Fading MemoryE r i I k e h a r a | A C u r s e d C h i l d
-Cs formatting is thanks to Kassarock, as I used their cs base formatting from another RP- ____________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N Name Eri Ikehara Nicknames/Aliases Her childhood nickname was Ike growing up. Her family also refer to her as one of the Ikehara's " Cursed Children" Home Location: Tsu, Mie Prefecture, Japan Age: 14 Grade: 9th Grade Year of Attendance: 1rst Year of Attendance Gender Identity: Cis Female Race: Cursed Human Natural/Racial Abilities: While she is a regular human being, the curse that has been bestowed upon her by an ancient Oni altered some of her natural abilities. While she doesn't have any substantial increased strength, the curse has forced her body to be in peak shape, naturally having the strength and dexterity that could be compared to that of a teen Olympian. Her natural healing capabilities are slightly elevated. Cuts, bruises and sicknesses such as Colds/Flu's that took days to heal from, Now only a took a couple of hours, while more intense injuries and ailments take days, the worst of course taking a while for recovery. Her durability fall close in power level to her strength, not being incredibly durable by any means, she is capable of taking quite a few punches. She also does have a natural inclination for combat arts, both with and without weapons. The curse makes sure it's host is capable of learning and exceling at the art of fighting. Her ability to pick up martial art techniques, specifically with that of combat methods with bladed weapons was frightening. Though to her, the weapons just seem to make sense in her hand and it was as though she already knew the techniques before having them taught to her. The biggest increase to her natural abilities however, would be her speed and agility. She is incredibly gifted in acrobatics and balance, knowing how to push her body to the extreme and testing her limits. Because of this, she is a natural at free running/parkour, as well as climbing, specifically free climbing. Her speed is most certainly her most unique natural ability. Not being fast enough to compare to a speedster, she is well past the speed of a human, capable of recorded speeds up to 30 mph when straining herself. She is probably capable of higher speeds but has not been interested nor challenged yet to push past her current limit. A special factor about the curse's "gifts", is that the abilities will constantly increase the more she trains and uses them, behaving like muscles almost. The more work and effort she puts into bettering her natural ability, the better they become. At the end of the day however, she is a human first, so she can be killed by the typical standards and has similar weaknesses, just more resistant than the average person. Height: 1.65 m (5'5 ft) Hair Color: Blue Eye Color: Red Distinguishing Features: She has a couple separate distinct features, the first being her eyes. A borderline bright red, Her slit shaped irises, similar to a cats, was a symptom of her curse. She's been told that her eyes make her face intense and wild, as if she were attempting to stare through whatever was unfortunate enough to catch her gaze. They also appeared to have purple specs within the pools of red, that would create an almost glitter like effect when hit by the light. Her eyes also are slightly larger then the average, making direct eye contact with her sometimes overwhelming. Her next feature would be her hair, a beautiful sky blue, her hair color and eyes were a trait every first born of her family had. It would be medium in length, passing her shoulders and seemingly thick and naturally straight. She also sported messy bangs, long enough to be able to hide her eyes away from any onlookers. The two together gave her a very mysterious and sometimes angry appearance. The last feature, and probably her most blatant feature is the marking on her right hand. While it appeared similar in texture and appearance to that of a hand tattoo, it was a birthmark. Her family had come to call it the "Branding of Shuten-dōji" the marking every first born received to indicate he/she was Cursed with the Oni's power. If stared at for long by an onlooker, the birthmark seemed to move just ever so slightly and dude glow red when she uses her power. Appearance: Eri has what could only be described as a wiry frame, small in stature, she had long flowing arms and legs. The Ikehara Clan held all standards, body, health and hygiene, for their first born children to an almost unachievable level with no exception. Her posture was eloquent and proper, years of constant punishment for slouching or bad posture in meditation leaving a permanent mental scar. She also had learn to seem invisible when needed, or prideful and boastful when she needed, though she tended to attempt to make herself seem small and invisible as to not draw attention to herself. She did have a somewhat toned body, a result of both the Ikehara Clan and the curse she was born with. She's also a runner, using it as the only time she could really