[OOC] Tales Of Shizuyama: Alternative (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

[AzureKnight]

And there's a post

[Xaltwind]

I'm a bit confused as to why people are making comments about Coco and Gwen coming on to Takeshi... Coco specficially restrained herself from doing anything except having a purr to her voice, and Gwen is just jumping up and down in place... Did I somehow not make that clear or did I miss adding that bit in? Or maybe they just seemed overly familial? Someone let me know? :<

[PaulHaynek]

@Xaltwind
I guess even with restraint, they were still coming onto Takeshi strongly. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tak is still technically anti-monster, after all. XD

[AzureKnight]

I'm a bit confused as to why people are making comments about Coco and Gwen coming on to Takeshi... Coco specficially restrained herself from doing anything except having a purr to her voice, and Gwen is just jumping up and down in place... Did I somehow not make that clear or did I miss adding that bit in? Or maybe they just seemed overly familial? Someone let me know? :<

@Xaltwind

I may have misunderstood, as I thought she got a little close to Takeshi and rubbed his cheek for some reason ^^;

If that be the case, I apologize for the oversight and can edit my post if necessary.

[Rune_Alchemist]

@Xaltwind

I didn't mean to start a trend here lol.

I apologize if Nyla was a bit rude to the two of them...but that was sort of the intent. Shes feeling a little possessive of lord Oja and is trying to make herself look a tiny bit better and more trustworthy than the two of them.

[Xaltwind]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not upset or offended by any of this, I was just a bit confused as it sort of contradicted what my intention and actions were supposed to be.

No need to edit any of your posts or anything, I just appreciate you all clarifying. That way, I can either make things more clear in the future, or at least have an idea as to some of the reasoning of your characters. ^^

So, thank ya'll. :)

[PaulHaynek]

Update out!

Takeshi: "Y'all got some 'splaining to do!"

[Rune_Alchemist]

I'll get a post out tomorrows

[Enkryption]

@PaulHaynek

As requested:

Quirky, Smirky, Hungry

Appearance:


Name: Umami Claremont

Race: Homunculus (Chimera Mutation)

Magic/Abilities/Equipment:

Umami's Full-course Meal Plan

Born under unusual circumstances, Umami had an unstable DNA structure, rifle with natural, yet recombinant DNA matching that of the known Werebeast; allowing her the power to shapeshift her body into another, such as:

Dial U for Umami!

• Werebat
  
  The least used of Umami's Werebeasts, she gains an exceptional sense of hearing and the power of flight at the cost of greatly diminishing her eyesight and compulsory shrieking to echolocate her surroundings. So, while offering a great advantage over terrestrial opposition, Umami will general opt to use this form for traveling long-distances.
• .
• Werecat
  
  One of Umami's favoured Werebeasts, she gained improved senses of hearing and smell, but more importantly, sharpened vision at night, and dramatically improved agility and balance. Her body also gain a sort of flexibility to move through tight spaces, and is handy to traverse urban buildings at night. This is also her go-to to be pampered by her sister.
• .
• Wererabbit
  
  A second-best for pampering among Umami's Werebeasts, this form boasts the highest speed and strongest legs among all, affording her brutal kicks and easy means to close the gap in combat. However, it is the most skittish of the quintet, and used more to rabbit, in the ironic sense, if a situation becomes too hairy to handle. Due to her speed, Umami is prone to running in a straight line, and fails to round corners. As such, this speed can be put towards digging holes to beat a hasty retreat whenever possible.
• .
• Weresheep
  
  Simultaneously the most docile and sturdiest of all of Umami's Werebeasts, this form has once defining feature above its kin: her almost unbreakable, curled horns. Though extremely pacifistic in this state, more prone to munch on some greens and vibe, if riled to a boiling point, Umami will plant her feet, and throw herself, literally, head first, into danger with the express purpose of breaking bones with a brutal headbutt.
• .
• Werewolf
  
  Excitable. Loveable. Powerful. This is Umami's go-to of her Werebeasts, as she afforded a little bit of everyone's strength in this canine package; speed, endurance, and brutality, all wrapped up in an... unfortunately... easily distracted bow. Puppy-like is a nice way to describe the drain on Umami's intelligence, and most of her destruction is born of her playing with her food.

In addition to her Werebeasts, Umami can tap into her unstable DNA to temporarily overwrite junk DNA, and allow her a unique shapeshift via:

• Chimeravore
  
  By sinking her teeth into her opponent, and drinking their blood, or take a chunk of flesh, Umami can temporarily add a sixth Werebeasts to her DNA, but only that sixth, as her body focuses, as struck by tunnel vision, on digesting that first meal and savouring that first bite for as long as possible.

