BleachITP Reborn: Discussion & Setup Thread 5

[Innis Cabal]

Okay, here is Akemi, revised.

The explanation of her Cleanse ability is really long now but essentially the idea is this:

She strikes them with her sword. This activates an internal conflict, which I don't want to describe in detai, since I want each person to take license with it. I picture it being similar to battling with an Inner Hollow (in terms of how it could be represented). They don't necessarily realize that this conflict is occurring or get affected by externally. The conflict begins and ends pretty quickly, and Akemi soon learns whether or not they are willing to repent of sins. If they are, she can absorb the sins with Sin Eater, usually through combat (as it is mostly for use against Hollows). Each time she absorbs their sin she gets a bit of backlash from it and needs to use some spiritual power to absorb it.

(I thought Kasanip's concern was valid, and so I was going to use her idea wholesale... but then I realized that if Akemi DID manage to regain her spiritual power at some point, Cleanse would just become easy for her to obtain. So I made it use spiritual energy and have a standard backlash, so that no matter what, she suffers from using it. Mercy is easier on her, obviously, but it's a Bankai).

Once she has absorbed all their sin, she can fight them normally, and by killing a Hollow with her Zanpakutō, she sends them to Soul Society, as it would normally happen.

If she somehow manages to get a chance to activate this ability without combat, she can essentially execute someone willing with it and send them straight on to Soul Society and absolve their sins in one go. The main idea behind this is that if there is someone willing... slashing them a ton of times won't really be all that hard, and it seems more stylish (and not unbalanced) to have them be able to take it in a single, executing blow.


...jeez, that was supposed to be a summary for someone who would think the normal description is too long, but it doesn't seem a whole lot better. It's just really complex, I guess.

Akemi Aoki, Exiled Shinigami

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Name: Akemi Aoki
Age: ???
Gender: Female
Height: 5'4"
Affiliation/Type: Exiled Shinigami
Speech Color: #882288

Appearance: No longer part of Soul Society, Akemi is devoid of all the typical trappings of a Shinigami, even down to her Zanpakutō. Instead, Akemi appears as a young woman- definitely old enough to be out of school, but youthful. In terms of clothing, she favors black and purple, with a rather goth or punkish theme. She doesn't wear the style heavily, however, and manages to pull it off with a flair that makes her seem more zany than anything else. Typically, she wears t-shirts, and favors bracelets, arm bands, and arm warmers. She might have on one or more belts, and black pants. Due to her love of spontaneous activities and parkour, Akemi tends not to wear dresses or skirts, as they tend to get in the way and hamper her movement.

If it weren't for her clothing choice and style, Akemi would be distinctly average. Her plain, straight black hair has a vivid dyed purple streak through it to add interest, while she keeps a variety of sunglasses to hide her eyes. To deal with her lack of curves, Akemi relies on tighter fitting clothing, or just style and color to draw attention away from it.

Personality: Akemi deeply appreciates life and what it has to offer her, enjoying every chance she gets to live just a little more. She cares less about societal expectations and more about what she- and others- desire. Akemi is also very kind and caring, though at first glance, she might seem like a roguish mischief maker, which can earn her the ire of authority figures... but it isn't so much that she disrespects rules as it is that she cares about other things- people, that is- far more. If she really causes harm by her disrespect somehow, she will be sure to try and make amends for it.

While she often goes out to enjoy herself, she can be introspective and philosophical as well, spending time to fully understand new ideas and different view points. It may not be outwardly obvious though, as she often thinks at the same time as she performs other activities (such as parkour or exercise).

One of Akemi's most pervasive beliefs and ideas is her faith in the goodness of others. This is not to say she is wholly naive and innocent- she is well aware of all the terrible things that people can do. However, she is certain that it is possible for even the most hardened hearts to find remorse and repentance, even if her powers cannot help them accomplish it. She is willing to risk herself to help others atone, though she will not be foolhardy or careless with others to try and accomplish such, as she puts the well being of others first. Usually, when her cleansing powers fail, she will accept that sending a Hollow on to Hell is the best option available to her, but that doesn't mean she likes the conclusion, no matter the truth of it.

All in all, Akemi is a fairly complex and experienced person. Each time someone thinks they know her, she unfolds a little further.

