Asher Shinsei

[Laggy]

Name: Shinsei Asher
DOB: July 1, 1977
Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'9"
Blood Type: B
Hobbies: Kendo, City Wandering
Fav. Color: Dim Orange (sunset hues)
Fav. Gemstone: Opal
Fav. Food: None
Least Fav. Food: None
Fav. Subject: None
Least Fav. Subject: English
Strengths: Physical ability, comprehension and academic performance
Weaknesses: Finding direction
Goal: If he had one, he'd be going after it.

[Points Available]
18 Stats
15 Base
4 Defects
0 Background
0 Arc Completion
19 Total Character Points
15 Used
4 Free

[Stats]
Body 7 (6+1)
Mind 5
Soul 7

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ACV: 6, 7 w/ melee
DCV: 4, 5 w/ manuevering room or melee, 6 w/ both

HP: 80
EP: 80

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[Neutral Attributes] (level/points spent)

Acrobatics (2/2) - Allows a -1 modifier to ACV or DCV roll per round, but cannot evade/attack respectively if this bonus is utilized.

Agility (2/2) - Moves 1.5 times as fast as a normal human. Grants a +3 to any body checks involving running, sprinting or racing an opponent on foot. Grants a +1 to DCV with room to manuever.

Attractiveness (1/1) - Moderately attractive.

Fortified Body (1/1) - Grants a +1 to Body stat.

Damn Healthy! (1/1) - Grants +10 to HP.

Energy Bonus (2/2) - Grants +20 to EP.

Fast Reflexes (3/3) - Grants a +1 to initiative. Gets a Body check to null the effects or penalties to a surprise attack or action.

Massive Damage (1/2) - Grants a +5 damage bonus to all attacks.

Focused Combat (melee) (1/1) - Grants a +1 to CV when in melee.

Item of Power (3): Reclaimer, the Cosmic Blade - Magical weapon does ACVx2 damage while in a mundane form. ACVx3 when activated and unlocks Knight attributes.

Item of Power (1): Communicator - Electronic gadget employed by the senshi.

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[Defects] (BP amount)
Attack Restriction (1 BP) - No attacking without present danger.

Unique Defect: Lack of Presence (1 BP) - Gets overlooked/usually not seen in crowds or similar environs.

Item Dependency: Reclaimer, the Cosmic Blade (0 BP) - Certain abilities and attributes (those under Knight Attributes) are only available while this sword is out and activated.

Significant Other: Kotono (2 BP) - Will put self in life-threatening danger to protect or save other.

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Knight Attributes

Agility +1 (3), Fast Reflexes +1 (4) - When the sword is active, Asher's physical attributes are enhanced by its power, strengthening his fleet of footness and reflexes substantially. (In gameplay terms, this effectively raises his movement to 2 times as fast as a normal human, a +3 bonus for Body checks involving running, sprinting, etc., a +1 bonus to DCV when he has room to manuever, a Body check allowed to null surprise attacks or actions at a +2 bonus, and a +2 bonus to initiative.)

Leaping (2) - While transformed, Asher's jumping ability is enhanced to superhuman levels. He can clear normally impassable obstacles - tall schoolgates, walls, even rooftops of one-story buildings - with ease.

Rejuvenation (1) - With a bit of concentration, Asher can tap into his inner reserves of energy in times of need. Restores 10 HP/EP per level of Rejuvenation (currently 10 HP/EP).

Strike Like The Wind (1) - The natural alacrity that Asher's sword grants allows him devastatingly fast movement and attacks. He can attack far more quickly than most, at the expense of hitting power. Asher can "split" a normal attack action into two wholly separate attacks; the damage on these attacks, however, do only half the base ACV damage. (So the sword, which normally does ACVx3, would only do ACVx1.5 per hit on these attacks.) Otherwise, they are treated as two unique attacks, with all the pros and cons attached to that. 5 EP.

Elemental Control (Wind, Level 1) - Slow or halt sudden movements in the air, such as falls or charges, and subsequently their impacts. Alternatively, accelerate such movements to allow feats such as extraordinary jumping, or unnaturally speedy footwork. Can create small gusts of wind that can rattle blindfolds, blow out candles, roll small objects off tables. Hovering is possible, but not outright flight or levitation. Other effects as adjudicated by the GM.

Specific EC Applications

Sonic Sheath - Creates a torrent of harmonically focused wind energies at the tip of Asher's sword, which disperses across its entire form for a keen blade and added impact power. Increases critical range to 2-3. 5 EP/round while active.

Knight Attacks

Knight Attack Lv2 "Turbulent Crescent Strike" - Asher charges a decent amount of wind power - materialized by the distinct sound of air hissing as it converges into his sword - which then glows a vibrant emerald green. He then swings his sword downward to fire a crescent arc of superaccelerated air at his target. Deals 30 + ACV damage. Should the attack miss, it recircles around like a boomerang and immediately attempts to strike the same target again at the end of the combat round. If this second attack misses as well, the attack disperses completely; on the other hand, if the rebound attack scores a critical hit, its critical intensity is increased by 1. 20 EP.


