R Y U K U T h e S i l v e r D r a g o n
"as fast as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as daring as fire, and immovable as the mountain." - Sun Tzu
P h y s i c a l D e s c r i p t i o n
Standing a couple inches over six feet and composed of solid, corded muscle, Ryuku is a fine specimen to behold. He hails from the Far East and his facial features clearly depict as such, however, it is also evident that Ryuku is not pure of blood. His blood is a union of the West and East. More often than not you will see Ryuku wearing orange loose fit clothing embroidered with black and white ying yangs. His hair once long and raven black is now moonlight silver. Eyes that were a forest green have taken on a radiance and seem to glow emerald with an inner strength. Four jagged scars are clearly visible on Ryuku’s chest and torso, these are claw marks, given to him by his then enemy and now friend, Draconus.
H i s t o r y
Born of a forbidden love between an outsider and empress Ryuku was destined to the life of a slave at best and at worse, death. As an infant he was taken by those loyal to his mother and left with the monks of the long hidden Obsidian Monastery. The monastery was all but a secret, the sort of place that local folk have dark rumors and myths about, a place where someone in hiding could stay hidden.
As a youth Ryuku didn’t know of his royal heritage, he knew only the tough training and harsh life that he was raised in. It may have been that lack of a past that allowed Ryuku to focus intently on his training. Or it could have been that his masters were all long-nosed men that were responsible for his training.
Whatever the case, the only thing that is clear is that Ryuku travels the realms by foot and continues to learn and perfect his style of martial combat. He has yet to take a true student, though he has been known to trade techniques with those he finds worthy.
Ryuku’s most notable opponent came in the form of the Dragon God, Draconus Kain Scarlet, of the realm Baransu. The two clashed on the top of a mountain, Ryuku using no weapons and his opponent using two finely crafted Katanas. The fight was so intense that when it was finished a crater replaced the top of that mountain, Ryuku also received the only scars that his body could not heal, four long jagged claw marks across his chest.
E q u i p m e n t
W e a p o n
Normally Ryuku uses only his body, but there are occasions where he will use the white-wood walking staff he carries.
A r m o u r
Ryuku wears no armor, only his orange clothing.
A b i l i t i e s & C a p a b i l i t i e s
--P h y s i c al--
Ryuku is far older than he appears and has spent his entire life mastering and perfecting himself with the art of Qi-Gong. The philosophical approach of Qi-Gong applied his everyday life has helped to increase his human potential. Qi Gong is the art of mastering the flow of energy in the body, the mind and the spirit. It requires a calm and peaceful mind combined with rhythmic breathing coordinated with slow, stylized, fluid and repetitive movement.
Ryuku is a master of himself in every sense of the word. His decades of dedicated training have shown him to perform somewhat superhuman feats. He has studied and trained with masters from the different realms and has developed a style of fighting that is completely his own.
--Q i—
It is the ‘life-force’ or ‘breath’ in all living things. It can be used to produce a multitude of effects that are divided between internal, martial and mystical techniques.
Internal applications represent Ryuku’s ability to align his Qi with one of the Elements, and in doing so increasing his already impressive abilities. Internal techniques rarely have any visible, external effect other than a sudden increase in Ryuku’s strength, speed or other attributes.
Martial applications are the most overt, and typically are delivered via an unarmed attack. Many of these techniques are powerful and can easily level the playing field between Ryuku and more heavily armed and armored opponents. These attacks are delivered with precise fingertip attacks that deliver little or no damage and are known as atemi, or nerve-cluster strikes.
Mystical applications are the rarest and most inexplicable of all. There are often times no reasonable explanation for the things that Ryuku can accomplish. They are, quite frankly, and obviously, supernatural in nature.
(Qi techniques and Kuji-In overlap in many areas and after certain Kuji-In techniques are unlocked than they may make some Qi techniques useless.)
(Any Qi techniques I use will be directly used from here. )
--K u j i – i n—
Kuji-In is a ritual process that Ryuku learned from his Masters at the Obsidian Monastery. The training teaches the user to surpass the limits of humanity and reach ones true state. By using hand gestures, spoken words and focus the user can momentarily surpass these limits before they are ready.
