Post by Masamune on Jan 1, 2011 1:52:44 GMT -5
Full Name: Kitsune-no-Masamune (Fox Masamune), or Masamune Kuroda
Nicknames: Mas
Gender: Male
Age: Over five hundred years (appears to be 13-14)
Birthplace: Spirit World
Loyalty: Spirit World
Status: Masamune is a fox spirit, but that's largely irrelevant -- to the world, he's just a wandering waif, albeit one exceptionally intelligent and well-dressed.
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 100 lbs.
Hair Color: Black (human)/Dark red (spirit)
Eye Color: Green (human)/Blue (spirit)
Distinguishing Features: None really, in his human form, except that the spiritually aware can see a vague silhouette of his true form surrounding him. Of course, as a spirit -- just about everything is distinguishing, as no two spirits are alike.
Appearance: Masamune has a wiry build that is just starting to develop from a boy to a man. His face still has a youthful cast to it, but seems to be permanently stuck in a sneer. His eyes are wide, green, and glaring. He has a round face, with a dusting of fuzz on his chin. His hair is neck length, held up in a knot at the back of his skull, and black. The knot is normally hidden by his hat.
Masamune wears a cream-coloured sleeveless silk shirt and matching trousers. Over this he wears a red swallowtail tunic, also silken and sleeveless, with gold brocade on the chest, back and around the edges of the "tails". The trousers are held up by a simple red sash. Completing the outfit are dark red leather boots and bracers, and a red hat with an upturned brim decorated with gold brocade and with a cream-coloured plume hanging down from the crown. His unruly black hair, short in front, escapes from the beneath the hat to fall to shoulder-length. Finally, he wears the sheathes of his swords in a saltire cross above his hips, held in place by gold silk ties worked into his tunic.
That is the form he normally appears in -- the body he has lived with for roughly five centuries. His spirit form is quite different; or rather forms, as he has two -- a "normal" one and an "angry" one. Ironically, it is his "angry" one that people usually see.
This "angry" form is that of an anthropomorphic fox, standing at the same height, with dark red hair, a pelt of light orange and white, and dark red paws and ears. His eyes are blue, with slit pupils and black sclera. He also has the distinction of having two tails. He continues to wear his clothing in this form. His "normal" form is that of a normal fox, except that he still has two tails.
Personality: Seemingly a precocious prodigy always ready to give his opinion (usually negative), Masamune can be a handful to deal with. The truth is that he is a spirit, and one who believes unshakingly in human ability at that. In fact, it is his very belief that people can do anything if they would just face up to reality that in large part what drives his impatience with those who do not live up to his standards. That does not alter the fact that he is supremely irritating.
What keeps him in the mortal world, rather than retreating back to the Spirit World in disgust is -- not the sheer delight of insulting people, but a search. A search for a purpose, specifically for a human with a plan for healing the world of all its evils. He has little patience for those who accept the world the way it is, and none whatsoever for those who try to dodge responsibility for their contributions to the decay by blaming fate.
It may seem paradoxical for a nature spirit, but Masamune is extremely fond of machines. He loves to tinker with anything mechanical he stumbles across, and has even swiped repair manuals for Fire Nation tanks in order to study their design. Apart from practicing with his swords and insulting people, it is his only real hobby.
Hidden somewhere deep inside the fox is a tremendous grief. The world would likely come to an end if he admitted it; he never permits himself to even think on it. Yet it is there, and apart from its influence on his philosophy, it gives him a certain compassion. If he finds someone who is truly suffering from circumstances beyond their control, particularly children, he will lay aside his swords and give them what comfort he can.
History: Once upon a time, before the birth of Avatar Yangchen, there was a little girl named Maya. She was very lonely, for her mother had died and her father had to spend all day in the forge. For there was a war on, and he had to constantly manufacture weapons for the soldiers. Worried and wanting a playmate, she prayed to the spirits to send someone to brighten their lives.
