Post by Arcadus on Jun 21, 2021 22:10:04 GMT -5
-Opening-
Bost Ebin: [Insert Here]
Password 1: [Black Hole]
Password 2: [Moon Pray]
Type: [Freak]
Affiliation: [Espada]
Rank: [4]
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-Basic Information-
Name: [Arcadus]
Age of Death/Rebirth: [Arcadus is a Composite personality, formed out of multiple ambitions souls eaten by his hollow form.]
Real Age/Age of Appearance: [506, 24]
Birthday (Month/Day): [12/31]
Blood Type: [A-]
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-Appearance-
Height/Weight: [7' 350lbs]
Physical Description: [Arcadus takes the form of a human male,7' in height with a rippling musculature and broad shoulders resting on a pillar like torso and legs, with incredibly sharp features and long wavy blonde hair. He has almost vampiric features, his skin being pale despite the sun of Heuco Mundo, and keeps his nails and hair well maintained, often sanding his nails into small points, and keeping his hair long enough to hang in front of his eyes if brushed the wrong way.
imgur.com/gallery/N7Aaov9
His musculature is statuesque, a form solid and packed with muscle, from his full back and broad shoulders to his thick calves.Arcadus does not wear facial hair, and is fastidious about his grooming, bearing no hair on his body besides that on his head.
Arcadus always wears the following adornments, a pair of brass bicep bands, a black ring around his left middle finger, and some kind of eyeliner, as well as almost always painting his nails red or black. His number 3 from his rank in the Espada is on his left trapezius, making it hard for him to see it. His hollow hole is where his stomach should be. His mask is almost entirely intact on the back half of his head, with only a band across his forehead and chin holding it to him.
Arcadus wears two main outfits, his Espada uniform, though adorned with some light gold trim and a black braid holding the robe together, is still the same white robes and pants that the Espada are distinctive for wearing. His flow over his shoulders from a cape and coming together in the front in a sort of facsimile of a tunic crossed with a kimono.
Arcadus’s second outfit consists of a black body glove as a base, which is normally paired with yellow and red when out and about, but often paired with blues when home. His red garments are normally leather of some kind, often with large metal buttons and zippers, and his yellow jackets and pants bearing more casual wear that hangs off of him.
Formal wear can extend to practically anything fashionable from the present day to the late 1850’s, though Arcadus does alternate between suits and jacket-pants combinations most often. This has not stopped him from wearing all manners of wear from tunics to kilts to Victorian garb.
His more casual clothes are closer to nightwear, loose flowing kilts and half robes, cut robes, and similar wear. Though, this is almost entirely when alone in his home, and not even considered when there is a chance of company.
In his personal time Arcadus also often wears appropriate gear for whatever craft he is pursuing be it occult or mechanical. This is also one of the few times he does not wear a body glove, because wearing black while working a forge or working with a soldering iron is musty hell and even an Espada has his limits on discomfort.]
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-Personality-
Dislikes: [The color green-”Green is an awful color, it's the color of rot, of decay and impermanence. The color of blossoming things that fade and wither. It's also the color of greens, which are the worst food group.”
The Espada - “I feel that the espada lacks direction, a group of strong creatures with no intent, no drive. There needs to be a proper goal, an aspiration to succeed outside accruing personal power. “
Hollows - “hollow are disdainful, they have short sights and shorter attention spans. Crafty fighters and very decisive thinkers, but unable to plan beyond the setting sun.”
Ascetics - “Ascetics are such a pain. Why live your life in squalor and misery for what? Spiritual awakening? You had a better chance to be born with it than to find it under a tree.
Disillusionment “Nihilism and apathy go hand in hand. Trying to say that something is meaningless because there's nothing inherent to it is like trying to say water isn’t wet. Of course it is and isn’t. It's a matter of perspective and how you choose to interpret things.”
“Health” foods - “why diet and subsist on leafage and grains in portioned amounts when you can eat as much as you want and work it off? It sounds more like an unwillingness to indulge oneself, and being afraid you won’t face the consequences of your actions.”
Planned Obsolescence - "If a device isn't designed to perform a fuctino, or rather, its function is not what it is designed to do, but is instead designed to fail for the express purpose of being sold or made again, it is worthless. It is meant to fail, which defeats the purpose of such a complex scheme. If your intent is instead to just swindle people out of thier money, involve them in a ponzi scheme or in buying a bridge, don't provide them a half sufficient product."
Spinelessness - "Those who can't stand up for themselves don't deserve the ground they stand on. If you are just made to follow orders and to fall in line, you have no spine, no mind of your own."
Chastity - "life is too short, and pleasures too sweet, to be wasted in telling yourself your better off for being chaste and virtuous."]
Likes: [Tinkering - “there's a true feeling to making things work and function, and in knowing why. If you’re able to take a plan from concept to completion with no help and aids, you really have furthered yourself and your abilities”
Occultism “Mortal magic is just spiritual engineering, wrapped in tradition and metaphor. Trying to follow spell books and rituals will trap you in the past. The only way to progress is to move forward, to form your own ways and path.”
The color black - “Better canvas color than white”
Hollows - “Hollows serve their purposes, dogs of war, beasts of burden, food in a pinch, and definitely useful for cannon fodder. They’re honestly quite helpful if given the right motivations and kept in line.”
Chess, against novices - “I’m more of a hobbyist in chess than I am a competitive player. I don’t care for the rote memorization of moves and gambits, nor do I have the patience for day long games. I’m more interested in the theory and representative mechanics of chess.”
Art Deco - “Lovely art style, black and gold or white is always a safe bet unless you like something that classes, like green or orange. Outside of elementary art theory, I like the materials, all black stone and gold leaf and light stained glass. It makes for a very fittingly regal appearance without the gaud of tapestries and stone halls.”
Learning - Arcadus has a definite joy in both learning, then applying knowledge and skills. These two need to come together, and Arcadus doesn’t have the patience for trivia or pop culture, though this aversion is selective, and he can be found reading old pulp and modern fantasy novels as “Inspiration”
The Espada - “A veritable hoard of potential and a lure for more suitable candidates. Power being the main determiner of one's ranking among the espada, the only lacking thing in this organization is its lack of leadership from its heads and the members listlessness.”
Spirit flesh- “There is no flesh quite like that of a spiritual being. Their combined essence, their being, is present, and there's so much potential there to taste and experience in consuming them.]
Flaws: [Pride “I think there's nothing wrong with being proud. Pride is your confidence in your achievements, your declarations that you matter, that YOU feel you matter. I think those that seek humility are destined to fade and wither.”
Recklessness “Recklessness is just the whining of fools who can’t stand to take the risks needed to succeed. Drive and calculated risk
Temper - Arcadus, when truly faced with something that he feels he should be able to fix and can’t due to either someone else's incompetence, he is truly inconsolable, often ranting and raving to anyone who will listen, most often his staff.
Grudges - While defeat is never mentioned, it also never forgotten. Arcadus often exaggerates slights and failures, even to the point of persistently antagonizing people if he feels they have it coming.
Spoiled-Considering Arcadus’s “unique” position as a rather fresh faced arrancar, isn’t particularly used to the harshness of Hueco Mundo, growing accustomed to his luxury palace quickly.]
Habits: [Trust issues - Even among Arrancar, Arcadus is not the trusting type, often being very particular in what he means to those he gives commands or requests to. Additionally, he rarely works in concert with groups composed of individuals all stronger than he is.
Valuation and Objectification - Arcadus has a hard time valuing people for who they are, rather than what they can do and their ability to perform. This manifests most often by boiling a person down to their abilities and their pliability and or desperation for something. This effectively boils down a person into cost benefit, and is the predominant way Arcadus views people.
