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The Great Purge is here again! If you [Bio] Asakura Doji
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Doji- [tracker=/t2417-asakura-doji#14975]
Name : Asakura Doji
Epithet : Cemetery Ghoul
Age : 18
Height : 17'7
Weight : 1,777 lb
Species : Human-Giant-Oni Crossbred
Faction : Pirates
Crew : The Yokai Pirates
Ship : Gashadokuro, the Walking Castle
Crew Role : Captain | Blind Navigator
Bounty : [bel=r] 88,777,000
Quality Score : S
EXP Bonus : +0.20 (To all allies)
Balance : [bel] 272,954,696
[[punchoutguru]]
[[improviseadaptovercome]]
Posts : 228
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[Bio] Asakura Doji
Thu Jun 30, 2022 2:58 amAsakura Doji
![[Bio] Asakura Doji Angryg10](https://servimg.com/r/3020435666/angryg10.jpg)
Basic Character Information
Given Name: Doji
Middle Name/Initial: N. (Norzumbra)
Last Name: Asakura
Epithets: Cemetery Terror, Cemetery Ghoul
Birthdate: July 7 1811
Gender: Enlightened Samurai, Doji appears from the front as a monstrously lanky man with feminine facial features, from a distance he can be confused for a tall woman with long red hair. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Doji will respond to most any address not clearly intended for another person. The character doesn’t consider gender an important component of his identity and puts more value on his identity as a samurai, seeking to live as an embodiment of all the samurai of the disgraced Asakura clan.
Species/Race/Tribe: Human-Giant-Oni Crossbred
Faction: Pirate
Profession: Swordsman, Poet/Philosopher, Graverobber
Physical Appearance
Height: 17’7
Weight: 1,777 lb
Hair Style: Long & wild with a top knot barely keeping the back in check.
Hair Color: Fiery Red
Eye Color: Pale Clouded Blueish-Jade
Scars: Scar on forehead from a training session
Clothing and Accessories: Tarnished white hakama belted with a thick obi and worn over a dark red patterned yukata. Large onenju worn at the hip and around the neck, soju gourd hung from his belt, hair held up by silver kanzashi molded to depict a dragon being run through by different kinds of swords. Doji hangs bells and chimes from his oneju alongside short phrases written on cloth tassels, in addition a mask in the visage of a horned white demon is hung here. The young yokai wears black tabi with thick durable soles and leg armor to traverse difficult terrain and protect his legs in battle; for additional combat-gear Doji wears thick metal-plated gloves and foiled steel hand-wraps to aid in his utilization of hook swords.
Description: Doji is an unsettlingly built monster of a person, looming from above (for most) his smooth lips, absence of facial hair, long-eyelashes, thin eyebrows, and sharp jawline would all seem in place on the face of a beautiful woman. His horns, flat chest, and terrible height quickly dispel this assumption, and it becomes clear to an onlooker that what they are looking at is some sort of monster. Doji has a lanky and thin-shouldered build and moves in an abrupt and lurching fashion, his long limbs, and torso further lend to his perception as some manner of giant zombie, demon, or ghoul. Doji's voice is wispy and melodic rasp that escapes his lips like a zephyr and carries itself to whoever he is speaking to.
The Past
Main Traits:
Gets Lost Frequently, Doji was born blind and often blunders his way into unusual circumstances. He is almost guaranteed to get lost at least once when traveling to a location on foot.
Code of Honor, Doji has twisted the philosophies of Bushidō and Dao into a strange bastardization of both. He believes ardently in the following principles:
- To live authentically is reason enough to live most any lifestyle, a person's purpose and destiny are one and the same. To live as one's self is to live as a natural being.
- Doing what is right or true to one's self is courageous, cowards who would run from their ambitions are utterly detestable, even if it is only their nature. To persist as one's self in the face of adversity is to be human.
- In any worthwhile soul there must be balance. A righteous paragon who never does wrong is no better than a dastardly scoundrel who does no good. Where there is cruelty there must also be compassion, to abstain wholly from either practice is to deny one's own humanity. All natural things are cyclical.
- Courtesy is essential in matters of honor such as single combat. Matters of honor that are conducted without simple courtesies such as bowing can hardly be called such. True leaders among men are those who have learned to comport themselves honorably and express themselves upon the world. It is best, also, that one shows deference and appreciation for the world itself lest its blessings be squandered and forgotten.
- To speak dishonestly is to deny one's self, it is best to be blunt and sincere in one's speech. If one must conceal their intentions it is better not to speak a word than to lie. One should seek to understand others honestly and see through the illusions that might obscure their true nature.
- It is important to remember what you owe to others and what you are owed by them. This principle constitutes the backbone of comradery and honorable vengeance. The bond of mutual service is something to be remembered and honored regardless of its form.
- There is an objective right and wrong, however this objective is sourced from the soul of the individual respected and strong enough to impose their way on the world. If a system of morality is unpersuasive and cannot force itself into ubiquity then it is not the objective morality. This morality may seem unattainable, but somewhere and everywhere amongst humanity, such a thing must be attainable.
Student of Swordsmanship, Doji is devoted to perfecting his form with Two-Sword Style, and to adding new sword techniques to his arsenal. The crossbred-oni wishes to study under the masters of as many sword fighting styles as possible, and dreams of fighting against the many powerful swordsmen of the New World.
Megalomaniac, Doji is a naturally vicious and power hungry person. This instinct was thoroughly cultivated throughout his upbringing, as he was raised to value strength and domination in combat. He is willing to work under those stronger than him, but is oppositional towards authority broadly and wishes to improve himself to the point that he can challenge anybody who would impose their will on him.
Clan Loyalty, Doji is immensely loyal to his clan and close friends. He will kill and die for these people. Unfortunately for those who would attempt to recruit the young man he is in fact, only permanently loyal to the Asakura clan, consisting currently of himself and his mother, and is otherwise prone to blundering into affiliations without intending to.
Fledgling, Doji is a teenager (18) and is just beginning his adventures, though he professes to be wise and disciplined, he has seen little of the world and has not had his mettle tested in any meaningful way.
Likes: Pulling pranks, Mothers (especially his own), Soju, Waxing philosophical, Writing poetry, Morbid jokes, Meditation, Playing music (Shakuhachi), Eavesdropping
Dislikes: Samurai of Non-disgraced clans, When others assume he can see, Being harassed for his appearance, Closed mindedness, Eating the meat of innocent creatures, Sweets (prefers spicy and bitter foods), Ninjas and Assassins
Unique laugh: Yo-ka-ka-ka-ka-iii! (excited laugh), Shini-hi-hi (condescending laugh), Or Yahoo! (short laugh/exclamation)
Hometown: Mountain village in Kano Kuni.
Personality: At heart Doji is a mischievous teenager who enjoys tricking and confusing others, he frequently pulls pranks on those around him, even close friends. The scale of the crossbred-oni's pranks can range from gags and simple misdirection to devious conspiracies intended to maim, torment, and kill (pranks of this severity are generally not perpetrated against allies). The young Oni is well-versed in warrior's philosophies, and in one of three major philosophical traditions of Kano Kuni: Dao, because of these philosophies he keeps an open but principled outlook. He highly values excellence, honesty, and persistence because of his Warrior's philosophies, and values adaptability, harmony, and understanding because of Dao.
As a person Doji is markedly less wicked and monstrous than he appears, though he is capable of and savors acts of cruelty, he similarly takes pride in acts of kindness. The crossbred-oni is particularly sympathetic to mothers, members of non-human tribes, animals, and other disabled people, often going out of his way to show compassion to these people. Doji isn't accustomed to the acceptance of others, and so when he is embraced by a group it is significant to him, and he will often view these people as close friends. Amongst friends the crossbred-oni is more relaxed, often cracking morbid jokes or playing music to entertain; the teenager is also an expert eavesdropper, and enjoys sharing gossip and secrets with others.
The young Asaskura has a genuine appreciation for nature and humanity, seeing the two as integral caretakers of one another. He enjoys feeling the phenomena of the natural world. As he cannot see the world, he must appreciate its splendor in non-conventional ways; when Doji finds lush grass he will walk barefoot, when near the ocean he will wade into the water, and so on. While many find Doji's graverobbing odious, he is prone to paying respects to any gravesites he visits and removing his shoes before entering, wishing to honor the lives that culminated there.
In combat Doji is a dualistic creature, alternating between fervent offense and relaxed defense, vacillating between calmness and rage, jumping from earth to the air, and flickering between majesty and abject monstrousness. Regardless of his emotional tenor Doji approaches combat with a controlled confidence that was ingrained in him by his mother's training. The exception to this control comes in the form of the crossbred-oni's laughter, as a natural defense mechanism Doji will laugh hysterically to cope with the sounds and visceral sensations of combat. When a fight is a matter of personal vengeance the crossbred-oni bears a crazed grin, and cannot help himself but to laugh at and taunt his opposition throughout.
- History:
Hanako was the eldest daughter of Asakura Yoshikage, head of the once prestigious Asakura samurai clan. The clan was tasked by the Kozuki Shogunate with securing one of a triad of treasures sacred to Wano Kuni; they guarded this treasure with utmost carefulness and viewed it as a sacred duty. For some time, the young Hanako, aged 17 at the time, had begged her father to allow her to share in their clan’s obligation: to guard the treasure herself.
On the night of the new moon, Monday September 17, 1781, the head of the Asakura clan acceded to his daughter’s request and permitted her to look over the inner sanctum in which the treasure was held. It is most unfortunate then that this would be the evening that the ninjas struck. The assassins of the Fujibayashi clan infiltrated the castle’s walls unseen, and swiftly dispatch with the elders guarding the inner sanctum; Hanako did not hear the swift poisonings that had transpired just outside her sanctuary. Suddenly the ninjas burst through the door and poisoned the girl as they had the elders, a single strike was sufficient for the poison to take effect, but since much of the dosage had been used when slaying the elders, the remainder was insufficient to kill the girl outright. As soon as the ninja had entered the sanctum they were away with the treasure, lost to the formless night.
The Shogunate deemed the theft, suspected collusion, and act of dishonor the responsibility of Yoshikage, stating that he should not have entrusted the duty of a samurai to a teenage girl, and sentencing him to seppuku, a punishment that he dutifully fulfilled. In the absence of her husband the lady of the house, Asakura Sayako, died of grief. In the following months a bitter dispute erupted as to who would go on to lead the clan between Yoshikage’s brother Takakage and his most prodigious student Nobumasa, the two men and their most fervent supporters met in battle and the prodigy emerged victorious, however at the end of the bloody conflict only Nobumasa, his 2 closest retainers, and the 7 young men of the clan who hadn't chosen a side remained alive.
In truth Yoshikage had conspired to allow the Fujibayashi a moment to strike, his brother Takakage had secured an arrangement that he believed would lead the clan to prosperity, and had threatened his brother with the massacre of the daughters if he failed to go through with the plan. If only the treacherous uncle could have known how erroneous his path towards prosperity was. Such is the cruel indifference of fate.
Hanako was despised by her father’s protege, perhaps rightfully so, and further resentment for the Asakura girl began to sprout among the remaining men of the clan. The samurai were tremendously abusive to the eldest daughter, beating and ridiculing her for pursuing her dream of carrying on her father’s legacy. In spite of the cruelty the remaining men inflicted on her, Hanako claimed that one day she would head the clan.
Nobumasa came to the conclusion that the only Asakura of merit must have been Yoshikage, the blood relatives of his master had died attempting to assert the treacherous Takakage, and the remaining men of the clan bore no family ties to the vestiges of Asakura. One afternoon the men of the clan gathered their things, plundered the family treasury and left, after the group had proved themselves as mercenary Andō Nobumasa went on to found the Andō clan of samurai. In the following years the Andō won many victories, making a name for themselves, and shortly eclipsing any popular memory of the Asakura.
Frequently Hanako had grieved at the gravestones of her family, she wondered if things would be different if she had never been born. In the wreckage of failure, betrayal, and misery perhaps this cemetery bore the last of the Asakura clan’s honor, the last of its spirit.
The 5 daughters of Asakura remained the last vestiges of the clan, the middle children: Satomi, Sayuri, and Misaki looked after the youngest daughter Akira while the eldest Hanako voyaged from the house disguised as a man to study swordsmanship and steal from local nobleman. The daughters were able to live this way for 7 years, selling their family’s possessions and performing odd jobs in town to provide for themselves. During her studies Hanako encountered a ronin by the name of Mishima Nobunaga, a fellow disgrace to his clan, but a wise and prodigious swordsman. For many seasons Hanako would venture out to the countryside undisguised to meet with Nobunaga, by the end of the 7th winter the young Asakura had become the first student of the nitoryu sword style known as Niten Ichi-ryū, or “The School of the Strategy of Two Heavens as One.”
Once the daughters of Asakura had emptied their family’s coffers they were forced to sell the clan’s castle and farmlands, the castle fortune was divided evenly, and each daughter went their separate ways with Misaki offering to take Akira until she could be raised fully to adulthood. It was at this time that Hanako pursued her master Mishima and asked if there was anything he had left to teach her, he said that he did not; and so, the ronin daughter of Asakura saw nothing left for her in Wano Kuni and began her departure.
The young lady purchased herself a medium-sized Būkan and recruited a crew of 180 men to sail the seas of the New World, without intending to the young lady had effectively recruited a pirate crew as they quickly came to rely on pillaging ships, pirate and navy alike, for supplies as they made their way from island to island. Hanako’s piracy lasted 10 years, during which she and her crew became known as the Hanabi Pirates, named for their tendency to light ships on fire after pillaging their supplies.
Eventually Hanako grew tired of sailing and wished to further her study of swordsmanship, so she instructed her crew to leave her at the island of Elbaf and appointed a new Captain to helm the crew in her absence. After beating the laborers turned bandits: Carr, Fritjof, and Soini into submission the eldest Asakura staked her claim on what was rightfully pastoral land owned by the respected giant Kirby, with the help of her massive minions she was able to direct the construction of a ramshackle, but colossal, cottage. These bandits would become Hanako's first students.