One heard her. Thinking nothing of what it might cost, a spirit fox crossed over into the mortal world. Taking the form of a boy some years older than her and armed with a seemingly antique pair of swords, he approached their house. Maya's father did not know at first what to make of the handsome lad, but Maya knew instantly that he was the answer to her prayers. So, at her insistence, the smith let the boy stay with them.
She gave the fox the name of her grandfather, "Masamune", and that name he has kept ever since. The months passed happily. Twice their house was attacked, but the smith was an earthbender and moreover knew how to use the weapons he forged; together with Masamune the enemy was repulsed without damage. However, steel could not combat illness.
Exactly six months after Masamune's arrival in the mortal world, Maya died. The fox was devastated. True, he had seen death before. He had killed several of the rival kingdom's soldiers himself. But this was completely different. He could not accept the loss of the innocent little girl who had called him out of the Spirit World. He had a violent falling-out with her father over the issue of dealing with their grief. In his anger, he reverted to his spirit form, and very nearly killed the man. However, he managed to bring his anger under control, and left without doing any permanent harm.
Several months later, Masamune was attacked by the men of the village. They had seen him leave the smith's house, and -- undeterred by the man's protests -- had blamed the spirit for the girl's death. Now they had come to kill the "monster". Masamune was in no mood to be forgiving. Taking out all of his anguish and anger through his swords, he massacred the men. However, he was left deeply wounded as a result, and reverted to his basic form of a two-tailed fox.
When he woke up, he was in the smith's house, and it was nearly the winter solstice. The man had trailed the mob, brought the fox back, nursed him as best he could, and now expected him to depart back to the Spirit World. Masamune surprised him by refusing. Although they never discussed Maya again, they built up something of a friendship. The smith taught the fox everything he could about metallurgy, and they would spar together -- sadly, the smith did not dual-wield, so there was not much he could teach his guest there.
One night, however, seeing that Masamune had grown bored, he spoke of a legendary swordsmaster, who could undoubtedly improve the fox's skills. Masamune thanked him, and went in search of the legend. After several years, he found him, dwelling in a decrepit dojo in Ba Sing Se's Lower Ring. It was a tempestuous relationship -- Masamune was far from the ideal of the "humble student", and the teacher didn't much like spirits. However, the fox-boy was the only one who really cared about the techniques, and the master did not want his art to die with him. So, they came to a grudging kind of respect, and Masamune became the heir to Kuroda-ryu.
Some two decades passed, and the master died at the age of 124. Masamune was left to wander the streets of Ba Sing Se, which he did, watching the capital of the Earth King develop. The world had entered the era of Avatar Yangchen, and the wars that had previously torn the land ended under her guidance. However, Masamune noticed a new kind of decay setting in. In the Lower Ring, it was organised crime; in the Middle and Upper Rings, complacency and bureaucratic corruption. It seemed that humans were always looking for ways to destroy themselves; it was also obvious that the Avatar could not halt this dry rot.
Thwarted in his attempts to join the Earth King's court and the faculty of the University of Ba Sing Se (due to his seeming youth), Masamune eventually left the metropolis in disgust. Throughout Kuruk's reign and in the early years of Kyoshi's, he wandered the Earth Kingdom, searching. Searching for a man of ambition, of honesty; somebody who would not judge by appearances and who had the vision to transform the world.
His search ended when he discovered Chin. At the time, the Conqueror was a warlord, fighting in the name of the Earth King to quell unrest in his natal region of the northwest. Masamune was not instrumental in getting him to declare war on the incompetent 46th Earth King, but he did support his ambition. Chin did not at first know the boy's true nature, but he appreciated good counsel, and within a year Masamune was one of his chief advisers as the campaign to unify the continent under a new banner was launched.
It was a long and sometimes difficult process. However, it was a steady one. Between the genius of Chin, Masamune and the other strategists, and the widespread dissatisfaction with the Earth King, they won victory after victory, and had little trouble with rebellion -- at least at first. However, Chin began to grow drunk with power. He abused the people, and began to take his advisers for granted. Masamune grew to hate the man, and left his employ. Shortly thereafter, Chin met his death at the hands of Kyoshi.
