Post by Hotori on Apr 5, 2015 11:17:32 GMT -5
Name: Keikan 'Taro' Shensetsu
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Occupation: Former samurai, now guard.
Birthplace: The capital city of Kutou
Abilities:
Swordsmanship: As a trained samurai, Keikan has learned how to use his katana well. Indeed, before he left the service, he was known as one of the best Imperial Samurai Kutou had at its disposal, and though he is no longer a samurai, he still keeps his skills as sharp as his katana.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: In addition to being able to fight with his Katana, he has also mastered basic hand-to-hand combat. His skills are good enough that he can disarm most any opponent, and can hold his own against men of most any size, unless they are especially skilled in a form of martial arts he is not familiar with. His fighting style is a bit of a mash-up of many styles, as he is self-taught and did not learn from a proper teacher.
Healing Knowledge: He has learned over the years how to treat most any sort of wound, from bandaging to putting in stitches, and even how to set a broken bone. He finds it to be a useful skill set when one has a dangerous occupation. As such, he carries a small medical kit at all times.
Tracking and Survival: Having lived as a ronin for the last few years, he often had to fend for himself, and that meant learning how to hunt and gather, and how to track people and animals. He finds this easy in Hokkan, as the snow tends to hold tracks well.
Art: Keikan discovered early on that he had a skill when it came to drawing and painting, and it is something he still enjoys doing. Sometimes he will draw or paint the Geisha that visit him, but usually no one sees these paintings. He sends them home on regular occasions for his mother and sister to sell for extra money, though they live more comfortably now than they did in the past.
Weapons: Keikan has the katana he was issued as an Imperial Samurai. He was granted special permission to keep it once he left. He wears it always, unless he is in his room, and practices with it daily.
Affiliation: Himself, though he is loyal to whichever lord is currently paying for his services. Even if he does not like them, he will put his life on the line to protect them so long as they pay his price.
Personality:
Keikan is a complex person. As a samurai, he was taught to be loyal and brave, traits he still holds dear, but he also learned kindness for those who could not defend himself, and that more than anything else rules his actions. He believes in protecting the innocent, but will not hesitate to take a life in self defense, or in order to protect others.
Next to his loyalty, his strongest personality trait is his kindness. He goes out of his way to show compassion and kindness whenever possible. It does not matter if it is tending to an injured animal or helping a lost child find their way back home, he feels like there is little enough kindness in the world, and so he tries his best to do whatever he can to make things just a little better. Most notably is the fact that, since he began to make enough money to do so, he has gotten in the habit of hiring a Geisha each night. He does not seek the usual entertainment that customers do, but rather he wishes to offer them a chance to relax and to enjoy themselves, knowing they face no expectations of scrutiny. He does this, making an agreement that the ladies will not tell what actually happened, as some would talk, and he might face grief from his comrades or superiors.
Keikan is also a very flirtatious man. He enjoys flirting, and does so openly and easily. This, with his habit of hiring Geisha, has given him the (mostly false) reputation of being a womanizer. He is always respectful with his flirting, and never takes it past the use of his words. He has had admirers, but he has always politely refused them. He would rather go his entire life without a lover than to become involved with someone he did not love. He is also a very teasing person, in his free time, and enjoys laughing, joking and teasing whenever possible, though he is never cruel about it.
This is all contrasted by his personality when he is on duty. He tends to drop the playful aspects of his personality in favor of a persona that is more fierce and stubborn. He tends to be quicker to anger when in this mindset, and perhaps a little more apt to react with more force, though he still, even then, does all he can to preserve the innocent. His eyes, which can seem so warm, can shift to become as cold as ice when he is in battle, and it is truly a sight to behold. He is also, by nature, a private person, preferring to keep his private affairs just that-private-especially form his comrades and superiors. It is part of the reason that he has not given out his real name since leaving Kutou. Because of both his loyalty and private nature, he is great at keeping secrets, something many Geisha over the years have learned. If he finds out a secret, he will guard it with his life, and will not even share it under pain of death, especially if that secret could be used to harm someone innocent.
Appearance: Click for Image.
Keikan is taller than some, standing about 6'2”. He has a strong, lean, muscled frame and is quite quick and agile in movement. He has long dark red hair that falls to his waist when loose, though he almoat always keeps it in a long braid with a black ribbon tying it off. This allows him to wear his hair long, but ensure it stays out of his way. He has very lightly tanned skin, which serves to set off the deep amethyst color of his eyes. Being a warrior all of his life, he has a small collection of scars here and there, but nothing large or disfiguring. He does have a tattoo of a rose on his left shoulder, a homage to his mother, Nobarako (Wild rose child). Very few have seen this tattoo.