History: Akemi was once one of the most skilled Shinigami in Soul Society. Though her spiritual energy was not the most potent, Akemi's focus and training allowed her to compete where all sense said she should fail. Her precision and long practice allowed her to act as if her power were far greater than it was, and eventually she even achieved the position of Vice Commander in the Kidō Corps.

Yet, Akemi was not loved among the Shinigami, or even in the mortal world. Her philosophies and abilities earned her many enemies. With the power of her Shikai, she purified even the Hollows who would be condemned to Hell, and she openly criticized many aspects of Soul Society law and government.

Eventually, this led to her downfall. A number of her foes joined forces against her, notably among them a Quincy, who used his techniques in an attempt to seal her spiritual energy away. As Akemi relied more on skill than anything else, such an assault hampered her less than expected, and she managed to escape before her energy was fully sealed, and before she was killed.

Knowing she could not go back to Soul Society, Akemi hid herself in the mortal world, concealing her history and what powers she had left. There, she seeks to live as best as she can in her current state.


Capabilities

Non-Spiritual Abilities:
Akemi is superbly skilled at melee combat, both with and without use of a sword. Further, she is an accomplished traceuse and free runner.
Lastly, she has a great love of board games, though she has not dedicated quite the same time to them as she has other, more vital skills.

Sealed Spiritual Power:
While Akemi's spiritual power would normally be at average level, the sealing technique used against her cuts this down to at least 20% of what it once was.
Though Akemi has developed a technique where she can break the seal and achieve higher power, but the seal is her own body. The implications of this is that even breaking the seal partially gives her terrible wounds (at minimum)- and if she were ever to try a powerful technique (such as Bankai or advanced Kidō), she would certainly die shortly after its completion.
Due to the danger, even looming defeat will not necessarily be enough to inspire Akemi to unleash her former power.

Kidō:
Former Vice Commander, Akemi's Kidō technique is her only skill that surpasses her ability at swordplay. However, due to her loss of spiritual energy, using Kido has become frustratingly difficult for her ever since her self imposed exile.
While she knows all the precision required to pull off Kidō without chants and in double incantation, her low spiritual power means that if she utilizes them, she can only get the most basic and lowest power of effects (and they are certainly not effective in a direct, combative effort).
Most of Akemi's remaining power rests in her use of Bakudō, which she always most skilled at. When using the incantations, she can manage them at a slightly below average level. Particularly, she utilizes Kyokko to hide her Zanpakutō so she can carry it around on a day to day basis without it being spotted.

Hohō:
Akemi was never particularly skilled at Hohō, and with her spiritual power sealed, she relies on her natural skill and speed almost exclusively, using Hohō only when she has no other resort. Due to low spiritual power, using it for too long can exhaust her, and she cannot maintain any other powers while using it.

Zanpakutō: Sin Eater
Sin Eater is a slender kodachi, unremarkable until it is released.

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Shikai: Catharsis
When released, Sin Eater becomes jet black, giving off a terrible Reiatsu that feels like a hundred claws scraping at one's very soul and haunting voices whispering in their ears.

Special Ability: Weight of Sin
When Sin Eater is released, the Reiatsu and aura of it surrounds Akemi and her opponents. Vague phantoms, materialize from within the tainted area, hounding Akemi's enemies, striking at them, hindering their movements, or attempting to distract or scare them.
Attacking the phantoms accomplishes nothing, as they are mostly insubstantial.
These phantoms typically are not powerful enough to leave more than moderate blows, or hold down an opponent for significant periods of time.

Special Ability: Cleanse
The second ability of Sin Eater's Shikai is Cleansing. When utilizing this ability, Akemi has the power to cause subconscious conflict within a Hollow or Plus that would otherwise be bound to Hell when she strikes it with her Zanpakutō. This conflict does not affect their outward power or strength of will as it relates to combat, but it is the catalyst for them to begin questioning the crimes and sins they have committed (even though they may not realize it). This ability can awaken the conscience of even the most insane and evil beings, but it cannot create remorse and repentance from nothing: it only grants a fair chance for the target to understand and desire to atone for their crimes. The nature of this internal conflict differs from entity to entity.

