Post by Ai on May 16, 2012 4:04:17 GMT -5
Shinigami Application
[/b][/center]In Character
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General Information
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Name: Kaida Date, aka "Restful Kaida" (trans. "Restful Little Dragon")
Actual Age: 162
Appearing Age: 16
Gender: Female
Appearance
The youthful pulchritudinous visage that Kaida is often remarked for having cannot be understated. The hakama of her Shihakusho is absent, which she keeps belted with the white hakama-himo, thus having a skirted look with her kosode. Though it tends to stand out a bit among her peers as she does wear a kimono over it bearing the Date noble house crest on its back, and the tail length of the back of kimono the left and right sides also beart the Date crest. Around her slim waist is also the fine red silk sash of the Date noble house. At her left side sliped under her obi sash, resting firmly against her hip is her sheathed sealed zanpakuto; though it does not seem to matter which side she keeps her zanpakuto as she is ambidextrous. Additionally she wears a pair of white fingerless tekkou that reach up to the elbow.
The ever lovely Kaida's long black hair while tied back in a wild, unkept manner has a rakish way to it, and in her running along her left temple is a small white kenseikan, further marking her noble lineage among the Date family. She has bright blue eyes, which contrast against her raven hued hair. Her complexion is quite fair and is smooth to the touch further complimenting her soft, angular features. She stands no more than than five foot four inches tall, and her slim feminine phyeique tends to very much carry a natural womanly grace that seems to have certain glide to it.
Oddly, her eyes always appear to be closed, and seeming never open. Albeit, only under one circumstance--when her temper begins to flare. In a sense like a slumbering or resting dragon--until it is disturbed, then its eyes open so it can see what to bathe in its breath of fire.
Personality
First impressions often label her a stoic as within the brief moment of meeting someone she tends to keep her distance and be a bit aloof. But upon stepping beyond that flimsy layer, really it is not so much that she is stoic or emotionless, but rather, during the calmer moments tends to be very subdued. When times are placid, and all there is left is daily routine, Kaida prefers to just keep things on a even flow. She simply sees no sense ruining peaceful moments and keep what is at rest--restful.
But in a way this could be viewed as a methodology to grant herself a measure of temperance. For when things get heated there is a severity to her that can surface in an instant when encountering what she sees as an affront to that which she cares about--her ire becomes nothing shy of blatantly obvious. She is spiritual in the sense of being quite philosophically minded and learned, anything that spits on the pursuit of clarity and finding ones center--immediately leaves her offended and incensed. Further possessing a powerful regard for the traditions of justice as they exist within Gotei 13 and Soul Society, that which steps outside of them, she sees as something that must be confronted and answered for with little to no exceptions.
Not all is placidity or severity within circumstance for her. She finds joy in many things. Such as her philosophical studies and pursuits. She is also quite the addict for hot springs, and is a known regular at the hot springs within the Gotei 13 as well as the more high class hot springs of soul society. Those who have seen her there remark she lays within the soothing warm waters with a faint smile on her face like a sunbathing cat. Which often leads her to be seen around the 1st Division barracks on occasion.
As mentioned earlier, she engrosses herself within philosophy--primarily Zen philosophy which is what lends to her having a more subdued inclined persona. Aside from her long restful hot spring baths after exhausting levels of kendo training, and also being known for marathon levels of zazen meditations from time to time, she always finds time for herself to manage her vast bonzai tree collection in her quarters--something else she finds quite relaxing and another form of meditation. But she does not limit this to her bonzai tree garden within her quarters, but extends it to the gardens of her division's barracks as well as the gardens surrounding the hot springs near the 1st Division barracks. Doing this not simply out of finding it soothing and for meditative purposes, but like a famous ancestor of hers, believes it helps reflect beauty within the culture and social setting for everyone in enjoy, and thus by extension improves the standard of living within all those who choose to experience it.
Though her notions and understanding of law and order, and the need to uphold to tradition is deceptive to some who do not know her too well. Largely because of what is consider her primarily placid nature from her Zen beliefs and tone, that she may be more lenient or flexible; and perhaps in a rare instance she can prove to be. But truthfully her subdued disposition is as mentioned tempering an intensity, shared by her once ancestor in life; and thus has a resolve to upholding the law with severe judicious shrewdness that can come off as a bit wieghty for her soft tone.
By her peers she is regarded as the "Restful Kaida", which with her name meaning "little dragon", it basically is calling her the "Restful Little Dragon". And the caveat with that name they would call her is, "best not to stir a rested little dragon".
