow:

Kazu's inner hollow is a panther, though one would never know by looking at them. Their entire physique is thin and emaciated, reduced to simple bones and strings of sinew holding them together with tatters of muscle hanging from the skeleton of what they are, these strips often fall off, but always seem to grow right back in, often leaving a trail of flesh whenever they move about.

Mir herself is a vicious bitch and hardly a night hunter like her species might imply. Rather than trying to find ooportune moments, she simply fought Kazu tooth and nail constantly and ceaselessly. Making her life as miserable as possible without any respite. The notion to her was that if Kazu could just be worn down, she'd eventually crush her like a bug between her claws. Since being subjugated, Mir has grown bitter, but compliant and even sensible at times, offering advice, though she will still try to sabotage Kazu from time to time.

More than that, she hates Karashippu with every fiber of her being. As the creature robbing her of her meal, AND being an annoying ass bird, she takes every opportunity to put them down and has even bullied them and tried to downplay what use they could possibly serve to Kazu given what Mir herself has to offer. IF she had her way, she'd entire Kazu to just let her take over and evict that little shinigami shit out of their soul completely.


» Inner Hollow Powers:

Ligaments. The connective tissue holding any creature together. These ligaments have abandoned most of the flesh in the creature's body and instead lash out to ensnare, bind, and cut into the hollow's prey. In her hay day, Mir would be shrouded in a living tangle of these fleshy wires and peel open her enemies once they had been sufficiently hampered.

» Hollow Mask Appearance: A Jaguar skull with thick black lines striping the ridges of the cheekbones and partially intruding on the eye sockets.

» Vizard Powers:

Ligamento

Almost seeming to be a cero at first, a collection of energy forms at one of Kazu's extremities before it bursts into a spray of thick burning strands that spread out like a web and snare targets. On contact these slimy ligaments tangle with a target before contracting, aiming to burrow into a target's joints to try and fill in where their natural ligaments are, burning the surrounding flesh in the process with how much heat they give off.

Huesos Ensangrentados _{Bloody Bones}

By concentrating the energy channeled through her Ligamentos, she can congeal this energy into hard bone constructs at the ends of them, forming a variety of weapons to sling about on the ends of these fleshy whips. Ranging anywhere from little hooks to help her ligamentos keep hold of a target to full melee weapons such as blades or polearms.



» Equipment: [If your vizard has any equipment? Put it here. If they don't, skip this section.]



General Attributes
» Durability: SS/S/A/B/C/D/E
» Speed: SS/S/A/B/C/D/E
» Strength: SS/S/A/B/C/D/E
» Soul: SS/S/A/B/C/D/E

Will Skills
» Willpower: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained
» Deduction: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained
» Focus: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained[/list]

Shinigami Skills
» Hoho: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained
» Kidō: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained
» Zanjutsu: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained
» Hakuda: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained

Vizard Skills
» Power Augmentation Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained
» Hollow Control: Elite/Advanced/Adept/Beginner/Untrained


» 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]


» Character Intent:

Kazu is intended to be the Rebel leader of a group of the newly formed Yukiyama alliance, originally a collection of Cursed Beast Clans that had banded together. After clearing the outter rukongai districts of gillian during the Powder Hunter Assault, Rukongai citizens of the outter districts turned to the Alliance for protection and joined their cause of unifying the outter districts and making them liveable for both the poor and the cursed.

This faction is intended to provide an opposing faction to the Gotei as well as variety in affiliation in the World of the Dead.