[Application] Au Hano
- Thread starter Au Hano
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Pitch
Au became a shinigami not by choice, but an offering to Soul Society from their family. Though the contract was made when she was a babe, the family was given a hundred years breathing room before Au was accepted into service. It was not known to Au how or why the contract was made but the family became distant from her once her siblings were born.
The young, sheltered, unseated Shinigami was defined only by her unique swordsmanship and nothing else. She believed her obedience was an important and rare trait as taught by her parents - one of few things learned from them. From this, Au is a subvertient woman with the belief that being strong will make her seen but being defeated in sparring by better students, she found herself disturbed with the idea that there are people better than she is.
Being the only offspring in the family, Au Hokutan was destined to be a Shinigami. However, before they took her into lifetime servitude, both the family and the scout agreed that she would remain with the family for a century for broad reasons - largely to assist with her family so they could try and produce another offspring.
Her 'peaceful' times with the family though long, eventual moments were too far in between. She was told not to speak to strangers, do as she was told, and train with the sword on top of being an assistant to her father's work. Very often she attempted to be disobedient but in all cases was caught and severely punished.
When Au reached her first century of existing, she was no longer the only offspring. Now the eldest of six, she was given less attention. Her siblings were ordered not to disturb her training but she knows better: she was being forgotten.
She joined the Academy, proving her capability as a swordswoman to her peers and found herself being proud of her efforts. However it all came crumbling down when she was bested in sparring repeatedly. She tried remedying this by training harder but as though she was an above average swordfighter, she still found herself being bested. By graduation, Au could not best the remaining students. In addition to this, the evaluation of hers was deemed acceptable, but average.
She became a unseated member of eleventh squad, playing as the sheep than the shepherd.
Her 'peaceful' times with the family though long, eventual moments were too far in between. She was told not to speak to strangers, do as she was told, and train with the sword on top of being an assistant to her father's work. Very often she attempted to be disobedient but in all cases was caught and severely punished.
When Au reached her first century of existing, she was no longer the only offspring. Now the eldest of six, she was given less attention. Her siblings were ordered not to disturb her training but she knows better: she was being forgotten.
She joined the Academy, proving her capability as a swordswoman to her peers and found herself being proud of her efforts. However it all came crumbling down when she was bested in sparring repeatedly. She tried remedying this by training harder but as though she was an above average swordfighter, she still found herself being bested. By graduation, Au could not best the remaining students. In addition to this, the evaluation of hers was deemed acceptable, but average.
She became a unseated member of eleventh squad, playing as the sheep than the shepherd.
Au became a shinigami not by choice, but an offering to Soul Society from their family. Though the contract was made when she was a babe, the family was given a hundred years breathing room before Au was accepted into service. It was not known to Au how or why the contract was made but the family became distant from her once her siblings were born.
The young, sheltered, unseated Shinigami was defined only by her unique swordsmanship and nothing else. She believed her obedience was an important and rare trait as taught by her parents - one of few things learned from them. From this, Au is a subvertient woman with the belief that being strong will make her seen but being defeated in sparring by better students, she found herself disturbed with the idea that there are people better than she is.
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Having a character almost literally born to be a Shinigami with high expectations placed upon her is nice approach. It definitely leaves a lot of wiggle room for development and growth.
As an unseated Shinigami there's a pretty high chance she's been sucked into the chaos of the Black Death (depending on her Division). How do you think the current events have impacted her? As someone who prides herself in swordplay, I can see this as either something she sees as the perfect opportunity to show off her stuff, or as someone who's intimidated when push comes to shove.
I'm also curious if she has any greater ambitions than just swordplay. Does she want to climb the ranks, for example? Does she have any strong relationships with her peers? Though it wasn't outright said, the way she was born with the expectation to be a Shinigami somewhat implies that she's from Nobility. Is that intentional?
As an unseated Shinigami there's a pretty high chance she's been sucked into the chaos of the Black Death (depending on her Division). How do you think the current events have impacted her? As someone who prides herself in swordplay, I can see this as either something she sees as the perfect opportunity to show off her stuff, or as someone who's intimidated when push comes to shove.
I'm also curious if she has any greater ambitions than just swordplay. Does she want to climb the ranks, for example? Does she have any strong relationships with her peers? Though it wasn't outright said, the way she was born with the expectation to be a Shinigami somewhat implies that she's from Nobility. Is that intentional?
Thank you for making your response and pleased that you enjoyed the approach.