Her final power is a double-edged blade given flesh and bone, turning her into something proclaimed to be a Baphomet, but called a:

• Fauxphomet
  
  The wings of a Werebat.
  
  The claws of a Werecat.
  
  The legs of a Wererabbit.
  
  The horns of a Weresheep.
  
  The fangs of a Werewolf.
  
  The body of a Human.
  
  Presenting as something akin to a Baphomet, Umami transforms into a hypersensitive Werebeast of aggression and of panic; a creature enraged by its nature born of fear, and determined to prove its apex existence.
  
  Everything is beneath this false, yet savage devil.

Inept at magic in most known forms, and neither classically nor traditionally trained in martial weapons, Umami is reliant on her natural weapons in the form of her fingernails and teeth, which can easily break flesh like daggers, and her superhuman strength.

For everything else, there's Ripcord.

Personality:

A volatile bundle of energy just wanting to explode, go wild with playful glee, eat a big meal, and take a huge nap to recharge. Simultaneously cute and crude, Umami is loud and crass, and speaks with the bluntness of an untamed child; be it about her uneducated thoughts on the world or how good her last trip to the bathroom was.

However, underneath this all lies a cracking foundation of insecurity born of abandonment and confusion about her place in the world, being in the Nexus between Humans and Mamono - accepted by neither, but used by both.

A shaky smile is plastered to her face whenever her eyes are open, but when they are closed, her truth is laid bare upon her sleeping face.

Background:

Born under surgical lights, on a thunderstorming night, from a wet cradle of unknown chemicals and amniotic fluid, Homunculus Subject C-1019-2014, codenamed "Umami Claremont" came into world the screaming the loudest and the hungriest of her sisters. Into the arms of her sire, she would arrive, and unto the breasts of her carrier, she would be delivered, and developed the first and only true memory of her "parents": delicious, warm milk and a pat on the head.

From then on, gnawing hunger would be what she knew best for the longest, amidst the chaotic whirlwind of a childhood full of fun "games" that she played with her sisters, ten in all. It wouldn't be for a long time before she learned what was truly happening. Her playful, energetic nature being trained as a killer for the special forces of Varjo to topple the Mamono Realms, one by one, from within. At the age of six, Umami would be awoken by an explosion and panic, the scramble of bodies and voices, and the smell of blood.

The sweet, savory smell of blood.

That was a memory of a scent that she would never shake.

Attached to that memory, a single impassioned statement, "Run, Umami! There's better things to eat out there! Tastier things! You've a world of food beyond these walls! Delicious, hot, and luxurious meals and deserts as far as you can see! So, don't be scared! Follow your sisters, listen to them, and run! Live!"

And, run she would. Away, away, away, from days and nights, until she collapsed in the grass outside a satellite village of the Varjo superpower. A rural village that, despite being in its own hardships, would take on ten children, and do their best to house and feed them in their meager foster care system, until they were sixteen and able to break into the workforce - cast out to defend themselves, and make their own way in life.

Split into five groups, the sisters would make for one of the more populated cities and attempt to find work. Three years later, and Umami only knew the stress and strain of endless debt and poverty; her only job being a cleaner for a low-rank faction within the city she settled in. Her stomach was taken to task, as each body clean was credit, but the time she took to clean was debt, and regardless, none of the money was coming to her.

It was by the grace of whatever God the Varjans believed in that a Mamono was employed in Varjo, and not slaughtered on the spot. However, grace was finite, and quickly burned up. In a strike of nightmarish deja vu, Umami found herself running from unseen, unknown attackers, as the gangster than employed her to rise in the ranks had flew too close to the sun, and exposed their treasonous behavior for power to the royals.

However, there was none to save her this time. No-one to push her into the darkness to run, promises of food, and a tastier tomorrow. It was just a cold fire that surrounded her.

Wait.

Fire wasn't cold.

No, it was the woman that stood over her and her eldest sister who was cold. So cold that the fire froze solid in time, so it seemed. However, she was warm...

So warm that not following her wasn't even something that crossed her mind.

A warmth like this didn't ask to be followed.

You just did.

Umami felt like Shizuyama was going to be a tasty adventure.

---

"You look kinda tasty. Wanna be friends?"

