Sign Up Down the Path (Spar) [M-LV]

[Retribution]

[SIZE=1]First and foremost, I'm really sorry to the mods. I read the Arena rules about making spars, but naming them was kinda not covered in the rules, except for the fact not to make vague titles. I tried to jazz things up a bit. But here we go:

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The road is a dusty one, but not completely forsaken. The wear in the thin path can easily tell you that many people travel this road during peak market hours; right before and after lunch-time. A shallow stream runs parallel to the dirt-path, but is prone to over-flowing when it rains even the slightest amount.

Bandits lurk the forest, not coming out until well-after the path's peak hours of travel, so as not to get caught in a fight with multiple people. They travel in small, light groups of two or three, springing only on targets that have something worth stealing, but will provide minimal resistance. Locals have quickly caught on to the bandit's methods of theivery, and travel with katanas or spears on their person, with a good friend. Safey in numbers, so they say.

In particular, a group of two people coming back from the villiage at around 6 o'clock PM, after peak hours, walked down the trail, as many others had. Two bandits spotted these people, and deemed them worthy of mugging. Nice clothes. Two bags of gold a piece, and two chickens led on a leash.

"They look rich enough. But usually those well off are fat with their opulence, and cannot defend themselves. We shall strike when they cross our path, right?" The clear voice said to his partener in crime. He spoke quite nicely for a scruffy bandit. His partener only nodded, watching, waiting.

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Hope that was enough to reel you in. I'll sign up once I get someone to post first.
Please make these good, clean sign-ups. This [I][b]is not[/b][/I] first-come, first-served. If you're sign-up is better than another's, you beat them for the spot.

Here's the sign-ups

[b]Name:[/b] Japanese, please. (Last, then First name)

[b]Age:[/b] Not really relevant. It's only here to gauge how physically capable your character is. And please, don't have everyone be 23 years old. Be realistic. If you're dressed nicely, you have at least some age on you, or you're related to your partener, and you're both rich.

[b]Relation to Partner:[/b] This encompasses if you are the other bandit (I'm one of them), or the traders (two spots). Please also tell how you're related/acquainted with your partner.

[b]Fighting Style:[/b] This takes the place of a regular RPG's "personality" field. So really, it should reflect what kind of person you are. Calm, violent, heartless. But you don't need to go too in-depth.

[b]Weaponry:[/b] No magical weapons. Two weapons per-person. Feudal Japanese weapons, too. No guns.

[b]Skills:[/b] This doesn't have to be martial, but even something like "Can calm someone down." Or if you're very specialized in your specific art, it goes here. But again, [U][I]no god-mods.[/I][/U]
[/SIZE]

[Ozymandius Jones]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]Name: [/B] Matsuri Yuki

[B]Age:[/B] 29

[B]Relation to Partner:[/B] Kouu and Yuki are twin weapons merchants, taught to fight by their parents, who felt it was unsafe for merchants to be weaklings. Yuki was a calm girl, always, [i]always[/i] controlled. Her father taught her that while control was good, to always be controlled was to be predictable, and that in order to become a better fighter, she must loosen her control. They are currently on their way home after finalizing a transaction with a warlord, for which they demanded part of the payment in advance.

[B]Fighting Style:[/B] Smooth and graceful, with the occasional seemingly-misplaced move. People rarely realize that the misstep was on purpose, meant to draw them closer. She isn't one to take unnecessary risks; but if a gamble is needed to gain the upper hand she will take it.

She prefers to fight from a distance, using the naginata's blade, but she's not above wacking people with its staff or butt either. Only rarely does she rely on the tantos.

[B]Weaponry:[/B] A [URL=http://www.armory.net/items/naginata.jpg]naginata[/URL], and a [URL=http://www.gungfu.com/pics_general/pics_knives/dragon_tantos.jpg]tantos[/URL]

[B]Skills:[/B] A good strategist, doesn't lose her head often. Very graceful, and can be very charming, as well as very shrewd, when she needs to be. [/COLOR]




[COLOR=DarkOrange]OOC: Kairi, you come up with a good reason they're "partners" and I'll most likely go for it...just be nice. ;)
Edit: Twins works...[/COLOR]

[Kairi]

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1]Name: Matsuri Kouu

Age: 29

Relation to Partner: Matsuri Yuki is Kouu's twin sister...while Yuki was trained by their father, Kouu learned from his mother. With his natural tendency of violence, the teachings from his mother trained him to calm his spirit, while learning to control his anger for more productive purposes.

Fighting Style: Unlike his sister, Kouu finds no artistic purpose to fighting. His movements are swift and percise with a tremendous force behind his attacks; not relying on complex combos. While his persona with his sister is friendly and calm, once in battle, he truly becomes in his element...completely focusing his energy and thoughts to the moment.