Sadism - “You call it sadism, I call it evaluating my assets. I simply need to know how far they can be pushed, it's a matter of curiosity at this point. You can’t know what you're paying for if you don’t stress test the merchandise, and you don’t know the services you're getting till you throw them a curveball.”
Palette - Arcadus delights in eating sapient creatures, from normal humans to the few strips of quincy that can be laid over rice. As a part of his palace there is a veritable slaughter house full of corpses and casked blood from most races and regions.
Huge appetite - Despite his refined palette and lack of a need to eat, Arcadus has an enormous appetite, though this isn’t unusual for those familiar with his affinity for Hakai Gonzui. Arcadus has been known to eat entire buffets when hungry, and on one occasion ate an entire cow in a single sitting on an extended stay in the human world.
Food Based Matchmaking - “The blood of this tribal from south africa pairs well with the thigh roast, who was this, an executive's daughter? They’d make a lovely couple. I should look into procuring more of both of these. I wonder if the arctic hunter liver would work nested inside.”
Arcadus Spits off his balcony.]
Fears: [Death - much in the same way a vampire might layer themself in armor and fortress walls, arcadus puts as much distance between himself and death, with fear being his primary focus for acquiring power, wealth and allies
Slipping - due to his personality's composite nature, Arcadus can sometimes feel himself channelling different past lives more than his own personality, which concerns him greatly as it implies to him a kind of ego death if he doesn’t define and remain as himself.
Failure - “Failure means that my best wasn’t enough. My best being not enough means I can’t do something. If I can’t do something, and can’t get someone to do something for me, then its impossible. I do not deal in the impossible.”]
Goals: [ Arcadus craves power, in any form, be it knowledge of some hidden flaw or quirk of anything that could prove to be an issue, raw physical or spiritual strength, a devastating technique or indomitable ally. Power is the only thing that matters to this arrancar, fitting to someone who wants to reform the Espada to fit this end. In terms of how Arcadus gains this goal, it is preferably by non lethal and constructive means, but you can't make the mother of all omelets and fret over every egg. ]
Alignment: [NE]
Aspect of Death: [Ambition]
Overall Personality: [Arcadus is in his social engagements, not kind, not compassionate. But he is polite and genial, soft and sweet words plaster over stony intentions and mechanical calculations of worth and expendability. Meeting him is like meeting a shark, almost always more interested in something else at the moment, but will note your presence and take great interest if you decide to move too much or show weakness.
Of course, talking to him without preparation or awareness of what he's like, it's like someone has finally decided to listen, to really hear what you have to say. Someone who has genuine care for you and wants to see what they can do to help you. At the same time, listening to him, he is someone you find interesting, someone who at the bare minimum, you’d want to hear talk about what's been bothering them and give a thought to hearing out whatever ideas they have.
Talking to him, if you’re able to peel back the layers of charisma and look at the what and why he is saying things, Arcadus treats people like puzzles, like they can be solved, and that once solved he owns some part of them or has some kind of dominion over them.
Arcadus’s reactions almost entirely depend on how he understands they affect him and his interests, and has little regard for other goings on besides how they could be a good opportunity for him to “help” people.
Arcadus can’t stand to have people looking down on him, to the point that he will float around using Luna Cero to be above eye level to others larger than him. He cannot bear humiliations and seeks to avoid them or downplay them at all times. The few defeats he is known to have suffered are ignored and potential losses are avoided at all times.
For his innumerable faults, Arcadus does hold those who keep an honor code or a general sense of honor in high regard. He views them as more principled, and to an extent, better than him, people who are able to live lives and accrue power while still holding to a set of rules and strictures that keep them from their goals at different junctions.
Despite his haunty exterior, Arcadus has a great interest in both mechanical and magical workings, often taking time to dissect and dismantle complex devices he finds interesting or unusual. This is best evidenced by both his apartment having most modern amenities, having done most of the wiring himself.
As for his magical and spiritual endeavours, Arcadus finds himself fascinated by forming artifacts out of unconventional sources. He has aspirations to use different aspects of the soul in different forms, from chains of impossible things to a blood iron sword.]
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-Powers-
Fighting Style: [Social Combat
Arcadus is loath to fight if it can be avoided, as peaceful resolutions tend to end in more allies and less wasted potential and maximize gains from an encounter with someone. In attempts to avoid combat, Arcadus attempts to analyze both the person's disposition and standing, and drawing from a sort of cold reading using the Analysis skill and his own Charisma to disarm people mentally, preying on common and easily intuited insecurities to worm his way in.
Once taking hold of this weakness, this insecurity, Arcadus will attempt to then make two things happen. One, the person must feel bad about their insecurity, it must enter and harm their will and mood. Second, Arcadus will attempt to make them an offer or an out that is incredibly desirable, especially to what the person is feeling in that moment.
With their curiosity or interest gained, Arcadus has ingratiated himself to a person and is and is able to begin using his charisma and social maneuvering to continue to bend this person to his will. Bending people to his will includes both delivering on promises made; but also subtly positioning those promises so as to in debt either the beneficiary to himself while achieving the promise gains them both.
Alternatively through attempting to show them that they need to fulfill their desires themself for them to matter, and then provide the tools for them to accomplish those goals, thus basically leashing them to himself. This method of essentially chaining allies to himself ensures that he is both invaluable to them, but also always in control of some aspect of their activity.
The Contract technique’s head is reared at this point, being a incredibly powerful tool to ensure both that Arcadus’s acquaintance makes good on any deals or favors they’ve promised to work with, but as well to ensure to those Arcadus is attempting to indebt to him that this is an even exchange, and not a part of a larger plan, and to keep them from retaliating against him if they don’t wish to continue the deal.
When time comes to sling Cero and obliterate opponents, Arcadus brings his full might, holding no reserves and no mercy. A core part of his methods is employing his analytical nature to ensure some part of his kit is able to lock down his opponents and break them. Defeat and retreat are basically suicide due to his nature as a freak Arrancar, releasing and fighting ensures that he will be unconscious by the end of his release, barring rare exceptions where his flames are allowed to blossom.
While Arcadus is learning to master his shockwaves, his understanding is rudimentary at this point, only really using them in broad strokes to overwhelm or defend against wave-like attacks.
Zanpakuto Techniques are used more as emergency resorts, gambles and finishing moves, meant to end fights or dramatically shift the way they are fought. This can take the form of shifting the means of the fight from a physical contest to a spiritual or mental one, or by using all the previous actions Arcadus has taken to ensure a massive blow to his foes, or in the most dramatic case, ambition and desperation merge to see a massive, all out strike of blade and flame that ensures a winner and loser.
Against weaker opponents, Arcadus wields his sword more like a cleaver, swinging it with wild abandon and glee to see his strength so clearly demonstrated to his victim.Hierro and Gonzui are used to sustain non release combat. As well, this combo is used to ensure that different gambits are set up well, and are sometimes used to ignore environmental issues or to wade through weaker enemies. Cero’s are reserved for release combat since his release drastically changes them.
As a part of his mobility, Arcadus’s skill with Cero extends even to his movement, making constant use of Luna Cero to move erratically and to gain aerial advantage over his often flightless foes. From extended leaping strikes to backflipping to hide a charging attack, Arcadus attempts to ensure his next position isn’t known.
His ability to fly drastically affects this as well, often simply out ranging opponents who can’t hope to reach him, or by using his vastly greater aerial mobility against foes who’s only option is air walk techniques, even snatching fallen foes into the air to consume them in relative safety.