History
In the year 1834 in Japan, Kaida Date was born into the Date clan, a direct descendent of One-Eyed Dragon Masamune Date. It would not be too much to say that she was born into wealth and priviledge among the noblety. Though she was born with poor a immune system, and it was believed she would never live beyond her toddler years. Yet... still she lived on.
Her mother who doted on her often while her father remained distant, paying closer attention to his healthy daughter and sons, while maintaining his lands as the current head of the Date of the time. It was surprisng to many that she continued to manage to live into the next year. Her mother would continually sing to her, sing to her when waking up at the dawn, and sing to her at dusk when all fell to slumber for the night. The songs were actually haikus she put to melody for her little girl. Always doting on her and doing her best to make certain her youngest child had comfortable life and was happy, for she had lived beyond what was expected of her, and it was never certain when she would pass away.
While she did lead a comfortable life for what little of it she was able to experience in her sickly state, and it was a happy one thanks in no small part to her loving mother. It is a pity that she never got to experience or see much of the world outside of the castle walls she was raised within--often bed-ridden with illness. When cases of smallpox started cropping within their lands, Kaida's mother's greatest fears were realized--Kaida became ill with the disease as well. As she sang her little girl to sleep one night, Kaida at last passed away, but at the very least she died peacefully--soothed by her mother's loving voice.
She was only sixteen years old...
But she managed to live well over a decade beyond what anyone expected her to out of a strong will to live.
A Shinigami was already right there waiting for her when she passed. He was of the Date noble family. They were formed centuries ago by a member of the Date clan by the name of Jubei, who while as a member of 12th Division discovered his past life before becoming a Shinigami. He rose to prominence within the Gotei 13, Seireitei and Soul Society, establishing the Date family there as one of the lower noble families. It became a matter of tradition for Shinigami members of the Date noble family of Soul Society to send the souls of the Date clan of the mortal world to be reborn into Soul Society. They only do it for those that the Date noble family heads feel are 'unique'.
In truth the Date noble family's connection to the Date clan beyond that point completely ceases. The Date noble family in no way has contact with the Date clan outside of sending what the family heads believe are 'unique' souls of the clan to Soul Society; which the Date clan itself is utterly ignorant to until one of the Date noble family comes for their soul. What quite a few find peculiar is that those souls who are chosen by the Date family heads, at some point wind up being reborn within Soul Society among the Date noble family in one of their family's coming generations. They may even be reborn among the families of the Date noble family who were not originally of the Date noble family line, but were instead consolidated into Date noble family to become part of prominent lower noble families. This has been done with a few of the lower noble houses that came close to collapse, but the Date noble family seized upon it to strengthen and expand themselves and prevent a noble line within Soul Society from dying.
Kaida was chosen for one simple reality, by all accounts... she should never have lived passed the age of three years old her immune system was so fragile--it was even amazing that she survived infancy. Yet, the child had a powerful will and determination to survive, and that alone enabled her to continue living. But the body can only endure so much for so long, and by the time she was sixteen, despite her strong will to live--her body gave up. A will to live that powerful the Date family heads found to be unique, and wondered if she were reborn within Soul Society with the possibility of not falling pray again to being born with a weakened immune system again--how far could she go given the chance? The Date noble family heads felt she at least deserved to be granted that chance.
And so rather than any other Shinigami, it wound up being one who was of the Date noble family house that sent her off to Soul Society shortly after her death...
Ironic that in life she was denied the chance to live, but in death she was given the chance to not only live but exceed expectations. The life she had among mortal kind became not even a memory, she was reborn anew within Soul Society among the Date noble family, and free from the weak immune system that shackled her to death's door in the mortal world.
Interesting that in death she found herself born into much the same situation in life, once again being born into the main Date family line among their leading head's family as their youngest child. But because she was born without a deficient immune system--here she could at last be given a chance to live up to her fullest potential; yet most importantly, the chance to actually live life. And that she did with gusto. While she had no memory of her mortal life, as a little child she ran and played as though the next day would be her last. At every turn she sought to experience what life Soul Society had to offer.
Growing up she proved to be incredibly precocious and took to studying numerous forms of philosophy, and methodologies on the expansion of thought. She took an immediate liking to Zen philosophy as it is understood and practiced within Japan via Mahayana Buddhism. The persuit and understanding of awakening to the true self fascinates her to endless degrees, and left further riveted by the ideal of finding a spiritual awakening while living within a spiritual existence. The human animal had died, and now she is the metaphysical rebirth of that animal's soul, but there is still more to experience more to open one's eyes to. As even Yamamoto stated to potential recruits before his passing, "Even I am still learning.", after his having been a Shinigami for a thousand years. What she seeks is not just clarity, but whether or not it is truly possible to attain enlightenment as an already metaphysical being, and thus has set herself on a path--as she experiences all that this spiritual existence has to offer--to see if she can attain true enlightenment.