Masamune had little use for the Avatar, either. Her predecessor, Kuruk, had been a wastrel. First he spent his life chasing women, then after some third-tier spirit kidnapped one such wench he spent the rest of his life seeking vengeance. Kyoshi had sat immobile on her cape until Chin was at her very doors, then she killed him without so much as a parley. Some decades later, she practically took over Ba Sing Se, forming a special cadre of earthbenders to enforce her will even after she was gone.
Next up would be fire, so Masamune headed to the Fire Nation. There he was delighted to find new applications being discovered for steel and steam. By this time he had fully developed his caustic attitude, but in the company of the pioneering inventors he softened it a bit. He became something of a favourite, flitting from genius to genius, learning from them and sometimes helping them. Of course, in time it was noticed that he did not age, and he ended up revealing his true nature. Being a fire-spirit, though, they gladly adopted him as an unofficial patron.
Meanwhile, Sozin and Roku were growing up together. Masamune had almost completely forgotten about his original purpose in coming to the Fire Nation; however, this changed when Roku returned from his pilgrimage and married Ta Min. The fox had no idea what caused the two imbeciles to fall out, but through those inventors sponsored by the Ministry of War he did know that a rift had formed between Avatar and Fire Lord. Deciding that the Fire Nation was no longer for him, and ever restless, he took leave of his aging friends and set out to retrace the Avatar's path.
At the Southern Air Temple he had several bitter quarrels with the monks before being firmly escorted to the border of their land, consoling himself with the fact that none had recognised him for what he was. Then he went to the Northern Water Tribe, which he discovered to be cold and not much else. Fuming over Tui and La wasting eternity as fish, he headed to the Earth Kingdom, though by this time he had lost interest in Roku's itinerary. Instead of following the Avatar's footsteps any further, he returned the place where Maya had once lived. The old house was long gone, but nevertheless he remained there, brooding.
Being a spirit, he lost track of time. However, eventually he decided to return to the Fire Nation and see how the Industrial Revolution was progressing. He was somewhat surprised to learn that Roku had died in a volcano eruption, but was not nearly so upset as he was by the changes in the Nation itself. All the inventions had been put to military use, and there was a new note of imperialistic nationalism that did not sit well with him. Not that the adviser of Chin objected to expansion through conquest -- he had come to believe that there needed to be one world government, and since the Avatar was incapable of delivering the rulers had to come from somewhere. But this militarization did not suit him. He had a few arguments, and left.
The annihilation of the Air Nomads came, and he felt justified. For the next century he wandered over the Earth Kingdom, more or less at random though always returning to Maya's grave, picking fights with both sides whenever he found something objectionable in their behaviour. When Ba Sing Se fell to an internal coup he rolled his eyes, called Kyoshi an imbecile, and set out for the Fire Nation. The War was just about over, and there were probably lots of ambitious warriors floating around with spare time on their hands.
Except that it didn't seem to be the case. He had failed to predict the tenacity of a bunch of stupid kids. And, after the Day of Black Sun, it seemed inevitable that Ozai would conquer the world. Now there was a repulsive idea, and Masamune returned to Maya's grave in near despair, seeking the courage to keep fighting. Only his meditations were interrupted by a great burst of spirit energy. Curious, he went into a town, and learned that the Avatar had succeeded in defeating Ozai after all. Only he failed to finish the job, so naturally there would be trouble later on.
Still, his idea about ambitious souls in the Fire Nation would be doubly true now, so he returned there. Hopefully he would find one with the virtue and the vision to end this stupidity once and for all.