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[Footnotes/Explanations]

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Stats
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Body (7) - Significantly above human average. There's not a whole lot to be said, aside from the virtues of good habits and keeping them up. With set-in-stone kendo practice sessions since an early age, martial arts, and otherwise leading an active lifestyle that takes him all across Tokyo on foot, Asher is in good physical shape.
Mind (5) - Above human average. Though not a bookworm or particularly studious, Asher doesn't have to be - he's naturally gifted enough to sail through academics with flying colors. He may not process a true passion for intellectual pursuits or necessarily comprehend abstract concepts to a full degree, but he's smart and focused enough in his own right.
Soul (7) - Significantly above human average. Though Asher is practically destined to be a wanderer and lacks direction, that of which he does find and pursue shows exemplary performance and dedication. He allows immersion and just tends to get along well in any given field or situation, despite all migitating circumstances that life may throw in the way. He's not the type to pursue something off a whim, yet should it come to a case where he does, his resolution is firm.

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Attributes
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Acrobatics (2) - The rudimentary manuevers that he was taught early on when studying martial arts have retained with Asher, and he incorporates them with his everyday kendo training enough to be skilled at them.

Agility (2) - Although he's not a habit sprinter, Asher's quite fleet of foot, regularly going long distances on a daily basis. He can usually outpace most others in PE class if he sets in mind to it.

Attractiveness (1) - Despite his tendency to be overlooked, Asher's not a necessarily bad catch as far as appearance goes; he's young, well built and keeps himself in excellent form.

Fortified Body (1), Damn Healthy! (1) - Though his upbringing was humble, his parents had the good sense to feed their only child well as far as nutrition goes, and his own activities have left him with no need to ever pay a visit to a physician.

Energy Bonus (2) - Given something to commit to, Asher throws himself all into it; his determination to get something done that demands his attention is steadfast.

Fast Reflexes (3) - The emphasis in Asher's kendo technique is undoubtedly that of speed. Strike fast and hard, or not at all. Years of training and focused dedication have given Asher a keen sense of how to use momentum and respond to essentially anything with quick reaction time. It doesn't hurt that some people are just quicker to start than others, and he's one of such individuals.

Massive Damage (1) - Both the training and the techniques Asher have incorporated give him basic knowledge as to where to hit, whether fighting unarmed or with his sword.

Focused Combat (melee) (1) - Rather obvious, isn't it? All that time spent fighting the air (or his instructor when he was younger) would have been for naught if he didn't pick up something along the way.

Item of Power (3): Reclaimer, the Cosmic Blade - A timeless relic from the Moon Kingdom, this blade of legend was made long ago and imbued with a magical intelligence. The power that lies unawakened beneath is said to stir when a wielder of potential utilizes the sword in combat; with time and training, the blade draws out the magical potential of its owner.

Item of Power (1): Communicator - Liberated from Uranus and given to him by Luna during a meeting at Serenity's residence, Asher uses this communicator to keep in touch with the other senshi to avoid being out of the loop, which happens all too often. Though Kotono seems to get more mileage out of it than anything else...

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Defects
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Attack Restriction (1) - The basic principles of self-defense that are passed down to those who practice martial arts and/or kendo are ingrained into Asher. Do not strike, or even draw with the intent to injure or kill, unless you yourself - or another - are in danger.

Unique Defect: Lack of Presence (1) - Be it fate, the way he carries himself around (which is to say, pretty much not at all), or some trick of the light, Asher just seems to be overlooked. Despite having practically every trait and earmark of an individual who stands out, he doesn't; much of this has led him to his wandering lifestyle.

Item Dependancy: Reclaimer, the Cosmic Blade (0) - Without this weapon, Asher is nothing but an ordinary human. It is through its power that he is able to access the likes of elemental control and the supernatural powers that are normally beyond reach. In time, perhaps, he may learn to be adept enough to utilize these abilities of his own free will; for now, though, he is as dependant on this blade as it is on him to draw out its own power.

Significant Other: Kotono (2) - Sometimes things aren't really planned. Life is odd like that. But one particular individual has managed to extend Asher's attention, feelings, and pain tolerance to all new levels totally against expectations for the normally reclusive young boy. To the point where they'd done some very questionable things for two persons with virtually no real prompting! It's taken him a while to admit it, but his heart is set for this young blonde and he'd do virtually anything to keep it that way.

