[OOC] Bleach: The Hollowing

NOT YET OPEN


Bleach: The Hollowing
It'd almost happened once before when the Rukongai was the whole of the Soul Society and the Central 46 was not yet conceptualized. The World of the Living was still in its infancy, and the Soul King was rumored to be the first Shinigami. Hollow roamed both realms to find any way to satiate their hunger. The Soul King, with his infinite power, kept the balance between the living and the dead before the invention of the Zanpakutō and its natural ability to purify Hollow. "He" began the creation of the Seireitei and established the Noble Houses and the Central 46 to continue his work and promised that the invasion of the Spiritual World would occur again. 
	A promise faded into a rumor. A rumor faded into a prophesy. A prophesy faded into a wive's tale. A wive's tale faded into fiction. That fiction faded from existence.
	That which faded from existence was now the very existence of the Soul Society. The Hollow found a way to create Garganta within the Seireitei itself. It's still unknown how exactly this occurred. Regardless, the balance was upset so quickly. The World of the Living erupted in war, then famine, and settled itself into a world with limited and mundane technology where monarchs rose and fell until the Living found a kind of stability despite the brutal upset of their spiritual counterpart. The Shinigami focus on the only objective of any priority: reclaim Soul Society. The fate of the World of the Living is a gamble with which the Shinigami have nothing to barter.
	The Hollow have usurped more than half of the Rukongai after their initial assault. The lower 60 districts belong to the Hollow, specifically two Vasto Lorde (of that the Gotei know). They feed on the souls too weak to defend themselves. More powerful souls seem to turn against the Soul Society and become puppets of the Hollow. This only feeds the disagreements among the Gotei 13. With the Central 46 having been devoured, the Captain Commander has had to demonstrate her authority several times. But, with seemingly no intervention coming from Division 0, she holds her breath as she waits for the push toward victory or the need to accept defeat.
	Bringing to balance the World of the Living or counter-striking Hueco Mundo is entirely out of the question. With so many casualties since the Strike on the Seireitei, there are simply not enough resources to spread themselves out while surrounded by a, seemingly, infinite enemy. There is debate and uncertainty about whether opening a Senkaimon or entering the Dangai could give the Hollow an opening to exploit. But egos still clash among the Gotei and conspiracies are imagined while most just focus on not going extinct.
	Coming from such a long period of relative peace, this war has cost the Gotei more than they believed they even had. Souls are seen as a resource, a currency. Shinigami are pushed through the Academy unless they are killed before graduation. 
	The Noble Houses are only concerned with keeping themselves and, by extension, each other alive instead of actively protecting the whole of the Soul Society with the Gotei as if they believe themselves too good to fight the war, too weak to be of any help, or know something the Gotei doesn't.
	The Captain Commander only knows that, without intervention, the Soul Society will suffer a devastating Hollowing.

Setting
The Canon of this RP does not follow the Manga/Anime. It will be treated as an Alternate Universe. There will be no canon characters or the use of canon names/ideas to bring into this RP (e.g. "Kenpachi," Kuchiki, Onmitsukidō, Kidō Corps, " Shin'ō," etc.). 
Renaming canon characters/ideas will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

The focus of this RP will be upon the Captains and their Lieutenants and how they combat the invading Hollow Army. Any seated, unseated, or Academy students will be NPCs and making a PC for one of them is not recommended (though certainly still allowed.. 

The following are not going to be introduced in this RP as of now: FullBringers, Quincies
The following have never existed in this RP: Vizzards, Arrancar

Any that wish to create a Hollow needs to see a GM as the stats are quite different and spoiling plot points will have to occur.

Only the Captain Commander is aware of the existence of Division 0.