Calm, Cool, Clean

Appearance:


Name: Ripcord Claremont

Race: Homunculus (Shoggoth mutation)

Magic/Abilities/Equipment:

Miss Umami's Shoggoth Maid

Born, first, under the same unusual circumstances as her baby sister, Ripcord doesn't seem to possess the same mutation, but one of a Shoggoth allowing her the basic biomorphic abilities. However, her favoured biomorph is:

• Gnash
  
  "Rip and tear, until it is done," is the creed. And, while wielding Gnash, Ripcord will see His will be done.
  
  Born of imagination, bedtime stories, and overhead conversations, as well as the power of Human conceptualization and Mamono actualization, Ripcord would perfect, inside herself, a weapon in that, “can be swung like a baseball bat, with the width of a wooden plank, and lined with pocketful of knives; spinning like a chain, yet cutting like saw.”
  
  Forged of her own body, toothed by her own teeth, and oiled by her own acid, this improbable weapon can cut through almost any dissolvable material, and is swung with a strange combat style composed of deliberate, poppy movements that generate momentum and backing force to brutal swings.

Said combat style was taught to her by observing, and eventually, in person, by a wanderer of Varjo, and she called it:

• Lollipop
  
  A combat style invented by a greataxe-wielding wanderer, who never gave her name or purpose. Just her knowledge. Consisting of agile, springing movements, using Gnash as counterbalance, Ripcord was taught to utilize her oversized weapon as a weapon of mass ass kicking, and not just as a means to rend bodies into chunks for her sister.
  
  By using Lollipop, Ripcord is surprisingly dangerous in single and group combat.

Inept at magic, herself, like all her siblings, Ripcord can generate slime balls from the ends of her hair, and fire silverware like darts - pretending like it's a very esoteric Summoning Magic, when in truth, her go-to is her chainsaw.

And, lastly, like all Shoggoth, she can denature her acid towards a base, allowing it to be used like an all-purpose soap and even consumed as food paste.

Personality:

Rather reserved, Ripcord avoids unnecessary conversation - mostly because she wants to reduce the chance of Umami putting her foot in her mouth - and cuts straight to the point. Her serious nature however belies a much darker truth, in that Ripcord is an absolute siscon yandere, and had held her chainsaw at the throat of many would-be suitors to her baby sister.

Playing aloof and too cool for school masks how much Ripcord worships Umami's bubbly, brilliant personality, and how much she wants to see the world burn for daring to make her frown in her sleep.

Background:

From the beginning, she believed she would never know a mother's love or a father's warmth, even when held at the breasts of the mother that carried her, or in the arms of the father that sired her. Born as Homunculus Subject S-0629-2015, codenamed "Ripcord Claremont", the eldest of ten would come into the world growling; a protective guardian of those to follow her.

This defensive urge would never die down, even as they grew more powerful in their own ways. Smarter than most of her siblings, Ripcord sussed out their purpose wasn't a good one, but continued to play along for her sisters - especially her baby sister, Umami. Inarguably, her favourite of them all, even if she purported loved them all in equal measure. Unfortunately, there was no pretending when the rogue sect that created them was found, and eradicated without mercy.

Awoken from her sleep to be pushed to run down a corridor, Ripcord would be hustled into a hatch - too small for anything larger than a child to escape through. Behind her, saw the woman she called Mother for six years smiled at her once more with an impossible to forget praise, "Don't be afraid to show your fangs, Ripcord. Just like your namesake, your sisters are going to pull on you, and you need to stand strong and growl at the threat. Your stronger than they are, so protect them. I believe in you. Now, go!"

And, so she did - never to see the sword run through her mother, only what was in front of her. The winding tunnel that muffled the screams and executions, sheltered them from the massacre, and spilled out into a dark wood. They weren't safe, though. She felt it. Her sisters would pull on her, and she would growl at the darkness, before running them through it with her fangs bared. Eventually coming to a collapse before a rural village as far away as the children could run.

That would lead them into a life of realistic peace for her sisters. For her, it would lead to a strange run in with a wanderer of Varjo; a woman wielding an axe as tall as a man and as wide as two, yet swung like it was nothing more than a handaxe. For the longest, she would watch the woman train for an unknown reason, but, after a year, she roused the bravery to approach the woman who would become her teacher, teaching her her self-created combat style. By time it was mastered, the sisters would turn sixteen, and be turned out onto the world.

Find a job, or die. That was the way.

