Shou Zheng
15 | Male | 5'10, 1.78m | 234lbs, 106kg
The Song Central Empire | Egoism | Aquatic Adaptation
His Story
One of the youngest members of the Ministry, Shou comes from a family of sailors that have served the nation in naval matters for many generations. The high rate of Polymaths among the Zheng family is attributed to descending from a great Sea Serpent in ancient times. Though not all members have served in the Ministry, it's almost certain that they'll find their calling braving the waves of the sea.
Despite hailing from one of the older and well established families, Shou's upbringing was never suffocating for him. With generation after generation of successful Polymaths, a sense of personal freedom had become ingrained in the family. Egoism was all about expression of one's self, and trying to force one of their own to reject that and conform? That was something their Esteemed Elder would not stand. However with this freedom came the expectation that they would excel at whatever path they chose though. To that end, they spend time with many tutors from a young age so they may learn of the world and discover what might interest them to devote their studies to.
Like many of his family, the sea has called to Shou from a young age and fueled a strong sense of wanderlust. While it's likely he could have found success anywhere given how easily he took to the numerous lessons, he found himself constantly drawn to leave instead. The sparkling waters in the port of his home were far too clear, and he wished to see what laid beyond the horizons and in the murky depths below. The history of such things did not initially interest Shou, but that would change with the event that garnered the Ministry's attention.
Nowadays there are few things that can cause entire merchant fleets to sink. The spread and adoption of Technologist materials have led to sturdier ships that can withstand all but the worst of storms. Diplomatic ties among the Orient nations have reduced conflicts on the sea to a fraction of historic highs. The waters patrolled by the various navies typically ensure that whatever inhabits the lightless depths stay out of the way. Typically.
While not the lone survivor of the disaster, Shou is one of the few that has deemed capable of returning to civilization. Given the actions of other survivors upon being rescued by nearby Korean ships, it's perhaps unsurprising that he is under watch by the Ministry. Seeing how he's somehow been allowed to travel far from the nation's borders and attend Bermuda? Clearly the Ministry is not of a single intent towards Shou, and he is more than willing to test the limit of the strings placed upon him.
His Formulizations
Shou's tattoos are made up of seemingly unrelated symbols that are connected only through proximity and currently adorn only his back. Any flow to the collection is far from apparent and most likely something of the viewer's own perception as Shou admits it is mostly done from his gut instinct. Likewise, he does not have a particular method of developing the symbols. Some come to him in dreams while others gradually develop from his observations of the world around him. The dance between a school of fish and a pack of hunters etching itself into his mind for example.
The results of his Egoism are also quite clear to see. While he hasn't strayed from his humanoid figure yet, Shou has developed several notable bestial features that clearly mark his branch of Formulization.
- Tail: Prehensile and incredibly powerful, this appendage both assists Shou in swimming through the water and functions as a natural weapon. The bony fins at the very end are quite tough and can serve as spikes, allowing the limb to both bludgeon or pierce if necessary.
- Finned Ears: Even the ability to see in the dark is not enough at the depths Shou can dive to. In order to make up for that, he has developed the ability to use echolocation in place of vision. The extensions help to capture the returning sound waves. While he lacks lacks the ability to use echolocation out of water, the shift in vocal cords required for echolocation do allow something of a deafening shout if needed.
- Ocean Born: The most obvious feature here would be the slits on the front of Shou's neck that serve as gills when he's underwater and the webbed hands and feet that increase water mobility. Some of the other properties include being resistant to pressure and temperature changes, and an increased lung capacity that was leftover from before his gills manifested.
- Superhuman Physique: The nature of his changes alongside the training Shou has undergone has put him squarely beyond what a regular human could hope to accomplish. While much of this is simply supernatural, his body itself is also denser, tougher, and stronger.
Organization: Ministry of Maritime AffairsThe 13th Sea