Rules
- Standard Guild rules apply.
- A 3 paragraph minimum for every IC post.
- Continuity errors in IC posts will be addressed and be requested for revision (through PM).
- Developing Canon information for this RP is welcome and encouraged.
- Collaborations are welcome and encouraged.
- There is no posting order. Post only once after each GM post unless otherwise stated.
- R rated situations and language are allowed. Anything X will be "fade-to-black."
- PvP combat will be lightly monitored.
- PvNPC combat should be considered the norm and be performed by a single player, unless otherwise requested or required.
- If you cannot find the inspiration to write a post, let a GM know and we'll help you or accept you skip the round.
- Extended absences (longer than 5 days) are to be communicated with a GM. If they are not, you will be skipped or your character removed from/killed in their current situation.
- Please read all OOC and Character information.
- Questions and concerns of any variety and to any degree are welcome. PM a GM to keep things cool like the fonz.
- The GM's decisions are final, but that is not to say it won't come without consideration of the Players.
- Do not post CSs in the OOC Tab.
- Do not post CS WIPs in the Characters Tab.
- PM any and all CSs to all GMs for review, revision, and clearance. Once cleared, the CS may be posted in the Characters Tab.

Player-Created Lore


The Thirteen Imperial Divisions
Division I
Judges [Reiryoku] [Yukihiro]
Those in the First Division are the final judgement before seeing the Central 46 throughout the Soul Society. They also rally and organize militaristic efforst (usually against Hollow).
Division II
Executives [Hohō] [Usagi]
Those in the Second Division are tasked with subduing threats within Soul Society. It is generally unknown when and for what purpose they are deployed.
Division III
Legislators [Zanjutsu] [Yukihiro]
Those in the Third Division have an acute understanding what it takes to run an organization as powerful and encompassing as the Gotei 13. They make sure rules are in place to keep strife from occurring between comrades.
Division IV
Medical [Kidō] [Seicho]
As with any society, the sick and injured must be treated. Those who hold immense talent but lack combat skills usually fall into this Division.
Division V
Defense [Hakuda] [Yukihiro/Ichigawa]
Originally, this Division was responsible for keeping Hollow from entering their realm. As that is no longer a concern, they are deployed to play as vanguard against powerful Hollow.
Division VI
Arbiters [Zanjutsu/Hakuda] [Seicho/Usagi]
The Noble Houses and the Central 46 are beyond the realm of the Gotei. The Sixth Division is tasked with keeping relations between the Houses and the 46 positive as well as between the Seireitei and the Rukongai.
Division VII
Communication [Kidō/Hohō] [Ichigawa]
Hell Butterflies were invented by this Division, and they have only further pursued efficient means of communication. They also play as mediators where the 3rd or 6th Divisions fail.
Division VIII
Information [Kidō] [Yukihiro/Seicho]
It's important to obtain and maintain information when your organization is responsible for protecting a realm of existence while keeping in balance another plane of existence.
Division IX
Ceremonies [Hakuda/Hohō] [Ichigawa]
Tradition is important for a sense of community. They are seamstresses and tailors, throwers of parties, and oversee the succession of powers and responsibilities. They also run the Shinigami Academy.
Division X
Historians [Reiryoku/Kidō] [Seicho/Usagi]
The Tenth Division acts as the library, filing room, and planning station for all of Gotei. They also keep track of the progress of Students and Captains, alike.
Division XI
Offense [Reiryoku/Zanjutsu] [Yukihiro]
When the invasion of the Soul Society was no longer a concern, the World of the Living became the target of the creatures from Hueco Mundo. The Eleventh Division is the major contributor to keeping the balance.
Division XII
Research & Development [None] [Usagi]
Inventions, technology, and research are important in any society. The Twelfth Division keeps passage to and from the World of the Living and even Hueco Mundo easy, but heavily regulated.
Division XIII
Community [All] [None]
The Thirteenth Division is often roaming through the Rukongai to find and enlist those with Spiritual talents.


