Amatetsu Suzano'o
Aug 9, 2017 8:24:37 GMT -6
Post by Amatetsu Suzano'o-Izanagi on Aug 9, 2017 8:24:37 GMT -6
Name: Amatetsu Suzano'o-Izanagi
Class: Myrmidon
Dragon Element: N/A
Age: 21
Born in: Sacae
Appearance:
Amatetsu prides herself on having the body of both a great warrior and a great woman. Toned with muscle but curvaceous. Her face has sharp, mature features. Skin is fair, her medium-long white hair oft tied into an unruly ponytail. She wears clothes of the Izanagi, more recently made or at least adjusted by herself, which consists of light clothing that is easy to move in. Prefers blues and reds for colours, and frequently wears black stockings or leggings with sandals.
Amatetsu stands at about 5'5.
Personality: Amatetsu, or Ama, is a bit of a wild card. A wanderer who never seems to lay down ties to any one area, at least not for long. She seems to react almost purely in the moment, yet she appears composed or at least aloof in just about any given situation. Ama tends to speak sharp and brusque, which can give one a rude impression combined with her non-chalant demeanor. Ama perks up noticeably at the prospect of a duel, spar, or a good meal with good booze though. Amatetsu can often be seen writing or reading as well, and in her spare time she likes to practice her cooking with...passable success.
That said Amatetsu is a rather prideful being, and not just of any one thing. From pride in her more noble aspects such as her background to her skill with a blade, to less than noble pride in her physical appearance or alcohol tolerance. Ama does her best not to boast, but her pride keeps her rather independent. Amatetsu would rather be depended on than be dependent at all, even with her aloofness. Amatetsu doesn't handle her pride being damaged all too well either, especially depending on the scenario. A truly complex woman.
Ama can be roused to action through other means as well, possessing quite the hidden temper beneath her composure and distance. Namely she doesn't like to see the strong abuse the weak, but will only step in if the abuse crosses a line too violent or disgraceful. Violence itself is not what moves her, though. Amatetsu has proven herself to be well accustomed to blood and death alike. Ama just despises seeing those who cannot or refuse to fight be brutalized for it, enough to shake her from her almost zen-like mentality and “the strong survive” mindset. Amatetsu sees it in a similar light to a farmer respecting one's cattle. Even if a situation calls for the strong to devour the weak to survive, that doesn't give them the right to absolutely abuse their prey.
“It is one thing for nature to take its course even at the expense of another. It's another thing to revel in that dominance.”
In truth Amatetsu hasn't quite attempted the zen she strives for, but she works everyday to strengthen her mind and body alike to achieve it. Of course some earthly delights and pleasures will never be truly abandoned, she's only human in the end, but the goal is to gain total mastery over oneself. Amatetsu is heavily committed to this goal – her temper and ego serving as the highest obstacles for her to overcome.
History: Amatetsu hails from the Izanagi clan, born the successor of the clan in fact. Her title is not guaranteed, however, and she was taught that from an extremely young age. The clan is akin to a war band, and the war band demands its leaders be strong – the strongest among their numbers. Amatetsu's father, Ravana Suzano'o, had indeed earned the position. His parents had not been the previous leaders of the clan, but he himself had overtaken the previous leader in single combat, taking his title as well.
Though some of the clan's practices are barbaric, including their laws of succession, they aren't quite as violent as some might expect. Amatetsu was raised into a heavily isolated society, the clan keeping far from any others. Rather than wander the plains they instead stuck to the mountains along Sacae's borders. Brigands and vagabonds who attempted to cross the mountains into Sacae, or settle down in such areas, oft had to answer to the Izanagi. If they were deemed enemies then a battle would ensue. Even as a child Amatetsu was expected to participate in the defense of her clan and her homeland.
That aside, however, their love for combat lay in its ties to nature. The Izanagi were a literate people, both in their own language and more recently in the modern tongue of Elibe, and they highly regarded old texts. Many members of the Izanagi had written down scrolls and books on philosophy, religion, nature, swordmanship, and warfare alike. The Izanagi would adopt such texts into the very fabric of their culture, living their lives by the teachings of their finest ancestors. The different families within the modest sized Izanagi would take up different combat styles and means of fighting to help guide their way of life, though they tended to never train in mounted combat.
Amatetsu took the path of the sword, much like her father before her. Her sister, Hanabi, took study in anima magic. Though Ravana cared not which path his daughters chose to follow, he naturally took a heavier interest in Amatetsu and her progress. He trained her personally and ruthlessly as soon as she was strong enough to hold a sword in her hand. He also saw to her studies of the Izanagi scrolls, texts, and books as well to ensure that the history and philosophies of the clan were imbibed strongly within her.
It's hard to say whether Amatetsu was a born genius or that her training regimen was just that effective, but she shined regardless. Even with the pressure laid upon her she blossomed into adolescence as one of the most gifted fighters in her generation of the Izanagi. It was rumored that she'd overtake Ravana before her twentieth year. Of course this did not come to pass. On Amatetsu's 19th year she was tasked with leading Izanagi warriors against a new band of brigands, Bernese soldiers who had fled their duties and their homeland instead of fighting in the rebellion.
Amatetsu led well...though she had cost two families their heirs by deviating from the main objective in favor of freeing some vagrants that had been taken as servants by the brigands. Had Amatetsu not she could have defended the valiant warriors that had fallen on her side. The two other families were enraged and grief-struck at the loss, one of their heads nearly ready to challenge Ravana over it. Rather than provoke a challenge out of the family head, though, Ravana instead imposed a rite of passage on Amatetsu as punishment. Within three years she is to bring ten good swords from twenty good swordsman across all of Elibe – swords that she obtains through conquest.
This was not up for debate. It was a temporary exile, and Amatetsu was forced to comply. So she set off and, in one year, has so far managed to claim only two swords worthy of the rite.
NPC fight: Amatetsu drew a deep breath as she lowered her body into her first stance. She hadn't yet mastered the use of her left hand for swordplay, let alone the art of dual wielding, but she wouldn't need that versatility for this opponent.
Her foe lumbered forth, his heavy leather armor and scattered assortment of steel showing its weight with every step. If he were fully armored he would give Amatetsu cause for concern, but there were openings.
As his spear whistled through the air Amatetsu stepped forward, left hand pressed lightly against the back of her katana as she raised it to her left side. The spear grazed against the sword at a slight angle, knocking it off balance the further it traveled, while Amatetsu took careful but quick steps to keep her own balance.
Agitated the armored man raised a leg to kick out at Amatetsu, but he was too slow and she was too close. In a flash of steel she brought her katana against an unfortunate gap in the man's stolen armor - cutting deep across the flesh above his left knee. Pain forced the man to bring his foot back too the ground, the injury itself such that his leg gave out immediately afterwards.
He was effectively disarmed and disabled. With dispassionate eyes, Amatetsu swung her blade around in a smooth motion. This time, however, her strike was aimed for his throat...
PC fight: Amatetsu's blade was locked against her foe's. He was skilled, that was for sure. He seemed to be able to read her movements, having matched her step for step and slash for slash. He didn't leave many openings and didn't make too many unnecessary movements. Ravana would praise his form.
Recalling her studies Amatetsu let her blade spring back from the clash, and she stepped in line with it. One step back, rolling on the balls of her feet that she keep with the motion of her blade. With minimal excess movements backwards or staggering, Amatetsu brought her sword down again in a fluid movement, the blow aimed towards her foe's shoulder. While fluid the move was predictable, should her foe find a way to parry or evade it.