Arcadus prefers decisive actions and strikes, shunning small and complex maneuvers for wide sweeping motions and attacks. This is not purely folly, as such attacks have obvious answers, and Arcadus can anticipate his opponents actions. If he can anticipate their actions, he can answer back. Arcadus also values commitment to strikes and
If at all possible Arcadus attempts to bring allies or force alliances in battles with more than one party, citing “no matter how strong or fast, two minds and two sets of hands always have the advantage” Against stronger opponents, Arcadus employs a number of strategies, but most are derived from 3 primary gambits employed against opponents that can’t be simply defeated through sheer power.
The first gambit is to simply pressure them with fire based Ceros, using Funeral Pyre if they prove too fast to be consistently hit to try and pin them down till they can be forced to surrender or slowed and pinned enough to be killed. However, in the event that they are too strong or durable for this to work, the second gambit follows.
When speed ceases to be the issue and either some form of defensive technique or spell or item proves to be the crux of the opponents defense, Pressuring with sword strikes and cone based Ceros ensure close quarters fighting, setting up for the second Zanpakto technique. Net of Burning despair is thrown.
The nerve searing pain of the net changes the battle from a battle of complex techniques to the victims ability to deal with pain and maintain their strength and over power the tether. If the will and might of the subject prevail prove to be too much for the net, Arcadus is fighting a truly formidable foe for his skill set and power level. This is where our final moves are made.
Making the heaviest use of both Emergence to phase through effects that Hierro can’t take, and stepping in as close as possible, Arcadus risks it all on a Gran Rey Cero or similar attack snuffing out his flames in an attempt to take down this truly solid foe. In the event that it misses, Emergence is used to escape and either launch another all out assault before running or collapsing depending on how far into the release Arcadus is.
Purely physical fighters are often Arcadus's largest weakness, being they can resist the pain and burns of his ceros and are often too skilled with weapons for him to engage them with his blade. This he often tries to avoid by either out maneuvering and outlasting them if they can’t fly and have strong spiritual defenses, and exploiting spiritual weakness.
Against more spiritual opponents, crushing them with raw might is an option, though they often have close range options that make this difficult. In the event his Cero’s wont penetrate and his bladework wont make the cut, his last gambit is to talk. Through energy sensory and his own charisma he will attempt to seek out spiritual gaps and oversights, made easier if the opponent is a zanpakuto wielder. This is also a way to gain allies, or at the very least a way to avoid enemies.
In the event all this fails, Arcadus will retreat, but only after exhausting every possible option, finding that risks taken with the chance of no reward are a waste and unnecessary. Better to wound someone and leave than kill, showing you can be merciful and expect such in turn.]
Zanpakutou Appearances: [Arcadus's Zanpakto takes the form of a curved sword with gold inlay, inscribed with a design that shows a person diving into water only to struggle to surface on the other side. It has a haft that is about a foot long, making more than a hand and a half sword, but less than a two handed sword. Its blade takes that roughly of a Falchion.
Arcadus gains this outfit, gem and all.
i.imgur.com/uobfk9D
When released, the sword hums and glows like its white hot, though not losing its integrity. Arcadus is also wreathed in a cloak of flames which glow a golden red, and always roilling, and suffers an outfit change to the below image, the red cloak being replaced with the aforementioned flames. The red gem practically emerges from his chest, with a blaze of gold flame to cover its emergence.]
Zanapkutou Release Names [Slash and Burn]
Overall Ability: [Burn and Slash]
Primera Etapa Overall Ability: [ Arcadus’s release displays his ambition and drive, wreathing his attacks in flame, and empowering his physicality to match his mental drive. Arcadus's reiatsu burns the air and area around him, most heavily seen in his rieatsu, which sticks to its targets like glue.
This excess rieatsu is a result of his passion and drive evident in every attack, often taking the form of large sweeping motions when firing Cero or in his positioning. As for how his release affects his combat, it gives him an addition to his normal combat style, allowing burns and the area of effects to be used to pressure an opponent's guard and close off their movement options.
Fuego Reiatsu, All non release techniques gain the fire element. These create fires when it contacts solid inanimate material, and causes 2nd degree burns when impacting living creatures. Non-release techniques that already have the fire element instead inflict 3rd degree burns, and if an attack would inflict 3rd degree burns it instead inflicts 4th degree burns. Attacks that hit inanimate material create a reiatsu coating that eats through the material, creating the flames, in a rough 10 sq foot area, creating a stack of fire.
Fuego Inferno Cal: Every attack that Arcadus makes that hits an inanimate object creates a stack of fire, which is roughly 10 sq. feet. Each stack doubles in size every subsequent post, creating another 10 sq. ft. of fire and the aforementioned reiatsu coating. This fire is used in different release techniques as an additional cost, and burns as normal fire does. Arcadus can only create 4 stacks per post with his non release attacks alone.
Fires touched by non release techniques can be turned into stacks, however fires started outside of release cannot be used until touched or hit with a non release tech. The amount of stacks created is based on the total area on fire when hit with a technique divided by 10 square feet. These fires are hard to put out, similar to a grease fire, but can be put out by conventional means, eliminating the stack.
The Flaming Rieatsu is a syrupy consistency, and while it does evaporate on contact with flesh, leaving only burns, it eats into objects without rieatsu, converting them into fire and can eat through stone and steel given enough time. It should be noted that to eat through an I beam would take 2 posts and a foot of concrete in 1 post with the napalm-like spirit burning at 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. Arcadus is immune to both the fire created by his release, but as well any technique enhanced by Fuego Rieatsu.]
Zanpakuto Techniques: [Net of Burning Despair
Summoning his rage and fear of loss, Arcadus forms a net out of his web of insecurities and hate to snare his opponents and to sear their nerves. Arcadus must hold on to the net with at least one hand to maintain it.
This technique creates a net and tether which shoots at Cero Speed to wrap around the target., and weakens targets through burning out the nervous system and is overcome by sufficient damage to the net to break it, with the net having durability equal to Arcadus's RS, and / or overcoming the pain effect sufficient pain tolerance and strength of will. Overcome by strength of will 3, calm mind 3, pain tolerance 3, or damage recovery 3, or a 2 of these skills at 2, or a combination of these skills which add up to 4, though this won’t remove the tether. When the tether is cast, the cast must put all available hands into holding on to it, so holding onto a sword would prevent you from having to use two hands, but dropping the sword would force the use of a second hand.
150 Reiatsu
Funeral Pyre
The swaths of burning reiatsu leap up, forming a flurry of bolts that attempt to surround opponents and pierce defenses that normally can’t be breached by Cero or blade.
Each version requires different amounts of stacks to be utilized, and have their respective cost listed in sequential order. How Funeral Pyre works is that the burning reiatsu is transformed into a flurry of beam attacks, snuffing out the flames and using them to swarm an opponent. They are often used when an opponent is surrounded, allowing thier high speed to pin down opponents and attempt to mitigage the abilities of opponents who simply avoid attacks. While techinicaly seperate beams, their collective strength is able to overcome thier individual weakness.
3 Stacks: The blazes are hard to dodge, increasing to 800 Speed and dealing full RS.
6 stacks: The beams, moving at 800 speed, now are numerous to bounce off of each other, able to bend and twist around corners and turn to counteract dodges, to block this attack, one would need to create physical barriers to avoid it. This attack is considered guided. On hit, this delivers 3rd degree burns.
9 Stacks: The beams are now numerous enough to take coalese and take sharp turns , bending around sheilds and walls thrown in its path. This attack is considered homing. Causes 3rd degree burns.
