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Post by scholarofwar on Sept 13, 2012 22:01:32 GMT -5
Character Biography:Account: scholarofwar Name: Abe no Seimei Age: 30s Affiliation: Non-Affiliated Physical Imagery:History:Abe no Seimei (921 – 1005) was a prominent figure of the Heian Period of Japanese history. He was a noted onmyôji, a leading specialist of onmyôdô. Onmyôji were specialists in magic and divination. Their court responsibilities ranged from tasks such as keeping track of the calendar, to mystical duties such as divination and protection of the capital from evil spirits. They could divine auspicious or harmful influences in the earth, and were instrumental in the moving of capitals. It is said that an onmyôji could also summon and control shikigami. Seimei was considered a member of the aristocratic Abe clan, a clan which has legendary ties to the Japanese Yamato imperial throne. His exact origins are not entirely clear, although later generations would hold varying opinions regarding his parents, therefore Seimei has become legendary in folklore. The famous interpretation of his birth stems from the theatrical tale, Kuzunoha, in which his mother is the titular character and a white fox spirit. She eloped with a minister named Abe no Yasuna. The Abe family tree instead states that his father was Abe no Masuki and his mother was Kamo no Yasunori's daughter. However, even this account has dubious accuracy since it is deemed to have been influenced by the Kuzunoha story. Masuki's elder brother, Abe no Haruki, has also been argued as Seimei's father. His onmyouji mentor, Kamo no Tadayuki, is another proposed father candidate due to Seimei's uncanny expertise and familiarity with the craft. He is also said to have been Abe no Miushi's descendant; Abe no Nakamaro is thought to be another ancestor. Due to one letter noting his rank to be a sugune (third class noble) and not the commonly perceived ason (first class noble), his linage is postulated to be an entirely different level of nobility. Even Seimei's given name is not clarified as there are no extant historical texts that provide any actual pronunciation. "Seimei" is a literal archaic reading of the Chinese characters used to create it and the popularly accepted name in fiction. Weaponry: Wooden fan – A seemingly conventional and delicate fan. Critical Strike:Shikigami – Seimei raises his fan and summons forth spirits to come to his defense or confound the enemy. If they act in the offensive, they will trip enemy troops or cause confusion in the ranks. If they act on the defensive, Abe no Seimei’s own defenses will increase for a short period of time. Due to the taxing nature of this ability, it may on be used every 3 posts.
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Post by Admin on Sept 13, 2012 22:54:51 GMT -5
Before I approve of this Character; we need to know more about these 'summoned spirits'. You describe characteristics and bolstering of their offensive and defensive capabilities, but we need to know what they actually can do and their weaknesses. For example; are they like weak Ashigaru, like peasant troops, or are they well trained in combat like Samurai?
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Post by scholarofwar on Sept 14, 2012 12:03:10 GMT -5
They are like Ashigaru. Conventionally, they can take the shape of animals or birds (i.e. foxes or sparrows). When I was writing that up, that was what I was envisioning.
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Post by Admin on Sept 14, 2012 12:08:12 GMT -5
Now they can change into animals? So, what is their limitations, as morphing is just generally a no-no.
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Post by scholarofwar on Sept 14, 2012 16:48:24 GMT -5
No, no...
Shikigami are like kami, and can take the form of animals when they enter a physical realm. I was merely using Ashigaru as a relatable example to clarify strength. Shikigami in this sense are in no way powerful, otherworldly beings, nor are they on the same scale as Samurai.
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Post by Kobayashi Yukiko [iHides] on Sept 14, 2012 17:16:21 GMT -5
Basically, the summoned spirits are in the shape of animals or birds from the start, if I understand it correctly.
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Post by Admin on Sept 14, 2012 18:01:57 GMT -5
-Approved
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