I'll throw up some character options: [hider=Idea #1: Kamiko] [center][color=39b54a][h2]KAMIKO[/h2][/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iPqTVcpmpA]THEME[/url] [img]http://blog-imgs-82.fc2.com/m/a/n/mangakikou/1439995359468.jpg[/img][/center] [color=39b54a][u][b]NAME[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Mendaku Kamiko[/indent] [color=39b54a][u][b]ALIAS[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]N/A[/indent] [color=39b54a][u][b]AGE[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]17[/INDENT] [color=39b54a][u][b]APPEARANCE[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]With long black hair and standing at five foot even, Kamiko stands over… nobody, really. An exceptional beauty that was remarked as a girl that despite her unassuming size would make suitors look twice when entering a room. In her younger years, Kamiko held no physicality beyond her appearance with narrow arms and a soft lithe figure— but she has always been deceptive in how capable she actually is and with a background in royal forms of martial arts for meditative and self-defense purposes the physical ability of Kamiko may surprise her enemies and friends. Kamiko still prefers extravagant and long-flowing aesthetics in her appearance though she knows it may not be practical; but she doesn’t care. [/indent] [color=39b54a][u][b]PERSONALITY[/b][/u][/color] [indent]Remnant of a hoity arrogant princess, Kamiko is the definition of the worst aspects nobility could have. In addition to her over-emotional manner the dark-haired girl is obviously impatient, loud, egocentric, self-absorbed, and decidedly abrasive to those all around her. In many words she seems to be the stereotypical princess but there is much more beyond her unpleasant attributes that few would like to admit. Fueled by the treachery that descended upon everything she had ever known, Kamiko has a strong sense of justice that she carries with her through every place she visits as she refuses to show a true line of weakness creating a positive trait of resilience, tenacity, faith, and hope. For she knows very well that while everything she knew is gone and has to carry on to make amends. [/indent] [color=39b54a][u][b]STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Kamiko is no weathered samurai or veteran shinobi, so it should be no surprise that the skills she does hold are small in number. Whilst she has a pompous air to her Kamiko is hardly unintelligent or unwise in how the world works. [list][*][color=39b54a][b]Perception:[/b][/color] Kamiko is a self-proclaimed “genius” of [i]knowing[/i]. In short, Kamiko has a deductive mind, analytical perception, and gifted intelligence— a fact that has been cradled with accolades since she was a young girl. Her lack of experience gives issue to utilizing this inherent gift. [*][color=39b54a][b]Martial Arts:[/b][/color] Kamiko has been trained in martial arts for meditation and self-defense purposes since she was seven years old following the state of unrest and her father’s distinct fall into paranoid delusion about his enemies. She has consistently practiced her form of martial arts throughout her life; though without many willing partners or fellow students. [*][color=39b54a][b]Royal Education:[/b][/color] Kamiko was groomed to help rule and such a royal education has gained her distinct intellectual advantages outside of the castle such as her economic comprehension, her understanding of trade & court politics, and cohesive understanding of realm history of both ancient & recent affairs. However these skills do not mean Kamiko has the experience to utilize them properly and her overconfidence will lend her to making staunch presumptions otherwise.[/list] [/INDENT] [color=39b54a][u][B]HISTORY[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Born seventeen years ago in the shadow of a lunar eclipse, Mendaku Kamiko is the de jure heir of her clan and the lands under it. For the majority of her life, Kamiko would know little outside of the safe sanctuary of Mendaku Castle much like many other highborn children of her generation. With several years of a difference between her older siblings, Kamiko was the unexpected child. When she was five years old a sickness grasped her mother, taking her away from the world. The sadness she felt was something she didn’t later learn could be filled with distractions such as games of the mind; which is where her affinity for thought and intrigue was immediately discovered. She continued to develop her intellect as time went on, but with her brother distant from her and her sister several provinces away it left her