have to herself when she was living on the Ikehara Family Compound, so she prides herself on fitness and keeping her body in peak shape. She also has been training in a couple different martial arts almost religiously since she was 7, so her body does have definition. Someone very lucky would find a very shocking sight when compared to her stature and personality. Personality: Eri is a very puzzling human being, who like a cake has many layers within herself. At a young age, prior to her and her family becoming aware of her powers, she was bright and bubbly soul. She had been known in family and friend's circle, as the shining star of the Ikehara family. She seemed to be the type with an obvious path towards the entertainment industry. She was always seen smiling and laughing, her laughing being the type that seemed infectious. Her piercing and wonderful eyes always "seemed so full of wonder" her mother would say to others. And in truth they were, Eri always curious about the world around her and how it worked. While people around her growing up would have pegged her for the entertainment type, she was more interested in STEM. The random and unpredictability of nature was something that mystified the child. Dead set on becoming a scientist of some sort, she became increasingly more interested in school as she began kindergarten. And she would excel, her wonder and excitement showing through in her efforts for school. She would have been well on the track to an accelerated school path, however all of this wonder, brightness and success she had, would quickly be ripped away when she at the age of 7. After activating her powers while playing with a knife, she became scared of what she was capable of, as did her family. What was once fun and wonder, had turned into hatred and fear, her parents pulling her out of school after seeking advice from the family elders. She would be taught by the elders of Ikehara, who were all holders of of the curse. While on the outside this would seem to be regular homeschooling, every first born upon manifesting their curse's power, would be recruited into the prolific Clan's secret. Trained to one day become warriors for the Ikehara, ninja and samurai who donned the "Branding of Shuten-dōji". No more was she allowed to be happy, or excited, no longer allowed to be the bright and cheery soul she was born as. She would have to become quiet and refined, "invisible" to an onlooker. She would become the perfect warrior that the Curse would allow her to become. After she started her training, she wasn't allowed to have any contact outside of her family, and so she became somewhat emotionally stunted. She was never to have any emotion in front of her elders, everyday she would have to hide her feelings, burying them deep down into her psyche. While not every first born Ikehara was broken from the training, Eri was not fortunate to be included with this lot. Their methods of training and homeschooling made her a fierce and cunning child. What was once exceling at schoolwork, was now exceling at combat. She was forced to learn to be resourceful, distrusting, mysterious and even wary of everyone who wasn't her family. Though the learning was more akin to brain washing, breaking the once bright and cheery girl, into an emotionless battle ready warrior, ready to sacrifice for the greater good of the Ikehara Clan. She will always want to be bright and bubbly again, but the hold that the Ikehara Clan has on her makes her more likely to stay incredibly introverted and to herself. Aspirations: With this new opportunity at a new life, free to learn and do what she wants, she wants nothing more than to change the status quo that the Ikehara's first borns are thrusted into. This is the one thing her mother begged for her to change, when she was leaving Japan with her father's help. Her family weighs heavily on her shoulders as she was on track to become an elder. Though she does have wants outside of fixing her family. She wants to learn what it means to have emotions again, to want to learn new things not because it's what the Ikehara wanted of her, but because she wants to learn them herself. She misses the now blurry and faded memories of her early childhood, when she aspired to be a scientist. She wants to discover the world with her own eyes, not through focused lens of the Ikehara clan. Though above all else, she wants to become stronger not just to protect herself and her immediate family, but to be able to ensure no one will ever again exploit or overpower the girl. Fears: -Her family, more specifically the Elders and Older Cousins -Becoming nothing more than emotionless husk -To never be able be more than what she was taught to think of herself as -The capabilities of her curse P O W E R I N F O R M A T I O N Strengths: -Above Average Proficiency in hand to hand combat -Extremely Proficient in Bladed combat (Knives, Swords, Axes, etc) -Above Average Speed, Strength and Healing Ability -Extremely Agile and Nimble -Specializes in infiltration and Combat -Extremely capable Human Box Cutter Weaknesses/Flaws: -Only a