Deciding that it would be too suspicious to return to the city as a group of ten, Ripcord would split her sisters into pairs; a younger with an elder, 1-10, 2-9, and so on. Separate, but supported, the sisters would set out. Three years later, Ripcord hadn't sight or sound of her sisters beyond Umami, with whom she'd gone into "cleaning" for a low-rank gang. It wasn't commendable work. It wasn't pride-inducing. It wasn't even rewarding. They cleaned crime scenes for pay, but didn't get paid much, if they took too long, and even then, because they were Mamono, they weren't paid at all.

No. They made their way via food that Umami would bring in from dumpsters, which she'd process into a paste that she'd split between them. It wasn't glorious, but it was manageable. Unfortunately, their paltry luck was just that, paltry, and fizzled out with a bang. Inspiring PTSD, Ripcord would drag Umami as fast as she could, through the fire and blades, charging through the heat, and into the... rime...?

Surrounded by a ring of ice, coaxing fire and time into standing still, was a woman that carried the warmth of the flames, as if she stole it away. As she stole them away. Away from the Varjans. Away from Varjo. Away from Hell. Away from... everything.

Treating them like treasure.

Like something to care for.

Why?

Lady Kyoko. Shizuyama.

Who was she?

Where were they?

So many questions...

---

"Dirty. You're so dirty. Disgusting pig."

[Xaltwind]

@PaulHaynek

As discussed in PM, I'm just letting @Rune_alchemist know that I'll be withdrawing from the RP.

But good luck and have fun keeping on.

[PaulHaynek]

@Enkryption
Awright, accepted. Now, I was going to have you wait until Nyla and co. arrives at Terauchi Temple but I have a scene in mind so I'll write you in on the next update.

[Enkryption]

@PaulHaynek

Sounds like a plan to me.

[The Irish Tree]

A Heart of Broken Dreams

Name: Vivian

Race: Glacies

Magic/Abilities/Equipment:

• Frozen Soul: Born of ice and feeding off of heat, Vivian's entire body is as cold as ice and outputs an aura of extreme cold. Thankfully for those around her, she can decrease this freezing aura's potency to only bring the temperature down a few degrees. When brought to full potency, Vivian can use her aura to freeze the ground solid enough to "skate" across it with her limbs of sharpened ice.
• Frozen Heart: Glacies have frozen themselves, heart and soul, for their Queen. As such, while many Monsters are susceptible to demonic energy, Glacies are highly resistant to their monstrous nature and can hide their presence from Monster detection spells rather well.
• Vaganova grand pas de glace: With their long graceful limbs and culture of arts, Glacies of the Queendom of Lyonesse fight not with spells or weapons, but with a combative form of dance similar to human ballet crossed with figure skating. Swift graceful movements are emphasized, as frozen limbs are sharpened to stand at toe-point and slice through man-made armor. Dances can be freeform, or follow plays much like human ballet, and even though the movements appear wasteful and full of openings, many soldiers have found themselves bewildered by the speed of ice cutting through steel.
• Waterswan's Wings: A classic ballet in Lyonesse tells of the beautiful swan queen, born upon a lake of pure crystal who fell in love with a hunter who saved her from a pitch black vulture. Endebted to the man, she wove her feathers one by one into a vest as thanks, only for the man to meet his end before she finished. The swan's tears descended on the lake, freezing in the icy waters until they formed Lyonesse, its Queen, and her tears in turn made her subjects. Of course, its all just a story, but many young frostlings' imagination is sparked by this story of lost love, resulting in many aspiring to take part in the royal ballet. This garment, made of fabric so fine as to be near invisible, is a mark of honor for Vivian as one who played a part in the royal ballet. Provides marginal magic resistance, and is enchanted to never fray or tear so long as it is worn.

Personality:
An emotionally stunted diva that has trouble relating to others, Vivian can often come across as incredibly curt, to the point, and melancholy. And...she is! But, as one gets a bit closer to the icy dancer, one can start to see the façade that's there. The inability to not scrutinize others due to expecting scrutiny of herself, the walls she built to peer past but never cross...beneath everything, Vivian is most scared of being hurt, and is almost incapable of trusting most. She seems to have at least opened up to Lady Kyouko enough to admit wanting to help, but is hesitant to trust in others, or rely upon them for help.

Background:
"Work hard, and you too can bear your heart upon this stage! Bare your souls to the Queen, and dance until your heart is freed!"

Such were the first words that Vivian remembered, proclaimed by one of the Queen's most loyal knights. Born to the underwater city of Lyonesse, populated almost exclusively by Glacies and aquatic species that could tolerate the cold, Vivian grew up around those with identical dreams to her. To serve her queen, to hone her skills to perfection, to defend her home, and to relive the fairy tale ballet ballads of old. Body, mind, and soul were harnessed to their utmost limits, training through grueling weeks where she didn't stop to rest. Every glacies of Lyonesse shines like a jewel, but Vivian would settle for nothing less than the top.

