Difference between revisions of "Ketrus/KoizumiTaiko"

Revision as of 00:36, 6 April 2010

Description

Taiko stands there, on top of ten feet of glass, in a battle-ready stance with wooden staff at the ready. Her dress floats away in the wind to reveal body-tight shorts and tank top, as well as all four limbs strapped to capacity with throwing blades. "I may be mortal, Teacher, but I am prepared!"

So, what we've got here is Invincible Sword Princesses's little sister. Kanta, from Southlands Redux made an absolutely combat-inept socialite with a NPC bodyguard. He wanted a mortal musashi, hopefully one with Thrown, to act as a bodyguard.

Foolishly, I agreed to make one. When I was halfway through my shameless min/maxing (hey, a heroic mortal that has to go up against Exalts takes some effort) he informs me that the bodyguard was also to be a ten-year-old girl.

I only play her to make sure he isn't taking any liberties. Promise.

So, here's what the end result looks like. Koizumi Taiko was raised from birth to be a dangerous person, and she has fulfilled this training very well. Although only the most discerning of trained eyes could perceive it, she is literally strapped to capacity with throwing knives underneath her colorful silk garments, and the long wooden staff she keeps strapped to her back is not for show. No matter where she goes or what she does, she moves with poise and certainty, not to mention a practiced silence. Her eyes are a cloudy grey, sharp and bright, but unexpressive. She often seems distracted, but that is only because her mind is open to all senses in what can only be described as a paranoid awareness.

For as long as she can remember, she has been in Training, and it does not occur to her that such Training can ever end. Constantly expecting ambush, danger, and lethal combat, she is not a healthy young woman. Her calm exterior is but a conditioned mask for the anxiety and anticipation. Only when every possible threat has shown itself, challenged her, and been killed can she feel like she can relax. She is a killer by training and a follower by nature, a soldier for eight of the ten years of her life. Koizumi Taiko is thoroughly and perhaps irredeemably insane.

Recently, Taiko Exalted as a Forsaken anathema when she earned the attention of Heaven itself with her skill and daring. By guile and force, she disarmed a Night caste swordswoman her Teacher wished to lure to a contact for a meeting in Paragon, and before the daiklave hit the ground, Taiko was made a Dawn.

Kanta is only aware that he gained the attentions of some strange ninja girl after 'defeating' her former master through trickery and guile. He has no real clue as to the extent of her training or any facet of her past life, as she's been reluctant to discuss it. Thinking him one of the 'Greatest' in all Creation, Taiko took to following him, convinced that he could make her great too. With her recent Exaltation--the only part for which Kanta can claim responsibility, placing her in mortal danger--she is utterly convinced that his 'training' works. She would follow him to the mouth of Oblivion and back, even though he is nowhere near brave enough to lead her there.

Taiko, were she not so slavishly devoted to her 'Teacher', would be a Thrillseeker of the purest sort. She is literally addicted to stunting. The powerful personality that keeps her psychosis in check is haunted continually by nightmares and visions of the horrors commited by her and upon her. The affirming sensation of attempting the impossible--regularly--and succeeding is one of the only things that keeps her going. Locked in a plain room with no way out for as short as a week, she would probably go mad.

Character Sheet

Name:   Koizumi Taiko        Concept: Henchgirl
Player: Ketrus               Nature:  Follower
Caste:  DAWN!                Anima:   ... not sure yet
XP:     0/75
                            (=Attributes=)
(Physical)              (Social)                (Mental)
Strength      [XXXXX]*  Charisma      [XX...]   Perception    [XXX..]
Dexterity     [XXXXX]   Manipulation  [X....]   Intelligence  [XX...]
Stamina       [XX...]   Appearance    [XXX..]   Wits          [XXX..]
  *It was the Exaltation.  What can I say?  UCS has a sense of humor.
                            (=Abilities=) 2
(Dawn)                  (Zenith)                (Twilight)
.Archery      [.....]   .Endurance    [X....]   Craft         [X....]
.Brawl        [.....]   Perform       [X....]   Investigation [.....]
.Martial Arts [X....]   Presence      [.....]   Lore          [XXX..]
.Melee        [XXXXX]   Resistance    [XX...]   Medicine      [X....]
.Thrown       [XXXXX]   .Survival     [XX...]   Occult        [.....]

(Night)                 (Eclipse)               (Specialties)
.Athletics    [XXXXX]   Bureaucracy   [.....]   Thrown:  Knives +3
Awareness     [XXXXX]   Linguistics   [X....]   Melee:  Staff +2
.Dodge        [XX...]   Ride          [X....]
Larceny       [.....]   Sail          [.....]
.Stealth      [XXX..]   Socialize     [.....]