His usual manner of dress is practical but comfortable. He wears simple button-up shirts, though he has no real color preferences, he tends to stick to black or white when working, and simple black trousers. He wears sturdy black boots, and a black cloak whenever he is working. He also tends to wear black leather gloves when working. He keeps his katana at his side whenever he is outside of his chambers, and always carries a basic medical kit attached to his belt.
History:
Keikan was born in the Kutou capital city. His mother was a Geisha, and his father was a customer she had fallen in love with, but who did not return her feelings. She had been well respected before this incident, and well sought after, but after giving birth to her son, there seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over Nobarako's head. She continued to work as a Geisha, hoping to save up enough money to make a fresh start for her and her son. Usually, Keikan was ignored by all except his mother, unless there was some little chore one of the ladies needed doing. You would think this would cause him to grow up disliking Geisha, but the fact was even from a young age he could tell that the ladies had so much on their minds that they simply could not handle the problems of others. This caused sympathy to well up in him from a very young age.
When he was seven, Keikan's mother was hired to serve as the private Geisha to a minor member of court, and she and Keikan were allowed to move into his home. For the second time in her life, she fell in love with a customer, and for the second time she ended up being sent away with child. Feeling foolish, she moved to a small village where her reputation was unknown, and claimed that her husband had been killed by bandits, so that her children could grow up without the stigma their true past would bring. She took work as a seamstress, and though they didn't have much, the family was happy.
Keikan was 9-years-old when his mother delivered his little sister, Ayame, and he vowed to do all he could to keep her safe and happy. This happened just two short months after they settled into their new home. Also in this new village lived the family of an Imperial Samurai, and so Keikan became fascinated with the lifestyle from the first time he saw the older man. By the time he was ten, he was already training to become one himself as soon as he was old enough. When he was sixteen, he said goodbye to his mother and five-year-old sister, and headed back to the capital to seek out official training. He worked hard to improve, but made sure never to lose the kindness his mother so often praised in him.
While training, he befriended the son of a local blacksmith, named Taro. He and Taro trained together, and both Joined the Imperial Samurai at the age of eighteen, rising quickly in the ranks and earning the attention of the recently crowned Emperor. Shun could tell they were both strong and reliable, and though they were young, he could sense great things from them. With this in mind, they were charged with protecting the young princesses, only twelve at the time.
For the next four years, both Keikan and Taro worked to protect the princesses whenever they would leave the castle, and would often remain near even within the castle. Keikan made more than enough to send money home to support his mother and sister, and was even able to slip back on occasion to visit them. Things changed when he was 22-years-old, however. Liru and Lisu, the princesses, wished to go for a ride and so Taro and Keikan obediently joined them, wishing to do as they always did and ensure their safety. They rode farther from the castle than was normal, and were quite suddenly attacked by bandits on a secluded road. Keikan and Taro rushed into battle without hesitation, and after a fierce battle, the bandits were dead. Unfortunately, Taro had lost his life in the battle, and Keikan was quite injured. Still, he managed to make it back to the castle with the princesses safely. He was given the utmost respect for having saved the Emperor's sisters, and was granted time to heal and recover.
Still, the event changed him. Taro had been his best friend, and he felt as if he had let him down by being unable to prevent his death. Once he was recovered, he went to Shun and discussed these feelings. Shun was able to tell he would be unable to return to his duties as he had been before Taro's death, but he also knew Keikan was a good, strong man. With this in mind, he was granted an honorable discharge from the Imperial Samurai, and was given both a letter of recommendation, and his service katana to keep, with the condition that he continue to help others, and that he stayed in touch with the Imperial family, as the twin princesses were quite fond of him.
And so, now a ronin, Keikan set out to help others, allowing those to hire his protective services. As a homage to his fallen friend, he began to go by the name 'Taro', that way his friend's memory could live on and be associated with bravery and honor.
He traveled about for some time, working here or there, and gaining a good reputation as a loyal, hard worker. He has slowly made his way to Hokkan, where he now works for a lord in Kio city. He still sends money home to his mother and sister, though some of his money pays for his habit of hiring Geisha to let them rest, and a little goes toward buying art supplies.
Important NPCs:
Nobarako: Keikan's mother. He makes sure to send her money regularly to ensure she wants for nothing, and does not have to work. Despite being in her mid 40's and having had two children, she is still quite the beauty.
Ayame: Keikan's 16-year-old half-sister. She lives with their mother, and is training to become a healer. Neither her mother not her brother wished for her to become a Geisha.