100-300-500 Reiatsu
Ambition Blaze
Rather than enveloping himself in his passions, Arcadus becomes his inner flame, skin burning up to become an entity of pure flame, allowing attacks to pass through him rather than deflecting or challenging them.
Arcadus becomes intangible, a burning mass of fire taking the place of his solid form fire, intangible outside of shockwaves and Cold based attacks or sufficient spiritual pressure, more than 80% of his RS can effect him. melee attacks cause burns to the attacker, and this burns out foreign substances in his body. Arcadus cannot create shockwaves in this form. This costs 100 Rieatsu per post to use. This Technique requires 10 Stacks to be active but does not consume them.
Extinguish,
Arcadus draws this burning reiatsu into him, replenishing his reserves, and offsetting his tab of spent reiatsu spent in resurrections. For each stack absorbed, Arcadus regains 50 Reiatsu, and his reiatsu pool is already full, the equivalent amount is redacted from his spent reiatsu from non release techniques and other drains, such as Gonzui. Or, instead of spiritually replenishing him, he can use the flames sparked by his ambition and drive to fuel him physically, with 3 stacks for deep gashes, 6 stacks for heavy bleeding, 15 for lost limbs, and anything short of heart or brain damage 30 stacks. This use costs 50 reiatsu a stack used to heal Arcadus. ]
Other Techniques: [Technique Name: Weaken Wills
Requires Cha 2 Dark Equal to or higher to 75
Those who perceive you are compelled to listen and to hear, which you can leverage to weaken and distract your targets, targeting their conviction and concentration to ensure your words carry their weight in gold, and your already charismatic arguments worm their way into even the most hardened wills.
If you have this technique, you are able to use your force of personality and words to grind even iron wills into dust. By either talking to someone, or performing dramatic actions (revealing damning information against a belief or trusted person of the target) you can lower a person’s Strength of will or similar skills Mental skills (Analyzing, Calm mind, etc) by 1 if your Charisma Rank is higher than their targeted skill, to a minimum of 1. The use of this technique require the opponent to be able to understand what you are communicating, ie being able to hear spoken words and understand the language you are speaking. This technique is resisted by having an equivalent metnal skill from the before list to the users charisma. You can only lower a persons targeted skill once per thread, and if it is resisted you cannot target them with this technique this thread. You can target different skills, but only once per 3 posts, with the reduction lasting for the thread.
SPECIAL REQUIRMENT: CHARISMA 4
You can target non mental skills that still affect concentration and mental processes, such as battle analysis and battle Trance.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT DARK AURA 100
You are able to affect Mental skills (and non-mental mental skills such as battle trance and battle analysis) of an equivalent rank to yours.
This Technique is reserved but is teachable]
Other Techniques: [Technique Name: [Luna Paso Cero (Moon Step Zero)] (MASTERED)
Class: [6]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
A Cero expelled from the user's feet to propel them through the air. By controlling the power of the blast, the technique can vary. A powerful blast can cause the user to rocket upwards, but damages the ground they were standing on. By doing this repeatedly, the user can zigzag through the air. A weaker blast will merely cause the user to "hop", but if done repeatedly, the user can literally bounce on thin air, allowing them to cross gaps by bunny-hopping across them. And if the user is sent flying, they can merely hop down to the ground safely in the same way one would walk down stairs.
How to use technique:
Stated above.
Technique Drawbacks
Reiatsu cost.]
Other Techniques: [
Technique Name: [Contract] [CINEMATIC]
Class: [Class 3]
Technique Type (Hollow/Arrancar Technique): [Arrancar]
Usable By (Arrancar/Hollow):
Technique Element: [None]
Technique Description and Effects (A great green light envelops the area as this technique is activated, and the user makes an offer to one or more targets, with an outstretched hand, awaiting a handshake, in exchange for something, anything that the caster could possibly offer. Any and all of those who accept the offer and shake the users hand are now a part of the contract. Those apart of the contract are compelled to uphold their end of the bargain, and failure to do so will see their Spiritual Pressure halved every thread they do not make an effort to achieve their end of the deal. While this can include simply working on achieving their aspect of the contract, ie, a commissioned item or weapon which might take a long time, but since they have made an effort to work on it, they do not suffer the effects. Efforts can include fighting in self defense to return to working on a bargain. ): [Insert Below]
How to use technique (How is it activated?): User must make an offer that outlines services rendered and payment, and extends their hand for a handshake. The technique is properly in effect when the propositioned parties shake the users hand. The User can turn off this ability at will, and it lasts effectively indefinitely
Technique Drawbacks (Both ends of the contract must be able to be upheld, not necessarily wanted. IE a character cutting off their left arm is a suitable price for a contract, and a payment could be anything the user could theoretically deliver on.)
Incantation and Effect:
Made By: Bost Ebin
Reserved? (Yes/No) (Can others use your technique, or just your character?): Yes]
Technique Name: [Superheat] (Mastered)
Class:[6]
Technique Type ( Hollow/Arrancar Technique, Human World Dweller Technique, Other):[Insert Here]
Usable By (Technique is available to which races?):[All]
Technique Element: [Fire]
Technique Description and Effects (Explain appearance, powers, and effect): [ This technique superheats an object up to a white hot temperature, including turning it to liquid or even gas. Release weapons are not affected by this as other objects are and is treated as a RS attack with a 25% bonus against release weapons.]
How to use technique (How is it activated?):[/b][/u] [you have to touch the target object, and can select how much of object is affected by running a hand over the target area.]
Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc) (Rieatsu Cost)
Incantation and Effect:
Made By: Boat Ebin.
Reserved? (Yes/No) (Yes)(Can others use your technique, or just your character?):[Teachable, only known currently by my character.]
Technique Name: [Luna Paso Cero (Moon Step Zero)] (MASTERED)
Class: [6]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
A Cero expelled from the user's feet to propel them through the air. By controlling the power of the blast, the technique can vary. A powerful blast can cause the user to rocket upwards, but damages the ground they were standing on. By doing this repeatedly, the user can zigzag through the air. A weaker blast will merely cause the user to "hop", but if done repeatedly, the user can literally bounce on thin air, allowing them to cross gaps by bunny-hopping across them. And if the user is sent flying, they can merely hop down to the ground safely in the same way one would walk down stairs.
How to use technique:
Stated above.
Technique Drawbacks
Reiatsu cost.
Technique Name: [Sonido (Lit. Sound Step)] (FREE)
Class: [4] - 7-1.
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique] - Kidou, Quincy Technique, Bount Technique, Human Technique, Hollow Technique, Other
Technique Element: [Fire]
Technique Description and Effects: [What does your technique do? How strong is it? What is it's range of abilities? List these things below.]
A powerful technique, Sonido is a step that increases movement speed for a single step. Essentially, it magnifies the speed of just that one step, by 13 times. Each step for Sonido costs 100 Reiatsu. Additionally, this technique does not take up a technique slot.
How to use technique: [Arcadus stands on his toes with his back foot before falling onto his heel , in conjunction with a massive roar like a flamethrower]
Just use it and drain the Reiatsu.
Drawback: [What are the disadvantages and drawbacks of your technique? Don't forget that the drawback must be equal in strength to the technique. List everything related to the drawback below.]
Reiatsu cost.
HIERRO
Technique Name: [Hierro (Harden)] [Mastered]
Class: [3]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: [Metal]
Technique Description and Effects:
Hierro is an Arrancar technique in which the user's reiatsu condenses, creating a steel-hard skin strong enough to block a Zanpakuto. This also allows them to fight some of the sword-wielding Shinigami barehanded. This technique guards against reiatsu based and melee techniques. If the user has 150+ reiatsu strength superiority to the enemy, then the user is totally undamaged by all attacks from the enemy. This means an Arrancar is essentially invincible based on Hierro for some time. At 75-149 reiatsu strength advantage, damage is very minor, but present. A large slash could be a tiny cut. At less than 75 advantage, there is resistance to damage from the Hierro. Small resistance.