Skills:
- Swordsmanship: More-or-less locked in his human form, Masamune has been practicing with his dual sabres for both fun and protection for roughly six centuries. His natural speed and grace make him a formidable opponent, even without the fire. (Elite)
- Transformation: As noted above, Masamune has three forms: an "ordinary" one as a two-tailed fox, one more designed for combat as an anthropomorphic fox, and a human one. Transforming between the two spirit forms his easy, as is going from spirit to human; however, reverting from human to spirit is an extremely painful and (relatively) slow process, making him loathe to do it. In every case, his burning aura is ignited and consumes him, his body reshaping in the midst of the flames. (Intermediate)
- Spirit sense: As a spirit himself, Masamune can sense the presence of other spirits, and the presence of humans who have been touched by the Spirit World. (Intermediate)
- Flame generation: Masamune is something of a fire elemental, and in his true form, Masamune can emit a fiery aura from any part of his body, and direct the flames to shoot off in any direction he wants. However, he is not a firebender; he has no control over the fire once he lashes out, nor any control over any other fire. On the other hand, he is largely immune to fire and can withstand great changes in temperature. While in his human form, however, he can only emit the flames from his sabres. (Beginner)
Weaponry: Dual chokuto sabres: These are literally part of Masamune -- when he resumes his normal form they disappear, together with his clothes. The blades are two feet long, with straight, one-edged blades. The hilts feature round, slightly concave guards and a bow to protect the knuckles. There is a pommel ring at the bottom of the hilt, from which braided tassels depend. Etched on the blades near the hilts are their names: Crimson Morn (red hilt and tassel) and Black Even (black hilt and tassel). Masamune simply refers to them as "Dawn" and "Dusk", respectively.
Strengths:
- Agility: Masamune is limber and light on his feet. This gives him a great avantage in combat; he can literally run rings around slow opponents.
- Drive: Masamune has both the passion and the willpower to achieve virtually anything. Fuelled by seemingly unlimited energy, Masamune pursues his goals small or large despite any obstacle or setback. The greater the challenge, the greater his determination to overcome it.
- Experience: Although he keeps the appearance of a young man, Masamune is five hundred years old (and that's not counting his time prior to entering the mortal world). He can draw on his vast experience to help him in nearly any situation.
- Honesty: Despite a seemingly painful arrogance, Masamune actually has a very clear and unbiased view of the world. He never lies (and he certainly never flatters), so people can pretty much trust whatever he says to be true. His honesty also keeps him from hubris.
- Perception: Masamune's intelligence chiefly lies in his ability to swiftly take in a situation and organise it in his mind. He has also, when he chooses to exercise it, great insight into human nature, making him a wonderful counsellor -- if one can stand his flaws.
Weaknesses:
- Attitude: Masamune is rude. He is not blunt -- he is downright obnoxious. He has zero patience for human flaws, especially stupidity and irresponsibility. Not only is he swift to point such flaws out in the most insulting language possible, he'll often throw a taunting laugh in for good measure. In fact, he's prone to coming up with insults just for the sheer fun of it.
- Fox instincts: While his instincts are definitely a help on the battlefield, it can sometimes be embarrassing to Masamune's pride to be caught with a chicken hanging from his mouth.
- Impatient: Masamune hates delay. If he is forced to wait for anything, he will begin pacing after a few minutes, and will roundly abuse the one responsible regardless of actual guilt. This impatience can sometimes lead him to be rash.
- Suspicious: After a good many of his encounters with humans ending badly, Masamune has developed a tendency for wariness nearly to the point of paranoia. If he can interpret something badly, then he will.
Role Play Sample: ((From TBPA, where Masamune is an actual human boy whose been orphaned. Same general character, though.))
No kidding, weirdo, Masamune thought at the White Lotus man. This airbender's obviously crazy. Probably thinks he is a god. Feeling miffed that Tenrei would walk away without noticing him -- that's why he was out here, to talk to the stupid airbender -- he walked to the position the white-clad man had vacated.
He glanced up at Seiko briefly. "You fail as a Dai Li," he informed her, then looked back at the stranger.
"And you! You prate of mercy, while wearing that damned cloak? Why don't you go help that imbecile who's crying his life out, instead of arguing morality with these losers?"
He did not care if Tenrei heard him. He was fed up with being ignored, and he was not afraid of him, airbending or not, madness or not.
Your Name: Flammifleure (Flam) or Vulpes.