After noticing the structure that had been built upon his property Kirby voyaged down from his hillside mansion to see who had invaded his property and was surprised to find a human from Wano Kuni standing beneath him. The woman refused to leave, and so the giant turned to violence, however he was shocked to find that this insignificant speck was capable of defending herself and her home. Kirby fled his battle that day missing a thumb and bearing many scars, he would not be the last giant to taste defeat at the hands of Hanako.
In the coming months many men came attempting to evict the woman, at first local enforcers came but were dispatched easily, then bounty hunters were sent, but were similarly no match for the swordswoman. The situation was eventually made known to the island’s steward, he initially figured that this was a simple difference between the caliber of the island’s people and his own men, so he sent three of the rising stars of his fleet to bring the woman in. The three men, confident in their ability to defeat this strange lady, obliged her request to face them individually; it was a terrible mistake to honor this request. Despite each of the giant men’s tremendous power they were all unable to defeat Hanako in single combat, the woman’s swiftness and technique were that of a master swordsman. After their defeat the men’s crews dragged them from the battlefield, maimed and embarrassed the trio returned to their master.
Loha was confused beyond belief. He was certain that he would have heard of a human capable of laying so much as a scratch on his men, and yet this “Asakura Hanako” seemed utterly unfamiliar, a shapely and pale-haired woman dressed as a samurai? The Behemoth had to see her for himself.
The horned mountain of a man made his way across the countryside, basking in the glory of the homeland he presided over, before arriving at the manor of the rancher Kirby Dahl. After staying a night and sharing in libations, Loha made his way down to the ramshackle cottage to attend to business. From atop the hill he could see the tiny woman in the distance, training her three students in the field.
Hanako's students cowered at the presence of Loha, their master squared herself against the Behemoth before the two stated their business to one another and began their quarrel. The two clashed and though the swordswoman's most powerful attack was only capable of cutting the man’s cheek, drawing but a drop of blood alongside a trio of fiery red bristles, the giant-oni was still impressed that she had managed to put up a fight at all. Loha ended the fight with a crushing blow with Thor, leaving the woman in a coma for 3 weeks.
When Hanako awoke, the colossal man beside her bed erupted into laughter. He was tremendously amused that she had attempted to kill him, and questioned how he hadn’t heard of such a warrior. The two spent the day together and enjoyed each other’s company, by the end of the day they had grown somewhat fond of one another, and Loha asked the woman only half the tribute required to live on the island. In the following days Kirby and Hanako came to an arrangement, using a portion of the vast wealth plundered in her pirate years the woman was able to purchase the plot for herself and adequately compensate Kirby for the purchase of a giant cybernetic thumb.
With a property Hanako could rightfully call her own she chose to host any martial artist of the island who would wish to stay there and to conduct seminars where members of different schools of combat could impart their teachings and techniques to one another. Over the course of 12 years the cottage grew, the giants who trained there helping to refurbish and expand the ramshackle cottage into a massive dojo. In these years the middle-aged woman came to be known as a master of nitoryu, and as a contemporary even amongst the strongest giants of Elbaf; what the woman lacked in strength against these opponents she more than made up for through precision, agility, and masterful swordsmanship. Each year Loha visited to collect his tribute the two’s relationship grew more jovial and more carnal, Hanako’s house became quite the place of festivity during tribute season as the Behemoth brought feasts and enormous quantities of alcohol for his visits.
On the morning of October 07, 1810 the Behemoth came to host his greatest monastery party yet, having brought rare and unusual foods from other islands, alongside fine libations such as Glögg and Brennevin. That evening Hanako seemed to glow, the aging woman had done so gracefully and gained a confident, if not domineering, charm in her years; she and Loha reminisced on their yearly bouts of friendship, and on the progress they had made for themselves in the last decade. As the night wore on the two ventured back into the halls of the gargantuan structure and shared in drink and conversation well into the night, eventually retiring to Hanako’s chambers together. The passionate intimacy of warriors turned friends was the bond that formed the conception of the crossbred-oni Asakura Doji.
In the months following the party a spark of life began to bud within Hanako, and she was overcome by the dilemma that stood before her: the end of her career as a swordswoman may be marked by this child’s coming, but in turn, the child could revitalize the Asakura clan, and perhaps even restore honor to their name. She decided that she would bear this child, and that she would mold it into the ultimate practitioner of nitoryu, a weapon suitable to humiliate the Shogunate and return glory to the name of the Asakura clan. On July 7, 1811 the swordswoman gave birth to what initially seemed like a healthy baby boy; however the child's eyes were clouded, and it quickly became evident to Hanako that her son was blind.
With her dreams all but shattered Hanako named her son Doji, a name meaning "mistake." In their conversations Loha and the Asakura Woman made clear their mutual distaste for weakness, with the behemoth going so far as to say that he would prefer the members of his family to die in their prime with pride and dignity than to live on as pathetic whelps. Despite her displeasure with her child's birth defect Hanako would not see another member of her clan slaughtered. Fearing Loha's wrath Doji's mother contacted her crew, and arranged to depart with her infant son. Without notice the dojo was left without one of its masters. The following tribute season Loha discovered the news of Hanako's departure; that evening's festival would be the dojo's last, and those present purported that the island's Behemoth spent the night drinking himself into a melancholy stupor.
The mother sought to raise her child in one of the Blues, wishing to distance herself from Loha and exploit the safety of these seas to create the new weapon of the Asakura clan unobstructed. This child would be the last hope for the Asakura's redemption, she would force it to defy the limits of its condition. One of Hanako's crewmates suggested the island of Kano Kuni; though the world government was present there, it was a mountainous island with many peaks and recesses in which a training grounds could be hidden. With their destination set the Hanabi pirates traversed their way out of the New World and traveled a 17-week voyage to the West Blue.
Beneath the cover of night, the pirates escorted their former captain to Kano's border, two crew members left with her as bodyguards, and the three made their way upwards along the country’s craggy trails towards its center. After two weeks of foot travel the two reached a settlement that Hanako deemed suitable for her purposes, a small lumber village, distant from any population centers, and home to only one establishment of note: A monastery of the local philosophy of Dao.
Hanako paid the villagers for lumber and paid a number of the local builders to accompany her to the peak of the ridge that the village had been built upon, here they would construct the humble cottage where the mother could raise her child. Hanako had lived a cruel and tumultuous life and had a specific purpose in mind for her child, because of this Doji’s upbringing was one of relentless training and discipline. Even though her son was blind the swordswoman was not content to give up on her dream, this child would be a warrior no matter what it took. Amongst the few luxuries afforded to Doji by his mother was a flute that her father had given to her, the Shakuhachi, an instrument with a haunting yet beautiful tone. The boy often practiced with this family heirloom, the echoes of the mountain ridges seeming to play along with him.
Throughout his youth the young Asakura would periodically wander down from the ridge’s peak to the village below where the boy became regarded as supernaturally strong and intelligent for a child. One of the village’s weavers, a young woman by the name of Ai Sīchóu, took a liking to the young boy, and showed him much of the affection that a child’s birth mother should; it was her insights and support that helped Doji learn to navigate the world as a blind person. Amongst the other children of the village, and even amongst a number of the men, the boy became known as a demon child because of his trickery and proclivity for fighting; this label gradually made Doji quite anti-social and resentful towards others.
At the age of 11 Doji got into a fight with one of the men of the village, hobbling the man for life in their altercation, this man was Mengyao Sīchóu, the husband of Ai. The mother figure that had once shown kindness to the Asakura boy now despised him; it was at this point that the boy began to grow, his height increasing to nearly 13 feet by the end of that year. From this point forwards the people of the village regarded Doji as a monstrous freak.
For the next 6 years, between his mother’s most rigorous training sessions, the boy would venture into the village only to attend teaching sessions at the village’s monastery. Amongst the monks the young Doji studied the philosophy of Dao and was instructed in the use of their martial arts; with his background in nitoryu the boy was enamored by the Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao, a pair of swords with hooked ends and sharpened handguards that could be linked together at their ends.
By melting down a number of weapons that had gone unused for years the monastery was able to create a pair of hook swords large enough for the massive teenager. The monastery entrusted Doji with this great pair of weapons, as he had abandoned much of his anger and resentment during his time with them, this award unfortunately coincided with the development of a habit considered profane by the monks: consumption of alcohol. Each night the teenager would bully the village’s laborers into letting him drink with them. The large and lanky boy had a seemingly endless thirst for alcohol, and took many drinks to exhibit signs of intoxication, the boy was able to wager his way into countless beverages as he engaged in drinking contests with the men, going so far as to bet his mother’s cottage; fortunately, Doji’s seemingly unnatural constitution was sufficient to win all of his wagers against the townspeople.
One night during a festival at the monastery Doji showed up in a drunken stupor, in the past weeks he had felt a splitting feeling at the sides of his head that could only be alleviated through the excessive indulgence of his vice. The mischievous boy donned the mask of a horned demon and ran about the monastery playing tricks on the monks. The 17-year-old was scolded and cast out from his monastery as many of his malicious tendencies had evidently returned to him alongside his emerging alcoholism, and because he had surely transformed into some kind of demon. At the end of the night Doji returned to his mother’s cottage and doffed the horned mask he had stolen, to his horror a true pair of horns had budded from the sides of his head.
The next day Hanako was informed of, and unsettled by, her mischievous son’s actions at the festival. When she woke the young man from his slumber she was saddened to see the familiar horns growing from his head. The 64-year-old woman had trained her son long enough and had grown tired of his antics; the matron Asakura devised a proving task for her son, he would return to the land of Wano and if her master: Mishima Nobunaga still lived, Doji would train under him and study the Niten Ichi-ryū.
Doji was happy to set out into the world at large, and so packed his things and stole a portion of his mother’s coffers to purchase a small boat and supplies for his travels. About half a year has passed since the young oni set out from Kano Kuni, in that time he has been run off from many islands because of his proclivity for graverobbing. Doji investigates cemeteries and other burial grounds, feeling for the inscription of “Mishima Nobunaga” in order to ensure that his search is not in vain, and will steal any item he doesn’t acknowledge as the rightful possession of the dead for himself.
Gray
[tracker=/t131-tracker-gray-starks#504]
Name : Gray Starks
Epithet : "The Conqueror" / "Black Fist"
Age : 49
Height : 10'2" (310 cm)
Weight : 1043 lbs (473 kg)
Species : Human Cyborg
Faction : Pirate
World Position : Lurking Legend (Former Yonkou)
Crew : Black Fist Pirates (Destroyed)
Ship : Sangria's Vane (Destroyed)
Crew Role : Captain (Former)
Devil Fruit : Pressure-Pressure Fruit
Bounty : [ber=r] 5,000,000,000
EXP Bonus : +0.20 (to all allies)
Income Bonus : +0.20
Shop Discount : -30%
Balance : [bel] 25,000,000,000
[[strollingdeath]][[baneoftheweak]][[riseandshine]][[childofdestiny]][[freakofnature]]
[[punchoutguru]][[dulcetvirtuoso]]
[[improviseadaptovercome]]
Posts : 3735
Re: [Bio] Asakura Doji
Thu Jun 30, 2022 9:09 pmAn excellent bio once again. I just have a few comments. They're marked in orange below.
Sidenote: You totally lied to me about using an image with normal ears rather than long and pointy ears.
Sidenote: You totally lied to me about using an image with normal ears rather than long and pointy ears.
Doji wrote:Asakura Doji
Basic Character Information
Given Name: Doji
Middle Name/Initial: N. (Norzumbra)
Last Name: Asakura
Epithet: Cemetery Ghoul
Birthdate: July 7 1811
Gender: Enlightened Samurai, Doji appears from the front as a tall man with feminine facial features, from behind it is easy to confuse him for a tall woman with long red hair. Worsening the confusion is the fact that Doji will respond to most any address not clearly intended for another person. The character doesn’t consider gender an important component of his identity, and puts more value on his identity as a samurai, seeking to live as an embodiment of all the samurai, male and female, of the disgraced Asakura clan. [ This is perfectly okay, but, do note that our Wano does still hold the notion that only men can be samurai. It's a pillar that Yumiko's entire character has depended on. ]
Species/Race/Tribe: Half-Oni
Faction: Pirate
Profession: Swordsman, Philosopher, Graverobber
Physical Appearance
Height: 7'7
Weight: 177 lb [ That seems a bit too light for a person as tall as him, even if he's anorexic. I would think between 230-250 lbs would probably be more reasonable.]
Hair Style: Long & wild with a top knot barely keeping the back in check.
Hair Color: Fiery Red
Eye Color: Pale Clouded Blue
Scars: X scar on cheek, many scars on torso from live-training and his few duels.
Clothing and Accessories: Belted and tarnished white hakama worn over a dark red yukata, large onenju worn at the hip and around the neck, soju gourd hung from his belt, hair held up by silver kanzashi molded to depict a dragon being run through by different kinds of swords. Doji hangs bells and chimes from his oneju alongside short phrases written on cloth tassels, in addition a mask in the visage of a horned white demon is hung here. The young man wears black tabi with thick durable soles and leg armor to traverse difficult terrain and protect his legs in battle; for additional combat-gear Doji also wears thick metal-plated gloves and foiled steel hand-wraps to aid in his utilization of hook swords.
Description: Doji’s face would lead most any person to believe that he is a woman, if not a fairly threatening one; his smooth lips, absence of facial hair, long-eyelashes, thin eyebrows, and sharp jawline would all seem in place on the face of a beautiful woman. His horns, flat chest, and atypical height quickly dispel this assumption, and it becomes clear to the onlooker that what they are looking at is some sort of monster. Doji has a lanky and thin-shouldered build, his long limbs, and torso lending to his perception as some manner of zombie, demon, or ghoul.
The Past
Main Traits:
Gets Lost Frequently, Doji was born blind and often blunders his way into unusual circumstances. He is almost guaranteed to get lost at least once when travelling to a location on foot.
Student of Swordsmanship, Doji is devoted to perfecting his form with Two-Sword Style, and to adding new sword techniques to his arsenal. Doji wishes to study under the masters of as many swordfighting styles as possible, and dreams of fighting against the many powerful swordsmen of the New World.
Clan Loyalty, Doji is immensely loyal to his clan and close friends. He will kill and die for these people. Unfortunately for those who would attempt to recruit Doji he is in fact, only permanently loyal to the Asakura clan, consisting currently of himself and his mother, and is otherwise prone to blundering into affiliations without intending to.