Hard work didn't always provide results, but for Vivian, raw passion burned in her frozen heart. To outdo those around her, to shine for her Queen, and to one day see the sun...those dreams drove Vivian through her life. But, dreams and passion alone aren't all life is worth living for. Make no mistake: Vivian is endlessly talented, dedicated, and hard working. But this isn't the story of a girl who did everything right. Toes were stepped upon, friendships broken, ties severed. To reach the top required sacrifice, and Vivian would sacrifice anyone and anything to exist at the top. For her soul to be free.

Callous and melancholy, Vivian was only alive upon the stage. Outside of it, her heart was icier than any Glacies. Love was only for the Queen. Time was only for the dance. Words were only for "yes" and "no". Rest was only until the next show.

When finally her dream came true, Vivian shone brightly upon the ice. The Queen watching, the city in silence, rapt attention all upon her in the Royal Ballet.

Allegro giusto...waltz...moderato...

Like a machine she danced, marvelously cutting the ice under her feet with such movements the theater had never seen, or would see again for some time. The curtains fell, the roses were thrown, and the last bow was taken...

And, behind those closed curtains, the limbs of Vivian had reached their breaking point and snapped. Flawless ice meant to last a lifetime broken down into irreparable pieces. To freeze new materials into place for a Glacies was child's play...but there was an ugliness to it as well. Perhaps it was a punishment. Her one moment in the spotlight was her last, as the ruined Vivian was wheeled off by those she despised as talentless, tended to by those she'd severed her heart from, and her new, blackened limbs made of beautifully cut obsidian inlaid with gold, all replaced save her left hand, the one left clutching the rose at curtain call.

She would never be the peerless, perfect ballerina the Queen had once seen. Would never take to the stage out of fear of her movements, now slower, weighed differently by the lovingly crafted replacements for her body, became a sluggish thing that she hated most of all. And so, she would leave Lyonesse behind without a word of thanks to anyone. Not for those who cheered for her, cared for her, or yearned for her return to the stage. A broken thing had no place in the perfect Royal Ballet.

Making her way across the ocean, Vivian would find herself at odds between a Varjan vessel and a boat from a no-name, no-consequence island called "Shizuyama". Something stirred in her chest upon seeing humans fighting their hardest. Their ugly, hard-fought battle, wherein they had no choice but to shed their lives, their bodies, their very souls for it. ...What purpose was there, in lives so small, so talentless, ignorant and indifferent, that she felt might as well have never been brought to this world at all?

...But, even ugly, shattered things, flailing as desperately as they can and wailing at the world were beautiful in their own way. With one grand movement that seemed to jump from the moon itself down, she would sink the Varjan ship with a gargantuan slice along its hull, before gliding along the water once more.

...Perhaps...here, her heart really could be free.

Da Roolz!

"Hm. So many types of people...I don't know how you stand this heat. And humidity. But, you're rather lucky. Not many would get the chance in all their lives to see a Royal Ballerina, especially not outsiders. Keep your eyes on me, if you want to be impressed."

I arrive!

[PaulHaynek]

Update out!

---

@The Irish Tree
Acceptomundo!

[Rezod92]

Kicks door down

I'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.

Shadow Rat

Appearance:

Instead of yellow, the color of her clothes are dark silver. She has tanned skin and her hair has navy highlights.

Name: Zeka Willows

Race: Large Mouse

Magic/Abilities/Equipment:
The Umbral Orb- A powerful artifact filled with ancient dark energies of a bygone era that Zeka managed to steal from a Baphomet. It hangs as an amulet on the side of her pants. With it, she can: Create and manipulate dark energy, create dark copies of herself, can use umbrakinesis, can become dark mist, shadow walk(teleporting through shadows) and summon dark familiars in the forms of.....well, rats. She can even create spectral weapons, with preference being daggers and bows. Zeka can also create what she dubbed as the Null Cloak, a hood-like shroud of darkness that lets her become transparent in dim light and near invisible in the dark, going completely invisible at midnight for one minute.

Quiet as a Mouse- Small and agile, Zeka excels at hit and run tactics in a fight, as well as being an silent and elusive skirmisher in larger fights.

Personality: Adventurous, mischievous, rebellious yet down to earth, smart and willing to do the right thing. A chaotic rat with a heart of gold, always ready for the next big score.