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[Description]

At 5'9", Asher Shinsei is a tad above average for males of his age, but nothing jaw-dropping. He dresses in worn but well-maintained clothes, almost always his school uniform and a spare set of mundane clothes unless he has that day off; rare it is that he gets an opportunity to go home for the sole purpose of changing attire. With moderately cropped but grown black hair, a somewhat serious face that seems to perpetually remain in that expression, he generally seems unremarkable.

It's rare for him to show any excessive signs of emotion - perhaps a nod there, a slight smile or frown, but little beyond that. He has not found reason to cry ever since he was a child, and when off wandering the city in his free time there is always a vague look on his face that occasionally shifts to a studious gaze when something catches his attention.

[Family History]

Asher is a lone child. It may be that his parents had originally intended to give him a little brother or sister, but time and the pressing needs of living expenses have otherwise forced them to withdraw from that option. His father, Yuuichi Shinsei, is a businessman ranking relatively low on the hiearchy, but he works hard and travels often. Azurai Shinsei is a mother who speaks little, though when she does it is of notable occasion; soft, but firm in her judgment. She, too, often finds it necessary to travel about, although in her case it is going from one employment to another in Tokyo as the job market fluctuates and she struggles with the rest of the family to keep them afloat.

The other notables of Asher's family extend mostly to his grandparents, both of whom are now deceased. They lived a good deal away, up in Sapporo, where young Asher spent the summer listening faithfully to his grandfather: his stories, morals, lectures that have carried down from generation to generation. It is one of few memories that he considers fond, as opposed to the vast indifference the rest of his life has imposed on him. His grandfather was also the one who initiated his training with martial arts and, eventually, kendo, until he continued that with a professional (a close family friend) that became his sensei.

Aside from that, he has precious little to work with. No other relatives, not even a distant aunt, uncle or cousin, live anywhere near Tokyo. Much like his group of friends, his family remains a loose element in his life: there, present, and exuding some amount of influence as to what he does, but not majorly so.

[Current History]

As of right now, Asher attends Juuban High. An 11th grader, his classes pass quickly as he grasps the material, does his work, and then immediately commits the bulk of his free time to city sightseeing. The moment the bell rings his pack is slung over his back, and he can be seen walking off-campus with his kendo stick in hand - he keeps it stashed away in a locker during school, safely locked.

Asher currently works part-time as a bookstore in a quieter section of Tokyo, near a sleepy community and run by a feisty old lady - Mokou. His work schedule is often set to change, seemingly altering as she sees fit on days that she predicts will demand his help. As far as he knows, though, he is the only other employee at that quaint locale. During such days, he'll casually make his way over to the place, taking the scenic route - the store is close enough to the school as to not require train travel, so he walks ambly along. He manages to always make it on time and is a faithful worker, so Mokou finds no reason to complain at all. To the contrary, she seems to delight in his company... or anyone else's.

On working days, once the evening begins to descend and the store starts its closing hours, Asher takes a half hour off to practice his kendo in the perpetually empty parking lot. It's during this period of sunset hues, a sky blotted with orange, in which he feels most at peace. With no spectators and no worries, he carries out his long-practiced training regimen, then spends the remainder of the evening walking back home.

On days that are more free, Asher has no particular route or places he favors as he simply wanders the landscape of Tokyo. He will hop on trains at a whim, walk past other schools, districts and buildings; lounge through shopping malls, walk through gardens, whatever presents itself and looks even slightly tangible. He is a single face in a sea of many, so attention's never a problem; indeed, Asher seems to be the type that everyone just passes over on the sidewalk.

[Significant Others]

Yuuichi Shinsei
Forty-five years into this weary world, Asher's father is a quiet, hard-working man who seems to have resigned himself to his fate. An employee of Taiyaaik Corporation, a local distributor of pantries and sweets, he spends his days toiling in the office and otherwise being the epitome of the stereotypical Japanese businessman who works hard for little pay.

He is not much taller than his son, and has the same thick black hair that doubtlessly passed down; he keeps an effort to keep it well combed and otherwise come off with a professional demeanor. Yuuichi always comes home with an old brown briefcase hanging from his side, the door creaking open audibly, taking a moment to hang his coat and greeting his wife. On the occasions when Asher is there, he too will get a deferential nod, before the man heads up to change and then attend the dinner that Azurai has routinely prepared for years without fail.

Yuuichi's background smacks that of the low-middle class. He came from a modest but similarly dedicated family, also a lone child, where he studied hard in school, made it into college with loans, graduated with honors and was ushered into a job market that wasn't hiring. Finally finding a position at the company he has worked with his entire life - as he is from the generation which believes that a job position is permanent and grounded - he met and married Azurai soon afterwards. Asher was a relatively late development, if only due to an overloaded schedule.

Asher very much takes after his father in appearance, although by the nature of their roles - father and son - their demeanors differ, yet are similar in the same time. Yuuichi's voice is deep and firm; he does not speak often, but when he does, he is easily heard and is almost never argued against. He is neither harsh nor soft on his family, generally being moderate on his views, except on the topics of effort and school. These two points he will emphasize endlessly.