Once the conflict is resolved, Sin Eater can absorb their sins, allowing the target to go to Soul Society instead of Heaven. However, to absorb their sins, Sin Eater must contact the target with its edge, usually for an extended period. If a subject recognizes their sin, repents, and accepts the cleansing of Sin Eater, they may have their sins completely absorbed in a method that looks like (and probably hurts as much as) ritual execution.

In many entities, particularly with Hollows, even the successful use of this ability does not instantly manifest itself in their behavior. Hollows and like entities, due to their nature, will likely not even recognize the repentance and nature within them, continuing to act on their maddened urges. When the internal conflict is resolved, Akemi senses it through either a resonance (if it was successful) or dissonance (if it was unsuccessful) in their Reiatsu with her Sin Eater. If the conflict was resolved successfully, she may absorb their sins by striking them with Sin Eater in combat. Once she has scored enough hits (the amount of which is dependent on the level of evil of the being), she may send them to Soul Society with her Zanpakutō (either Konso, if they stop fighting for some reason, or by executing them with her Zanpakutō, as is done with most Hollows).

Absorbing the sin of other entities is an intense and draining experience, both mentally and physically. Not only will it likely prove necessary for Akemi to partially break her seal to accomplish Cleansing, but even if she were to restore her power, it would still prove tiring and traumatic to use.

Bankai: Absolution
With her power sealed, Akemi is incapable of using Bankai, even if she partially breaks the seal. If she fully breaks her seal (which will incur the consequences noted in the Sealed Spiritual Power section), she will be able to use Bankai again.

When she uses her Bankai, the black taint along Sin Eater sloughs away, leaving behind a brilliant white blade.

Special Ability: Storm of Sin
The Reiatsu and aura of Weight of Sin are increased dramatically as the taint of her sword dissolves into them. Opponents near her will have to struggle against countless grasping hands and slashing claws or weapons from the phantoms.
Each phantom also becomes much more distinct, showing the features of one of those successfully affected by either Cleanse or Mercy. They may even retain the smallest fragment of their power and personality, though the former is rare.

Special Ability: Mercy
Any struck by Akemi's sword while she is using Bankai instantly experiences an increased form of Cleanse, which absolves the sins of all but the most corrupted and unrepentant in a single blow.
Further, each strike will cause the subject to recall one or more memories of significance related to any sins they may have committed (whether Mercy absolves them of sins or not). This may disorient the target for a very short duration (long enough for Akemi to set up, but not complete, a second attack), though after experiencing the sensation one or more times, they may derive a way to ignore or lessen the effect.

On each strike that absolves sins, Akemi experiences the same disorientation as her enemy. However, once their sins have been absorbed, she no longer feels this disorientation. This replaces the negative effects of Cleansing.

So, does it all look good now?

Still really like her, the changes look good, though I personally didn't think they needed it.

[Steilos]

So yeah, I have a surfeit of free time. As an english student, any chance to write is always a good thing to have. So um, hi. Thought I'd post this here before sticking it on the reg thread.

Detective Henry Rheims Coleby, Sharp-Eyed Investigator

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Name: Henry Rheims Coleby (just Henry, for short)
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Height: 5'9"
Type: Spiritually Aware Mortal/Spiritually Active (if he's unlucky enough)
Speech Colour: Dark Grey


Appearance:

A fit, healthy man of 41 years of age, Henry has a slightly softer tone in his straight short brown hair nowadays, and the beginning of frown lines in his face. He can be found wearing his work clothes (dark blue suit, with appropriate markings) most hours of the day, truncheon (Smuggled from England) concealed and his shoes somehow kept immaculately polished at all times. A believer in doing things by the book, Henry keeps a a set of cuffs on him at all times, and his weapon is not much used. He's not trying to be fancy, or fashionable, and is therefore not a particularly interesting sight out of work, wearing a grey coat with blue shirt with plain blue jeans.


Personality:

Detective Coleby is the ultimate in unfazeable, at least in front of others. When duty is to be done, there's no time for slack-jawed amazement, although he often finds himself questioning his sanity in private. Deeply apathetic about life, he does what he can every day till the day he can do no more, not really truly in need of a reason to live. Not that he really has one. He is trained in self-defense skills, and in fact runs a club for those who wish to learn the same on weekends. He himself is tutored in kickboxing, as well as taking regular trips to the shooting range, as a way of relieving the monotony of life.