education on her heartbroken father and the scholars he had as retainers. This, of course, was one of the reasons for her growing ignorance and arrogance as the scholars would teach her one-sided philosophies and by proxy increase her ego and pride through pseudo-answers and superfluous compliments as well as half-truths. It was then in due time that war finally came to Hiroaki as the consequences of the Gekido Uprising many years prior had finally re-emerged in the form of the lone survivor of the Gekido Clan. However, Kamiko thought nothing of another “peasant uprising” believing it to be something of no concern as the Gekido Clan had been handled before as she was told by her educators and family. During this second uprising the young girl found herself concerned with fueling her educational pursuits as well as continuing to win games of logic against her elders. Kamiko took no studies in weapon arts as she truly did believe such things beneath a future ruler like herself: the best weapon was the individual’s intellect after all… or so she believed. As the weeks turned into months, the shadows of the Gekido seemed fiercer than ever before, the realm began to shift. Kamiko returned to her studies and games, oblivious to what was coming. Gekido Takeru’s regicide of the “entire” Mendaku Clan holds many stories— they say his wrath summoned a demon, that his sword was demonic in nature, that he himself was a demon in human clothes, or that he simply was a man that fought [i]like[/i] a demon. Whichever the truth is, Kamiko survived as she heard the screams of her father and the majority of his guard as he sent Kamiko out with three trusted confidants to safeguard his daughter from harm— a monk, a shinobi, and a samurai. This trinity would attempt to guide Kamiko as they travelled off the beaten path as Mendaku Castle burned to dust. But now Kamiko is alone and the trinity has either disappeared or fallen to similar fate. Kamiko won’t say.[/indent][/hider] [hider=Idea #2: Hanako] [center][color=483D8B][h2]HANAKO[/h2][/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN4w1PCOd-M]THEME[/url] [img]https://36.media.tumblr.com/5ae3a8b1085a1c1effd7a14142c83ba7/tumblr_mw0zmk0CHG1qzlc8oo1_500.jpg[/img][/center] [color=483D8B][u][b]NAME[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Rashikage Hanako[/indent] [color=483D8B][u][b]ALIAS[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT][b]The Crimson Fox[/b] Kurenai no Kitsune [sub][color=gray][b]くれないのきつね[/b][/color][/sub][/indent] [color=483D8B][u][b]AGE[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]19[/INDENT] [color=483D8B][u][b]APPEARANCE[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Her long blue-black hair strewn into a simply ponytail, Hanako looks at the world low to the ground due to her diminutive height of four foot seven. But being as short as she is does come with distinct advantages in turn— she’s faster, harder to notice in a crowd, and at ease with hiding in the environment. The shortest of her generation amongst her clan, Hanako has had experience dealing with overcoming presumptions with her height as is evident by her trained physique that lends to the idea that she is must stronger than she looks. Hanako prefers to be at home with simple and dark clothing with little care for extravagance. A kitsune mask is always on her person to represent the "face" of her now dead clan.[/indent] [color=483D8B][u][b]PERSONALITY[/b][/u][/color] [indent]Reminiscent of the unnerving silence of nightfall, Hanako isn’t very vivacious or gregarious in manner. This however isn’t entirely due to her life as a shinobi as her kin were quick to observe how her manners were too “muted” and were often wary of her in even casual sittings. Truthfully, Hanako just never was one for conversation or [i]people[/i] in general but this doesn’t mean she views herself as friendless or abrasive; she cares much for those who have shown they are worth staying around. However, Hanako will speak up if she finds offense of action though she may do it in a fashion that is toneless and blunt, a fact that while did well in a professional setting has made it difficult for her to make quick relationships with those outside of her clan.