[hider=Shiranui][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/98vK8rQ.jpg[/img]
[h3][color=tomato]Shiranui | 873[/color][/h3][/center]

[color=tomato]Occupation:[/color] House Mascot/Guardian 
[color=tomato]Kaifuku Role:[/color] War Dog

[color=tomato]Race:[/color] [u]Okami[/u] - A type of spirit, specifically a wolf spirit, the Okami are depicted by Japanese folklore as both fearsome yet benevolent. Okami are viewed as divine spirits, who manifest themselves in the forms of wolves, protecting rice fields and villages from pests and predators alike. In certain villages, it is custom to make an offering of sekihan-red rice- whenever a wolf cub is born; and Okami wolves are sometimes known to make return offerings of meat when a village woman gave birth. These wolves also are said to leave certain kills as a gift for the village, though if the villagers do not leave it a portion of the meat as a return gift, the spirits will grow angry. Due to the both perilous and benign natures of the Okami, these wolves are often thought of as judges of character that can somehow tell who is a good person and who is a bad person.

Okami spirits are able to manifest and control divine flames that do not quench when submerged. In battle, these large wolves possess both great strength and speed, and will aggressively attack those who threaten its companions. While the colors of their fur vary, all have red marks on their faces and bodies. It is said that to kill a wolf puts one's family at risk of divine retribution. Okami are very warm to the touch, and seem to be largely immune to heat and fire, infact they seem to enjoy it a great amount.

[color=tomato]Appearance:[/color][hider=Low Power Form][img]https://i.imgur.com/nDUfc0Y.jpg[/img]
When Shiranui is low on energy or is seeking to conserve energy or hide his true form, he takes the appearance of a small puppy. Roughly twice the size of a man's foot, Shiranui can be somewhat hard to notice and can be almost comically clumsy at times. In this form, Shiranui clocks in at no heavier than 12 pounds, and his body is very warm to the touch and seems to radiate heat.[/hider][hider=Okami Form][img]https://i.imgur.com/yojPRXF.jpg[/img]
Upon taking his full form, Shiranui explodes into flames before taking on the appearance of a flaming wolf. Roughly the size of a bear, Shiranui towers over most humans when standing on hind legs. Weighing in at roughly 250 pounds, Shiranui radiates heat, and flames seem to constantly flicker off of its legs and back. [/hider]

[color=tomato]Reputation:[/color] 
Shiranui is believed to be a guardian spirit in the local villages, protecting them from demons and foul spirits. In present company, Shiranui acts as both a house mascot, and a fierce guardian in his small and large forms respectively. Much like the legends, Shiranui seems to be an excellent judge of character, reacting positively and negatively to people he views as good or bad. 

[color=tomato]Personality:[/color] 
Shiranui's personality seems to shift with his forms. While he is in his low power form, he is considerably more excitable and energetic. Happy-go-lucky to an extent, Shiranui is generally cheerful and empathizes very strongly with the emotions of others. Perhaps as either a preference, or a side-effect of not channeling as much power, Shiranui is fairly simple minded but curious, his playfulness seemingly a reflection of his size and stature. While in his low-power form, Shiranui is very susceptible to many 'dog-like' weaknesses: he possesses a rather short attention span and can be easily distracted, especially by round objects and small pieces of meat.  

While in his full form, Shiranui is much more reserved and calm. He generally stands with a noble air around him and is considerably less excitable or playful. In this form he is both prideful and confident, noticing disturbances with his finely honed senses, but not necessarily reacting to them unless need be. When angered or in combat, Shiranui can be quite fierce and aggressive, snarling and circling are common signs that he is ready to attack. While in his full form, Shiranui is also capable of directly communicating with his companions via telepathic images and emotions. 

[color=tomato]Fighting Style:[/color]
Shiranui's fighting style lacks any real refinement, instead striking with the ferocity expected of a demon or a beast. Shiranui combines lunging bites with razor sharp claws capable of rending steel, in addition to the heat and flames generated by his body. In addition to his physical strikes, Shiranui has control over divine fire- coating his claws and teeth with everburning flames, and capable of flinging bursts of flame short distances. 