Fledgling, Doji is a teenager (18) and is just beginning his adventures, though he professes to be wise and disciplined, he has seen little of the world and has not had his mettle tested in any meaningful way.
Likes: Mothers (especially his own), Soju, Waxing Philosophical, Writing Poetry
Dislikes: Eating the meat of innocent creatures, Sweets (prefers spicy and bitter foods), Samurai of non-disgraced clans, Ninjas, When others assume he can see
Unique laugh: Ya-tah-ha-ha-ha! (excited laugh) Shini-hi-hi. (condescending laugh). Or Naha! (short laugh).
Hometown: Mountain village in Kano Kuni.
Personality: At heart Doji is a mischievous teenager who enjoys tricking and confusing others, he frequently pulls pranks those around him, even close friends. The scale of Doji's pranks can range from gags and simple misdirection to devious conspiracies intended to maim, torment, and kill (pranks of this severity are generally not perpetrated against allies). The young Oni is well-versed in warrior's philosophies, and in one of three major philosophical traditions of Kano Kuni: Dao, because of these philosophies he keeps an open but principled outlook. Doji highly values excellence, loyalty, and experience because of his Warrior's philosophies, and values adaptability, harmony, and understanding because of Dao. In combat Doji is a dualistic creature, alternating between offensive patterns and defensive ones, vacillating between calmness and rage, jumping from earth to the air, and flickering between majesty and monstrousness.
- History:
Hanako was the eldest daughter of Asakura Yoshikage, head of the once prestigious Asakura samurai clan. The clan was tasked by the Oiran Shogunate [ Not sure what you mean by "Oiran Shogunate" here. ] with securing one of a triad of treasures sacred to Wano Kuni; they guarded this treasure with utmost carefulness, and viewed it as a sacred duty. For some time the young Hanako, aged 17 at the time, had begged her father to allow her to share in their clan’s obligation, to guard the treasure herself.
On the night of the new moon, Monday September 17, 1781, the head of the Asakura clan acceded to his daughter’s request, and permitted her to guard the inner sanctum in which the treasure was held under the supervision of two of the clan’s finest elder samurai. It is most unfortunate then that this would be the evening that the ninjas struck, the assassins of the Fujibayashi clan infiltrated the Castle’s outer walls unnoticed, and swiftly dispatch with the elders guarding the inner sanctum; Hanako did not hear the swift poisonings that had transpired just outside her sanctuary. Suddenly the ninjas burst through the door and poisoned the girl as they had the elders, a single strike was sufficient for the poison to take effect, but since much of the dosage had been used when slaying the elders, the remainder was insufficient to kill the girl outright. As soon as the ninja had entered the sanctum they were away with the treasure, lost to the formless night.
The Shogunate deemed the theft and act of dishonor the responsibility of Yoshikage, stating that he should not have entrusted such a duty to a teenage girl, and sentencing the men of his clan to seppuku; most of the men complied to this sentencing without hesitation, including Yoshikage, only two men derelicted [ "derelict" does not have a verb form as far as I know. ] the clan and became ronin , one of whom was apprehended and beheaded in the following months. In the absence of her husband the lady of the house, Asakura Sayako, died of grief. The 5 daughters of Asakura remained the last vestiges of the clan, the middle children: Satomi, Sayuri, and Misaki looked after the youngest daughter Akira while the eldest Hanako voyaged from the house disguised in order to further her studies as a swordsman. The daughters were able to live this way for 7 years, using the remaining of their family’s wealth to provide for themselves in that time. During her studies Hanako encountered a ronin by the name of Mishima Nobunaga, a fellow disgrace to his clan, but a wise and prodigious swordsman. For many seasons Hanako would venture out to the countryside to meet with Nobunaga, and eventually revealed her true identity to him, by the end of the 7th winter the young Asakura had become the first student of the nitoryu sword style known as Niten Ichi-Ryu, or “The School of the Strategy of Two Heavens as One.”
Once the daughters of Asakura had emptied their family’s coffers they were forced to sell the clan’s castle and farmlands, the castle fortune was divided evenly, and each daughter went their separate ways with Misaki offering to take Akira until she could be raised fully to adulthood. It was at this time that Hanako pursued her master Mishima and asked if there was anything he had left to teach her, he said that he did not; and so the ronin daughter of Asakura saw nothing left for her in Wano Kuni, and began her departure.
The young lady purchased herself a medium-sized Būkan and recruited a crew of 180 men to sail the seas of the New World, without intending to the young lady had effectively recruited a pirate crew as they quickly came to rely on pillaging ships, pirate and navy alike, for supplies as they made their way from island to island. Hanako’s piracy lasted 10 years, during which she and her crew became known as the Hanabi Pirates, named for their tendency to light ships on fire after pillaging their supplies.
Eventually Hanako grew tired of sailing and wished to further her study of swordsmanship, so she instructed her crew to leave her at the island of Elbaf and appointed a new Captain to helm the crew in her absence. The eldest Asakura purchased a colossal house for herself using the funds she had accrued during her years as a pirate. With her property she chose to host any martial artist of the island who would wish to stay there and to conduct seminars where members of different schools of combat could impart their teachings and techniques to one another. Over the course of 12 years the middle-aged woman came to be known as a master of Nitoryu, and as a contemporary even amongst the giants of Elbaf; what the woman lacked in strength against the giants she more than made up for through precision, agility, and masterful swordsmanship.
On the morning of October 06 1810 an oni paid a visit to what had, at this point, become a monastery where many of the best martial artists of his island trained against one another. Among those considered masters of their styles only one was human, Asakura Hanako, and so the aged but vibrant oni [ Do keep in mind that Loha is not just an oni. He is in fact a Giant-Oni crossbred. He is much larger than the average oni. ] challenged her to mock combat; he wished to see if she was meritorious enough to sit at the head of the prestigious academy she had inadvertently formed. The two equipped themselves, and moved to the fields outside so as not to damage the building. The oni wielded a massive Kanabo, where the swordswoman held only two humble katanas of no notable grade. Though the oni held back his pure destructive potential, making use of only a small fraction of his power, he was still not accustomed to strangers being able to hold their own against this level of effort; much less so a human stranger. While the oni used only a modicum of his offensive power, he was comfortable using a great deal of his defensive capabilities, and against all but his last line of defense this woman was capable of scratching down to his skin, as though delivering a symbolic gesture simply to spite his color of arms; harming the monster, even if only nominally, was a feat few could lay claim to. The man eventually called off the mock battle, and gave his compliments to the lady of the manor. The two ventured back into the halls of the gargantuan monastery, and shared in drink and conversation well into the night, at the end of which the two retired to Hanako’s chambers together.
It was rare that the oni slept with women he was genuinely impressed by, in fact it was rare for any stranger to impress him. The passionate intimacy of warriors would be the bond that formed the conception of the half-oni Asakura Doji. The next morning the oni arose from his stupor, and began readying for his departure; the evening’s darling Hanako seemed confused with his preparations, as he had evidently let slip several sweet promises in his drunken state. The prior evening he had even gone so far as saying that he would stay around to raise a child and live as a family. [ Loha would not say such a thing even in a drunken stupor. In fact, he is very much in control of his faculties under the influence. ] The man was, indeed, not willing to commit to parenting, and left with his lover in tears stating that he had “More important obligations to attend to.”
In the following months a spark of life began to bud within Hanako and she was overcome by the dilemma that stood before her: the end of her career as a swordswoman may be marked by this child’s coming, but in turn, the child could revitalize the Asakura clan, and perhaps even restore honor to their name. She decided that she would bear this child, and that she would mold it into the ultimate practitioner of nitoryu, a weapon suitable to humiliate the Shogunate and return glory to the name of the Asakura clan. She quickly grew embittered with Elbaf [ Just confirming that Elbaf is and has been very obviously under the thumb of Loha. If she lived there, she would have been paying tribute to him for the privilege.
I would actually recommend a few edits like so: Hanako tries to settle on Elbaf. A few of Loha's enforcers visit her one after another. She beats them as they come. Loha hears about this and decides to pay her a visit himself. He beats her (rather easily at that) but finds her determination impressive.
He spends the night with her, making no promises of fidelity whatsoever. He leaves the next morning allowing her to stay by paying only half the tribute. ], associating it with the man who had given her his bastard, and called her former crew to share in one last voyage with her.
Hanako sought to raise her child in one of the Blues, wishing to exploit their safety to create the new weapon of the Asakura clan unobstructed, one of her crewmates suggested the island of Kano Kuni; while the world government was present there, it was a mountainous island with many peaks and recesses in which a training grounds could be hidden. With their destination set the Hanabi pirates traversed their way out of the New World, and traveled a 17 week voyage to the West Blue. Beneath the cover of night the pirates escorted their former captain to the country’s border, two crew members left with her as bodyguards, and the three made their way upwards along the country’s craggy trails towards its center. After two weeks of foot travel the two reached a settlement that Hanako deemed suitable for her purposes, a small lumber village, distant from any population centers, and home to only one establishment of note: A monastery of the local philosophy of Dao.
Hanako paid the villagers for lumber, and paid a number of the local builders to accompany her to the peak of the ridge that the village had been built upon, here they would construct the humble cottage where Doji would be born. The half-oni initially appeared as a normal human child, and was lovingly raised as such by Hanako until the child spoke his first word “Windy.” The motherly Asakura was somewhat resentful that her boy had taken to her [ Missing a word here. ] descriptions of the weather moreso than his own mother, and from this point forward Hanako rigorously instructed her son in speech and vocabulary until he became a conscious being capable of training at the age of 4.
Hanako had lived a cruel and tumultuous life, and had a specific purpose in mind for her child, because of this Doji’s upbringing was one of relentless training and discipline. Throughout his youth the young Asakura would periodically wander down from the ridge’s peak to the village below, where the boy became regarded as supernaturally strong and intelligent for a child. One of the village’s weavers, a young woman by the name of Ai Sīchóu, took a liking to the young boy, and showed him much of the affection that a child’s birth mother should. Amongst the other children of the village, and even amongst a number of the men, the boy became known as a demon child because of his trickery and proclivity for fighting; this label gradually made Doji quite anti-social and resentful towards others.
At the age of 11 Doji got into a fight with one of the men of the village, hobbling the man for life in their altercation, this man was Mengyao Sīchóu, the husband of Ai. The mother figure that had once shown kindness to the Asakura boy now despised him. For the next 6 years, between his mother’s most rigorous training sessions, the boy would venture into the village only to attend teaching sessions at the village’s monastery. Amongst the monks the young Doji studied the philosophy of Dao, and was instructed in the use of their martial arts; with his background in nitoryu the oni quickly took a liking to the Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao, a pair of swords with hooked ends and sharpened hand-guards that could be linked together at their ends. After some time the monastery entrusted Doji with a pair of his own, as he had abandoned much of his anger and resentment during his time with them, this award unfortunately coincided with the development of a habit considered profane by the monks: consumption of alcohol. Each night the teenager would bully the village’s laborers into letting him drink with them. The oni had a seemingly endless thirst for alcohol, and took many drinks to exhibit signs of intoxication, the boy was able to wager his way into countless beverages as he engaged in drinking contests with the men, going so far as to wager his mother’s cottage; fortunately Doji’s seemingly-unnatural constitution was sufficient to win all of his wagers against the townspeople.
One night during a festival at the monastery Doji showed up in a drunken stupor, in the past weeks he had felt a splitting feeling at the sides of his head that could only be alleviated through the excessive indulgence of his vice. The mischievous boy donned the mask of a horned demon and ran about the monastery playing tricks on the monks. The 17 year old was scolded and cast out from his monastery as many of his malicious tendencies had evidently returned to him alongside his emerging alcoholism, and because he had surely transformed into some kind of demon. At the end of the night Doji returned to his mother’s cottage and doffed the horned mask he had stolen, to his horror a true pair of horns had budded from the sides of his head.
The next day Hanako was informed of, and unsettled by, her mischievous son’s actions at the festival. When she woke the young man from his slumber she was further upset to see the horns of an oni sprouting from the sides of his head. The 64-year-old woman had trained her son long enough, and had grown tired of his antics; the matron Asakura devised a proving task for her son, he would return to the land of Wano and if her master: Mishima Nobunaga still lived, Doji would train under him and study the Niten Ichi-Ryu.
Doji was happy to set out into the world at large, and so packed his things and stole a portion of his mother’s coffers to purchase a small boat and supplies for his travels. About half a year has passed since the young oni set out from Kano Kuni, in that time he has been run off from many islands because of his proclivity for graverobbing. Doji investigates cemeteries and other burial grounds, feeling for the inscription of “Mishima Nobunaga” in order to ensure that his search is not in vain, and will steal any item he doesn’t acknowledge as the rightful possession of the dead for himself. At the time that Doji’s true journey begins he has been run off from the Island of Ilisia by Lieutenant Motor Aiko of the 45th branch of Marines, he is now fleeing to the North, and is making his way towards the North Blue island of Spider Miles. [ I'm not sure if I'm just blind and missed it, or if you didn't mention at all when and how Doji became blind (or if he was blind from birth). ]
![[Bio] Asakura Doji Asakur12](https://servimg.com/r/3020435666/asakur12.jpg)
- Gray
[tracker=/t131-tracker-gray-starks#504]
Name : Gray Starks
Epithet : "The Conqueror" / "Black Fist"
Age : 49
Height : 10'2" (310 cm)
Weight : 1043 lbs (473 kg)
Species : Human Cyborg
Faction : Pirate
World Position : Lurking Legend (Former Yonkou)
Crew : Black Fist Pirates (Destroyed)
Ship : Sangria's Vane (Destroyed)
Crew Role : Captain (Former)
Devil Fruit : Pressure-Pressure Fruit
Bounty : [ber=r] 5,000,000,000
EXP Bonus : +0.20 (to all allies)
Income Bonus : +0.20
Shop Discount : -30%
Balance : [bel] 25,000,000,000
[[strollingdeath]][[baneoftheweak]][[riseandshine]][[childofdestiny]][[freakofnature]]
[[punchoutguru]][[dulcetvirtuoso]]
[[improviseadaptovercome]]
Posts : 3735
Re: [Bio] Asakura Doji
Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:56 amI really liked how you characterized Loha as a demanding leader and yet with a good dose of humanity as well. I like to balance out my characters with virtues and flaws, and you did a good job doing the same with Loha.
