Post by Mikhail Rost on Apr 28, 2010 20:31:06 GMT -5
In Character
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General Information
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Name: Ikkaku Madarame
Actual Age: 190
Appearing Age: 19
Gender: Male
Appearance
Ikkaku Madarame stands at about 6' tall, and weights roughly 168lbs. He is fairly muscular and athletic in build and is completely bald. For this, he is made fun of by a lot of people, especially 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi, who calls him either "cue ball", "chromedome", or "pachinko-head" (as a result of her fondness for giving people nicknames or when he questions her direction skills). He often insists that he's not bald and his head is "shaven" while it is obvious that it isn't.
As a result of the constant ridicule he gets, Ikkaku is very self-conscious about his baldness to the point where he will threaten anyone that points it out. Ikkaku's bald scalp is very reflective when seen under the sun, causing the members of the 8th and 11th Divisions to mistake it for a full moon in one of the omake segments, much to his chagrin. He also has distinctive small red markings at the outer corner of his eyes. Ikkaku has a scar running down the left side of his chest that he gained while fighting Ichigo Kurosaki during the Soul Society Arc.
Unlike most Shinigami, Ikkaku doesn't wear tabi with his sandals on. The only other person who doesn't wear tabi is 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku. He wears the standard Shinigami robes.
Personality
In terms of his attitude, Ikkaku is a stereotypical 11th Division member — violent, fight-loving, and rude. This has been noted by Tetsuzaemon Iba, among others. He loves fighting so much that he is unwilling to travel anywhere without a sword, resorting to carrying a wooden one when posing as a student at Ichigo Kurosaki's school. However, Ikkaku does have a sense of loyalty and responsibility unlike many of the lower-ranked 11th Division members and is fiercely loyal to his captain, under whose command he wishes to die.
Ikkaku shares many personality traits with his division's captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, which explains why they seem to have so much respect for each another. Ikkaku considers fighting fun, just as his captain does, and tries to get as much fun as he can out of his opponents, so much so that he would take deadly risks to drag out the fight for as long as possible. He also shares Kenpachi's penchant for limiting his skills in order for fights to last longer (with the only difference being the fact that he chooses to do so by restricting the use of his Bankai whereas Kenpachi prefers the use of his power-sealing eyepatch given to him by the 12th Division).
Like Kenpachi, Ikkaku is seen constantly smiling when engaging in a fight with a formidable opponent. And like all 11th Division members, he considers the only honorable battles to be those that are fought one-on-one. Even the threat of death is not a reason to ignore this fact, as they believe that the winner is only to be determined when the other dies. He does consider surviving an otherwise lost battle good luck, as his captain taught him, and is also sensible enough to carry a blood-clotting ointment in the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
History
Not much is known about Ikkaku's history. Ikkaku came from the streets of Rukongai. At some point, he met Yumichika Ayasegawa, and the two became friends. The two would frequently go from village to village looking for opponents for Ikkaku to face in combat.
They would later have an encounter with Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi before they entered Seireitei. Yachiru warned him that messing with Zaraki while he was in a good mood was a bad idea, but Ikkaku did not take the warning seriously. When face to face with Zaraki, he immediately became alarmed by his reiatsu, but was happy to finally have a real challenge. Zaraki attacked with enough force to crater the ground under Ikkaku, which somewhat alarmed Yumichika. Due to Zaraki's strength, Ikkaku was on the defensive holding off Zaraki's relentless strikes.
The two continued to battle with Ikkaku trying to overwhelm Zaraki though not able to wear him down, only succeeding in Ikkaku receiving wounds while Kenpachi remained untouched by his blade. When Zaraki mentioned he was having fun, he decided to finish Ikkaku with one quick strike resulting in Ikkaku's loss of the fight. Ikkaku became mad that Zaraki would just walk away without finishing him off. Zaraki plainly told him that he had no interest in weaklings who cannot fight. He noted that he did not have any obligation to finish Ikkaku off. Ikkaku thought he was toying with him and demanded that Zaraki kill him. Zaraki lost his patience, grabbed hold of Ikkaku and asked him that if he loved to fight so much, then why was he screaming for death.
Zaraki explained to him a philosophy to follow for people like them. "Don't admit defeat and seek death, die first, then admit defeat. When you lose, but don't die it just means you were lucky. At those times, think only about survival. Survive and think only about killing the guy who failed to kill you". Zaraki then smiled at him and stated that it was not like he went easy on him, he was just lucky to escape death. He expressed that Ikkaku should live and come back to kill him. As Zaraki left, Ikkaku asked him his name and was told he is Kenpachi from Zaraki.