Other Characters: Long Feng, Ozai, Kelaj, Qing-Yu, Hei Li, Zudao, Ren, Xian.
Nicknames: Mas
Gender: Male
Age: Over five hundred years (appears to be 13-14)
Birthplace: Spirit World
Loyalty: Spirit World
Status: Masamune is a fox spirit, but that's largely irrelevant -- to the world, he's just a wandering waif, albeit one exceptionally intelligent and well-dressed.
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 100 lbs.
Hair Color: Black (human)/Dark red (spirit)
Eye Color: Green (human)/Blue (spirit)
Distinguishing Features: None really, in his human form, except that the spiritually aware can see a vague silhouette of his true form surrounding him. Of course, as a spirit -- just about everything is distinguishing, as no two spirits are alike.
Appearance: Masamune has a wiry build that is just starting to develop from a boy to a man. His face still has a youthful cast to it, but seems to be permanently stuck in a sneer. His eyes are wide, green, and glaring. He has a round face, with a dusting of fuzz on his chin. His hair is neck length, held up in a knot at the back of his skull, and black. The knot is normally hidden by his hat.
Masamune wears a cream-coloured sleeveless silk shirt and matching trousers. Over this he wears a red swallowtail tunic, also silken and sleeveless, with gold brocade on the chest, back and around the edges of the "tails". The trousers are held up by a simple red sash. Completing the outfit are dark red leather boots and bracers, and a red hat with an upturned brim decorated with gold brocade and with a cream-coloured plume hanging down from the crown. His unruly black hair, short in front, escapes from the beneath the hat to fall to shoulder-length. Finally, he wears the sheathes of his swords in a saltire cross above his hips, held in place by gold silk ties worked into his tunic.
That is the form he normally appears in -- the body he has lived with for roughly five centuries. His spirit form is quite different; or rather forms, as he has two -- a "normal" one and an "angry" one. Ironically, it is his "angry" one that people usually see.
This "angry" form is that of an anthropomorphic fox, standing at the same height, with dark red hair, a pelt of light orange and white, and dark red paws and ears. His eyes are blue, with slit pupils and black sclera. He also has the distinction of having two tails. He continues to wear his clothing in this form. His "normal" form is that of a normal fox, except that he still has two tails.
Personality: Seemingly a precocious prodigy always ready to give his opinion (usually negative), Masamune can be a handful to deal with. The truth is that he is a spirit, and one who believes unshakingly in human ability at that. In fact, it is his very belief that people can do anything if they would just face up to reality that in large part what drives his impatience with those who do not live up to his standards. That does not alter the fact that he is supremely irritating.
What keeps him in the mortal world, rather than retreating back to the Spirit World in disgust is -- not the sheer delight of insulting people, but a search. A search for a purpose, specifically for a human with a plan for healing the world of all its evils. He has little patience for those who accept the world the way it is, and none whatsoever for those who try to dodge responsibility for their contributions to the decay by blaming fate.
It may seem paradoxical for a nature spirit, but Masamune is extremely fond of machines. He loves to tinker with anything mechanical he stumbles across, and has even swiped repair manuals for Fire Nation tanks in order to study their design. Apart from practicing with his swords and insulting people, it is his only real hobby.
Hidden somewhere deep inside the fox is a tremendous grief. The world would likely come to an end if he admitted it; he never permits himself to even think on it. Yet it is there, and apart from its influence on his philosophy, it gives him a certain compassion. If he finds someone who is truly suffering from circumstances beyond their control, particularly children, he will lay aside his swords and give them what comfort he can.
History: Once upon a time, before the birth of Avatar Yangchen, there was a little girl named Maya. She was very lonely, for her mother had died and her father had to spend all day in the forge. For there was a war on, and he had to constantly manufacture weapons for the soldiers. Worried and wanting a playmate, she prayed to the spirits to send someone to brighten their lives.
One heard her. Thinking nothing of what it might cost, a spirit fox crossed over into the mortal world. Taking the form of a boy some years older than her and armed with a seemingly antique pair of swords, he approached their house. Maya's father did not know at first what to make of the handsome lad, but Maya knew instantly that he was the answer to her prayers. So, at her insistence, the smith let the boy stay with them.
