Member
Mae
BlazingBark
Lord Wraith
wanderingwolf
Mole
Ladypug
Gunther
Sewer Rat
Dioxide
CyclingTortoiseＳａｉｓｈｕ
Name
Tazugane Saishu
最 終 - Final
鶴 が 音 - Crane's Call
最 終 - Final
鶴 が 音 - Crane's Call
Age
38
Totem
Crane
Appearance
Saishu's most striking feature varies upon who you ask and when they have last seen him, though his eyes have consistently ranked first or second. Peasantry of the Endoyuki village fondly remember Saishu for his eyes, first as a long-lashed, rosy-cheeked princeling, and later as a steely-gazed young man, visible even through the shutters of his norimono. Now, those who have seen him know him to be a ghastly, pitiful creature, with a set of sullen, uninviting eyes visible even through layers of his bandages. This is one of the reasons Saishu has not returned to Endoyuki to retrieve his belongings -- Somewhere in the world, to the peasants who wouldn't know the matters of courtesans, samurai, and honor, Saishu Tazugane is still the daimyo's handsome firstborn son.
To those who know him in the present, Saishu is covered in bandages from his head to his toe, with only portions of his hands, eyes, mouth, and feet retaining their original olive complexion. Aside from these patches, Saishu's skin is otherwise visibly blistered and warped, covered rather like a mummy with gauze wrappings. Saishu walks with a strong limp, has a voice that can only be called "choking", and has a tendency to slouch and turn away from those he speaks to. He reeks of a strong smelling burn salve made of a prickly, cactuslike plant, powdered roots, and honey, which he applies to himself every morning. His eyes are glazed and black, and his nails long and dirty. His only clothing aside from his wrappings are a grey-brown tunic, a black hakama, and a pair of sandals. In lieu of the matching ivory set of a katana, wakizashi, and tanto he once carried, his side is now adorned by a single, undecorated katana.
To those who know him in the present, Saishu is covered in bandages from his head to his toe, with only portions of his hands, eyes, mouth, and feet retaining their original olive complexion. Aside from these patches, Saishu's skin is otherwise visibly blistered and warped, covered rather like a mummy with gauze wrappings. Saishu walks with a strong limp, has a voice that can only be called "choking", and has a tendency to slouch and turn away from those he speaks to. He reeks of a strong smelling burn salve made of a prickly, cactuslike plant, powdered roots, and honey, which he applies to himself every morning. His eyes are glazed and black, and his nails long and dirty. His only clothing aside from his wrappings are a grey-brown tunic, a black hakama, and a pair of sandals. In lieu of the matching ivory set of a katana, wakizashi, and tanto he once carried, his side is now adorned by a single, undecorated katana.
Personality
For a travelling swordsman, Saishu is fairly somber and reserved; He declines the fights offered to him, steers clear of tournaments or contests, and sleeps in abandoned roadside sheds more often than inns. For all his haggardly features and standoffish ways, those brave enough to speak to him usually find him to be more dull than frightening -- He rebukes nearly all conversation from barkeeps to ferrymen, doesn't give people more information than his first name, and has as little opinion on any matter that would not be impolite. His curtness would seem artificial if not for a labored, raspy voice and a mummified face of bandages. Most who speak with him get the impression that speaking, like many things, pains him.
Saishu is a ronin, though he is pointedly neither a hitman nor a bandit -- Saishu affords food and fresh wrappings by begging in the street, which he believes to be more honorable than working as a hired sword for a vengeful peasant or merchant. Aside from a naturally unflinching, dry personality, Saishu's actions stem from a strict adherence to the samurai code he was raised with, despite the fact that he is no longer a samurai. He has an underlying level of scorn for lower castes, lives as closely to the tenets of bushido as he can, has a staunch pride in his clan and dojo, and generally only shows interest in quiet, scholarly pursuits. Accordingly, those who know Saishu well know that he has a reserved fondness for poetry and tea drinking.
Saishu is a ronin, though he is pointedly neither a hitman nor a bandit -- Saishu affords food and fresh wrappings by begging in the street, which he believes to be more honorable than working as a hired sword for a vengeful peasant or merchant. Aside from a naturally unflinching, dry personality, Saishu's actions stem from a strict adherence to the samurai code he was raised with, despite the fact that he is no longer a samurai. He has an underlying level of scorn for lower castes, lives as closely to the tenets of bushido as he can, has a staunch pride in his clan and dojo, and generally only shows interest in quiet, scholarly pursuits. Accordingly, those who know Saishu well know that he has a reserved fondness for poetry and tea drinking.