Backstory:

Born from the union of a stealthy large mouse who caught the eye of an exiled ex-Order sorcerer, Zeka spent much of her childhood exploring and causing mischief in her hometown of Gnoll City, a quiant yet prospering mamono-friendly port town on the edge of the Old Continent. Naturally, seeing such a restless and eager spirit in their daughter, Zeka's parents knew she will soon outgrow her stomping grounds and yearn for the world beyond her home. And so, as any loving parent would, they prepared her. Her mother taught Zeka what it means to be a large mouse, how being quick, quiet and smart made a world of difference. Her father taught her magic, even though he told her that, despite being blessed with his genes, she would need a catalyst to help unlock her magical potential. This would not discourage her, as she vowed to find a way. When she finally came of age, with heartfelt goodbyes, Zeka bid her friends and family farewell and set out on her new journey.

Her opportunity came in the form of a group of witches searching for new recruits for their local Sabbath. Pretending to be interested in joining, Zeka followed the witches back to their headquarters, a castle ruled by their baphomet. As they gave her a tour, she managed to slip away and began exploring the castle on her own. Soon, she found room containing and an ominous looking orb. Before she could make a grab for it, Zeka was caught red-handed by the baphomet and her witches. As the witches held her down, the leader decided the mouse's fate:

Corrupted into a lust-crazed minion by the very orb she tried to steal.

However, as she was being subjected to the orb's energies, to everyone's shock, Zeka did not become corrupted. In fact, the very opposite happened: The orb reacted favorably to the mouse and was giving her power. At that moment, Zeka had finally found it......Her catalyst. Taking advantage of this newfound gift, the mouse caused the entire room to be engulfed in a dark fog, blinding and confusing everyone. She snatched the orb out of the baphomet's hand before escaping through the glass window, inadvertently becoming invisible as she vanished into the woods.

As Zeka explored new places and took in new sights, her need to cause trouble didn't subside. And with dark powers at her disposal, she found herself with a new job:

Thievery.

Every city and town she went, she offered services as a thief. And with her skills and powers, she became good at it. Great, as a matter of fact. Earning the title "The Shadow Rat" for her ability to get in and out of highly secured fortresses, Zeka's name quickly became known across the land....

It was through this that her name became known to a certain Inari, who just so happen to be in need of such skilled individuals for the crisis in Shizuyama.

Zeka didn't know who this Lady Kyouko was or how the ryu's letter got to her, but one thing was certain: A new adventure was calling...

....and she'd be a fool to not answer it.

"Hey, is this yours? Hehe, nah, I'm kidding, I didn't take anything. You wouldn't have noticed if I did. Only if it's something of worth do I even bother. Finacial, sentimental, informational. Doesn't matter. If you want it, I can get it. So....what needs stealing?"

[PaulHaynek]

@Rezod92

I see no problems so far, so accepted!

I'll write you in on the next update.

[The Irish Tree]

A festival can be anywhere as long as you have fun!

Appearance

Name: Matsuri Okitsu

Race: Inari (Single-Tailed Fledgeling)

Magic/Abilities/Equipment:

• Black-Burnt Bamboo Cannon: One of the first fireworks cannons used in her family's history, this charred black tube has one very simple function: Launch some fireworks! It also just so happens to be pretty heavy, making it function well as a battering ram if needed.
• Summertime Memory: Matsuri can virtually always be seen wearing her yukata, albeit a bit loosened to make moving around a lot easier. The fabric has seen a few years of use, but her Inari nature has kept it strong and vibrant.
• Papa's Charm: A little talisman with the faintest fragrance of home. A little reminder that she'll always have somewhere to return to.
• Single Tailed Inari: Despite lacking any experience using magic prior to her becoming a Monster, Matsuri's Inari powers manifest as simple magics that allow her to create objects, small flames, gusts of wind, and minor illusions...and, ironically, have given her a near-infinite supply of fireworks for her personal ammo storage. She isn't skilled enough at using her own powers to hide her yokai nature.
• Okitsu Hanabi Catalog: A collection of fireworks of various sizes, colors, and brightnesses, serving as ammo for Matsuri's Bamboo Cannon. Each of these are beautiful works of art and chemistry in and of themselves, but can be used as disorienting and powerful weapons. Channeling her demonic energy, can almost infinitely generate the pieces of her catalog, making them closer to magic than simple fireworks.
  