She gave the fox the name of her grandfather, "Masamune", and that name he has kept ever since. The months passed happily. Twice their house was attacked, but the smith was an earthbender and moreover knew how to use the weapons he forged; together with Masamune the enemy was repulsed without damage. However, steel could not combat illness.
Exactly six months after Masamune's arrival in the mortal world, Maya died. The fox was devastated. True, he had seen death before. He had killed several of the rival kingdom's soldiers himself. But this was completely different. He could not accept the loss of the innocent little girl who had called him out of the Spirit World. He had a violent falling-out with her father over the issue of dealing with their grief. In his anger, he reverted to his spirit form, and very nearly killed the man. However, he managed to bring his anger under control, and left without doing any permanent harm.
Several months later, Masamune was attacked by the men of the village. They had seen him leave the smith's house, and -- undeterred by the man's protests -- had blamed the spirit for the girl's death. Now they had come to kill the "monster". Masamune was in no mood to be forgiving. Taking out all of his anguish and anger through his swords, he massacred the men. However, he was left deeply wounded as a result, and reverted to his basic form of a two-tailed fox.
When he woke up, he was in the smith's house, and it was nearly the winter solstice. The man had trailed the mob, brought the fox back, nursed him as best he could, and now expected him to depart back to the Spirit World. Masamune surprised him by refusing. Although they never discussed Maya again, they built up something of a friendship. The smith taught the fox everything he could about metallurgy, and they would spar together -- sadly, the smith did not dual-wield, so there was not much he could teach his guest there.
One night, however, seeing that Masamune had grown bored, he spoke of a legendary swordsmaster, who could undoubtedly improve the fox's skills. Masamune thanked him, and went in search of the legend. After several years, he found him, dwelling in a decrepit dojo in Ba Sing Se's Lower Ring. It was a tempestuous relationship -- Masamune was far from the ideal of the "humble student", and the teacher didn't much like spirits. However, the fox-boy was the only one who really cared about the techniques, and the master did not want his art to die with him. So, they came to a grudging kind of respect, and Masamune became the heir to Kuroda-ryu.
Some two decades passed, and the master died at the age of 124. Masamune was left to wander the streets of Ba Sing Se, which he did, watching the capital of the Earth King develop. The world had entered the era of Avatar Yangchen, and the wars that had previously torn the land ended under her guidance. However, Masamune noticed a new kind of decay setting in. In the Lower Ring, it was organised crime; in the Middle and Upper Rings, complacency and bureaucratic corruption. It seemed that humans were always looking for ways to destroy themselves; it was also obvious that the Avatar could not halt this dry rot.
Thwarted in his attempts to join the Earth King's court and the faculty of the University of Ba Sing Se (due to his seeming youth), Masamune eventually left the metropolis in disgust. Throughout Kuruk's reign and in the early years of Kyoshi's, he wandered the Earth Kingdom, searching. Searching for a man of ambition, of honesty; somebody who would not judge by appearances and who had the vision to transform the world.
His search ended when he discovered Chin. At the time, the Conqueror was a warlord, fighting in the name of the Earth King to quell unrest in his natal region of the northwest. Masamune was not instrumental in getting him to declare war on the incompetent 46th Earth King, but he did support his ambition. Chin did not at first know the boy's true nature, but he appreciated good counsel, and within a year Masamune was one of his chief advisers as the campaign to unify the continent under a new banner was launched.
It was a long and sometimes difficult process. However, it was a steady one. Between the genius of Chin, Masamune and the other strategists, and the widespread dissatisfaction with the Earth King, they won victory after victory, and had little trouble with rebellion -- at least at first. However, Chin began to grow drunk with power. He abused the people, and began to take his advisers for granted. Masamune grew to hate the man, and left his employ. Shortly thereafter, Chin met his death at the hands of Kyoshi.