cursed human, so susceptible to typical human things -She has an extreme fear of her family through psychological manipulation -While she is capable of taking a beating, she is not incredibly durable -Wounds from to knives, bullets, extreme temperatures, etc, can kill her if a major wound. -She currently does not have a means of mid-long range combat -Without a bladed weapon, she is just a human who is fast and slightly stronger then the average human being Magic Type: Personal Magical Focus: "The Never Dulling Blade of Shuten-dōji" - while magical in nature, this curse does have some unique qualities compared to the average Personal Magic Type. Given to every first born of their respective familial branch, the Ikehara Clan's ancestors, one of the first Ninja Clans of Feudal Japan, made a deal with a powerful Oni in order to achieve great power. While it was sold to the Ikehara as a blessing, in truth the curse was only a means for Shuten-dōji to attempt to find the perfect avatar. Given a tattoo-esque birthmark at random on their bodies, the first born would be destined to become a solider for the Ikehara Clan's family Ninja, and many years later, Samurai. Giving them one of the many abilities Shuten-dōji had, it is a roulette of sorts. Eri's Curse allows her the ability to cut anything, with any bladed weapon. Meaning she is capable of cutting a steel door in half with a butter knife as an example. Any blade she touches, will be branded with the same birthmark that stains her hand. Though the mark will remove itself once leaving her hands, she can use the hands of someone else, an example being, guiding ones hands while cutting into a wall. However this is a more upper level example of what her ability is capable of. Using an example to explain how the power works a bit more, if she were in a situation in which she would have to cut a piece of metal only, that sat on a wood table, it would require some focus. Meaning if she were to become distracted or lose her focus, she would cut not only the metal, but the table and if deep enough, the floor as well. As it stands now, she must use a bladed weapon, such as the Tanto she is seen with at all times, or weapon made for combat (i.e Katana, War Axe, combat Knives). The Curse also has some baseline properties given to every holder of the magical ability. These being above average speed, slightly above average strength and healing abilities. It also makes learning combat techniques and abilities much easier, being able to pick up what would normally take years in a matter of months. The curse ensures above all else, that the host in peak shape and health and a suitable host, if in the event they become a suitable match for Shuten-dōji's Avatar. Anything else? -If She were to have a battle theme or general theme, this would be the song/vibe. -She likes music, and will often be seen wearing ear buds, as it was her way of tuning out the world when she was homeschooled. (She specifically loves fusion/bebop jazz) -The idea of loving anyone scares the fuck out of her, so she's in a gray area with her feelings toward any type of relationships. | H i s t o r y o f E r i I k e h a r a The life an Ikehara consisted of two paths, one being a rich bureaucrat, living in the high society of Japan's upper circles. Living in houses placed on compounds on the roofs of skyscrapers, going to secret parties full of the wealthy elite. You would never have to worry for a thing, and you would have access to any avenue. You wanted to be a high stakes player in the Japanese Stock Market? Done. You want to become a tech company able to rival those in the top 100? Easy. The path's were unlimited for the lucky Ikehara Clan members born after the First Child of their familial branch. For their family held within its circles, a secret so deep, it touched some of the very roots that snaked through the Japanese Government and Economy. The Ikehara was a clan whose existence was kept very close to the chest of Japan's high society, both politically and business wise. The Ikehara Clan has been around since the days of Feudal Japan, a clan of farmers, turned to bandit ninjas after the local lord had their crops confiscated. They were a small fish in a fast ocean at first, knowing any attention from a big fish would mean the instant eradication of their Clan. But with no meaningful returns from their new avenue of business, they instead turned to a more mystical means of gaining more fortune and power. Climbing to the highest mountain tops in country side, they found themselves at a place only known as "The Pond". It was said a mysterious man lived deep within a cave, where a lush jungle and pond at the center laid inside, upon the tallest mountain in the region. The rumors of the man were said to be that of Sage capable of giving blessings to clans offering up something equal to what they were asking for. With nothing to lose, they came to the great sage, pleading to make their clan both successful and powerful enough to keep what was theirs. In turn, they would offer up every first born to be his acolyte, something