That's generally the aim. Despite the prowess as a swordswoman, she was exceptionally below average with her other skill. I would wager that she will drive herself into the heart of chaos and dispose the relentless at the best of her ability or die trying. (though keeping her alive is a huge plus)
Now to the crux of her problem. Though Au would like to see herself as the strongest swordswoman, she's a sheltered woman and ignorant to the world. Her parents taught her from the young age to train with her sword, don't talk to strangers and do as she was told. Eventually at some point [sooner than later], she will be challenged to question her parent words if she want to establish new and strange relationship. She does have a relationship with her peers and follow, but due to her rigidness she could only answer their question with formality.
Implies she's from nobility? I may have considered the idea in the past, but I'm not sure if nobility is open for plebs?
That's generally the aim. Despite the prowess as a swordswoman, she was exceptionally below average with her other skill. I would wager that she will drive herself into the heart of chaos and dispose the relentless at the best of her ability or die trying. (though keeping her alive is a huge plus)
Now to the crux of her problem. Though Au would like to see herself as the strongest swordswoman, she's a sheltered woman and ignorant to the world. Her parents taught her from the young age to train with her sword, don't talk to strangers and do as she was told. Eventually at some point [sooner than later], she will be challenged to question her parent words if she want to establish new and strange relationship. She does have a relationship with her peers and follow, but due to her rigidness she could only answer their question with formality.
Implies she's from nobility? I may have considered the idea in the past, but I'm not sure if nobility is open for plebs?
Just about any level of nobility is open to anyone, but if you were thinking of creating one of the Great Noble Houses you'd probably want to talk to Justin and the others. Other than that there's really nothing holding you back from making a noble.
From your posts I don't see a ton of reasons why she would interact with others, or they her. Beyond her swordsmanship, what might bring her into conflict or cooperation with the other characters? You say she'll challenge her upbringing in order to establish new connections, but how and why?
From your posts I don't see a ton of reasons why she would interact with others, or they her. Beyond her swordsmanship, what might bring her into conflict or cooperation with the other characters? You say she'll challenge her upbringing in order to establish new connections, but how and why?
I've been mulling over these questions and though I have many approaches that I could adopt, most of them require more than a paragraph. So I'll try my best to condense one of many ideas:
The key issue with her conflict and co-operation lies in her upbringing. The obsession from her parents to make her their shining hope of improving Hano's nobility standing has marred her social interaction. Her parents were cruel not for the sake of being cruel, but they wanted her to be their 'perfect' Hano shinigami and see Au only as a sword rather than a daughter. One particular incident I had in mind was when she was younger. She been deliberately losing her sparring match as an attempt to make friends with a young child, a son of a maid who too has aspirations of being a shinigami. Ousted by her father and rather than punishing her, he gifts her Asauchi only for her to be used in a 'sparring' against him. Under the watchful gaze of her father she beat the boy without drawing her sword but it was not enough. Again! He barked, unsatisfied of the outcome. After the fifth attempt and the boy's pleas, she drew her sword and dispatched him.
Her sword when she graduated has altered into a Shirasaya, a plain wooden saya and tsuba, hidden inside the dark blue fabric and yellow binding and rather than being snug on the side of her sash, she would be holding it close to her.
Deep down, she wants to make friends, but the traumatic experience is stopping her from going further - that would be her first hurdle in progression.
Boy. I need to readjust the pitch a bit![/spoilers]
Her sword when she graduated has altered into a Shirasaya, a plain wooden saya and tsuba, hidden inside the dark blue fabric and yellow binding and rather than being snug on the side of her sash, she would be holding it close to her.
Deep down, she wants to make friends, but the traumatic experience is stopping her from going further - that would be her first hurdle in progression.
Boy. I need to readjust the pitch a bit![/spoilers]
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I've decided to take on this question again as my last - after spending a bit of time thinking over it - was a complete mess.
Though, she would find it a perfect opportunity to show off her stuff, especially in time of great stress such as the Black Death (and being in 11th Division, she would certainly be in the heart of such chaos). Her mentality in her ambitions was at best, an illusion. Au was driven to appease her family by doing what she need to do to keep her noble name remain in good lights to others. By doing so, she hoped that she would finally recieve that love and acceptance from her kin.
From this desire of being loved, Au would actively want to climb up the ranks. Though I don't think she would beg to be promoted, but trust in meritocity. She would be influenced by others to learn new skills and techniques if it means that it would help her relationship with her family.
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