Yuuichi's presence at home is significantly diminished due to his lack of available time there: a combination of both heavy office work and a frequent need to travel across Japan. He considers what moments he have with his family to be that of recuperation, and a chance to finish the night by catching up with his wife and son on the day's events. But there is always work the next day to prepare for, and such, he is never caught out late or staying up without very good reason otherwise.

Azurai Shinsei
Azurai Shinsei is the voice of command in Asher's existence. She alone, despite her own busy work schedule, takes the time to remind him of the things that all mothers have an insatiable need to - school, chores, and their ilk. Throughout his childhood, Azurai was essentially the only factor in Asher's life, whatnot with his lack of social interaction and his father consistently away from home. As such, Asher has uncontested respect and obedience for his mother, albeit as of late he has been attempting to find more and more excuses to stay away from the house to enjoy more freedom.

Unlike her husband, Azurai hails from a relatively well-off family from Kyoto. However, the rest of her family is deeply rooted in older Japanese traditions, and her break from it - going to college and choosing to marry for love rather than accept an arrangement as was intended - has drastically stilted her familial relations. Though passionate and full of energy when she was young, the demands that her living situation, and then later the daunting task of raising a child, have drained her significantly through her life. Though she still can summon forth that exuhuberence from time to time, for the most part she has become much akin to Yuuichi: accepting of what life has given her, and attempting to work and make the best of it.

Azurai works part-time at a department store in downtown Tokyo. She generally gets off in time to return home and prepare dinner, but never before Asher is out of school. Although in past years she would come home to find him already there, as of late her son has taken to city wandering and now frequently comes back home at a later hour than her - much to her disapproval, although she has not yet put down her foot on it.

Mokou Hamimaya
Old Mokou is the owner of the bookstore that Asher works at occasionally during the week. In stark contrast to him, she is full of infinite wisdom and vigor, always greeting visitors and her sole employee with a bright smile. A saintly sixty five, Mokou actually lives in the bookstore, which is a two-story building; her living quarters are above, and she manages by herself. An old maid who has many acquaintences across the city but no one of truly close significance, she takes her pride and joy by praising Asher lavishly in front of any girls that happen to enter their vicinity, and essentially acting as a substitute grandmother. The quiet demeanor of the boy depresses her, and she wants nothing more than to see him happy. He's a good worker, sure, and always punctual, but he has no spirit! Young boys should be frolicking around, making trouble! Or so she thinks.

As sometimes eccentric she may be, Mokou has a heart of gold, and she is always ready to impart a bit of sagely advice or insight as she sees fit. Her words ring uncannily true, for the most part. Though a bit slow as the elderly are, she possesses a lot of determination, and frequently works alongside Asher in the bookstore, usually filling in the role of helping customers find a particular novel when present.

[Anastasia]

You're good to go, Laggy. Beware the rabbits.

[Laggy]

Teh cheatsheet, as requested by the Dune.

HP: 80
EP: 80
Body 7
Mind 5
Soul 7
(Stat total 19, base CV 6/4)

ACV: 6/7 (6 base, +1 FC: Melee)
DCV: 4/5/6 (4 base, +1 FC: Melee, +1 Agility)
Initiative: 1d6+7 (1d6+8 transformed, -1 to either if not executing a melee attack that turn)

Relevant combat attributes (factored in already where possible):
Acrobatics (2) - Bonus -1 modifier to ACV/DCV if forfeit evasion/attack for that round
Agility (2) - 1.5x speed of normal human, +1 to DCV with manuevering room, +2 bonus to Body checks involving running
Fast Reflexes (3) - beats initiative tiebreaks against people with FR 2 or lower, +1 to initiative, Body check to null effects/penalties of surprise actions
Massive Damage (1) - +5 damage to all attacks
Focused Combat (melee) (1) - +1 to CV when in melee.

Transforming gives the following boosts:
+1 level to Agility: raises speed to 2x of normal human and raises bonus on Body checks involving running to +3
+1 level to Fast Reflexes: raises initiative bonus to +2 and grants a +2 bonus to the Body check to null surprise action
Leaping (2) - Ability to leap roughly a story high.
Rejuvenation (1) - Restore 10 HP/EP.
Elemental Control (Wind) (1) - Rudimentary influence with wind.

Attacks w/ costs and damage figures:

Normal attack: 19
Normal attack (transformed): 26
Strike Like The Wind: 15 x2 (30), executed as two normal attacks [5 EP]
Turbulent Crescent Strike: 42, if misses, tries to strike same target again at end of round w/ no additional cost [20 EP]

Non-damaging/EC applications
Sonic Sheath: raises critical range to 2-3 [5 EP for 1 round]