Anything Else:
N/A
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Occupation: Former samurai, now guard.
Birthplace: The capital city of Kutou
Abilities:
Swordsmanship: As a trained samurai, Keikan has learned how to use his katana well. Indeed, before he left the service, he was known as one of the best Imperial Samurai Kutou had at its disposal, and though he is no longer a samurai, he still keeps his skills as sharp as his katana.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: In addition to being able to fight with his Katana, he has also mastered basic hand-to-hand combat. His skills are good enough that he can disarm most any opponent, and can hold his own against men of most any size, unless they are especially skilled in a form of martial arts he is not familiar with. His fighting style is a bit of a mash-up of many styles, as he is self-taught and did not learn from a proper teacher.
Healing Knowledge: He has learned over the years how to treat most any sort of wound, from bandaging to putting in stitches, and even how to set a broken bone. He finds it to be a useful skill set when one has a dangerous occupation. As such, he carries a small medical kit at all times.
Tracking and Survival: Having lived as a ronin for the last few years, he often had to fend for himself, and that meant learning how to hunt and gather, and how to track people and animals. He finds this easy in Hokkan, as the snow tends to hold tracks well.
Art: Keikan discovered early on that he had a skill when it came to drawing and painting, and it is something he still enjoys doing. Sometimes he will draw or paint the Geisha that visit him, but usually no one sees these paintings. He sends them home on regular occasions for his mother and sister to sell for extra money, though they live more comfortably now than they did in the past.
Weapons: Keikan has the katana he was issued as an Imperial Samurai. He was granted special permission to keep it once he left. He wears it always, unless he is in his room, and practices with it daily.
Affiliation: Himself, though he is loyal to whichever lord is currently paying for his services. Even if he does not like them, he will put his life on the line to protect them so long as they pay his price.
Personality:
Keikan is a complex person. As a samurai, he was taught to be loyal and brave, traits he still holds dear, but he also learned kindness for those who could not defend himself, and that more than anything else rules his actions. He believes in protecting the innocent, but will not hesitate to take a life in self defense, or in order to protect others.
Next to his loyalty, his strongest personality trait is his kindness. He goes out of his way to show compassion and kindness whenever possible. It does not matter if it is tending to an injured animal or helping a lost child find their way back home, he feels like there is little enough kindness in the world, and so he tries his best to do whatever he can to make things just a little better. Most notably is the fact that, since he began to make enough money to do so, he has gotten in the habit of hiring a Geisha each night. He does not seek the usual entertainment that customers do, but rather he wishes to offer them a chance to relax and to enjoy themselves, knowing they face no expectations of scrutiny. He does this, making an agreement that the ladies will not tell what actually happened, as some would talk, and he might face grief from his comrades or superiors.
Keikan is also a very flirtatious man. He enjoys flirting, and does so openly and easily. This, with his habit of hiring Geisha, has given him the (mostly false) reputation of being a womanizer. He is always respectful with his flirting, and never takes it past the use of his words. He has had admirers, but he has always politely refused them. He would rather go his entire life without a lover than to become involved with someone he did not love. He is also a very teasing person, in his free time, and enjoys laughing, joking and teasing whenever possible, though he is never cruel about it.
This is all contrasted by his personality when he is on duty. He tends to drop the playful aspects of his personality in favor of a persona that is more fierce and stubborn. He tends to be quicker to anger when in this mindset, and perhaps a little more apt to react with more force, though he still, even then, does all he can to preserve the innocent. His eyes, which can seem so warm, can shift to become as cold as ice when he is in battle, and it is truly a sight to behold. He is also, by nature, a private person, preferring to keep his private affairs just that-private-especially form his comrades and superiors. It is part of the reason that he has not given out his real name since leaving Kutou. Because of both his loyalty and private nature, he is great at keeping secrets, something many Geisha over the years have learned. If he finds out a secret, he will guard it with his life, and will not even share it under pain of death, especially if that secret could be used to harm someone innocent.
Appearance: Click for Image.
Keikan is taller than some, standing about 6'2”. He has a strong, lean, muscled frame and is quite quick and agile in movement. He has long dark red hair that falls to his waist when loose, though he almoat always keeps it in a long braid with a black ribbon tying it off. This allows him to wear his hair long, but ensure it stays out of his way. He has very lightly tanned skin, which serves to set off the deep amethyst color of his eyes. Being a warrior all of his life, he has a small collection of scars here and there, but nothing large or disfiguring. He does have a tattoo of a rose on his left shoulder, a homage to his mother, Nobarako (Wild rose child). Very few have seen this tattoo.
