[OOC] The Jade Stream

[VitaVitaAR]

I suppose that's true. She's just much more versed in swordplay.

[VitaVitaAR]

And now I have to figure out how to have Torako answer this question in a way that doesn't scream "I'm a former assassin!"

Hmm.

[Zeroth]

Just the name of the school would probably be fine--like, there's Karate and Tai Chi, but there's also Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu Karate, Chen Family Tai Chi, and so on. What Dai Xin is asking isn't really "how she fights" but what the lineage is. The Japanese art of using a sword can fall under kenjutsu, iaijutsu, and a few others, and those schools have the same kind of family or traditional branches associated with them. For example, just making up a name with google translate, "Oniyuri Ittou-ryu kenjutsu" would be "Tiger Lily One Sword Style, a school of battlefield swordsmanship." That last part being because Kenjutsu is swordsmanship as used by an actual soldier, while Kendo was a later art meant to emphasize personal growth and be used more as a sport/dueling art.

Which also brings up something interesting--the kanji used for "Tiger Lily" actually mean "demon" and then the combination characters that are used for the lily flower ("hundred synthesis," probably related to having a lot of petals or something that doesn't translate literally very well). Did you intentionally tie that into how she's a "flowery" girl with a "demonic" side, cause if so that's actually really clever.

[VitaVitaAR]

... Yes. I totally did that intentionally. I did not just think up something that sounded flowery but also aggressive since Tiger.

Yes.

Also thank you that helps a lot. ^^;

[Muttonhawk]

Huh, that language connection is actually kind of badass. Nice!

[VitaVitaAR]

Okay, first I missed the post, @Zeroth, but now, um...

Right now Torako's meant to look like a harmless, strange goofball who people wouldn't believe even if she outright said she was the Tiger Lily. Even though she looks like descriptions of the Tiger Lily, her behavior's meant to completely throw people off.

So she's probably not putting off any killing intent, especially since she has no intention of killing anyone currently present. ^^;

[Zeroth]

Rather than literally "the intent to murder someone" I meant it in the more "anime" sense of presence. A lot of times fighting ability/aura/etc is translated as killing intent not because the person actually intends to kill anyone, but because of their capability to kill someone. A fighter who puts "killing intent" into their attack is just being serious, rather than having the mindset of a spar.

Rather than trying to expose her secret identity, Dai Xin's legitimately just complimenting her. He can tell from the subtleties of her movements, her breathing, and other things that she knows how to handle herself in a fight--whether or not she's a famous assassin, he has no idea, he just knows that this woman has the habits of a swordsmaster. Martial artists (in real life too, oddly enough) often have a lot of little things they do that are indicators to other fighters that "this person knows how to fight." Like, for me (not saying I'm a master or anything) I started noticing after several years that I don't walk around corners the same way as other people, I do what's called Tai Sabaki (body control) to shift myself from one direction to another without picking up my feet so that I can see in that new direction as quickly as possible.

If it's still a problem I can change it, though.

[Muttonhawk]

I just assumed that Xin recognised the name, but I'll let you guys sort it out.

[VitaVitaAR]

@Zeroth: The thing with Torako is not that she's got a secret identity. If directly prompted she'll outright say she's the Tiger Lily, and she doesn't introduce herself as anything but "Ushijima Torako".

But she's so obfuscatingly ditzy, goofy, and harmless-looking that no-one suspects she's actually telling the truth, and not saying things to sound more impressive, get free food, or just for fun. No-one is meant to think she's remotely competent because she acts so silly.

She's supposed to be able to tell someone to their face that she's the Tiger Lily and maybe they'd believe it for a moment, but then they'd see her eat fifty meat buns and talk about how pretty birds are and how fun flying would be or something and think that there's no way someone so silly would ever be such a famed manslayer.

[Zeroth]

I'll go ahead and change it, then. Apologies, I just figured she'd have habits or something that would tip off somebody who knew what to look for. I'll probably just have Dai Xin say something to that effect that doesn't involve the mention of killing and such.

[Grey Star]

A bit late after I expressed interest previously, eheh. ^^.

Name: Ran Hoshigane

Gender: Female

Age: 22

Appearance: "Oho, ready for a bout?"

Can Manipulate Qi/Ki?: Yes.

Specialization: (Only fill in if above is a 'yes') Soulbinder

Abilities (if any): Ran is a practicioner of the "Flowing Sword Palm" school whose style is blend both swordsmanship and empty-handed strikes into one viable style- to be able to use the sword like a fist and the fist like a sword. In layman's terms, they're basically able to switch seamlessly between armed and unarmed combat in an instant to deal with the changing situation. As a result of such a style, their philosophy is to "bend as the reeds in the wind so as to not be broken like the rigid trees", where they strive to keep their opponents off-guard and parry their blows rather than outright block and use subtle actions, stances, and movements to chip away at their strength and position them into a disadvantageous spots. Considered to be a "soft" style, the Flowing Sword Palm school is inherently reactive and specializes in counterattacks that use the opponents own force against them much like aikido and tai chi. Movements of the sword and hand are smooth and flowing like water- wearing down and passing through obstacles. Using ki only serves to make the actions more fast and flexible while improving the power behind the blow, enough to shear through stone and lesser metals with sufficient momentum. Besides this style, Ran's sword has the soul of a yuki-onna dwelling in it that allows it to exude a freezing aura upon request that'll help hinder the enemy's movements by chilling objects upon impact with each successive strike only amplifying the effect.

Personality: Ran as a person could be described as laid-back and open-minded. She simply enjoys life as is with a respectful exuberance, relishing new experiences and meetings. Calm and companionable, the ronin is one who is rather easy to get along with. Though she is mild, she does have a strong sense of morals while holding a pragmatic mindset during such situations.

History: A wandering ronin that loves to explore the land, Ran had learned how to fight from her own glob-trotting journey. Taking bits and pieces from other styles here and there, she experimented and crafted the Flowing Sword Palm school from a variety of sources such as lessons and battles. Currently, she is continuing her journey to amass enough experience to create a stable foundation for her martial arts style and plans to settle down in the future to teach it to the common people to help give them a modicum of safety and pride.

[VitaVitaAR]

Going to be posting tomorrow morning. ^^;

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

@Grey Star: Seems good to me; accepted. You can post whenever.

[Grey Star]

Huzzah, thanks for the acceptance! I'll post either tonight or tomorrow.

[Muttonhawk]

I think I'll wait for Mr Pokemon/Pikmin to post before I have Kyang continue being disapproving.

[Zeroth]

"The Jade Stream is not a cooking RP."

If you get the reference Dai Xin will food-gasm strip.

[Muttonhawk]

Hey, it's not our fault that we've been in eateries most of the time! At least, as long as we don't want to strike out on our own...

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

We Soma now guys. :D
But don't worry, that'll change soon enough.

[VitaVitaAR]

Um, will post sometime tonight probably. ^^;

[Muttonhawk]

Feel free to interrupt the small talk.