Masamune had little use for the Avatar, either. Her predecessor, Kuruk, had been a wastrel. First he spent his life chasing women, then after some third-tier spirit kidnapped one such wench he spent the rest of his life seeking vengeance. Kyoshi had sat immobile on her cape until Chin was at her very doors, then she killed him without so much as a parley. Some decades later, she practically took over Ba Sing Se, forming a special cadre of earthbenders to enforce her will even after she was gone.
Next up would be fire, so Masamune headed to the Fire Nation. There he was delighted to find new applications being discovered for steel and steam. By this time he had fully developed his caustic attitude, but in the company of the pioneering inventors he softened it a bit. He became something of a favourite, flitting from genius to genius, learning from them and sometimes helping them. Of course, in time it was noticed that he did not age, and he ended up revealing his true nature. Being a fire-spirit, though, they gladly adopted him as an unofficial patron.
Meanwhile, Sozin and Roku were growing up together. Masamune had almost completely forgotten about his original purpose in coming to the Fire Nation; however, this changed when Roku returned from his pilgrimage and married Ta Min. The fox had no idea what caused the two imbeciles to fall out, but through those inventors sponsored by the Ministry of War he did know that a rift had formed between Avatar and Fire Lord. Deciding that the Fire Nation was no longer for him, and ever restless, he took leave of his aging friends and set out to retrace the Avatar's path.
At the Southern Air Temple he had several bitter quarrels with the monks before being firmly escorted to the border of their land, consoling himself with the fact that none had recognised him for what he was. Then he went to the Northern Water Tribe, which he discovered to be cold and not much else. Fuming over Tui and La wasting eternity as fish, he headed to the Earth Kingdom, though by this time he had lost interest in Roku's itinerary. Instead of following the Avatar's footsteps any further, he returned the place where Maya had once lived. The old house was long gone, but nevertheless he remained there, brooding.
Being a spirit, he lost track of time. However, eventually he decided to return to the Fire Nation and see how the Industrial Revolution was progressing. He was somewhat surprised to learn that Roku had died in a volcano eruption, but was not nearly so upset as he was by the changes in the Nation itself. All the inventions had been put to military use, and there was a new note of imperialistic nationalism that did not sit well with him. Not that the adviser of Chin objected to expansion through conquest -- he had come to believe that there needed to be one world government, and since the Avatar was incapable of delivering the rulers had to come from somewhere. But this militarization did not suit him. He had a few arguments, and left.
The annihilation of the Air Nomads came, and he felt justified. For the next century he wandered over the Earth Kingdom, more or less at random though always returning to Maya's grave, picking fights with both sides whenever he found something objectionable in their behaviour. When Ba Sing Se fell to an internal coup he rolled his eyes, called Kyoshi an imbecile, and set out for the Fire Nation. The War was just about over, and there were probably lots of ambitious warriors floating around with spare time on their hands.
Except that it didn't seem to be the case. He had failed to predict the tenacity of a bunch of stupid kids. And, after the Day of Black Sun, it seemed inevitable that Ozai would conquer the world. Now there was a repulsive idea, and Masamune returned to Maya's grave in near despair, seeking the courage to keep fighting. Only his meditations were interrupted by a great burst of spirit energy. Curious, he went into a town, and learned that the Avatar had succeeded in defeating Ozai after all. Only he failed to finish the job, so naturally there would be trouble later on.
Still, his idea about ambitious souls in the Fire Nation would be doubly true now, so he returned there. Hopefully he would find one with the virtue and the vision to end this stupidity once and for all.