the sage had never been offered before. However what the Ikehara were blind too, was that the Sage was nothing more than a power Oni, one named Shuten-dōji. He had been sealed in the cave, by the very sage he was appearing to people as at the center of the pond. Making the deal with the Oni would yield instant results, as all of the current Ikehara Clan members at the time were given the "Branding of Shuten-dōji" a tattoo-esque scar that appeared in different places for each. They were all blessed with unique abilities the Oni was capable of. As would every first born of a new familiar branch, And in the matter of years, the Ikehara had become one of the nations greatest Clans, supply a spy network of ninja's all through Japan, and eventually supply Samurai for armies and the like. Surviving through many wars and conflicts, the Ikehara family would slowly begin to wipe any trace of their warriors, and instead replaced their family trade for bureaucracy. This step would allow for the evolution of a Clan known for their seeming mystical warriors, to one of the richest and business-savy Clans in japan. It also allowed the family to survive through the many different emperor and eventually complete political changes Japan would face through it's history. While they were not the most powerful, or the most rich, they gave the argument for the Clan with the most influence for the many hundreds of years they've existed since meeting the Oni. This is a rough explanation of the Ikehara Clan's history and leads us the birth of Eri Ikehara, a "Cursed Child" of the Ikehara. Though her story is far from the normal within the clan. Born to a second son of the Ikehara Clan, Ryoto Ikehara, and a daughter of an effluent Japanese Tech Company CEO, Naiko Oyama, the two were bond together by an arraigned marriage. Though this didn't mean they didn't love each other, they weren't necessarily in love at first. Ryoto had no interest in having a child, painfully aware of what it would mean for the kid, while Naiko, who was in the dark of the Ikehara secret, one dream was to have children of her own. Through many years of abstaining from trying, Eri ended up as an unfortunate accident, a phrase she would become all to familiar with. Born a healthy baby girl, she of course was born with the marking of the family curse, as well as the signature blue hair and red eyes. However unlike most in the Clan's recent history, her powers didn't manifest immediately, and so she was allowed to live with her parents. Though her dad kept his distance from the girl, her mother cherished the beautiful little girl. The mom would take her everywhere, spoil her rotten almost, and for the first years of her life, she was the perfect daughter. She was known to draw the attentions of parties with her beauty and pure joy and wonder. At a young age, she was always curious of the world around her. She would ask her mother what sometimes felt like thousands of questions in the day. And her mother always obliged, never growing impatient or tired of the girls questions, and Eri would say this is what caused her to want to be a scientist at the age of four. Her mothers unending support, and the constant compliments and love that her family and friends would give her, was sending her on a path of incredible success and wealth. But all of this would change one summer day when she was seven. After watching a martial arts movie for the first time, her mother finally lamenting and letting her and her siblings finally watch one, she was left to enjoy herself for the rest of the day. Sneaking a steak knife out in secret, Eri would playfully slash at the air, mocking the movements she had seen on the screen with surprising ease. Deciding her shadow opponent was no match for her, she turned her eyes on an old tree in their families garden. Said to be over a hundred years old, this tree had come to be one of Eri's favorite spots to come play. And so, looking at the tree and playing slashing around it, Eri went to slice into the Tree. Closing her eyes at the point of contact, the resistance she expected to feel, instead felt as if she had only slashed the air. Opening her eyes, she was met with the alarming sight of a diagonal clean cut, as if it had been cut through with an enormous bandsaw. Immediately crying for cutting down one of her favorite places, she was crying so hard, she neglected to realize with the tree was coming down towards her. Out of seemingly no where, her father suddenly scooping her up and dived out of the way, as where she once stood was now a crater in the ground from the weight of the tree. Her father stood in disbelief at the sight of the tree, confused as to how it happened. Though once he saw the knife in his daughter's hand, he very quickly put it altogether. Grabbing the knife from her hand, he dragged the girl into her room and locked it behind her. Despite already crying and protesting, her father was now even more cold-hearted towards the girl. After an hour of no contact, she heard her parents talking outside her door. Though she was too young to understand what they