How to use technique:
Always active. Doesn't use reiatsu to keep active, uses reiatsu strength for strength. Permanently active as soon as it is learned.
Technique Drawbacks
Must deactivate this to use High Speed Regeneration. Reiatsu is lost upon deactivation, reiatsu equivalent to the technique class, which is 3. 400 is lost upon deactivation. 400 is then also lost upon reactivation in the same thread. Final stage release bypasses Hierro automatically by default. (Bankai, Fullbring Stage 2, etc.) Vizard Bankai does NOT bypass Hierro. Vizards, even if they have not yet become full Vizards, must use their mask to bypass Hierro. Those facing Hierro can gradually adjust to it per combat hit against the enemy, though within a certain post limit. Let's say Person A has Hierro, and is fighting Person B. If Person B hits Person A twice with attacks, then after 8 posts of their combat have elapsed, then Person A's Hierro counts at 80% of its strength (100 Reiatsu strength would be 80). After 12 posts of combat, if Person A has been hit at least four total times, then Person B can now treat Hierro as if it is simply 60% strength (100 Reiatsu Strength would be 60). After 16 posts of combat, if at least six hits have been landed, Hierro stops working against Person B
Technique Name: [Redirection] [Mastered]
Class: [3, 2, 1] - 7-1.
Technique Type: [Other] - Kidou, Quincy Technique, Bount Technique, Human Technique, Hollow Technique, Other
Technique Element: [None] - If any
Technique Description and Effects: [What does your technique do? How strong is it? What is it's range of abilities? List these things below.]
This is a vicious technique used by strong reiatsu beings. This allows the user to grab a hold of reiatsu, cycle the energy through their body, consume it (therefore making it theirs), and then hurl it back. In other words, one can redirect the enemy's reiatsu based attack by catching it and throwing it back either by spin or just catch and throw.
How this works has been stated above. Now, the important thing to recognize is that there are three classes to this technique. The class 3 version can catch reiatsu of any class except class 1+, and redirect it for half cost of the technique. The class 2 version can do the very same, except it layers the user's reiatsu strength on top of the enemy's reiatsu strength for the returned attack. It also uses the full cost. The class 1 version can return any technique regardless of reiatsu strength, and does so with the user's reiatsu strength layered on top of the enemy's. However, it does so for double cost, and does not work on class 0 techniques.
How to use technique: [How do you use this technique? List below.]
Stated above.
Drawback: [What are the disadvantages and drawbacks of your technique? Don't forget that the drawback must be equal in strength to the technique. List everything related to the drawback below.]
This will burn the user. It will burn their arms. It will burn their insides a bit. They will cook a little. This will strain their body and reiatsu. It can only be used once per post. It shuts off release if used 3+ times in a released state.
Made by: [Admin]
Reserved?: [No]
Technique Name: [Pesquis (Sight)] (Mastered)
Class: [5]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: [None]
Technique Description and Effects:
An Arrancar exclusive technique that allows the user to cast a seeming "radar" for a one mile radius, allowing them to sense any and all beings that have reiatsu in the area, and tell how strong that reiatsu is, and even locate an enemy in battle. Vizards can slip through Pesquis during use of step techniques. Those of speed three or more times the user's can also slip through Pesquis. This allows a one mile radar per 50 energy sensory. Its accuracy also increases with higher levels of sensory energy.
The default version can sense location, general flaring and fluctuation of reiatsu, and basic movement.
How to use technique:
Focus. Lasts for 5 posts once activated.
Technique Drawbacks
In addition to diverting some of the user's focus, this technique can be fooled by mid to high level illusions, and step techniques which reach a speed at least 30% or more of the user's step speed can slip through Pesquis, seeming to disappear like a ghost off of the radar.
Technique Name: [Gonzui (Gaping)]
Class: [3]
Technique Type: Hollow Technique
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
This technique allows the user to absorb the Reiatsu of everything around them that is lower then they are in class, after locating it with Pesquis. They can also use this to eat random spirits in the area. One dead spirit is worth 10 Reiatsu. 100 spirits can be eaten at one time. One "living spirit" (a shinigami's spirit or a fellow arrancar's spirit, or even a human's spirit) is worth 200 Reiatsu per class. 5 can be eaten at one time. This can only be used on NPCs.
How to use technique:
Focus on sources of Reiatsu, open mouth, and eat.
Technique Drawbacks
Arrancar Only. Must use Pesquis first. The user will lose double the amount of intaken Reiatsu 7 posts after using Gonzui. If they are in Ressurection at that time, they will lose that Reiatsu when they leave Ressurection. Can only be used once every 3 posts. You can only eat Shinigami/Arrancar/Humans (with battle capability) if your reiatsu strength is at least triple theirs. This technique CAN be used while one is out of reiatsu, however if that happens only 70% of the normally acquired reiatsu will be taken in. This percentage does not include the reiatsu that will be taken out of the newly gained for use of this technique.
Technique Name: Hakai Gonzui [Mastered]
Class: 3
Technique Type: Other
Usable By: Arrancar
Technique Element: N/A
Technique Description and Effects: This is a completely physical type of Gonzui that one might argue is far less useful in devouring the reiatsu of others. While the standard Gonzui can be done on multiple targets at once and from a distance this technique can only be done directly and through physically eating a section of an entities body. This means that unless whoever is using this technique has multiple mouths it can only be done on a single entity at a time. The unique thing about the technique is that it can be done on the user as well by eating a part of their own body. This technique allows the user to gain reiatsu depending on how large the amount they have eaten. If they eat about a hand size they gain 100, hand to elbow 250, an entire arms worth is 350 wile eating someone completely is 500.
How to use technique: The user must take a physical bite out of an individual or themselves and then eat it.
Technique Drawbacks: The major limitation of this technique is that it can only be done on one individual at a time. The technique requires a 3 post cool down until it can be done again. Also this technique doesn't allow the user to overload their reiatsu meaning they can't gain more reiatsu then they originally have. Also this technique will cause incredible exhaustion if done any more then 5 times in a single thread. If someone keeps going and uses this technique a total of 8 they will pass out regardless of anything else. Finally devouring anything more then the size of a hand takes more time. (1 full post)
Made By: Sargon Denumic
Reserved?: No
CERO
Technique Name: [Cero (Zero)] [Mastered]
Class: [4]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
Available only to Hollows or Arrancar of at least Gillian status, Cero is the signature technique of higher level Hollow races. This concentrates their reiatsu into a condensed blast of light which fires out, usually from the hands or similar body part, though many can use it from their chests, feet, mouths, or other appendages. Color is usually red, but many Arrancar have learned how to alter the color of their fired Cero. When charging it appears to be an orb, but when fired is a large, very wide beam. It has a distinct high-pitched sound when charging, and a very low growl when fired. Anyone can hear either, and thus discerning a Cero is very easy. In power, weaker Cero explode on contact with targets, but some Cero have enough power to keep going after hitting a target, and simply consume and disintegrate it.
How to use technique:
Aim body part at target and charge the technique, then fire. In speed, takes a few seconds total.
Technique Drawbacks
Reiatsu cost of 200, despite being class 4.
