Player Name: DeathstrokeSW
GI FILE # 211988
Name: Thomas S. Arashikage
Alias: Storm Shadow
DOB: 05-12-1979
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Height: 6'1
Weight: 200lbs.
Tattoos: Storm Shadow has two tattoos, one of his
1st Marine Regiment logo and the second of the
Arashikage Clan hexagram. Both tattoos are found on his right and left shoulders, respectively.
Specializations: Ninja; Assassination; Covert Ops, Intelligence. NOTE: Storm Shadow is exceptionally skilled at hand to hand combat and swordsmanship. If found, approach with extreme caution and request for backup.
Weapons of choice: two Ninjato; Throwing knives; Compound bow.
Alignment: Neutral
Known Associates [Established Rogues, NPCs, etc]:
Cobra Commander- The terrorist leader of COBRA, he has contracted Arashikage's services on more than one occasion and it is rumored he has him on retainder. The Commander is a genius and exceptionally crafty.
Snake Eyes: Storm Shadow's sword brother, at once both his best friend and bitterest rival. Arashikage met him during his tours of duty in Afghanistan and later during his training with his own clan. Thomas Arashikage is the only person outside of Snake Eyes' family and the military chain of command that the former member of The Foot has entrusted with his identity. While practically inseparable whilst fighting in Afghanistan, the duo had a drastic falling out following a failed operation at the tail end of their tours of duty, resulting in Snake Eyes' still standing vow of silence. Eventually, Snake Eyes migrated to Japan to train under the Arashikage clan along with his sword brother. Storm Shadow has not heard from or contacted Snake Eyes nor has he encountered Snake Eyes since his days with Zartan and becoming an assassin, though he does wish to reconnect with his sword brother.
Jinx/Kimi Arashikage-Storm Shadow's younger cousin and the daughter of the Hard Master. She currently leads the Arashikage clan and is the Young Master. She often played with Thomas as a child during Thomas' family trips to Japan and the two corresponded during the intervening years. She supported him when he joined the Marines and was overjoyed when he came to the Arashikage dojo. Her father's death at the hands of Zartan crushed her and since all evidence pointed to Tommy, she vowed to avenge her father. It is suspected that she has at one time been romantically linked to Snake Eyes. She currently uses Arashikage resources to hunt down Storm Shadow.
Background and Story So Far:
Early Years
Thomas S. Arashikage was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Little else is known of his youth but from what little school records available, he was a bright student and as a result of his father being an immigrant, and his mother a native of the US, he was fluent in both Japanese and English.
Training
In 1997, at the age of 18, Arashikage joined the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina. He went through boot camp and was assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, eventually securing the rank of First Sergeant (E-8).
From there, he was recruited into MARSOC(Marine Corps Special Operations Command) and attended Assessment and Selection where he was pushed to his mental and physical limits. However, his recruiter was surprised by how hard this boy worked, and even more surprised that the man went past his limits. Thomas was accepted into the program and went to Individual Training.
There, he learned the skills needed to work in small teams, and furthered his repertoire, before moving on to language training. It was here that his fluency in Japanese allowed him to progress, and he also learned Russian, Mandarin, and Italian.
Moving on from there, he chose MARSOF Close Quarters Battle Level II as his specialty. With his government training complete, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion and stationed in Afghanistan.
Time in Afghanistan
Deployed to Kandahar, he and a man who would come to be known as Snake Eyes served together, fighting against Taliban on an almost daily basis. It is unclear exactly what caused F. Sgt. Arashikage to leave the Corps, but what is known is that some sort of tragedy happened which left Arashikage with scars on his back and chest. The same incident left Snake Eyes mute. Speculation from Pentagon forensic psychologists suggest that it was not the scars he received but Snake Eyes' vow of silence that caused him to withdraw from active service.
Japan and becoming Storm Shadow
What is known, however, is that he resigned from the Marines and headed for Japan, arriving on his 25th birthday. There, he went to his family's dojo and learned the Ninjutsu, assassination, and swordplay skills that would later serve him as Storm Shadow. While training, he was delighted to learn that Snake Eyes had come to join him in his pursuit of training that would not fail him like his MARSOC training did at Kandahar.
The two were so good at their training that they became the pupils of the man known as Hard Master, Thomas' own uncle. Despite the familial ties, the Hard Master did not show leniency in any way towards his nephew.
For Four years the two continued in this way until the word of their prowess reached a man calling himself Zartan. Zartan believed that by twisting one of the two to his side he could lead a cabal that would span the width and breadth of Europe. So he set about doing so. After weeks of watching the pupils and the Master, he decided on Storm Shadow. Using the uncle as the linchpin to his entire plan, Zartan murdered the Hard Master and framed Storm Shadow.