were talking about, she could hear that her mother was furious, something that Eri had never heard from her before. It was then that the house seemed to shake, as a helicopter landed in the garden of the house. Eri was unable to see out the window completely, so so she was unsure of who exactly it was. She heard what seemed like the whole house beginning to scurry around, something that happened only when an important guest would be coming. Then she felt it, as if there was something watching her in the shadows of the room. She experienced a full body shiver, and her body immediately was covered in goosebumps. Then the house seemed to fall silent, making her out her ear to the door. She was only able to make out the sound of a person walking with a cane. The slow tapping started faint at first, becoming louder with each tap. Stepping away from the door, her curse brand glowing as the tapping stopped in front of the door. "Open the door child." Her body moving involuntarily, her movements inhuman, as if she was simply a puppet on strings. Her body ached in pain beyond an unbearable amount, but was unable to utter a word, not even cry a single tear. Eri opened the door to be face to face with the oldest Elder of the Ikehara Clan. Masuyo Ikehara, said to be the greatest head of the Ikehara Clan's very long existence, was only small in stature. Any person who underestimated the tiny woman, would find a swift and almost always, tragic and horrific death in their not to distant future. She embodied the Ikehara Clan within the very fibers of her being. There was nothing more important in this world then the Clan's success, and there was no success without ruthlessness and power. Her 60 year's of being the head of the family, and before that 15 years of being the head of the Ikehara Clans warriors at the age of 20, left a prolific era of change for the Ikehara clan. Before, they were a part of high society, now they lead it, admired by the other clans. Not only ruthless, she had a brilliant academic mind, understanding science and technology was a new frontier for them to conquer. She even personally trained the First Born's on account of her Curse's power, "The Kings Will", a magical ability that allowed complete control over someone's body and mind. And this is why she was here, after quickly accessing what Eri's ability was, she whisked the child away without a second thought. Her parents unable to even say goodbye to her, she would from then on become a part of the First Borns ranks. It was suffice to say that Eri would never be the same after the meeting with Masuyo. She was immediately taken to the Ikehara Clan's first estate, though it now looked like a small fortress compared to what it used to be. She would be stuck within its walls for seven long years. In this time, she was not spared one bit from the "homeschooling" of Masuyo, maybe even being pushed harder on account of starting her training at a later period then many of the others. Masuyo would give Eri private lessons, in which the child's identity and personality was slowly, maliciously, picked apart and rewired. Masuyo was disgusted with the little girl at first, making sure to never let the girls bright and wonderful personality come out in front of the old woman with her power. Masuyo started with the little girls mind, and once broken within the first couple months, reforging her so to speak into a cold and quiet person. Then when the old lady felt satisfied with the results, she would throw the child into the proverbial flames of sparring. Sufficiently getting her shit kicked in for months, Eri who had never fought, nor come close to any negative confrontation, was suddenly consistently bullied by the others. It didn't matter if she was a frail little girl, her more experienced cousins spared no sympathy for the girl and in a way it accelerated Eri's growth tenfold. She refused to simply be broken by the Ikehara, and so she adapted. She would become the chameleon her elder wanted, a capable warrior who pushed through every obstacle placed in front of them. She trained harder, pushed herself further, it was almost as if a switch was flipped in her brain. What she would later come to realize as her psyche finally breaking under the pressure, Eri would quickly become ruthless, pushing her sparring partners to the limit after finally improving substantially in combat. This would transfer over into her other "studies" as well, what was once hatred, become dedication to the cause. Of course this was all artificial, a way for Eri to hide her true feelings and keep the heat off of her. Within the first two years of her new life, she would already catch up to the majority of her cousins. Masuyo was on record as saying Eri's growth was alarming and might need to be limited in order for her to not become too powerful before fully under her wing. The elder saw the potential for an Ikehara who could follow in her footsteps, if guided the proper way. And so, this would be Eri's norm. Eventually focusing her combat arts into a terrifying mix of Jujitsu, TKD, Ninjutsu (Japanese