A true master need not ‘unlock’ any, and is in a constant state of oneness with himself and the universe around him while the less skilled could be anywhere along the path. Each individual technique is called a Cut.
(Ryukus skill and power with Kuji-In depends solely on what’s agreed upon ahead of time; for more mundane fights Kuji-In is nothing more than a religious sort of practice, at a medium power he needs to activate the Cuts with hand-symbols and the Mantras, and at higher levels the Cuts are permanent and simply steps he’s achieved on his way to enlightenment. Mixing and matching can also be done to meet the desired strength and make an even mach between him and his opponent.)
RIN
Rin unlocks the user’s true physical and mental potential. With this Kuji-In unlocked Ryuku is capable of lifting two tons, sprint at speeds of up to 75mph and even shrug off small caliber rounds. Ryuku's ability to perceive and process information is also greatly enhanced.
Hand Position: Middle fingers extended, others interlocked.
Mantra: On Bai Shira Man To Ya So Wa Ka
KYO
At first glance the most obvious use of Kyo is that is allows the user to direct uncontrolled energies, such as the elements. However, it also increases the users own inner energy. This increases Ryuku’s ability to harness Qi techniques, particularly Mystical ones.
Hand Position: Index fingers and thumbs extended, middle fingers curled over index fingers. Others interlocked.
Mantra: On I Sha Na Ya In Ta Ra Ya So Wa Ka
TO
Known as ‘Harmony with the Universe’, this Cut helps the user to become in tune with what is around him. He becomes acutely aware of other living things, the wind, and the sun in relation to himself.
Hand Position: The two small fingers extended to form a V (tips touching). Thumbs extended and touching with the other fingers interlocked.
Mantra: on Ji Re Ta Ra Shi I Ta Ra Ji Ba Ra Ta No-o So Wa Ka.
SHA
This Cut makes the user nearly immune to outside influences to the body. He never succumbs to infection and resists all but the deadliest of poisons. Wounds heal more quickly and even more impressive, the user can impart these abilities onto another, increasing their ability to heal themselves.
Hand Position: Index fingers and thumbs extended, others interlocked.
Mantra: On Ha Ya Bai Shira Ma Ta Ya so Wa Kaon No-o Ma Ku San Man Da.
KAI
When the user achieves this cut others often believe it to be a premonition of danger. This is not so. What the user can do is feel the emotions of others and gather their intent, this aids in determining how an individual will act in a given situation.
Hand Position: The finger tips are touching the web between the fingers on the opposite hand. The thumbs are overlapping and touching the web between the thumb and index finger on the opposite hand.
Mantra: Ba Sa Ra Dan Kanon A Ga Na Ya In Ma Ya So Wa Ka
JIN
This Cut can only be achieved after Kai, and it enhances the user’s ability to feel emotions and intent. What’s more is that is also cloaks the user’s thoughts from others.
Hand Position: All fingers interlocked.
Mantra: On Hi Ro Ta Ki Sha No Gaji Ba Ta I So Wa Kaon Chi Ri Chi I Ba Ro
ZAI
This Cut represents an understanding of the elements of nature so deep that the practitioner appears to be able to control nature due to profound insight into its workings. The user can alter one form of energy into another, this is an enhanced version of Kyo.
Hand Position: Fingers outspread, palms out, index fingers and thumbs touching.
Mantra: On Chi Ri Chi I Ba Ro Ta Ya So Wa Ka
RETSU
This is transcending the limits of perception on many levels. It is with this technique that the user has the power to understand the relativity of perception, and allows the user travel to places that would normally be outside the power of an individual.
(It is with this Cut that Ryuku is able to travel to other realms and places.)
Hand Position: Index finger of left hand pointing up with the fingers of the right hand curling round it. The thumb of the right hand should be pressed against the outside edge of the nail on the index finger of the left hand.
Mantra: Ta Ya So Wa Ka.
ZEN
The ultimate goal of anyone seeking to know thyself. The state of Zen is just that, it is a constant state of knowing yourself. You transcend your mortal coil and leave the world around you. It can only be achieved once all eight other Cuts are achieved naturally.
(Pure RP technique, not useful in combat.)