[color=tomato]Skills:[/color][list]
[*][color=tomato]Hunting[/color] - As expected of a wolf, Shiranui is an excellent tracker and hunter. With exceptionally keen senses for a wolf or dog, Shiranui is capable of acting much like a bloodhound, and can track even the most illusive prey. 
[*][color=tomato]Telepathic Communication[/color] - Centuries of having to communicate with others have forced Shiranui to develop a type of telepathy, allowing him to communicate his feelings and intentions with others via telepathic images and emotions.
[*][color=tomato]Cute![/color] - In his smaller form, Shiranui is arguably irresistible and can be disarmingly cute.  
[/list] 

[color=tomato]Lore:[/color] 
It is said that centuries ago, in the Izumo region, a dreadful serpent demon named Orochi terrorized its people. Yamata-no-Orochi was a gigantic serpent with eight heads and eight tails. Its body was long enough to cover eight peaks and valleys, and was covered with moss and trees. Its belly was inflamed and smeared with blood and constantly hungered for flesh. Slaying their men, and fouling their crops, the Serpent Orochi refused to leave Izumo unless each village of the region offered up to their most beautiful daughter to be sacrificed to him each year for the next eight years.  

For seven years the villages of Izumo prayed to their deities for salvation and for seven years they sent their daughters to be sacrificed. Their prayers seemingly falling on empty ears, the people of Izumo despaired, believing that the demon Orochi would utterly destroy the prosperity of Izumo.

Hearing the plight of its people, the wandering hero, Susano-o journeyed to Izumo, to slay the demon and save its people. Upon arriving in Izumo, Susano-o spent his first night in the village of Hii. Hearing the sounds of a beast, Susano-o awoke in the middle of the night. Leaving the home he was resting at, he came across a great white wolf in the middle of the village farms. This wolf bore red marks across its face and body and was clearly no mundane creature. 

Believing this wolf to be a servant of Orochi, Susano-o attempted to slay the wolf. Their fight lasted until dawn, and Susano-o was ultimately defeated by the wolf- not for lack of skill or stamina, but pure misfortune as he tripped and fell upon the carcass of a slain deer. Susano-o found himself at the mercy of the great wolf, and steeled himself as he prepared to join the heavens.

Yet the wolf did not slay him, for the wolf recognized his soul as of one that was pure and good. Instead, the wolf bowed to the worthy adversary and left him in the farm. Susano-o questioned the villagers, who explained to him that the great wolf was not a servant of Orochi, but in fact an Okami- a guardian spirit whom protected the village. The Okami had once tried to slay the demon Orochi, but was unable to do so on its own.

The next night Susano-o sought out the spirit yet again, waiting in the farms until the Okami arrived. When the Okami arrived, Susano-o bowed his head and asked the spirit for its aid in slaying Orochi. Knowing this man to be good and pure of intent, the Okami agreed to aid him. Now allied with the Okami, Susano-o hatched a plan to slay the demon.

Susano-o, was famed for not only being strong, but clever as well. First, Susano-o instructed the people of the village to brew very strong sake, and then build a fence around their village with eight gates. He then had them build a platform and place a vat for holding the sake just inside each gate. Then, after pouring the sake in the vats, he told them to hide and wait.

With the preparations completed, Susano-o and his Okami ally took refuge in the center of the village and waited. Eventually, the demon Yamata-no-Orochi appeared, his coiling and hideous body rolling through the village. All serpents love sake, and the Yamata-no-Orochi was no different. Each of its eight heads dove into a vat and drank deeply of the sake contained within. After gulping it all down, Susano-o and the Okami sprung from their hiding spots and fought the demon.

Orochi, its senses now muddled by the powerful sake, still put up a vicious fight, and its hide, as tough as steel proved too much for Susano-o's blade. The Okami, its claws capable of rending steel and body capable of spewing fire was able to injure the foul demon, but knew not where to strike. Susano-o, as wise as he was strong instructed the Okami to strike at the base of each head's neck, where its heads were weak, and at the crest of the monster's back, where its soul resided. 

Sharp claws tearing apart the back of the foul Orochi, the Okami would eventually be able to reveal the black pearl that was the Demon's soul. Susano-o sprung onto the demon's back, and tore the black pearl from the creature's body. Now fearful and vulnerable, Orochi demanded that Susano-o return his soul, but the hero refused. Susano-o demanded the demon leave Japan, and never return lest he throw the pearl to the ground and crush it underfoot.

Weakened and defeated, the demon Yamata-no-Orochi fled the village of Hii and left Izumo, and its people celebrated. Susano-o entrusted the black pearl in the care of a group of warrior monks, and thanked the Okami for its aid. The village of Hii offered Susano-o their daughter that was to be sacrificed, and Susano-o married her. He would spend the rest of his days in the village of Hii, and had many strong sons and beautiful daughters. 

Susano-o would eventually pass away from age, dying peacefully in his slumber. On his deathbed, the Okami appeared before Susano-o to say goodbye to its old friend. Bowing before his old friend, the Okami vowed to protect Susano-o's family and their descendants until they were reunited in heaven. The next day, the Okami appeared before Susano-o's oldest son and bowed before him.

[color=tomato]Theme Song:[/color]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsihxORASks[/youtube][/hider]