  Okitsu Hanabi Catalog Version Matsuri

  Starlight Sparkler: Demonic energy is infused into a simple hand-held sparkler, turning it into a flaming torch capable of weakening metal over continued contact, and causing the trail of multi-colored sparks to form a roughly whip-like shape that can grasp objects. Typically used in one's hand, but can be launched from the Bamboo Cannon.
  
  Bang-Bang Bomber: An extremely simple firework that does one thing: Blow up extremely loud. Effectively the "normal" ammo for her Bamboo Cannon, this is Matsuri's go-to, given the strong impact, loud explosion, and ease of use. Can even be thrown as a grenade if she doesn't want to use her cannon.
  
  Never-Ending Starry Night: The most simple launched firework Matsuri has available, in the style of a Chrysanthemum shell. A beautiful golden rain of sparks in a sphere erupts from the shell, radiating light continually in a spherical radius. Useful for lighting up an area, or serving as a flash bomb for enemies. The sphere will persist for about ten seconds.
  
  Kyuubi Buster: A shell that Matsuri devised herself after taking over the business, a nine-stage bursting shell that lets off brilliant white streaks of light that loop back around on themselves as they descended, forming a twirling stream of lights. When launched by Matsuri, the nine-stage shell will quickly go through each stage, having enough speed to even knock a grown man down as it flies, with the ninth stage of explosive release resulting in a magical spiral of fire that's as deadly as it is beautiful.
  
  Matsuri Color Bomber: A somewhat pointless firework meant to serve as a signal more than anything, Color Bomber makes a giant symbol in the sky designed to look like Matsuri sticking her tongue out and giving a thumbs-up. ...That's it. That's all it does. "Papa...I hope you see this wherever you are! I'm doing great!"

Personality:
Kind and dignified, Matsuri carries herself with a surprising amount of dignity given her humble origins. With a can-do attitude and a lot of guts, she's braver than most would expect a girl who, quite literally a month ago, couldn't stand on her own two feet. Still, just because she's dignified doesn't mean she can't be rowdy when pushed, having enough bumpkin in her to tussle if need be. More than anything, Matsuri enjoys making people smile, and lighting up the lives of others whether it be with fireworks or conversation.

Background:
"Hey...did you hear? Okitsu's little girl got sick real bad."

"How horrible...she isn't even hardly a lady, and her life's already being cut short..."

"The boss has holed himself up for days...can't blame him. I don't know what I'd do if my kid was coughing up blood."

"Hope the boss snaps out of it soon but...hell, we'll all pitch in! Okitsu Fireworks won't be going under while we're still breathin'!"

It was an utterly ordinary life, lived in an utterly ordinary way, cut short in a strange, extraordinary way. Matsuri Okitsu had lived an ordinary life in her home, the daughter of a fireworks maker who had raised her all on his own. Having found the child abandoned in the mountains, Makoto Okitsu would raise her as if she were his flesh and blood. Makoto's luck suddenly took a major turn after his act of kindness, receiving a great amount of money from the local lord for a plethora of fireworks...enough so, that Okitsu Hanabi went from a one-man operation, to a village-scale production that could deliver fireworks around the entirety of Zipangu!

Teaching his adoptive daughter everything he knew, Makoto would become wealthy enough to give the both of them a good life, all while teaching Matsuri the in's and out's of making fireworks and running their new explosive empire. The workers were just as much family to Matsuri as her own father was, with countless aunts, uncles, and even a few yokai in the mix working to make the best fireworks that Zipangu had ever seen. Life couldn't be better, until a week after Matsuri's 17th birthday, she suddenly collapsed, coughing up blood. All at once, Makoto's spirit broke and he sought every cure possible for his daughter, eventually seeing the knowledgeable Ryu known as Lady Kyouko who would deliver a terrifying revelation:

Matsuri had been abandoned as a baby due to a curse on her, that would end her life before she turned 18. She'd been a ticking time bomb from the start. Thrown into despair, Makoto devoted every waking hour of his life to Matsuri, wanting to at least make the last year of her life as happy as possible. On what would have been the last night of her life, cradled in her father's arms, Makoto would receive an offer from one of the most powerful Inari in the region:

"Give yourself over to me, and I'll ensure your daughter lives. Even if she won't be human anymore...she'll be happy. I can promise you that."

On that night, Makoto vanished, along with Matsuri's illness...and her humanity. Awakening as an Inari, Matsuri was...disoriented at first, but was in perfect health, and now left with the reins to the business. It was tough getting by without her father, but...Matsuri knew that he was alive, and probably happy, and would carry on running his dream, waiting for him to return one day. That was, until she heard about the Varjan invasion of Shizuyama, one of the nearby islands. Bidding farewell to her large family of workers and yokai alike, Matsuri would storm off to Lady Kyouko herself, desperate to help. Why? Simple.