The Date noble family of Soul Society is noted for their traditions steeped in bushido and kendo. It is never surprising to encounter a member of the Date family, especially those of the main line such as Kaida is, and learn they are at least an expert in the Way of the Sword, and hold a mantra commonly understood within the Way of the Warrior-Knight. Much of the bushido philosophy she tempers with the collected wisdom and serenity offered through her studies of Zen Buddhist philosophy. And she believes not just through her marathon sessions of zazen meditation, but through meditative practice via kendo and the mantras of bushido honor and loyalty she can attain a sought after enlightenment and clarity. Because of her philosophical diligence and approach, it has lead her to be quite exceptional in the way of swordsmanship, even among other Date experts and some masters. Her style is often remarked as being thoughtful and intuitive in regards to her opponent, striking with swift percision and tactics.
For the Date noble family entering the academy to become part of the Gotei 13 is all par for the course. She was noted for being one of the more brighter students in her classes, and advancing fairly swiftly in regards to her swordsmanship and being quite learned in academia. Though despite her learned nature, she never seemed to hold much of an interest in studying very far into Kido, despite her understanding and appreciating its powerful uses and lending to give a sharp edge to ones tacts.
She was quite young when she learned to utilize her Shikai, in fact she did so several decades prier to now. Yet, while it was difficult for her at first. The calm approach she took to analyzing and understanding the spirit and its powers enabled her to be able to wield its strength to immense degrees. She often explains learning how to gradually master and understand her zanpakuto is much like the Zen pursuit of enlightenment. Falling deep into oneself via meditation with the zanpakuto to communicate and understand the spirit within it, and that spirit while its own entity is also a piece of ones own soul--a piece of oneself. Therefore as one learns about it, one learns about themselves. This is the very basis for walking the path to enlightenment, whatever power that comes with it is merely a byproduct. And by proxy the technique of communicating with her zanpakuto spirit, Jinzen, is incredibly simple for her do to the immense amount of meditative methods and arts she utilizes in even her most mundane day to day routines.
It was upon attaining Shikai she begun to hit her stride within her training for becoming part of the Gotei 13. While unaware of it, she took to many similarities to who was her famous ancestor in life. It could be argued had she had the opportunity to truly experience life, it would have shown then, but unfortunately it seems these qualities only begun to surface after death. Like her famous ancestor, while an ardent believer in law and order, and more so tradition, because of her 'Zen qualities' (also much like her famous ancestor) she takes a rational, measured approach to delegations of the law--even when her judgments may come off as severe. Her restrained attitude earned her the nickname, "Restful Kaida", among her contemporaries. A rested little dragon that is best left not agitated, for even a little dragon can be frightful thing to deal with when stirred. After all, conventional wisdom dictates: don't tease the dragon. Little or not.
Upon graduating the Shinigami academy, it was left to wonder where she would go within the Gotei 13. For within the Date noble family they have been known to crop up within several different Divisions, they have primarily been seen within 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, and 12th Division. For one who measures herself and her actions carefully, and often takes a thoughtful, analyzed approach to much of what she does, while being as much of an academic and philosopher as she is a warrior. It was a bit curious among both her peers and family where she would go.
In the end, she found herself joining the 6th Division under the leadership of Byakuya Kuchiki. There she has since been an unseated member for the past decade, and like many things she does--only when after careful consideration has she felt ready to climb up the ladder...
How far she will be able to climb with time is as of yet to be discovered...
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Skills/Attributes
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Skills
- Swordsmanship - Advanced
- Kidô - Beginner
- Hohô - Advanced
- Hand to Hand - Intermediate
Attributes
- Speed - Intermediate
- Power - Intermediate
- Stamina - Intermediate
- Intelligence - Advanced
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Zanpakutô
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Name: Ryuu no Kage
Translation - Dragon of Shadows
Unreleased Appearance
It looks like a standard katana (90cm). Its white scabbard is a finely smoothed out and polished wood, while its hilt possess a white oval shaped metal plate for as its tsuba, the clothe wraps utilized for its tsuka are also white and of the same material commonly used for katanas.. The blade has a keen shine to it with its sharp edge, by sight it is clearly the weapon of someone who cares for their weapon.
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Zanpakutô Spirit
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Name: Kageryuu (Kaida calls her "Ryuu" for short.)
Gender: Female
Spirit Appearance
The spirit of Kaida's zanpakuto is known to take two different forms. The primary being that of a dragon with a wingspan of forty feet, and her length from snout to the tip of her tail being twenty-five feet. When standing up on her hind-legs she is an easy twelve feet tall. Both her front and hind-legs have three toes with claws just as jet black as her smooth scales. And her eyes are a solid blood red.