History:

A young man emigrated from England and took up police cadet training in Japan. He was an excellent shot, disciplined, controlled, alert and obedient. His name was Henry Rheims Coleby, and he was one of the most promising cadets the academy had seen in a long while. Two years later, he proposed to a young girl by the name of Margaret Thompson, also an immigrant. With a copious salary, excellent prospects, and respect from his colleagues, life was beginning to look good.

Ten years later, it was all gone.

The slide started one pupil-black night, doesn't know or care when, or where, when Henry was trudging home from work. He'd had an average day, all things considering, and was looking forward to going home to his doting wife, when he spied something glimmering in a field, nearby. Drawing his torch, the young investigator crept over to the disturbance... Next thing he knew, he woke up in hospital, mind completely blanked of anything that had happened since he saw that light. But something had happened, and it had changed Henry. From that day forward, he could see spiritual beings, out of the corner of his eye. He heard voices, or more appropriately noises, and half-saw things that made his blood run cold.

Bit by bit, this spiritual world obsessed Henry, and his life began to unravel as this spiritual awareness became stronger. His bosses noticed his strange behaviour, and the smiles around the workplace became more and more forced. The marriage with Margaret became more and more stressed as Henry became more and more distracted with the ... things that were clarifying in his vision. He locked himself in his room for a week. This was the final straw, and soon afterward Margaret left him, taking a taxi to the airport. She never got on that plane, as the taxi was involved in a crash, killing the only woman in the world Henry had ever gotten truly close to.

Henry's life and career imploded shortly after that, with his drinking and bouts of rage stemming from his utter inability to cope with his wife's death. His mental health deteriorated, and he was soon in a mental health ward locked away from society. His behaviour varied wildly, screaming nigh-incoherently at people no one else saw, sometimes spiralling off into utterly nonsensical rants about ghosts and spirits destroying his life. Most worryingly of all was his tendency of just blanking out and staring at the wall, not talking or even
acknowledging the existence of anybody else.

Eventually he was discharged. He was able to get a position on the force, but his career was shot. The rest of his life would just happen, as the collapsed tower of cards that was Henry just didn't care anymore.

Capabilities

Mundane abilities:
Henry is fairly strong and skilled, as mortals go, and is an accomplised kickboxer. His roots lie in the streets, however, and his fighting style can be best described as "barroom brawl martial arts".
One of the best marksmen in the force, Coleby, on the rare occasions he has a firearm, is a force to be reckoned with. Well, if you're a mortal, anyway. Henry has the traditional patrolling and investigative duties down to a fine art, and usually gets the job done and the case solved.
It's nigh-on impossible to openly terrify or astonish Henry, as he generally doesn't go in for emotion.

Spiriual abilities:
Spiritually Aware
Henry has a level of spiritual awareness few mortals match. If he concentrates hard enough, he can view the various spiritual beings as though they were perfectly visible and tangible. He can even interact with them as such. He is utterly loath to do this, due to the memories it brings.

Latent Spiritual Potential
Coleby was not just granted sight, he was granted other things as well. However, he's never tapped into this, and doesn't even know it exists. Whatever it is, it's being stubborn about it.

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Strength
Self- explanatory. If this ever activates, Henry will be a decent amount stronger that the average human being, and slightly stronger than what it is actually physically possible for a human to accomplish. Unfortunately, the laws of physics means that attempting to put that force behind a punch will play merry heck with balance.

Reiatsu Resonance
When Coleby econunters Reiatsu, weird stuff happens. He gains the ability to shunpo. Also, his abilities increase all around and helps to even out the odds somewhat. The change is quite sudden, so hopefully Coleby didn't eat his lunch prior.

[strawberryman]

1. Shunpo and Flash Step are the same thing.
2. I'm a little offset by the essential "living tool" (Dials are slightly different). I don't really mind, but it does encroach on SWORD a bit as described. I'd mind less if he just had the ability to use Shunpo. That said, using reiatsu to use "fast movement" is really more like the Quincy technique, Hirenyaku. But.

Otherwise, looks fine.

[horngeek]

But... one's a snake and ones a spider...

Your opinion on this, Strawberry?

[strawberryman]

Your opinion on this, Strawberry?