Technique Name: [Gran Rey Cero (Grand King's Zero)] [Mastered]
Class: [2]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: Lightning
Technique Description and Effects:
An Espada-exclusive Cero of such great might that its use is forbidden while under the dome of Las Noches. It requires the user's blood to be used as a sacrifice to activate, but when activated is charged at about the same speed as a regular Cero. It is always blue in color, and appears to have the shape of a razor with several prongs. When fired, it zig zags at the enemy instead of firing in a straight line. While charging speed is the same as Cero, firing speed is three times that of Cero, and the actual destruction potential is twice the user's reiatsu strength.
Furthermore, the explosive power is so high that not even several Cero put together can rival it. This technique also releases a large mass of lightning and electricity not only upon firing, but on impact as well. The ferocity of the Gran Rey Cero is nearly unrivaled.
How to use technique:
Fire like a regular Cero, but only after also getting blood on the firing hand from its user. This is usable only by Espada. The secret to its use and why only Espada can use it are both unknown at this present time.
Technique Drawbacks
400 reiatsu cost and blood sacrifice. Can only be fired once per post, up to four times a day.
Technique Name: [Cero Deslumbrante (Blinding White Cero)] [Mastered]
Class: [2]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
This technique is usable only by Arrancar in their released form. It has the same speed, firing power, explosive potential, and charge time as a Cero Oscuras. The techniques are nearly identical, but this one is considered superior because it first blinds the opponent with a bright flash, and then as it approaches it strips away all darkness from their surroundings, instantly illuminating everything on its way.
How to use technique:
Fire like a regular Cero. (x2 RS multiple size a regular Cero)
Technique Drawbacks
400 reiatsu cost.
Technique Name: [Gran Rey Impacto Canon Cero (Grand King's Impact Cannon Zero)]
Class: [1]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: [Lightning, Fire, Acid, Metal, Light]
Technique Description and Effects:
While many Arrancar argue over Gran Rey Cero versus Cero Oscuras, this Cero is in fact the most powerful traditionally available and existing Cero in Hueco Mundo. The reason it is not within debate is that it is incredibly rarely used, and it is required of those who know it to keep its existence a secret. It can be used only by the top four Espada, as well as by Zarpa and Mozo of the Escudo organization.
Vizards with a Ressurection are also capable of using this Cero. In damage potential, this Cero is considerably more powerful than anything previously thought of. The scope of its power is unprecedented for a Cero. Its original creator, an Arrancar by name Barra Kennon, had planned to use it to kill Azeru Cho (AU Aizen) when Las Noches was first usurped by a Shinigami King. He was killed soon after, though the knowledge of this technique was later rediscovered by Sonken Kouhai's Espada.
The opening of the technique is a blood sacrifice. What is unusual about the technique is that it requires thunderclouds present to even work. Firstly, this technique requires a blood sacrifice. Secondly, the cloud must be directly overhead. The Espada will then fire a Gran Rey Cero into the cloud, and activate this technique on top of that, creating a total 1200 reiatsu cost just for initiating the technique. The cloud will turn blue, and a bright light will instantly blind all onlookers, except the user since they should know to shield their eyes for that split second of blinding flash. No matter where one is looking, unless eyes are closed, they will be blinded.
Once this is done, the cloud will begin spark with electricity and reiatsu. As a thundercloud, it is already filled with powerful lightning. The user must then focus reiatsu in their palm as a sort of "guidance" beacon for their previous reiatsu to interact with and be lured toward. The Cero will then charge within the thundercloud, and the user must aim their hand at the cloud, sacrificing an additional 800 reiatsu to pull the Cero forth from the cloud, and then guide it onto the enemy.
All lightning stored up in the thundercloud will be guided out of the cloud, and the Cero will have attached to and infused with all of the lightning bolts. The lightning bolts will merge together to create one giant lightning bolt, roughly the size of several put together, perhaps therefore larger than thin but tall buildings. Given that it is actual lightning, this technique is considered impossible to dodge.
Upon impact, it blasts the enemy's body with an explosive power several times that of any previously existing Cero. Typically, up to fifty Gran Rey Cero worth of explosive power is contained here, and it has three times the user's reiatsu strength. This technique instantly causes Hierro to shatter regardless of strength, and then assaults the victim's body with a combination of fire and lightning. The fire works its way inside, the lightning outside. The remaining energy goes through a quick condensation, becoming a gallon of acid above the victim's head. This 1 pH highly corrosive acid dumps on the victim's body, and all that is left of the reiatsu which went into this technique transfigures into an indestructible (except by 6x superior reiatsu strength) metal that materializes around and encases their body, or what is left of it. The metal takes on the shape and form of their body, in agonizing pain. If by any miracle they are still alive after the rest of this technique, the metal will suffocate them and they will die in this way, living their last moments in pain and as a statue.
The statue then remains thereafter, and can be used for any purposes that the user desires.
How to use technique:
Stated above.
Technique Drawbacks
While a powerful technique, the total reiatsu cost of this technique is 2000. Not only this, but it has several required steps of preparation, making it arduous to prepare for. It requires two blood sacrifices (one for Gran Rey Cero, one for the rest of the technique), and can only be used once a day. The Gran Rey Cero takes a few seconds to charge and then to reach the thunderclouds, then a few more seconds to fester within it. From there, it takes about twenty seconds to charge, and several to prepare before it can be guided down. Not only this, but it requires thunderclouds to be present.
Not only does this have very specific conditions under which it can be activated, but it also requires a huge mass of reiatsu, and well over thirty seconds of preparation and charging time, making it easy for any enemy to attack the user while it is being prepared. The sheer amount of time that it takes is its ultimate weakness. It also takes up a massive amount of both reiatsu and stamina to use.
Technique Name: [Cero Garandou] [Mastered]
Class: [1]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: [Darkness, Fire]
Technique Description and Effects:
The user charges a massive amount of Reiatsu, before blasting out a gigantic black cero. The cero itself is actually invisible, but it consumes everything in its path, even air and reality, and so it leaves only blackness behind as it strikes. As a result, it devours defenses and counter attacks as well. The only way to not get killed by this cero is to evade it. The blackness is behind the cero, and so what people anticipate as the cero will not actually be accurate as to how close to them it really is. When it hits the foe, the darkness will consume their entire body, dissolving everything until there is nothing left but bones. The bones will then crumble to the ground. This is possibly the most powerful long range cero existing. It can be used ONLY by someone of incredible strength, such as the Vizard Leader, and the top 3 Espada. No one other than these can learn it.
How to use the technique:
Charge a large amount of Reiatsu specifically to generate this technique, then fire at the target aimed at.
Technique Drawback:
The arm that fired this technique immediately begins to dissolve internally. No visible external damage will be shown, even while inside everything turns to ash. Additionally, rather than the regular Class 1 cost, Cero Garandou uses 1000 reiatsu. It can be guarded against by reiatsu strength three times that of the user, or Cero which specify being able to guard against it.
Made by: [Kuroi Naito]
Technique Name: Garganta Destrozada (Shattered Throat)
Class: 4
Technique Type: Garganta Technique
Usable By: Hollow/Arrancar
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
This technique is used in conjunction with another beam or projectile type attack by forming a small tear in the path of the technique, as well as several around the opponent. The Technique is "shattered" separated into ten separate fragments that are launched at the target from various angles. Because of this, he technique is much harder to avoid and can surprise targets The fragments are half as potent as the original technique. Also because of the use of gargantuan, the original technique does not even need to be fired at the opponent.
How to use technique: Create a small Garganta in the path of the technique, as well as ten others around the target.