The other form she takes on is that of a girl. Typically she takes the form when speaking with Kaida within her inner-world. The appearance she takes on is that of a fair skinned lass, roughly the same body type as Kaida. She has long pink hair that hangs down to her waist. Her eyes are the same shade of red as her dragon form. The clothes she is dressed in a lavish black and red kimono with gold flowers on the left shoulder, and it is partly closed by a red Date noble family obi sash. The on her feet she wears a pair of clunky black combat boots. Often in her possession within this form is the released Shikai sword of herself that Kaida wields.
Personality
Arrogant and cocky, Kageryuu is quite certain of her own power and worth. She often tells Kaida that others compared to her are subjected to being measured by true quality. The spirit is quite a bit different from Kaida, though Kageryuu is not bouncing off the walls with energy--still she is quite the show off, and her bravado and boastful attitude often makes her too prideful to want to back down from a challenge. Much of this largely out of a need to continually prove herself.
Relationship to Master
The two have a mutal respect for one another. In the past when Kaida was still young, the two were at odds with one another, because their personalities were so opposed to each other. But over the decades and as Kaida strived to get to learn more and more about Kokuryuu, the two have bonded strongly learning that their opposing attitudes compliment one another quite well.
Though much to Kaida's chagrin, Kageryuu often tries to goad Kaida into challenges, whereas Kaida prefers a more thoughtful approach most times. Though as mentioned Kageryuu does this because she feels the insecure need to prove herself, and the one she is trying to prove her power to his her own wielder. When Kaida seeks the more thoughtful mode, a path of least resistance, Kageryuu worries that the reason Kaida does so is because she doubts Kageryuu's power. Which is something Kaida finds she has to soothe Kageryuu with from time to time to ease Kageryuu's mind.
The two are not completely different though as Kageryuu enjoys a bit of philosophy as well, and it is not all that uncommon for Kaida to find herself pulled into yet another debate that Kageryuu had goaded her into. Though Kageryuu's goading in those particular instances, Kaida does not mind all that much.
Inner World
The realm in which Kageryuu dwells is a mountain top within the clouds of a moonlit night sky. The clouds are dense mid-way up the mountain, thus from the mountain top from which Kageryuu dwells the world below cannot be seen. At the very top of the mountain is a small Japanese appearing as though it were made dating back to the feudal era. Out within the open sky Kageryuu can be seeing soaring through the clouds. Otherwise she can be found in the form she takes as a girl within the small home. The inside of the home possesses all of the simplistic accomodations and humble decor of a modest retreat home.
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Zanpakutô Shikai
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Call Out Phrase: Ryuu no Kage. Amakakeru.
Translation - Dragon of Shadows. Soar.
Shikai Appearance
From its white sealed form it turns black into a more lavish variation of its sealed katana form (90cm). The tsuba is gold with a unique oval shape to it, while the same and kashira are both also a fine gold. The clothe of the ito grip is black. While the decorative shitodome is a fine silken gold clothe with two jade marbles at the clothes ends serving as its kurikata. The scabbard's kojiri is a golden ornamental cap. The blade itself appears as polished steel to a mirror shine, while it a has keen silverish blue shimmer when caught in direct light.
((Kageryuu with her released zanpakuto Shikai form.))
Shikai Abilities
Za Sugiikuryuu (The Dragon's Pass)
- Description of Attack - This is a passive effect that the wind generated from each slash attack lash's at her opponent(s) like tiny invisible blades, which can possibly cause tiny lascerations. The purpose of this effect is to wear down the opponent, seeking to slowly but surely chip away at their stamina and defenses, and thus by proxy their resolve to keep fighting.
- Type - Wind
- Range - Melee
- Limitation - Those who are one tier below, equal and all tiers higher than her, their reiastu is too large for the this passive ability to effect them. Also it ticks away a small portion of her reiryoku with each slash she makes, thus somewhat ironically through prolonged fights can be a factor in wearing her down as well. Furthermore, this passive ability is only effective the target is within melee range, and is negated if the slash is blocked or parried--for "the dragon is not passing if it is stopped in its flight path".
Gakageryuu (Shadow Dragon's Fang)
- Description of Attack - Kaida stabs the ground at her feet (or air if using Hohô at the time). The very second she does dark energy begins forming under the intended target's feet. In the next instant it forms into a fifteen foot spike of energy in the basic form of a dragon's fang. The intended effect is the target finding themselves impaled upon the spike of dark energy.