The only thing I recommend you rethink is the reason why Hanako left Elbaf. You said that she left Elbaf because she wanted to raise a strong child in a safe environment. But, I feel like that seems counter-intuitive based on her own experiences. The way I see it, her experiences should've led her to only one conclusion - strength comes from adversity. And there's no place in the world where her child would face more adversity than in the New World. And at the same time, while she wouldn't have direct help from Loha, she would know that Loha takes in some of his bastard children as part of his crew if they prove themselves (Sea Gird would probably be in his early 20s around the time of Doji's birth).
And then, if you need a reason to go to Kano Kuni, it can be because Doji is born blind. Knowing how much Loha detests weakness, Hanako could have the fear that Loha might straight-up murder their child if he realizes that it's blind. (I'm not saying that's what Loha would definitely do, but, it certainly wouldn't be completely out of character for him.)
The only thing I recommend you rethink is the reason why Hanako left Elbaf. You said that she left Elbaf because she wanted to raise a strong child in a safe environment. But, I feel like that seems counter-intuitive based on her own experiences. The way I see it, her experiences should've led her to only one conclusion - strength comes from adversity. And there's no place in the world where her child would face more adversity than in the New World. And at the same time, while she wouldn't have direct help from Loha, she would know that Loha takes in some of his bastard children as part of his crew if they prove themselves (Sea Gird would probably be in his early 20s around the time of Doji's birth).
And then, if you need a reason to go to Kano Kuni, it can be because Doji is born blind. Knowing how much Loha detests weakness, Hanako could have the fear that Loha might straight-up murder their child if he realizes that it's blind. (I'm not saying that's what Loha would definitely do, but, it certainly wouldn't be completely out of character for him.)
Doji wrote:Asakura Doji
Basic Character Information
Given Name: Doji
Middle Name/Initial: N. (Norzumbra)
Last Name: Asakura
Epithets: Cemetery Terror, Cemetery Ghoul
Birthdate: July 7 1811
Gender: Enlightened Samurai, Doji appears from the front as a monstrously lanky man with feminine facial features, from a distance he can be confused for a tall woman with long red hair. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Doji will respond to most any address not clearly intended for another person. The character doesn’t consider gender an important component of his identity and puts more value on his identity as a samurai, seeking to live as an embodiment of all the samurai of the disgraced Asakura clan.
Species/Race/Tribe: Human-Giant-Oni Crossbred
Faction: Pirate
Profession: Swordsman, Poet/Philosopher, Graverobber
Physical Appearance
Height: 17’7
Weight: 1,777 lb
Hair Style: Long & wild with a top knot barely keeping the back in check.
Hair Color: Fiery Red
Eye Color: Pale Clouded Blue
Scars: X scar on cheek left from a training session
Clothing and Accessories: Tarnished white hakama belted with a thick obi and worn over a dark red patterned yukata. Large onenju worn at the hip and around the neck, soju gourd hung from his belt, hair held up by silver kanzashi molded to depict a dragon being run through by different kinds of swords. Doji hangs bells and chimes from his oneju alongside short phrases written on cloth tassels, in addition a mask in the visage of a horned white demon is hung here. The young yokai wears black tabi with thick durable soles and leg armor to traverse difficult terrain and protect his legs in battle; for additional combat-gear Doji wears thick metal-plated gloves and foiled steel hand-wraps to aid in his utilization of hook swords.
Description: Doji is an unsettlingly built monster of a person, looming from above (for most) his smooth lips, absence of facial hair, long-eyelashes, thin eyebrows, and sharp jawline would all seem in place on the face of a beautiful woman. His horns, flat chest, and terrible height quickly dispel this assumption, and it becomes clear to an onlooker that what they are looking at is some sort of monster. Doji has a lanky and thin-shouldered build and moves in an abrupt and lurching fashion, his long limbs, and torso further lend to his perception as some manner of giant zombie, demon, or ghoul. Doji's voice is wispy and melodic rasp that escapes his lips like a zephyr and carries itself to whoever he is speaking to.
The Past
Main Traits:
Gets Lost Frequently, Doji was born blind and often blunders his way into unusual circumstances. He is almost guaranteed to get lost at least once when traveling to a location on foot.
Student of Swordsmanship, Doji is devoted to perfecting his form with Two-Sword Style, and to adding new sword techniques to his arsenal. The crossbred-oni wishes to study under the masters of as many sword fighting styles as possible, and dreams of fighting against the many powerful swordsmen of the New World.
Megalomaniac, Doji is a naturally vicious and power hungry person. This instinct was thoroughly cultivated throughout his upbringing, as he was raised to value strength and domination in combat. He is willing to work under those stronger than him, but is oppositional towards authority broadly and wishes to improve himself to the point that he can challenge anybody who would impose their will on him.
Clan Loyalty, Doji is immensely loyal to his clan and close friends. He will kill and die for these people. Unfortunately for those who would attempt to recruit the young man he is in fact, only permanently loyal to the Asakura clan, consisting currently of himself and his mother, and is otherwise prone to blundering into affiliations without intending to.
Fledgling, Doji is a teenager (18) and is just beginning his adventures, though he professes to be wise and disciplined, he has seen little of the world and has not had his mettle tested in any meaningful way.
Likes: Mothers (especially his own), Soju, Waxing Philosophical, Writing Poetry, Playing the Shakuhachi
Dislikes: Eating the meat of innocent creatures, Sweets (prefers spicy and bitter foods), Samurai of non-disgraced clans, Ninjas, When others assume he can see
Unique laugh: Yo-ka-ka-ka-ka-iii! (excited laugh), Shini-hi-hi(condescending laugh), Or Yahoo! (short laugh/exclamation)
Hometown: Mountain village in Kano Kuni.
Personality: At heart Doji is a mischievous teenager who enjoys tricking and confusing others, he frequently pulls pranks on those around him, even close friends. The scale of the crossbred-oni's pranks can range from gags and simple misdirection to devious conspiracies intended to maim, torment, and kill (pranks of this severity are generally not perpetrated against allies). The young Oni is well-versed in warrior's philosophies, and in one of three major philosophical traditions of Kano Kuni: Dao, because of these philosophies he keeps an open but principled outlook. He highly values excellence, loyalty, and experience because of his Warrior's philosophies, and values adaptability, harmony, and understanding because of Dao. In combat Doji is a dualistic creature, alternating between offensive patterns and defensive ones, vacillating between calmness and rage, jumping from earth to the air, and flickering between majesty and abject monstrousness.
- History:
Hanako was the eldest daughter of Asakura Yoshikage, head of the once prestigious Asakura samurai clan. The clan was tasked by the Kozuki Shogunate with securing one of a triad of treasures sacred to Wano Kuni; they guarded this treasure with utmost carefulness and viewed it as a sacred duty. For some time, the young Hanako, aged 17 at the time, had begged her father to allow her to share in their clan’s obligation: to guard the treasure herself.
On the night of the new moon, Monday September 17, 1781, the head of the Asakura clan acceded to his daughter’s request and permitted her to look over the inner sanctum in which the treasure was held. It is most unfortunate then that this would be the evening that the ninjas struck, the assassins of the Fujibayashi clan infiltrated the Castle’s outer walls unseen, and swiftly dispatch with the elders guarding the inner sanctum; Hanako did not hear the swift poisonings that had transpired just outside her sanctuary. Suddenly the ninjas burst through the door and poisoned the girl as they had the elders, a single strike was sufficient for the poison to take effect, but since much of the dosage had been used when slaying the elders, the remainder was insufficient to kill the girl outright. As soon as the ninja had entered the sanctum they were away with the treasure, lost to the formless night.
The Shogunate deemed the theft, suspected collusion, and act of dishonor the responsibility of Yoshikage, stating that he should not have entrusted the duty of a samurai to a teenage girl, and sentencing him to seppuku, a punishment that he dutifully fulfilled. In the absence of her husband the lady of the house, Asakura Sayako, died of grief. In the following months a bitter dispute erupted as to who would go on to lead the clan between Yoshikage’s brother Takakage and his most prodigious student Nobumasa, the two men and their most fervent supporters met in battle and the prodigy emerged victorious, however the bloody conflict left only Nobumasa, his 2 closest retainers, and the 7 young men of the clan who hadn't chosen a side alive.
In truth Yoshikage had conspired to allow the Fujibayashi a moment to strike, his brother Takakage had secured an arrangement that he believed would lead the clan to prosperity, and had threatened his brother with the massacre of the daughters if he failed to go through with the plan. If only the treacherous uncle could have known how erroneous his path towards prosperity was.
Hanako was despised by her father’s protege, perhaps rightfully so, and further resentment for the Asakura girl began to sprout among the remaining men of the clan. The samurai were tremendously cruel to the eldest daughter, beating and ridiculing her for pursuing her dream of carrying on her father’s legacy. In spite of the cruelty the remaining men inflicted on her, Hanako claimed that one day she would head the clan.
Nobumasa came to the conclusion that the only Asakura of merit must have been Yoshikage, the blood relatives of his master had died attempting to assert Takakage, and the remaining men of the clan bore no family ties to the vestiges of Asakura. One afternoon the men of the clan gathered their things, plundered the family treasury and left, after the group had proved themselves as mercenary Andō Nobumasa went on to found the Andō clan of samurai.
Frequently Hanako had grieved at the gravestones of her family, she wondered if things would be different if she had never been born. In the wreckage of failure, betrayal, and misery perhaps this cemetery bore the last of the Asakura clan’s honor, the last of its spirit.
The 5 daughters of Asakura remained the last vestiges of the clan, the middle children: Satomi, Sayuri, and Misaki looked after the youngest daughter Akira while the eldest Hanako voyaged from the house disguised as a man to study swordsmanship and steal from local nobleman. The daughters were able to live this way for 7 years, selling their family’s possessions and performing odd jobs in town to provide for themselves. During her studies Hanako encountered a ronin by the name of Mishima Nobunaga, a fellow disgrace to his clan, but a wise and prodigious swordsman. For many seasons Hanako would venture out to the countryside undisguised to meet with Nobunaga, by the end of the 7th winter the young Asakura had become the first student of the nitoryu sword style known as Niten Ichi-Ryu, or “The School of the Strategy of Two Heavens as One.”
Once the daughters of Asakura had emptied their family’s coffers they were forced to sell the clan’s castle and farmlands, the castle fortune was divided evenly, and each daughter went their separate ways with Misaki offering to take Akira until she could be raised fully to adulthood. It was at this time that Hanako pursued her master Mishima and asked if there was anything he had left to teach her, he said that he did not; and so, the ronin daughter of Asakura saw nothing left for her in Wano Kuni and began her departure.
The young lady purchased herself a medium-sized Būkan and recruited a crew of 180 men to sail the seas of the New World, without intending to the young lady had effectively recruited a pirate crew as they quickly came to rely on pillaging ships, pirate and navy alike, for supplies as they made their way from island to island. Hanako’s piracy lasted 10 years, during which she and her crew became known as the Hanabi Pirates, named for their tendency to light ships on fire after pillaging their supplies.
Eventually Hanako grew tired of sailing and wished to further her study of swordsmanship, so she instructed her crew to leave her at the island of Elbaf and appointed a new Captain to helm the crew in her absence. After beating the laborers turned bandits: Carr, Fritjof, and Soini into submission the eldest Asakura staked her claim on what was rightfully pastoral land owned by the respected giant Kirby, with the help of her massive minions she was able to direct the construction of a ramshackle, but colossal, cottage. These bandits would become Hanako's first students.
After noticing the structure that had been built upon his property Kirby voyaged down from his hillside mansion to see who had invaded his property and was surprised to find a human from Wano Kuni standing beneath him. The woman refused to leave, and so the giant turned to violence, however he was shocked to find that this insignificant speck was capable of defending herself and her home. Kirby fled his battle that day missing a thumb and bearing many scars, he would not be the last giant to taste defeat at the hands of Hanako.
In the coming months many men came attempting to evict the woman, at first local enforcers came but were dispatched easily, then bounty hunters were sent, but were similarly no match for the swordswoman. The situation was eventually made known to the island’s steward, he initially figured that this was a simple difference between the caliber of the island’s people and his own men, so he sent three of the rising stars of his fleet to bring the woman in. The three men, confident in their ability to defeat this strange lady, obliged her request to face them individually; it was a terrible mistake to honor this request. Despite each of the giant men’s tremendous power they were all unable to defeat Hanako in single combat, the woman’s swiftness and technique were that of a master swordsman. After their defeat the men’s crews dragged them from the battlefield, maimed and embarrassed the trio returned to their master.
Loha was confused beyond belief. He was certain that he would have heard of a human capable of laying so much as a scratch on his men, and yet this “Asakura Hanako” seemed utterly unfamiliar, a shapely and pale-haired woman dressed as a samurai? The Behemoth had to see her for himself.
The horned mountain of a man made his way across the countryside, basking in the glory of the homeland he presided over, before arriving at the manor of the rancher Kirby Dahl. After staying a night and sharing in libations, Loha made his way down to the ramshackle cottage to attend to business. From atop the hill he could see the tiny woman in the distance, training her three students in the field.
Hanako's students cowered at the presence of Loha, their master squared herself against the Behemoth before the two stated their business to one another and began their quarrel. The two clashed and though the swordswoman's most powerful attack was only capable of cutting the man’s cheek, drawing but a drop of blood alongside a trio of fiery red bristles, the giant-oni was still impressed that she had managed to put up a fight at all. Loha ended the fight with a crushing blow with Thor, leaving the woman in a coma for 3 weeks.
When Hanako awoke, the colossal man beside her bed erupted into laughter. He was tremendously amused that she had attempted to kill him, and questioned how he hadn’t heard of such a warrior. The two spent the day together and enjoyed each other’s company, by the end of the day they had grown somewhat fond of one another, and Loha asked the woman only half the tribute required to live on the island. In the following days Kirby and Hanako came to an arrangement, using a portion of the vast wealth plundered in her pirate years the woman was able to purchase the plot for herself and adequately compensate Kirby for the purchase of a giant cybernetic thumb.