Afterwards, when he had rehabilitated from his wounds Ikkaku searched for Zaraki everywhere in order to challenge him but never could find him. Until one day when Ayasegawa came to him with some news, as he had heard that Zaraki had beaten the captain of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13 in a single blow, which made him the new captain of that division. Ikkaku was taken aback by this revelation as he saw that protecting others really was not Zaraki's style and set out to find his old opponent.
During an address to his division, Zaraki was greeted by Ikkaku and Yumichika, who had become Shinigami and joined the division. Ikkaku told Zaraki that he had come back just as he had suggested, which caused Zaraki to smile. Later they were present when the division battled a caterpillar-like Hollow. While initially the division lost several members, Ikkaku showed up to fight it but was stopped by Zaraki who decided to kill it himself. After the Hollow was dispatched more came which prompted Ikkaku and Yumichika to join in the fight. Though at first Zaraki was against it, he was persuaded upon realizing the two have similar fighting traits as him.
Sometime later Ikkaku, whilst walking around the 11th Division barracks is greeted by Renji Abarai a fresh transfer from the 5th Division. Renji asked that Ikkaku train him. The two battle and Ikkaku became impressed at his new students eagerness to excel. When he asked Renji why he wanted to get strong so badly, Renji explains that he wishes to surpass someone. They continue to train well into the evening, advancing as far as using their Shikai against each other. Ikkaku then tells Renji that they have finished training and if he wished to learn any more then he would have to figure it out on his own as Ikkaku did not want Renji to end up mimicking his style. Renji then asked him if he had Bankai and why he did not use it, to which Ikkaku commented that he had his reasons and he alluded that he was chasing someone as well. He then told Renji his name and instructs him to remember it as the next time they fight it will be to the death. He then explains to him why he gives his name to his opponent, as Ikkaku left, Renji thanked him.
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Skills/Attributes
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Skills
- Swordsmanship- Master
- Kidō- Beginner
- Hohō - Advanced
- Hand to Hand - Intermediate
Attributes
- Speed - Intermediate
- Power - Advanced
- Stamina - Advanced
- Intelligence - Intermediate
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Zanpakutō
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Name: Hōzukimaru
Translation - Demon Light
Unreleased Appearance
Hōzukimaru's crossguard is an oval, with what look like three small teardrops in relief on both the top and bottom end. Hōzukimaru's sealed form enables Ikkaku to employ it in battle as a normal weapon, with its sheath being wielded in his other hand to serve as a secondary weapon. Madarame does hide a small vial of healing ointment in the base of the hilt, though.
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Zanpakutō Spirit
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Name: Hōzukimaru
Gender: Male
Spirit Appearance
Hōzukimaru's spirit is that of a large man resembling an oni with dark brown skin and orange hair. He is shirtless and wears a white robe in the form of a skirt, revealing a tattoo on his shoulders in a design similar to the dragon symbol on Ikkaku's Bankai. He also appears to have red markings under his eyes, similar to Ikkaku's
Personality
Although he shares his wielder's cocky, fight-loving attitude, Hōzukimaru seems to be just as lazy as Ikkaku described: when first seen, he is the only one sleeping.
Relationship to Master
As mentioned above they both share the same cocky, fight-loving attitude and seem to get along fairly well even to the extent of Hōzukimaru being able to perform Ikkaku's 'Lucky Dance' alongside him.
Inner World
N/A
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Zanpakutō Shikai
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Call Out Phrase: "Grow, Hōzukimaru!"
Translation - If Applicable
Shikai Appearance
Hōzukimaru's Shikai is unusual in that Ikkaku slams Hōzukimaru's hilt (and sometimes its pommel) into its sheath to activate it when saying the command phrase. Once activated, Hōzukimaru takes on the form of what initially appears to be a naginata (spear) with a wax wood shaft. The pommel also has a red horsehair tassel. While able to deliver powerful blows, it is not very durable as it tends to break against particularly strong strikes.
Shikai Abilities
"Split, Hōzukimaru!"
- Description of Attack - A Secondary form of his Shikai, this command separates his naginata into its true form which is a Sansetsukon (Three Sectional Staff), after which the sections can independently reconnect and separate again at will. This special ability surprises one's opponents when they first attack. These chains are also able to extend a fair length, allowing Ikkaku to swing his weapon like a flail for mid-range attacks.
- Type - Activation
- Range - 12-15 feet
- Limitation - The difference in range between the Naginata and 3 sectioned staff seems to be about the only limitation though Ikkaku fights very well with either, and uses the switch to surprise opponents.