You probably don't want to know.

[horngeek]

You probably don't want to know.

But yeah... the interactions should be... interesting.

[strawberryman]

Well, I haven't quite decided since you brought her up whether it would be more appropriate for Ruwa to be Fraccion to Genoveva or Cheng. It would certainly make the most sense for Ruwa to gravitate towards a like-minded individual. And depending on how easy she is to manipulate into giving Ruwa whatever trifle she wants, it might be even better.

However, nothing personal, she'd probably still be looking for someone she actually loved, since that was an intended part of my story however I took it.

[tgva8889]

I might end up making the fly to the spider. Alternatively, I may make a totally unrelated bear. Because I like bears.

[horngeek]

...you're looking for that in Genovea? O.O

Nothing says that Lust precludes actual love, you know.

[strawberryman]

I know, but Ruwa finding it in someone she kisses ass to honestly isn't what I was shooting for.

(I was aiming for a double entendre there. )

[horngeek]

Good point, there. But I'm not certain you're more likely to find it as Fraccion to the Complete Monster anyway.

@tgva: Well, I'd be fine with either one. A fly Arrancar could be... interesting.

[horngeek]

And depending on how easy she is to manipulate into giving Ruwa whatever trifle she wants, it might be even better.

On this: Cheng isn't going to give her something that would hurt Cheng's interests. But otherwise, she isn't going to refuse much.

Of course, it would be a very good idea not to abuse this.

Also, she doesn't mind if Ruwa does find true love...

[strawberryman]

"But Mei-Mei-chaaaaan, you know I wouldn't abuse you.~<3"

"...By the way, can I have a balcony? With a sunbathing bed? And a Numeros to give me massages? And some nice-smelling candles? And a fountain..."

[Shades of Gray]

"Whatever you do, do not get her a poolboy. We all know what happened to the previous one."

[horngeek]

"But Mei-Mei-chaaaaan, you know I wouldn't abuse you.~<3"

"...By the way, can I have a balcony? With a sunbathing bed? And a Numeros to give me massages? And some nice-smelling candles? And a fountain..."

So, yes or no?

Also, Shades, who's that you're speaking as?

[Draken]

Paramonos, a numero.

Rather. THE numero.

[strawberryman]

I'll still have to think about it. Should have an answer way before this even starts.

[horngeek]

"But Mei-Mei-chaaaaan, you know I wouldn't abuse you.~<3"

"...By the way, can I have a balcony? With a sunbathing bed? And a Numeros to give me massages? And some nice-smelling candles? And a fountain..."

*Mei looks at silk-wrapped Ruwa*

"Well... a fountain in the Palacio might not be a bad idea. And a communal massuer..."

*puts arms around her* "How does that sound? I mean, stuff like that can be shared..."

@^: Okay.

[strawberryman]

"...Of course, Mei-Mei-chaaaaan.~<3"

As long as I get it most of the time.~<3

[horngeek]

Yep. I can see how this is going to go.

*Mei picks up Ruwa* "So, let's head into my room for a bit..."

[Shades of Gray]

So undisciplined... *does 1000 push-ups*

[horngeek]

"Yes, but you always work yourself far too hard... and at least we have fun."

[strawberryman]

*Ruwa nods emphatically from Mei's shoulder*

[Shades of Gray]

"This is fun, Lady Espada." *starts doing sit-ups* "I thought it was fairly obvious." *blank expression*

[horngeek]

*Mei looks at Ruwa* "Well, I know he says it's fun, but I just can't see it, myself."

----

Hmmm... what number do you think Mei should be? I'm looking at one of the lower numbers, myself.

[KnightDisciple]

*Mei looks at Ruwa* "Well, I know he says it's fun, but I just can't see it, myself."

----

Hmmm... what number do you think Mei should be? I'm looking at one of the lower numbers, myself.

Go with....Octava. Just offhand.

[Shades of Gray]

The sexta.

...

No reason why.

[KnightDisciple]

The sexta.

...

No reason why.

We already have a Sexta Candidate.
We don't already have an Octava Candidate.

[strawberryman]

"I don't get it either, Mei-Mei-chaaaaan.~<3"

--

As for the Sexta being taken: Unfortunate.

[tgva8889]

I hope the obvious references are obvious.