With a property Hanako could rightfully call her own she chose to host any martial artist of the island who would wish to stay there and to conduct seminars where members of different schools of combat could impart their teachings and techniques to one another. Over the course of 12 years the cottage grew, the giants who trained there helping to refurbish and expand the ramshackle cottage into a massive dojo. In these years the middle-aged woman came to be known as a master of Nitoryu, and as a contemporary even amongst the strongest giants of Elbaf; what the woman lacked in strength against these opponents she more than made up for through precision, agility, and masterful swordsmanship. Each year Loha visited to collect his tribute the two’s relationship grew more jovial and more carnal, Hanako’s house became quite the place of festivity during tribute season as the Behemoth brought feasts and enormous quantities of alcohol for his visits.
On the morning of October 07, 1810 the Behemoth came to host his greatest monastery party yet, having brought rare and unusual foods from other islands, alongside fine libations such as Glögg and Brennevin. That evening Hanako seemed to glow, the aging woman had done so gracefully and gained a confident, if not domineering, charm in her years; she and Loha reminisced on their yearly bouts of friendship, and on the progress they had made for themselves in the last decade. As the night wore on the two ventured back into the halls of the gargantuan structure and shared in drink and conversation well into the night, eventually retiring to Hanako’s chambers together. The passionate intimacy of warriors turned friends was the bond that formed the conception of the crossbred-oni Asakura Doji.
In the months following the party a spark of life began to bud within Hanako, and she was overcome by the dilemma that stood before her: the end of her career as a swordswoman may be marked by this child’s coming, but in turn, the child could revitalize the Asakura clan, and perhaps even restore honor to their name. She decided that she would bear this child, and that she would mold it into the ultimate practitioner of nitoryu, a weapon suitable to humiliate the Shogunate and return glory to the name of the Asakura clan. Knowing that the grand line was an unsuitable place to raise a child, and that she would have no help raising it from Loha, Hanako called her former crew to share in one last voyage with her.
The mother sought to raise her child in one of the Blues, wishing to exploit their safety to create the new weapon of the Asakura clan unobstructed. This child would be the last hope for the Asakura's redemption. One of Hanako's crewmates suggested the island of Kano Kuni; though the world government was present there, it was a mountainous island with many peaks and recesses in which a training grounds could be hidden. With their destination set the Hanabi pirates traversed their way out of the New World and traveled a 17-week voyage to the West Blue.
Beneath the cover of night, the pirates escorted their former captain to Kano's border, two crew members left with her as bodyguards, and the three made their way upwards along the country’s craggy trails towards its center. After two weeks of foot travel the two reached a settlement that Hanako deemed suitable for her purposes, a small lumber village, distant from any population centers, and home to only one establishment of note: A monastery of the local philosophy of Dao.
Hanako paid the villagers for lumber and paid a number of the local builders to accompany her to the peak of the ridge that the village had been built upon, here they would construct the humble cottage where her child would be born. The child initially appeared as a normal human baby, however it quickly became apparent to Hanako that her son had been born blind. Her hopes for her clan were all but shattered, she named the child “Doji” a name meaning “mistake.”
Hanako had lived a cruel and tumultuous life and had a specific purpose in mind for her child, because of this Doji’s upbringing was one of relentless training and discipline. Even though her son was blind she was not content to give up on her dream, this child would be a warrior no matter what it took. Amongst the few luxuries afforded to Doji by his mother was a flute that her father had given to her, the Shakuhachi, an instrument with a haunting yet beautiful tone. The boy often practiced with this family heirloom, the echoes of the mountain ridges seeming to play along with him.
Throughout his youth the young Asakura would periodically wander down from the ridge’s peak to the village below where the boy became regarded as supernaturally strong and intelligent for a child. One of the village’s weavers, a young woman by the name of Ai Sīchóu, took a liking to the young boy, and showed him much of the affection that a child’s birth mother should; it was her insights and support that helped Doji learn to navigate the world as a blind person. Amongst the other children of the village, and even amongst a number of the men, the boy became known as a demon child because of his trickery and proclivity for fighting; this label gradually made Doji quite anti-social and resentful towards others.
At the age of 11 Doji got into a fight with one of the men of the village, hobbling the man for life in their altercation, this man was Mengyao Sīchóu, the husband of Ai. The mother figure that had once shown kindness to the Asakura boy now despised him; it was at this point that the boy began to grow, his height increasing to nearly 13 feet by the end of that year. From this point forwards the people of the village regarded Doji as a monstrous freak.
For the next 6 years, between his mother’s most rigorous training sessions, the boy would venture into the village only to attend teaching sessions at the village’s monastery. Amongst the monks the young Doji studied the philosophy of Dao and was instructed in the use of their martial arts; with his background in nitoryu the boy was enamored by the Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao, a pair of swords with hooked ends and sharpened handguards that could be linked together at their ends.
By melting down a number of weapons that had gone unused for years the monastery was able to create a pair of hook swords large enough for the massive teenager. The monastery entrusted Doji with this great pair of weapons, as he had abandoned much of his anger and resentment during his time with them, this award unfortunately coincided with the development of a habit considered profane by the monks: consumption of alcohol. Each night the teenager would bully the village’s laborers into letting him drink with them. The large and lanky boy had a seemingly endless thirst for alcohol, and took many drinks to exhibit signs of intoxication, the boy was able to wager his way into countless beverages as he engaged in drinking contests with the men, going so far as to bet his mother’s cottage; fortunately, Doji’s seemingly unnatural constitution was sufficient to win all of his wagers against the townspeople.
One night during a festival at the monastery Doji showed up in a drunken stupor, in the past weeks he had felt a splitting feeling at the sides of his head that could only be alleviated through the excessive indulgence of his vice. The mischievous boy donned the mask of a horned demon and ran about the monastery playing tricks on the monks. The 17-year-old was scolded and cast out from his monastery as many of his malicious tendencies had evidently returned to him alongside his emerging alcoholism, and because he had surely transformed into some kind of demon. At the end of the night Doji returned to his mother’s cottage and doffed the horned mask he had stolen, to his horror a true pair of horns had budded from the sides of his head.
The next day Hanako was informed of, and unsettled by, her mischievous son’s actions at the festival. When she woke the young man from his slumber she was saddened to see the familiar horns growing from his head. The 64-year-old woman had trained her son long enough and had grown tired of his antics; the matron Asakura devised a proving task for her son, he would return to the land of Wano and if her master: Mishima Nobunaga still lived, Doji would train under him and study the Niten Ichi-Ryu.
Doji was happy to set out into the world at large, and so packed his things and stole a portion of his mother’s coffers to purchase a small boat and supplies for his travels. About half a year has passed since the young oni set out from Kano Kuni, in that time he has been run off from many islands because of his proclivity for graverobbing. Doji investigates cemeteries and other burial grounds, feeling for the inscription of “Mishima Nobunaga” in order to ensure that his search is not in vain, and will steal any item he doesn’t acknowledge as the rightful possession of the dead for himself.
- Gray
[tracker=/t131-tracker-gray-starks#504]
Name : Gray Starks
Epithet : "The Conqueror" / "Black Fist"
Age : 49
Height : 10'2" (310 cm)
Weight : 1043 lbs (473 kg)
Species : Human Cyborg
Faction : Pirate
World Position : Lurking Legend (Former Yonkou)
Crew : Black Fist Pirates (Destroyed)
Ship : Sangria's Vane (Destroyed)
Crew Role : Captain (Former)
Devil Fruit : Pressure-Pressure Fruit
Bounty : [ber=r] 5,000,000,000
EXP Bonus : +0.20 (to all allies)
Income Bonus : +0.20
Shop Discount : -30%
Balance : [bel] 25,000,000,000
[[strollingdeath]][[baneoftheweak]][[riseandshine]][[childofdestiny]][[freakofnature]]
[[punchoutguru]][[dulcetvirtuoso]]
[[improviseadaptovercome]]
Posts : 3735
Re: [Bio] Asakura Doji
Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:09 amI appreciate you cooperating with me on the changes!
Doji is approved!
Doji is approved!
Doji wrote:Asakura Doji
Basic Character Information
Given Name: Doji
Middle Name/Initial: N. (Norzumbra)
Last Name: Asakura
Epithets: Cemetery Terror, Cemetery Ghoul
Birthdate: July 7 1811
Gender: Enlightened Samurai, Doji appears from the front as a monstrously lanky man with feminine facial features, from a distance he can be confused for a tall woman with long red hair. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Doji will respond to most any address not clearly intended for another person. The character doesn’t consider gender an important component of his identity and puts more value on his identity as a samurai, seeking to live as an embodiment of all the samurai of the disgraced Asakura clan.
Species/Race/Tribe: Human-Giant-Oni Crossbred
Faction: Pirate
Profession: Swordsman, Poet/Philosopher, Graverobber
Physical Appearance
Height: 17’7
Weight: 1,777 lb
Hair Style: Long & wild with a top knot barely keeping the back in check.
Hair Color: Fiery Red
Eye Color: Pale Clouded Blue
Scars: X scar on cheek left from a training session
Clothing and Accessories: Tarnished white hakama belted with a thick obi and worn over a dark red patterned yukata. Large onenju worn at the hip and around the neck, soju gourd hung from his belt, hair held up by silver kanzashi molded to depict a dragon being run through by different kinds of swords. Doji hangs bells and chimes from his oneju alongside short phrases written on cloth tassels, in addition a mask in the visage of a horned white demon is hung here. The young yokai wears black tabi with thick durable soles and leg armor to traverse difficult terrain and protect his legs in battle; for additional combat-gear Doji wears thick metal-plated gloves and foiled steel hand-wraps to aid in his utilization of hook swords.
Description: Doji is an unsettlingly built monster of a person, looming from above (for most) his smooth lips, absence of facial hair, long-eyelashes, thin eyebrows, and sharp jawline would all seem in place on the face of a beautiful woman. His horns, flat chest, and terrible height quickly dispel this assumption, and it becomes clear to an onlooker that what they are looking at is some sort of monster. Doji has a lanky and thin-shouldered build and moves in an abrupt and lurching fashion, his long limbs, and torso further lend to his perception as some manner of giant zombie, demon, or ghoul. Doji's voice is wispy and melodic rasp that escapes his lips like a zephyr and carries itself to whoever he is speaking to.
The Past
Main Traits:
Gets Lost Frequently, Doji was born blind and often blunders his way into unusual circumstances. He is almost guaranteed to get lost at least once when traveling to a location on foot.
Code of Honor, Doji has twisted the philosophies of Bushidō and Dao into a strange bastardization of both. He believes ardently in the following principles:
- To live authentically is reason enough to live most any lifestyle, a person's purpose and destiny are one and the same. To live as one's self is to live as a natural being.
- Doing what is right or true to one's self is courageous, cowards who would run from their ambitions are utterly detestable, even if it is only their nature. To persist as one's self in the face of adversity is to be human.
- In any worthwhile soul there must be balance. A righteous paragon who never does wrong is no better than a dastardly scoundrel who does no good. Where there is cruelty there must also be compassion, to abstain wholly from either practice is to deny one's own humanity. All natural things are cyclical.
- Courtesy is essential in matters of honor such as single combat. Matters of honor that are conducted without simple courtesies such as bowing can hardly be called such. True leaders among men are those who have learned to comport themselves honorably and express themselves upon the world. It is best, also, that one shows deference and appreciation for the world itself lest its blessings be squandered and forgotten.
- To speak dishonestly is to deny one's self, it is best to be blunt and sincere in one's speech. If one must conceal their intentions it is better not to speak a word than to lie. One should seek to understand others honestly and see through the illusions that might obscure their true nature.
- It is important to remember what you owe to others and what you are owed by them. This principle constitutes the backbone of comradery and honorable vengeance. The bond of mutual service is something to be remembered and honored regardless of its form.
- There is an objective right and wrong, however this objective is sourced from the soul of the individual respected and strong enough to impose their way on the world. If a system of morality is unpersuasive and cannot force itself into ubiquity then it is not the objective morality. This morality may seem unattainable, but somewhere and everywhere amongst humanity, such a thing must be attainable.
Student of Swordsmanship, Doji is devoted to perfecting his form with Two-Sword Style, and to adding new sword techniques to his arsenal. The crossbred-oni wishes to study under the masters of as many sword fighting styles as possible, and dreams of fighting against the many powerful swordsmen of the New World.
Megalomaniac, Doji is a naturally vicious and power hungry person. This instinct was thoroughly cultivated throughout his upbringing, as he was raised to value strength and domination in combat. He is willing to work under those stronger than him, but is oppositional towards authority broadly and wishes to improve himself to the point that he can challenge anybody who would impose their will on him.
Clan Loyalty, Doji is immensely loyal to his clan and close friends. He will kill and die for these people. Unfortunately for those who would attempt to recruit the young man he is in fact, only permanently loyal to the Asakura clan, consisting currently of himself and his mother, and is otherwise prone to blundering into affiliations without intending to.
Fledgling, Doji is a teenager (18) and is just beginning his adventures, though he professes to be wise and disciplined, he has seen little of the world and has not had his mettle tested in any meaningful way.
Likes: Pulling pranks, Mothers (especially his own), Soju, Waxing philosophical, Writing poetry, Morbid jokes, Meditation, Playing music (Shakuhachi), Eavesdropping
Dislikes: Samurai of Non-disgraced clans, When others assume he can see, Being harassed for his appearance, Closed mindedness, Eating the meat of innocent creatures, Sweets (prefers spicy and bitter foods), Ninjas and Assassins
Unique laugh: Yo-ka-ka-ka-ka-iii! (excited laugh), Shini-hi-hi (condescending laugh), Or Yahoo! (short laugh/exclamation)
Hometown: Mountain village in Kano Kuni.
Personality: At heart Doji is a mischievous teenager who enjoys tricking and confusing others, he frequently pulls pranks on those around him, even close friends. The scale of the crossbred-oni's pranks can range from gags and simple misdirection to devious conspiracies intended to maim, torment, and kill (pranks of this severity are generally not perpetrated against allies). The young Oni is well-versed in warrior's philosophies, and in one of three major philosophical traditions of Kano Kuni: Dao, because of these philosophies he keeps an open but principled outlook. He highly values excellence, honesty, and persistence because of his Warrior's philosophies, and values adaptability, harmony, and understanding because of Dao.