Weaponry: Duel Scimitars strapped beside his grey kamono (see attachment)

Skills: Kouu's focus in battle in unflinching. Highly disiplined and toned for any situation, his form shows no fault. [/SIZE] [/COLOR]

OOC: Dagger, Ozy created it for me as well...working on a new banner as well together which is coming out really really really cool:)

[Retribution]

[quote name='Kairi][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=1]OCC: just reserving my spot Retri...[/SIZE'][/COLOR][/quote]
[SIZE=1]There's no reservation. It's a competitive sign-up, so if someone has a better sign-up, they'll get the spot. I hope you two edit your posts soon![/SIZE]

[Zen]

[color=darkred][size=1]

[B]Name:[/B] Zaitoichi (just, Zaitoichi)

[B]Age:[/B] ? (seems to be in his mid thirties.)

[B]Relation to Partner:[/B] Zaitoichi was asked to accompany the rich man, an old freind of his, on his venture into the dangerous area. As reward, he was given a new kimono and split skirt, an item that he reluctnantly received. He prefers to be called Ichi.

[B]Fighting Style:[/B] Being blind since the age of eight, Zaitoichi was never the less raised to become the dangerous swordsman he is today. Learning from an early age to allow his senses of hearing and touch guide him, aswell as smell in some cases, cheap eye tricks obviously don't work on Zaitoichi and due to this, he can sense even the quitest assailent approaching. His sword-style is quick, decisive, calm, and very, very precise without a waisted stroke. To those that know him, he is feared or respected. To those that don't, he is the last face they saw.

[B]Weapons:[/B] A single, katana blade disguised in his wooden walking stick, it has a short handle without a visible grip, Zaitoichi has none the less adapted his fighting style to compencate for this.

[B]Skills:[/B] Aswell as being a very capable swordsmen, Zaitoichi makes a living off of being a masseur, applying his trade to anyone willing to pay a small fee. Zaitoichi is also a master of Jujutsu, but this is common amongst samurai. Ichi is a very freindly person, always willing to help one in need, he'd rather resolve his conflicts with out the use of violence, which often gets him into troubling perdicaments.

(any samurai flick buffs will know this guy...)[/color][/size]

[Dagger]

Kairi, I like the artwork in your avatar. What's it from?

[b]Name:[/b] Uesugi Muryou

[b]Age:[/b] 37

[b]Relation to Partner:[/b] He's one of the bandits. I'll edit in some more details later.

[b]Fighting Style:[/b] Rarely aggressive, he seems to prefer letting his partner take charge. Unless his presence is particularly needed, he may even choose to abstain. Muryou often acts so relaxed and difficult to faze that he comes across as being rather vacant--but despite appearances, he's always planning ahead. He generally tries not to use weapons unless his opponent is clearly at or above a certain skill level, and he has a tendency to present himself with a sort of condescending humility--especially if the person he's dealing with appears to be younger and/or less experienced than himself.

[b]Weaponry:[/b] When the occasion demands it, Muryou wields a naginata (a type of long, glaive-like weapon). At times he also uses throwing knives.

[b]Skills:[/b] He has an extraordinary talent for stealth and can nearly always sneak up on someone unnoticed. He's also rather good at tracking things (animals, people, etc.) and reading lips.

[Retribution]

[SIZE=1]I?m liking the sign-ups thus far. Keep?em coming, folks!
I've decided the deadline is this [B]Wednesday, April 13th.[/B] I'll be telling who was accepted then.

@ Dagger, I've taken the liberty of filling in our relation. You're my foster father! Hah.
@ Ozy/Kairi, if one of you isn't accepted, will the other bow out due to their tie to one another? Thinking about it, why don't we all just add in the relation part once accepted?

[b]Name:[/b] Miyamoto Keiji

[b]Age:[/b] 17

[B]Relation to Partner:[/B] Partner in crime, good friends. They've been through a lot together, being Bandits and stealing from the passerby. They have a relationship of trust, and support, but more so familial bonds. Keiji ran away at a young age, and ran into Muryou, who became a father figure to him.

[B]Fighting Style:[/B] With solely a katana, he is a basic fighter. With his kodachi to aid his attack, he is proficient. But what he lacks his swordsmanship, he makes up for in acrobatics and creativity. Preferring to attack from close range, he quickly penetrates a foe?s guard and moves in for a quick kill. He will readily sacrifice a weapon or physical comfort to win a duel. Keiji is an abstract thinker, attacking in irrational patterns, with motions that are completely unconventional and never-before-seen. His opponents have no idea what to expect from him, aside from a fluid, adapting attack.

[b]Weaponry:[/b] One katana, one kodachi.

[b]Skills:[/b] While calm outside of battle, he is a berserker in it. He is filled with a brimming blood lust and unheard of ferocity in battle. His creativity stems from his prowess in battle. His mind can only be penetrated by the words of Muryou once he fighting.[/SIZE]

[Retribution]

[SIZE=1]Well, sign ups are closed now. Thanks for all who joined. Trust me, it was a very hard choice to see who got the cut -- you three were so good! But here are the roles now:

[b]Travelers[/b]
Ozy
ReFlux

[b]Bandits[/b]
Retribution (me)
Dagger

Sorry Kairi. v_v
I really liked your sign up, but Ozy's sign-up was more original and outside the box. Good job to both of you. Dagger is the other bandit by default, since there was no one else to contest the spot. Thanks to all who participated. I'll create a thread in the Square and in the Underground. Check those out soon![/SIZE]