Languages:  ??
    (=Backgrounds=)                        (=Virtues=) 6
Resources      [XXX..]        Compassion [X....]    Temperance  [XX...]
Mentor         [XX...]        Conviction [XXXX.]    Valor       [XXXX.]
                              Virtue Flaw:  Berserk Anger
                              Condition:  Insulted, Belittled, Demeaned
4                      
Essence        [XXX.......]   Knives: 15 acc, +8L dam, 3 rate, 25 range
Willpower      [XXXXXXXXXX]   Staff:  16 spd, 15 acc, +13B dam, 17 def, 3 rate
Limit          [.........!]   Dodge: 10, Soak: 10/9, BInit: 8

Health Levels:                Personal:    5/19
-0:  [ ]                      Peripheral: 42/42
-1:  [ ]                      Committed:   8/0
-2:  [ ] [ ]
-4:  [ ]
Incap[ ]

                             (=Charms=)
(Athletics)
Graceful Crane Stance                         (3m, scene, ref)
  No Balance Checks
Monkey Leap Technique                         (1m, turn, ref)
  Leap Str*10 yards, x2 horizontal
(Awareness)
Sensory Acuity Prana                          (5m, scene, simp)
  +Ess dice to Awareness
Surprise Anticipation Method                  (1m, inst, ref)
  Negate Surprise
(Melee)
Golden Essence Block                          (1m/2d, inst, ref)
  Parry @ 2d/1m
Dipping Swallow Defense                       (2m, inst, ref)
  Parry @ Full
Bulwark Stance                                (3m, turn, simple)
  Parry All @ Full
Five-Fold Bulwark Stance                      (5m1w, scene, ref)
  Parry All @ Full
(Thrown)
Triple-Distance Attack Technique              (3m, inst, supp)
  x3 Range to thrown attack
Cascade of Cutting Terror                     (5m, inst, supp)
  Cannot be dodged, doubles Thrown pool

Backgrounds:

Merits:
Lucky 5
Prodigy(Thrown) 2
Daredevil 3
Signature Style(Impossible Speed) 2
Heirloom(1)
--Prodigy(Melee) and Destiny EXALTIFIED

Flaws:
Small 3
Child 3
Nightmares 3 -- tend to roleplay it 'harder' than the flaw describes.
                She only ever really regains sleeping WP after a -very- good day.
Secrets(Trained Assassin) 1

Equipment:
Psuedo-Jade Clothes -- Kanta's hearthstone enhances mundane objects.
3/3 soak

Earth-Empowered Exceptional Chainmail Shirt
6/4 soak, 0 mobility, 0 

Perfect Enchanted(?) Psuedo-Jade Staff -- Kanta's HS
+8 spd, +3 acc, +8B dam, +5 def, 3 rate

Exceptional Throwing Knives
+1 acc, +3L dam, 3 rate, 25 range

One Perfect Psuedo-Jade Throwing Knife -- Kanta's HS
+3 acc, +3L dam, 3 rate, 25 range

XP Record

 4 Intelligence 1->2
10 Thrown 3->5
12 Melee 3->5
 2 Dodge 1->2
 2 Survival 1->2
 2 Resistance 1->2
 6 Stealth 1->3
 6 Lore 1->3
 6 Athletics 1->3
 6 Awareness 3->4 
 3 Melee specialty:  Staff +1->+2

EXALTATION(!) [7 xp wasted on abilities, 4 on attributes, still 4 behind on attr :(]
 0 10 charms
 0 Str 2->5 (Oh, come on, what could be funnier?)
 0 Athletics 3->5
 0 Awareness 4->5

16 Essence 3

75 xp spent

Notes

Thunderbolt Attack Prana                      (5m1w, inst, supp)
  Double rolled damage
Precision of the Striking Raptor              (1m/1d, inst, supp)
  +1 mote/die to thrown attack

(Combos)
Watch out!                                    (1w, +1m/SAM, +2m/DSD)
  Surprise Anticipation Method(3)+Dipping Swallow Defense(2)
  Fluff to follow
Breath of the Steel Dragon!                   (1w, +1m/SAM, 10m1w+1m/1d /attack, +2m/defense)
  SAM(3)+PotSR(2)+CoCT(3)+TAP(3)+DSD(2), 13 xp

Taiko closes her eyes, instinct and magic leading her to deflect the treacherous blows that would catch her by surprise. Taking the offensive, she leaps into the air before her foes, her staff whirling protectively before her so quickly that it leaves contrails of golden essence hanging in the air. These merge with her anima in the shape and form of massive scales that follow her jump, creating the illusion of a great golden dragon. Any and all attacks against Taiko seem to 'bounce' off its scales, as her staff continues to flurry, before the attack reaches completion at the apex of her jump. Taiko shouts, "Breath of the Steel Dragon!", and truly it seems that her anima has become the roaring head of the essence monster. From its open mouth pour thousands upon thousands of steel blades, unavoidably eviscerating her foe.

When using this charm, Taiko MUST use her dice actions to make one or multiple Thrown attacks. Each of these cost 10 motes and 1 willpower. They have double her normal Thrown pool, cannot be dodged, and double the number of damage successes after they have been rolled. Additionally, she MUST buy at least 1 and up to 10 extra dice for each attack at the cost of 1 mote per die. Finally, she MAY reflexively become aware of any unknown threat for 1 mote per threath, and she MAY reflexively parry any known melee attack against her for 2 motes per parry.

Appearances

• Ketrus/KoizumiTaiko/TaikoExalts : The name says it all

Musings

Comments