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Name: Ryūmon Hōzukimaru
Translation - Dragon Crest Demon Light
Bankai Appearance
It keeps the three-section theme but loses its naginata properties. Instead, it is merely three over-sized weapons connected by an equally large chain. To activate it during his battle with Edrad, Ikkaku slams the two broken pieces of his Shikai back into the spear-form and says Bankai. Ikkaku's two main weapons are a Chinese Monk's spade and a standard Guan dao. Both have a traditional horsehair tassel at the hilt and a long cylindrical weight for a pommel. The pommels are connected by a heavy chain to the center section, which resembles an axe-like blade with a parallel handle forged into the blunt end and a dragon crest on one side of the blade. Despite all three weapons being of near-ridiculous proportions, Ikkaku wields them easily. Ikkaku usually holds one blade in each hand and lets the central portion "float" behind him, though he will occasionally spin the entire configuration about using the center handle as a pivot.
Bankai Abilities
Ikkaku's Bankai, like his Shikai, is quite unusual. Aside from the increase in power, his Bankai offers no special abilities and no special defense properties. It releases some reiatsu which starts to grow in strength. Ikkaku treats Hōzukimaru a lot different then others (as they just let theirs slumber and use it when they want to do Bankai). But if he forces it to awaken suddenly, cutting the enemy and not getting cut becomes a lot harder to handle then it should be. Thus Ikkaku's Bankai gets increasingly more powerful as the fight drags on. After he performs his Bankai, the dragon crest will slowly fill in with crimson dye as Ikkaku's Spiritual Pressure rises. It fills faster when he spins Hōzukimaru with the center handle. Ikkaku comments that his Zanpakutō is actually very lazy in battle (in stark contrast to Ikkaku himself) and needs to be woken up through causing or receiving injury; which would explain its ability to accumulate attacking power the longer the fight extends. When the crest is completely filled, Hōzukimaru is at its full power.However, the force of unleashing so much power can leave his Zanpakutō's edge brittle under excessive stress.
OOC Information
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Sample Post
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Ikkaku was walking along with his Zanpakuto over his shoulder much as he normally did, with his best friend Yumichika in tow. The sun's light sparkled off his head causing passerby to shield their eyes, and every time Ikkaku noticed one doing so, he would glower at them menacingly. The two were sent to investigate a disturbance in Rukongai, some gang was demanding protection money from the locals. It was probably something that the two wouldn't normally be tasked with, but it seemed to have potential for a good brawl which made Ikkaku wanna take the job.
"You really should have kept that wig," Yumichika went on about one of their recent trips to the human world. He casually flipped his own hair and continued. "I promise not to superglue it on this time." Yumichika chuckled.
"Bastard, that thing kept me from being ready when I needed to be." Ikkaku murmured
"But it looked so good on you, and might keep people from making fun of you." Yumichika retorted. "Next we'll work on what you wear."
"The hell we will!" Ikkaku said angrily which only caused Yumichika to chuckle more.
The two went from shop to shop, to speak with some of the shopkeepers in order to get a description of the gang members.
When they got their third average height, average weight, average average description...Ikkaku was ready to beat the shopkeeper more then the punks that threatened them. Why couldn't these old codgers be more perceptive. As they exited the store they came face to face with a group of teens who stared up into Ikkaku's irritated, angry, glare and cringed momentarily before taking off in different directions.
Ikkaku put a hand to his face in agitation. "You get him, I'll get the other two." Yumichika nodded and took off after the teen leaving Ikkaku to catch the others.
Quickly bounding up onto the rooftop Ikkaku followed after the teens through a dark alley. With Shunpo he was easily able to get ahead of them, and dropped down before them with a wicked grin, causing them to scream like little girls.
Ikkaku growled at them. "You two aren't getting away from me, You're in big trouble if you're messing with the shopkeeps."
"We didn't do anything honest!" said one quickly.
"Then why did you run?" Ikkaku grabbed one by his shirt and pulled him close.
"Because, you're s..s..scary!" said one of them stammering and weeping.
Ikkaku's eye twitched, no doubt that Yumichika would get about the same response and the two would need to continue their investigations.
"Hey Mister. I'm not with them, but I might know where they hide out."
Ikkaku dropped the first guy and turned his gaze to the one who seemed to be able to speak without wetting himself.
"Spill it, lets hear what you got and I might let you go without kicking your butts for making me chase you."
Maybe this little chase would pay off after all...
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