His usual manner of dress is practical but comfortable. He wears simple button-up shirts, though he has no real color preferences, he tends to stick to black or white when working, and simple black trousers. He wears sturdy black boots, and a black cloak whenever he is working. He also tends to wear black leather gloves when working. He keeps his katana at his side whenever he is outside of his chambers, and always carries a basic medical kit attached to his belt.
History:
Keikan was born in the Kutou capital city. His mother was a Geisha, and his father was a customer she had fallen in love with, but who did not return her feelings. She had been well respected before this incident, and well sought after, but after giving birth to her son, there seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over Nobarako's head. She continued to work as a Geisha, hoping to save up enough money to make a fresh start for her and her son. Usually, Keikan was ignored by all except his mother, unless there was some little chore one of the ladies needed doing. You would think this would cause him to grow up disliking Geisha, but the fact was even from a young age he could tell that the ladies had so much on their minds that they simply could not handle the problems of others. This caused sympathy to well up in him from a very young age.
When he was seven, Keikan's mother was hired to serve as the private Geisha to a minor member of court, and she and Keikan were allowed to move into his home. For the second time in her life, she fell in love with a customer, and for the second time she ended up being sent away with child. Feeling foolish, she moved to a small village where her reputation was unknown, and claimed that her husband had been killed by bandits, so that her children could grow up without the stigma their true past would bring. She took work as a seamstress, and though they didn't have much, the family was happy.
Keikan was 9-years-old when his mother delivered his little sister, Ayame, and he vowed to do all he could to keep her safe and happy. This happened just two short months after they settled into their new home. Also in this new village lived the family of an Imperial Samurai, and so Keikan became fascinated with the lifestyle from the first time he saw the older man. By the time he was ten, he was already training to become one himself as soon as he was old enough. When he was sixteen, he said goodbye to his mother and five-year-old sister, and headed back to the capital to seek out official training. He worked hard to improve, but made sure never to lose the kindness his mother so often praised in him.
While training, he befriended the son of a local blacksmith, named Taro. He and Taro trained together, and both Joined the Imperial Samurai at the age of eighteen, rising quickly in the ranks and earning the attention of the recently crowned Emperor. Shun could tell they were both strong and reliable, and though they were young, he could sense great things from them. With this in mind, they were charged with protecting the young princesses, only twelve at the time.
For the next four years, both Keikan and Taro worked to protect the princesses whenever they would leave the castle, and would often remain near even within the castle. Keikan made more than enough to send money home to support his mother and sister, and was even able to slip back on occasion to visit them. Things changed when he was 22-years-old, however. Liru and Lisu, the princesses, wished to go for a ride and so Taro and Keikan obediently joined them, wishing to do as they always did and ensure their safety. They rode farther from the castle than was normal, and were quite suddenly attacked by bandits on a secluded road. Keikan and Taro rushed into battle without hesitation, and after a fierce battle, the bandits were dead. Unfortunately, Taro had lost his life in the battle, and Keikan was quite injured. Still, he managed to make it back to the castle with the princesses safely. He was given the utmost respect for having saved the Emperor's sisters, and was granted time to heal and recover.
Still, the event changed him. Taro had been his best friend, and he felt as if he had let him down by being unable to prevent his death. Once he was recovered, he went to Shun and discussed these feelings. Shun was able to tell he would be unable to return to his duties as he had been before Taro's death, but he also knew Keikan was a good, strong man. With this in mind, he was granted an honorable discharge from the Imperial Samurai, and was given both a letter of recommendation, and his service katana to keep, with the condition that he continue to help others, and that he stayed in touch with the Imperial family, as the twin princesses were quite fond of him.
And so, now a ronin, Keikan set out to help others, allowing those to hire his protective services. As a homage to his fallen friend, he began to go by the name 'Taro', that way his friend's memory could live on and be associated with bravery and honor.
He traveled about for some time, working here or there, and gaining a good reputation as a loyal, hard worker. He has slowly made his way to Hokkan, where he now works for a lord in Kio city. He still sends money home to his mother and sister, though some of his money pays for his habit of hiring Geisha to let them rest, and a little goes toward buying art supplies.
Important NPCs:
Nobarako: Keikan's mother. He makes sure to send her money regularly to ensure she wants for nothing, and does not have to work. Despite being in her mid 40's and having had two children, she is still quite the beauty.
Ayame: Keikan's 16-year-old half-sister. She lives with their mother, and is training to become a healer. Neither her mother not her brother wished for her to become a Geisha.
Anything Else:
N/A