Skills:
- Swordsmanship: More-or-less locked in his human form, Masamune has been practicing with his dual sabres for both fun and protection for roughly six centuries. His natural speed and grace make him a formidable opponent, even without the fire. (Elite)
- Transformation: As noted above, Masamune has three forms: an "ordinary" one as a two-tailed fox, one more designed for combat as an anthropomorphic fox, and a human one. Transforming between the two spirit forms his easy, as is going from spirit to human; however, reverting from human to spirit is an extremely painful and (relatively) slow process, making him loathe to do it. In every case, his burning aura is ignited and consumes him, his body reshaping in the midst of the flames. (Intermediate)
- Spirit sense: As a spirit himself, Masamune can sense the presence of other spirits, and the presence of humans who have been touched by the Spirit World. (Intermediate)
- Flame generation: Masamune is something of a fire elemental, and in his true form, Masamune can emit a fiery aura from any part of his body, and direct the flames to shoot off in any direction he wants. However, he is not a firebender; he has no control over the fire once he lashes out, nor any control over any other fire. On the other hand, he is largely immune to fire and can withstand great changes in temperature. While in his human form, however, he can only emit the flames from his sabres. (Beginner)
Weaponry: Dual chokuto sabres: These are literally part of Masamune -- when he resumes his normal form they disappear, together with his clothes. The blades are two feet long, with straight, one-edged blades. The hilts feature round, slightly concave guards and a bow to protect the knuckles. There is a pommel ring at the bottom of the hilt, from which braided tassels depend. Etched on the blades near the hilts are their names: Crimson Morn (red hilt and tassel) and Black Even (black hilt and tassel). Masamune simply refers to them as "Dawn" and "Dusk", respectively.
Strengths:
- Agility: Masamune is limber and light on his feet. This gives him a great avantage in combat; he can literally run rings around slow opponents.
- Drive: Masamune has both the passion and the willpower to achieve virtually anything. Fuelled by seemingly unlimited energy, Masamune pursues his goals small or large despite any obstacle or setback. The greater the challenge, the greater his determination to overcome it.
- Experience: Although he keeps the appearance of a young man, Masamune is five hundred years old (and that's not counting his time prior to entering the mortal world). He can draw on his vast experience to help him in nearly any situation.
- Honesty: Despite a seemingly painful arrogance, Masamune actually has a very clear and unbiased view of the world. He never lies (and he certainly never flatters), so people can pretty much trust whatever he says to be true. His honesty also keeps him from hubris.
- Perception: Masamune's intelligence chiefly lies in his ability to swiftly take in a situation and organise it in his mind. He has also, when he chooses to exercise it, great insight into human nature, making him a wonderful counsellor -- if one can stand his flaws.
Weaknesses:
- Attitude: Masamune is rude. He is not blunt -- he is downright obnoxious. He has zero patience for human flaws, especially stupidity and irresponsibility. Not only is he swift to point such flaws out in the most insulting language possible, he'll often throw a taunting laugh in for good measure. In fact, he's prone to coming up with insults just for the sheer fun of it.
- Fox instincts: While his instincts are definitely a help on the battlefield, it can sometimes be embarrassing to Masamune's pride to be caught with a chicken hanging from his mouth.
- Impatient: Masamune hates delay. If he is forced to wait for anything, he will begin pacing after a few minutes, and will roundly abuse the one responsible regardless of actual guilt. This impatience can sometimes lead him to be rash.
- Suspicious: After a good many of his encounters with humans ending badly, Masamune has developed a tendency for wariness nearly to the point of paranoia. If he can interpret something badly, then he will.
Role Play Sample: ((From TBPA, where Masamune is an actual human boy whose been orphaned. Same general character, though.))
No kidding, weirdo, Masamune thought at the White Lotus man. This airbender's obviously crazy. Probably thinks he is a god. Feeling miffed that Tenrei would walk away without noticing him -- that's why he was out here, to talk to the stupid airbender -- he walked to the position the white-clad man had vacated.
He glanced up at Seiko briefly. "You fail as a Dai Li," he informed her, then looked back at the stranger.
"And you! You prate of mercy, while wearing that damned cloak? Why don't you go help that imbecile who's crying his life out, instead of arguing morality with these losers?"
He did not care if Tenrei heard him. He was fed up with being ignored, and he was not afraid of him, airbending or not, madness or not.
Your Name: Flammifleure (Flam) or Vulpes.
Other Characters: Long Feng, Ozai, Kelaj, Qing-Yu, Hei Li, Zudao, Ren, Xian.