Her father was born in Shizuyama, and had emigrated to the mainland as a young boy.

If the land ever had any meaning to her father at all, she'd fight for it...and make sure to lighten up the hearts of those who'd lost people, homes, and land to the Varjans.

Da Roolz!

"Hey, Hey! Matsuri Okitsu has arrived! Nice to meet you! If you ever want to see something really cool, or have any idea for special fireworks, just come find me. Hehe...I bet even Lord Oja'd be floored with the fireworks I can fire off. Oh and uh...kon-kon? Is that how Inari talk? I'm a little new to all this...hehe..."

Bang bang boom time!

[FroggRFlowR]

She's back.

--------------------------------------

Tomi Oro

Dragon

Appearance

Golden horns sprout from Tomi's locks of blond hair. Her eyes, the color of wealth, betray her origins as a Gold Dragon. The era of great flying scaly lizards is long gone, and nowadays, people encounter Tomi in the guise of a pale-skinned, medium-sized monster girl with a formidable tail covered in iron-strong scales. Most of the time, she prefers minimal clothing or, to be precise, lazy attire, opting for a veil or loose clothing. However, if necessity arises, Tomi dons golden scale-like armor over her arms, legs, shoulders, and chest, leaving her belly area exposed. This armor seems to appear at will, most similar to the pair of dragon wings that seamlessly materialize and disappear from her lower back.

Personality
Tomi embodies laziness, finding solace in the embrace of sleep and activities that demand minimal effort. While the majority of dragons exude an arrogant air toward others, Tomi predominantly adopts an uninterested stance in most matters — except when it comes to treasures and what she deems significant. Despite the potential perception of arrogance stemming from her indifferent approach, it doesn't imply any malicious intent. Rather, it is an inherent aspect of her nature, for dragons are fundamentally guided by instinct more than many other monsters.

Abilities

Dragon Wings - Tomi has seemingly no wings, but can make them appear or disappear from her lower back and take flight if necessary. An ability born from dragon natural abilities mixed with a bit of magic.

Inferno - No surprises here to anyone who's ever stepped outside or read a book - as other members of her species, Tomi has access to her fire breathing ability. Whether in human or dragon form, her breath seem to have the same destructive power. However it also takes a toll on Tomi, making her very tired...like most other actions she does.

Immense Strength - Perhaps less spread among all species of dragons, Tomi is incredibly strong physically. All dragons are strong and intelligent, but Tomi - or perhaps gold dragons, as she never met another - has access to incredible strength when she feels like putting effort into it.

Dragon Form - As most people are probably aware of due to their original power levels, dragons have not completely fallen under the spell of the New Demon Lord. That is to say, they retained the ability to temporarily change back to their dragon form from before the new Demon Lord took over. This is not often used, unless in dire danger or to carry treasures - any treasures - back to their lair with ease.

Dragon and Armor Form

Background
Tomi was born as a dragon monster girl. The first few years of her life were spent with what she guessed was her mother, but ended up quickly being left on her own as was probably custom for Gold Dragons. With the instincts kicking in, she did not struggle that much to carve a place for herself in the wilderness. Life was incredibly lonely, but she actually did not mind it at all and was content with her lot, not even imagining for a second that there could be more to life than this - which was, living as an absolute Ruler of the Earth on anything inside her immediate territory.

Indeed, for it is possible for a dragon to never meet, or mate, with a human male for their whole life contrary to some other monsters. One day, though, Tomi learned of the fate that would befall her if that was to happen and did not exactly enjoy the fact. That is exactly why she made the trip. One day, after she had killed off a few would-be dragon slayers, the still alive 'intellectual' of the group threatened her by telling her what would happen if she was to stay around here all her life. Tomi did not believe at first, and set out to do some research which included books, libraries and maybe even speaking to other dragon monster girls. Sadly - or not, depending on your position on this whole monster girl business - what the man had said was true. Annoyed but determined, Tomi left her territory to seek a mate. Not anyone would do, though, as it would have to be a worthy human male that stroke her fancy.

Her travels and goal were what led her, one way or another, to Shizuyama Island.

Quote:
And here I was having such a nice, long nap... what is all this then? Are you the ones I - is that an icicle?

[PaulHaynek]

@FroggRFlowR

Going to say accepted here for formalities' sake.