"This world... is full of shit."
Name: Ryuji, formerly Mikoto Ryuji, known as "Red Dragon"
Age: 25
Guild Band: Generally works alone, but has been known to associate with the Serpentines.
Archtype: Swordsage
Backstory: Ryuji was born the youngest son of the noble House Mikoto of the Kusagi Empire. A family close in relation to the Emperor, the House Mikoto held considerable sway in the courts of the nation, and were quite outspoken in their desire to end the Empire's isolationism, among other revisionist agendas. Their constant pressure on the Emperor to reform the nation and its foreign policy is believed by many to be their downfall, as other, more conservative houses had much to lose from a sudden paradigm shift. A band of seven highly-trained assassins infiltrated the House Mikoto compound on the night of a new moon and slaughtered the entire household, down to the children. Inexplicably, the only survivor was Ryuji, the infant son of the house.
Ryuji was taken in and raised by a man known as Kensei, a swordsman with but one arm and one eye, but was known to be the most masterful warrior in Kusagi. Holding the position of "Sword Saint," he worked under the Emperor himself as a champion of sorts for the nation. To pass the time, he owned a dojo, and trained both the children of noble houses and the Emperor's elite guards in the way of the sword. Ryuji was put into this man's care supposedly by the Emperor to atone for his lack of ability to protect the now-dissolved House Mikoto. As Ryuji was brought up by Kensei, he was taught by him. Kensei saw the potential for Ryuji to become a Swordsage, a masterful practitioner of both martial and magical arts, and so tried to find a spirit to bond with him. However, spirits seemed to be repelled by Ryuji for reasons Kensei did not understand, and so the boy only learned "mundane" swordsmanship under the old master.
Little did the Sword Saint know, Ryuji was already bound to a spirit. The House Spirit of Mikoto, an ancient and powerful being known as Tenkei, had bonded with Ryuji in desperation the night his family was murdered. As Ryuji was the last scion of the House, Tenkei forcibly bound himself to the infant child, keeping himself hidden from Kensei and his spirits. Throughout his youth, Tenkei whispered to Ryuji, teaching him of his family, their history and traditions, and the tragedy that befell them. Tenkei taught Ryuji mystic arts in secret, having him fool the others into thinking he was completely inept with magic. Most of all, though, Tenkei filled Ryuji with vengeance; the spirit had been forced to watch the slaughter commence, unable to interfere as his bound master was asleep. He knew the truth of the massacre, that this Kensei had been paid off by another noble house, and was in fact among the assassins that killed the House Mikoto. Kensei had merely taken pity on the infant Ryuji and taken him in against the wishes of his employers, with the Emperor willingly providing a cover for these actions.
Ryuji's skill grew, and as he entered manhood, Kensei had arranged him to be employed as one of the Emperor's elite guards. Ryuji was conflicted between the love he had for the man that had raised him, and the poisonous truth he knew from the corrupted spirit that had been whispering in his ear for so many years. However, some days before he was meant to leave for his new employment, Tenkei made a decision for him. Using his own dark magic, Tenkei took control of Ryuji's body, and had his kill Kensei in his sleep, using the man's own sword. The surge of corruptive energy in Ryuji's body tainted him; his hair turned from noble black to sickly white, and his eyes took on the same mad, yellow lustre as Tenkei's own. The cold act of revenge was seemed to turn Kensei's sword, Haganeryu, Steel Dragon, blood red, and so Ryuji took it for himself and rechristened it Ketsuryu, Blood Dragon.
With nowhere else to turn, Ryuji dedicated himself to avenging his family's deaths, just as Tenkei intended. Evading the law and agents of the nobility and Emperor, he hunted down the assassins responsible, and those that had hired them. With three of the seven responsible parties dead, Ryuji's attention turned Westward. Foreign intrigue had also played a part in the demise of the Mikoto, and so Ryuji journeyed to the City-State of New Eden, and infiltrated its illustrious Adventurer's Guild, seeking within its ranks one of his hunted assassins.
Skills and Abilities: Ryuji is an absurdly skilled swordsman. The level of both talent and practice gone into his abilities are staggering, and essentially came at the cost of any practical skills that he could possess. Over time, though, he has learned various roguish skills to help him survive on the lamb. Stealth, assassination, infiltration, disguise and sleight of hand have all saved his life from the agents of the Empire at one point or another. He is also quite proficient at unarmed combat, and can ride a horse without difficulty.
Ryuji is also a Swordsage, a legendary warrior of Kusagi that combines magic with swordsmanship. He can infuse his blade with various elemental energies, and use magic to empower himself and perform superhuman feats of agility and strength. His sublime swordsmanship blurs the line between the martial and the mystic, and in battle Ryuji becomes something more like a force of nature than a mortal opponent.
Equipment: Ryuji wears light, practical leather armor overtop traditional Kusagi robes, with the intention of providing himself a small amount of protection without obstructing his freedom of movement. His sole weapon his his mystic, blood-red blade, Ketsuryu.
"Nothing personal. Merely revenge."
Name: Tenkei
Age: Several thousand.
Backstory: An ancient spirit and originally the House Spirit of the Emperor of Kusagi, Tenkei has a long and storied history. However, time changes all things, including regimes, and Tenkei came to be the House spirit of Mikoto, whom he served for a considerable length of time. Tenkei enjoyed the Mikoto most of all, finding their spirit and viewpoints refreshing. He cared deeply for the family to whom he owed service, and so when they were slaughtered, he was quite literally driven mad. His pure and holy form was corrupted by his madness and obsession with revenge, turning him into the crazed, bloodthirsty being that he is now. Tenkei forcibly bound himself to the infant Ryuji, the conditions of their pact forcing the boy to avenge his family's demise.
Skills and Abilities: A ruthless berserker in combat, Tenkei wields his heavenly spear with none of the grace he once held, using it to hack and slash his enemies apart. The magic he wields is tainted, mostly aligned towards rage, darkness and blood, though he still retains his previous alignments toward the sky, sun, moon, wind and storms that he once held, though they are corrupted. Tenkei has a degree of sway over other spirits, as they can recognize him as being a "royal" spirit in demeanor.
"Flithy. So very filthy."
Name: Tsukiyo
Age: Several centuries.
Backstory: One of the youngest of Tenkei's many "children," yet among the strongest, Tsukiyo was the House Spirit of Mikazuchi, a branch family of the House Mikoto. However, the House Mikazuchi was found to be among the conspirators in the downfall of House Mikoto, and so they were slaughtered in turn by an enraged Ryuji, empowered by Tenkei. Tsukiyo was subjugated by his "father," and was forced into forming a pact with and serving Ryuji to atone for his sins, so as much as Tenkei may have wished for Tsukiyo to die, killing a spirit is far from easy.
Skills and Abilities: A sly and subtle swordsman, Tsukiyo relies on stealth and subtlety in battle. His magics focus on shadows and deception, and he has a strong alignment toward lunar magic.