Noble Houses
Credit: @Oblivion
Ichigawa
The Noble House of Ichigawa deals mainly with the political aspects of Seireitei, as well as humanitarian issues. They handle most of Rukongai, monitoring the distribution between the districts (although they do overlook the furthest districts) and managing the Academy (deciding on who to let in, conducting the examination. and overseeing who's fit for graduation). The politics they deal with are secretive but it is known that they must work closely with the other three families. Most of the time, they do not see eye-to-eye, especially with the Yukihiro family's militaristic approaches. It's not unusual for them organize or participate in meeting with the Central 46. 

This family is most closely related to the Third Division and utilized their talents to meet specific ends. It has come to be that many descendants of the Ichigawa House are seated within the Third Division specifically. The Ichigawa House also has relevant relations with the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Divisions as well.
Usagi
The Usagi House is highest family currently in existence of Seireitei. Numerous Captains and even Veteran Captains belonged to this proud bloodline of Shinigami over the centuries since its acceptance into the Seireitei. The Usagi House filled several peacekeeping roles, due to their strict belief that the Law must be followed and carried out without hesitation, and most of its members act according to this belief. By most Shinigami, the Usagi Family is viewed as nothing more but a bunch of Nobles who believe they are superior to everybody, but regardless of this, they are highly praised. Their combat skills and abilities are remarked by many Shinigami to be worthy of praising. 

The Usagi House is most closely associated with the Second Division and the Onmitsukido in particular. They are known to have informally created the Onmitsukido during the long era of "peace" within the Seireitei when intrigue was at its highest amongst the Houses and Divisions. They also share relations with the Seventh, Ninth, and Twelfth Divisions.
Seicho
The oldest Noble House and one of the original, the Seicho House was part of the construction of both the Rukongai and the Seireitei. Rumors say they used a relic to create a the realm itself passed down directly from the Soul King, but it's only a fabled tale told to children born within the House. It now keeps independent from the other Houses, technically having little significance in either the politics of the Center 46 or the workings of the Gotei 13 and is not called to attend important meetings. Their main duties are that of record-keeping and history. Ironically, they hold significant say in most aspects of Soul Society as a whole, however unofficially and informally. The Matriarch, Seicho Inoue, can conduct meetings with the other Houses' Heads and even the Central 46 and the Captain-Commander on short notice and without issue. It's not common knowledge, but it's safe to assume they have their hand in everything. The other Houses believe the Seicho House the least "Noble," but due to its origins and the Seicho House's respect for the other Houses in general, little contempt has arisen against the Seicho House. 

This house is most closely related to the Fourth House, making their dendrology and herbalism relevant throughout Seireitei. They also have fair relations with the Fifth, Ninth, and Tenth Divisions.
Yukihiro
The Yukihiro family deals mainly with militaristic issues, working closely with the Gotei 13 and the various organizations for the best approaches. Their strategic yet brutal tactics assure them victory in every battle and most wars. As of recent times, they're heavily involved in the affairs of their own house: they have three extension families. 

The main family (or "the Heads"), of which include Isao and Setsuna Yukihiro, mainly deal with approving of battle plans and making adjustments within ranks as they see fit. They also oversee the actual training. There are various other members under this family, however "the Heads" is the smallest of the three. They have excellent relations with the First Division overall. 

The intelligence family are "the Tacticians." They come up with the strategies, i.e. the plan, the positioning and the layout of the actual troops. There are more members in this branch than the main family. This branch works closely with the Seventh and Eighth Divisions. 

Then come the 'fighters' of the Yukihiro clan. They're some of the best practitioners of Hakuda and Zanjutsu, having some of the most brutal and vicious attacks. They begin militaristic training during childhood and the route they take, Hakuda or Zanjutsu, is predetermined at birth. There is real discipline among the Yukihiro clan and they are no exception, having impeccable manners and behavior, even in the dojo. Most of the Yukihiro members are a part of this family. Many of the members of this branch work with the Eleventh Division with the remainder steering clear of the brutes for their lack of professionalism.


Kidō Spells
Hadō
...
Bakudō
...
Kaidō
...

Phoenix