As a person Doji is markedly less wicked and monstrous than he appears, though he is capable of and savors acts of cruelty, he similarly takes pride in acts of kindness. The crossbred-oni is particularly sympathetic to mothers, members of non-human tribes, animals, and other disabled people, often going out of his way to show compassion to these people. Doji isn't accustomed to the acceptance of others, and so when he is embraced by a group it is significant to him, and he will often view these people as close friends. Amongst friends the crossbred-oni is more relaxed, often cracking morbid jokes or playing music to entertain; the teenager is also an expert eavesdropper, and enjoys sharing gossip and secrets with others.
The young Asaskura has a genuine appreciation for nature and humanity, seeing the two as integral caretakers of one another. He enjoys feeling the phenomena of the natural world. As he cannot see the world, he must appreciate its splendor in non-conventional ways; when Doji finds lush grass he will walk barefoot, when near the ocean he will wade into the water, and so on. While many find Doji's graverobbing odious, he is prone to paying respects to any gravesites he visits and removing his shoes before entering, wishing to honor the lives that culminated there.
In combat Doji is a dualistic creature, alternating between fervent offense and relaxed defense, vacillating between calmness and rage, jumping from earth to the air, and flickering between majesty and abject monstrousness. Regardless of his emotional tenor Doji approaches combat with a controlled confidence that was ingrained in him by his mother's training. The exception to this control comes in the form of the crossbred-oni's laughter, as a natural defense mechanism Doji will laugh hysterically to cope with the sounds and visceral sensations of combat. When a fight is a matter of personal vengeance the crossbred-oni bears a crazed grin, and cannot help himself but to laugh at and taunt his opposition throughout.
- History:
Hanako was the eldest daughter of Asakura Yoshikage, head of the once prestigious Asakura samurai clan. The clan was tasked by the Kozuki Shogunate with securing one of a triad of treasures sacred to Wano Kuni; they guarded this treasure with utmost carefulness and viewed it as a sacred duty. For some time, the young Hanako, aged 17 at the time, had begged her father to allow her to share in their clan’s obligation: to guard the treasure herself.
On the night of the new moon, Monday September 17, 1781, the head of the Asakura clan acceded to his daughter’s request and permitted her to look over the inner sanctum in which the treasure was held. It is most unfortunate then that this would be the evening that the ninjas struck. The assassins of the Fujibayashi clan infiltrated the castle’s walls unseen, and swiftly dispatch with the elders guarding the inner sanctum; Hanako did not hear the swift poisonings that had transpired just outside her sanctuary. Suddenly the ninjas burst through the door and poisoned the girl as they had the elders, a single strike was sufficient for the poison to take effect, but since much of the dosage had been used when slaying the elders, the remainder was insufficient to kill the girl outright. As soon as the ninja had entered the sanctum they were away with the treasure, lost to the formless night.
The Shogunate deemed the theft, suspected collusion, and act of dishonor the responsibility of Yoshikage, stating that he should not have entrusted the duty of a samurai to a teenage girl, and sentencing him to seppuku, a punishment that he dutifully fulfilled. In the absence of her husband the lady of the house, Asakura Sayako, died of grief. In the following months a bitter dispute erupted as to who would go on to lead the clan between Yoshikage’s brother Takakage and his most prodigious student Nobumasa, the two men and their most fervent supporters met in battle and the prodigy emerged victorious, however at the end of the bloody conflict only Nobumasa, his 2 closest retainers, and the 7 young men of the clan who hadn't chosen a side remained alive.
In truth Yoshikage had conspired to allow the Fujibayashi a moment to strike, his brother Takakage had secured an arrangement that he believed would lead the clan to prosperity, and had threatened his brother with the massacre of the daughters if he failed to go through with the plan. If only the treacherous uncle could have known how erroneous his path towards prosperity was. Such is the cruel indifference of fate.
Hanako was despised by her father’s protege, perhaps rightfully so, and further resentment for the Asakura girl began to sprout among the remaining men of the clan. The samurai were tremendously abusive to the eldest daughter, beating and ridiculing her for pursuing her dream of carrying on her father’s legacy. In spite of the cruelty the remaining men inflicted on her, Hanako claimed that one day she would head the clan.
Nobumasa came to the conclusion that the only Asakura of merit must have been Yoshikage, the blood relatives of his master had died attempting to assert the treacherous Takakage, and the remaining men of the clan bore no family ties to the vestiges of Asakura. One afternoon the men of the clan gathered their things, plundered the family treasury and left, after the group had proved themselves as mercenary Andō Nobumasa went on to found the Andō clan of samurai. In the following years the Andō won many victories, making a name for themselves, and shortly eclipsing any popular memory of the Asakura.
Frequently Hanako had grieved at the gravestones of her family, she wondered if things would be different if she had never been born. In the wreckage of failure, betrayal, and misery perhaps this cemetery bore the last of the Asakura clan’s honor, the last of its spirit.
The 5 daughters of Asakura remained the last vestiges of the clan, the middle children: Satomi, Sayuri, and Misaki looked after the youngest daughter Akira while the eldest Hanako voyaged from the house disguised as a man to study swordsmanship and steal from local nobleman. The daughters were able to live this way for 7 years, selling their family’s possessions and performing odd jobs in town to provide for themselves. During her studies Hanako encountered a ronin by the name of Mishima Nobunaga, a fellow disgrace to his clan, but a wise and prodigious swordsman. For many seasons Hanako would venture out to the countryside undisguised to meet with Nobunaga, by the end of the 7th winter the young Asakura had become the first student of the nitoryu sword style known as Niten Ichi-ryū, or “The School of the Strategy of Two Heavens as One.”
Once the daughters of Asakura had emptied their family’s coffers they were forced to sell the clan’s castle and farmlands, the castle fortune was divided evenly, and each daughter went their separate ways with Misaki offering to take Akira until she could be raised fully to adulthood. It was at this time that Hanako pursued her master Mishima and asked if there was anything he had left to teach her, he said that he did not; and so, the ronin daughter of Asakura saw nothing left for her in Wano Kuni and began her departure.
The young lady purchased herself a medium-sized Būkan and recruited a crew of 180 men to sail the seas of the New World, without intending to the young lady had effectively recruited a pirate crew as they quickly came to rely on pillaging ships, pirate and navy alike, for supplies as they made their way from island to island. Hanako’s piracy lasted 10 years, during which she and her crew became known as the Hanabi Pirates, named for their tendency to light ships on fire after pillaging their supplies.
Eventually Hanako grew tired of sailing and wished to further her study of swordsmanship, so she instructed her crew to leave her at the island of Elbaf and appointed a new Captain to helm the crew in her absence. After beating the laborers turned bandits: Carr, Fritjof, and Soini into submission the eldest Asakura staked her claim on what was rightfully pastoral land owned by the respected giant Kirby, with the help of her massive minions she was able to direct the construction of a ramshackle, but colossal, cottage. These bandits would become Hanako's first students.
After noticing the structure that had been built upon his property Kirby voyaged down from his hillside mansion to see who had invaded his property and was surprised to find a human from Wano Kuni standing beneath him. The woman refused to leave, and so the giant turned to violence, however he was shocked to find that this insignificant speck was capable of defending herself and her home. Kirby fled his battle that day missing a thumb and bearing many scars, he would not be the last giant to taste defeat at the hands of Hanako.
In the coming months many men came attempting to evict the woman, at first local enforcers came but were dispatched easily, then bounty hunters were sent, but were similarly no match for the swordswoman. The situation was eventually made known to the island’s steward, he initially figured that this was a simple difference between the caliber of the island’s people and his own men, so he sent three of the rising stars of his fleet to bring the woman in. The three men, confident in their ability to defeat this strange lady, obliged her request to face them individually; it was a terrible mistake to honor this request. Despite each of the giant men’s tremendous power they were all unable to defeat Hanako in single combat, the woman’s swiftness and technique were that of a master swordsman. After their defeat the men’s crews dragged them from the battlefield, maimed and embarrassed the trio returned to their master.
Loha was confused beyond belief. He was certain that he would have heard of a human capable of laying so much as a scratch on his men, and yet this “Asakura Hanako” seemed utterly unfamiliar, a shapely and pale-haired woman dressed as a samurai? The Behemoth had to see her for himself.
The horned mountain of a man made his way across the countryside, basking in the glory of the homeland he presided over, before arriving at the manor of the rancher Kirby Dahl. After staying a night and sharing in libations, Loha made his way down to the ramshackle cottage to attend to business. From atop the hill he could see the tiny woman in the distance, training her three students in the field.
Hanako's students cowered at the presence of Loha, their master squared herself against the Behemoth before the two stated their business to one another and began their quarrel. The two clashed and though the swordswoman's most powerful attack was only capable of cutting the man’s cheek, drawing but a drop of blood alongside a trio of fiery red bristles, the giant-oni was still impressed that she had managed to put up a fight at all. Loha ended the fight with a crushing blow with Thor, leaving the woman in a coma for 3 weeks.
When Hanako awoke, the colossal man beside her bed erupted into laughter. He was tremendously amused that she had attempted to kill him, and questioned how he hadn’t heard of such a warrior. The two spent the day together and enjoyed each other’s company, by the end of the day they had grown somewhat fond of one another, and Loha asked the woman only half the tribute required to live on the island. In the following days Kirby and Hanako came to an arrangement, using a portion of the vast wealth plundered in her pirate years the woman was able to purchase the plot for herself and adequately compensate Kirby for the purchase of a giant cybernetic thumb.
With a property Hanako could rightfully call her own she chose to host any martial artist of the island who would wish to stay there and to conduct seminars where members of different schools of combat could impart their teachings and techniques to one another. Over the course of 12 years the cottage grew, the giants who trained there helping to refurbish and expand the ramshackle cottage into a massive dojo. In these years the middle-aged woman came to be known as a master of nitoryu, and as a contemporary even amongst the strongest giants of Elbaf; what the woman lacked in strength against these opponents she more than made up for through precision, agility, and masterful swordsmanship. Each year Loha visited to collect his tribute the two’s relationship grew more jovial and more carnal, Hanako’s house became quite the place of festivity during tribute season as the Behemoth brought feasts and enormous quantities of alcohol for his visits.
On the morning of October 07, 1810 the Behemoth came to host his greatest monastery party yet, having brought rare and unusual foods from other islands, alongside fine libations such as Glögg and Brennevin. That evening Hanako seemed to glow, the aging woman had done so gracefully and gained a confident, if not domineering, charm in her years; she and Loha reminisced on their yearly bouts of friendship, and on the progress they had made for themselves in the last decade. As the night wore on the two ventured back into the halls of the gargantuan structure and shared in drink and conversation well into the night, eventually retiring to Hanako’s chambers together. The passionate intimacy of warriors turned friends was the bond that formed the conception of the crossbred-oni Asakura Doji.
In the months following the party a spark of life began to bud within Hanako, and she was overcome by the dilemma that stood before her: the end of her career as a swordswoman may be marked by this child’s coming, but in turn, the child could revitalize the Asakura clan, and perhaps even restore honor to their name. She decided that she would bear this child, and that she would mold it into the ultimate practitioner of nitoryu, a weapon suitable to humiliate the Shogunate and return glory to the name of the Asakura clan. On July 7, 1811 the swordswoman gave birth to what initially seemed like a healthy baby boy; however the child's eyes were clouded, and it quickly became evident to Hanako that her son was blind.
With her dreams all but shattered Hanako named her son Doji, a name meaning "mistake." In their conversations Loha and the Asakura Woman made clear their mutual distaste for weakness, with the behemoth going so far as to say that he would prefer the members of his family to die in their prime with pride and dignity than to live on as pathetic whelps. Despite her displeasure with her child's birth defect Hanako would not see another member of her clan slaughtered. Fearing Loha's wrath Doji's mother contacted her crew, and arranged to depart with her infant son. Without notice the dojo was left without one of its masters. The following tribute season Loha discovered the news of Hanako's departure; that evening's festival would be the dojo's last, and those present purported that the island's Behemoth spent the night drinking himself into a melancholy stupor.
The mother sought to raise her child in one of the Blues, wishing to distance herself from Loha and exploit the safety of these seas to create the new weapon of the Asakura clan unobstructed. This child would be the last hope for the Asakura's redemption, she would force it to defy the limits of its condition. One of Hanako's crewmates suggested the island of Kano Kuni; though the world government was present there, it was a mountainous island with many peaks and recesses in which a training grounds could be hidden. With their destination set the Hanabi pirates traversed their way out of the New World and traveled a 17-week voyage to the West Blue.
Beneath the cover of night, the pirates escorted their former captain to Kano's border, two crew members left with her as bodyguards, and the three made their way upwards along the country’s craggy trails towards its center. After two weeks of foot travel the two reached a settlement that Hanako deemed suitable for her purposes, a small lumber village, distant from any population centers, and home to only one establishment of note: A monastery of the local philosophy of Dao.
Hanako paid the villagers for lumber and paid a number of the local builders to accompany her to the peak of the ridge that the village had been built upon, here they would construct the humble cottage where the mother could raise her child. Hanako had lived a cruel and tumultuous life and had a specific purpose in mind for her child, because of this Doji’s upbringing was one of relentless training and discipline. Even though her son was blind the swordswoman was not content to give up on her dream, this child would be a warrior no matter what it took. Amongst the few luxuries afforded to Doji by his mother was a flute that her father had given to her, the Shakuhachi, an instrument with a haunting yet beautiful tone. The boy often practiced with this family heirloom, the echoes of the mountain ridges seeming to play along with him.
Throughout his youth the young Asakura would periodically wander down from the ridge’s peak to the village below where the boy became regarded as supernaturally strong and intelligent for a child. One of the village’s weavers, a young woman by the name of Ai Sīchóu, took a liking to the young boy, and showed him much of the affection that a child’s birth mother should; it was her insights and support that helped Doji learn to navigate the world as a blind person. Amongst the other children of the village, and even amongst a number of the men, the boy became known as a demon child because of his trickery and proclivity for fighting; this label gradually made Doji quite anti-social and resentful towards others.