[/indent] [color=483D8B][u][b]STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Despite her relatively young age, Hanako has proven herself as a veteran shinobi since she was a child. Some people whisper of prodigal talents but she denies it wholeheartedly. [list][*][color=483D8B][b]Kunoichi:[/b][/color] Hanako is a trained kunoichi— she is a “master” of stealth, toxicology, subterfuge, sabotage, and escapology. As such she has been trained in short blades, shuriken, and other weapons of the trade. The length of her skills compared to more veteran shinobi and kunoichi is likely that of a novice however and she is more than humble enough to recognize that of superior skill in comparison to her talents. [*][color=483D8B][b]Marksman:[/b][/color] When given the option Hanako is at home the most with a shortbow and has been adept in the weapon since she was smaller than she is now. Every single day of her training she sought to master this skill— making a new challenge whether it was accuracy, speed, or strength. She would be the best archer of her clan since her great grandfather, Takeru. [*][color=483D8B][b]Honed Senses:[/b][/color] Whilst not holding any fantastical gift like an eidetic memory or genius intellect, Hanako has honed her senses to be able to pick up on things where others cannot. She is not naturally talented like those who are born perceptive or logical but she does push herself to be at least competent enough to not be caught off guard or surprised.[/list] [/INDENT] [color=483D8B][u][B]HISTORY[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Born nineteen years ago to a small hidden village in a mountain valley, Rashikage Hanako was the seventh child of her clan. She would come to know the life that her village was known for— being assassins and spies. Raised as another member of the clan, Hanako got no special treatment or rigid expectations set on her outside of what everyone else prescribed to in the life they chose. The life of a shinobi was not one without difficulty, but it was the only option Hanako had. Inspired to be the best that she could be as her clan fell from “grace” as the token ninja clan of the local daimyo, the Rashikage began to compete assertively with their rivals, the Yūgurekasai, to regain favor from their masters. However, such desires would not happen overnight and their actions would have consequences that would shake the fabric of the clan. When Hanako was twelve years old and on her way to becoming a true member of the clan the conflict with her clan’s rivals had a match lit from underneath; a fact that made Hanako taste blood for the first tiem in her life and one that even the daimyo thought was unexpected or [i]so he said[/i]. A misunderstand had led to a declaration between Yugurekasai and Rashikage had been said— a declaration of [i]war[/i]. For half a decade this war would go on between both ninja clans with no orders from their master to cease their blood feud as they believed it to be good to force tenacity between both as well as entertain they sick twisted sense of entertainment; a fact neither clan were wise enough to notice. As this war continued Hanako would lose siblings, cousins, and friends in countless ways— a fact that accounted to her already introverted personality to become more withdrawn. It ended days before her eighteenth birthday with victory in her clan’s favor. But there was little left of the rival clan. A year afterward Hanako was sent on a mission and when she returned her entire village was… [i]empty[/i]. Something terrible had happened to her clan and the only thing Hanako could find was one clue— a [i]tooth[/i]. Her daimyo supporting the emperor denied any such “demonic” attacks which caused the latent emotions in Hanako to lash out. Her clan had been killed by monsters and the one who had watched their near-demise in the ninja war was nearly laughing at her in his lavish chair as he rested on his laurels. She [i]snapped[/i]. She killed him and the samurai at his side. She vanished afterward— swearing to find the creatures who damned her clan. [/indent][/hider] [hider=Idea #3: Saiyuri] [center][color=AE322D][h2]SAIYURI[/h2][/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpDYMisk4Y0]THEME[/url] [img]http://i.imgur.com/uXqyIE1.jpg?1[/img][/center] [color=AE322D][u][b]NAME[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Soyokaze Saiyuri[/indent] [color=AE322D][u][b]ALIAS[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]N/A[/indent] [color=AE322D][u][b]AGE[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]20[/INDENT] [color=AE322D][u][b]APPEARANCE[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]With long black hair with no fancy bindings outside from a simple white strand of cloth, Saiyuri most certainly seems the atypical shrine maiden. Standing at five foot three, Saiyuri is taller than some but generally still shorter than the average male. Beholden to soft features, Saiyuri does not look like a warrior though she does not have the physique of a pampered princess either— a testament to long days doing tasks to the temple in quivering cold and swelling heat. Bearing the look of a shrine maiden with a ornate white and red gown, Saiyuri rarely interrupts her devotion which allows her some space from bandit overlords and overzealous samurai alike due to the condition of the world.