Technique Drawbacks (Limitations, repercussions for use, etc):
Requires knowledge of the enemy's position, additionally the technique costs 100 reiatsu along with multiplying the reiatsu cost of the effected technique by 1.5
Made By: Tsaj Dread
Reserved? (Yes/No) (Can others use your technique, or just your character?): No
Technique Name: [Garganta (Cave)] (CINEMATIC TECHNIQUE)
Class: [4]
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: [None]
Technique Description and Effects:
A technique used by Hollows and Arrancar to move between the human world and Hueco Mundo, though Arrancar under the service of Las Noches have demonstrated the ability to use it to enter Soul Society as well. This opens a black tear in the air which resembles the gaping maw of a shark, and the inside of which is simply a void of shimmering black. Those inside create pathways made from their reishi, on which to walk to the exit. Some, who have mastered the Garganta, are able to create a reishi pathway which moves them rather than them having to walk along it, treating the Garganta like a sort of elevator to where they are going. This is a slow opening technique, and one that cannot be used in battle.
How to use technique:
The tear simply opens upon the user's will. This technique uses no reiatsu, but it cannot be used if the user is down to 0 reiatsu.
Technique Name: [Electrica] [Mastered]
Class: [6,4,3] - 8-0.
Technique Type: [Hollow Technique]
Technique Element: [Lightning]
Technique Description and Effects:
Adalo De-Mona created this technique for low level engagement. It turns either Bala, Cero, or Cero Deslumbrante into electricity on the arm or the sword. It can take the form of electricity sparking across either or both. This gives numbing capacity to all physical attacks, or electrocution of wet enemies. It can conduct lightning through water. It is most importantly known for creation of a shifting bolt of lightning as a blade from the hand or weapon. The blade has the electric properties and can cut reiatsu from the opponent. It is most important for being able to shoot out if it is Bala (only). If it is Cero Deslumbrante, doubling the cost will let it fire into the air (one hundred yards) and bring down a lightning bolt at Cero speed on an opponent as a guided attack.
How to use technique:
It can instantly form from the reiatsu that is used to generate the other attacks. Another application is if the enemy's body is pierced by a hand coated in the lightning, the nerves can be electrocuted. (Cero only)
Drawback:
It exists for 6 posts at a time, and is two yards long. It can burn the hand that uses it, and it has a drain of stamina and reiatsu.
Made by: [Adalo De-Mona]
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-History-
Birthplace: [Hueco Mundo]
Current Residence: [Layout of Palace The main floors of the palace are in 3, each containing their own rooms. The First floor contains the Kennels, dining room, lobby, staff quarters, the laundry room and pantry, and two balconies, one which exists as a part of a pool and one as an extension of the dining room.
The second floor contains 2 guest rooms, each lavishly furnished and decorated, one with a white and red motif while the other is fit with black and gold stylings. Each contains its own balcony looking out over the insides of the pillar, and are all outfitted with master beds and baths.
The Third floor is reserved exclusively for the use of the residing Espada, containing a luxurious bedroom, bath and balcony, but as well a lab and workshop where in Arcadus tinkers and works on projects, most often new devices to implement into his home or objects taken from the human world and reverse engineered. As well, the floor contains a garden and training room, though both get less use than one would expect.
Staff: Arcadus keeps a staff to attend to his needs and wants, beds made, place swept, laundry done, outfits repaired, food made and kennels fed.
Tailor- Arcadus’s tailor, an Arrancar by the name, Maxamiliom is responsible for his more luxurious and finer made outfits, often spending days working on his next masterpiece to adorn his statuesque client. Maxam is by far the most enthusiastic of Arcasus’s staff, though also his most informal.
Cook and Kitchens - Arcadus keeps a fully stocked and staffed kitchen in his palace, regularly staffed by a pair of arrancar, both great chefs in their own right. Alous is a skilled chef, a generalist who’s best dishes are soups, pies and mixed dishes. Devar, the other, specializes in meat dishes, often attending to Arcadus's dinners and larger gathering.
Maid- Adalie, by far the most formal of the staff, also is the lease seen, often disappearing for most of the day, seeing as she isn’t allowed to clean the lab after “sorting” all of the tools. She most often can be found working before and after meals and in the laundry room.
Butler- Atlas, An incredibly neutral fellow, is often the most present but easily the most overlooked member of the staff, often waiting just around corners and outside rooms when guests are about. Always on time and never without a towel or spare drink, besides the cooks he is hte staff member Arcadus is most chummy with.
Kennels-Arcadus keeps a kennel of low class hollows, a horde of starving spirits more meant to intimidate guests than to be a set of pets. While he does feed them, and even loose them on Los Noches when they’ve grown a little too large to keep in his palace, they are more trash disposal than companion. ]
Arcadus’s Telling: [“So you want to know my story, of my rise to 3rd Espada. It was an interesting tale, and definitely one worth telling. IT begins with my mortal life. I was a young man, versed in blade and the spiritual elements, protector of my village.
As the resident warrior mage, I had the duty of forming and maintaining our physical and spiritual defenses. I had been in this role for near on 15 years, and had defended my people from threats large and small, physical and spiritual, while keeping them happy and content. I sought to find a way further this goal. To grow the prosperity of my people, and to further my own abilities.
In doing this, I sought to consolidate power, take the power of those under me into me. I’ve learned the lesson of that decision. No man stands alone, and everyone must sleep. I had wanted to make my corner of the world a better place, a safer place. I sought to stand alone against our threats. That I understand to be folly. No one can face the world alone.
Armies are raised, villages formed, and even in animals, some of the longest living and successful animals are communal. Just as a tiger cannot hunt a troop of chimps, so to could I not stand against a horde of hollows. And that was my downfall, to fight and kill alone is to sign one's death warrant.
This is why I joined the espada, but as for how I came to be in this form, that is a different story. As I said, I had tried to single handedly defend my people, before being devoured by a hollow. It was dark, horrible inside of it. But I was able to summon my will and person to assert some control over it, to influence it. In time I was able to break free of it, and assume control over this body here. There were others, Oren, Valeron, Giovani. I was sad to seem them die, but it was them or me.
As for how I ascended to my position, and why I took the 3rd position, its relatively simple. I had defeated the 4th Espada, burning away his insects and poisons, blasting him down with cero and shockwaves before picking him apart with my blade. He’s alive, licking his wounds in his palace. With this, I went before Kohai to ask for my position, stating that I wanted to hold 3rd position, as a symbol of how the Espada still has potential to be realized.
From here, I wish to move forward, to re-establish the espada as a whole, and to make them the dominant power in practice, not just in Kouhai’s name. ]
The Mage: [“Everything is moving forward as I have foreseen.” Valerian was exceedingly happy with the results of his newest ritual, and that his experiment had worked. Urahara had proved reliable with their “hollow bait”. In either case, this simply proved his theory of differentiating vengeful spirits from demons, and with this he could go about forming new kinds of pacts and designs.
The potential of this discovery truly thrilled him, doing a small jump when within his quarters. Making breakthroughs in the realms of spiritual practices and their applications for both enhancing one's one life but also in the creation of artifacts was endless. Items powered and directed by spirits truly had the potential to make a difference. To leave a mark on history as the dawning of a new age, one not powered by coal and oil, but by the very residual energies and left over spirits around them.
Making this work would take time however, knowing that these were still sentient creatures. Traps would have to be designed, siphons tested and further tests launched. All that could wait, celebrations were in order, the congregation would have to come together to both hear and celebrate this discovery.
The celebrations were spectacular, Valerian couldn’t believe how well he was received, that the most esteemed scholars and covens were going to be present to observe, and to keep order. Though it was uncertain why so many were needed, he was certiant the militant arm of the congregation was not necessary, though its unlikely they would have no interest in this event, given the potential of weaponizing spirits and their energy.