At the age of 11 Doji got into a fight with one of the men of the village, hobbling the man for life in their altercation, this man was Mengyao Sīchóu, the husband of Ai. The mother figure that had once shown kindness to the Asakura boy now despised him; it was at this point that the boy began to grow, his height increasing to nearly 13 feet by the end of that year. From this point forwards the people of the village regarded Doji as a monstrous freak.
For the next 6 years, between his mother’s most rigorous training sessions, the boy would venture into the village only to attend teaching sessions at the village’s monastery. Amongst the monks the young Doji studied the philosophy of Dao and was instructed in the use of their martial arts; with his background in nitoryu the boy was enamored by the Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao, a pair of swords with hooked ends and sharpened handguards that could be linked together at their ends.
By melting down a number of weapons that had gone unused for years the monastery was able to create a pair of hook swords large enough for the massive teenager. The monastery entrusted Doji with this great pair of weapons, as he had abandoned much of his anger and resentment during his time with them, this award unfortunately coincided with the development of a habit considered profane by the monks: consumption of alcohol. Each night the teenager would bully the village’s laborers into letting him drink with them. The large and lanky boy had a seemingly endless thirst for alcohol, and took many drinks to exhibit signs of intoxication, the boy was able to wager his way into countless beverages as he engaged in drinking contests with the men, going so far as to bet his mother’s cottage; fortunately, Doji’s seemingly unnatural constitution was sufficient to win all of his wagers against the townspeople.
One night during a festival at the monastery Doji showed up in a drunken stupor, in the past weeks he had felt a splitting feeling at the sides of his head that could only be alleviated through the excessive indulgence of his vice. The mischievous boy donned the mask of a horned demon and ran about the monastery playing tricks on the monks. The 17-year-old was scolded and cast out from his monastery as many of his malicious tendencies had evidently returned to him alongside his emerging alcoholism, and because he had surely transformed into some kind of demon. At the end of the night Doji returned to his mother’s cottage and doffed the horned mask he had stolen, to his horror a true pair of horns had budded from the sides of his head.
The next day Hanako was informed of, and unsettled by, her mischievous son’s actions at the festival. When she woke the young man from his slumber she was saddened to see the familiar horns growing from his head. The 64-year-old woman had trained her son long enough and had grown tired of his antics; the matron Asakura devised a proving task for her son, he would return to the land of Wano and if her master: Mishima Nobunaga still lived, Doji would train under him and study the Niten Ichi-ryū.
Doji was happy to set out into the world at large, and so packed his things and stole a portion of his mother’s coffers to purchase a small boat and supplies for his travels. About half a year has passed since the young oni set out from Kano Kuni, in that time he has been run off from many islands because of his proclivity for graverobbing. Doji investigates cemeteries and other burial grounds, feeling for the inscription of “Mishima Nobunaga” in order to ensure that his search is not in vain, and will steal any item he doesn’t acknowledge as the rightful possession of the dead for himself.
- Gray
[tracker=/t131-tracker-gray-starks#504]
Name : Gray Starks
Epithet : "The Conqueror" / "Black Fist"
Age : 49
Height : 10'2" (310 cm)
Weight : 1043 lbs (473 kg)
Species : Human Cyborg
Faction : Pirate
World Position : Lurking Legend (Former Yonkou)
Crew : Black Fist Pirates (Destroyed)
Ship : Sangria's Vane (Destroyed)
Crew Role : Captain (Former)
Devil Fruit : Pressure-Pressure Fruit
Bounty : [ber=r] 5,000,000,000
EXP Bonus : +0.20 (to all allies)
Income Bonus : +0.20
Shop Discount : -30%
Balance : [bel] 25,000,000,000
[[strollingdeath]][[baneoftheweak]][[riseandshine]][[childofdestiny]][[freakofnature]]
[[punchoutguru]][[dulcetvirtuoso]]
[[improviseadaptovercome]]
Posts : 3735
Re: [Bio] Asakura Doji
Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:19 pm[info]Unlocked for appearance updates.[/info]
- Gray
[tracker=/t131-tracker-gray-starks#504]
Name : Gray Starks
Epithet : "The Conqueror" / "Black Fist"
Age : 49
Height : 10'2" (310 cm)
Weight : 1043 lbs (473 kg)
Species : Human Cyborg
Faction : Pirate
World Position : Lurking Legend (Former Yonkou)
Crew : Black Fist Pirates (Destroyed)
Ship : Sangria's Vane (Destroyed)
Crew Role : Captain (Former)
Devil Fruit : Pressure-Pressure Fruit
Bounty : [ber=r] 5,000,000,000
EXP Bonus : +0.20 (to all allies)
Income Bonus : +0.20
Shop Discount : -30%
Balance : [bel] 25,000,000,000
[[strollingdeath]][[baneoftheweak]][[riseandshine]][[childofdestiny]][[freakofnature]]
[[punchoutguru]][[dulcetvirtuoso]]
[[improviseadaptovercome]]
Posts : 3735
Re: [Bio] Asakura Doji
Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:28 am[approved=Appearance changes approved!]
Doji wrote:Asakura Doji
Basic Character Information
Given Name: Doji
Middle Name/Initial: N. (Norzumbra)
Last Name: Asakura
Epithets: Cemetery Terror, Cemetery Ghoul
Birthdate: July 7 1811
Gender: Enlightened Samurai, Doji appears from the front as a monstrously lanky man with feminine facial features, from a distance he can be confused for a tall woman with long red hair. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Doji will respond to most any address not clearly intended for another person. The character doesn’t consider gender an important component of his identity and puts more value on his identity as a samurai, seeking to live as an embodiment of all the samurai of the disgraced Asakura clan.
Species/Race/Tribe: Human-Giant-Oni Crossbred
Faction: Pirate
Profession: Swordsman, Poet/Philosopher, Graverobber
Physical Appearance
Height: 17’7
Weight: 1,777 lb
Hair Style: Long & wild with a top knot barely keeping the back in check.
Hair Color: Fiery Red
Eye Color: Pale Clouded Blueish-Jade
Scars: Scar on forehead from a training session
Clothing and Accessories: Tarnished white hakama belted with a thick obi and worn over a dark red patterned yukata. Large onenju worn at the hip and around the neck, soju gourd hung from his belt, hair held up by silver kanzashi molded to depict a dragon being run through by different kinds of swords. Doji hangs bells and chimes from his oneju alongside short phrases written on cloth tassels, in addition a mask in the visage of a horned white demon is hung here. The young yokai wears black tabi with thick durable soles and leg armor to traverse difficult terrain and protect his legs in battle; for additional combat-gear Doji wears thick metal-plated gloves and foiled steel hand-wraps to aid in his utilization of hook swords.
Description: Doji is an unsettlingly built monster of a person, looming from above (for most) his smooth lips, absence of facial hair, long-eyelashes, thin eyebrows, and sharp jawline would all seem in place on the face of a beautiful woman. His horns, flat chest, and terrible height quickly dispel this assumption, and it becomes clear to an onlooker that what they are looking at is some sort of monster. Doji has a lanky and thin-shouldered build and moves in an abrupt and lurching fashion, his long limbs, and torso further lend to his perception as some manner of giant zombie, demon, or ghoul. Doji's voice is wispy and melodic rasp that escapes his lips like a zephyr and carries itself to whoever he is speaking to.
The Past
Main Traits:
Gets Lost Frequently, Doji was born blind and often blunders his way into unusual circumstances. He is almost guaranteed to get lost at least once when traveling to a location on foot.
Code of Honor, Doji has twisted the philosophies of Bushidō and Dao into a strange bastardization of both. He believes ardently in the following principles:
- To live authentically is reason enough to live most any lifestyle, a person's purpose and destiny are one and the same. To live as one's self is to live as a natural being.
- Doing what is right or true to one's self is courageous, cowards who would run from their ambitions are utterly detestable, even if it is only their nature. To persist as one's self in the face of adversity is to be human.
- In any worthwhile soul there must be balance. A righteous paragon who never does wrong is no better than a dastardly scoundrel who does no good. Where there is cruelty there must also be compassion, to abstain wholly from either practice is to deny one's own humanity. All natural things are cyclical.
- Courtesy is essential in matters of honor such as single combat. Matters of honor that are conducted without simple courtesies such as bowing can hardly be called such. True leaders among men are those who have learned to comport themselves honorably and express themselves upon the world. It is best, also, that one shows deference and appreciation for the world itself lest its blessings be squandered and forgotten.
- To speak dishonestly is to deny one's self, it is best to be blunt and sincere in one's speech. If one must conceal their intentions it is better not to speak a word than to lie. One should seek to understand others honestly and see through the illusions that might obscure their true nature.
- It is important to remember what you owe to others and what you are owed by them. This principle constitutes the backbone of comradery and honorable vengeance. The bond of mutual service is something to be remembered and honored regardless of its form.
- There is an objective right and wrong, however this objective is sourced from the soul of the individual respected and strong enough to impose their way on the world. If a system of morality is unpersuasive and cannot force itself into ubiquity then it is not the objective morality. This morality may seem unattainable, but somewhere and everywhere amongst humanity, such a thing must be attainable.
Student of Swordsmanship, Doji is devoted to perfecting his form with Two-Sword Style, and to adding new sword techniques to his arsenal. The crossbred-oni wishes to study under the masters of as many sword fighting styles as possible, and dreams of fighting against the many powerful swordsmen of the New World.
Megalomaniac, Doji is a naturally vicious and power hungry person. This instinct was thoroughly cultivated throughout his upbringing, as he was raised to value strength and domination in combat. He is willing to work under those stronger than him, but is oppositional towards authority broadly and wishes to improve himself to the point that he can challenge anybody who would impose their will on him.
Clan Loyalty, Doji is immensely loyal to his clan and close friends. He will kill and die for these people. Unfortunately for those who would attempt to recruit the young man he is in fact, only permanently loyal to the Asakura clan, consisting currently of himself and his mother, and is otherwise prone to blundering into affiliations without intending to.
Fledgling, Doji is a teenager (18) and is just beginning his adventures, though he professes to be wise and disciplined, he has seen little of the world and has not had his mettle tested in any meaningful way.
Likes: Pulling pranks, Mothers (especially his own), Soju, Waxing philosophical, Writing poetry, Morbid jokes, Meditation, Playing music (Shakuhachi), Eavesdropping
Dislikes: Samurai of Non-disgraced clans, When others assume he can see, Being harassed for his appearance, Closed mindedness, Eating the meat of innocent creatures, Sweets (prefers spicy and bitter foods), Ninjas and Assassins
Unique laugh: Yo-ka-ka-ka-ka-iii! (excited laugh), Shini-hi-hi (condescending laugh), Or Yahoo! (short laugh/exclamation)
Hometown: Mountain village in Kano Kuni.
Personality: At heart Doji is a mischievous teenager who enjoys tricking and confusing others, he frequently pulls pranks on those around him, even close friends. The scale of the crossbred-oni's pranks can range from gags and simple misdirection to devious conspiracies intended to maim, torment, and kill (pranks of this severity are generally not perpetrated against allies). The young Oni is well-versed in warrior's philosophies, and in one of three major philosophical traditions of Kano Kuni: Dao, because of these philosophies he keeps an open but principled outlook. He highly values excellence, honesty, and persistence because of his Warrior's philosophies, and values adaptability, harmony, and understanding because of Dao.
As a person Doji is markedly less wicked and monstrous than he appears, though he is capable of and savors acts of cruelty, he similarly takes pride in acts of kindness. The crossbred-oni is particularly sympathetic to mothers, members of non-human tribes, animals, and other disabled people, often going out of his way to show compassion to these people. Doji isn't accustomed to the acceptance of others, and so when he is embraced by a group it is significant to him, and he will often view these people as close friends. Amongst friends the crossbred-oni is more relaxed, often cracking morbid jokes or playing music to entertain; the teenager is also an expert eavesdropper, and enjoys sharing gossip and secrets with others.
The young Asaskura has a genuine appreciation for nature and humanity, seeing the two as integral caretakers of one another. He enjoys feeling the phenomena of the natural world. As he cannot see the world, he must appreciate its splendor in non-conventional ways; when Doji finds lush grass he will walk barefoot, when near the ocean he will wade into the water, and so on. While many find Doji's graverobbing odious, he is prone to paying respects to any gravesites he visits and removing his shoes before entering, wishing to honor the lives that culminated there.
In combat Doji is a dualistic creature, alternating between fervent offense and relaxed defense, vacillating between calmness and rage, jumping from earth to the air, and flickering between majesty and abject monstrousness. Regardless of his emotional tenor Doji approaches combat with a controlled confidence that was ingrained in him by his mother's training. The exception to this control comes in the form of the crossbred-oni's laughter, as a natural defense mechanism Doji will laugh hysterically to cope with the sounds and visceral sensations of combat. When a fight is a matter of personal vengeance the crossbred-oni bears a crazed grin, and cannot help himself but to laugh at and taunt his opposition throughout.
- History:
Hanako was the eldest daughter of Asakura Yoshikage, head of the once prestigious Asakura samurai clan. The clan was tasked by the Kozuki Shogunate with securing one of a triad of treasures sacred to Wano Kuni; they guarded this treasure with utmost carefulness and viewed it as a sacred duty. For some time, the young Hanako, aged 17 at the time, had begged her father to allow her to share in their clan’s obligation: to guard the treasure herself.
On the night of the new moon, Monday September 17, 1781, the head of the Asakura clan acceded to his daughter’s request and permitted her to look over the inner sanctum in which the treasure was held. It is most unfortunate then that this would be the evening that the ninjas struck. The assassins of the Fujibayashi clan infiltrated the castle’s walls unseen, and swiftly dispatch with the elders guarding the inner sanctum; Hanako did not hear the swift poisonings that had transpired just outside her sanctuary. Suddenly the ninjas burst through the door and poisoned the girl as they had the elders, a single strike was sufficient for the poison to take effect, but since much of the dosage had been used when slaying the elders, the remainder was insufficient to kill the girl outright. As soon as the ninja had entered the sanctum they were away with the treasure, lost to the formless night.