- Type - Dark Energy
- Range - 30 meters
- Limitation - While those above her tier may be able to avoid being harmed by the attack, especially the strong they are; those of equal strength may find themselves badly wounded by it, more so the lower in tier the target is. But the attack can be avoid altogether as a second before the spike launches up from under the target's feet, dark energy begins to swirl around them at their feet. The reiastu of the attack can be felt as well, thus for the adroit or at least the aware, they can dodge the attack entirely.
Uhakageryuu (Shadow Dragon's Right Wing)
- Description of Attack - With the sword held in her right hand she brings it up in front of her. As she does swinging around her from back right side to covering her entire front side is a twenty foot long and fifteen feet high transparent spirit right wing of a black dragon forged from dark energy. The great right wing then shields her from attacks or objects that may bring her person harm.
- Type - Dark Energy
- Range - Self
- Limitation - The amount of reiryoku and reiastu it costs her to successful block an attack is dependent upon the power of the attack she is blocking. This can be a saving grace, or can prove to be her immediate downfall. For attacks of equal strength or lower to herself, this ability can withstand them, but the drawback being aside from the amount of reiryoku and reiastu it takes to summon it, but the attack it is withstanding further drains her reiryoku and reiastu as well. It cannot withstand attacks above her own tier, and it will disperse, though attacks from one tier above her it can cushion the blow yet not those further above her tier; but despite being dispersed from a more powerful attack it still drains further reiryoku and reiastu from her. Thus, this is a protective ability that she can only use very sparingly, otherwise risk being incredibly devastated by both her opponent and this ability of hers.
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Translation - If Applicable
Bankai Appearance
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Bankai Abilities
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OOC Information
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Sample Post
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Toward the back of the barracks, lining the north wall is garden one would expect to see within Shinto temple. Something that Kaida spent a fair deal of time within her Division building, and expanding upon. She had always been of the mind that when making a garden it should be difficult to discern where the nature of the garden begins, and where the building construct and foundation begins. The over all beauty must reflect a serenity and a peace of mind, where a person who walks among the floral and fauna and the trickling streams into a tiny pond housing koi fish with lotus flowers resting upon the waters ceiling, they can feel at ease.
Among all the fauna and other florals are camellias, the flower that is the Division's insignia. Like today, when the camellias are ready, Kaida harvests them for their leaves to be used for making tea. Making ones own tea leaves Kaida has always viewed as an art form. Done right those who drink it can find themselves restful and at peace, and done wrong the response met with only sharp criticism, condescension, and a crinkled nose expression.
Trimming the sakura trees that she planted to border the outside edges of the garden creating a lovely background for the garden rather than just the barracks border walls, these she also finds a certain level of peacefulness in outside of harvesting the camellia flowers' leaves for tea. Though other than giving a lovely surrounding for the garden, she planted them also in a showing of respect for who leads the Division. But even going further than that sakura trees with their lovely flowers have always been a symbol for those who study bushido, more so for those who study the more serene understanding of it via Zen Buddhism as she does.
Everything about the garden is a massive form of meditation for her where she abandons her body to go about its motions perfectly rested and at ease, while mind and soul together in harmony fall deep within herself to gain further understanding. In these moments she finds herself standing upon the small porch of a modest feudal era Japanese home residing at the very top of a mountain with a cloudy moonlight night sky. Because of her ease of falling into meditative states--Jinzen is a very simple thing for her, and thus communicating with this inner-world's dwller, Kageryuu is an amazingly simple thing.
"Heyyyy!", greeted a cocksure young girl's voice from inside the home, the door slid open. A lovely girl in every sense, holding what is "Kaida's Shikai" sword, while wearing a black and red kimono contrasting against her fair complexion and long waist-leng silky pink hair. Those red eyes of hers holding a conceited gaze, while her visage also has an equally smug smirk.
Kaida smiled warmly at the the girl, and gree--
SPLASH!
Kaida suddenly found herself right back at the gardens, drenched in water no less. Finding herself knelt down at the water's edge of the small garden pond. Floating in the water directly before her is a soccerball and a crushed lotus flower that begun sinking into the water. An enraged sneer with a dark fire in her bright blue eyes as they flared wide open.
In the distance behind her she could hear several male voices muttering, "Oh crap..."
With one hand she grabbed the soccerball as she rose to her feet, and threw it at the offenders with all her might. The launched like a missile at one of the offenders, smashing right into his face. The impact made the ball explode as he was laid out on the ground. They stirred the rested dragon... quickly in their fright they picked up their unconscious friend and busted soccerball, and immediately cleared out.
As for Kaida, back to her working on the gardens to soothe herself, and fallback into her restful state.
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