Now forced to run for his life, he ran to Nagasaki where he encountered Zartan who disguised himself and agreed to find work for the boy. It was then that Thomas S. Arashikage began his life as an assassin.
BECOMING STORM SHADOW
From then on he spent from 25-27 assassinating whom Zartan assigned him. As the world of murder for hire became more closely related to the world of superhuman heroics, So too did assassination adopt its sense of theatrics. Yet all Thomas cared for was clearing his name and honoring the memory of his uncle. He furiously investigated it, eventually learning the fact that his handler was actually responsible. In response, Thomas used the same technique on Zartan that killed the Hard Master, and left him for dead.
Now fulfilled of his mission to honor his uncle, Thomas realized what a theatrical world he worked in and took up the moniker of Storm Shadow after the english translation of his last name. Still grounded to his military roots, he designed his current outfit and accepted a contract from COBRA.
APPEARANCE:
Sample Post (At least 3 well thought out paragraphs as well as some dialogue):
Several years ago
Kandahar, Afghanistan
The final week of Sgt. Arashikage’s deployment alongside Snake Eyes.It was cold in the cave, and damp. This did not bother the two men moving stealthily through the maze of tunnels, however, and their pace was one of caution rather than anger. 1st Sgt. Thomas S. Arashikage cracked his neck, making sure to do so as quietly as possible. He felt stiff, the result of three weeks of capture by the Taliban. He, along with M. Sgt. “Snake Eyes,” had broken free of their bonds and subdued their guards, though not without the cost of the rest of the hostages. Tommy sighed, a quiet sound, and whistled. An enemy, dressed in a keffiyeh, rounded the corner, searching for the source of the sound. The man who would become Storm Shadow kicked out the extremist’s knee, and snapped his neck. Taking the sidearm, he tossed the AK-47 to Snake Eyes. They shared a look, and both men knew what had to be done. Vengeance for the fallen, and justice for the living. Tommy raised the sidearm to eye level, and took point, leaving Snake Eyes to watch his back. Knowing that these extremists wouldn't understand Japanese, Tommy whispered over his shoulder. "<Keep an eye out. Shoot to kill.>" Thus, they pressed on, using stealth and surprise to their advantage, eventually coming across explosives. Tommy grabbed the IED and slung it over his shoulder. Snake Eyes was at his back, laying down suppressing fire while they made a break for the cavern not 50 yards away. Tommy tossed the IED over to Snake Eyes. Shortly, the two were back at the mouth of the cavern, and Snake Eyes was wiring explosives while Tommy laid down covering fire. Snake Eyes tapped him twice on the shoulder and the two started running into the Registan desert. Snake Eyes was faster, and further out than Tommy. The explosives detonated prematurely, scarring Arashikage’s back. Present day
The home of Brian M. ForrestStorm Shadow moved silently to the rear of the house, sword drawn. COBRA had contracted him to kill the owner of this home, a JOE codenamed “Wet Suit.” He placed a gloved hand on the door, and slowly pushed it open. It was strange that the back door should be open at so late an hour, but Storm Shadow wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Suddenly the light came on, and Wet Suit had a gun pointed at Storm Shadow.
“I don’t know who you are, or whether COBRA hired you, but you’re going to go away, and leave me alone.”
Storm Shadow narrowed his eyes, not bothering to sheathe his sword. “You knew I was coming.” It wasn’t a question. “Of course. The JOE initiative has more advance warning than one might think. Although, we didn’t know exactly whom COBRA would send.”
Wet Suit stood up, and placed his off hand on the bottom of the gun, the way it is common for US Military and Police to handle a sidearm. “A gun. I really don’t like those things. So unpredictable, and-“ With a single pass of his blade, he sliced off the barrel of the gun. “-Fragile.” Wet Suit dropped the remains of the Beretta and brought his hands up, balled into fists. Storm Shadow sheathed his blade, and widened his stance, lowering his center of gravity.
A deadly dance ensued, with Wet Suit sending blows towards his assailant, who always blocked and redirected the force back into his target. It was quick, and lethal. Both men knew only one would walk away from this. Storm Shadow caught a fist, breaking the arm at the elbow, and slamming his own into Wet Suit’s face. Disoriented, his opponent staggered back to the wall. Storm Shadow followed up by unsheathing his blade. Wet Suit knew it was the end, but at least he could try to get a word out. Let the JOEs know that someone was killing them off. He slipped his finger over a distress button built into every JOE’s private residence. Storm Shadow plunged the Ninjato hilt deep into WetSuit’s chest, and the alarm began to sound. Retrieving his blade, he sliced off a finger, and placed it into his pouch. With proof of death secured, he disappeared into the shadows.
and 