The ritual was being prepared, this time not in the dingy back rooms and secret liminal spaces of abandoned urbanite decay, but this time in a proper amphitheater, surrounded by his peers and superiors. “I am so blessed by the creator, that I would be given such an opportunity to move our congregation forward.” He spoke to the gathered masses, telling them of his techniques for binding, for calling, and for using this new power.
Lines were drawn, positions taken, and the ritual was ready to begin. Snapping this bait in his hands and murmuring words of protection to steady his heart and his hands. The spirit came forth, a pale and horrible thing, long in almost all of its proportions, hands, arms, legs, neck. Eyes like the bottom of the sea and teeth like saws. Its presence hummed and as the casters began their bindings, it did not react as previous summonings had. It did not thrash or lash out, instead seemingly waiting for them to finish.
“Mortals always did confuse me with their crude methods and complex rituals around them. Power is what makes the decision in these matters, not magic words and plans.” The spirit gurgled these words to the choirs of occultists who, in horror, watched their bindings and chants broken as the spirit shrugged and surged forward, sweeping through the crowds like a scythe through grain. “Power and the will to use it is all that stand between me and you” bubbled the creature, rounding on Valeran , who now quaking in free called upon every pact and promise he had ever struck, and met with the deafening silence of pooling blood.
Devoured, and with little else but corpses and blood, the hollow left, seeking new food and prey, and perhaps entertainment, if the desire to play with his food arose. Such fools that invite demons and hollows for power and comradery, not knowing their goals are so much baser and direct.]
The Warrior: [“Truly a wondrous battle, to see the enemy so fully slaughtered.” Oren bellowed out to be heard, his men arrayed out, slowly making their way into formation from them surrounding their opponents. They had formed an ambush, forcing the horseback horde into a ring of spears, slaughtering them to the man.
“We have proved our worth here today men, as warriors and as countrymen. None question the courage and steel of those who held firm today. You’ve all made the gods proud and the king prouder” His voice betrayed his apathy. This war had gone on for years, and while this was decisive for his section of the front, in all likelihood he’d be called back to defend some area down south.
War. What a pathetic waste of warriors. It was better when armies were made of the willing, of mercenaries and knights, all those who chose this life, even better when it was purely companies being paid to hold positions while the nobles fought wars with coin rather than blades. This life of levying commoners and leading pitched marches into spears, this didn’t suit him. He yearned to have a warrior's death, not slain by an arrow less aimed than blindly fired in a vague direction.
The bodies had begun to steam, the mist floating off of the field. The moon shone bright over the clearing, tinting the red and brown grass with a blue glow. From the bodies, the blood seemed to pool, the pool reflecting the moon in a ghastly purple. From the blood came the thing. The monster, pale as the moonlight and wreathed in whip scars, long and stretched, with fangs sprung forth from his saw filled mouth. It was wrapped in the jack chains and cloths of the fallen and it howled a wail to curdle marrow.
Oren could not believe himself. The sound he heard was like the roar of a frantic warrior, seized with a desire to live and to kill his foe, and an innocent's screech as a dagger is thrust into them. He gazed out on the plain, and it struck him, the visage of horror. He could barely stand as it turned, the moon illuminating its monstrosity.
Looking back to his men, Oren knew his duty. He would protect these men, these common born sons, from war’s last horror. They were not meant for this life, and he would not force them into this death. Donning his armor and greatsword, he marched out, the pale light turning the dull steel to silver.
From under his helm Oren faced the great beast, which wheeled on him as if a mouse looking into prey. No words were spoken, and with his first steps he intended to throw away his life if death was assured for both. The beast moved silently, and began its assault. Trusting with spearlike fingers from its right, only to be parried and tossed off, capitalizing on the now open man at arms by swinging in left, claws like a scythe.
The beast had all but slung his guts out, but it make a mistake. It assumed that would put him down, or that him dying mattered. It had leaned back, assuming he’d realize his death and take it. Bringing his sword back like a great silver spear, he lunged forward, leaping up and thrusting into this things chest, twisting and slicing into it a full foot, it hissing and seething as it slumped.
But not everything was finished, the beast not yet slain, and it was its turn to defy death. Shredding the head of the warrior, it devoured him, grease and fat the only thing that remained clinging to his fingers. Tired, wounded, and full, it slacked its thirst in the blood that birthed it into the physical world again, and crept toward the woods, having his fill of tougher prey.]
The Snake: [“You come to me tonight, of all nights, to ask me a favor. The night of my daughters wedding, you ask me for a favor. I have given you guns, cars, product, and protection, all thing the name of our mutual benefit, and the benefit of my organization. And this is how you repay my respect and our friendship.”
The man in front of Giovani made his excuses, asking forgiveness and that he be allowed to continue to work with them, that he had not been told, and that this was in order to further their mutual interests. Giovani dismissed him telling him to wait till after the wedding, it was bad luck to conduct business in such a happy time.
“Tony, why is it the people I work with, they never seem to understand the importance of this family. Why don’t they understand that this isn’t just work, it's our way of life.” Tony, the 4th son, said that they didn’t live the life the family did, and that they weren’t worth trusting. “Maybe Tony, maybe, but we need the men, and they’re what we got right now.”
“They never did have any respect for our traditions, and Tony, I don’t like what I've heard they’re doing in those warehouses. Strange stuff, maybe even satanists Tony, satanists. I don’t want anything like that happening under my family, under my business. I want you to take some men and deal with it. Don’t have to kill them but make sure they aren’t doing that shit anymore, understand?”
The mob boss sat alone in his office, swirling the ice in a drink as thunder and lightning. The wedding wouldn’t be cancled, but it would be fucking humid in black suits. Maybe he should try to have an event, or get the boys to play some football to get them out of their suits. Eh, if people were hot enough they’d cool off.
Despite the mundanity of his thoughts, they couldn’t shield him, as a horrifying visage which could give any street tough a seizure phased through his door and wall, taking up the entire half of the room. Creaking the floor boards, the only other sound was its barely audible rasp that passed for a breath.
Turning around, Giovanni reacted as many did, with an exception. While panic was his first response, his nerves cooled as fast as he had panicked, and drew his revolver, to which the creature stopped. “Why do you think that will stop me?” it practically rattled, as if its throat was made of copper pipes clacking together.
Giovanni, in shock and in a desperate bid, tried to respond “What else am I supposed to do? Sit and let you barge in? You got me pegged wrong pal, whatever the hell you are, it don’t matter. What even are you?” His voice stayed calm, he’d been in front of guns and blades, but nothing like the pale skinned and patchwork wearing creature.
The hollow paused, amused. “You’ve come face to face with a monster, a horrifying creature that has stopped the hearts of braver men, and you try to talk, to divert my attention.” It reared back, turning quisitively at him. “You hope to stall, that maybe your men will burst in or that you’ll buy enough time or enough insight to find an opening. I’ll play your game.”
The hollow chortled, a horrible sound of steel on stone, “I am a hollow, a vengeful spirit, only visible by those who are spiritually strong or perceptive. And you are very spiritually strong, you have abilities that allow you to exert your will and personality over people in ways few others can.”
Giovanni took in this information, and decided to make the most of it. “If you're some kind of ghost, have you come to haunt me? Who have I wronged that's come back to haunt me?
“I am no one you’ve wronged, though I have no doubt that you’d eventually have someone rise up to devour you for the scores you’ve had buried. I am hunger and greed, a force and spirit, little different than an animal, and similarly, you games have ceased to amuse me.” The beast, ceasing the formalities, lunged forward.
A gunshot was heard, and as the made men and help stormed into the office, expecting to see a corpse and a newly stained window, they found naught but scrapes in the carpet and a smashed chair and desk.]