Strengths
Iron Wing
The Clan Tazugane prides themselves on two things -- their honored samurai, and the dojo that trains them. As the firstborn son of Daimyo Hiro Tazugane, Saishu was trained in Tetsuya Tsubasa Ryu, or, the Iron Wing style. Passed down from father to son throughout the Tazugane clan, Iron Wing kenjutsu emphasizes deft, punishing strikes with the flat of the sword against an opponent's blade, in order to open up their defenses or deny them a chance to strike. Aside from the Tazugane crest, it is named for the sweeping, winglike swings necessary to control the opponent's sword, as well as the many leaps and acrobatic jumps the style is known for, which Saishu now lacks the flexibility to perform.
Learned
Raised the firstborn son of the main branch of Clan Tazugane, Saishu's destiny as a samurai meant for two things; He would be trained to fight, and he would be trained to think. Of the thinking portion of his studies, Saishu showed a great aptitude for writing -- particularly his spelling and diction, the legibility of his calligraphy, and the quality of his poetry. Aside from writing, Saishu was schooled in history, mathematics, and law, and retains an above-average knowledge of all three fields.
The Clan Tazugane prides themselves on two things -- their honored samurai, and the dojo that trains them. As the firstborn son of Daimyo Hiro Tazugane, Saishu was trained in Tetsuya Tsubasa Ryu, or, the Iron Wing style. Passed down from father to son throughout the Tazugane clan, Iron Wing kenjutsu emphasizes deft, punishing strikes with the flat of the sword against an opponent's blade, in order to open up their defenses or deny them a chance to strike. Aside from the Tazugane crest, it is named for the sweeping, winglike swings necessary to control the opponent's sword, as well as the many leaps and acrobatic jumps the style is known for, which Saishu now lacks the flexibility to perform.
Learned
Raised the firstborn son of the main branch of Clan Tazugane, Saishu's destiny as a samurai meant for two things; He would be trained to fight, and he would be trained to think. Of the thinking portion of his studies, Saishu showed a great aptitude for writing -- particularly his spelling and diction, the legibility of his calligraphy, and the quality of his poetry. Aside from writing, Saishu was schooled in history, mathematics, and law, and retains an above-average knowledge of all three fields.
Weaknesses
Ghoulish Scars
Saishu is a limping monstrosity of the man he once was. Aside from the layer of salve-covered wrappings and charred flesh visible in thin gaps beneath it, Saishu's face -- particularly the space where his nose, cheeks, and left ear once were -- is indescribably raw and foul according to those who have seen it. Saishu must cover his face, and most of his bare body while he heals fully from his burns, lest he cause children to cry, women to scream, and grown men to keel over in their own sick. The process of removing his wrappings, bathing, applying his salve, and reapplying his bandages takes two hours a day, every day, and is excruciating. Additionally, he lacks even half the flexibility and energy he retained before his burns, compensated for with a careful, overly-defensive style.
Pyrophobic
To say Saishu wants nothing to do with fire would be a generous understatement -- He strays at the furthest edge of campfire circles, leans back from roadside carts roasting eels, and extinguishes the candles, lanterns, and fireplaces of rooms he has purchased at inns. When confronted with fire by surprise, such as roaring flames of coal-burning engines, a torch being waved in his face, or the sight of fireworks, Saishu's body's only prepared response is to freeze until it has gone.
Saishu is a limping monstrosity of the man he once was. Aside from the layer of salve-covered wrappings and charred flesh visible in thin gaps beneath it, Saishu's face -- particularly the space where his nose, cheeks, and left ear once were -- is indescribably raw and foul according to those who have seen it. Saishu must cover his face, and most of his bare body while he heals fully from his burns, lest he cause children to cry, women to scream, and grown men to keel over in their own sick. The process of removing his wrappings, bathing, applying his salve, and reapplying his bandages takes two hours a day, every day, and is excruciating. Additionally, he lacks even half the flexibility and energy he retained before his burns, compensated for with a careful, overly-defensive style.
Pyrophobic
To say Saishu wants nothing to do with fire would be a generous understatement -- He strays at the furthest edge of campfire circles, leans back from roadside carts roasting eels, and extinguishes the candles, lanterns, and fireplaces of rooms he has purchased at inns. When confronted with fire by surprise, such as roaring flames of coal-burning engines, a torch being waved in his face, or the sight of fireworks, Saishu's body's only prepared response is to freeze until it has gone.
Theme