martial art of unconventional fighting) and Kenjutsu/Kendo. She also exhibited a knack for most bladed forms of combat, on account of her curse's ability. This would continue on for many years, up until her 13th birthday, to which a turning point had happened. Standing close to the top of the class at this point, Eri had become a force to reckon'd with, within the First-Borns of her generation. She was frighteningly ruthless, and with a nasty power to bat, whispers that Eri could potentially follow in the footsteps of Masuyo began to circulate first within the First-Borns, then within the clan. Eventually the Japanese Government caught wind of the talented child, and attempted to recruit the girl from Masuyo. Offering something to good to pass up, Eri was to be shipped out within the next year on her 14th birthday to a Japanese Military Black Site. By this point Eri had given up on trying to go against the status quo of her family. How could she ever stand up to Masuyo and the clan, hell she didn't even know if her parents cared for her anymore, as she hadn't seen them since the day Masuyo took her away to this hell. She resigned herself to the idea that this was really going to be her life forever. And so for a year, Eri was trained evenharder, to insure she would be ready for the Japanese Military. It was until the night before she were to leave, that her mother and father came to her in the night. They seemed to simply teleport in front of the child, Eri not even being able to recognize the two. They on the other hand, rushed the girl into a group hug, even her father tearing up at the sight of his now teenage daughter. They couldn't explain how or why they were there, just that they were going to save her from the reaches of the Ikehara, if only for a little while. They would explain that they had secured her a place to go to a school for people like her. She would be able to learn whatever she wanted, and be able to become whatever came to her. It was a ticket to freedom, a new chance at life, to be a kid again. Somewhere safe from the Ikehara's money and power. They told Eri they would teleport her to a dock on the Japanese coast, that would have a man who would smuggler her out of the country. Once free, she would be met at a dock on the west coast of America, where a school representative would be to pick her up and insure she made it to the school safely. With the sounds of the alarm suddenly blaring, her father took her face in his hands "Im sorry for distancing myself from you, I know nothing i say right now will fix it, but understand that I've done nothing but miss and worry about you since you've been gone. I love you my daughter" he said before teleporting away. An explosion rang out on the otherside of the compound, as Eri's mother took the childs hands and held them out. "I should have fought harder for you, we both should've. But we cant change what happened, only what will happen. We'll see you in a couple months once this all blows over and we can just...talk, okay? I would say i love you my little one, but you so big now. We promise to make it up to you okay?" Eri the whole while unable to speak. She had thought about what she would say to her parents for letting this happen to her. But now that they appeared infront of her, she was frozen. All she wanted was to cry in her mother chest, as so she did. Though for only a moment before more explosions closer to Eri's room rang out. "I'm sorry my baby, there's no more time left, take this and show it to the man fishing at the end of the dock. He'll be wearing a gray jacket and red fishermen ha-" her mother stopped and looked towards the door. A kick suddenly rang out against the door and her mother put her hand on Eri's head. Mouthing I love you, Eri was very disoriented as she was suddenly teleported to an undisclosed Dock in the city. The rest essentially writes itself and now Eri will be enrolling for her first year of Anepool Academy. It has been an exceptionally rocky ride, as she was wired to not trust anyone after years of mental and physical abuse. Anepool helped with her rehabilitation, as a part of the deal her parents seemed to make for her, and while she was a couple of months out of from the school year, everyday was an intense challenge leading up to the start of the school year. She met with a therapist, who only after two months of listening to the woman talk did she open up. Really after finally be able to speak about her past to someone who wasn't her family, she was able to start the process of becoming a regular kid again. While she had never killed anyone, the environment she was in at the Ikehara Compound could only be described as hyperviolent. Telling someone lifted both a metaphorical and a mental barrier for Eri. And by the start of the school year, she was rehabilitated just enough to be able to participate in the school year. She is still most definitely a work in progress and everyday is another day further from the hell she came from. She is working hard everyday to try and retake her life back from the clutches of the Ikehara Clan. |