[/indent] [color=AE322D][u][b]PERSONALITY[/b][/u][/color] [indent]Fated for “destiny”, Saiyuri has always had a cloud hanging over her that created a lingering feelings of fear but in spite of it has driven herself to not be [i]defined[/i] by it. Saiyuri refuses to let the shadow of fate will her to have a dark disposition on life— a fact that is apparent from her optimism, sincerity, compassion, and faith. As such she is rather quick to make connections to people and create long-lasting relationships thus showing the world that the realm’s descent into madness doesn’t define your own personal soul and serves to be an inspiration and idol for others to look to when times seem the most bleak.[/indent] [color=AE322D][u][b]STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]A shrine maiden and a member of a clan that descended from ancient guardians of spiritual balance, Saiyuri has a legacy to keep in mind as she moves forward in life. [list][*][color=AE322D][b]Shrine Maiden:[/b][/color] Saiyuri has led her entire life as a spiritual priestess and has been educated in the ways of a shrine maiden including spiritual rites, ancient chants, and the knowledge of how to deal with the spirits themselves— but given spiritual incursion is a rare thing upon society (or was) it is not something she’s had to do in great measure. [*][color=AE322D][b]Blade of Soyokaze:[/b][/color] In addition to priests and priestesses, the Soyokaze descend from ronin who saw it fit to serve the people and protect them from evil rather than submit entirely to imperial overlords. What this means to Saiyuri is the fact that she has been trained and given the ancient sword that is named Shujinkō no Seishin. Her skill with such is surprisingly adept in the style of the Soyokaze and in pure conjecture could match a samurai of similar age and experience. [*][color=AE322D][b]Pacifist:[/b][/color] Saiyuri believes that the path of the open palm is better than that is the closed fist and as such only draws her blade in extreme cases where she deems it necessary. This can make her seen as naïve or easy to manipulate by some, but by others this is more commendable than those who draw first blood first.[/list] [/INDENT] [color=AE322D][u][B]HISTORY[/b][/u][/color] [INDENT]Born twenty years ago to a large temple in the rural countryside known as Soyokawa, Saiyuri was born the daughter of the main branch of the Soyokaze clan. A life of spirituality, guardianship, and legacy would be one she would come to understand. Ever since she was a child, Saiyuri was told of a prophetic dawn that would define her destiny— a fate of shadows, love, loss, and inevitable death. Such a prophecy frightened her and despite respecting her parents’ wishes often wondered if she should end her life prematurely before such a thing could ever become true. But somehow, she didn’t succumb to her sadness even at a precious age— reasons unknown why, but she changed her disposition to live for hope and defy definition by some cryptic words written several centuries ago. Saiyuri then devoted herself fully to her training and responsibilities as a Shrine Maiden as she looked forward to the knowledge that would come with the texts and the wisdom that would come through experience. As the realm fell into madness, Saiyuri saw that her time was not helpful to anyone by staying within the walls of her clan’s ancestral homeland and ceded her responsibilities for responsibilities she viewed as much [i]greater[/i]— her parents and mentors agreeing that it was time that Saiyuri left the “nest” and become another member of the clan that sought out to protect others in times of strife. So it was here at the point in her life as an adult that she prepared to leave; but she was visited by her father before she did. It was here that he told Saiyuri the “final” story of their clan and handed her an heirloom that she didn’t believe she was truly ready to wield— the sword known as Shujinkō no Seishin. Not willing to take no for an answer, her father insisted and the next morning Saiyuri left home with a weapon that had been the most important relic of their history. She promised to live up to expectations but not any idea of “fate”. Saiyuri has been travelling for several weeks now— helping those who she can and drawing her sword only in the direst times.[/indent][/hider]