The Shogunate deemed the theft, suspected collusion, and act of dishonor the responsibility of Yoshikage, stating that he should not have entrusted the duty of a samurai to a teenage girl, and sentencing him to seppuku, a punishment that he dutifully fulfilled. In the absence of her husband the lady of the house, Asakura Sayako, died of grief. In the following months a bitter dispute erupted as to who would go on to lead the clan between Yoshikage’s brother Takakage and his most prodigious student Nobumasa, the two men and their most fervent supporters met in battle and the prodigy emerged victorious, however at the end of the bloody conflict only Nobumasa, his 2 closest retainers, and the 7 young men of the clan who hadn't chosen a side remained alive.
In truth Yoshikage had conspired to allow the Fujibayashi a moment to strike, his brother Takakage had secured an arrangement that he believed would lead the clan to prosperity, and had threatened his brother with the massacre of the daughters if he failed to go through with the plan. If only the treacherous uncle could have known how erroneous his path towards prosperity was. Such is the cruel indifference of fate.
Hanako was despised by her father’s protege, perhaps rightfully so, and further resentment for the Asakura girl began to sprout among the remaining men of the clan. The samurai were tremendously abusive to the eldest daughter, beating and ridiculing her for pursuing her dream of carrying on her father’s legacy. In spite of the cruelty the remaining men inflicted on her, Hanako claimed that one day she would head the clan.
Nobumasa came to the conclusion that the only Asakura of merit must have been Yoshikage, the blood relatives of his master had died attempting to assert the treacherous Takakage, and the remaining men of the clan bore no family ties to the vestiges of Asakura. One afternoon the men of the clan gathered their things, plundered the family treasury and left, after the group had proved themselves as mercenary Andō Nobumasa went on to found the Andō clan of samurai. In the following years the Andō won many victories, making a name for themselves, and shortly eclipsing any popular memory of the Asakura.
Frequently Hanako had grieved at the gravestones of her family, she wondered if things would be different if she had never been born. In the wreckage of failure, betrayal, and misery perhaps this cemetery bore the last of the Asakura clan’s honor, the last of its spirit.
The 5 daughters of Asakura remained the last vestiges of the clan, the middle children: Satomi, Sayuri, and Misaki looked after the youngest daughter Akira while the eldest Hanako voyaged from the house disguised as a man to study swordsmanship and steal from local nobleman. The daughters were able to live this way for 7 years, selling their family’s possessions and performing odd jobs in town to provide for themselves. During her studies Hanako encountered a ronin by the name of Mishima Nobunaga, a fellow disgrace to his clan, but a wise and prodigious swordsman. For many seasons Hanako would venture out to the countryside undisguised to meet with Nobunaga, by the end of the 7th winter the young Asakura had become the first student of the nitoryu sword style known as Niten Ichi-ryū, or “The School of the Strategy of Two Heavens as One.”
Once the daughters of Asakura had emptied their family’s coffers they were forced to sell the clan’s castle and farmlands, the castle fortune was divided evenly, and each daughter went their separate ways with Misaki offering to take Akira until she could be raised fully to adulthood. It was at this time that Hanako pursued her master Mishima and asked if there was anything he had left to teach her, he said that he did not; and so, the ronin daughter of Asakura saw nothing left for her in Wano Kuni and began her departure.
The young lady purchased herself a medium-sized Būkan and recruited a crew of 180 men to sail the seas of the New World, without intending to the young lady had effectively recruited a pirate crew as they quickly came to rely on pillaging ships, pirate and navy alike, for supplies as they made their way from island to island. Hanako’s piracy lasted 10 years, during which she and her crew became known as the Hanabi Pirates, named for their tendency to light ships on fire after pillaging their supplies.
Eventually Hanako grew tired of sailing and wished to further her study of swordsmanship, so she instructed her crew to leave her at the island of Elbaf and appointed a new Captain to helm the crew in her absence. After beating the laborers turned bandits: Carr, Fritjof, and Soini into submission the eldest Asakura staked her claim on what was rightfully pastoral land owned by the respected giant Kirby, with the help of her massive minions she was able to direct the construction of a ramshackle, but colossal, cottage. These bandits would become Hanako's first students.
After noticing the structure that had been built upon his property Kirby voyaged down from his hillside mansion to see who had invaded his property and was surprised to find a human from Wano Kuni standing beneath him. The woman refused to leave, and so the giant turned to violence, however he was shocked to find that this insignificant speck was capable of defending herself and her home. Kirby fled his battle that day missing a thumb and bearing many scars, he would not be the last giant to taste defeat at the hands of Hanako.
In the coming months many men came attempting to evict the woman, at first local enforcers came but were dispatched easily, then bounty hunters were sent, but were similarly no match for the swordswoman. The situation was eventually made known to the island’s steward, he initially figured that this was a simple difference between the caliber of the island’s people and his own men, so he sent three of the rising stars of his fleet to bring the woman in. The three men, confident in their ability to defeat this strange lady, obliged her request to face them individually; it was a terrible mistake to honor this request. Despite each of the giant men’s tremendous power they were all unable to defeat Hanako in single combat, the woman’s swiftness and technique were that of a master swordsman. After their defeat the men’s crews dragged them from the battlefield, maimed and embarrassed the trio returned to their master.
Loha was confused beyond belief. He was certain that he would have heard of a human capable of laying so much as a scratch on his men, and yet this “Asakura Hanako” seemed utterly unfamiliar, a shapely and pale-haired woman dressed as a samurai? The Behemoth had to see her for himself.
The horned mountain of a man made his way across the countryside, basking in the glory of the homeland he presided over, before arriving at the manor of the rancher Kirby Dahl. After staying a night and sharing in libations, Loha made his way down to the ramshackle cottage to attend to business. From atop the hill he could see the tiny woman in the distance, training her three students in the field.
Hanako's students cowered at the presence of Loha, their master squared herself against the Behemoth before the two stated their business to one another and began their quarrel. The two clashed and though the swordswoman's most powerful attack was only capable of cutting the man’s cheek, drawing but a drop of blood alongside a trio of fiery red bristles, the giant-oni was still impressed that she had managed to put up a fight at all. Loha ended the fight with a crushing blow with Thor, leaving the woman in a coma for 3 weeks.
When Hanako awoke, the colossal man beside her bed erupted into laughter. He was tremendously amused that she had attempted to kill him, and questioned how he hadn’t heard of such a warrior. The two spent the day together and enjoyed each other’s company, by the end of the day they had grown somewhat fond of one another, and Loha asked the woman only half the tribute required to live on the island. In the following days Kirby and Hanako came to an arrangement, using a portion of the vast wealth plundered in her pirate years the woman was able to purchase the plot for herself and adequately compensate Kirby for the purchase of a giant cybernetic thumb.
With a property Hanako could rightfully call her own she chose to host any martial artist of the island who would wish to stay there and to conduct seminars where members of different schools of combat could impart their teachings and techniques to one another. Over the course of 12 years the cottage grew, the giants who trained there helping to refurbish and expand the ramshackle cottage into a massive dojo. In these years the middle-aged woman came to be known as a master of nitoryu, and as a contemporary even amongst the strongest giants of Elbaf; what the woman lacked in strength against these opponents she more than made up for through precision, agility, and masterful swordsmanship. Each year Loha visited to collect his tribute the two’s relationship grew more jovial and more carnal, Hanako’s house became quite the place of festivity during tribute season as the Behemoth brought feasts and enormous quantities of alcohol for his visits.
On the morning of October 07, 1810 the Behemoth came to host his greatest monastery party yet, having brought rare and unusual foods from other islands, alongside fine libations such as Glögg and Brennevin. That evening Hanako seemed to glow, the aging woman had done so gracefully and gained a confident, if not domineering, charm in her years; she and Loha reminisced on their yearly bouts of friendship, and on the progress they had made for themselves in the last decade. As the night wore on the two ventured back into the halls of the gargantuan structure and shared in drink and conversation well into the night, eventually retiring to Hanako’s chambers together. The passionate intimacy of warriors turned friends was the bond that formed the conception of the crossbred-oni Asakura Doji.
In the months following the party a spark of life began to bud within Hanako, and she was overcome by the dilemma that stood before her: the end of her career as a swordswoman may be marked by this child’s coming, but in turn, the child could revitalize the Asakura clan, and perhaps even restore honor to their name. She decided that she would bear this child, and that she would mold it into the ultimate practitioner of nitoryu, a weapon suitable to humiliate the Shogunate and return glory to the name of the Asakura clan. On July 7, 1811 the swordswoman gave birth to what initially seemed like a healthy baby boy; however the child's eyes were clouded, and it quickly became evident to Hanako that her son was blind.
With her dreams all but shattered Hanako named her son Doji, a name meaning "mistake." In their conversations Loha and the Asakura Woman made clear their mutual distaste for weakness, with the behemoth going so far as to say that he would prefer the members of his family to die in their prime with pride and dignity than to live on as pathetic whelps. Despite her displeasure with her child's birth defect Hanako would not see another member of her clan slaughtered. Fearing Loha's wrath Doji's mother contacted her crew, and arranged to depart with her infant son. Without notice the dojo was left without one of its masters. The following tribute season Loha discovered the news of Hanako's departure; that evening's festival would be the dojo's last, and those present purported that the island's Behemoth spent the night drinking himself into a melancholy stupor.
The mother sought to raise her child in one of the Blues, wishing to distance herself from Loha and exploit the safety of these seas to create the new weapon of the Asakura clan unobstructed. This child would be the last hope for the Asakura's redemption, she would force it to defy the limits of its condition. One of Hanako's crewmates suggested the island of Kano Kuni; though the world government was present there, it was a mountainous island with many peaks and recesses in which a training grounds could be hidden. With their destination set the Hanabi pirates traversed their way out of the New World and traveled a 17-week voyage to the West Blue.
Beneath the cover of night, the pirates escorted their former captain to Kano's border, two crew members left with her as bodyguards, and the three made their way upwards along the country’s craggy trails towards its center. After two weeks of foot travel the two reached a settlement that Hanako deemed suitable for her purposes, a small lumber village, distant from any population centers, and home to only one establishment of note: A monastery of the local philosophy of Dao.
Hanako paid the villagers for lumber and paid a number of the local builders to accompany her to the peak of the ridge that the village had been built upon, here they would construct the humble cottage where the mother could raise her child. Hanako had lived a cruel and tumultuous life and had a specific purpose in mind for her child, because of this Doji’s upbringing was one of relentless training and discipline. Even though her son was blind the swordswoman was not content to give up on her dream, this child would be a warrior no matter what it took. Amongst the few luxuries afforded to Doji by his mother was a flute that her father had given to her, the Shakuhachi, an instrument with a haunting yet beautiful tone. The boy often practiced with this family heirloom, the echoes of the mountain ridges seeming to play along with him.
Throughout his youth the young Asakura would periodically wander down from the ridge’s peak to the village below where the boy became regarded as supernaturally strong and intelligent for a child. One of the village’s weavers, a young woman by the name of Ai Sīchóu, took a liking to the young boy, and showed him much of the affection that a child’s birth mother should; it was her insights and support that helped Doji learn to navigate the world as a blind person. Amongst the other children of the village, and even amongst a number of the men, the boy became known as a demon child because of his trickery and proclivity for fighting; this label gradually made Doji quite anti-social and resentful towards others.
At the age of 11 Doji got into a fight with one of the men of the village, hobbling the man for life in their altercation, this man was Mengyao Sīchóu, the husband of Ai. The mother figure that had once shown kindness to the Asakura boy now despised him; it was at this point that the boy began to grow, his height increasing to nearly 13 feet by the end of that year. From this point forwards the people of the village regarded Doji as a monstrous freak.
For the next 6 years, between his mother’s most rigorous training sessions, the boy would venture into the village only to attend teaching sessions at the village’s monastery. Amongst the monks the young Doji studied the philosophy of Dao and was instructed in the use of their martial arts; with his background in nitoryu the boy was enamored by the Qian Kun Ri Yue Dao, a pair of swords with hooked ends and sharpened handguards that could be linked together at their ends.
By melting down a number of weapons that had gone unused for years the monastery was able to create a pair of hook swords large enough for the massive teenager. The monastery entrusted Doji with this great pair of weapons, as he had abandoned much of his anger and resentment during his time with them, this award unfortunately coincided with the development of a habit considered profane by the monks: consumption of alcohol. Each night the teenager would bully the village’s laborers into letting him drink with them. The large and lanky boy had a seemingly endless thirst for alcohol, and took many drinks to exhibit signs of intoxication, the boy was able to wager his way into countless beverages as he engaged in drinking contests with the men, going so far as to bet his mother’s cottage; fortunately, Doji’s seemingly unnatural constitution was sufficient to win all of his wagers against the townspeople.
One night during a festival at the monastery Doji showed up in a drunken stupor, in the past weeks he had felt a splitting feeling at the sides of his head that could only be alleviated through the excessive indulgence of his vice. The mischievous boy donned the mask of a horned demon and ran about the monastery playing tricks on the monks. The 17-year-old was scolded and cast out from his monastery as many of his malicious tendencies had evidently returned to him alongside his emerging alcoholism, and because he had surely transformed into some kind of demon. At the end of the night Doji returned to his mother’s cottage and doffed the horned mask he had stolen, to his horror a true pair of horns had budded from the sides of his head.
The next day Hanako was informed of, and unsettled by, her mischievous son’s actions at the festival. When she woke the young man from his slumber she was saddened to see the familiar horns growing from his head. The 64-year-old woman had trained her son long enough and had grown tired of his antics; the matron Asakura devised a proving task for her son, he would return to the land of Wano and if her master: Mishima Nobunaga still lived, Doji would train under him and study the Niten Ichi-ryū.
Doji was happy to set out into the world at large, and so packed his things and stole a portion of his mother’s coffers to purchase a small boat and supplies for his travels. About half a year has passed since the young oni set out from Kano Kuni, in that time he has been run off from many islands because of his proclivity for graverobbing. Doji investigates cemeteries and other burial grounds, feeling for the inscription of “Mishima Nobunaga” in order to ensure that his search is not in vain, and will steal any item he doesn’t acknowledge as the rightful possession of the dead for himself.
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